Cowboy Bebop Fan Fiction ❯ A Moment In Time ❯ The Space Between ( Chapter 17 )

Whew, taking longer and longer for updates isn't it? Well I have been extraordinarily busy lately with everything and barely had time for leisure, literally. I do not jest you. Oh yea, and I sprained my ankle to top it off .. oh and did I mention I also stepped on glass a while back? Psh I'm choc-full of luck now aren't I?

Disclaimer: Don't own Cb or the song by Dave Matthews Band

Chapter Seventeen:
The Space Between

It was well off into the quiet hours of the afternoon when Spike awoke from his slumber. Golden rays of light filtered through the single window of the bedroom, warming his skin. Cracking open a single lid, he let his eye adjust to the bright afternoon sun and watched the small dust flitter through the air. It was one of those mornings were you couldn't get up for anything in the world, but you had to for some unknown reason.

Opening both eyes simultaneously and squinting slightly, Spike raised his arms above his head and stretched his long limbs. Rolling out of bed gracefully, or at least as graceful as u could be at that kind of moment, he listened to his feet pad across the soft carpeted floor and slid into the dimly light hallway. Stopping midway through the rec room he stopped at the sight of Edward.

"Yo. Wheres Faye?" Came his scratchy question. A wide eyed Edward turned towards Spike and spoke distractedly.

Will I hold you again?

"Ohhhhhhh. Faye-Faye left. Said to tell you 'She wasn't going the-'" Pausing abruptly in the middle of her quotation she stood cross-eyed, focusing on an almost invisible organism. A tiny black spider had wound its way down the ceiling only mere millimeters from her face. Shivering slightly she examined it for a moment longer then licked it with her tongue and ate it. Shrugging slightly she cart-wheeled down the hall and out of sight.

Repulsed, Spike scratched his mop of curls and wondered what the small amount of information Ed had actually told him meant. Misinterpreting it for meaning she went out to shop, or gamble, or do whatever it was females do when they disappeared off somewhere, he flopped onto the couch and turned the television on.

I've got all the time for you, love

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The tears we cry is the laughter
That keeps us coming back for more
The space between
The wicked lies we tell to keep us safe from the pain

Half strutting, half power walking, Faye made her way through the entrance of the only place she knew would be crawling with the scum of the Earth. Or at least the only place were she could personally relate to them. The hospice at which she spent a good portion of her unconscious life. Somewhere, on the many floors lay the 'coffin' and people that she despised to no end.

"Can I help you miss?" Called a tiny lady sitting behind the desk, insomnia clear on her face. Leaning her elbows on the desk and placing her hands under her chin, Faye stared into the nurse's eyes. They were vaguely familiar.

"I was looking for a Dr.Baccus. Pretty sure he worked with cryogenics? Or at least he was last time I checked." Raising a slender eyebrow, Faye waited for a response.

"Do you have an appointment, miss-?"

"Valentine. And no, I don't. But I was wondering if I could take up a moment of his time?" She asked, watching the nurse eyeing her warily, clearly not impressed with her negotiating skills.

"Sit down, Miss Valentine, and I'll see what I can do." Making it her obvious final statement she returned to typing on the computer in front of her. Sighing, Faye walked over to the waiting room and practically fell into the chair.

There were so many thoughts running through her mind at once, Faye had no idea what she was going to ask the man when they finally got to converse. More then likely he wouldn't have forgotten her face. They had already had several (not so nice) run ins. All she knew was that she needed the whole truth. She it. Couldn't live without it. The possibility that she wouldn't like the truth probably flitted across her mind more then the prospect of anything else in her past, but she was willing to take that risk. There was a part missing in her life, a part that needed to be filled in order to move on with her life. With her new life. Mourning old friends, and celebrating new relationships.

"Miss Valentine?" Straightening within the plastic chair, Faye pulled herself upwards and towards the sound of the voice that disrupted her thoughts. "Go right through that door, and the doctor will be waiting for you."

Following the direction of her pointed finger, she held her breath as she opened the door and entered the room. Letting it snap behind her she looked up and caught sight of the familiar face. Chocolate eyes and a dark round face glanced upwards, to grace her vision.

