( yeah yeah I'm not good at titles.)

Gary rushed down the hallway, his heart pounding as he approached the clinic’s waiting area. Sure enough, there was Ash, sitting on the floor, shivering, his face red from the cold. What caught Gary’s eye first, however, was Pikachu. The little Pokémon was bundled up in Ash’s jacket, hat, and what seemed like a mix of scarves and gloves. Pikachu looked cozy, its cheeks sparking faintly as it chirped in contentment.

Meanwhile, Ash, wearing nothing but his jeans, sneakers, and a short-sleeve black shirt, looked absolutely frozen. His lips were slightly blue, and he rubbed his arms to no avail. A large bag sat beside him—no doubt from Professor Oak’s lab.

Gary stopped in his tracks, dumbfounded. "Ash!" he exclaimed, his voice laced with disbelief. "What in the world are you doing out here like this?!"

Ash looked up, his teeth chattering, and gave a sheepish grin. "Oh, hey, Gary. Don’t worry about me. I was just... uh... passing through. Thought I’d drop this off for you. So, uh, here you go," he said, nudging the bag toward Gary with his foot. "I won’t bother you. Bye!"

He made a weak attempt to get up, but his legs wobbled, and he sat back down with a thud. Pikachu chirped in concern, poking its head out from the jacket to check on its trainer.

Gary pinched the bridge of his nose, his frustration clear. "Ash Ketchum, you are NOT leaving like this," he said firmly, crouching down to his friend’s level. "What were you even thinking? It’s freezing out there! You’re barely dressed, and you’re carrying this huge bag like it’s summer!"

Ash shrugged, though his movements were sluggish. "I didn’t want Pikachu to get cold," he mumbled, looking away.

Gary’s expression softened slightly, though he still frowned. "And what about you, huh? You can’t just neglect yourself like this. Look at you! You’re half frozen!"

"I’m fine," Ash insisted weakly, though his shivering betrayed him. "I didn’t want to be a bother."

Gary groaned, standing up and placing his hands on his hips. "You’re unbelievable, you know that? Come on, let’s get you warmed up before you turn into an icicle."

Ash hesitated. "I don’t want to trouble you—"

"Too late," Gary interrupted, grabbing Ash by the arm and hoisting him to his feet. "You’re already here, and there’s no way I’m letting you walk back out in this weather. Now, move it."

Ash blinked in surprise but let Gary guide him toward one of the clinic’s private rooms. Pikachu, still bundled up, gave Gary a grateful chirp before nestling deeper into the layers of fabric.

Once inside, Gary sat Ash down on an exam table and grabbed a thick blanket from a nearby cabinet. He draped it over Ash’s shoulders, then turned to grab a thermometer. "You’re lucky you didn’t catch hypothermia," Gary muttered as he returned. "Honestly, Ash, sometimes I wonder how you’ve survived this long."

Ash chuckled weakly. "Guess I’m just tough like that."

Gary shot him a look. "Yeah, sure. Tough enough to almost freeze yourself to death because you’re too stubborn to ask for help."

Ash opened his mouth to protest, but the thermometer Gary popped into it stopped him. While waiting for it to beep, Gary reached out and gently unwrapped Pikachu, giving the Pokémon a quick once-over. "At least Pikachu’s okay," he muttered. "Probably thanks to your jacket. You’re lucky you’ve got a trainer who cares so much," he added, addressing Pikachu directly.

"Pika-pi," Pikachu replied, its tone both grateful and apologetic.

The thermometer beeped, and Gary pulled it out, frowning at the reading. "You’re running a low-grade fever," he said, crossing his arms. "Great. Just great. You’re staying here until you’re better, got it?"

"But Gary—" Ash started, only to be cut off by Gary’s stern glare.

"No buts, Ash," Gary said firmly. "You’re my best friend, and I’m not letting you walk back out into that storm like this. End of discussion."

Ash sighed but gave a small smile. "Thanks, Gary."

Gary smirked, ruffling Ash’s hair. "Yeah, yeah. Don’t make me regret it, Ashy-boy."