Cowboy Bebop Fan Fiction ❯ Got You ❯ Ballroom Blitz ( Chapter 25 )

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….

Let's get ready to rumble!

 

Chapter 25: Ballroom Blitz (The Sweet)

 

Jet jumped the second Annie hissed and headed towards the two exhibitionists. He rolled his eyes at the various comments. Compared to the limits some of the other patrons had gone, the Spike and Faye show had been tame. Barely PG, if he was technical. He glared at a couple in another corner who were obviously further along in their coupling game than his partners' heated kiss and sighed, some people really needed to learn discretion.

He peered down the hallway. Lihas had grown tired of the demonstration, shoving close to the involved pair. Jet was near enough to see their hormone induced, dazed expressions. Gut instinct screaming that Spike or Lihas would make a move. Jet felt his nerves begin to fray when Faye was nudged towards him, Lihas materializing from behind a doorframe. Jet could only see the attack ready posture of Spike's back, it painfully obvious he was loosening his muscles for a fight. His slipping side to side; a silent warning: `Lihas is armed.' Jet arrived just in time to yank Faye away from the two before the scuffle exploded.

Faye flinched a bullet whizzing past her ear. With the report the rest of the club detonated. Panic stricken screams laced the air while people flocked to the exits. Faye elbowed her way into the hall, Jet close behind her. It was immediately apparent Lihas had been able to wing the bounty hunter and was aiming every blow for the injured shoulder, sadistic pleasure etched on his still healing features. Jet caught Faye's arm, and yanked her around the corner and out of the line of fire. “Spike can't do anything if he's busy wondering' where the hell you are.” He grumbled.

“He doesn't care where I am as long as I don't get in his way.” Jet scowled, certain Faye was wrong. He'd caught Spike's quick glance to make sure she was out of Lihas's reach. Suddenly tired and frustrated at the panic stricken mass he drug her to the bar.

“Try the Backdoor.” Faye nodded and hustled for the exit. “Hey!” She paused. “You aren't armed. Come `ere.”

Faye turned, “What good's it goin' to do me?” She waved her bandaged hand. Another shot rang out behind him. He caught Faye ducking behind a tipped table. He checked his gun, and groaned, just catching snippets of Spike taunting Lihas, Idiots, all of `em. Only one with any sense on the ship is Ein! Jet flipped the safety off his gun and began scanning for Faye. Where the hell is she? Following where he guessed she had slunk off to he paused, turning to study the nearly empty dance floor. A table jerked. Jet glanced to the hall, verifying Spike was still there and eased towards the possessed stand. He groaned when a golden wig flipped across the space. Flopping innocently near his foot, he kicked the hair piece out of the way and rushed towards the wigless woman he immediately connected to three other locations.

 

Faye was caught off guard as she slid behind the table. She blinked the stars from her eyes, the assailant coming into focus. She growled, “Watch it.”

“No, Sweetie. You watch it.” Faye scooted away from the voice. A large hand clamping on her leg, “Kevie put you on his wish list. Even sacrificed Boris to get you and I'm gonna make sure he does.” Annie shrugged, “You'll be a disappointment, but I can use you to put him back in line.”

Faye kicked at the offensive she beast and snarled, “Kevin might as well learn he doesn't always get what he wants.”

The grip tightened, “If I can get Kevie his toy, then he'll calm down and earn enough money to make Boris's bail. Then you can let him down hard.” Faye was jerked closer, “You want to help me get Boris don't you?”

“Not really.” Faye waited for the second jerk then planted her foot between Annie's legs. She groaned, releasing Faye and flopping to the side. Ragged breaths punctuated by gagging. Faye snickered, “You ain't a lady if that kick made you want to throw-up.” She spun, crashing into Jet's approaching thigh. She fell back, only to have Annie catch her arm and pull her close. Her feminine façade slipping as she pressed Faye to her padded chest. Faye snickered, “Wow. Those are pretty decent falsies.” Jet rolled his eyes. Annie grip turned remarkably distressful. Faye attempted to jerk away from the painful wheezes of her captor. She glanced at Jet, obviously not amused. She had places to be and it wasn't as the hostage of a gasping, ugly transvestite.

Jet scowled at Faye, ignoring the bald woman. Pain under control, Annie groaned to catch his attention. His eyes flickered her way, “I didn't think you liked girls, Miss Annie.”

She snarled and tugged Faye up. “Mm not.”

