Hey you guys! I'm soooooo sooo sorry about the delay, that's why I'm posting this ASAP. So please disregard any spelling errors or error of words or something. Muahz! Thanks I knew you guys would understand. Well without further ado I present another chapter (not the last) of this story! Enjoy!

Tears Of The Angels

A single drop landed on her hand and she quickly brushed it away, unsure of whether it was her tears of the rain itself. It had been a few days since the incident, and Faye had spent each of her days outside on the dock of the ship, rain or shine… today being particularly rainy. Spike and Jet had left her to herself, only asking her presence for food, or to insist that she got some sleep. It was a side they had never seen of Faye, and it did nothing more than frighten them all. Even to the point that Ed had kept quiet around her. Of course this had not tickled her fancy at all. It only served to plunge her into a deeper depression, promising she would never be herself again, that is, if she were ever really someone to begin with.

She shivered as a drop slid down her back, tickling her softly as it finally disappeared into the soft folds of her yellow shorts. Normally she would have been mad about it, she hated rain and being wet. She despised its shape, form and anything having to do with it… if it was cold. But today, she happily embraced it, sitting in its depths until she was soaked, her hair a matted mess and her clothes a hanging heap. It somehow soothed her, made her erase her pains, even if it was for just a little bit of time. It could possibly be the message it held for her, the "tears of the angels" keeping her safe and taking care of her for the past few weeks. It could possibly be that it reminded her of her past, her mother and father tugging on rain coats and jumping in puddles. But more than likely, it reminded her of Spike. It was calm and fluid, sad and pained, yet full of life and glory. It was everything that Spike was, only without the loud mouth and the proud walk, although it did seem to fall without concern for others.

She pulled her legs to her chest, and sighed heavily as a soft cough left her slightly blue lips. She felt cold, felt warm, felt sick, felt well. She felt confused and alone, and yet full of life an happy. The whole ordeal had left her without her past, her mother warning her to never turn back, never look that way again. At the same time, it left her a future, Spike, and her friends, waiting on the ship for her to return to their side, their smiles and sarcastic ways always welcoming her and in a small way thanking her for being there. She had a place to go home to, a place to move on from, but for now, she wanted to hang in the middle, reflect upon herself and her struggles, before she continued to bring hell to the Bebop crew. Smiling softly to herself she cast her glance upwards and allowed the sweet fall of the rain to shadow her face, and caress her soft skin. She was where she wanted to be. Finally… she was where she wanted to be.

Faye?

The voice caught her off guard, and pulled her from her "happy place" She was angry and at the same time grateful. It was lonely being by herself sometimes.

Faye, It's a bit too cold for you to be out here, don't you think? If you're trying to kill yourself maybe you should at least wait until we take out an insurance policy.

You'd like that, wouldn't you Spiegel.

I don't have a problem with it if that's what you're asking.

He was standing behind her, her back to him as he spoke to her, his left hand bandaged and his right hand wielding a half smoked cigarette, one of the last on the ship.

You look paler than usual, maybe you should come inside. You know if you track any germs in here Jet would have a fit.

Let him, I'm happier out here anyway.

Spike nodded in agreement with her. The air was always crisp and invigorating, the water was calming and soothing. If no one else, he understood how peaceful it was out here. Its where he preferred to train, and where he spent lazy afternoons when someone was bitching and moaning. Sighing heavily, he made his way into the heavy downpour and proceeded to sit beside Faye and glance out over the horizon, his cigarette being put out only seconds after he was seated.

You know Jet's not angry with you about what happened. As a matter of fact the head on that bounty will keep us fed for quite a few more weeks. So you can stop torturing yourself and come back inside, Faye.

I honestly didn't know it to be your business Spike, but for the record I'm not torturing myself.

Well Jet seems to be worried sick about you. You're gonna give that old man a heart attack, along with whatever sickness you bring back into the ship at dinner time.

If you're that worried about getting sick, then stay away from me Spike.

Spike's face splashed with surprised, but was easily returned to his normal hard to read state. She had been blunt, and who was he to be passive? Stubborn she was, and stubborn he would return.

All right Faye, done deal.

Standing quickly, he dusted his pants off, took the cigarette out his mouth and placed it in his coat pocket. Without another word his hands followed the cigarette into the pockets and turned on his heels to walk inside. Before he made it that far he felt a soft hand grasp his, and a small whimper leave her lips

No, Spike wait!

