Chapter 15: Jesse's vow
Jesse pushed James behind her as she faced Giovanni and his men. "They won't hurt you again James I promise," she said.
James looked down at Talia's body. That could be Jesse, his Jesse. And it still might be. He stepped away from Jesse and walked slowly and painfully towards his Boss. "James what are you doing?" she cried.
"He's won Jesse" James whispered. "I have to give up"
"No" Jesse grabbed hold of her best friend's arm.
"Let Jesse go and I will do what you want" James said to Giovanni. "If you kill her then I will kill myself and you will never get the answers you want"
Giovanni knew James was speaking the truth and anyway he could hunt Jesse down after James had done the viewings. He nodded "Jessica you may leave us"
"No" Jesse said. "James is coming with me"
"Jesse please go" James begged as another shoot of pain tore through his head.
"Talia was willing to die for Taylor and I am willing to die for you" Jesse replied.
"Well I won't let you" James shouted.
"James I told you before. Being noble doesn't suit you!"
"I am not being noble Jessica. I am telling you to go because I love you"
"You love me?"
"Forever Jesse"
"Oh James" Jesse whispered. She wanted to tell him how much that meant to her but she couldn't find the words. The expression 'I love you' had been one Jesse feared and hated for so many years and now so long after her mother's death the one person who she knew could make her the happiest girl in the world was saying it too her. But James was speaking again now. "I know you don't love me Jesse. I know I'm not good enough for you. You need some one to protect you and look after you. I can't give you that. Go don't throw you're life away on me. I'm not worth it Jesse"
This brought fresh tears to her eyes. James really thought he was not good enough for her? That was so far from the truth. And he did protect her. By looking after him Jesse had remained as strong as her mother, a characteristic that she had always wanted to keep for her mother's sake. James made her feel safe. After her mother died there had been no one Jesse really cared about to wake up with in the mornings. James gave her companionship and showed her how to love again. After Miyamoto died Jesse vowed never to love any one again. But she met James and as their friendship grew and they became older Jesse knew that she loved him with all her heart. It had just taken her a little while to realise it when she was in danger of loosing him. Now Giovanni was going to take James away from her just like he had taken her mother. Well Jesse was not going to let him. She had vowed to protect James and she was going to keep that promise.
"James get back here right now," Jesse shouted. "I am not going to let him take you from me again"
James looked back at her torn between what Jesse thought she wanted and his want to save her. In this hesitation Giovanni motioned for one of his men to grab James by the shoulders pulling him away from Jesse. She gave a cry and tried to pull James back but Jesse was too late. Giovanni gave a triumphant laugh "You are lucky I intend to honour my word Jessica" Giovanni said. "You can go but if you ever show you're face round here or go within a mile of James then I will kill you myself"
Jesse sank down on her knees and buried her face in one hand in pretence of crying the other hand feeling behind her for the gun that Talia had dropped. "Stop this sobbing" Giovanni shouted. "Go or I will kill you"
Jesse's hand closed around the gun. Smiling she took her other hand away from her face and gave Giovanni a look that reminded him of Miyamoto's victory gaze. For a fleeting second Giovanni thought that it was Miyamoto on her knees grinning wickedly before him and not her daughter. In that moment Jesse brought the gun out in front of her and fired but nothing happened. It was empty! This couldn't happen! She was so close to beating him! Giovanni was now the one to have the cocky gaze as he stared down at his helpless agent. James was struggling now tears streaming down his face, he knew that Jesse had just sealed her own fate.
"You know Jessica you have guts," Giovanni said drawing his own gun. "I respected that in you're mother. But she was suffering from the same thing that you and James suffer from. Miyamoto's love for you ultimately destroyed all the evil in her. For a time I thought you would equal her but when I saw you and James together I realised that you are both worthless. But this is where you and James differ. Whilst he has the future sight he is useful. You have nothing to offer Team Rocket. I was going to honour my word as I said before. But I think I can get James to see things my way no matter what. Whilst you live he will be strong. If you die then there will be nothing left. After his little confession of the heart earlier I think its safe to assume that you're death will crush him"
"You promised!" James shouted as Giovanni aimed his gun at Jesse. "Jesse no!"
Giovanni laughed to himself as he placed a finger on the trigger. He was enjoying this immensely and James' reaction once his beloved fell down beside Talia would be even better.
"POLICE! NOBODY MOVE!"
Giovanni whirled round his eyes widened in shock as he saw Officer Jenny with dozens of other policemen and women. Most of them were holding Rocket agents with their hands handcuffed behind their backs. But backing Jenny up were 15 officers, which outnumbered Giovanni and his men by far. "Put down you're weapons," Jenny said next. The men with Giovanni did so but Jesse had a feeling that Giovanni would not give in that easily. Jenny uttered an order and the policemen advanced on Giovanni's men. The man holding James threw him to the floor. Jesse ran to him. "James?" she asked hardly daring to breathe. He nodded weakly to let her know that he was all right. Giovanni was not happy about being close to defeat. He felt what Talia had meant. All his dreams were coming crashing down around him. Everything he had done was amounting to nothing. It couldn't end like this! He had to do something fast. Giovanni pointed his gun in the air and fired at the lights on the ceiling. Jesse shrieked as the glass from them came crashing down around them. She threw herself on top of James to shield him. The HQ was plunged into darkness. Jesse could hear Officer Jenny yelling orders and then she felt someone haul her to her feet. "Jesse?" James called as he felt her weight shift. Jesse was about to reply when a hand clamped down over her mouth as she was dragged up. Jesse heard James cry out and she was then being pulled along. Jesse struggled but it was no good. Giovanni's grip on her was too strong. Jesse was in no doubt that the Rocket Boss had her and most probably had James too. Jesse realised also that he would kill her at least maybe James. Giovanni was beaten and he would not go down without taking them with him. The police were in a hopeless position. With the lights out they would have trouble organising themselves and they did not know their way around the HQ. Jesse felt tears in her eyes. She had failed James after all. Then the hand round her mouth was removed and she was thrown to the floor. It was light now as Giovanni had only taken out the corridor lights. Jesse looked around and instantly recognised the room they were in. It was Giovanni's office. The Persian, oblivious to what was going on was snoozing on Giovanni's desk. The Boss himself stood by the door holding James tightly with one hand and locking the door with the other. Giovanni smiled coldly and pushed James away from him. The male fell down beside Jesse in a heap on the floor. Jesse wanted to comfort him but there was nothing she could say. They were beaten and James knew it. Jesse only had the silver knife tucked away in her belt that she had stolen from the Saffron base to defend herself with and Giovanni had a gun. Jesse wished now she had taken a gun instead but you had to sign a form to take a gun and Domino monitored the forms. Jesse doubted that Giovanni's most trusted agent would let her take out a gun assuming that Domino knew at least some of the story. Giovanni chuckled and went over to his desk and picked up the phone keeping the gun trained on them as he dialled a number.
