Author's disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon, this is just for pure entertainment

I'd like to thank everyone who reviewed. I appreciate it. Thank you so much. A lot happened before I could type this chapter out, from postgraduate studies to a cyber stalker…mostly the cyber stalker thing. I was kind of scared to release this chapter because of it. I thought about blocking this person but that doesn't really prevent this person from creating another account and doing the same thing so there is really no point. So screw the stalker I'm releasing this chapter after much thought and using my spare time from studies.

NOTE: Italics = thoughts

P.S: This is the last chapter…

Chapter 20

Her surroundings were hazy as she peered through half-opened eyes. She did not know where she was, but it was quiet; and since her head was pounding, she was grateful that it was. She tried to squint as her blurred vision disappeared slowly. It was dark and the only light that she saw beamed down from a small crack in the roof and hit a patch of concrete floor in front of her. She tried to pull herself up but her body felt so heavy as if something had been restraining her. She shook her head as she felt the nausea drop down her spine and her stomach clenched.

"God I feel horrible…W…where am I?" she said aloud, still trying to make sense of her surroundings. Then it hit her like a ton of bricks, "Zack…" she gasped in horror and started to panic only to realize why she could not move. She was bound to a metal chair, suddenly she didn't like the quiet anymore and her heart started to pound in fear.

"HELP! SOMEBODY HELP ME!" she screamed until the veins on her neck popped out prominently.

The only reply came from some crickets chirping in the background.

"It's night already? How long have I been out for?" she tried to wrack her brain for clues, for anything that could help her escape or even alert anybody close by of her whereabouts.

She was dragged from her thoughts when she heard the sound of a car engine. It gurgled along until it was almost right in front of her before the engine died down, followed by the car's door opening and then being slammed shut. It was quiet again and she strained her ears trying to listen more carefully. She could scream for help again and maybe the person would save her, but she didn't know why the sound of keys rattling against the door in front of her didn't sound reassuring at all.

The door creaked opened and then the room suddenly blasted in light; she squinted at the brightness. She heard the figure walk further in and items being shuffled around, until her eyes had fully adjusted to the light. She gasped at what she saw; there in front of her was Zack, cutting what seemed to be a loaf of bread and placing it on a steel tray. He had his back to her, so she took that opportunity to look around for ways to escape. She was in a small old storage house; it seemed to be unused for years considering the amount of dust and spider webs that lay around. The only door was the one that he had come through and the windows were no option either; as there was burglar bars on each window. Freedom seemed to slowly slide from her as Zack turned around with a malicious look on his face. Each step he took towards her made her tremble in fear. He bent down to look her straight in the eye and his icy cold finger trailed down her check to move a curl of her hair behind her ear.

"Sorry about the accommodation love. I hope you are comfy."

She glared at him, gathering as much spit as she could before projecting it in his face. He sighed wiping the spit with the end of his hoody before backhanding her across the face. She felt a sudden pain shoot through her lip as it cut open and dripped in blood. In his other hand had been the tray with two slices of bread which he dropped at her feet, "EAT!" he barked before walking back to the table. She rolled her eyes at him and took courage as she asked him how that was possible when he had her hands tied. He turned around to look at her again; knife raised in his hand. Her eyes lowered a bit in fear and stung as tears began to form, even so she refused to back down and crumble in front of him.

Don't show him you're weak Mist…or he wins. She chanted encouragingly to herself.

"Find a way, I don't care even if you topple that chair and go on all fours like a dog to eat it."

"WHAT!?" Aunt Joy slammed her hands down hard onto Officer Jenny's table, "That's not good enough! You heard what Gary said, if we are spotted within the vicinity he'll kill Misty! There has to be another way!"

Jenny sighed and rubbed her temples, "I understand your concern Joy but we don't have much options. I refuse to send the boy out alone, unarmed, in front of all those ruffians!"

"I don't like the idea either, but Zack will kill Misty!"

"Er-hem. Ladies please settle down…Uh let's look at this rationally." Professor Oak pitched in trying to ease the conflict.

"They may be another way." Gary who had been quiet the whole time suddenly said as he uncrossed his arms and stood from his chair.

Officer Jenny's eyebrow rose skeptically but she listened none the less.

