Even though she didn't have to be at work until nine, Delia was so excited the next morning that she arrived at work fifteen minutes early. She was putting on her lab coat when Spencer walked in.
"My, you're the early bird this morning, Delia."
"Oh hi, Spencer. I was so excited about coming here that I decided to get here a few minutes early. I also wanted to make a good impression on Professor Oak."
"I think you already did yesterday," Spencer said, grinning.
"Spencer, I thought I told you to stop with that," Delia said good-naturedly.
Professor Oak's head popped in the doorway. "Good morning, Spencer. Delia."
"Good morning, Professor," the two said in unison.
Professor Oak smiled in Delia's direction. "Ready to get started? I have an interesting case in the back that I'd like for you to see. It would be a good opportunity for you to learn something about the physiology of grass-type Pokémon."
Spencer whispered in her ear. "See? He didn't ask me to come with him."
Delia gave Spencer a playful swat then followed Professor Oak to the Pokémon examination room. Standing in the room was a young brown-haired girl and on the examination table was a Bulbasaur.
"Melissa, this is Mrs. Ketchum. Would it be all right if she watched while I gave Bulbasaur his annual physical?"
"Sure," said the girl.
With a smile, Professor Oak addressed the Pokémon on the table. "Bulbasaur, would that be all right with you?"
"Bulba," said the Pokémon happily.
"Bulbasaur says 'sure'," Melissa said as she stroked her Pokémon's head lovingly.
Delia watched as Professor Oak started examining the grass-type Pokémon. "Looks like you've been taking good care of Bulbasaur, Melissa," Professor Oak commented as he peered into the Pokémon's eyes. "He looks like he's in great shape."
"Yeah. Bulbasaur and I train hard together. He's really strong. But he's also my best friend, too."
"And that's the way it should be," Professor Oak noted as he opened the Pokémon's mouth. "Do you have any other Pokémon besides Bulbasaur?"
"Yeah. I have a Weedle, a Pidgey, a Wartortle, a Bellsprout, and a Nidorina. I love them all, but Bulbasaur was my first Pokémon," Melissa said as she stroked her Pokémon's back.
"I know," Professor Oak said as he pulled out his stethoscope. "I was the one who gave him to you almost a year ago today. How many badges do you have now, Melissa?"
"Six. I decided to come back home for a visit before heading on to Cinnabar Island."
Professor Oak motioned to his assistant. "Why don't you have a listen, Delia?" He offered her the stethoscope. Delia listened intently to Bulbasaur's chest and raised her eyebrows in surprise.
"Is that normal?"
"It is for a Bulbasaur. They have three-chambered hearts, not like the four-chambered ones you and I have. Here. Why don't you compare?" Professor Oak placed the stethoscope against his own chest.
Delia's eyes lit up. "Oh, yes! Now I hear it. It is different!" She placed the stethoscope back on Bulbasaur. "Wow!" She offered the stethoscope to Melissa. "Would you like to hear your Bulbasaur's heartbeat?"
"Sure!" Melissa took the stethoscope and smiled as she listened.
Professor Oak grinned. This was the best part about being a professor -- watching a student's eyes light up when they made a new discovery. Seeing the enthusiasm in young people's faces always convinced him that he had made the right decision by going into teaching.
Delia handed him the stethoscope back and Professor Oak continued his examination. "Looks like Bulbasaur is getting ready to evolve soon, Melissa," he said as he felt the bulb on the Pokémon's back.
"Really?"
"Yes. I'd say that it won't be long now. Do you want Bulbasaur to evolve into an Ivysaur?"
"Well, yeah, but I think that it's really up to Bulbasaur to decide whether or not he wants to evolve."
"You're a very wise young lady, Melissa. Bulbasaur is fortunate to have you for a trainer."
Delia saw a small bump at the base of Bulbasaur's bulb. Wondering if the Pokémon had hurt itself, Delia gently touched it. "Professor, what's this?"
"Delia, don't…"
A cloud of sparkling pink powder shot out from the bulb and went straight into Delia's face. Delia suddenly felt her eyelids grow heavy and started to sway unsteadily.
"Catch her, Spencer!"
Spencer, who had come into the room looking for Professor Oak, quickly grabbed Delia as she sank to the floor.
---
"Be sure to bring Bulbasaur back next year or take him to see Nurse Joy at any of the Pokémon Centers."
Professor Oak waved as Melissa and Bulbasaur left the lab, then turned his attention to the young woman lying on the couch. "How's our other patient, Spencer?"
"Looks like she's coming around now."
Delia yawned, opened her eyes, and was surprised to see Professor Oak and Spencer hovering over her. "What happened?"
"I'm sorry, Delia," Professor Oak apologized. "I should've warned you. That swelling at the base of a Bulbasaur's bulb is a gland that causes an automatic discharge of sleep powder. It's a defense mechanism."
Delia's face turned red in embarrassment. She had wanted to make a good impression on Professor Oak, but now he probably thought that she was a silly, brainless schoolgirl.
"Don't worry about it, Delia," Spencer said reassuringly. "When I started here, I accidentally inhaled some of Parasect's stun spore. I couldn't move for hours."
"Well, now that it looks like you're all right, why don't we go outside to the garden and get you acquainted with some more of the grass-type Pokémon you'll be doing your research on?" Professor Oak helped Delia up from the couch. She was still a bit unsteady on her feet, so Professor Oak put his arm about her waist as she tottered. "Are you sure you're okay, Delia? Would you like to rest a bit longer?"
The combination of his arm around her waist and his concern for her touched Delia. To her surprise, she found herself actually enjoying being in his arms. The realization both excited her and made her a bit uneasy.
"Uh, no, Professor. I'll be all right." She was blushing. "Maybe if I get moving, then I'll shake off the effects of the sleep powder. Let's go to the garden." As he loosened his grip on her, Delia smiled and started walking to the door that led outside to the garden.
Professor Oak watched her as she left. To his surprise, he had found himself enjoying having her in his arms. The realization both excited him and made him a bit uneasy.
---
As the key rattled in the lock, Will quickly crumpled the note he had been reading and shoved it into his pocket.
"How was work today, Delia?"
"Except for a little encounter with Bulbasaur, everything went well. Professor Oak gave me some great ideas for my thesis. Anything interesting happen today?"
With a guilty glance, Will avoided her gaze. "Uh, no. Nothing, really."
That was a lie. The note he had been reading had been from Janine.
Delia plopped down on the couch, moving aside the dirty socks and potato chip bag that Will had carelessly thrown on the cushions. "I love going to work. It's so much fun."
"Uh, Delia, I was thinking about that. You know, maybe you should go into work on Saturday, too."
Delia was puzzled. "Saturday? Why?"
"You know how it is when you're starting out in a job, wanting to impress your boss and all that." Will nervously ran a hand through his hair. "If you go into work on the weekend, that'll show him that you're dedicated to your research."
"But Will," Delia protested. "Weekends are our time together."
"I know, Delia. But your job is more important right now." He kissed her cheek in an effort to reassure her. "It's just for a couple of weekends, until your boss sees how dedicated you are. Besides, you say that you enjoy going to work, so it shouldn't be a big deal."
"Well, I guess you're right," Delia admitted.
"Just looking out for your best interests," Will said. "Now let's have something to eat. I'm starved."