Chapter 21: Secrets

A couple days have passed since the incident with Koga and Sabrina is still lying down recovering. The glimpse of sunlight gleams in on the room. Sabrina squints and slowly opens her eye. Adjusting to the gentle light leaking in on Sabrina as she pulls herself up and looks around her. She sees an empty room and chair next to her bed with her dear boyfriend napping in. She smiles and begins to lean in to kiss him awake. Before she could the door opens with Tia staring in to check if Sabrina is awake.

"Oh great you're awake." Tia smiles and quietly steps in.

"Yeah, how long was I out?" She rubs her eyes and stretches her stiff joints.

"A couple days, Tom's been a nervous wreck." Tia says quietly with a light giggle. "Believe it or not he hasn't left that chair since we got back." This made Sabrina feel even happier. Knowing Tom would sit there waiting just greet her when she woke up.

Tia sits on the side of the bed beside Sabrina and gets a look at Tom. "I hate that I worried him so much." Sabrina says bitterly. "He didn't have to do this." She kind of felt bad that she's caused him so much trouble ever since she started traveling with them.

"Of course he did. 'I'll never leave her again'; I can't tell you how many times he said that." Tia smiles at Sabrina feeling almost a little jealous. "I can only hope someday a guy will love me that much." She giggles, she never even considered a thing like that until she saw Tom's devotion.

"He's a stubborn fool," Sabrina pouts, "but I love him." She smiles and leans in to give him a kiss. This slowly brings him back to consciousness.

He rubs his eyes, "Sabrina?" He looks and confirms it's her. Like a knee jerk reaction he wraps his arms around her and hold her tightly. "Oh thank god you're alright!" Tears escape his eyes. "How do you feel, are you hurt still, do you need more rest?" He asks frantically.

"I'm fine dear, though you are smothering me." She laughs in his chest. Tia joins in the laugh and Tom slowly pulls away. "See I told you I'm fine." She pulls off the covers and slowly starts standing up.

"Here let me help you up." Tom suddenly stands and collapses to the ground when his legs give way under him.

"Tom you've been sitting in that chair for the last two days your legs don't just spring to life after that." Tia laughs and slowly helps Sabrina to her feet.

"Thank you Tia and thank you for the thought dear." She waves down at Tom while he stretch his legs trying to limber them up.

He finally gets to his feet and immediately his head starts to spin and he falls back on the bed. "You also shouldn't stand up too quick if you haven't eaten in a while." Tia explains.

"Yes doctor," He sarcastically replies.

The three of them head into the main room where a full breakfast was waiting for them. "I made a full meal here with all the nutrients you need. Fresh fruit, proteins, whole grains, and fresh glasses of milk." Tia took pride in her cooking even if she doesn't do it so often as she'd like.

"Wow I'm impressed. I had no idea you could cook or maintain a healthy diet?" Tom is surprised by this little factoid.

"Yeah my mom and I would cook all time. I just haven't really been able to with all the traveling. Well, dig in plenty for all of us." She smiles and takes a seat.

Sabrina chuckles and joins Tia. She begins eating is amazed by the taste. "Well this is great." She says happily. "Tom you have to try so of this. She can definitely give you a run for your money." She laughs and chows down.

Tom starts eating and is also very impressed by Tia's cooking skills and how everything was perfectly prepared. "You'll make someone a good wife someday," he teases and plays it straight making Tia blush.

"Thanks Tom," she looks down and imagines the idea of her getting married; setting down and having a family of her own. "I would like that…" Her voice trails off.

"You really need to get laid." Sabrina laughs out loud at Tia's dismay.

"What that hell? I make breakfast and that's what you have to say?" She was livid; she didn't care if Sabrina was still recovering.

"You're right, I'm sorry." She says earnestly and pats Tia on the shoulders. "Honestly, I'm jealous. I burn everything. I'm blessed that Tom is as good a cook as he is." She admits.

"It's not for everyone. My ex would burn everything too." Tia giggles.

"I'm surprised Gary even had the patience to try." Tom comments getting Sabrina's attention.

"What Gary, like Gary Oak?" She asks quizzically.

"Yep, Kanto's very champion." She brags. Though he left shortly after becoming the champ and broke up with her. Since then she hasn't seen him. Tia takes in stride though. Never letting it get her down.

"Former champion you mean?" Sabrina adds.

"Wait what?" She didn't know he was replaced.

"Yeah Gary was beat just as fast as he made it in." Sabrina tells her to Tia's shock.

"He never told me that. Maybe that's why…" Tia's voice trails off as she contemplates all this.

"Hey, you two thing we should get going soon?" Tom interrupts the two girls. "We should head to Cinnabar now. We can use Alakazam to take us to Oaks lab and then from there we can head to the south by sea to the island." Tom already had the whole plan thought out way in advance.

"Sounds like a plan!" Tia quickly forget her previous train of thought. "I'll get packed up and we can get going." She declares. She's just as easily distracted by another thought that popped into her head. "Tom I have something I need to ask you." Her whole demeanor turns more serious.

Tom gives her a leery look. "I assume you want to ask X something?" He didn't have to be a mind reader to know where this was heading.

