I know I know last one for a while

Maybe

Gary rushed into the waiting room, spotting the familiar bag sitting near the chairs. He looked around but didn’t see Ash anywhere. His brow furrowed, and he quickly grabbed the bag.

“Ash,” he muttered under his breath, heading toward the front door. He swung it open, and the biting cold immediately hit him. Snowflakes swirled through the air, and his eyes landed on a familiar figure walking down the snowy sidewalk.

“Ash!” Gary called out, his voice laced with frustration.

Ash turned slowly, his face pale from the cold but still managing a sheepish grin. Pikachu was nestled comfortably in his jacket, hat, and a scarf that looked like it had been thrown together at the last minute. Meanwhile, Ash himself was wearing nothing but his jeans, sneakers, and a short-sleeved black shirt.

“Hey, Gary,” Ash said, his voice hoarse. He waved awkwardly. “Uh… I didn’t want to bother you, so I’ll just… go now.”

Gary groaned, stepping out into the snow and crossing his arms. “Ash, are you out of your mind? It’s freezing out here! What are you even doing without a coat?”

Ash shrugged, shivering slightly but trying to act nonchalant. “Pikachu needed it more than I did. He’s not used to this kind of weather.”

Gary stared at him for a moment, his frustration melting into exasperation. “And what about *you*? You’re going to freeze to death out here!”

“I’ll be fine,” Ash said, though his chattering teeth betrayed him. “I didn’t want to bother you, okay? I just wanted to drop this off.” He motioned toward the bag now in Gary’s hand.

Gary shook his head, already walking toward Ash. “You’re an idiot,” he muttered, grabbing Ash by the arm and dragging him back toward the clinic.

“Hey! What are you doing?” Ash protested, though he didn’t resist too much.

“Saving your life, you moron,” Gary shot back. “Pikachu can stay warm *and* you can stop risking hypothermia. Ever think of that?”

Ash sighed, his stubbornness giving way to the warmth of the clinic as they stepped inside. Gary immediately guided him to a chair, setting the bag down and grabbing a blanket from a nearby cabinet.

“Here,” Gary said, wrapping the blanket around Ash’s shoulders. “Stay put. I’ll get you something warm to drink.”

Ash blinked up at him, surprised by the sudden care. “Uh… thanks, Gary.”

Gary rolled his eyes but smirked. “Don’t mention it. And next time, *don’t* walk out in the snow without proper clothes. What were you thinking?”

Ash looked down at Pikachu, who peeked out from the layers of warmth with a contented squeak. “I was thinking about Pikachu,” Ash admitted. “He’s my partner. I couldn’t let him get sick.”

Gary sighed, his expression softening. “I get it, Ash. But you can’t take care of Pikachu if you’re sick or worse. You’ve got to take care of yourself, too.”

Ash nodded slowly, his cheeks turning red—not just from the cold but from Gary’s words sinking in. “Yeah, you’re right.”

Gary smirked, patting him on the head. “Of course I’m right. Now stay here, warm up, and let me see what’s in this bag. Knowing my grandpa, it’s probably something important.”

Ash settled into the chair, holding Pikachu close. For once, he didn’t argue. And as Gary rummaged through the bag, Ash couldn’t help but feel grateful for his best friend’s stubborn care.

Gary opened the door to the waiting room, his eyes scanning for Ash. Instead, he found the bag from his grandfather sitting on the chair, but no Ash in sight. His brow furrowed as he stepped further into the room. 

“Where is he?” Gary muttered to himself. 

He heard the faint crunch of snow outside and groaned. Turning toward the front door, he pulled it open to find Ash trudging away in the snow, his arms swinging stiffly at his sides. Pikachu was bundled up in Ash’s jacket, hat, and what seemed like half of Ash’s winter wardrobe. Meanwhile, Ash himself was only wearing his jeans, sneakers, and a short-sleeved black shirt. His breath puffed in the cold air as he turned back toward Gary. 

“Oh, hey, Gary,” Ash called, his voice nonchalant. He gave a little wave, his cheeks flushed red from the cold. “Don’t worry about me. I won’t bother you. Bye now!” 

Gary groaned, stepping outside and crossing his arms. “Ash, are you kidding me? Get back here!” 

Ash stopped but didn’t turn around. “It’s fine, really! I just wanted to drop off the bag. I’m good. Pikachu’s warm, so that’s what matters.” 

Gary pinched the bridge of his nose. “Ash, you’re literally standing in the snow in a T-shirt. Do you even hear yourself?” 