"Get the combat unit over here immediately. We have a situation" Giovanni snapped to the person on the other end of the phone. "Right away sir" was the reply.
Giovanni slammed the phone down and smiled coldly at Jesse and James. "My combat unit will get rid of the police," he said coolly. "Then nothing will stand in my way. There is just one other thing I have to take care of now".
Giovanni once again levelled the gun at Jesse's head. She closed her eyes and awaited the pain.
But the shot never came. Jesse opened her eyes scared of what she might see. But she didn't see anything. James was in front of her blocking Giovanni's aim. "James get out of my way" Giovanni shouted angrily. James shook his head "If you want to hurt Jesse then you'll have to shoot me first"
Giovanni let out a scream of rage and lunged at James easily pushing him aside and grabbing hold of Jesse. He slammed her into the wall behind them and placed the gun barrel between her eyes. "See James I always win. Do you really think that you can stop me? You are more pathetic than I thought"
"Jesse" James cried. He made another attempt to help her. Giovanni got a grip on Jesse's throat and with his hand holding the gun he turned on James. He lashed out catching James hard across the forehead with the gun. Jesse watched him horror as her friend fell down. He groaned once and then was still.
Giovanni once again placed the gun between Jesse's eyes. "When he wakes the first thing he will see is you're body" Giovanni hissed. Jesse gasped as he choked off her air with one hand the other pressing the gun to her head tightly, a finger reaching for the trigger. Jesse let her eyes stray to her partner. She couldn't let this monster win. She had promised James she'd save him and she would. A smile formed on her lips, which startled Giovanni. "What now?" he demanded. Jesse brought the stolen knife up and plunged it into her Boss's chest. Giovanni didn't utter a sound and gripped the silver handle before falling to the floor. A hand flew to Jesse's mouth and she started to vomit at what she had just done. Giovanni grinned sardonically. She was as pathetic as her partner in his eyes was.
"You are weak" Giovanni gasped with agony. The pain starting to come on now "You and James both are. I should never have…" he broke off and took a few shallow breaths. Jesse regained herself and stared at her Boss feeling more hatred than she had ever done before in her life. For a second she was tempted to finish him off. Then she looked passed Giovanni and towards James. She had kept her vows. Giovanni, she was sure would die and she had saved James. Jesse went to her friend and shook him gently. There was no response. Jesse held onto him and turned back to Giovanni. He was watching her his eyes dulling now. Death was not far off for him. He nodded towards James and smiled. "I think I may have taken him with me"
Jesse's eyes narrowed "Even if you have there is now way that you could take him to where you're going. You will rot in hell"
Giovanni chuckled at this "Maybe so Jessica but I will die happy knowing that…" he paused his face twisted in pain "That I have ruined you're life in the process. I just wish I had killed him"
"Bastard" Jesse shouted holding James closer. "You are the weak one not I. You were so obsessed with power and controlling the world to notice how weak you actually are. Evil is a weakness and I understand that now. Evil monsters like you will stop at nothing to get what they want and will destroy themselves to get it. Then they are gone and what is left? Nothing that's what! You are weak!"
Giovanni didn't reply; but Jesse was in no doubt that he heard her. He closed his eyes and shuddered, then was still. Jesse could hear the police banging on the door now. The key was lying a little way off from Giovanni's body. But Jesse didn't have the strength to get it. She could hear the police breaking it down. Events took their toll and Jesse broke down completely.
Officer Jenny gasped at the sight as she and three other police officers burst into the room. She saw the dead tyrant and then Jesse and James. "Get an ambulance" she ordered before going to them.
"Are you ok?" she asked the sobbing girl in front of her.
Jesse didn't reply and hugged her friend tighter. Jenny tried to get her to stand but all she got was a whimper and Jesse hanging onto him still. "What's you're name?" Jenny tried again.
"Jesse" was the muffled reply.
"Jesse listen to me. I've got someone going for help. Are you hurt?"
"James" she whispered. "My James"
Jenny gently pulled Jesse away and went to the male lying beside her. Jenny felt for a pulse. There was one but it was very weak. "Jesse he's in a bad way. You have to let me help him," Jenny said.
"I know" Jesse sobbed. "But I saved him from Giovanni"
"I know you did" Jenny said gently. By the looks of them they had been through so much. Jenny sighed and their ordeal wasn't over yet.
The pain seemed far off now…just a distant memory. Some times little flickers of light would flash teasingly across the blackness he had found himself in. He couldn't move no matter how hard he tried. He wanted to open his eyes and tell her he was all right but the blackness, which held him in its prison as Giovanni had done before. There could be no way out or was it just that he was afraid to leave here. The blackness was comforting and protected him from what was real. But Jesse needed him to come back. He heard her often enough sobbing and crying. He could wake if he wanted to but did he? This blackness kept him safe. Jesse had kept him safe! Jesse the one woman he loved was crying because of him. He could escape from the blackness. He just had to be strong one last time. If he could just open his eyes then Jesse would try to help him. But she could not. This was some thing that James would have to do alone.
