Cowboy Bebop Fan Fiction ❯ Got You ❯ Connection ( Chapter 31 )

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….

Ed disturbs the peace.

 

Chapter 31: Connection (Elastica)

 

Jet scowled at Ed's readout. Now that they were closer she could trace the bugs. According to the trackers, Faye and Spike were away from the campsite. He scowled, “Dammit.”

Ed tipped around Tomato to study him. “What is it?”

“What are they doin' out there?”

She shrugged, “Call grandpa man. Maybe he knows. He's sneaky.” Ed glanced at the blue and pink blips nearly on top of each other. She touched the screen, “This says Faye-Faye and Spike-person are in the same square foot of each other.”

“How could they be so close?”

Ed's jaw unhinged, “Ed has to explain THAT to Papa Jet?!”

He blinked, “No. NO! I get it Ed.” He punched in George and Annette's business line.

“Pandora Campground.” Came the familiar voice with a pile of gray hair.

“Annette…”

“Jet!”

He smiled, “Have you seen my two feuding partners?”

George snorted over her shoulder, “They're at the pool, makin' up for lost time.”

Annette gasped and turned, “How do you know?!”

“Surveillance cameras, dear.”

She peeked over his shoulder, gasped and returned her focus on Jet, “George. Turn that off and give those two some privacy!”

Ed yelped, “AHA!” She stood to dance, “They are sharing a square foot!!”

“Ok Ed.” He glared over his control panel into the space beyond, “Go check on Ein.”

She frowned and disappeared.

“How's the bounty fairing. He suspicious?”

Annette nodded. George made a strange groan. She turned, “George, dear?”

“Yeah?”

“Turn that off or I'll tell both of them you were watching their first time.”

He snorted, “This isn't their first time. That was hours…”

Jet chuckled at the loud smack and pained groan. “The kid's a little antsy. Thinks Spike and Faye are up to something.”

George snickered, “Well, something's up.”

She shook her head, “There's another fellow in the cabin with them. He's creepy, sticks to himself. Oh! And a chubby redhead's been buddying up to Faye.”

George appeared on screen, “All three seem to know Faye from school or some club.”

Jet grinned, it amazed him how quickly those two could remember names and stray facts from conversation. “So they're the kids that made contact initially.”

Annette nodded, “One's name is Wolfe. He's seen Spike and Faye together before. The other's name is Kevin.”

Jet's head bounced, “Kevin's the one to worry about.”

“Wolfe is the front man.” George grinned, “I think he has a customer that is not happy. Kid's been quite cranky.”

Another nod.

“Anyway, the guy's lookin' for a new supplier.”

Annette smiled, “Probably trying to hide out as well. He doesn't seem smart enough to make safe deals.”

Jet grinned, “Good. Ed and I will float in. Remove the two men, send the girl home and get out of there with Spike and Faye.”

Ed bounced back into the room, singing. “Spike-person and Faye-Faye kissin' by the pool. Catchin' bounties she met at school. Papa Jet thinks they're crazy, Edward wonders why it took Lunkhead Spike so long to quit bein' shy!”

Jet rolled his eyes, “Spike's never been shy.”

She paused, her foot hovering over the floor. “Ed knows but she couldn't think of something to rhyme with why.” She plopped in the co-pilot's chair and swiveled quietly. “Oh! Try. That's better.”

Jet refocused on the screen, “We'll be there soon. Can the kid and I get a cabin?”

“Sure Jet.” Annette smiled, “I'd love to hear what you've been up to.”

George nodded, “Damn punk fell off the radar.”

Jet scratched his chin, “We'll be there soon.” With a nod he disconnected.

