2005- Chapter Three
Tracey and Gary had both cooled down soon enough, and yet another unspoken apology was uttered on Ash's part, but the atmosphere continued to remain cold around him. Ash, for what it was worth, tried to be a bit nicer since he had found a few things to like about people. Still, nearly a full month had passed, and Ash never once mentioned going to the Elite's mountain hideaway. Misty wondered how in the world she was ever going to convince that League Champ to get the Elite involved in the war.
Another Saturday afternoon had rolled around, and for once the October air was unusually warm. Everyone, gathered at Brock's home, decided to take their party outside and enjoy one of the few pleasant days they had left before another Kanto winter blew in. Brock's apartment had a spacious deck, perfect for outdoor activities, and this is where they had set up their new grounds. A table was set in the middle, with several different games piled next to it. Brock flipped some burgers on the grill, enjoying the autumn weather. Gary and Misty were stretched out in lawn chairs, watching Tracey and James battle it out in a chess game. Ash balanced on the deck's railing, eyes half-closed. Jessie and Celia watched from a kitchen window, finishing up a salad for the lunch. Brock's three other siblings were down in the yard below, playing a game of Horse on the homemade basketball court.
"Checkmate," Tracey said confidently, sliding a rook deftly into place.
James blinked a few times. "Impossible." He studied the move from all angles. After a moment, he sighed, shaking his head and smiling. "That's the first person to beat me in years. Congratulations." His eyes flashed a fire of competitiveness. "Care for another round?"
Brock, Misty and Gary chuckled, heckling James and thanking Tracey several times for proving the assassin was human.
"I'd never seen anyone win that many games in a row," Gary commented. "Nice to see the streak broken."
James shrugged. "An upset is always due. Now, let's see you do that twice."
"With pleasure," Tracey agreed, smirking devilishly. He tossed his king into the air and caught it behind his back. "I should warn you, I've had a lot of practice."
"Likewise."
Celia gazed out the window, smiling a little. Jessie poked her. "You've been cleaning that lettuce off for about two minutes. Any longer and you'll wash the taste away with the bacteria."
The young cook snapped back to her own world. "Oh, sorry about that Jess. How are you doing?"
"Pretty good," Jessie said, gesturing to the pile of sliced vegetables. "Cutting is about the only thing I don't screw up."
Celia started to arrange the lettuce into the salad bowl. Her eyes looked to both sides to make sure none of the others were around. "Tracey's sort of cute, isn't he?"
Jessie's eyes widened. "Now who's man-watching?"
"Hey, I can look, can't I?" she justified, blushing brightly and reminding Jessie somewhat of a younger Brock. "So..."
"Hey ladies, plan on sharing the juicy bit of gossip with us?" Brock called.
Both young women jerked their heads up, blushing slightly.
"Gossip? We weren't-" Celia began hurriedly.
"Is the salad about ready?" Brock interrupted. "I'm pretty much done."
Celia and Jessie realized that while talking they'd completed their part of the meal. "Finished." Together they grabbed some condiments for the food. Jessie wiped the chess board off the table, plunking the food down.
"We WERE in the middle of a game," James remarked, looking annoyed.
Jessie smiled. "You're point being...?"
He tried to act irritated, but couldn't do it. Sighing and chuckling, he took a cup of lemonade from Celia.
"Sorry about that, Trace," Celia apologized. "You weren't too far into it, were you?"
"Uh, no, we'd just started," Tracey assured her. "Don't worry about it, Celia."
She blushed, handing the artist a glass of lemonade. Celia went on to pass them to the others. Gary smirked, elbowing Tracey in the ribs.
"What?" Tracey mouthed.
Gary only winked, leaning back and thanking Celia for the drink. After Brock had dumped the burgers onto some paper plates and passed those out too, the group set to the food with a will. Halfway through the meal Frita, Gwen and Zach joined them, complaining slightly about not being invited up.
"How was the game?" Celia asked.
"Didn't go too well. Uneven teams. The girls ganged up on me," Zach explained, piling some food on to his plate. "Too bad we didn't have someone else down there." He looked around to see the deck pretty crowded. "We'll eat down by the court. It's almost too hot to be out in the sun right now, especially after the game."
The three children thanked the cooks, then trotted down the steps.
At the mention of another person, Celia and Brock exchanged glances. Amid the excitement of the good weather and high spirits, they'd nearly forgotten about Kris.
