Snow Sick

Chapter 3: Scream

A/N: I don't own anything

He stayed all night, watching as she slept. Her sheet-covered chest rising and falling with the beat of the green line on the black monitor. She looked so peaceful. He had moved the uncomfortable chair from the door to the side of Serena's bed. All night, Ash's hand never left hers, his heart half-hoping that he could warm her fragile, cold fingers as they laid motionless in his hand. The moon shimmered into the room from the picture window, illuminating her white complexion. She almost sparkled, appearing like an angel that was cast to earth from heaven. All night, he couldn't sleep. Fear held his heart in a tight grip, fear of losing her. Fear of her hand never warming up. Fear that if he closed his eyes, she would be behind him again, collapsed and all alone. Fear that he won't notice something again.

"It's all my fault…" He thought to himself, slightly tightening the grip on her tiny hand. His eyes widened at the realization, "She's so small." Whenever they were together, it felt like she was the same size as him, both in body and heart. Her dreams were as big as his, her love for her pokemon and friends almost overpowering his. Her hand use to feel like it fit perfectly in his every time she would drag him away for some shopping or from a fight. Now, it felt like he was holding a ceramic doll's hand, so tiny and fragile. If he held it too tight, it would shatter. She was so small now, so delicate. Ash loosened his grip and let his thumb sweep softly over the smooth texture of Serena's skin. He caressed it back and forth, missing the warmth that use to tingle his nerves whenever his hand touched hers. Those random moments of hand holding, he missed them so much. This was different. They weren't holding hands in happiness or love or determination. They clung to each other in fear. Fear of the unknown that was haunting their future. "I'm so scared. For the first time in so long, I'm terrified. I don't want to lose you." Pikachu, having stuck behind for it's trainer, jumped onto the bed. It lowered its head and nuzzled the two hands that gripped each other. Ash smiled a small, heartbroken grin, knowing full well that if something drastic was to come, he wouldn't be the only one worried about his friend.

"Pika, pikachu," Pikachu murmured, letting its ears droop as it laid down, still rubbing its little head against Serena's and Ash's hands. Little memories of Serena tickled its mind, deepening its sorrow. Images of Serena dressing up in Ash's clothes, of Serena handing it a Poke puff specifically made just for it, of Serena picking it up and hugging it gently close to her. If anyone would've looked into the room during the night, he or she would've seen the most heart wrenching sight. A broken girl, a broken boy, and a dejected pikachu all close together in the shining white light of the moon and stars.

"If I could have the room for the moment," a doctor with dark green hair and pale grey eyes spoke upon entering Serena's hospital room. Inside, Ash and Pikachu were still by Serena's side, all of them now fully awake and alert. Bags still sat under the poor trainer's eyes as he nodded and stood, finally releasing Serena's hand. Picking up pikachu, he carried the little yellow pokemon through the door that the doctor had entered through. "Please be alright!" Ash pleaded to himself, standing a few feet away from the door as it quietly shut. Pikachu clung tightly to Ash's chest, sensing something terrible was coming. Ash watched his little friend, his chest clenching at how tiny Pikachu appeared. Everything appeared so minute to him now. Before all this, his heart and mind were on top of the world, his big dreams and large amount of determination made every moment humongous and important. "Why do I miss her so much? I don't get it…" Ash had never felt what he was feeling for anyone before Serena jumped into his life, joining him on the road to his dreams. Letting his head drop, a shadow hid his eyes from onlookers. "If it meant Serena getting better, I would give up everything." Was it the traveling? Was it too much for the future Kalos Queen? Did he push her too far, rushing to each and every gym battle the moment he got the chance to? He practically ran to Snowbelle City, though not as fast as when he needed to help the sick performer. "Please be alright."

Inside the hospital room, the color Serena clung to faded into the white of the room as her ears rang from the news sprung upon her.

"I'm so sorry," The doctor, who introduced himself as Dr. Hiyama, bowed, letting a shadow hide his expression. His coat was white, seemingly huge over his downcast shoulders. Serena didn't say anything, her eyes wide and her pale hands clinging to the white sheets. Suddenly, there was no color in her world. Everything was white. Terrifyingly white.

"Somehow, an injury manifested in your chest, and went all this time untreated. We took some x-rays while you were unconscious and found it. The cold must've pushed your lungs and heart too far. It's too late to fix them…" The words flowed through one ear out the other. Shaking, Serena held her breath, questioning herself, "How could this have happened?" Flashes of all the battles with Team Rocket invaded her thoughts, along with flashes of all the times she was attacked, all the times she fell. Anything could've caused it in reality. All it took was one hit too hard. One invention exploding too close, one pokemon attack that hit her head on. "Since it's gone on untreated for so long, parts of your lungs and a small section of your heart have begun to die. Even though there is a procedure to find a replacement heart, the lungs are too far gone and your body is too weak to wait on the extremely long waiting list. The cold air of the mountains made your heart and lungs slow down, not allowing oxygen to reach your brain fast enough, which is why you fainted." His words fell on deaf ears. Standing straight up, Dr. Hiyama's expression turned emotionless. To him, he felt like a failure for not being able to save someone so young. Turning to the door, he spoke once more, "I suggest calling your parents, and using the time left with loved ones. We'll do some tests and will soon have an estimate of just how long that may be." With that, he left the room, letting the door stay slightly open for Ash to return through.

"Serena!" Ash's worried voice reached her ears, snapping her out of her trance. He rushed over to the bed with Pikachu now clinging to his shoulder with its own concerned expression, but before he could make another movement, Serena grabbed his shirt and yanked him as close as she could, burying her face in the fabric of his blue shirt. Shocked, Ash stood frozen. Just as he was about to move to hug the poor performer, his heart stopped.

"Ahh!" Serena screamed, a horrifyingly sorrow-filled scream. Tears dumped from her eyes down her face, ugly tears saved in her body for this moment. Ash's eyes widened in terror, his chest tight in fear and confusion. Serena was in so much pain. She sounded as if she was hurting, her beautiful soul being torn from her hopes and dreams. Her screaming continued, occasionally hiccuped by her sobs. The door remained open, letting her screams out into the world beyond this very…white room. The halls were filled with her cries, her cries reached beyond to every patient on her floor, to every nurse at their stations. Yet no one moved to comfort the girl. They all knew what was happening. Those were the cries of a dying child.

Please don't think her sickness is stupid! It's very hard to think of illnesses! =^_^=

R&R!