Note to FF.net readers: This story may be further revised for grammar and structure.

-=-=-=-=-

The Rescue (Revised)
by TG

(Part Four of Fate's Game)


"Did I mention I hate weddings?"
"Then why are we getting married?"
"The free drinks?"

-=-=-=-=-

Where was that noise coming from?

"BP is 102 over 68. Pulse is 82 and thready."

What are they saying?

"Sir, calm down. We know it hurts. Where is that X-Ray?"

Pain? I can't feel any pain.

"I know it hurts, hun. Calm down.."

Who's screaming? Is that noise me?

"Good. I want head, chest, and abdominal."

Are they talking about me? I feel fine, really.

"Everybody step out."

Everything is so.. gray. Why do I feel so tired?

"He's crashing! Yeah, get the chief attending.."

-=-=-=-=-

"Attention. Delta Airlines Flight 1082, with non-stop service from New York to Atlanta, is disembarking passengers at Gate B82. Please wait until the passenger you are waiting for has completely exited the ramp tunnel. Thank you."

Jessie wearily walked out of the ramp tunnel, being led by Meowth. Several children sitting in the terminal pointed at the cat Pokémon and immediately asked their parents for one. Meowth felt his back muscles cramping as he led the half-awake Rocket out of the terminal.

Standing on a near-empty people mover, Meowth wearily stretched on his legs. "I hate dis place. If I gotta keep walkin' on all fours, I'm gonna be in tears!"

Jessie nodded. "Just keep it down. I want to make it through Security without your big Meowth causing trouble." It took nearly another half-hour before the Rocket and her Pokémon team-mate were waiting at the baggage pick-up. She grumbled when her bags didn't show up.

"Missing something?"

Jessie turned around to find Cassidy and Butch. Butch was carrying Jessie's two bags. "You wouldn't happen to have James in your purse?" She yawned.

"You'll have time to sleep when we get to the hotel."

-=-=-=-=-

Jessie awoke with a start. She looked at the clock sitting next to her bed. 5:30 AM. 'Five hours. Maybe I can go back to sleep.' She spent the next two hours tossing and turning, her thoughts constantly coming back to one thing.

As she wandered out of the bedroom, her hair in a towel, Jessie was met by the sweet smell of.. "Coffee."

Butch was sitting on a leather sofa, sipping from a red mug. He looked up from his cup. "It's black." He pointed to the bar where a hot plate was keeping a pot warm.

Jessie poured herself a cup and enjoyed the bitter warmth. Five hours of sleep no longer was that big a deal. "Where's Cassidy?"

"Renting a car." He flipped the television on and started to watch the local news.

Jessie sighed despite herself. As she sat down in a comfy leather chair, the news anchor started to recap big news stories. Her attention span wandered, since this wasn't her town.

"An update to the downtown chase by Atlanta Police after five bank robbery suspects. Atlanta Police today reported they have received very few leads to the identity of the lead chase suspect, and have not positively identified him. The other suspects in the case were both arraigned today on multiple counts of attempted murder and battery on a law enforcement official. One of the suspects, Daniel Donnels, was arraigned from his hospital bed. We now take you.."

Jessie looked at Butch. "Chase?"

Butch nodded. "Right after we arrived. Real big, automatic weapons, grenades.. We were too tired to care. Would have been fun to see live."

"The lead chase suspect has awakened from a drug-induced coma. Hospital officials confirmed that his injuries are the type to cause severe amnesia. Police and hospital officials released a sketch of him this morning in hopes someone will come forward with clues to his identity." A rough sketch appeared, next to statistics.

-=-=-=-=-

Cassidy walked through the hotel lobby. 'Nine dollars to park, outrageous!' The elevator door rang and started to open. "Jessie, Butch? I was-"

Jessie walked out of the elevator wearing an overcoat, Butch right behind her in black jacket. "Good, you're here. Let's go."

Cassidy turned around and ran to catch up. "Hey, want to-"

Butch looked at her for a moment.

