Ladies and Gentlemen I give you the long awaited, (and unknown in
existence) final chapter of the Fine Line. *gasp* I know, I've actually
been considering writing this for a while. I just don't think I could
leave it with the mushy stuff as the final chapter. So here you go -----
Chapter 10: The Red Rhino
Spike slowly lifted the lighter to his mouth, lighting the cigarette that dangled dangerously from his lips. This was an act he had done hundreds if not thousands of times before. It was always more challenging while laying down, but after so many instances where he ended up on his back for weeks on end he became a pro. However, he never really got used to doing it left handed and since his right hand and arm was otherwise occupied he had little choice. The lighter sparked twice before actually igniting, the firelight flickered on the sleeping form of Faye.
She was snuggled on his right side, her cheek on his shoulder, one leg draped across his thighs. Spike smirked, making sure to keep a tight grip on the cigarette between his lips. The lighter in his hand added the only light into the room; he kept it burning a few seconds before extinguishing it. He stretched out his arm and dropped the lighter to the floor. The instant the lighter hit the bundle of clothes beside the bed, Faye tightened her grip and snuggled her body closer to his. Spike raised an eyebrow and brought his outstretched hand back to his face removing the cigarette and exhaling towards the dark ceiling.
Faye's thin body clad in his shirt snuggled closer again, her fingers stretching out over his chest. Her chin moved slightly and her lips came closer to his neck. Her breath was a hot flash against his cool skin, and made him smile.
Spike heard a muffled sound under his chin, and felt it against his neck. His eyebrows furrowed as he put the cigarette back in his mouth.
"I love you." She said in barely a whisper as she moved her head a little away from his neck.
He smiled, his hand trapped under her rubbing slightly against her body, a soothing motion. "Me too, Faye," he said looking around his cigarette as he looked back up at the ceiling. Her hand began to move on his chest again up and up, until her fingers rested on his chin. His brows furrowed again, as her fingers began drumming on his chin.
"Oh really?" Her voice floated to his ears. He looked down, his head moving an inch lower. Her quick fingers reached for his lips and grabbed his cigarette. He didn't say anything, his shoulders shrugged and his eyes closed. "You know you didn't have to say it." Faye said taking a long drag off the cigarette and blew it up towards the ceiling.
Spike's free hand made it towards hers taking back his cigarette. He then put two fingers to her cheek and pushed her head back down to its resting place on his chest. "Go to sleep, Faye."
She smiled against his chest as she kicked out her foot and made contact with his bare shin. Spike inhaled the cigarette in a rush and coughed it back out, all the while feeling Faye giggling against his chest.
****
Faye awoke to bright sunlight coming in the window of Spike's room. She smiled with the memory of last night and with the midnight conversation. She shifted in the sheets and frowned at finding herself alone. Just then a weight landed on the bed behind her, she pushed up on her elbows and turned around tangling the sheets in her legs.
"Morning sunshine." Spike said with a large grin as he set a cup of coffee on the nightstand for her.
"Morning yourself." She said raising an eyebrow. "What's this?" She pointed to the cup.
"That is coffee." Spike said taking a sip from his own cup.
"No shit." Faye responded.
"Don't get all huffy with me. And don't get used to it." Spike said with a smirk. "I got room service."
"Big spender." Faye said smirking at Spike. He smiled back and was about to say something when there was a knock at the door.
"I'll get it." Spike said getting up.
"Damn it, Ed, get off the lady's cart!" Jet's voice could be heard on the other side of the door. Spike smirked as he reached for the knob, looking back he saw Faye leaning over the bed trying to reach for her coffee, a huge grin on her face.
"Morning, Jet." Spike said opening the door and walking away. "Did you have a nice night?"
Jet walked into the room, and looked over at Faye reaching for her cup. "Not as nice as yours." He smiled wide and looked at caught Faye's eye just as her fingers inched closer to the cup. "Morning Faye, have a nice time?"
"Go to hell, Jet." Faye said with a smile. She then turned back to her coffee, Spike just had to put it so far away on the nightstand didn't he. As her fingers touched the mug she watched as something red and round slipped out of her shirt pocket. Or rather out of Spike's shirt pocket.
"What's this?" She asked out loud, not really to anyone as she reached down to pick it up forgetting her coffee for a second.
"What?" Spike said sitting in a chair across from Jet at a little table. Ed ran by the room with Ein barking at her heels and Jet let out a loud sigh.
Faye picked up the red thing and flipped it over in her, one side had the number 200 on it and the other a large imprinted rhino head. On both sides in cursive lettering it read The Red Rhino.
"The Red Rhino? What's this?" She said as she sat up on the bed holding it up for Spike and Jet to see.