Her breath caught in her throat. He was sitting at his desk, assuming it was him. It had to be him, for how many Dr.Baccus' could there possibly be? Same chiseled out, slightly rosy cheeks and slightly over-sized nose. Features that looked roughly twenty years younger.

"Ah yes, nice to you." Dr.Baccus stated jovially sticking out his darkened palms for Faye to shake. Sticking out her much lighter in comparison appendage they shook hands for a moment until Faye slid her hand out of his contact. Nodding her head at his greeting she continued on for what she came for.

"Do you not remember me?"

"Should I have?" There eyes met momentarily. This didn't seem right.

"Ah, I know what your looking at me like that for. You are thinking of my father, Joseph Baccus. I'm his son, Marcus Baccus," Cringing slightly at the poorly chosen name for the boy, she nodded her head urging him to elaborate," I guess you haven't heard the news then? My father passed away about a month ago. Heart failure."

'I didn't know he had a heart to begin with.'Faye snorted. Nodding with fake sympathy, she shoved her hands into her shorts' pockets and hunched slightly. If only she knew how similar her and Spike really were.

"Anyhow, what is that you came here for?" He questioned.

Pivoting on her heel she walked back to the door in which she came and casually flicked her hand over her shoulder, as if sweeping all her problems off.

"Nothing. That is all I needed to know."

These fickle fuddled words confuse me
Like will it rain today?
We waste the hours with talking
These twisted games were playing

________________________________________________________________

C lear liquid swirled around within her cup. Casting her eyes off her drink she watched as the rain fell outside. It was dimly lit within the bar, with smoke curling above their heads. Faint chatter could be heard from behind her as an amateur saxophonist played the blues. Mixing it all together, it made quite the depressing atmosphere. Well that, and a place where shady dealings were bound to go down.

The music was like the icing on the cake, just topping this feeling within her belly that wouldn't go away. This feeling of was falling apart right in front of her eyes. And as usual, here she was, nowhere to be found. Running away from her troubles. More like running headfirst into them this time though. (sounds kind of contradicting doesn't it? Oh well!

Downing the rest of her drink, Faye relished the burning feeling sliding down her throat. Slamming the cup back down she spun around atop of her chair so that she could skim the sparce crowd. Leaning backwards and sliding her lower half forwards, she rested her elbows against the cold bar.

She knew what she was searching for, she just wasn't exactly sure where to find it. Her past was haunting her, haunting her into insanity. All she needed now was to find the right people. They knew she was looking for them. It was all about timing though. Timing made everything.

We're strange allies
With warring hearts
What a wild eyed beast you be

Truth be told, Faye really didn't even know what it was she was seeking out. It was just something that hung around in the air. She knew it was missing. Smiling to herself she caught sight of what she had been searching for. In a far off corner sat a lone, dark figure. He had a drink in one had, and a cigarette in the other. To the untrained eye, he looked like every other loser in the place, alone. But she knew better, he wasn't just any loser. He was a syndicate loser.

Amazing blue eyes locked with her own brilliantly colored orbs. Taken aback slightly, she gasped. Regaining her composure, she let a smug look cover up her features. Leaping off of the stool, she straightened herself as she made her way over to the man that still held her gaze.

"Got a light?" She whispered into his ear as she leaned over his table, giving him an eyeful. Letting her cigarette dangle dangerously low from her ruby lips she allowed him to ignite her stick. Faye slid into the seat across from him as she inhaled slowly.

The jazz floated through the room, weaving a spell leaving them both in their comfortable silence. Placing her cigarette between her index and middle finger she blew the smoke out of her mouth and she scanned the mysterious man up and down.

"Nice outfit." Faye pondered aloud, as she leaned back against the seat. The man, who looked around his early thirties, with a shadow of a beard and dark tousled hair looked down with his vibrant blue eyes at himself, only to look back up and meet her eyes once more.

"What is it that you want from me, woman?" Came the strangers reply. Shrugging nonchalantly, Faye sized him up once more before laying her request out onto the table.

"Look I'm not going to beat around the bush here buddy, so listen up," Faye lowered her voice slightly as she continued on," You couldn't make it any more obvious as daytime where you're coming from so I'm gonna ask you for a favor. Tell me where the Black Panter Headquarters is. I have some..unfinished business there that I need to attend to."

