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Misty's Awakening
Part 7
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Therapy started out about the same as it had before. Dr. Johnson had Misty write the numbers from one to ten with each hand, which didn't take more than a few minutes to accomplish. Then, she told Misty that they would begin arm exercises. Misty was happy for a change of activity.

Dr. Johnson wheeled Misty out into the blue padded center and they stopped in a place where no one else would bother them.. Misty saw at least seven other people in the center, all doing different things either on machines or exercising with a therapists' help. To Misty, they all seemed stronger than her, but she also knew that she just needed practice.

Dr. Johnson directed her to extend her arms straight out and move them from side to side. It was hard and even painful at the start, but by the end Misty could keep her arms up for several minutes without wavering.

Misty was coming to realize that the strangest thing about therapy was that she was re- learning things she had known how to do all her life. Simple things— things she'd done idly since she was little, taken for granted. She'd never given a second thought to things like writing and moving around before.

But Misty was doing well already, gaining strength that she had lost. In fact, Dr. Johnson let Misty lift some two-pound weights for a few minutes at the end of the session. She felt great about how she was progressing— on the second day of therapy, she had adequate penmanship and her arms were getting stronger.

Therapy finished when a nurse returned, and Misty was taken away for a bath and change of clothes.

True to his word, Ash was waiting diligently for Misty when she arrived at her room again that morning.

She felt like giving him a warm hug, to run to him and thank him for every little thing he'd ever done for her, all the small joys that made her day. Just *seeing* him reminded her that even if she hated everything else in the whole world, there was one soul she would never dislike; one who could always bring a smile to her lips at the very sight of him.

Even with all that exploding in her mind, however, she could do nothing more than give him a casual "Hello".

"Did everything go Okay?" Ash asked her as he set down a Pokemon magazine he'd been looking at.

"Yeah, things went pretty good..." She sat on her bed with a little help. "So, what've *you* been up to?"

Ash shrugged. "Aw, just looking through this magazine...reading an interview with a young trainer. Kinda reminded me of myself a few years ago. I guess that's why I kept on reading...well, anyway, are you hungry?"

Misty swallowed. The joy she had felt but a moment ago sunk away, and she was left thinking about how awful it was that Ash had ceased his own training because of her. He had tried so hard, throwing himself into the work of caring for his Pokemon, becoming the best...it was amazing how he had though little of anything else all that time of traveling and journeying, and then, in a matter of hours his life had turned sharply in another direction.

"Misty?"

"Huh?"

"Are— are you hungry?"

"Oh..." She let out a silent, melancholy sigh. "Heh, sorry. Yeah, I'm a little hungry, I 'spose."

Ash nodded. "Let me run and get you some lunch, then."

"Yeah, sure...you won't be long?"

"Only five minutes at the most. I'll make sure to get you something you'll like."

Misty nodded, and Ash stood and left the room, smiling at her on the way out.

Again, Misty sighed a quiet, mournful sigh. Deep in her heart, she hoped that he'd resume his training again...someday. He may have lost Pikachu, but his other Pokemon were still some of the best she'd ever known. Maybe he could leave again soon, when she was a little better. She'd be fine on her own, as long as she knew that Ash was happy....

She felt her hair in her hand again, running her fingers through a lock of it like a comb as she thought. She saw her backpack hanging from a hook by her bed, and she took hold of it, pulling from it her hairbrush.

She couldn't remember the last time that she'd brushed through her hair, but suddenly she felt like she needed to. As she attempted to reach back with the brush to get to her long locks, she realized that Ash had been gone for at least five minutes already...

She split her hair into two sections and draped them over her shoulders. She found this a bit more manageable, and she slowly brushed the ends of her slightly damp hair.

She had just started when Ash came back, his face seeming to almost beam.

"Hey, Misty! I have a little surprise for you!" Misty jumped a little at his enthusiastic entrance.

"What, Ash?"

"Well, on my way down to the cafeteria, I ran into your Doctor and told him that I was getting you some lunch. Well, he told me that it'd be OK if you wanted me to take you down to the Cafeteria and eat there— and then he said I could take you outside for a little bit!"

Misty broke a smile, too. "Really?! Wow..." It was the part about actually getting to leave the hospital that appealed most to her.

"So— ya ready to go now?" He came closer.

Misty looked at the brush in her hand. "Well, I...I was trying to brush my hair a little, but I'm not doing a very job— "

"I'll help you— if you want," Ash offered.

"Oh, sure," Misty answered, handing the brush to her friend. He took it, and sat down behind her. He took her red-orange hair in his hand— Misty felt a blush coming on— and he proceeded to gently brush through her soft locks.

