Chapter Two: Stranger

James felt sore all over. Two falls in one day, and numerous slaps, kicks and punches from Jessie. She was sitting grumpily by the fire now, plucking petals off a rose, and throwing them one by one into the flickering fire. James felt hurt; he had given her that rose to say he was sorry. And anyway, what was she so mad about? It was just a kiss. And it was an accidental kiss at that. He winced as he touched his swollen cheek. Yeah, the kiss had been pretty good, but at this price it wasn’t worth it...almost. He wondered if Jessie would find a new partner now, like she had said, nay screamed, she would. James decided it was probably just one of her rants, nothing serious. She reminded him every day how she disliked being his partner. Sure, there were times when they had a lot of fun. Sometimes Jessie was really nice to him. sometimes he even liked her a little, and not just her looks. But when you got down to it, Jessie was Jessie, and nothing would change her.

"The rain’s clearing up." Jessie said quietly.

James half jumped at the sound of her voice. He calmed down, and realized that she was talking to him again, "Yep." He agreed.

Jessie stood up and faced him, discarding the decimated rose, "Well then, let’s get a move on. We’ll find those kids, and try steal their Pikachu." She spoke in the business like tone she always used when she wanted to make it clear that she didn’t want to talk about anything -else-. James decided to go along with it, and no more was said about the kiss. Except from Meowth, who mentioned it as Jessie and James climbed into the hot air balloon, commenting, "Next time you guys should get a room." He earned himself a kick for that. no prize for guessing who it was from.

"Alright then, we’ve said our line…" Jessie began.

James continued, "so that means that now it’s time…"

"To snatch Pikachu?" Meowth asked.

Jessie sighed in contempt, "Meowth, that did not rhyme."

Ash and his friends all stood poised, ready to battle, "Could you guys get on with this?" Ash asked.

"We haven’t got all day." Misty agreed.

Jessie and James turned back to their enemies, ready to throw forth their Pokeballs. The five trainers were standing on the beach.

"Go-" began James, stopping in mid throw, in a strange position.

His attention was drawn by chance to a cluster of rocks to the east of the shore.

"What’s a matter?" Meowth inquired, "Throw ya Pokémon already!"

James held up his hand to shush Meowth, "I heard something." He said.

He began to walk towards the rocks. Jessie angrily followed him, "James, you’d better have a solid reason for this."

Ash, Misty and Brock were left standing with Meowth, who looked as puzzled as they. Brock crossed his arms over his chest, "he didn’t hear anything. I bet it’s just another one of their tricks."

Meowth spoke up, "Yeah, but I’m usually part of their tricks. I would at least know about it if it was. And anyway, I’m the one who comes up with the plans."

Misty frowned, "Well, I can understand that. but what if it’s a Pokemon that’s hurt?"

Ash nodded, "Misty’s right, we should go see."

So the others trooped over to see what was going on. Meanwhile, Jessie and James had found a girl sitting on one of the rocks.

"Are you okay?" Jessie asked, seeming mildly concerned.

The girl’s short blue dress was torn, and she was soaking wet. She had hopelessly tangled dark brown hair with light brown highlights here and there. Her eyes were dark brown. She frowned, as if she recognised Jessie’s voice. She turned to Jessie and James, and she gasped, and blinked. These two people were instantly familiar to her. She couldn’t believe that it was actually them.

"what’s your name?" asked James.

"Jaycee." She replied, staring at James.

"What happened to you?" asked Jessie.

The girl grew distressed at this, and her expression was sad, "I um, I can’t remember."

James bit his lip, "well, that doesn’t matter. Right now we should get you into some dry clothes or something." He took off his jacket, "You can put this on for now, if you want."

"thanks." Jaycee said, hardly believing her good fortune. She put on the jacket dreamily.

"No problem." James said, "I’m James, and this is Jessie."

"I know who you are." Jaycee said softly. She snapped back to reality, "Um, hi."

Presently Meowth, Ash, Misty and Brock arrived.

Brock was by Jaycee’s side in a flash, taking her from James, who was helping her to stand, "My name’s Brock." He said, "Are you okay? Would you like me to help you?"

Jaycee looked at James pleadingly, who understood, and took her back from Brock, *(Pass the parcel)* "Thank you for your help, but Jaycee is coming with us." He said.

Brock shrugged, "Well, I had to try."

Ash whispered to Misty, "But she’s wearing a Team Rocket costume anyway, she’s with them."

Misty swatted his head with her hand, "No she’s not, that’s James’s jacket."

Ash made a face, "Eew, she’s wearing his clothes!"

Jessie and Meowth simply followed James and Jaycee back to camp. Jessie was less than impressed at James letting the girl come with them. once they reached the campsite, and Jaycee was sitting in front of the fire with a drink, Jessie pulled James to the side, "are you mad?" she asked.

James raised one eyebrow, "I don’t think so…but denial is one of the first signs of madness, isn’t it? or is that something else?"

