Chapter 13
His mattress was as hard as stone, but he still found comfort on it as laid back. Allowing his mind to drift, he thought back to that night. He would never forget that night.
It was the first time in a long time that he felt truly lost and...helpless.
That night would mark the start of his journey.
Sunday, October 30th
Ash sat in the lobby of Lt Surge's Memorial Hospital on a wide seat with Casey on one side of him, passing time by using her phone, and Macy on the other leaning on his side as she slept. It was well past eleven o'clock and Ash had no idea how the rest of this night was going to play out.
It had been ten years since Ash had felt so panicked about something. His discovery of Cassidy writhing in pain on the kitchen floor had filled him with an ominous dread. What followed was a blur of paramedics bursting into their home to check Cassidy's vitals. Even with how grim the situation seemed, these people worked with an almost chilling sense of professionalism, meticulously examining Cassidy and assuring Ash that everyone would be okay.
Their words did little to help him as he watched them strap Cassidy to a gurney and wheel her off to the ambulance outside. Ash had managed to keep the girls upstairs during the whole ordeal, but the officer escorting the ambulance told Ash they couldn't leave him home after what had just transpired. The trio was taken to the hospital, closely following the ambulance that Cassidy was in.
Entering the hospital, Ash caught a glimpse of Cassidy as the paramedics rushed her through the lobby. That was the last time he had seen her, roughly an hour and a half ago, and he couldn't stop his mind from wandering.
What would have happened if he didn't come home tonight? His original plan had been to return tomorrow, but his injury earlier today caused him to shorten his little trip this weekend. If he wasn't home, would Casey have been able to respond properly? For a twelve-year-old, she was very strong-minded, but there was no telling how she would handle the situation or Macy for that matter. Glancing at the small girl leaning on him, Ash exhaled softly and placed his arm around her.
Despite the reassurance he had received from the officers and the paramedics, Ash couldn't lay this thought to rest. What was going to happen to Cassidy? Would she be alright?
Feeling someone tap his shoulder, Ash put his thoughts aside as he looked toward Casey.
"Ash?" She whispered to him. Just a glance at her was enough for Ash to see that Casey was deeply distressed. She had been putting up a front, but she was likely asking herself the same questions he was.
"What's up?" He asked her, waiting patiently for Casey to word her question.
"What's...what's going to happen...to Cassidy I mean?" She asked him in return, her tone hushed. She looked at him, hope in her eyes that Ash would have an answer to this question.
"I...don't know." Ash admitted, shaking his head. He had no choice but to be honest with her. He was scared just like her, afraid of what grim news the doctors might have for them. Fortunately, he could conceal his apprehension. "But no matter what, just be strong, for Macy."
Casey took a moment to look at her younger sister, and then after taking a deep breath, she gave Ash a firm nod.
The double doors leading further into the hospital opened up, revealing a doctor who was accompanied by a well-dressed woman. He scanned the lobby briefly before his gaze settled on Ash, Casey, and Macy. Approaching them, Ash could see the doctor draw in a breath as though he was preparing to give them some news that he would prefer not to share.
"You all, live with Cassidy, correct?" The doctor asked them, receiving a nod from Ash and Casey. "I'm Ethan Avertt, a cardiologist here. I'll be taking over the treatment of your mother."
"It's nice to meet you. I'm Ash." Ash said, extending his free hand to Ethan who shook his hand, being mindful of Macy who was still sound asleep. "The little one here is Macy, and-"
"My name is Casey." Casey interjected, preferring to introduce herself. Ethan raised his eyebrow and then smiled, choosing to shake hands with her as well.
"It's nice to meet you all." He said kindly. "Can I asked how old you guys are?"
"I'm twelve." Casey stated.
"And I'm eighteen." Ash said, earning a sharp glance from Casey. Why was he lying?
Nudging Ash with her elbow, this gained his attention as he looked at her out of the corner of his eye. Seeing Casey's questioning gaze, Ash gave her a small wink before placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Everything's going to be fine Casey." Ash said to her in an effort to play off their small exchange. This caused Ethan to consider Casey's age. Perhaps it would be best for him to only talk with Ash.
"Ash, can I speak with you privately?" Ethan requested, and Ash felt his stomach drop. This couldn't be good.
"Yeah, it's no problem." Ash said as he nudged Casey. He motioned for her to take his spot supporting Macy as he rose from the chair they had been sitting on. Once the two girls were comfortable, Ash followed Ethan as they took some distance from his siblings.
"So Ash, do you know what a cardiologist is?" Ethan asked him after a few moments. Studying Ash's expression, Ethan picked up on the anxiety Ash must have been experiencing and brushed his question aside. "I mentioned it earlier for a reason, but I'm essentially a heart doctor."
Ash furrowed his brow for a moment, putting the pieces together now.
"What's wrong with Cassidy's heart?" Ash asked him curiously, fighting off the quiver in his voice.
"Earlier tonight, Cassidy suffered a silent heart attack." Ethan paused after revealing this, giving Ash some time to digest this news. "There are many kinds of heart attacks, but this one, in particular, is hard to determine the cause of. It could've been stress induced, or due to poor eating habits."
"So what's the deal, is she going to recover?" Ash asked him, getting straight to the point.
"I'm going to be frank with you Ash. Her heart is no longer distributing enough blood and oxygen on its own to survive. It's going to cause her vital systems to begin to fail." Ethan stated, and Ash sucked his lips in as he looked away from Ethan. His head dropped as he took a few breaths through his nostrils. It was a tough piece of information to handle.
Cassidy... was going to die?
"Isn't there...anything you can do for her?" Ash asked softly, making eye contact with Ethan.
"We already have her on life support, but she's in danger of falling into a coma," Ethan explained and Ash's heart sunk. "We will keep her under observation of course, and we'll do anything in our power for her."
"Thanks." Ash said, and Ethan placed his hand on his shoulder, giving it a squeeze to console him.
