Disclaimer: Don't own it

Author's Notes: Hey hey hey! Almost there! I was almost considering NOT continuing this fic due to some eerie coincidences that have occurred irl…but I made a promise before such incidences that I won't stop until it's all finished and you, the audience, is satisfied. The ending will be the same as I originally intended, dialogue, etc so no, no spews of hatred or anything like that will be occurring. Just good ol' fashion bitch fits and Spike woes. _; Written to the tunes of 'Flashing Lights' by Kanye West and 'What's on her mind' by some chick name Nekta, which is also the name of this chapter. I mentioned before that I write to music, so this is one of those examples. Enjoy. ^_^ Oh and

*Shillings: Some English currency. Forgot what kind but..who the hell cares x.x;

With each car that passed by, she sighed. With each light that swerved past them, she shrugged her shoulders. She'd never been one to have flash backs such as these, but for some reason this time, even with Spike by her side, even with this son of a bitch beside her that she desperately wanted to get rid of, she still had her thoughts…

"It's… all a… dream…."

"…..Yeah. …Just a dream…"

Flashback to two and a half years ago.

"Dead. They're all…dead."

"Sir?"

"I don't believe this..five years on this case and it turns out to be nothing but dead bodies all around. JOHNSON!"

"Yes Sir!"

"Check for survivors! Very unlikely that there'll be any but….CHECK ANYWAY!"

"Yes Sir!"

The Lieutenant paced back and forth from the bloody crime scene, pacing to and fro from the gloomy rainy rooftop. He glanced at the picture of a blonde woman, who looked to be in her late twenties. No identification, no nothing to justify who she was-only thing he knew about her was that she was apart of The Syndicate. He had yet to see the body; as a matter of fact it was because of her stunning beauty why he rushed down there in the first place. Among the bodies he passed by were a couple of bad guys he had once locked away in jail, whom later on would be bailed out by Vicious' financial support group.

Damn that Vicious..

He had two shillings* to bet that he had something to do with all of this, in some way or another, but as each day passed on, and every hour ticked passed, it was getting harder and harder to prove him guilty, or link him to any of the murders present.

The rain fell harder on his hat, dripping down on to what was once his freshly dry cleaned uniformed. The Lieutenant frowned—he knew he'd have to hear the everlasting bitching from the missus' mouth as to why he didn't bring his black umbrella she'd bought for him as an 'anniversary present'. Cheap bitch. Oh well..she'll live.

"WE GOT A LIVE ONE SIR! WE GOT A LIVE ONE!"

"Say what?!"

He hurried over to the group of men that were beckoning him over to their location. Seemed like the more he ran, the more the pigeons that were silently watching flew past him, almost in slow motion. He could see the stretcher that was waiting on the roof for any possible injured survivors being hastily tossed over to the victim's location. He wondered who it could be—a knocked out bad guy? An eye witness that got caught in the unfortunate cross fire? A resident child who, God forbid was playing on the roof when the shooting began and had no where else to turn..?

No.

The golden locks on the wet concrete surface told it all; it was the woman in the picture.

She was even more beautiful up close than she was in the photograph. Blood running from between her lipstick stained lips as she struggled to breathe, her hand clutching her chest as she arched her back, her eyes crying out for the help she desperately needed, the need to stay alive, to need to continue finding whatever she was looking for. Blood seeped from behind her..and as they lifted her up on that white stretcher now stained with her blood, they soon realized that they had to act FAST. It was indeed a miracle how she managed to hold on, even with a bullet that shot from her back and missed her heart by near inches, but there was no time to worry about that now. The Lieutenant knew what he had to do—and as for himself he knew he still had an investigation to continue. This case wasn't closed now..not by a long shot.

One month later…

"Ugh….oh…"

The room was spinning too fast..I can't keep up..I can't…

HEEEIIIIEEEEL…UUUURK!!

"Oh..oh dear. Oh dear it's okay, over here, over here over here..there you go ma'am. DOCTOR MARSHALL! DOCTOR MARSHALL SHE'S AWAKE!!"

"What happened?? What's the prognosis?"

"She's awake now, Dr. Marshall. I came in to check her blood pressure as usual and she awoke with a bout of nausea."

"Get Lieutenant Robertson on the phone. He needs to be informed of this."

"Yes Doctor, right away."

I felt my right eye…or is it my left..? I don't even know anymore..but one of them had a light shining directly into it. I was too weak to do anything about it and too drugged up to utter a single word to him. From what I can remember, all I heard was 'Hmms' and 'Interesting' and 'Need more tests.'

I felt like some kind of experimental lab rat, waiting to be probed with needles and God knows whatever else. A soft object was rubbed over my mouth—probably to remove any remnants of vomit that was on my face. What was going on..? Where was I..? And should…shouldn't I be dead…?

