Rating: PG, once again it's kinda deep.

Other: This is sorta a spinoff to Reflections. It's all about Jessie and James instead of Giovanni, though. Also, this one is pretty deep and definitely a love story, so if you're looking for laughs you can turn around and leave right now. If you have any opinions send them to Jayhawkfan13@aol.com

Dedicated to Haley, my best friend since Preschool. Luv ya girl!

There are two kinds of people in this world.

There are the winners -- those who seem to have everything going their way, have an unbelievable amount of luck, and look as if they never fail.

And then there are the losers -- people who can't seem to get a break. They'll almost reach the stars, yet fall back to earth with a sickening crash just when they get close. Their lives are a big muddle of loss and failure. It toughens them up, but can often be their downfall.

Jessie, James and Meowth, members of the infamous Team Rocket, were those kinds of people.

But this time, the misfits were going to win the biggest game of all.

Life.

I paced up and down the room. It was very unnerving having to be in a doctor's office -- people kept giving me nasty looks. I just knew Officer Jenny was going to come barging in, slapping handcuffs on my wrists and throwing me in jail. Luckily, she never came.

It was all James' fault, really. He kept complaining some stupid headaches.

Wuss.

I told him to take some Advil, but he said they didn't work. So naturally we had to come waltzing into a doctor's office, our bright red "R's" sticking out like bad zits. I guess the only reason the nurse didn't turn us in was because James looked like he was in real pain.

Wuss.

Dr. Tyson took him back in the office to have a look. I just hoped James didn't do something stupid like try to steal one of the Chansey helpers.

The doctor came out of his office, a pained expression on his face. Great, James was being annoying again.

"Um, are you two with him?" he asked, looking slightly nervous.

I nodded.

"Unfortunately," Meowth added.

Dr. Tyson wrung his hands. "Could you, er, could you step into my office for a moment?"

I looked quizzically at Meowth. He shrugged. Sensing a trap, I put my hand on the smoke bomb I always had handy. We followed Dr. Tyson.

James sat in an ugly looking chair. I took a seat next to him. Looking over, I realized his face was chalk white. He was shivering all over.

"What is it?" I hissed. Dr. Tyson interrupted.

"How long has your friend been suffering from these headaches?" he asked.

I thought for a moment, "They started a few weeks ago."

He nodded, "That's what James said."

I was getting impatient, "Well, what is it??"

James put a hand on me. He was shaking like a leaf.

Dr. Tyson sighed. "James has been having chronic migraines. Now, I can't be completely sure, but they may be cause by a brain tumor."

My head started spinning.

"James-" I began

"A brain tumor?" Meowth finished.

Dr. Tyson nodded.

"But, but you said it might not be true, right? It could be nothing, right?" I asked, my voice filled with desperate hope.

I looked from Meowth to James. Meowth seemed to be taking it well; he was slightly pale, but stayed calm. James had a look of pure terror pasted on his face.

Dr. Tyson shook his head sadly. "I'm 90 percent sure of it. Still, we'll have to take him in for a cat-scan."

"When can we get one?" I questioned.

"As soon as possible," he told me. "Tomorrow, if you can come in."

Meowth asked the last question on my mind. "How much is this gonna cost?"

Tyson played with his tie nervously. "Er, not counting surgery... 400 dollars, give or take."

"I don't care what the price is!" I snapped. "Money isn't a problem!"

Dr. Tyson stood up, opening the door. "All right. Is 9 AM good? Okay, I'll see you then." Meowth led James and I out on to the street. Once we were safely hidden in an alley, James slumped against the wall.

"Oh God," he whispered. "Oh God..."

I sat down next to him, putting an arm around his waist comfortingly. "It'll be okay. We'll get you through this. Besides, it could be a false alarm."

There was so much false hope in my voice I knew James would detect it. Even so, he leaned his head against my shoulder. "Oh Jess. I don't wanna die."

"You won't," I said resolutely. "I won't let you."

