Gunshot Serenade

A/N: Happy birthday Sony! Tomorrow is my birthday, lest you forget. Anyway. This took much longer than I had anticipated, but doesn't everything? The next chapter should be out soon. Luv and please review! Je t-adores!

Disclaimer: I do not own Cowboy Bebop.

Chapter Sixteen:

Street Walker Samba

I almost ran over an angel
He had a nice big fat cigar
"In a sense," he said, "you're alone here.
So if you jump, you best jump far!"

-Tori Amos

The window was big, and the view was good.

Spike sighed and turned away.

But it still felt like he was in a fishbowl. Being kept for observation like some animal. He flopped down into the large leather swivel chair positioned neatly behind his large oak desk.

Fingers drummed on the desktop.

Shit.

Spike stood again, his hands finding his pockets as he began to pace slowly around his large corner office, eyes on the royal blue carpet. The white walls glared down at him, the paintings Alex's stylist had picked out watching him as he circled the room. When he reached the window again, he paused.

Herds of people moved below, pushing and pulling and seething in a giant mass. A shadow of a smile touched Spike's lips.

Millions of tiny sparks of hope were moving quickly below him.

The smile faded as soon as it came.

When Spike turned back to his office, he saw her there, sitting in his chair. He grinned lopsidedly at her, cocking his head.

"None of it meant anything," He reminded her for what felt like the hundredth time. She just shrugged and brushed a strand of beautiful flaxen hair from her eyes.

"I always knew that, Spike. You've always been faithful." She said, smiling, her eyes more blue than he had ever seen them.

Suddenly, the grin was gone, and he was looking away, back down to the street.

"I've done my best," He said quietly.

"That's all I ask," Was her silky smooth reply.

When Spike turned back to his office, she was standing, her black leather cat suite glimmering in the light from his desk lamp.

"I'm sorry anyway."

"I know," She whispered.

Spike blinked and for a fraction of a second, she was transformed to someone with black hair and a red sweater, but just as quickly, she was gone.

Just like that.

Sighing but otherwise unfazed, he just moved forward and took his seat, just in time for a knock on the door.

"Come in," He called out, russet eyes turning to the door. It opened and closed quietly.

"Good morning, Spike," Amber acknowledged politely, looking beautiful as usual in a black pea coat that hung just past her knees. Brown curls fell in fat spirals over both shoulders, long but significantly shorter than they had formerly been. A black, expensive looking beret sat atop her head.

Something about her was different.

And it was killing Spike.

"Amber," He replied, inclining his head marginally. "Sit down." He implored.

She nodded and smiled, moving forward to one of the two leather guest chairs and taking a seat. Once she was situated, and her hat was placed before her on the desk, she met Spike's eyes.

"I came here for a reason," She said quietly, her hands folded in lap. Her skin was so pale it was almost translucent. Spike furrowed his brow.

"What?" He asked gently, searching her eyes.

"I'm leaving." Amber replied.

"What?"

"I'm leaving the Dragons." She repeated

Spike swallowed and nodded, leaning back slightly in his chair. Russet eyes moved to the desktop. "Are you leaving because of what happened?"

A soft laugh bubbled forth from across the desk. "No, Spike. I was going to before, but I just got caught up with Luke and everyone…"

Brown met blue again.

"So why are leaving now?" He demanded casually.

Amber shrugged. "I want something this life can't give me."

"What's that?"

"Love. Happiness." She blinked slowly, like she was exhausted. When the lids moved back, she was looking past Spike, to the window and the dark, stormy sky it revealed.

"What do those things have to do with the Dragons?" Spike replied, an eyebrow raised.

"Everything," Was the spacey response. "Real love can't exist in a syndicate. We all live lives built on pain and prostitution and drugs. The only things we know are obsession and lust. So that's what we give to other people."

"Luke loved you," The man pointed out.

Amber just shook her head and shrugged one shoulder. "Of all people, Spike," She said, "You should know." Her voice was quiet, intense and full of hidden messages Spike was too tired to unearth.

Spike watched her for a long time in silence before replying, "I think you're crazy, Amber."

"Am I?" She shot back, her eyes smug as they locked with Spike's.

He hesitated a moment before shooting back, "Yes. Because Alex is never going to let you leave like this."

Amber just blinked. "Who's Alex?" She asked, snapping back down to earth.

Spike just quirked an eyebrow at her.

A moment later she began to laugh. "Alex is letting me go, Spike. He thinks its best."

"Thanks for letting me know, Amber."

