This chapter is a doozy. It includes an almost scarily friendly coffee shop owner, the return of a VERY pissed off Jake, a major test of friendship for Jessie and Joy, and James kissing another girl (and it's not me! Dammit!)

I got this out faster than the last couple of chapters but not as fast as I would have liked. This story is draining me. Which kinda sucks, because it's not turning out as good as I want it to, either. It's not utter crap, but it's not my best (I think To Share Oneself gets that title.)

And one last thing. Jessie and James' sides of the stories aren't necessary progressing in a one-to-one correlation. The same amount of time will pass overall (because I still have to get them back to Training Daze, which is the ultimate out there goal!) but for now don't expect it to match up.

It had been a rough morning for James. Due to the urgency of moving, the renthouse had not been ready for James' arrival. The sleepless night from the lack of heat had given him ample time to think—an activity that was currently dangerous for the young man. Wrapping several blankets around him, James plodded into the kitchen to make some coffee. The electricity was off; something that he could fix that day, but the stove was gas, so James quickly lit the pilot light and began to warm a kettle of water. Trying to absorb as much heat from the stove without setting anything on fire, James attempted to rationalize his current situation. It was not like he had any real attachments to Sunnytown but it was the closest thing to a real home he had ever known. The estate would probably be much closer in most people's minds, but James couldn't even think about his childhood home without repressing a shudder. He had successfully burned those bridges and now he must survive on his own. That didn't bother James, but having a cushion was always a nice idea. The squeal of the kettle stirred James from his thoughts and he poured the water and some instant coffee into a mug he had unpacked the night before. Grateful for his furniture having already been delivered, James curled once again into his favorite armchair and contemplated his options. It was obvious that he needed a job. He did have the money from clearing out his account, but that would only go so far and would be best put away for emergencies. Viridian was a decently sized town, so finding work shouldn't be too hard. Once he had the energy and attitude to go into town, he could pick up some applications. He also needed to get all of his utilities properly working, something that wouldn't be a problem. First, however, he needed the motivation to get up and about. Almost as if his body knew of the need of motivation, James' stomach began to rumble. James rolled his eyes and unwrapped himself from his blankets in order to get ready for the coming day.

---

"I may not be as intuitive as you are, but I know something is wrong," Jessie said softly to Joy. All morning, Joy had been short tempered and snapping at trainers, something Jessie had never seen the benevolent nurse do. When Joy had excused herself to find spare gauze in the storage room, Jessie had followed.

"You really should be at the front desk," Joy said with a disapproving glance. She needed to talk to Jessie but this was not the time. Forcing a small smile on her face, she added, "I'll be fine. We all have bad days occasionally."

Jessie leaned away cautiously. "I'm not sure I believe you...but I'll let you be like that for now". Returning to the front desk, Jessie made a mental note to interrogate Joy when they both got off duty. Engrossed in interpreting a chart as she approached the front desk, she didn't look to see the man on the other side. Chansey was happily handing paperwork to the male, but he pointed at the redhead who had just rounded the corner. "I need to speak with her," he demanded. "Privately". The voice was a red flag to Jessie and the room went silent as the chart she was reading clattered on the floor.

---

James stuffed the shrinking wad of bills into his pocket. He had paid all his utilities in advance for the month and was now walking about town. The crisp air beat around his face and made his cheeks pink but the sun was out and slowly warmed the young man through his leather jacket. Picking up a local paper, James made his way into a small coffee shop in order to search the 'help wanted' ads. A cheerful middle aged man greeted him as he walked in.

"Not to bad of a day, eh?" the man asked jovially. "What will you be having?"

"Just a regular coffee," James replied while pulling money out of his pocket to pay for his drink.

The man smiled and waved away James' hand offering the money. "No need. Your first coffee in town should be free."

James eyes widened slightly in surprise. Viridian may not be a huge town, but it wasn't tiny either. "How did you know I was new?" he inquired.

The man's eyes sparkled as he set the cup of coffee on the counter. "The paper. There are two papers in town and no one picks that one up but pot heads and newcomers that don't know better." The man extended his hand. "And pot heads aren't up before two in the afternoon." The man smiled at James. "Wayne Edward."