Cassidy nodded. "Where are we-"

Jessie waved her hand. "No time, I'll tell you on the way.."

Cassidy sighed in exasperation. "I love these long talks we have.."

-=-=-=-=-

"At least they don't charge you to park before ten." Cassidy looked down at the ticket. "You'd think a hospital has better things to do than charge for parking."

Both of her "partners" merely shrugged.

"And you left Meowth at the hotel... I don't think they let Pokémon into intensive care."

Butch quirked an eyebrow at the chattiness.

Cassidy shrugged. "At least you could've let me get my uniform."

Jessie stopped before the front desk. "No time." She turned to the older woman. "Intensive care?"

The older woman looked at the trio. "I'm sorry. You'll have to check with the police officer at the elevator."

Jessie looked further down the hallway and spotted a police officer standing at a corner. Above him was a sign, "Elevators", and an arrow pointing past him. She walked around the front desk and started slowly down the hall.

Cassidy looked at the red-headed Rocket, then at the police officer. "You've got a plan, right?"

Jessie nodded before stopping when the officer moved to block the trio.

"I'm sorry sir, ladies.. I'm gonna have to ask yew to state yer business."

Jessie put on her best poker face. "Listen, I'm here for a very important appointment in Personnel. If you cause me and my associates to miss that appointment, I'll be very cross and will report you to your supervisor. Got it?"

Cassidy grinned to herself. 'The bitch is back, and this time I'm very glad for it.'

Butch smirked.

The officer, obviously a rookie, straightened out. "I'm sorry ma'am. I hope you make it." He pushed the elevator button, and one of the doors opened.

As the doors closed, Jessie smiled to herself. 'That was too easy.' Then she realized something. "Uh, which floor is Personnel?"

The trio sighed.

Cassidy hit a button and the elevator started upwards. "We'll just hit the top floor, and check each floor. We've gotta hit it eventually."

As the door opened, the trio were greeted with the smell of sterile air. Suddenly there was a woman's scream and the crying of a baby. Butch moved to the back of the car with a look of disgust.

Jessie looked sideways at Cassidy. "The maternity ward??"

Cassidy shrugged, and hit the button for the next floor. "Honestly, I didn't know.."

The next floor was much more quiet. Lights were dimmed, and the air was very cool and sterile-smelling. A large countertop sat in front of the elevators, ringing an open area. Behind the counter was a large area filled with desks, computers, and monitors. A sign on the front of the counter read "James J. Crowley Long-Term Intensive Care Ward". The open area narrowed into two hallways which lead away from the elevators.

Jessie looked around outside the elevator, then walked out and looked past the counter. "Nobody's home?"

Cassidy and Butch walked out, letting the elevator close. Cassidy looked around wearily. "I don't like this."

A string of gunfire caused the Rockets to leap behind the counter. Smoke began to flow out of the left corridor as more gunfire sounded. A man carrying an automatic weapon raced out, wearing a gas mask. Right behind him was a larger man carrying someone in his arms. The unconscious passenger was wearing a hospital gown and several tubes dangled from both his arms.

Butch reached under his jacket and produced a semi-automatic pistol. He glanced at Cass, who looked upset.

Jessie grabbed his arm. "You'll hit him!" she whispered angrily.

Butch shook off her hand. "I'm gonna shoot his way." He rose up and unloaded two rounds into the smaller man. The smaller man crumpled to the ground, as the larger man ducked into the stairway. Butch turned his attention just in time as a woman wearing a gas mask sent a hail of bullets at him. Butch felt a slug hit his chest as he ducked down.

"Whoevah you are, I'd stay down."

Jessie immediately rose from her hiding place. "Jessibelle, I should've known!"

The red-headed lady pointed her automatic weapon at Jessie. "Well, well.. Here ta get yer friend, too late fer that. Say good-bye, Jessa!" She started to squeeze the trigger when the elevator opened and three police officers in SWAT gear began to walk out. She fired low, nailing one of the officers in the legs. The other two ducked back into the elevator.

