Disclaimer: Not mine
Run
Faye took a few uneasy steps backwards, as the blood from their wounds dotted her face and body. The three men seemed to teeter on the edge of the living and the dead as they circled around and around. Finally they fell, their bodies making a horrendously large noise. Faye instinctively bent down to their level and checked their pulses.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm checking if they're alive." Faye looked up. That person was the one who killed these three! "You murd..." The words fell from her lips as she took in the sight before her. Spike stood there inspecting the gun that was still in his hand. He was dressed in a new trench coat and a blue suit with a yellow shirt. Faye regained her bearings.
"You idiot! You killed them!" Spike looked up from his inspection with a confused look on his face. "You're getting mad at me for killing the people who tried to kill you?"
Faye suddenly realized how silly she sounded. "Vicious is after you for keeping me alive. We need to get out of here." Faye nodded dumbly and stood up, looking for her coat, scarf, 'Nurse bag,' a large bed sheet, a towel to wipe her face with and something quick to eat. Faye covered the bodies of the three dead men with the bed sheet, giving them a silent prayer while at it.
Once Faye had grabbed the other items, she ran to a drawer in her kitchen from where she retrieved her hospital ID, keys to her apartment and a few other miscellaneous items. Spike raised an eyebrow when he noticed the keys.
"You really think you're gonna be back here?" Faye looked at him skeptically.
"Of course you lunkhead. I live here." Spike shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly and began walking down the steps towards the parking lot. Faye followed him, locking the door to her apartment behind her. The car that Spike was driving seemed familiar to Faye, in an odd sort of way. She eyed it as she made her way towards it, prompting a comment from Spike.
"You never seen a car before?"
"I have. It's just that this one seems familiar."
"All Red Dragon cars are alike. I would've brought my Swordfish but it only seats one." Faye was about to ask why he was driving a fish but then thought better of it. She was lost, really lost in his world.
"Oh. Why'd they come after me?" Faye slid into the leather seat of the car, taking a deep breath to calm her nerves.
"I told you-"
"No! I know it's because I kept you alive, but why aren't they following the SNG?"
"Syndicate Nurse Guidelines? Damn, you ask a lot of questions."
"I'm a questioning girl. Now answer." Faye retorted. Spike let out a wry laugh and began to steer with one elbow, using his hands to light a cigarette. After taking a deep drag, he answered Faye's question.
"The guidelines protect you from other syndicates which would've, under normal circumstances, probably shot you dead on the spot for going to other syndicates. Vicious would've followed the guidelines because no syndicate wants to draw the ISSP to them in more than one way but I'm alive. And healthy. And that's one thing we don't want." Faye crinkled her nose at the way Spike intentionally blew the smoke in her direction. She rolled down the window.
"What are you talking about?"
"Nothing. Just shut up and let me drive."
"No. I want you to answer my question."
"Like I said, you ask too many of them."
"Because I want answers, dammit!"
"Someone's gotta temper." He was laughing at her! Faye huffed and snatched his cigarette away, jamming it in between her lips. She smiled gloatingly at him.
"Give that back! It was my last one!" Spike tried reaching over and grabbing the cigarette from Faye's lips but Faye anticipated his move. She moved her head to the side, so the cigarette literally dangled outside the window.
"If you want it, give me answers." Sucking in, Faye watched the tip of the cigarette glow a dusky orange. As she exhaled, she made sure to release the toxic air in Spike's direction. He shot her a dirty look before smiling wickedly. Faye cocked her head to the side confusedly. She found out soon enough.
Spike slammed down on the brakes, causing Faye to pitch forward and open her mouth in a silent scream. The cigarette went flying, right out the conveniently opened window. It landed in a nearby puddle. Faye whirled on him.
"That was a good cig!"
"Your fault for gaping like fish when all I did was put the brakes on!"
"I did not gape like a fish! I opened my mouth in surprise!"
"Same thing. And now you've gone and drowned my last one. Damn you are annoying." He ran a hand through his hair before beginning to drive again. The two managed to keep silent for about three more minutes when Spike cursed loudly and made a sharp left turn, once again forcing Faye to another side of the car.
"What the hell was that for?!"
"They're following us." That was all Spike had time to say before a gunshot echoed off the buildings around them. Faye only had time to see the headlights of the car before Spike's hand forced her down.
"What's going on?"
"They're trying to kill us. When I tell you to, get to the back and stay down. Grab your crap too. We'll be leaving this piece of shit soon." Faye bundled up all of her items and held them close to her chest, waiting for Spike to give her the go-ahead. During her time crouched down in the passenger seat, Faye experienced a multitude of different swinging sensations, as well as those that were new to her ear, seeing as Spike would periodically swerve quickly to right or left, causing the wheels to screech loudly.
"Okay! Now!" Spike yelled. Faye unbuckled herself hastily and threw herself into the back. She cowered on the floor as she watched Spike load his gun while driving with his elbow again. Rolling down his window, Spike made an ear-deafening u-turn in the middle of the street and then began rapidly setting bullets onto the other car. Faye heard the car accelerate and heard the small yet unmistakable sound of bullets connecting with flesh.
