Gary’s fingers hovered over the keyboard for a moment as he processed what the receptionist had said. "Ash... on the ground... with a bag from my grandpa?" His heart skipped a beat, and he immediately stood up from his desk, a wave of concern rushing over him.

Before he could think any further, he heard a loud sneeze echo from the hallway. The sound made Gary’s stomach tighten. Without another second to spare, he sped out of his office, through the halls of the clinic, and toward the entrance.

When he reached the front door, he saw Ash standing there, bundled up in his usual black shirt and his jeans. But there was something off. He wasn’t wearing his jacket, and he wasn’t looking well at all. Pikachu, on the other hand, was wrapped tightly in Ash’s jacket, and Ash's hat was perched on the little Pokémon’s head. Ash’s face was flushed, a clear sign that the cold had gotten to him. His usual energy was completely drained.

Gary’s breath caught in his throat. He didn’t need to ask what had happened. “Ash!” he called, making his way over to his best friend.

Ash sniffled and wiped his nose with the back of his hand, trying to give a half-hearted wave. “Hey, Gary... don’t worry, I’m fine." He put the bag down and started to walk away. "Just thought I’d drop this off from your gra—”

Before Ash could finish, Gary was already there, his hand gripping the back of Ash’s shirt and pulling him toward the hall. “What do you mean you’re fine? You're clearly not fine!” he snapped, his concern now laced with a touch of annoyance.

Ash stumbled as Gary dragged him down the hall, his steps unsteady. “Gary, seriously, I didn’t want to bother you... I just—”

“Don’t,” Gary interrupted, his tone softer now as he reached the nearest exam room. He shoved the door open with his shoulder and all but shoved Ash inside. “You’re not fine. You’re freezing, and Pikachu looks like he’s about to pass out from the cold!”

Ash grunted in protest, though he didn’t put up much of a fight. He sat down on the exam table with a sigh, his energy clearly drained. Pikachu, still nestled in Ash’s jacket, peered out and blinked weakly at Gary.

Gary shook his head, his hands on his hips as he turned to close the door behind him. “Honestly, Ash, you’re such an idiot sometimes. You should’ve known better than to walk around like this in this weather.”

Ash’s lips curled into a faint smile. “I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it... I didn’t even want to come in, but then I remembered I had this from your grandpa.” He lifted the bag he had been holding, but his hands were shaking now, and it was clear he wasn’t entirely coherent.

Gary let out a sigh and went over to the counter to grab a thermometer. “I don’t care about the bag right now, Ash. You’re sick. You didn’t even wear a proper jacket—do you realize how dangerous that is?”

Ash blinked up at him with his usual stubbornness. “I’m not that bad, Gary. I’m just... a little cold. I’ll be fine.”

Gary wasn’t having any of it. He turned around, shooting Ash a skeptical look. “Ash, you’re shivering. You’re not fine. You’re not going anywhere until I check you out. And don’t try to make excuses, okay?”

Ash sighed, slumping back onto the table as he muttered, “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

Gary took a step closer, his hands now moving to check Ash’s temperature and check on Pikachu. He placed the thermometer under Ash’s tongue. “You’re burning up,” he muttered as the beep sounded. “You’ve got a fever. Not just a cold, but you’ve been out there long enough that it’s messing with your body. You need to rest.”

“I didn’t think it was that serious,” Ash muttered, his voice weaker now. He glanced at Pikachu, who let out a faint “Pika” and snuggled into Ash’s jacket even further, still visibly cold.

Gary looked at his friend, his heart softening despite his irritation. “You never think things through, do you, Ash? You always think you can handle everything by yourself, but then you end up like this.”

Ash gave him a tired look. “I didn’t want you to worry.”

Gary pulled up a chair and sat next to the table, his voice suddenly softer. “I don’t care about the bag or anything else, Ash. I care about you. And Pikachu. If something happened to you, I wouldn’t forgive myself.”

Ash blinked at him, a little surprised by the sudden shift in Gary’s tone. “Gary, I—”

Gary cut him off with a small wave of his hand. “Just let me do my job, okay? I’ll get you fixed up, but you’ve got to promise me that next time you won’t be so stubborn about taking care of yourself. Got it?”

Ash hesitated for a moment, then gave a weak nod. “Okay...”

Gary smiled slightly, feeling a weight lift off his shoulders as he started preparing to help Ash. The rivalry, the teasing—they’d always been a part of their friendship. But moments like this made Gary realize just how deep their bond truly was.

“Good,” Gary said as he adjusted the blanket around Ash and Pikachu. “Now, you’re going to rest, and I’m going to make sure you get better. Don’t argue with me.”

Ash smirked weakly, but there was a grateful glint in his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. You’re the boss, Gary.”

Gary chuckled and leaned back, watching Ash settle in with Pikachu at his side. It wasn’t the usual type of visit they had, but it was one of those rare moments where being there for each other meant more than anything else. They weren’t just rivals—they were best friends. And nothing, not even a cold, could change that.