Pokemon Indigo League Stories Part 2

Ash Check-up

Ash was a nervous wreck. His heart was racing so fast he thought it might burst out of his chest. His hands were shaking as they clutched the edge of the examination table. His thoughts were jumbled, and no matter how hard he tried to concentrate, all he could feel was the overwhelming sense of dread gnawing at his insides.

Gary, on the other hand, seemed completely at ease, a small smirk on his face as he watched Ash squirm. "You good, Ashy-boy?" Gary asked, using that nickname that always made Ash twitch. "You’re acting like you’re about to face the Elite Four, not a check-up."

Ash opened his mouth to reply, but all that came out was a nervous chuckle. "Yeah... yeah, I'm fine," he stammered, but it was clear he wasn’t.

Gary raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "You sure about that, buddy?" he teased, crossing his arms. "You’re shaking like a leaf."

Ash’s leg bounced uncontrollably, and his breath came out in shallow bursts. His heart was thudding so loud in his ears that he could hardly hear anything else. It was just a routine check-up, but to Ash, it felt like a mountain. The stethoscope, the blood pressure cuff, and the endless medical instruments seemed so intimidating when it was Gary wielding them.

Gary shook his head, walking over to where Ash was sitting. He crouched down in front of him, his hands on his knees, and gave Ash a soft, almost sympathetic look. "Hey, you’re gonna be okay, Ash. It’s me, Ashy. You know I got your back."

But Ash couldn’t calm down. "I-I know, Gary, I just—"

"Don’t worry," Gary interrupted, placing his hand gently on Ash’s trembling hand. "You’re gonna be fine, buddy. It’s just me here."

Ash’s heart pounded in his chest even harder at the touch, and his leg kept bouncing up and down like a nervous tick. He couldn’t seem to stop it, no matter how hard he tried. His breaths came in quick, uneven gasps, and his whole body felt stiff with anxiety.

Gary noticed his friend’s distress and sighed, knowing this was going to take longer than he expected. "Alright, alright. Let’s just get through it, okay? I’ll make it as painless as I can." He said with a reassuring grin, though the smirk didn’t quite reach his eyes.

"Okay," Ash mumbled, squeezing his eyes shut for a moment, trying to steady himself. He knew this check-up wasn’t going to be as bad as he was imagining. Gary had always been there for him, especially when he was a kid, but this… this felt different. Maybe it was the reminder of that time when Gary had been the one to hold his hand through his first check-up when they were four. It had been a disaster. Ash had cried, fought, and even tried to run away, only to end up being carried back to the doctor by Gary.

Gary, ever patient, had helped him through the whole ordeal back then. And now, it was just the two of them again, but things were more complicated now. The rivalry, the teasing... Ash wasn’t a little kid anymore. But that didn’t stop Gary from being the same friend he had always been.

"Alright, Ash. First things first." Gary grabbed a flashlight from the table and put on his gloves. "Let’s check those eyes. Follow the light for me, okay?"

Ash winced as Gary waved the flashlight in front of his face, the bright beam making him squint. "C'mon, Ash, just follow it," Gary encouraged, his voice softer now.

Ash's hand clenched the edge of the table tighter. His vision blurred slightly as the light flashed in front of him, and he tried his best to follow it, but his focus kept drifting. "I’m trying, Gary... I just—"

Gary held up a hand, stopping him. "It’s okay, buddy, just try again. Follow the light."

This time, Ash managed to focus a little better, tracking the flashlight as Gary moved it in circles in front of his eyes. It was nothing new, really. It was part of every check-up. But Ash couldn't shake the feeling that this time was different. That Gary was somehow looking at him differently now.

"Good. Now, open your mouth for me, Ash," Gary said, his tone still playful but now laced with that usual concern he only ever showed for Ash. He placed a tongue depressor on Ash’s tongue, pushing it down gently.

Ash gagged, but managed to hold still, eyes watering slightly. "Not again... this always gets me."

Gary chuckled. "Hey, you’re doing great," he reassured. "Just breathe, okay?"

Ash’s chest felt tight. He nodded, taking deep breaths to calm his nerves. It was only then that he felt Gary’s hand press lightly against his back, offering him a bit of support. The contact grounded him, even if just a little.

"Let’s check your reflexes now." Gary grabbed a small reflex hammer and tapped Ash’s knees lightly, watching as they jerked instinctively. "Yeah, everything looks good there," Gary said, making a note on his clipboard.

"Now, let’s get your blood pressure, buddy," Gary said, walking over to a blood pressure cuff. He wrapped it gently around Ash’s arm, inflating it slowly.

Ash’s heart raced again. He hated this part. The pressure made him feel like his arm was going to explode.

Gary kept his focus on the cuff, but his expression softened as he checked the numbers. "Hmm," Gary muttered, looking closer. "Your blood pressure’s high, Ash. Like... really high."

Ash’s eyes widened. "High? What does that mean? Is something wrong with me?"

Gary shrugged, trying to hide his concern behind a calm front. "Well, we’ll need to keep an eye on it, but it could be just nerves," he said. "You’re still stressing out, buddy. You need to relax."

Ash’s stomach sank, and he looked up at Gary with wide eyes. "I’m... I’m not sick, right?"

Gary shook his head, sitting down next to Ash. "No, nothing like that. But, Ash, you’ve gotta take care of yourself. You’re pushing yourself too hard sometimes. I know how you get when you’re worried about something."

Gary placed a hand on Ash's back, rubbing soothing circles. "You’re fine, Ashy. I’m right here."

Ash let out a shaky breath, feeling a little calmer now that Gary was beside him. The tension in his body started to ease as Gary’s steady presence anchored him. He wasn’t sure when, but at some point, Gary had wrapped his arms around him, pulling him into a gentle hug from behind.

Ash hesitated at first, but slowly, he melted into the hug, the warmth of his best friend’s embrace helping him calm down. "Thanks, Gary," Ash whispered, his voice shaky but full of relief.

Gary smiled softly, his voice low. "Anytime, buddy. You don’t have to go through this alone."