"Nothing, just a chip from a casino." Spike said lighting a cigarette.
"No kidding, what a coincidence." Jet said scratching his chin.
"A casino?!" Faye's voice came out louder than Spike had been expecting at the same instant as Jet's.
Spike chose to go with what Jet had said, figuring it was a safer bet. "What do you mean, coincidence?"
"I don't believe-" Faye began.
"I was looking up the bounty list from ISP earlier this morning," Jet said cutting her off. "And I came across a bounty, named Miles Lerring who's wanted for scamming a bunch of casinos here on Earth. I figured since we were in the neighborhood we could look out for him. So I did some checking and found out he's staying at a place called The Red Rhino."
"No kidding." Spike said with a smile. "It's a nice place, a shame for it to get robbed."
"Real shame." Jet said with a smile at his partner.
"You went to a casino with out me!" Faye's voice yelled over at Spike. She was sitting on the edge of the bed close to the two men, her hand gripping the chip her eyes shooting daggers at Spike.
"It was before our date." Spike said leaning back in his chair, amused by her outburst.
"That's not the point. I'm the casino expert in this crew!" Faye yelled, jumping off the bed and shaking her fist in Spike's face. "Expert?" Spike said with an amused grin as he backed away from the angry woman. Jet let out a laugh beside him. Faye turned and glared at the older man. He instantly turned his laugh into a cough and started pounding on his chest. Spike started laughing.
"I've been in more casinos that the both of you combined." Faye yelled.
"She's got you there, Spike." Jet said getting up and walking towards the door. "I think I'll let you two work this out." Spike watched him leave with a glare that spoke to the horror of the situation.
"I should have been consulted." Faye said putting her hands on her hips and staring down at Spike.
"Wait Jet, I'll come with you." Spike yelled after his partner. Faye watched as Spike jumped up and followed Jet out the door.
"Damn it, Spike!" She yelled after him. She started stalking out the door after the two men. By the time she stuck her head out into the hallway she saw nothing but an overturned cleaning cart, Ed and Ein wrapped up in toilet paper, Ed was using a plunger as a sword and calling Ein a "Scurvy doggie". The door that lead to the stairs was still swinging. "Damn cowards." Faye said as she walked across the hall to her own room.
"Good Morning, Faye-Faye." Ed said saluting Faye with her plunger sword. "Why was Faye-Faye not in her room?'
"I'm beginning to wonder that myself." Faye said opening her door and closing it on Ed's confused yet amused face.
***
Jet was having probably the best day of his life, and it was all due to the bickering pair in behind him. He turned his head a little to watch as Faye continued to yell at Spike and Spike continued to yell back. He smiled as he watched Ed run around in front of him, with Ein. Jet chuckled to himself. Faye and Spike getting together was like his brother and his sister getting together. He stopped walking for a second as a disgusted snarl formed on his lips. Ew. Not his brother and sister, that was gross. His best-friend and his sister? His friend and his brother? Oh, shit. It was just a damn good thing.
"Jet-person, how much further is this Rhino?" Ed asked as she marched beside him. She was still holding her plunger sword at her side and acting the part of a pirate since this morning.
"Maybe you should ask Spike, Ed." Faye said coming up to walk on the other side of Jet. "He's been there enough times."
"One time!" Spike yelled as he walked up beside Ed yelling over the two in the middle at Faye. The same woman that he had spent such great evening with only last night. Spike let out a sigh. "One time, Faye. Damn it would you just drop it."
"You didn't even think about asking me if I wanted to go there." Faye said yelling over Jet and Ed at Spike.
"If I had taken you there we never would have left." Spike yelled.
Jet closed his eyes and rubbed at his temples. It was great that they didn't let this new development in their relationship hinder the old chemistry. Jet suddenly stopped walking and put out his hands stopping the whole crew. They were there.
"Alright, stop it. We're going in there, we're going to get the bounty and then we're heading back to the Bebop. I don't want any screw ups." Jet glared at Faye and then at Spike.
"Why are you looking at me. I'm not going to screw it up. Casinos are my specialty." She spat out directing the last word at Spike.
"Specialty my ass." Spike yelled.
"Specialty!" Faye yelled at him.
"My ass!" Spike yelled.
"Shut up the both of you." Jet yelled over top of them.
"You want I should run them through, Jet-person." Ed said from beside him pointing her plunger at Faye and Spike.
"Not yet, Ed. Maybe later." Jet said. "You two finished. Or do you want Ed to run you through?"
Both Spike and Faye turned away from one another to face Jet. Each of them crossed their arms over their chests and stuck their noses in the air. Jet gave a sad sarcastic smile. "I can't believe I thought it would help."