Faye rolled her eyes and stomped. Sharp heeled shoes connecting to exposed, foot with a nasty snap. Faye scowled, “Shit. I broke my heel.” Annie gasped and released. Not waiting for the singer to regain her composure Faye hobbled past, she tugged her shoes off and with half a wave eased out the door and into the darkened parking lot.

Annie chuckled, “She's a spirited one.” Her head quirked to the side, “Kevie would've been so bummed. She's nothing like he imagined.” Annie grinned, “Hey, Cowboy.” He barely turned his head towards the noise, before his world became momentarily black. Blinking the sparks away he focused in on Annie, winding up for a second shot. She swung wide giving Jet the perfect opening. He caught her in the ribs.

“Unngh!” She whined, “That's cheap! Hittin' a lady.”

Jet snorted, “Annie, you're not a lady.”

She scowled, “I look like one.”

“When it's convenient and dimly lit.” She gasped. Jet's scowl deepened, “You've been watching Faye since she was at the university, even gave her the info on tonight.” She swallowed. “An' you're the one that provided the money to get Lihas supplies. Even busted him out, right Anthony?”

Annie folded her arms, “That's only `cause Boris was too hurt to be released.” Highly made-up eyes slit, “Which is your fault.”

“You know,” Jet grinned, “You've earned yourself quite the bounty too.” He twitched and made another swing, clipping Jet's jaw. Furious Jet blocked with his mechanical arm on the next panicked swing. Impact was followed by a sickening crunch. Anthony crumpled to the floor, cradling a shattered hand. Jet roughly yanked the hand away, receiving a solid punch in the stomach which he promptly returned. The mystery associate's nose cracking from the force, connecting the two arms and rolling the body to the side, he staggered towards the hallway, changed his mind and eased into a nearby chair. Annie had a decent punch.

 

Faye breathed, trying to control her nervous shaking. Forcing calm, she quickly picked the lock of the club's back door. She could make out the sound of scuffling; sporadic grunts, shuffling feet and the occasional taunt intermixing with the continual onslaught of punches and kicks. Unsure whether Lihas was still armed, Faye cautiously cracked the door open. Spike appeared as calm and collected as always. Perfectly in his element he grinned before connecting shoe to head. Lihas was well worked over. He lurched towards his opponent, his advances sluggish and unfocused. “You're getting' slow.” Two more kicks and a punch connected.

“Fuck you.”

Spike chuckled, before landing a palm to the bounty's face. Sick of the cat and mouse game, Faye scanned the rubble for a useful weapon. She attempted to slide along the wall towards a forgotten gun, her movements distracted the pair and in one smooth movement she was clutched to Lihas's chest. “Back off, cowboy or your chick'll get it.” Spike's grin grew as he backed a fraction and pulled his gun from its holster. Faye bristled and stilled. Lihas snarled and tugged her closer.

“You don't think I won't shoot her, dipshit?”

Faye frowned. Spike paused, She believes I will!

Lihas chuckled darkly. “No you won't shoot her, you worked too hard protecting her from me.” More giggling ruffed Faye's hair. “Too bad she ended up right where you didn't want her, huh cowboy?”

Faye attempted to jerk, only to feel metal click around her wrist. He caught the second hand pulling roughly. She let out a pained gasp, his grip disturbing her knitting joints. “Hold still.” She refused to comply, twisting and jerking at every opportunity.

Spike waited, an opening would occur soon enough.

Lihas shook her roughly, “Hold still bitch or I'll shoot you AND your idiot boyfriend.” Faye bristled and stilled. Spike decreased the distance. His sudden stance to attack making Lihas pause. Faye jerked back, cracking her head against his chin. The sudden pain shooting along his jaw caused Lihas to panic and in his haste to escape he pushed her towards Spike. She caught her toe on a piece of broken door, unable to use her arms for balance or to break her fall she stumbled towards an armed Spike. Scowling, he dropped the gun and stuck both hands out to prepare for impact. She crashed into his chest, both falling to the floor.

 

Lihas not waiting to see what happened turned and bolted through the softly banging back door. He'd get his revenge. Right now he needed to keep his freedom and contact his supplier. As rushed for his Monopod he determined to blow the two cowboys out of the solar system and teach the tease a lesson. He eased his ship behind a nearby chunk of Saturn's ring and waited. He'd let them think he'd turned tail and run.

 

Faye huffed and stood hastily, stepping quickly over her bound hands and pulling them to her stomach. She bent and retrieved the Jericho off the floor. “You dropped this,” she passed the weapon off. Spike grinned. Flustered she yanked a clump of hair behind her ear and retrieved a hair pin. He watched as she fiddled with the device. She glanced at him when she slipped the bent piece of metal into the keyhole, “You look like shit.” The cuffs clattered to the floor. He glared at her as he pulled out cigarette.

