Ash's breath hitched, and his whole body went rigid on the operating table. "No no no no—Gary, I changed my mind, I don't wanna do this—"

Gary, who had been expecting this exact reaction, immediately reached for Ash's hand and squeezed it firmly. "Hey, hey, hey, it's okay, buddy. Breathe."

Ash turned his head, eyes wide with panic, and Gary felt a pang in his chest at just how scared he looked. "Gary, I—I don't wanna be cut open!"

"I know, buddy. I know," Gary said softly, already slipping off his gloves so he could hold Ash properly. He shifted forward and wrapped an arm around Ash's shoulders, pulling him into a careful hug. "But listen to me—you're gonna be fine. You're safe. I'm right here."

Ash trembled slightly, fingers digging into Gary's sleeve like it was his last lifeline. His heart was pounding, and his breathing was coming out too fast, too shaky.

Gary tightened his hold, one hand rubbing soothing circles into Ash's back. "You're not alone, Ash. I'm staying right here with you the whole time. I'm the one giving you the anesthesia, remember? I won't let anything bad happen to you."

Ash's breath hitched again. "But what if—what if I don't wake up?"

Gary pulled back just enough to meet his friend's glassy, terrified eyes. "Hey. That's not gonna happen. You will wake up, and I'll be the first person you see when you do."

Ash swallowed hard. He was trying to be brave—Gary could tell—but the fear was still gripping him tightly.

Gary sighed, reaching out to gently rest a hand on Ash's stomach. "You feel this?"

Ash twitched at the touch, his muscles tensing instinctively. "Gary—?"

Gary started tracing small, slow circles against his skin, his touch feather-light and careful. "You're real. You're here. You're safe. I'm right here."

Ash sucked in a shaky breath, his grip on Gary's sleeve loosening just a little.

"Focus on me," Gary continued, still rubbing slow, soothing patterns against his stomach. "We're just taking out that stupid, troublemaking appendix, and then you're gonna feel so much better. I promise."

Ash stared at him for a moment, eyes flickering between panic and trust. "...You promise?"

Gary gave him a small, confident smile. "I swear, Ashy Boy. Because I'm the best."

That got a weak, barely-there chuckle out of Ash.

"There we go," Gary murmured, patting his stomach lightly before reaching for the anesthesia mask. "Alright, buddy. Deep breaths, okay? Just like before."

Ash hesitated for a second, then, gripping onto Gary's wrist for reassurance, he nodded.

Gary carefully placed the mask over his face, his other hand gently carding through Ash's messy hair. "That's it. Just breathe."

Ash inhaled.

Gary traced slow, lazy patterns against his wrist. "You're okay. I'm right here."

Ash exhaled.

His eyelids started to flutter.

Gary gave his hand one last squeeze. "Sleep tight, Ashy Boy."

And then, Ash's grip went slack, his body fully relaxing against the table.

Gary let out a slow breath, brushing his thumb over the back of Ash's hand before glancing up at the surgeon.

"Alright," he said, voice steady. "Let's get this over with."

Ash felt his heart drop straight into his toes.

The OR?

He immediately started struggling, panic flaring in his chest. "Nope. Nope nope nope, we are not doing this—GARY, I AM LEAVING."

Gary sighed and, without hesitation, reached forward, pulling Ash into a firm hug, wrapping his arms around him tightly. "Hey, hey, kiddo, breathe. You're okay. You're safe."

Ash tensed, his breath coming in quick, panicked gasps. "I—I don't wanna do this, Gary, I—I changed my mind, I can just live with it, I swear I ca—"

"Ash," Gary whispered, one hand coming up to the back of Ash's head, cradling it against his shoulder. "I promise you, you're gonna be fine. You're safe. I won't let anything bad happen to you."

Ash squeezed his eyes shut. "I hate this," he mumbled, his voice small and strained.

Gary rocked him slightly, rubbing circles into his back. "I know, buddy. But this is the last part, okay? After this, you won't have to deal with the pain anymore. You'll just wake up and it'll be over. And I swear, I'll be right here when you do."

Ash trembled, gripping the front of Gary's scrubs like his life depended on it. "...Promise?"

Gary pressed a firm hand against Ash's back. "I promise, kiddo."

Ash took a shaky breath. "...Okay."

