Heart Attack

L.R.T.

Sliding in behind the trunk of a giant, old oak tree, Professor Sycamore got his first look at Jessie in years. She was sitting on a rotting old tree stump, poking at what was left of the fire from breakfast, trying to keep it lit for when James returned from...wherever he had run off to.

He smiled a little to himself, resting his head against the tree. The way she sat there, the scowl on her face trying to mask the real concern in her eyes reminded him of how she looked when he first went up to her on the road that day. She hadn't changed much - not that he could see, at least. It was fair to guess, however, that the girl he fell for so hard and so fast that one summer wasn't there anymore. He didn't know anything about her life - never did, really; but there was something about her that seemed so very sad...like a Pokemon trapped in a cage, waiting for someone to let it out.

He watched as she looked up to the sound of crunching leaves and breaking twigs and felt just a little proud of himself when he saw her reaction to seeing James return. He couldn't help but wonder how this was so obvious to him - someone who had only just met James and hadn't seen her in years - yet they were so completely clueless about the other's feelings. C'est la vie.

Jessie quickly sprung up from her spot and ran to James, stopping just short of wrapping her arms around him and hugging him close. He was still upset with her - upset enough to go off by himself while she was washing up in the nearby lake. The last thing she needed was to have him push her away physically as well as emotionally. "I was worried," she said softly.

There it was, right there in front of his face. Everything he had ever wanted times a thousand. All he had to do was work up the courage...but if she pulled away, what would he do then? How would he ever come back from that? How would they?

James silently cursed Professor Sycamore for putting him in this horrible position. She would never choose him. Who did this guy think he was, anyway? Giving him ultimatums and ever-so-slightly boosting his confidence just enough that he thought for a split-second that maybe that look on her face was about more than just worry.

He glanced past Jessie and tried to maintain himself, though everything inside him wanted to rush over to the man behind the tree and kick him. Professor Sycamore urged him on with a smile and a thumbs up. James wondered how satisfying it would be to break that thumb.

"James?"

He blinked himself out of his violent thoughts and smiled a little. "Yeah? Hey. Sorry. I was just getting some fresh air."

"...We're in the forest, James."

"Oh. Right. Well, I meant...city air."

Jessie forced a smile and nodded, trying not to focus too hard on how awkward they were now with each other. If she would've known this would happen, she would've kept her mouth shut and done her job like any real agent would have.

The two stood there, neither one quite looking at the other. Jessie had no idea what to say. James didn't know if he had the nerve to do what he was supposed to do.

It was then he thought back to the day before, sitting on that bench with Jessie. He was so caught up in being hurt and jealous that, at the time, what she'd said didn't even register with him. He was supposed to fight for her. That's what she'd said. She wanted him to fight for her. Jessie - Jessie who would rather break every bone in her body trying to do something on her own than ask for help - she asked him to fight for her. And what did he do? He made her feel the very way he was so afraid of feeling right now - rejected and alone, uncertain of the future.

With no more build-up other than the many years they'd been together, James placed his hands on either side of her face and leaned in, kissing her with everything he had.

Her eyes grew wide and she stiffened up at first, confused about what was happening; but as his fingers tangled in her hair, she relaxed and let herself go as well. Grabbing his shirt with both of her hands, she pulled him closer to her, returning his kiss with just as much intensity.

Even when they finally broke apart, he couldn't stop brushing his lips against hers and she refused to let go of his shirt. The two finally locked eyes and started laughing, foreheads pressed together.

"Was this what you had in mind when you wanted me to fight for you?" he asked.

She nodded, smiling at him. "Better."

Catching sight of Professor Sycamore in the bushes, James shut his eyes and swallowed hard. "Do you pick me?"

Jessie reached up, brushing that one stray strand of blue hair that always fell so perfectly on his face out of the way, only to have it fall right back into place. "There was never any question."

He opened his eyes and grinned, unable to keep himself from asking, "Really?"

She laughed softly, rolling her eyes and shaking her head, pulling away from him. She took his hand and guided him over to the stump where they both managed to squeeze together and sit. "You're the only person I could ever be with, James."

He squeezed her hand, biting his lip. "But what about -"

"James, all of the times that we've fought and this team has 'broken up', have any of those ever stuck?"

James shook his head. "But that's -"

She put her hand over his mouth quickly. "I did that to Augustine for a reason. I thought you and I were apart because of me. I thought that everything I said and did brought misery to everyone around me. I thought that it was better for everyone if I was alone." Jessie lowered her hand, looking into his eyes. "I've never felt for anyone the way I've felt for you. He was the only one that ever came close and it scared me to death. I left and I never looked back...but with you..." She leaned forward, kissing him softly on the lips. "I always look back. And I always want to see you right there."

He grinned, wrapping his arms around her, burying his face in her hair. "You always will."

"Hey," Meowth said, waltzing back into the camp with a mug of coffee. "Who's dat guy behind da tree?"

James's eyes widened and he stood up, trying to stand in front of the professor, waving his hands wildly. "Pay no attention to the man behind the tree!"

Jessie frowned, leaning back on the stump and looking past James to see Professor Sycamore standing there, waving at her shyly. Her eyes went wide as well and she lost her balance, falling backward off the stump. "What the hell?!"

James reached down and helped her up, something he was happy that she obliged to; how awful it would be if finally they were together and he mucked it up within the first two minutes. "Are you okay?"

She gave him a look and then gestured with her hand over and over in the professor's direction. "What do you think?!"

"I'm sorry, I really didn't mean to intrude..." he said, stepping out from the brush.

James winced as Jessie dug her nails into his arm. Pressed against her, he could feel her heart begin to race, beating wildly, frantically. "Jessie, Jessie...it's - it's okay -"

"That's right," Professor Sycamore said, putting his hands back in the pockets of his lab coat. "Don't be upset with James. He was walking around the city, mumbling something about you and, of course, the name struck a chord with me as I walked by. I managed to pull out of him that you were here and I had to see you, for old time's sake."

Jessie could still only stare at him, completely taken aback by his presence.

"...And, well," he continued, nodding to James, "I made a deal with James that if he took me to see you one last time, for closure, I would give him some information about mega-evolution."

"What?!" Meowth yowled, spitting out his coffee. "Ya dummy! Ya had ta grow a pair and finally make it with Jess now of all da times?!"

James shook his head and frowned at Professor Sycamore. "No, that's not -"

Professor Sycamore smiled, taking a multi-colored stone from his pocket and tossing it to Jessie, who only just barely managed to make the catch. "A replica of a key component to mega-evolution. I would give you the real thing but..." He laughed, shrugging with his hands up. "You're the bad guys!"

James smiled at him, nodding a "thank you" in his direction.

The professor returned it and turned his attention to Jessie one last time. "It was good seeing you, Jessie. I'm truly glad that you've found what you were looking for."

She swallowed hard, clutching the stone in her hand. "I - I'm sorry..."

"I know," he said gently. "You're completely forgiven. Now, will you focus on your future and not the past? Because I think you might have a pretty spectacular one." He winked.

Jessie looked up at James and smiled, nodding. "Yeah...I think so, too."

He pulled her closer, feeling the beat of her heart again - calm, rhythmic...he would call it "content."