Cowboy Bebop Fan Fiction ❯ Got You ❯ When You Sleep ( Chapter 8 )

I do not own the characters of Cowboy Bebop. They are the property of Sunrise, Bones, and Bandai Visual (2001). They make the money, not me. Nor can I take credit for most of my chapter headings- they are the product of their authors. Sigh.

And now….

Nocturnal molestations.

 

Chapter 8: When you Sleep (Cake)

 

Spike knew they left when Jet returned looking disheveled and highly relieved. “Chicken,” Spike snorted as he studied the ex-cop through his lashes. Jet settled in a chair opposite. Spike refused to dress-up for this little excursion, and was preparing his reasoning when Jet began to speak, "Look, Spike," Jet sighed and rubbed his head. "I didn't tell Faye about Kevin. I think he's too much for her to handle and I can find jack on his third partner. Whoever he is, he works in the shadows and keeps his nose clean. We've a few pictures but the guy changes his look like most people change socks. If my hunch is sound, he's as scary as Lihas.” Spike looked shocked, from what he could tell Kevin and his crew were nasty but nothing she hadn't dealt with before. Jet grimaced, “Ed found a little more about him. He's a nasty S.O.B. that likes to play with some of the more aesthetically pleasing customers in every disgusting way imaginable. He has a bounty on his head already for a number of felonies plus the 175 mil. It's a good chunk of change, but I'd like to try and hold off apprehending this ass-wipe until we can get closer to his partners. Boris is the easy catch. His partner is a non entity and Lihas will be trouble."

"You think Lihas will bolt?”

"Exactly, Boris isn't a criminal mastermind. But this mystery guy is trouble, big trouble. We don't' know when he'll decide to back up his friends and when he'll let them take the fall. Lihas is a freak,” he shook his head. “I know Faye is pretty good at handling herself but I want her to mingle. Get to know the kids so she can find more info. She needs to blend in and seem like a student, I'm sure Kevin can sniff a cowboy a mile away. You don't get that big of a bounty being an easy catch.” He tapped the mystery fellow's picture, “This guy is apt to be floating around nearby, in fact, if Faye plays her cards right one or all will contact her directly. I want you to play their competition. Keep them from thinking she's an easy,” Jet's face soured, “toy. I don't care if you have to play the jealous boyfriend to keep them from getting too close. Faye is not to spend thirty seconds out of your sight with these guys!"

"She'll be out of sight when she's in class “

“Yes, but she won't be alone. Lihas won't try anything in the middle of a classroom and you'll be at the coffee shop Ed has her employed at. They'll be careful, there're too many chances to be noticed. A club is where Lihas'll make his move. It's too easy, people come and go all the time in various states of consciousness and it's expected they're all after the same thing…” Spike grinned. “From what Ed could find he isn't enrolled at the school. They use their more profitable customers there or one of his cheap toadies to sniff out new money.”

“Why the concern? Faye's a big girl. She can handle it."

"Not with these guys. You need to watch her back. The mystery friend could pop up anytime. They enjoy drugging the... uh... 'merchandise' before playing with her. If he makes direct contact, she's already been or is being slipped something."

"And they have access to some pretty potent shit."

"Hit it on the head.” Jet tapped his nose, “Lihas isn't a moron. No one gets that long of a rap sheet and no convictions without some brains, some luck or a few excellent connections. His buddy's even spookier since we haven't a clue what he does.” Spike's eyes rotated to stare at the older man. Jet sighed, rubbing his forehead, “If I tip Faye off she'll be too suspicious and could blow cover. I want her to think she's just getting information. That's why you're goin' to be there. I've got Ed trying to figure out their M.O. But the drug trade is easier to track than the collecting."

 

Ugh. I don't know if I can play student. It's been forever! Faye thought, again. She had been fairly lucky finding a few clothes but Ed's behavior made it impossible for her to slip in and duck out. Damn kid's like a walking wrecking ball. She smiled as the sales woman returned the money card. “Thank you and have a nice day.” The smile appeared genuine, probably glad to see the last of Ed, who had single handedly redressed and repositioned every manikin in the store.

“Ed does not think that grey haired lady liked Ed's style,” she huffed as they made their way to Faye's last destination. When they reached the door, Faye's communicator beeped.

“What? You checkin' up on me?” Faye grumped at the device.

“No. I need you to get some laundry detergent. Spike…”

“Hasn't done laundry since before we left that last capture on Pluto,” Faye smirked, “over a month ago.”

Jet visibly paled. “Well, that explains the, err.. odor. Just buy the soap and give Ed the comm. I need her to run an errand.”

“Huh?” Ed running errands?