"James Morgan," James replied while returning the handshake. Taking a sip of his coffee James lay the tell-tale paper on the counter. "So what is the paper I should be reading?"

Wayne laughed. "We have the Viridian Roundabout but it won't be by for another hour or so. My paper boy is on friendlyterms with the baker on fifth, always delaying my bunch. Oh to be a teenager with raging hormones again." Realizing he was getting off topic, he looked back up at James, "What is it you're looking for?"

James felt at ease with the older man and sat at a barstool. "For help wanted ads. I could really use some work."

The man nodded. "Unfortunately, there have been some layoffs around here recently and there are a lot of people job hunting. We are getting some sort of Pokémon League gym and office area but I think those opportunities have been snapped up. The man pulled a piece of paper from

behind the register. "I could use a hand, though. My best employee quit yesterday to help her aging parents in Saffron and I haven't even gotten around to putting out an ad. You seem like the helpful sort, though."

Hearing another customer come in the door, James took the offered application and a pen from Wayne and sat at an empty booth. The application was easy for the young man, and he had it filled out by the time Wayne had finished mixing two double mochas. Stepping back up to the counter, James offered the paper to the seemingly kind man.

"When can you start?" Wayne asked while cleaning a countertop.

"I guess I can immediately…" James began slowly. "Don't you need to look over my application?"

"I said you looked like the helpful sort," Wayne offered with a smile. "I just had you fill out an application to make it official and to keep the Better Business Bureau off my back. Ever worked an expresso machine before?"

James slowly shook his head and Wayne proceeded to show him the intricacies of the 'most temperamental machine known to man'. The afternoon wore on as James learned the different combinations and names of various drinks. Enjoying one another's company, the two employees cleaned the shop and had the shop ready to be shut down before closing time. Deciding that they wouldn't have any more customers, Wayne shut down the register early. "See you bright and early?"

"Sounds good," James replied, heading toward his own automobile and heading to what he was thinking might become a very suitable 'home'.

---

"J-J-Jake," Jessie stammered, bending down to pick up the dropped chart and attempting to keep calm.

"The one and only," the greasy hair youth said with a pop of his collar. "You're looking good, baby. You've gained a little weight, but I think we can work with that." He began to make his way around the counter and Chansey attempted to stop him. Jake anticipated such an action and thrust Chansey to the floor. "You know, baby, you never should have left. I've been so worried about you." Jake put a hand on Jessie's shoulder and gave it a hard squeeze. "I don't like it when you defy me, sweetie."

Jessie shuddered with the action. His breath reeked of alcohol and his clothes of musty sweat. "There's a reason I left, Jake," she tried to say as harshly as possible, but it came out in little more than a whisper.

"I know, baby. I'm a changed man," Jake slurred while wrapping an arm around Jessie. "You know, darling, it really wasn't nice of you to talk to the police like you did. The don't understand how we had it." He leaned in closer to Jessie's ear, "they don't understand how you begged for me to do it."

Jessie backed against a wall. "You're wrong, Jake," she forced out between shaky breaths. "You've always been wrong, and I was a fool for believing you. Not again, Jake. Never again."

"Oh but you're wrong, Jessica," he said with a twisted smile. "You're begging for it right now, with that pretty little nurse's outfit. You know how much I like to role play. Shoving himself upon her, he began to lift up her skirt. Through her sobs, he kept talking. "You've been a bad bad girl, Jessie, and I'm going to make you pay for it. Starting right now."

"Or not," came the voice of Nurse Joy while she swung a medical tray in Jake's direction. He dodged in time to miss the full blow, but a sharp corner gashed the side of his face. Enraged by his attacker, Jake removed his hands from Jessie's inner thighs and flailed at his attacker. The Pokémon nurse had counted on the blow working against him and dodged to miss the attack. Once again, Jake was faster than she and he landed a punch into her stomach. Pinning her to the ground, he continued his attack, cursing the nurse with each landed fist. Jessie was slumped on the floor nearby, unable to do anything but cry. Joy tried to cry out for help, but the repeated blows cut off her words.

