Magnetic Forces of Love and Conspiracy

Written by BansheeGirl

A/N: Hiya all! It's me, I'm back, and so is MFoLaC! I'm on mid-year break at the moment, so I have six glorious weeks off to write the rest of this story! Well, that's the plan anyway. Let's see if I can stick to it! The lookout is good at the moment… I'm already bored out of my brains and it's only been five days! I need –something- to fill in the time!

Anyway, I'm glad you've stuck around for the ride. This is only a short chapter, but you should like it. Read on, and enjoy!

Disclaimer: See chapter 1 or 2!

Magnetic Forces of Love and Conspiracy

Chapter 21: Moth and Flame

Jessie slid a small golden key into its lock, and with a swift flick of her wrist opened the white door that was the entrance to her expensive apartment. She flipped the light-switch to her right, and the large sitting area that first greeted any visitors to the apartment was instantly illuminated. She stood and looked in at her home for a few silent moments, before sighing and walking in.

"This is a nice place," came a voice from behind Jessie.

She looked around, spying James who was still standing in the doorway eyeing off her apartment. "Would you like a cup of tea?" She asked, too tired to talk about trivialities like architecture or interior decorating.

James looked to Jessie and nodded tiredly. "Yes. Thankyou."

"Please sit down," Jessie said, gesturing to some couches and armchairs in the middle of the room, "I won't be a minute." Her voice resonated with utter exhaustion.

She ducked up a tiny flight of polished wooden stairs that led into her kitchen, and she again stopped in the archway-entrance to look at the room for a few moments before moving in. It was so strange to be back here, in her apartment, making cups of tea. Jessie found it almost surreal, as if the events of the past few hours – of the past week hadn't even happened. She was so tired… and yet there were so many things that she wanted to think about.

Carrying two cups of hot tea, Jessie made her way back out to the sitting area to sit beside James on one of the couches. She carefully handed him one of the cups, and did her best to ignore the sudden leaping feeling deep down in her stomach when they brushed hands in doing so.

"How is your head?" She asked quickly.

"Still a little tender, but much better. Thankyou," he replied, smiling. Both Jessie and James had undergone extensive medical examinations and received the appropriate treatments for their pain and injuries before being released. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm good. Just tired. And I'm sorry you had to go through all that media rubbish…" Jessie apologised, the sincerity genuine in her voice. Not only had the pair undergone briefings with the police, but they had also had to make a short media statement before finally being given the green light to go home and get some rest. Jessie felt intensely guilty for getting James mixed up in such a long ordeal, but at the same time she was infinitely grateful for his presence.

"Don't be," said James, as he took a quick sip of his tea.

The pair sat wordless for several minutes. Jessie kept shooting furtive glances sideways, wanting to say so many things but unable to find a way to voice them. It seemed ridiculous that they had both just come so close to death and yet hadn't really talked about it at all. Was James thinking the same thing?

"Thankyou… for tonight. Thankyou for everything, really. For bringing me here," Jessie finally offered, breaking the silence.

James turned to face Jessie, and audibly swallowed. "You're welcome," he said softly, and smiled. His expression was tired, but genuine. Yet there was an inkling of something else, right there tugging at the corners of his mouth… Guilt? Remorse? He turned away and stared down at the ground before Jessie could discern.

Jessie set her empty teacup on a coffee table in front of them. This was it. She was suddenly regretting offering him a bed to sleep in at her apartment. The whole week had been building up to this moment, without either of them even knowing it. Jessie felt her palms moisten at the realisation that there would very soon be the dreaded confrontation. She wracked her mind for something to say that would divert James' attention; that would distract him so that maybe they could avoid this for now…

"I'm sorry… about Olivia," Jessie started, "It must be hard to be betrayed like that…"

And there, even as Jessie tried to redirect the conversation onto something completely unrelated and entirely distracting, she had brought the very core of their problem to surface. Betrayal. And James caught hold of it instantly.

He swiftly jerked his head sideways again to look at her, a pained look on his face.

"Jessie, I'm sorry. I can't tell you enough how sorry I am, and how much I regret lying to you all those years ago in Team Rocket. I'm sorry. I am," he implored, staring hard into her eyes.

Jessie felt her face grow hot. I don't want to do this, she thought, wanting to escape. Sure, they had talked about this before on their trek to Saunders City. But that was when she was the enemy. It was when she was angry. She was still angry now, but things had changed. So many things had changed - so much had happened in just a few days…

"I-" Jessie croaked, but turned her head away from James when she felt a sting of tears in her eyes.

"Jessie," James said firmly, and reached out to turn Jessie's head back to face him. His hand stayed there, cupped against the side of her head, while Jessie fought inwardly with herself to choke back her tears and actually say something. She needed to defend herself. Don't give in.

"James… Don't. Please," she said shakily through gritted teeth.

"Jessie, if I could go back in time I would, but I can't! Lying to you is the one thing that I regret every single day of my life… how else can I prove that to you?" James cried in a frustrated tone that contrasted with the hand that softly slid down the side of Jessie's face to slide gently around her neck.

Jessie took a sharp intake of breath at James' touch, but it didn't stop her from bringing her own arm up to remove his hand from her neck. James persisted, however, and responded by grasping hold of her arm and sliding his hand down to hold hers tightly.

"James, please…" Jessie pleaded, more tears welling in her eyes.

"Jessie, you have to believe me. Please believe me," he said quietly, and leant in closer so that their faces were almost touching. "Please."

A tear rolled down Jessie's cheek. "You hurt me, James," she whispered coarsely. "I don't want to be hurt. I don't want to…"

"I won't hurt you, Jessie," James whispered in reply, their noses touching now. "I promise…"

And with that, he closed the gap between them and touched his lips tenderly on Jessie's. Jessie's body seized and she made to pull away, but James rapidly used his free hand to snake around her waist and encircle her tightly. She was trapped – or was she finally free? Free of all the pain that had eaten away at her for the past seven years? Whatever it was, Jessie suddenly and unexpectedly relaxed. She let go of everything, and leant into James. She melted into a kiss that had been waiting for so long.

James unlocked the hand that was holding one of Jessie's, and slid it up the side of her upper leg. Even through the thick material of her snow pants, the touch sent a sensation right through her body that landed itself tinglingly between her thighs. She kissed him harder.

It seemed the night was still far from over.

And I think I'll leave it there, kiddies! I have to leave something to your wonderful little imaginations…

I hope you liked this chapter – heck, you've finally got overt rocketshippy goodness! What more could you want? Let me know what you think in a review, and I'll do my best to get the next chapter out soon!

Till next time,

BansheeGirl.