"I go alone-"

"Absolutely not!" both Jenny and Oak yelled together.

"I wasn't finished. I go alone, but we can have a sniper placed, far away from the vicinity so that he won't be spotted, as my back up; in case things go wrong?"

Jenny scratched her head not yet quite convinced, "It is still too risky. With only one sniper there can only be so much that can be done. Besides the area is to open and there isn't many vantage points for more snipers are you sure you are willing to risk your life with just one sniper?"

"You said it yourself, only one sniper can be used in this area and if that's the only back-up I'm going to have; I'll take my chances. Misty needs me."

"Alright kid, but if things go wrong I'm sticking to my plan and sending a whole team in there. So you better make sure you and the girl are out of the crossfire when that happens."

"I understand."

It was quiet for a while and Misty was unsure of what to do next. What if I convince him to let me go? The silly thought popped in to her head for a millisecond before bubbling into thin air when he pulled a handgun from behind his jeans.

"What do you plan on doing to me?" she asked bravely.

He shoulders slouched and the corners of his lip turn up maliciously. His eyes shone like a child who had gotten the best gift ever; before he said, "You? Why I have no such thought…my only plan at the moment is to kill Gary of course."

"Gary wait!" Professor Oak yelled.

Gary turned around to see his grandfather hoping off the steps of the police station towards him.

"Are you sure this is a good idea? You risking your life for the girl-"

"I love her gramps. Love. I've found it again after so long…after my parents died, after May died. I don't want to lose it again or I don't know what I'll do." Gary's voice cracked and he swallowed the bile that rose in his throat.

"I know. But, you could die or worse be forced to raise your hand and take a life. Will you be able to live with that? Knowing you killed someone?"

Gary bit his lip and then smiled weakly, "Maybe not. I know this may have side effects later on in life, but I can't sit still knowing she is there most probably afraid and alone! Hoping that someone will come save her. Knowing that I had a chance to save my sister and I did nothing because I was a coward, was the worst feeling in the world. I won't let it happen again, not when there is a chance that I can save Misty."

Oak saw the conflict in Gary turn to resolve and he knew then that Gary had to do this.

Misty didn't know how it had happened. One minute she had managed to squiggle her hands free and jump Zack, choking him with the rope. Relief and hope filled her only to dissolve into regret as he reached behind her head and pulled her over his shoulder dropping her hard to her back on the floor. He pinned her to the ground as he gasped for air in her face. The angry red line across his neck was not something he was going to forgive easily. He kicked her hard in the ribs, but not hard enough to break them, and then a second time; before yanking her up by her hair. She yelped in pain and kicked her legs as she struggled to get free of his grip. Instead he dragged her across the room and threw her back onto the cold chair. He made doubly sure the knots were extra tight and ripped a piece of duct tape before smacking it across her mouth. He panted and breathed heavily for a while before getting his voice back.

"YOU BITCH! You seem to forget that your tiny puny self can never over power me. You're just a pathetic woman and I'm a man! I'll enjoy killing you right in front of his eyes, just to see him suffer for the humiliation he has put me through."

Misty's eyes widen in horror and the tears spilled from her eyes, she shook her head vigorously as if to beg Zack not to do it, it would break Gary. He had already endured enough of that when his sister died…this will break him! She sobbed and pleaded as much as she could behind the duct tape, but Zack would hear none of it. "Yes I'll do it. I'll remind him of exactly what he is…a weak cowardly orphan."

Misty's eyes shot open. How could I have fallen asleep? Her body was sore all over and she felt like throwing up, but she should have not fallen asleep; because there were now five people cramped in that tiny storage room with her: Zack and his "downtown" friends. The joints that they were puffing away on created an unpleasant smell of smoke that shot straight up her nostrils. She had no choice, her mouth was blocked, so the only way to get air was to suck in the smoke; unfortunately. Her throat contracted and she coughed and snorted at the same time. The men turned their attention towards her and laughed. The guy on Zack's left licked his lips and walked towards her. He smiled a sickly smile that made her want to puke and his eyes dragged all over her bodily. She felt violated and absolutely naked.

"Hey Zack let me have some fun with her before the boy arrives," he giggled rubbing his hands as if they were itching to touch her, "It will be more fun to see what his face will look like when he finds out."