"What are you talking about?" Spike spat out as he straightened his tie.
"You babbling to yourself again?" Faye said straightening her skirt.
"Never mind." Jet said as he fixed his white hat on his head and turned back to face the Red Rhino Casino across the street. "Let's go. Remember the plan, and try to stick to it." He grabbed Ed's hand and walked across the street. Faye and Spike shot a glare at one another and then went off after Jet. Inside the Red Rhino the lighting was just what you would expect, red and flashy. Jet sat at a small table with a glass of water watching the crowds, looking for Miles Lerring. From the description he was six feet tall, light hair always wore sunglasses, and had very quick hands. Jet spared a glance to check on his partners.
Faye was sitting at the bar, her eyes darting from table to table. She promised Jet she would stay away from the tables until they caught the bounty. But Jet could tell she was itching to go to the tables, especially when her eyes locked on the form of Spike. Her hands tightened around the bar and her eyes narrowed to slits.
Spike looked back at Faye, and raised his glass to her with a smile. He then turned back to the blackjack dealer before him. He fingered the chip in his pocket, the one that Faye had discovered that morning. He nodded at the dealer for a hit and won the hand. He darted his eyes about the room looking for the bounty. He nodded over at Jet and Ed, and went back to his survey of the room.
"Excuse me, Miss?" A voice broke Faye's concentration and she turned in her seat to face the source. Standing beside her was a young man that matched the description of the bounty they were after. She smiled widely at him and relaxed against the seat. He was hers.
"Yes?" she said slowly reaching a hand behind her back towards her gun.
"Is there someone sitting there?" He asked pointing to the seat next to her.
"You." She said watching as he smiled and sat down next to her. "So what brings you to the Red Rhino."
"Money." The man said looking out at the crowd. "What else?"
"A man after my own heart." Faye said catching Spike's eyes as he looked back at her. She smiled widely at him and winked.
"I'm sorry?" The man said, utterly confused.
"Money is the one thing I fully understand you see." Faye said turning to look at him.
Spike watched as Faye conversed with the man beside her. Spike growled when he realized why she was so happy about it. That was they're bounty. Well, he'd be damned if he was going to let her gloat about her getting this guy all on her own. He stood up and started stalking towards Faye and the bounty.
Jet swore under his breath as he watched Spike approach Faye at the bar. "Come on, Ed. You can hit them with your sword now." Jet said standing up and taking Ed by the hand. Ed bounced along with him.
At the first swing and crashing chair Jet was flat on the floor. Guns had been whipped out of everyone's jackets, bullets were flying everywhere. Jet could hear Faye yelling something at Spike, and Spike yelling something back. He just continued to lay there he propped his head up on his elbows and let out a large sigh. Ed mimicked him, and the two of them just stared at the chaos. ***
It had taken about five hours to finally get the chaos at the Red Rhino to stop, and after that the police had taken custody of the bounty leaving them with no money. They left quickly and practically ran back to the Bebop. Faye and Spike had finally stopped fighting about the casino thing. Now they had moved on to fighting about who screwed up the bounty.
Jet landed his hammerhead and headed off towards his bonsai trees, swearing and talking to himself the whole way.
"It was totally your fault, Spike." Faye yelled as she climbed out of her Redtail.
"Faye would you stop arguing with me." Spike said rubbing at the bridge of his nose. He screwed up, he knew that. But he wasn't about to admit that to Faye.
"There is no argument, you messed up." Faye said walking out of the hangar leaving a disgruntled Spike behind her. Ed ran past him and smacked him in the shins with her plunger sword.
"Shit, Ed!" he yelled grabbing his shin. Ein ran past him and barked, to which Spike narrowed his eyes.
Faye walked into the kitchen and grabbed a beer and threw herself on the couch. She propped her feet up on the table and put her head back. A small smile crept on to her face at the memory of what happened in the casino. Spike was jealous, well jealous for him.
She heard Spike mumble as he entered the kitchen and grabbed a beer for himself. He plopped down beside her and put his feet up as well.
"Spike." Faye began, utterly calm.
"I don't want to anymore. Just shut up and go to sleep." Spike said gulping at his beer.
"Why don't you just admit it?" Faye sighed and took a sip of her beer.
"Admit what?" Spike asked as he settled himself in a more comfortable position. That just happened to be closer to Faye.
"That you like me." Faye said as she lay her head on his shoulder.
"I thought I did that last night?" Spike said with a smirk. "You mean I have to do it every night?"
"You don't." Faye said raising her head to look him in the eye. "We don't. It could just have been for that one night."
"That's not what I'm saying." He said pushing her head back down on to his shoulder. "I'm just not going to admit I screwed up the bounty."
