Midsummer Nights

By Trish

Disclaimer: Pokémon, Puck and William Shakespeare do not belong to me. The concept of Pokéspeare, the storyline, Callie, Flory, Poppy, Poptart and any other unfamiliar character belongs to me. Lucius is co-owned by Mia. Ashura the Mew is owned by Dragoness – but the concept of Flower Mew is all me. The lyrics for the chapter title come from Savage Garden's Crash and Burn.

A/N: Any resemblance to real life is purely confined to the names of the authors who appear within. Their characterisations, however may not be quite true to life, just add a Trish twist. This is a story. Deal with it.

Chapter Eleven: The Walls Are Closing In On You

When you feel all alone

And the world has turned its back on you

Give me a moment please to tame your wild wild heart

I know you feel like the walls are closing in on you

It's hard to find relief

And people can be so cold

When darkness is upon your door

And you feel like you can't take anymore

Crash and Burn – Savage Garden

~*~

Back in the office, Drake sat down heavily in the leather chair behind his desk, his mind in turmoil over what he had witnessed. Never in a million years would he have dreamed that Trish would do something like this to him. She had never been the flighty type, and it seemed to be totally out of character. As for Danny…the man was like a brother to him - and brothers didn't betray each other, did they?

His dark gaze flickered over to a framed photo of Trish and himself on his desk. They looked happy together in that photo, but now he felt himself wondering about that. How long had Trish been unhappy with him? Unhappy enough to turn to the arms of his best friend for comfort?

Or did the dark-haired girl have another agenda? Though he never said it, way in the back of Drake's mind was always the fear that girls were interested in him, not for himself but for his status in life. That they were more interested in what they could get out of having the Orange Crew Leader as their boyfriend. He had honestly thought that Trish wasn't the gold-digging type - although why would she turn to Danny? The Navel Island Gym Leader was lower in status than Drake, the only man higher was Ash Ketchum. Trish had never shown any interest in him other than a friend and seemed more preoccupied with teasing Jenn about her 'attachment' to the tall, dark and handsome Grand Master.

In the far corner of the room, Lu smiled to himself. Invisible to human senses, the Fae had lain in wait for the Orange Crew Leader. Rudy had carried out his instructions to the letter, and now it was time for phase two of the plan to begin…Strike while the iron is hot

Drake was startled by a soft knock to the door. "Who is it?"

"It's Jaime," came the muffled voice. "I need to talk to you about something."

"Come in."

The girl entered the office and sat down facing the desk. The Orange Crew Leader noticed she clutched a slender manila envelope in her hands.

"If this is about dressing Dragonite up in a bonnet and diapers, the answer is NO."

Jaime pouted. "Awww, not fair! But that wasn't what I came to see you about."

"No?"

"No." The Canadian pushed the envelope across the desk. "I found this on Trish's desk at home."

Drake fingered the envelope and raised an eyebrow. "What were you doing there? I thought you were not associating with the girls anymore."

"I had to collect some stuff that I'd left there. I thought I might have left some pens by accident on her desk," Jaime defended herself. "I found that and thought you might want to know…"

Drake pulled out a folded piece of paper and scanned the contents, his eyebrows raised. "This is the doctor's results for a pregnancy test.."

"Yup, and as you can see from the date, Trish received this two weeks ago. Did you know anything about it?"

"No," the answer was clipped. Drake was mystified as well as rather hurt. When did Trish go for a pregnancy test in the last few weeks? Although, now that he thought about it, he did have a vague recollection of Jenn blurting out that Trish had undergone a pregnancy test…But why hadn't Trish told him?

Jaime looked surprised. "Really? I thought for sure she told you…oh wait, unless that was Danny she told. I remember overhearing Trish tell Jenn that she told him. I wonder why Trish would have told him and not you…"

"I wonder why too," Drake muttered as he read through the results. Not only was it a positive result, but the doctor had put the conception date at around sometime in April. April…that was when Danny was in Sydney

Jaime watched him closely and was pleased to see the dark clouds of anger beginning to grow. Lu's fake test results were working perfectly! She covered her elation with a mask of concern. "Is there something wrong Drake?"

Drake struggled to even find the words to answer Jaime with; so angry and devastated he was feeling. "Trish is pregnant…and the baby isn't mine…"

Jaime looked suitably shocked. "Oh no! Who is the father then?"

"Danny." The name was forced out.

"I'm so sorry to hear that Drake! I never would have thought that Trish would be the cheating type."

The dark-haired man gave a bitter laugh. "Neither did I…"

"It sucks that you had to find out this way," Jaime sympathised.

"Well, I wouldn't have found out, except for you and Rudy…"

"We thought you deserved to know," Jaime rose from her seat and made her way towards the door. "You going to be okay?"

