Pokemon Indigo League stories

Sick

" Ash, open wide." Gary coaxed, thermometer in hand.

Ash harumohed. " I don't need one! I'm fine."

Gary rolled his eyes. " Of course you are. Now open up."

Ash tried to sit up, but Gary wouldn't let him. " Ash......" He said, his voice having a tinge of warning.

Ash sighed but opened his mouth. Gary smirked. " Finally. Good Ashy."

He stuck the thermometer under his tounge and waited for it to beep.

When it did, Gary took it out and read the readings. " Ashy, you're staying in my bed."

" But Gary!" Ash protested. " I have to go battle!"

" The battle can wait. Your temperature is high, dangerously high."

Ash frowned as Gary's hands rested gently on his throat, the sudden seriousness in his friend's tone catching him off guard. "Swallow," Gary instructed again, more softly this time, watching him closely.

Ash obediently swallowed, feeling a slight pressure as he did. He could see the concern written all over Gary's face, and for a moment, it made him pause. Gary wasn’t usually this intense unless something was really wrong.

"See?" Ash muttered, trying to play it off like he always did. "I’m fine. It’s just a little fever. I’ve fought battles with worse."

Gary, however, wasn’t having it. He gave Ash a look that could cut through steel. "You’re not going anywhere with that fever," he said, not moving his hands. "Do you even realize how dangerous it is to push yourself like this? I’m not letting you get out of this bed until I know you’re okay."

Ash groaned. "Gary, seriously, I’m fine! I can handle a battle, I’ve done it a million times before."

"Yeah, and each time, you act like you’re invincible, but you’re not!" Gary snapped, his eyes narrowing. "You think I don’t know you? You think I can’t see you struggling? You’ve been running yourself ragged for days."

Ash’s frustration bubbled over. "I have to! You know how important this is to me—"

"And I get that!" Gary interrupted, his voice rising. "But not at the cost of your health, Ash! What good is battling if you’re too sick to stand on your own two feet?"

Ash clenched his fists, feeling torn between his drive to keep going and the nagging exhaustion in his bones. Gary had a point, but it didn’t mean Ash liked hearing it.

Gary sighed, his expression softening a bit as he leaned back. "Ashy..." he said, his voice gentler now. "You’re going to burn out if you keep doing this to yourself. Just... trust me on this, okay? One day of rest isn’t going to ruin everything. But pushing yourself like this? That could."

Ash stared at Gary for a long moment, the tension easing just a little. He hated being sidelined, hated feeling weak, but he could see how much Gary cared. And as annoying as Gary's overprotectiveness could be, Ash knew it came from a place of genuine concern.

"Fine," Ash muttered, sinking back into the pillows. "But only for today."

Gary smirked, clearly satisfied. "That’s all I ask."

He placed a hand on Ash's forehead, gently brushing his damp hair back. "Now stay put. No sneaking out while I’m not looking."

Ash grumbled, "Like I would do that."

Gary shot him a knowing look. "Uh-huh. Sure, Ashy." He stood up, moving to grab a glass of water from the bedside table. "Drink this, and then maybe—maybe—I’ll let you have some more Jell-O."