Gary’s shoes echoed in the warm, sterile hallway as he hurried toward the reception area, his heart pounding. His mind raced with questions. Why was Ash here, in the middle of a snowstorm? And what was he doing with a bag from Gramps?

The receptionist was kneeling next to a bundled figure on the floor, who was shivering violently. Gary's breath caught in his throat when he saw the familiar messy black hair poking out from under a snow-dusted cap.

"Ash!" Gary called, dropping to his knees beside him.

Ash looked up weakly, his nose red and his face pale. "H-Hey, G-Gary," he said, his teeth chattering. "L-Long time, n-no see."

Gary groaned, frustration mixing with concern. "What were you thinking coming here in this weather, you idiot? You could’ve frozen to death!"

Ash attempted a weak grin but ended up sneezing instead, the force of it making him sway. Gary reached out to steady him, feeling the icy chill of Ash’s coat under his fingers.

"I… had to," Ash said, his voice faint. He gestured toward the bag clutched tightly in his hands. "It's… from your grandpa. He said it… it was important."

Gary sighed heavily, pulling Ash to his feet. "We’ll talk about that later. Right now, we need to warm you up before you get hypothermia."

Ash wobbled unsteadily, leaning heavily against Gary as they made their way back down the hall. Gary led him into his office, where a small space heater hummed in the corner. He eased Ash into the chair by his desk and grabbed a blanket from the nearby cabinet, draping it over Ash’s shoulders.

"Stay here," Gary ordered. "I’m getting some hot water."

"You're such a mom," Ash mumbled with a weak chuckle.

Gary paused in the doorway, narrowing his eyes. "And you’re such a reckless idiot. Sit tight, Ashy-boy."

By the time Gary returned with a steaming mug of tea, Ash looked a little less like a popsicle. His shivering had subsided slightly, though his cheeks were still flushed from the cold.

"Here," Gary said, placing the mug in Ash’s hands. "Drink this. And don’t spill it everywhere."

Ash took a cautious sip, his hands still trembling. The warmth spread through him, chasing away the lingering chill. "Thanks, Gary," he muttered.

Gary sat across from him, eyeing the bag on Ash’s lap. "Alright, spill. What’s so important that you had to risk frostbite to deliver it?"

Ash looked down at the bag, his expression turning serious. "Your grandpa said it’s a new formula he’s been working on. Some kind of advanced medicine. He wanted you to have it for your clinic."

Gary blinked, his annoyance fading into surprise. "Gramps sent you all the way here for that? He could’ve mailed it or—"

"He didn’t trust anyone else," Ash interrupted. "He said it needed to get to you as soon as possible, and I was already visiting Pallet Town, so…"

Gary sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "That old man and his secrets. Fine. But next time, you wait for better weather, got it? I don’t need you collapsing in my doorway again."

Ash smiled faintly, his energy slowly returning. "Yeah, yeah. Thanks for worrying about me, Gary."

Gary rolled his eyes, but the corner of his mouth twitched upward. "Don’t push your luck, Ashy-boy. Finish your tea and rest for a bit. You’re not leaving until I’m sure you’re okay."

Ash leaned back in the chair, the warmth of the office and Gary’s fussing making him feel oddly content. "Fine by me," he said with a yawn. "It’s nice to have a best friend who actually cares."

Gary snorted, though his expression softened. "Always, you big idiot."