May's throat was aching every time she swallowed. Her eyes were unfocused. Her stomach didn't feel so good. And she had massive headache.

She was planning on just staying there in bed the whole day. After all, Drew was out training.

Or so she thought.

Because he had an earlier return than expected.

" May?!" Drew exclaimed as he ran to her side and looked at her swollen red face, her red eyes, and the tired circles under them.

" May, I don't think this is a regular cold. I think you have an infection."

May sneezed hard three times in a row. " An infection?!* She asked, her nose stuffed.

Drew took a first aid kit out of her bag. " Don't worry. I'll take care of you."

May shook her head.." it's.... Fine, Drew."

Drew gently placed the thermometer behind May's ear, careful not to disturb her already aching body. He watched the numbers climb rapidly before letting out a low whistle.

"May, your temperature is way too high," Drew said, concern evident in his voice. He set the thermometer aside and adjusted the blankets around her. "You have to rest. No arguments."

May tried to wave him off weakly. "I'm fine... just need... a little sleep," she mumbled, her voice muffled and strained.

Drew shook his head firmly. "Nope, not happening. You're staying in bed, and I'm going to make sure you get better. First, let's get some fluids in you."

He disappeared into the kitchen for a few minutes and returned with a glass of water and a cold compress. He pressed the compress gently against her forehead and helped her sit up slightly to take a few sips of water.

"See? That wasn't so hard," Drew teased lightly, trying to lift her spirits.

May groaned, sinking back into her pillows. "You're bossy when I'm sick," she grumbled, though there was a small smile tugging at her lips.

Drew smirked. "Only because you're the worst patient. Now, stay put, and let me handle things for once, okay?"

As May closed her eyes, Drew tucked the blankets around her again and grabbed his phone. He quickly searched for remedies and signs of more serious conditions, determined to keep a close watch on her until she was back to her usual self.

Thirty minutes later, May stirred awake, her head spinning as she blinked groggily at the ceiling. She tried to push herself up, but the dizziness hit her like a wave, and she had to steady herself with one hand on the bed.

"Whoa, take it easy!" Drew said, rushing over from the chair where he had been keeping watch.

"I'm okay," May said, her voice hoarse and unconvincing. She rubbed her temple, trying to shake off the lightheadedness.

"You're not okay," Drew said firmly, gently guiding her back down to lie flat. "You look like you just went twelve rounds with a storm. Your fever is still sky-high, and you're not getting up until I say so."

May gave him a stubborn look, though it lacked her usual fire. "Drew, I can't just stay here all day. There's so much I need to-"

"Stop right there," Drew interrupted, crossing his arms. "You can and you will. You're not going anywhere except back to sleep."

May sighed, knowing she didn't have the strength to argue. "You're fussing too much," she muttered.

Drew raised an eyebrow. "And you're being too stubborn. Let me take care of you for once. Is that so bad?"

May gave a small, reluctant smile. "Fine. But just for today."

"Good," Drew said, pulling the blankets snugly around her. "Now, close your eyes and rest. I'll be here if you need anything."

May closed her eyes, letting the sound of Drew's steady breathing soothe her. For once, she allowed herself to lean on him, silently thankful for his unwavering care.

An hour later, May blinked her eyes open again, feeling slightly less dizzy but still weighed down by exhaustion. Her stomach gave a low, audible growl, but she pressed her lips together, refusing to say a word. She didn't want to trouble Drew any more than she already had.

But Drew, as always, knew. He glanced up from his phone, noticing the way her hand instinctively rested over her stomach.

"You're hungry," he said simply, his tone matter-of-fact.

"No, I'm not," May lied, avoiding his gaze.

Drew smirked, shaking his head. "May, I know that look. You get it every time we've skipped breakfast before a contest. You don't have to say anything-I've got you."

Before she could protest, Drew disappeared into the small kitchen of the cabin. May heard the soft clatter of pans and utensils and sighed, knowing there was no stopping him when he was like this.