He reached his slimy-like hand towards her and she cringed praying desperately to god. He must have heard her prayer as the hand did not make contact and her savior came from an unlikely source. Zack had the guy's hand in a tight grip and he squeezed until the guy yelped in pain.

"Nobody will touch her…except for me." Zack smiled venomously down at her, his eyes straying on her bosoms and then dragged down slowly. Misty shut her eyes tight and tried to squeeze her legs close as much as she could. "Don't worry love I won't touch you…yet. We will wait for him to arrive or else it will just spoil the fun." They laughed and when all of them left the room. She broke down in tears, praying.

Gary please help me.

"Ok kid as much as I hate sending you there alone I'm not leaving you empty handed understood?" Officer Jenny said suddenly as she burst through the briefing room doors.

"Put this under your clothes so that they won't know," She continued as she handed him an earpiece and wire taps to stick to his body.

"Are you sure I should have these, what if they search me?" Gary asked as he stared at the items she gave him.

"I figured that could happen, but from what you've told me about Zack and how he operates I don't think you have to worry about that."

"What do you mean?"

"You told me Zack likes to think he is in control of everything. Things always go his way because he uses fear to prevent people from doing otherwise. He thinks by holding Misty captive he has you right where he wants you, so he will not expect you to take these precautions. So he won't waste energy trying to search you. His focus will be on you and Misty alone. His cronies on the other hand will just be his audience; they will only be focused on keeping you in line and keeping an eye out for cops."

Gary had to admit he was impressed and her theory did sound convincing, but how could she be so sure.

"I'm an expert profiler Gary; it's what I do, along with catching the bad guys."

Gary smirked, "All right let's do it then. No gun?"

"Unfortunately that will give you away and I'd like it if you leave the shooting to us."

After going over the plan again and again, Gary was still nervous. He couldn't stop worrying about Misty.

"It will be alright kid, just stick to the plan and hopefully everything will go smoothly," Officer Jenny's voice said in his ear. Gary nodded and touched his earpiece, "Ok here I go."

"Just a word of precaution kid, don't touch your ear every time you hear my voice."

Gary chuckled, "I'll try not to."

Misty's dread and fear would not go away no matter how many times she tried to reassure herself that everything would be alright, that Gary would be ok. It wouldn't go away especially as she was being dragged by her hair towards the docks where she heard voices conversing in angry tones.

"I won't ask again Zack…where's Misty?"

That voice…it filled her with relief, love, happiness and sadness at the same time.

"Relax Gary you'll see her soon enough…ah just on time…see just as I promised."

Misty was thrown hard to the ground roughly. She could not see Gary as her back faced towards him, but she could feel his shock, his horror, and his anger.

Every muscle in Gary's body was burning and itching to run over towards her, scoop her up into his arms and hold her tight. To kiss her lovingly and tell her that she was going to be alright. But he couldn't, right now he had to find a way to get her to safety first.

He gritted his teeth and tore his gaze away from Misty's beaten body, "Alright you have me, now let her go."

Zack's venomous laugh echoed around and he threw the stick, which he had been twining in his hands after noticing Gary's loving gaze for Misty, into the fire barrel.

"I don't think you see the bigger picture here mate. You are not in a position to be making any deals here. In case you haven't noticed, you're outnumbered."

Sure enough the four lackeys of Zack circled around them with wooden planks and handguns in tow. Zack saw the slight intimidation in Gary's eyes and took that as a sign to whip out his gun just to show him how much he was at a disadvantage.

Crap. Gary only prayed and hoped that the sniper was watching and had his back. He was still contemplating what to do when he noticed the look in Zack's eyes. SHIT! He knows something!

"You seem awfully distracted there. I hope you haven't planned something that you're not supposed too?"

"Kid! Stop it! You are making it to obvious, calm down and say exactly what I tell you to say!" Jenny yelled desperately in his ear.

"I wouldn't dare, especially since you have the girl I love in your grips. I don't want to do anything to endanger her and you know me well enough to know I'm too much of a coward to go get help from anybody for this. Look around, there's no one but me. Take me and let Misty go," Gary kept his voice firm in hopes that Zack would take the bait.

