Wistful Yearning

Sad Eyes

Final Chapter

For death is no more than a turning of us over from time to eternity. ~ William Penn

Faye did not wake from her drug induced slumber until the cool metallic touch of her former comrade roused her from her dreamless existence.

She was laid out on her side, handcuffed from behind, and all she could think was she smelled like Gren. She had obviously been purposely put on the bed, her head resting comfortably on the worn white pillow, and her body placed in a comfortable position, with the exception of the handcuffs.

The first words to break the surreal silence were Jet's. "So he's that kind of guy." For a moment it didn't seem real. Through the hours of the night, it seemed like only she and Gren had existed, and no one else could touch them in their little hole in hell. No one could intrude into their commissary and escape from loneliness.

"He's not that kind of guy, he's ….different." The hazy spinning around her head left her detached and dull to the hands now working the handcuffs, and unlocking them. Her tongue felt heavy in her mouth. Jet was careful not to touch her too much. Oh no not the Bebop crew, they could live together, eat together, work together, but any real part of themselves was tucked away, and severely guarded. Any real human contact was taboo, unless it involved bandaging someone. It seemed they all had something to hide, to forget, or in her case try and remember.

But now, having been exposed to what it was like to be left naked, and wanting, to crave to be hugged and touched and cared for... She had feared the wanting of these things and she had resolutely shoved them down and caged them deep within herself for the havoc they could reap upon her life. But now she left exposed.

The cuffs finally detached, and the cool metal was dragged away from her thin wrists.

She pulled her arms from behind her

She managed to roll over to the side of the bed. Her head continued to spin even after she had stopped.

She felt small as Jet carried her out of the building, his strong arms felt like steal beneath her. Well one of them was metal.

The fucking gas masked bastards of the planet had the gall to cheer, as Jet carried her to his craft. Oh…if she could see straight there would be hell to pay.

After they had picked up her red tail Jet towed her towards the Bebop. He didn't even need to ask if she could pilot herself. It was very obvious. She was so lethargic Jet was surprised that she wasn't drooling.

Soaring over the broken city, the two crafts suddenly veered, as Jet had to abruptly track left.

"What the fuck! Watch where you're going asshole!" The angry voice of the black dog shook Faye from her hazy dozing.

Jet had left the comm. link open between the two ships, so she could hear everything he was saying.

"Hey, that looks like….hey Faye. Faye? FAYE?

She had dozed again. "What …" She mumbled.

There was a pause. "The ship that just passed did you see it?"

Opening her drooping eyes a little more fully, she looked up, at her new tormentor, couldn't he just let her sleep.

"No I had my eyes shut…"

"Oh." Came the curt response. "Never mind then…it just looked like a syndicate craft."

Green eyes snapped with clarity. Staring out across the tops of buildings in the direction the ship had supposedly come from, she could see two things that made her heart jump into her throat as though it were trying to escape the pain.

The roof top was was a stark gray, and the two people upon it were barely noticeable to the eye, but the mortal red liquid seeping from the fallen mans' clothes burned into her eyes.

"Jet!" Her shriek was hoarse. The old man had never heard such a sound from the honky tonk woman. "What is it Faye?" He asked with urgency.

"On the roof, its Spike and Gren!"

The ships had barely touched the rooftop, before Faye hit the latch.

She went to jump out, but her legs gave as her own weight bore down on them. Her knees burned but she staggered back up, ignoring Jet calling to her and telling her to slow down.

Spike was now lifting the prone form of Gren, into his zip craft.

The pools of blue were fading, but still held that spark of life. Gren's eyes glued onto her, as she slowly approached from across the roof. He said something to Spike and Spike gently lowered him back to the ground.

As she reached his side, Spike slowly backed away. She met his mismatched brown eyes for a moment, and cast her eyes on his almost faded bruises, as he did the same.

There was a marked difference in both of them. They were no more angry words, no more petty fights, only this awkward silence, as if they were seeing one another for the first time.

The moment passed, and Faye dropped to her knees beside Gren.

"Was this what you wanted!" She yelled. She couldn't kneel upright. She pitched foreword and had to catch herself on the ground, leaving her hovering over him. Desperately out of breath, and tired but tense she almost broke down at the sight of his deep blue eyes.

It was like he was begging her to understand. "Faye…" There were no more words for him to say to her. He hadn't counted on seeing her again. Instead a deathly pale hand came up to caress her face.

