Think Twice

By BansheeGirl

Disclaimer: Want me to let you in on a secret? I don't own Pokémon!

A/N: Hey y'all! Just a bit of an angsty littlefic I've got for all of you Rocketshippers out there! This one's for you! Enjoy, and don't forget to review once you're done! Thanks!



Chapter One

Don't think that I can't feel that there's something wrong

You've been the sweetest part of my life for so long

Jessie watched James as he forcefully shoved the basket of the Meowth hot-air balloon onto a large cargo trolley. His expression remained stern as he gathered the canvas that comprised the Meowth's head – a symbol which had become a trademark of the Team Rocket trio's usual mode of transport. A gaping whole in the side of the balloon indicated that the day's attempts in catching any Pokémon had not resulted well. This also had become a trademark for the teenage boy and girl and talking Meowth.

James dumped the expanse of canvas into the green-thatched basket, and walked around to take hold of the trolley's metal handle. He pushed forward to send the trolley and its new load into movement, yet only to add to James' apparent aggravation it would not budge. In utter irritation he slammed his body forward with full force to try and move the stubborn trolley, alas to no avail. Jessie stepped in beside the trolley and kicked one of the front wheels which had become jammed in a sideward position to face forwards. She signalled to James to try again, and her partner pushed on with ease. He did not seem impressed with her swift solution of the problem.

Jessie looked down at Meowth and the pair exchanged a puzzled expression. They followed after James into Team Rocket Headquarters' vehicle and cargo bay, where the three wove in and out of various people, parked cars and trucks, forklifts and storage containers. What essentially was simply an extremely large shed stretched on until Jessie, James and Meowth arrived in a far corner. Jessie watched as James conversed with a man in a smart grey Team Rocket uniform. Her partner spoke shortly, not caring for any gentleness with the other man. A frown creased his brow, and when the man signalled for James to park the trolley in a bay to their left, her lavender-haired friend pushed on with the same aggression as before. He slid the trolley into place and it crashed against the tin wall with a jolt.

Jessie had known James since she had become a registered Team Rocket field-agent at the age of sixteen. Aside from forming a very close and cherished friendship with him, she had learnt to interpret James' expressions, tone of voice and body language. Right now she could see that he was very angry, and she could feel her heart beating fast with anxiety. James did not get angry very often, but when he did…

Something was wrong. She and James had had a fight earlier that day, when once again their plan had failed and the twerps had blasted them off again. Yet it was unusual for hostility to continue between the pair for so long. Normally something such as this would blow over in an hour or two, and Jessie and James would return to their relatively friendly selves. However, James had remained in this unwelcoming mood for the majority of the day.

Yes, something was wrong.

I look in your eyes, there's a distant light

And you and I know there'll be a storm tonight

"James, what is wrong with you?" She asked bluntly, searching to hold his eyes with her own. When James finally met them, Jessie struggled to maintain an emotionless expression. There was a hardness in his eyes that ignited a sense of alarm somewhere deep inside of her – Jessie instantly knew that she was not going to like what lay ahead. She managed to secure her indifferent expression, not daring to let James see that he had her in a state of fear.

"What is wrong with me?" James retorted, "Of course it's always something wrong with me isn't it, Jessie? Never you. No, not perfect Jessie." His eyes remained cold, boring into Jessie with malice.

Jessie's mouth dropped open in disbelief at this sudden attack on her. "Excuse me? Sorry if I was just making an enquiry into your general wellbeing!"

James rolled his eyes. "Puh-lease. You didn't seem so concerned about my 'general wellbeing' this morning when you were so viciously blaming me for today's failure. And every other failure we've had, for that matter."

Meowth peered up at the feuding pair with wide eyes, making a wise decision not to interfere in the argument. In the far corner of the large vehicle and cargo shed, Jessie and James carried on relatively unnoticed and otherwise ignored.

"Well you weren't exactly playing Mr. Nice Guy in this morning's little disagreement, were you James?" Jessie spat, letting her previous concern for James become overwhelmed by her own anger. "I seem to recall you making some quite uncalled-for accusations!"

James laughed incredulously. "What, so it's okay for you to blame me for everything, but I can't do the same thing?"

Jessie scowled, "I never said that James! You're twisting this around like it's some big deal when it's not!"

"Isn't it?" James replied quickly, the incredulity leaving his voice. "This is how it is all the time. It seems like we are always fighting, and to tell the truth I'm sick and tired of it."

Jessie's face fell from an angered expression to one of misunderstanding.

James ran a hand through his shoulder-length hair, sighing. He glanced at his female partner with a look of remorse. "Jessie, you and I both know that this hasn't been working out for some time. I think it's best if we… reconsider our situation."

Jessie took a shocked step back from James. Suddenly things had become too severe for comfort.

This is getting serious

Are you thinking 'bout you or us?

"What exactly are you trying to say?" Jessie said, struggling to maintain a strong tone of voice. Somewhere inside of her, she had the feeling she knew exactly what he was about to say. And it scared the living daylight out of her.

James did not directly answer the question, correctly assuming that Jessie had already cottoned onto where the conversation was leading. "Jessie, we would both be a lot better off, you have to admit. One of the reasons we end up failing all the time is because all we ever seem to do is fight."

"James, we are not always fighting!" Jessie screeched, trying desperately to think of excuses to stop James from making his point. How could he be thinking this? She looked down to Meowth for support, but the catlike Pokémon seemed to be in a confused stupor. For once their feline friend appeared to be speechless.

James gave Jessie a harsh look. "We're doing it right now! We can't even discuss a serious matter without getting into an argument!"

"We're only fighting now because you are acting like a complete moron, James!" Jessie scowled, allowing her anger to cover up her inner emotions – a defence mechanism that she had learned to use when just a child.

James' eyes widened with furious incredulity. "This partnership is not working. You can't just ignore it, Jessie. One of these days one of us is going to say something that is going to totally destroy any sort of friendship we have left."

Jessie shot a glare at her partner, a barely noticeable glassiness in her eyes indicating the possibility of tears on behalf of the teenage girl.

"You're doing that right now, James."