Hi all,

Firstly, thank you so much for your reviews. I've been a bit scatterbrained and not mentioned my gratitude, but I am grateful!

Here's the latest update for May, Gym Leader. Please understand that I had quite a bit of concerns about labeling the disease which ails Norman. However, I've had so many of my friends who have had relatives struggle with this disease, that I felt it was important to show a bit more of the things which go on. I'm in no way an expert on any type of medicines or illnesses, however I have seen just how lost and alone it can leave others.

Chapter 4

Waking in a very familiar room the next day, May couldn't help but stretch languidly before checking her Xtransceiver. Seeing a missed call, she felt her heart jump in her throat with anxiety. It wasn't that she didn't want to see the ID which popped up on her screen, it was more that she was terrified of what she would hear this time. Her hands shaking with nerves, she hurriedly redialled the number and put it to her ear.

'May?' A voice gasped, sounding scratchy and raw, probably from tears. It left the young woman suppressing another sickening wave of panic and anxiety as she tried to find a way of appeasing the woman on the other side of her device. She couldn't remember when she'd taken on the maternal role, and it left her feeling not just drained, but isolated from the others around her.

'Mum, what's happened? Is everything ok?' May whispered, not even daring to hide her fear. If her mother was worried it meant something bad had happened, and she couldn't even think of summing up the courage to force her usual optimism. It was too early for that, and her father had been ill for years now. She just wanted him back at home, with her mum by his side, as cheerful as ever.

'Your father's had to go back into the intense chemotherapy sessions again. The treatments haven't been working for his newest form of cancer, so they're trying another dosage,' Caroline sobbed into the Xtransceiver, shattering May's heart. If her father, who had always been confident and strong, couldn't fight the cancer, she didn't know what to do. They weren't as close as they could have been, but the man was still her father, and she still loved him with all her heart. Besides, it felt like every time he was almost cured of one type of cancer, another was discovered. She'd never realised there were so many different types out there, and didn't know what he'd possibly done to cause such a devastating and persistent illness to ail his body.

Thinking of her father's slick black hair which was thinning with each chemotherapy treatment, as well as his usually stoic persona, May gulped into the phone. Without the man's calm confidence, her mother had become a panicking mess, and May couldn't always be there for her in person if she wanted to fulfil her duties at the gym.

'Stay strong, mum, I'm coming. I know you told me that I didn't have to, but I do,' May choked out, struggling to keep back her tears. She knew she had to be strong for not just her mother, but her father too. If she started crying now, she knew she wouldn't be able to stop, and that would shatter her mother all the more.

'May, honey, you don't need to,' Caroline sniffed into the phone, her voice breaking as she tried to hide just how desperately she missed her daughter, something May knew as well as the older woman did. After all, their family friends had often remarked on how similar May was to Caroline, not just in physique, but also in actions.

'Mum, I do. Have you spoken to Max?' The brunette responded firmly as she struggled to put her clothes on single handed, not wanting to terminate the call with her mother whilst she was in such a state of shock.

'No, the Ranger School told me he's completed his exams and they'll have him contact me as soon as possible,' Caroline sobbed, the sound of her distraught confusion stabbing May's heart once more. Honestly, their family was dysfunctional with their communications, but they still did their best to make things work. Whilst May hadn't been able to communicate properly with Norman since her avid phobia of pokémon had started, Max had struggled with his own problems, though their parents had been too concerned with May's obvious fears to notice the altered behaviours in their son. He hadn't dared to tell Norman and Caroline, who could both be extremely protective of their children, but Max had confided in May that he'd been bullied in school. It was one of the reasons why May had always been the one he'd run to first, with any problem or concern. The other reason, of course, was that she wouldn't scold him quite as badly as their parents, and try to resolve anything before Caroline or Norman found out.

It was probably one of the reasons why May didn't think about the next sentence which came out of her mouth. She didn't consider any form of logic, including transport or time as she blurted out, 'I'll be there as soon as I can, don't worry. Stay calm and I'll see you soon.'

With a grimace, May heard her mother sniff once before she terminated the call.

Clambering out of the room in which she'd resided, May headed mechanically to Brendan's room. The man was her best friend, so she didn't even think about just how tear-stained her face would be, nor how bloodshot her eyes would be. Instead, she let out a loud sniff as she ran a hand through her hair. Knowing the man would never forgive her for not contacting him immediately, May grimaced to herself.

Knocking on the door, she sniffed as memories of her distraught mother's voice filled her mind. She knew that as soon as the man saw her, he'd pull her in for one of his Ursaring hugs, and do his best to help her.