"Will he live?" Jesse asked as Lillian assessed her friend. It had been a week since the HQ had fallen. Mondo and Meowth were the ones who called the police. They had realised that Jesse alone could not save James from the clutches of Giovanni. In return for the information on the HQ whereabouts and the location of the missing trainers Jenny had promised that they would all be cleared of any charges against them. But this brought little comfort to Jesse now. Everyone wanted answers. Officer Jenny was still to interview her about James' role in all of this. Stabbing Giovanni had been self- defence so Jesse would not be charged with murder or anything. That was one thing she didn't need right now. Mondo and Meowth had refrained from mentioning the future sight but Jesse knew that it would come out eventually. She had only left James' side once. That was to see Butch and Cassidy. Amazingly the green haired male was still alive when the police found him at the top of the stairs. One of Giovanni's men had shot him in the stomach and he had another bullet in his side. It was touch and go the first few days but Butch was now making a quick recovery. Cassidy had to be treated for concussion but it was nothing serious. The biggest surprise was when Cassidy told Jesse she didn't want their money for helping them. She said they were still friends despite all the fighting and that Butch coming so close to death reminded her that money was not the most important thing in the world. Cassidy and Butch were lucky. Jesse just wished it were the same for her. Giovanni had won after all. Jesse may have killed him but he had destroyed James anyway. The doctors were shocked when James was brought in. His brainwaves were too erratic and were different from normal. Because of this Lillian was called out from the Viridian City prison where she had been held with the rest of Team Rocket. Lillian was the only doctor with the knowledge to help James. It was the future sight that was causing the erratic brainwaves. James was in a coma just as Lillian had feared. It was the blow Giovanni had dealt her love that caused this. It triggered the erratic signals to become too fast and ultimately caused the coma. Lillian was sure that he could hear them but was unable to respond. Jesse had stopped crying on the third day. She had used up all her tears and left her feeling numb and empty inside. It wasn't fair! They couldn't have gone through all of that just to have James die now! He loved her! He said so himself. If James loved her he would find a way to come back to her. "Will he live?" Jesse repeated.
"As I said he is in a state of living now"
"You know what I mean"
"I will tell you what I told Giovanni. The viewings those last few days took a lot out of him. Then all this business with Giovanni on top of that. Maybe he would have been ok if it weren't for the blow to the head then maybe but…. Look Jesse the chances of him recovering are remote. I'm sorry"
Jesse hung her head. She didn't doubt what the doctor was saying but the reality of her words hurt too much. Lillian left and Jesse was alone. Mondo couldn't face seeing James and Meowth blamed himself. Jesse in truth didn't know whom to blame. True Meowth had messed up but she did too. Giovanni was dead now so Jesse had kept her vow to James but she was going to loose him any way. Life was so cruel! It took every thing from her. Her mother, James, who next would die?
Jesse sat down beside her friend and kissed him softly. She had done this before once. Just brushed her lips against his. But this kiss was different. It was the first and last proper kiss they would share together. Jesse drew back and wiped a tear from her eye. She never even got to tell him how much his confession meant to her. And that she loved him too. Jesse turned away and looked out of the window. The sun was peaking through the clouds that threatened rain. A flock of Spearow flew past the window and over the horizon. Life would go on for them but life for Jesse stopped the minute that she lost James.
"What am I going to do without him?" she spoke out loud. Her voice cracking slightly at the thought of spending life without her friend. Who would share in all her triumphs and failures? Who would she turn to when things got bad? Who would she laugh with? Cry with and spend every waking minute with? Who would she sleep next to at night knowing that she was completely safe? And James had been through so much. He deserved to live! Jesse slumped back down in her chair and drifted off to sleep…
The next time Jesse woke she felt movement next to her. "James?" she said sleepily before realising that it could not be him. Jesse didn't bother to open her eyes and just slipped her hand into his own.
His hand responded to her touch by gripping it ever so slightly. Jesse opened her eyes to look at him. "James" Jesse said louder this time.
James' grip on her hand became stronger and his eyelids fluttered a few times. "James wake up"
He coughed once and his eyes slowly opened. James flinched at the harsh light of the hospital.
"James!" Jesse cried. He smiled and tried to sit up. "Ok James take it easy" Jesse said helping him into a sitting position. "Jessica" he whispered. "How long have I been out?"
"A week"
"Is that all?"
Jesse smiled at the puzzled expression on his face. The expression she had always loved and yet had frustrated her at the same time. "James I've missed you". Jesse laughed and then started to cry. He had come back to her! Her James had come back to her! Jesse held him close and continued to cry.
That moment Officer Jenny came in. "Jessica I would like to have that interview some time today. I realise it is a difficult time for you but I've had the press on my back all day. They want a statement from us this afternoon and I…." Jenny broke off.
"He woke a few minutes ago" Jesse said wiping her eyes.
Officer Jenny smiled warmly at the pair of them. Their love for each other was clear. "Do you want me to get a doctor?" she asked.
"James?" Jesse asked still not quite believing that he was awake.
"I feel fine" James replied in surprise. There was no pain in his head at all now. In fact he felt better now than he had done in a long time. "Maybe we should get Lillian," Jesse said.
"I'm fine" James insisted but Jesse called her anyway. She had to be certain that he was going to be all right.
Lillian was adamant that she ran some tests and preferred it if Jesse left them alone. Officer Jenny wanted that interview anyway so Jesse went with her to the station but on the way she informed Meowth and Mondo of James' recovery. They were both ecstatic and Mondo raced off to the hospital shop to buy James the biggest packet of donuts he could find. Meowth was worried that James would hold a grudge against him but Jesse assured the cat that this could never be so. James cared a great deal for Meowth and would never hate him. Jesse doubted if her friend was even capable of hate.
"Right" Officer Jenny said taking a seat behind one of the interview tables. "I want to know exactly what happened"
Jesse explained as best she could about the future sight. When she had finished Jenny looked at her as if knowing what Jesse was going to ask.
"I don't want this getting out," Jesse said firmly. "Giovanni is not the only one who would try to use James. He can't go through this again. It's not fair"
"I understand" Jenny said. "I will organise a cover story for the press" she reached into her uniform pocket and handed Jesse a piece of paper. It was a cheque with £6000 on it.