He turned and glanced at her, his shock obvious in the reflection of her eyes. Just as quickly as she grabbed his hand she left go, her face turned away in both shame and embarrassment. What…what's up with her? Both their hands fell to their sides, and a thick silence hung in the air until she muttered something softly to him.

I'm sorry.

Spike sighed heavily, she had changed a lot more than he had ever given her credit for. It both scared and interested him. He cared for what she had been, but what was she about to become? Just then a drop had fallen on his face, dripping into his eyes and stinging him more than he would ever admit. He could find out later, right now they should get inside.

Faye, come on inside. Lets get you out of those clothes, and out this rain.

Spike, I.

Come on Faye. We'll talk inside.

Faye nodded quietly and took his hand. His hands were gentle she had to note, and it made her reminisce of the times they had spent together. How sweet he had been when they were…ahem together. The look on his face, the gleam in his eyes. She missed it all, and at the same time, refused to allow herself a part of it. She had run off, and now, she must live with her decision, even if it meant seeing him everyday and never really being able to be with him. She would take it with a smile, and pray they each would find someone for themselves in the near future. Nodding silently to no one other than herself, she allowed his warm to snake around her back, and usher her out of the pouring rain.

It didn't take long for him to get her inside of her room, but it felt like hours dragging along. The stares she had received from both Ed and Jet made her feel as if she had been a walking plague. The words they both said landed on her ears without a sound, especially the ones that Spike had replied back, a wave of his hand dismissing them from the scene of the two walking in, soaking wet. She felt like a stranger, like someone who no longer belonged on the ship she called home for the past… well, the past amount of time she had been on it. However long it was, she didn't remember, nor did she care to. She just wanted to stay put, and be surrounded by the people she cared about, she wanted to belong.

Her room had been changed since the last time she remembered it. Spotlessly cleaned aside from the red hair and brown shedding from two of her roommates. It had been a while since she seen her room like this and she took a second to remember, how large it had looked and how clean and neat. It must have been so long ago, maybe decades. On her dresser by her large bed, was her tiny box, filled with things she kept to herself and cherished most, mostly documents and things that had been sealed for her in the capsule. Her mother's wedding ring, her father's pipe. Valueless things that she would fight an entire galaxy to keep.

The rain had soaked her hair and slowly the water that had stayed planted on her head began to run down into her face, making her look almost as if she had been crying, weeping for something. She raised her hand to wipe away the water, her free arm wrapping around her body for warmth. She had returned inside the warm Bebop, but the water on her skin had attracted cold like a moth to a flame. She shivered three times before she heard an alarmed voice dig into her eardrums.

What the hell are you doing Faye! Are you trying to kill yourself? Get out of those wet clothes before we really have to take out a policy on you!

His tone of voice was all too shocking, a temper raised that she had never heard quite before from him. She wanted to move, but her body froze, her mind stuck like a deer caught in head lights. Her arms fell to her side and she stared blankly at him before he walked towards her, huffing and deciding he'd better handle this himself.

He had watched her these past few days, her body growing frail and tired as she continued to deny herself her presence on the Bebop. It was almost like she was torturing herself, and he hated it. She had grown so tiny, her skin so pale and frail. She looked unnatural, unreal. Like… an angel. Yeah, like an angel fallen from the grace of god. In the dark is where the angels cry right? When he felt her hand, there was no strength left in it. And it had worried him more than her appearance itself. She was dripping on the carpet her body visually shivering with every second that past. If he didn't get her out those clothes she would catch her death, and who better to do it than him... cause she obviously wasn't doing it.

It didn't take him long to reach her, his hands grabbing her gently and pulling her to him quickly. Her mouth released a gasp more than likely from shock, than pain, as his hands quickly went to her blouse. The buttons released easily and her yellow belly shirt dropping to the floor in a splat. She felt awkward standing there in front him, and her hands went up to cover herself quickly. Spike obviously paid her no mind, his focus on warming her up, as he quickly began to release the buttons on her shorts.

