"Professor? Hey, Professor Oak?"

Tracey tapped his boss on the shoulder, and Professor Oak whirled around in surprise.

"What th'…? Oh, it's you, Tracey," Professor Oak said, trying to calm his pounding heart. "You shouldn't sneak up on someone like that."

"I didn't, Professor. I said your name a couple of times, but you didn't answer me. You look like you're lost in thought over something. Are you still working on your research paper?"

"Research…? No…I'm actually in the middle of something else. What did you want to talk to me about, Tracey?"

"I just wanted to remind you that Mrs. Ketchum invited you over for dinner at her place at six. You'd better get going." Tracey reached for the pile of books and papers on his boss's desk. "Don't worry. I'll straighten everything up."

"Dinner?" Professor Oak looked at his watch." I forgot all about it. Tracey, could you call Delia and tell her that I'm going to be tied up here tonight? Tell her I'll make it up to her some other time."

"Sure, Professor. I'll…" Tracey noticed that the expression on his boss's face seemed unusually serious. "Something wrong, Professor Oak?"

"Yes, Tracey. There is," Professor Oak replied heavily.

Tracey peered over his boss's shoulder and discovered that Professor Oak had been in the middle of studying an EKG strip when he had disturbed him.

"That doesn't look like a normal EKG," Tracey said.

"Very good, Tracey," Professor Oak commended his observant assistant. "You're right. It's not. Matter of fact…" Professor Oak sighed. "I was in the middle of trying to figure out the best way to tell the person who owns this Pokémon just how serious this is."

Tracey's eyes widened in alarm. "Professor, it's not one of my Pokémon, is it?"

"Oh no, Tracey. It's not one of your Pokémon," Professor Oak quickly reassured his assistant. "This came from a colleague – a former student of mine – who's now a professor. The Pokémon that this EKG belongs to is currently under his care."

"Former stu…Professor Elm?"

"No, it's not Professor Elm," Professor Oak replied. "It's Professor Birch in Hoenn. Which reminds me…I told him I'd call back when I analyzed this. Tracey, why don't you run down to Delia's house and tell her that I'm sorry that I have to cancel our dinner plans? She'll probably give you my portion of dinner."

Tracey smiled at his boss's generosity. "That's okay, Professor, but May and I are going out to eat tonight at the Dodrio Diner in Viridian City and then catch a movie."

"Just make sure you have my granddaughter home by midnight," Professor Oak called out as Tracey disappeared down the hallway. (Not that he was worried – he knew Tracey well enough that he trusted him with his granddaughter.)

As the front door banged shut, Professor Oak sighed and went over to the videophone in the corner. He wasn't looking forward to this phone call.

"Hey, Professor Oak," Professor Birch said as his face appeared on the videophone screen. "That was fast. So what's the verdict?"

"Noah, where's Ash?"

"He and Pikachu are still sleeping. Do you want me to go get him?"

Professor Oak shook his head. "No. Let them sleep."

"I take it from the expression on your face that you don't have good news for me," Professor Birch said, sinking down into a nearby chair, which squeaked in protest under his girth.

"No, I'm afraid I don't, Noah. I've analyzed the EKG you sent me, did some research, and consulted with a couple of colleagues of mine at Celadon University. And we all came up with the same conclusion."

"Which is?"

"That Pikachu has atrioventricular block."

"Damn," Professor Birch swore under his breath. He looked back at the sleeping pair. Pikachu and Ash were lying nose-to-nose, and Ash's arm was wrapped protectively around his faithful Pokémon.

"Noah?"

Professor Birch turned his attention back to his mentor. "Sorry. I was just thinking about how Ash is going to take this."

Professor Oak had spent most of the afternoon thinking about the same thing. "Noah, if it's all right with you, I think that I should be the one to tell Ash. I've known the boy all his life, and I think he'd take it better if he heard it from me."

"Should I go wake him up?"

"No. Let him sleep. I'll call tomorrow. In the meantime, keep Pikachu quiet and stress-free as possible."

"Okay. And thanks, Professor Oak. I appreciate all your help in this."

"I just wish that I had better news for you."

"So do I," Professor Birch sighed. "Anyway, I'll talk to you tomorrow."

After the screen went black, Professor Oak returned to Pikachu's EKG and buried himself in his research, hoping that he'd be able to find something that would give him hope for Pikachu's condition. He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't hear the sound of footsteps behind him.

"Sam?"

Professor Oak jumped and whirled around in surprise to see Delia standing next to him.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Sam," Delia said. "I didn't mean to scare you."

"Good thing my last EKG was normal," Professor Oak gasped, trying to slow his racing heart once more. "Otherwise between you and Tracey, I would've had a heart attack by now."

"I was worried when Tracey stopped by and said you were too busy to eat." Delia placed a large, foil-wrapped plate in front of him. "So I decided to bring dinner to you."

"Thanks," Professor Oak smiled, sniffing the air. "That's very kind of you. Smells like your famous chicken croquettes."

"And green beans and wild rice," Delia said, removing the foil from the dinner plate. "I also brought you some apple pie for dessert." She moved aside the papers and books from Professor Oak's desk and handed him a fork. "You can't get so caught up in your work that you forget to eat. It's not healthy," Delia admonished as she seated herself in the chair directly across from him. "Now you sit there and eat every bit of that."