"Hands in the air! Officer Jenny yelled with her gun aimed. Seeing the commotion was behind the counter, the officer scurried to see the action face to face. The sight temporarily made her voice caught in her throat. The Pokémon nurse was lying in a small puddle of her own blood trying desperately to cover her face from further blows while her attacker landed each one and her new assistant was shaking on the ground, skirt hiked up and panties around her knees. As quickly and Jenny had lost her voice, she gained it again and pointed her gun at Joy's attacker.

"You lay one more finger on either of them and I will fire this gun." Jenny ordered without a trace of fear in her voice. Jake pulled back a fist and Jenny cocked the gun. "I mean it." Jake slowly climbed to his feet, leaving a moaning Joy about to move about as much as her injuries would allow. Jenny quickly called for an ambulance and proceeded to handcuff the young man, despite his pleas of her not understanding. A squad car in the area arrived immediately to remove the handcuffed male and Jenny tried to soothe the two scared and injured parties on the ground until the ambulance arrived. Jenny knew that the assistant, although mentally scared, had no major health threats for the time being and kneeled at Joy's side, trying not to cringe as the blood from the nurse stained her pantyhose. No one deserved this, especially not Joy. With minimal

medical training, the officer was sure that Joy's injuries were most likely not life threatening (barring any possible internal ones) and attempted to stop some of the bleeding until the comforting sound of the arriving ambulance finally greeted her ears.

---

James waited nervously outside the coffee shop. He and Wayne had closed up previously, but he was waiting for someone. While preparing a drink for a woman, she had asked him out. Him! James had never even been on a date, much less been the one asked. Absentmindedly shifting his weight, he watched as his date approached. "Nice to see you again," he greeted with a smile.

Returning his grin, the female before him stepped closer. "I'm so glad you agreed. This is very unlike me, but I thought I should take a chance. It's still Becky, if you have forgotten. My friends call me Becks, though."

"No. No, I haven't," James reassured. I made an effort to remember it." Fumbling in his pocket, James produced the blossom of a yellow rose. "I've never been on a date before but roses are my favorite flower. Yellow means friendship. Not saying that I'm just saying we can only ever be friends or anything. I just think it's a good start, you know?"

Becky smiled and attempted to pin the rose to her black blouse. "I think it's perfect," she replied. "I think friendship is a good thing." For a moment, a dreaded awkward silence fell between the two but Becky spoke up once again. "Now where do you want to eat? I'm famished!" she exclaimed while enfolding her hand within James'.

"Eating sounds like a great idea. But since this is your town and I'm new, you get to pick," James responded.

Knowing where would be the best atmosphere for simply talking; Becky chose a pancake house a few blocks away. Being as his sole interactions with females up to this point in his life had produced less than desirable responses, James was cautious around his newfound friend but enjoyed her company. After a couple of hours in the cramped booth, both needed a stretch. Becky seemed to be a multitalented woman. A college graduate, she had intended to attend vet school but ended up teaching science at a middle school.

"Would you like to come up to my apartment for a while?" she asked timidly. "As a friend, of course," she added quickly.

James scratched the back of his head. He carefully weighed his options before giving his response, "I suppose for a little while," he replied cautiously. Fear pulsed through him as he was fairly certain he was attracted to the female before him. What scared him even more was the thought that it was not fear but desperation and desire for attention that drew him toward Becky.

Becky's apartment was a small residence on the second floor and she slowly led James in. "I'd give you the grand tour, but I can do it from here. Those two doors are my bedroom and the bathroom," she finished with a small giggle. Seeing that she was the only one laughing at her small joke, she crinkled her nose 'a fairly uptight one,' she noted to herself as she headed toward the fridge. "Something to drink?" she asked casually while pouring herself a glass of juice.

"No, no. I'm fine," James offered quietly. A solemn mood settled over the young man as he glanced at the knick knacks she had placed on a table. 'This is just as friends,' he reminded himself. 'We've known one another for a whole half day. There is no need to be nervous.' Taking a deep breath to shake away his uncertainty, he picked up a book off the coffee table. Noticing the topic, he feigned a conversation, "So are you interested in history?"

