Eight and Beyond!

"I'll stay up with you if you need me to" He said, and he meant it. He could power through his own exhaustion if someone needed him to

"I don't know. I think I just need a bit of fresh air. Maybe it'll help." She shrugged and decided to head outside.

JayJay nodded and went with her. Sunset walking could help. He didn't really have anything to say, but he just wanted to be near Claire right now. having her MIA for a week scared him more then he even realized

"I know you were worried when I was missing. But, I'm not crazy enough to leave you behind. I do care about you like I explained before."

JayJay nodded. He was just happy that she was back. He knew it was a matter of time before they had to fight Team Rocket again, but he hopped they would be able to heal and train first.

"I care about you, too. That's why I went to Saffron. I had to go save you. I wanted all the Grunts to fall so I wouldn't have any opposition when I went to Rocket HQ to find you. I just had to"

"They're only going to get rougher from here. And for all we know that mean weapons. You need to stay away from a fight as long as you can while you recover. If they hurt you, I'll be raging all over them and it'll be more blood and sweat than anything."

JayJay nodded


"We should rest. We have a long day tomorrow"

"Tonight, I'll head out to Saffron and see just how much damage the city has taken. It shouldn't really be hard to hide. It's not like they're going to send the toughest of guys on patrol."

"I don't like that idea. We should rest first. Get our strength back. After that, we'll go and see what's happened to Saffron. We wouldn't be able to defend ourselves if something happened" JayJay said

"I don't plan to get into the action. Just view. If there's trouble, I can get out of there immediately."

JayJay looked down. He knew he couldn't stop her.

"I promise you I'll come back. I won't let them separate us again."

JayJay looked up, then hugged her tightly. He didn't want to let go, but did, kissing her cheek again as he backed up. He couldn't find any words to speak

Professor Oak had overheard the conversation and brought out her cloak. "You'll need this if you're heading back there. I've packed a belt in the cloak filled with items you may need. If you get injured, come back right away and we can treat you here. Also, I'd like to ask if you could do me a favor."

"Hm?"

"Nurse Joy of Saffron is in need of some help. All the Pokemon were evacuated from the center safely, but it seems she's in some trouble. She sent out a distress call to me during evacuation. If you see her, bring her back here with you. They won't hurt her, I'm sure, but I'm positive she doesn't want to be there."

"Alright."

"Be careful, Claire. There's no telling what may be happening in Saffron."

She wrapped her cloak back around her and tied the belt around her waist. It was a white-ish grey color.

JayJay felt useless. His heart sank a bit. He didn't want her to go alone, but in his condition, he would be an invalid at best.

She tossed out her Pokeball, Pigeot appearing from it. Claire walked over to JayJay.

"I know you want to go, but I trained with the Rockets to be able to fight them. If anything happens, I'll come back when I get an opening. You need to rest before you go battle again. I'm really in no condition to fight, but we need someone to view the aftermath of the brawl and I'm the only one with a flying Pokemon. Stolen from the Rockets, of course, but that's not the point." She pulled the hood over her head, not yet her mask. She quickly kissed him on the cheek and applied her mask before the redness in her face returned again. Hopping onto her Pokemon, they flew into the sky.

Professor Oak laughed a bit. "I don't know if there's anything between you two, but it's obvious she blushes easily."

JayJay blushed a bit and nodded, then went inside to sleep.

Claire studied the contents of her belt, then realized a pocket knife had been packed in one pocket with a note.

"Claire,
If you get injured and can't make your way out, I packed this in emergency.
Oak."

She let the blade shine in the moonlight and then tucked it into the pocket again. Oak must have expected anything at this point.

JayJay slept fitfully, having a nightmare about Claire getting hurt and him not being able to do anything about it

As Claire arrived in Saffron, she dropped down to the ground from the trees and then called her Pigeot to her Pokeball. She sneaked into the city.

Patrols were roaming all over the streets. She didn't know if she'd be able to find Nurse Joy with all of them. Claire quickly made her way to the Pokemon Center, sneaking behind buildings, and got inside.

"Nurse Joy?" she asked. The Pokemon Center was dark. The power must have been shut off in the evacuation. "Hello?" She heard a muffled sound coming from the back. Claire followed the sound to the back room where the Pokemon were treated. The door was sealed shut. She started bashing the door with her shoulder. It wouldn't budge. She noticed a large wooden chair and grabbed it. Running into the door, it flew open. The lock had finally unlatched. Nurse Joy had been tied with rope. It was obvious the room had been sound proof. Claire grabbed her pocket knife and freed her from the rope. She seemed a bit scared.

"Who are you?" she asked, pulling her hand back when the rope was undone.

Claire removed her mask. "I was sent by Professor Oak to help you. He said you were a bit tied up. Guess he wasn't kidding. I've got a Pigeot that can fly us out."

The two headed back into the main room of the Pokemon Center. A grunt ran inside. "I knew I heard something-- Hey, it's you!" Claire stood in fighting position. Her only exit was blocked. She pulled her knife and ran at him, holding it at his neck.

"Let us pass or I will deal with you myself." He gulped. She briefly watched as he pulled a larger blade from his pocket. She moved back, though the blade still pierced the skin on her arm slightly. She hissed from the pain.

"You're hurt!" Nurse Joy called out.

"Not like it's deep. I'll live. Gotta get us a way out first." She pulled a smoke bomb from her pocket and launched it. She grabbed Joy's hand and ran outside. Pigeot was called out and they flew out immediately as grunts began to gather around. Their escape was successful and they made their way to Pallet.

JayJay was awake when Claire arrived and ran outside to meet up with her. He noticed the cut and sighed, then lead the way for her and Nurse Joy back inside.

Claire joined them back inside.

"Mission successful, Professor."

"You were injured?"

"Just a small cut. Nothing serious. These guys are rough."

JayJay brought claire a bandage. He was silent

She accepted. "I expected this, really. But, I'm fine. It doesn't hurt, really. He only got me because I didn't see the blade at his belt. He must be a patrol leader. I expect it healed in a couple of days. I've done worse to myself when making dinner for the holidays." She laughed, remembering the one time she decided to make Thanksgiving dinner. "You really don't want to know how that happened." She grinned.

JayJay nodded, then went to lay back down