Under the Skin
Chapter 3
Gary smiled and thanked another trainer. This one had brought in a Milktank. He would be able to work with her for about a week, before the trainer said he had to have her back. With one final pat, the trainer bid his favorite pokemon farewell and went to see what there was to do in the towns around Pallet. Gary patted the pokemon's side and led her to a small grazing pasture where several Ponyta and Stantler were staying. He had gotten a surprising number of replies to his add, and several approvals from other scientists as his first project. He was now working with two of those, so trainers would not have to go so far simply to let their pokemon be observed.
As it was, Gary was done with his work for that day, he couldn't bring himself to work himself to the bone, no matter how much he wanted too. He was depressed, but refused to go see a doctor or anyone of the sort. He would if it was life threatening, but for now he would ignore his sister and grandfather.
"Hey! Gary!"
"Pika pii!
Gary turned at the familiar voices to see Ash and his pikachu coming through the door to the enclosure. He waved at them, then turned to a Ponyta who had just shoved her muzzle under his arm.
"Looks like you're holding up here." Ash grinned, leaning against the fence and patting the Ponyta's flank. Immediately, several other pokemon ran up, making Ash laugh.
"I'm doing okay. Looks like you still attract pokemon like a flame Venomoths." Gary attempted to smile at his joke, but Ash waved it off.
"Don't if you don't feel like it, dude. Nothing worse than forcing yourself to do something. I'm just glad you aren't acting anymore, we can at least see how you feel and can come running if you need any help." Ash placed Pikachu on a Stantler's head, making the mouse giggle in it's strange language, getting a ride around the pasture. The two young men watched it with small smiles, enjoying the relaxing moment.
"Oh, by the way. Check out what I found." Ash said with a triumphant smirk as he withdrew a poke ball with flourish.
"Finally got your hands on a wild shiny?" Gary asked. Ash nodded.
"Yeah, I looked really hard for this one, because I remembered what you were always asking right after you woke up." Ash grinned, handing the poke ball over. Gary stared at Ash, then let a small smile creep over his face.
"Thanks." He pressed the small button on the front of the ball, and watched as the red beam created the form of a small pokemon. He froze as it solidified and gained color, his eyes widening in surprise.
It was a Shiny Eevee, and a pale one too. It sat on it's haunches, looking up at him curiously, it's ears twitching.
"Ash…" Gary said in a strained voice, his head hurt, the pounding was becoming too much, he couldn't think.
"Gary!" Ash yelled in shock as the researcher fainted, falling heavily to the ground. "Pikachu! Go get Prof. Oak!" He said. Pikachu was off in a flash. Ash kneeled beside Gary as the Eevee and Umbreon came up, their ears and tails dragging. Ash rolled Gary onto his back, not sure what to do.
Samuel Oak and Daisy came running outside moments later, Pikachu sprinting along before them.
"Ash! What happened?" Oak asked, kneeling beside Gary. Daisy was standing much like Ash, not knowing what to do.
"I gave him that Eevee. Remember when he kept saying something about a white one? And wondering if any of us knew about it?"
"Yes, I do." Oak said, checking Gary's vital signs.
"I figured he was confusing it with a shiny." Ash said. " And he seemed so bent out of shape about that dream Eevee, and now he's going into this research." Ash mumbled.
"He's been obsessing over those dreams for years." Daisy murmured. "I'm worried about him."
"He'll be fine." Oak said as he stood, referring to Gary's state of health at the moment, and to what Daisy had said.
"He proved how much he can live through three years ago." Ash nodded. He had been the first person at the hospital, there even before Gary had arrived in the ambulance. He had been closest after all. Oak had called him after the Rangers had contacted him through Gary's Pokenav. The professor had been worried so he had sent Ash on ahead.
Ash didn't want to remember how mangled Gary had looked. He was almost unrecognizable and covered in blood. The hospital had had to cut his clothes off, and Ash was glad that Gary had been out cold, because he would've been screaming had he been awake. But despite his best efforts not to see the image from three years before, Ash did. He couldn't see Gary in his lab coat laying on the lawn, he was back in the hospital.
Ash pressed his hand to his mouth in an attempt to still the queasy feeling that was rising in his stomach. He had been the only person to see Gary like that, and he couldn't even describe it to the rest. He looked down at the researcher as Gary groaned, and let out a sigh of relief. Gary sat up slowly, rubbing his head.