"But you did!" Faye yelled her head coming up and her eyes going wide. Suddenly Spike kissed her, deep and hard, and it shut her up. He broke the kiss and watched as her eyes opened to look at him. The expression on her face was pure amusement. "Was that supposed to make me forget all about you screwing up. Make me," she threw herself across his lap in fake exhaustion, "throw myself at your feet and ask you to take me. Take me now." She flipped over so her back was on his lap her one hand thrown over her eyes. "Oh Spike!" She yelled smacking her other hand on his knees. She looked at him through the crack of her fingers, a wide smile on her face.
Spike was staring down at her the bottle of beer at his lips. He took a drink of beer and pushed her off his lap onto the floor. He then stepped over her and walked to the kitchen. Faye lay on the floor between the couch and table laughing at his retreating form.
"Aw, Spike, don't take it so hard." Faye said getting up and sitting on the couch again. She sat there and closed her eyes again. Suddenly something hit her lap, she opened her eyes and looked down at the little red chip in her lap. "What's this?"
"That is for you." Spike said as he came to stand at the end of the couch. Faye picked up the chip and looked it over. It was a 200 credit piece from the Red Rhino. She looked up at Spike with a confused arch to her eyebrows.
"Is this?"
"Yeah," He said lighting two cigarettes and handing one down to her. She took the cigarette with a smile and continued to look at the chip.
"You think this is going to make up for it?" Faye asked smiling at the chip.
"Does it?" Spike asked sitting down on the couch beside her again. She looked over at him with a smile.
"200 credits will by you about a month of silence." Faye said putting the chip in her front pocket and patting it twice.
"A month, huh?" Spike said taking a long drag from his cigarette and blowing it up at the ceiling. Faye lay her head on his shoulder smiled, and then shifted herself quickly up to straddle his lap. Spike brought his head down to look at Faye, her arms encircled his neck, her cigarette hanging from her lips.
"Maybe two." Faye said.
"Expensive." Spike said his cigarette bouncing on his lips, he removed it and threw it out on to the floor. Faye's smile widened.
"I'm sure you can come up with some way around it." She said smirking at him. Spike took the cigarette from her mouth and threw it on to the floor with his. He put his hand behind her head and began bringing her closer to him.
"I'm sure you'll screw up soon enough that I won't have to worry about it." Spike said with a smile.
"Why you---!" Faye's yell was cut off as Spike kissed her. The kiss ran all through her body, the heat was intoxicating. The familiarity of the event was becoming very nice. Spike ran his hands up and down her back, smoothing down her thighs. He pulled her lower body closer to his as the kiss deepened. Faye let out a large gasp, and tangled her hands into his hair.
"Where do you think we're heading next?" Faye said as Spike broke the kiss to trail smaller kisses down her throat.
"Jet said something about a hacker bounty and his pet monkey somewhere near Ganymede." Spike said into her collarbone, he nipped at her skin and she let out a moan. She bit on his earlobe.
"So we have a little bit of time." She said quietly into his ear.
"Plenty." Spike said kissing her mouth again, his hands were kneading her thighs and pulling her closer and closer.
"Oh hell no." Jet's voice boomed out over them, but they didn't care, nor did they stop. "Rooms now. I don't care who's you go to, but you go. Now." He yelled. The two stopped kissing, and Spike stood up, Faye wrapped her legs around his waist.
"Night, Jet." Spike said as he walked past him.
"Sleep well," Faye said waving as they passed.
"That's just not okay. I'm putting my foot down on this one. I mean, I like to sit on that couch." He said to the now empty room. "Shit," he said as he put a hand to his bald head. "I asked for it."
"Uh huh." Ed said coming up beside him, her plunger attached to her head now.
"Let's get to work on the next bounty, Ed. We should be in Ganymede in a day." Jet said walking towards the computer console. Ed bounced up behind singing a pirate song that she made up. The words basically consisted of "Ein-doggy", "banana", "ship", and a bunch of made up words. Jet let out a sigh. There was a fine line between family and friends, and he guessed between friends and lovers. This was his family such as it was, and it would continue on like this until he died.
He stopped walking at that thought and shook his head. He was going to die young if things kept up like this. But it would be one hell of a ride.
"Ein give Ed back her sword, we must defeat the evil wacker-hacker of Ganymede." Ed's sing-song voice boomed out over the ship. Suddenly there was a loud crash and a lot of barking. "Ein that is not the proper way to catch a hacker." Ed said.
"I'm going to make those two do something they really hate tomorrow. I don't know what. But something." Jet said as he walked towards where Ed and Ein were. "Ow! Damn it Ed, not the shins!"