She heard a strange voice frown wordlessly from the other side of the hollow core door, causing May to blink slightly. Opening and closing her mouth, she glanced around the deserted and familiar hallway in the Birch household as she heard unfamiliar footsteps make their way to the door. Turning her attention back to Brendan's room as the door opened, May cringed as it revealed a confused man with light blue hair, his expression hazy as he considered the startled young woman before him.

'What?' May gasped as she scrubbed at her eyes. She was in the Birch household, so what was Steven Stone doing before her in Brendan Birch's room?

'Is everything all right?' The man frowned, placing an anxious hand on the brunette's arm, attempting to steady her in her dazed confusion.

'I,' May started before her gaze flickered to Orlando's room. She sluggishly recalled Brendan and Orlando needing to share one room whilst Wallace and Steven agreed to sleep in the other. Mrs Birch had insisted that she herself would sleep in her usual room in the Birch's house which she'd shared on numerous occasions with an excitable Max, unless he bunked with Brendan or Orlando themselves. Considering the devastation that had caused for everyone within the household, it hadn't been a privilege which the boys had been privy to often.

'It's your father, isn't it?' Steven frowned before glancing back into the room and stepping out, seeming not at all perturbed by May seeing him appearing just as if he climbed out of bed. Closing the door softly behind himself, he turned a concerned gaze onto the brunette before him, whose hair was a mess and eyes were bloodshot with unshed tears.

'He's had to go back into chemo, and it's not working too well,' May whispered, her voice strangled as her thoughts flew to her younger brother, who had promised to contact her upon completing school. It worried her that he still hadn't managed to send her a message. If he'd spent all of his time on the phone with her, reading over his notes only to fail his final exam, May would feel gutted. She wanted him to succeed with his dreams, not to slump like herself. At least her father could be proud of one of them, cutting his worries drastically.

'Stay positive, May, he'll get through this. I'll give you a lift to the hospital. Norman is still an important figure to the League, as are you,' Steven smiled down at the young woman, touching her upper arm gently in what could only be described as a reassuring manner.

'Thank you, Steven,' May grimaced as she glanced worriedly down at her Xtransceiver, which she still grasped tightly in her hands.

'Have you contacted Max?' The man asked, surprising her by recalling her brother's name. Maybe he did care about each individual member of his league, though May hadn't felt too certain about that notion before. Just the idea that he'd know the intimate details of each Gym Leader's family life had seemed ludicrous to her before. However, considering the things she'd heard about the man from Brendan and Orlando, she supposed that it shouldn't have surprised her.

In response, the younger woman shook her head anxiously, biting her lip in clear concern. She'd never liked being the one to deliver bad news to her brother, however her mother couldn't get a hold of him and was in no state to talk to anyone at the moment. That left the task, as grave as it was, to her.

'Call your brother, he deserves to know,' Steven advised as May grimaced anxiously. He was in Almia, which was so far away from her. Not only would she not be there to comfort him, but he probably wouldn't feel like he could run to her with this, especially if she was the one delivering the bad news. It left an even bigger hole in her heard, knowing that Max, her younger brother that she'd always done her best to protect, was so far away from her and would feel like there was no one to help him. How could she tell him that their father was worse again? How would he react? More importantly, how would she react to him? She had to calm his anxieties lest they drown her too. She knew her mother was slipping into a perpetual grief, and she didn't think she could lose Max to it too.

'I don't know if I can,' May grimaced as she struggled to hold back her tears. How could she face her brother and pull him back to Hoenn after he'd finally passed his hurdles and had the chance of a lifetime? Even though she was worried about his results, she knew that he would have contact her if there was anything wrong. After all, he'd always rushed to May first for comfort, not anyone else.

'I'll stay with you if you like?' Steven offered as Orlando's door opened up.

Nodding her head slowly, May felt her lip tremble as she considered the conversation she was going to have with her brother. After all, her mother's Xtransceiver was switched off a lot of the time due to hospital regulations and Max would have almost no luck getting through to the woman. No, she should tell him herself, even if she felt like she would destroy him.

'May? What's going on?' Brendan yawned before glancing from Steven to May. He blinked momentarily before registering May's tearful face and Steven's uncomfortable expression.

'All right, what's going on here? Steven, you may be Champion, but you hurt a hair on her head and I'll have Blaziken burn you far worse than anything Orlando's ever suffered!' Brendan glowered as he took a menacing step towards the two, surprising both of them by the sheer protectiveness in his voice.

'No, it's not like that!' May squeaked, her face flushing with horror as Steven sent the man a wry smile.

'Your choice in friends is admirable, May,' Steven complimented the brunette, not at all intimidated by the other man's glower, which did nothing to appease the younger man's foul mood, nor May's mortification.

