A/N: Don't really think I've got any preliminary things to say, except: Enjoy!

I'm crossin' that bridge
With lessons I've learned…

"So, ever going to tell me how you lost you eye, Spike?" Vicious asked of his partner, one day out of the blue.

The two young men where sitting around the table, eating a light lunch of turkey sandwiches and beer. It wasn't an everyday thing to ask each other about their past. If it wasn't offered, then it wasn't asked.

"Huh? Why do you wanna know?" Spike questioned, a bit caught off guard.

"Hmm? I dunno. I guess it would be interesting to know. That, and Julia has asked me about it was well."

"Really? Well, the story isn't that amazing."

"So? Tell me anyway."

With a shrug, Spike began the story.

"Let's see…I was 19. I got into a really bad street fight with the biggest gang in Lenox. Turns out I was hitting on one of their girls and they got butt hurt and decided to take me out. They jumped me, beat me up real bad, and then they were going to kill me.

"Um…the cops came and there was a big shoot out and then someone grabbed me and pulled me into an alleyway. Essentially, they saved my ass. I ended up in the hospital and the doctors told me that I had actually been grazed just under my eye by a bullet and due to the damage; they had to take my eye out and give me a new one.

"They were low on cybernetic eyes and I was low on insurance, so I got this model, which isn't perfect. In sight or color. But eh, it works."

"Why don't you get a new one? The Syndicate will pay for it," Vicious asked him.

"I dunno. I've gotten used to it, I guess."

"Fair enough. So, you don't know who grabbed you that night?"

"Eh. It's a mystery to me. What's also strange is that my hospital bill was paid off in full as well. And a couple of months later, you showed up at my door in the middle of the night. That was a weird year for me, now that I think about it."

Spike and Vicious looked at each other and then laughed.

"You're right, Spiegel: that story wasn't very interesting."

I'm playing with fire
And not getting burned...

"So," Spike began, "Since we're getting to know each other…when did you start doing drugs?"

"Who says I use?" Vicious calmly asked.

"No one. But I've seen you're bloodshot eyes quite a few times. Not to mention your jitters every now and then."

"You really are observant, aren't you, dick?"

"Yeah, I guess so."

"Well, it's not that amazing of a story."

"So? Spill it anyway."

"Uh huh…well…I think I was 15. Yeah, it was my birthday, in fact. My family spent the day at my brother's football game. I opted to stay home and throw my own party. I had gotten some crystal from some junkie at school, and I figured that I might as well go for it. Happy birthday to me, indeed.

"After that, it got increasingly easy to get over the burn and everything. So, it became a weekly habit. Nothing too big. I never became dependent or anything, it was just something to fall back on, I guess.

"When I got involved in the Syndicate, that's when I experimented with Bloody Eye. It was an interesting feeling. It was like everything was advanced and I liked the way that felt. But like I said, I'm not dependent or anything."

"Ever thought about rehab?" Spike honestly questioned.

"No. Once again, like I said: I'm. not. dependent."

"Fair enough. So, did your parents ever find out about your little birthday gift to you?"

"Yeah. My dad found some stuff in my room and got really pissed about it. He yelled at me. He threatened me, then he got fed up and decided he was going to send me to some troubled kid school, then send me to the military. That wasn't what I wanted with my life, so I killed the driver that was taking me to the school, I escaped and I came to the Dragons."

Once again, the two comrades looked at each other. After a tense second to let it all soak in, they laughed once more.

"You're right, V: that story wasn't that amazing."

I may not know what you're going through…

"So Spike," Julia began, "Are you sure we should be doing this?"

"Geez, Julia, we're just going to get a burger. It's not like we're doing anything wrong."

"Yeah, I know, but still…"

"Just get in the car, Christ."

Spike and Julia sped off to Martian Joe's, hoping that he could still get a discount, even though never showed up for work that morning, almost three years ago. The pair where eventually going to meet up with Vicious at the pool hall, but while they waited for him to get out of his meeting with the Elders, they got hungry.

Finding nothing wrong with the situation, Spike suggested a quick bite. Julia, on the other hand, was quite skeptical. It was like she was expecting something to happen, but Spike only wanted to eat.

"See, I told you we were just gonna get some food. You worry too much about what your precious Vicious will think," Spike scoffed as they headed into Mickey's Pool Place.

"Well, he has been known to be a bit jealous at times," Julia giggled.

"Why in the hell would he be jealous of me?"

