Hey all, the next instalment.

Makoto – Thanks for the review. I hope I don't disappoint. Could I ask want you would want from this fic or even suggestions? Don't worry I don't plan on abandoning it any time soon or ever I've gotta rewrite twelve chapters! Thanks again.

Fever

Family Reunion

"Hmm?" a voice said, "What's going on?"

"Mr Spiegel you've been kept in cryogenic sleep until we could find a compatible way to awaken you. Data shows that you're not like the others. Quite unique apparently." The nurse answered.

"Aren't I supposed to be dead?" Spike slurred his words. His throat was dry and his mind groggy from the meds.

"Yes, but a someone brought you here after they found you half dead. Doctors decided to put you in cryogenic sleep."

"Argh." Spike tried to pull himself up with some difficulty and eventually managed to.

"Your doctor will soon be in to check up on you." She explained "Ah doctor." She said when she walked in. The nurse left him with the doctor.

"Mr Spiegel if I may say so you were quite the challenge." Spike managed to a sarcastic snort. "We'll be able to release you today actually. Your vitals display read-outs as if you've never been put to sleep. An achievement in itself." She smiled excited and proud that she was part of the cause.

"Yeah? How about now?" he asked roughly. Spike made to get up and his legs nearly gave way. The doctor caught him and helped steady himself. Giving into pride Spike decided to use the bed as support. "Where are my clothes?"

"We'll get you some shortly." The doctor did the compulsory check-up. She shone a torch in his eyes, stuck a stick in his mouth and stuck some contraption in both his ears, which started to agitate him. He was starting to get annoyed and just wanted to get out of wherever he was. "You are up to scratch however it would be better for your health to quit smoking. But your lungs are just as good as any's. The cryogenic water filtered the impurities out of you body." The doctor explained.

"Then why quit?" He grumbled "What year is it?"

"2076" the doctor supplied.

"Five years." He said just audibly.

He was not impressed with what the hospital had given to wear. He wore baggy denim jeans, sneakers and some old faded band shirt. He was not impressed at all. He kept tugging at the bottom of the shirt, which just met with the tops of his jeans. His cheeks started to get warm with embarrassment. Spike shielded his eyes from the bright sun but soon adjusted. Having no idea what he should do he started to roam the streets of the city just going where his feet took him. Looking up at the sky he saw a magenta coloured ship fly overhead. "Hey that looks like my ship." Luckily just as this was happening a taxi was nearing which stopped for Spike to get in. The driver gave Spike the once over in the rear-view mirror. Judging by what he was wearing he asked if he had any money. 'Shit' Spike thought. "Uh…no." Luckily Spike was just asked to get out without a gun pointed to face. Reluctantly he got out and watched as the magenta ship started to spiral out of control with smoke billowing out of it and landed or more likely crashed into a clearing in the trees. "Crap." He sighed "Wonder what's wrong with it?"

Ed had jumped out of the smoking mess and promptly started to kick the bottom side of the ship. "YOU PIECE OF FUCKING SHIT." Ed yelled paused and then abruptly screamed in frustration. It had taken her at least 3 hours of labour fixing it...or so she thought. A rustle behind the bushes was heard to her left. By a learnt voluntary reflex she grabbed for her gun from its holster – ready - but strangely enough Ein started to wag his tail and cry trotting over to the sound. "Ein, Ein" Ed continued to whisper loudly. "Who's there?" Ed said firmly.

Spike cursed himself for not being stealthier. From what he could see some stranger in a white long coat, which peeked a very tight top and jeans. What caught him was the hair. It was so fiery. That was the word he had settled on. When she pointed the gun in his direction he felt himself put his hands up. 'What the hell Spike what are you doing?' Thinking it stupid he put them down and walked out from the bushes his hands in his pockets.

Someone emerged, someone that Ed thought looked very familiar. The sun was setting in front of her distorting her view, but she would never forget his face. "Spike?" Ed so shocked her voice wavered. "Who are you and how did you get my ship?" Spike said firmly ignoring the gun. Ed lowered her gun. "Spike, it's me. Don't you remember me?" Ed hoped he would. For the love of God she hoped he would. Spike thought for a moment hard and as quickly as possible. "No." Hurt seeped through every pore of Ed's body. Tears sprung to her eyes, but she held them back.

"Do you remember the Bebop? Faye and Jet?" Ed tested whether he remembered anything.

"Yeah. I remember them." Ed nodded slowly.

"Do you remember Ein and Ed?" This time it took a little longer and it hurt a little more too for Ed. But the response was the same as the last.

"Yeah I remember them. But how do you know all this? And you still haven't answered my question. Why do you have my ship?" Spike tried to keep calm, although he was losing his patience. If this is the Swordfish Jet will be very sorry that he sold it. Ed put her gun back in its holster and walked up to Spike. "Long time no see Spike. Too bad you don't recognise me. It's Ed. At the time the Bebop didn't have any money to spare for another ship so I'm using yours." Ed had a huge smile or maybe you could describe it as a grin plastered on her face. She was excited and all giddy. She stopped right in front of him and gave him the hugest bear hug one could possibly expect from someone like her. She noticed unfortunately that it wasn't returned. "Ed?" Spike said slowly his face scrunched up.