"As much as I hate to add to this heavy subject Ash, I was informed that she is your foster parent," Ethan noted as he glanced at the two girls seated across the lobby. "Is there anyone else taking care of you all while she is incapacitated?
"Yeah..." Ash hesitated for a moment. This was a tricky path he was about to step onto. "...Her husband. His name is Butch."
"I'm assuming he's coming to pick you all up?" Ethan continued, but Ash shook his head.
"He's away on business at the moment. I have some friends that can take us home." Ash explained, causing Ethan to frown.
"Hmm...Anita, do you think Ash will be able to answer your questions?" Ethan asked as he turned to the woman that had entered the lobby with him. She shrugged her shoulders as she approached them, smiling faintly at Ash.
"We'll just have to find out the old fashioned way." She replied before introducing herself. "I'm Anita, I need someone to confirm a few things for me."
"Uh, okay." Ash said as she looked down at the clipboard she held.
"The reason I have to ask you these questions is because of Cassidy's medical history. Her expenses have never been covered by insurance. According to our records, her husband Butch has paid for prior hospital visits out of pocket." Anita explained for Ash. "You said he's away right now, and obviously I don't know when he plans to return, but we need confirmation that her expenses will be covered."
"Yeah," Ash said, nodding his head. "They will be. It'll take some time to contact him, but I'm sure he'll cover everything."
"I don't want to seem like I'm putting any pressure on you or your family Ash, this is simply a precaution on our part. It costs a lot of money to run this facility." Anita stated, and Ash understood.
"Don't worry, I'll make sure everything is covered." Ash assured her. She praised his maturity before leaving him with Ethan.
"So as I said Ash, we'll keep Cassidy under observation. If you'd like, you can come back during visiting hours tomorrow for an update." Ethan pointed out, giving Ash a small smile with this.
"Yeah, we'll be back." Ash said as he shook hands with Ethan one more time. Ethan then left Ash alone, allowing him to hang his head in defeat. They were on their own now.
Taking out his phone, Ash quickly went through his contact list to pull up Brock's phone number. Calling his close friend, it was a few moments before he answered.
"Yo Ash, what's going on?" Brock asked him.
"I'm at Lt. Surge Hospital with Casey and Macy, can you give us a lift home?" Ash asked.
"The hospital? What happened?" Brock exclaimed.
"I'll fill you in, uh, if you can get us that is." Ash added.
"I'm already on my way." His friend said immediately.
"Damn-" Brock muttered now that Ash had finished sharing tonight's events with him.
The four of them were seated in Brock's car as they slowly returned home. Casey was in the passenger seat beside Brock while Ash and Macy were in the back seat of the car.
"So uh...are you guys going to be okay?" Brock asked tentatively as he came to a stop at an intersection for a red light. He used this opportunity to peek over his shoulder at Ash who exhaled.
"Yeah, we'll be fine. I just have some stuff to sort out tomorrow." Ash replied.
"Are you sure you got all this?" Brock pressed. Ash didn't bother to respond this time. Brock frowned but decided it was best not to push any further than this. He wasn't sure what was going through Ash's mind right now, so the best choice was to let him sort out his thoughts. "Just remember that you can call me if you're in trouble, alright man?"
"Yeah, I know." Ash said softly to him. The light turned green and they began to roll forward again.
Casey looked back at Ash, waiting for him to make eye contact. It was dark, but Ash couldn't ignore Casey as she stared at him.
"What's up?" He asked Casey.
"I want to know something." Casey began. "Is it true that Cassidy has a husband?"
Ash opened his mouth to speak, his initial thought being to berate Casey for eavesdropping while he had been speaking to Ethan and Anita. He swallowed those words realizing that Casey wanted to keep up with the situation as well. He couldn't fault her for that.
"She had a husband," Ash answered, causing Brock to raise a brow, interested in what was about to be shared. "He's dead."
"What? But...you said he would cover the hospital bills." Casey pointed out, further revealing how much she had been listening to the conversation back at the hospital.
"Okay, what I'm about to tell you, doesn't leave this car. Alright, Casey?" Ash asked her, and she nodded quickly. Ash then set his gaze on Brock. "Same goes for you, Brock."
"Hey, my lips are sealed. You know I can keep a secret." Brock replied, causing Ash to sigh as he gathered his thoughts.
"So before Cassidy had any of us...she was married to a man named Butch. Both of them were Pokemon trainers."
"For real?" Brock exclaimed, tempted to look back at Ash in shock.
"Yeah. She told me they used to work with a group of trainers that did some kind of security at the shipyards downtown years ago." Ash explained. "They used to make a ton of money from those jobs, and they tucked it all away. Finally, when they saved up enough, Cassidy said she wanted to leave everything and just disappear. She and Butch were going to move to Hoenn and retire there with everything they had saved. But Cassidy told me they had one last job to do before they could leave Vermilion City."
"That doesn't sound good." Brock commented. Clearly Cassidy and Butch didn't make it to their 'happily ever after' if Cassidy was still in Vermilion City and Butch was dead.
"It was a disaster. Cassidy wouldn't tell me exactly what happened, but he died. And for whatever reason, she decided to stay in Vermilion City." Ash related to them. "Obviously that isn't the whole story, but you've heard everything I know."
"Man, that's rough." Brock mumbled.
"I didn't even know she was married," Casey noted, astounded that such a fact had been kept secret from her for all this time. It wasn't until now that Casey realized how well Cassidy had dodged this subject the few times she had asked about it. Casey then focused on the subject at hand. "So Ash, how are we going to pay the hospital?"
"Leave that to me." Ash stated firmly. Casey looked at him nervously but didn't question him any further. She had no choice but to count on Ash.
The remainder of the ride passed in silence until they arrived at their home. Once Brock had parked his car, Casey jumped out to unlock the front door leaving Ash and Brock to speak privately.
