Gary sighed as he watched Ash clutch his Larvitar plush tightly, his entire body tensed up as if that alone could stop the inevitable. He shook his head, exasperation and fondness warring in his chest.

"Ash, you have to let me check you over," Gary said, reaching for the blood pressure cuff.

Ash, still hugging his plush like it was his lifeline, shook his head. "I don't like it."

Gary gave him a pointed look. "Yeah, well, I don't like that your appendix is about to explode, but here we are."

Ash groaned dramatically and flopped back against the pillows. "Can't we just—skip to the part where I'm fine?"

Gary rolled his eyes. "Nope. Arms out, c'mon."

Ash pouted but, very reluctantly, extended his arm. Gary wasted no time securing the cuff around his bicep and began inflating it. Ash immediately tensed.

"Relax, buddy. You're just making it worse."

"How am I supposed to relax when you're trying to crush my arm?"

Gary snorted. "It's not that bad. Stop being a baby."

Ash whined. "I'm literally in the hospital because something in my body betrayed me and now you're suffocating my arm. Let me complain."

Gary shook his head, grinning despite himself, and took the reading. "BP's a little high, but that's just because you're being a stubborn brat."

Ash huffed. "Not a brat."

"Uh-huh," Gary hummed, scribbling down the numbers before pulling out his stethoscope. "Shirt up."

Ash stiffened. "Wh—why?"

Gary sighed. "So I can listen to your heart and lungs, genius. Not gonna fight me on this too, are you?"

Ash shrunk back into the bed, clutching his Larvitar even tighter. "I just don't like it..."

Gary's expression softened. He reached over and gently took Ash's free hand, squeezing it. "I know, bud. But I need to do this, okay?"

Ash chewed on his bottom lip but eventually gave a small nod. "...Fine."

Gary nodded, helping lift the hem of Ash's shirt just enough to place the stethoscope on his chest. "Deep breath for me, buddy."

Ash inhaled shakily, holding tightly onto Gary's wrist.

Gary moved the stethoscope slightly. "Good. Again."

Ash obeyed, though his grip on Gary tightened.

Gary could feel the tension rolling off his best friend in waves. His heartbeat was a little fast, but nothing alarming—just nerves.

"You're doing great, Ash," Gary murmured reassuringly as he moved to listen to Ash's lungs. "One more deep breath."

Ash sucked in a breath and exhaled slowly, his eyes squeezed shut.

Gary finished up and gave a nod. "Sounds clear."

Ash immediately yanked his shirt back down, still holding onto Gary's wrist like it was the only thing grounding him.

Gary smiled a little, squeezing Ash's fingers before reaching for his penlight. "Alright, eyes next."

Ash whined dramatically again. "Gaaaaary—"

"Quit complaining. You're fine," Gary teased, gently tilting Ash's chin up. "Look at me."

Ash huffed but did as told, blinking sluggishly as Gary shined the light into his eyes.

"Pupils are reactive. No weird neurological signs," Gary muttered to himself.

Ash squinted. "That's a good thing, right?"

Gary smirked. "It means you probably still have some brain cells left."

Ash groaned. "You suck."

Gary chuckled, putting the penlight away before reaching for his gloves. "Alright, stomach time."

Ash immediately recoiled. "Nope."

Gary arched a brow. "Ash."

"I said nope."

Gary sighed, grabbing Ash's hand again. "C'mon, buddy. You know I have to check."

Ash curled in on himself. "I know but that doesn't mean I have to like it."

Gary squeezed his hand. "I'll be quick, I promise."

Ash hesitated, then reluctantly leaned back, keeping a firm grip on Gary's wrist the entire time.

Gary carefully pressed down on Ash's abdomen, frowning when he felt the telltale tenderness near the lower right side.

Ash flinched hard. "Ow—Gary, that hurts!"

Gary winced. "I know, I know. Sorry, buddy."

Ash glared weakly. "You suck."

Gary smirked. "Yeah, well, I'm your problem."

Ash groaned and flopped dramatically against the pillows again.

Gary patted his knee. "Vitals are done. You survived."

Ash grumbled, burying his face in his Larvitar. "Barely."

Gary chuckled, ruffling his hair. "You'll live, Ashy-boy."

