"Chiro." A voice whispered. "Chiro, wake up."
Chiro opened his eyes. They were back in the secret hiding spot and Tracey was leaning over him, worried.
"Bulba! Bulbasaur!" Another voice said. Chiro turned to see Bulbasaur laying beside him. "Bulba! Bulbasaur!"
"Bulbasaur is trying to say thank you. You saved his life after he sacrificed himself to save mine." Tracey explained with a small smile. "We both want to thank you."
"What happened?" Chiro asked. "How'd we get back here?"
"You passed out after you healed Bulbasaur." Tracey replied. "Shortly after that, the other pokemon that live in the gardens arrived. They all fought to knock out Team Rocket and their pokemon. Then, they dragged us back here. Some of them are watching the entrance in case Team Rocket finds us, but the rest are in groups around the garden, trying to throw those crooks off our trail."
"Wouldn't they see the trail we left when we were dragged away?" Chiro asked.
Tracey shook his head. "The pokemon made sure there was no sure sign of which way we went. They'll have to search the whole garden. Even then, they probably won't find us."
"How will we know when they're gone?" Chiro questioned. "How will we get food if they decide to stay?"
Tracey dismissed the questions with a wave of his hand. "Don't worry about it. The pokemon will take care of everything. They'll let us know when it's safe and they won't let us starve."
"You sure have a lot of faith in those pokemon." Chiro observed.
Tracey nodded. "They're my friends. Friends are there when you need them." He adjusted something on his leg. That was when Chiro noticed Tracey wasn't wearing a shirt. He'd taken it off and used it as a bandage.
"Aren't you cold?" Chiro asked.
"Yes, but we can't risk making a fire and my leg needs the shirt more than my chest does." Tracey answered.
"You can use mine." Chiro offered, but Tracey shook his head.
"No thanks. I'll be fine."
"Are you sure?"
"Yep. I just wish we had a better bandage to use. A wet shirt won't do too much good when it comes down to it."
"I could try to heal it."
"No thanks. You already passed out once today from healing Bulbasaur. I don't want you to pass out again."
Just then, a pokemon ducked into the secret hiding spot with a first aid kit and another shirt for Tracey in its mouth.
Tracey laughed. "Professor Oak send you, Bayleef?"
Bayleef nodded and dropped the two items next to Tracey.
"Thanks, Bayleef." Tracey scratched Bayleef under the chin. "See, Chiro, I told you the pokemon would take care of everything."
Chiro crawled over and opened the first aid kit while Tracey put on the extra shirt. Inside were some food, some bandages, some water, and a few antiseptic creams.
Chiro ignored the food and took the bandages. Then, he unwrapped the wet shirt from around Tracey's leg, revealing a nasty shot wound. Both boys winced when they saw it.
"I'm glad I picked out the bullet earlier. It could've gotten infected." Tracey mumbled.
"It's infected anyway." Chiro told him. He examined the creams and then picked one that would work. "This might sting a little, or a lot, but it'll work. Please try not to scream."
Tracey nodded. "That would get us caught. Don't worry. I won't."
Chiro used the water to wash the wound then plucked the cap off the antiseptic container, got some cream on his fingers and rubbed it on the wound.
Tracey covered his mouth to muffle his yelp.
"I told you it would sting." Chiro said before wrapping the wound in a real bandage. "There. That should last a while. We'll apply some more antiseptic and replace the bandage tomorrow."
Tracey nodded, trying not to yelp again. Bayleef nuzzled him, taking his mind off the pain.
"Thanks Chiro. Thank you too, Bayleef." He said, scratching Bayleef again.
"We'll probably be here a while. What time is it?" Chiro asked.
"Nearly ten o'clock pm." Tracey replied. "We should go to sleep. In the meantime, we'll have the pokemon to protect us."
Chiro agreed and, after finding comfortable positions, both boys drifted off to sleep.