Chapter Fourteen: comfort

Meowth had spent the night quite some distance from the camp site. It wasn’t that he respected James and Jaycee’s privacy. No, he just respected his right not to feel ill. He stretched lazily out on the branch he lay upon. The branch was the highest point of the particular Elm tree he was sleeping in. he could barely see the ground through the thick leaves and branches beneath him. he could faintly see a small Rattata far below running across the ground. Of course, he was so used to being fed by humans, he didn’t even think of making it into a meal. He was wondering about this, when suddenly he got a fright as he heard his own name called, and fell from the branch.

"Me-" began James, calling out to his feline friend, when he was cut off abruptly, and fell over, as a small cat Pokémon landed on him, "-owth." He finished, as Meowth got off him, and Jaycee helped James to his feet.

"What do you want?" Meowth asked, "Oh, and thanks for breaking my fall."

James rubbed his back, "No problem." He grew serious, "Listen, Meowth, something bad’s happened to Jessie. We have to go to Head Quarters and find her."

"Huh?" Meowth asked, "She asked for your help?"

James shook his head, "No, the receptionist called, and she said that Jessie had run off. She’s probably wandering around somewhere."

"Well, she has a better sense of direction then you." Meowth pointed out. He glanced at James’s stone expression, "Okay, okay, let’s find her."

Jessie sat down once she reached what she supposed was the thickest part of the woods which bordered head quarters. She sat down on a patch of dry soft grass, and hugged her knees to her chest, but quickly pulled them away, wincing in pain. She knew her hair must have been a mess, and her make up was probably ruined. And the dress was definitely passed it’s use by date. But she was past caring now, and simply sat and cried. She let out Arbok for comfort, and the serpent sensed it’s mistress’s distress, and lovingly draped itself over her lap, in an attempt to cheer her up. Jessie petted Arbok’s smooth head, and it responded by rubbing up against her with it’s cheek like a cat would.

"Arbok, what’s happening to me?" Jessie whispered.

"Char-bok, Arb?" the snake hissed sadly.

The large snake couldn’t even imagine what it’s mistress whom it loved so dearly was upset about. It didn’t even remember turning on her all that time ago. And so the two sat silently together, but Jessie was unable to find any comfort in her Pokémon’s kindness.

James and Jaycee burst in Team Rocket Head Quarters. Rachel jumped up, and ran over to James, her face a mask of pure concern,

"James, did you find her yet?" Rachel asked.

"No." James said, "I came to ask which way she ran."

Rachel pointed out one of the windows to the woods, "In there. I think Giovanni’s already gone after her. You’d better hurry and find her. Giovanni didn’t look too thrilled about her having run away."

James nodded, and turned to Meowth and Jaycee, "Come on you two, back in the balloon."

It couldn’t have been past 10am, but the day already felt long. Jaycee scanned the woods below, following James and Meowth’s cues. James suddenly shouted out, "Jessie!"

Jaycee and Meowth looked where he was looking, and saw Jessie’s small form far below, on the grass. They might not have noticed her if it weren’t for the several Rockets surrounding her. She was standing with her Arbok guarding her, and rearing up at the five or so Rockets. Giovanni stood to the left of it all. James turned off the burner slowly, and the hot air balloon drifted down, and landed softly. Well, not exactly softly. The three were thrown from the balloon by the impact of hitting the ground.

Jessie looked pleased to see James, he noticed from where he lay sprawled on the grass in front of her.

"James!" she cried, using the same voice he’d heard her use when he had come back for her in the Meowth Balloon, after saying goodbye to his beloved Growlithe, Growlie, and to the posh estate he’d once called home.

James got to his feet, as did Jaycee and Meowth, "Jessie, what’s wrong?" James asked.

Jessie ran to him, and he was shocked when she actually stood behind him, "Leave me alone!" she called to the Rockets.

Giovanni spoke, "Jessie, what is the meaning of this?"

Jessie’s expression grew hot, and James saw the real Jessie coming through, "You tell me!" she yelled, "Business partner?!" she spat, "That was a lie, wasn’t it!"