Ash peeked at him. "Yeah, but at what cost?"

Gary shook his head, laughing. "You're impossible."

Ash smirked. "You love me."

Gary rolled his eyes but smiled. "Yeah, yeah. Now be good and let the nurses get you prepped. Surgery's soon."

Ash groaned but squeezed Gary's wrist one last time before letting go.

Gary squeezed back before pulling away. "You got this, buddy. I'll be right there when you wake up."

Ash sighed, snuggling into his bed. "Fine..."

Gary chuckled. "That's my stubborn idiot."

The first thing he noticed when he squinted his eyes open was the fact he was not in his room anymore.

He was in a place with a bright light.

And a person wearing surgical material staring down at him.

Ash shrieked.

The doctor's eyes widened. " Woah woah woah, calm down Ashy Boy! It's me!"

Ash's eye twitched. " Gary...." He muttered. " Why am I here?"

Gary sighed. " It's the OR, you dummy."

Ash's eyes widened. " WHAT?!"

Gary immediately regretted his word choice. 

Ash's heart pounded wildly in his chest as the realization hit him like a Hyper Beam to the face. The OR. Bright lights. The sterile scent of antiseptic. The faint beep of machines in the background.

This was happening.

"WHAT?!" Ash screeched again, trying to sit up, only to feel a firm hand press gently but insistently against his shoulder, pushing him back down.

"Whoa, whoa, take it easy, buddy," Gary said, his voice softer now, more controlled. "You're okay. You're okay."

Ash's breath came in short, panicked gasps. His fingers clenched around the sheets, and he swore he could feel his pulse hammering in his throat. "No, no, no—Gary, I can't do this! I don't want—!"

"I know, Ash." Gary's voice was steady, even as he climbed onto the side of the operating table and pulled Ash into a careful hug. One arm wrapped securely around his shoulders while the other rubbed slow circles on his stomach, just above the area that had been causing him pain for hours now. "I know you're scared. But I promise—I'm right here, okay?"

Ash's fingers dug into the fabric of Gary's scrubs, gripping them like a lifeline. "I—I don't wanna—Gary, what if something goes wrong?"

Gary sighed, his own heart squeezing a little at the way Ash's voice wavered. "Nothing is gonna go wrong. You're in good hands, kid. And I'll be with you the whole time." He traced absentminded patterns on Ash's stomach, the rhythmic movement meant to soothe him. "You trust me, don't you?"

Ash swallowed, nodding slightly. "Y-yeah... but—"

"No 'buts,'" Gary said, tightening his hold around him. "This is gonna suck for, like, five seconds, and then you'll be out. And when you wake up, this whole stupid appendix thing will be over, and you'll have so many pudding cups waiting for you, you won't even know what to do with them."

Ash let out a tiny, strangled laugh. "Pudding?"

Gary smirked. "Chocolate and vanilla. Because I know you can never pick one."

Ash hesitated, his grip on Gary still tight. "...You swear you'll be there when I wake up?"

Gary's smirk softened into something more genuine. He leaned back just enough to look Ash in the eyes. "Swear on my grandpa's lab coat."

Ash blinked up at him. "That's a big promise."

Gary grinned. "Yeah, well. You're worth it."

Ash exhaled shakily, nodding. "...Okay."

Gary gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze before reaching for the anesthesia mask. "Alright, buddy. Deep breaths for me, okay? Just like before."

Ash eyed the mask warily but didn't pull away. "It won't hurt, right?"

Gary shook his head. "Not even a little. You'll just get real sleepy, and then—bam, nap time. When you wake up, I'll be right here."

Ash let out one last nervous breath before nodding. "O-okay. Just... don't let go?"

Gary smiled and adjusted his grip, keeping one hand on Ash's arm, the other still rubbing his stomach in slow, calming motions. "Not a chance, buddy. You're stuck with me."

With that, he gently placed the mask over Ash's nose and mouth, murmuring soft reassurances as Ash took slow, deep breaths. His eyelids fluttered, his fingers loosened, and within moments, he was out.

Gary let out a breath of his own, giving Ash's hand one last squeeze before getting to work.

He had him.

Just like he promised.