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He was less than gentle with her, nearly dragging her down the stairs. She did not complain once. Downstairs, Porfessor Oak stood in the living room with Ash, Misty, and Brock. Meowth was there as well. James deposited Jesse on the couch, much to the surprised stares of the others. "Professor, it's rather odd to see you out here….especially in such weather." Oak nodded and motioned everyone to sit. He only once stared at Jesse when she failed to acknowledge anything. "I have come across an unpleasant discovery that I need your help on. As you know, Giovanni still heads Team Rocket." At the mention of both names, James flinched and Jesse seemed to sink down into the couch. "After the Mewtwo incident, Team Rocket kind of faded from the news for a while." He paused and started searching for something in his pockets. "They haven't been very active, but they have something in the works. The Seasons Gym up north had a run-in with them and they have decided they want rid of them once and for all." He pulled out a letter from the sisters of the Seasons Gym and handed it to James. "Apparently, they attempted a major theft from the Seasons Gym and it failed horribly. You're familiar with them, aren't you?" James was opening the letter. "Yes. They're the four sisters. They have a lot of powers between them. I've heard rumors they have time powers as well." Professor oak shrugged. "I don't know anything about that, but they are undefeated for many years, and they are the largest Pokemon Sanctuary. They are also the top ranked gym for the last ten years." James nodded and read the letter. He put it down and looked at Oak. "How do they even know us?" Oak shook his head. "That's the funny thing. I don't even know them, but I received a call from the winter sister as if I was her brother. She sent this letter to me and told me to get it to you since you are the closest thing she has to a spy since she said you two quit on good terms with Giovanni." James looked dumbfounded. "That's true, but why does she need information? If they're that powerful, why don't they just go in and take over?" Oak nodded. "Because they have been doing extensive genetic experimentation on Pokemon and she's afraid that if they go in, the Pokemon that are there could be destroyed. If there is a battle, they want it to be away from the Rocket headquarters." James nodded and looked at Ash. "Are you involved?" Oak cut in. "Yes, they are. There are several other top trainers who are involved. Without Team Rocket, life would be much simpler for a lot of people. They want to save the rare Pokemon there and put an end to Team Rocket." Jesse could think of nothing and she felt James grab her arm. "I'll be right back." He said this to the others as he literally dragged her into the kitchen. Meowth followed. He dropped her into a chair and poured a glass of wine. "Well, Jess, what do you want to do?" She shook her head. "How am I involved with this?" He sighed. "Because you're part of the team….or were. We need to do it together, I can't up and go alone." She stood. "In case you hadn't noticed, I'm blind? I know you don't care now, but how is he going to accept me back with you when I can't see?" Meowth shot a look to James. "She's right, you know." James thought for a moment. "I'm sure we can get around it."
It was agreed that they would help, and James would think of some cover-up for Jesse's blindness. They were due to catch a plane in three days to visit the Seasons Gym to meet with the four sisters.
It was later the next night, and James ascended the stairs and opened the bedroom door. The lights were off and Jesse was on her side in bed. The snow outside lightened the room and he chose not to turn on the lights. The pain-killers made her very tired and he listened to her steady breathing. Sighing, he reached out and touched her hair. He was sorry now, for what he had said and done. When he had woke from 11 hours of much-needed sleep, an overwhelming guilt prodded him. He still couldn't fully comprehend that he had hit her. He had been so tired and he knew he had irrevocably hurt her. He stroked her hair, missing her. The moon glinted off of her, making her appear almost ethereal. "I'm so sorry that this has happened, Jess. I really am. I would do anything to have all of this never happen." His voice was full of pain. He remembered sitting next to her hospital bed, fearing she would not wake up. He closed his eyes and remembered all of their times together, from his telling her the first time that he loved her after the Mewtwo incident. It had affected them so much. He had always had feelings for her, admiring her quietly as they travelled. When they were getting ready to leave, he had simply turned to her, slid an arm around her back, and pulled her against him. He had kissed her then, and she hadn't pulled away. He had told her that he loved her and she had cried and said she loved him too. He had become the only person she trusted and he valued that. They left Team Rocket, and he had returned to his parents, hoping for a small amount to at least tide him over until he figured out what to do. On their return from their Sunday drive, something in the car had malfunctioned and they had slid off of the side of the road, killing both instantly. Everything had been left to him. He had gone back to get Jesse and Meowth from the hotel they were staying in, telling her that eh could give her everything now. She had gotten to her feet, wrapped both arms around his neck and told him that she had everything she wanted right in front of her. He had known then, that this was truly her. She had come to him then, after they had redone the house together, asking him if they could keep Pokemon. She wanted to care for Pokemon and offer a home to those who were abandoned or sick. This, so soon after she would have kicked him if he had come up with this idea, he had questioned her about this jokingly. Her expression hadn't changed and she almost cried, saying she wanted to help them because she 'really did love them, and found them to be comforting'. He had agreed, letting her hire several people to help, and setting part of the land to be a sanctuary. It had gone beautifully, and she was able to offer something to society. She had even been written up in the local paper, calling her a gift to the surrounding area Pokemon Centers. When they would get crowded, they would be able to have a safe place to keep wounded and sick Pokemon and be sure they would receive adequate care. Even their two Pokemon, Weezing and Arbok, pitched in by keeping guard out there and offering comfort and company to them. He was proud of her. He remembered them getting ready to leave to go out to dinner, her in a beautiful black dress, and when she opened the door, there was a covered box on the doorstep. Without a thought, she had thrown back the