"I'll be back," Brock excused himself, grabbing a plate of food and disappearing into the house.
Celia bit her lip, sighing a little.
"How is he?" Misty ventured to ask.
"I wouldn't know. I can't see him, even though we're pretty sure that I'm immune, seeing as how I visited Dad a couple times... but, according to Brock he's not too good. I've seen it happen so many times; it's been nearly four months, and that usually means..." she never got it out. Forcing a smile, Celia wiped a hand across her eyes. "But we stay hopeful. After all, there's always a chance he'll get better, and by God we'll hang on to that."
"Why?" Ash wondered. "Why hang on to something that's nearly impossible?"
"Because if you don't keep faith alive," Celia tried another weak smile, "what's the point in living?"
Ash stared at the ground below him. "Hm." He was beginning to question himself about the hopelessness of humanity- perhaps there was something here after all.~
"We'll be leaving today," James stated one Sunday morning at the beginning of November. It was something he said everyday, not really meaning it.
"No," Jessie always answered simply. Today, as was everyday, it was followed by a reason. "I'm finally learning how to do something other than boil water."
James shrugged. "If that's what you want." Secretly he was glad to stay in the city. There was something in this place that seemed to always put him in a good mood. Still, Midnight's warning back at the bar had worried him a little, and he kept an eye open for anything unusual. James had never failed a job since he'd become a Bounty Hunter, and he sure as hell wasn't going to let Jessie get killed.
"Any idea what today is?" Jessie asked suddenly, smiling a little.
"November third... can't say it rings a bell..." then it hit him. "Ah. It's been a month since we came to Pewter. Am I right?"
She nodded. "I love this city. I really do. And for the first time in years I actually have more than a couple people I can call friends."
"That makes two of us, then."
Jessie glanced over. James was smiling again. It was a trait he seemed to have adapted in the last couple weeks, and Jessie couldn't be happier. When she'd first met him she'd been so sure he was nothing but a shell of the old James, but every day he looked a little more alive. That aloofness he'd held himself up with earlier was dropping fast, and the wall of apathy was getting torn down too. She loved it.
"Shall we pay Brock a visit?" Jessie asked.
James nodded. "He's expecting us, I'm sure."
"Think they're getting sick of us, yet?" she wondered suddenly, not wanting to wear out her welcome at the Harrison household.
"Judging by the way they're constantly inviting us over, I'd say we haven't become a nuisance yet." He grinned once more. "Zach still reveres me as something of a god, you know."
She rolled her eyes. "Try not to shatter the image too early, will you?"
He laughed slightly, something Jessie loved hearing. It was getting easier for him to do all the time. There was a compassionate human behind the bounty hunter, and Jessie was going to bring it out even if it took her whole life.
'But at this rate,' she thought happily, 'it won't even take a year.'~
Jessie knocked once, then let herself in. The door was usually unlocked, since hardly any burglars ran around these places. The minute she stepped over the doormat she felt a change in atmosphere. Frita was curled up in her usual chair, a book hanging over the armrest, but her eyes were fixed on the door leading to Kris' room. Gwen and Zach lay on the couch, arms hanging off drearily. Jessie thought she caught a sniffle in that area. Celia, too, was in the same mode of depression; she wiped the kitchen counter off, shooting sorrowful glances at the same door Frita watched. They managed to look up when the duo came in, giving a weak hello and falling back into the original mood.
"Kris?" Jessie asked, knowing the answer.
Celia nodded, barely keeping herself composed. "He took a turn for the worst last night. Brock's been with him all night. You know when the fever hits 105 that it won't be much longer-"
Kris' room door slowly creaked open. A bedraggled Brock walked out, closing it quietly behind. He looked incredibly tired, but the predominant emotion was a pained look of sorrow, almost failure.
"Is he-?" Frita began, cutting herself off with a choked sob.
A small nod. Celia's hand flew to her mouth. She ran to Brock, burying her head in his shirt and crying uncontrollably. The others soon followed, clinging to their older siblings for comfort.
"He went peacefully," Brock assured them. "In his sleep without a sound."
Jessie and James didn't know what to do. Feeling out of place and awkward, they slid out the door and shut it behind them without making a sound. Once outside, Jessie leaned against the wall, looking up with a distressed look on her face. "Why does this keep happening to them? Haven't they been through enough?"
