Hours past, the sky was gently turning black as the stars started to peep through.

Brock and Misty finally made it back to the Ketchum's home and carefully laid Ash on the couch.

Ash had fallen asleep on the travel from the pure pain and exhaustion he had just been through.

His tanned face was stained with dried blood and you could see the tracks of his silent tears.

"Poor Ash," whispered Misty, pulling a blanket over her secret lover's bruised body.

Brock was in a different frame of mind to Misty; he was upset, but angry of what a father could do to his son. Brock's mind was filling with images of Ash lying on Giovanni's lap, getting painfully whipped across his back.

Ash was like a brother to Brock and he was always there for him, no matter how deep the problem got.

"Brock, what should we do?" asked Misty, sadly as she saw the bleeding whip marks torn into Ash's skin.

Brock glanced at his jacket in the mirror and saw it was blood stained with his best friend's blood. He wasn't worried about his new jacket; he was more worried of Ash losing so much blood.

"We should get him cleaned up, I guess," replied Brock, seriously.

Brock and Misty worked together to help their wounded friend, they couldn't do a lot as they didn't have much medical equipment with them in the house.

They both carefully cleaned the blood off of his face, chest and back, and then slowly wrapped a big bandage around his chest just in case the wounds started to bleed again.

All the pair could do now was waiting for the return of Professor Oak and Ms Ketchum.

There was a knock at the front door and Misty rushed over to it hoping to see the faces of Ms Ketchum and the Professor, but instead it was small yellow mouse and a clown like pokemon at her feet.

"Pika!"

"Mr Mime"

'Oh no, we can't show Pikachu the state of Ash, it will freak him out', thought Misty.

"Ummm….hi Pikachu, Mr Mime…," nervously smiled Misty, trying to block the living room door.

However, Pikachu ran in between Misty's legs thinking Misty was just playing with him, but quickly stopped to his trainer lying, beside of Brock, injured.

"Pikachu, Ash got a little hurt that's all, he's just sleeping," lied Brock quickly, seeing Pikachu's tears slowly started to fall.

"MR MIME!" gasped Mr Mime, seeing the state of kitchen.

Blood was clinging to the kitchen sink and soak up tissues was scattered along the floor creating Mr Mime to go mad on how much of a state the kitchen was.

Brock, Misty and Pikachu just ignored the irritated pokemon and just stared at Ash, as he began to stir.

"Pika (Ash)"

Ash slowly opened his eyes to see his three friends smiling in front of him.

"Hi," coughed Ash, weakly.

"Why don't we sit you up, huh?" suggested Brock, as he and Misty helped their friend.

"Where am I?" asked Ash, looking around the room in puzzlement.

"You're back at home, your mum's orders," gently laughed Misty.

Ash smiled and then asked, "Where are mum and Prof?"

"They're still at Team Rocket's Palace," replied Brock, seriously.

"What?" gasped Ash in shock and quickly tried to get up.

"Hey, why do you think you're going?" asked Misty, holding Ash's arm.

"To rescue them of course, we can't leave them there with my dad," shouted Ash, painfully.

'Ash trying to be a hero again', thought Misty.

"Ash, I don't think that's a good idea, do you?" suggested Brock, helping Misty to stop Ash in his tracks.

Ash knew he was too weak and tired to fight Brock and Misty off.

Pikachu was also helping Brock and Misty to not let his trainer get even more injured.

"Ash, you're not helping," muttered Misty loudly, as Ash still tried to break free.

"PIKA…."

"No Pikachu, no thunder bolts," growled Brock quickly.

'What if mum and Professor Oak are hurt', thought Ash.

Ash soon fell to his knees and just bowed his head to the wooden floor as pain started to increase in his chest and back.

"Ash, come on let's get you up stairs, you just need rest," whispered Misty, calmly.

Misty couldn't stand to see Ash like this and she knew that she was deeply in love with him.

Misty was planning to tell him soon, but now this had happened she didn't think it would be a good idea.

"Here," ordered Misty gently as she pulled back the duvet so Ash could climb into bed.

"T….hanks," sobbed Ash, as he carefully climbed in and laid his head on the pillows.

"Your mum and Professor will be back soon and don't worry about them because Brock and I are here for you no matter what happens, understand?" smiled Misty.

Ash smiled and weakly nodded.

Misty watched Ash's brown eyes slowly close as he drifted off to sleep, she felt like she should be sleeping next to him and comforting his worries, but she couldn't, just in case he didn't feel the same way.

Instead, Misty passionately kissed Ash on the forehead and whispered, "I love you, Ash."

Then softly shut the door.

"I love you too, Mist."