I wasn't sure how much time had passed by since I had awoken, but all I could recall was a man, about six feet tall standing over me with his uniform hat tucked neatly underneath his arm. His eyes narrowed towards me, and instructed the doctor to step outside. Questioning..? I could barely speak much less answer any questions he may have had for me. I didn't want to answer..and I certainly didn't feel like answering anything. The edge of the bed sank in deeply, indicating that he was sitting upon it. He sighed in exasperation before placing his hat on top of the wooden chair that was to the right hand side of the mattress. The details of his face were still foggy—only the light grey shaggy beard on his face that contrasted to his dark features were the only things that was striking about him.

"How're you feeling ma'am?"

I did not respond; only followed my eyes with his constant shifting upon the bed.

"You've been in a coma for a month now, did you know that? They weren't expecting you to even pass the night but you've proved to be quite the trooper."

Still I did not respond. I felt another wave of nausea sweep over me, but I decided to hold off on that for as long as I could. I wanted to see what exactly his intentions were for being in this room. By now I had already figured out I was in a hospital, but I felt no pain as far as I was concerned. Maybe it was the morphine..? As soon as that came to mind, I felt a warm sensation tingle throughout my entire body. My eyes rolled into the back of my head slightly before I focused my attention back on the officer. He glanced to the beeping heart monitor beside me and smiled gently, pointing to the everlasting tapping that was my heartbeat.

"That morphine huh..? Yeah..it'll get ya." He chuckled, rubbing his bald head in the process.

"……..wh…….wh….." I meant to say 'why was he here', didn't really care to find out who he was for I was still very much exhausted from all the recovery.

"I'm here Miss Julia, because you were involved in a shoot out a month back on top of a rooftop, by Annie's Place. You…were the only one that survived."

That was expected. I knew Spike had left before anything had happened to hi--…Spike.

"Spi……ike.."

"Yes, your uhm…companion, Spike Spiegel, Twenty Seven years of age, born on Mars, correct? I'm sorry but since the battle with Vicious--"

"Vicious??" My voice got stronger now. A battle? With Vicious?? Why wasn't I told?! What happened?!

"What about Vicious and Spike?!" I raised up from off the bed, again feeling the room spin again but I didn't care. I HAD to know! I had to know what happened to them!

"Are they still alive?! Are they here?! Is Spike here?! Where is he?! Bring him here I WANT HIM HERE!"

"Ma'am ma'am please relax! Julia! JULIA!"

"BRING HIM HERE! Where is Spike?! We were supposed to run away together! He has to be here! He to..! He has to be---"

"HE'S DEAD!!!!!....ma'am...."

………

The thunder rolled outside the window.

"……………….what…?"

"I..I'm sorry, Julia..when our team members arrived on the scene, he was found face down on the stairs…we were..unable to recover him.."

My whole world shut down. Spike Spiegel. Dead..? No…not this..this wasn't..this wasn't happening. This can't be happening..

"I'm sorry ma'am.."

I'm sorry ma'am…

…………..sorry ma'am…………….

………………………..ma'am……………………

"Julia…."

………….ma'am…..

"Julia……….."

…ma'am….

Presently. Back in the car.

"Julia."

"Huh?" I snapped out from my memory phase. Reluctantly I looked at the ghost who'd just called my name. He was so calm..so collected. Never in a million years would he have thought that I wanted him so fucking dead..so fucking gone for what he had done to me—to us.

"What happened back there? Who died?"

Will be you soon, you motherfucking piece of—

"Don't know." Came my distant reply. I rolled down the automatic windows and sighed deeply as I allowed the wind to caress through my golden hair. The street lights, each time we passed them by was shone on my face, and in that moment I knew he was looking at me. The radio, though it was turned down low, played an easily recognizable song.

'The sun may rise in the east at least it's settled in a final location. It's understood that Hollywood sells Californication.."

"Well while we're here…"

His hand found its way to my thigh, not too far from where my throbbing sex was. Though I hated this man with a passion for what he had done, I loved the way he made love to me; if it was even for one last time, I wanted to feel him between my legs. He didn't seem to mind about the apparent mysterious shoot out. He didn't seem to care that that heathen's face was there, who pushed him out of the way right before he was scheduled to be killed. Well..least she did me a favor, for right now, I indeed was wanting him.

My head tipped back slightly to the open sun roof above. My mouth agape, my eyes rolled into the back of my head as I struggled to breath correctly, but unfortunately (or fortunately) for pleasure, it came out in short, paced gasps. My fingertips gripped and ungripped the side of the passenger seat, like a mentally challenged child desperately wanted to move above its confined area. I felt the seat beneath me getting wet, with some of my own wetness splashing between my thighs. How he managed to stay so cool, calm and collected whilst he continued to stroke my most intimate place was beyond me..but I wasn't complaining. I hated him with a passion, but at the same time I loved him. I was caught in a hard place whether to kill him now or fuck him..and it seemed as though my lust was winning.

