Pokemon Indigo League Stories Part 2

Ash's check up

Ash sat on the examination table, his nerves running wild as Gary prepared for the check-up. He had never liked doctors, and having his childhood rival turn into his personal examiner only made the whole situation worse. His heart was hammering in his chest, his hands trembling as they rested on his knees.

Gary, noticing Ash's discomfort, leaned against the counter with a smug grin. "You're really a mess, Ashy-boy. You’ve had how many battles, and you're shaking like a leaf for a check-up?"

Ash's voice faltered. "I’m not shaking… I’m just... uh, just a little... you know, it’s nothing."

Gary raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms. "Uh-huh. Sure, Ashy. Sure." He could see the way Ash’s leg bounced up and down, the way his breath hitched in nervous anticipation. It was clear Ash hated check-ups, but this wasn’t just any check-up. It was a bit of a throwback to when they were kids, when Gary had been there to support Ash through one of the worst check-ups ever. It hadn’t gone well at all. In fact, Ash had been a crying mess after that appointment, refusing to go anywhere near a doctor for years afterward.

"Relax," Gary said, walking over to the table, his voice softening a bit. "It’s just me, okay? You’ve been through way worse than this. It's just a check-up."

Ash took a deep breath and nodded, his fingers twitching as he clenched his fists. He was determined to not let Gary see just how nervous he was. But Gary wasn’t fooled. He could tell.

"Alright," Gary began, holding up a stethoscope. "I’m just going to check your heart first. Don't freak out, okay?"

Ash looked at the stethoscope, his stomach doing flips. "Y-yeah, okay. I can handle this." He had to. He couldn’t let Gary see just how much this was affecting him.

Gary stepped up, placing the stethoscope against Ash’s chest. "Deep breath, buddy."

Ash’s heart skipped a beat at the sound of the nickname, his chest tightening. "I—I am," he said, breathing in deep. He tried to steady his breath, but his heart raced even faster. Gary’s hand was close to his skin, and the closeness made his mind swirl with anxiety. His heartbeat echoed in his ears, louder and faster than usual.

"Come on, Ash," Gary teased gently, removing the stethoscope. "You’re going to be fine. Your heart's a little faster than normal, but we’ll work with it."

Ash nodded, but his anxiety didn’t subside. "What do you mean by ‘a little’?" he asked, his voice small.

Gary didn’t answer right away. Instead, he checked Ash’s blood pressure, and his eyes narrowed. "Ash, your blood pressure’s high," Gary said, his tone becoming more serious. "Like, really high. You’re pushing 400. That’s not good, buddy."

Ash's eyes widened. "What? But... I’m fine, I swear. Just... I don’t know. I’m just nervous." He bit his lip, his mind racing. What did that mean? Was he okay? Was there something wrong?

Gary met Ash's eyes, his expression softening. "Hey, look at me, Ash," he said, placing a hand gently on Ash’s. "You’re going to be okay. It’s just a little high right now, but we’ll calm you down. That’s what I’m here for."

Ash’s breath hitched as he tried to steady himself, but the tremors in his hands wouldn’t stop. His leg kept bouncing, faster and faster, and his heart was racing out of control. His mind couldn’t keep up. What was happening to him?

"Look," Gary said, his voice low and calm as he moved behind Ash. "You’re stressing yourself out. Just relax." He wrapped his arms around Ash’s shoulders, pulling him gently back against his chest.

Ash froze at the unexpected closeness, but Gary’s warmth helped ground him. He hated to admit it, but the hug felt nice. It was just Gary, his best friend, trying to calm him down like he had done so many times before.

Ash's heart was still pounding, but with Gary’s arms around him, he felt a little better. Gary's voice was steady and soothing. "Just breathe with me, Ashy. You’re gonna be okay. I’m not going to let anything happen to you."

Ash nodded stiffly, his muscles still tense, but Gary’s touch was reassuring. Slowly, Ash let out a shaky breath, trying to follow Gary's instructions. But the anxiety was still there, and the thought of his high blood pressure gnawed at him.

"Hey," Gary said, his voice warm against Ash's ear, "I know this isn’t easy, but you’re stronger than this. You’ve always been. Just trust me." He squeezed Ash’s shoulders slightly, pulling him in even tighter. "And hey, when was the last time you had a hug, huh?"

Ash’s breath caught in his throat at the question. "I... don’t know," he whispered, his voice hoarse.

Gary chuckled softly. "Well, then, I think it's about time you got one." He pulled back slightly, keeping his arms around Ash but offering him a little space. "Now, we’re going to finish this, and I’m going to keep you calm. We’re in this together, okay?"

Ash looked down, a small smile forming on his lips despite himself. "Yeah, okay. Thanks, Gary."

Gary returned the smile, giving him a wink. "No problem, buddy. Now, let’s finish this up, alright?"

Ash nodded, feeling a little bit more confident now, his heart still racing but not quite as wildly as before. Gary’s calm demeanor and support meant more than Ash could express. It was something he hadn't realized he needed until now. As Gary checked his reflexes and eyes, Ash found that, despite the lingering tension, he could trust him. Gary wasn’t just a rival or a friend—he was there when Ash needed him the most.

And that, Ash realized, was worth more than anything.