"We seized Giovanni's riches and my superior and I both agree that the £500 compensation will be given to every trainer that was effected by this whole mess and the rest will be given to the gym leaders and a Pokemon charity. You and you're friends get more than the others are. Without you then Giovanni would still be at large. Think of it as our way of thanking you"
"Thank you" Jesse said pocketing the cheque. She already knew what she was going to do with it.
When Jesse got back to the hospital James was surrounded by get well cards and chocolates. Meowth was sitting on his friend's lap and Mondo was talking excitedly about his part in rescuing his idols. Jesse paused by the cards and looked at one with a Pikachu on. She raised an eyebrow when she read that it was from the twerps. "They came in for a few minutes" James explained offering the box of chocolates to her. Jesse shook her head and read the card next to it. "James, glad you're better, Cassidy and 'Botch'. Jesse chuckled at this. Maybe getting shot had improved Butch's sense of humour. Then she saw another bit printed underneath in capital letters. 'Just remember James. My name is Butch!'
"What did Lillian say?" Jesse asked taking her seat back beside James. He looked sad for a minute before speaking. "I'll be fine if I rest but…"
"But what?" Jesse's felt a lump in her throat. Was he going to be left with problems or some thing? She didn't know if she could bear to see James go through any more pain.
"My brainwaves are back to normal. No trace of the TM was found in my blood. Jesse I can't view anymore. It was like I never had it at all. No pain or anything. Just nothing"
Jesse didn't know whether to act relieved or upset for him. James had loved using future sight for the team. He said it made him feel worth some thing. Now it was gone.
"I'm sorry," she said at last.
"I'm not," James said quietly. "I thought about it and I realised that I was always worth something. What Giovanni did was evil. The future sight didn't make me special. It was a twisted experiment thought up by a man driven by a lust for power and control. I was just the experiment to him. You and my real friends always thought I was special. I don't need any powers to be special and I realise that now. Everyone is special in his or her own way. I guess I just had trouble believing in myself at first"
"Jimmy" Meowth spoke up. "Dat is without a doubt da most intelligent ting yous have ever said"
This caused laughter from all of them. Jesse then remembered some thing else James had said to her. As politely as she could she asked Meowth and Mondo to leave them alone for a bit. Some of the light died in Mondo's eyes as he guessed what would happen from here onwards. But he knew better than to stop it. He was old enough to know that Jesse's heart belonged to James.
"So how are you really feeling?" Jesse asked when they had gone.
"Frightened"
"Why?"
"Giovanni"
"I killed him"
"Lillian told me but it makes me wonder how many others suffered. I'm also scared of the future. I know we'll be all right but I don't know if I can make it on my own Jesse"
"James you won't be on your own!"
"I still mean what I said back there, Jesse. I don't want to hold you back. I love you too much"
Jesse laughed at this. "James you are not holding me back. If I felt that then I would be gone by now."
"You would?"
"Yes and James when you said that you weren't good enough for me. You couldn't have been more wrong! If anything you are too good for me"
"Jesse I don't understand"
"James I have loved you for longer than you know"
"You really mean that?" James asked. His Jesse loved him? That wasn't possible was it? She had kissed him but that didn't mean anything did it? Jesse kissed Mondo too on the cheek before and was always blowing kisses to him. Jesse couldn't love him. Why would she?
Jesse looked at James something telling her that he didn't believe her. Well she would have to make him believe her.
"James" Jesse said firmly, cupping his chin in her hand and forcing him to look into her sapphire blue eyes. "I love you"
As she said the words it felt as if the weight of the world had been lifted from her shoulders. All her life Jesse had been battling with that phrase and now she had said it and meant it with more feeling and passion than she ever thought was possible. Jesse had said it to James once before but not to his face. She had told him this as he lay suffering that time in the infirmary with what Jesse thought was the flu. Jesse doubted that James even remembered that she had said it. "I love you too" James whispered. Jesse took the next step by leaning down and kissing him softly. James responded eagerly pulling her closer. At last they had to part to draw breath. "This is a lot better than the first time," James said quietly.
"You felt that?"
"Yes Jesse"
"Here" Jesse said remembering the cheque. "Officer Jenny gave it to us. I think you should have it. Giovanni hurt you the most"
James flinched at the mention of his Boss. He read the amount and set it down on the cabinet beside his bed. "I think we should share it. He hurt us all. Me, you, Meowth, Mondo, Cassidy and Botch"
Jesse smiled and hugged him tightly.
"James I vowed to kill him for what he did to you" Jesse whispered as she held him.
"Oh Jesse" James sobbed.
Jesse pulled him into another kiss knowing that they had the future together now. She knew this in her heart and that was more accurate than any viewing to the future.
A Week Later:
Lillian smiled as she came into the hospital room for the final time. Jesse was sleeping in the chair beside James' bed, her head resting next to James' own. James himself was awake and seemed troubled. Lillian knew what this was about and came closer. "Are you sure?" she asked.
"Yes" James replied sitting up being careful not to wake Jesse as he did so. "It has caused too much pain Lillian. I don't want to put Jesse through all that again"
"I think she would rather know the truth James"
"No. No one must know. There will be others"
"Have you tried to view lately?"
"One last time yes. It will always be there but I think its better if Jesse thinks its over. You can understand that can't you?"
Lillian smiled sadly "Giovanni was wrong when he said we made a mistake using you for it. You know that the future sight is destructive. You could do much good with it but there is also the opportunity to do evil. I know James that you won't use it to hurt any one. That's why you're secrets safe with me"
Lillian turned to exit. "What will you do now?" James asked after her.
"I have to pay for what I did to you James" was the sad reply.
Then she was gone. James lay back down and closed his eyes. He had just needed rest that was all and then the future sight returned. But no one would know it. James didn't want to lie to Jesse but it was better that they all thought future sight was a thing of the past. That way his and Jesse's happiness was insured. Future sight was a part of James now but now he had accepted that he could push it back to a far corner of his mind and never let it come between him and Jesse again.
The End.
Authors Notes: Well it is finally finished! I would appreciate feed back on this coz I am not too great at writing romantic scenes! I can hear cheering that Giovanni got what he deserved! Thanks to every one who reviewed this and those who just took the time to read it. It meant a lot to me. Thank you to my sis and best mate Jade for the encouragement when writing this fic.