Before I realized it, we were parked underneath a dimly lit garage. Slowly he pulled his fingers out from my hot throbbing pussy and proceeded to walk out of the vehicle, leaving me temporarily lonely. I adjusted my dress which at the helm was now slightly damp with my own want. Watched as he walked over to my side of the car..and opened the door.

He leaned in more towards me, and with a smirk on those lips of his, he whispered..'Ever fucked on the hood of a car, Julia..?"

Never in my life have a heard him speak like that. Without warning, he grabbed me from out the seat and slammed me against the hood of the car, my back hitting the windshield, causing a small crack on it's surface. Feverishly he kissed my neck, his right hand roaming down underneath my dress, before shortly reaching his way into my panties. Pushing two fingers inside my already dripping pussy, he growled lowly in my ear and gently bit the tip of it, causing me to whimper slightly.

"Shh.." He whispered in my ear, inserting a third finger inside me, feeling myself opening up more to him. I wanted him, I needed him and I needed him NOW. Fuck this shit..I fucking needed every ounce of him..!

"Spike..! No..wait don't..!"

He ripped the panties from off my hips and threw them on to the floor. His other hand loosened the strap of my Victoria's Secret beige bra, tossing it inside the passenger side of our rental car. He wasted no time..he didn't seem to care about who was watching. He wanted to degrade me..and show me what it was like to have my brains fucked out. My hair was being pulled backwards, causing my head to face upwards towards the sky. His lips suckled on my right breast, whilst running his sharp teeth along my soft ivory skin. I wanted him inside me. I wanted him to pound my pussy so fucking hard, I could almost taste the after flow.

With a grunt he turned me on my stomach, still on the hood of the hot car, slamming my chest forward, my face facing the windshield. I saw both of our reflections within the glass and the relentless fire that gleamed in his eyes. Lifting my dress up, I could see that he was beginning to get frustrated with the complicated silk material. With a flick of his wrist, accompanied by a knife he kept in the sleeve of his jacket, he ripped the Vera Wang dress off my body and grinned as he kicked it to the side of the car. To this point, I didn't care if I was fully nude. Spike had a way of making me so fucking hot and bothered that I'd fuck first and worry about the effects later. From behind I felt him entering me, slow at first, as though he wanted me to anticipate it. The warmth of him against my buttocks felt like my legs were on fire. The sensations that rattled throughout my body was unexplainable, and the way how my mouth was wide open, with a bit of saliva dripping down my neck like some sort of sex starved animal said enough. He wanted me more open to him, his massive cock, still inside me. Prompting my right leg below the grille of the car on the ledge gave him more lead way to what he wanted to do with me. He grabbed a hold of my hair, and pressed his elbow into the middle of my back.

"Fuu..uuck..!" I bawled out, closing my eyes in ecstasy as he began to fuck me rapidly, like a real man should. The sound of him slamming inside my pussy amplified and echoed off the walls that surrounded us, but to us it sounded like music to our eyes. On the radio were the faint sounds of some unknown Jamaican artist that seemed fitting to the rhythm of how Spike was fucking my pussy from behind. His cock pulsated inside me every time he entered me, and with each dip in between my legs with his lips to get a taste of what he was doing to me, he groaned in ecstasy, loving the taste of my juices and flesh against his thick wet tongue.

"Fucking..fool…" He grunted, whilst tipping his head in pleasure, grabbing the head of his cock, gently caressing the tip with his fingers before entering inside me once again, pounding me harder than before, This was meant to be a quickie, I knew, but goddamn it was beginning to be the best fucking quickie I've ever had in my LIFE. Spike was an excellent lover, and a damn good fuck and though my clothes were torn up due to his impatience, at this point, I didn't care if I had to stagger inside the hotel room naked as the day I was born.

"Fuck! FUCK! AH! AH! SPIKE! YES! AH! UGH! YEEEEEES!!"

Faster…harder..fuck yes..OH FUCK YESSS..! COME ON YOU SON OF A BITCH!!

I gritted my teeth, my fingernails scraped against the hot surface of the hood. The radio continued..

"Well ooman di winta time wen it cold I'm gonna be keeping yuh warm, ah got di right temprecha fi shelta yuh from di storm! Oh lord gal ah got di right tactics to turn yuh on, and girl I! wanna be di papa yuh can di mom uh oh!"

To the rhythm. He was FUCKING me to the rhythm of this beat, whatever song this was playing. I knew he mentally wanted me to remember this song, and fuck yes I'd remember it! I didn't care! I felt like I was on some kind of high, and yes he was giving it to me GOOD! I felt him hardening up. I looked back and saw his eyes rolled into the back of his head in sheer pleasure, knowing he was about to cum.