Meowth stood in front of us. "I tink da real question is how're we gonna pay for dis. Last time I checked you don't have a secret stash of money somewhere."

The tears that he'd tried to hold back came. James started balling.

I shot Meowth a nasty look. "Can't you have a little compassion? We'll ask the Boss."

Meowth gave out a short, harsh laugh. "Ha! Fat chance of dat."

"Don't pay him any attention," I whispered to James. "Meowth always has to gripe about something."

I thought about how horrible I'd been to James over the past weeks. Telling him he just needed to toughen up. And now...

I shuddered. Just couldn't think about that. There were enough problems for me to worry about.

* * *

"What do you want?" Giovanni asked sharply.

I twisted a strand of hair nervously. "Um, Boss, great ruler of Team Rocket, the one who'll bring us back into power, er, sir-"

"Quit babbling and give me your excuses as to why you haven't managed to catch an electric mouse!" he snapped.

"Boss, we need your help," I got to the point. "James may possibly have a brain tumor. We need you to help pay the doctor fees."

Giovanni looked irritated. "Is this some stupid pity trick to get me to raise your pay?"

I turned slightly red at the stupid question. "See for yourself."

I rotated the phone monitor. James was still a chalky white; Giovanni couldn't ignore that.

"Happy?" I said harshly. "We need about 400 hundred dollars for now. Take it out of my pay check if you have to."

Giovanni drummed his fingers on the desk, trying to decide if he should bother. Finally he replied, "I'll send it over right away. Give me your location."

I had managed to get a hotel room in the trashiest part of Cerulean. I gave him the address and hung up.

"Well I'm shocked," Meowth said flatly. "Da Boss never did somethin' like dat for us."

"One of us was never about to die either," I pointed out.

I soon wished I'd chosen different words. James started crying again, throwing himself on the bed.

"James, I didn't mean it like-"

"Can you just not talk to me? I need a minute to think!" James cried from within his pillow.

I nodded. Sitting down, I patted his back. It was about the most soothing thing I could think of at the time. I wanted to cry to, but one of us needed to stay in charge. If I started wailing it would only hurt James more.

"It's okay," I whispered. "It's gonna be okay."

* * *

The cat-scans proved our worst fears to be true -- James had a brain tumor.

"Luckily," Dr. Tyson told us. "It hasn't spread much. With luck we may be able to remove it. But we need to work quickly."

I didn't know where he was from, but in my world that wasn't lucky.

I arranged a date less than a week away where we could come into the hospital and get the surgery done. The thing hadn't improved James' mood; he was always on the verge of tears. A few times in the morning or late at night I'd look over and see him crying silently. My heart went out to him.

The money problem arose a few days before the actual surgery. I tried the Boss again, but he refused to give over any more money. I called him some pretty nasty names after that.

I sat in the hotel room, across from James.

"What can we do?" I asked desperately. "I don't have that kind of money. And you..."

"My parents," he said quietly.

I gave him a startled look. James' parents were millionaires, but slave-drivers. His fiance, Jessebelle, was even worse.

"They'll get the money," he muttered.

Standing up, I grabbed Meowth and started for the door. "We'll take care of it. I don't want you to get within ten feet of them."

* * *

I knocked timidly on the door. A woman with purple hair in a bun opened it. "Yes? Oh, it's some street riff-raff."

She began to close the door. I stuck my foot out to stop her. "This street riff-raff is best friends with your son James. So if you wouldn't mind..."

I was immediately pulled into the enormous mansion. James' mother dragged me into the parlor, where his dad and fiance Jessebelle were seated.

"This girl says she knows our James!" Mom exclaimed.

Jessebelle jumped up. She ran up to me, clasping my hands in hers. It was like looking into a slightly muddled mirror. From the sapphire eyes to startlingly red hair, Jessebelle looked just like me.

"Oh please tell me where my James is! Ah have been lookin' for so long, Ah feared all hope was lost!" she pleaded.

