The Boat That Rocked (Rocketshipping Fanfic)

Part Four

Two years later

Jessie was stood in her apartment packing things into her bag when there was a knock at the door. Opening it, she was met with the happy smile of a young teenage girl.

"Good morning, Jessie!"

Jessie returned the smile with one of her own. "Good morning, Lisa. What can I do for you?"

The girl raised a tin that she held in her hands. "I wanted to catch you before you left – my aunt gave me these for you."

She took the tin, carefully opening the lid to see equally cut brownies ordered perfectly in the confinements of the container. "Tell her thank you."

Lisa nodded. She shifted uncomfortably.

"What is it?" Jessie asked, placing the lid back on the tin, raising an eyebrow.

"Are…are you going to the hospital?"

Jessie blinked in surprise. What was this? Of course she was. "Why do you ask?"

"C-can I come with you?"

Jessie looked at the girl. Her young face was expectant, hopeful, her bright eyes shining. She shook her head. "Am sorry."

Lisa's face fell but her smile quickly returned. "I understand! Am sorry – it was rude of me to ask."

"That's not what I meant," her eyes softened. "It's not a place for a young girl like you to go. You can see him when he wakes up."

"I can?!"

"Of course, he'll be coming home with me when he does."

The girl's face lit up, her smile widening into a grin. "I'll wait for then!" And then she turned, running down the corridor, waving over her shoulder. "See you later!"

Jessie waved back before stepping back into her apartment, placing the tin of brownies in the small kitchen. She picked up her bag and looked around her.

She had brought the apartment as soon as she left the hospital two years ago, leaving behind her former life. When they had finally found land after those weeks at sea, it so happened to be an island, out of reach of the mainland save for a weekly ship that visited with supplies and tourists. They had escaped Team Rocket, hidden away here. The apartment was a ten minute walk from the hospital and she went every day to visit James. It was big enough for two people and she had prepared the second room for James when he woke up. If he woke up.

Jessie stood tall, her back straight. No, I won't think like that. She walked to the door, key in hand, bag over her shoulder. James will come home. One day.

The sun was hot, the road wavering as she walked up the hill to the hospital. When she reached the top she could see the large building, towering over the surrounding houses and apartment blocks. She raised her hand to her eyes to block the sun.

"Jessie!"

She turned to the source of the voice and saw a man standing outside a small shop, broom in hand.

"David!" she waved.

He nodded in greeting and went back into the shop. As she walked towards the hospital a few more people called her, waving, shouting good morning. They all knew who she was and where she was going.

In these two years she had found a place to belong.

Reaching the hospital, the nurses greeted her as she strode towards his room, opening the door and closing it behind her. The room was silent except for a man's steady breathing.

"Good morning, James." She said, settling in the chair beside his bed.

At the sound of her voice, two ears twitched, a face appeared out from under the bed covers.

"Meowth, what are you doing?"

The cat Pokémon rose, dragging himself onto the pillow, placing a paw on James' cheek, a yawn revealing sharp fangs. "G'morning, Jessie."

She sighed. Meowth had only visited the apartment once - when she brought it. He had scanned the rooms, been satisfied and then returned to the hospital. He never left. For two years he had stayed by James' side. She found it strange how attached he seemed to have become but she understood. They had all guarded their hearts before, not realizing how much they all meant to each other. Until now.

Jessie smiled, her expression gentle. Both of them had changed. What would James think if he could see us now, eh?

She reached in her bag, saying, "I've brought you food."

Meowth jumped on it when she presented it to him, his fangs hungrily biting, purring noises of contentment rumbling in his throat.

"Lisa – the next-door neighbour – gave me a tin of brownies before I left."

Meowth glanced up. "The girl who lives with her aunt? You should have brought 'em. I like brownies."

"Perhaps another time."

She leaned back in the chair, watching James' sleeping face. "What did the doctor say about his scan yesterday?"

Meowth licked his claws, sitting down on James' stomach, being lifted higher and then lowered as the man breathed. It was quite comical to watch but also comforting.

"It's not returned. The scan was clear."

Jessie let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. "I'm glad."

Two years ago, when she was first told that James was in a coma, she hadn't listened to the doctor's words. The next day, when they found her asleep in James' room, she had been disorientated. They had to calm her down and then explain it to her, fully, until she understood.

