The first sign that something was wrong was how stiffly Ash was moving.

Gary, who had been going through his bag for some medical supplies, glanced up from his seat in Ketchum Residence. Ash sat across from him on the couch, his arms folded, looking way too tense for someone who was supposedly resting. Pikachu sat on the armrest beside him, eyes flickering between the two boys.

Something was up.

Gary narrowed his eyes, studying Ash closely. He wasn't making any of his usual dramatic complaints, but there was something about his posture—too rigid, too careful. His breathing was a little shallow, and most importantly, he was keeping his arms stiffly crossed over his ribs. Almost protectively.

Gary set down his bag and leaned forward. "Alright, spill it, Ashy-boy. What's wrong?"

Ash blinked and forced a grin. "What? Nothing! I'm fine!"

Gary wasn't buying it for a second. "Uh-huh. Then why are you sitting like someone just drop-kicked you?"

"I'm just, uh... comfortable."

Gary gave him the most unimpressed look he could muster. "Comfortable? You're sitting like an old man with back problems."

Ash scowled. "Am not."

Gary ignored the weak comeback and reached out, pressing his palm lightly against Ash's ribs.

Ash jerked away immediately. "D-Don't touch there!"

Gary raised an eyebrow. "Uh-huh. And why's that?"

Ash stiffened. "...No reason."

Gary rolled his eyes. "Right. No reason at all. Except for the fact that you just jumped like a startled Meowth. What happened?"

Ash looked anywhere but at Gary. "...Nothin'."

Gary sighed. "Okay. Fine. If you don't wanna tell me, I'll just have to figure it out myself."

He reached forward again, more carefully this time, and before Ash could scramble away, he placed his hands on either side of Ash's ribcage, gently but firmly feeling around.

Ash tensed immediately. "G-Gary, don't—"

The second Gary's fingers pressed over a particular spot, Ash let out a sharp, involuntary gasp and flinched so hard that Pikachu nearly toppled off the armrest.

Gary pulled his hands back slightly, his expression turning serious. "Ash, that's not just a bruise or a pulled muscle. Your ribs—" He paused, adjusting his fingers again, pressing slightly just below the sore area. "One of them feels out of place."

Ash swallowed hard, his face pale. "...I'm fine."

Gary shot him a deadpan look. "You're not fine. You've got a dislocated rib piece, and it needs to be popped back into place before it causes more problems."

Ash's grip on his own arms tightened. "No."

Gary exhaled sharply. "Ash—"

"No," Ash repeated, his voice firm, but his hands were shaking slightly. "I know it's gonna hurt, Gary. I don't want you to do it."

Gary's expression softened. "Ashy-boy, I know it's gonna hurt. I won't lie about that. But if we don't fix it now, it could get way worse. You don't want to have trouble breathing, do you?"

Ash bit his lip, but his stubbornness refused to waver. "I still don't want it."

Gary sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. He had to do this, and he had to do it fast. But Ash was obviously terrified, even if he wouldn't say it out loud.

Gary glanced down at his own arm, then at Ash, and an idea formed.

"Ash," Gary said, his voice gentler now. "I'll tell you what. If you're scared, you can hold onto my arm. Just this once."

Ash blinked in surprise. "...Really?"

Gary smirked. "Yeah, really. Just don't break it, okay?"

Ash hesitated. He looked down at his hands, then at Gary's offered arm. Finally, after a long pause, he reached out and clung to it, wrapping both arms around it tightly.

Gary let him hold on for a moment, giving him time to steady his breathing. Then he took a deep breath. "Okay, Ashy-boy. I need you to take a deep breath in."

Ash obeyed, but he was shaking.

"Alright. On three, I'm gonna fix it, okay? Just one quick movement, and it'll be done."

Ash's grip on Gary's arm tightened even more. "O-Okay..."

Gary braced himself. "One... two..."

He didn't say three. He just did it.

With a swift but controlled motion, he pressed firmly against the dislocated rib piece, pushing it back into its proper place.

Ash let out a choked gasp of pain, his entire body tensing as a sharp, burning sensation shot through his chest. His fingers clenched so tightly around Gary's sleeve that his knuckles turned white.

For a few agonizing seconds, Ash squeezed his eyes shut, his breathing coming out in shaky, uneven gasps. Tears pricked at the corners of his eyes, and he let out a quiet, pained whimper.

Gary didn't say anything at first. He just stayed close, letting Ash keep his grip on his arm, not pulling away even as his sleeve was being crushed.

Finally, when Ash's breathing started to even out, Gary spoke softly. "It's done."

Ash sniffled, still clinging to him. "That... really sucked."

Gary chuckled, ruffling Ash's hair with his free hand. "Yeah, I know, kiddo. But you did great."

Ash mumbled something into Gary's sleeve.

"What was that?"

Ash lifted his head slightly, his face still scrunched up in discomfort. "I said... thanks."

Gary smirked. "See? I knew you could do it."

Ash rolled his eyes, still gripping his arm loosely. "Shut up."

Gary just grinned. "Nah. Not a chance."

It had started as just a dull ache. Nothing too bad. Just something Ash could ignore if he focused hard enough.

But by midday, every breath made his chest feel like it was twisting in on itself.

Still, he didn't say anything.

He didn't want Gary fussing over him. He didn't want to be poked or prodded. And he definitely didn't want Gary doing anything painful.

So, Ash did what he always did—he endured. He crossed his arms over his chest, hunched his shoulders slightly, and carried on like nothing was wrong.

Gary, however, had known Ash for way too long to miss when something was off.

"Hey, kiddo, you okay?"