Misty felt a warm tingle come up her spine from his touch. She smiled wistfully, hoping that she wouldn't act as if she liked it, but... she *did*.

He left her hair down, silky and smooth over her back, and set the brush on the bed. "That OK?"

"Yeah, it's great. Thank you, Ash..."

"So, you want to go now?"

"Yes, I'd like that."

Ash ran out for a wheelchair and returned again promptly, assisting Misty as she sat in it.

He pushed her into the hallway, both of them seeming quite cheery, and they reached the elevator at the end of the hall.

They arrived downstairs and Ash guided Misty down a hall on the left towards the cafeteria.


"I wonder if it'll be anything like eating out," Misty mused.

"I hope, because hospital food doesn't have the best reputation for being edible." He laughed.

"I haven't ever really noticed," Misty said, "what I've eaten seems normal, but then, that's all I've tasted after three years. I don't remember hospital food tasting any different, though."

They entered a large room with tables everywhere and people sitting at them. There were some smaller tables against the walls, and a sort of buffet with people serving out food.

Ash wheeled Misty up to the counter, and she got a tray. They both went through the buffet, people in aprons serving them what they desired.

After they had filled their plates, they decided to sit at a two person table against the wall.

"What do you think?" Misty asked Ash as they began to eat.

"Not bad, but definitely hospital food."

The two laughed.


* * * *

"Which way now?" Ash asked as he quickly pushed Misty down the sidewalk. They had finished lunch, and Ash had taken Misty outside into a nearby park.

"Oh— turn right!" Misty told him.

The colors of autumn covered the park grounds. Everywhere Misty looked, she saw leaves scattered about the grass, and people in sweaters and jackets laughing and shouting, playing in piles of leaves. Misty, of course, had been wrapped in a blanket before being permitted to go out.

The smell was wonderful. Instead of the squeaky clean, stuffy scent of the hospital, the air was brisk and fresh, filling Misty's lungs and causing her to feel like she couldn't breathe in enough of it.

"Ok...here we go..." Ash also seemed very content, just to have her with him outside, and he pushed her faster down the walk...Misty laughed as the air rushed by her face, through her hair, causing it to billow a little behind her. She closed her eyes and let go of the handles...for just an instant, she was flying...

All afternoon, they played around in the park amidst the fall leaves. They sat at a bench after a bit and just started talking, Ash offering Misty some M & M's he had brought along.

"Mmmm...yes, I remember chocolate now..." She grinned as she put another into her mouth, sucking on the shell until it dissolved.

"I think it's one of those tastes you never forget." Ash popped a handful into his mouth.

* * * *

Evening fell, and Ash wheeled a reluctant Misty back to her room.

"It's not *that* much colder," Misty insisted as Ash pressed the elevator key to go up. "I'll be OK..."

"Maybe you will," Ash said, "but maybe you'll get sick and we shouldn't risk that."

Misty was served a dinner of sliced pot roast and mashed potatoes that night, and Ash brought a radio into the room so they could listen for a while. Music...it was something Misty remembered, of course, but not nearly as sweet as it sounded all of a sudden. She found also that she knew several songs that played, and she, as well as Ash at times, sung along with the radio. Misty was sure they'd get complaints from other rooms, but she couldn't help but get into the music.

Misty sang until she became exhausted and tired, the day's activities catching up with her at last. Ash turned the radio off.

"Gonna go to sleep?" he questioned gently, looking at her face.

"Yes, I'll admit it," Misty said, "I'd better get some sleep about now...."

"Ok, here...I'll help you..."

Misty settled into bed, comfortable and cozy, and looked up at Ash.

"Well, then...goodnight, Ash."

He nodded. "Goodnight, Misty...sweet dreams..."

He ran his hand momentarily over hers, and then he was gone.

The darkness seemed thick and lonely, but the thoughts of the day returned to Misty and she felt peaceful. She hadn't had a song stuck in her head for a long time, but now, she thought of one she had heard today on the radio. It reminded her of Ash just a little, and she sang it softly to herself...

"...You've been there for me, no matter what the cost...
My best friend since we've believed in Santa Claus...
You have always stood beside me
And I want to let you know
I'll be the one who hears your prayer
Don't have to ask me, I'll be there
I'll be the friend you'll never have to do without
When you have nothing at all, you'll still have noting to worry about. . ."

Misty exhaled, too tired now to finish the song, and thought of Ash again as sleep took her over.



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...To Be Continued...



(AN: The song is called 'Nothing at All' from Sailor Moon SS...I do not own it.)