"Are you sure you're going to be okay?" Brock asked him again as Ash picked up Macy, holding her in one arm as Brock shut the back door for him. It was almost midnight as they stepped onto the staircase in front of Ash's home, but with a streetlight right over them, Brock had no trouble seeing the frown on Ash's face. Ash took a moment to respond, readjusting Macy who had settled onto his shoulder now.
"We'll be fine Brock. Like I said, tomorrow I'll work out everything." Ash assured him.
Brock was impressed with Ash's resilience. He was almost eighteen years old with a ton of responsibility being placed on his shoulders, and he seemed to be more than willing to tackle all this head on.
"Alright, and like I said, I've got your back. If you need anything, let me know." Brock said, giving him a nod.
He gave Ash a smile of reassurance and the two of them parted ways. Ascending the steps and entering his home, Ash shut the door quietly to make sure he didn't wake up Macy. Then he went upstairs, heading straight for Macy's room where he went over to her bed and sat down. Gingerly he laid the small girl down on her bed and placed her covers over her. Macy stirred a bit before snuggling into her bed, and Ash couldn't stop a smile from forming on his face.
Kissing the tips of his index and middle fingers, he touched her forehead with them. Then he took a deep breath and lowered his shoulders before noticing Casey's shadow on the floor. Looking up at the entrance to Macy's bedroom, he saw that the twelve-year-old girl had been watching him.
"A-Ash?" She said softly, and Ash immediately detected the tremble in her voice. Now that they were home, it must have finally donned on Casey that they were alone now. "Wha-What are we going to do?"
Ash rose from the bed and approached Casey, ushering her out into the corridor so that he could shut the door to Macy's room. He only needed one glance at Casey in the hallway light to know that she was becoming overwhelmed. The events of the last two hours had finally hit her.
"If Cassidy's not here, won't they come to take us?" Casey asked him softly. "I don't want to leave you guys."
Ash could see Casey's inner turmoil and confusion. Ash winced as the blood rushed through his eardrums, pounding against them as waves would against the bow of a ship. A pair of white wings seemed to sprout from Casey's back, but they were restrained by several thick black chains. She looked up at him, tears threatening to escape her eyes, and Ash quickly remembered how Cassidy would comfort Casey in her early childhood. He embraced her.
For a few moments they stood in silence, then Ash began to rub her back.
"Don't even think about it Casey." Ash stated. "I won't let that happen. I promise."
Monday, October 31st
Ash groaned as he slapped his hand down onto the snooze button of his alarm clock. He had been sleeping for maybe five hours before the device on his nightstand began to screech at him. Raising his head from his pillow, he saw that it was five o'clock in the morning. The sun had yet to rise, but Ash would have to start early to make it through this day. Taking a few moments to breathe deeply, he then pushed himself up from his mattress and discovered that Pikachu was looking at him from the floor beside his bed.
"Mornin' Pikachu." He said as he sat upright, reaching down to pat Pikachu on its head.
"Pika-pi?" It asked him as he pulled his hand away.
"I have to be up early today to make breakfast for everyone." Ash said as he stood up, now realizing that he was still dressed in the same clothes that he had been in the night before. He had fallen asleep as soon as he touched the bed last night.
Pulling at the shirt he wore, Ash decided that his first order of business was to take a shower. Motioning for Pikachu to stand beside him, they started a brief stretching routine. Anyone would find it humorous how these two mirrored each other as they stretched. Now feeling looser and wide awake, Ash began to strip off his clothes in preparation for a shower.
"Pi-ka-chu~?" Pikachu asked him.
"Well Cassidy's not here right now, so I'm looking after the house." Ash explained as he now stood with nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist.
"Pika?!" Pikachu exclaimed, looking at him in shock.
"Yes by my-self." Ash retorted, feigning offense at Pikachu's comment.
"Pikachu! Pika!" It declared as he left his room, Pikachu following him on all fours as they first went down to the kitchen.
"I know Macy can be a handful." Ash stated as he looked down at Pikachu. He lived with Macy just like Pikachu, so he knew exactly what Macy was capable of when she was in the mood for trouble.
"Pi..." Pikachu muttered with a snort, earning a sharp glance from Ash. "Pikachu-pi."
"Uh, yeah I do know." Ash replied as they reached the kitchen. Retrieving the roll of plastic wrap from the top shelf, Ash requested that his small partner aid him in wrapping the bandages on his arm in plastic wrap for his shower. It was an irritating process, but with Pikachu's help, it was much quicker and easier.
Returning to the bathroom upstairs, Ash went over to the tub and turned on the water, leaving it to run for a while so it would warm up. With nothing better to do for the next minute, Ash took a glance at Pikachu who had been watching him closely.
"Pika?" It expressed once again, causing Ash to roll his eyes. Taking off his towel, Ash decided to brush aside what would hopefully be the last of Pikachu's 'warnings.' Leaving his towel on the rack, he stepped into a hot shower and took a few moments to run through his plan for the day.
The first order of business was getting Casey ready for school. After sending her off, he and Macy would be making a trip to the bank. Ash wasn't looking forward to spending time there, but he knew that there was no avoiding this.
-X-X-
It was early in the morning, so only Ash and Cassidy had woken up so far. Ash was seated at the wooden table in the kitchen as Cassidy prepared his breakfast.
"Ash." Cassidy stated, receiving his attention as he looked at her.
"Hmm?"
"You'll be turning seventeen in a couple of days, are you looking forward to it?" She asked him curiously, glancing over her shoulder at Ash for a moment. He made a face as he thought about his answer.
"Uh, yeah I guess. I think I'll try to get my driver's license this year." Ash commented, and Cassidy gave a nod of approval at the idea.
"Yeah, that'd be good. I know we don't have a car or anything, but it never hurts to learn." Cassidy said to him.
"You never know what could happen." Ash pointed out, and Cassidy nodded with agreement.
"That's the truth...which is why I wanted to talk to you about something." Cassidy said, lowering her tone a bit. Ash could sense that this was a serious subject.
"What's on your mind?" He asked, leaning on the table.
