A Motherly Façade

"Rise and shine," called Harriet from the base of the stairs.

Brock awoke abruptly. Pikachu was snuggled by his side still asleep. Brock sat up in the bed and stretched. He realized that he had been so tired that he hadn't even pulled the blankets back before getting into the bed.

As Misty and Brock walked into the kitchen Harriet greeted them with a large smile. Johnathan sat at the table drinking a steaming mug of coffee as he read the paper.

"Morin' y'all," he said looking up from the paper.

"Good morning sir," replied Misty.

"Well hello there young lady. I don't believe that we got to formally meet last night. Must've been a long day for you."

"Yeah it sure was," Misty replied.

"Come sit down and we can talk about it. Harriet's got a batch of pancakes fresh off the griddle."

Misty and Brock pulled up a chair and sat down around the table. Harriet came and set a large plateful of pancakes in front of each of them.

"That smells delicious mam" said Brock.

"Why thank you young man."

During the course of breakfast Brock and Misty told Harriet and Johnathan all about their travels.

"My, my, it would seem that you've done a bunch of traveling. You must have seen all sorts of sights," commented Johnathan excitedly.

"We sure have. It's suprising how remarkable the world truly is when you take the time to enjoy it," replied Misty.

"If you don't mind my asking how exactly did your friend wind up in the hospital?" asked Harriet.

Brock told the story of their confrontation with Team Rocket. He told how Ash had valiantly tried to save Pikachu from the oncoming torrent of snow.

"Such friendship is hard to find. Ash must truly be a great friend," commented Harriet.

With this comment Misty strained to hold back her tears. A small droplet slowly snaked its way down her cheek. As she tasted the salty droplet on her lip she turned bright red.

"Are you all right young lady?" asked Johnathan.

"Ye...ah," stuttered Misty.

Harriet got up and soothingly placed her hand on Misty's shoulder.

"Come child let's talk in the other room," said Harriet in a motherly fashion.

Misty followed Harriet into a side room.

"Now why don't you tell me about your friend?" asked Harriet.

At first Misty didn't know what to say. She felt embarrassed about her reaction at the table.

"Don't worry you can tell me anything. Nobody but the two of us will know."

"Well Ash really cares for Pikachu. I mean they're like best friends. The two of them go everywhere together. Ash is so bighearted."

"And how does that make you feel?"

"Well…" said Misty nervously.

"I think he's really kind and sweet towards his pokémon. He cares for each of them."

"Does he care for you?"

Misty turned bright red at the question.

"Well I…"

"If you don't want to answer you don't have to. This is your time to say whatever you want."

"I just don't know what to think."

"You care for him right?"

"Well he can be so pigheaded at times. Bragging. So overconfident. It just makes me so angry."

"But you're still good friends in spite of this, right?"

"I guess so."

"How did you feel after he fell?"
"Well I felt afraid. Afraid I'd never see him again. I was angry at myself. All those times we had fought. All the mean things I said to him in the past."

As Misty spoke tears began to stream down her cheeks. Feelings of guilt came back to her.

Harriet wrapped her arms in a tight embrace around Misty.

"Now child don't worry yourself about that. From what I've seen of your friendship I'm sure that all that doesn't matter to him. You see even the best of friends say things they don't mean. What makes our friendships strong is the ability to forgive. And if I'm right you have a very strong friendship with Ash and Brock."

"I just feel so guilty. I gave up hope of finding him. Even when Pikachu was determined that we would find him."

Harriet gently stroked Misty's head, and wiped away her tears. Misty felt comfort in having somebody there to talk with. Somebody that would sit down and listen. For most of her life all she had was her sisters to talk to, and they never listened to her that well.

After awhile Misty and Harriet returned to the table. Misty felt a lot better having talked to Harriet. Her guilt seemed to have been washed away with her tears. A feeling of comfort was slowly replacing it.

After breakfast Harriet gathered the dishes and placed them in the sink

"I suppose you'll be wanting to get back to see your friend. We'll be leaving shortly so be sure to grab your things."

The group left the house at about 11:30. Johnathan bid the group farewell from the patio as they got into the car.

The taxi arrived at the Mahogany town hospital around noon. Once the taxi stopped Mrs. Ketchum quickly got out and ran into the hospital. Professor Oak stayed behind and took care of the fare. Mrs. Ketchum ran up to the reception desk, and frantically asked "Where's my son?"

"Could you please tell me you name mam, and the name of the person you are looking for?"

"My name is Delilah Ketchum. I'm looking for my son Ash Ketchum. Where is he? What happened to him?"

"Calm down mam. Now let me see… Ash Ketchum is currently in the Intensive Care Unit. He was brought here early yesterday. He has a broken leg, some broken ribs, internal hemorrhaging, and he's been unconscious since he's arrived here."

Mrs. Ketchum took off down the hall towards the patient rooms.

"Wait mam! I have to see if you can go back there."

Mrs. Ketchum stopped and walked back to the desk.

"Forgive me, I just have to see Ash."

The receptionist picked up the phone and called the attendant in the ICU.

"Well it seems that you can go back for a little. Hey Joan could you show Mrs. Ketchum back to the ICU?"

"Sure thing. Right this way mam," a nurse said as she led the way to the ICU.

"Thank you," Mrs. Ketchum said with a look of great relief upon her face.

They walked back through the halls silently. Mrs. Ketchum looked into some of the other rooms at the variety of patients there. She looked at the variety of patients there for a variety of reasons, and with each case thoughts of her Ash lying there in one of the beds came into her mind.

