"Meowth! Give it more power!" demanded Jessie, seeing their machine was about to be overwhelmed by Pikachu's electric attacks.

Team Rocket's hot-air balloon hovered over the steep canyon walls, cutting their adversaries off from getting to them as they attempted to escape with Pikachu in tow. Their quarry was shut snugly inside a thick plastic orb, attached to the side of the balloon via a thick net of rubber-coated ropes and hooked up to cables and several spike-shaped transmitters, each of which were busy blasting arcs of Pikachu's harvested electricity at Ash's or his friends' Pokemon as they attempted a rescue. The device had been holding up beautifully, but the constant, unrelenting abuse it was taking was proving to be too much, and much to their dismay they could see it beginning to fail.

Fiddling with the control box, Meowth cried, "If I do dat it'll probably explode!"

"That's a risk we have to take!" replied the red-haired woman furiously, "I'm sick and tired of us losing every single time and so help me, this time will de different! Now do it!"

Shaking his head, Meowth cranked up the dials and fed as much power as he dared to the device, feeling the protesting vibrations from the box firmly clamped in his paws.

Firing up the boosters in preparation for a quick escape, James turned and said, "We're ready to go! Now let's end this and we'll get out of here!"

As he spoke the worst happened and their trap shattered, having finally been overwhelmed. Pikachu leapt away and was quickly scooped up by Ash's Talonflame, who swooped back toward their trainer. Meowth yowled as the control box shocked him with the backed-up electric energy and he threw it out of anger and pain.

"NO! No no no no!" Jessie slammed her fists on the basket's rim, "We are not losing, not again! Hurry! We have to think of something!"

Meowth rubbed his aching paws together and asked, "Did we have a back-up plan?!"

Warily watching the people below, James shook his head, "I-I don't think so! Anyone? Anything?!"

Suddenly, Talonflame and Pikachu re-appeared, streaking toward them and all three felt their stomachs drop, knowing all too well what came next. Disgusted at leaving empty-handed but determined to escape with at the very least their dignity intact, Jessie spun the steering wheel and barked at her teammates to hit the boosters. James pounced and flipped the switch, and they came to life with a roar, the balloon lurching away and climbing quickly into the bright sky. Meowth hoisted a net-gun over his shoulder, leaping up to the rim and firing at the two Pokemon bearing down on them. The fire-bird managed to dodge it, however he was momentarily knocked off-course. The trio used this to their advantage, throwing several smoke-bombs to obscure the area and help them get away.

As they rose faster and farther away, James wondered aloud, "Did we lose them?"

Moments later, to their horror both bird and mouse burst through the smoke cloud, unleashing their attacks as they did so. A spiral of flames ripped across the side of their balloon, tearing it open as bolts of white-hot electricity engulfed the basket, shocking it's occupants and over-loading the boosters, causing them to explode and send the whole lot tumbling and shooting off into the distance. Screaming, they spun and flew through the air, the number of times they had been through this doing them no good as they soon started their inevitably painful descent toward the earth.

"Guuuys!" Jessie yelled as she scrambled for the balloon flapping around them, "Grab on! If we're lucky it'll help break our fall!"

Deciding it was well worth a shot, James and Meowth copied her, grabbing ahold of the balloon's material closest to them as they continued to fall-and they were abruptly jerked to a much slower pace as the way they held it had caused the middle to billow up and out, forming a make-shift parachute.

"Well, dis is an unexpected surprise!" remarked Meowth.

Jessie looked down toward the still rapidly approaching ground, "And a good one-for once! But we still have to try and maneuver this thing just right or else we'll-"

An errant wind kicked up, flipping them around and sending them crashing the final distance to the rocky turf.

"...still...have a...hard landing..." she finished with a pained groan.

A rustling to her left revealed Meowth wriggling out from underneath a large fold of fabric, unhurt and grinning.

"Heh, dis ting broke my fall beautifully!" he crowed.

Her own back-side throbbing Jessie scowled back, "Well, good for you! In fact, since you're so perky and energetic, you can go pick up our things that fell out back there!"

"Aww, but-"

"Go! And be quick about it!"

Getting to his feet, Meowth muttered several vague threats as he padded off. Jessie got up as well, albeit slower and stretching her sore muscles gingerly. James was already on his feet after having checked himself over for any broken bones or sprained joints-that was all they needed. Luckily, he had escaped relatively unscathed, save for his clothes being torn in a couple places plus a few scrapes and bruises, and was now trying to wrestle the balloon's basket to an upright position.