Leaning into the caress slightly she missed the stricken looks of her comrades behind her.

Turning sharply from the hand she called out. "Has someone called for the medics?"

Spike looked like he was going to answer, but Gren cupped his hand on her cheek once again, turning her to face him again.

"No Faye, they won't get here in time." Faye struggled to take in a breath. It felt like someone's fist had dipped into her chest and was squeezing her heart.

Tears leaked unbidden from her eyes. "Fairies don't cry Faye…" He trailed off in coughing fit as blood dribbled from his mouth. Crimson red dropped onto the snow, mixing with Faye's tears.

Faye could see his breathing become more laborious, and knew it wouldn't be long. What should she say? All the words choked in her mouth. Her throat had contracted painfully. She wanted to say so many things. Thank you, thank you for making me feel real again, for sharing a little bit of yourself with me, thank you for saying " take care" and calling me a fairy., I could have loved you. I will never forget you.

Trying to move her jaw only a sob escaped. Grens hand returned to her face, and she held it there like a lifeline.

His hand was warm, and the knowledge that it would soon be turning cold, had another sob escaping her mouth.

Looking him in the eyes, she knew she owed him words and courage that he showed lying there dying.

Her throat was so tight and hoarse it came out only as a whisper. "I will never forget you." Taking a moment she continued. "I will never forget you as long as live Mr. Saxophone." She told him gently lovingly even.

A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Fairies don't cry…" His last words were barely heard. His delicate fingers ran over the smooth tear soaked sink of her cheeks one last time, and the light faded from his eyes.

Faye sobbed brokenly into his chest until Jet gently pulled her away.

Miles away an old Indian chief sat letting the cool sand run through his knar led hands. A young boy sitting beside him asks. "What is it Grandpa?"

The old man does not open his eyes, but lifts his head to the sky as a star falls from the heavens.

"A warrior has died this night, he made peace with his death and has now joined the others across the stars." The rest of the sand slid through his hand and he lowered his head once more.

Hours later Faye found herself on a familiar yellow couch. Her comfortable clothes had replaced Gren's. His sat carefully folded in her closest.

There was numbness to everything. Staring at the ceiling unblinking she didn't notice Jet peek out of the kitchen at her. Nor did she notice Spike glance her way as he passed to the hangar.

They had spoken earlier, barely. It was enough for them. She had stood before him, once they got back on the Bebop; she ran a slightly trembling hand over his face and said. "I'm sorry saying those things I said…about her." His brown eyes were surprised. As surprise left his eyes, he made a move the shocked the hell out of her, even in her drugged and depressed state. He gathered her to himself, his left hand at the back of his head and his right on her back.

More words were exchanged, he even apologized. Hell froze over.

But now she sat upon this couch, while the slight prodding on her feet was the only indication that Ed was still working on painting her toes.

Chancing a glance down she noticed Ed preparing to paint her big toe a lovely dark shade of blue. Pain twisted in her gut.

"No Ed, anything but blue."

Ed's bright eyes gazed at her and her mouth formed a little oh. But she put the blue nail polish bottle down, and picked up the orange one in its place.

A few moments passed. "Ed do you want to hear a story?"

Ed snapped the bottle closed having finished the final toe. "Yes sad Faye Faye Ed wants to hear the story!"

Staring at the ceiling once more Faye began. "Once upon a time there was a beautiful fairy and she lived a very happy life. But there was an accident and she forgot all about her wonderful life. She lived with a big black dog and a crazy orange stripped cat that could never die. Then a tomato and a data dog moved in with them. They never really appreciated each other, but then…they were all they had."

Ed's childish eyes were very wide.

"Then the fairy and the cat got in fight and the fairy left. She found herself all alone, and then a handsome prince rescued her. They became friends and he made the fairy feel very special. The fairy was falling in love with him. But the prince was attacked by an evil snake and he died." That's what you were Gren, a handsome prince, even if you had boobs. A small grin began on Faye's face.

Ed looked curiously at her, then deciding that she wasn't going to continue laid her skinny self along Faye, settling her head below Faye's breasts.

Faye normally would have yelled at the kid, told her to cut it out, but she didn't.

"Is that the end of the story?" Ed asked.

"I hope not"

THE END….the frincken end….thats it..its done..noooooo moreeeeee….please click the box and review….i was unsure of my ending…so feedback would be appreciated.