Eyes through the soul, Part One
DISCLAIMER: I don't own them, never claimed to. Enough said.
Please, please, please…..flame me, compliment me, send me suggestions, yell at me, just let me know if you want to read part two.
When I reference the sisters, I mean a combination of Eevee, Flareon, Jolteon, and Vaporeon. And no, a Silvedon (an evolved form of a Rapidash) does NOT exist. At least not in this world.
Consciousness was not what Jesse wanted. At this rate, she wanted to be dead. She had stayed conscious when she hit the ground, the wind knocked out of her. She had heard a terrible cracking throughout her body and then they had pulled her to her feet, dragging her back up the incline. She couldn't even fight them. Blood trickled from the wounds on her legs and arms and she tasted blood from when she had smacked into the tree. They taunted her, thinking she could see. She did not care. If she was going to die, she was going to die. They threw her into a back room, waiting for Giovanni's return. She crawled to a corner, whimpering like a shot animal. Alone, she curled into a ball, nursing her ribs, wishing she could wake up from this nightmare.
She heard voices before she heard the door open. Giovanni stepped in and observed her, curled into the corner. "Where is the mighty Jesse now?" Jesse cringed and pulled herself to a sitting position. Pain coarsed through her body. She winced and put a hand against her ribs. She heard footsteps stop next to her. He crouched down and waved a hand in front of her eyes. "You know, you had me fooled for all of about 10 minutes." Jesse didn't even care at this point. If he was going to kill her, she wanted it over with. Her voice came out as a harsh whisper. "So what? We still got what we came for." He stood then, angered at her insolence. He lashed out, bringing his open hand hard across the left side of her face. The force made her head snap back against the wall. Blood sprayed from her mouth as she slid back into darkness.
Jesse came to with a horrible pain in her head. She suddenly wanted to know what time it was; or better yet, what day. She lay prone on the floor. Putting a hand to her face, she moaned. There was a horrible ringing in her ears, too. She realized some noise had woken her. God, she wished they would kill her. She had never been in this much pain in her life. Her sight, James, nothing mattered now except ending this pain. Every muscle ached and she couldn't bring herself to move. She heard a noise and hoped it was someone with a gun. Something touched her nose. She involuntarily pulled her head back and gasped softly. It touched her nose again. "Pore…" She heard this through the ringing. Her heart lept and she managed to move her arm to reach in front of her. This time, she was nudged harshly. "Pore!" (Jesse, get up!). Her hand touched Vaporeon's legs and she wanted to cry. "Vaporeon…." Vaporeon stared at her. Her mistress looked terrible and she worried horribly. She put a paw against Jesse's shoulder and pushed. Jesse started to move slowly. "Pore pore!" (Please, get up!). Jesse clawed her way to her knees and leaned forward. Vaporeon stepped forward and Jesse hugged her. Vaporeon rested her head against Jesse's shoulder. "Vaporeon…..". "Poreporepore!" (we need to leave now). Jesse didn't know how she got to her feet but Vaporeon kept contact with her leg, guiding her to the doorway. Jesse put a hand against the doorway and found the door was open. "Flare!" (Jesse!). Jesse did cry now. She let out a sob and reached down to touch Flareon. "Oh Flareon…." Flareon stayed against her other side. They led her out of the room, but realized that she would not be able to make it far. Jesse limped terribly, her hip aching from where someone had obviously kicked her. Her legs burned, the glass still covering them. She clutched at her ribs and used the wall for support. Flareon looked to Vaporeon. "Flareflare…" (she can't make it….I need to get someone). Vaporeon moved forward, scanning the halls. "Pore….Vap!" (go, I'll keep her here). Jess started to slide down the wall, the ringing in her ears deafening her. The feeling in her legs was rapidly disappearing. Vaporeon thought quickly on what to do. She clamped her teeth into Jesse's right boot, cutting through the leather and into skin. She gasped and clutched her leg. "Pore Porepore!" (you need to stay awake! I'm sorry). Jesse said nothing, clutching her leg now. Time passed interminably slow and Vaporeon shivered, it was taking too long. She moved forward down the hall slowly to the corner. Just as she was to stick her head around the corner, Flareon turned the corner, crashing head first into her. Vaporeon batted her in the nose. "Vap!" (hey!) Flareon huffed and Brock turned the corner with Ash, out of breath. Brock caught Jesse as she was sliding again to the floor. Consciousness did not want to stay. She blacked out momentarily as Brock managed to hoist her over his shoulder and followed the two girls. Ash kept behind a few paces.