"Maybe this is the end of it," James mused, though he knew how contagious the virus was. "Perhaps no one else will catch it."
Jessie rubbed her temples. "I hope so, James. Oh, God, I hope so."~
It had been almost two weeks since the meager funeral of Kris Harrison, and Brock's friends were getting worried. The family seemed in a deep hole of depression; going through the motions simply because they had to, not because they necessarily wanted to. Frita noticed it, too. Usually Brock and Celia would drag them out of the hopelessness, but the last death seemed to hit them harder than the rest. After so much tragedy, it seemed almost pointless to keep going. As Celia saw it they'd probably be travelling the same road soon anyway.
One day, when Ash and Misty had come over in hopes of cheering the family up some, Frita got up enough nerve to say something.
"You know," she said quietly, "I bet Kris is pretty pissed at us right about now."
Brock's head jerked up. "What makes you say that?"
"He hated it when people got upset over him. Remember, when he was roller-blading and sprained his ankle? He got so annoyed at the rest of us pampering him that he hobbled over to a friend's house and stayed there until the cast came off."
Zach chuckled without meaning to. "And when we went on that family vacation on Mount Moon, and he slid off the trail. We found him a couple miles down, scratched and bruised on his way back to meet us."
"I'm surprised you remember that," Celia commented. "You couldn't have been more than six."
"It's about the only memory of Mom I got," he explained. "I like to hang on to it."
Gwen smiled slightly. "You think they're having fun, up in heaven?"
"Without a doubt," Brock spoke up. His face brightened considerably. "So, why are we sitting around moping? If they're enjoying themselves, what's the point in worrying about it?"
"You ARE supposed to mourn the dead," Ash cut in, seeming almost irritated at the family.
"Oh, shut up," Misty snapped. "Brock's right, you know. I've been crying about my sisters for far too long, and you're even worse. I know for a fact that each and every one of them are having a blast, and the only thing that's putting a thorn in their sides is knowing we're down here crying about it. Of course you're supposed to mourn the dead, Ash, but there's only so much time you can spend on it."
"Life goes on, and there isn't anything you can do about it," Brock joined. "Losing the will to live won't help anything." He turned to the other Harrisons. "I'm sorry I've been in a rut for this long. It's been dragging you guys down, I bet-"
"We were just as bad," Celia reminded him. "If it wasn't for Frita I expect we'd STILL be moping over it. They're in a better place; we should leave it at that."
Ash watched in amazement as the group slowly went back to what they normally would be doing that day. It went considerably slower, but their spirits were returning. He couldn't figure out how they did it.
"Faith is a strong thing, isn't it?" Misty whispered in his ear. "And you wanna know something? If you want to drag you selfish ass back to your valley paradise I don't even care. It doesn't matter how many people get killed, the spirit will still be there. And, Mr. I-Know-Everything, that's all this planet needs to survive."~
Three days later Frita began the telltale cough of someone stricken with the virus. A fever was discovered, and with mounting sadness she was put in quarantine.
"Not that it'll make a difference," Misty spat. She had worked herself into a firy rage that morning, and was making Ash, Gary and Tracey aware of it. "My God, how much suffering can a single family take?"
Ash kept his back to her, staring out Tracey and Gary's apartment window. Frost was forming on the window; a sure sign that winter wasn't too far off. He took a slow even breath. "I'll be leaving in a few days."
"Figures," Tracey muttered, flipping from static to static on the more-or-less worthless television.
"So soon? You must have seen something you really hated about us," Misty said venemously. She waved a hand in his direction. "Fine, run away from the problem, see if I care. I didn't think you'd change- men never do- but it was worth a try. Stupid me, for thinking a selfish jerk like you-"
"You win," he interrupted.
She stopped mid-yell. "I- I what?"
"You win," he repeated. "The human race is worth saving after all. I'm going to the Elite's hideaway to get help and do what I can to stop the war."
"How do you plan on doing that?" Tracey questioned. "More bombs?"
"Peace talks, treaties and the like," Ash answered. "Maybe if I open the country leaders' eyes to what's happening, they'll stop a war no one can win."
"That must be the biggest load of bull I've ever heard."
All eyes turned to a sulking Gary. He hadn't been in a very good mood- Tracey suspected the cold weather had brough some stiffness to his war wounds, reminding him yet again of his disability- and seemed almost to be looking for a fight.