I stared with cold hatred at the witch across from me. "My news is for his parents only, so get lost."

Jessebelle pouted. "Ah don't know how he could stand a girl like you! Such manners!"

"At least I don't act like he's a puppy to be trained," I growled menacingly. "Speaking of which, I thought Growly needed some exercise, so I took the liberty of letting him out for a stroll..."

Jessebelle was gone so fast you'd think the dog was snapping at her heels.

I turned to James' parents, who looked at me like I was some kind of monster. "I don't exactly have time to chat. This is important."

His mother made no motion for me to sit down. "Go on then."

I took a deep breath, then explained. "James has a, a brain tumor. He needs money for the surgery, and we thought you might help. It's 47,000 dollars."

Without skipping a beat, James' father went over to the vault and pulled out a thick wad of bills. He handed me the money.

I smiled slightly. "Thank you."

They walked me to the door.

"You tell James to come home and visit us," his mother said. "Ah miss my son dearly an' would like to see him again before Ah pass on. Tell him he doesn't need to worry about Jessebelle."

His father nodded. "He was right, she is a terror."

I shook their hands. "Thanks again. I'll be sure to tell him."

I ran off down the road, Meowth in my wake.

"You ain't really gonna tell him, are ya?" Meowth wondered. "Dat's a trap waitin' ta happen."

"Of course not," I replied smugly. "You don't think I'm that stupid, do you?"

* * *

James gripped my hand so tightly my knuckles turned white. I squeezed his hand reassuringly.

"Don't worry. You'll be fine," I said confidently.

I was trying not to panic myself. If this surgery failed...

"It won't," I said to myself.

Dr. Rekker intercepted us. "Come on James. You have to leave your friends here."

He looked at me nervously. I nodded, letting go of his hand.

"It's okay," she comforted. "Once you're under you won't feel a thing."

Meowth and I waved good-bye, seating ourselves in some chairs.

"Do ya tink it'll work?" Meowth wondered.

I avoided his eyes. "I don't know. I hope so. But Meowth, what happens if-"

"Don't tink about it," he said hastily. "We won't worry about dat till it happens."

The cat was good at covering his feelings. I saw little expression on his face. I, however, wasn't nearly as talented. Any idiot could see I was a nervous wreck.

Meowth did something I'd never seen him do before. He jumped into my lap, acting much like a regular Meowth. Purring softly, he gave me a little comfort. We fell asleep like that, him in my arms.

* * *

I awoke with a start. Dr. Rekker was standing over me.

"Jessie? Jessie wake up."

My eyelids flew open. "Is it over? Is the surgery done?"

She nodded sadly.

Meowth asked the horrible question. "Was it successful?"

Once again she nodded. "But complications arose. We had to take out a small part of his brain. I... we're not sure if it'll affect his left side."

"But he's alive? He's not going to die?"

"No. He'll be okay," Dr. Rekker replied.

I jumped him, knocking Meowth off. He landed gracefully on his feet.

"Take me to him," I practically ordered.

She obliged, leading us down a long hallway. We finally arrived at room 167.

"He isn't awake yet," she informed us. "But you can stay here if you want."

Meowth and I pulled up two chairs next to the bed.

"I wonder what she means by affectin' his left side," Meowth commented.

I clutched James' hand. "Who cares? It doesn't make any difference to me."

"Think about it Jess. He could be crippled for life," Meowth always had a way of bringing up the worst. "No use of his leg, or arm, or both."

"Can't you just be happy that he's alive?" I snapped angrily. "I hope if something like this ever happens to me your first thought isn't about money!"

Meowth quieted down some, sulking quietly. It didn't matter -- I wasn't expecting an apology.

Our meals were brought to the room, and a cot for me to sleep on. Around ten I crawled into bed, exhausted by the days events, and fell asleep.

* * *

The doctors were milling around me. The room was dimly lit, but I could see they were hovering around James' bed.

