Pokemon Indigo League Stories Part 2

Ash's check up

Ash’s foot continued to tap nervously against the examination table, his heart racing in his chest. His mind was spinning in circles, trying to prepare for what was coming. Every time he thought he’d calmed down, his nerves would flare up again. He couldn’t help it.

Gary leaned against the doorframe, eyes glinting with mischief. "You sure you're okay, Ashy-boy? You look like you might pass out any second."

Ash’s face flushed, and he stammered, "I-I’m fine, Gary. Just… uh, you know…"

Gary raised an eyebrow, his smirk widening. "Yeah, I know. You hate check-ups, right?"

Ash’s stomach churned at the thought of everything that might go wrong during this check-up. It wasn’t just the needles or the procedures—it was Gary. He knew how to push Ash’s buttons, how to make him uncomfortable. And Ash had never been great at dealing with medical stuff, even as a kid. He had hated it back then, and he hated it now. But this wasn’t just any doctor—it was Gary. His childhood friend, his rival, his best friend.

But would Gary really take it too far?

Before Ash could continue spiraling in his thoughts, Gary walked over to him and placed a hand on Ash’s trembling arm, his tone softening. "Hey. You’re gonna be okay, Ashy. It’s me, remember? Just… breathe." His voice was surprisingly calm, reassuring, despite the teasing nature of their friendship.

Ash’s heart skipped a beat at the touch, his breath coming in shallow gasps. He forced himself to inhale deeply, trying to slow the pounding in his chest. His leg bounced uncontrollably, and he didn’t even realize it. "I-I know, Gary. I’m just… I don’t know."

Gary’s eyes softened for a moment, before his usual smirk returned. "Just take it easy, Ash. You’ve been through worse with me."

Ash’s mind flashed back to when they were four years old. He’d been so terrified of the doctor back then that he’d cried the entire time. And Gary, in his own way, had tried to support him, even though neither of them understood the full weight of the situation. Gary had stayed by his side that entire day, holding his hand and telling him everything would be fine—even when Ash was certain it wouldn't be.

“Alright, buddy,” Gary said, moving to the side and grabbing a small flashlight from the counter. "Let’s get started, huh? Just follow the light for me, Ash. Simple enough."

Gary put on a pair of latex gloves, the snap of them sending a shiver down Ash’s spine. He wasn’t sure why, but the sound of gloves always made him think something worse was coming. Gary waved the flashlight in front of Ash’s eyes, the bright beam flashing between his pupils. "Follow it, Ash."

Ash nodded, his eyes locking onto the light. He did his best to follow it with his gaze, but his hands were trembling. He could feel the cold sweat starting to form on his forehead as his heart rate skyrocketed. His eyes followed the light left and right, up and down. The faster Gary moved it, the harder it was to focus.

"Good job," Gary said, his voice light but still filled with that teasing edge. "See? You’re already doing better than last time."

Ash felt a small sense of pride, even if his hands were shaking like leaves in the wind. Gary’s voice was calming, and the familiar teasing was helping him stay grounded. He could do this. He could get through this.

Next, Gary moved to check his ears. He gently lifted Ash’s chin, tilting his head to one side as he peered into Ash’s left ear with the otoscope. "Nothing weird in there, thank goodness," Gary muttered. Ash couldn’t help but chuckle weakly at that, the tension in his shoulders easing just a bit.

"Alright," Gary said, placing the otoscope down and reaching for the next item on the counter. "Open up wide, Ash. Let’s check your throat."

Ash swallowed thickly as he opened his mouth, feeling the strange pressure of the plastic tongue depressor as it pressed down on his tongue. Gary peered inside, his eyes narrowing in concentration.

"Nothing unusual," Gary said with a satisfied nod, but Ash could tell he was still just as focused. "You sure you’re feeling alright, Ash? You don’t look so hot."

Ash winced, suddenly aware of how much he’d been trembling. "Yeah, I guess. Just… not a fan of these check-ups." He forced a smile, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. The truth was, he felt like his whole body was vibrating with nerves.

Gary clicked his tongue. "Yeah, I remember that. You were a wreck when we were kids, too. But you got through it, didn’t you? And so will you now."

Ash looked at him, startled by the quiet sincerity in Gary’s voice. He was right, though. Ash had made it through worse, even if it had felt impossible at the time.

Next, Gary moved to check Ash’s heart. He pulled out the stethoscope and placed the cold metal disk against Ash’s chest. "Take a deep breath, buddy," Gary said, his voice low and steady. Ash complied, his chest rising and falling with each shaky breath.

"Your heart’s beating fast, Ash," Gary said, his tone shifting to something a little more serious. "You feeling okay?"

Ash’s eyes flicked to Gary’s face. His heart pounded louder in his chest, faster than it had ever been. He didn’t want Gary to see how terrified he was, but the truth was, the fear was only growing.

Gary removed the stethoscope and looked at Ash closely, his eyebrows furrowed. "Ash, your blood pressure’s through the roof. It’s way too high." He pulled the cuff from the counter and wrapped it around Ash’s arm. Ash flinched as the cuff tightened, his mind racing as Gary read the numbers on the monitor.

"Four hundred," Gary muttered, his eyes widening slightly. "Ash, this isn’t good."

Ash’s breath hitched, and Gary quickly moved to his side, dropping down next to him. "Hey, look at me, okay?" Gary’s voice softened, the teasing edge replaced with genuine concern. "You’re gonna be fine. You just need to calm down. Take deep breaths with me."

Ash’s chest felt tight, his heartbeat erratic. He could barely hear Gary’s voice over the pounding in his head. But then Gary wrapped his arms around him, pulling him into a hug from behind.

"Just breathe, Ash. In and out. You’re gonna be okay."

Ash felt Gary’s arms tighten around him, the warmth of his body offering a comfort that Ash couldn’t quite explain. His heart was still racing, but with Gary’s presence, something in him began to slow down. It was strange—Ash was always so independent, so proud. But with Gary, it felt okay to just let go and let someone else take care of him, even if just for a moment.

Gary’s voice was soft against his ear. "I’ve got you, Ash. Just breathe, alright? I’m right here."

Ash closed his eyes, his trembling slowly easing as he took slow, deep breaths, grounding himself in the present moment. The fear was still there, but it didn’t feel quite so overwhelming with Gary by his side.