"How's that?" Misty asked, ready to give him the battle he requested.
"You think Kanto's the only place that's been screwed over by this war?" He laughed wryly. "I been everywhere from Quiana to the Marabu Islands and it all looks exactly like this. Hell, I've CAUSED some of this. Everytime you shoot down a plane you know someone's parent or sibling might not be coming home, but you do it 'cause it's what you're ordered to do." He flicked a piece of paper across the card table. "You know why we're ordered to do it? The damn presidents, dictators and whatever else don't give a crap what happens to the world. So long as they're snug and cosy in their big mansions the whole place could blow up and they wouldn't bat an eyelid. They don't know about the suffering and sacrifices- to them it's just a name on a map and a certain leader who attacked them first."
"It sounds childish, but he's right," Tracey agreed.
"There has to be something we can do, though," Misty insisted.
"You wanna know how this is gonna end?" Gary countered. "Two ways. Number one: we run out of money and materials for weapons. Number two: everyone is wiped out. Game over. A couple of peace talks aren't gonna solve anything. So unless you figure out how to disable all the nuclear bombs this little rock we call home'll be toast in a couple more years."
"I don't believe that," Misty growled, fists clenched. "At one time, yes, I may have agreed with you. But by God, if someone as pig-headed as Ash can change his thoughts I'd think SOMEONE would agree. No matter what country, or leader, if they understand the hopelessness they'll turn away from violence."
He shrugged. "You're welcome to try your luck. But you'd be wasting your time and endangering your life."
"I have to try," Ash explained. "I don't know why- even I can't explain it- for some reason I have to get this war to end."
Misty smiled slightly. "Maybe you have a soul after all."
"I take it you'll be coming with me," Ash assumed after a moment of silence.
She sighed. "I've followed you to the bowels of Hell and back again. Something simple as climbing a mountain in winter ought to be a breeze. And, if I don't, you'll get yourself killed." Misty waved a hand dismissively. "If there's one thing I've learned it's that Ash Ketchum can't do anything without a couple people backing him up."
"You're too kind," Ash said dryly. "Shall we go tell the others? They should be thrilled."
Misty agreed, and they began to leave. Having nothing better to do, Tracey followed, and Gary came a few moments later. After a short walk they arrived at Brock's home. Ash opened the door without knocking and surveyed the scene. Nothing much had changed- chores were carried out and home-schooling was done- but the empty chair in the corner was a painful reminded of the stricken Harrison family.
"Look who's here," Celia commented, trying to smile. "We haven't seen you in a few days- thought you skipped town."
"Ash and I are just about to," Misty said, practically glowing. "He's going back to the Elite. Ash is finally going to end this war!"
For the first time in several days Brock's smile was genuine. "It's about time. Good thing to hear, too. Are all four of you going?"
"I am," Tracey said.
"Just Misty and me," Ash said at the same time. He whirled on Tracey. "You're coming?"
"Pewter's nice and all, but I've always been something of a nomad," he explained. "I don't have anything better to do. And, like Misty said, you always did need a couple people to back you up."
"I suppose I should be grateful," it was the closest thing to a thanks Tracey would get. Ash nodded in Gary's direction, "You'll be joining the caravan too, no doubt."
"I wouldn't miss the look on your face when you realize I'm right."
Misty rubbed her hands together. "Good. It'll be a lot easier travelling through that Viridian Forest with a few extra people. Bandits don't usually attack groups... right?"
Ash only laughed darkly.
"We ought to make plans; get supplies," Tracey cut in. He seated himself on Brock's sofa, pulling out a notepad.
"Always prepared," Gary chuckled. "You're worse than a boy scout."
"We'll all need bags, and some Pokémon in case we run into trouble," Tracey began, enjoying his new job. "Okay... I can carry all the equipment for pitching a tent... which one of you guys'll be designated cook?"
"Brock will."
All eyes turned to Celia. She had come out of the kitchen.
"What do you mean, 'Brock will'?" Gwen questioned, breaking into the adult's conversation.
"Exactly what I said," she replied. "He's going with you."
Brock looked confused. "But Celia, I can't leave. I've got a job-"
"It doesn't bring in much money, and we have plenty in storage so it's not like that was essential," she objected.