Jessie felt her legs get swept from under her and she fell to the floor. More gunfire erupted, but farther away. She turned on Cassidy. "You idiot!"

Cassidy shook her head. "We're not losing another team-mate." She looked at Butch. 'You wore your vest, I see. I thought I told you I hated the gun?'

Butch got up nervously, looking down at the officer grunting in pain. 'We don't have time to argue.' "Let's get the hell out of here before the hammer comes down on us all."

Jessie jumped over the counter and stopped, looking down at the officer for a moment. She then ran to the stairway, looking downward, then upward. "They're going for the roof."

The officer grabbed Cassidy's ankle. "Dammit, are you gonna just.. unnh.. leave me here!?"

Cassidy extracted herself by kicking the officer's hand free. "We're going to do what you can't."

The trio sighed as the elevator doors close – just as the other elevators began to spill out SWAT members with shields.

Cassidy stopped the elevator and looked at Jessie. "What are we doing, anyhow? They've got automatic weapons, we've got a single pistol."

Butch tapped Cassidy's arm and pointed. "Uh.."

Jessie slung the automatic rifle against her shoulder nervously. 'What the hell am I doing with this?' "I got this covered.. I think."

Cassidy wasn't sure if she should be merely alarmed or scared witless. "Maybe you should give that to Butch; he's got the vest, you don't."

Jessie hit the button to continue the elevator ride. "I don't care. I'm going to take that bitch out and get James back." 'Okay, that sounded crazy. Maybe I'm going a little too overboard about this... maybe.'

As the door opened, the sound of screaming rotors blasted the trio back. On the helipad sat a silver and black helicopter, preparing to take off. Jessie walked out, hefting the rifle. She pointed at the helicopter, but was stopped by Butch.

"You'll cause it to crash. Lemme do this." Butch watched the vehicle begin to take off and aimed. He stopped firing when the clip was empty.

Jessie looked at Butch. "Didn't you..?" Then she noticed the small holes and the fuel leaking. She smiled. "They won't be flying far."

The helicopter rose from the building and quickly flew away. Jessie and Butch noticed Cassidy leaning against the closed elevator doors, her eyes closed and her ears plugged.

Jessie shook her. "Hey, it's alright.. The shootings done.."

Cassidy unplugged her ears. "I don't like guns.. Uh-oh... Those cops are gonna be up here eventually. How are we getting out of here?"

The elevator door opened, causing the Rockets to scramble. Out of the elevator walked Meowth, dragging a large bag.

Jessie peered into the elevator, then down at Meowth. "Meowth, how did you get here?"

The cat Pokémon wiped away several enormous sweatdrops. "Ya know how hot dose car trunks get?? Luckily fer me, da place was clearin' out when I walk'd in."

Butch's eyebrows raised. "You snuck out of the hotel with us? Wow.. What's in the bag?"

Meowth unzipped the canvas bag and pulled out several massive coils of nylon rope. "Got yer repel'in gear."

Several minutes later, the SWAT Team scoured the roof. All they found was a semi-automatic rifle and three ropes leading down the side of the building.

-=-=-=-=-

Dan sat back in his bed and sighed. His dark-brown, spiky hair was covered in bandages. His lower body was covered in a cast. 'Dammit, why didn't they rescue me? Instead, they rescue that little..' He looked up to see a smiling face. A nice young nurse, different from the bitches who had been seeing him before. He started to talk, but the nurse put her finger to her lips.

"There, there.. You poor thing, let me tend those wounds." She slipped the side brace of the bed off and sat down on the edge of the bed, smiling at Dan.

Dan smiled, then panicked when the nurse placed a thick needle to his neck.

"Now, we can't have you screaming.. Don't move, or I might plunge this big needle filled with cleaner into your neck."

Dan tried to nod, but the needle stifled his will to move his neck.

"Good, I knew you'd cooperate. Now, about Jessibelle..."