"Come on Spike..! Come on! FUCK YES..! YES! YE—"

He pulled. Out. He..he pulled out of..me..?

Dazed and confused, he grinned, his seed spilling over the concrete floor, his legs shaking a bit before zipping up his zipper, his hard on, still prevalent.

That grin.

What…

"Wha…what?"

I watched as he walked over to the driver's side of the car, smiling in satisfaction as he inserted a CD into the CD slot. Playing music..? Was he trying to be romantic?? I didn't want romance..I wanted to be fucked. Now.

Taking something from out of the glove compartment, he walked back over towards me, myself still naked as the day I was born. He tossed some pictures…

…Pic..pictures..?

Fuck..FUCK! MY GUN! MY GUN!

I fucking RAN towards the driver's side of the car! HE FOUND ME OUT! HE FUCKING FOUND ME OUT! THESE PICTURES WERE ALL THE PROOF HE NEEDED BUT HOW THE FUCK?! HOW THE FUCK DID HE FIND THESE?!

"I CAN EXPLAIN! I CAN EXPLAIN SPIKE! I CAN EXPLAIN!"

"Guess what..?"

"SPIKE! WAIT!"

He walked towards the driver's side again and sat down in the seat, one leg out the door, the other in the car. He turned up the radio..

"You've officially been chopped and skrewed.."

"………..what.."

These pictures. These FUCKING pictures!!!! This Motherfucking nigger SONG!!! HOW THE FUCK!!

My clothes! My underwear! I had no clothes to put on! My cell phone was still at the goddamn auditorium! My purse was still in the auditorium! My fucking gun! MY GODDAMN GUN WAS BACK AT THE HALLWAY!

He wasn't even saying anything! He was just..just STARING at me with this ever lasting grin!

In that same minute he revved up the car, and placed it in reverse, dragging me off the hood and on to the floor. He didn't care?! Was he trying to fucking kill me now?!

"WAIT! YOU PIECE OF MARTIAN SHIT! YOU FUCKING BASTARD! YOU FUCKING..!!! BASTARD!!!" I chased after the car! I must've looked like a damn fool chasing after a goddamn car but I NEEDED TO FUCKING KILL HIM BEFORE HE WENT ANYWHERE. I didn't know how, I didn't even have a phone to call Dimitri—I just knew I had to get rid of him somehow! He's fucked me over for the last time!

I looked about the place frantically. Had to be a damn call box around here somewhere! I knew there was a gas station across the street, but there wasn't a chance in hell I was going to casually stroll over there asking for use of a phone. Had to be something..! Fuck.

"FUCK YOU GOD!!!! FUCK! YOU!"

"Shawty done chop me..shawty done screw me..shawty done chop me.."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Back at the Grand Luxe Hotel, where Jet and Faye were previously staying..

"Come on come on come on!!"

"Is there anyone behind us?!"

"No just..just hurry up!"

"Got it!"

In the fools rushed in, grabbing whatever they could to get the hell off Jupiter. They knew I.S.S.P were now looking for them ever since the dangerous gateway incident—knowing they had violated some law, but since their bru-hah-hah back at the auditorium, the heat's been turned up BIG time.

Some friend, that Johnson... Jet mumbled underneath his breath as he grabbed his toothbrush the rest of his belongings, as well as the hotel's towels and shampoos—just in case.

Faye gathered her things as well and bolted out the door, silently urging Jet to hurry up so they could get a move on. They had to move FAST—it would seem that someone tipped the I.S.S.P off as to where they were both staying..no doubt it was that damn Julia, or that hit man she had up above. What was that about?

Where were they going?

And why…

Why yet again did he walk right past her as though she were some ghost..?

She knew she didn't have time to think about that now. She had to concentrate on keeping her cool, her composure. She had a role to play. or some shit…

Their approach to the entrance was quick. They didn't dare to take the elevator, least they got some unpleasant surprise on the other end so they figured it was best to go the safe route—the stairs. Nothing was said between Jet and Faye…after all what could there be to say? Though Faye certainly had a lot on her mind, she preferred to keep those thoughts to herself, lest Jet bombards her with unwanted questions. However..as for Jet…

Despite everything this woman has thrown at him, despite her unwelcomed appearance on the ship, despite her snobbiness, despite her lackadaisical attitude…

..He'd actually grown to care about her.

Care for her? Hell that wasn't even the word. Call a spade a spade.

Call a spade a spade..

Each time he heard her heels click against the smooth marble floor, trying her best to keep her calm, his thoughts raced with the what-could-have-beens. Faye wasn't perfect. FAR from perfect. Admittedly in the past she was what one would consider 'self centered' not really caring for anyone else's emotions. Faye herself knew this as well but didn't quite dig more into it until Spike left the Bebop..now it was beginning to look more prevalent. Now things were beginning to lessen in her favor and it was all fucking slipping away from her. Was she genuinely sorry for her 'prudish' attitude in the past? Yes. Did Spike believe that?...Obviously not..or he would've been back. But one person DID believe her. The one unlikely person that had always been by her side despite her rage, her imperfections, the things that made her human..and this same man was now running along side her to avoid the police.