“You're point?” She rolled her eyes and chuckled, unfazed, and began tugging off his jacket. “Now's not the time, Faye. Our man's just gotten away.”

The undressing stopped. She pulled away and blinked, “Hadn't crossed my mind, I'm checking that bullet hole in your shoulder and I doubt Lihas went far.”

Spike began to shrug, grimacing when the wound pulled, “Just a flesh wound.”

“Bullshit,” she tugged roughly on the jacket to prove her point. Spike hissed then caught her damaged hand. Recoiling she kicked him in the shin, “Ass!”

“Turn about, bitch.” She slapped his arm. Leaning against the wall she helped herself to his cigarette. He melted to the floor, “We better get after…” he grimaced and took a measured breath, “…Lihas.” She huffed and slid next to him. Spike glanced at her feet when she returned his cigarette, “Shoes?”

“Lost them stomping on a transvestite's foot.”

“You do run in interesting circles, don't you?” He returned the smoke.

She took a drag, “Stuff it,” sighed, “Tonight sucked. I lost my shoes, the bounty and you popped several buttons off my blouse…” and pouted.

Spike grinned, “It wasn't all bad.”

“Really?” She looked hopeful.

“Yeah, they had a decent beer on tap.” Hope dashed. Spike grinned internally, it was for the best. He'd let himself enjoy their act too much, anyway.

 

Jet rotated his jaw. Someone passed a wet rag. He accepted with a stiff nod. “I saw the librarian by the back door.” A face Jet now recognized as the brunette show girl supplied. The bartender took a careful step over the crumpled drag queen.

“Where's the tall guy she was with?” The two swapped an uncomfortable glance.

“Who?” The brunette was lost.

“That lucky S.O.B. that was makin' out with her?” Jet nodded. The barman shrugged, “No clue.” Jet painfully righted himself. Gathering his resolve, he lurched his way to the quiet hallway. Lihas had successfully shot out most the sporadic lights, forcing Jet's addled brain to concentrate harder on the destruction before him. Glass shards and plaster littered the floor. Holes, ranging from tiny to head size, punctuated the hall. The emergency exit alarm sounded shrilly, the door bouncing off the frame in a spasmodic beat. An orange glow bobbled halfway down the corridor. As Jet approached, he found the small ash connected to a grimace. They're not killing each other. “Come out in the light so you can get that arm cleaned up.” He frowned, “Where's Lihas?”

Faye stood, “Bolted.”

“Shit. Spike! Up on your feet, you're bleeding all over the hallway. Faye fix him up.” He returned to the bar not waiting for the retort. ISSP would arrive soon to pick up Anthony. Sitting in a stool he sighed and connected to the Bebop.

“Hello. Bebop-Bebop.”

“Hey Ed. I've got a job for you.”
“Really?!” She glanced off screen, “Where's Faye-Faye?”

“What're you talking about Ed, she's…” Spike eased to the bar and settled stiffly in a nearby stool. Jet frowned and promptly began to hassle the remaining club staff for a first aid kit. “Hey, Where's…?”

“Oh my goodness!” The brunette rushed for the lanky bounty hunter. “Were you shot?!” Spike unconsciously shifted away from the advancing woman. She paused, “Where's your date? Did she get hurt?”

Jet scowled. “Spike, where's…”

The waitress gasped, “Oh my! You were trying to save her weren't you!?!” She squealed. Jet ignored the sickened look, “How romantic!” She cooed.

Spike shrugged and gave Jet an intense glare. Ignoring his cue the older man returned his focus to the flustered teen. “Ed find Faye's tracker.”

Faye rolled her eyes, “I'm right here Jet.”

He jumped and gave the disheveled woman a tentative once over.

Her lip curled, “I had a lot of glass to make my way around,” she lifted a bare foot, “No shoes, remember?”

Spike shifted away from the admiring waitress, feeling sorry Faye slid between the advancing server and the cranky cowboy.

Jet followed her actions and Spike's relieved sigh. “Hmm.” He frowned, “You'll need to stitch this up.”

“Pff. It's just a scratch.” Jet snorted and took a page from Faye's repertoire. He poked the gash. Spike jerked and hissed, “Stop that.”

Jet chuckled, “Damn, that's pretty deep. You get that when you were makin' sure Faye was out of the way?” He glanced at Faye, a soft dusting of pink coloring her cheeks.