"You've had your job for a couple of months now, and I really appreciate that you've been helping around the house with the extra money you have." Cassidy began as she joined him at the table, setting down his plate in front of him. Cassidy then sat down across from him, taking a deep breath as she thought about what she would say next. "I don't know if you've ever bothered to think about this Ash, but have you ever wondered how we afford this place?"
"Uh, not really..." He admitted slowly. Ash knew that Cassidy didn't work. She stayed at home and took care of Macy all day. He had known Cassidy for almost ten years now, but this woman could still be an enigma at times. Ash had always assumed that things had worked out well for her and that there was no need for her to work anymore.
"The reason I'm bringing all this up is that...there are some things I want you to know about me." Cassidy continued as the mood in the room became somber. "I don't work, or rather I can't. An account was set up for me that receives a sum of money that we live off of every month."
Ash nodded. That explained how they made it from month to month without too much trouble.
"I'm the only one with access to this account, but in the event that something were to happen to me Ash, I want you to know how you can use that money," Cassidy explained to him as she pulled out a card from the pocket of her apron. She set it down in front of him, and after scanning it briefly Ash spotted a logo he recognized. The First Regional Bank of Kanto. "There's an accountant there named Sharon. She'll make the arrangements for you."
Ash raised his eyebrow as he picked up the card to read some of the details that were inscribed on it.
"So um...what do you mean by 'if something happens to you?'" Ash asked her curiously, looking past the card he held in front of his face to examine Cassidy's expression. She let out a heavy sigh in response.
"I'm not in good shape Ash. This is just a precaution." She said.
Ash felt his chest tighten as she made this statement.
"What does that mean?" He pressed, but Cassidy waved off his question. She then pointed to his breakfast.
"Eat, before it gets cold." She said before glancing at the clock. Cassidy then rose from her seat and left the kitchen to wake up Casey for school.
Ash watched her closely as she left before his gaze returned to the card. He could feel the weight of the responsibility that had been placed on his shoulders. Cassidy was counting on him to come through for this family in the event that she couldn't.
-X-X-
Stepping out of the shower, Ash immediately began to pull at the plastic wrap around his arm. He hated the feeling of wet plastic and grimaced as he ripped it off. Tossing the plastic in the wastebasket, Ash finished drying himself off and returned to his room with Pikachu following him every step of the way.
Once he was dressed, Ash went back to the kitchen where he thought about what he could make for his sisters. He was glad now more than ever that Cassidy had nagged him non-stop to learn how to cook something. Not to mention he had come home with groceries the night before, so his options were open. An omelet and hash browns would certainly please the girls.
Pikachu's eyes widened at the sight of Ash handling himself as he made breakfast. He had set the table for both Macy and Casey, and the latter of whom was shocked when she entered the kitchen and Ash presented her breakfast.
"Did you make this Ash?" Casey exclaimed as she saw her meal.
"O' course I did. Who else would?" Ash retorted.
"Pikachu." Casey said flatly as she took a seat, beginning to snicker as the small Pokemon looked at her incredulously.
"Oh well, aren't you slick? Just for that one, you can go wake up your sister." Ash said, pointing to the exit of the kitchen. Casey made a face at him before she left to go wake up Macy, leaving Ash to finish his preparations for his youngest sister. Pouring a glass of milk for Macy, he placed it beside her plate before hearing a shout from Casey upstairs. Rolling his eyes a bit, Ash went upstairs to check on them and found Casey fighting to pull her sister off her bed despite Macy's protests.
"Casey, that's enough." Ash called out as he stood in the doorway, putting their struggle to a stop. As Casey looked back at him, Ash nodded toward the staircase as a gesture for her to go eat. He would take care of Macy.
"Have fun." Casey said as she left them. Ash then focused on Macy who had climbed back onto her bed, patting the spot where she wanted Ash to sit down.
"Come on Macy, I've got breakfast ready for you." Ash said to her, motioning for her to follow him. In return, he got the question that he had been dreading to answer.
"Where's mommy?"
Ash had to shut his eyes for a moment and take a breath. Macy had been out of the loop last night, sleeping through most of the events. He had spent a bit of time last night thinking of how best to explain this to her, but there was no easy way to tell her that her 'mommy' would be away for...who knows how long.
With a sigh, Ash opened his eyes and approached Macy's bed, taking a seat beside her. Looking into her eyes, Ash bit down on his lower lip as he saw the innocence that occupied them. Casey had been stripped of her innocence long ago, and she had a grasp of the situation they were in. Macy, on the other hand, didn't know any better, and Ash found himself pining over the thought of keeping her in the dark. He didn't want the sparkle in her eyes to begin to fade so early in her life. He didn't have the heart to do such a thing.
"Mommy's not feeling well right now Macy." Ash began. "So I'll be looking after you for now."
"Is she in her room?" Macy asked him, but he shook his head.
"No. You won't be able to see her for now." Ash replied, sticking to simple answers for her. He could sense that a parade of questions was about to begin. Of course, her short attention span was nowhere to be found when he needed it most.
"Why not?"
"She's with the doctors. They're taking care of her until she feels better."
"When's that?"
"I...I don't know yet Macy." Ash admitted slowly, but then he put on a smile and began to poke at her stomach. "But she told me to tell you- that you have better be good until she gets back."
Macy could suppress her giggles as Ash poked at her belly, and then she gave him a small nod. Ash felt relieved as his answers seemed to satisfy Macy. She raised her arms up, a small gesture for him to pick her up. Chuckling a bit as he did so, the two of them went downstairs to enjoy the meal that Ash had prepared for them.
Casey left for school about twenty minutes later, and once she was gone, Ash quickly understood Pikachu's warnings. Macy was far more than a 'handful' as he had put it.
Trying to pick out something for her to wear involved going through everything she had in her dresser. Ash had never gone through the task of dressing her in the morning, but Pikachu had witnessed it time and again. It was a process as Macy decided what she would wear, but she had to consider all of her options. Then they had to clean up the mess they had made once Macy had selected an outfit.