They entered the bar and were greeted by an upset Red Dragon.

"Geez, V, they put you through the ringer, eh?" Spike asked, easily noticing that Vicious' meeting with the Elders went terrible, as expected.

"Shut it, and break already!" Vicious bit out as he tossed a cue at Spike.

But time is the space between me and you…

"So, what happened in there?" Spike asked, truly concerned for his friend.

"What do you think happened?" Vicious fumed as he missed the nine ball.

"Sorry, bud…but you know they're just a bunch of old, wrinkly shits. Don't worry about them, they're not worth you're time," Spike did his best to console, without seeming too concerned.

"Yeah, Vicious," Julia began as she placed a hand on his arm. "I love you, so that's all that should really matter."

Vicious let her kiss him and he relaxed a bit more. All he really needed was he best friend and his woman. That was definitely something to look forward to in his life.

"Yeah, I guess you're right," he said, as he sunk that damn nine ball.

"I'll go get us some beers," Julia called out as she headed to the bar.

"That's some woman you got, V."

"Yeah, I guess so," he retorted, less than enthused.

"Hey, do I sense trouble in paradise?"

"I don't know," Vicious sighed as he sat down the pool cue. "She just seems to be preoccupied as of late. I don't know what it is."

"Who knows…women have a habit of being fickle."

"What did you two do while I was…there?"

"Eh, nothin' really. We grabbed something to eat, then came here. No big deal."

"Yeah…hey Spike?" Vicious questioned with a true heir of concern in his voice.

"Yeah, V?"

"Stay away from that woman."

"What? You mean Julia?" Spike asked, trying to keep cool, but finding it difficult.

"Yeah, Julia. She's trouble, and I'd hate to see you get hurt."

"Yeah, sure…whatever you say, V." Spike brushed off as Julia came back with their drinks.

There is a light through that window…

As the game of pool continued, Spike couldn't help but dwell on what Vicious had said. What did he mean by that? His words weren't threatening in any way, so it didn't seem as if Vicious found their flirtatious behave out of the ordinary. But they way he had said that was as if he was warning Spike. But warning him of what?

'Julia can't be that bad, now can she be?' Spike thought. He glanced at her and she gave him a small smile. 'Nah, she can't be,' he concluded.

As the hall began to close down, the trio headed out.

"So, where are we off too now…?" Spike was cut off by Vicious' communicator.

As he answered, a look of pure hatred came over his features.

"Must be the Van again," Spike said to Julia.

"…Fine, I'm on my way," Vicious concluded his call.

"What was that about?"

"They remember they had something to tell me. Guess they're not quite done 'ripping me a new one', as you so eloquently put it, Spike."

"Yeah, whaddaya know?" Spike said. "Sorry, V."

"Just…just take her home," Vicious sighed as he headed towards his car.

"Whatever you say, V," Spike answered.

"And remember, Spike," Vicious said as he turned to face his friend. "Watch out."

'What in the hell does he mean by that!' Spike thought as he headed off to the car.

"Shall we, then?" Spike asked as he held the door open for Julia.

"Sure, Spike, let's go," she said, as she slide into the seat.

Hold on say yes, while people say no…

"Stop…no…I really don't think we should be doing this," came the breathless reply as the powerful kiss was broken.

"Why, don't you want to do this? I've seen the way you look at me."

"Yeah, but what about Vicious?"

"What about him?"

"If he ever found out about this, he'd kill the both of us."

"How would he found out? You're not gonna tell, are you?"

"He's not dumb."

"So he's not. But let's think about the consequences later, shall we? All I want, right now, is you."

"But…" the startled reply was cut off by another powerful kiss.

"I promise it'll be worth you while, Spike," Julia purred as she pulled him in for another kiss.

Needless to say, Spike could have pushed Julia off of him at any time. From the moment she first kissed him until now, he could have stopped her, but he found it quite hard.

'So this is what he meant by 'watch out', Spike thought as she kissed him again.

A/N: And the plot thickens, I suppose. I'll admit, the latter part of this chapter is strictly my own personal feelings towards a blonde assasin. I'm gonna keep it real and say that I don't really like Julia. Why? I dunno, really, there's just something about her. Do I abhor her? No. But it's pretty darn close to that feeling. And oh yeah; THANK YOU! to all of my wonderful reviewers! You guys are awesome and your reviews are not only a confidence booster, they really let me know that this brain-child of mine is not a failure. So, thanks again, and don't forget to hit that button! Unitl next time!