As morning came, James felt like he was the living dead. He was sure he looked like it, too. He went to the bathroom and washed his face, not bothering to look in the mirror to confirm his assumption.
Jessie heard the water running and woke up. She walked to the bathroom and James walked out, giving her a sideways glance with bloodshot eyes.
Meowth watched the scene unfold. He had been happy for them when they first got together on that night by the river, but since he had been with the twerps and came back something had seemed to have gone wrong. And now Jessie had even gotten sick from it. They had had their disputes before but always remained friends. But this time, he was really worried.
Jessie put on her uniform. "James, are you ready to go to Maria's?"
James came out, changed into his uniform but not looking ready. "Let's go."
Jessie went into Maria's office and Maria closed the door, leaving Meowth and James in the waiting room again. But this time, the door opened again in just a few minutes and Maria called James inside. Meowth remained in the waiting room, and sighed.
James was feeling lightheaded, almost about to faint from the stress and the lack of sleep. Maria looked at him, and then at Jessie, puzzled. Jessie had told Maria that she did not tell James anything. Why was James looking so stressed out?
Maria started. "James, there is something that Jessie and I want to tell you."
James hung his head. "You won't need to." He took something out of his pocket and put it on the desk. Maria and Jessie's mouth hung open and Maria took it in her hand.
"This is a listening device used for spying." said Maria. It looked like an mp3 player, except it was connected to a tiny wireless microphone that stuck to a person's clothes. "James, I take my doctor-patient confidentiality very seriously. I'm very disappointed in you."
James looked at Maria, and then at Jessie, accusingly. "Well, I'm disappointed in you both." He glared at Jessie. "To think that you would even consider having an abortion without telling me.
Jessie raised her voice in response. "I was scared, and I knew you would be too. I didn't think either of us were ready for it!"
James' eyes started to fill with tears. "I'm absolutely terrified. But until now, everytime we've been scared we've done it together. You and I have never had to face anything alone."
"I know, James. I'm sorry."
"You're what?" James blinked.
"You heard me...I can never keep a secret from you."
"I never want you to. I want to be with you through everything." James' expression turned serious. "Maria, I will not be signing any consent form."
Maria's eyes widened as she looked at Jessie. "But, James, you do know this is Jessie's decision..."
James didn't blink. "No, it's my decision too, and I refuse to consent to an abortion."
Maria looked at Jessie nervously. "Jessie...remember that this is your body, and...and...um..."
Jessie looked calm, almost serene. Then, she smiled.
"Maria...Mama came to me in a dream last night."
The room was silent as Jessie spoke.
"She told me how happy she was that she had me, but how sorry she was for not providing for me like she wanted to. She said that she thought staying in Team Rocket would make her rich someday so she could give me whatever I wanted. She told me that she was so proud of me for becoming a Team Rocket agent, but she would be really proud of me if I became a better mother than she was."
Jessie, James and Maria all reached for a tissue. Maria spoke as she delicately dabbed at the tears on her cheeks.
"Jessie...your mother always talked about earning money from Team Rocket, so she could give you a better life. I tried too, convincing you to go to Pokemon Tech, having you try and become a nurse to assist me, but somehow you kept straying from that path, and ending up in the same place as your mother. But I think if your mother could do it over again, she would do things differently. She just wanted to make you happy, Jessie, but she never had enough money to do it, and she was in a situation that she couldn't get out of...so I think you should listen to her. She wants you to be happy."
Maria and Jessie looked expectantly at James. James cleared his throat.
"Having money doesn't necessarily make you happy, you know. But I will do everything I can for..." James stopped and took a breath. "...my family."
Meowth was having another catnap in the waiting room when he was awakened by the door opening. Jessie and James were smiling. Maria handed Jessie some medicine in a bag. Meowth looked up at Jessie.
"So..? Are youse OK?"
Jessie's eyes twinkled a little bit. "Don't worry, Meowth...It's something that will clear up in about 7 or 8 months."
Meowth's eyes widened. "7 or 8 months? Wat's wrong?"
James kneeled down to Meowth's level. "Don't worry, everything's OK. But, on a side note, do you think Christopher is hiring?"
Meowth tilted his head "Are we gettin fired?"
James shook his head. "I prefer to say it's a permanent hiatus. That way, we can always stay a team."
Meowth smiled. "I like dat too, Jimmy."
Maria waved at them. "See you in a few weeks for a checkup."
Jessie and James waved back. "Thanks, Maria."