"When you guys recovered me in Vermilion after the incident on the S.S. Anne, why were you just sitting in my room dressed up?" Tia remembers this vividly, but she also questions if it was all just a dream.

Tom tilts his head with a very concerned look. "I wasn't watching you? I was with Jason in the other room. I couldn't have gotten into my costume with him around. I barely got you on deck and changed to discover you were there." He gives up allusions of playing dumb.

"Then I guess it must have been a dream or something." Tia shrugs and turns around. "Well, I'll get ready."

"Aw and here I thought we could have some fun first." Sabrina interrupts them with a winks and runs her fingers up Tom's leg.

Tia notices and runs to her door. "I'm going to my room!" She declares.

"Good she's gone; now to the really issue." Her tone hardens and glances at Tom. "The Kanto region is down at least three gym leaders. Possibly two more if Blaine in on this and I don't manage get out of this." Sabrina says with a worried look that she might lose her position's current standing.

"First off, you're fine. We'll clear this up. Second, I have a few strings that might be able to fill some of the vacancies." Tom tells her quietly.

"The league will be having an emergency meeting soon I'm sure. We'll need you there." Sabrina show him her concern.

"Why me? Odds are they won't listen to me." Tom has his doubts about this plan of Sabrina's.

"Erika worships you, Brock trusts you, Blaine respects you, and I love you." Sabrina giggles. "Misty's beat 4-to-1." She laughs.

She leans in and kisses him. He whispers in her ear, "Don't tell Tia anything else about this." Tom looks around cautiously.

"My lips are sealed." She winks.

"I'm also worried about what she just told us." Tom's voice is a whisper that he makes sure only Sabrina can hear.

"You think it might be them?" Even Sabrina's a little on edge about this conversation.

"I don't know why? She's just starting out and hasn't shown any real signs." Tom makes sure to keep any talks vague.

"You question his judgment?" Sabrina says smugly.

Tom shakes his head, "I guess I can't but doesn't change the fact that it's weird." He shakes his head, "Anyway, we need to get ready." His voice returns to its normal level.

"Aw don't you want to have a little fun before we go?" Sabrina grins seductively and licks her lips. "You know we could both use a shower." She traces her fingers over Tom's chest.

"Sabrina, Tia's right there in the next room." He hold steady and tries his hardest to not give in to his temptations.

"You're right," her grin turns devious. Sabrina clears her throat. "Oh Tom, right there. Don't stop!" She shouts towards Tia's door.

The two hear a loud thud and a scream. Sabrina immediately starts laughing. "I will kill you!" They hear Tia's frantic voice muffled from the other side of the door.

"I didn't even do anything!" Tom defends himself.

"Not you!" Tia groans and throws open the door.

"Sorry, I'm just sort of use to it by now." For some reason it felt wrong for him not to be on the receiving end of one of Tia's numerous death threats.

"Did I strike a nerve?" Sabrina stands triumphantly.

Tia sighs, "Yes, I did not appreciate that." Tia explains in a manner that seems completely out of character for her.

"That's it? Well, I don't have a retort for that. Sorry I was being mean." Sabrina scratches her head and concedes defeat.

"Looks like someone found the cinch in your armor." Tom nods looking impressed.

"I'm not going to fan the flames like you want me to. You two can do whatever you want. Just don't talk to me about it." Tia walks past and heads out the door.

"Is she mad?" Sabrina looks to Tom to confirm it.

Tom shakes his head, "She's more upset that you're making fun of her. She doesn't get it's a joke when you do it." Tom knows all too well that Tia's sensitive about that subject matter.

Sabrina crosses her arms and looks down. "I'll go talk to her." She walks past Tom and quickly catches up with Tia. "Hey Tia, I'm sorry about all that before. I thought you knew I was joking."

Tia continues to silently walk down the stairs. "It's okay Sabrina. I know how you feel about Tom so I forgive you." She looks around the Pokemon Center. "Besides, I've learned from all my stays that these walls are paper thin and voices really carry." Now Tia has the triumphant grin.

Sabrina looks around at all the people staring at her. No doubt recognizing she was the one shouting before. Sabrina blushes and begins to laugh, "Well looks like I dug my own grave that time." She extends out a hand. "Friends?"

Tia smiles, "Friends. You morally loose psycho." Tia smirks and draws first blood.

"Glad to hear it you impatient prude." Thus begins the start of a beautifully weird friendship between the two.

Tom heads down the steps and gets them both a group hug. "There, all's well that ends well" He gives them both his signature toothy grin. Sabrina finds it adorable; Tia simply rolls her eyes.

"Dork," Tia smiles and puts an arm around them both. It's definitely not your typical friendship, but Tia couldn't be happier travelling with anyone else.

Thank you all for reading and I hope you enjoyed. Please feel free to leave a review with your thoughts on this chapter and the series as a whole. Well, this was a very dialogue heavy chapter, but I thought a break from all the battles was needed. I finally got to reveal some keep elements and expand more on Tia's personality. Trust me this is only the tip of the iceberg of Tia's healthy living mentality. Girl's a health nut.