Drake just waved her out. As the door closed behind her, he pushed the button on his phone that linked him to his personal assistant. When the man answered, he told him to hold all calls, cancel all meetings for the day, and that no one was to disturb him under any circumstances. He then hung up, before sinking down in his chair and breaking down.

~*~

Jenn hummed happily as she entered the villa that afternoon. After they had finished lunch, she and Ash had gone for an enjoyable walk along the cliffs - though this time the blonde kept well away from the edge.

Trish looked up from where she was reading as Jenn entered the living room. "Hey, how did it go?"

"Very well. He loved the jacket!" Jenn beamed as she plopped down on the couch beside her friend.

"Great!"

"So did Dana get lunch?"

"She did but I escaped with Danny and we had lunch out," Trish chuckled and Jenn raised an eyebrow at the news. "What?"

"You and Danny aren't…y'know…"

The dark-haired girl sighed. "Not you too Jenn…and the answer is NO, okay?"

"Well it just seems that you two are spending a lot of time in each other's company," Jenn sought to explain herself.

"You know DARN well that Danny is just a good friend. He dresses like Potsy from Happy Days for heaven's sake!"

"Meow Sis," Jenn grinned.

"It's true," Trish grumped. "Don't get all paranoid on me like Drake okay? You know me well enough to know that I would never do something like that to him…"

The blonde hugged her friend tightly. "Yah I know. I trust ya."

"I wish he'd trust me…"

~*~

Mia turned over restlessly in her bed as the thunderstorm raged outside the villa, making her bedroom windows rattle. Unable to sleep, she squeezed her eyes shut and curled up on her side facing the wall.

"Maria," a voice whispered in the darkness.

Mia's eyes flew open and she rolled over quickly. A flash of lightning illuminated the room to reveal...no one. The girl blinked, maybe she had been dreaming or hearing things.

"Mia..." the voice whispered again and this time Mia felt the sensation of something gently caressing her face.

The brunette sat bolt upright in her bed, heart pounding. "Who's there?" she tried to sound brave but her voice quavered slightly.

Lightning again flashed to reveal that she was the sole occupant of her room, or so it seemed.

The voice laughed mockingly which sent chills down the girl's spine. "Poor Poor Mia..."

Her eyes darted around the room for some 'weapon' she could lay her hands on. Not that she could see her tormentor.

"Poor Pretty Mia, going out to play. One by one your friends are not going to survive each day..." the voice purred. "Sweet dreams, my dear..."

Clutching her sheets tightly around her, Mia curled in a small ball as the storm continued to rumble - wishing for morning to come.

~*~

The next morning, Jenn padded out into the kitchen to see Mia sitting rather hollow-eyed at the table as Trish placed a fresh plate of bacon and eggs in front of her. "Hey Mia, you look terrible," she said cheerily.

"Gee thanks Jenn," the teenager huffed before yawning loudly.

"Lousy sleep?"

"Yeah...there was this voice that kept on taunting me and telling me that all my friends are going to die..."

Trish gave her younger friend a quick hug before settling down opposite with her morning cup of coffee. "It's okay Mi. We'll just tell Callie and Puck about this, and they'll make sure that no harm comes to any of us..."

"That's right," Jenn beamed. "Us Goddesses are indestructible. After all I went over a cliff and lived to tell the tale!"

A confused look came over Mia's features. "But I thought that it was all because of Ash..."

Trish leaned over and whispered, "Just humour her on this. It sounds better naturally..."

"Heeyy, I heard that!" Jenn pouted just as the doorbell rang. "I'll get it."

A smartly dressed chauffeur stood on the doorstep with a small covered wicker basket in his gloved hands. He was accompanied by another man (also smartly dressed) with a small bouquet of lilac and white roses.

The chauffeur tipped his cap. "Morning Ma'am. I'm looking for a Miss Jenn who lives here."

"That's me," Jenn answered, curious.

"These are for you, Ma'am," the man handed over the basket. "I wouldn't drop this if I were you."

"Okay," the blonde took the basket then placed it gently on the ground just inside the door. She was then handed the bouquet. "May I ask who this is from?"

"Certainly, Ma'am. Compliments of the Grand Master Ash Ketchum." The two men bowed then took their leave.

Closing the door behind her, Jenn reached for the envelope nestled inside the bouquet, opened and read it.

'Dear Jenn,

              

This is just to say thank you very much for the wonderful lunch and the jacket you gave me yesterday. It was really sweet of you, and I really appreciate it.

The basket contains a little present for you and Trish from Pik and me. All I will say is that the blue one is for you and the pink one is for Trish.

Warmest Regards

Ash.