“Shut it. It's just a lucky shot.” He snorted, “I'm not going to die from a fuckin' bullet graze.” He blew the last of his smoke in Jet's grinning face. “Leave it.”

The waitress shifted nervously, “Can't you get tetanus from bullet wounds?”

He ignored her, “Lihas ran, we need to hurry or he'll be gone.” Spike helped himself to a bottle.

“He WHAT?!”

Shrug, “Used her as a shield, then threw her at me.” He glared at Faye as she wrapped the gash. “She tripped and fell on me.”

Jet frowned and dug up extra gauze and passed it off, “He's bleeding through.” He glared at the bottle of pilfered scotch, “Drinkin' isn't gonna help either.”

Spike's scowl grew.

Jet grinned, “You're goin' to want to be sober when you teach Lihas not to mess with your woman, Spike-o.” He chuckled, “It's usually more effective when you're not slobbering drunk.”

Faye, unhealthily pink now wandered off to find more bandages. Both cowboys watched her leave.

Spike's jaw muscle began jumping. “Back. Off. Jet.”

He leaned closer, “You're bleeding and you'll need to help out Faye. You think it wise to get sloshed on top of that?!”

“Sounds like a plan.” He bounced the uninjured shoulder.

“Spike if you're stupid you'll get her and yourself killed.” He scrubbed at his neck, “I know you don't give a shit about yourself but…”

“Faye's a big girl.”

“Bullshit.” Jet scowled, “I've seen you checkin' in on her. The way you kept Lihas and anyone else away.” He kicked a stool, “Stop fuckin' around. She needs help and if you're not gonna help her, Ed and I will! Lihas is dangerous, he'll kill her if he gets his hands on her.” He flipped his comm open and waited.

Spike scowled, “What you doing?”
“I'm sure Ed can track Lihas's trajectory if we're careful.” Faye hobbled over to the beaten transvestite. Jet coughed, “Kid was smart enough to put a tracer on Faye,” he snorted, “stupid woman has a talent for getting drug places she's best left far from.”

Spike grinned and took a greedy slug of the drink he'd lifted while Jet's back was turned.

Jet turned on the first beep, “Stop drinkin' that!”

 

Lihas stilled the ship and contacted Wolfe and Jeff. He'd need back-up if he was going to take out the girl and her idiot cowboy. She'll pay for leading me on. He snickered when the ISSP ships slid past. Now all he had to do was sit and wait for the red ship, he recognized from Blue Suede, to lift off. To relieve some of his frustration he began initiating his weapons and planning for the near future. Revenge and toy collecting was expensive and he had some business to attend to.

 

Faye returned with a handful more wrapping. She clucked, “You should let me stitch that, you're still bleeding' through.”

He twitched at her touch, “I'm fine. Fuck off.”

She snorted, “You're getting a bit testy.” Spike helped himself to his bottle. Faye teased, “You only get moody when you're tryin' to hide something.” She leaned closer, “Does lil' Spiky need Faye to kiss it better?” Her eyes flitted to the bandage. She frowned and swiped the bottle of pilfered scotch. It thumped, the contents sloshing audibly, when she plunked it on the counter, “No more booze.”

His scowl grew, “When did you become my keeper?”

Faye pretended to think, “Didn't!” Spike's jaw muscle began jumping anew. Faye leaned closer, “You're bleeding and need to fly home.” She stood up, “You've seen the ads about flying drunk. They all end with the boozer going SPLAT! To make matters worse, you're bleeding A LOT!” He ignored her and took a swipe for the bottle. “What's your problem, you have a death wish or something?!” She nudged the container further away.

“None of your business.” He glared at her before giving the glass a longing look.

“You take one more sip and I'll fly you home.” She wiggled the key, “I mean it. One sip!”

When'd she lift that? He scoffed, “You couldn't get it off the ground.”

“Try me.” Spike snagged the bottle and fought the sharp stab the tore through his torso. Vindicated he took a long, greedy pull and grinned. Faye sneered, “Guess you're flying' back with Jet, Cowboy.”

Jet turned to the arguing pair, “Like hell he is. He'll bleed all over the upholstery.” He glared at Faye, “You started this game, finish it.”

Spike chuckled, “What? Don't want an audience, Faye?” Her posture stiffened. He took another healthy glug, “You don't know the starting sequence. `Sides the Swordfish is a bit tricky.”

She scoffed, “You fly one ship you've flown `em all.”