-=-=-=-=-

Jessie threw the nursing cap behind her. "Let's go."

Cassidy started the car and put it into gear. "Did he say where they're holding James?"

Jessie nodded. "You could say he was begging to spill the beans." She smiled grimly.

Cassidy nodded. "So, where do we look? Estates owned by his parents?"

Jessie shook her head. "No, they're not involved."

Butch looked annoyed at the humming Meowth, who was listening to an audio tape. "I thought this Jessibelle was connected with them?"

"No, she's kidnapped them too. We've to hurry downtown, to the Peachtree Hilton. She's gonna marry him there."

-=-=-=-=-

He opened his eyes. It was dim and his whole body ached. Suddenly his field of vision was filled with a vision of beauty.

"You poor deary."

He felt confused. "W-Who?"

The woman smiled. "I'm Jessibelle, your fiancée.. Don't you remember?"

He shook his head, trying to clear it. Everything was so cloudy. "I can't... I can't remember..." He swallowed when the woman, Jessibelle, began to tear up. "I-I'm so sorry, Jessibelle.."

She wiped away some tears. "It's okay, James dear. You've been through so much for me."

"James.. is my name?"

She began to tear up again, and nodded. "My James.."

Confusion was now replaced with an odd sense of rightness. "What-" He felt her lips on his. 'She's so.. warm, and that smell..'

Jessibelle leaned back, opening her eyes. She put a finger on James' lips. "No words, ma love." She leaned forward and laid her head on his chest.

James looked down at her. 'This feels so.. strange.' He put a hand on her back reluctantly, which elicited a happy sigh from the woman. 'She's my love...?'

-=-=-=-=-

Jessie sighed sadly and leaned her head against the window. 'I'm coming, James.'

Cassidy looked at the traffic ahead of her. "So Jessie... why kidnap James' parents?"

Jessie looked up. "What?"

"Why did this Jessibelle girl kidnap James' parents? I mean, it's him she wants to marry, right?"

Jessie shrugged. "She's a psychopathic bitch – maybe she wants to marry him and then kill his parents as a wedding gift. I don't know what's going on with her, but this is going to end. One way or the other I'm getting my James back."

Cassidy grinned, eliciting an unhappy stare from Jessie. "It's just that you said 'my James'."

Butch yawned, then shot Cassidy an unhappy stare.

Jessie leaned against the passenger window, ignoring the comment.

Cassidy looked into her rearview mirror. "Oh crap."

Jessie turned back to Cassidy, eyebrows raised at her language. "What is it now?"

Cassidy gestured behind her. "We're being followed by the cops."

Several cars behind them, two police cruisers moved through the traffic.

Jessie glanced behind her, then turned back to Cassidy. "You sure it's not paranoia?"

A third and fourth cruiser pulled up, waiting to merge into traffic at the next intersection. Cassidy idly pointed toward them and cleared her throat.

Jessie sighed. "Okay, so that was a stupid question. We aren't going on our own spree of violent chasing, are we?"

Cassidy glanced back at Butch, who shook his head. "Guess not."

Butch hit the STOP button on Meowth's Walkman.

Meowth looked at Butch, then noticed the atmosphere was decidedly nerve-wracked. "Wat's up, Doc?" He then got up on his feet and looked behind him at what Butch was glancing towards. "Uh-oh, looks like we're gonna be thrown in da slammer again."

"We aren't going to jail. It's busy downtown, we'll just lose them." Cassidy turned at the intersection and started making her way through the traffic, watching the police cruisers keeping up.

Butch glanced back. "I wonder why they aren't pulling us over?"

"Dey don' wanna start a firefight in da middle o' other cars."

Everybody looked at Meowth. The cat Pokémon grinned. "A cat learns dings on da street."

Suddenly Cassidy spun the wheel hard, and the car was engulfed in darkness. The two cruisers flew by, as everybody looked at Cassidy. "That lost them." She started to back out, when she looked up.