As his rumbling stomach reminded him that dinner was already two hours overdue, Professor Oak started on his meal with vigor while Delia watched him eat with satisfaction. The fact the Delia always took the time to look after him was one of the things he loved best about her.

"So what are you working so hard on?" Delia asked as Professor Oak stuffed a forkful of green beans in his mouth.

The reminder of Pikachu's grave condition caused Professor Oak to suddenly lose his appetite. With difficulty, he swallowed the mouthful of green beans and slowly put his fork down.

"What's wrong, Sam? Don't you like them?"

"I do like the green beans, Delia," Professor Oak sighed. "It's just that I've got other things on my mind right now."

"Do you want to talk about it?" Delia said, placing her hand atop his.

And then Professor Oak realized that Delia should know what was going on with Pikachu. After all, she loved the little yellow Pokémon almost as much as her son did.

"Delia, why don't we go over to the couch and sit down?" he said, getting up from his desk.

"But aren't you going to finish your dinner first?" Delia asked, concerned at her friend's lack of appetite.

"No. I need to talk to you about something, Delia." He sat down on the couch next to his desk and patted the spot next to him. "Sit."

"You're starting to worry me, Sam. Is something wrong?" Delia said, seating herself next to him.

Professor Oak sighed and placed his arm around Delia's shoulders. "Yes, Delia. There is."

The serious expression on his face alarmed her. "Are you feeling okay, Sam? You're not sick, are you?" She reached over and felt his forehead.

"I'm fine, Delia. And Tracey is too, before you ask."

"Then what's the matter, Sam? You look like something's bothering you."

"Something is bothering me, Delia."

"Well, what is it?"

"Earlier today, I found out that a Pokémon that I'm very fond of is seriously ill."

"Oh. Oh, dear…I'm so sorry." Delia gave him a comforting hug. "Which one is it?"

"It doesn't belong to me. It belongs to a young trainer that we both know. And all afternoon I've been trying to think of the best way to break the news to them."

"Oh, poor Tracey. I knew that Scyther was old, but I didn't realize that…"

"Delia, it's not Scyther. It's not any of Tracey's Pokémon."

"Oh." Delia thought for a moment. "Poor Misty. That poor girl…first she has to give up traveling with Ash so she can take over the Cerulean City Gym all by herself, and now this."

"Delia, it's not Misty either."

"It's not?" Delia racked her brain further. "Brock?"

"No, it's not Brock either." Professor Oak pulled Delia closer to him. "Delia, it's Ash."

"Ash?" Delia gave her friend a puzzled look. "Sam, what do you mean?"

Professor Oak pulled Delia back down into his arms and began stroking her hair. "Delia, Pikachu is sick. Very sick."

Delia bolted upright. "Pikachu! What's wrong with Pikachu?"

"Delia, please sit back down." He gently tugged her arm and drew her close to him. "Delia, Pikachu has a very serious heart condition. I just found out about it earlier, and I'm still trying to deal with the news myself."

"A heart condition?" Delia gasped. "But Pikachu's always been so lively. Matter of fact, I had to yell at him the other day because he kept racing through my garden and ruining my flowers."

"I know. But this happened suddenly…on Ash's way to Hoenn."

"Oh, Ash…does he know yet?"

"No. That's what's been on my mind all day…how to tell Ash that Pikachu is dying."

"Dying!" Delia cried in disbelief. "Pikachu is dying?"

"Yes, Delia. He is," Professor Oak replied, giving her a comforting hug.

"I…oh no…poor little Pikachu." Delia began to cry. "Isn't there anything you can do for him?"

"Unfortunately, no," Professor Oak said as he began stroking Delia's hair comfortingly. "With this condition, there's really nothing anyone can do."

"Oh…oh no…poor Ash." Delia buried her face in her friend's neck and began sobbing. "My poor baby. He's going to be so heartbroken. Poor little Pikachu."

"I know, Delia. I know," Professor Oak said, kissing the top of her head. "I'm sad too. I've always been fond of Pikachu. He and Ash have a special bond. And that's what's going to make this so difficult, having to tell Ash that his favorite Pokémon is going to die soon."

"How soon?" Delia sniffled.

"If Pikachu takes it easy and doesn't overexert himself, maybe a couple of months. With this condition, any excessive stress or strenuous physical activity could be fatal."

"So Pikachu's going to be an invalid from now on?"

"Well, that's going to be up to Pikachu and Ash."

"What do you mean, Sam?"

"Delia, Pikachu and Ash love to battle more than anything. And I'm not certain that Pikachu would be happy spending its last days lying around and doing nothing."

"But…but you just said that Pikachu will die if he overexerts himself."

"True. But perhaps Pikachu would be happier going that way, even if it meant a shorter life. But that's not my decision to make. That's something that Ash and Pikachu will have to decide on their own."

"My poor baby. Poor Pikachu. I wish there was something I could do to help them," Delia sighed sadly.

"Just be there for them, Delia. Just like you're here for me," Professor Oak sighed contentedly, pressing her head against his heart.

To be continued…