Interlude in the Key of J - If You're Gone
Author's Note: This song is called If You're Gone by Matchbox 20.
When I first heard it, I was thinking of a songfic between Charizard and Ash. Not like that!!! But as if Ash were thinking after Charizard left, 'cause Charizard was sick of Ash or something like that. But I couldn't think of how Ash would be saying, "Baby you need to come home" to a giant, flying orange lizard. Soooo, from the depths of my mind came another Jessie and James fic.
I hope you like it. Again, If You're Gone by Matchbox 20.
I surveyed the scene below me. In the second sub-level gym of Team Rocket Headquarters, white Rockets trained intensely, a few even trained directly against their own Pokémon. After a few minutes, I left the observation window, loosing interest.
I returned to my room one floor above the gym. The walls were bare, a sterile white, only one twin sized bed, one dresser, and one nightstand. A small closet on the wall opposite the door. There were no windows. This had been my hideaway when I first joined Team Rocket, untill I met Jessie.
Jessie
I think you're already gone.
It had been two months since she'd vanished. I hadn't been sleeping well and my eating habits had dropped so dramatically that I'd been put under close observation. I hadn't been out on a mission in two weeks; that last mission had been a huge blunder.
I think I'm finally scared now
My throat caught at the sight of the framed picture of her.
Jessie...
You think I'm weak - But I think you're wrong
I will do it without you...
I sat down on the bed, holding the picture and I thought back to the day she left.
Begin Flashback...
The café had been noisey, Rockets in white, black, or in civilian attire were bustling everywhere. With Meowth and two others being the exception, Pokémon were not permitted to be out of their Pokéballs while in the café.
"Where's Jessie? She should be back by now, y'know." Meowth looked up at me, away from his lunch.
I sat back in my seat and looked at her untouched salad, at the lettuce sitting in pools of Italian Dressing. I sighed, a nagging feeling in my stomach.
We'd been interrupted by a Grey, of all Rockets, almost an hour ago and she hadn't been back since. She hadn't looked surprised at the sight of the Grey, almost as if she'd been expecting him to come for her.
An hour later and the nagging feeling turned into a full fledged alarm. The café had quieted down, Jessie's salad long gone, and I was worried, my stomach twisting in knots.
No meeting with the Boss had ever taken this long and...
"You think she left us?" Meowth said snidely.
"Enough! Why don't you shut your Meowth for once?"
Meowth glared at me. "Maybe I'll just go lookin' for her, huh Jamie? At least one of us'll be doin' somethin'." He stalked off, snatching a dessert from the moving cart as he left.
I just glared at his retreating back, unable to shout at him, and I picked up my mocha latte, my hands trembling. What if she did leave?
I think you're already leaving
Feels like your hand is on the door
I tried thinking of reasons, explainations to what was keeping her from coming back to us. We had just had a meeting with the Boss after our latest blunder at catching Pikachu, so it couldn't us being in trouble. Yet the Grey Rocket, so sleek and stealthy, that took Jessie to meet with the Boss...Why a Grey?
I thought this place was an empire
I had my latte refilled, drinking it all down, the hot liquid calming me, soothing my nerves, making it easier to think.
But now I'm relaxed - I can't be sure
I had stayed in the café for so long, that I'd been escorted back to my room. It was an all-night café sure, but there was this irritating loitering rule that I'd inadvertantly broken in my wait for Jessie's return. I didn't sleep much that night.
A few days later, I bumped into Violetta, one of the first people I'd known at Team Rocket. She looked up at me with light purple eyes, her long, wavey hair nearly the same shade, and she smiled. "Hello James," she said, her voice clear and light. "How are you?"
I grimaced, "Not well, I can't find my partner."
Violetta tossed a Pokéball in the air, juggling it. "What if I told you I knew where she was?"
I snatched the ball out of the air, "I'd tell you to tell me."
Violetta looked up at me and smiled.
Five mintues later, I was racing down the tiled hallway, darting past fellow Rockets and lab assistants, I had to get to the VidPhone Center. I was running so fast that I skidded past the open door to the Center. I walked into the Center and up to the counter. The green haired woman smiled at me. "Yes, how may I help you?" She looked like a green haired Joy.
"Uh, I need to make a call to my partner Jessie in Lavender Town. She's at the contact point, if that helps.."
"Of course it does!" She stepped from behind the counter, leading me to a VidPhone. She swiped a card through a slot on the side of the Phone, smiled, and left me to talk.
Personally, I think Violetta knew something was up, she could've sought me out sooner, but I waited for the call to go through.
Her sister Lilia answered and I repressed a shudder when I saw her. Many men would love to date her, let alone get a chance to talk to her, but all I saw was a cold-blooded person. Her deep purple eyes were hooded, as if she were half asleep, but I knew that wasn't the case. Her trademark waist-length purple hair was sleek and she smiled, a smile that never reached her eyes. "Hello James. Would you like to talk to Jessie? She hasn't left yet."
"Yes, I would like to talk to her." I said calmly, but on the inside, I was screaming, She's been missing for days with no word on her safety, what do you think, you idiot!!
