Till Death Do We Part

Ashes to Ashes And Dust to Dust We hate to shut down But we must, we must Only true love will Renew the lost

Butch gently laid his fallen partner on the damp foliage. The rain gently tapped on her face and body.

Cassidy slowly opened her eyes. Leaning over her was her partner Butch.

“Cass.” Butch whispered. “You’re awake.” He gently brushed her fallen bangs away form her face.

“Butch…” She said quietly. Her voice was beginning to fade. “I need to tell you something.” She strained to talk.

Butch gently lifted her up in his arms again.

“What is it Cass?” He asked, wiping the rain away form her face with a gloved thumb.

“I… I…” Cassidy’s voice broke.

Tears began in Butch’s eyes. She can’t even talk. He thought to himself.

Cassidy lifted her arm to wipe Butch’s tears away. Not having the strength, it only made it half way.

Butch grabbed her outreached hand and looked her in the eyes. The message of love was in them. Her soft purple eyes had no life in them, yet still there was love.

“I… I… Love you… Cassidy…” Butch whispered. “I will always love you.”

Butch leaned closer, and gently touched his lips to hers.

They shared their first, and last kiss together. Cassidy lived long enough to enjoy her last moment.

Butch gently laid his partner down.

“Goodbye… Cassidy.” He said, voice breaking. Tears flowed heavily. “I will always love you and no other.”

He gently picked up his lifeless partner up and carried her away to headquarters.

When Butch reached the big metal doors of Team Rocket Headquarters he gently placed Cassidy down and opened them. He then picked her up again and began walking down the main hall.

Jessie and James heard stifled sobs. They stepped outside to see Butch with his head bowed down, looking at a human in his arms, silently crying.

“Butch,” Jessie began stopping him from walking. “What happened?”

He didn’t look at her. Tears began to dampen his uniform collar.

“She’s dead.” He said quietly. His voice had no life to it. “Giovanni killed her with out mission.”

Jessie let out a small gasp. James wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

“But… …How?” James asked.

Butch didn’t answer. He just started walking again toward Giovanni’s office.

When Butch reached his boss’ office he gently laid down now the cold and stiff Cassidy. He slowly with emotional pain opened Giovanni’s door.

Giovanni could not be seen because of the poor light. The faint smell of smoke emitted through Butch’s nose.

“Giovanni.” Butch said, holding his tears. He stood up straight. But when he thought what to say next, his shoulders slumped.

“She’s dead.” He said, his eyes beginning to blur.

“Whom?” His boss asked leaning into the light.

“Cassidy. She died trying to save me from…” His voice broke off. He could not cry. Not here. Giovanni didn’t want people caring for each other.

“It was your mistake. I only hire members that will help the team.” Giovanni hissed. His voice was strong. “Death means you are weak. And Caring for people means you are even weaker.”

Butch made no reply. He lowered his head to keep from Giovanni’s cold eyes. He slowly turned around and walked toward the doors.

“You will join Jessica and James on their mission to capture Ash Ketchum’s Pikachu.” Giovanni added.

There was no reply. Butch walked out the doors. He closed them and lifted Cassidy up once more.

Jessie and James waited outside the hall for Butch. They stood up straight as Butch came down the hall.

He looked worse than before. His face was pale and he now was beyond crying. James motioned Jessie to say something.

“What’s going to happen now?” She asked, clinging to James.

Butch just walked past them and out the entrance. He turned and walked into the woods where Cassidy had died.

“I’m so sorry Cass…” He said, coughing to hold back tears. Butch set his cold and lifeless partner down and began digging a hole. After he had dug the appropriate size, his uniform was covered in mud. He picked Cassidy up and laid her in, still in uniform.

“Rest in Peace, my Love.” He said, softly. Butch placed her hands over her heart. He then slipped a rose in her hands. With that he covered her in dirt.

“Ashes to ashes and dust to dust… Goodbye… I will always love you Cassidy…”

Butch forced himself to turn and walk back to headquarters. Jessie and James stood at the entrance waiting.

They saw his mud caked uniform and new not to say anything but let him explain.

“The boss said I now must go with you…”