Cowboy Bebop Fan Fiction ❯ Unveiled Emotions ❯ Compassion ( Chapter 11 )

Rei lay on the marble bench, half conscious. She moved her hand then stopped when she felt something touch it.

"So much for the bounty on that coward. I've never seen anyone respond like that. He caught you before you touched the ground," Faye said and Spike snorted.

"Leave her there. He'll come back for her soon enough," he said.

"Where's your compassion, Spike?" Jett asked and Spike folded his arms.

"I'm not giving compassion in any way to that bastard."

"You're just jealous," Faye said and Spike stared at her.

"Jealous?! Where the hell did you get that idea? Why would I be jealous of that back-stabbing…?"

"Because I have someone by my side and you don't," Vicious said and Spike raised his gun.

"Shut up! I don't trust a word you say. Not after what you did to me. Not after what you did to Julia," Spike said and Vicious fired his gun. The bullet nicked Spike's hand and Spike dropped his weapon. Vicious' gaze was frigid as he crossed over to where Rei lay.

"Don't cross me, Spiegel."

There was something in Vicious' voice that the three bounty hunters paid heed to. They watched him kneel beside the marble bench. Rei reached for him and Vicious took her hand. She smiled as she once again began to hear his thoughts.

"I can't move you. I'm going to have to get one of my physicians over here. Don't panic, okay?" he muttered and Rei smiled tiredly.

"I won't."

"Come on, Spike, let's go," Jett said and Vicious glanced at Spike.

"We'll take care of our differences another time," Vicious said.

"I'm looking forward to it," Spike said.

Vicious grinned, much in the same way a wild dog smiles before devouring its prey, and took out a wireless phone.

"Nothing will interfere then," he said then turned his attention to the phone. "Skip the commercial will you? I need one of you over here to treat a bullet wound. You try anything funny and you know the fate."

********************

"What do you make of that?" one of the physicians asked and another shrugged his shoulders.

"Better let Sanders take care of it. He's had the most luck in dealing with that snake," the second said.

"Yeah. Hey Sanders! The friendly viper wants to see you!"

"So I heard," a clean-cut young man said as he walked into the room. He picked up his bag and glanced at the other two.

"One of these days he's going to need your specialty and you'd better not be afraid then."

***********************

"Need anything?" Vicious asked, his voice breaking the silence. Rei glanced up at him and smiled. There was true concern in his eyes.

"I'm sorry," she said and lowered her eyes when she heard Vicious' confusion.

"I'm sorry for saying you were destroying me mentally. I was just really upset. His screams and thoughts were getting to me."

"I understand. So, are you really in pain?"

"It's not that bad. You'll be able to take liberties with me soon."

"Come on, am I really that bad?"

"You know the answer to that as well as I do."

**********************

Sanders arrived about ten minutes later and said nothing when he saw who his patient was. He had heard the stories of those who crossed Vicious and he wasn't stupid enough to try it. He took a syringe out of his bag and glanced at Vicious.

"It's merely an anesthetic. I'm not stupid enough to try anything," he said and Vicious smiled darkly.

"Good. Because I'm not in the mood to put up with anything," he said as Rei's eyes slowly fluttered shut.

"You should have called sooner. The wound is infected.

"I called as soon as I could. I had to kill someone first."

"I see."

"It was the bastard that cheated me and tried to kill her. That couldn't have waited.

"Well, I don't believe it is a serious infection, but it's certainly going to slow down her healing process."

"Do what you can. I want her back to normal as soon as possible."

"That's understandable."

"What is understandable?"

"Nothing."

"That's what I thought."

"You're in need of a new bodyguard, aren't you?"

"What are you trying to say?"

"Well, I treated a Taliban last week. I think you'd be interested in him."

"Why?"

"Because he's the top ranking Regal Taliban as of now."

"Really."

"I could set up a meeting if you're interested."

"What's in it for you?"

"Well, it depends."

"Depends?"

"On how much you're willing to pay."

"I don't even know if it's worth my time."

"Suit yourself, but it'll give you something to think about while I deal with her."

"What do you want?"

"Well, let's see. If I'm going to continually get you out of trouble, then I need some better equipment."

"How much?"

"Five-hundred thousand."

"Three-fifty."

"Woah. That's not even going to pay for a screw on one of these things. Four seventy-five."

"Three-eighty and be glad you get that much. This better be worth it."

"It will be. Now, where and when do you want this meeting to take place?"

"IO in two weeks. He will come alone and unarmed. She will be able to tell me if he plans to do otherwise."

"Provided she gets better in two weeks."

"You're the physician. Do what you need to."

"I don't work miracles."

"If she doesn't improve substantially while you're here, I may need to find a new physician."

"I'll do my best."

"I thought you would."