"One moment," she got up, the screen fading to green with the VidPhone logo appearing. My stomach tied into knots and I felt a bit lightheaded. Jessie, please be okay. Please come back...
A few minutes passed before she got on the Phone and when the green screen vanished and was replaced with Jessie's face, I sighed and the first words out of my mouth were, "Jessie! I was so worried about you! Why did you leave us?" Instantly, I regretted the whiney tone in my voice.
She frowned and I knew I'd said the wrong thing. "I left you because the Boss sent me on a special mission. One I have to do alone." Her tone was cold and curt.
I think you're so mean - I think we should try
I think I could need - this in my life
I think I'm just scared - I think too much
I know this is wrong it's a problem I'm dealing
"But you need us! You need me. I thought we were a team, Jess." I was desparate and I would say anything to get to her, to get her to come back. I felt tears of fear come to my eyes. "I though...though we had something special between us."
I saw her beautiful sapphire eyes flash, an emotion passed over her face and I thought for an instant that I'd reached her, but I was wrong.
"Oh, you thought so? How sweet. You're wrong though. I will finish this assignment and I will do it without you and Meowth to screw it up. This time, no one blasts off."
With that she stood up, hanging up on me and all I was left with was a green screen to stare at in surprise.
No. Jessie. You can't do this.
I sat there for a moment longer and stood up, leaving the Center.
End Flashback
I was laying on my bed, it was late or early, depending on how you saw it. 2 in the morning and I couldn't sleep, thoughts were running through my mind.
Maybe I should just leave Team Rocket. Perhaps it was time for me to go home. Jessie was my whole reason for being in Team Rocket, I just wanted to see her dreams come true. I just wanted to make her happy. Seeing Jessie happy made me happy and now I couldn't see her.
If you're gone - maybe it's time to go home
There's an awful lot of breathing room
But I can hardly move
The next day found me in the gym, training Victrebell. For once it hadn't attacked me on leaving it's Pokéball. I'd been training with it for weeks after Jessie vanished and I'd trained hard. Wheezing was not a problem with me, it obeyed me. Victrebell, however, acted more like the Twerps Charizard had. I wonder how he got that lizard to obey him?
We were facing off against a Charmeleon and we were winning.
"Victrebell, Razor Leaf attack!"
The opposing Rocket snapped at it's Pokémon. "Ember now!"
The leaves sliced through the Ember as if it didn't exist and the Charmeleon couldn't avoid it. It fainted soon after and Victrebell shrieked in its victory.
I shook hands with the opposing Rocket, recalled Victrebell and left the gym.
For some reason, I kept bumping into Violetta. "Hi James! Will you have coffee with me in the café?"
I shook my head, "I don't think so, I have things to do." I turned from her, walked away.
She ran after me, placing a hand on my shoulder and whispered in my ear, "It's about Jessie!"
If you're gone - baby you need to come home
Cuz there's a little bit of something me
In everything in you
Twenty minutes later, Violetta and I were sitting in the half crowded café at a small table with an umbrella, in the back corner of the room. I hadn't been here since Jessie disappeared. Violetta sipped on a cappachino and I had another mocha latte.
"What about Jessie?"
She sipped her drink, put the cup down and looked up at me. "We need to be both quiet and carefull about this, James, and I emphasise on quiet. What I am about to tell you might be shocking. Can I have your word that you will be quiet? The walls have ears." She stared at me, her light purple eyes piercing.
I nodded, fear in my throat, "I promise."
"Jessie is in a private Rocket facility in Cinnibar. She has been recovering from wounds sustained in a vehicular accident two months ago."
I slumped in my seat, stunned.
"You know of the Ketchum kid, right?"
"Of course I do, who do you think we've been trying to steal a Pikachu from for the last six years? What of him?"
Violetta took another sip, "He's the reason Jessie crashed."
"What?!"
"Mm-hmm, after Jessie caught his Pikachu in the Rock Tunnel, she ran back to my sister's house. He caught up with her as she was getting into her Jeep. They exchanged words and she took off in the Jeep. He chased her from his Charizard's back and he had it attack her with several Flamethrower attacks. They missed her, he didn't want to harm his Pikachu, but one of her tires blew out from the attack and she slammed into a tree." Another sip. "He took his Pikachu from the Jeep and left on his Charizard, leaving Jessie behind in the Jeep, which had caught on fire. A team of Greys got there in time to save her, but she had been injured."
Tears threatened to spill from my eyes and my voice was hoarse when I spoke. "How do you know this?"
"Because I am a Grey and I was there when she was taken to Cinnibar."
The words sank in. She was there..."How long have you known of this?" My tone was harsh. "You were there? You knew I was so upset over her disappearing and you kept this information from me? How could you?"
Violetta sat back and pouted, "Oh Jamie, I didn't mean to get you so upset. But I thought that with Jessie gone that you would need a new partner and I thought..." She trailed off and it dawned on me.
"You wanted me to be your partner?"
She nodded, smiling, "And?"
"You're a Grey! I couldn't be your partner because I'm a White, we're from two different teams."
