Gary frowned, closing his notebook immediately. Something about the way Ash was clutching his stomach made his own gut twist uncomfortably.

"Ash, what's wrong?"

Ash winced, rubbing at his belly as if that alone would make the pain go away. "I dunno... It just hurts..."

Gary hopped off his chair and stepped closer, concern deepening the crease between his brows. "Since when?"

Ash hesitated. "Um... a while?"

Gary groaned. "Ash—"

"I thought it would go away!" Ash defended, shifting uncomfortably on his feet.

Gary sighed and placed his hands on his hips. "Where exactly does it hurt?"

Ash bit his lip and pointed to his lower right side.

Gary's frown deepened. He might've only been eight, but he had read enough medical books to know that wasn't a good sign.

"Alright, hang tight," Gary ordered, rushing over to the bookshelf where he kept his medical books. He dragged one down, flipping through the pages frantically.

Ash watched, shifting awkwardly. "Do you really have to read about it?"

"Yes," Gary said shortly, scanning the pages. "Because if I don't, I might do the wrong thing and then poof!—your stomach explodes."

Ash's eyes widened in horror. "WHAT?!"

Gary huffed. "Okay, maybe not explode, but if it's what I think it is, we can't just ignore it."

Ash groaned, rocking slightly in place. "Gary, hurry..."

Gary flipped one last page before his stomach dropped.

Appendicitis. Severe pain in the lower right abdomen. Requires immediate medical attention. In severe cases, injections may be necessary to reduce inflammation before surgery.

Gary inhaled sharply, snapping the book shut.

Ash whimpered. "What? What is it?"

Gary hesitated before kneeling in front of Ash, placing his hands on his friend's shoulders. "Ash, I think it's your appendix."

Ash blinked. "... That thing inside me?"

Gary nodded seriously.

Ash gulped. "What do we do?"

Gary chewed his lip. "Well... Normally, we'd go to a real doctor, but..." He hesitated, knowing Ash hated hospitals. "I can give you a shot to help."

Ash froze.

Gary immediately felt him tense, his fingers gripping the hem of his shirt again.

"... A shot?"

Gary sighed, rubbing Ash's arm gently. "Yeah, buddy. It'll help with the pain."

Ash whimpered. "D-Does it have to be in my arm?"

Gary bit his lip.

"... Not exactly."

Ash's eyes narrowed. "Gary."

Gary winced. "It has to go in your stomach."

Ash squeaked and took a step back. "No way! No way!"

Gary grabbed his wrist before he could bolt. "Ash, come on! It's important!"

"I'D RATHER DIE," Ash declared dramatically, squirming.

Gary huffed and tugged him back. "You're not dying on my watch, Ashy-boy."

Ash whined, practically vibrating in fear. "Gary, please—"

"I know it sounds scary," Gary admitted, his grip tightening just slightly. "But it's quick, I promise. I'll be super careful."

Ash's lip trembled.

Gary sighed and softened his voice. "Would I ever hurt you on purpose?"

Ash hesitated. "... No..."

"Then trust me," Gary whispered, squeezing his hand.

Ash sniffled, glancing down at his aching belly before giving the smallest nod. "... Okay."

Gary let out a relieved breath. "Good. Now, lie down for me, okay?"

Ash whined but shuffled over to the bed, reluctantly lying on his back. He looked so nervous, his hands curled into the blanket.

Gary moved quickly, grabbing the syringe from his medical kit (which he totally didn't steal from Grandpa Oak's supplies). He checked the dosage carefully, making sure everything was right.

He turned back to Ash, who was watching him with wide, glassy eyes.

"... Is it gonna hurt?"

Gary hesitated. "... A little. But I'll make it as easy as possible."

Ash gulped, his fingers gripping his shirt.

Gary set the syringe aside for a moment and reached for an alcohol wipe, tearing the packet open with a sharp rip. "Okay, bud, I need you to pull your shirt up a little."

Ash whimpered but obeyed, exposing his small, soft belly.

Gary swallowed and gently placed a hand on Ash's stomach. "Lemme find the right spot..."

Ash flinched at the touch, squirming. "Gary, it tickles—"

"I know, I know, just hold still," Gary murmured, pressing carefully until he found the lower right part of Ash's abdomen. "Here."

Ash tensed, his breath shaky.

Gary wiped the area with the alcohol pad, the cold sensation making Ash gasp and jolt.

"Sorry," Gary murmured.

Ash clenched his jaw. "Get it over with..."

Gary nodded, picking up the syringe. "Okay, Ashy-boy. Deep breath."

Ash sucked in a shaky breath, his fingers clenching into fists.

Gary steeled himself. For Ash.

And then, in one swift, practiced motion—he pressed the needle into Ash's stomach.

Ash yelped, his whole body going rigid.

"Almost done, almost done," Gary soothed, pushing the plunger down.

Ash whimpered, his hands flying up to clutch at Gary's wrist, squeezing tightly.

Gary winced but didn't pull away, keeping his hand steady. "Just a little more..."

A final soft click echoed as the syringe emptied.

Ash gasped, his tiny body trembling.

Gary quickly and smoothly pulled the needle out, tossing it aside as he grabbed a bandaid. He ripped the wrapper open in record time and pressed it over the injection site, smoothing it down gently.

"Done," he breathed.

Ash let out a choked little sob, his face scrunching up.

Gary's heart clenched.