James held the gun with a steady hand. Rage kept him steady. Giovanni hadn't expected him to come back so soon much less through the front door. Jolteon stood next to him, fur on end, growling low in her throat, facing off with the Persian next to Giovanni. "You can't kill me. You'll never get away alive." James shrugged and said nothing. Giovanni began to walk the length of the room towards the door leading into the gym. He heard the click of the gun as James cocked it. Giovanni stopped then, turning to face him again. Persian hadn't moved, having a staredown with Jolteon. Misty stood outside, still shaking from having to hold a gun. There was no one outside. She found this to be quite odd. The next event happened so quickly, it was over before James could even begin to react. The door next to Giovanni opened, Flareon and Vaporeon coming through at a full run. This took James' attention from Giovanni. A gun appeared in Giovanni's hand from within his suit, firing as he began to move closer to the door. A shot hit Vaporeon in the flank, sending her sliding across the floor. Another hit Flareon, killing her instantly. Brock saw this as he made it to the doorway, and slid through the doorway, trying to keep Jesse from sliding from his shoulder. Giovanni slammed into him, knocking him to the floor. By the time everyone stopped moving, Flareon was dead; Vaporeon lay near her, crying softly; Brock lay approximately 10 feet from Giovanni, who now held Jesse by the neck, pointing his gun back at James, who hadn't even had a chance to move. Jolteon had closed the distance between her and Persian, their noses nearly touching. Misty had appeared in the doorway, her mouth open. Ash, who had stupidly kept going even when he saw Brock fell, now stood next to Brock. Giovanni laughed and jerked Jesse, who was weakly trying to pull Giovanni's arm from her neck. James shuddered at the sight of her covered in blood, dirt, and glass. Her hair was a mess of matted tangles, and her clothes were beyond repair. She was barely able to stay conscious, and did not even bother trying to put up much of a struggle. Giovanni turned the gun from James to Jesse's temple. "See? I always win, regardless of the odds." Giovanni turned his head and kissed Jesse's ear. She winced slightly and whimpered. James glanced around quickly, running through his options. Vaporeon was bleeding from her flank and furiously trying to stand, Flareon was gone. Brock hadn't moved from the floor, and Ash just looked over to James, shaking slightly. Misty stood stock still in the doorway. Jolteon and Persian stood inches from each other, like ornaments. Giovanni shook his head, sneering at James. "Well, dear James, you have two choices. You can shoot through her to me, or you can turn around and walk out. I am taking no trades." James did not move, simply stood there, gun aimed at him. Vaporeon whimpered and James glanced over to her. Giovanni laughed. "I can take your life down in front of you. I would leave before you lose anything else." James studied their position. He held Jesse in front of him as a shield. The only open areas were his arm at her throat and to shoot through her legs and he might hit him. Her feet were planted on either side of Giovanni's. To shoot his arm would kill her for sure. His head was too close to hers, and he wasn't a sharpshooter. He glanced to Brock, who moved slowly to a sitting position. With one fluid motion, he lowered the gun three inches and fired. Simultaneously, Jolteon lunged forward at Persian. Jesse felt white heat through her right inner thigh and let out a hideous scream. The bullet continued right through into Giovanni's leg. He loosed his grip and let her drop, letting out a roar. Jolteon's teeth clamped down onto Persian's throat, both of them rolling to the ground. Brock lunged forward, grabbing Jesse as she hit the ground, dragging her out of the building. Giovanni grabbed for his gun, only two feet away. Another shot knocked him back, against the wall. Giovanni did not move again. James dropped his arm, watching him. Once still, James shook himself and looked around. Ash, Brock and Misty were gone, having run outside at the first chance they got, taking Jesse with them. Vaporeon had crawled over to Flareon, whimpering horribly. Jolteon stood over Persian's lifeless corpse, it's throat ripped out. James breathed hard, tucking the gun into his belt. He walked over to Vaporeon and gathered her into her arms, wincing at the whimper she let out. "Jolteon, come." Jolteon came to him, crying at her sister's death. James was still numb. He looked down at Vaporeon and then to Jolteon. "I can't bring her." Somehow Jolteon managed to get Flareon's body to her back and took off out of the building. They did not stop until they were in the Jeep. Eevee was in the Jeep, waiting. She wept when she saw the condition of Jesse and Vaporeon. When she saw Flareon's body on Jolteon's back, she looked at Jolteon and then to James. He touched her head. She was quiet and when Jolteon jumped up, she quietly curled up against her. They lay Jesse in the front seat, covering her with a blanket Misty had brought, and Brock held Vaporeon. James took Flareon from Jolteon and put her body in the back, laying a blanket over her. Once they were a clear distance from the gym, James looked over at Jesse, studying her. Blood was dripping down her leg and he winced at the thought that he had shot her. He laid a hand against her swollen cheek and she stirred, trying to move closer to him. "Shh Jess, stay still." He let her lean over, laying her head onto his lap. She stilled and let the darkness claim her. Brock was good to Vaporeon. He tied a tourniquet, stopping the blood pouring from the bullet wound. Vaporeon had calmed, and thus, the other girls had calmed. Misty sat held in Ash's arms, still shaken. James looked down at Jesse. They were both beaten to hell, but he had her back, even at the cost of their beloved Flareon. He blinked back tears.