Jesse pushed James behind her as she faced Giovanni and his men. "They won't hurt you again James I promise," she said.
James looked down at Talia's body. That could be Jesse, his Jesse. And it still might be. He stepped away from Jesse and walked slowly and painfully towards his Boss. "James what are you doing?" she cried.
"He's won Jesse" James whispered. "I have to give up"
"No" Jesse grabbed hold of her best friend's arm.
"Let Jesse go and I will do what you want" James said to Giovanni. "If you kill her then I will kill myself and you will never get the answers you want"
Giovanni knew James was speaking the truth and anyway he could hunt Jesse down after James had done the viewings. He nodded "Jessica you may leave us"
"No" Jesse said. "James is coming with me"
"Jesse please go" James begged as another shoot of pain tore through his head.
"Talia was willing to die for Taylor and I am willing to die for you" Jesse replied.
"Well I won't let you" James shouted.
"James I told you before. Being noble doesn't suit you!"
"I am not being noble Jessica. I am telling you to go because I love you"
"You love me?"
"Forever Jesse"
"Oh James" Jesse whispered. She wanted to tell him how much that meant to her but she couldn't find the words. The expression 'I love you' had been one Jesse feared and hated for so many years and now so long after her mother's death the one person who she knew could make her the happiest girl in the world was saying it too her. But James was speaking again now. "I know you don't love me Jesse. I know I'm not good enough for you. You need some one to protect you and look after you. I can't give you that. Go don't throw you're life away on me. I'm not worth it Jesse"
This brought fresh tears to her eyes. James really thought he was not good enough for her? That was so far from the truth. And he did protect her. By looking after him Jesse had remained as strong as her mother, a characteristic that she had always wanted to keep for her mother's sake. James made her feel safe. After her mother died there had been no one Jesse really cared about to wake up with in the mornings. James gave her companionship and showed her how to love again. After Miyamoto died Jesse vowed never to love any one again. But she met James and as their friendship grew and they became older Jesse knew that she loved him with all her heart. It had just taken her a little while to realise it when she was in danger of loosing him. Now Giovanni was going to take James away from her just like he had taken her mother. Well Jesse was not going to let him. She had vowed to protect James and she was going to keep that promise.
"James get back here right now," Jesse shouted. "I am not going to let him take you from me again"
James looked back at her torn between what Jesse thought she wanted and his want to save her. In this hesitation Giovanni motioned for one of his men to grab James by the shoulders pulling him away from Jesse. She gave a cry and tried to pull James back but Jesse was too late. Giovanni gave a triumphant laugh "You are lucky I intend to honour my word Jessica" Giovanni said. "You can go but if you ever show you're face round here or go within a mile of James then I will kill you myself"
Jesse sank down on her knees and buried her face in one hand in pretence of crying the other hand feeling behind her for the gun that Talia had dropped. "Stop this sobbing" Giovanni shouted. "Go or I will kill you"
Jesse's hand closed around the gun. Smiling she took her other hand away from her face and gave Giovanni a look that reminded him of Miyamoto's victory gaze. For a fleeting second Giovanni thought that it was Miyamoto on her knees grinning wickedly before him and not her daughter. In that moment Jesse brought the gun out in front of her and fired but nothing happened. It was empty! This couldn't happen! She was so close to beating him! Giovanni was now the one to have the cocky gaze as he stared down at his helpless agent. James was struggling now tears streaming down his face, he knew that Jesse had just sealed her own fate.
"You know Jessica you have guts," Giovanni said drawing his own gun. "I respected that in you're mother. But she was suffering from the same thing that you and James suffer from. Miyamoto's love for you ultimately destroyed all the evil in her. For a time I thought you would equal her but when I saw you and James together I realised that you are both worthless. But this is where you and James differ. Whilst he has the future sight he is useful. You have nothing to offer Team Rocket. I was going to honour my word as I said before. But I think I can get James to see things my way no matter what. Whilst you live he will be strong. If you die then there will be nothing left. After his little confession of the heart earlier I think its safe to assume that you're death will crush him"
"You promised!" James shouted as Giovanni aimed his gun at Jesse. "Jesse no!"
Giovanni laughed to himself as he placed a finger on the trigger. He was enjoying this immensely and James' reaction once his beloved fell down beside Talia would be even better.
"POLICE! NOBODY MOVE!"
Giovanni whirled round his eyes widened in shock as he saw Officer Jenny with dozens of other policemen and women. Most of them were holding Rocket agents with their hands handcuffed behind their backs. But backing Jenny up were 15 officers, which outnumbered Giovanni and his men by far. "Put down you're weapons," Jenny said next. The men with Giovanni did so but Jesse had a feeling that Giovanni would not give in that easily. Jenny uttered an order and the policemen advanced on Giovanni's men. The man holding James threw him to the floor. Jesse ran to him. "James?" she asked hardly daring to breathe. He nodded weakly to let her know that he was all right. Giovanni was not happy about being close to defeat. He felt what Talia had meant. All his dreams were coming crashing down around him. Everything he had done was amounting to nothing. It couldn't end like this! He had to do something fast. Giovanni pointed his gun in the air and fired at the lights on the ceiling. Jesse shrieked as the glass from them came crashing down around them. She threw herself on top of James to shield him. The HQ was plunged into darkness. Jesse could hear Officer Jenny yelling orders and then she felt someone haul her to her feet. "Jesse?" James called as he felt her weight shift. Jesse was about to reply when a hand clamped down over her mouth as she was dragged up. Jesse heard James cry out and she was then being pulled along. Jesse struggled but it was no good. Giovanni's grip on her was too strong. Jesse was in no doubt that the Rocket Boss had her and most probably had James too. Jesse realised also that he would kill her at least maybe James. Giovanni was beaten and he would not go down without taking them with him. The police were in a hopeless position. With the lights out they would have trouble organising themselves and they did not know their way around the HQ. Jesse felt tears in her eyes. She had failed James after all. Then the hand round her mouth was removed and she was thrown to the floor. It was light now as Giovanni had only taken out the corridor lights. Jesse looked around and instantly recognised the room they were in. It was Giovanni's office. The Persian, oblivious to what was going on was snoozing on Giovanni's desk. The Boss himself stood by the door holding James tightly with one hand and locking the door with the other. Giovanni smiled coldly and pushed James away from him. The male fell down beside Jesse in a heap on the floor. Jesse wanted to comfort him but there was nothing she could say. They were beaten and James knew it. Jesse only had the silver knife tucked away in her belt that she had stolen from the Saffron base to defend herself with and Giovanni had a gun. Jesse wished now she had taken a gun instead but you had to sign a form to take a gun and Domino monitored the forms. Jesse doubted that Giovanni's most trusted agent would let her take out a gun assuming that Domino knew at least some of the story. Giovanni chuckled and went over to his desk and picked up the phone keeping the gun trained on them as he dialled a number.
