Session #3: Down With the Sickness
Disclaimer: I do not, nor have i ever, own or owned Cowboy Bebop or it's characters...although I wish I did!
Ok, this is the next session in my series, and I have to warn you...it may be a bit dark and possibly quite predictable, given the comments I have already received on the last chapter...but I would like to point out that this is the angle I chose to take, I wanted it to be somewhat predictable if that makes any sense...Well, it takes place immediately after TRFB (part 2) just so you know...enjoy, or not, but read it anyway! Thanks!
As Faye walked slowly up to the large building, she could see that things had turned chaotic and her heart dropped into her stomach, making her feel queasy. The building was half-blown apart and the scene was teeming with ISSP, firefighters, and paramedics. As she continued closer, a handsome young ISSP officer approached her, placing his hand in front of her. He looked her up and down as Faye spoke.
"Excuse me, officer..." She looked to him, quite distraught as he interrupted her.
"Ma'am, I'm sorry but I'm going to have to ask you to step back behind the line." The officer took Faye by the arm and escorted her back across the street to the other side of the yellow tape. Faye looked into the officer's eyes, great concern shrouding her face.
"Please, officer, I just need to know if there were any...survivors?" She asked him hesitantly, almost whispering the last word.
The officer looked at Faye, and a twinge of pity took him over as he watched the look on Faye's face. He answered her softly, "I'm sorry, ma'am, but from the looks of things, no one involved survived this mess. It was like a war zone up here...there were a few observers who survived, but I'm afraid that's all."
The officer looked back to Faye as she responded, more to herself than to him.
"I'm too late?" She spoke softly and nearly inaudibly to the young officer. He said nothing, choosing instead to place his hand comfortingly on Faye's shoulder.
As if possessed by another personality, Faye pushed the officer's caring hand from her shoulder and glared at him, quickly grabbing her glock and shoving it against the frightened officer's forehead.
"You're lying!" She screamed, forcing her pistol further against his already bruised face. The officer appeared visibly shaken, sweat forming on his forehead.
"Please, ma'am, don't kill me...I swear to you, I'm not lying." He pleaded with her as a crowd began forming around them. More officers arrived on the scene, guns quickly drawn and pointed at the shaking form of the woman with the gun.
"No! You bastard, you're lying. I know you are, just admit to me that you're lying!" Faye cocked her gun and squeezed it tighter in her grip.
"Please, I beg you! Don't kill me..." The officer forced his eyes closed, anticipating the shot that would splatter the contents of his skull onto the scenery behind him.
"Miss, put the gun down and back away with your hands on your head!" The voice of another officer boomed over the speakers from the police craft above, as it cast a bright spotlight down onto Faye's back.
"Just tell me you're lying and I'll let you go." Faye said calmly before yelling again and pounding the gun against the man's already traumatized head, "God dammit!" Tears began streaking down her face.
"Please, just don't kill me. I beg you, don't kill me!" The terrified officer whimpered to the crazed woman.
"Shut up! Just shut up!" Faye squeezed her finger tightly on the trigger, preparing to fire when a shot rang out from above her. Faye dropped the gun violently and felt a sharp pain shot through her left shoulder. Almost instantly she was pummeled to the ground by officers from all directions. Faye continued fighting them; kicking, punching, biting, scratching, and attempting to gouge out eyes.
"No! He's fucking lying! He's fucking lying!" She screamed madly before she felt her head throb and she blacked out.
When she awoke, she found that she was lying in what appeared to be a hospital. As she attempted to sit up, her head pounded and her chest surged with intense pain. A nurse entered the room as Faye was trying to get up.
"Here, here, sweetie, don't try to sit up. It'll only cause you more pain." The chubby middle-aged nurse tried to convince Faye as she began checking her vitals.
"My name is Helen and I'm going to be looking after you today." The older lady smiled sweetly at Faye.
"What happened? Why am I here?" Faye asked, her voice dry.
The nurse continued about her duties and without looking Faye in the face, she explained.
"You caused quite a scene downtown last night dear, don't you remember?" Faye shook her head. "Now I'm no expert, but I'd guess that you're in a lot of trouble." Helen looked at Faye now, with a troubled face. Faye thought hard for a moment and gasped as the thoughts of the previous night floated back to her like bombs.
"The ISSP is outside standing watch so as to prevent you from trying to escape. They say they're taking you in when you fully recover." Helen continued, glancing at Faye who was silently fidgeting with her hands in her lap.
"Luckily the baby wasn't harmed." The nurse said reassuringly. Faye froze and felt a twinge of butterflies in her stomach as she took in the nurse's words.
"What? Wh...what baby?" Faye stuttered, extremely confused, and her eyes widened.
"Oh honey...didn't you know? You're about five weeks along now." Helen almost gushed happily for Faye, and then withdrew, very puzzled at the expression on Faye's face.
"Ba...baby?" Faye whispered, "No. That's not possible." Faye's voice cracked and she began shaking her head.
"I'm afraid it's true dear." Helen said quietly as she planted herself on the edge of the bed and rubbed Faye's leg soothingly.
"No!" Faye slapped the shocked woman's hand from her knee and began her descent into a full on meltdown.
"That's impossible!" She blubbered as the nurse tried to hug her and was again pushed away by Faye.
Faye continued sobbing, openly and unabashedly, not noticing that the nurse had left the room urgently and returned with syringe in hand. When Helen entered the room again, she found Faye sitting on the floor wailing, tubes pulled taught and blood seeping through her bandaged chest.