"Spike!" Faye peered through the cavity in between the two front seats but Spike wasn't paying any attention to her. Once again, he was reloading his gun, twisting his arm backwards and firing at the car behind them. After a few seconds of silence, Faye thought that he had gotten them but she was mistaken.
The back windshield exploded with the force of the bullet and Faye could hear Spike's distinctive tones swearing colorfully. Faye shook herself to shake the glass that lay on her body to the floor. Spike glanced back at her. He shuffled around a bit and then threw something at her. Faye caught it and her eyes became as wide as Saturn's rings.
"Holy Jupiter! Why did you give me this?" Spike threw a cocky smirk at her and pointed his gun through the broken windshield, letting off three successive bullets. Faye got the message but she wasn't ready to give the message. Looking down at the gun in her hands, Faye swallowed and got up, using the gun in her possession to swipe the glass away.
Wind was whipping wildly, causing Faye's violet tresses to obstruct her view. She sat up, in clear view of the gunners from behind. She was about to fire when she felt a hand force her down.
"What do you think you're doing? They could've killed you just now! Try and find some cover!" Spike reprimanded, still driving.
Faye nodded numbly and crouched down on her knees instead of standing up fully on them. She took a peak at the syndicate men ahead of her and let off a bullet. Faye ducked down again, breathing deeply. She'd just shot at something! A large, almost explosion-like sound filled the air. It didn't stop there. A screeching filled the night, akin to the screeching of the tires when Spike made drastic turns. But this one was different. Faye took a peek again but was forced back down when she heard guns go off.
After a few alternating sounds of bullets hitting either the trunk or the seats inside, Faye looked out again. There were sparks being emitted from the front tire! Rejoicing silently at her excellent aim, Faye fired off another bullet, narrowly missing the warmonger in the passenger seat.
"Get the driver!" Spike shouted, causing Faye to shoot a bullet into the canopy of the car out of sheer surprise. "Fuck, I'm stuck with an amateur." Spike muttered.
Faye was about to fire off a smart retort when another volley of gunshots was heard. Waiting until they were over, she then hunkered up and let off two more bullets. The unmistakable sound of a crashing car was heard instantly. Faye popped her head up without caution and saw that the syndicate car had crashed into a civilian car, engulfing the syndicate car in flames.
Disgusted, Faye threw down the gun and began dusting the glass off of herself. She'd just helped cause the death of an innocent man, woman or family. Making her way into the front seat, Faye handed the gun back to Spike who silently took it and pocketed it in his trench coat. Faye turned away and sat there thinking.
"How did they know that this was us?"
"This car is a syndicate car. They'll know by that much. They were probably following us ever since we left your apartment. Vicious makes sure that things are done properly so he sends more than the needed amount."
"Oh." Spike slowed down and began driving at a leisurely pace, acting as if he was looking for something. There was no indication in his demeanor that he'd just had to fight for his life.
"You got shot, didn't you." It wasn't a question. Spike let his eyes slide towards Faye who was staring out the window.
"Yeah. I always get shot." Spike said. "I'll take a look at it later."
"So will I." Faye left no room for argument. She turned to another subject.
"You're a lot different than from what I remember."
"You shouldn't be talking."
"Yeah well, I always knew I wanted to be a nurse. You didn't strike me as the type who'd join a syndicate."
"Times change and so do people." Faye turned her head to look at Spike.
"It was those people, wasn't it? The ones who came to get you after...after..." Faye didn't need to finish her sentence. They both knew what she was alluding to.
"Yeah." Faye stared at him.
"Aren't you going to tell me what happened?"
"No." Faye looked at Spike incredulously and shifted in her seat so that she was now fully facing him.
"You're not going to tell me?"
"Nope."
"Lunkhead."
"Same to you." Faye shook her head sadly and turned away again. A solemn, almost depressing air had fallen over her. This wasn't her world. She wasn't supposed to be shooting at people and she sure as hell wasn't supposed to be here, ready to open her heart to her changed friend.
"Once you left," Faye began softly, "the ISSP came. They wouldn't tell me how or why the houses caught on fire. None of my relatives were alive...but you already knew that." Spike didn't seem like he was listening but Faye continued. She needed to get this off her chest. "An officer with the ISSP saw me crying and decided to take me in. My parents hadn't left a will. Your parents did but you were gone so they haven't done anything with your stuff yet.
"The officer's name was Jet Black and he took me in. He became my father and he got me through school and everything. I'm thankful for that. But I haven't thanked him yet. All I do is take advantage of his kooky kindness." Faye's lips quirked upwards at that. Wasn't everyday you got to meet someone like Jet. He was odd, as was his way of showing love. But Faye didn't mind. "I never did get to know how our parents died. I always thought that maybe it was because our fathers worked in the microbiology field and so one of their cultured experiments must have reacted violently with the heat they were under. But I guess I'll never know."