 

Spike sat up and dug out a sandwich, Faye still curled comfortably on one of the many towels. She sighed softly and rolled over, her shoulder slipping out of the make shift blankets. He tugged his pants back on and settled down to wait for her to wake. He grinned and studied the domed sky, sandwich half way to his mouth. He paused, searching for the source of the familiar hum. He grinned at the Hammerhead slowly edging across the expanse. Faye stirred and sat up. Glaring at the offensive noise she yelped and began scrambling for clothes. Spike scowled at the frenzied pace. “What are you doing?”

“If that's Jet, Ed's with him and you know she won't waste a second sniffing us out once he lands.”

Spike chuckled, “I'm sure she's already figured out what we've been doing.” He pointed to a camera overlooking the pool and waved.

Faye missed it, too busy tugging a sock on, “I'm sure. Damn kid's probably got bugs on both of us. That doesn't mean I want her running in here to you…” she glanced at him, “half naked and me sprawled across the forest floor with a smug smirk.”

“Smug huh?”

“Shut up.” She blushed and tossed his shirt at his head, “Get dressed.” She began tugging her shoes on, her hair in a sloppy pony tail.

 

Ed waited for the engines to begin winding down before she launched from the Hammerhead's confines and sprinted towards the forest. Jet barely catching her squeal, “Faye-Faye!!!” Her wiggly arms flopping bizarrely out to the side as her feet propelled her towards her favorite cowgirl. He chuckled. Ed continued to chant, “Faye-FAYE!! Ed knows what you did! Ed knows, Faye-Faye!!”

“Poor girl.” He shook his head and made his way into the registration office. He smiled at the familiar desk clerk. “Hello. Jet Black checkin' in,” he glanced at the forest then into the lobby at the curious man and redheaded girl. He rubbed his neck, “Sorry the kid and dog ran off to find Faye.” He grinned, “She just adores her.”

George smiled, “So you're the brother, huh?”

Jet nodded. “Yeah. I came to pick him up, but Ed was so excited to have a few days out that we decided to extend their stay.” He grinned, “Thanks for being understanding.”

Annette materialized nearby, “Sure thing. We're glad some of their family approves.”

Jet bobbed his head.

She smiled at the forest, “She is a very excitable youngun isn't she?”

Jet nodded, “Yup.”

One of the men nearby smiled. “You look familiar.”

Jet grinned, suddenly glad Faye's hair remover prank back fired. “Yeah, I get that a lot.”

Wolfe eased away, placing the redhead between them. She smiled sweetly, “That brother-in-law of yours sure is a nice guy.” She sighed, “He really loves her doesn't he?”

Jet repressed a scowl, uncomfortable making such guesses, “Yeah. He's fond of her.”

 

Spike kicked back against a tree, content to eat while Faye frantically collected stray items. She scowled at her bikini top strung over a branch. With a few jumps she snagged it, spun and tried to slip it back on. “Faye,” she stilled, strings hanging from the top of her shirt. “Come here.” She shifted nervously but complied. He grinned when she sank next to him, allowing him to loop the strings together. “Relax. Ed already knows.” She gasped. He clasped her necklace and tapped the pendant, “They bugged us when we went to the club.” He entangled her fingers, “She's known we were in…”

Ed burst through the tree line and pointed, “Edward knows you were sharing the same square foot!” Her eyebrows wiggled and she drifted towards the basket. Plopping next to Faye she helped herself to a sandwich. “Did Faye-Faye and Spike kiss and make-up?”

Faye pinked, Spike chuckled, “Yeah.”

“Yay!” She bit into the sandwich and grinned at Faye. “Will Faye-Faye take Ed swimming later?”

“Sure Ed.”

“Do you think Spike-person or Papa Jet will come too?”

Faye shrugged. Spike grinned, “I'll come.”

Ed smiled and pressed her luck, “Will Spike-person help Ed make s'mores?”

An eyebrow rose, “You're pushin' it kid.”

She shrugged, “Ed had to try.” She giggled, “Ed has never been camping before.” She wiggled her toes. “It's fun, even if it's to catch bounty heads.”

Faye shook her head, “Keep that to yourself, Ed.”