"I could make you a Grey. I have connections."
I shook my head, "No, I won't. As long as Jessie is alive, I will take no other partner. Never."
She lifted her eyebrows, "As long as she's alive, you said? I have connections there too, James."
I glared at her. "If you have one hair on her head harmed, I will make you sorry. Now, how can I get to Jessie?"
I bet you're hard to get over
I bet the room just won't shine
I bet my hands I can stay here
I bet you need - more than you mind
I'd taken a shower that night and packed my bags with the things I would need. I didn't have any Pokémon that knew Fly so I would have to travel the old fashioned way, by bicycle. Sleep came easy to me that night and I woke early the next morning feeling refreshed. I ducked out of Headquarters without telling anyone where I was going.
I got on the bike and made my way down the private road, past the main gates, and on the road to Viridian, the nearest city to the Headquarters. The easiest way would doubtlessly be to Pallet and taking a ferry to Cinnibar from there. It would also mean the slightest possibility of running into the Twerp, unless he was on the road again.
I arrived in Viridian an hour later and ducked into a Poké Mart to stock up on supplies for my trip on Route 2. On a whim, I bought an Ultra Ball and slipped it onto my Pokébelt, next to Wheezing and Victrebell's Pokéballs.
After a quick stop at the Poké Center, I was on my way to Pallet. I'd changed into jeans and a short sleeved shirt, it was warm as it was and the last thing I needed was to be easily identified as a member of Team Rocket. Not that I was ashamed of being a Rocket, I just needed as few distractions as possible.
Two hours later, I stopped for a rest and let out Wheezing and Victrebell. We were taking a rest on a stone wall, tall grass on the other side of it, tall grass all around us actually. The grass rustled just as I was about to take a bite out of my sandwich and I paused, "Huh?" I looked around and saw something small and yellow hop up from the grass, onto the wall, twenty feet or so from me.
"Pikachu!" It said in a high voice. It was small and I estimated it's level to be no higher than a four.
A Pikachu so close to me, it must've been attracted by the food. Should I feed it or capture it? The latter won out and I sent Victrebell out after it.
The battle was quick and fierce, but over just as soon as it began. It ended with Pikachu in the Ultra Ball. "Finally," I said, holding the Pokéball in my hand. The sunlight glinted off it and I wondered if Jessie would be proud of me. I reattatched the ball to my belt, recalled Wheezing and Victrebell, and made my way to Pallet.
I entered Pallet later that day, around 5 and I was just in time for the last ferry. I paid for my ticket and was on the dock waiting for it, when I heard a familiar voice behind me.
"No, Pikachu, we don't need ketchup."
I froze, it was the Twerp. I turned around slowly and saw him walking down the dock. I hurried onto the ferry, handing my ticket to the guard and found a space far away from the Twerp.
The ferry made it's way smoothly through the waters, but it would still take an hour and a half to get to Cinnibar. I shuddered when I saw a Tentacruel, the sun sparkling off its head.
I thought of Jessie, hoping she'd be okay. She wasn't the easiest person to get along with, but she had her good points. Fierce, determined, beautiful, priceless...
I think you're so mean - I think we should try
I think I could need - this in my life
I think I'm just scared - that I know too much
I can't relate and that's a problem
I'm feeling
Was there something that I'd been doing wrong? Maybe something she wanted that I hadn't noticed. Something she wanted to do...
I didn't want to go home though. Just the thought of seeing Jessibelle made my stomach turn. For someone to look so identical to my Jessie and yet be so cruel.
If you're gone - maybe it's time to go home
There's an awful lot of breathing room
But I can hardly move
If you're gone - baby you need to come home
cuz there's a little bit of something me
In everything in you
No, I couldn't go home yet. I smiled at my resolve. I wouldn't go home unless Jessie was with me.
"I knew it was you!" The sudden voice, so close, snapped me out of my reviere.
"You!" I glared at the Twerp, standing next to me. "I heard all about what you did for Jessie, a whole lot of nothing! You just left her there to die!"
The Twerp scowled down at me, "I did not. I don't know what you're talking about, but I saved her with the help of Charizard."
I stood up suddenly, the Twerp as tall as I was, and I stared into his eyes. "I don't believe you. I was told by someone who was there that you attacked Jessie and left her to die in a burning vehicle."
The Twerp stared at me for a moment, Pikachu scampered onto his shoulder. "Did they also tell you that she couldn't move her legs?"
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying that after her Jeep crashed, that we pulled her out because she couldn't walk. Plus she told me something that only you would know, she gave me a message to tell you."
I wanted to glare at him, to ignore him, but something in his tone, in his eyes broke down my resolve. It was sincerity, something so lacking in Violetta. I sat down. "What was it?"
I think you're so mean - I think we should try
I think I could need - this in my life
I think I'm just scared - do I talk too much
I know it's wrong it's a problem I'm dealing
I stepped off the ferry, waved once at the Twerp.
"Goodbye...Ash."
I got on my bike and made my way in the direction Violetta told me. I patted the badge in my pocket, the key to Jessie.
I'm on my way, Jessie. Just hold on.