Session 4

"I did not agree to splitting it three ways!" Quinn awoke to the sound of Faye shouting in the other room.

"It's only fair," she heard Spike retort while the both of them continued to argue over one another.

As Quinn slowly began to wake herself up, she noticed she had a blanket draped overtop of her. Again she figured it must've been Jet's doing since he had been the only one to show any sort of hospitality towards her.

"Whatever, we'll figure it out once we actually get this stuff done with," Faye announced loudly as she made her way into the living room.

"Oh, you're awake," she mentioned as Quinn sat up on the couch. She was slightly embarrassed that she had slept in, but it was well deserved. She had had an incredibly long night, and to be completely fair she most definitely needed the extra hours of shut eye.

"I am now," Quinn yawned as she rubbed her eyes.

"Where's Jet?" She asked as Faye took a seat on the couch.

"At the controls," she replied before reaching for the tablet that was left on the table from last night.

"Where would that be?" Quinn asked, and Faye extended her arm outwards. She pointed towards the area she had just came from which happened to be another long corridor.

"Thanks," Quinn half smiled before making her way towards what she assumed was the front of the ship.

She walked for a bit down the hallway until she ended up in a large room that was filled with holo screens and flashing lights. Jet was sitting in the pilots seat while Spike stared absently out the front window.

"Hey Jet," Quinn greeted as she casually entered the room.

"Morning," Jet quickly turned and gave her a smile before returning his focus to the controls. Spike remained silent as usual. Quinn didn't bother greeting him.

"Where are we headed?" She asked, as she walked around the edge of the control area.

"I was just about to ask you where we should be going," Jet mentioned as he pulled up a large hologram screen in front of him.

"Mars," Quinn stated, and Jet smiled.

"Perfect, that's where we were headed anyways," he exclaimed before closing the screen.

"What's the plan when we get there?" Spike suddenly chimed in.

"Well," Quinn began to speak, but Jet quickly interjected.

"Why don't you discuss the plan in the living room with Faye?" He suggested. Spike nodded in agreement before turning, and leaving for the the living room. Once he had left, Quinn decided to thank Jet for the kindness he had been showing her.

"Thanks for dinner last night," she exclaimed.

"You're very welcome," Jet replied happily.

Quinn then turned to leave, but just as she reached the exit she mentioned one last thing.

"Oh, and thanks for removing my handcuffs and giving me that blanket last night," she added cheerfully, but Jet didn't respond immediately.

"The blanket wasn't from me, but the handcuffs were," he replied.

"I assumed you weren't going to be eating so well with your hands tied to a railing," he chuckled, and Quinn laughed in response before heading towards the living room.

She wondered where the blanket had came from, but when she got to the living area Faye was on the couch and the blanket was missing; so was Spike. Once Quinn had sat down on the armchair Spike re-entered the room. Had he been the one to bring the blanket? No way, after last nights conversation (or better yet, lack thereof) Quinn couldn't imagine him doing such a thing for her.

"So what's the plan?" Faye asked before placing the tablet down onto the table. Quinn's thought process suddenly shifted gears as she dragged her attention to the task at hand. Quinn knew the main thing she needed was the microchip inside Mack's necklace. If she could just get her hands on the chip, she knew her life would be saved.

"The locket. she wears it around her neck everyday, and I know it has the microchip inside," she added while the duo listened intently.

"One of you has to get it from her," Quinn suggested, and Faye immediately turned to Spike.

"You know I'm not one to steal from women," Spike scoffed disconcertedly.

"You sore liar, how come you steal from me all the time then?" Faye challenged bitterly as she punched Spike in the shoulder.

"You're hardly a woman," he smiled smugly.

"Oh you half witted lunkhead I swear I'm gonna -,"

"STOP IT YOU TWO," Quinn had lost her patience with them and she was not one to shy away from raising her voice. Spike haughtily raised his hands in defeat while Faye's fist hovered above his head. She pulled back once she realized how childish she was being. It was almost entertaining to watch the two of them squabble, but in a situation like this there simply wasn't time to goof around.

"You know I'm not graceful with that kinda stuff," Faye added once she had calmed herself down.

"I'm a wanted criminal and she knows my face," Quinn replied judgingly, throwing the ball back in their court. As much as she wanted to rip that stupid little locket off of Mack's neck, she knew it was a death wish. There was no chance of making it back into the city without being recognized, especially not in the area where most of her supposed crimes were being committed.

"You do it," Faye glared at Spike, but it didn't seem like he was particularly interested.

"I already said no," he shrugged, but Faye persisted. She pushed and pushed and pushed until her pushing became shoving and their discussing became an argument yet again.

