Pokemon Indigo League Stories Part 2

Sleep Study

Richie nervously squeezed Ash's hand. " D... Do I have to?"

Ash smiled, sympathetic. " Yeah. Sorry, buddy. But if Gary thinks something's wrong with your sleep, it means there is."

" B... But is this all necessary? Staying the night in a hospital?"

" Pika pi." Sparky said

" Pikachu!" Pikachu added.

Ash smiled. " See? Even the Pokemon agree!"

Gary walked in with a smile. " Okay, Richie, just change into your pajamas and climb into bed. I'll come with the stuff we need."

Richie took a deep breath, trying to steady himself as he shuffled toward the bathroom. "I guess I’ll be right back," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. As he closed the door, he could still hear Ash's encouraging words and the soft chatter of Sparky and Pikachu outside.

Inside the bathroom, Richie quickly changed into his pajamas—a soft blue set adorned with small yellow stars. The fabric felt comforting against his skin, and he took a moment to look in the mirror, trying to muster some courage. “It’s just for one night,” he whispered to himself, practicing the reassurance Ash had given him earlier.

Meanwhile, in the room, Gary had gathered an array of medical supplies on the small table beside the bed. He carefully placed a stethoscope, a blood pressure cuff, and some colorful stickers that would surely make the process feel less intimidating. Sparky buzzed around excitedly, occasionally darting over to the supplies, as if inspecting them.

“Okay, we’ve got everything we need,” Gary said cheerfully, glancing at the bathroom door. “How’s our patient doing in there?”

“Almost ready!” Richie called back, his voice slightly more confident as he opened the door. He stepped out, fiddling with the hem of his pajama top and trying to avoid Gary’s eyes, which were gleaming with kindness.

“Perfect!” Gary beamed, motioning for Richie to hop onto the hospital bed. “Now, just sit right here. We’ll take it one step at a time.”

Richie climbed up, feeling the cool sheets against his legs. The hospital room felt strange, sterile, and yet there was a comforting familiarity about it—maybe it was the playful atmosphere created by Sparky and Pikachu, who were now buzzing with excitement as they explored the various medical gadgets.

“Alright, Richie,” Gary said as he began to unpack the supplies, laying them out on the table. “First, we’ll need to check a few things to make sure you’re feeling okay.”

Richie swallowed hard but nodded, trying to push away the nagging worry in the back of his mind. Ash settled beside him on the bed, giving him a reassuring pat on the back. “Just remember, you’re not alone. I’m right here.”

“Thanks, Ash,” Richie murmured, appreciating his cousin’s presence more than he could express.

Gary approached with a stethoscope draped around his neck. “First, I’m going to check your heart rate and listen to your breathing. Just relax and take deep breaths for me, okay?”

Richie took another deep breath, feeling the air fill his lungs. He nodded and shifted to sit up straighter. “Okay.”

Gary placed the cool metal of the stethoscope against Richie’s chest. “Breathe in… and out,” he instructed. Richie followed along, focusing on the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest. “Very good. Just a few more breaths,” Gary said, smiling as he listened intently.

Once he finished, Gary removed the stethoscope and jotted down some notes on his clipboard. “Your heart sounds great, Richie. Now let’s move on to checking your blood pressure.”

“Is that the tight thing?” Richie asked, his curiosity breaking through his nervousness.

“Exactly!” Gary replied with an encouraging grin. “It’s just going to wrap around your arm for a moment, and then I’ll let you know how you’re doing.”

Richie nodded, trying to convince himself it was all going to be okay. Gary gently wrapped the blood pressure cuff around Richie’s upper arm and started inflating it. The sensation was a bit strange, but Richie focused on Ash and Sparky, who were now sharing a snack of Poké Puffs on the bedside.

“How are you feeling, buddy?” Ash asked, his tone light and cheerful.

“Not bad, I guess,” Richie admitted, a shy smile creeping onto his face. “Just… a little nervous.”

“Totally normal,” Ash assured him. “Just think of it as an adventure! Besides, we’ve got Sparky here to keep us entertained.”

Sparky nodded enthusiastically, jumping up to give Richie a little spark of electricity that danced in the air. Richie couldn’t help but laugh, feeling the tension in his shoulders easing.

“Alright, let’s see how we’re doing,” Gary said, checking the results. “Looks like your blood pressure is perfectly normal. Great job, Richie!”

Richie felt a wave of relief wash over him. “Really? That’s awesome!”

“Absolutely!” Gary replied, giving him a thumbs-up. “Now, the last thing we need to do before settling in for the night is a quick pulse oximeter check. It’s just a little clip that goes on your finger, and it’ll let us know how well your body’s getting oxygen. Ready for that?”

Richie took another deep breath, feeling a bit more at ease. “Yeah, I think so.”

Gary retrieved the small device and clipped it gently onto Richie’s finger. “Just sit still for a moment,” he said, watching the monitor with keen interest.

As they waited, Ash leaned closer to Richie. “See? You’re already doing great. Just a little bit longer, and then we can watch a movie or play some games.”

Richie smiled, feeling the warmth of Ash’s encouragement. “Thanks, Ash. I’m glad you’re here.”

“Always,” Ash replied, his eyes bright with sincerity. “Now let’s get through this together.”