Heart and Mind
As the train nears the station its air brakes hiss. Jessie grabs the handles of her travel bag before the train stops. She sits tensely at the edge of her seat. She must call James before springing Cassidy and Butch on him. She leaps up and steps quickly to the door tersely saying to Joy, "Gotta call James."
Cassidy can't resist being a fly on the wall, and quickly rises, "Pardon me," she abruptly says to another departing passenger, she slides by several others to reach the door leaving Butch and Joy together again. Butch looks at Joy keenly sensing his partner's rudeness to her mother. He grabs Joy's bag, much to her surprise. "The least I can do," he says apologetically to her consternation as they rise to get off the train.
Jessie locates the pay phone, it is mounted on the wall next to the small shop in the station, a combination newsstand and pharmacy. She fishes out her calling card, punches the number into the phone, inclines her head as she waits for James to pick up, rolling her eyes and absently twisting the phone cord with her left hand. Her eyes focus and brighten as she hears the familiar voice come on the line, "Hi James it's Jessie. I'm at Pallet Station... No, nothing's wrong really. I brought some old acquaintances with me." She pauses for his brief reply and continues, "Well, you won't be so pleased when you hear who they are." She looks around as James asks the inevitable question. Cassidy ducks quickly behind a column to avoid her rival's gaze, and strains to hear the one-sided conversation. "It's Butch and Cassidy, she claims she's pregnant and I thought we could help them decide what they could do about it." She pauses again and looks thoughtful, "No. She hasn't the heart to do that again. Actually, I was impressed. I had no idea Cass had a heart."
Cassidy winces, and continues to eavesdrop. "No, I am not sure James. I want you and Meowth to be on your guard for any sign this is a con. I'm working on getting some reassurance from Cassidy", Jessie pauses "None of your business!" she smirks, "This is between us girls." She stops, listens at length, and breaks into a charmed smile, "Hi Miya, how's my girl?" she coos. Cassidy blushes and feels like a jerk, will she talk that way soon?
Jessie assures Miya she will soon be home, and kisses the receiver as she softly says goodbye. She heaves a sigh, smooths her dress and tosses her scarlet mane, and turns toward the lobby. Cassidy steps from behind her column, and confronts her nemesis, "All right, let's go get you some 'assurance' dear sister," she says ironically.
Jessie gasps, "You overheard the whole thing, didn't you?"
"Heh, you don't trust me, I don't trust you. It's perfect symmetry. Last time I looked I did have a heart. I simply haven't used it enough to suit you."
Jessie looks sullenly at Cassidy and sighs, "OK, we can buy a kit in here," and they enter the store. They find the correct aisle and go over the limited array of options. Cassidy picks out a pink and blue box with the words "Bay-b May-b?" on it and says, "This is the one I used in Celadon." "OK, whatever," Jessie replies taking it from Cassidy.
"I'm gonna get some coffee too. I need a diuretic, if you get my drift," she says winking.
Jessie colours, "Um, sure whatever works for you." She turns and takes the box to the cashier. She is shocked to see that the cashier is May Oak, "You can't get away from folks you know in a town this size. She must've taken a summer job," she notes with embarrassment. "Hi May," she says trying to sound nonchalant.
"Has Miya got a sibling coming Jessie?" May says without a trace of guile.
"Believe it or not it's for someone else, an old acquaintance who's in town for a visit."
"Must be that pretty blond you came in here with," says the observant May.
Cassidy arrives with her cup and looks evenly at the younger woman, "Yes that would be me. What of it?" she says in a flat and edgy tone.
May's eye narrow slightly, "No need to be unfriendly ma'am. I guess you must be a Rocket 'acquaintance', huh?"
Cassidy sighs as Jessie glares at her, "Look...I've been on the road too much, it's made me cross. I'd rather not have anything to do with Team Rocket, thank you very much."
"That's OK. Any friend of Jessie's is a friend of mine. Jessie did wonders for my Bellossom and Snubbull. I've learned a lot from her and James. That'll be $13.23, please."
As they head for the lobby Cassidy snorts, "Friend! That'll be the day. "
Jessie sighs, "It's funny in an awful sort of way how our paths keep crossing. Why were we destined to keep smacking into each other? Seems like we've been brought together to teach each other something, but what?"
"Hmph! Never let your girlfriend near your crush. Never show mercy. We should have offed you in Mandarin City instead of dumping you in the street."
"Do you really believe that? Then why didn't you cut me at the Fuchsia Poké Centre, or kill me in Mandarin?"
"I'm not as tough as I talk. What do you think we're teaching each other?" Cassidy retorts.
"I don't know, I kind of believe that you were meant to show me your mind and I was meant to show you my heart," Jessie muses.
"What would I do with that undisciplined organ?" Cassidy growls.
"What couldn't you do if you had a heart? No doubt I could use a little mental discipline myself."
"Well, I guess I can agree with the last." Cassidy observes, "You believe what you want. I've never been able to respect you because you let your emotions dictate your actions. You seldom think before you act. That's why you invited Butch and I to come here. You see my baby through the lens of your own wretched life and want to save it. For a gal with your past you sure are sentimental."