"Spike," Quinn called out suddenly in attempts to stop the bickering. Saying his name aloud made her stomach flip, and it made her blush when he actually listened to her. She didn't know why it mattered so much but she assumed it was because he was finally displaying decent human kindness towards her. That was all, and that was all it would ever be.

"I think it would be really really easy for you to uh," Quinn paused for a moment as she tried to find a good way to articulate her thoughts.

"Well," she stuttered awkwardly as her face began to heat up with embarrassment.

"I really don't mean to sound crude, but Mack would fall head over heals for a guy like you," Quinn stopped for a second as she watched Spikes expression twist.

"No way," Faye began to giggle under her breath as a massive smile grew across her face.

"Are you suggesting I seduce her?" Spike asked in disgust.

"No no not like that," Quinn panicked. She didn't want to make him uncomfortable but she knew romantic attention was something that made Mack weak in the knees. Spike was the best candidate for the job, and even though Mack swung both ways, Quinn knew she wouldn't swing for a girl as stubborn as Faye. She was attracted to arrogance, and from what Quinn could tell, it was Spikes best attribute.

"Please! It has to be like that!" Faye began laughing hysterically. The room's dynamic had changed so fast Quinn swore she got whiplash. Between Faye's frenzied laughter and Spikes visible discomfort, Quinn figured she had opened up some sort of inside joke.

"What's so funny?" Quinn questioned as Spike placed his elbows on his knees before planting his face into the palms of his hands.

"He's gonna do it," Faye continued to holler as she wiped a tear from her eye. Faye knew Spike better than Quinn, but judging by his body langue her statement didn't particularly hold up.

"I mean, ok, but what's so funny about it?" Quinn raised an eyebrow. Spike looked like he was about to explode with embarrassment. She couldn't see his face but she just knew it was bright red.

"On our last hunt I was the bait for some guy, and the only reason why I went through with it was because he agreed to do the same thing for the team if it ever came to it," Faye continued through laughter and a small smile grew upon Quinn's face.

It seemed like Faye had been waiting for this moment for quite some time, and Quinn could tell the agreement Spike had made was a promise he didn't think he'd actually have to go through with.

"Ok, I'll admit that's a little funny," Quinn was quick to join in on the fun but she didn't go nearly as far as Faye.

"Oh what's that? Spike's gonna be bait this time?" Faye's teasing was relentless and seemed that Spike was too mortified to defend himself. It was funny to see him so small for once and even though Quinn felt a little bad for him, it wasn't enough for her to tell Faye to ease off.

"What's all the commotion about?" Jet asked as he walked into the living room. Faye had to catch her breath before speaking.

"Spike is gonna be bait," she snorted.

"I never thought this day would come," Jet chuckled before turning towards Spike who had folded himself inwards on the couch.

"Don't be such a poor sport," Jet nudged his head out from within his hands, and just as Spike had looked up, the hologram TV screen on the coffee table switched on.

"Oh it's Bigshot," Jet exclaimed as the program began to play. The laughing quickly dissipated as the shows intro song began to play loudly through the speakers. Quinn felt her stomach twist. There was not a single program on TV that she hated more than Bigshot. The show violently slandered her name, and even though that wasn't the point of the program, they did it anyways.

It was supposed to be news outlet for bounty hunters across the galaxy, but when it came to Quinn all they did was make fun of her for always getting caught on camera. That must've been part of Mack's plan. She knew Quinn would be humiliated, and it was working.

"We have a new update for all you hunters out there!" A rather busty, blonde haired woman announced on the screen.

"Just moments ago the fugitive Quinn Lam was caught on camera yet again organizing yet another illegal deal..." Everyone in the room exchanged glances of disbelief.

"See what I'm saying!" Quinn gestured towards the screen before placing her fingers on her temples.

That was the one thing Mack didn't quite understand. She didn't expect for Quinn to have an alibi, and she especially didn't expect her to have an alibi this tight considering the fact that Quinn had spent the last few hours with these people.

"I wouldn't be surprised if she was wracking up the bounty so she could turn you in and get the money," Spike mentioned, and suddenly everything started to make sense. Quinn had been assuming that for awhile, but she didn't fully consider it as an option until now.

"You're right," Quinn replied. Even though Mack had a refutable job, she was in deep debt. Mack was impulsive (clearly) and her spending addiction had been worse than it had ever been leading up to the day she turned against Quinn. Of course there was more motive than just money, but that was very clearly a part of it.

"And that's why you're gonna have to be bait tonight because she'll immediately turn me into the police if she sees me," Quinn expressed, while Faye snicker under her breath.

"Give me a break," Spike rolled his eyes before getting up from the couch.

"Look's like the bait is getting angsty," Quinn teased as he left the room with his hands shoved deep into his pockets.