Early the next morning, Delia went downstairs to check on a sick Poliwag. As she took a short cut through the lab to get to the water Pokémon area, she was surprised to see Professor Oak having a cup of tea and sitting on the floor next to the sliding glass door that led to the water Pokémon area.

"Oh. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you."

"Not at all, Delia. Would you like a cup of tea?"

"Well, actually I was on my way to check on that sick Poliwag."

"I just checked on him. He's doing much better." He held the teapot out to her. "Now will you join me for a cup of tea?"

Since she hadn't had breakfast yet, Delia accepted his offer. "Do you always come here in the mornings?" she asked as he poured her a cup of tea.

"Sometimes. I like to come here and meditate. This is one of the most peaceful spots in the lab."

Delia watched the water Pokémon play in the small waterfall nearby. She had to admit that the sound of the bubbling water and the chattering of the Pokémon was quite soothing. "It is rather nice here."

"I like to come here to clear my head. To think about things." He had come here this particular morning to try to sort out his feelings about Delia.

"Maybe I need to start coming here, too." Delia sat down on the floor opposite him.

"Something bothering you?"

"Yes. It's me, Will, Spencer, everything," she sighed. "Spencer kissed me last night."

"Oh." He didn't want to hear that bit of news.

"He also tried to do more than that, but I…I…he's my friend. I don't know if I want to be involved with him like that. I don't want to ruin the friendship we've got now. And besides, after what happened with me and Will, I don't know if I ever want to get involved with anyone like that again."

"Delia, you can't be afraid to fall in love again. If you are, then you'll never be happy."

"I suppose you're right, but I don't know how I feel right now. I'm so confused."

"Well, when I'm confused, I try to relax and empty all those thoughts from my head."

"How do you do that?"

"I'll show you. Close your eyes." She did. "Now relax and try to focus on your breathing. Breathe slowly and let your mind drift." He opened an eye. "Delia, you're not relaxed. Even I can see the tension."

"I'm sorry, Professor. I'm not very good at this."

"Don't worry about that. It takes practice, that's all. Besides, being able to relax will help you when you're working around Pokémon."

"How so?"

He pointed to a Gyrados splashing at the far edge of the pond. "Do you see that Gyrados over there?"

"Yes."

"When that Gyrados first arrived at my lab it was the most vicious one I had ever seen. It was totally out of control. But when I started to have my meditation sessions here, Gyrados gradually picked up on my calm mood. Since Pokémon can sense the moods of the humans they interact with, Gyrados eventually became more manageable. He reached over to the edge of the pond and splashed his hand in the water. The Gyrados swam over to his hand and began nuzzling it. "And now Gyrados and I are good friends. Why don't you have a try, Delia?"

She reached over to touch the fierce-looking Pokémon's head, but it snorted and charged at her. Frightened, Delia nearly tumbled over backwards.

"Are you all right, Delia?"

"Think so. What happened?"

"Gyrados can sense that you're tense. Unsure if you can trust it." The Pokémon swam back to its spot at the other side of the pond. A Persian who had been lurking about waiting to get its paws on a Goldeen or Magikarp slunk around the corner.

"I see you, Persian. Come here." The Pokémon leisurely sauntered up to Professor Oak. Professor Oak started rubbing the cat Pokémon's head and it began to purr. Gradually, he worked his way down the Pokémon's neck and back. The Pokémon sighed contentedly and rested its head on Professor Oak's leg. "Massage is also a good technique for calming unruly Pokémon. This Persian was abused by its previous trainer. It was afraid of humans. Wouldn't let anyone near it. But now…" The Pokémon's eyes were almost completely shut in rapture at Professor Oak's touch.

"That's wonderful," Delia exclaimed. "Maybe that's what I need." Before he could say anything, Delia moved next to him. "Could you try rubbing my neck a little and see if that helps?"

"Um, I…" This had the potential of turning into something very dangerous.

"Please?" She picked up the hand that was rubbing Persian and placed it on the back of her neck. The cat Pokémon yawned contentedly and curled up to sleep on the floor. Before he could stop himself, Professor Oak's other hand somehow found its way to the back of Delia's neck. It was as if some unseen force was controlling him.

