Pokemon Indigo League Stories Part 2

Sick

Ash's eyes were closed, his body fully submerged under his blanket as he shivered. It was the middle of spring, but Ash has gotten sick somehow.

Again.

" Pikachu Pika?"

Ash opened an eye as a massive headache came his way. " I'm.... Fine..."

Then he heard the door open, and then his bed moved.

Someone was coming up the ladder.

The person crawled on, then gently stuck their purple long sleeve under the blanket and felt his neck. The person sighed.

" Ashy what did you do now?"

Ash shivered. " G.... Gary?"

" Who else would it be?"

Ash tried to sit up, but pain shot through his body. He yelped and laid back down.

" Easy, easy, easy...." Gary murmured.

Ash felt tears well on his eyes. " It hurts every.... Where, G... Gary."

" I know, kiddo. I know."

Gary frowned, feeling the heat radiating from Ash's forehead. "You've really done a number on yourself this time, huh?" he said gently, keeping his hand on Ash's shoulder to comfort him.

Ash gave a weak nod, trying his best to smile but wincing instead. "I don't even know how I got sick..." His voice was barely above a whisper, scratchy and filled with exhaustion.

Gary shook his head, pulling a tissue from his pocket and dabbing the sweat on Ash's forehead. "With you, it's usually from running around in every kind of weather and forgetting to take a break. I've been telling you to slow down for ages."

Ash let out a small sigh. "I... didn't want to miss anything important, y'know? I thought I was okay..."

Gary rolled his eyes but softened his gaze, understanding his friend's determination. "Ash, sometimes even you need to slow down. You're not invincible."

Pikachu, who had been watching from the edge of the bed, hopped closer, its eyes full of worry. "Pika pika..." it murmured, nuzzling Ash's cheek.

Ash reached out weakly, petting Pikachu's head with a shaky hand. "I'm sorry, buddy..." he said softly, trying to reassure his partner.

Gary rummaged through his bag and pulled out a thermometer, pressing it under Ash's tongue. "Let's see how bad it is, alright? Just stay still for a minute."

Ash's eyes fluttered shut again as he shivered under the blanket, feeling another wave of dizziness hit him. Gary kept a gentle hand on Ash's shoulder, steadying him as they waited for the thermometer to beep. Finally, it did, and Gary's eyes widened when he saw the reading.

"104 degrees? Ash, you're burning up!" he said, his voice tinged with worry. He put the thermometer aside and grabbed a cool washcloth from his bag, gently placing it on Ash's forehead.

Ash groaned softly, the coolness of the cloth offering a slight relief. "I'm sorry... didn't mean to make you worry..."

Gary shook his head with a small smile. "I know, but you're going to have to take it easy. No training, no battles. Just rest, got it?"

Ash nodded slowly, too weak to argue. He clutched the blanket tighter, his voice barely a whisper. "Thanks... for being here."

Gary gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze. "Of course, Ash. I'm not going anywhere."