Eight-year-old Gary Oak put his book down and gave his best friend a curious look. "Wait, wait, wait—Ashy-boy, come back."

Ash hesitated in the doorway, gripping the needle in his tiny hands. He looked nervous—his brown eyes were wide, and his bottom lip trembled ever so slightly.

Gary frowned. Something was definitely wrong.

He crouched slightly, meeting Ash's hesitant gaze. "You want me to give you the shot? Why?"

Ash bit his lip and shifted on his feet. "I just... I don't like when the doctors do it."

Gary's frown deepened. "What do you mean? Did they do something?"

Ash shook his head quickly. "N-no, I mean... I dunno. It's just... they don't care if it hurts, you know?"

Gary stilled.

For an eight-year-old, Ash didn't usually talk about things like this. He was always loud, always hyper, always running around without a care in the world. But right now? He looked... small.

Gary felt something heavy settle in his chest.

"...Alright," he said finally, standing up straighter. "Hop on the bed, 'kay?"

Ash hesitated for a second before nodding. He slowly climbed onto Gary's bed, sitting cross-legged, still gripping the needle tightly.

Gary rolled up his sleeves, trying to remember everything he had learned from watching Grandpa in the lab. He had seen vaccinations given before—he knew the steps.

But doing it himself?

He swallowed and took a deep breath. You got this, Oak.

First, he reached over and carefully took the needle from Ash's hands. "I'm gonna do this properly, alright? You trust me?"

Ash nodded hesitantly.

Gary smiled a little. "Good."

He walked over to his desk, rummaging through his small medical kit. Every Oak had one—Grandpa had made sure of it. He found a pack of alcohol wipes and a pair of gloves, just like he had seen Grandpa use.

Slipping on the gloves, he turned back to Ash. "Alright, buddy, lemme see your arm."

Ash tensed a little but obeyed, hesitantly rolling up his sleeve.

Gary grabbed an alcohol wipe and gently rubbed it over Ash's upper arm. "This might be a little cold," he warned.

Ash flinched slightly at the sensation but stayed still.

Gary worked quickly, making sure the area was clean. Then he picked up the needle, holding it steadily in his small hands.

Ash sucked in a sharp breath at the sight of it.

Gary immediately noticed. His best friend's fingers curled into the bedsheets, his shoulders stiff.

"...You're scared, huh?"

Ash didn't answer, but he didn't need to.

Gary sighed, then, in an act of pure instinct, reached over and took Ash's free hand. He gave it a light squeeze. "You don't have to be, y'know. I got you."

Ash blinked at him. "...You do?"

Gary scoffed, giving him a confident smirk. "Duh. I'm gonna be the best doctor ever, remember? And you're my first patient, so I have to do this right."

Ash's lips twitched slightly, just the tiniest hint of a smile.

Gary grinned. "Atta boy."

Now that Ash was a little more relaxed, Gary turned his focus back to the needle.

He positioned it carefully, just like he had seen Grandpa do. "Alright, Ashy-boy, take a deep breath, 'kay? In... out..."

Ash followed his lead, inhaling deeply.

Gary took one last steadying breath, then—

Swift. Clean.

He pressed the needle in with as much care as an eight-year-old could possibly manage.

Ash gasped slightly but didn't move.

Gary worked quickly, pressing the plunger down, injecting the vaccine into Ash's arm. His hand was steady—surprisingly so. He didn't hesitate, didn't fumble.

I'm doing it.

Once the liquid was fully in, he carefully pulled the needle out and set it aside.

Ash let out a shaky breath. "That's it?"

Gary grinned. "That's it."

Ash blinked at him in pure astonishment. "...That didn't hurt."

Gary huffed proudly, grabbing a small bandage and placing it over the injection site. "See? Told ya I got you."

Ash stared at his arm, then back at Gary.

And then, before Gary could react, Ash launched himself at him.

"WOAH—!"

The next thing he knew, he was being tackled into the bed, Ash clinging to him in a tight hug.

Gary spluttered. "A-Ash! What—"

"Thank you, Doctor Gary!"

Gary went stiff.

...Doctor Gary.

The title wasn't new. He had come up with it himself when they were little, always boasting about how he'd be a doctor one day.

But hearing Ash say it now? Like he meant it?

Gary felt his face go red.

"...Yeah, yeah, don't mention it," he mumbled, awkwardly patting Ash's back.

Ash grinned against his shoulder. "You're gonna be the best doctor ever, Gary."

Gary blinked.

His chest suddenly felt warm.