"Hey Jessie? Can you help me with this?" he asked wearily.

Brushing dirt and gravel from her clothes and hair, she snorted and replied in a voice oozing with sarcasm, "Are you okay Jessie? Are you hurt? Anything I can do? Why yes! I'm fine! Thank you so much for asking!"

James started to open his mouth then snapped it shut again. At this point he could read her like an open book. He could tell from her voice and body language that this was one of those times where anything and everything he could say was wrong and that no matter what, he was going to get an earful. He pondered for a moment the response that was least likely to get him slapped, at least, and thus finally attempted to answer her.

"...Are you okay, Jess?"

"What do you think?!" she snarled, whirling on her heel, "I'm filthy and sore and humiliated that we were beaten by that lousy brat and his friends for the millionth time no I am NOT okay!"

"Well then why did you-? See, I knew that no matter what I said, you were going to yell at me so I thought I'd just start trying to get ourselves together here!" he gave up his fight with the basket to turn and face her, crossing his arms, "I knew you weren't hurt that bad because if you were, you would have said something!"

Stomping closer to him she huffed, "You could have at least asked anyway!"

"You never ask if I'm okay!"

"Yes I do-sometimes. Okay not often but that's-!"

"Don't give me grief over something that you don't do, either!" Mirroring her, James took a few steps forward so that they were even closer.

Challenging him, Jessie got closer still, "Are you really going to be a cry-baby about this?!"

"Maybe!"

"You really need...to..."

She trailed off as in that moment, it abruptly hit them both that they were now, literally and figuratively, toe-to-toe. Only inches apart, they were close enough to hear each other's breathing and practically feel the body heat coming off the other. They grew quiet, mesmerized and feeling that same thrilling, terrifying attraction they had been feeling lately flare up again, so powerful it had rendered them temporarily speechless. His scent, laced with dirt and sweat and adrenaline, filled her lungs and made her knees weaker than she felt they had any right to be. He stared back, noting the slightly softened, odd expression in her beautiful blue eyes, a blue so deep he could get lost in them. Moving almost in slow motion, hearts racing, they wound their arms around each other as they tilted their faces together.

"What do you think you're doing..?" she murmured, lips so close to his she could feel his breath.

"I could ask you the same..." he almost whispered.

For the better part of the last few months, they had been fighting off the slowly growing, almost magnetic pull they felt toward each other. More than once, in a moment of celebratory hugs or tango, adrenaline and excitement up and bodies pressed together, it had become so over-powering they had nearly given in. It seemed the more they tried to fight it off or ignore it, the stronger that pull became. And now it finally came to a head as they pulled each other close and pressed their lips together, letting all the pent-up longing go. She tangled her fingers in his silky lavender hair, pulling him tighter against herself as he slid his hands from her shoulders to her hips, acutely aware of every curve of her body molded into his. Emboldened, she slipped her tongue past his lips to play with his, a move which caused him to inhale sharply and his own knees to wobble, so much so that he had to shift his feet apart to regain balance-and promptly dropped to the ground with a yelp.

Jessie was so caught off-guard she was momentarily frozen with her hands still where his neck had just been, before blinking and looking down at him sprawled in the dirt, one leg ankle-deep in a hole and rubbing his sore hip.

"What the-?!" he cried indignantly.

"Oh c'mon!" she whined, "Where did that come from?!"

As she spoke several Diglett popped up from another nearby hole and regarded them for a few seconds before disappearing again, a wise move as a nanosecond later a stone whizzed right through where their heads would have been.

Clenching her fists in frustrated rage Jessie spat, "Stupid Digletts! One of these days I'm going to-!"

"A little assistance here please?" groaned James, reaching up.

"Oh! Sorry! Right! Here..." she grasped his hands and helped tug him to his feet.

They stood awkwardly for several moments, glancing everywhere but at each other, realizing that the heat of the moment was gone and feeling cold reality settling back in.

Jessie finally broke the silence by clearing her throat and saying, "So..."

"So..." James coughed, rubbing the back of his neck and looking down at his feet.

"I guess we answered that question."

"What question exactly?"

Jessie's face broke into a smirk, and she stepped up to him, walking two fingers up his chest, "If there was anything to this."

"I think we both know that I'm a lover, not a fighter." James grinned shyly, nonetheless throwing her a wink.

Ignoring, or trying to ignore, the fluttering in her stomach, not to mention in other places, Jessie casually layed her arms on his shoulders as he let his hands rest on her hips, "I suppose next time we really should-"

A loud, irritated voice broke into their little bubble, "Heeey!"