"Well here we are. You'll just have to sign in at with the attendant."

"Thank you."

"Have a nice day."

The staff at the hospital was very casual with the patients. They saw these sort of cases all the time. Often they saw the person as more of a machine in need of repair.

As Mrs. Ketchum entered the ICU she saw Ash lying there in one of the beds. There was an assortment of tubes and IVs attached to the boy, all of them running up to fluid filled sacs, machines, and other gizmos. Ash just lay there with a blank expression on his face. The sight brought some relief to Mrs. Ketchum, but also caused her further distress.

"Hello, are you Mrs. Ketchum?"

"Yes."

"Your son is in a critical state right now. The doctors have done some work to mend the broken bones, and to stop the hemorrhaging, but he will have to remain here for a few days so that we can better monitor his state. He has been unconscious since he was brought here, and we fear he may be in a mild coma state."

Mrs. Ketchum walked over to Ash's side as the attendant spoke, pretty much ignoring her words. She grabbed Ash's hand and held it tight in her own. She gently brushed Ash's charcoal black hair with her other hand as she said "I'm here for you my little boy."

Ash just lay there unresponsive. Mrs. Ketchum wondered if Ash could hear her. She felt so helpless seeing that there was nothing she could do to help her "little baby".

The car stopped in the small parking lot. Harriet, Misty, and Brock got out of the car and proceeded towards the hospital. Misty and Brock gave Harriet their most sincere gratitude for all that she had done for them. Harriet just shrugged gradually and said "Oh it was nothing."

The glass doors slid open as they entered the silent lobby. The only noises that could be heard were those of ringing phones, and the echoes of the medical staff as they went up and down the hallways..

As Misty entered the waiting room here eyes caught sight of a familiar figure.

"Mrs. Ketchum?"

The figure looked over at the party as they were entering the room.

"Brock! Misty! It's so good to see you," Mrs. Ketchum said excitedly as she jumped out of her chair leaping upon them upon them like a fierce predator. Her arms wrapped them in a tight embrace.

"Uh, it's good to see you too Mrs. Ketchum," said Brock nervously.

Mrs. Ketchum released them from her grizzly hug as she asked "So who is this friend of yours'?"

"The name's Harriet mam."

"Harriet and her husband Johnathan were kind enough to let us stay with them last night" Misty said.

"You have my deepest gratitude mam."

"So I take it your son is the one these young'uns are looking after."

"Yep that's my Ash. He can be such a troublesome boy," Mrs. Ketchum said as she chuckled.

Harriet saw the pain and worry that Mrs. Ketchum was trying to hide behind her smile.

"Now Mrs. Ketchum was it?"

"Call me Delilah."

"Say Delilah why don't you and I go grab a cup of coffee and have a nice little chat. I'm sure that Brock and Misty are anxious to go see Ash."

"I appreciate your kindness Harriet, but…"

"I insist."

"Well…"

"Don't worry Mrs. Ketchum we'll take care of things here," Brock and Misty chimed in.

"Well, okay then. Tracey and Professor Oak are visiting Ash right now. I'll be back in a few minutes."

"Come with me Delilah. There's a nice little café across the street."

Harriet and Mrs. Ketchum walked out of the front doors of the hospital chatting casually. Harriet put her arm around Mrs. Ketchum's shoulders reassuringly knowing from her motherly experience what Mrs. Ketchum was going through.

Tracey and Professor Oak walked back from the ICU. Professor Oak had been trying to keep a cool head because he knew that the other's would need somebody to be there for them, but it was becoming more difficult. He had known Ash for quite a few years. Professor Oak had never been too close with Ash yet he couldn't help but share in Mrs. Ketchum's sorrow. He recalled how Ash and Gary used to spend time together. One minute they would be playing the next they'd be arguing. As they grew older they began to argue and compete more and more, yet there was evidence of the friendship between these two.

"Brock! Misty! It's nice to see you again. It's just too bad it couldn't be under better circumstances," exclaimed Tracey.

"So how is Ash this morning?" asked Brock.

"Well from what the doctor's have said he seems to be in pretty rough shape. It's just a good thing that you got him here when you did."

"By the way Professor, do you know who exactly brought Ash in?" asked Misty, but Professor Oak was lost in a trance as he scanned the room.

"Say where did Delilah go?" asked Professor Oak.

"Oh she left with Harriet," said Misty.

"Harriet?"

"She gave us a place to stay for the night last night."

"Yeah, and she makes some great pancakes. They were the best I've ever had," chimed in Brock.

She and Mrs. Ketchum went to a café across the street to talk."

"Oh. Well I found us a place to stay for the night. There's a nice little motel not too far from here."

That night Professor Oak treated the group to an elegant diner on the town. The pokémon were left at the pokécenter where Nurse Joy agreed to look after them for the night. After diner. The group took a bus to the motel. It was an average looking little motel. A small parking lot right in front of the rooms. Each room was of moderate size with a bathroom, and a tv. Professor Oak, Tracey, and Brock took on room, while Mrs. Ketchum and Misty took the other. Just before they went to their rooms Professor Oak pulled Misty aside.

"I'd like to ask a favor of you Misty."

"What is it?"
"Well all of this has been hard on Delilah. If you could just be there for her. Say some comforting words."
"Don't worry about it Professor Oak," replied Misty with a smile.

"Thank you."