His hands felt so warm, and his touch was light and gentle, just how she had always remembered it. A soft sigh left her lips, and she leaned forward her head resting on his shoulders, and he bent over slightly trying to work the buttons. His neck felt as snug as it always had, his soft, wet fuzzy hair, brushing gently against her face. she closed her eyes, and released her arms from around her body, wrapping them around his broad shoulders. She felt her shorts and panties fall to the ground, but she was far too gone to care. She had missed her Spike so much, his warm touch, her fatigued body. He was here, and she was here… and…. They were there. Her lips ran across his neck gently, and she felt his muscles tense and release. His hands, that had fallen to his side were suddenly holding her waist, steadying her saying body. But she would have never known that of course. All she knew was the prize of his lips, as she stood on her tiptoes and pressed her lips against his. The feeling was warm, her cool lips being soothed and brushed against his, the moisture in both setting off firecrackers in their minds. Her heart had skipped several beets as she melted in his arms, her body pressing against the folds of his wet dress shirt and pants, both body tense and hard against each other. She missed this feeling, missed the feeling of him. He needed to know right? She wanted to spread it everywhere. Let the world know, starting with him. She pulled her lips back slowly, and glanced into his eyes, her body shivering and shaking unsteadily in his arms. They gleamed, with mystery and danger, causing her heart to beat even faster. She felt her lids become heavy, and her mind begin to sink. Through sparkling parted eyes and plump, blue lips, she whispered her coo, before she went limp in his arm, her body being fully supported by him.

Cowboy…

She had tossed and turned through the hours of her sleep, her soft yellow quilt a long ago memory, with her white pillows on the floor. Her skin had burned from the fever she yielded and her head was covered with small droplets of sweat. She coughed violently, feeling as if her lungs were closing around her, a burning liquid slipping down her esophagus. She opened her mouth to cry, but instead gulped a large portion of air, her mind whirling in a sea of confusion and pain. What was happening.. what was going on? She tried to move her arms, but they were stuck. Again she forced herself to move but to no avail, she remained still. She began to panic, the pain and nausea overwhelming her until she opened her mouth to scream and with one final push, threw herself into a wave of consciousness.

The room had been silent except for a window on her left side, open with the curtains waving with the wind. The moon hung high in the sky, as it was obviously midnight, inside her tiny room. She noted her body dressed in one of her tattered t-shirts, a memory of her gambling fun on mars, just moments before she blew the entire casino to smithereens. She felt nothing else on her form, no panties, or bra and she blushed slightly as the free feeling she felt no real lady should ever have to encounter. Unless of course you were a cowgirl. Her sheets were gone, on the floor, her pillow along side it in the darkness. she wanted to reach over to grab the covers, her mind harboring a strong headache and begging her to return to the sleep she had just awakened from. Instead, she remained unmoving, a small whimper slipping from her lips at her sudden uselessness. She couldn't move. Could barely see, and couldn't speak at all. What was going on, what happened? She started to panic again, but it was quickly cast aside as she felt a wave of sickness rush into every nch of her being. Her head began to pound and her body felt a large wave of fire rushing through it. Her stomach felt like it was churning lead, and her limbs felt weak and tired. She fell back softly onto the mattress, the fitted sheets happily welcoming her back to its arms. She felt another whimper remove her lips before she saw a movement in the corner of the room.

What the hell was that? Oh God tell her she wasn't having another dream. It moved again. On second thought, please let it be a dream. She heard shuffling and cursing, a body moving quickly and quietly towards her. She wanted to scream, to yell but her body wouldn't cooperate. Suddenly the being was upon her, its hand falling heavy on her head and pressing her back into the bed. Suddenly her body had regained its composure and she screamed, her arms and legs flaring. The being placed its hands over her mouth, and took her arms in his hand easily and pinned it over her head. She felt fear overwhelm her and tears spring into her eyes until the door swung open, Jet making appearance known, and sending a light throughout the room.

Jet in no time had swung a broomstick into her attacker's head without really thinking what he was doing. It had been one of those seconds where everything happens at once, and you have little time to think. If he had had time for a thought he would have realized it was Spike leaning over her. Now, Spike was merely reduced to a screaming banshee his hand cradling the bleeding wound on his head as he rolled back and forth on the bottom of her bed.

GOD DAMNIT SPIKE! Don't you know better than to rape a sick female!

GOD JETTT! I wasn't raping anyone! I was trying to shut her the hell up before she woke up the whole damn ship!

Well next time maybe you should try a different way!

Maybe next time you should stop and look before you break something over someone's goddamn head!