Everybody followed suit and noticed a sign.

Jessie tapped Cassidy's arm. "We're here. Keep going."

The car drove into the parking lot. The sign above it was very simple in design. "The Peachtree Hilton Welcomes DRAGON*CON Attendees!"

-=-=-=-=-

Jessie looked through the crowd of people. "What's a Dragon Con anyways?"

Butch smiled. "A bunch of people get together for something they like..."

Cassidy looked around. "You mean like a Star Trek convention?"

Meowth stayed close to Jessie, not eager to be stepped on. "Ya, a buncha weirdos in one place."

Butch eyed the feline. "You might wanna shut up."

Meowth was about to protest, when Jessie picked him up. "Wat?"

Jessie whispered into Meowth's ear, "Make like you're my Pokémon; and if you ever mention this to James, I will personally shave all your fur off."

Meowth shivered. "Got ya."

The trio (plus Pokémon) finally arrived at a booth where numerous people were lined up. The man behind the booth looked nervously at the Pokémon. "Uh.."

Jessie smiled and stroked Meowth's head, making a mental note to thwack him later. "He's harmless. We'd like passes for three, just today."

As the trio walked away, Cassidy had a look of disgust. "$18.00 per person for one day, what a rip-off!"

-=-=-=-=-

Jessie looked around in total confusion. "What the... We're not in Kansas anymore."

The floor was filled with people, many in various outfits. Some of the outfits were tasteful, some were outlandish.

Jessie turned to Cassidy and stepped back. "What are you doing!? You'll stick-" Then she saw Butch. Both had taken off their jackets and were now in full Rocket uniform.

Cassidy pointed at all the strangely-dressed people. "We'll fit in, trust me."

Jessie put Meowth down and slowly took off her jacket, feeling very awkward. "You better be sure about this."

Suddenly the trio were put on edge when a woman wearing some kind of sailor outfit walked up to them. She had hip-length blond hair. She started to examine them, then smiled at Jessie. "Prepare for trouble!"

Jessie smiled nervously. "Uh.. make it double.."

The woman smiled back. "You're gonna be surrounded any minute." She pointed at a corner.

The trio craned their necks (except Meowth, who was grumbling quietly about being put down) and saw a large mass of black- and white-suited people. The uniforms were unmistakable.

The woman bent down and started petting Meowth. "I can't believe the convention staff let you bring in your Meowth. I wanted to bring my lil' white kitty, but they said no." She stood up and waved. "I'll see ya later." The woman walked away, joining a group of women in similarly tailored outfits.

Jessie looked at Butch, who seemed to be the authority on this. "Should we...?"

Butch shook his head. "We'll get mobbed."

Cassidy looked at the woman who had just left. "Anyways, how are we gonna find James in this mess?"

A man wearing a judge's robe got up on a chair and yelled above the crowd. "Uh, excuse me. May I have your attention? The wedding will be starting very shortly, and we'll never get it started if everybody is out here."

Cassidy looked at Jessie. "You don't think she would be that vain?"

Jessie started to move with the crowd inside the ballroom. "Oh, definitely psychotic behavior if you ask me.."

-=-=-=-=-

Meowth shifted nervously in his seat. He looked down the row at all the Rocket uniforms. 'Dis is so strange, I don' know wat is goin' on! I'm at James' weddin', sittin' next ta kids wearin' Team Rocket uniforms.' The cat Pokémon looked next to him at Jessie. 'I hope she keeps 'er cool in all dis.'

Jessie sighed, feeling anxious. 'This isn't right. That bitch has stolen *my* James, and now she's going to try to marry him right in front of me.' She felt herself shaking. 'Just have to hold on, wait for when those words get said and put a halt to this. Then she will pay for putting me through this hell.'

Music started to play, though it was decidedly not "Here Comes the Bride." Whatever it was, the people in Team Rocket uniforms began to hum along, almost as if it were an anthem.

Cassidy looked at Butch. 'Do you think it'll be a scene?'