Fifteen minutes later, Drew returned with a tray holding a bowl of warm soup, a slice of toast, and a glass of water. He placed it on the bedside table and sat down beside her.

"Here," he said gently, lifting the tray onto her lap. "You need to eat to get your strength back."

May looked at the meal, her stomach growling louder now that it was in front of her. "Drew, you didn't have to go through all this trouble."

"It's not trouble," he said, his voice soft but firm. "Taking care of you isn't trouble. Now eat up before it gets cold."

She gave him a grateful smile, her eyes misting over as she picked up the spoon. Drew always knew. He always cared.

And as she took her first sip of the warm, comforting soup, she couldn't help but think how lucky she was to have him by her side.

As May finished the last bite of toast, Drew took the tray and set it aside. He glanced at her, his expression softening for a moment, but his concern was still evident.

"Alright, June Bug," he said, his voice gentle but insistent, "time to check your temperature again."

May groaned, leaning back into her pillow. "Do we really have to? I feel a little better now, see?" She offered a weak smile, but Drew wasn't buying it.

"Yes, we have to," Drew said firmly, reaching for the thermometer. "Better safe than sorry."

"Drew-" she started, but he cut her off.

"Open up, June Bug," he said, holding the thermometer in front of her face like he would with a Pokémon that didn't want to cooperate.

May crossed her arms stubbornly, but Drew raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "Do you want me to start listing all the reasons why this is necessary? Or should I just wait until you give in?"

She sighed heavily, knowing she wasn't going to win this argument. "Fine," she muttered, opening her mouth slightly.

"Wider," Drew instructed, his tone teasing now.

"Ugh, you're so bossy," May grumbled but complied, opening her mouth enough for him to slip the thermometer under her tongue.

"There we go," Drew said, smirking as he adjusted it. "See? That wasn't so hard, was it?"

May glared at him but stayed silent, the thermometer keeping her from snapping back. Drew sat beside her, one hand on her blanket, watching her closely.

When the thermometer beeped, Drew pulled it out, his smirk vanishing as he read the number. His brows furrowed, and he let out a low sigh.

"May," he said, his voice more serious now. "It's worse. Your fever's higher than it was earlier."

She blinked, her fatigue preventing her from processing the information fully. "It's... probably just because I was under the blankets?" she offered weakly.

Drew gave her a flat look. "Nice try, but no. This isn't something we can brush off. You need to rest, hydrate, and maybe-" He paused, hesitating. "If it doesn't go down soon, we might have to take you to a doctor."

May's eyes widened. "Drew, I don't need a doctor! I just need-"

"You need to listen to me for once," Drew interrupted, his voice gentle but firm. "You're not invincible, June Bug. I know you like to tough things out, but this isn't something you can ignore."

She stared at him, his genuine worry sinking in. "You're really that worried?"

Drew nodded. "Yeah, I am." He reached out, brushing a strand of hair away from her damp forehead. "I hate seeing you like this. Let me take care of you, okay?"

May bit her lip, the vulnerability in his voice tugging at her heart. She nodded slowly. "Okay."

"Good," Drew said, his relief evident. "Now, lie back. I'm going to get you some water and a cold compress. And no arguing this time."

"Fine," she mumbled, sinking back into the pillows.

Drew smirked as he stood. "Finally, you're learning."

She shot him a tired glare, but her lips twitched into a small smile. Drew always knew how to take care of her, even when she didn't want to admit she needed it.

When May stirred awake fifty-nine minutes later, her face was pale, and a pained grimace tugged at her lips. She clutched her stomach lightly, letting out a low groan as her body curled instinctively.

Drew, who had been sitting in a chair by her side, immediately noticed. He set his book aside and leaned closer.

"May? What's wrong?" he asked, his voice low and filled with concern.

"My stomach..." she murmured weakly, her voice barely audible. "It hurts, but... I'm not hungry or anything. I just feel awful."

Drew frowned, his brow knitting as he reached out to feel her forehead. His hand brushed against her clammy skin, and his worry deepened. "You're burning up even more," he muttered. "This isn't just a little fever anymore."