The End. Or I guess maybe its the beginning of something new for them---
There you go I feel much better about that ending. I'm hopefully going to be working on my other story more now, sorry about the long wait. And I hope you guys enjoyed the ending.
Chapter 10: The Red Rhino
Spike slowly lifted the lighter to his mouth, lighting the cigarette that dangled dangerously from his lips. This was an act he had done hundreds if not thousands of times before. It was always more challenging while laying down, but after so many instances where he ended up on his back for weeks on end he became a pro. However, he never really got used to doing it left handed and since his right hand and arm was otherwise occupied he had little choice. The lighter sparked twice before actually igniting, the firelight flickered on the sleeping form of Faye.
She was snuggled on his right side, her cheek on his shoulder, one leg draped across his thighs. Spike smirked, making sure to keep a tight grip on the cigarette between his lips. The lighter in his hand added the only light into the room; he kept it burning a few seconds before extinguishing it. He stretched out his arm and dropped the lighter to the floor. The instant the lighter hit the bundle of clothes beside the bed, Faye tightened her grip and snuggled her body closer to his. Spike raised an eyebrow and brought his outstretched hand back to his face removing the cigarette and exhaling towards the dark ceiling.
Faye's thin body clad in his shirt snuggled closer again, her fingers stretching out over his chest. Her chin moved slightly and her lips came closer to his neck. Her breath was a hot flash against his cool skin, and made him smile.
Spike heard a muffled sound under his chin, and felt it against his neck. His eyebrows furrowed as he put the cigarette back in his mouth.
"I love you." She said in barely a whisper as she moved her head a little away from his neck.
He smiled, his hand trapped under her rubbing slightly against her body, a soothing motion. "Me too, Faye," he said looking around his cigarette as he looked back up at the ceiling. Her hand began to move on his chest again up and up, until her fingers rested on his chin. His brows furrowed again, as her fingers began drumming on his chin.
"Oh really?" Her voice floated to his ears. He looked down, his head moving an inch lower. Her quick fingers reached for his lips and grabbed his cigarette. He didn't say anything, his shoulders shrugged and his eyes closed. "You know you didn't have to say it." Faye said taking a long drag off the cigarette and blew it up towards the ceiling.
Spike's free hand made it towards hers taking back his cigarette. He then put two fingers to her cheek and pushed her head back down to its resting place on his chest. "Go to sleep, Faye."
She smiled against his chest as she kicked out her foot and made contact with his bare shin. Spike inhaled the cigarette in a rush and coughed it back out, all the while feeling Faye giggling against his chest.
****
Faye awoke to bright sunlight coming in the window of Spike's room. She smiled with the memory of last night and with the midnight conversation. She shifted in the sheets and frowned at finding herself alone. Just then a weight landed on the bed behind her, she pushed up on her elbows and turned around tangling the sheets in her legs.
"Morning sunshine." Spike said with a large grin as he set a cup of coffee on the nightstand for her.
"Morning yourself." She said raising an eyebrow. "What's this?" She pointed to the cup.
"That is coffee." Spike said taking a sip from his own cup.
"No shit." Faye responded.
"Don't get all huffy with me. And don't get used to it." Spike said with a smirk. "I got room service."
"Big spender." Faye said smirking at Spike. He smiled back and was about to say something when there was a knock at the door.
"I'll get it." Spike said getting up.
"Damn it, Ed, get off the lady's cart!" Jet's voice could be heard on the other side of the door. Spike smirked as he reached for the knob, looking back he saw Faye leaning over the bed trying to reach for her coffee, a huge grin on her face.
"Morning, Jet." Spike said opening the door and walking away. "Did you have a nice night?"
Jet walked into the room, and looked over at Faye reaching for her cup. "Not as nice as yours." He smiled wide and looked at caught Faye's eye just as her fingers inched closer to the cup. "Morning Faye, have a nice time?"
"Go to hell, Jet." Faye said with a smile. She then turned back to her coffee, Spike just had to put it so far away on the nightstand didn't he. As her fingers touched the mug she watched as something red and round slipped out of her shirt pocket. Or rather out of Spike's shirt pocket.
"What's this?" She asked out loud, not really to anyone as she reached down to pick it up forgetting her coffee for a second.
"What?" Spike said sitting in a chair across from Jet at a little table. Ed ran by the room with Ein barking at her heels and Jet let out a loud sigh.
Faye picked up the red thing and flipped it over in her, one side had the number 200 on it and the other a large imprinted rhino head. On both sides in cursive lettering it read The Red Rhino.
"The Red Rhino? What's this?" She said as she sat up on the bed holding it up for Spike and Jet to see.
"Nothing, just a chip from a casino." Spike said lighting a cigarette.
"No kidding, what a coincidence." Jet said scratching his chin.
