Disclaimer: I do not own Cowboy Bebop

Disclaimer: I do not own Cowboy Bebop.

“I have to admit,” Jet said, looking around. “This is a nice place.”

Spike’s goons had managed to secure a room for them in a hotel that was surprisingly nice for being in the middle of a slum. Although why people kept giving rooms to the Red Dragons when so much of their stuff seemed prone to spontaneous combustion was beyond anyone.

“The boss always likes to accommodate his guests nicely,” the man called Roger answered. “Is their anything else I can get for you?”

“I’m fine,” Jet said, turning to Faye. “You need anything?”

“Another drink would be nice,” Faye said, lounging on a couch and taking full advantage of Spike’s generosity. Her wounds were not as bad as they seemed and after a few drinks, she’d stopped being so jumpy. Now she was just accepting as much free alcohol as she could.

“She doesn’t need another drink,” Jet said, before Roger left. “Just water.”

Roger gave a curt nod and exited the room, much to Faye’s chagrin.

“Why’d you have to go and do that?” she demanded. “I wasn’t spending your money.”

“Booze is bad for boo boos,” Ed said absent mindedly as she stretched across the carpeted floor with Ein.

“What she said,” Jet answered, sitting on the edge of the only bed in the room. “I sure hope we’re not staying here tonight. There’s not enough room for us all here.”

“Ed can sleep on the floor,” Ed chimed up.

“Faye can’t,” Faye answered. “And Faye doesn’t share beds.”

Jet grumbled and stood up from Faye’s apparent resting place. Moments later, Roger returned with a large bottle of water and an empty wine glass. Because all fancy places let you drink water out of a wine glass. He opened the bottle and poured a small glass for Faye.

“Would you like to hold the bottle, or should I put it somewhere else?” Roger asked her.

“On the end table over there,” she pointed, taking a sip of the water and pouting because it wasn’t going to get her drunk. “The one next to the girl. Leave it there in case she wants some.”

Roger dutifully obeyed a look of anger barely hidden on his face. He was used to being an underling, but he wasn’t used to being a servant. He was only doing this on strict orders from his boss. As he walked towards the end table, Ein, who was very near his feet, let out a low menacing growl.

“Ein!” Ed cried out in surprise. “No! Don’t growl at Mr. Mash!”

“Its Nash,” Roger answered, dropping the bottle on the table and eyeing the dog suspiciously. “Roger Nash. And tell your dog to stop.”

Ein’s voice had grown louder.

“Ein! No!” she said. “Leave Mr. Mashy-mash alone!”

“Its Nash, kid,” he said, getting annoyed.

“It won’t do any good,” Faye butted in. “Once she’s decided on a name for you, there’s no changing it. Oh really, Ein! You’re giving me a headache!”

The sudden outburst from Faye quieted the dog.

“You know this hotel doesn’t normally allow dogs,” Roger said, glancing sidelong at Ein angrily. “If he’s not on his best behavior, even Swimming Bird can’t keep him in.”

“He’s not normally like that,” Jet answered. “I don’t know what’s gotten in to him.”

Roger made a noise of displeasure. “Either way, keep him under control.”

Jet gave a nod as Ed scooped Ein into her arms and chastised him. And with that, Roger Nash was gone.

“Well he seemed pleasant,” Jet said sarcastically.

“You would be like that too if that lunkhead was your boss,” Faye said, downing the rest of her water and setting the glass aside. “I bet he had a nice room set up in that place before Spike went and got it bombed.”

“I still can’t believe he’s alive,” Jet said. “It’s all so weird. Did he tell you why he’s still here and not six feet under like he’s supposed to?”

“No I didn’t,” came a strained voice. They all turned their heads towards the door to see a heavily bandaged Spike supporting himself against the doorway. “This whole fiasco happened before I got the chance to tell her.”

“Jesus, Spike!” Jet cried, jumping up to help him. “You’re barely alive enough as it is, don’t push your luck!”

“That’s what I told him!” Tim’s frantic voice chimed in from behind. “But he wouldn’t listen!”

“I told you,” Spike said impatiently. “I’ll be fine. I wanted to see them.”

“We could have brought them to your room, sir!”