They had lost more time than Ash had planned on, forcing him to hastily pack a bag of supplies to last them the day before they left. They had just enough time to catch the bus, so with a shout of 'goodbye' to Pikachu, Ash and Macy darted out the house. Their destination was midtown.
Getting there on foot would've taken an hour. Using the bus, it would only take them half an hour and put them right outside of the First Regional Bank of Kanto roughly a half hour after it opened.
Macy marveled at the sight of the tall stone columns at the front of the building.
"What a big house!" Macy exclaimed, earning a laugh from Ash as he led her by the hand.
"This is a bank Macy." Ash explained as the two of them went up the staircase leading to the front entrance. He moved slowly to ensure that she didn't trip on any of the steps as they went up.
"What are we doing here?" Macy asked him.
"I have a meeting with someone here." Ash replied.
"Is that why you didn't go to school?" Her question caused him to freeze momentarily.
"If I went to school don't you think you'd be lonely all day without me Macy?" Ash asked her in return, and she giggled at this.
"Yeah, I like it better when you're at home Ashy." Macy said sweetly, and Ash sighed inwardly with relief. His biggest concern was making sure Casey and Macy were taken care of, but school was a close second. While Ash was already working out a plan to take care of the girls, he still hadn't thought of anything to explain his absence for school, nor did he know how long he would be gone for.
Arriving at the revolving door, Ash and Macy stepped through it and his sister was in awe at the main lobby of the bank. The marble floors glistened and the hanging lights sparkled. It was all so pretty.
Together they approached the large circular desk at the center of the lobby. There were three receptionists present, two of which were preoccupied. Once the third one caught sight of Ash, she beckoned for him to approach.
"Good morning!" She said to him with a smile.
"Hi~!" Macy called out, causing the woman to glance around in search of the voice. Ash bent over to pick her up, allowing Macy to wave to the woman.
"What can I do for you today?" The receptionist asked as she focused on Ash.
"I'm here to speak with an accountant named Sharon when she's available." Ash explained to the receptionist. She raised her lips a bit as she looked down at the computer screen in front of her. To Ash's dismay, she began to shake her head after a few moments and returned her gaze to him.
"I'm sorry, we don't have anyone here that's named Sharon." She replied causing Ash to purse his lips as he took a moment to think.
"...Uh, could it be her last name?" Ash suggested, causing her to look at the screen again.
"No, I'm sorry, no Sharon's." She stated. "Would you like to meet with another accountant?"
Ash took a moment to think. It had been almost a year since Cassidy had told him about this. Perhaps Sharon had left her job here...but maybe it wouldn't matter who he spoke to.
"I guess I don't really have a choice. I'll talk to anyone." Ash said, receiving a nod from the receptionist.
"We have an opening in twenty minutes. You're free to wait in the seating area over there." She said, motioning to a small area near the main entrance.
Ash thanked her kindly for her help, pleased that today was off to a decent start so far.
"What do you mean you can't?" Ash asked him with a not so pleasant expression.
The nameplate on the desk read Clark, and this middle-aged man was frowning as well. He wasn't a fan of sharing bad news, and obviously, Ash didn't like what he was hearing.
"A few months ago we changed a few policies. In order to access this account, you'll need permission from the owner of the account." Clark explained to him.
"But she told me this card would be enough." Ash insisted, showing him the card he had received from Cassidy.
"Before those changes, this would certainly have been enough." He agreed with Ash after examining the card. "But to ensure that everyone's accounts here are secure, we've taken extra precautions."
"Okay then, so I just have to get permission from her?" Ash clarified, and Clark nodded.
"Look, Ash, your background checks out fine with us. I understand she's your foster mother, and that's the only reason you haven't been granted access. You're not a member of her immediate family." Clark pointed out as he retrieved a folder from his desk drawer. "So all you have to do...is have her sign this consent form."
Sliding a few sheets of paper over his desk to Ash, Clark watched as he picked it up and scanned it briefly.
"...Alright." Ash said softly. He wasn't sure what Cassidy's condition was, but hopefully, this trip to the hospital would have an answer he wanted to hear.
"Once you have her sign that, just bring it back and we'll be happy to make the arrangements for you." Clark explained, giving Ash a smile.
"Thanks for your help," Ash said before glancing at Macy who was seated next to him in her own chair. She was working on a page in her coloring book that Ash had brought for her, but she had managed to drop a number of crayons on the floor. "Come on Macy, it's time to go."
Ash rose from his seat to begin collecting some of the crayons that she had dropped. Macy set her book down on the seat and began to help him, allowing Ash to take a glance at the page she had coloring. The object she had been working was a decorated cake, but Macy had gone outside of the lines in several places.
"Sheesh Macy, try to stay in the lines next time, okay." Ash said to her.
"O-kay." She replied once they had finished collecting her items. Placing everything back in his backpack, Ash then took Macy by the hand, thanked Clark one last time, and went on his way. "Where are we going now?"
"To the doctors now." Ash replied.
"To see mommy?" She asked him hopefully.
"We'll see."
The trip to Lt. Surge Memorial Hospital was another hour spent on the bus going over the east side of Vermilion City along with more bus fare. Fortunately, Ash didn't have to pay for Macy so he couldn't really complain about it, although his day was passing faster than he wanted it to. It was already eleven o'clock and still at least another hour long bus ride to look forward.
With a sigh, he glanced down at his phone. It had been fifteen minutes since he had spoken to the man at the front desk, requesting to meet with Ethan. Rather than count the seconds as they passed, Ash decided that he needed to distract himself. Looking down at Macy who sitting on the floor beside the lowered table in front of him, she was busy with another picture in her coloring book. Ash could only snort as she went outside of the lines again.
"You're ignoring the lines again Macy," Ash noted with a small laugh as he dropped down next to her. "Here let me show you."
"Hey!" Macy exclaimed as Ash placed his finger on the book and pulled it closer to himself. Ash blew a raspberry at her, a gesture which Macy returned immediately. There was a man seated in the waiting area with them, and he couldn't help but laugh softly at their exchange.