Faye fell silent, aware that Spike had slowed down. He seemed to want to know why their parents died. So he didn't know either. Faye sighed and shifted her weight once again. She had thought that maybe he would know. The minutes passed by during which a relaxed silence sat in the air. The two had failed to notice how comfortable they were with each other.
Spike soon came to a stop in a deserted parking lot and got out. Faye followed suit, grabbing her luggage and bustling out of the car. Spike stood there watching her, experimenting with his lighter. On and off. On and off. Faye watched him too, noticing the way the feeble flame from the lighter played on his face.
"Do you have anything flammable in there?" Faye was jolted out of her reverie. She nodded in answer.
"Get it out then." Faye scrambled through her bag and produced a bottle of rubbing alcohol. Handing it to Spike, she stepped back. Spike opened the bottle and splattered the liquid over the seats and other such places.
"Hey! Be careful with that stuff! I only have so much of it!" Spike looked at her and raised an eyebrow. He turned his eyes to the bottle and smirked again. With that, he turned the bottle upside down so that all the liquid inside came gushing out.
Horrified, Faye came rushing forward, and kicked him in the shins. As he doubled over, Faye grabbed the bottle of her precious rubbing alcohol and turned it right-side-up. A little over a third was left. Faye quickly screwed the cap back on. Still angered, Faye turned viciously onto Spike and surprised him when she began attacking him with kicks and punches.
"You idiot! You lunkhead! You retard! This is the only bottle of rubbing alcohol I have left! Argh!" Faye stalked away angrily, to where she had left her baggage abandoned. Stuffing the alcohol back into its pouch, Faye turned to see Spike use his lighter to light the damp areas of the car on fire. Once that was done he jogged over to where a huffy Faye stood.
Unconsciously rubbing where she'd punched him, Spike pushed her out of the way roughly before motioning for her to follow him. Faye straightened herself after the push and stood her ground, tapping her foot.
"I'm not moving from here." Spike turned to look at her, an amused expression settling itself on his face.
"Alright. Suit yourself." Shrugging nonchalantly, Spike made his way to the nearby housing area, filled with brothels and seedy hotels. Faye huffed and did stand her ground, waiting to see how long it took Spike to turn and come for her.
Spike never did turn to see her. He just kept on walking as if he had not a care in the world. Faye picked up her luggage and was about to scream bloody murder when something did for her. The car behind her exploded.
Faye shrieked and ran towards the retreating figure of Spike Speigal. Once she reached him, she used her bag to conk him on the head.
"You could've at least warned me that the car was going to explode!" Spike took a few steps with his long legs to come closer to her until she had to look up at him, anger in her eyes.
"You could've at least used your brains." retorted the offended Spike. "Let's try thinking. Rubbing alcohol, flammable by the way, plus flame plus car equals big boom. Get it?" With that, Spike turned away, bringing a new cigarette to his lips.
"Where'd you get that cig? I thought you were all out!" Faye said accusingly.
"I am." He answered simply. "But you're not." Faye patted herself down and found her pack of cigarettes in her pocket. The stupid theif stole one! "That's mine! Give it back!" Spike lifted the now lit cigarette above her head and stopped, bending down next to her ear.
"You stole mine, I steal yours." Spike said. Faye continued glaring at him before following him into the entrance of a nearby hotel.
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Okay, first off, a huge apology is in order. I really am sorry you guys. I decided that it was foolish of me to work on two fics at one time, both of which had different styles that needed to be used. So I focused on the one that I started first and was closest to finishing...that's right. My other one. I'm really sorry and hope that you are all still here.
Spike is real OOC in this chapter. I don't know how to write him! Please people! Help me out here! Give me some conversations that I could've done differently or something like that! Please!
The Final Fantasy Warrior- Hi! Oops. Sorry. I thought I'd cleared up that issue when I explained the SNG beforehand but I guess not. Real sorry. I hope that I cleared that up now. Thanks for bringing that up. If you catch any more inconsistencies, could you let me know? Thanks.
birdychick-Sorry for the long wait! I love reading your reviews! They just make me so happy! Ahh! I can't stop smiling after I read your reviews. If all my reviewers were like you, then I wouldn't care if I only had four reviews at the end of this whole story. Thank you so much!
Wolf Jade- Man you people are too good. Maybe it's just because I'm so predictable but still. It's fun. How did you like this chapter?
Blooknaburg- The strange thing is, I'm not a doctor in training and nor do I plan to ever be one. But ALL my fics have to do with doctors. Weird, huh? Fluffagony...We'll be seeing that soon. Hopefully in the next chapter but don't take my word for it. I like how I've developed Faye. Her punching Spike is fun! Hehe. Thanks for favoriting me! You're too good at figuring everything out! Sorry this took so long to get out there!
Shaded Emerald-Eyes- Sorry! Had to stop! But I'm back! You guessed right! And Spike and Faye are going to have fun! I'm real sorry for taking so long! Really, really, really!
faye-faye14- Your dream was right! It was Spike and he came to the rescue of our gorgeous heroine Faye! Sorry about not updating soon. I did come up with some really good ideas though! So no problems!
Thanks you all for your great reviews!