Obsidian and Plum: Unlikely Events

Chapter 7 - Emotional parting

It all happened so quickly once the rescue team had arrived. Paul had been startled awake when the rescue crew and Greninja had entered the cave – the sun barely making an appearance. He'd sighed in relief before the realisation had hit him, this was it; he couldn't go home yet, seeing as the storm was on a direct path with Sinnoh, but he didn't have to stay with Ash either. They would soon part ways once again, and this time, Paul was sure it would be forever.

The first responding rescue team had carried Ash down to the off-road assistance vehicle on a stretcher, and once they'd reached the ambulance, they were transferred over to the paramedics. Paul had carried all the bags, and Greninja had returned to his pokéball. Pikachu had steadfast loyalty to Ash, and he'd refused to leave his trainer's side – so much so, that the paramedics had agreed to let him stay out of his ball for the time being; Paul only briefly entertained the though of wishing them sarcastic luck in their Pikachu catching endeavours – but his mind had been elsewhere.

Paul had accompanied Ash all the way to the hospital located in Jhoto – it hadn't registered to him at first, that they were traveling away from home until they'd arrived at the emergency department. Jhoto was the safest destination for now, and he'd never noticed the mess that the storm had left throughout the town in its wake. His mind had been thinking of the obsidian-haired young man, realising that what he felt must have been love – as much as he dared to admit that to himself.

He'd never loved anyone before – Reggie certainly didn't count because he was his brother, and it was a different kind of love.

Yes, that entire ambulance ride had gone by in a blur; Paul had been lost to his own thoughts, occasionally reassuring Ash that they were on the way to the hospital. Ash had cried out in pain as they'd moved him from the cave, and they'd administered him with a strong pain alleviating medication. The drug had made Ash inattentive and lethargic. 'Easier to deal with.' Paul thought.

When they'd first pulled up outside the hospital, a part of Paul wanted to leave and never look back... but a stronger part of him wanted to know if Ash was going to be okay first.

---OOO---

Paul had been questioned relentlessly regarding Ash's personal information and his injury. He'd worn a look of hazy inertness as he'd answered the questions to the best of his ability, not really hearing his own words. They'd asked him if he was okay at some point, and he'd realized again that he was at the hospital with a doctor trying to talk to him. He'd forgotten when he got there, but he'd remembered flashes of the journey.

After Informing the doctor that he was just a friend, he'd been told that he wouldn't be able to see Ash until he'd woken up from surgery – which probably wouldn't be until tomorrow now, considering that it would most likely be after visiting hours when he woke up.

"Surgery?" It had been the first question Paul had remembered asking. He hadn't realized that Ash's injury had been so serious, he'd thought it was just a broken leg – the type you patched up, threw a cast on, and then sent the patient home. Sitting in the family and friend's room, he remembered every word the doctor had said regarding that.

"Mr Ketchum has suffered a severe fracture to the tibia. The bone is displaced with possible signs of compression. Whilst under general anaesthetic, we will work to realign the bone and screw an Intramedullary rod down the centre. This will hopefully strengthen the bone and help it to heal in the correct position. I wouldn't tell you this Mr Mackeller, but as you've obviously saved Mr Ketchum's life and seem to care about him a great deal, I feel you deserve to know at least that much." The male doctor had then smiled at Paul in sympathy.

"His mother? She lives in Pallet town I believe." Paul asked. He wondered if Ash's mother would even be able to come and visit her son on account of the storm.