"Understand that this is important for Goh's recovery." Professor Cerise said to Ash and Chloe. "He understands he isn't in charge, but he's still a valuable member."

"What if he tries something though?" Chloe said, a bit annoyed Goh was already joining them again.

In another room in the lab

"Do you remember the steps to take if you get the urge again?" Goh's psychologist asked.

"Step one is to be respectful." Goh said.

"Exactly, they have valuable input as well, what's the next step?"

"Step two is be polite." Goh said, having to think for a moment.

"Good, they have feelings too, and it's important to talk about them. What's the final step."

"Step three is that they're my friends?" Goh said.

"Close, step three is remember they're still your friends. Ash and Chloe agreed to let you join them again, they're giving you a second chance, and that's very big for them to do so." Goh's psychologist said. "I'll come by tomorrow, and see how things went, okay?"

"Okay doc." Goh said, with a slight smile.

"Go to the main lab, they should be waiting for you." The psychologist said.

"So while it's a common occurrence to see Burmy hanging from trees, it's not common here in Kanto." Chrysa said, pulling up some photos. "With no Mothim, or Wormadam in sight either."

"We'd like you three to observe, and help them if needed." Professor Cerise said. "They were spotted just north of the city."

Goh gulped, it had been a month since his breakdown, since the last time he was outside of Vermillion City. This will be the farthest he'd ventured in a while.

"Are you sure we're all needed?" Chloe asked, a few tables away.

"Yes, it will be good for you all to go there." Professor Cerise said.

Heading to the site, Goh realized how bad he'd truly messed up. Ash and Chloe stayed at a distance, while Ash would get close enough to hold a normal conversation, he still stayed a good 2-3 feet away. Whereas Chloe he'd have to speak up to talk with her, if she ever responded.

"He attacked you, shouldn't you be keeping a bigger distance from him." Chloe whispered.

"He's hurt, not just physically either, and you refusing to talk to him isn't making it better." Ash scolded. "He's been getting help, but we need to do our part too, I'm going to go talk with him, feel free to join me."

Ash began slowing his pace, to let Goh catch up to him a bit.

"Hey Goh." Ash said, trying to start a conversation.

"You don't need to pretend for me." Goh said.

"What do you mean, pretend?" Ash asked.

"You were closer to me when I couldn't move, I get it though." Goh said, kicking a pebble.

"Goh I,". Ash began, reaching his hand out then stopping. "You're right, I'm pretending everything's fine. Not much shakes me up, but what you did, it scared me. It made me fear what you might do."

"I don't know what you want me to do! I'm trying my best!" Goh shouted, before taking a step back. "Okay, remember the steps."

"Goh, I'm trying to, but this isn't going to ever be what it used to." Ash said.

"I know, I'm sorry. I just, I'm getting frustrated that I'm making no progress." Goh said.

"You are making progress, it's just going to take some time." Ash said. "That's why I go to the shared sessions, so we can work towards becoming a team again."

"And what about Chloe? When will she start giving me a chance?" Goh said, getting angry again.

"I'm trying to get her to take that step, but she endured a lot more than I did." Ash said. "Look, just take this job as the first step, and see where it goes, I even brought lunch." Ash said, moving his bag slightly.

"Okay, thanks Ash." Goh said.

A while later at the site of the Burmys

"So what do you think Ash?" Chloe asked. "Will we have to move them?"

"I mean, outside of being out of their natural habitat, all seems normal. They're high up in the tree to keep them from being gotten from ground level pokemon, and they're far enough in to keep flying types from reaching them." Ash said, climbing down the tree. "I just can't figure out where the Mothim or Wormadam is, there's not enough Burmy for it to be a colony."

"Maybe they're just becoming native." Chloe said.

A gurgling sound let Ash know, it might be time for food.

"Let's think about it after lunch, I brought sandwiches." Ash said, setting down his bag. "Here you go Goh." Ash said placing the sandwich, and water down.

"Thanks." Goh said, a bit meekly.

A while later Goh noticed his water was empty, but there was plenty more by Ash and Chloe.

"Goh! What are you doing!" Chloe shouted, seeing Goh's outstretched hand going towards Ash.

"I'm just trying to get a water! Stop patronizing everything I do!" Goh shouted, then turning and leaving quickly.

"Too far Chloe." Ash said, getting up.

Ash eventually found Goh back by the tree.

"Goh, I brought you a water." Ash said, lifting up the bottle.

"Go ahead, set it down. I know you're afraid to get close still. And I get that Chloe is treating me just like I treated her." Goh said angrily, putting his hands on the tree.

"Goh, I…". Ash was interrupted.

"Hold on a second Ash." Goh said, putting his other hand on the tree. "Heracross come on out."

Ash watched in confusion as to what was going on.

"Heracross break away some of this bark." Goh said. "We need to move the Burmy, this tree is dry."

Ash looked at where Heracross had removed the bark, and Goh was right, there was no sap.

"That's why there's no Mothim, it left after the tree dried up. The Wormadam probably had to leave, but the Burmy aren't strong enough on their own." Ash said

"From what you said, even I can't make that shot." Goh said, looking for the Burmy.

"If we knocked them out of the tree you could." Ash said.

"We'd need to be quick if that's your plan." Chloe said from a distance. "How many were there?"

"5 total." Ash said.

"Can you manage taking two?" Goh asked.

"You'd be surprised what I can do without being told to." Chloe reminded.

"Guys, we can fight later." Ash said. "On three."

"One." Chloe said readying her pokeballs.

"Two." Goh said, him and Cinderace lined up.

"Three! Pikachu use Iron Tail!"

The next day

"Ash thank you for joining us again." The psychologist said, sitting down. "I guess it's just you two again, well how about we start with how yesterday went."

"Sorry I'm late." Chloe said entering the room. "I wasn't sure if I should come or not."

"You're always welcome for the group sessions. Find a place where you're comfortable and we can begin." The psychologist said.

"Thank you." Goh mouthed, as Chloe took a seat still far away.

Authors Note

Time is a weird thing for this story, obviously with daily uploads, I can't have each chapter be a single day, one after the next without it getting stale, so I use time skips to help with that a bit. Just know 31 days doesn't equal a month, and 12 months doesn't equal a year. Ash is only 2ish years older than the start of his journey for the purpose of this story.