Pokemon Indigo League Stories Part 2

Ash's Check up

Ash was visibly trembling as he sat on the cold examination table. His heart raced in his chest, and his mind kept replaying worst-case scenarios. What if Gary was planning something? What if this was more than just a routine check-up? It didn’t help that Gary was standing there, smirking at him like he knew exactly what Ash was thinking.

"So," Gary began, breaking the silence, "feeling nervous, Ashy-boy?"

Ash’s voice faltered as he tried to speak, but it came out in a strained whisper. "I—I'm fine... really."

Gary raised an eyebrow. "Are you? 'Cause it looks like you're about to faint." He smirked again, enjoying teasing Ash, even though he could tell his friend was genuinely scared.

Ash swallowed hard, gripping the edge of the table, his foot tapping uncontrollably. His mind was racing, trying to figure out if this was just a check-up or something more. Why did he hate these things so much? Why was his heart beating like this?

Gary was still watching him with that amused expression, but there was a hint of concern in his eyes. He stepped closer and crouched down in front of Ash, gently placing a hand on Ash's trembling one.

"Hey," Gary said softly, his voice suddenly reassuring. "You're gonna be okay, Ash. It's me, Ashy. Nothing to worry about." He used the nickname that always seemed to comfort Ash when they were younger, and it worked now—just a little.

Ash’s heart pounded louder, but this time, it wasn’t out of fear. It was from the simple contact, the way Gary’s hand felt so steady on his own. It made him feel a little less anxious, a little less alone. His leg continued bouncing, though, unable to stop the nervous energy.

Gary leaned in a bit closer, his voice steady. "Breathe, buddy. You’ve had check-ups before. This isn’t anything new."

Ash clenched his fists, trying to control his breathing, but his nerves were getting the best of him. He couldn’t help but remember the first time Gary helped him through a check-up when they were four years old. He'd hated it then, too. It had been a disaster—Ash had cried, tried to run away, and even knocked over a few things in the process. But Gary had stayed with him, patiently guiding him through it. And he was still here, now, doing the same thing.

"Okay, Ash," Gary said, straightening up. "Let’s start simple, alright? I’m just gonna check your eyes first. Look straight ahead for me."

Ash nodded, but his vision seemed blurry, his nerves clouding his focus. Gary reached for his stethoscope, then his gloves, putting them on before moving back to Ash. "Follow this, Ash," he said, waving a small flashlight in front of Ash’s face.

Ash’s breath hitched, and he reluctantly followed the light with his eyes, trying not to think about how much he hated the cold, bright beam. Gary seemed to notice the slight tension in Ash’s shoulders, but he didn’t comment. He just continued to move the flashlight in front of Ash's face, his hands gentle and reassuring as they guided Ash through each movement.

"Your pupils are responding fine," Gary murmured as he finished with the light. "Good job, Ashy-boy. Now, let’s check your ears. Tilt your head a little to the left."

Ash did as he was told, his eyes flickering to Gary’s face, searching for any signs that this was a trick, that it was somehow going to take a wrong turn. But Gary was focused, professional in a way that made Ash feel... oddly safe, despite his mounting panic.

Gary gently looked in Ash's ears with a small instrument, humming to himself. "Everything looks clear," he commented, though there was an undercurrent of concern in his voice. Gary always seemed to know how to read Ash’s moods, even when Ash tried to hide them.

Then Gary moved to his mouth, asking him to open wide so he could check his throat, the cool tool brushing against Ash's tongue. "Good, Ash. No sign of infection," Gary said, still calm, despite the growing tension in the room.

Ash was barely listening now, his mind lost in the noise of his own heartbeat, his nerves escalating. "Okay," Gary continued, "now for the fun part—your reflexes."

Gary tapped Ash's knee with a small hammer, and Ash flinched, his leg jerking automatically. "See? Reflexes are fine, too," Gary said with a grin, though Ash could see the worry in his eyes now.

Gary had known that Ash hated check-ups, but this was different. This wasn’t just Ash’s usual avoidance—there was something more going on, and it wasn’t just his nerves. Something was off.

Gary glanced at the blood pressure cuff on the counter, then at Ash, his eyes narrowing in thought. "Let’s check your blood pressure now. This’ll help us get an idea of what’s going on."

Ash’s chest tightened at the mention of it. He’d had high blood pressure before, but he was always careful not to let it get too high. He laid back slightly as Gary wrapped the cuff around his arm.

The machine whirred as it began to inflate. Ash’s heart seemed to beat even faster in his chest, the pressure building as the cuff tightened. He wanted to say something, make a joke, but the words wouldn’t come. His anxiety was choking him, his leg bouncing so hard that he could feel the table shaking beneath him.

When the cuff finally deflated, Gary stared at the numbers on the monitor, his expression unreadable. Ash’s heart sank. He could tell something was wrong.

Gary’s voice was quieter now. "Ash... your blood pressure is... very high. It’s in the 400s."

Ash blinked, the words not fully sinking in at first. "Wha... what? No, that’s... that’s not possible."

Gary stood there, a concerned look crossing his face. "Ash, I’m serious. That’s not normal. You’ve been under a lot of stress, haven’t you?"

Ash opened his mouth to protest, but the words caught in his throat. He knew Gary was right. Between the anxiety of the check-up, the pressure of being the best, and everything else he was dealing with, he had been pushing himself too hard.

Gary didn’t waste a moment. He moved around to Ash’s side and gently placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to steady him. "Hey, buddy, listen to me. You’re gonna be okay. Just breathe, alright?" Gary’s tone was softer now, almost like when they were younger and Gary had been the one calming Ash down.

Ash’s heart was still racing, but Gary’s presence, the way he was holding him steady, helped slow him down. The tension in Ash’s body started to ease as Gary sat behind him, wrapping his arms around Ash in a hug. It was a bit awkward at first—Ash didn’t like being hugged, especially not in this kind of situation—but Gary held him firm, his presence grounding Ash like nothing else could.

"Take it easy, Ashy," Gary whispered, his voice steady and calm. "You’re safe. You’re gonna be fine. Just breathe with me, okay?"

Ash's trembling began to subside, his heartbeat slowing as he followed Gary's lead. It wasn’t easy, but with Gary’s support, he knew he could get through this. He’d always get through things with Gary by his side.