Jenn blushed slightly as she smelled the delicately perfumed roses. She certainly hadn't expected anything in return; but here was a bouquet in one of her favourite colours and something else too...

Mia came out of the kitchen and her eyes widened at the sight of flowers. "Oooh, who's the secret admirer Jenn?"

The blonde's face flushed even more. "These are from Ash."

"Let me put them in water for you," the teenager offered and took the flowers from her and into the kitchen.

Jenn followed carrying the basket and placed it on the kitchen table.

Trish raised an eyebrow as she sipped her coffee. "What's this?"

"This is from Ash and Pikachu. All he says is that the blue one is for me and the pink is for you."

Trish stood and the three girls gathered around the basket. It was very new, and the cover rose stiffly and with a slight squeak.

The girls held their breath as a tiny yellow paw came on the edge, followed by two large black tipped ears, and two big brown eyes framed by a yellow furry face. "Pichu?" The Pokémon chirped timidly and they could see there was a blue bow around its neck.

"Awww, aren't you a cutie..." Jenn breathed as she gently lifted the tiny creature from the basket. A second Pichu peered out from the depths, only this time with a pink bow. Trish lifted the Pichu out into her arms, and the tiny creature snuggled against her.

Mia fished out an envelope and two small boxes, one marked with a 'J' and the other with a 'T'. Clearing her throat the brunette opened the envelope and began to read. 'Dear girls, these two Pichus come from Pikachu's latest litter and with her blessings. Enclosed are their pedigree papers and I have also enclosed two Poke balls. However if they are anything like their mother and their older sister, they won't go into the balls at all!'

"Oh that's really sweet of him," Trish smiled as she cuddled her baby Pokémon. "I've always wanted a female Pichu..."

"Yeah, I've wanted a male one," Jenn beamed.

The dark-haired girl gently tickled the fur on the Pichu's stomach. "I think I'll name you Pepita, little one."

Jenn lifted her Pichu up and looked into his eyes, which were a gorgeous mahogany brown. "I'll name you, Satochu..."

~*~

Drake was working out hard in the gym when Jaime and Rudy arrived for the next phase of Lu's plan. The red-haired Fae was lounging against the far wall, cloaked in invisibility from all human eyes but theirs.

The Orange Crew Leader was at the punching bag, pounding it with decisive hits; the sweat making his white singlet top cling to his toned torso, and his muscular arms glisten.

"Hey Drake," the Trovita Island Gym Leader called out.

The dark-haired man looked up and sighed, stilling the bag. Taking off his gloves, he slung a towel around his neck and grabbed a bottle of water. "Hi Rudy, Jaime...what brings you here?"

"We'd thought we'd see how you were doing" Jaime spoke up. "Have you spoken to Trish yet about the results?"

Another deep sigh from Drake, and he shook his head. "Not yet...I thought I'd wait until I got her alone and away from everyone else. Its not something to be discussed in public..."

"Now that will never do to have that not happen," Lu murmured and waved a little finger as he cast a small spell.

"Why not bring it out in the open?" Rudy shrugged. "After all, Trish and Danny have shown disregard for your feelings by openly going about together."

"Yeah," Jaime echoed. "Give them a taste of their own medicine!"

Drake's face hardened. "You're right...I just need a bit more time to take it all in..."

"Good..." Lu smiled evilly to himself in the corner. As the three humans left the room, the red head Fae then vanished with a chuckle.

A few minutes passed before a small blue flower hidden in a nearby pot plant quivered and then disappeared with a small popping sound. A small blue Mew hovered in the air, cocking his head from side to side. "Mew?"

Ashura had escaped from Joanne again and had found a way into the Orange Crew Leader's villa. Being a curious little Pokémon, he had decided to explore, quickly transforming into a flower when human footsteps had come near. Flower Mew shook his head. That red-headed human-thing exuded evil unlike anything Mew had ever experienced before. Evil resulted in someone being hurt, and being a gentle little soul, Ashura didn't want anyone being hurt.

Who can Pokémon turn to in times of evil? Who has always helped out, regardless of the risks involved? Of course! The Psychic Pokémon snapped his little paws. The Chosen One...and he was here on this very island. But first to tell his human. The Mew vanished quickly.

~*~

Jenn was strolling along the boulevard with her newest little addition Satochu perched on her shoulder. The Pichu had, in the space of a day, already had her wrapped around his little paw. She would do anything for her widdle 'baby' Pokémon.

She had stopped to buy a Pepsi when little Satochu squealed in delight and scrambled off her shoulder and took off. "Satooooochuuuuu!" Jenn wailed then rushed after her Pokémon - only to find he had run and jumped into the arms of a Pikachu. Jenn was stunned

"Pichu..." Satochu cooed as the Pikachu held it tightly. The older Pokémon looked up at the blonde and chirped "Pichapi!"