“Faye, just give Ed the god damned comm. She'll meet you back at the Bebop when she's done.” Reluctantly, Faye passed the communicator off and disappeared into the nearby building. She wanted to find a few accessories to complete her trendy student look and the retail store promised the perfect, extra touch. Quickly, Faye grabbed what she needed and left, not bothering to stop at the cashier- who kindly wished her a nice day and better luck next time.

Entering the convenience store, inspiration struck. At the check-out she added carcinogenic necessities to her pile and returned `home.' Tossing the bottle of detergent on the washer, Faye made a beeline for her room. Emptying her bags she pulled out two identical boxes containing Spike's preferred brand of cigarettes. One she hid away with her gambling tricks, the other she began hitting against her palm.

“Faye-Faye! Did you stop and get Ed a treat?”

“I sure did Ed, but I need you to do me a favor.”

“Really? What did Faye…” Faye swung a bag of sweets before Ed's face. The hacker immediately followed the swinging, sugary bliss, occasionally remembering to swallow.

Faye broke the hypnotic stare, “See how I'm hitting this box, Ed?” She nodded, “I want you to keep doing it until you're tired, 'kay? I'll even give you the bag to snack on while you work.” Faye smiled as she passed off the `loot' and headed towards the shower. She could hear Ed thumping the package all over the ship.

 

Spike heard the girls return and decided he would remain on the couch for as long as possible. He sighed, It had been so quiet. No sooner was this thought then Ed marched into the room, crackling wrappers and slapping something against her hand. Oh. Looks like Faye's already started, he smirked, so nice of her to buy me smokes. Not able to feign sleep any longer Spike sat up and watched Ed's antics.

Crinkle, slurp, slap, smack, wham, bang, slap, giggle, crinkle, slurp… Piece of candy, five hits to the cigarettes and then repeat. It was such a production that even Jet appeared to see what the hullabaloo was over.

“Ed, did you pick up the supplies I asked for?”

“Yothssss,” she nodded.

“Go grab `em,” he paused when a thought struck him, “Wait, did Faye buy any jewelry.” Ed shrugged. “Check and get it too.” With that Ed disappeared out the doorway. “What's she doing with a pack of your cigarettes, Spike?”

“Haven't a clue, but don't let Faye know we saw her.” Spike grinned, and snuggled back into position. Jet was ready to ask what he thought was going on when Ed returned carrying a bag of miscellaneous gear and a dainty necklace.

“Great Ed, go put that pack of smokes back where you got `em and then help Faye prepare for tomorrow.” Ed nodded and scampered off. Jet turned to Spike “You,” he knocked the foot off the armrest, “come with me.” Spike quirked a brow, as he rolled up and followed Jet to the ammo/supply closet, hands jammed deep into his pockets.

 

Faye stared at the university's information. She wanted large classes. There she could be another face and a sudden appearance wouldn't draw unnecessary attention. A history class popped on screen. She had Ed stop. "What about that one?"

"Faye-Faye this one is Earth History, lots of students. It should be super packed," she squished her hands together.

"Great, find two more similar to that one and give me the information. Keep the courses in auditoriums with lots of seats and the numbers, after the course name, low." Ed turned to analyze Faye who was still thinking aloud, "Math, science and art courses would require regular assignments or labs and maybe a quiz. Usually the humanities like a paper at the end and maybe a few tests during the term, stick with those. That way I can find information and not worry about being in a small group setting or have to do a lot of extra work to stay undercover. OH! And you won't need to worry about enrollment- I'll just blend in with the crowd. Perfect attendance in large classes only occurs on test days, if then." Faye smiled pleased she could remember some of her own experiences.

Ed, mouth gaping, gave Faye the laptop. "Ed thinks Faye-Faye should look this up," she scooted away before Faye could respond and disappeared, planning to dig up the second bag of treats. Faye, unable to complain, shrugged and began researching which courses would provide her easiest blending opportunity.

 

Spike paused, briefly wondering if he needed his eyes examined, Faye's doing research alone? This was not typical Faye protocol. Normally, she would whine and cajole someone else on the ship to do the computer stuff for her- that or she'd try to steal the bounty right from under you. A conversation with the crew, a few weeks after he became mobile again, immediately popped into his head. Spike had hobbled into the lounge and noticed Faye out. He assumed gambling and made a comment along the lines of, “Faye off wasting money on the dogs again, Jet?”

The older man had snorted, "She's out collecting a bounty so we can buy food," he gave Spike a once over, “and more meds,” before he returned his attention to studying the next job. Ed, on the other hand, stopped typing and turned her attention towards the lanky cowboy.

“Spike-person,” her tone unusually somber.

“What?” He noted her lack of playful twitching. Brows furrowed slightly, a small frown, she continued, “Ed thinks Spike is a lunkhead.”

“Ed let it go,” Jet had quit reading opting in watching the two.