The hospital asked no questions when they had arrived, simply admitted them and took Jesse away to the emergency room. James they had treated and told him to rest. His side ached horribly, but there was no permanent damage. He leaned his head back, worrying about Jesse. Ash, Misty, and Brock had taken Vaporeon to the PokeCenter, and James nodded off soon after he had sat down. He didn't know how long he had been asleep when he was shaken awake. Misty stared down at him. "Sorry….we're back." James nodded and sat up, taking a deep breath He rubbed his eyes and watched Jolteon walk over with Eevee. They made no sound and Jolteon jumped up next to James. Eevee, he had to pick up. Jolteon laid a paw on his arm and he looked over at her. "Joltjolt…jolt" (Vaporeon's gone…..too). James could only stare at her. He looked over to the others. Misty shook her head slightly. "She didn't make it." James sat up more, unconsciously wincing at his side. "What?!" Brock looked like he had been crying. "She had lost too much blood and there were complications taking the bullet out. It was too near to her spine." James was stunned. He hadn't thought it was that bad. He rubbed his eyes. Even though the girls seemed to cling to Jesse's side more, he had still loved them dearly, and had come to see them as their little children. "Oh god." Jesse did not need this news, not that he did either. Jolteon laid down, her head between her paws. Eevee curled up into a quiet little ball and hit her head against James. He leaned back, shocked. All of this because he had agreed to help those four bitches. He had dragged Jesse into this, and she was now in a hospital bed in the ER. He had brought the four girls to help him get her back and now two of them were gone. He wished he had made Giovanni suffer more. He wished a lot of things, and now it was too late. He held Eevee, who was whimpering softly, while Jolteon merely lay there, staring into the air. The doctor came down the hall and motioned James to follow. He left Jolteon and Eevee with the others and followed him. Jesse had been moved from the ER to intensive care. She was stable, with two broken ribs, a 2nd degree burn and gunshot wound to the inner thigh, and an overall bruised and battered body. He looked in on her, laying in bed. She didn't look as bad now, they had cleaned her up quite well. The doctor motioned that he could sit with her.
James sat down, favoring his side. He laid a hand on her stomach and sighed. "I'm so sorry Jess." She stirred and turned her head toward him. She was mildly sedated, and her voice was slurred. "I wanna…go home now…." He nodded and stroked her cheek. "I know, Jess, I know. We'll be going home as soon as we can." She groped for his hand and he took it. "James…..can the…girls come in?" He bit his lip and leaned forward. Better now while she was drugged. He moved to sit on the edge of the bed and leaned over, kissing her forehead. "Jess, Vaporeon and Flareon didn't make it." There was silence and he could have sworn she fell asleep. After several minutes, she raised a hand slowly and felt for his arm. She pulled softly and he leaned over more. "Hold me." He did. When the nurse came to check on her, she found them both fast asleep, James next to her, his arm above her ribs, holding her. The nurse didn't wake him, instead she went to find Ash, Misty, and Brock. Brock carried a sleeping Jolteon and while Ash carried Eevee in and laid them on the other side of Jesse. They left them then to sleep.