That intense look in his eyes shimmered down, as he circled around Gary, walking up behind him. He placed a hand on Gary's shoulder making him jump a bit. "You wouldn't be lying to me now would you?"

Gary shrugged his hand off of him, "Of course not, you know I'm intimated by you. You know that."

"Mmm… I do, except that you've stood up to me before, which has brought us to this situation, I wouldn't put it past you to do it again," Zack smirked taking three dangerous steps back to where Misty lay on the ground, he picked her up by her arm and pressed the gun's barrel to her head.

Gary paled, "Please don't, just let her go and you can do whatever you want to me!"

"That's not the only problem you have kiddo, the sniper can't seem to get a clear shot. He is too far out and the windy conditions are making it difficult for him to estimate where exactly to aim the bullet at. He can't help you, you're on your own," Jenny said worryingly.

The news sent Gary into panic mode, so much so he felt the blood drain from his body and heard ringing in his ears.

"Please," Gary pleaded, trying one more time to convince Zack, "I told you, you intimidate me, I would not dare do anything for fear of Misty's life."

"Kiddo you better think of another plan otherwise I'm coming in there."

YOU CAN'T! Gary screamed in his head, Misty was still not safe.

Zack cocked the gun and Gary felt as though he could not breathe. Hope seemed to be lost as he stared at her bloodied face. The tears that spilt from her eyes broke his heart, "Please Zack, J…just let her go."

Zack felt a thrill shoot up his spine. He never felt so wonderful before. He slid the gun up and down Misty's cheek enjoying the pain that was so evident on Gary's face. This can't end here, not yet, I want to see more of your pain. With his other hand he trailed it down her chin past her collar bone and undid one of her buttons. Misty closed her eyes and let out a whimper of despair as her lips quivered.

That did it for Gary, all the anger he had suppressed came blazing out, as he charged at Zack, screaming "You bastard! Don't you dare touch her!"

He punched Zack in the jaw, making him tumbling into some wooden crates. His move was short live, however, when one of Zack's cronies interfered and whacked Gary at the back of his skull hard with the wooden plank.

The next few moments happened in slow motion for Gary. Misty lay there crying out his name with her hand stretching out towards him. Zack's smug face looked at him as he crashed to the ground. His head pounded and his vision blurred, not only because of the blow, but by the amount of blood that poured down over his eyes. He lay there struggling to not close his eyes, struggling to breathe. The last picture he saw was that of Misty's distraught face, before he slipped into darkness.

"GARY! GARY! NO! OPEN YOUR EYES! GARY!" Misty yelled, screamed, cried, pleaded. Her heart throbbed in pain as she desperately tried to crawl over towards him. Please let this be a dream, you can't be dead, please let me wake up and let this be a dream!

She reached his lifeless body and shook him, "WAKE UP! WAKE UP GODDAMN YOU! W…wake up…please. You can't die. You can't leave me."

"Kiddo? Kiddo?"

"What's happening?" Professor Oak asked worryingly as he saw the panic in Officer Jenny's face.

"I don't know, but I think the earpiece fell out of Gary's ear somehow. It's damaged I'm only getting crackling noises back from the feed." Jenny banged her fist against the table, "That's it we're going in."

"Wait but what about Misty and Gary? What if they get caught up in the crossfire!" Oak yelled.

"Then you better hope and pray that they make it out safely."

Where am I?

Gary looked about the vast whiteness that surrounded him. This bizarre place was silent yet warm and welcoming. He almost felt happy, like all the worries in the world had disappeared into thin air. A light invaded his space and he walked forward, his soul drawn towards the light like a moth to the flame. His bare feet tapped against the tiles as he walked closer and closer, until a gentle voice stopped him.

He turned in disbelief, his jaw slackened and his throat constricting as bile rose up it. He stood there, frozen, unable to say anything. A silent tear fell from his face as he managed to find his voice, "S…sis?"

The beautiful figure dressed in white smile brilliantly at him and she reached out to him with her hands outstretched. He gritted his teeth as he ran to her, tears rolling freely down his face; until he was in her warm embrace.

"Sis! Sis! Sis!" he couldn't help saying over and over again as he hugged her tightly.

He heard her giggle softly as she gently pulled him away to look at his face. "You've grown up," she patted his head and fluffed his hair. Gary chocked, remembering how much he had missed that action of hers…how much he had missed her.