"Get the combat unit over here immediately. We have a situation" Giovanni snapped to the person on the other end of the phone. "Right away sir" was the reply.
Giovanni slammed the phone down and smiled coldly at Jesse and James. "My combat unit will get rid of the police," he said coolly. "Then nothing will stand in my way. There is just one other thing I have to take care of now".
Giovanni once again levelled the gun at Jesse's head. She closed her eyes and awaited the pain.
But the shot never came. Jesse opened her eyes scared of what she might see. But she didn't see anything. James was in front of her blocking Giovanni's aim. "James get out of my way" Giovanni shouted angrily. James shook his head "If you want to hurt Jesse then you'll have to shoot me first"
Giovanni let out a scream of rage and lunged at James easily pushing him aside and grabbing hold of Jesse. He slammed her into the wall behind them and placed the gun barrel between her eyes. "See James I always win. Do you really think that you can stop me? You are more pathetic than I thought"
"Jesse" James cried. He made another attempt to help her. Giovanni got a grip on Jesse's throat and with his hand holding the gun he turned on James. He lashed out catching James hard across the forehead with the gun. Jesse watched him horror as her friend fell down. He groaned once and then was still.
Giovanni once again placed the gun between Jesse's eyes. "When he wakes the first thing he will see is you're body" Giovanni hissed. Jesse gasped as he choked off her air with one hand the other pressing the gun to her head tightly, a finger reaching for the trigger. Jesse let her eyes stray to her partner. She couldn't let this monster win. She had promised James she'd save him and she would. A smile formed on her lips, which startled Giovanni. "What now?" he demanded. Jesse brought the stolen knife up and plunged it into her Boss's chest. Giovanni didn't utter a sound and gripped the silver handle before falling to the floor. A hand flew to Jesse's mouth and she started to vomit at what she had just done. Giovanni grinned sardonically. She was as pathetic as her partner in his eyes was.
"You are weak" Giovanni gasped with agony. The pain starting to come on now "You and James both are. I should never have…" he broke off and took a few shallow breaths. Jesse regained herself and stared at her Boss feeling more hatred than she had ever done before in her life. For a second she was tempted to finish him off. Then she looked passed Giovanni and towards James. She had kept her vows. Giovanni, she was sure would die and she had saved James. Jesse went to her friend and shook him gently. There was no response. Jesse held onto him and turned back to Giovanni. He was watching her his eyes dulling now. Death was not far off for him. He nodded towards James and smiled. "I think I may have taken him with me"
Jesse's eyes narrowed "Even if you have there is now way that you could take him to where you're going. You will rot in hell"
Giovanni chuckled at this "Maybe so Jessica but I will die happy knowing that…" he paused his face twisted in pain "That I have ruined you're life in the process. I just wish I had killed him"
"Bastard" Jesse shouted holding James closer. "You are the weak one not I. You were so obsessed with power and controlling the world to notice how weak you actually are. Evil is a weakness and I understand that now. Evil monsters like you will stop at nothing to get what they want and will destroy themselves to get it. Then they are gone and what is left? Nothing that's what! You are weak!"
Giovanni didn't reply; but Jesse was in no doubt that he heard her. He closed his eyes and shuddered, then was still. Jesse could hear the police banging on the door now. The key was lying a little way off from Giovanni's body. But Jesse didn't have the strength to get it. She could hear the police breaking it down. Events took their toll and Jesse broke down completely.
Officer Jenny gasped at the sight as she and three other police officers burst into the room. She saw the dead tyrant and then Jesse and James. "Get an ambulance" she ordered before going to them.
"Are you ok?" she asked the sobbing girl in front of her.
Jesse didn't reply and hugged her friend tighter. Jenny tried to get her to stand but all she got was a whimper and Jesse hanging onto him still. "What's you're name?" Jenny tried again.
"Jesse" was the muffled reply.
"Jesse listen to me. I've got someone going for help. Are you hurt?"
"James" she whispered. "My James"
Jenny gently pulled Jesse away and went to the male lying beside her. Jenny felt for a pulse. There was one but it was very weak. "Jesse he's in a bad way. You have to let me help him," Jenny said.
"I know" Jesse sobbed. "But I saved him from Giovanni"
"I know you did" Jenny said gently. By the looks of them they had been through so much. Jenny sighed and their ordeal wasn't over yet.
The pain seemed far off now…just a distant memory. Some times little flickers of light would flash teasingly across the blackness he had found himself in. He couldn't move no matter how hard he tried. He wanted to open his eyes and tell her he was all right but the blackness, which held him in its prison as Giovanni had done before. There could be no way out or was it just that he was afraid to leave here. The blackness was comforting and protected him from what was real. But Jesse needed him to come back. He heard her often enough sobbing and crying. He could wake if he wanted to but did he? This blackness kept him safe. Jesse had kept him safe! Jesse the one woman he loved was crying because of him. He could escape from the blackness. He just had to be strong one last time. If he could just open his eyes then Jesse would try to help him. But she could not. This was some thing that James would have to do alone.