He had once considered Spike a true comrade, a friend for life, one that was more valuable than gold..but things changed. Spike had clearly gotten needy, gotten more possessive, more cold hearted towards the two within the past year they had spent together. Maybe it was the pressure and memories from his mysterious past with the Syndicate? None of them really had a clue..but he knew one thing though…

Spike didn't deserve her now. Faye was chasing after a bad dream. She knew she was chasing after a bad dream….

But alas, she knew what she wanted—a chance to be forgiven what whatever sin she had committed. The sin of being human. The sin of loving unconditionally. The sin of simply being what made her Faye Valentine…

This same sin, however, was ironically the same curse that made Jet ultimately fall in love with her from afar. He knew for a fact nothing would ever occur between her and himself--..hell she wouldn't even fathom it. He was well aware that he was only there physically to make her feel sexually attractive again. To make her feel wanted. To make her feel like a woman—and less like a teen who grew rebellious for she felt she wasn't trusted.

This woman, who'd gone from prude to promising, from rags in soul to riches in heart, from being self centered to more self aware, knowing her mistakes and trying to correct them as each day goes on. Doing good not only for her own cause, but for the cause of those around her as well. The cause of the little one growing inside of her. All for him. All for one man who refused to acknowledge her presence, her beauty, her personality, her change, her fire, her spirit..

All for an old friendly fuck. She had a feeling he'd soon regret his sudden up and leave. Jet knew for a FACT that he himself can love this woman more than Spike ever could, and continue to stick by her side till she stated other wise. In a sense, somewhere out there, Spike knew Jet could do a better job at loving her…but his pride wouldn't allow him to admit it.

Spike doesn't fucking deserve her..was the song that ran through his mind. Because I do..

Because he loved her.

They were closer to the exit now, to the point where they could see their rental car parked outside. They felt eyes looking at them, staring them down as if they knew something they didn't.

"Jet.."

"Keep calm" He instructed, looking forward with a stern expression.

The doors opened automatically, and in walked in two I.S.S.P detectives.

"Shit." Jet mumbled underneath his breath, quickly grabbing Faye's hand, and turning her back towards where they cam.

"What? What??"

"Detectives. Stay calm."

He glanced over to a side mirror that was to his right, closely watching the detectives as they approached the front desk. He heard their conversations, but only in low tone. One of the detectives, who seemed uninterested at first looked around, nodding his head in agreement with the glitz and glamour of the place. Then..he stopped. Jet fliched.

"Walk. Now." He silently instructed, and Faye followed.

The detective switched the toothpick in his mouth and took a step forward. Faye took an extra step forward.

"Hey." The detective called out, but only a couple people responded. They only two that DIDN'T respond were Jet and Faye—and that was a bad fuck up move.

"HEY! HEY!"

And off they dashed in the opposite direction from their exit, running down the hallway with their possessions in their hands. They knew better than to drop and leave it, for the belongings alone with the items inside would give a clue as to where they were heading next.

Faye's heels and Jet's shoes dashed across the marble floored hallway, tossing and turning over the house keeper's bins as means of obstruction, but the quick detectives were still hot on their trail, one even going so bold as to take out his gun.

"STOP! POLICE!!"

But they kept on running. They needed an exit, but where?! Where in hell could they possible go?! They needed some sort of help—and fast!

Briiing! Br-iiing! Br-iing! Br-iing! Went the sound of Jet's Bluetooth, a convenient tool it would seem.

Beep!

"Not now ED!"

"It's like Ed is watching an exciting action cartoon with you and Faye Faye as the staaaars of the shooow!"

"You can *Pant!* See us?! HOW?!"

"I SAID STOP OR WE'LL SHOOT!"

"Jet come on!"

"Hold on! Ed says she can see us! Help us out Ed, what else can you see?!"

"Ed gets to be director?!"

"YOU HAVE TEN SECONDS!"

"What?! Ed this isn't the time, come on! We're almost at the end of the hallway!"

"Promise that Ed will be director! Promise!"

"ED!"

Bam! Ziii—ng! Crash!

The mirror that was towards the right of Faye head as she ran past was shattered into pieces, and the two immediately realized that they were not dealing with any ordinary detectives---these were skilled fucking marksmen that MEANT to miss!

"Promise ED!!"

"I PROMISE NOW WHERE NEXT!"

"Yay goody! Now when you see that big round vase thing coming up, and when I say action, you turn left!"

"The service door?!"

"Annnnd…! ACTION!!"