Her smile dropped slowly and she held his hands firmly, looking at him with seriousness in her eyes, "I'm sorry that I put you through so much. I'm sorry I left you alone, and I'm sorry that you had to grow up defending yourself from that monster every day. But I'm proud of you, proud that you found the courage to stand up for yourself, to love again. So you'll understand me when I say that you don't belong here…not yet. Go back and protect her, she needs you. Gramps needs you."

A part of him wanted to be defiant and stay, but another part of him knew she was right. He smiled and nodded his head, "I forgive you sis and love you."

She kissed his forehead before the white world spun and started to disappear.

"Get up bitch. He is dead and it's your turn next," Zack spat.

"You won't get away with this you hear! You'll go to jail and you'll rot there for the rest of your life!" Misty yelled.

Zack frowned, almost as what she had said was silly, "So what? I got away with murder before I can get away with it again. You forget that you are all alone out here. No one knows you're here and by the time they've found your body; they will assume some local gang in this area did you in. I'll get rid of all the evidence as I did before so that nothing can link me to this and I'll be free!" Zack laughed insanely to the sky.

But his laughter was cut short as the sound of Gary's coughing echoed around. Zack froze and looked at him in horror, "Impossible! It can't be! You were dead!"

Gary's battered body stood slowly, with fists clenched tightly together, he spat a mouthful of blood to the floor and smirked, "It's going to take more than that to kill me."

He saw it before it came; one of the lackeys approached him from the side with a wooden plank, but this time Gary's mind was clear. There was no anger, no worry, no fear…this time he was in control and he was going to put his military academy skills to use. He dodged to the side before upper cutting the lackey in the jaw. The lackey stumbled slightly, but regained his posture before charging at him again. He swung the plank with all his might, but this time Gary held his arm up in a defensive position breaking the plank in two, before using the other hand to punch the lackey in the gut. Zack watched dumbfounded by what was going on. How can this be…he is nothing but a weak coward, how can this be? He growled and ordered all of them to attack at once as he gripped Misty in a tight hold.

Misty watched in wonder and pride as he dodged every one of their attacks swiftly and knocked each one out unconscious before they had any ideas to take out their guns. But that feeling soon turned to horror as she saw what intentions Zack had as he pointed his gun to Gary. Misty had to think fast; there was no way she was losing Gary again, not after he had just come back to her. She slammed her heel down hard into Zack's foot. He let go of her and yelped in pain, she then used all the strength she had to swing her elbow into his face. He fell to the ground dropping the gun in the process. This was her chance she scampered for the gun; the problem was that Zack did too. She had two choices in that moment, try to get the gun in her hands which she wouldn't be able to do as Zack was closer to it or to kick the gun away as far as she could so that Gary could attack him. She did just that, sending the gun across the dock towards some crates; before stumbling forward to get out of Gary's way.

Gary reacted fast, he charged towards Zack before he had a chance to react, spearing him hard. They rolled about, each trying to pin the other. Until Gary was successful; he pounded Zack in his face with all the raw anger he had, "You're nothing without your bodyguards! You call yourself a man? You are the coward; hiding behind other people to do your dirty work all the time! How dare you think that you are great! How dare you take my sister from me! How dare you touch Misty! YOU SON OF A BITCH!"

He punched and he punched and he punched again; but even the sound of Zack yelping in pain or his bloodied face did not state his anger. Gary panted angrily and looked around until his eyes spotted a piece of sharp wood that had broken away from the plank that the lackey had used earlier. Gary picked the piece up, his hand shaking as he looked into the devil's face himself.

"Do it," Zack encouraged with a smirk on his face.

But before he could plunge it into the devil's chest, a soft voice stopped him with tears in her eyes, "It's ok now Gary, I'm safe. It's over and he can't hurt us anymore. Leave him; you don't want to stoop to his level… so stop put the wood down. Let the police handle this."

Gary gritted his teeth; his breathing became heavier, but flung the wood away nonetheless, "She's right, I'm not like you." He tore his gaze from Zack, hoping that would be the last time he saw him and focused his attention to the person he loves.

