Soon everyone was on the plane heading back to Pallet Town. The reporters had decided to stay behind to interview some of the island's residents about the events that had just transpired.
While Ash and his friends chatted noisily up front, Professor Oak and Delia sat together in the back of the plane. He was eagerly writing up his notes on the phenomenon they had just witnessed.
"This has all been so amazing. My hand can barely keep up with everything that I want to write…Delia, are you all right?" He noticed that she was holding her stomach.
"It's just a little stomach ache. I thought it would go away, but it doesn't seem to be."
"Maybe you'd better lie down," Professor Oak suggested. "I'll move over to the other seat so you can stretch out."
"Thanks," she said as he gathered up his notes and moved across the aisle. He tried to concentrate on his work, but every few seconds he found himself glancing over at Delia, who appeared to be having a hard time getting comfortable. After a couple of minutes, he threw down his paper and pencil and went over to her side.
"Where are you hurting, Delia?"
"Here." She pointed to a spot just below her ribs. "Right where the seat belt dug into me when we landed."
The moment he laid his hand on the spot where she had indicated, she winced in pain and pulled away from his touch.
"Sorry," he said apologetically as he quickly pulled his hand away. "I won't do that again." Concerned, he laid his hand on her forehead and was shocked at how cold she felt.
A warning bell started ringing in the back of Professor Oak's head. This wasn't just a simple stomachache that Delia was suffering from.
"Let me get you a blanket." He hurried to the storage area at the back of the plane and started rummaging through the cabinets. His haste had attracted the attention of Professor Ivy, who joined him at the back of the plane.
"What are you looking for, Professor?" she asked as he threw open another cabinet door.
"A blanket…aha!" he exclaimed as he found one and pulled it out of the cabinet.
"Are you cold?"
"No, it's for Mrs. Ketchum. She's not feeling well. See if you can find a first-aid kit," he said as he brushed past her and returned to Delia's side where she lay shivering. Her eyes briefly opened as he placed the blanket on top of her.
"There. Is that any better?"
She nodded then closed her eyes.
Professor Oak reached under the blanket and gave her hand a quick squeeze. He then slid his fingers over until they lay atop the artery in her wrist. His stomach contracted in a tight ball as he felt her pulse; it was rapid, weak…so weak that he could barely feel it. He quickly stood up and nearly knocked over Professor Ivy, who had found the first-aid kit.
"I found the..."
Professor Oak quickly cut her off. "Stay with her," he ordered as he ran to the front of the plane.
"Hey, Ash," Tracey said. "Why is Professor Oak in such a hurry?"
"I don't know," Ash said as they watched Professor Oak enter the cockpit.
"Professor Oak, what are you doing back here?" the pilot asked in surprise.
"Where's the closest hospital?"
"Hospital? What's wrong?"
"Mrs. Ketchum is ill, bleeding internally. We've got to get her to a hospital now!"
The pilot looked out the window. "We're over Mandarin Island now. There's a hospital there."
"Good. Land this plane now," Professor Oak ordered as he turned and hurried back down the aisle to Delia. Ash caught the sleeve of his lab coat as he flew past.
"Professor Oak, what's going on?"
"Is everything okay?" Misty asked.
"Hey, we're landing on Mandarin Island," Tracey noted as the plane started to descend.
Professor Oak didn't want to alarm Ash by telling him that his mother lay dying in the back of the plane. "Ash, your mother's not feeling well. I asked the pilot to land so we could have a doctor take a look at her."
"Doctor?" Ash exclaimed. Ash shoved past Professor Oak and ran to the back of the plane where his mother lay. Pushing Professor Ivy out of the way, Ash knelt by his mother's side.
"Mom?"
Delia slowly opened her eyes. "Ash," she murmured. "Just a stomachache…." Her voice trailed off as she shut her eyes again.
"Everyone take your seats and fasten your seat belts," the pilot announced. "We'll be landing on Mandarin Island in five minutes. Officer Jenny has just informed me that an ambulance will meet us there."
"Ambulance?" Ash exclaimed, horrified.
"Ash, get in your seat," Professor Oak ordered.
"No! I want to stay with Mom!" Ash said frantically.
Professor Oak picked up Ash by the arm and pulled the terrified boy to his feet. "Ash, get in your seat now! I'm not going to have two Ketchums ending up in the hospital today!"
Frightened by Professor Oak's outburst, Ash returned to his seat and buried his head in his hands. Misty patted his back as he wept. Trying not to hurt her, Professor Oak gently lifted Delia's head and slid into the seat underneath her. After he fastened his seat belt, he cradled her head in his lap and stroked her hair.
Hang on Delia, just a few minutes more…please.