"Yes Spike."

"You've changed." He looked her up and down "A lot. No more Spike-person too." He observed. Ed just kept on smiling and shook her head no. Ein barked feeling somewhat left out. "Hey Ein." Spike bent down patting him on the head. Never thought I'd miss a dog he thought. "So you're alive." It made the situation feel a lot more real to her by saying it.

"Yeah, cryogenics."

"Oh…When were you reawakened?" Ed asked.

"This afternoon."

"Oh." Ed seemed speechless really. She hadn't much else to say really. After a couple of awkward silent moments Spike broke it. "So how's Jet and Faye? And the Bebop?"

"They're fine. Just like they were five years ago."

"Looks like you're the only one who's changed."

"Yeah I guess so."

"So how long are we going to be here for?" Spike looked up at the ship.

"Hopefully we'll be leaving noon tomorrow."

"Well I'm gonna get some sleep. 'Nite." Spike stretched himself on a piece of grass and dozed off.

"Good night Spike." On the other hand Ed didn't get a moments wink of sleep. For some reason she cried. Maybe because she was overwhelmed or maybe because Spike didn't seem all that thrilled to see her. She had their reunion planned out differently…much more differently.

The next day Spike found a note written in neat cursive writing beside him that read:

Spike,

Gone to get supplies.

Ed.

"Well it's a big improvement from the chicken scrawl." Spike yawned deeply and noticed Ein by his side. He took off Ed's coat, which she must have put on him during the night. About fifteen minutes later Ed came back with two bags filled with food and a box full of parts she needed to repair the ship. "Morning'" Spike greeted Ed.

"Good morning Spike. How do you feel?"

"Alright. What you got in these?" he referred to the bags and package.

"These are for you." Handing him the two bags "And these are for the fighter." Spike raised his eyebrows then soon after nearly every packet of food and every bottle of drink were consumed.

"Sure you don't want some?" Spike asked for the second time.

"No thank you." Ed declined preparing to fix the ship. Hmm…she really has changed. She acts normal, speaks normal. Hah, but she's no normal beauty. He admitted to himself. "Oh" Ed searched through one of the bags "I got you this too. Hopefully it's bigger than that shirt you're wearing." He thanked her blushing. Short of staring at her Spike did a mental observation of Ed. She is gorgeous….where the hell did that come from? Ed beautiful, okay, but gorgeous? Long lean legs, shiny hair, nice skin, big gold eyes…and she still has that natural blush…just a soft pink though now. OKAY Spike where is this going? His mind started to fill with thoughts of Ed. Of how different she was compared to the past. Ed was working on the Swordfish and like she had said the day before finished by noon and headed off for the for the Bebop.

Being a one man speed-fighter it became a little more than a tight fit with two bodies and a canine. One particularly memorable event was travelling through some turbulence exiting Mars' atmosphere. The result had Ed and Spike unexpectedly precariously jumping and stepping from foot to foot they're bodies swaying and evidently having one of Spike's hands landing on Ed's breast. His had shot so fast away from her chest he had nearly smacked himself in the face, his lanky form hunched in the fighter. Turbulence finished leaving one Earthing female and one Martian male very embarrassed and rather uncomfortable. However, the life-saver came in the form of one dog growl – towards Spike of course – in Ein's efforts made the two seem like they could act like nothing had happened. Ed mouthed an "I love you" to Ein. Spike just looked up to whoever he believed in and cursed himself. The remainder of the journey was ridden in silence. That was until Ed got too uncomfortable. Flipping out her wallet she showed him a photo of the Bebop and the gang all smiles; right after Spike and Faye had caught a generous bounty reward. No reaction came out of Spike when he looked at the photo. He was just looking at it with blank uninterested eyes. Like half-assing a bounty's face to memory. Spike handed the wallet back to Ed. Mixed feelings attacked at Ed. Hurt, confusion, worry, anger, resentment, guilt and sadness. Sadness because he hadn't shown any emotion. She asked herself if he had any left in him. Best off to just leave him alone or should I help him? Help him from what Ed? She resolved to stay away from him.

They landed on the Bebop not as quickly as they hoped to escape the uncomfortable stillness. "Hey guys. Look who I brought." Ed said brightly, however a tad fake. She was still upset.

"Yo." Spike said casually stepping onto the deck.

"Spike?" Jet and Faye said in unison. Shock and disbelief had set on their faces.

"Yep." He replied.

"You have got to be kidding me?" Faye said slowly.

"No, its Spike in the flesh." Ed said a matter of factly.

"How?" Jet asked.

"Cryogenics." Spike said simply getting freaked out by Jet and Faye just staring at him.

"Buddy!" Jet suddenly said walking up to the deck and hugged Spike slapping him on the back, quite hard too.

"We're glad to have you back." She said and did a very un-like Faye gesture. She hugged Spike and inturn Spike had hugged back even if it was just a pat on the back. "Oh my God it's so hard to believe."

Ed flinched at the small gesture and couldn't help but feel a little jealous. What is wrong with me? She asked herself. She couldn't bear the fake smile she kept plastered to her face so she retreated to her bedroom…not that anyone had noticed, which was fine with her. She didn't want to be bothered.

Hope you guys enjoyed that chapter. See ya and take care.