cloth covering it, and found four sickly Eevee's. She had nursed them all, keeping them by her at all times, back to health. They had slept in a pile of blankets next to the fire in their bedroom and on more than one occasion, had found their way to the bed to snuggle between the two of them. James would often wake up with a mouthful of fur or an ear in his eye. But they were adorable. He had discussed evolving three of them and she had decided that was a good idea. The stones were bought and she was very kind with this, offering them a chance not to if they didn't want to. They wanted to and she had the four evolutions now. They were fiercely loyal to her, doing anything they can for her. He was proud of her. She had given so much care to their Rapidash as well that the one day he had heard her scream while he was untacking his, and turned around. Instead of a Rapidash, he was staring at a black horse with blue flame. She had inadvertantly found that there was a third evolution to him. She had done so much and he looked down on her now, her mouth slightly parted in sleep, and he could not help her now. He knew he was insane for dragging her on this quest to help the Seasons Gym and Professor Oak, but somewhere in his mind, he was hoping this might help her. He had decided to put off her surgery until they returned, if that was necessary. He didn't know how long they would be gone. He went over to the closet and retrieved a box from the back. Opening it revealed both of their old Team Rocket uniforms. She had wanted to throw them away, but he had just stored them, saying they would do no harm in the back. He laid them out over a chair and sighed. He needed to resolved this with Jess before they left or he was afraid something would happen because she would be afraid to rely on him. He would need to cover for both of them and hopefully Meowth would be of some help as well. He stood next to the bed and she stirred. She rolled over to face the other way and he touched her back. She shot up, standing on the bed. "Wha-" He reached forward and held her hips so she wouldn't fall back down. "It's me." She steadied and she brushed the hair from her face. "James…." "Yeah?" Her frightened voice made him wince. "Don't hurt me…." He pulled her forward so his head rested at the top of her thighs. "Jess, I'm won't hurt you." She rested her hands on his shoulders and started to wake up. "James, I'm sorry." He said nothing. She felt his head resting at her thigh and touched his cheek. "James, please….what else can I say?" He moved, pulling her over his shoulder and moving to the chair by the window. He sat down and sat her in his lap. She took a breath in and he studied her. The moonlight turned her pale skin silver and she almost looked like a statue. She leaned forward then, kissing him softly. In honesty, he was startled. He smiled softly at her effort and held her against him. "Jess, I'm sorry for this." She shook her head against his shoulder. "For what?" He stroked her back. "For everything. For hitting you, for yelling at you, for not caring; for never even stopping to find out if I had hurt you." He touched the cheek he knew he had hurt and she didn't move. Her voice was sincere. "I know I haven't been easy. It's hard and I don't know how to make anyone understand that I don't know how to act now. I know it's been a while, and I should have at least accepted it, but I don't. I don't accept it and I don't know what I will do if the surgery fails." She paused. "And I don't know how I will cope when we leave here." He held her. "We'll get through." She shook her head. "You can say that but you aren't me. You don't feel what I do. You don't feel the pain and the anguish I go through every day. You don't know how hard it was when I can't even follow you when you leave and I lay on the floor of the kitchen, wondering if you'll come back." He swallowed hard. "I know. That was a bad day." She sat up, shifting on his legs. "I'm sorry James, I really am. I'm sorry I cannot know how to deal with this." He somehow understood her. She really wasn't feeling sorry for herself. She wanted to cope and each time she tried, it wouldn't work. She became frustrated and it backfired. She functioned at a bare minimum as it was without someone to help her. He kissed her cheek. "We'll deal with that as it comes." She nodded slightly. "I guess." He watched her chest rise and fall in the moonlight. She was breathing heavy from emotion and he laid a hand across the top of her chest. "Jess, you need to really trust me on this." She calmed when he touched her. After a moment, she nodded. He slid his arms around her and she moved so she could lean against him. He hadn't held her like this in what felt like an eternity and his eyes fell closed. She shifted against him and he leaned back in the chair. He missed her so much, but knew she was in no state right now. He lifted her and slid into bed next to her. It felt good to at least sleep in the same bed, and not on the forsaken couch. She slid against him, and he wrapped his arms around her. There would be other days.
Professor Oak was there, waiting for them. Ash, Misty, Brock, and Pikachu made breakfeast, quietly. Oak tried to make light of the situation, but didn't quite help. James dressed before he woke Jesse. She had taken medication the night before, and he wanted to let her rest as much as she could. He looked at himself in the mirror and scowled. The Team Rocket uniform made him feel horrible, and he turned away, going to wake her. She sat up, yawning. "What time is it?" He sat down and took hold of her hand. "It's about 7. You need to get ready." She reached out and touched his chest, feeling the shirt he wore. "I wish we didn't have to do this." He swallowed hard, knowing he had made her decision for her. "I know." She got up then, showering and drying her hair. She waited until the last possible moment to get ready. He watched her pull the boots on and sighed. She stood and flashbacks came to him. She smoothed the front of her skirt and turned to where he was. "Is it okay?" He nodded and handed her the pair of jade earrings. She put them on and he touched her face. "Everything will be fine." She started to pull the gloves on and he pulled a small box from his pocket. "You should wear these." She turned her head. "They're contacts. They'll make you look less like you're blind." He sat her down and helped her put them in. They added the color back in her eyes that she had lost and they did look more alive. She nodded and they went downstairs.
Ash did a double take when they came into the kitchen, nearly tripping over Misty. "Oh geez, that freaked me out." Even Pikachu let out a loud "Pika!" at the outfits. Oak offered a small smile. "We need to leave soon."
Jesse cried when she said good-bye to the sisters. She would miss them.
Arbok and Weezing were there, as they were needed in this as well.