"Huh?" Jenn was confused. This Pikachu seemed to know her...

"That's his mother," came an amused voice. Jenn looked up to see the owner of the voice was none other than the Grand Master himself, Ash Ketchum. As there was a slight chill in the air, he was wearing the jacket Jenn had given him over a white shirt and blue jeans. His short black locks were spiked slightly with some hair gel, and gosh darn it, he looked mighty grrr to Jenn. "

Ash grinned at her. "Aren't you going to say hello to me Jenn?"

"Uh...yah...Hi," Jenn smiled sheepishly, for she had been staring with her mouth open in a marvellous impression of a Magikarp.

Pikachu chirped knowingly as she cuddled her baby to her. There was that faint telltale of a blush on Pichapi's face again...

"Oh, yeah, thank you so much for the Pichu. Trish sends her thanks along as well," the blonde remembered her manners.

"My pleasure. I knew you two had wanted one of Pik's babies if possible. Do you like him?"

"Awwwyeah, Satochu's my widdle cutie pie!"

The handsome Grand Master raised an eyebrow but then smiled. "No prizes for guessing where that name came from!"

"Well I did love my little Satochu..." Jenn trailed off as the implications of what she said sank in.

"I can guarantee that this little one won't turn into a human," Ash chuckled.

"You're wearing the jacket," Jenn observed before the conversation on Satochu could go any further.

"Yeah..." he trailed off when the blonde reached up with a slender hand around his neck.

"I'm just fixing your shirt collar over the jacket.."

All of a sudden there was a horrified gasp from amongst the crowd. Then an irate and all-too-familiar voice rang out with "I KNEW IT!!!"

The two turned to see Misty elbow her way through to stand before them, tapping her foot. Jenn gulped at the look on the woman's face which was red with rage. Ash just sighed and waited for the fireworks.

They were not long in coming.

"You...you...blonde HUSSY!!!" Misty seethed. "I knew you couldn't keep your hands off my husband!!!"

"Mist..." Ash began but his wife ignored him.

"Why don't you get yourself a guy, rather than hitting on married men!" Misty railed against Jenn. "Unless of course, you can't get yourself a decent guy, and obviously this is why!!!"

That did it for Jenn. That was way below the belt. "How dare you call me a hussy, Misty," she hissed. "Obviously pregnancy has caused you to forget that I dumped Gary because he had sex with some twit in a nightclub booth!!!"

"She's right, you know," Ash nodded.

"Stay out of this!" the redhead turned from Ash to Jenn. "And I can see why he did so! Why any decent guy would want anything to do with a slut like you is beyond me and..."

"Now stop right there, Misty," the Grand Master warned in a low tone. "You need to calm down somewhat. This is not good for either you or the baby and the health of both of you is very important to me."

"But..." Misty started to protest. "...She..."

"No," Ash shook his head. "She and..."

"Maybe if you weren't such a paranoid bitch you wouldn't have so much to worry about," Jenn shot out.

"What did you say?" Misty's face blanched, then reddened again. "Did you just..."

"Mist..."

"Bring it on, fatso," Jenn jeered, stepping closer and seemingly oblivious to the two small electric mice at the humans' feet, "I can take you on any day."

"Pi, Pikachupi!" Pikachu pleaded, looking up at the enraged Misty. There was, really, only one thing the momma mouse could do. After all, the two were about to get stepped on and...

"PIKACHUUU!!!"

Jenn and Misty were both shoved away from each other by the electricity, though thanks to Pikachu's mastery of her powers Misty was more gently pushed aside as opposed to the shove Jenn got.

"Misty, are you okay?" Ash asked urgently, then glared down at Pikachu. "Honestly, Pik..."

"Cha," the small mouse looked sheepish. "Pikapi, chu."

"I know," Ash said. "Come on, Pik, we'd better go and take Misty home."

"No..." Misty said, standing strong by Ash's side. "I'm okay. She didn't hurt me."

"Darn," Jenn muttered, swiping a hand through staticked hair.

Misty shot Jenn a look, then looked at Ash carefully. "Where did you get that jacket from? I don't remember it."

"Well, that's the thing," Ash said, looking from Jenn to Misty and then indicated towards the ground where Pikachu was still cuddling her baby. "First of all I want you to know that Jenn and I are not having a secret rendezvous; rather little Satochu spotted his mother and naturally wanted to say hello..."

"Satochu?" Misty arched an eyebrow.

Ash shrugged. "And no, we weren't about to kiss. Jenn was just fixing my collar over the jacket."

"And the jacket..."

"I gave it to him," Jenn said in a low, dangerous tone. "For saving my life that night."

"I bet," Misty said.

"I did!" Jenn said, "I.."