Ash shrugged, his breath visible in the freezing air. “I didn’t want Pikachu to get cold. He’s small, you know?” Pikachu peeked out from the mound of clothes, letting out a soft “Pika!” 

Gary shook his head, stepping into the snow and grabbing Ash by the wrist. “Yeah, well, now you’re cold! Come on, Ash, you can’t just—” He stopped short, noticing how icy Ash’s skin felt. His grip tightened slightly. “Ash, your hand is freezing!” 

Ash finally turned around, grinning sheepishly. “It’s not that bad. I’ve been through worse.” 

Gary glared at him, dragging him back toward the clinic. “Worse or not, you’re not walking away like this. You’ll catch pneumonia, and then I’ll have to deal with you complaining about being sick for weeks.” 

Ash tried to pull away, but Gary didn’t let go. “I’m fine, really! Pikachu’s the one who needed the jacket.” 

Gary stopped in his tracks, turning to face Ash fully. “Listen, I get that you care about Pikachu, but you can’t take care of him if you’re out here freezing yourself to death. You need to take care of yourself, too, Ash!” 

Ash blinked, taken aback by the sudden seriousness in Gary’s voice. He opened his mouth to argue but closed it again, realizing Gary wasn’t going to budge. 

“Fine,” Ash mumbled, letting Gary pull him back into the clinic. 

The warmth of the waiting room hit Ash like a wave, and he shivered as his body adjusted. Gary didn’t let go of his wrist until they were back in his office. 

“Sit,” Gary ordered, pointing to the chair. 

Ash sighed and obeyed, plopping down while Pikachu settled on his lap. Gary grabbed a blanket from a cabinet and threw it over Ash’s shoulders. 

“Thanks,” Ash muttered, avoiding Gary’s gaze. 

Gary sat down across from him, crossing his arms. “So, what’s in the bag?” 

Ash perked up slightly. “Oh, right! It’s from your grandpa. He said it’s some important stuff you needed for your research. I figured I’d bring it over.” 

Gary raised an eyebrow. “You walked through the snow in a T-shirt to deliver this?” 

Ash shrugged, a sheepish smile creeping onto his face. “Well, yeah. You’re busy, and I didn’t want to bother you. Besides, it’s no big deal.” 

Gary sighed, shaking his head. “Ash, you’re the most selfless idiot I know.” 

Ash laughed nervously. “Thanks... I think?” 

Gary leaned back in his chair, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Next time, just call me, alright? I’ll come get it. You don’t need to do everything by yourself.” 

Ash nodded slowly. “Alright. Deal.” 

“Good,” Gary said, standing up. “Now, stay here and warm up. I’m getting you some hot chocolate. Don’t even think about leaving.” 

Ash grinned. “Hot chocolate? You’re the best, Gary.” 

Gary smirked as he walked out of the room. “Yeah, yeah. Just don’t make this a habit, Ashy-boy.” 

Ash leaned back in the chair, pulling the blanket tighter around himself. Despite the chill that still lingered in his bones, he felt a warmth spread through him. Gary always had his back, no matter what.

Gary rushed to the waiting room, his shoes squeaking slightly against the polished floor. Sure enough, there was the bag—an old, worn satchel from his grandfather’s lab—sitting unattended in one of the chairs. But no Ash. His eyes darted around, scanning for any sign of his friend.

“Ash?” he called, frowning.

No answer. Just then, a cold draft hit him, and he turned toward the slightly ajar front door.

He sighed heavily, muttering under his breath, “What now?”

Gary stepped outside, squinting against the snowflakes drifting lazily from the gray sky. And there, trudging down the icy sidewalk, was Ash. His short-sleeved black shirt clung to him in the cold, his jeans already dusted with snow. But that wasn’t the most absurd part.

Pikachu, snugly wrapped in Ash’s jacket, scarf, and hat, rode in his arms like royalty. Pikachu’s cheeks sparked faintly as it let out a cheerful, "Pika!"

Gary groaned, stepping onto the slippery sidewalk. “Ash Ketchum, are you serious right now?!”

Ash stopped mid-step, turning slightly. His face was red from the cold, and his teeth were chattering, but he managed a sheepish grin. “Oh... hey, Gary. Didn’t mean to bother you or anything. Just thought I’d drop off the bag. Uh... bye!”

He started to turn away, but Gary wasn’t having it. “Ash!” he called, striding forward and grabbing his shoulder. “What are you doing? It’s freezing out here, and you’re practically dressed for summer! Are you trying to catch pneumonia?”

Ash shrugged, shifting Pikachu slightly in his arms. “I’m fine, really. Pikachu needed the jacket more than me. He was shivering.”