Amber smiled at him warmly. "You've been a good friend, Spike. It's been an honor working for you."

Spike grinned back at her. "Take care of yourself, Amber."

She nodded, was moving to stand, when the phone rang sharply. A little startled, she plopped back down in her chair again.

The pair made eye contact.

"Probably Alex," Amber said, eyes flickering to the mechanism on Spike's desk.

Spike furrowed his brow and nodded, reaching a hand forward and pressing the little green button on the device.

An image popped up.

Jet.

Spike's stomach immediately twisted into knots. His old partner's forehead was shimmering with sweat, the veins in his head threatening to burst.

"Hey, Jet," Spike greeted carefully.

"Spike," Jet grumbled, "We have a problem."

Spike leaned forward, closer to the screen. "What do you mean?" he asked, spotting Alyssa hanging around in the background. She was leaning against a wall, massaging her temples.

Jet sighed and glanced back at her before replying, "Faye is gone. Disappeared."

"Did you really think she'd stick around for long, Jet?" Spike said coolly, raising an eyebrow. He began inspecting his nails.

He felt seconds away from throwing up.

"God dammit, Spike! Would you get your head out of your ass for ten seconds, please! She's coming to see you."

Spike's head jerked back up. "How do you know?" He demanded.

It was Alyssa who answered this time. "She made Ed find the syndicate building's address this morning." The woman said quietly.

Spike glanced across the desk to Amber, who was listening with rapt attention. She turned her big blue eyes to Spike, waiting for a reply.

Cursing quietly, he turned back to Jet and Alyssa. "When do you think she'll be here?"

"Soon," Jet estimated, crossing his arms over his chest. "And the second she walks in," The older man formed a gun with his fingers pointing it at Spike. "Bang."

Spike nodded. "Right. I'll take care of it." He assured Jet.

"You've said that before, Spike-o." Came the wary reply.

Spike just grinned. "This time I mean it." He said.

Jet nodded grimly and the connection was broken.

Amber raised an eyebrow slowly. "What are you going to do?" She asked.

The man stood again, moving once more to the window, acutely aware that any of the hundreds moving below could be Faye. He turned back to face Amber, calm and nonchalant.

"If she really is coming here," Spike replied, "I'll send someone to meet her."

"Are you crazy?" Amber demanded, a strangled laugh escaping her throat. "The minute they match her she'll be dead."

"She's a tough girl. She knows how to handle herself."

"Are you sure?" Amber sounded skeptical.

"I'm sure."

"It think you're crazy."

Spike laughed. "When has that ever stopped me before?"

Faye was getting irritated. If one more goddamn person ran into her, she would kill them. Just pull out one of the two guns she was carrying and blow them away.

A man bumped into her shoulder, glaring from behind expensive sunglasses as he moved away. Faye gritted her teeth, considering.

No. She had better things to do with her life.

Sighing and moving on, Faye glanced once more at the crumpled scrap of paper gripped tightly in her palm. An address was written there in pink colored pencil. The woman smoothed out the creases in the paper, then folded it neatly, tucking it into her black wife beater, securely under her bra strap.

Faye scanned the numbers on the buildings around her. It was coming up soon.

Ed had been surprisingly efficient, for once in the young girl's life. It was still early, but the street was dark, due mostly to the building storm clouds, blacker than Faye had ever seen them. It would start raining any minute now. All she could hope for was to get inside before the storm really got started.

As Faye walked, the buildings became taller, scratching eagerly at the angry sky. She couldn't help but twitch as nerves built up in her belly, making her feel sick.

This was it.

It ended today.

In a matter of hours, everything would be decided. She would have her answers, or she wouldn't. She would have him, or she wouldn't.

A hell of a catch-22.

Her gut was telling her to run. Now. Turn around and scram, head back to the Bebop, wander aimlessly around the galaxy for whatever was left of her life. Take care of Jet in his old age. Change his diapers or whatever.

But she wouldn't.

Faye wanted to know. For once in her life, she wanted to collect her dues.

It didn't matter that everything in her wanted to split.

The numbers continued to rise as Faye continued on down the crowded sidewalk, the heels of her boots clicking neatly on the cement. Closer and closer. Drops of cold water began to fall on her head, seeping through her thick black hair to irritate her scalp. Holding a hand above her head, she began to weave through the crowd.

After a moment, green eyes scanned gold numbers under a large red awning. Faye paused, her heart stopping for a moment. She was there.