"A casino?!" Faye's voice came out louder than Spike had been expecting at the same instant as Jet's.
Spike chose to go with what Jet had said, figuring it was a safer bet. "What do you mean, coincidence?"
"I don't believe-" Faye began.
"I was looking up the bounty list from ISP earlier this morning," Jet said cutting her off. "And I came across a bounty, named Miles Lerring who's wanted for scamming a bunch of casinos here on Earth. I figured since we were in the neighborhood we could look out for him. So I did some checking and found out he's staying at a place called The Red Rhino."
"No kidding." Spike said with a smile. "It's a nice place, a shame for it to get robbed."
"Real shame." Jet said with a smile at his partner.
"You went to a casino with out me!" Faye's voice yelled over at Spike. She was sitting on the edge of the bed close to the two men, her hand gripping the chip her eyes shooting daggers at Spike.
"It was before our date." Spike said leaning back in his chair, amused by her outburst.
"That's not the point. I'm the casino expert in this crew!" Faye yelled, jumping off the bed and shaking her fist in Spike's face. "Expert?" Spike said with an amused grin as he backed away from the angry woman. Jet let out a laugh beside him. Faye turned and glared at the older man. He instantly turned his laugh into a cough and started pounding on his chest. Spike started laughing.
"I've been in more casinos that the both of you combined." Faye yelled.
"She's got you there, Spike." Jet said getting up and walking towards the door. "I think I'll let you two work this out." Spike watched him leave with a glare that spoke to the horror of the situation.
"I should have been consulted." Faye said putting her hands on her hips and staring down at Spike.
"Wait Jet, I'll come with you." Spike yelled after his partner. Faye watched as Spike jumped up and followed Jet out the door.
"Damn it, Spike!" She yelled after him. She started stalking out the door after the two men. By the time she stuck her head out into the hallway she saw nothing but an overturned cleaning cart, Ed and Ein wrapped up in toilet paper, Ed was using a plunger as a sword and calling Ein a "Scurvy doggie". The door that lead to the stairs was still swinging. "Damn cowards." Faye said as she walked across the hall to her own room.
"Good Morning, Faye-Faye." Ed said saluting Faye with her plunger sword. "Why was Faye-Faye not in her room?'
"I'm beginning to wonder that myself." Faye said opening her door and closing it on Ed's confused yet amused face.
***
Jet was having probably the best day of his life, and it was all due to the bickering pair in behind him. He turned his head a little to watch as Faye continued to yell at Spike and Spike continued to yell back. He smiled as he watched Ed run around in front of him, with Ein. Jet chuckled to himself. Faye and Spike getting together was like his brother and his sister getting together. He stopped walking for a second as a disgusted snarl formed on his lips. Ew. Not his brother and sister, that was gross. His best-friend and his sister? His friend and his brother? Oh, shit. It was just a damn good thing.
"Jet-person, how much further is this Rhino?" Ed asked as she marched beside him. She was still holding her plunger sword at her side and acting the part of a pirate since this morning.
"Maybe you should ask Spike, Ed." Faye said coming up to walk on the other side of Jet. "He's been there enough times."
"One time!" Spike yelled as he walked up beside Ed yelling over the two in the middle at Faye. The same woman that he had spent such great evening with only last night. Spike let out a sigh. "One time, Faye. Damn it would you just drop it."
"You didn't even think about asking me if I wanted to go there." Faye said yelling over Jet and Ed at Spike.
"If I had taken you there we never would have left." Spike yelled.
Jet closed his eyes and rubbed at his temples. It was great that they didn't let this new development in their relationship hinder the old chemistry. Jet suddenly stopped walking and put out his hands stopping the whole crew. They were there.
"Alright, stop it. We're going in there, we're going to get the bounty and then we're heading back to the Bebop. I don't want any screw ups." Jet glared at Faye and then at Spike.
"Why are you looking at me. I'm not going to screw it up. Casinos are my specialty." She spat out directing the last word at Spike.
"Specialty my ass." Spike yelled.
"Specialty!" Faye yelled at him.
"My ass!" Spike yelled.
"Shut up the both of you." Jet yelled over top of them.
"You want I should run them through, Jet-person." Ed said from beside him pointing her plunger at Faye and Spike.
"Not yet, Ed. Maybe later." Jet said. "You two finished. Or do you want Ed to run you through?"
Both Spike and Faye turned away from one another to face Jet. Each of them crossed their arms over their chests and stuck their noses in the air. Jet gave a sad sarcastic smile. "I can't believe I thought it would help."
"What are you talking about?" Spike spat out as he straightened his tie.
"You babbling to yourself again?" Faye said straightening her skirt.