Giovanni narrowed his eyes, "Jessie, you’re coming back to Head Quarters, understand?"

Jessie shook her head defiantly, "No! I don’t want to!" she had an idea. She stepped forward and yelled to her Pokémon, "Arbok! Go get them!"

Arbok reared up at Giovanni and the other Rockets.

"You think that overgrown snake is gonna stop us?" Giovanni taunted. He threw forth his own Pokeball, and an Arcanine appeared."

Jessie was still confident, "I think you’re forgetting something." She held up the purple master ball, "Go, Ninetails!" she cried.

Ninetails appeared in a flash of red light, and released a small blaze of blue fire for effect.

Giovanni backed away slightly, cursing under his breath, "Jessie, if you don’t come back to Head Quarters right now, you’re fired from the organization permanently." He said.

Jessie didn’t even flinch, "Don’t you get it? I already quit!"

"And James is fired too." Giovanni added.

James’s face crumpled a little, but he straightened up, "Good. I’ll have some more spare time, won’t I?"

"Alright then." Giovanni said, "I see we’re not getting through to you two." He smiled slightly, "Remember that you won’t be able to get any other jobs. I’ll be spreading your reputation over the Internet."

Jessie and James both slumped a little.

"Recall your Pokémon, and I’ll reconsider." Giovanni prompted.

Jessie glared at him, but called back her Arbok and Ninetails, "well?" she asked.

"Go Arcanine!" commanded Giovanni. Arcanine ran forward towards Jessie.

Jessie grew wide eyed, "What are you doing?" she yelled, as the Pokémon leapt towards her. She didn’t have time to send out her Pokémon, as Arcanine pinned her to the ground with it’s strong paws.

James and Jaycee both struggled with the Pokémon, which ignored them, and tore at the dress Jessie wore.

"I want that dress back." Giovanni said simply, "I paid for it."

Jessie yelled angrily, as the Arcanine ripped the dress from her, and then retreated to its Pokeball. James gasped at the bruises which covered her, and hurriedly handed his jacket to Jessie, who put it on without complaint.

Giovanni blew her a kiss as he climbed into his helicopter, "Farewell, all." He called.

The Rockets filed in past him. James, Jessie and Jaycee watched the helicopter disappear. None of them noticed the cat like Pokémon clinging to the landing pads. Jessie stood up, her eyes filled with tears. Jaycee could think of nothing to say, as James helped Jessie to the hot air balloon.

"Yep, tore it right off, wretched thing." Jaycee said angrily, "The nerve of that guy. I mean, on the show, he’s pretty evil, but to meet him in person, and he’s dead frightening."

Krystal sat across from her at a table at a café in Pallet Town, "Jeez, that is so bad." She shook her head, "Is Jessie okay now?"

The sun was setting in the sky, and it gave everything a red tinge to it. Krystal was drinking a chocolate milkshake. Jaycee was in no mood for food.

She shook her head, "No. James has been trying to talk to her all day. I just don’t know what to do or say. So I had to get away from it all."

"And that’s when you ran into your dear friend Krystal?" Krystal asked.

Jaycee nodded coyly, "Yes, my dear friend Krystal, who was draped all over Brock at the time. And Brockey boy kissed her goodbye when she decided to get a milkshake with me."

Krystal shrugged, "What can I say, he has good taste in girls." She glowered briefly, "Except for all those Jenny’s and Joys. Ugh."

Jaycee couldn’t help but smile, "Well, I’d have to say the same for James. ah, except for the part about all the Joy’s and Jenny’s, that is."

Krystal looked at her friend questioningly, "Ah, so are you two…um, how do I put this…?"

"We know each other rather well, okay?" Jaycee said, blushing, "Anyway, that’s been put on hold what with all this Jessie business."

"Want me to take care of her?" Krystal asked jokingly.

Jaycee’s expression was stone, "no." she said seriously, "I mean, I thought Jessie was some terrible person, but when I saw her today, she was frightened. Like a real person, almost."

Krystal frowned, "But what if…" she cut herself off, "Never mind."