ISSP arrived. Jet cleared his throat and growled behind paperwork, “You two get out of here, you're giving me a headache.” The waitress stood rooted, watching the excitement unfold. She sighed to the bartender, “It's like my soaps!” Jet choked when he overheard, causing the officer processing the bounties to pound him on the back.

 

Faye settled in the pilot's chair, leaving Spike to contemplate on the wing. She slid forward, indicating he sit behind her. “What I can't sit on the floor?”

“Not when I'm wearing something like this.” He crawled in making every effort to invade her personal space (not an exceptionally hard task, considering the square inches.) She shifted back. “Eh… Spike?” He leaned forward, “Could you give me some room?”

“Nope.” He dropped his hands on her thighs, smirking when her breath caught.

She slid back into him, “Fine. I'll just make room.” To prove her point she wiggled provocatively. She giggled when he stiffened and slid away.

Not to be outdone, he grabbed her waist, his fingers wrapping around to rest in the hollow made by her hips, “Make sure you can reach everything comfortably.” Her wiggling immediately stilled.

She began the launch sequence, “I can reach.” She relaxed, “Lift off.” Inertia slid her flush against him. “You can, uh… move your hands. I'm good.” Spike grinned and tightened his grip, his fingers rubbing small circles where he touched her.

“Careful, she favors the right.” Faye hissed when she had to apply extra pressure with her injured hand. Spike's mood plummeted, She can fly this. He knew she was capable, having sparred regularly with her. He thought it was due to being accustomed to the RedTail.

Faye snickered, “Surprised?” He grunted. She shrugged, taking the grunt as the compliment it was she smiled, “I had to take this out occasionally while you recuperated.” Her pleasure came through her in voice, “That's how the alignment was screwed up.”

Spike leaned forward, “You blamed me.”

She shrugged, “And you believed me.” Both jerked roughly when a missile exploded to their left. “Shit!” She turned to the right, biting her lip roughly in an attempt to ignore the pain ripping up her arm. Spike frowned, his head bouncing off the cockpit. He reached around her fiddling with the comm- she was a bit distracted.

 

Jet smiled when his communicator chirped. Good. They've made it. He pressed connect, “Yeah?”

“Got some trouble.”

“WHAT?!”

Faye's frazzled profile filled the screen. Spike's voice drifting through, “We have some…” an explosion shook the two, “trouble, Jet.” He paused to allow Faye to finish cussing, “Lihas decided to play hide-n-seek.” He grinned, Faye was actually pretty impressive.

Jet scowled, “AND?!”

Faye barked over the comm, “We need help! He's got a friend.” Another bang, followed by Spike's face filling the screen as Faye's head tipped forward. The image flickered. Faye sat up.

“Nice shot.” Spike chuckled, “His friend was taken out… not sure location. We're in the rings.” Spike directed his attention to Faye's stiff spine, “Try and outrun Lihas.”

“Shove…” She became distracted. “Jet. Get out here and help us!” The screen blacked.

“Faye! Spike!” He frowned, Spike must still be bleeding, he sounded loopy.

 

Ed twitched at Jet's news and frowned. “Will Faye-Faye and Spike-person be ok?”

“I don't know Ed. Try to figure out where they are based on the little bit of information we could gather.” She nodded and disconnected.

 

Faye dodged around another chunk of ice. This is pretty when you're not running through it. She whipped around another large floater, pieces of it shattering around her when Lihas's missile hit. She bit her lip harder and jerked to the right, ignoring the coppery flavor that filled her mouth. Spike shifted and slammed into the wall. “Dammit.” She jerked around another blob, jerking the ship roughly to and fro. Spike groaned, blood oozing down his arm and dripping off his elbow. Lihas caught a wing, knocking the ship towards a nearby moon. Panicked Faye yelped, “Spike! SPIKE!!” He groaned, “Spike we're out of ammunition. How do I turn on the cannon?” She leaned back, “Spike?”

He groaned and tilted forward, numbly flipping a switch. “Careful…” He slumped forward, his head nestled against her back. The pressure jerked her arm into the controls. The ship lurched sideways. “Spike. Sit back I can't…” she gasped, a large chunk bouncing off the ship's body. Both occupants were tossed into the wall. With a pained hiss Faye tried the comm.

“Jet! JET!”

“Yellllin' won' make `im hearrrr you, Ffffayye.”

She ignored Spike's drawl and forced herself to calm. She took a breath, “Jet, we're going down. Small… eh… looks like a moon.” She frowned trying to remember which of the miniscule moons met the description of the chunk of rock hurtling towards them. “Smaller moon. Outside rings.”