“Edward knows!” She snatched another sandwich, “The bounty heads are busy staring at Papa Jet right now.”

“How..?”

“Ed saw them before she ran to find Faye-Faye and Spike.”

 

The group drifted from the lobby and towards one of the distant cabins. Annette smiled, “That Wolfe kid almost placed you.”

Jet grinned, “Yep.”

She nodded, “One or both boys head out towards the edge of the dome after they eat dinner with Angie.”

“How often?”

“Every three nights or so.”

George tipped his head towards their destination of choice, “It's outside the surveillance, so I can't say what they do. But they come back with supplies.” His bushy eyebrows drooped, “Then they test their merchandise the rest of the night.”

Annette smiled, “They'll be in their cabin all of the next day sleeping.”

“When's the last time they headed out?”

“Two nights ago.”

Jet nodded and took his key, “Thanks.”

 

Faye collected the stray towels, while Ed poked at the water. Spike gathered the basket, stood and dug out a smoke. Ed snuck a peek at him while Faye's back was turned and grinned. He bobbed his head lit his cigarette. Ed's glance shifted to Faye, “Edward thinks Faye-Faye seems happier.”

Spike grinned, a puff of smoke slipping out his mouth, “Why's that?”

Ed shrugged, “Just do.”

Faye stopped beside the teen and scowled at the pair, “Just do, what?”

She tittered, “Nothing Faye-Faye.”

Frown, “If it's nothing, why are you talking about it?”

“Uhh…” Ed glanced towards the cabins, “Got to go!” She bounced on her tip-toes, “Coming Papa Jet!” She dashed off, leaving a snickering cowboy and grumbling Faye in her wake.

Faye scowled, “Jet didn't call her.”

Spike shrugged, “Kid seems part cat half the time, maybe he did.”

“Pff.” She studied him, “What were you two talking about?”

He grinned, tipped his head close, his plan to place a chaste kiss before sneaking away. Instead she stepped closer, arms slipping back around his neck as she pressed against him. Original plans forgotten he deepened the kiss. Grinning when she pulled away slightly flushed and headed down the path.

Near the cabin, she regained her composure, “So what were you and Ed whispering?”

He grinned and eased by, “Nothing.” She rolled her eyes and mounted the few stairs to their door.

 

Jet studied the quaint little cabin. It was larger than Spike and Faye's, providing an extra room for Ed and Ein. The dog happily lying before the fire Jet had decided to make. He woofed happily, his tongue lulling to the side. Jet grinned and patted the pooch's head, “Yah. This is the life, isn't it?”

Another pleased huff. The pup's ears shifted slightly, his head perking to study the door. Moments later Ed plowed through. Pleased plastered on her face. She twitched towards the dog, “Edward saw Spike and Faye-Faye.”

Jet's eyebrow rose, “And?”

The door opened revealing a grinning Spike, “And nothing.”

Ed scowled, he'd stolen all her fun.

Jet glanced around him, “Where's Faye? And why do you have twigs in your hair?”

Spike grinned and ran a hand through the mess. “Was in the woods, remember?”

Jet's arms crossed, “So?”

“So. I was in the woods with Faye. Ed showed up and ate most of our lunch.”

Jet sputtered, “You… you went… Holy Hell! You took Faye on a picnic?!”

Spike took a step towards the couch, “Annette and George gave me a bunch of sandwiches.”

Ed giggled, “They went swimming.”

Jet grinned, “Didn't know you own a pair of trunks, Spike.”

“Guess we aren't as close as you thought, huh?” He flopped on the couch, legs stretched out before him, his arms draped across his face.

Jet chuckled at the satisfied grin flitting off and on his face, “You enjoy your swim with Faye?”

The grin stuck, “Yup.”

Ed twitched, “You swam in the same square foot?”

The grin grew, “Yup.”

Ed sat up, “Wow.”

“Yup.”