Butch shrugged. 'This is Jessie. You need to ask?'

Cassidy looked at Jessie worriedly. 'I hope she at least waits until the ceremony's started.'

-=-=-=-=-

James walked down the aisle, feeling strange. 'Why must I wear this uniform; why couldn't a tuxedo do?' He looked down at the white outfit with a big R on it. 'Though it does look good on me for some reason.' He noticed a group of people dressed similarly. 'At least I'm part of a group.'

Jessibelle watched James, and looked at the heads of the crowd. Then she spotted them. 'Why must she always ruin my happiness? She won't take my James away from me this time though.'

James looked at the similarly-suited group, noticing they were giving him thumbs-up or winking. One face caught his attention for a moment. 'She.. she looks just like Jessibelle! What a coincidence..'

Jessibelle then stepped into the aisle. She was wearing a white Team Rocket uniform, and had done her hair in a similar curl to Jessie's. 'That's right, Jessie.. James is mine, and there's nothin' you can do about it.' She smiled to herself, slowly walking down the aisle holding her bouquet.

Jessie watched Jessibelle, not surprised by her uniform or hair. 'That's right, bitch.. The only way you'll get him is by pretending you're me.'

The robed man who had gathered the crowd inside stepped before the two. He grinned, looking between the two. "Friends, countrymen, Cosplayers... lend me your ears!" Several pointy rubber ears were thrown in his general direction with much laughter.

"We are here, to witness the beginning of a new road for our friends, Jesse and James."

The Rockets (sans an embarrassed Cassidy and Butch, and of course Jessie and Meowth) cheered.

Jessie sighed, staring at James. 'I wish you could read my mind.'

"They have come before our august body-"

A person stood up from the back and yelled, "It's July, Dave. I checked."

"Right. They have come before us to be united in eternity."

Several groans issued from the crowd.

"Their love has kept them going through thick and thin. Blasting off included."

Meowth put his paws over his mouth, determined to resist the urge to speak up.

"So now they are ready to take the ultimate step-"

One of the people wearing a black Team Rocket uniform yelled out, "Straight into a pit trap!"

The crowd laughed.

"Right you are. The pit trap of their own love."

The crowd went "awwww".

The robed man turned to James. "James?"

James suddenly realized he was being spoken to. "Uh.. yes?"

"You're jumping the gun there.."

The crowd laughed.

"James, do you take this magnificent specimen of a mallet-wielding woman into your heart; to have and hold, and be beaten senseless; 'til death do you part?"

James looked at Jessibelle, then glanced back into the crowd. 'That woman.. she's staring at me..' He then realized Jessibelle was waiting. "Uh, yes."

The crowd clapped.

"Jesse?"

Jessie flinched as her name was called. She wanted to leap up and scream "yes, yes I'm here, I'll take him!"

Jessibelle fluttered her eyes. "Why, yes?"

"Do you take this flawed specimen of an abuse-taking man into your heart; to have and hold, and to beat senseless; 'til death do you part?"

Jessibelle turned to James, then grinned when she eyed Jessie. "Why, of course!"

The crowd clapped.

Jessie felt her whole body tense.

"Then, if we do not have any protests?"

Jessie stood up slowly. "I protest."

The crowd turned their eyes to Jessie.

The "judge" was momentarily starteld before his grin widened two-fold. "My oh my, we have a protest! Well then, come on up here, and let's listen in."

Jessie walked towards James, feeling more and more determined. She threw a sinister smile at Jessibelle. "I protest that this woman is a fake!"

The crowd gasped in faux shock.

Cassidy smiled, despite the situation.

Jessie grabbed James' arm. "I'm Jessie. This... *woman* is Jessibelle!"

Jessibelle growled low. "Of course I am! This is, afteraww, a show!" Her accent did not hide very well when she raised her voice.

The crowd looked from Jessibelle to Jessie.