"Ash, I want you to give it back to her!" Misty demanded.

There was a brief tense moment and Ash looked from Jenn to Misty. Jenn's eyes widened in protest, but suddenly Ash was shrugging out of the jacket. He handed it to her with an unfathomable look in his dark gaze.

Jenn took it back, frowning, and held it close to her.

Misty smiled triumphantly. "Let's go home, Ash. I'm tired and I want something to eat."

Little Satochu leapt up on top of the jacket and peered into his mistress's eyes. "Pichu?"

Jenn watched the retreating backs of the trio and trembled with suppressed anger. "Well, little one, Momma's going out tonight."

But first she'd have to talk with Trish. See if there was anything her smarter half could suggest. Then she'd go out and try to clear away these last few nightmarish moments.

~*~

The front door slammed behind her as she stalked into the villa, making Trish, Shannon and Mia glance up in surprise from where they were playing Monopoly.

The blonde walked over and hauled her best friend to her feet before smiling sweetly at the two younger girls. "Excuse us for a while would you please? Urgent Twin time needed here."

Trish followed Jenn into her room and sat down on the bed, Pepita jumping up and snuggling on her lap. The blonde closed the door and slumped against it. "I just had the MOST humiliating experience ever..."

"What happened?"

"The short version goes something like this. Satochu sees Pikachu. Satochu goes running off to his mommy. And wherever Momma Pik is, Ash is not very far behind. We talk and I go to fix his collar over his jacket when who should come along but El Preggo..."

"Oh no," Trish groaned sympathetically. "She erupted like Mount Vesuvius?"

"More like Krakatoa," Jenn griped. "She called me a hussy amongst various other things, in front of EVERYBODY!!! Then she said that I couldn't get a decent guy because I was such a slut!!!"

The Australian's eyes darkened in anger. "Now that's going too far. I know she's pregnant and irrational but that's no excuse. Didn't Ash try to say anything?"

"He did!" Jenn threw up her hands. "But would she listen? Nooooooo...But the worst thing was that she demanded that Ash give back the jacket I gave him..."

"And?" Trish prompted gently.

"He did..." the blonde finished in a whisper, clutching onto the soft leather. As much as Misty's words had hurt, the fact that Ash gave into his wife and handed back her thank you present was the bitterest pill of all.

The dark-haired girl rose and crossed the floor to give her friend a big hug. "Oh Jenn..."

"I thought he loved it. He mustn't have or else he wouldn't have given it back!"

"Hold on a minute there Sis. Take a step back and think. Now Misty was getting all furious and heated up right?"

"Right?"

"Now temper raises blood pressure right?"

"Right."

"And high blood pressure is never a good thing in a heavily pregnant woman. So Ash may not have really wanted to give it back - he only did it in order to calm down his wife so that she wouldn't go into premature labour on the streets?"

"Right…Oooh I get it now."

"So he might try to get it back?"

"I…" Jenn began only to be interrupted by a tune coming from the jacket's pocket. The blonde reached inside to pull out a small black cell phone. "I guess Ash must have left it in here…"

Her best friend chuckled. "Now he'll have to drop by to get it back. Well go on…answer it!!!"

Jenn gulped, hesitated then quickly handed over the phone to Trish. "I can't! What if it's Misty?"

Trish sighed as she grabbed the phone. "You and your phone phobia…" She pressed the answer key. "Hello? Oh hi Ash. Yeah you did leave your cell phone in the jacket…" The dark-haired girl then glanced towards Jenn with a smile. "Yes, she is here. I'll put her on…"

The blonde nervously put the phone to her ear. "Hello? Uh yeah I still have the jacket. You want to get both of them back?" She twisted the corner of her shirt in her hand. "I was planning to go to the Chikorita Club later…you want to meet me there? But what about…Oh I see. Well…um..guess I'll see you around 9pm. Bye.."

"Well?" Trish grinned.

"Ash said he'd meet me at the club to get his things back," Jenn flushed. "Misty is going on a girls night out with her sisters."

"Told you so!!!" her best friend crowed triumphantly. "I knew he wanted them back!"

"You're right as usual," Jenn grinned back.

"You know, if he wasn't married, I would tell you to go for it. Because it's obvious that he thinks very highly of you and likes you a lot."

The blonde flushed even more which caused Trish to burst out laughing. Jenn shot her 'sister' a mock glare. "You are so Evil…"

~*~

Later that night...

Jenn dug her hands deeper into the jacket pockets as the pulsating dance music throbbed in the air. The blonde wore Ash's leather jacket over a form-fitting little black dress, and black heels. She sighed. Nightclubs were no fun when you were on your own and you weren't sure if your 'date' was going to show up at all. Normally she would have dragged Trish along, but the dark-haired Australian pleaded ill-health and a migraine.