"Will he live?" Jesse asked as Lillian assessed her friend. It had been a week since the HQ had fallen. Mondo and Meowth were the ones who called the police. They had realised that Jesse alone could not save James from the clutches of Giovanni. In return for the information on the HQ whereabouts and the location of the missing trainers Jenny had promised that they would all be cleared of any charges against them. But this brought little comfort to Jesse now. Everyone wanted answers. Officer Jenny was still to interview her about James' role in all of this. Stabbing Giovanni had been self- defence so Jesse would not be charged with murder or anything. That was one thing she didn't need right now. Mondo and Meowth had refrained from mentioning the future sight but Jesse knew that it would come out eventually. She had only left James' side once. That was to see Butch and Cassidy. Amazingly the green haired male was still alive when the police found him at the top of the stairs. One of Giovanni's men had shot him in the stomach and he had another bullet in his side. It was touch and go the first few days but Butch was now making a quick recovery. Cassidy had to be treated for concussion but it was nothing serious. The biggest surprise was when Cassidy told Jesse she didn't want their money for helping them. She said they were still friends despite all the fighting and that Butch coming so close to death reminded her that money was not the most important thing in the world. Cassidy and Butch were lucky. Jesse just wished it were the same for her. Giovanni had won after all. Jesse may have killed him but he had destroyed James anyway. The doctors were shocked when James was brought in. His brainwaves were too erratic and were different from normal. Because of this Lillian was called out from the Viridian City prison where she had been held with the rest of Team Rocket. Lillian was the only doctor with the knowledge to help James. It was the future sight that was causing the erratic brainwaves. James was in a coma just as Lillian had feared. It was the blow Giovanni had dealt her love that caused this. It triggered the erratic signals to become too fast and ultimately caused the coma. Lillian was sure that he could hear them but was unable to respond. Jesse had stopped crying on the third day. She had used up all her tears and left her feeling numb and empty inside. It wasn't fair! They couldn't have gone through all of that just to have James die now! He loved her! He said so himself. If James loved her he would find a way to come back to her. "Will he live?" Jesse repeated.
"As I said he is in a state of living now"
"You know what I mean"
"I will tell you what I told Giovanni. The viewings those last few days took a lot out of him. Then all this business with Giovanni on top of that. Maybe he would have been ok if it weren't for the blow to the head then maybe but…. Look Jesse the chances of him recovering are remote. I'm sorry"
Jesse hung her head. She didn't doubt what the doctor was saying but the reality of her words hurt too much. Lillian left and Jesse was alone. Mondo couldn't face seeing James and Meowth blamed himself. Jesse in truth didn't know whom to blame. True Meowth had messed up but she did too. Giovanni was dead now so Jesse had kept her vow to James but she was going to loose him any way. Life was so cruel! It took every thing from her. Her mother, James, who next would die?
Jesse sat down beside her friend and kissed him softly. She had done this before once. Just brushed her lips against his. But this kiss was different. It was the first and last proper kiss they would share together. Jesse drew back and wiped a tear from her eye. She never even got to tell him how much his confession meant to her. And that she loved him too. Jesse turned away and looked out of the window. The sun was peaking through the clouds that threatened rain. A flock of Spearow flew past the window and over the horizon. Life would go on for them but life for Jesse stopped the minute that she lost James.
"What am I going to do without him?" she spoke out loud. Her voice cracking slightly at the thought of spending life without her friend. Who would share in all her triumphs and failures? Who would she turn to when things got bad? Who would she laugh with? Cry with and spend every waking minute with? Who would she sleep next to at night knowing that she was completely safe? And James had been through so much. He deserved to live! Jesse slumped back down in her chair and drifted off to sleep…
The next time Jesse woke she felt movement next to her. "James?" she said sleepily before realising that it could not be him. Jesse didn't bother to open her eyes and just slipped her hand into his own.
His hand responded to her touch by gripping it ever so slightly. Jesse opened her eyes to look at him. "James" Jesse said louder this time.
James' grip on her hand became stronger and his eyelids fluttered a few times. "James wake up"
He coughed once and his eyes slowly opened. James flinched at the harsh light of the hospital.
"James!" Jesse cried. He smiled and tried to sit up. "Ok James take it easy" Jesse said helping him into a sitting position. "Jessica" he whispered. "How long have I been out?"
"A week"
"Is that all?"
Jesse smiled at the puzzled expression on his face. The expression she had always loved and yet had frustrated her at the same time. "James I've missed you". Jesse laughed and then started to cry. He had come back to her! Her James had come back to her! Jesse held him close and continued to cry.
That moment Officer Jenny came in. "Jessica I would like to have that interview some time today. I realise it is a difficult time for you but I've had the press on my back all day. They want a statement from us this afternoon and I…." Jenny broke off.
"He woke a few minutes ago" Jesse said wiping her eyes.
Officer Jenny smiled warmly at the pair of them. Their love for each other was clear. "Do you want me to get a doctor?" she asked.
"James?" Jesse asked still not quite believing that he was awake.
"I feel fine" James replied in surprise. There was no pain in his head at all now. In fact he felt better now than he had done in a long time. "Maybe we should get Lillian," Jesse said.
"I'm fine" James insisted but Jesse called her anyway. She had to be certain that he was going to be all right.
Lillian was adamant that she ran some tests and preferred it if Jesse left them alone. Officer Jenny wanted that interview anyway so Jesse went with her to the station but on the way she informed Meowth and Mondo of James' recovery. They were both ecstatic and Mondo raced off to the hospital shop to buy James the biggest packet of donuts he could find. Meowth was worried that James would hold a grudge against him but Jesse assured the cat that this could never be so. James cared a great deal for Meowth and would never hate him. Jesse doubted if her friend was even capable of hate.
"Right" Officer Jenny said taking a seat behind one of the interview tables. "I want to know exactly what happened"
Jesse explained as best she could about the future sight. When she had finished Jenny looked at her as if knowing what Jesse was going to ask.
"I don't want this getting out," Jesse said firmly. "Giovanni is not the only one who would try to use James. He can't go through this again. It's not fair"
"I understand" Jenny said. "I will organise a cover story for the press" she reached into her uniform pocket and handed Jesse a piece of paper. It was a cheque with £6000 on it.
"We seized Giovanni's riches and my superior and I both agree that the £500 compensation will be given to every trainer that was effected by this whole mess and the rest will be given to the gym leaders and a Pokemon charity. You and you're friends get more than the others are. Without you then Giovanni would still be at large. Think of it as our way of thanking you"
"Thank you" Jesse said pocketing the cheque. She already knew what she was going to do with it.