Jet snarled at him, his nerves still jittered as he glanced at Faye, who was obviously still in shock from the scene. Shaking his head angrily, he turned from the room and stormed off into the hallway, slamming Faye's bedroom door behind him.

The two sat in silence for a minute or two, Faye breathing deeply in and out and spike rubbing a small bleeding cut on his forehead. She glanced up at him once she had finally calmed down, and her eyes turned away in disgust. The cut was really bad looking, the skin split in half, tissue slipping around a small white portion of bone. It was throbbing obviously, and he looked to be in serious pain. She opened her mouth to offer help, but instead she closed it, her stomach disagreeing with her entirely. God damnit, why did she have to be sick at a time like this? Spike was obviously in dire need of some assistance on his head, and she couldn't even settle her stomach to help him. Her hands fell to her white T-shirt, pulling softly at its edge running against her thigh. No, Spike needed her right? He had helped her many times… well, enough to be considered a friend right? Stomach or no stomach she would fix his cut for him.

She stood up slowly, her legs weak from a obviously long sleep, and shook her arms and body out gently. She had a medical kit in her room, often turning to it to hide the wounds that no one had known about, from her various fights. It didn't take long for her shapely legs to get her across the room, retrieving the medical kit from behind the VCR, a spot that was both too obvious, and too ridiculous to be found by anyone else. With a deep breathe she turned to treat Spike disgusting looking head when she found herself face to face with the grinning lunkhead.

And what exactly do you plan on doing with that Faye?

She was caught off guard and sputtered for a few moments before she produced an answer, obviously not up to her usual standards of smart ass remarks.

I was gonna…help you with your cut.

You can't even look at it straight, the most you'd do is drop something in there.

Faye cringed at the thought. She had seen blood and things of the sort before, yuck, it still looked disgusting. Shaking her head and averting her eyes to his and away from the massive cut on his head she retorted his own smart-ass remark.

Its you I can't look at straight. That thing on your head actually looks more appealing than you do!

Oh? Is that so? Then look at it Faye.

He took a step forward, his body daring her silently. Too bad she couldn't keep herself composed. She stumbled back, the sight causing an uproar in her throat, and causing the medical kit to drop on the floor, surprisingly, its contents still tightly sealed inside. Shaking his head, spike bent down and picked up the white case himself, and walked away towards her bedroom mirror by her bed.

Forget it Romani, I got it. Just go back to bed or something. You really shouldn't be up you know. There's still a lot of heat generating of you.

Faye shook her head suddenly realizing her body was slumped against the T.V and table. Standing she stared and watched him as he cleaned and dressed his own cut, sealing it shut with a needle and thread. He looked as if, he had done it many times before, his own hands not shaking the way hers did when she did the terrible task. His hand was still wrapped, up tight from the impact of the mallet. She cringed to herself when she heard the gruesome details of the attack, Spike wearing it like a badge, loud and proud. She felt weird being back here. Her mind looking at things differently. Cuts and bruises she was fine with before, hell she even sported her mishaps like a tiara, signs of her past and present battles. But suddenly, she became ashamed of it all. Her mother had told her never to return right? Maybe that meant stay away from the Bebop too? There were so many things she used to do she knew she no longer could, and yet, she yearned to return to the life she had known, the difficult yet exhilarating fast paced life she had seen the past few years with her "new family" here on the Bebop.

A hand moved through the air silently, and touched her warm cheek, a single finger caressing her gently. Her skin was like the warmest silk, her eyes shocked to find that he had crossed the room so quickly. Her lips parted in a shocked gasp, but were quickly claimed by his, his mouth hungrily claiming her as his own. Normally she would have fought him, said something against him, but she felt herself melt against him, her hands rising to his chest and her lips parting against his own. It was that touch, that feel of him that she had missed so much. His warmth his smell, the way it all rushed back had overwhelmed her in a way she had forgotten was possible. Love? Is this… love?

Heyyy my guys! Sorry to stop here! But I promise a Lemon in the last chapter. I predict one or two ending chapters after this. Sorry it took so damn long for me to get this up. As a matter of fact I don't even like what I wrote here and wanted to start all over again but that would take another few months. I'm sooo sorry you guys! Forgive me! I hope you like it, feedback is appreciated. If enough dislike it I'll write it over, promise! Muahz I got to go, lots of work to handle. See ya!