James looked between the two women, then turned to face Jessie. "Jessie.. if that's your name, this isn't-"

Jessie looked at him angrily. "No! She's messed with your head! You don't love her!"

"What do you mean?" He looked at Jessibelle. "What is she talking about, Jessibelle?"

Jessibelle closed her eyes and smiled. "I'm afraid she's tellin' the truth about that, James dear."

The doors to the ballroom slammed opened and two men escorted in James' parents. They were bound and gagged. Both walked fearfully forward, as the two men stood at the door.

James looked from them to Jessibelle. "What.. what is this?"

Jessibelle continued to smile wickedly. "Why, James dear, don't you want yer parents to witness our weddin'?" She stepped forward and removed their gags.

James' father shook his head. "Poor Jessibelle, you're in need o' help."

His mother nodded. "Dear, you jus' don' know how much we wanted you to marry James. But now you can' possible marry our little boy... not after this..."

"Freeze!" Two security officers were pointing their weapons at the thugs, who threw down their guns.

Jessibelle growled and grabbed James, pulling out a pistol from her bouquet and pointing it at his head. "Stop right there, all o' you!"

The crowd, meanwhile, was ooo'ing and ahhh'ing.

James felt panicked. "But Jessibelle, I thought you loved me! Why are you doing this?"

Jessibelle nuzzled her cheek against his. "I do love you, James dear. I'm doin' this for you."

James shook his head. "I don't want this, Jessibelle. If you love me, let me go."

Jessie looked into James' eyes. She moved her eyes downward, then looked back at him.

Jessibelle hissed out a breath. "No, ma love! I can' let that evil woman try to take you away from me! You're mine, James! Mine forevah!"

"You can't have me!" James ducked down.

Jessie smiled. "Take this instead." She slugged Jessibelle, sending the less athletic girl backwards.

Jessibelle quickly aimed her pistol at Jessie, holding her bleeding lip. "I'll kill you!"

"You'll have to kill me first, Jessibelle!" James stepped in front of Jessie.

Jessibelle got up slowly, looking at James. Tears began to stream down her face, and she spun around, dashing through a fire exit.

The security guards immediately were backed up by several Atlanta police officers. Jessie ran over to Butch as the crowd got out of their seats.

"Gimme your gun."

Butch handed over the pistol, before realizing his mistake.

Jessie ran past James into the fire exit.

James looked at her, then realized she was carrying a gun. "Jessie, no!"

The "judge" looked around at the crowd, and the police officers streaming in. "Ho boy, is Mark ever gonna be pissed when he sees this."

A voice called out in the crowd, "This is the best Cosplay I've been to in years!"

-=-=-=-=-

James threw open the door. He looked across the rooftop, to see Jessie pointing her gun at Jessibelle, inches from her face. Jessibelle had her gun leveled at Jessie in a similar manner. He slowly approached the two women.

Jessie noted James' presence. "Get away James, you don't wanna see this."

Jessibelle nodded. "Get away, hun. You don' need to watch me end this demon woman's life."

James put his hand on each woman's arm. "I don't want either one of you dead."

Jessie looked at James, tears brimming in her eyes. "You don't mean that! Look at what she's done! She kidnapped you, she almost killed you! She won't stop until someone puts a bullet in her skull."

Jessibelle clenched her jaw. "James was mine long before he knew you."

James looked into Jessie's eyes, and put a hand on her weapon. "Please, Jessie. Trust me."

Jessie slowly lowered the weapon, shaking.

Jessibelle smiled. "Thanks James dear, now just step away so I can-"

"No Jessibelle." James stepped in front of Jessie, putting the barrel of Jessibelle's gun against his forehead. "If you're going to kill someone, it will have to be me."

Jessibelle began to shake. "Please ma love.. She'll jus' ruin everythin' we worked for."

James stared at the southern belle. "What you worked for."

Jessibelle took a step back. "W-What do you mean, James dear?"

"I don't love you, Jessibelle; and I don't want to marry you, ever." He clenched his fist.