Gary gently helped him lie back down. "That's my boy. Just relax, okay? I got you."

Ash sniffled and gave a small nod, his fingers still weakly holding onto Gary's wrist.

Gary pulled his gloves on, adjusting the anesthesia mask in his free hand. "Alright, buddy. I'm gonna put this over your nose and mouth, and you're gonna take some deep breaths for me, okay?"

Ash swallowed hard, his nervous eyes flicking between the mask and Gary.

Gary softened. "I'll be here the whole time. I won't leave you, Ash."

Ash let out a shaky exhale. "I—Okay..."

Gary gently placed the mask over Ash's face. "There you go, bud. Just like we practiced—deep breaths."

Ash's breath hitched at first, his body tense, but then he felt Gary's free hand rest against his stomach, his thumb absentmindedly tracing small, soothing circles over the fabric of his hospital gown.

Ash blinked sluggishly, his grip on Gary's wrist loosening slightly.

"There you go, kiddo," Gary murmured. "That's it. Just relax."

Ash's eyelids drooped. He barely registered Gary's soft voice whispering reassurances as his world slowly faded into black.

Gary squeezed Ash's hand one last time before gently setting it on the bed.

"...Sweet dreams, buddy. I'll be right here when you wake up."

Gary immediately regretted his word choice the second Ash's panicked eyes darted around the operating room. His hands scrambled weakly, reaching out for something—anything—to hold onto, his breath coming in short, shallow gasps.

"Hey hey hey—Ash," Gary murmured, quickly reaching for him, both hands firmly gripping Ash's shoulders. "It's okay, buddy. I promise it's okay."

Ash's fingers clutched onto the sleeve of Gary's scrubs, his grip shaky but desperate. "W-Why am I awake?! You said—I thought—I'm not supposed to be awake!"

Gary pulled him into a hug, one arm around his back, the other smoothing through his messy hair. "Shhh, I know, kid. I know. You're not in surgery yet, okay? You're just in the prep room. I'm right here."

Ash whimpered, face pressing into Gary's shoulder. "Don't let them do it, Gary," he mumbled, voice muffled by the fabric. "I changed my mind."

Gary huffed softly, rubbing circles on Ash's back. "Oh, buddy, I wish it worked that way. But your appendix doesn't care about your second thoughts."

Ash grumbled, still gripping Gary's sleeve like a lifeline. "Stupid appendix..."

Gary chuckled, then pulled back just enough to cup Ash's face gently. "Hey, listen to me." He waited until Ash cracked his eyes open, looking at him blearily. "I'm gonna be the one giving you the anesthesia, okay? No strangers, no surprises. Just me."

Ash swallowed thickly. "Just you?"

"Just me." Gary gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "I'm gonna take care of you."

Ash let out a slow, shaky breath and nodded. "Okay..."

Gary smiled and patted Ash's stomach. "Good. Now, let's get you ready, okay?"

Ash tensed slightly when Gary's gloved hand rested on his abdomen, but he didn't pull away.

Gary, noticing the stiffness, softened his touch, tracing slow, lazy patterns over Ash's stomach with his fingers. "Just getting you relaxed, buddy. Nothing scary, I promise."

Ash shivered, but not from fear this time. His eyes fluttered half-closed, his grip on Gary's sleeve loosening just a little. "...Feels nice."

Gary grinned. "See? Not so bad."

He kept tracing gentle patterns, his fingers dancing along Ash's skin in soothing motions. Stars, circles, little zig-zags—whatever would help Ash settle down.

"Okay, Ashy Boy," Gary murmured, reaching for the anesthesia mask. "I need you to take deep breaths for me now."

Ash's eyes flickered to the mask and then back to Gary, his grip tightening again. "You'll be here when I wake up?"

Gary tucked Ash's hair behind his ear, his smile soft and reassuring. "I promise."

Ash hesitated for only a moment before giving a small nod. "...Okay."

Gary brought the mask over Ash's face. "Deep breaths, kiddo. In... and out..."

Ash inhaled slowly, his body relaxing under Gary's touch, the warmth of his hand still tracing circles on his stomach.

"In... and out..."

Ash's eyes grew heavier. His grip on Gary's sleeve went slack.

Gary's voice was the last thing he heard before he drifted off completely.

"I got you, buddy."