Gary blinked, utterly dumbfounded. “Ash, *you’re* shivering! Look at you—you’re a popsicle!”

Ash tried to laugh it off, but the chattering of his teeth made it less convincing. “Seriously, I’m okay. I didn’t want to stay and bother you. You seemed busy.”

Gary pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling sharply. “Ash, you’re my best friend. You’re never a bother. Now get inside before you turn into an icicle, or I’m dragging you in myself.”

Ash hesitated, looking down at Pikachu. “But Pikachu—”

“Pikachu’s fine,” Gary interrupted, already unwrapping the bundled Pokémon. “You’ve got to take care of yourself too, you know.”

Pikachu gave a reluctant “Pika...” as Gary carefully placed it on his shoulder, wrapping the scarf snugly around the little Pokémon instead.

Ash rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. “Guess I didn’t think about that.”

Gary rolled his eyes, pulling Ash by the arm. “Yeah, clearly. Come on, Ashy-boy, before you freeze to death.”

Ash didn’t resist as Gary led him back into the warm clinic, his hands still trembling slightly from the cold. Once inside, Gary grabbed a thick blanket from a nearby chair and tossed it over Ash’s shoulders.

“Sit,” Gary ordered, pointing to a chair. “I’m going to make some tea or hot chocolate—whatever we’ve got—and you’re going to drink it. Got it?”

Ash sank into the chair, grateful for the warmth of the blanket. “Got it,” he muttered, a small smile tugging at his lips.

Gary smirked, shaking his head. “You’re unbelievable, you know that?”

Ash chuckled weakly, leaning back in the chair. “Yeah, but that’s why you keep me around, right?”

Gary snorted. “Sure, if you mean as a constant headache. Now stay put while I fix you something warm.”

As Gary walked away, Pikachu nestled against Ash’s shoulder, letting out a soft, affectionate “Pika-pi.”

Ash glanced down at the bag he’d brought, then at the retreating figure of his best friend. Despite the cold he’d endured, a warmth spread through him. Gary always had his back—even when Ash didn’t make it easy.

Gary groaned as he spotted the waiting room. Sure enough, there was the bag—likely one of his grandfather’s endless deliveries—but no Ash. His brow furrowed. Where could that knucklehead have gone?

Then he heard the faint jingle of footsteps outside. He turned to the front door, swung it open, and was greeted by the icy blast of winter air. There, trudging through the snow, was Ash.

Gary blinked, disbelief quickly replaced by exasperation. Ash was wearing his usual jeans and a short-sleeved black shirt, his arms bare against the biting wind. Meanwhile, Pikachu was nestled cozily in Ash's jacket, hat, and what seemed like half a dozen other layers.

"ASH!" Gary shouted, stepping out onto the clinic’s icy porch.

Ash stopped and turned, his cheeks already red from the cold. "Oh, hey, Gary," he said casually, sniffling. "Didn’t mean to bother you. Just dropping something off. So, uh… bye!"

Gary’s eye twitched. He stomped down the steps, the snow crunching under his boots as he approached his friend. "What are you doing, Ash?! Are you insane? It's freezing out here!"

Ash shrugged, pulling Pikachu closer to his chest as the little Pokémon squeaked a happy "Pika!" beneath all the layers. "I’m fine. Pikachu needed the jacket more than me. He’s smaller, you know?"

Gary stared at him, utterly dumbfounded. "Yeah, but you’re not a fire type! You need clothes too, genius!"

Ash smiled sheepishly. "I’ll be okay. I’ve handled worse. Anyway, just take the bag. Professor Oak said it’s for you."

Gary pinched the bridge of his nose, forcing himself to take a deep breath. "Ash, you’re standing in the middle of a snowstorm in a T-shirt. This is not ‘fine.’ Get inside before you catch pneumonia."

Ash waved a hand dismissively. "Nah, I’ll be alright. I’ve gotta get going anyway. Lots to do, places to be, you know how it is."

Gary stepped in front of him, arms crossed. "Oh no, you don’t. Not until you’re warm and dry. Pikachu can share, or I’ll grab a blanket from the clinic, but you are not walking away like this."

Ash hesitated, his resolve faltering under Gary’s stern glare. "I don’t want to be a bother," he mumbled.

"You already are," Gary shot back, though his tone was more teasing than harsh. "Now, quit arguing and come inside. Pikachu’s cozy, but you’re about two seconds away from becoming a human popsicle."

Pikachu poked his head out from under the layers and gave Ash an encouraging "Pika pi!" as if to say," Listen to him!"