"Look at this Macy," Ash said, motioning for her to watch as he took a crayon and filled in the area of the picture accordingly. "That's how you stay in the lines. Doesn't that look better?"
"But your drawings don't have any lines to follow." Macy reasoned with him, causing Ash to raise his brow at her attentiveness. "I wanna draw like you."
"Then you have to practice first kiddo. Once you get good at this, I'll give you some blank paper with no lines to follow." Ash stated, and she beamed at him. Returning her book, Ash watched as she began to color again, and in no time at all, she was coloring all over the place with no concern for the directions he had just given her. Rolling his eyes with a laugh, Ash then noticed that a man in a white lab coat had approached the waiting area. Ash recognized him from the night before, the cardiologist. "I'll be right back Macy."
Rising to his feet, Ash approached Ethan who motioned for them to take some distance to speak privately.
"It's good to see you again, we were getting ready to contact you." Ethan noted with a small gesture to Ash.
"Did you even go home last night?" Ash asked him curiously.
"Oh no, I worked overnight. I'm here until noon so I have another hour or so before I can head home." Ethan explained before taking a deep breath. "So I have an update for you."
"How is she?" Ash inquired, tackling the subject with no hesitation.
"She's..." Ethan shook his head slightly. "She's not doing well Ash. Like I said last night, the lack of proper blood circulation sent her into a coma last night. We've already begun the appropriate treatment to maintain her vital systems, but we don't have a time table on when she'll wake up."
Ash blinked a few times, digesting this new information.
In some ways, it was better than what he had been told last night. Cassidy wasn't dead. That bolstered his spirit somewhat...but they were dealing with the second worst case scenario. She was in a coma, and no one had any clue when or if she would wake up.
"I know this is a lot to grasp Ash, so please don't let it overwhelm you. Cassidy is receiving the best care available here." Ethan assured him. "So have a seat, Anita would also like to speak with you."
Returning to his seat, Ash dropped down into it a straight expression. His mind was filled with questions. What else was in store for Cassidy? First, she had a heart attack, now a coma. What was in store for them? If Cassidy was stuck here, he would have to take care of the girls. Could he do that by himself? His head was swirling and he didn't really know what to do anymore.
If Cassidy was in a coma, there was no way she could sign the consent form he needed, and without that, they wouldn't have Cassidy's money. Tomorrow was the start of a new month, which meant there would be a list of bills to play by the end of the week. Ash had his own sum of money saved up, which he was certain could cover the expenses until she awakened, but when would that be?
With a sigh, Ash pushed those thoughts away. He owed Cassidy so much that he couldn't spare any expense taking care of the girls. He would find a way to manage, no matter the cost to himself.
"Ash, it's good to see you again so soon."
Ash looked up and spotted Anita, the same woman from last night. She must have worked overnight like Ethan.
"Uh, likewise," Ash said as he rose to his feet. Anita invited him out of the waiting area to speak to him privately as Ethan had. "What can I do for you?"
"We've estimated the costs for Cassidy's treatment, and I thought you might need this information for when you're contacting her husband. This is only a copy so don't worry if you lose it." Anita explained as she opened the manila folder she held. Pulling out a sheet of paper for Ash, she passed it for him to read its contents.
It didn't take him long to reach the bottom of the page where the number he feared most was located. His eyes widened at the sight of it before he looked up at Anita.
"This is just an estimation. As I'm sure Ethan told you, there's no time table for when she will wake up. So the billing department has provided you with the costs for one month as an example. This is subject to change of course, based on when she wakes up." Anita explained to him as she pointed out just how many resources had been dedicated to Cassidy. "We're all hoping for the best Ash, and I can promise you that Cassidy will be well taken care of here."
Anita gave him a nod of reassurance and proceeded to leave him in a similar fashion to Ethan. With a sigh, Ash had to remind himself that they barely knew him. They weren't here to make promises that would make him feel better. Their job was to do what they can and often times live with the consequences.
Glancing back down at the bill in his hands, Ash shook his head with a ghastly expression.
How would he pay for something like this?
One month alone could reach a cost of well over forty thousand dollars.
With a daily cost of fifteen hundred dollars piling up constantly, he would be up to his neck in debt before he knew it.
Going back to his seat near Macy, Ash sat down and placed his elbow on the arm of the chair and a hand beneath his chin. He began to think deeply about how best to handle this.
For all of the grief he had been given about working with the Red Skulls, the money he had gotten from them was going to carry them through this. The last two months of working with them he had collected a total of eighteen thousand dollars, none of which he had touched since obtaining it. He had been planning on saving that money for a rainy day, but he found himself standing in a torrential downpour.
With that money, he could make a big payment to get a head start on what could possibly evolve into a massive bill, and he could use what remained to cover some of the other bills as well. Not to mention the rent money they owed to Mr. Cheeves. It was going to be rough, but he would have enough to pull them through a month or two. What they would do after that...was still to be determined.
Pinching the bridge of his nose with a sigh of irritation, Ash now had one more place to visit before they could head home.
His job.
"Come on Wallace, are you sure that you can't give me an extra shift or two. I could really use the money." Ash was practically begging his boss as he stood in the man's office. Wallace's office was small and insignificant in comparison to the rest of the store he ran, but he found it cozy nonetheless.
Glancing at one of his favorite young employees, Wallace sighed in response. He had already given Ash an answer, but it was clear that this wouldn't suffice for the young man.
"Ash, in case you forgot, there are rules about having students, such as yourself, work. They're on the working papers you gave me." Wallace reminded him.
"Can we do something off the books then?" Ash suggested causing Wallace to deadpan.
"Ash I want to help you, believe me, I do. But there's only so much I can do for you while you're still considered a minor." Wallace explained. "You're already pushing the limit of how many hours you can work per week, so there is nothing else I can do for you."