Waiting by the bar, she tapped her slender fingers impatiently against the granite bench top and frowned.

"Say what's with the glum face?" a familiar male voice came from behind her.

Jenn spun around to see Drake standing there. The Orange Crew Leader was attired in a dark blue open-necked shirt and black jeans. His short dark locks were slightly spiked at the front, making him very grrr in her books. "Drake! What are you doing here? Trish said that you were busy with work..."

The dark-haired man sat on the stool beside her. "Well I was, but I just decided to take a break. Even Gym Leaders need a little fun now and then."

"True."

"So what are you doing here?"

Jenn sighed. "Trying to forget a day of humiliation, and waiting for...someone." The blonde decided that she wouldn't mention Ash's name. No need for another person to think that there was some steamy affair going on..

"How about I buy you a drink then?" Drake offered.

"Pepsi would be nice..."

The Pummelo Gym Leader laughed. "I didn't mean soft drinks, I meant alcoholic drinks..."

"But I don't drink..."

"I know, but it will help you relax a bit. Even Trish has a drink every once in a while when she's had a tough day at work."

"I dunno..."

"Aww come on," Drake flashed her a dazzling smile and she gave in.

"Okay. Can I have a um…double Scotch on the rocks please?"

The dark-haired man grimaced. "Uh…that's a little hardcore for a non-drinker, don't you think?"

Jenn blinked. "But Chris orders it all the time."

"Yeah but that's Chris. How about I order for you."

One daiquiri, a pina colada and a fluffy duck later, Jenn was indeed feeling very relaxed. "This has been the best evening," she exulted.

"Well, maybe we should spend more time together."

"Mhmm," she nodded as the opening bars of Savage Garden's "Chained To You" blasted out. "Oooh I love this song!"

Drake rose off the stool and offered her his hand. "Wanna dance?"

The blonde beamed. "Sure!!"

Jenn followed Drake onto the dance floor where he then pulled her close to him, and the two began to move in rhythm to beat.

Meanwhile on the balcony level, Chris was sipping a whiskey when a familiar peal of laughter floated up from below. The young man glanced down onto the dance floor and did a double take. There was Jenn dancing oh so very close with Drake! A little too close for mere friends. Chris scanned the surrounding areas then frowned. There was no sign of Trish anywhere. Which meant that the dark-haired Australian girl wasn't in the know about this. The Scot placed his glass down and started to make his way downstairs. He had to put a stop to whatever was going on and soon. For he hated to think of the consequences if he didn't.

Chris was not the only one startled by the sight. Gary Oak stood across the room with a blonde hanging on his arm; his mouth open in shock.

A few feet away from him, Ash Ketchum also stood in mute shock; not quite believing what he was seeing. Jenn and Drake were dancing with hardly a space between them. The two moved slowly and sensuously, very up close and personal.

The Grand Master shook his head and left the way he came. He would just have to see if Trish could give him his things in the morning...obviously Jenn was too busy to care.

~*~

Finally Chris arrived at the dance floor area, and not a moment too soon in his opinion. Things were rather heating up between Jenn and Drake, and for lack of a better phrase, it looked like 'simulated sex on the dance floor.' The blonde had both hands on the man's toned derriere and the two looked like they were about to lock lips…

Chris rushed over to the couple and said in a loud voice. "Ah, Jenn there you are!!! I was looking all over for you!"

The two stopped dancing, and Jenn grinned goofily at her younger friend. "Hey Chrissy…what are you doing here?"

Chris raised an eyebrow at the nickname, Jenn looked to be off her face. "Trish sent me to bring you home," he lied. "She was getting worried about you…"

"Aww…poor Sissy," the blonde giggled then disentangled herself from Drake. "I was just enjoying myself with Drake here…"

I'll bet you were, Chris thought as he felt the first stirrings of anger on Trish's behalf. But first he had to get Jenn out of here. "Come on, Jenn - let's get you home…"

Jenn grinned and flung one arm over Chris's shoulders and he could smell the alcohol on her breath. Yep, Jenn was completely drunk. The young man shot a dark glare towards the Pummelo Gym Leader who looked most unrepentant. "I don't know what the hell is going on here, but you can be sure that I'll tell Trish all about this!"

"You do that," Drake said coolly. "I'm just treating her best friend the way she's treating mine."

Chris just shook his head then guided Jenn towards the entrance. The two passed by a tall red-haired man leaning by a column, who had witnessed the whole thing. "Splendid, just splendid…" Lu smirked. "Maybe I can get them to kill each other after all…"

~*~

Twenty minutes later, Chris was knocking on the door of the girls' villa. Jenn was leaning on him and singing NSync songs, which was not something she'd do if she was in her right mind.