Ash sighed, defeated. "Fine. But only for a minute."

Gary smirked, grabbing Ash by the arm and dragging him back toward the clinic. "Yeah, sure. A minute. We’ll see about that."

Once inside, the warmth of the clinic hit Ash like a wave, and he couldn’t help but shiver as the cold left his body. Gary immediately grabbed a blanket from a nearby chair and tossed it over Ash’s shoulders.

"There," Gary said, satisfied. "Now sit. I’m making you some hot chocolate."

Ash blinked. "You don’t have to—"

"Sit!" Gary interrupted, pointing to a chair.

Ash sat, grumbling under his breath, while Pikachu climbed onto his lap, content and warm. Gary shook his head as he walked toward the small kitchenette in the back.

"Honestly," Gary muttered to himself, "what would you do without me, Ashy-boy?"

From the waiting area, Ash called back with a laugh, "Probably freeze to death, apparently."

Gary smirked, shaking his head again. "Yeah, you would."

Gary hurried through the hallway, his white coat flaring out behind him. His mind raced with questions as he entered the waiting room. The bag from his grandfather sat on the floor, but there was no sign of Ash.

"Where is he?" Gary muttered under his breath. He turned toward the front door and opened it, bracing himself against the chilly wind.

There he was.

Ash was walking away, his shoulders hunched against the cold, but what really caught Gary’s attention was Pikachu. The little Pokémon was bundled up in Ash’s jacket, hat, and what seemed to be an assortment of scarves and gloves. Ash, on the other hand, was only wearing his jeans, shoes, and a short-sleeved black shirt. His arms were wrapped around himself, shivering visibly with every step he took.

Gary groaned, stepping outside. "Ash! What are you doing?!"

Ash stopped in his tracks and turned around, forcing a weak smile. "Oh, hey, Gary. Didn’t mean to bother you. Just dropping off the bag. You’re busy, so, uh… I’ll just go now."

Gary blinked in disbelief. "Go? You’re not going anywhere, you idiot! It’s freezing out here, and you’re practically naked!"

Ash looked down at himself, rubbing his arms. "It’s not that bad," he said through chattering teeth. "Pikachu needed the jacket more than me."

"Pikachu is a Pokémon! He can handle the cold better than you can!" Gary snapped, storming toward him. He reached out and grabbed Ash’s arm, pulling him back toward the clinic. "Come on, you’re coming inside before you freeze to death."

Ash resisted weakly. "Gary, really, I’m fine. I don’t want to be a bother—"

"You’re already a bother, so just deal with it!" Gary interrupted, dragging him through the door. "You’re not going to be the one responsible for me losing my medical license because my best friend turned into a popsicle on my watch!"

The receptionist glanced up as they walked in, her eyes widening at the sight of Ash’s shivering form. "Oh my goodness, is he okay?"

"He will be," Gary said firmly. "As soon as I knock some sense into him."

Ash laughed weakly. "You sound like my mom."

Gary shot him a glare. "If your mom were here, she’d probably be smacking you upside the head for this stunt."

Pikachu, still bundled up in the jacket, let out a sheepish "Pika…" as if to apologize.

Gary sighed, shaking his head as he led Ash into an exam room. "Alright, sit down," he ordered, grabbing a blanket from a cabinet and throwing it over Ash’s shoulders. "And don’t even think about arguing."

Ash sank onto the chair, pulling the blanket tightly around him. "I really didn’t mean to bother you, Gary," he said quietly. "I just… your Grandpa said the bag was important, and I figured you’d want it right away."

Gary paused, the irritation fading from his face. He let out a slow breath and knelt in front of Ash. "Ash, you’re my best friend," he said, his tone softer now. "I appreciate you bringing the bag, but you don’t have to risk your health for something like this. What were you thinking, walking out in this weather dressed like that?"

Ash looked down at his hands. "I didn’t think it was that cold," he admitted. "And Pikachu was shivering, so I thought he needed the jacket more than me."

Gary shook his head, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth despite himself. "You’re a real piece of work, you know that?" He stood up, reaching for his stethoscope. "Let’s check you out and make sure you didn’t give yourself frostbite or pneumonia or something."

Ash sighed but didn’t argue. He knew better than to fight Gary when he was in full doctor mode. Pikachu hopped onto the table, still wrapped in the jacket, and gave Ash a comforting nuzzle.

Gary smirked. "See? Even Pikachu thinks you’re an idiot."

Ash rolled his eyes but smiled back. "Yeah, yeah. Thanks, Gary."

Gary’s smirk softened into a genuine smile. "Anytime, Ashy-boy."