Ash, sitting stiffly on the couch in Gary's observatory, didn't look up from the Pokémon magazine he was pretending to read. "Mhm. Fine."

Gary narrowed his eyes. Liar.

Ash wasn't fine. He was never this still. He was never this quiet. And he sure as heck wasn't one to sit out of training unless something was really wrong.

"You sure?" Gary tried again, stepping closer.

Ash swallowed. "Yeah. Totally."

Gary studied him for a second longer. Ash was doing that thing where he protected something without realizing it—his arms were hugging his ribs a little too tightly, and his whole body was tense, like he was bracing for something.

Oh.

That's when it clicked.

Gary frowned. "You're holding your chest."

Ash immediately dropped his arms. "No, I'm not."

Gary sighed. Yeah, okay.

He walked over and sat beside Ash, crossing his arms. "Alright, let's try this. When did it start hurting?"

Ash hesitated. "...It doesn't hurt."

Another lie.

Gary rolled his eyes. "Ash, c'mon. You suck at lying."

Ash huffed, still refusing to meet Gary's eyes. His fingers fidgeted in his lap. "I dunno, this morning? Maybe?"

Gary took in a slow breath. "And you didn't think to say anything?"

Ash squirmed slightly. "I thought it'd go away..."

Gary didn't like that answer at all.

Without another word, he reached out and gently pressed two fingers against Ash's chest.

Ash flinched.

That was all the confirmation Gary needed.

"Alright, shirt up," Gary said, already grabbing his stethoscope from the table.

Ash's eyes widened. "Wait, what? No! I don't need—"

Gary shot him a look.

"Ash," he said, voice firm but gentle. "You're in pain. Just let me check."

Ash chewed his lip but eventually gave in, lifting his shirt just enough for Gary to see.

Gary's sharp eyes scanned his chest. There wasn't bruising or anything obvious, but something definitely wasn't right. He pressed his fingers against Ash's ribs again, gently applying pressure along his sternum and sides.

Ash tensed at one particular spot.

Gary's frown deepened.

"Does it hurt here?" he asked, pressing just a little.

Ash jerked away. "Ngh—ow!"

"Yeah, I figured," Gary muttered, eyes narrowing.

He carefully traced along Ash's ribcage with practiced fingers, feeling for anything off. And then—there it was.

One of Ash's ribs felt slightly out of place, just enough to be causing him pain.

Gary exhaled sharply. "Okay. I know what's wrong."

Ash perked up. "Oh! So it's not bad, right? Just something that'll go away?"

Gary gave him a flat look. "No, you dislocated a rib."

Ash blinked.

"Wait. What."

Gary nodded. "Yeah. It's not broken, but it's out of place. If I don't fix it, it's gonna keep hurting, and breathing is just gonna get worse."

Ash paled. "Fix it? What do you mean fix it?"

Gary rubbed the back of his neck. "I mean, I gotta pop it back in."

Ash immediately recoiled. "NOPE. NO WAY. ABSOLUTELY NOT."

Gary sighed. "Ash—"

"NO! I—I'M FINE!" Ash hugged himself protectively.

Gary pinched the bridge of his nose. Of course. "Ash, listen. If I don't fix this now, it's gonna cause worse problems. Your breathing's already a little tight, isn't it?"

Ash shifted uncomfortably.

Gary softened his voice. "I know it sounds scary, but I promise I'll be as quick as I can. I just need you to trust me, alright?"

Ash looked away, fidgeting with the hem of his shirt. "...Is it gonna hurt?"

Gary hesitated. "...A little."

Ash scowled. "I knew it!"

Gary sighed. "I promise it'll be over before you know it. But we gotta do it now. The longer we wait, the worse it'll get."

Ash whimpered slightly, his fingers clutching his shirt tighter. "I don't wanna."

Gary watched him, heart clenching slightly. Ash was so stubborn, but right now? He was just scared.

So, Gary did something he never did.

He rolled up his sleeve and held out his arm.

"You can hold onto me if you want," he offered.

Ash blinked, staring at him like he'd grown a second head. "Wait. Seriously?"

Gary shrugged. "Just this once."

Ash hesitated... then slowly reached out, wrapping both arms around Gary's forearm and clinging.

Gary smirked a little. "See? Not so bad."

Ash huffed. "Whatever. Just—just do it quick, okay?"

Gary's expression turned serious again. "Alright, on three. Take a deep breath for me."

Ash took a shaky inhale.

Gary tightened his grip on Ash's side. "One—"

POP.

"AAAAAAH!"

Ash yelled, his whole body jerking in pain. Tears sprang to his eyes as he gritted his teeth, clutching Gary's arm like a lifeline.

"Ow—ow—OW—GARY—!"

"I know, I know," Gary said quickly, rubbing Ash's back. "It's over. It's done. Breathe, Ash."

Ash gasped for air, blinking away tears. "Th-that sucked—"

"I know," Gary murmured, voice softer now. "You did really good, buddy. I'm proud of you."

Ash hiccupped slightly, his grip on Gary's arm loosening just a bit. "...Still hurt."

Gary sighed, ruffling his hair. "Yeah, it's gonna be sore for a little while. But it's back in place, so no more sharp pain. Just rest for now, okay?"

Ash sniffled. "Can I...still hold your arm for a bit?"

Gary smirked. "Heh. Getting a little too comfortable there, huh, Ashy-boy?"

Ash scowled at the nickname but didn't let go.

Gary chuckled. "Yeah, yeah. Go ahead. Just this once."

Ash relaxed just a little. "...Thanks, Gary."

"Anytime, kiddo," Gary murmured, letting Ash cling for as long as he needed.