Immediately they made a sharp left, being sure to knock over the huge vase that was sitting on top of the mahogany wooden table in front of them. The vase proved to be a temporary fix to the chase as it cased one of the detectives to divert and skid back on the other, but it certainly didn't provide much relief as the chase still gave on.

Down down down through the now concrete slab hallway they went, running through the steam that emanated from the hotel's wash room. It seemed there was no end to this hallway, and the lights above them were motion censored, for each time they ran down the lonely path to wherever it was to lead them next, the fluorescent lights would turn on. Faye could hear the men once again give chase towards them in the hallway, and momentarily she looked back to see how far they were; not far enough it would seem.

Faye stopped.

"FAYE WHAT THE FUCK?!"

"Shut it Jet, I got this!"

"SURRENDER WITH YOUR HANDS UP!"

"EAT SHIT!"

She fired off a round at one of the florescent blubs and grinned, watching as the equipment and wires instead dangled in the air, still giving off electric sparks that warded them off.

"Back up back up! Heading eastward on service entrance hall! Requesting I.S.S.P helicopters on the double!"

"COME ON FAYE NO TIME FOR DRAMATICS! Ed! What else do you see?!"

"Uh oh.."

"ED!"

"There's a window to your right, but it leads no where but the road!! Oh la la..this movie's gonna end quickly.."

"DO SOMETHING! Can't you hack into the helicopters or something?!"

"Ed has something better! Turn left now!"

And turned left they did.

"Turn RIGHT!"

And right they turned—smack dab into a DEAD END. The only visible object in the hallway was yet another large mirror, than instead of facing the road, now faced a bauxite factory's carbonic acid lake..!!

"…Ed."

"You two have to jump."

"What? WHAT? Did she say what I think she just said, Jet?!"

"Hi FAYE FAYE!"

Boom, crash crash!

"WE'VE GOT YOU CORNERED! WALK SLOWLY TOWARDS US WITH YOUR HANDS UP IN THE AIR!"

"Jump Faye Faye and Jet person! You got ten seconds!"

"Till what?!"

"I SAID HANDS UP NOW OR WE'LL BE FORCED TO DISABLE YOU BOTH!"

Faye stared at both of the marksmen with hell in her eyes. She knew she couldn't take on both of them—no way in hell Jet could manage them either without the risk of being shot dead on the spot. They had no choice..

"Okay. Okay. We can do this. I can do this I can—WHAT THE FUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

CRASH!!!!!

With glass pieces flying all about them, the cold Jupitarian air hitting their skin, the dew as it fell on their faces, seemingly mocking them as they proceeding to fall backwards towards the bubbling green glowing corrosive acid below. Though Jet grabbed her arm, threw caution to the wind and jump through the window without warning, it still wasn't enough to make Faye continuously scream as she did when she initially fell through. For some odd reason, she rapidly started to accept what soon were to be both of their fate. Down down down below..towards that bubbling death they go, not a tear even when she tried with all her might, her mind still wandered to that of..

Spike…

Her thoughts drifted to that of a better time, when both she and Spike had their good moments. Their bickering, the constant fighting over the last pizza..

The charade they played in front of Ed and Jet.

Their loving making..

The way his eyes seemed to glisten as their gaze directed towards her beautiful features.

The feeling she got each time he cupped her face and held it there, like he was trying to capture time in a wonderfully decorated bottle, making her head spin out of control, her thoughts and heart racing..

Much like it was doing now.

All she could recall was Jet's grip on her arm, the bullets that whizzed by her as they reeled from above, like falling raindrops from the ominous dark dimly street lit night sky. She flinched slightly when she saw that Jet was firing back at the two detectives as they continued to fall, each of their bullets looking more and more like raindrops to Faye's imagination.

She felt a blast of hot air from underneath her..maybe her body anticipating death?

She noticed Jet's eyes lit up as soon as an object crossed his sight below.

A large object.

A rather LARGE object.

BAM!

Beep! Bullet proof overhead closed. Oxygen increasing.

"GO ED GO GO GO!"

"ROGER ROGER HEE HEE!"

And off they sped towards the dimly lit night sky above, towards the open space that laid ahead of them. Jet heaved a sigh of relief, before realizing how close to death they both were.

"Thanks a lot Ed you could've gotten us KILLED back there!"

"Ed had trouble overriding the cop ship! BOO!"

"YOU COULD'VE WARNED US BEFORE HAND BEFORE SENDING US TO OUR DOOM THOUGH!"

"JET!"

Her hand reached out to grab his wrist, which was already shaking in anticipating of hitting something on the keyboard. Yes, they were all frustrated. Yes, they were all shaken up by the fact that they still haven't caught up to Spike's disappearing act but at the same time..it was no reason to take it out on a girl who was only trying to help. The old man sighed..

"I'm getting too old for this shit..look. I'm sorry Ed..it's been a long night, alright?"