And just as he lowered his guard the tables turned; Zack flung Gary off of him as he scampered for the gun. Misty gasped in horror and before either of them knew it Zack was in control again, his gun aimed steadily at Gary and he laughed, "I win."

BANG!

Misty froze, the pain shooting through her chest indescribable. She had lost him again…but her sadness quickly turned to relief when she saw Zack's lifeless body drop to the ground instead. Gary was confused for a minute, he had been sure that that was the end of him, but then he saw the smoking gun in Officer Jenny's hands and the team that swept in to restrain the lackeys and he knew that his nightmare was finally over.

He held his breath as looked at Misty's fragile form; the sight of her, bruised, bloodied and a mess, yet she still looked beautiful to him. He walked towards her and crushed her in his arms, burying his face in her neck and took a deep reassuring breath of her scent. "It's over… It's over. I'm still here," he hummed, sliding his hand up and down her back; comforting her as she cried.

"And there, that's the last stitch. You all good to go," Joy said as she wrapped Gary's head up with a bandage. She smiled at him with as much gratitude as she could, "Thank you for saving my niece."

He smiled back weakly and nodded his head, looking at Misty next to him, with adoration, as she blushed.

"I'll just go sort out your paper work then," Joy said as she closed the door behind her.

Misty sat down next to him on the now cramped bed and caressed his hand and smiled sadly.

She remembered the image of his cold lifeless body on the ground, the blood that dripped down his face. She had begged him not to leave her, but he hadn't responded. He had stopped breathing, his heart had stopped beating. The thought that she would never see him again nearly destroyed her. It felt like a dream sitting there holding his hand, just seeing his body with life made her so happy.

Gary recognized her worried glance, and pulled her closer, resting his forehead against hers, "I'm sorry I worried you like that. I'm sorry you went through that pain and I'm sorry I took so long to get back to you."

She smiled, "it's ok, a part of me believed that you would."

"I love you Mist."

"Love you t-" she let out a loud yawn and smiled sheepishly, "I guess I need a nice long nap and a shower."

Gary grinned at her devilishly and pulled her closer, "care to shower together?"

"As if, you can't get your stitches wet, you need the nurse to sponge bath you," she scoffed jokily as she winked at him.

That didn't kill Gary's mood though, in fact he just leaned further in and whispered in her ear, "You can be my nurse…you'd make a hot nurse."

She smacked his uninjured arm playfully, "I must admit if you weren't as badly injured as you are now, I might have taken you up on the offer."

He smirked, kissing her cheek, "There's one part of my anatomy that isn't injured."

He hadn't made it past kissing her senseless, before Joy barged into the room; saying it was time for Misty to go home and for him to get some rest.

Gary groaned, "I hate hospitals, they smell funny and they feed you weird food." He made his best impression of puppy dog eyes at Joy and asked her if he could go home and let Misty look after him instead.

"Oh don't fuss you. There's plenty time for you two to catch up after you have been discharged. Right now all your body needs is rest." Joy winked at them both as she ushered Misty out the hospital room.

3 Months later…

"Gary? Gary? Gary!"

"Huh what," he looked down at the girl who lay on his lap.

Misty frowned up at him, "you didn't hear a word I said."

"Sorry babe, was just thinking about this and that."

"Does your head still hurt?" she asked worriedly, reaching up to caress his forehead. The stitches had come out and after many tests; the doctors were satisfied with his healing progress. He was finally free from going to the hospital all the time for checkups.

"No, it's fine, I was just thinking about my sister."

"I'm sure you did see her. Like I said you were practically dead for two minutes. I'm sure that wasn't a hallucination."

He smiled, "I know…it's just that I had a dream about her last night."

Misty's eyes widened, "What did she say?"

"She asked me if I was happy."

"And what did you say?"

He looked at Misty, from her soft plump lips, to her sparkling blue eyes. Her image would not leave his mind. She was breathtaking every time he saw her. She made him weak in the knees every time he held her. He beamed and kissed the tip of her nose, "Yes I am."

THE END.

Yes done! Lol! Tell me what you guys think. To be honest I was stuck on how to end the story. I think I erased it like five times until I was somewhat satisfied. It's easy to start a story, but difficult ending it.

Again sorry for the lateness…I'm dreading what the stalker will do.