The Indigo League Dragon Tamer's Wild child

Chapter 8

Lance stared at the passed-out child on the Hospital bed as his Pikachu was curled beside him. He'd been in the hospital for three days doing paperwork, stressing, and thinking as he waited for Ash to wake up.  

"Ash will wake up in a few days his body's just exhausted and running low on reserves to replenish his strength quickly. We need to get him some good food to put some weight back on him  He should be weighing around a hundred pounds since that's a healthy weight for a child his age but he only weighs 49 pounds and it's a miracle onto Arceus that the boy hadn't passed out from malnourishment. We need to get him up to at least eighty before he can be discharged." The nurse had said before leaving Ash alone with me to look after him. They've been hooking a lot of different IVs to his arms in hopes of starting to get him back to a healthy weight. I've been sitting here thinking about what's going to happen to him since he doesn't seem to have a family he sure acted like he didn't at least. Lance thought to himself before he got back to work the steady beeping of the heart monitor keeping his worries at bay for the most part.

    "Hey there boss man how's your workcation going?" Will asked when Lance  called him about an hour later and Lance just shook his head and sighed with a smile on his face.  "it's going just fine how's this going back home?" Lance asked. "We're doing just fine no one's gotten hurt and the building is still standing. How are the younger gym leaders doing?" Will asked. "they're doing alright Falkner and Bugsey are a bit nervous for their first season as Gym Leaders and Whitney, Jasmine, and Morty are nearly ready for the upcoming season so I say they're doing well." Lance said and they chatted for a bit before a loud BANG sounded from Will's side of the phone. "I'll call you back later." Will sighed and Lance almost laughed because he knew that tone of voice since he'd used it so many times over the last couple of years due to the Johto and Kanto Elite Four. 

Lance did some more paperwork ignoring his increasing worry for Ash he sent some emails to the Kanto gym leaders and the Kanto Elite four checking in with them and sending out reminders for certain things. "Sir visiting hours are over I'm sorry I know you're worried but you've been staying here these last few nights and we need to send you home. You can come back the moment visiting hours start tomorrow and you can stay the night once again." A nurse said as she checked Ash's IV bags. 

I don't want to leave Ash he could be in danger and I wouldn't be here for him. The kid is my responsibility, especially with what I'm considering. I have to listen to the nurse because I don't want to be on the news for not listening to the hospital staff. lance thought to himself as he picked up his things. When he was done he looked at Ash and Pikachu. "I know you don't need me to tell you this because he's your trainer but please protect him. I'll be back tomorrow at around nine in the morning when Visiting hours start." Lance said before he gave Pikachu an apple. "Pika Pika," Pikachu responded before munching the apple Lance smiled at the Electric Mouse Pokemon before leaving the hospital room. 

Lance went to a hotel in Goldenrod City where he fed his Pokemon and spent some time with them and he even voiced his idea that he's been going back and forth on. His Pokemon seemed supportive in their way through their actions in response to the news. Lance threw himself into Paperwork once again focusing on finding a new gym leader for Viridian City but he couldn't focus very long because his thoughts wandered. 

I should probably call Clair about my idea but she's a bit much, concerning everything. When I started my journey at ten Clair was only three and she jumped around me for over a week telling me about all the types of Pokemon she knew that lived in the area. Whenever I called in to check with my uncle and mom she would jump in front of the screen and chat with me. When she left on her Journey when she was ten and I was seventeen she chatted with me nonstop when she'd get to a Pokemon center. If I told her I was considering taking in a kid as my own...she would lose her mind in excitement and demand to meet him straight away and probably startle the kid.  I am going to adopt the kid...if he wants me to. He needs a home and I care about him a lot and every kid deserves a home especially him. 

I've never thought about having a kid especially not a ten-year-old who's been through so much but I want to help him and it's better if I adopt him because if I fostered him it would make things a whole lot more difficult in paperwork and practicality. I hope he agrees to it. If he does I'll introduce Clair to him when he gets settled in.                                                                                                   Lance thought to himself as he got ready for bed. He thought to himself a bit more before he passed out with an alarm set for 8:00 Am.

When that alarm went off Lance got up and fed his Pokemon, took a shower, got dressed, and ate breakfast before heading straight to the hospital. When he got there one of the nurses recognized him on the spot and smiled before leading him directly to Ash's room where she checked over Ash's IV bags and vitals before she left the room with a smile.  Lance set up shop and began his paperwork listening to Ash's heartbeat monitor. 

Lance had found a pretty good candidate for the Viridian City gym when he heard rustling and his head snapped over to Ash's bed and saw Ash moving. "Ugh," Ash groaned and Lance was on his feet striding over to him within seconds. 

Ash opened his eyes slowly blinking at the bright light above him and when he saw Lance he started internally freaking out before he remembered the events before this and he calmed down. "hey there take a deep breath bud." Lance said seemingly able to sense that Ash was in distress and Ash followed his breathing before Lance helped him sit up slowly. "Thank you for saving me..." Ash said softly not quiet meeting Lance's eyes. "No Thank you for trusting me. I know you have a hard time trusting others so I'm glad you trusted me enough to help you out of that Life or Death situation." Lance said and Pikachu rubbed against his trainer and Lance smiled. 

Ash had tears well up in his eyes and he nodded slowly and Lance sat on the side of his bed looking at him. "I'm glad you trust me I was wondering if I...Could adopt you? I know that's a big ask but you need a place to live and someone in your corner and I get it if you don't want to or need some time to think about it." Lance said conveying there is no need to rush to the shell-shocked child.

He wants to adopt me??? Does he want to take ME in for real?? He cares about me a random child he met in the forest? He cares THAT much? It seems like a trap like a hug trick by Team Rocket but at the same time, it FEELS honest...What if it is true but at the same time what if it's not?? I could have a dad a real dad who cares and I can have a family again...Or another huge crack in my heart and looking at every grown person I meet with distrust.   Ash thought not hearing anything else around him but he did feel Pikachu pawing at him which slowly brought him back to Earth right before a flurry of nurses came in checking him over letting him think tenfold as Lance and Pikachu stood off to the side. 

Once the nurses were done Ash got some food and ate it while thinking and Lance went back to Paperwork and he subconsciously patted Pikachu while he did so. It took about an hour after eating that Ash made up his mind... "I-I would like that..." Ash whispered out of the blue and even though it had been a while Lance knew what he was talking about and he walked over to him and gave him a quick hug. Ash froze and he was confused but he felt a nice warm feeling deep inside that he hadn't felt since Delia abandoned him.  It's been a while since I've been hugged...It was nice and I'd like to get more hugs. Ash thought after he unfroze. "I'll do my best to take care of you once you get out of the hospital," Lance said and Ash felt a few tears fall down his face which he hastily wiped away. "Get some rest you'll need it to ensure all of the Venom is out of your system and because you look exhausted," Lance said before he helped lay Ash down Where Ash fell asleep not long after.

When Lance knew Ash was asleep he walked back over to where he was sitting and sent a quick email to the lawyer he uses as the Champion telling him of his plans and if he could get the paperwork to start the adoption process...

New Chapter Wahoo! I'm so excited because we're getting somewhere in the story and the plot is picking up. We got more Dad Lance like I said we would and poor Ash acted like a bomb was dropped on him but can you blame the poor boy? We'll see where this goes in Chapter Nine.  As a reminder, I do NOT OWN Pokemon and I do NOT OWN ANY of the art showcased across the chapters. I don't have much else to say I hope you have a good day and a good rest of your week and see you next week.-K