Eight year Gary ran up the stairs and bolted into his eight year old best friend's room, climbing his loft bed’s ladder and sat on the edge of his friend’s house. “ Hey, Ash.” He murmured, gently stroking his sick friend’s hair. “ I’m here.”

Ash moaned and opened a glassy eye. “ Gary….?”

Gery nodded. “ Yeah, buddy. I’m here.”

Ash tried to sit up, but Gary grabbed his shoulders and forced him to lie down again. “ Now, now, kiddo. We need you to rest and save your energy.”

Ash moaned weakly and reached to find Gary’s arm. Gary grabbed it and scooted closer, rubbing soothing patterns over it. 

“ Gary….” Ash moaned before letting out a soft snore.

Gary flicked Ash’s cheek. “ Stay awake, Ashy boy.”

Ash whimpered. “ Garyyyyyyyyyyyy….” Ash whined, tears streaming down his face. “ I wanna sleeeeeep!”

“ I know, buddy.” Gary said sympathetically. “ But not now. I have to check on you.”

“ Garyyyyyy….” Ash sobbed. “ Please! I wamma sleeeeep!”

Gary’s heart drooped.

He gently helped a VERY RELUCATNT crying Ash sit up against him, then took his bag off and took the tools out,  snapping gloves on and wrapping the stethoscope around his neck.

“ I know, buddy.” Gary murmured. “ But if you cooperate, you can sleep. Plus, when you wake up, I’ll give you cookies.”

Ash sniffed. “ And donuts?”

Gary raised a brow. “ That’s a little too much to ask, don’t you think?”

Ash rubbed his eye with a balled fist. “ Donuts too or I won’t cooperate.”

Gary chuckled. “ You drive a hard bargain with, kid.”

Ash gripped Gary’s sleeve. “ Please?”

Gary sighed dramatically, but there was a fond smile on his face. “Fine, fine. Donuts too. But you have to cooperate, got it?”

Ash sniffled and gave a tiny nod, his grip on Gary’s sleeve tightening.

Gary adjusted his position, making sure Ash was leaning comfortably against him before gently placing a hand on Ash’s forehead. It was still warm. Too warm.

Gary frowned. “You’re still burning up, buddy.”

Ash only whimpered, his eyes barely staying open.

Gary reached into his bag and pulled out the thermometer. “Alright, open up, Ashy-boy.”

Ash’s lips wobbled. “I dun wanna.”

Gary sighed. “Ash, c’mon. You just negotiated donuts out of me. Work with me here.”

Ash hesitated, but eventually opened his mouth just enough for Gary to slip the thermometer under his tongue.

They waited.

Ash let out a pitiful whimper, his fingers gripping Gary’s sleeve even tighter.

Gary gave him a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder. “Hang in there, buddy.”

Finally, the thermometer beeped.

Gary took it out and checked the reading. 102.4°F.

Gary’s stomach dropped. That was high. Too high.

He put the thermometer down and gently rubbed Ash’s arm. “Hey, kiddo, you’re pretty warm. I need to check your breathing, okay?”

Ash just sniffled, leaning his full weight against Gary.

Gary carefully grabbed his stethoscope, warmed the diaphragm between his hands, and pressed it gently against Ash’s chest.

“Deep breath, Ashy.”

Ash barely inhaled before weakly exhaling.

Gary frowned. “No, buddy. A real deep breath, okay? Like this—” He exaggerated a deep inhale, then exhaled slowly.

Ash attempted to copy him, but it was shaky and weak.

Gary didn’t like that.

He moved the stethoscope to Ash’s back. “Again, buddy. Deep breath.”

Ash obeyed, but his breathing sounded… off. There was a slight wheeze.

Gary’s frown deepened. He placed the stethoscope around his neck and pulled Ash a little closer.

“Ash, does your chest hurt?”

Ash gave a tiny nod. “It feels… heavy.”

That was not good.

Gary grabbed his otoscope next and gently tilted Ash’s head. “I’m gonna check your ears real quick, ‘kay?”

Ash whined but didn’t pull away.

Gary checked both ears—a little red, but not infected.

Then, he gently tilted Ash’s head back to check his throat.

“Say ‘ahh,’ buddy.”

Ash cracked an eye open. “Ahh…”

Gary winced. Ash’s throat was definitely red and swollen.

Yup. This wasn’t just a little cold.

Ash sniffled again, his body trembling.

Gary didn’t even think—he just hugged him. One arm wrapped around Ash’s back while his free hand gently rubbed soothing circles on his arm.

“Shhh… it’s okay, buddy. I got you.”

Ash hiccupped, clinging to Gary’s shirt like a lifeline. “G… Gary?”

“Yeah, Ashy?”

“… Do I still get my donuts?”

Gary let out a breathless laugh, pressing his forehead gently against Ash’s.

“Yeah, buddy. You still get your donuts.”

But first, he needed to get Ash some medicine. Fast.