"What happened?"
"You fainted." Ash said.
"Hardy har har, Ash." Gary grumbled, letting his grandfather help him to his feet. "Thank you Captain Obvious…"
"No problem, it's my job." Ash grinned.
"Maybe you should head inside and get some rest." Oak suggested. Gary quickly agreed, his head still pounding. He turned, fighting the urge to faint again as he saw the Eevee, and called out to it and Umbreon. The Eevee, having been a bit nervous in the first place, then thinking she had hurt her new trainer without intending to, followed happily, her tail held high.
Gary collapsed onto his bed, watching as Umbreon and his new Eevee clambered up after him. They curled up under his chin, and Gary wrapped his arms around them. This was a familiar way to sleep, his body knew that even after all these years. There was something missing, but Gary didn't mind. He fell asleep, vowing to have these two sleep with him every night.
He didn't dream.
*********************************
"He's smiling."
"Hmm?" Oak looked up from the table, and followed daisy's gaze outside.
"He's smiling again." Daisy said, not taking her eyes off of her little brother. Gary was currently taking a break, and although he hadn't eaten any lunch, he was a little more active than he had been, playing with Umbreon and his Eevee. Oak smiled, watching his grandson act like he couldn't catch the pokemon scampering around his feet. He wouldn't be surprised if the young man burst out into laughter. But he knew Gary wouldn't and the smile on his face was small, but at least it was a true smile.
"Maybe he's starting to recover, finally." Oak said, hugging his granddaughter. Daisy nodded and hugged him back.
"I'm going to work, okay?"
"You be careful."
"I will." Daisy wiped a few tears from her face, then waved and headed out. Oak watched as Gary lifted a hand in farewell to his sister, and then Daisy was off in her small blue car.
That was another thing strange about Gary. He hadn't set foot in a car since he had woken up, unless you counted the day he came home. Even then he was jittery, and left it as soon as he could. Something had happened involving a car at some point, but no one knew where the convertible had gone, not even the Rangers that had found Gary.
Jack had been quite the character, having known Ash from a previous adventure. He had been the Ranger to lead the group in Gary's rescue, and part of the team that took Gary to the hospital. Oak sighed and turned away from the window. He had work to do, and Gary was doing okay.
Gary looked up at the sky, squinting as he noticed it was high noon. He looked at the Eevee had had been examining, his own. He should get them all some lunch, he knew he couldn't go on much longer if he kept skipping meals. He just wasn't hungry anymore. He would go through cycles with his mood. Right now he felt pretty good, and could eat three meals a day. Sometimes he would skip a meal or two if he was feeling down. Those were the days he would hole himself up in his study and work nonstop to keep his mind on things other than his nightmares. Other times he would stop working for days, and not eat anything. He would simply sit beneath a tree and stare into space while Umbreon and Eevee would sit beside him, muttering to each other worriedly.
Those were the days Gary thought about what had happened the most. All he could really do was wallow in nightmares and relive the last memory he could recall, hoping it held a clue. But no matter how many times he relived that day, now how hard he tried to remember, he never could. He just knew that the Eevee he dreamed about was real, or he wouldn't have fainted when he first saw his own. It was so close in color, just a light gray instead of snow white.
Gary clunked his head back against the trunk of the tree, sighing.
"Lets get some lunch, guys." He said, standing. The pokemon voiced their opinions happily and scampered on ahead.
Yes, for those of you who know him from the movie, Jack Walker will be here! for awhile at any rate ^^ THe pokemon rangers play a part in Gary's past, but i'm not saying what part XD
and ona nother note, not too sure if our Favorite Rocket Trio wil be in this. I'm working with Luna to squeeze them in at some point, but as of now, they haven't made an appearance. I'm trying my best!
and unfourtunately, Tracy, Drew, and a few of the others that i have seen mentioned won't be appearing either, so if you only read stories with them in it, i'm sorry to dissapoint. It was nice that you looked at this anyway ^^
And one thing i forgot to mention in chapter one, NO! this is NOT a GaryxAsh fic. As much as i enjoy yaoi, i think that pairing is SO wrong XP sorry for you fans who love that one. Everybody is entitled to their own opinion, and that is mine.
anyway, i'll let you guys go now XD see you next time!