James had a brain tumour. The time at sea, the exhaustion, the fatigue and hunger – everything – had only worsened his condition. He had no energy left to maintain his strength. When Jessie was ready to leave the hospital, she and the doctor discussed what should be done. After the failure of treatment, they decided to operate. A year had passed since the operation and he had numerous scans since, each showing no signs of the tumour returning.

Yet he still remained in a coma.

Jessie would wait as long as it took.

She reached into the bag again, retrieving a small book. She opened it, removing the bookmark and placing it on the bedside table.

Recently Jessie had been reading to James. The library was close by and was a soothing place to visit, especially on a summer's day when it was quieter than usual. She hoped that he would hear the stories, that wherever he was he could hear her voice. The doctor had initially suggested music he liked but they never had taken an interest in music. She had tried many things and now found that reading to him fit her perfectly.

Clearing her throat, she began reading. "Chapter 6. The wind…"

Meowth curled up, the cat Pokémon ears twitching slightly as her voice filled the room, his face between his paws that rested on James' chest. The trio were closer than they ever had been before, the bonds between them strong, even though one of them wasn't truly here, wasn't really with them. He never answered her questions, never commented when she told him about her day and never reacted to her jokes. He was silent, his breathing never changed, his eyes barely moving under his eyelids.

But she sensed him. He wasn't gone. He was still alive. And he would come back.

-#-

Jessie slipped the bookmark between the pages and closed the book with a small clap. Meowth looked up, his eyes blinking sleepily. All he seemed to do nowadays was sleep.

"You leaving now?"

"I've got to go to work." She replied, glancing at her watch. It was 4.30pm. She needed to get home, eat, have a shower and get ready for work that started at 6.00pm.

"See ya tomorrow." Meowth said, resting his head on his paws again, his tail flicking a farewell wave.

"Sure thing," she mumbled as she picked up her bag, swinging it over her shoulder. "See you tomorrow."

Walking back down the hill, the hospital behind her, Jessie thought about how much her life had changed. She was happy – the happiest she had ever been. But…

But James isn't here.

The only thing missing was having James living it with her, seeing the things she saw, welcoming each other home, sharing the moments she had with the neighbours – Lisa and her aunt – and being by each other's side.

It had taken her long enough, but she realized that James was the only person she could ever share her life with, could ever have by her side. He was the one, she thought with a small smile. I sound like a high school girl.

Jessie entered her apartment, throwing her bag on the sofa and went into the kitchen. She quickly prepared her dinner, ate it, cleaned up and went for a shower.

After stepping out of the shower, Jessie reached for her towel and caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. The glass was half fogged up but she could see her face. Her life and personality weren't the only things that had changed. She had cut her hair after settling in here, completely shaving her long hair to a short stubble. The doctor and nurses had been shocked when she returned to the hospital afterwards on a visit.

After these two years, her hair had grown to her shoulders, the tips slightly touching her bare skin. She preferred it like this now. Her hair had always grown slow but she thought that perhaps her long styled hair was now part of the past – she doubted she would ever return to it and would maintain this shorter look.

After drying her hair and tying it up into a ponytail, Jessie chose a knee-length skirt and a white blouse, and decided upon her white sandals for her feet.

Clicking on a necklace around her throat, she tidied her ponytail, straightened her blouse and grabbed her purse.

Jessie worked at a bar at night, starting at 6.00pm until midnight. The couple that ran it had given her a job straight away and she now served customers from behind the bar five nights a week, Tuesday to Saturday.

Arriving at the bar, the men sat on stools, their hands on chilled beers, turned and welcomed her with big grins. They were harmless, and she greeted them with a wink before walking behind the bar.

"Evenin' Jess." said the man who was pulling a drink from a tap.

"Hey, Steve." She nodded in acknowledgement, placing her purse in a hidden compartment under the bar.

"Dia is upstairs. She'll be down at eight."

Dia was his wife. She was ten years younger than him and they had been together for fifteen, finally marrying last year in October. Jessie was given the honour of being chief bridesmaid, already seen as Dia's best friend.

Smiling, Jessie started work.

Look, James, this is what you're missing. This is what's waiting for you.