Ash groaned inwardly, but he had a feeling going into this discussion that Wallace wouldn't budge. He had his own job to think about, and Ash couldn't expect him to put his own job in jeopardy for Ash's sake.
"Yeah yeah," Ash muttered as he turned to leave the office. "Thanks anyway."
Stepping out of Wallace's small sanctuary, Ash found Macy exactly where he left her under the watchful eye of one of his co-workers.
"Macy come on, let's get going." Ash called out to her. She had been talking animatedly to the older woman that Ash worked with occasionally, but upon hearing Ash's call Macy gave her a wave and dashed over to her brother. Taking hold of Ash's hand, Macy matched Ash's walking pace as they went on their way.
Together they made their way to the main entrance of the store but Ash was lost in his thoughts. What was he going to do? At every turn today there was bad news for him. The only positive he could draw so far was that they were only a few blocks away from home, so at the very least he didn't have to spend any more money on another bus ride.
The determination that had bolstered him at the beginning of the day was long gone. Uneasiness filled his stomach, and uncertainty plagued his mind. How was he going to take care of the girls and himself? The money he currently had would only take them so far, maybe a month or two. Once those funds ran dry there was no telling what he would have to do.
Working more was off the table. Cassidy's money was off the table. So what could he do?!
"Ashy!" Macy called out to him, snapping him out of his thoughts. She was tugging at his arm in an attempt to slow him down, pointing at the park across the street. "I wanna go play!"
It took a moment for Ash to realize that they were only a block away from their home. This was the park Macy came to almost daily, so of course, she would want to stop at it. Macy had been pretty good all day considering the fact that he had dragged her all over Vermilion City. A little reward was appropriate, not to mention it would give him some time to sit down and think while she was entertained.
"Okay Macy, but let's just go home first. I want to check on Pikachu and then we'll come back." Ash explained to her. "How does that sound?"
"Come on, let's go let's go!" Macy declared as she began to pull on his arm, leading him back to their house at a brisk pace. Obviously, she wanted things to happen quickly.
Arriving at their front door, Ash saw that a white envelope had been tucked into the door frame. Frowning a bit at the sight of it, Ash snatched it and unlocked the front door so that they could go inside.
"I need a few minutes Macy." Ash said to her. She remained by the front door while he went to the kitchen, shouting to Pikachu that he had come back home. Entering the kitchen, Ash set his bag on the table and looked down at the envelope to pass the time before Pikachu scampered in.
Opening up the envelope, Ash discovered that it was a note from Mr. Cheeves, their neighbor and also the man that they rented this house from. Without much thought, Ash already knew what this note would be discussing – rent money. The rent was insignificant in comparison to the hospital bill Ash had seen earlier, but it was money lost regardless of how he spun it.
The phone began to ring suddenly, gaining Ash's attention as he approached it. Reading the caller identification, Ash saw that it was his school. His eyes widened for a moment as he thought back to Macy's question this morning.
"Is that why you didn't go to school?"
Things had changed now. He had thought that he would miss a few days of school to watch the girls until Cassidy returned. Now he might have been missing school indefinitely...
Letting the call go to voicemail, Ash waited to see if they would leave a message for them. Soon enough the phone stopped ringing, and the caller began to leave a message which Ash played through the speaker.
"Hello, this is the attendance office from North Vermilion High School. I'm calling to inform you that your son, Ash Ketchum, didn't attend school today. He already has an unexcused absence, and if he continues to receive them it can result in a suspension." The woman explained. "I hope we can get into contact to discuss this. The number to the main office is..."
Ash slapped his hand down onto the counter, startling Pikachu who had been standing on the counter beside the phone. Looking up at its trainer, Pikachu could see that Ash was disgruntled. In fact, it had never seen such an expression on Ash's face. Ash had been upset before, but this time it was different. The desperation in his eyes, he was overwhelmed.
"Pi-ka?" Pikachu asked him tentatively.
"I don't know...I don't know what I'm supposed to do Pikachu." Ash admitted, lowering his head.
He thought that he could handle everything...that he could take care of the girls, cover the bills, care for the house...be an adult.
"I don't know how Cassidy does this day in and day out." He continued, shaking his head slowly. This was only his first taste of it, and it was almost surreal how much stuff he had to juggle. It felt like the whole world had turned against him, doing everything possible to drag him down.
"Ashy!" Macy called him from the doorway, forcing Ash to push all of his thoughts to the back of his mind. She was still waiting for him.
With a sigh, Ash put his house keys back into his pocket, gave Pikachu a pat on the head and promised it that he was alright. The concern in Pikachu's eyes confirmed that his Pokemon thought otherwise, but Ash turned and left the kitchen to take Macy out.
Seated alone on a park bench, Ash watched Macy from afar as she darted around the playground with some of the other kids that were too young to start school.
Leaning back into the bench, Ash breathed out a deep sigh as he tried to empty his head. Rather than let his mind drift to his current batch of problems, he focused on the various sounds around him. The rustle of the leaves as the breeze passed through. The shouts of the children as they chased one another. The blare of a car horn as the traffic on the road began to increase.
The chirp of...a Pidgey?
Looking to his right, Ash found that one of the small bird Pokemon was perched on the bench beside him. When he made eye contact with it, the Pidgey began to tilt its head from one side to the other, closely examining him.
"Hey Pidgey, how are ya?" Ash asked it, extending his hand toward the Pokemon as an invitation for it to sit with him. Much to Ash's surprise, it jumped into his open hand and got comfortable, tweeting softly as it did so. "It must be nice in Vermilion City huh Pidgey? It's always warm here so you never have to leave.
Pidgey took a moment to readjust itself within Ash's palm before it chirped in response.
"I wish things were as simple for me as they are for you." Ash commented with a small smile, glancing down at the bird Pokemon. The Pidgey didn't have much to think about. Eat, sleep, migrate to warmer weather. It was so easy for them...the complete opposite of his life.
He still couldn't believe how complex life could be upon reaching adulthood. Taking care of people, accounting for expenses...there was so much to keep track of yet the adults he knew made it all look so simple.