Jessie refrained from hitting him, "No, I mean, why’d you bring her here?"

James shrugged, "Isn’t it obvious she needs help?"

"Yeah, maybe…" Jessie said, "But you could’ve let the brats take her. Now we’re stuck with her."

"We don’t even know her." James protested.

"Exactly." Jessie said, "she could have been a spy, or a, an assassin, you don’t know!"

James looked skeptical, "I don’t think she is."

"Because that’s what she wants you to think!" Jessie cried, as if this fact was crystal clear. James still looked skeptical, so Jessie flounced off, annoyed.

Soon everyone was back at the campsite, and Jaycee had changed into one of Jessie’s spare uniforms, although it didn’t fit her too well, while her dress hung out to dry on Jessie and James’s clothes line they had strung between two trees.

"I don’t know how I got here." Jaycee said quietly, when questioned by James, "I think I was on a ship, but, I can’t remember anything else."

"Maybe the storm sank the ship." James suggested, "Do you remember who you were travelling with?"

"I don’t think I was travelling with anyone."

"You were travelling all by ya self?" Meowth asked, "How old are you anyway?"

Jessie had remained quiet until now, "Fool Meowth, never ask a woman her age!" then her tone grew nasty, "Well, I guess little kids don’t count, do they?"

Jaycee inched closer to James upon hearing this, "I’m sixteen."

James looked at her curiously, she certainly didn’t look it.

"Fifteen then." Jaycee admitted.

"Well, where were you travelling to?" asked Meowth.

Jaycee shrugged, "I don’t know."

"How can you not know?" Jessie asked scornfully.

Jaycee was tiring of the redheads obvious contempt for her. The fact was, Jessie was still stuck on the idea that Jaycee was a spy.

"Um, where exactly am I?" Jaycee asked

"You’re here." James replied, "Umm, it’s like, near Vermilion City."

Jaycee frowned, "Vermilion City…" she pondered, "That’s where Lt. Surge’s gym is, huh?"

"Yeah, that’s right." James replied, "are you a Pokémon trainer?"

Jaycee shook her head, "no, I don’t have any Pokemon." She looked down at Jessie’s jacket she was wearing, "So, you guys are in Team Rocket? That’s cool."

"Yeah." Meowth said, "I’m the top cat."

Jaycee nodded absentmindedly, "I’ve heard of you guys. Team Rocket’s pretty famous." She studied James again, still unsure if it was really him.

Jessie’s opinion seemed to change upon hearing this, "Well then Jaycee, you can stay with us if you want. Can’t she James?"

James realized his partner must have decided that Jaycee wasn’t a spy after all, "Well sure. I’ll make us all dinner, okay? I’m starved!"

"He’s always starved." Meowth muttered. He paused, "Wait a minute, so am I."

James rummaged through his back pack, "How do pancakes sound?"

"Isn’t dis dinner, not breakfast?" Meowth asked.

"Well, we’re lucky to eat at least once a day anyway." James said with a shrug.

"Oh yeah." Meowth admitted, "So, make pancakes then." He frowned, "Um, James, you can’t cook, remember?"

"So, you’re gonna help me." James said.

Meowth sweat dropped, "Drat."

No one had any objections, so James and Meowth set to work. James had finished making the batter, when he realized he had no fire wood. Jessie and Jaycee were discussing something that James decided must have been important, and Meowth was dozing. A lot of help he was being. Jessie would have to do the actual cooking of the pancakes, he decided, since he and Meowth were pretty hopeless at that. So James set off to find some fire wood. He was used to getting things himself anyway.

Ninetails had been caught in the storm after all. She had found a campsite, but there was nothing good to eat there. Hunting was unsuccessful as usual. The stupid blue tinge to her coat made it harder for her to camouflage in the trees. And then the rain had come pouring down, and she’d had to run for shelter. Now it was late afternoon, and she returned to the camp site in search of food. she approached down wind, and so smelt the humans straight away. A red headed woman and a younger brunette, sat with their backs to where Ninetails approached from, talking loudly about Pokémon. Ninetails was as quiet as a Persian, and was careful not to wake the sleeping Meowth who was curled up near the red head. Ninetails made her way stealthily to what her nose told her was food. She sniffed at the batter. On second thoughts, she decided not to risk the mystery batter, as it made her sneeze. She ran silently back into the trees, unseen. She had seen another camp site not far from this one, with three kids at it. They would probably have better food.

"Did you sneeze, Meowth?" asked Jessie.

Meowth slept soundly.

Jessie smirked, "Sneezing in his sleep." She turned back to Jaycee, "as I was saying, poisonous Pokémon are the best kind of Pokémon to use."

"No way." Jaycee argued, "Psychic Pokémon are the best. Their only weakness is other psychic Pokémon, and maybe Ghost Pokémon, but they’re pretty good against them too."

The two continued to argue. It was surprising James had thought they were having a normal conversation.