A/N sorry, It's been awhile. I don't have much free time to write.
Tears
By coldheart
The police searched for several days and there was still no sign of Ash. Brock and Misty also contributed to the search, but as the days passed, they grew more frustrated that there seemed to be nothing they could do.
Misty was especially frustrated, and on the fourth day of searching, she started to cry uncontrollably, hyperventilating, but she still refused when Brock suggested that they take a break.
It wasn't until Mrs. Ketchum talked to her, that she finally agreed to a fifteen minute break.
The worst part about the "breaks" had to be the silence
They only talked when they were searching, and even then, communication was limited to the bare minimum.
What was there to say? The police were slowly pulling away their rescue efforts, and even though nobody said anything about it, Ash's chances of being alive were growing slimmer with every passing day.
That was what hung over everyone's minds. That was why silence was preferable to truth.
After the sixth day of searching had ended, and Misty and Brock were getting ready for bed, the phone rang.
The voice was excited, relieved and breathless at the same time. It was Mrs. Ketchum. "They found him….he's alive…" was all she said.
Mrs. Ketchum had called a cab to the hospital where Ash had been sent.
"Do….you think he's going to be okay?" Misty asked quietly, on the way there.
Mrs. Ketchum's face lost some of its relief and she regretted asking. Brock turned his face away, looking out the window wearily.
"He's alive." The boy said softly, as though telling himself that it was comfort enough. "I'm sure-"
He stopped himself. Guarantees were dangerous. They caused heartbreak. Something told him that Mrs. Ketchum knew more than she let on, but he didn't dare ask.
"I…Ash…" The words sounded sharp through the silence. Swallowing nervously, she continued again. They would find out anyways, and she preferred that they know before they saw her son.
"The reason….that Ash was gone…" Misty straitened up in her seat. She hadn't told Ash's mom about the argument yet, and the words seemed to fill her with dread. Did she find out? Something gnawed at her. If it wasn't for that, Ash wouldn't have separated from them.
One look at Misty's face, told Brock exactly what she was thinking. Concerned, he wrapped an arm around the young girl's shoulders. Mentally, he berated himself for not realizing sooner how guilty Misty was feeling.
Mrs. Ketchum didn't even notice the hug. She hated the way her voice sounded at the moment, as she struggled to find the right words.
"Someone…took Ash…Someone bad." Her stomach sunk. It made her feel sick and angry when she thought about what had happened. "He…was hurt badly…"
That was when the tears came. She hated herself for it. She had wanted to be strong, and now she was crumbling right in front of them.
Her last words came between sobs. "They…think he might have been raped."
Brock bit his lip, his fist tightening, and shaking, his arm squeezing Misty tighter, a little too tight.
The girl didn't even notice. Her mind seemed to be blank, as her arms shook. Rage and sorrow seemed to pour in at once, but she didn't really understand why. It just wasn't registering.
When they arrived at the counter, a Nurse Joy told them that they could only seem Ash one at a time. Nobody needed to say anything. It was unspoken that Mrs. Ketchum would go first. As the Nurse Joy left, Brock felt his throat tighten. If he hadn't been so busy flirting with Nurse Joy before….
He quickly squashed that mode of thought. Misty's guilt was enough. Blaming himself wouldn't change a thing.
That's what he told himself, although the feeling remained.
He was brought out of his thoughts by a quiet voice.
"….that to Ash…" he heart Misty mumble. "Why?"
Brock shifted nervously. Hard question. No answer.
"I told him 'I can't stand you.' It just keeps playing over and over in my head. He-usually stays with us in the pokemon center, but because I said that."
"Misty-"
"I made him cry. He tried to hide it, but I could see and because of that-"
"No. Misty." Brock told her sternly, gathering her up in his arms. "He…that monster…is the only one to blame. "
He would have went for anybody, Brock realized. If Ash hadn't been there, and I had been watching him better…
These thoughts seemed to pour in at once.
"Brock. Misty." Mrs. Ketchum, whispered. "He's still sleeping right now, but…you can see him."
Misty nodded over to Brock, her eyes affixed to the ground. "You go." She whispered.
Mrs. Ketchum and Brock shared a look, and they both knew that Misty simply wasn't ready to see Ash yet.
Brock gave a tiny nod and walked through the hallway, opening the door hesitantly.