They froze, turning to see Meowth dragging several pieces of their lost equipment as he continued to rant at them, "Youse two have had more den enough time to celebrate our survivin'! I've been doin' all dis work and de least youse could do is get de balloon up n' runnin' or somethin'!"

Quickly backing away from her partner, Jessie snapped back, "Oh, get over it fur-ball! We're working on it!"

"Yeah, it sure looked like it!" Meowth said, breaking into a toothy sneer.

Going back to the balloon's basket and regarding it with a resigned sigh, James added, "Work now, fight later maybe?"

That evening, they managed to find shelter at a Team Rocket safe-house deep in the woods that was, thankfully, unoccupied for the time being. This was a stroke of luck they hadn't had in quite some time, and they intended to take advantage. Though simply furnished, the place was none the less quite nice, with a large bathtub, ample kitchen amenities, two decent beds, and a heavy, high-quality dining table and chairs obviously swiped from somewhere quite nice. After getting himself some food, Meowth announced he was going night-fishing and not to wait up for him. Grabbing his fishing pole and a basket, he padded out the door with a snide remark regarding their being alone and slammed said door ahead of a frying pan bouncing off the door-frame where his head had been. The remaining two-thirds of their team got some food themselves, and after some watching part of a terrible game-show on the small, snowy television, all the while criticizing the contestants and declaring that surely they would have gotten the right answers, Jessie stood, stretching.

"I'm getting a shower," she said, "If you need the bathroom-"

Waving a hand, well used to this and knowing what her next words were going to be, James replied cheerfully, "I know, I know; use it now because you're going to be a while! I'm fine. Go for it."

With a quick lick of her lips, Jessie was about to ask if he wanted to join her, but at the last second thought better of it. As much as part of her wouldn't mind that, after their previous encounter, she wasn't entirely certain if she could behave herself-and she wasn't quite sure if either of them were ready for that just yet. She suddenly found herself pondering how well those uniform pants of his disguised what was underneath them; she had gotten a generous hint while pressed against him earlier. Turning away so he wouldn't see her blush she made her way to the bathroom.

As she sauntered away, James couldn't help but watch, noting the sway of her hips and the perfect s-shape her figure made while she-

Shaking his head, he then vigorously rubbed his eyes and finally sat still with his hands still over his face, trying to clear his head. He stayed there for several minutes, hearing the shower running and trying not to picture her in there, the hot water running over her perfect body, long silky hair draped around her curves...

Stumbling to his bag, he fished through it and plucked out a glass bottle, then settled himself at the sturdy dining table, taking several generous swallows.

Tapping it on the table-top, he failed to fight back the tears silently running down his cheeks as he chastised himself, "You idiot...like she'd ever want to be with a loser like you..."

After her shower, Jessie slipped into a night-gown and her robe, then wandered back toward the kitchen/dining area intent on raiding the fridge for a bedtime snack. Rounding the corner, she spotted James at the dining table, leaning on his elbows and staring blankly ahead. He had shed his jacket and left it in a heap upon the couch, most unlike him; usually he would neatly fold and put it away in his bag. The pieces of paper upon which they had scribbled ideas while eating earlier were still sitting where they had left them, as were their used dishes. She sighed, wishing he had at least put them in the sink. Upon getting closer, she spotted the half-empty bottle of liquor next to him and bristled; he had said he was going to stop drinking, at least for the most part.

Stomping around the table to face him, she planted her hands on her hips, "What have I told you about this?!"

"I think I'm allotted one vice." he muttered, lifting the bottle and taking a long sip, his face lightly flushed and obviously already affected by the alcohol.

"You're in Team Rocket, you moron. I'd say that's one hell of a vice right there."

He raised one eye-brow and leaned back in his chair, "Why, my dear Jessie! If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were worried about me!"

She stuck out her lower lip, "I'm also worried about our budget."

"I'll make you a deal", he said sarcastically, making a spiral-motion with one finger, "You stop buying that specialty conditioner for that mane of yours, and I'll stop buying this! Sound fair?"

"Why you-!" she turned away, then spun back around, "That's a necessary expense! This 'mane' of mine is part of my uniform, who I am even, thank you very much! I could never give up on it's care!"

He raised the bottle in a toast gesture, "Then I suppose we're at a stalemate."

Exhaling loudly, Jessie glared him down for a moment before snatching the bottle from his hand and plopping down in the nearest empty chair, "Well, I suppose if you're going to blow our money, I might as well get something out of it!"