When Jesse got back to the hospital James was surrounded by get well cards and chocolates. Meowth was sitting on his friend's lap and Mondo was talking excitedly about his part in rescuing his idols. Jesse paused by the cards and looked at one with a Pikachu on. She raised an eyebrow when she read that it was from the twerps. "They came in for a few minutes" James explained offering the box of chocolates to her. Jesse shook her head and read the card next to it. "James, glad you're better, Cassidy and 'Botch'. Jesse chuckled at this. Maybe getting shot had improved Butch's sense of humour. Then she saw another bit printed underneath in capital letters. 'Just remember James. My name is Butch!'
"What did Lillian say?" Jesse asked taking her seat back beside James. He looked sad for a minute before speaking. "I'll be fine if I rest but…"
"But what?" Jesse's felt a lump in her throat. Was he going to be left with problems or some thing? She didn't know if she could bear to see James go through any more pain.
"My brainwaves are back to normal. No trace of the TM was found in my blood. Jesse I can't view anymore. It was like I never had it at all. No pain or anything. Just nothing"
Jesse didn't know whether to act relieved or upset for him. James had loved using future sight for the team. He said it made him feel worth some thing. Now it was gone.
"I'm sorry," she said at last.
"I'm not," James said quietly. "I thought about it and I realised that I was always worth something. What Giovanni did was evil. The future sight didn't make me special. It was a twisted experiment thought up by a man driven by a lust for power and control. I was just the experiment to him. You and my real friends always thought I was special. I don't need any powers to be special and I realise that now. Everyone is special in his or her own way. I guess I just had trouble believing in myself at first"
"Jimmy" Meowth spoke up. "Dat is without a doubt da most intelligent ting yous have ever said"
This caused laughter from all of them. Jesse then remembered some thing else James had said to her. As politely as she could she asked Meowth and Mondo to leave them alone for a bit. Some of the light died in Mondo's eyes as he guessed what would happen from here onwards. But he knew better than to stop it. He was old enough to know that Jesse's heart belonged to James.
"So how are you really feeling?" Jesse asked when they had gone.
"Frightened"
"Why?"
"Giovanni"
"I killed him"
"Lillian told me but it makes me wonder how many others suffered. I'm also scared of the future. I know we'll be all right but I don't know if I can make it on my own Jesse"
"James you won't be on your own!"
"I still mean what I said back there, Jesse. I don't want to hold you back. I love you too much"
Jesse laughed at this. "James you are not holding me back. If I felt that then I would be gone by now."
"You would?"
"Yes and James when you said that you weren't good enough for me. You couldn't have been more wrong! If anything you are too good for me"
"Jesse I don't understand"
"James I have loved you for longer than you know"
"You really mean that?" James asked. His Jesse loved him? That wasn't possible was it? She had kissed him but that didn't mean anything did it? Jesse kissed Mondo too on the cheek before and was always blowing kisses to him. Jesse couldn't love him. Why would she?
Jesse looked at James something telling her that he didn't believe her. Well she would have to make him believe her.
"James" Jesse said firmly, cupping his chin in her hand and forcing him to look into her sapphire blue eyes. "I love you"
As she said the words it felt as if the weight of the world had been lifted from her shoulders. All her life Jesse had been battling with that phrase and now she had said it and meant it with more feeling and passion than she ever thought was possible. Jesse had said it to James once before but not to his face. She had told him this as he lay suffering that time in the infirmary with what Jesse thought was the flu. Jesse doubted that James even remembered that she had said it. "I love you too" James whispered. Jesse took the next step by leaning down and kissing him softly. James responded eagerly pulling her closer. At last they had to part to draw breath. "This is a lot better than the first time," James said quietly.
"You felt that?"
"Yes Jesse"
"Here" Jesse said remembering the cheque. "Officer Jenny gave it to us. I think you should have it. Giovanni hurt you the most"
James flinched at the mention of his Boss. He read the amount and set it down on the cabinet beside his bed. "I think we should share it. He hurt us all. Me, you, Meowth, Mondo, Cassidy and Botch"
Jesse smiled and hugged him tightly.
"James I vowed to kill him for what he did to you" Jesse whispered as she held him.
"Oh Jesse" James sobbed.
Jesse pulled him into another kiss knowing that they had the future together now. She knew this in her heart and that was more accurate than any viewing to the future.
A Week Later:
Lillian smiled as she came into the hospital room for the final time. Jesse was sleeping in the chair beside James' bed, her head resting next to James' own. James himself was awake and seemed troubled. Lillian knew what this was about and came closer. "Are you sure?" she asked.
"Yes" James replied sitting up being careful not to wake Jesse as he did so. "It has caused too much pain Lillian. I don't want to put Jesse through all that again"
"I think she would rather know the truth James"
"No. No one must know. There will be others"
"Have you tried to view lately?"
"One last time yes. It will always be there but I think its better if Jesse thinks its over. You can understand that can't you?"
Lillian smiled sadly "Giovanni was wrong when he said we made a mistake using you for it. You know that the future sight is destructive. You could do much good with it but there is also the opportunity to do evil. I know James that you won't use it to hurt any one. That's why you're secrets safe with me"
Lillian turned to exit. "What will you do now?" James asked after her.
"I have to pay for what I did to you James" was the sad reply.
Then she was gone. James lay back down and closed his eyes. He had just needed rest that was all and then the future sight returned. But no one would know it. James didn't want to lie to Jesse but it was better that they all thought future sight was a thing of the past. That way his and Jesse's happiness was insured. Future sight was a part of James now but now he had accepted that he could push it back to a far corner of his mind and never let it come between him and Jesse again.
The End.
Authors Notes: Well it is finally finished! I would appreciate feed back on this coz I am not too great at writing romantic scenes! I can hear cheering that Giovanni got what he deserved! Thanks to every one who reviewed this and those who just took the time to read it. It meant a lot to me. Thank you to my sis and best mate Jade for the encouragement when writing this fic.