"Ed understands.."

"Just..just take us to the Redtail and Hammerhead will ya? It's off on Clover's Field.."

"K. Ed'll call ya back!"

Beep!

"Faye?"

"Hm..?"

"You alright there kiddo?"

She looked up at him and weakly gave him a half smile, not even thinking about the fact that she was oddly positioned in his lap due to the fall. Placing her had on his chest, her smiled brightened as she felt his heart rate quicken suddenly.

"Faye.."

"………" huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuurl!!!

Jet sweatdropped. Yeah..I almost forgot—she's a walking vomiting factory.

Couple hours and a few ship chases later.

In the middle of no where they stalled, somewhere in between Saturn's many moons. Though tired and frustrated that the I.S.S.P were STILL following after two and a half hours of running away, they both knew they had to keep on their toes if they wanted to get back on the Bebop safely. Only one problem—Jet couldn't for the life of him recall where exactly the Bebop was and Ed, since she was being yelled at a couple hours ago for not helping them out on time, refused to up link the GPS directions to the two unless they both agreed to hand over the responsibility of piloting the Bebop to where ever she wanted for a day. Jet frowned.

Incoming Vid link message. Will you accept?

"You alright?"

Faye looked at Jet via vid-link and sighed, running her long slender fingers through her violet hair.

"Yeah I'm fine..sorry about throwing up on you earlier."

"Hey, it's no biggie. Right now we just need to figure out what to do. Any idea where we are?"

She stared out into the vast emptiness of space before glancing to Saturn. Maybe she could start a new life…without him. Hard? Yeah, she didn't deny that it wasn't going to be, but it certainly was going to be a tad bit difficult without some kind of moral support around.

Well..apart from Jet at least.

She hated to admit it, but it seemed as though she would have to settle. She didn't love him..not in the least. They both knew that he was there for physical comfort, even if it were for one night back at the hotel. He knew his role now and she knew hers—however wrong it was. Faye's biggest problem had always been to let go—she refused to accept defeat come the face of anything that was thrown against in her life—even death itself. This however was one of those times where she HAD to lay low and accept what was being handed to her—that Spike truly didn't and never loved her.

"No…" Came her distant reply. Jet groaned. He had a good mind to yell at her and demand her to get over it..but he couldn't. He HAD to put himself in her shoes and wonder how the situation would affect him both mentally and physically, but at the moment his selfishness was beginning to take over.

"He's not coming back..is he, Jet..?"

There was that awkward silence again. Jet rubbed the back of his head and shifted his weight upon the seat he sat on, leaning his body back to look up at the blinking ship lights that operated consistently.

"I don't think so.." He replied calmly, though he wished to reacted in an opposite manner.

"We'll get through this, Faye. I promised you I wouldn't let you down..and I intend on keeping that promise. If it kills me, you're going to have a better life."

"But why..? Why're you doing this for me? Why do YOU care what happens to ME of ALL people?"

"…."

"ANSWER ME!"

"BECAUSE I JUST DO OKAY NOW SHUT IT!"

"…"

Her eyes widened quickly before returning to their normal stance. Jet could sense, even from a few miles away from her ship that her heart was swelling with disappointment. He had to say something quick.

"Because I.."

"Because you what? You care about me?" She spat out hatefully, her eyes now glaring at his image on the screen.

"If you wanna put it that way then shrew, fine. But I'm the only one you got by your side right now so spaz if you want to."

"..The fuck does that even mean?"

On hold Vid link message. Will you accept?

Both of their screens lit up in unison as an awaiting vid link came through on the other end. They both knew who it was—take a stab it was Spike, but from where? Where was he this time and what the FUCK did he want? He had already caused enough trouble, and that was one thing they both didn't need at the moment. Though to Faye..

Even if everyone in the whole wide WORLD knew that there was a ninty nine point nine nine percent chance that he would never apologize for his actions..

She wanted her one percent. So, in a haste to see his face, in an effort to hear his cool as a cucumber voice, in a desperate attempt to get him to finally explain as to why he had left her—left the Bebop, left his old life behind for a dead dream, she accepted his link before Jet had the slightest chance of a protest. Funny enough, however..if Jet himself had a bit more time to spend with her via vid link before Spike contacted..

He would've told her he loved her.

Beep!

Faye's eyes looked as through they wanted to shoot laser beams at Spike's features the way how she stared at him with so much anger and emotion. Any fool could tell that she wanted to kill him, punch him, torture him, ANYTHING just to get near him again. Those old feelings came up again in her heart, despite the many times she tried desperately to keep them at bay (to no avail it would seem) On his end, all he did was stare. She was more beautiful than he remembered, though he saw her just a couple of hours prior back at the auditorium. The ice had to be broken. One of them had to say something..

Well..here goes nothing.

"Yo."

Beep!