A slow smile crept onto his lips.

"...You better believe it, Ashy-boy."

Eight-year-old Gary Oak carefully placed his book down, watching his best friend closely. Ash stood at the doorway, looking smaller than usual, his brown eyes filled with something Gary couldn't quite place. Fear? Uncertainty?

But more importantly, he was holding a syringe.

Gary's mind raced. Why was Ash asking him to do this?

But when Ash whimpered and started backing away, Gary reacted instantly. He wasn't about to let his best friend suffer in silence.

He reached out, gripping Ash's shoulder gently but firmly. "Nono, I'll do it, Ashy-boy. Hop on the bed, 'kay?"

Ash hesitated, but eventually, he climbed onto the examination table, his tiny legs swinging slightly over the edge. He was tense—Gary could see it. His fingers clenched the hem of his shirt, his whole body stiff as he waited.

Gary took a deep breath. He could do this. He had to do this.

He stepped over to Ash and carefully took the syringe from his trembling hands. It was pre-filled. Good. That meant he didn't have to draw anything up himself. He examined the label—it was just a routine vaccine. Nothing dangerous.

But Ash looked like he was about to cry.

Gary frowned. Why is he so scared?

Shaking the thought away for now, Gary did what he had seen his grandfather do countless times.

He pulled on a pair of gloves. They were slightly too big for his small hands, but they would do. Then, he reached for the alcohol wipes, ripping one open with precise fingers.

Gary turned back to Ash and softened his voice. "Okay, buddy. Which arm?"

Ash hesitated before lifting his left sleeve. His skin was already dotted with faint bruises, but Gary tried not to react. He just nodded and gently took Ash's arm in his tiny hands.

He's shaking.

Gary's frown deepened. He moved slowly, rubbing the alcohol wipe over the injection site in small, careful circles. Ash flinched at the cold sensation, but Gary didn't comment.

Instead, he murmured, "It's just a wipe, Ashy-boy. No needles yet."

Ash gave him a small, nervous nod.

Gary tossed the used wipe and grabbed the syringe. His heart pounded. He had practiced before—on fruit, on dummies, even on himself once when Grandpa let him try under supervision. But this was different.

This was Ash.

Gary exhaled through his nose, steadying himself. "Okay. You gotta relax your arm, alright?"

Ash shook his head quickly. "I-I can't."

Gary frowned, thinking fast. Then, he gently took Ash's free hand and squeezed it. "Here. Hold my hand."

Ash hesitated again before gripping Gary's hand tightly. His fingers dug into Gary's palm, but Gary didn't mind.

He had to do this fast.

With practiced ease, Gary uncapped the syringe and lined up the needle. "Okay, Ashy. Deep breath in."

Ash obeyed, sucking in a shaky breath.

Gary didn't hesitate. He positioned the needle at a precise 90-degree angle and pushed it in with a quick, smooth motion.

Ash stiffened, but he didn't cry out. His grip on Gary's hand tightened.

Gary's heart clenched. Does he always do this? Just sit there and take it? No crying, no complaining?

Gary pushed the plunger down steadily, watching as the vaccine disappeared into Ash's arm. Then, just as smoothly, he pulled the needle out and pressed a small cotton ball against the injection site.

"There. All done."

Ash blinked, looking at his arm as if he couldn't believe it was over. "...That's it?"

Gary gave him a small smirk. "What, you wanted more?"

Ash shook his head quickly, a tiny, relieved smile forming.

Gary held the cotton ball against Ash's skin for a few seconds before pulling out a small bandage from the supply kit on his desk. He peeled it open and carefully placed it over the injection site.

"Okay, now you're really done."

Ash stared at his arm, then at Gary. His grip on Gary's hand finally loosened, but he didn't let go completely. Instead, he squeezed one more time before mumbling, "Thanks, Doctor Gary..."

Gary paused, staring at him. Ash had never called him that seriously before. It was always a joke, a playful nickname. But this time, Ash meant it.

Something warm bloomed in Gary's chest.

He squeezed Ash's hand back and smirked. "Anytime, Ashy-boy. But next time, tell me why you don't wanna go to a real doctor, yeah?"

Ash's tiny smile faltered.

Gary's smirk dropped.

He knew then—something had happened. But Ash wasn't ready to talk about it.

So instead of pushing, Gary just bumped their shoulders together and said, "C'mon. Let's go get snacks. Doctor's orders."

Ash let out a small giggle, nodding.

And with that, Gary Oak decided he'd always be there.

No matter what.