'Hey, I wasn't joking!' Brendan glared as he placed a hand on the pokéball which held his starter pokémon.

'I'm sure you weren't, however you are mistaken with what is going on here. While I cannot disagree that May is physically appealing, I am not trying to take advantage of her. She's just been contacted by her mother and I was offering her what little comfort I could,' Steven explained as he glanced down at the brunette whose anxiety had increased again with the impeding call to her brother.

'Brendan, could you please make May an oran berry and lum berry drink?' Steven requested as he saw May's face was focused in an intense frown, her thoughts reeling with her impeding conversation with her brother.

The younger man glanced at the Champion in confusion before leaving the hallway, muttering threats under his breath the duo pretended not to notice.

With a slight grimace, Steven's eyes flickered to Brendan's still open door, through which his younger brother's concerned visage could be seen, his eyes widened in disbelief.

'I'd appreciate it if you could wake your mother and request she help us with breakfast. May might need some motherly support in a little bit which none of us can offer her,' the man murmured as May followed her older friend out of the room, her hands twirling her Xtransceiver anxiously.

The Champion didn't glance back at Orlando as he followed May to the couch she'd sat at before. Placing the Xtransceiver against her ear, she waited anxiously for the familiar voice of her brother.

'May, what's happened?' A male voice cracked into the device, barely audible over May's anxious breath.

Steven awkwardly sat next to her as she dug her nails into her hand, whispering, 'dad's not well again. I'm going to the hospital to see how he's going but I thought I'd let you know now.'

'Kyogre help us. How's mum holding up?' Max's groaned as a single tear fell from May's left eye.

'She's stressed, you know what she's like. She loves him, and seeing him like this is probably killing her. I'm going to see her as soon as I can,' May responded, her voice shaking as Steven placed an arm around her, rubbing her back slightly, just to remind her that he was there.

'Do you want me to come back to Hoenn? I'm kind of tied up with a Cresellia at the moment,' her brother questioned, his voice sounding like it came through gritted teeth.

'Don't worry, I'm with the Birches, they'll make sure I'm ok. But, what are you doing? Did you pass your exams?' May demanded, appearing to have noticed something the Champion hadn't.

'I did, and I've been assigned as a Ranger of Vientown. The only problem is that there's more missions here than I thought. Sorry I didn't have the chance to contact you,' Max chuckled anxiously as May's eyes narrowed in anger.

'So are you on a mission right now?' May glared into the Xtransceiver, a dangerous edge filling her voice which her brother would know all too well.

'Maybe,' the man responded uncertainly as Steven felt a wave of sympathy for the man. After all, May's face was suddenly flushed with anger and her hands were balled into fists, her nails digging quite obviously into her skin.

'Max! I thought I told you to tell me if you're going on missions! If you want to avoid mum that's fine, but you have to tell someone when you're doing something dangerous! Lugia help me if anything happens to you while you're in Almia! We're struggling with keeping dad here, I can't lose you too!' May growled into the device, barely holding back a shriek of despair which turned into a strangled sob that the young woman simply couldn't contain.

'Ok, ok, I'll tell you next time, relax! Anyway, I have to go because the group of ghost types are back. I'll let you know when I'm fine. Let me know how it goes with dad,' Max growled back, and Steven could almost imagine the younger man glaring at his sister if he'd been physically present. He'd had his fair experiences witnessing sibling rivalry, especially with Liza and Tate from Mossdeep City. Those two could give any other sibling feud a run for their money, especially with their heightened psychic senses.

'Stay safe, please,' May pleaded before she terminated the call and sniffed, scrubbing at her eyes with the back of her hands.

Hearing a door open, Steven saw Mrs Birch's concerned expression, the juice the Champion had requested held firmly in her hand.

Standing awkwardly, he nodded briefly to the woman before escaping to the kitchen, not having any words to say to the woman.

Seeing Orlando scowling at his brother who was standing at the stove frying eggs and bacon, Steven placed a hand in his pockets where May's key stones were still held.

'How is she?' The older sibling questioned upon seeing the man with light blue hair, his tone clipped as he prodded an egg a little too hard.

'She's managed to get a hold of Max, but she's insisted he stay in Almia,' Steven responded as he took a seat beside Orlando. Whilst he appeared indifferent to the events going on around him, he was acutely aware of the protective older brother act Brendan was playing for the younger woman. It warmed him to see such good relations between the two, especially since he'd been lacking the same support as a young child.

'I asked how she was, not what she's doing,' Brendan scowled at the man who had once been his idol, appearing to have chosen his affections for May over any cheerful admiration he'd once held for Steven.

Steven, in response, blinked at the black haired man as the tanned man to his left hissed, 'Brendan, don't be so rude!'