"..Spike."

"Faye."

"What the FUCK do you want you piece of shit?!"

"Heh, well I'll take that as a warm greeting from you. Never knew you cared."

"As if you cared about me at all! What the fuck do you want?! What the FUCK was that back there?! Because of you and you little walking dead girlfriend, we have the I.S.S.P chasing our asses every chance they get! I don't want to see ANY part of you! You're dead to me Spike! DEAD TO ME!"

"Faye.."

"DON'T SAY ANOTHER WORD TO ME SPIKE! I'VE HAD ENOUGH! YOU DIDN'T EVEN TRY TO SEE THE FACT THAT I SAVED YOUR GODDAMN LIFE TONIGHT! YOU WALKED RIGHT PAST ME AS IF I WERE SOME KIND OF GHOST FROM THE PAST!"

"Faye."

"I SAID DON'T TALK TO ME! I'M TIRED OF HEARING YOU TALK CONSTANTLY ALL THE TIME! I'M TIRED OF YOU WALKING ALL OVER ME AS THOUGH I WERE SOME..SOME DOG! YOU TREATED US LIKE SHIT Y'KNOW! NO CALL, NO NOTHING! HOW THE FUCK DO EXPECT ME TO FEEL, SPIKE?!"

"FAYE."

"WHAT?! WHAT GODDAMNIT WHAT?! YOU HAVE SOMETHING SLICK TO SAY THEN SAY IT! I'M TIRED OF YOU AND YOUR BROKEN PROMISES! YOU'RE A BAD FUCKING DREAM! WHAT IS IT YOU HAVE TO TELL ME HUH?! WHAT?! WHAT?!"

"..I'm sorry."

And that was her one percent. She couldn't do a better thing than to shut her trap at that moment and finally settle down. She blurted out what was on her mind—though she hadn't gotten it all out as of yet but at the moment, she was just as equally stunned as he that an apology was heard from his lips.

"I'm well aware of the fact that I haven't been the best lately..I know what's been going on, what you've been trying to do. What Julia….what Julia was trying to do."

"…She was trying to kill you."

"As I said, I'm well aware."

Her eyes widened. He knew? He..he knew..? But then if he knew why did he sta--..

"You're wondering why I stayed huh?"

Spike always had a way of reading her mind before she uttered out of her lips, but it wasn't because he was in tune with his sixth sense. It was simply because it was written all over her face—the questions, the answers; it was easy for anyone to read what was on her. It could've been one of the reasons why Spike never reacted and simply allowed her to rant and bellow earlier on.

"I stayed because I wanted to make sure that it wasn't a dream. I wanted to clear things up. Here."

Quickly he pulled out a picture of what seemed to be a duplicate of an original. The picture showed a blond hair woman corresponding with a man, who, based from the picture, seemed to have VERY close relations with the woman.

"Is that..?"

"Yes. Exactly who you think it is. I'll explain later, but right now I need the both of you to get to Mars, on District Seven."

"District Seven.? But that's a--"

"Just meet me there, Faye. Please. I'll tell you everything you need to know but right now, I can't be here. Old man?"

Though Jet had been quiet the entire time throughout their conversation (in an effort to avoid ripping him a new one as well), he was more than willing to answer him. It was his old comrade after all..and though by all right he should feel guilty for fucking the hell out of Faye behind his back, though technically it was Spike who abandoned her in the first place, truth of the matter at hand was

He didn't.

"What?" He spat out with a spiteful underlying tone?

"Thanks. For looking out for her."

"…Fuck off, asshole."

And with a slight 'heh' and a last look at the woman he once threw caution to the wind to, he logged off. A few minutes of silence occurred between the two. No it wasn't a long conversation between old 'friends' again, but at least it was something. Jet didn't have to ask Faye what was on her mind now—he already knew. Liked it or not, Spike was back in her heart, and the even determined Faye Valentine was back again; even if it were for a little while. Neither wanted to budge to Mars or have anything to do with the planet. Too many memories, and not enough confirmation on their parts..but he did ask nicely. Politely. Maybe a bit…desperately?

Few seconds later the Hammerhead zoomed past the Redtail, toppling at over hundred and fifty miles per hour. The violet hair oddity blinked moronically before she soon realized where Jet was heading off to—the red planet.

"You coming or not?" Came the his voice from the vid link. She sighed deeply..before revving up her Redtail and hightailing it towards the finale. This needed to be settled once and for all, and no, there was absolutely no need to deny ir any longer. No matter what this man did to her..

No matter how much pain he caused her emotionally and mentally.

No matter how the odd were against her at the moment.

She still wished to chase after that bad dream. And as badly as Jet didn't want her to, he stood by her side anyway. He too wanted to rekindle that friendship they once had of years past.. but what did Spike want? It was there on Mars that they'd be able to find that out..never a moment sooner.