Wincing against the rain, she squinted upwards, tracing the straight line of the striking building up at least thirty floors. Lightning cracked, the light reflecting off the seemingly glass structure. As the rain began to fall in sheets, Faye raced forward, stopping when she was safely under the awning.

The soft ringing of a small bell drew Faye's attention. Adjusting her shirt and shrugging further into her old red sweater, she turned to face the noise. A young nun was standing just outside the two large glass doors, ringing a small bell and holding out a basket for donations. It was nearly empty. Almost no one was passing her, choosing instead to avoid the building altogether. An expensive looking crucifix was hanging around the young woman's neck, strung on a strand of fine jade rosary beads.

Faye's eyebrows momentarily stitched, then smoothed as she let out a puff of air and moved forward, her eyes focused on the door. The movement attracted the attention of the beautiful clergy woman by the doors. Fierce lavender eyes turned to Faye.

Suddenly, a body came between the woman and the door.

It was the nun.

"Please daughter," She was saying, "Turn away from this tower of sin," Her voice was calm and smooth, eyes burning into Faye.

Faye quirked an eyebrow. "What?" She said flatly.

"Don't let these heathens feast on your immortal soul. There is still time for salvation." The nun urged sternly.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Is a life of lust and aimless pleasure worth an eternity of damnation? Give not your body to these men; give not your soul to Lucifer."

Rolling her eyes, Faye moved around the nun, walking quickly to the massive glass doors. As she reached forward, a hand grabbed her arm, pulling her back and around to face the Sister.

"Get off of me!" Faye demanded, jerking away.

"Why are you going so willingly into the hands of Lucifer?" The nun demanded quietly, her amethyst eyes telling a story Faye didn't understand.

"What do you mean?"

"Do you know what they do to girls like you? You'll end up some crackwhore on the corner of Milton Boulevard, turning tricks for ten bucks a pop."

Faye took two steps back, crossing her arms across her chest, alarmed. "What?"

"That's how Lucifer runs his operation! Don't you get it?" The nun was whispering hoarsely, stepping closer to Faye. "Don't go in there. Please. Just don't. In the name of the Lord."

"What kind of nun are you, anyway?" Faye asked, a little alarmed.

"A good one," She replied, crossing her arms and popping a hip. "I'm trying to save my immortal soul here."

"Trust me," Faye said, moving to turn towards the glass doors, "My immortal soul is way beyond saving."

"Wait!" The Sister called out desperately. Faye paused and turned around, and eyebrow cocked.

"What?"

"You have been hurt in the past. But the grace of God is with you now, watching over you. The Lord protects the downtrodden and the weak. Return not to your demonic Shepard."

Faye sighed, deflating slightly. She was getting tired, considering going back to the Bebop. Changing Jet's diapers didn't sound so bad right now. "Look, I'm just here to see someone. If you really want me to, I'll hit confessional on my way home." She said, only a little sarcastic.

The nun made eye contact with Faye and kept it, purple searching green. What the younger woman found was enough to make her furrow her sleek brow.

"You don't think you're coming out, do you?" She said quietly.

Faye smiled grimly and shrugged one shoulder. A moment of silence passed as the Sister continued searching Faye's eyes.

"Whatever path you take," She said, moving her beautiful hands up to the crucifix that hung around her neck and wrapping the chain around her hand, "Go with God." She pulled and the chain snapped. Magnificent rosary beads fell and scattered, dropping to the carpet, rolling underfoot. The crucifix was left in the nun's hand, blinking in the soft light from the streetlamps.

Faye furrowed her brow as the nun took her hand and slid the necklace into her palm, closing her fingers around it. As the Sister's arms dropped to her sides, Faye opened her palm, revealing the amazing crucifix. An eyebrow went up. Platinum. Shrugging it off, she glanced up at the nun.

"Don't you think I should stay where I'm better acquainted?"

The young clergywoman laughed and shook her head, turning to go. Just as the Sister was about to step out into the rain, she turned back.

"If you believe, the lord will be with you."

Faye nodded, and the nun was lost to the crowd.

Shaking her head, Faye tucked the crucifix into her pocket. She could always sell it later if she was in a jam. But right now, she had someone to see.

And no God would be able to help her now.

A/N: No propaganda intended here. I just wanted to add a nun. Remeber her! She will play a VERY important roal MUCH later on. hint hint nudge nuge wink wink Moving on. The next chapter will be called Bang Bang You're Dead. I think that says a lot about the content.

Until next time, rock on!

Love:)