James flew home two days later, having the bodies of Flareon and Vaporeon transported back as well. He buried them with Jolteon and Eevee by his side. He cried for them then, kneeling where he had buried them, wishing them back not only for Jesse's sake, but his own as well. He had loved them like children. Jesse did not want to talk about it, she avoided the subject when he had left. Eevee and Jolteon were simply quiet, not quite accepting their sisters were gone. James stared at the two graves that would now sit behind the gardens of the house and shuddered. Life was interminably cruel, he thought. Eevee let out a small whine which made James cry harder. She pawed at the freshly turned earth and seemed to cry at the earth. She turned then, jumping up to James. He held Eevee to his chest and Jolteon stepped forward, laying a paw on her sisters graves, her own silent respect for them, accepting that they were not coming back, and then walked away, toward the house. James held Eevee, who couldn't stop crying. She didn't understand, or more accurate, she didn't want to understand. She wanted her sisters back. James held her, his own tears wetting her fur. He leaned forward and let a handful of dirt run through his fingers. "Good bye, girls." He stood with Eevee huddled against him and started back to the house.
Jesse was released and they flew home a week later. Ash, Brock, and Misty came back with them. They were to stay another week and then depart. James led Jesse outside the evening they returned. She walked with a limp, and was still visibly bruised, but she was healing. James knelt her by the girls graves and she cried. He knelt next to her, and she threw herself into him, sobbing uncontrollably. He held her tight, and she found some strength in that. He blinked back tears and simply held her. There was nothing else he could do. Jolteon and Eevee would not come out. They were having a hard enough time with it. Eventually, Jesse cried herself out and he was able to bring her back in. She didn't sleep well for the next couple of days; she lay with her back against him, as he held her, one arm thrown over Jolteon, the other keeping Eevee near to her heart. He would hear her weep from time to time, when it was very quiet. He let her cry, simply because there was nothing else to do.
Two weeks passed and Ash, Misty, and Brock left. They would return in a month to visit, and there was an unspoken sentiment of undying thanks between them all. The third week, James scheduled Jesse's operation. The tests had gone fine and the doctor said she was now eligible for the surgery. She went through it and came through. There was a three day wait to take the bandages off. They would only be able to tell when the bandages came off if it had worked. James took her home for those three days and she stayed in bed. Nothing was said between them about it. Nothing more had been said about Flareon and Vaporeon. Jolteon and Eevee had not recovered and James found them quite often laying next to the graves of their sisters. He did not bother to call to them when he did.
Jesse clutched James' hand and he stroked her head. The doctor was cutting the bandages off and she was frightened. He bit down on his lip, hoping for anything. Jesse jerked when the bandages were finally pulled from her eyes, almost breaking James' wrist. "Ok, now open them very slowly." As her lashes parted, she could see outlines. But only from her right side. The images cleared and focused. She saw the doctor and he was studying her. She reached out her left hand as if this would bring back the sight in her left eye. She turned to James, and shuddered, frustrated. The sight of him calmed her slightly. Her hand snaked out and grabbed his tie. "James…..My left side…." The doctor grasped her chin and turned her head, looking into her eyes. "It seems her right side will be fine. The eye looks to be healed and normal. Her left side looks no different. Her left side is likely permanent." She shuddered again, doubling over in the chair. The doctor turned to James. "She'll need to take this twice a day for the next week or so. Other than that, bring her in in about three weeks, and she should be fine. She can go home." The doctor looked to James and James waved a hand. The doctor nodded, leaving them alone. He wrapped his arms around her. She was shaking. "Lets go home." She said nothing while they were on the way. She was ungrateful for the little she had been given back. She fled upstairs when Daniel opened the door. "Jess…." James called after her and ran after. She had thrown herself on the bed. He sighed and sat down next to her. She leaned over against him. "Jess, look up at me." It felt good to say that. She did, studying him. He had always been so handsome to her. She let out a whimper and fell into his arms. "I have no depth….." James sighed softly and turned her chin up to him. "After everything's that happened and all that we have come through, please don't take this the wrong way. You can see…..and that's all that matters." This quieted her somewhat, and she looked over to where Jolteon and Eevee were on the floor, waiting. She held out a hand to them and they hopped up, greeting her. She held them, telling them she was happy to see them again, and she stopped shaking. James touched her back and she let the girls off the bed. She turned and he held her. The feel of him alone calmed her. The shock and confusion of the last weeks were finally starting to wane from her. She looked up and sniffled. He kissed her softly. "You can see again, Jess. I told you we would pull through this." Jess did not smile but she nodded. She took the time to study him and he stared down at her. There was life back in her eyes, and he was grateful. Her gaze fell upon the shelf of pictures near the bed. "I miss them, James." He followed her gaze to a framed photo he had taken of her, sitting on the ground in a pretty flowered dress, the four girls seated around her. He nodded and suddenly took her left hand, kissing the ring that adorned it. They would be married soon now. "You'll make a wonderful mother, Jess." She turned back to him and smiled sadly, stepping back into his embrace.