"What about Frita? Someone's gotta look after-"
He was cut off again. "I'll take care of it. I spent a lot of time around that and I haven't caught it yet. I'm willing to risk that." Her look softened. "The only way this is going to stop is if we find the medicine, and we'll never find it sitting around here in Pewter. Maybe, on the way, or once you find the Elite..." She resumed her determined attitude. She walked over to the small group, facing her older brother. "Besides, you're miserable here. I know, you feel the need to play big brother, and I respect you for sticking by us, but I'm not ten anymore. And Ash and his friends aren't going to do anyone any good if they starve along the way. Trust me, they need you a lot more than we do."
He seemed about to object, but stopped. After a few moments of thinking, Brock managed a smile. "There isn't an argument for that, is there?"
Misty's face lit up. "You're coming with us?"
"Do I even have a choice?" he jerked a thumb at Celia. "She'll feed me to the lions if I don't."
Ash half-sighed. "Wonderful. I'll be bringing a whole army to the Elite's front door at this rate." He sat cross-legged on the floor, taking the pad from Tracey's hands. "All right, then, we'll leave tomorrow morning at seven o'clock sharp. Now, who will bring what...?"~
Early the next morning Ash, Misty, Gary and Tracey met Brock on his front porch. The breeder had some good news for them.
"There's a man on the outside of town who owns a horse stable," Brock explained, rubbing sleep out of his eyes and shouldering his pack. "I called him last night and he told me he'd loan us some Ponytas."
"Sounds like a good plan," Tracey agreed.
"We only get to use them to the edge of Viridian," Brock went on. "He doesn't want them to get killed in the forest."
"How thoughtful," Gary said sarcastically. "I guess it's better than walking, and it'll cut the time a lot shorter."
Celia, the only other Harrison awake, gave Brock a farewell hug and wished the others a safe journey. "Good luck. I hope everything goes well."
Brock led the way to the stables, keeping up a stream of light chatter with Misty and Tracey. Neither Gary nor Ash seemed in the mood to talk.
In a few minutes two human shapes fell into step on either side of them. It was still dark, and none of them noticed until the female on the right spoke.
"Don't you find it rude when people leave without so much as a good-bye?"
The male nodded. "Very."
"Unless, do you think, they knew it wouldn't be a good-bye?"
"In that case," he remarked, "it wouldn't be rude at all, and we'd have to forgive them for the accusation."
It was Jessie and James, of course.
"Let me guess, you're joining this parade?" Ash queried.
"Seems like you're cursed to have us follow you for eternity," Jessie said lightly. "Last night Brock mentioned you were departing Pewter, and we couldn't resist the urge to tag along."
"Do you have a reason, or are you just along for the ride?" he wanted to know.
"As a matter of fact, we do," James picked up the conversation. "I've seen your level of alertness, and, with all due respect, it has me worried. To put it bluntly, the world couldn't be in less stable hands. I'm coming along to make sure you don't get yourselves killed." Without thinking he put a hand to his gun, making his point.
"And since he's my bodyguard, I figure I ought to stay with him," Jessie went on. "It's no good hiring someone if you're going to be miles away from them."
"Jessie also happens to be decent at self-defense. Between the two of us we ought to be able to keep you in one piece long enough to reach this valley," James added. He overlooked the crew. "How many of you is a different question entirely. I assume you have legitimate reasons for coming."
"Brock's the only one," Misty laughed. "He's feeding us. I'm coming out of boredom, as are Gary and Tracey."
"Extra pairs of hands might come in handy," Ash thought aloud. "Especially if we get in a fight with someone."
A few minutes later they reached the stables. Brock knocked once on the small house's door. There were a few noises inside, then the sounds of two sets of heavy footsteps. A middle-aged man answered the door, his wife peeking over his shoulder. "Who's out there, ringing my bell this early?" He noticed Brock. "Oh, of course. I almost forgot you was coming to pick up some animals." He grabbed a key from a hook near the door. "Follow me."
He led the way to a set of stables near the city limits. Opening the doors wide, he looked the group over as they walked in. "Ah, seven of you, are there? Any of you experienced Pokémon trainers?" Gary and Ash spoke up. "Right, then, I'd best give you the rowdier ones." He saddled the two with big Rapidash stallions. His eyes went to the girls. "Now for th' ladies." A couple mare Ponytas were selected. To Brock and Tracey. "Over here." They were given a duo of smaller Rapidash. Last came James. "Hm. You're a bit tall for a small Rapidash. I s'pose I can trust you with one of the larger ones." He patted the neck of a mare. "This is Aries. She's a good, gentle girl, so don't worry about a thing. I'll go get the saddles while you get used to th' animals." He left shortly.
