going, going, gone ♡ ( fin. )

session eight

Getting home in one piece was a lot easier, even with Edward carrying on the floor of her spacecraft. The only thing that made her agitated was Ein's incessant barking, but it was all in good fun. As much as she hated to admit it, she hated the way things had become, the bebop needed its noise makers back.

✧ ✧ ✧

Her communicator had rang itself to death, and when she awkwardly stood in the kitchen before Jet with Edward and Ein hidden behind her, it made her sweat.

"Where the hell have you been?! I've been over here trying to figure out what the hell was going on with Spike since you freaked out and you disappear for a whole day!"

He took a menacing step forward, a clench in his jaw his eyes filled with worry and anger.

"Alright look, I just needed to get away but look I—"

A bark interrupted her apology and Jet squinted at her, Faye felt her stomach drop as Edward jumped up like a jack rabbit from behind her. She held Ein to her chest like a sibling who didn't know how to hold the new baby. The poor dog was swung around in front of Jet and his jaw dropped at the sight of the old ship mates.

"Faye - how did— Ed — I -"
He was at a loss for words, running his hands over his face trying to piece together everything while Faye ignored it. The cat was outve the bag now, no point in pretending. She went to the cupboard for a cup, all the alcohol had seriously dehydrated her. She downed a few glasses before the itch for a smoke set in.

Jet was still in shock and Edward laughed, dancing around with the dog while explaing everything that occurred with her since she left. Faye half listened, wondering the state Spike was in. He had moved last time she saw him, so it was a sign he was still kicking. Sort've.

Faye set her glass in the sink before dunking behind Jet. He sent her an angry look, almost like he had something to say to her but he wouldn't in front of the kid.

Faye scoffed, "don't act like you didn't miss it."

Jet stared at her, and Edward was completely oblivious while Faye kept walking down the hall to the room Spike was in.

✧ ✧ ✧

She was at his bedside again, her hands clenched in her lap. He looked relatively the same, but maybe it was the light in the room, or maybe she was hoping for the best, but she could see some color returning to his cheeks.

He was on two Iv bags, so at least he was getting nutrients. For some reason in this moment, he reminded Faye of a wilting flower. He wasn't dead yet and with the right amount of water and sun, he could bloom again.

She just wasn't sure if she was ready to see the blossoms, after all he wasn't anything pretty like a flower. He was more like a rose stem, painful in all the right places. It stung to grasp at the beauty so it was easier to let it stay in the bush.

Faye shook her head, violet locks bouncing.
"Look, im done with the bedside manner bullshit alright? I'm tired of crying and getting drunk and feeling hopeless, I just—" She swallowed hard as the tears came back,"When you left for the syndicate; I - Spike, I meant what I said. This was all I had to go back to, and you abandoned it. You abandoned Jet, and I for your stupid suicide mission. Yeah I know you had unfinished business and you didn't exactly break your promise cause, you aren't dead but god damnit I don't even know if you're listening!"

She exclaimed standing up in her seat.
the tears coming down her face now, "I got the kid back alright? I - I was the one who pushed her to go after the place she belongs in, and guess what? She never made it to her father, all that nonsense about belonging— It was because I wished I had a place to belong to after I got my memory back. I just didn't realize it was hear all along, and the saying rings true. I didn't know what I had until it walked straight out the door, and left me waiting." Faye's voice dropped below a whisper, her hands were in tight clenched fists while her eyes set on the floor.

"I know you have issues, and I know you still love her, but please just come back okay? Everything's coming back, and all that's left is you. I know you don't give a shit about me, but don't do it for me if you don't want to Spike.
Do it for Jet, because he misses cooking for you—"

The door opened interrupting her monologue, she stared back wide eyed with tear stained cheeks. Jet was startled but he didn't leave, Ed was right at his heels clutching the dog with sad eyes. It broke Faye's small heart.

Faye swallowed her pride and turned back to Spike. "I don't know how you feel but; Jet needs some asshole to cook for, Edward needs someone to hack for, Ein needs another person to bark at and I— " She clenched her jaw, "I need you too Spike." Her voice pleading and Jet came behind her giving unspoken support. Edward shifted Ein under her shoulder so she could clutch both adults by the pant legs.

"His condition has improved, but he's still relatively the same. He needs more time Faye."

She shook her head, "I know, I know, but he moved Jet. He has to be conscious or ready to wake up, isn't that a sign?"

The taller man looked down at her with an understanding look, "I hope so."

Edward let go of them and stepped forward to Spike's bed. Dog in hand she stood on her toes and lent over his lanky frame. "Edward is sorry she left, Edward wants Spike person to be better soon, Edward would hack Spike if it would help." Her slender fingers pushed into his cheek and Jet made a move to pull Edward back but Faye only watched in gleeful horror as his Spike's shifted to the side.

Edward screamed and jumped back, "Spike person has awakened!" She waved her arms around and Ein dropped from her grasp, hitting the floor with a yelp before going into a barking fit.

Faye started screaming at the dog and went to grab Edward to stop her from spazzing out too close to Spike's life machines. Jet stared yelling at Faye to clean up what she started which only made her hit him and yell back because she was trying her best.

Edward kept spazzing and Ein chewed on the chair leg before almost throwing up because the plastic taste didn't agree with him. Faye and Jet kept screaming over Spike while Jet rushed around checking his vitals, none of them paying attention to the man on the bed.

"Shut your mouths, jesus…" The man of the hour grumbled twisting and turning under his sheets. They all froze watching him, "Just when I thought I could get a moment of peace—" Faye snarled and yanked him up by his blankets. His amber eyes widened blinking rapidly as his weak form fell forward onto the con artist.

"How dare you! After all this time we hung around you and waited—"

"You hung around, it wasn't a 'we' Faye." He mumbled. Their eyes locked and Faye sent him a look of utter horror, her heart catapulting in her chest.

He laughed softly before shifting back onto his back with a grunt. "Be more careful with me, weren't you just crying about me dying…"

Faye slapped him and Jet laughed with adjusting his monitors. Spike shouted and tossed a pillow, while Edward ran around excitedly trying to catch the dog.

The pillow landed right at their feet, while Faye reluctantly helped Jet adjust his machines. A simple gesture going unnoticed, while Faye watched Spike from the corner of her eye.

She hoped he was watching her back from the shield of his arm that he rested over his face.