Rowan frowned, stepping closer. "Ash, you don't look fine," he said, his tone stern but concerned.

Gary sighed and pressed a hand lightly against Ash's forehead. "He's burning up. And he just threw up." He glanced at Rowan. "I'm gonna run a full check on him."

Rowan nodded. "Do what you must. Let me know if you need anything."

As the professor left, Gary turned back to Ash, who was shivering despite the obvious fever.

"Alright, Ashy-boy, let's see what we're dealing with."

He snapped on a pair of gloves and grabbed his thermometer. "Open up."

Ash groaned. "I don't need a checkup, Gary."

Gary smirked. "That's not what your puke just said."

Ash groaned again but let Gary slip the thermometer under his tongue. It beeped a moment later.

"39.4°C," Gary muttered. "No wonder you feel awful."

Ash's eyes fluttered shut. "Tired..."

"Not yet, bud." Gary grabbed his stethoscope and slipped the earpieces in. "Deep breaths."

Ash obeyed, inhaling shakily. Gary pressed the diaphragm against his chest, listening carefully. His brows furrowed.

Raspy. Uneven. A bit of wheezing.

"Lungs sound rough," Gary noted. "Any pain when you breathe?"

Ash nodded weakly.

Gary moved on, pressing gently on Ash's abdomen. "Tell me if anything hurts."

Ash flinched when Gary's hand reached his lower right side.

Gary frowned. "That bad?"

Ash groaned. "Only when you press there."

Gary pulled back, sitting in thought. Fever, nausea, vomiting, right-side pain... Could be appendicitis, but the pain isn't severe enough. Maybe a stomach virus? Flu?

He sighed. "Alright, Ash. I'll give you something for the fever, and you need to stay hydrated. No moving around."

Ash cracked an eye open. "Does this mean I get soup?"

Gary chuckled. "Yeah, yeah, I'll get you soup."

Ash sighed contentedly as Gary stood up, grabbing supplies.

Even sick, Ash still found a way to ask for food.