The Boat That Rocked (Rocketshipping Fanfic)
Part Five
It was the next morning and Jessie was once again on her way to the hospital. Her bag hit the back of her leg as she walked, the book and food inside shifting slightly with every step.
David stood outside his shop again, broom in hand, his Machop beside him carrying a box. He waved when he saw her, calling her name as usual. She returned the greeting and started walking faster.
She was earlier today and there were less people on the streets, more driving to work and more Pokémon about than during the hot day.
Arriving at the hospital, she shrugged off her bag and settled into her chair beside James' bed.
"G'morning." Meowth yawned from his position on the pillow.
Jessie passed him his food with a cheery "good morning" and opened her book. She paused before she started to read, looking at James. His face was thin and his skin deathly white. The only signs he was actually alive was the sound of his breathing, the movement of his chest and the lines on the machine beside him, representing his heartbeat.
Jessie looked down at the book and started to read but her mind was distracted. She thought back to the time when they had decided to go on their reckless boat trip, the moment when they started moving towards this fate…
"Jessie!"
She turned around, her eyes narrowing as her gaze came upon the blue-haired man running towards her. "What now, James?"
"Here."
He was passing her a sandwich and a bottle of water. She took them from him without a word of thanks and turned back to the map she had spread out on the table.
"Whatcha lookin' at?" Meowth was stood beside James, licking his paws with a look of satisfaction.
"A map," she answered. "It's a map of all the areas of both past and potential sites where legendary Pokémon appear."
James looked over her shoulder, studying the map. He pointed to a red circle. "This looks closest to us."
She nodded. "However this one-" she pointed to a blue circle that overlapped with a blue cross. "-this one is the site of an even rarer Pokémon. There are few sightings, but it's always here." She tapped the paper with a long nail. "I say we go for this one. Not many people know of it."
James looked sceptical. "You mean it's not even sure it exists."
Jessie frowned, her mouth twisting as a look of irritation passed over her features. "It exists." She said with conviction.
James sighed, leaning back on the balls of his feet. "So?"
"We go to the point on the map. And catch it."
Meowth, who had jumped up onto the table and was studying the map, spoke up. "But it's in the middle of nowhere and on the other side of the ocean. How we gettin' there?"
Jessie raised her arm to point a long finger at the harbour in the distance. "We get a boat."
James didn't respond, still not convinced. "Eat and we'll talk about this later."
"No!" she stood up, putting her face close to his. "We're going, James. This is our last chance."
His jaw tightened. He knew as much as she did that they were clinging on by their fingertips. Their missions had ended in too much failure recently and the boss was angry. They even had to give up their own Pokémon in an attempt to save their skin under the pretence that they had stolen them during a job. There was only Meowth left but he was part of the trio, a partner.
"You sure you want to do this? We'll have to steal a boat – no one's going to take us there. How can we even catch it if we do get there?"
Jessie continued to stare into James' eyes, not backing down.
"Fine." He looked away, tilting his face upwards. "We'll go. We'll leave tonight."
Jessie's lips spread into a smile, a sense of victory in her chest. She sat back down, folding up the map and picked up the sandwich. "Good."
-#-
The harbour was dark and empty. The guard had left twenty minutes ago, his torch revealing his path up to his house that overlooked the docks. The trio had waited for lights to flicker on and off until they were assured that the guard had gone to bed.
James rushed forwards, his steps silent, and crouched down before the door to the harbour's office. He took a bobby pin out from his pocket and pick-locked the door open.
Pushing the door wide, he stepped inside. There was a small box on the wall that contained rows of keys. He took one and rejoined Jessie and Meowth.
"Here." He passed it to Jessie.
"This is the key to that?" She motioned towards a shiny white boat with a nod of her head.
"Yeah." He scanned the shadows. "We should go – now."
The trio moved silently towards the small boat, Meowth jumping onto the bow and dashing across the deck. Jessie was next, leaping onto the boat, following the cat Pokémon.
James stood on the dock, keeping an eye out.
"Now, James!" a sharp whisper came from the boat and he started to untie the ropes. After that he began to push against it and it slowly moved backwards.
Seconds passed and Jessie started up the engine, a coughing snarl settling down into a low rumble.
The guard's house lit up.
"Damn!"
The boat suddenly turned, reversing rapidly out of the dock. James started running down the harbour, meaning to leap onboard when it reached the end.
A gunshot cracked.
"MOVE!" Jessie's voice echoed in the night.
A second gunshot.
What kind of harbour guard in a quiet town had a gun and didn't ask questions first?! James' heart raced as his feet pounded against the dock, a third gunshot barely missing him, hitting with a violent bang, splintering wood flying upwards.
The boat was reaching the end of the harbour. He grit his teeth, moving faster, when the fourth gunshot hit the side of the boat. His eyes widened, his muscles suddenly freezing, his feet tangling with each other, tripping him over. He stopped himself short, his body low to the ground.
Another gunshot, a shattering of glass. And another.
The boat engine died. The night was silent again except for a ringing in James' ears and the thudding noise of his heart.
He could hear the guard's footsteps moving towards him and he started towards the end of the harbour again. There was a larger boat moored there with a small lifeboat tied to it. It looked wooden yet sturdy – it was their only chance.
He sprinted towards the dock, leaping onto the large boat and across the deck, his hand grabbing hold of the rail, propelling him off the deck and down.
He landed, pain flashing in the soles of his feet. He groaned, quickly searching for and finding the rope that kept the lifeboat in place. He untied it, his hands shaking so much he barely achieved it.
He kicked off, the lifeboat rocking and grabbed hold of the oars, using all his strength to move towards Jessie and Meowth. Would this thing really cope at sea?
But he had no time to think about it as seventh gunshot rang out.
"JESSIE!" he shouted as he neared the other boat.
Two figures, one tall, another small, appeared. He got closer and the figures jumped, both landing in a heap, sending the lifeboat into a reckless roll.
James steadied the boat and then pushed them further out, away from the harbour, away from the seemingly crazed guard, and into the deeper darkness of the ocean.
"Are you okay, Jessie, Meowth?" He asked the shadows, his voice panicked.
"We're fine." A voice snapped back.
A smile of relief spread across his face, a shaky breath escaping through his lips. "Thank God…"
Jessie hadn't realized she had stopped reading until she felt a gentle touch on her wrist.
"Sorry, Meowth." She rubbed her eyes with her other hand, refocusing on the words on the page before her.
She started reading again but the warm touch didn't leave her wrist. She glanced up.
Meowth was curled up, fast asleep, on James' pillow. Then, who…?
Jessie froze. Her eyes moved down to her wrist. A pale, thin hand was slightly touching her wrist, fingers warm against her skin. A man's hand.
She looked up and met the green-eyed gaze that looked back.
"J-James?"