Gary sighed, brushing his fingers over Ash's forehead again. His best friend was a miserable little lump of fever and exhaustion, eyes glassy, cheeks flushed, and his body wrapped up like a weak little burrito. It was pathetic, really. Pathetic and concerning.

"Okay, buddy," Gary murmured, adjusting his gloves. "I'm gonna check your eyes now, alright?"

Ash let out a small, grumbly noise, but he didn't argue. His fingers, still weakly curled around Gary's wrist, gave a little squeeze. Gary squeezed back.

"Just relax, Ashy Boy."

Ash hummed drowsily, barely keeping his eyes open.

Gary reached for his penlight, clicking it on with a soft snap before gently tilting Ash's face up by the chin. "Alright, keep your eyes open for me."

Ash blinked sluggishly. "Mmmmmm, don't wanna."

Gary huffed a soft laugh. "I know you don't wanna, but I gotta make sure your pupils are reacting the way they should." He thumbed over Ash's temple, then carefully used his other hand to hold Ash's eyelid open. "Just for a second, okay?"

Ash squinted against the light, whining weakly. "Gareeeee..."

"I know, kiddo," Gary said sympathetically, moving the light side to side, watching the way Ash's pupils reacted. "I know it sucks."

"Mmmph..."

Gary sighed, clicking the light off for a moment and rubbing his thumb lightly over Ash's cheek. His skin was burning up. Too warm, too flushed. "Poor kid..." he murmured, brushing some sweaty hair out of Ash's eyes.

Ash groaned, shifting a little under his blankets, curling in on himself like a sick little Growlithe pup. His fingers weakly clutched at Gary's sleeve.

"Hey, hey," Gary soothed, patting his arm. "I'm still here, don't worry."

Ash's breathing slowed just a little.

Gary clicked the light back on and repeated the test with the other eye, frowning slightly. His pupils were sluggish but reactive. That was good. No signs of anything scary, at least. Just a miserable fever doing what fevers did.

"Alright, Ashy Boy, eyes look okay," Gary murmured, setting the penlight aside.

Ash hummed tiredly, barely registering what was being said.

But Gary wasn't done. He still needed to check Ash's circulation, make sure he wasn't too dehydrated or weak. Because knowing Ash, he'd probably been ignoring how awful he felt for days before finally collapsing into this mess.

"Okay, buddy, I need to check your hands and feet next, alright?"

Ash let out a muffled noise of confusion, barely cracking one eye open.

Gary smirked a little. "Relax, I'm just checking your circulation. Making sure your body's keeping up with everything."

Ash blinked sleepily, but didn't protest when Gary gently pulled one of his arms out from the blanket, rolling up his sleeve to his elbow. His skin was clammy and warm, but his fingers were cooler than they should've been. Not cold, but definitely a little off.

Gary pressed his thumb over Ash's wrist, counting his pulse, frowning slightly at how weak it felt. Still normal, but weaker than Gary liked. He gently pressed down on Ash's fingernail next, watching how quickly the blood returned. A little slow.

Gary sighed. "Ash, when's the last time you drank water?"

Ash gave a tiny shrug.

"Ash," Gary pressed.

"...Dunno," Ash mumbled. "Mmmmaybe... yesterday?"

Gary groaned, pressing his fingers into his temples. "Of course it was yesterday, you idiot."

Ash whined pitifully. "M'not an idiot..."

"Uh-huh." Gary gently put Ash's arm back under the blanket, tucking him in snugly before reaching for one of his legs. "Alright, gonna check your feet now, bud."

Ash groaned. "Uggghhhhhhh, noooooo."

"Yes," Gary said simply, rolling up the hem of Ash's sweatpants and pressing his fingers against the top of his foot. His pulse there was weak, too. Gary frowned.

Ash fidgeted slightly. "Mmm, Gary, that tickles..."

Gary smirked faintly. "Yeah? Then I guess you're not completely out of it." He pressed a little more firmly, checking for swelling. Nothing concerning, just a little colder than it should be. Dehydration, fever, exhaustion—it was all catching up with him.

Gary sighed, rolling Ash's pant leg back down and tucking the blanket around him again. "Alright, kiddo, your circulation's a little sluggish, and you're definitely dehydrated. No wonder you feel like garbage."

Ash groaned dramatically. "I am garbage..."

Gary snorted, shaking his head. "Nah, just a kid who forgot how to take care of himself." He ruffled Ash's hair. "Good thing I'm here, huh?"

Ash blinked up at him, glassy-eyed but soft. Then, weakly, he squeezed Gary's wrist again. "Mmmmhmm."

Gary sighed, squeezing back. "Alright, buddy, let's get some fluids in you before you shrivel up and die."

Ash just whined tiredly, curling deeper into his blanket.

Gary rolled his eyes, but there was nothing but fondness in them as he went to grab a bottle of water. "Yeah, yeah. You can whine all you want, but you are drinking this, Ashy Boy."

And from the pathetic little groan Ash let out, Gary knew he had his work cut out for him.