May let out another groan, her eyes fluttering open halfway. "Drew... I think it's getting worse," she admitted, her voice trembling.

"Yeah, no kidding," Drew replied softly, his usual teasing tone absent. He stood up and grabbed a fresh cloth from the bedside table, dunking it into a bowl of cold water he'd prepared earlier.

"Alright, June Bug," he said as he wrung out the cloth. "We need to change things up. New strategy, okay?"

She blinked at him, confused and too exhausted to argue. "Change what?"

Drew gently pressed the cold cloth to her forehead, brushing her hair back as he worked. "You're too warm, so we're going to cool you down," he explained. "That means no more hiding under layers of blankets, even if you feel cold. And we need to get some medicine into you-none of this 'I'm fine' stuff."

May pouted weakly. "I don't like taking medicine..."

"And I don't like watching you suffer," Drew countered, his voice firm but kind. "So guess what? We're both just going to have to deal with it."

May sighed, but she didn't protest further. She was too sick to put up much of a fight.

Drew gave her a small smile, his fingers brushing against her cheek for a moment. "That's my girl," he said softly. "Now, let me grab the meds. You stay right here, alright?"

"Not like I'm going anywhere," she mumbled, her voice muffled as she sank deeper into the pillows.

Drew chuckled lightly as he moved to fetch the medicine, but the worry in his eyes hadn't faded. May might've been tough, but Drew knew when it was time to step up and make sure she was taken care of-whether she liked it or not.

Thirty minutes later, May blinked her eyes open slowly, her body still aching, her throat dry. The first thing she noticed was that Drew wasn't sitting in the chair anymore. Instead, he was standing by the dresser, holding a pile of neatly folded clothes.

"Morning, June Bug," Drew said, his voice laced with mock cheerfulness as he turned to her. "Glad you're awake because we've got places to be."

May frowned, her voice hoarse. "Where?"

Drew smirked and set the clothes on the bed beside her. "Oh, you know, the ice cream place. Thought you'd want a triple scoop while running a 102 fever." His tone dripped with sarcasm.

May groaned and gave him a weak glare. "You're so annoying, Drew."

He chuckled, crossing his arms and leaning against the dresser. "And you're so stubborn, May. We're going to the doctor. No debates, no excuses. Just you, me, and a professional who can actually fix this."

"I don't need to go to the doctor," she mumbled, trying to pull the blanket back over her head. "I'll feel better soon..."

"Yeah, no. Nice try," Drew said, grabbing the blanket before she could disappear under it. "You're not fine. You've been tossing and turning for hours, your fever's worse, and now your stomach hurts? We're not waiting this out, May. Clothes. Now."

May groaned dramatically, flopping back onto the bed. "Why are you like this?"

Drew rolled his eyes. "Because someone has to keep you alive, and I volunteered. Besides," he added with a smirk, "you'd miss me too much if you didn't survive this."

She couldn't help the faint smile that tugged at her lips despite her discomfort. "You're impossible."

"And yet, you love me," Drew teased, holding out her clothes. "Come on, I'll even help if you're too weak to manage. But we are going, so don't even think about fighting me on this."

May sighed in resignation, taking the clothes with a grumble. "Fine, but you owe me ice cream after this."

"Deal," Drew replied with a grin. "Now hurry up before I have to carry you out in your pajamas."

May rolled her eyes, but she couldn't help feeling a little comforted by his stubborn determination. Even when she hated it, Drew always had a way of looking out for her.

" How long has she been like this for?" The doctor/ researcher asked.

Drew had to think back. " Uh.... Well her symptoms started today.... But knowing her she could have been hiding it for a while."

Gary sighed and nodded, turning to May. * How long has it been?"

May avoided the boys gaze. " Dunno, two three days."

" Oh for crying out loud you guys are so alike." Gary muttered.

May raised a brow. " Me and... Who?"

" Ash."

May's eyes widened. " Wait, you're the guy who sent Ash that postcard after he lost to Brandon in the Battle Pyramid! Wait, you're his rival?!"