"Never mind." Jet said as he fixed his white hat on his head and turned back to face the Red Rhino Casino across the street. "Let's go. Remember the plan, and try to stick to it." He grabbed Ed's hand and walked across the street. Faye and Spike shot a glare at one another and then went off after Jet. Inside the Red Rhino the lighting was just what you would expect, red and flashy. Jet sat at a small table with a glass of water watching the crowds, looking for Miles Lerring. From the description he was six feet tall, light hair always wore sunglasses, and had very quick hands. Jet spared a glance to check on his partners.
Faye was sitting at the bar, her eyes darting from table to table. She promised Jet she would stay away from the tables until they caught the bounty. But Jet could tell she was itching to go to the tables, especially when her eyes locked on the form of Spike. Her hands tightened around the bar and her eyes narrowed to slits.
Spike looked back at Faye, and raised his glass to her with a smile. He then turned back to the blackjack dealer before him. He fingered the chip in his pocket, the one that Faye had discovered that morning. He nodded at the dealer for a hit and won the hand. He darted his eyes about the room looking for the bounty. He nodded over at Jet and Ed, and went back to his survey of the room.
"Excuse me, Miss?" A voice broke Faye's concentration and she turned in her seat to face the source. Standing beside her was a young man that matched the description of the bounty they were after. She smiled widely at him and relaxed against the seat. He was hers.
"Yes?" she said slowly reaching a hand behind her back towards her gun.
"Is there someone sitting there?" He asked pointing to the seat next to her.
"You." She said watching as he smiled and sat down next to her. "So what brings you to the Red Rhino."
"Money." The man said looking out at the crowd. "What else?"
"A man after my own heart." Faye said catching Spike's eyes as he looked back at her. She smiled widely at him and winked.
"I'm sorry?" The man said, utterly confused.
"Money is the one thing I fully understand you see." Faye said turning to look at him.
Spike watched as Faye conversed with the man beside her. Spike growled when he realized why she was so happy about it. That was they're bounty. Well, he'd be damned if he was going to let her gloat about her getting this guy all on her own. He stood up and started stalking towards Faye and the bounty.
Jet swore under his breath as he watched Spike approach Faye at the bar. "Come on, Ed. You can hit them with your sword now." Jet said standing up and taking Ed by the hand. Ed bounced along with him.
At the first swing and crashing chair Jet was flat on the floor. Guns had been whipped out of everyone's jackets, bullets were flying everywhere. Jet could hear Faye yelling something at Spike, and Spike yelling something back. He just continued to lay there he propped his head up on his elbows and let out a large sigh. Ed mimicked him, and the two of them just stared at the chaos. ***
It had taken about five hours to finally get the chaos at the Red Rhino to stop, and after that the police had taken custody of the bounty leaving them with no money. They left quickly and practically ran back to the Bebop. Faye and Spike had finally stopped fighting about the casino thing. Now they had moved on to fighting about who screwed up the bounty.
Jet landed his hammerhead and headed off towards his bonsai trees, swearing and talking to himself the whole way.
"It was totally your fault, Spike." Faye yelled as she climbed out of her Redtail.
"Faye would you stop arguing with me." Spike said rubbing at the bridge of his nose. He screwed up, he knew that. But he wasn't about to admit that to Faye.
"There is no argument, you messed up." Faye said walking out of the hangar leaving a disgruntled Spike behind her. Ed ran past him and smacked him in the shins with her plunger sword.
"Shit, Ed!" he yelled grabbing his shin. Ein ran past him and barked, to which Spike narrowed his eyes.
Faye walked into the kitchen and grabbed a beer and threw herself on the couch. She propped her feet up on the table and put her head back. A small smile crept on to her face at the memory of what happened in the casino. Spike was jealous, well jealous for him.
She heard Spike mumble as he entered the kitchen and grabbed a beer for himself. He plopped down beside her and put his feet up as well.
"Spike." Faye began, utterly calm.
"I don't want to anymore. Just shut up and go to sleep." Spike said gulping at his beer.
"Why don't you just admit it?" Faye sighed and took a sip of her beer.
"Admit what?" Spike asked as he settled himself in a more comfortable position. That just happened to be closer to Faye.
"That you like me." Faye said as she lay her head on his shoulder.
"I thought I did that last night?" Spike said with a smirk. "You mean I have to do it every night?"
"You don't." Faye said raising her head to look him in the eye. "We don't. It could just have been for that one night."
"That's not what I'm saying." He said pushing her head back down on to his shoulder. "I'm just not going to admit I screwed up the bounty."