 

Jet glared at the static mess. He was able to decipher: `Goin' down' and `small…'. With a snarl he tethered the disabled racer with his tow line and began hauling one of Lihas's student followers back towards the waiting ISSP agents at the Initiate. He connected to the Bebop, “Ed. You find anything?”

Her head shook.

“Faye mentioned a small, I think, moon near the rings.”

Ed frowned, “Edward thinks they're on a shepherd rock.”

“What?”

“Pandora and Prometheus, silly.” She held her hands up, “They keep the rings from running away like shepherds watch sheep. Baaa.”

He rubbed his face, “Can they survive for a bit?”

“Uh…” typing, “They should be ok. There's a small casino on Prometheus and Pandora had uh…” she frowned, “Huh. There used to be a campground there, but they ran out of popularity when the casino opened.”

“Can they breathe Ed?”

“Edward thinks so.”

“Shit.” He glared at the trailing ship. “It'll take us a bit to find `em.”

Ed nodded, worry written across her face in bold when Jet disconnected.

 

Faye groaned, the impact had jarred every bone in her body. She scowled at the warm weight pressing her into the console. What the…? With a yelp she pressed the mass back and spun, only to find an unconscious and heavily bleeding Spike limply flopped across the seat. In a panic she dug for a stray med kit, glue, anything to seal the wound. She grinned when she touched the familiar metal case below the seat. Easing Spike up, she tore off his jacket. “No' now Faye. I'm sleepin', laaterrr… promise.” His hand grazed her hip before dropping limply back to his lap. “I wan' to after sleep, please.” She blushed slightly at the implication and continued to remove his jacket and bloody shirt. Hastily she cleaned the wound as well as she could and began stitching the gash. He groaned and attempted to move, “Hold still.”

“Knock off. I's jus' scratch.”

“Shut it and hold still.” She frowned. He'd lost a lot of blood and by the gash on his head he was not in a position to go exploring or sleep. She kept babbling. “Fuck. You're a pest, you know that lunkhead?”

“Pff… try.”

“I know you do.” She knotted the final stitch and began shredding her blouse. “You owe me a new shirt.”

“Why?”

“Because I had to use it to wrap your injury.”

“Wha' ind-jury?”
She frowned and immobilized his arm with his own shirt. “The hole in your arm, idiot.”

“Fuck…er… Leehss shot me.”

“Yup.”

Foggy brown eyes glanced at her, “You're naked.” Sloppy grin, “That why I'm t'd up?”

She blushed, “No. You can't move your arm now hold still and don't fall asleep.”

“Pff…” he grinned, “Close `nough.” The smile shifted, “Where's Lihas?”

“Don't know.” She fingered his gun and scowled, “Maybe he's dead.”

“Nah…” he yawned. She tried lifting it- it wouldn't work with her finger mangled again. With a sigh she left it on the console, tossed his jacket over his drowsing form and tried to plan how she would take out Lihas without getting Spike or herself killed. She glanced at the misshapen digit. Spike was in no position to help. She gritted her teeth, trying to decide if she could slip the bone back in place without assistance. Tentatively she clasped the finger and hissed. Ok on three. It took her five false starts before she lost patience and tugged the finger home. It was a sloppy attempt but the bone was back where it belonged. Shaking she immobilized the finger, tying it snuggly to its two neighbors. She repressed the urge to vomit or swoon, forcing herself to study the barren landscape and contemplate what to do next. The time ticked by, her hand throbbing like a second hand's tick. Afraid to sleep Faye kept a wary, painful vigil.

Spike stirred, “When'd you learn to fly the Swordfish?”

She shrugged, “Matter of necessity. How else do you think it got back to the Bebop. Jet refused to tow it and I didn't want it dismantled. So I collected it.”

He blinked, “Why?”

She shrugged folding her arms across her chest, “I figured you'd be back and want it.” She snickered, “Don't know why you're worried, you can use that money you lifted off Lihas to pay for repairs.”

“How'd…?” Spike slunk into the seat, Huh. They sat in silence for quite a while, Faye concentrating on his steady breathing and planning what to do next, Spike contemplating Faye's admission. He cleared his throat, “What if I didn't come back?”

“Never considered it,” her shoulders rose slightly, “Technically, you didn't. Ed and I found you and brought you back.”

“What if you hadn't found me?”

“I'd probably be alone again.” She slipped from his lose grip and settled on the floor.