Eight and Beyond!

She watched as JayJay walked off. "Is he okay?" she asked Oak quietly.

"I doubt it. He was resting fitfully the entire time you were gone. I checked on him once, his heart could be heard from across the room. He was worried and panicking." Professor Oak finished. He looked at JayJay as well, not really knowing the whole story.


JayJay made it to the couch in the other room and sat down, trying to rest . . . He knew he wouldn't sleep tonight

Claire sighed and walked to the other room, leaning against a doorway. "I know you're worried about me, JayJay. You don't have to be, you know. I trained to be able to handle stuff like this. Getting a scratch or two isn't going to kill me. Besides, it's not even deep. Most people do worse when they're using scissors." She laughed a bit. "I knew what I was doing and I just didn't turn fast enough. I'm standing here, perfectly fine."

He nodded, still silent, save his heart beat

Claire sighed. There wasn't much else she could do. She turned to leave the room, wanting to hang her cloak up.

JayJay rested his head in his hands. He was too worried for his own good. He was getting sick over her when she knew how to take care of herself. She knew what she was doing and it was only a scratch, but yet he worried none the less. He just couldn't help it. He cared too much

Claire walked out of the room. She hung her cloak up in the closet, but kept the belt. She liked it because it was stylish. Claire sighed. She went back to her temporary room, given by Professor Oak, and rested on her bed. Moonlight shone in the room. She glanced out the window, just daydreaming a bit.

JayJay decided to go apologize to Claire. She didn't deserve the silent treatment. He went upstairs to her temporary room and knocked on the door


"Claire? It's me"

She sat up, hearing JayJay's voice. "Come on in." She left the door unlocked.

He opened the door, then closed it and sat down in the chair he was in that morning when she woke up.


"I'm sorry I gave you the cold shoulder, I was just so worried about you. And I know it's silly, you can take care of yourself, and you only got a little cut. I just care about you very much. You're my best friend and I want you to be safe. I'm sorry, I was being a jerk

"I know you worry often, but I'm trained to be able to defend myself. If it hadn't been for the week I spent with them, I wouldn't have been able to get you out of Saffron. You would've come looking and I couldn't have saved you. If I need some help, I mean, yeah, I'll call for it like you called for me when you needed help. We're here for one another."

JayJay wanted to say more but couldn't find the words, he just kind of sat there. He felt better for apologizing, but something was still bothering him and he didn't know what

Claire still sensed something bothering JayJay, but figured if he wanted to talk about it then he would. She glanced at the clock. Nearly midnight.

JayJay decided not to waste more of Claire's time and got up to leave. He was exhausted, but knew the chances of him sleeping were almost none

"If there's anything concerning you," she said. "Don't be afraid to tell me."

JayJay stopped, then turned and went to Claire. He sat down on the bed


"I don't know if there is a word to explain what I feel. It doesn't make any sense, yet it makes perfect sense. I don't know what to do about it, or if I even should do anything about it. I don't know what's up and down, or right and wrong. I worry when I don't have to. I just feel like I'm some kind of burden, but I can't figure out who to. I just don't understand it" JayJay finished. He seemed calm, yet flustered, poised, yet un-composed.

"Well, I may not be able to figure this out, but I can tell you this. You're doing what you think is right, and you can't go wrong by doing that. Like, with Team Rocket. We know that we have to stop them."

He nodded, then thought some more.

Claire suddenly heard footsteps from a room over. It was Nurse Joy.

"Claire, I went to check the PC when I noticed your bag glowing. Your egg is hatching! Come quickly!"

JayJay got up and backed off, so Claire could go first. He seemed a little happier

Claire hurried into the main room, motioning for JayJay to follow. The egg sat on a blanket and was cracking intensely. Claire feared the egg would never hatch, but it seems that it finally was.

JayJay followed and saw the egg. He rooted it on a little, in a whisper


"Go, little one, Go! You can do it!"

Claire saw a tiny set of paws pop from the shell. Small cries could be heard. It seemed the Pokemon was having a bit of a struggle getting out.

Nurse Joy giggled. "Some Pokemon struggle when releasing from their eggs. That's why their mothers usually stick with their eggs right up until they're hatched. However, seeing as this little one doesn't have a parent with it, I'll help the little one out. She carefully tapped on the cracks of the egg, loosening it to allow the tiny Pokemon to break through.

A small little brown ball of fur rolled out of the egg and onto the blanket laid on the table. It's ears popped up almost like a Buneary. Nurse Joy carefully wrapped the blanket around it and cradled it a bit. She looked to Claire.

"What Pokemon is it?" Claire asked.

"A baby Eevee." She smiled.

"That's awesome Claire! You have an Eevee!"

Claire took the blanket into her arms. The Eevee was small, but it was expected to grow bigger. It squirmed around a bit. Claire expected the Eevee was hungry. Nurse Joy had already walked off to grab some food.

"He's so adorable," she said.