Gary smirked as he folded his arms and leaned back against the counter. "Guilty as charged," he said with a cocky shrug. "But this isn't about me and Ash right now. It's about you, May. Two or three days of symptoms like this? What were you thinking hiding it?"

May huffed, looking away. "I wasn't hiding it. I just... thought it would go away."

"Yeah, Ash says that too," Gary said with a knowing roll of his eyes. "Next thing you know, he's passed out after a battle, and I'm the one stuck dragging him to the Pokémon Center."

Drew groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Great, just great. First Ash, now May. It's like a contest to see who can push themselves harder before admitting they need help."

May shot Drew a weak glare. "I'm right here, you know."

"And you're still proving my point," Drew retorted. "You always do this, May. Stubborn as a Tauros, just like your buddy Ash."

"Hey, don't lump me in with him!" May protested, her cheeks flushing slightly.

Gary chuckled. "Oh, I don't know. You've got the same 'never quit, never admit weakness' thing going on. It's almost impressive."

"Almost?" May muttered, crossing her arms.

Gary raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, almost. Because unlike Ash, at least you're here now and not on the verge of passing out in the middle of a battle."

Drew sighed, looking at May with concern. "Seriously, May. Next time, just say something sooner. I shouldn't have to play detective to figure out you're sick."

May looked down, guilt flickering in her eyes. "Okay, fine. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make things worse."

"Good," Gary said, stepping forward with his clipboard. "Now let's make sure you're actually on the mend. You've got someone here who cares enough to drag you to the doctor. Don't make his job harder than it needs to be."

May glanced at Drew, who was watching her with a mixture of worry and exasperation. She gave him a small smile. "Thanks, Drew. Even if you're annoying about it."

"Annoying is part of the job," Drew replied, smirking. "Now let's get this over with so I can start keeping an even closer eye on you."

Gary groaned, shaking his head. "For crying out loud, you're both impossible. Let's just get to work."

Back in their cabin, May flopped onto the bed with a dramatic sigh, her body sinking into the soft mattress like she'd just run a marathon. Drew stood at the foot of the bed, watching her for a moment, a slight smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

"Wow, I gotta admit, you really know how to make an entrance," Drew teased, crossing his arms.

May groaned in response, rolling onto her side with a hand pressed to her forehead. "Ugh, Drew, stop talking. My head feels like it's going to explode."

Drew blinked, stepping closer. "Wait... you're actually serious, aren't you?"

May didn't answer, her eyes already closing as she pulled the blanket over her. Drew's smile faded into concern as he watched her curl up, looking like she was about to pass out.

He shook his head. "Okay, okay, I'll give you some rest. But, you know, it's kind of a miracle you managed to stay awake this long."

May mumbled something incoherent in response, but Drew could tell she was already halfway asleep. He sighed, running a hand through his hair, impressed despite himself. He'd never seen May so completely drained before. Normally, she was the one pushing through everything with a stubborn determination, no matter how sick or tired she was.

He hovered over her for a moment longer, making sure she was settled. "You're lucky I like you, you know that?" Drew said, his voice softer now, more affectionate than teasing.

May's only reply was a soft, muffled sound of contentment as she snuggled deeper into the blankets.

Drew shook his head with a smile, realizing he wasn't going to get any more out of her right now. "Fine, go ahead and sleep. But I'm not leaving your side. You're stuck with me for the rest of the day."

He sat down in the chair by the window, watching her sleep for a while, his mind still racing with worry. Despite her tough exterior, he knew May had a tendency to brush things off, to hide her struggles. It was one of the things he loved about her-and also the reason he'd decided to drag her to the doctor when he did. He couldn't just let her push through something that could be serious.

With a soft sigh, Drew leaned back in his chair, pulling out his phone to check on messages while keeping an eye on May. He could tell she was completely out of it now, her breathing slow and steady. He would let her rest for now, but tomorrow, he'd make sure she took it easy. No more pretending everything was fine.

For now, though, Drew was content to just be there, quietly watching over her.