She took another step back. "Y-.. You don't mean that!"

James swallowed hard. "Yes I do, Jessibelle." He held out his hand. "Now give me the gun."

Jessibelle's lower lip trembled. "N-No.."

"Jessibelle.."

"NO!" She put the gun against her right temple. "I.. I'll kill myself.."

"Do it!"

James spun around and looked at Jessie. "Shut up!"

Jessie opened her mouth, then saw the look in James' eyes. It was something she had never seen there before. She knew if she followed through with her old impulses, she would lose him. 'He.. stood up to me..'

James looked at Jessibelle and put out his gloved hand. "Please, Jessibelle."

Jessibelle looked downward. "I.. I used ta believe I was doin' it for the money. But.." She looked into James' eyes. "I really do love you, James. I always will love you." She pulled the trigger.

-=-=-=-=-

Jessie looked down at James. She wasn't sure if she felt pity, remorse, or what. After everything she had been put through by that woman, it was hard to believe it was over. She wondered if there had been some grain of truth to what she said, if Jessibelle really did love James. If so, it was the cruelest trick Fate had played on him. In later years, Jessie would think back to this day. The Day Everything Changed. Changed for her. Changed for James. Changed for poor Jessibelle. Poor, twisted Jessibelle. Jessie really couldn't believe she felt bad for the psychopath, but she did. Or was it because James felt remorse, felt responsible for setting the southern lady down this path?

Jessie knelt down next to James. "How?"

James looked up. "What?"

Jessie pointed at the gun.

James tightened his hold on the crying woman, a trickle of blood staining his uniform from her head. "She didn't think I knew that she had it."

Jessie looked at James, at the few tears he shed. "You changed out the real bullets for blanks?"

James only nodded.

Several police officers walked up. James' parents were with them, as well as several EMTs.

James gently gave the sobbing Jessibelle over to the paramedics. He looked at his parents. "What will happen to her...?"

Both looked at each other, then nodded. James' father put his hand on his son's shoulder. "We'll allow her to stay at our estate. Psychologists will help her sort things out. It might be a while, but she'll recovah."

James watched the woman being led away. "Thank you... But-"

His mother walked over to Jessie. "We were wrong about you, Jessie. We just want to apologize for not seein' it sooner."

Jessie looked at the purple-haired woman. "Wrong about me? Y-You mean..?"

The woman nodded, then returned to her husband's side. "It seems James isn't the lil' boy that ran away.. We want what he thinks is best."

James looked up at his father. "Is this how you feel as well, father?"

He nodded. "You've shown you're a man. Your fate is in your own hands, son."

-=-=-=-=-

James looked back. Something he had never done when it involved his parents. Yet this time it was different. After they decided to fly everybody back on their Gulfstream 4 private jet, they had asked Jessie and James to stay at their estate. James had reluctantly refused, citing a need to report back to his boss. Now he was walking away from the airport terminal, and wondering if that was a mistake. As if to prove mother's intuition, she waved for him to come back. James looked at Jessie, expecting to be scolded, but she only nodded.

"James, I didn' think you'd refuse to come with us.. I was goin' ta give this to you." She opened his hand and slowly slid a round object into it.

James' eyes widened. "B-But this is your mother's..." He blushed at the enormous implications.

"James, honey, I want the best for you. I'll not have my son givin' away cheap costume jewelry. You know I've got tons of these things lyin' around. You come to us first before you look at a single price tag at a jeweler's shop or any other place. You understand me?"

James nodded, his eyes brimming with tears. "Mother, I... I don't know what to say."

She smiled. "Of course you do, honey. I raised you well."

"I love you.. Mom." He hugged her tightly, feeling for perhaps the first time he wasn't an orphan at all.

-=-=-=-=-

End of "The Rescue"

Characters from Pokémon anime (C) 1996, 2001 Nintendo of America, Inc. & GameFreak, Ltd.
"DRAGON*CON" (TM) Dragon Con / ACE, Inc.