Suddenly his attention was drawn to another pair of Pidgeys that had landed on the bench alongside him. They rustled their feathers a bit before settling down next to Ash who stared at them with a raised brow. Something was amiss here, but Ash soon realized why this was happening. The bird lady was approaching him along with her flock of Pidgey.
"May I?" She asked in a low voice, motioning to the bench. Ash gave her a nod, and she took a seat next to him while the Pidgey crowded around them. There had to be at least twenty of them, but Ash was impressed with how docile they were. They followed the bird lady without a command and became silent as she began to converse with him. "They've been watching you."
"Huh?" Ash said, giving her an odd look.
"The Pidgey." She stated, causing Ash to take a glance at the Pokemon that surrounded him. Each and every one of them was staring at him.
"What for?" He asked slowly.
"A lot of people don't give Pokemon enough credit. I know you respect them to some degree, but they are more empathetic than you or even I know about." She related to him. "They sensed how...anxious you are."
Ash's mouth hung open for a few moments. This was something he knew first hand through his experience with Pikachu. However, it never occurred to him that Pokemon could possess that level of empathy with total strangers.
"Wait...can you...understand them?" Ash inquired as he motioned to the Pidgey.
"To an extent." She tilted her head saying this, and some of the Pidgey mirrored her action.
"Like, to what extent?" Ash pressed.
"I don't understand them based off of their words, but rather their actions." She explained to Ash who nodded his head. "I can almost...feel, what they feel."
"So then, through the Pidgey you felt what I was feeling?" Ash asked her, and she gave a nod. "Well, that's an invasion of privacy."
The bird lady snorted at his comment, placing a hand over her mouth as she giggled for a moment.
"The Pidgey recognize you too." She added after a few moments. "Not everyone is kind enough to not interrupt us as I'm feeding them."
Ash could recall seeing a number of people walk right through the Pidgey as the bird lady was feeding them on different occasions. The lack of respect and kindness must have been infuriating. Ash had always been careful to make sure that he didn't bother them, and he had instructed Casey and Macy to do the same.
"Since you're concerned about your privacy, I won't press too far into your concerns." The bird lady said, motioning to him. Ash felt a bit guilty now since he wasn't serious about that comment.
"Oh no, I was just kidding when I said that," Ash said with a small chuckle. This was the first time he had really spoken with the bird lady, but her understanding of the Pidgey had already left a strong impression on him. He didn't mind being transparent with this woman. "I'll admit that I have a lot of my plate right now. It feels like I'm going to be crushed underneath all of it."
A brief silence set in as the bird lay seemed to be taking the time to think of a proper response.
"You know...there was a poem written about the Pidgey a long time ago. I heard it in passing many years ago, so I've forgotten a good bit of it. But there is one stanza that I'll never forget." She explained, causing Ash to straighten up. "It went like this -"
'The caged bird sings,
with its heart set ablaze,
of things now lost,
but still in its gaze,
and its voice is carried,
on the winds of change,
for the caged bird,
sings of freedom.'
Ash sat in silence now, repeating the words for himself a second time. The bird lady remained silent, allowing him some time to impress these words upon his mind.
"I know life can be overwhelming at times...but even when we feel as though we are being dragged down, sometimes the best thing we can do is think like the Pidgey. Keep everything simple, take it one day at a time, and sing when you're feeling low." The bird lady expressed with a warm smile. Ash couldn't help but smile at her suggestion.
Think like the Pidgey.
He had just been telling the Pidgey in his hand that he wished things could be simpler. Today had been rough, but tomorrow was a new day. The Pidgey didn't let anyone or anything dictate how they lived from day to day. Was that was he had to do?
"To receive the interest of the Pidgey means your heart is pure. I firmly believe that as well." The bird lady continued, reaching out to place a hand on his shoulder. "I hope that you overcome whatever it is that is bothering you, because I do want to see the day that you spread those gorgeous wings of yours."
Ash furrowed his brow as he looked toward her. Trying to make eye contact, Ash could see that her gaze was firmly fixated on his back, marveling at the sight of something. What was she looking at? Then their eyes met and she smiled at him.
"Come on Pidgey, let's not disturb him any longer." She said, inviting the Pokemon to follow her as she rose up from the bench. She bowed slightly to Ash and then turned to leave, the Pidgey hopping behind her. Watching as she left, Ash gasped softly as a pair of wings sprouted from her back, but they were unlike any other pair Ash had seen before. The feathers were scarlet tipped!
Only one of her wings stretched out, while the other appeared to be withered, being kept firmly folded against her back for safety.
The bird lady stopped walking for a moment, glancing over her should at Ash one more time. They made eye contact again, and she smiled a bit as her wings faded away. Then she and the Pidgey continued on their way.
Ash blinked several times, and then he raised his free hand to rub each of his eyes. Once he was certain his vision was fine, he focused on the Pidgey in his hand who was looking in the direction the bird lady had gone.
"Do you want to join them Pidgey?" Ash asked it, and Pidgey chirped in response. He raised his hand slightly, allowing Pidgey to take flight and flutter back over to the rest of the flock.
'...The caged bird, sings of freedom.'
A/N
So first and foremost, I have to give credit where credit is due.
First goes to Miss Maya Angelou for her poem 'Caged Bird.' I drew a lot of inspiration from this poem and made a brief adaptation of the last stanza of it in this chapter. All credit goes to Maya Angelou though, I own nothing!
The next shout out goes to my beta-reader MjrGenMatt and his usual work. This chapter had a lot of things for us to discuss, and he helped me fine tune a lot of different points to prepare for the upcoming chapters. Not only that but his medical know-how also helped me straighten out some of the finer details. Much thanks for your support man!
This chapter was pretty intense to write. There was a lot of different emotions I was trying to capture, and I'm hoping that they came across.
So we've now reached part three of this five-part update spree. I'll see you all at the next update and I hope you've enjoyed everything you're reading so far.