Ash and Gary handled the big animals well, staring into their eyes until the horses looked away, showing that the humans were dominant. Tracey and Brock immediately made friends with their Rapidash, who seemed to have fairly agreeable tempers. The Ponytas given to Jessie and Misty were as gentle as two Pokémon could get- neither had a problem. James didn't get very near to his, but Aries seemed to like him well enough. Jessie was going to ask why he wasn't making friends when the stableman came back. Not five minutes later he had them all ready to go.
"They'll come back once ya let 'em loose," he explained, patting Jessie's Ponyta on the side. "Don't override 'em, though." His held out a palm to Brock. "That'll be thirty dollars, if you don't mind. I have a household to support, ya know."
After paying every cent- he made sure to count it several times- the group of travellers were led around to the side gate and let out. With a parting wave to the stableman, they turned to trot off just as the sun was coming up over the hill.
"Hey, Ash," Gary began, coming up next to the Champ. "Exactly where is this place we're going?"
"In the mountains," Ash answered briskly, covering a yawn.
"Obviously," Gary rolled his eyes. "I'm a soldier; I need details."
Ash seemed a little uneasy. "What sort of details?"
"Length in kilometers, approximate time, weather conditions, location on a map, etcetera."
He rubbed the back of his head; luckily no one could see him blushing in the dim light. "Well... Viridian Forest is a two-day walk. From the village at the foot of Silver, it's about half a mile up, then from there give-or-take a five-day journey into the heart of the Crimson Range. So, I'd say that'd be about fifteen miles a day, tops... seventy-five miles, approximately."
"But at this time of year the weather's going to be an ice hell, right?"
"Probably."
"We're talking a week and a half of tramping through frozen lakes and ten feet of snow?"
"Possibly."
"Wonderful," came Gary's sarcastic reply.
Misty rode up on Ash's left. "You would pick the most difficult time of the year, wouldn't you?"
Ash grinned. "If only to piss you off."
Jessie ran a hand through her hair, petting Aquarius' (they were all named after constellations) neck and viewing the fields bathed in morning sunlight. She glanced over to see if James was liking the ride as much as she was. What she saw was almost too much.
Her comrade was clinging to the horses neck, trying desperately to stay on. Aries trotted along smoothly enough, but you would have thought he was riding a wild Tauros. Jessie couldn't stand it. She put a hand to her mouth and laughed.
He shot her a look. "Well, I'm glad YOU'RE enjoying this." He scrambled to keep from sliding. "What's so funny?"
"It's just, seeing the king of aloofness and composure looking so awkward..." she burst into another fit. "If it wasn't you you'd be laughing too."
"I doubt it," he sniffed, trying his best to stay upright and failing miserably.
"I guess some people just can't ride," Tracey remarked, coming up next to them. He checked to see how high up the sun was. "Pretty good lighting. We could probably go at a run without endangering the animals." He looked to their unofficial leader. "Sound like a good idea, Ash?"
The Champ grunted, kicking the Rapidash into a fast gallop. In a moment the others were following his lead. Aries, seeing her companions moving quicker, also sped up. James did what he could, but there was just no way to stay on without looking like an idiot. Sighing and cursing, he hugged the Rapidash's neck and wondered how much longer he'd have to endure this.
~
Around ten in the morning they reached the outermost regions of Viridian Forest. Patting the horses in thanks, the travellers unpacked their supplies from their rides and set them on a homeward course.
"I was kind of attached to that Pisces," Gary commented. "Might even miss him."
"I certainly won't," James growled, dusting himself off. "You're such an easy target on one of those things- can't wield a gun while riding."
"Actually, a lot of people can," Jessie teased. "You have to stop hugging the horse to be able to, though."
He blushed crimson and stalked off, picking up his bag. "Shouldn't we start moving? It's easier to travel through Viridian in the morning than after noon- most bandits don't awaken until then."
As they started their long journey, Misty leaned over to Jessie and chuckled. "You're a very talented woman."
"Why's that?"
"You're the only person who can make James blush!"Chapter Four: The AssassinChapter Index