"But you did!" Faye yelled her head coming up and her eyes going wide. Suddenly Spike kissed her, deep and hard, and it shut her up. He broke the kiss and watched as her eyes opened to look at him. The expression on her face was pure amusement. "Was that supposed to make me forget all about you screwing up. Make me," she threw herself across his lap in fake exhaustion, "throw myself at your feet and ask you to take me. Take me now." She flipped over so her back was on his lap her one hand thrown over her eyes. "Oh Spike!" She yelled smacking her other hand on his knees. She looked at him through the crack of her fingers, a wide smile on her face.
Spike was staring down at her the bottle of beer at his lips. He took a drink of beer and pushed her off his lap onto the floor. He then stepped over her and walked to the kitchen. Faye lay on the floor between the couch and table laughing at his retreating form.
"Aw, Spike, don't take it so hard." Faye said getting up and sitting on the couch again. She sat there and closed her eyes again. Suddenly something hit her lap, she opened her eyes and looked down at the little red chip in her lap. "What's this?"
"That is for you." Spike said as he came to stand at the end of the couch. Faye picked up the chip and looked it over. It was a 200 credit piece from the Red Rhino. She looked up at Spike with a confused arch to her eyebrows.
"Is this?"
"Yeah," He said lighting two cigarettes and handing one down to her. She took the cigarette with a smile and continued to look at the chip.
"You think this is going to make up for it?" Faye asked smiling at the chip.
"Does it?" Spike asked sitting down on the couch beside her again. She looked over at him with a smile.
"200 credits will by you about a month of silence." Faye said putting the chip in her front pocket and patting it twice.
"A month, huh?" Spike said taking a long drag from his cigarette and blowing it up at the ceiling. Faye lay her head on his shoulder smiled, and then shifted herself quickly up to straddle his lap. Spike brought his head down to look at Faye, her arms encircled his neck, her cigarette hanging from her lips.
"Maybe two." Faye said.
"Expensive." Spike said his cigarette bouncing on his lips, he removed it and threw it out on to the floor. Faye's smile widened.
"I'm sure you can come up with some way around it." She said smirking at him. Spike took the cigarette from her mouth and threw it on to the floor with his. He put his hand behind her head and began bringing her closer to him.
"I'm sure you'll screw up soon enough that I won't have to worry about it." Spike said with a smile.
"Why you---!" Faye's yell was cut off as Spike kissed her. The kiss ran all through her body, the heat was intoxicating. The familiarity of the event was becoming very nice. Spike ran his hands up and down her back, smoothing down her thighs. He pulled her lower body closer to his as the kiss deepened. Faye let out a large gasp, and tangled her hands into his hair.
"Where do you think we're heading next?" Faye said as Spike broke the kiss to trail smaller kisses down her throat.
"Jet said something about a hacker bounty and his pet monkey somewhere near Ganymede." Spike said into her collarbone, he nipped at her skin and she let out a moan. She bit on his earlobe.
"So we have a little bit of time." She said quietly into his ear.
"Plenty." Spike said kissing her mouth again, his hands were kneading her thighs and pulling her closer and closer.
"Oh hell no." Jet's voice boomed out over them, but they didn't care, nor did they stop. "Rooms now. I don't care who's you go to, but you go. Now." He yelled. The two stopped kissing, and Spike stood up, Faye wrapped her legs around his waist.
"Night, Jet." Spike said as he walked past him.
"Sleep well," Faye said waving as they passed.
"That's just not okay. I'm putting my foot down on this one. I mean, I like to sit on that couch." He said to the now empty room. "Shit," he said as he put a hand to his bald head. "I asked for it."
"Uh huh." Ed said coming up beside him, her plunger attached to her head now.
"Let's get to work on the next bounty, Ed. We should be in Ganymede in a day." Jet said walking towards the computer console. Ed bounced up behind singing a pirate song that she made up. The words basically consisted of "Ein-doggy", "banana", "ship", and a bunch of made up words. Jet let out a sigh. There was a fine line between family and friends, and he guessed between friends and lovers. This was his family such as it was, and it would continue on like this until he died.
He stopped walking at that thought and shook his head. He was going to die young if things kept up like this. But it would be one hell of a ride.
"Ein give Ed back her sword, we must defeat the evil wacker-hacker of Ganymede." Ed's sing-song voice boomed out over the ship. Suddenly there was a loud crash and a lot of barking. "Ein that is not the proper way to catch a hacker." Ed said.
"I'm going to make those two do something they really hate tomorrow. I don't know what. But something." Jet said as he walked towards where Ed and Ein were. "Ow! Damn it Ed, not the shins!"
The End. Or I guess maybe its the beginning of something new for them---
There you go I feel much better about that ending. I'm hopefully going to be working on my other story more now, sorry about the long wait. And I hope you guys enjoyed the ending.