'What? May's in there with mum and we know nothing about what's going on. Mr Stone was too busy making her cry in the hallway to use his head and get either of us! Do you think she'd be crying nearly as hard if either of us were with her?' Brendan glared at the older man who blinked in response. The oldest man hadn't considered how others might view his actions, opting to comfort the younger woman in the best way he knew. Furthermore, if he didn't know better, he'd think that Brendan was acting like a jealous starter pokémon.

'That's beside the point!' Orlando glared at the man before sending an apologetic frown at the Champion who was not at all perturbed by their argument. Under normal circumstances he would have pretended to be engrossed in something, however, instead, Steven's thoughts turned to Norman, one of the stronger Gym Leaders in the League. Not only was he a strong Gym Leader, but he was perfectly balanced between brain and brawn. It made the man a formidable addition to the League, and one Steven couldn't afford to lose.

'It's quite all right, your brother is only concerned for his friend,' Steven responded in the hopes of acquiescing their argument before Mrs Birch returned with a still teary eyed May.

Upon seeing her, Brendan ignored the stove and rushed over to the still sniffling woman. He murmured something into her ear and pulled her into a tight hug, gingerly kissing the top of her head as her shoulders shook.

Orlando grimaced as he questioned, 'will Max be coming?'

'No, he's got a mission in Almia,' May's voice mumbled from Brendan's shirt as Steven frowned, realising that seeing May be treated so by another did not sit well with him, though he couldn't explain why.

Hearing this, Mrs Birch quickly whisked together the rest of the breakfast before turning her gaze to May, 'we'll need to get you to Mauville City Hospital, May.'

'Mrs B., you can't miss today, Orlando's been waiting for so long for this,' May protested as Steven gazed at them, considering her statement.

'And how do you suggest you get from Littleroot to Mauville City, young lady? It's not a hike you can achieve in a day, you know!' Mrs Birch scolded, arching a cool eyebrow at May, whose shoulders slumped.

'I can give May a lift, if you like?' Steven offered, deciding to weigh into the conversation.

'Don't you have other things to do? I thought being Champion was meant to be challenging, keep you on your toes and all,' Brendan scowled, his ruby eyes narrowing angrily.

'I've been meaning to visit Norman for a while, so I'm sure I can rearrange my meetings for today,' Steven responded politely as Mrs Birch glared at her son for being so rude to the older man. Rather than appear abashed by his mother's anger, the man snorted at Steven's apparently predictable response.

'Well then I'm coming too! May and Mrs C. need at least someone there who they know!' Brendan snarled as his brother's expression darkened.

'And what about me?' Orlando glared at his brother, his grey eyes flashing with a jealous injury that Steven pretended not to notice.

'Please, I'll meet up with you on your journey to meet your Mudkip,' Brendan scoffed, waving a hand in a dismissive manner.

'How did you know?' The youngest Birch glared as May let out a soft smile.

Mrs Birch placed their breakfast of eggs, sausages and muffins in three separate plates, one for May, Steven and Brendan each.

'Please, as if you'd pick a Torchic like May and myself. You've always been the shiny Mareep of Littleroot!' Brendan chuckled before scoffing down food as Steven sent a message to his office at the Pokémon League requesting for a car.

'Brendan!' Mrs Birch scowled as May let out a small giggle.

'Am I that predictable?' Orlando whined, his grey eyes turning to either his mother or May for support.

'Don't worry, Orlando, we wouldn't have you any other way,' May responded in a half-hearted manner, picking at her food as Steven tucked in, a silent observer to their conversation who noticed the reluctance with which she ate her food, as well as Orlando's eager expression at the woman's comment.

Once the trio had finished breakfast, Steven lead May and Brendan to the silver car, where a driver was waiting patiently.

'What about Wallace?' May whispered as Steven opened the door for her.

'I'm sure he'll find his own way to Sootopolis. The League will probably be sending a car for him later,' Steven reassured her as Mrs Birch called, 'give Caroline my best!'

With an undoubtedly heavy heart, May climbed into the luxurious car, seated on the leather seats as Brendan sat beside her. In the row before them sat Steven, who appeared perfectly at ease with his back to the road ahead.

'Do you at least know which ward Mr N. is in?' Brendan grimaced at May, who nodded her head tiredly.

'You might want to do your hair by the way, your mum will flip if she sees it,' Brendan murmured, causing May to grab her bandana and cover her hair in the way she had as a child.

'Better?' May whispered to her friend, who nodded numbly in response, his attention caught by the road outside.

I hope this wasn't too emotionally taxing for anyone to read. It was an extremely long chapter that took me far too long to edit. Let me know what you think :)