"And why should I do this favor for you?"

"Why not?" Faye shot back.

"You are testing my patience. Make this worthwhile." Sighing at his stubbornness to cooperate, Faye reached within her shirt, only to retrieve a hefty amount of woolongs. Faye grinned slightly as she watched him slide the woolongs off the table and into his black trench coat pockets. Money always was a universal language.

"Follow me, and keep up." The man stood up and practically glided out of the bar, Faye in tow. After stepping out of the bar, the first smell to hit her senses was the rain.'Shit!' thought patting her cigarettes in her pocket. She had forgotten about the rain.

You know you went off like the devil in church
In the middle of a crowded room
All we can do my love
Is hope they don't take this ship down

It was coming down hard and fast, with the moon no where to be seen. It was drenching her hair and clothes, and chilled her to the bone. Her violet hair stuck to her face in tendrils as she attempted to peel it off while keeping up with the brisk pace of her acquaintance.

They were walking to this place, which meant that it was somewhere in this vicinity. It was odd how you thought you could know a place but then never really know it at all. Faye was shook out of her thoughts though as she plowed right through a puddle on the sidewalk, drenching her entire right boot. ƈ better way to take these bitches on then being wet and miserable.'She thought sarcastically.
Looking up she saw him standing a foot away blowing into his hands in an attempt to warm them.

"Continue on down this block and turn down the alleyway. You'll see steps leading down into a cellar with a black door, go inside it'll be open."

"What if it's not?"

"It will be." He answered giving her a dark look, and then he was gone. Following his directions she finally came to the black door that he spoke of. Cracking her neck in anticipation and holding out her Glock, she let it creak open.

Nothing.

She watched a rat or two scurry out as she hurried in. Taking a couple of steps into the dimly lit hall she observed her surroundings. The only sound that could be heard was the clicking of her heels upon the tiles. To the right there was a door labeled 'Authorized Personnel Only'. She had two choices. The door, or the winding stairs that obviously led to the upper level.

The rain that falls
Splashed into your heart

Opting for the door she cracked it open and peered through. Seeing nothing but the familiar darkness she opened it fully and waltzed on in. Searching for a switch and finding one she flicked it on. Seconds later a light turned on to reveal a filthy and cobwebbed room full of office cabinets and papers strewn all over.

"Well this is quaint." She stated aloud, searching for anything of importance.

"Is it?" Came a deep voice. Almost jumping out of her skin, Faye spun around gun aimed and ready.

"Who's there?"

"What you don't remember me?"

" How can I remember you when I can't even see you, asshole." Came her haughty reply. A light laughter filtered through her ears as a tall figure emerged from the shadows. Messy black hair covered his shadowed eyes as Faye squinted with recognition.

What's wrong and right
Is where you'll find me hiding waiting for you

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A uthors Note (Please Read):Whew, that had to be the most difficult chapter to write yet. Originally I had more written to it but I decided to cut it out at the end and save it for the next chapter. The story is reaching its end now with maybe only two chapters to go.
I reread it and I guess this chapter seems kind of confusing. If you have any questions about what's going on just state it in a review and I'll try to explain it the best I can but basically the next chapter will just be a continuation explaining everything thats happening now. I just wanted to get this out to everybody because it's bout frickin time I updated!

Ou la la did I mention I saw this really cool thing bout cryogenic freezing? Ya well apparently it really does exist even though it doesn't work. But hey, whatever.

BlueVixen2071: Yea I know I'm so bummed out. I haven't gotten reviews for the last chapter either. And I can't believe you're retiring!! You must not because I love your stories!! Hehe I liked that last little line too =]

CandyPerversion: Nope, NYC. But I do hate snow. It's like, spring and still snowing here and it's driving me nuts. Sorry bout the crazy update spaces.

SassieLassie988, Jazzmine, Sarah M, OID, LonesomeSpirit, & James: WOOHOO not only am I a frickin awesome authoress but I also got props! Titter titter, You guys Rawk my socks and dresser!

Nis_Chan: Awh thanks anyway! As long as it was a review, unlike those cheap asses on FF. Nah j/p I love those cheap asses anyway.