“But Papa Jet,” she whined, “He needs to know so he will stop. He's making an ass out of you and me.” She giggled at her own joke.

Jet smiled shaking his head, “No Ed, he doesn't. If Faye wanted him to know she would tell him,” Jet locked eyes with Spike, “It is not our place to tell him she's done a lot of growing up while he mended.” Ed nodded with twinkling eyes.

“Then it is also not Ed and Jet's place to tell Spiky-Spike that Faye-Faye is not so icy cold since her memory started coming back and that she helps a lot while Spike-person snores.”

Spike attempted to cross his arms, “I don't snore.”

The only sign Jet heard him was the small snort, “Right,” Jet glanced at Spike again, “She tries to act like a complete bitch but it's a cover. Anyone would resort to such extremes in her circumstances.” Ed's head bobbed. “We forget that the guy she thought cared and loved her, left her penniless and indebted. Her first real memory after thawing was getting used and thrown away. I think deep down inside, she's more like the girl in the video.” Jet gave Spike a knowing look before resuming his reading; Ed, her typing. Leaving Spike to mull over what he wasn't supposed to know. He suspected Jet and Ed weren't supposed to know most of Faye's inner workings either. It was hard believing them. But as he studied Faye frowning at the screen he realized she looked much closer to the little Faye he'd watched on the beta-tape. This Faye appeared excited, he frowned knowing she would try to hide it if she discovered her audience. The Faye scanning Ed's Tomato was closer to the woman placed in stasis. The girl who had boyfriends, probably prom queen, trusted people, belonged to a loving family, attended and graduated college. Spike smiled at the brief chink he witnessed in her armor. Wonder what she studied? Deciding he really shouldn't care, he headed towards the hangar.

 

Jet was in the laundry room sorting clothes. "Spike, give me your dirty clothes. They reek." Spike raised an eyebrow and sniffed at his jacket.

"Smells ok to me, Jet."

"Well, that's `cause your nose is used to it. If you're going with Faye tomorrow you've got to blend in. Smelling like month old cigarette smoke and stale booze won't cut it."

Spike grinned, "They'll just think I'm a normal college guy."

Jet gave Spike a disgusted glare. "No. They'll think you're creepy. Some bum trying to stay warm in a large auditorium." Spike pulled a wounded face but Jet was inflexible. "Give me your clothes or Ed and I will hunt you down and strip them off you." Spike was unsure whether Jet was serious. But the look in the man's eyes promised he would be tracked down and thrown into the washer with his clothes if he refused to comply. Shrugging he wandered towards his room to gather dirty laundry. He could hear Jet grumbling as he left, "A grown man. He doesn't have a problem showering, or changing his socks, but he hasn't been able to give a shit about much of anything since we drug him back from Mars. Turned into a complete bum. Should `a made Faye leave him. I'd think he was a teenage..." Spike had entered his room, leaving Jet to his rant. Slob was a description he could understand as he kicked aside a stray bottle littering his floor. He frowned, he just didn't see the point in changing. It wasn't like he did a lot. Taking another whiff, he stripped, collected his clothes and dropped them at Jet's feet with little ceremony. Jet simply grunted, “Thanks,” and returned his attention to sorting. "Get some sleep, I think Faye has an early class." Heading towards the couch, Spike wondered if this bounty was worth all the added grief. Then he remembered the 200 mil plus price on the guys' heads.

 

Faye felt nervous, skittish and just plain off balance. She had trouble sleeping, wondering what the next day would hold; memories of her old life filtering through her half coherent dreams. Finally, giving up, she crawled out of bed and headed towards the lounge. She caught sight of Spike's foot dangled over the couch's edge and decided now was the perfect time to act. Slinking back to her room, she retrieved the mauled pack of cigarettes, then slipped into Spike's room. Rummaging through his things she swapped his pack for the one Ed prepared, dropped the used pack in the nightstand drawer and quietly left, closing the door behind her. Before it latched, she remembered the boxer clad cowboy sprawled across the couch; returning she grabbed the rumpled quilt off his bed. Carefully, she set the blanket on the sleeping cowboy. Quietly musing at how peaceful he looked, "You know Lunkhead," she whispered, "you're kind of cute when you're sleeping." Smiling slightly, she ran her fingers through his fuzzy hair before heading towards the kitchen, hoping a cup of tea would soothe her nerves. If not, she was digging out the sleeping pills Jet kept hidden with his bonsais.

 

Spike was surprised to find a blanket draped on him and had a vague memory of Faye's touch as she told him he was kind of cute. Assuming it was a terrible, terrible dream he stretched and padded to his room. He didn't like the idea of one of his crew mates messing with him while he was unconscious. Especially now. After closing the door, he flopped on the bed immediately returning to sleep.