"You do have wonderful hands, Professor. That feels so good." Delia sighed as he slowly massaged the back of her neck and shoulders.

He fought hard to resist the temptation to move his hands lower on her body. Part of him desperately wanted to stop because he was getting too close to crossing the boundary of what would be considered appropriate conduct with a student, but part of him didn't want to stop touching her soft, warm body. It had been so long since he had been that close to a woman, and it felt so good.

Too good.

He forced himself to take his hands away from her back. His palms were sweating.

"Thanks, Professor," Delia said with a smile. "I feel much better. I always learn so much from talking to you. I'm so glad that I came here."

"Uh, thanks," he said nervously. He waited until she left the room before leaning over the edge of the pond and splashing some of the cold water on his face. Actually, what he really needed now was another cold shower. Spotting one of the fish Pokémon swimming past, he called out to it.

"Goldeen."

The fish Pokémon's head popped out of the water.

"Goldeen, I want you to hit me with your Water Gun, full-force."

The Pokémon gave him a quizzical look. "Goldeen?"

"Yes, I know it's an odd request, but do it."

"Goldeen!" The fish Pokémon shot a blast of cold water at Professor Oak, thoroughly drenching him.

"Thank you, Goldeen," he said, wiping the water out of his eyes. "That's much better."

---

For the rest of the day, all Delia could think about was Professor Oak's hands touching her, massaging her neck and back. He really did have wonderful hands.

I wonder what it would be like if he touched me in other places?

Delia shook her head to clear her mind of the X-rated daydream.

Delia, you're crazy. You're not supposed to be having those kinds of thoughts about your boss. Besides, he's so much older than you are. Professor Oak is a nice man who's helping you learn about Pokémon and that's all.

Or was it?

She still had a sense of hero worship about him, although it wasn't as intense as it had been when she had first started working for him. That feeling had gradually been replaced by friendship as she had discovered that he wasn't some sort of living deity or an infallible super genius. He was a man, and a vulnerable one at that. She had to admit that she enjoyed cooking for him the other night. It was rather touching to know that he was dependent on her.

But now she was starting to feel something more than just friendship for him. And she was starting to sense the same thing from him. She had noticed the way he was looking at her the other night when they were watching television together.

Delia smiled to herself. It was exciting to think that he might be dependent on her in other ways.

But what about Spencer?

The memory of his kisses was still fresh in her mind. And the way he had kissed her, touched her…it had never been like that with Will. Whenever she and Will had made love, there had always been that nagging feeling in the back of her mind that he was doing it just to please himself. She had no doubt that Spencer would be a good lover, but Delia didn't know if she wanted to have that kind of relationship with him. They had been friends so long that in some way he was kind of like her older brother.

But then Professor Oak's words came floating back: The best relationships often start as friendships, you know.

"Delia?"

Her thoughts were interrupted when Spencer came into the laboratory. He noticed that Delia seemed distant, distracted. After what had happened between them last night, he had decided to keep his distance from her most of the day in order to avoid an awkward confrontation.

"Oh, hi, Spencer."

He smiled nervously. "You looked like you were a million miles away."

She blushed. "Guess I was."

"Were you thinking about last night?"

She nodded.

"I have, too. I just wanted to say again that I'm sorry for coming on too strong. I shouldn't have pushed you into trying to do something that you weren't ready for."

"Thanks, Spencer. That's awfully sweet of you."

"And I just wanted to let you know that I won't pressure you again. That is, if you ever want to go out with me again."

"Maybe we can try again -- going out, I mean -- some other time. Besides," she said with a mischievous grin, "you still owe me dessert. I was so full from all that wonderful food that I didn't have any room for my sachertorte."

"It's a deal," Spencer grinned. "Now I've got to go check on those Omastar artifacts."

Relieved, he whistled a tune to himself while he wandered down the hall. He had been afraid that Delia would've never wanted to see him again. It had taken him all day to screw up enough courage to talk to her.

Delia smiled as she heard him whistling. Then she frowned.

Now I'm more confused than ever. I think I'm falling in love with two men at the same time.