Becky returned to the living room and flipped on the meager lighting. "Oh. Yeah I guess I am. That was a housewarming gift from a friend. Do you have any little hobbies or interests?" she asked casually while sipping her drink.

James opened his mouth, but no response came forth. In the brief moments while coming up with a response, the vast difference between himself and most of his peers was painfully obvious. Quickly, James attempted to offer a suitable response. "Well I was real into bikes for a while so I guess I know quite a bit about them." He cringed inwardly at the half truth but offered a small smile.

"That sounds fun!" Becky exclaimed. "I've always ridden bikes but I've never taken the time to really learn about them. Maybe you could teach me something sometime?"

Not expecting her actual excitement in what he considered to be a lousy hobby, James sat up excitedly. "I would like that. I actually sold my last bike but I could use some help in getting a new one. Especially from someone who knows the town." He was completely aware that he was flirting, but he didn't care. He had held out for Jessie for six months. He had followed the expression and let his love go. And it didn't stick. Finally, James admitted to himself that it wasn't meant to be between him and Jessie. He leaned in closer to his companion on the couch, "Especially someone as gorgeous as you," he crooned as he cupped her face in his hands and leaned in for a kiss.

---

Jessie ducked into the bathroom before entering Joy's room. Splashing cold water onto her tear stained face, she repeated what had almost become her mantra. "You're alright. You're strong. You're alright." Tears threatened to fall down her face again, but the worn down girl, for the exhaustion and mental strain made her appear far below her age, resolved to hold back her tears for the time being. After patting her face dry, she took a deep breath before returning to the hall way. This was something she needed to do. She knew she couldn't put this off forever, two days was much longer than she should have waited. Cautiously entering the room, she peered around the corner to see Joy shuffling through a small stack of paperwork. Jessie wanted to say something but she was unable to come up with the right words and Joy spoke first.

"Thank you for coming, Jessie," Joy said softly. With her right arm in a cast she had limited motion but beckoned Jessie to sit in the chair next to the bed. The nurses had told her she was lucky to not suffer internal injuries, but Joy could hardly feel lucky in her given circumstances. Torso and face were covered in a bruises and a large wrap over her nose where facial reconstruction had been required, Joy worried least about the constriction offered by the cast. Noticing Jessie's reluctance, she motioned again. "Come on Jessie. I'm not mad."

Jessie could feel tears dripping from her cheeks and she had no way to stop them. "I…I…." unable to put her gratitude into words, she sat next to Joy and reached for her left hand. "Thank you, Joy," she offered through a fresh wave of tears.

Joy smiled warmly and nudged a box of tissues toward her crying guest. "As weird as this sounds, I want to thank you. You're a great friend. I have never cared so much for someone in my life that I wanted to risk myself for them. It really made me feel alive, as strange as it sounds."

Jessie nodded understandingly and dabbed the remains of the tears on her cheeks. "I really didn't mean to cry. I know it's rather selfish of me."

Joy offered a small smile as tears glistened the corners of her own eyes. "You can't help it that you cry. It's an emotional time."

Smiling gratefully, Jessie motioned at the large cast. "So how does it all feel?"

"I have definitely felt better," Joy responded with a small giggle. "I'm in real good pain sometimes, but they do a decent job of keeping me medicated enough that I don't notice. The bruises are what bother me the most when I try to move around. That and the itching under the bandages on my face. That's probably why they're there though."

Jessie nodded. "How much longer are they going to keep you?"

"From what I understand, as soon as the bandages are off my face, which should be tomorrow, I am allowed to leave. I won't get work authorization for several weeks, however. I will be leaving the center in good care, however."

Jessie smiled. "After Jenny gets done with her investigation and cleaning up the back, your niece and I plan on switching shifts to keep it open as much as possible."

"I knew you two would figure it out." Joy said with an approving smile. "Now if I can only get the doctor's here to work with me as easily."

Both girls laughed and each felt a mental weight drop from their shoulders. Although neither were sure it would be possible, it seemed that their friendship was going to be strong enough to survive.

There you go! I tried to do action packed and I think it went somewhat well.

Much love,
Oovwee