Professor Rowan knocked on Gary's room's door. " Excuse me, Gary?"

Gary looked up from his book. " Yeah, Professor?"

" By any chance do you know where your friend is?"

" Who, Ash? Nah. He's been gone for days."

" Well, apparently, he invaded Hunter J's aircraft. He's alive, but he's not in... The best shape."

Gary dropped his book.

“What.”

Professor Rowan sighed, adjusting his glasses. “The Rangers found him after J’s ship crashed. He’s alive, but he—”

Gary was already shoving past Rowan and bolting out the door.

“Ash—Ash—I swear, if you—” His heart pounded as he sprinted down the halls of the research facility.

The infirmary. He needed to get to the infirmary.

When Gary slammed the door open, the sight nearly knocked the wind out of him.

Ash was lying on the hospital bed, bandaged head to toe. His arm was in a sling, his ribs were wrapped, and there were more bruises and cuts than Gary could count. His right eye was completely swollen shut.

And yet, somehow, somehow, he was awake.

The moment Ash saw Gary, his face lit up in a loopy, drugged-up grin.

“Gaaaaryyy,” he slurred. “You found me.”

Gary’s chest ached.

“…You absolute dummy.”

Ash blinked. “Huh?”

Gary took a step closer, his hands trembling. “You—” He exhaled sharply. “You invaded Hunter J’s aircraft?”

Ash winced, looking away. “…It sounded like a good idea…”

“A GOOD IDEA?”

Ash shrunk under Gary’s glare. “Well—”

“You almost died, you moron!” Gary threw his hands up. “What were you thinking?!”

Ash pouted, shifting slightly. “I was thinking that she was hurting Pokémon and needed to be stopped.”

Gary pinched the bridge of his nose. “You—”

His voice broke.

“…Ash, you were gone for days.”

Ash flinched.

Gary clenched his fists. “Do you have any idea what that was like? Not knowing where you were? If you were even alive?” His voice wavered. “Do you ever think about what it does to people when you pull stuff like this?”

Ash looked down. “…I’m sorry.”

Gary sighed. His anger was already fading—replaced by exhaustion and worry.

“…How bad is it?” he asked quietly.

Ash hesitated before mumbling, “…Broke a few ribs. Sprained my wrist. Got a concussion. And, um…” He bit his lip. “…My leg’s broken.”

Gary felt his stomach drop.

“…Ash.”

Ash forced a weak grin. “I’ll be fine, Doc.”

Gary exhaled shakily, sitting down in the chair next to the bed. “I hate you so much right now.”

Ash laughed weakly. “No, you don’t.”

Gary scowled. “Shut up.”

Ash smiled. “Love you too, Gary.”

Gary groaned, dragging a hand down his face. “…Idiot.”