Trish opened the door and blinked in surprise. "Chris? And what's with Jenn?"

"She's drunk," the dark-haired young man grunted as he walked his charge inside before dumping her on the couch.

"She's drunk?" Trish echoed in disbelief. "But Jenn doesn't drink…" She walked over to her friend's slumped figure and leaned over; before straightening and wrinkling her nose. "Ugh, you can smell the alcohol…"

"What alcohol?" a new voice piped up. Mia was standing in the doorway of the living room.

Trish waved towards the prone Jenn. "Jenn's drunk. Chris brought her home from the nightclub."

"Jenn doesn't drink!" Mia blinked.

"Well she has this time," Chris sighed.

Trish sat down beside her friend, a slight frown on her face. "She didn't get into any trouble there did she?"

Chris gulped slightly. He wasn't quite sure how to break this news to his friend. "Uh…there's something you should know."

"Like what?"

"Jenn was dancing with Drake in the nightclub." Chris watched the dark-haired girl closely for her reaction.

Trish's eyes widened and she shot a quick glance at the blonde. "But…Drake said he was too busy with work to come over," she stammered slightly. "And…Jenn…Jenn said she was meeting Ash at the club."

Chris shrugged. "I didn't see the Grand Master anywhere…"

Mia ran over to Trish and wordlessly gave her a hug.

"How were they dancing?" was the next question.

"Uh…they were very very close, and how do I put it? Uh…it was like simulated sex on the dancefloor…sorry Trish," Chris apologised as the girl winced sharply and Mia's eyes grew as large as saucers.

There was a few minutes silence before Trish finally spoke up. "Chris, could you help me get Jenn into bed please? Then if you come around in the morning and we can work out what's happened."

"Sure."

Mia was left in the living room to ponder over what just happened. Surely, Jenn would never ever do something like this to her best friend, would she?

~*~

The next morning…

Chris strode down the walkway to the villa, and was surprised to see the Grand Master standing on the porch. "Hey Ash," he greeted with a wave. "What brings you here?"

"I'm here to pick up my cell phone and jacket from Trish. I was meant to get it off Jenn last night in the Chikorita Club, but she seemed…ah…otherwise occupied," Ash replied as he pressed the doorbell, Pikachu clinging to his shoulder.

The young man blinked. "Oh so you saw what happened?"

"Just a bit. I wonder if Trish knows…"

"She does. I dragged Jenn back home before things could go any further."

Mia opened the door and ushered the two men inside. "I know why Chris is here, but not why Ash is."

"I'm here to pick up my cell phone and jacket from Jenn," Ash explained as Pikachu jumped from his shoulder into the girl's arms.

"Ash saw what happened last night," Chris indicated with a nod of his head.

"Oh…was it as bad as Chris said?" Mia asked, looking worried.

"Yeah, it was," the Grand Master sighed. "How is Trish this morning?"

"She seems okay," the brunette said cautiously. "She hasn't said anything about it so far, but I'm wondering if this is the calm before the storm. Since Jenn isn't up yet."

"I'd imagine she'd be furious."

"I dunno, but then again has anyone ever seen Trish when she's REALLY angry? I wouldn't know because I've never seen her like that," Mia shrugged.

"Me neither," Chris agreed. "Trish isn't that easily angered."

~*~

Jenn opened her eyes slowly and shut them quickly as a ray of sunlight hit her dead in the face. "Ack, too bright…"

Sounds of people moving about the villa roused her and the blonde slowly sat up in her bed, wincing as she did so. Her head felt like it had been split in two and hit with a sledgehammer. Cradling her head in her hands, Jenn wondered what she had done last night to put herself in such a state. Last she remembered, was waiting in the Chikorita Nightclub for Ash to turn up. I wonder if he did turn up after all? She licked her lips. Ack…throat all dry. Need some water...

Flinging off the bedcovers, she stumbled to her feet, threw on some old jeans and a t-shirt and brushed her hair into a neat ponyta tail. Shuffling into the kitchen she was surprised to see Ash and Chris there as well as Trish, Mia and Dana, all gazing at her with an inscrutable look on their faces.

"Uh…hi," Jenn waved meekly. "Can I just say that I feel like crawling under a rock and dying? I feel like crap."

"Maybe you should do just that," Trish said in frosty tone which surprised the blonde. "Breakfast is there if you want it." And with that the dark-haired girl went out into the backyard.

Jenn blinked. That was most unlike her 'sister' to snap at her when she was feeling under the weather. Usually her best friend was all sympathetic and offered a hug. This time not a thing. "What's with her? What did I do?" Completely mystified, she followed her out into the spacious backyard.