"Hey, hey, you did amazing," Gary murmured, immediately climbing onto the bed to wrap his arms around Ash.

Ash hiccupped, sniffling. "I-It hurts..."

"I know, bud," Gary whispered, rubbing small, comforting circles into Ash's back. "I know. But it's gonna help, I promise."

Ash clung to him, burying his face against Gary's shoulder.

Gary just held him tighter.

"... You're the worst doctor ever," Ash mumbled weakly.

Gary chuckled. "Yeah, yeah. Love you too, Ashy-boy."

Gary frowned, closing his notebook and hopping off his chair. The way Ash was hunched over, clutching his stomach with that pitiful expression, sent a weird jolt of worry through him. Ash never complained about pain.

"Ash, what do you mean it hurts? Like... a bellyache?"

Ash bit his lip and shook his head. His tiny fingers clutched his stomach tighter. "It's worse than a bellyache..."

Gary stepped closer, placing a hand on Ash's shoulder. "Where does it hurt? Point to it."

Ash hesitated before slowly pressing his palm against the lower right side of his stomach. His face scrunched up. "Right here..."

Gary's frown deepened. "How bad is it?"

Ash whimpered. "Really bad..."

That wasn't good. That wasn't good at all.

Gary's mind raced. He wasn't a real doctor—yet—but he had read enough books to know that bad stomach pain wasn't something to ignore.

"I'll be right back, okay? Stay here."

Ash nodded weakly as Gary ran to his bookshelf, grabbing the thickest medical book he owned. He flipped through the pages frantically, his heart pounding as he searched for anything that matched Ash's symptoms.

Sharp pain in the lower right abdomen... could be appendicitis... or, if paired with nausea...

Gary's eyes widened. "Oh, no."

He turned back to Ash, who was watching him with wide, pained eyes. "What? What is it?"

Gary swallowed hard, closing the book. "I think I know what's wrong."

Ash whimpered. "Is it bad?"

"...Kinda."

Ash groaned and buried his face in his arms. "I knew it..."

Gary sat down beside him. "Okay, so listen. You might have something called appendicitis. It means your appendix might be inflamed."

Ash blinked at him, confused. "Append-a-what?"

Gary sighed. "It's this tiny thing in your belly. And if it gets all angry and swollen, it can burst."

Ash yelped, hugging his stomach protectively. "BURST?! GARY, I DON'T WANNA BURST!"

Gary winced. "You're not gonna burst, Ashy Boy! Calm down!"

Ash whimpered. "Then—then what do we do?"

Gary hesitated. "We need to get you medicine. But... uh..." He looked at the book again and grimaced.

Ash narrowed his eyes. "What."

Gary sighed. "You need an injection."

Ash froze. "...A needle?"

Gary winced. "Yeah."

Ash immediately shook his head. "No. Nope. Not happening. Absolutely not."

Gary groaned. "Ash—"

"NO."

Gary pinched the bridge of his nose. "Buddy, I have to."

Ash's face went pale. "But—But what if you mess up? What if you hit the wrong place?"

Gary crossed his arms. "I won't mess up."

Ash let out a weak whimper, curling further into himself. "I hate needles..."

Gary softened. "I know you do, buddy. But this isn't just any needle. This one will help you feel better."

Ash still looked doubtful.

Gary sighed. "Look, you trust me, right?"

Ash hesitated, then gave a tiny nod.

Gary gave him a small smile. "Then let me do this. You'll barely feel it, I promise."

Ash pouted but finally—finally—gave a reluctant nod.

Gary nodded and rolled up his sleeves. "Alright. Lie back and lift your shirt a little."

Ash's eyes widened. "Wait, it goes in my stomach?!"

Gary groaned. "Yes, Ash. That's where the medicine needs to go."

Ash let out a dramatic whine but slowly leaned back, his face scrunched in discomfort. He hesitated before lifting his pajama shirt just enough to expose his small stomach.

Gary swallowed. He could feel Ash's nervousness. His tiny belly rose and fell unevenly with each shaky breath.

"Okay," Gary murmured, pulling out an alcohol wipe and ripping the package open. "Cold."

Ash flinched as Gary pressed the wipe against his skin, cleaning the injection site in slow, firm circles.

"Okay, buddy," Gary said, reaching for the syringe. "Deep breaths, alright?"

Ash shut his eyes tight. "Mmmph."

Gary sighed and gently rested his free hand on Ash's stomach, his fingers tracing slow, calming patterns. "It's okay, Ash. I'm right here."

Ash whimpered but nodded.

Gary took a deep breath, then, with practiced precision, pressed the needle into Ash's skin.

Ash squeaked, his little hands grabbing at Gary's wrist in panic. "Gary—Gary it hurts—"

"I know, buddy," Gary murmured, rubbing his thumb over Ash's stomach. "Almost done."

A soft click sounded as Gary pressed the plunger down, releasing the medicine into Ash's system.

Ash's grip tightened, his body trembling slightly.

Gary quickly pulled the needle out and pressed a fresh bandaid over the spot.

"Done," he announced softly.

Ash slowly cracked an eye open. "R-Really?"

Gary smiled and patted his stomach gently. "Yeah, buddy. You did awesome."

Ash sniffled. "I hate needles..."

Gary chuckled. "I know, Ashy Boy. But you were really brave."

Ash let out a tired sigh and nuzzled into Gary's side. "...Thanks, Doctor Gary."

Gary smirked and ruffled Ash's hair. "Anytime, patient Ash."