“Go away, Tim,” Spike said. “I’m here now and there’s nothing you can do about it.”

Tim stood in the doorway, looking like a confused puppy.

“Go!”

Tim gave a half-hearted nod and scurried off.

“Best damn assassin I’ve ever seen,” Spike commented as Jet dropped him into one of the empty chairs in the room. “But since his partner died, he’s been gone upstairs. Can’t do anything unless he’s on orders now. And he’s so damn clingy.”

“Are you going to explain to us why you’re still alive?” Jet asked. “Or are you going to give us the rundown on the rest of your underlings while you’re at it.”

“Impatient much?” Spike asked. “Light me a cigarette someone, will you?”

Faye rummaged around in her pocket until she found a cigarette. She put it to her mouth and lit it before passing it on to Spike who took a long drag out of it.

“Blergh, you’re cigarettes taste like ass, Faye,” he commented.

“Come on,” she ignored him. “I want to know too. Why aren’t you dead?”

“It’s not that interesting of a story,” he said nonchalantly. “Roger here saved me from the brink of death and all that. Nothing special.”

“Roger Mash!” Ed piped in. Ein gave a small, unfriendly bark.

“Nash,” Spike corrected.

“He doesn’t seem the caring type,” Jet answered.

“Ah, he’ll grow on you,” Spike said. “Hell of an underling. He knows stuff. He helped set me up in this position, you know.”

“Why didn’t he take it himself?” Faye asked. “I would have.”

“Because not everyone is as selfish as you,” Spike said, turning his gaze towards her, causing her to look away grumpily. “Besides, he’s not suited for the leadership position. Can’t handle the risk. Someone’s always out to get you when you’re the boss, as you can tell.”

“Yeah, about that,” Jet said. “What was with the suicide pilot bombing you?”

“Suicide pilot?” Spike raised his eyebrow. “Fuck, they’re really serious about this now.”

Ed gave a giggle at Spike’s use of the swear word, but no one paid her any mind.

“Serious about what?” Jet asked.

“I’ve been set up, Jet,” Spike said. “You’ve no doubt heard about that bounty on me?”

“On Swimming Bird, you mean,” he answered. “Nice pseudonym by the way. I didn’t even realize it was you.”

“That was the point,” Spike said. “But anyway, there’s a bounty on my head that’s ridiculously high and it’s there for no reason. Our main headquarters got bombed a once before and I thought I got the people behind it. Instead I got a bounty and another bombing. I just happened to run into Faye and decided to try and get her help. She ended up bringing you guys, something very good on her part.”

“But what do you want us to do about it?” Jet asked. “We’re just as lost as you are.”

“Four sets of eyes are better than one,” Spike said. But when Ein gave an impatient bark, Spike corrected himself. “Five sets of eyes. Just stay on the look out. The Syndicate and I are the targets, you should be safe. It should be easier for you to sneak around without having someone constantly watching your every move.”

“Then don’t you think it’s a little suspicious that you’ve got us all booked into this hotel under the Syndicate’s name?” Jet asked. “Won’t they find us?”

“You’re not staying here,” he said. “None of us are. I booked these rooms so that whoever’s watching me knows I’m alive. But you’re all going to stay somewhere else. “I’ve already had Tim dump some money in your accounts. Book a room somewhere else under a false name or something. You should be fine.”

“If you want them to stop exploding everything you’re related to, don’t you think you should have gotten a room incognito?” Faye asked.

“Faye, tsk-tsk,” Spike said in a disappointed tone, but giving her a wry grin. “That wouldn’t be my style at all, would it?”

“Lunkhead,” Faye grumbled beneath her breath.

Author’s Note: Exams have been over for about 4 weeks. I sat around at home for two weeks catching up on all the sleep I lost over the semester and I just got back from Disney World. I’m about to go to Ireland for about 6 weeks, so I figured I had best leave you guys with something, even if its just this. I’ll try to write more before I leave. Thanks for waiting on me, you guys. You’re the best! Also, I couldn’t get in touch with my beta reader, so it’s only been proofread by me! GASP! Hope it’s not too bad. I’ll pimp my beta reader out anyway. Almighty Sempai. Read her stuff and pester her into writing her next part. Kimi out!