Jaycee rolled her eyes, "Krys, don’t you realize that when you start to say something, then say ‘never mind’ I’m going to suspect you have something to say?"

Krystal sweat dropped, "Well, I’ll be honest with you." She said quietly, "I mean, if Jessie is a real person, James and her might…well, you know they’re really good friends already, so…"

Jaycee nodded sadly, "Yeah, I thought of that." she said, "I don’t know what I think about it. I think maybe Jessie deserves James anyway." she shook her head momentarily, "But let us not dwell on such things."

Krystal stood up from the table, "Jay, it’s getting late." She said, "I’m going to head back. You probably should too."

Jaycee stood up, and nodded. The two went their separate ways.

Jessie lay sprawled out on her sleeping bag. She was wearing one of James’s T shirts, and a pair of her jeans. she was past caring. She was so much less than she had been, and she hated herself for it. James sat a short distance away, silently. Jessie didn’t want to have him there, even if he didn’t talk to her. She wanted to be alone.

"Jessie, I know you don’t want to talk about it, but it might help if I knew what happened." James said gently.

Jessie sat up and faced him, "You wouldn’t understand." She said, her voice hoarse.

James approached her, and sat down next to her, "I don’t pretend to understand what you must be going through. I don’t even know what it is. But if you tell me…"

Jessie shifted away slightly, and James kept his distance, "You can’t understand, James, so just leave me alone now." she looked at him for a moment, then pulled her glance away, "I want to sleep."

James stood up, "If you need me, I’ll…"

"Yeah, whatever." Jessie snapped, "God, stop being such a dope."

James turned away from her, disappointed if anything. He tried to find reason for this feeling, when he spotted Jaycee approaching, her head down. He smiled, and made his way over to meet her, away from the camp site.

Jaycee saw him and smiled slightly, "Hi, James."

James frowned, "What’s wrong?" he could see the traces of sadness on her face.

"Oh, I don’t know." Jaycee replied, "Is Jessie doing alright now?"

James shrugged, "I honestly don’t know. One minute she’s sad, next she’s snapping at me. Now she just wants to go to sleep. We should probably just leave her."

Jaycee nodded. She looked at her feet, "Well, umm…" she wanted to ask if James felt anything for Jessie now, when she felt James’s arms around her, and realized he was hugging her. No hyperventilation yet, well maybe one or two. She smiled into his shirt, and returned his hug, all worries of him and Jessie disappearing. They stood together like that for a long time, both completely happy to stay that way forever. Jaycee felt tears springing to her eyes. So this was what it was like when something was perfect. She breathed in happily. James smelt like…pancakes? Or maybe it was donuts. Perhaps a little of both. And there was a definite trace of rose in there somewhere. James and Jaycee both drew away at the same time, a little grudgingly.

"I think I love you." James said.

Yep, there was that hyperventilation, right there. Jaycee slowed her breathing as best she could, as more tears formed in her eyes, "You, you do?"

James nodded slowly, "I, I don’t understand it, it’s just…Perfect. The perfect thing to say. And I mean it." He fumbled with his words, "I um, it’s to say, I…I think you’re…I mean, for me, you’re…" he shook his head, and gave up trying to get it out, and produced a rose from his pocket, "Here."

Jaycee smiled uncontrollably, and quite instinctively put her arms around James, this time kissing him as well. James returned her gesture, and if the hug took a long time, this took much longer. Finally both drew away, and dwelled on each other’s eyes for some time, before linking hands, and walking away together through the trees, Jaycee still holding onto the rose.

"Thank you." She said suddenly, as they walked, "It’s the best thing anyone’s ever given me. And I know people always say that in sappy movies and sappy stories, but I think I know what they mean."

"For the rose?" James asked, "No problem."

"And the rest." Jaycee said coyly. She frowned, "Um, pardon me, but where are we going?"

"Dinner." James replied, "I don’t want to wake Jessie, so we’ll go into town and pick up something." He sweat dropped, "We don’t have much money, though, do we?"

"We’ve got enough." Jaycee assured him.