"And I think you're a cold-hearted ice queen," Jessie parries.
Cassidy looks up to see Butch and Joy sitting in the molded plastic seats in the terminal and cuts off the debate, "Let's save it for later Jess and get out of here."
Cassidy looks fondly at her partner, "So hows it going Butch? Hitting it off with mom?"
He looks up distractedly, "Funny you should say that. Yeah, your mom's OK. I've been telling her what we've been up to all these years."
Cassidy blanches, "I hope you left some things out. I have few regrets, but mom would have 'em for me."
Joy sighs and looks on her girl with pity, "As if I could change the past, or you ever really worried what I'd think of your actions."
Jessie interrupts, "I parked the car in the long-term lot. There's just enough room for the four of us."
They reach the car, a silver Lexus sedan, Jessie says, "I suppose Butch ought to sit in front for the leg room, unless you can stand being next to me Cassidy. You and Joy will have to put up with the car seat. Heh, something you'll have to get used to guys," she adds looking significantly at Cassidy.
Cassidy looks glumly at the blue car seat with the pink teddy bear motif as she slips into the back seat, "I hadn't thought of that," she says woodenly, "Guess I haven't thought of much."
Jessie looks over her shoulder from behind the wheel, "Oh, you like planning things Cassidy, after nine months you should be well prepared."
"I wish," says the blond as she stares out the window of the car as it backs out of the parking space.
They drive down the main street and turn left at the outskirts of town onto Oddish Street. "There's the Ketchem place," Jessie says offhand as they pass a split level behind a picket fence with a garden in the corner of the yard. Delia Ketchem, a trim brunette with a ponytail, waves from her knees as she works in the garden. At the end of the street they pass through a stone gate and head up a curving tree-lined drive to a larger split level with a spacious yard and separate garage with a studio atop it. A trim man with long blue hair parted in the middle stands in front of the garage with a scruffy, raffish looking Meowth and a pretty little girl about the same height as the Meowth with a mop of lavender hair brightened by violet highlights.
Jessie pulls up beside James and rolls down the window, "Hey you handsome highwayman, I missed you."
"Missed you too Jessie," a smiling James returns, "Um...Hi Cassidy...Butch, this is a surprise," he says to his former teammates. "Good to see you Joy. How's your niece doing with the Fuchsia Centre?"
"She's doing fine James," Joy replies as she hugs James primly, "How's our little Miya?" she says, quickly turning her attention to the beaming four year old.
"Not bad, not bad at all, James," Butch says appraisingly looking at the house and grounds, "Must be nice having dough."
"It keeps the wolf from the door, but it wouldn't have been as nice if I had to live with Jessiebelle instead of Jessica."
"I would have had no idea a couple of years ago, but since you were kind enough to 'share' Jessiebelle with Team Rocket I must agree," Butch concurs.
The men turn around to see what Jessie and Cassidy are up to but the women have disappeared. "Huh, wonder where those two went?" James murmurs.
Joy looks up from her tete-a-tete with young Miyamoto, "They went in to the bathroom I think."
Jessie hands the pink and blue box to Cassidy, as the latter heads into the bathroom adjoining the master bedroom. Cassidy closes the door with a soft click and Jessie sinks to the bed looking pensive. When Cassidy reappears, Jessie sounds an apologetic note, "I hope you understand why I need to know for sure Cass. I wouldn't force the issue if I thought I could trust you."
"Forget it, I'd probably do the same to you. Or worse," Cassidy allows matter of factly.
"I didn't bring you home to show off. I also want you to know that," Jessie feels self-conscious.
"Look! You can stop feeling sorry for me, or worrying about what I think. I seldom give a thought about what you think," Cassidy mutters irritably, "Yeah, all this looks good, the kid's a beauty. I'm glad you want my kid to have a family, OK? Just forget it."
"Sorry, I guess I feel I don't belong here myself. I always dreamed about being secure, but I still wake up at night in a cold sweat thinking someone will take it from me."
"Oh cut it out, I refuse to give you the satisfaction...Um, I guess I should check the test," Cassidy says glancing at her watch.
Cassidy reappears in the doorway and defiantly flips the test blotter into Jessie's lap, "Read it and weep," she says.
It's a positive. Jessie looks up at her longtime adversary. She thinks, "Does she know what a burden she's taken on?' and, "Wow, she really is going to be a mother!" She spontaneously rises and half consciously crosses the room with outstretched arms and flushed face. She throws her arms around Cassidy's shoulders and plunges her face into Cassidy's hair.
"What th'....Hey!!" Cassidy squeals, "Cut it out!"
"I should never have doubted your courage," Jessie says as Cassidy wriggles free and looks at her in alarm. "I act on my feelings Cass. Anyone who takes on parenthood deserves congratulations and support. Good for you!"
"Uh, thanks Jess," Cassidy says looking stunned but vaguely pleased.
"Time to meet with James and Butch," Jessie says.
"Guess so," mumbles the mystified Cassidy.