Calmly, the seasoned nurse lifted Faye's weeping, wilted body onto the bed and covered her up. It was as if Faye had completely given up fighting altogether. She looked off into absence as tears gushed from her eyes and she sobbed, mumbled words leaking from her mouth. "Why? Why is this happening to me?" She was speaking to no one, but continued asking anyway. The older woman cradled Faye in her arms like a small child.
Faye felt her face become hot and the room begin to spin as thoughts of her and Spike in each others arms and Spike's death and the baby in her womb flooded her mind. She leaned over the edge of the bed and vomited. The room seemed to become dim and Faye could feel everything closing in on her. The nurse adjusted Faye back to a lying position on the bed and wiped her face with a cool rag.
"There, there. Don't cry anymore, sweetie. This is going to take all the pain away." She comforted as she dropped the empty syringe into the trash. Faye's eyes rolled in their sockets. Soon, she fell heavily into forced sleep.
Jet lumbered slowly down the corridor to where Faye's room was located. He was surprised to see several armed ISSP officers standing watch outside the door. As he approached nearer to the room, he was stopped by one of the young men with a hand on Jet's chest.
"I'm sorry sir, but you're not permitted to enter here." Jet looked away from the door and looked the young officer sadly in the eye, wringing his hands together in front of him nervously.
"What's that? Oh...um...is this where Faye Valentine is being he...I mean is this Faye Valentine's room?" Jet asked in a low voice, pointing to the closed door.
"I'm sorry sir, I am not at liberty to answer any of your questions right now." The officer informed as another voice came from behind Jet.
"Jet?" Jet turned to find his friend Bob walking up to him, sadness in his face.
"Bob. Am I glad to see you." The men shook hands. "What's going on here?" Jet questioned. Bob gestured for the other officer to leave them. He did, and Bob continued on, telling Jet what had happened with Spike. He went on to tell Jet about how Faye had arrived on the scene and held the officer at gun point. Bob also explained to Jet how they were forced to keep Faye sedated because she had become a hazard to herself and to everyone around her. Jet just rested his head in his hands and nodded every now and again.
"Can I see her Bob?" Jet raised his head and looked Bob in the face now. "I just need to make sure she's okay." Bob always new that Jet was a caring man, but he had never seen him care so much for any one person the way he seemed to for Spike and Faye. Like they were his family.
Bob, not finding the right words to bring comfort to his friend, said nothing, just nodded and escorted Jet into Faye's room. As Bob turned to leave Jet alone with Faye, he patted him on the shoulder as if to say "I'm sorry." As he left the room, he spoke calmly over his shoulder to Jet, "I'll get this matter cleaned up Jet, so you can take her home. That's where she needs to be now." Jet only nodded in appreciation, fighting back tears. Bob exited quietly and closed the door behind him.
Jet limped further in, laying his crutches on the chair in the corner of the room. He looked hesitantly down on Faye's sleeping form. Her head was propped slightly up with pillows and she had bruises and scrapes covering her body. She had a large bandage over the top half of her chest and shoulder. Two black eyes spread across her once flawless face and her nose was slightly swollen, but bandaged. Bob had told Jet how Faye's nose had been broken when she was tackled. Faye had never seemed so small and fragile to Jet before. He sighed and lowered his head.
Suddenly and somewhat noisily, a nurse entered the room. It was Helen, and she could see the worry in Jet's eyes.
"She's pretty banged up, but she's going to be okay." The nurse told Jet confidently. Jet forced a smile and nodded, his eyes still worried.
"Are you the father?" Jet paused from looking to answer the woman.
"Uh, no, I'm not her father. I'm just a friend." He said quietly, turning to look back at Faye.
"I realize that, sir. You're not nearly old enough to be her dad." Jet smiled slightly at the nurse's reply. " I meant are you the father of the baby?" She placed her hand softly on Jet's large arm. Jet only glanced at her, confused.
"Well, you'll be glad to know that the baby is safe and unharmed. All the test results came back saying that the baby is going strong, quite healthy actually." She smiled at Jet now and then resumed her duties. He only returned her smile with a surprised look, his eyes wide and his mouth hanging slightly open.
"What's that? You mean she's..." Jet halted, at a total loss for words. His face turned dark and he lowered his gaze once more to Faye. He rested his head in his palm, cradling his temples with his fingers. He sighed deeply. "No, I'm not the father." He knew who the father was, but he tried not to think of it now.
Faye began to stir in her bed, the drugs beginning to wear off again. The nurse left just as Faye opened her heavy eyes slowly.
"Jet?" She tried to speak, "Jet?" Her voice was weak and tired. Jet sat on the edge of the bed and held her in his arms.
"Shhh..." It was the only thing Jet could think to say now. He continued rocking Faye in his arms.
"Spike's dead, Jet..." She began crying silently, burying her face in his chest. "He's dead." She said hoarsely.
"I know Faye...I know." He continued to hold her against him and stroked her hair lightly. A tear escaped his eye and rolled quickly down his cheek.
Well, there you have it...I apologize for the darkness of this chapter...in case you've grown accustomed to my humorous takes...but bear with me, and hope for the best. Well, any questions or comments, feel free to fire away! And anyone who thinks that the characters were a bit OOC, I'm sorry, but how would act in such a situation? Ok, that's enough from me...peace!
The title "Down With the Sickness" is borrowed from the song of the same name by Disturbed...so please don't sue me!