"What's going on?" I questioned.

No one paid any attention to me.

"How did this happen?" Dr. Rekker asked a surgeon.

"We're not sure. He just stopped breathing."

"What!?" I shouted.

Dr. Rekker sprang into action. "We're losing him! I need vital stats!"

"It's no use. He's gone."

I tried to get through the crowd, but it was too thick.

"Who's she?"

"His friend. Get her out of here," Dr. Rekker directed.

"No! Wait! What's happening? Is James okay? James..."

* * *

I woke up, hitting the floor. I was tangled in my sheets. Sighing, I realized it was just a dream. James lay next to me, an IV in his arm and his head swathed in bandages. The sun was coming in through the blinds, giving the room an almost heavenly glow.

"J-Jessie?" a small voice called. "Jessie, are you there?"

I scrambled to the bedside. "James!"

James felt for my hand. "Jess? Is that you?"

I nodded, then realized the bandages covered his eyes. "Yeah. Are you okay?"

"I'm scared," he admitted. "And... Jessie?"

"Yes?" I asked.

"I can't feel my left arm."

I sighed. Quickly I explained what Dr. Rekker had told me.

"So that means I'm... I'm crippled?" he whimpered.

"Mm-hm," I replied. "But it doesn't matter. The surgery was a success and you're alive."

"I can't be part of Team Rocket anymore," he informed me.

"Fine by me. I was going to quit anyway after how Giovanni treated you," I shrugged.

We were quiet for a moment. Then James spoke up. "Jess?"

"What is it James?"

"Thanks."

"It wasn't anything-"

"Yes it was!" he interrupted. "You got the money from my parents, and you helped me cope with this. I could never have done that alone. I owe you my life."

I tried to shrug it off. "That's what friends do. I love you James, I couldn't just let you die like that."

"I love you too."

I could tell by his voice he didn't mean friendship.

"Jessie?"

"Yes?" I asked nervously.

"Right before I went under I kept thinking about you," James told me. "I realized how much I'd miss you if I died. Or if you died. Jessie I can't imagine a day going by that I don't see you. I never had enough courage to tell you before but this whole thing has made me realize that life is too short not to take chances. Jessica Smitt, I love you more than life itself."

I was crying now, harder than I'd ever cried. "James, I love you too. I knew if you died I wouldn't be able to stand it," I laughed slightly. "Sorry. I must sound like an idiot, all weepy like this."

James smiled. "It doesn't bother me. I like this side of you."

I kissed him then, lightly on the lips. He kissed me back.

"I hate ta interrupt dis but da doctor's comin,'" Meowth said, jumping on the bed.

I gasped. "How long have you been listening?"

Meowth rolled his eyes. "Oh please. I've seen dis comin' since da day I met you. I'm surprised it took ya dis long."

Dr. Rekker walked into the room just then, stopping further chances of talking. "All right, glad to see you're awake James. Let's take off those bandages, shall we?"

She unwrapped the tape carefully. I was startled. James was completely bald, with a thin line of stitches tracing one side of his head. I shook it off. That was to be expected, and his hair always had grown awfully fast.

"I look horrible, don't I?" he asked drearily.

I nodded, smiling slightly. "Don't worry. It's just hair."

"Is anything numb or are you unable to move something?" Dr. Rekker asked.

James told her about his arm.

She brushed it off. "Ah, don't worry about that. It'll be pretty useless, of course, but you'll manage."

"Sure he will. He's got me," I said, grinning.

She chuckled. "Of course. You look pretty tough yourself."

"When can we leave?" Meowth questioned.

"Oh, I guess in about a week. We'll need to do a few more tests, make sure it's all gone," she noticed the worried look on James' face. "But I'm sure you'll be fine."

Dr. Rekker left, writing a few notes on James' chart before exiting.

He sat up, and I gave him a hug. "Looks like this is finally over."

He kissed me softly. "Thank God."