Ash sat on the examination table, his hands clutching the edges tightly as if he were about to fall off. His usual chatter was nowhere to be found, and the silence in the room stretched uncomfortably long. His heart raced, beating so fast that it almost felt like it would burst out of his chest. His breathing was shallow, quick, and his thoughts were running wild. What if something goes wrong? What if this is a trick? What if—

“Ash?” Gary’s voice cut through the storm of thoughts swirling in his mind. It was soft, but firm. A gentle reminder that he wasn’t alone.

Ash didn't respond. His eyes were glued to his feet, staring at the floor. His foot tapped, faster than usual, betraying the anxiety that gnawed at him. He hadn’t realized just how still he had become, how quiet. Too quiet. It was as though his body had decided to shut everything out, but in the process, everything felt too loud inside.

Gary, noticing the change in Ash, shifted his position. He wasn’t the type to let his best friend stay trapped in his own mind for too long. Slowly, he knelt down in front of Ash, bringing himself to the same level as the boy sitting on the table. His eyes softened, and for a moment, Gary’s usual smirk faded into concern.

“Ash, what’s going on, kiddo?” he asked, his voice filled with an unexpected worry. "You're scaring me."

Ash flinched, startled by Gary’s words. It was hard for him to process anything other than the loud pounding of his heart, the tightness in his chest, the overwhelming sense of something’s wrong. He swallowed hard, trying to force the words out, but all he could manage was a weak, “I—I’m fine.”

Gary raised an eyebrow, not buying it for a second. “Yeah? You sure about that?” He placed a hand gently on Ash’s knee, squeezing it reassuringly. "You’re as quiet as a grave. You know that doesn’t happen, right?"

Ash’s chest tightened. I can’t lie to him, he thought. But he couldn’t bring himself to speak either. His pulse hammered in his ears, and his breath was coming in shallow gasps now. Maybe if I say nothing, it’ll go away…

Gary wasn’t having any of it. He reached for the stethoscope around his neck, his movements slow and deliberate. “Okay, kid,” Gary said, lifting the stethoscope. “Let’s check your heart, k? I promise, nothing weird. Just a routine check-up.”

Ash felt his heartbeat trip up as Gary moved behind him. His voice trembled, barely above a whisper. “You’re not going to, y’know, do anything weird, right?”

Gary chuckled softly, though his eyes were still full of concern. “Not gonna dissect you, if that’s what you mean.”

But as he moved closer to Ash, Gary didn’t waste any time. He slipped the stethoscope underneath Ash’s shirt, gently pressing the cool metal against his skin. Ash stiffened at the touch, but Gary’s calm demeanor helped a little. He closed his eyes, trying to steady his breathing.

Gary’s brows furrowed as he listened to Ash’s heartbeat. It was rapid—too rapid for comfort—and there was a slight irregularity to the rhythm that caught his attention. The stethoscope picked up the rapid thrum of Ash’s pulse, and Gary didn’t like the sound of it. "Ash..." Gary began again, softer this time. "Your heart’s racing. Your lungs are a little shallow, too."

Ash bit his lip, trying to keep it together. He didn’t want Gary to see just how badly his nerves were spiraling out of control, but he knew Gary was already figuring it out. His hand trembled, resting on the side of the table, and he could barely keep his breathing even.

Gary didn’t pull away from Ash immediately. Instead, he let the stethoscope rest there for a moment longer, as though trying to reassure both of them. "Hey," he said after a moment, pulling the stethoscope away and giving Ash’s knee another gentle squeeze. "You’re gonna be alright, okay? I just need you to focus on my voice."

Ash nodded, barely, but it was enough for Gary to continue.

“Eyes,” Gary instructed, shifting his attention to Ash’s eyes. “Look at me. I know you’re freaking out, but I need you to focus, alright?”

Ash forced his gaze up, meeting Gary’s eyes. His vision blurred for a moment as the pressure in his chest intensified, but Gary’s steady, calm stare helped anchor him. "Good," Gary murmured. "Now, breathe in. Slowly."

Ash inhaled deeply, the air filling his lungs but only making his chest feel tighter. His mouth went dry, and his hands gripped the table harder. This is fine. This is fine. I just need to breathe...

Gary watched him carefully, noticing every subtle shift. "Come on, buddy," he encouraged. "One more time. Deep breath. In... out."

It took a few attempts, but slowly, Ash’s breathing started to slow, and the frantic pounding of his heart began to ease. His hands were still shaking, but he could feel his body calming down, bit by bit. Gary was still kneeling in front of him, patiently waiting, watching for any sign of distress. Ash could feel the weight of his presence—a steady, comforting force amid the storm in his head.

Gary let out a relieved sigh as Ash’s breathing returned to a more normal pace. “There we go,” he said softly, giving Ash a smile. “I knew you could do it.”

Ash, though still nervous, felt a small sense of relief wash over him. His heart had slowed, and though the nerves hadn’t completely gone away, it was easier to breathe now. Gary hadn’t given up on him, and somehow, that was enough.

“You okay now?” Gary asked, his voice quieter, more concerned than before. He placed the stethoscope down and stood, offering Ash a hand to help him off the table.

Ash hesitated for just a moment before taking the hand, grateful for Gary’s steadying presence. “Yeah. I think so,” Ash admitted, his voice still a little shaky, but no longer as full of panic.

Gary smiled. "Good. We’re getting there, Ash."

And for the first time since walking into the room, Ash felt like maybe, just maybe, he was going to be okay.