"By all means, milady." he sighed, watching as she took a couple gulps.

Eyes widening, she lurched forward and started coughing violently. James reached out and patted her back sympathetically as she continued to hack, finally regaining her breath enough to speak.

"How in the world do you drink this cheap crap!? It feels like you're drinking straight rubbing alcohol or something!"

"You were just giving me a hard time for buying it at all. If I spent any more, you'd get even madder at me." he huffed.

She rolled her eyes, "Touche..."

He gestured for the bottle and she handed it back, pulling a face as he took another sip. They sat quietly for several minutes, taking the occasional glance at the still-running television but mostly lost in their own thoughts. Jessie's vague attention wandered from her partner, to a faded landscape print on the wall, and finally to the roughly sketched plans in front of her. Most of them were impractical or nearly impossible, but a few had a glimmer of promise. Her thoughts turned then to a point, seemingly a lifetime ago, back when they were just starting out as full-fledged members of Team Rocket, when they had been full of unbridled enthusiasm and promise, when they had the world by the tail and everything seemed to be going their way. It all seemed like ancient memories now.

"Remember back when we were good?" she found herself blurting out.

James paused with the bottle half-way to his lips, then set it back down to smile wistfully at her, "Of course I do. I remember when we were the best, most promising new agents."

"...What happened to all that?"

"Hmmm...I'm really not sure."

Jessie slumped over onto the table, resting her head on her folded arms, "I can think of one thing in particular...a small, yellow thing..."

"When you think about it Jess, we still are the best!"

She stopped absently playing with one of the papers to look up at him curiously, "And how do you figure that one?"

Shrugging, he offered, "We're the best in perseverance? Determination?" he flicked his bangs, "Fashion sense?"

She chuckled, agreeing that he was certainly right on at least that, slowly stopping as she realized something. Here he was, depressed enough to be drinking it away, and still he was trying to lift her spirits. She wasn't sure if this made her feel better or worse. Her eyes falling on the bottle in his hand, she reasoned that if one of them was going to be drunk and miserable, they might as well be drunk and miserable together.

Reaching out, she said, "Give me that."

"Hey!" he pulled the bottle away as she tried to grab it, relenting after a moment and handing it over, "Thought this stuff was too hard for you!"

"For your information," she quickly knocked back a shot's worth, eyes watering but keeping her composure, "I can handle much harder things than this!"

He felt his face redden at that, resisting the urge to ask her to elaborate, instead snorting, covering his mouth and looking away. Jessie raised her eyebrow at his reaction before realizing what had just happened.

"James!" she sputtered.

"Hey, y-you said it!"

"Well I didn't expect you of all people to..."

Their eyes met, both feeling that spark, that heat well up between them again, though even stronger than before; emerald and sapphire locked in a battle of strength that both were bound to lose. James swallowed hard, glancing away and then back to her, feeling at once trapped and yet aroused by her sudden come-hither gaze.

Jessie felt something within her snap, and her voice dropping to a sultry purr, she asked, "Remember when we first met at the Team Rocket training academy?"

A grin tugged at the corner of his mouth, "You mean when we met again?"

"Yeah..." slowly standing, she stepped closer to him, "Want to know what I was thinking?"

"What?"

Reaching out, she ran her fingers down the side of his face, causing him to inhale sharply, "One; how the hell did we end up in the same place again? Two..." she rolled her shoulders, letting her robe drop to the floor and slid herself onto his lap, straddling him, "How did James, scrawny, dorky James, that same kid who looked ridiculous in that too-big coat you swiped, become so handsome?"

Unable to stop himself from trembling, heart racing, James wondered, though he well knew the answer, "Wha-what are you doing..?"

"Oh come on, even you're not that dense..." she said, running her hands down his arms before pressing herself closer to him and leaning in to whisper in his ear, "I want you..."

An involuntary whimper escaped his throat, "J-Jessie...I..."

"What's the matter?" she pulled back and pouted, running her hands along her own figure, "Aren't I sexy? Don't you want me too?"

'Dear Arceus yes' he thought and nearly of experience had trained him to instinctively give the answer that was the least likely to get him thrashed, yes his eyes still gave him away as he answered meekly, "B-but...we've-I've uh...is it really a good idea to-"

Grabbing his face, she grinned devilishly, her voice nonetheless stern, "Listen up...we both want this; you can't hide it," brushing her lips against his she murmured, "Besides, are we not part of Team Rocket? We take what we want..."