Trish was standing at the fish pool when Jenn came up beside her. "Hey what's up?" the blonde offered meekly.

The answer was a sharp shove which sent her tumbling into the murky waters below. "Ack!!!"  Jenn then struggled to a sitting position with algae dripping down her face. "What was that for??!!"

"You should know!" Trish shot back.

"Know what?!"

"About last night."

"What about last night?" Jenn wailed. "Does the phrase 'I don't remember ANYTHING' mean anything to you?"

"No, but does 'simulated sex on the dance floor' mean anything to you? Because it does to me!"

"WHAT?!" the blonde nearly choked.

"That's right. You were doing the dirty dancing with Drake in the Chikorita Club last night!"

"I DID WHAT WITH DRAKE?"

"YOU HAD SIMULATED SEX WITH HER BOYFRIEND!!" Chris hollered from an upstairs window.

Jenn nearly keeled over and died. "SIMULATED WHAT??!!"

"SEX!!!!"

"Do you mind!" Jenn glared up at the peeping Scot. "I'm dripping wet over here!"

"Ooooh wet!" Chris leaned further out the window. "Does that mean you're all wet?"

"Duh, much," the blonde rolled her eyes.

"Getting back to business," Trish snapped, tapping her foot.

Jenn gulped. "Uh yeah…"

"How could you?!"

"How about it wasn't me!" the blonde pleaded. "You know that I would never do that!"

"YOU DID TOO!!!" came from the peanut gallery upstairs.

"JUST SHUT UP CHRIS!!!" the two girls snapped in unison.

"Well how could you prove it was me!" Jenn resumed her defence. "What if it was my doublegengar…"

"That's doppelganger," Trish raised her eyebrow. "I have witnesses."

"Like who?"

"Chris for one…"

The blonde blew some seaweed away from her face. "Yeah right, Chris was probably like totally drunk…"

"Like a certain blonde we all know?"

"I don't drink!" Jenn wailed loudly. "I couldn't hold my alcohol if it was in a glass!"

"YOU DRANK HEAPS!!!" Chris called out. "Besides I wasn't the only one. Ash and half the Chikorita Club saw you!"

Jenn went as a pale as a sheet. "Ash saw me???"

"So did a certain ex-boyfriend of yours," Trish added. "Gary left a message on the answering machine this morning. He was very impressed by your dancing skills."

"But I don't daaaance!" Jenn whined.

"YOU WERE DANCING ALRIGHT," Chris shouted. "YOUR MOVES WERE SO STEAMY THAT I THOUGHT I WAS WATCHING THE SPICE CHANNEL!"

"Oh my gooooooood," the blonde groaned. "I don't believe this….At least things can't possibly get any worse."

Just then the Grand Master walked into the backyard with Pikachu on his shoulder.

"Did I just say that things can't get any worse?" Jenn winced as she sank further into the murky water. "I think I did…"

"Not interrupting anything am I?" Ash asked.

"Oh no, just join in my humiliation and torture session here," the blonde moaned.

"Serves you right," Trish glared at her.

"But Trishy!!!" Jenn cried. "I didn't DO anything!!! What part of 'I didn't do it' don't you understand??? Now if I DID have sex with your man…"

"Simulated!!!" Trish interrupted sharply.

"Okay simulated or whatever," the American huffed. "Don't you think I would remember every single detail of it!!!"

"Not if you're really drunk," Chris added knowingly; having joined the group by now. "And trust me you were really drunk. I dragged you home and put you into bed."

"You put me into bed?" Jenn blanched even whiter if that was possible. "Oh noo…"

"NOT like that!!!" Chris snapped.

"Uh, before Jenn gets into a prune like state, shouldn't someone go to get Drake's side of the story?" Ash asked as he held out a hand to the blonde. Jenn took it gratefully and stepped out of the pond, shivering and dripping wet.

Mia walked out of the villa and threw a towel around the soggy, straggly girl who wrapped it tightly around her.

Chris then snapped his fingers, stopping everyone in their tracks. "Wait a minute! Drake did say something before we left…"

Jenn brightened immensely. "Like what?" she asked with an incredibly hopeful tone.

The Scot frowned slightly. "He said that he was just treating Trish's best friend the way she was treating his…"

"What does that mean?" Mia asked, puzzled.

"I know exactly what it means," Trish answered in a low tone. "Pummelo is going to need a new Gym Leader…"

To be continued…

~*~

Author's Note: Many thanks for this chapter go to my best friend Jenn. She modified a section of this (the confrontation between Misty and herself) and she has been making many helpful comments behind me as I type this. We're both in the middle of a two week holiday from our jobs – and she's spending it in the land down under. ^_^

I will be back at work for one week and a bit before the office closes over the Christmas/New Year period. Planning on doing much writing.