Chapter 8: Getting Sick
"What is it?" Misty asked her baby.
"Togi chicku" (Daddy's here, Mommy)
"Daddy?" she repeated.
Togetic flew into the bush into Ash's arms and nuzzled him. It then grabbed Ash's hat.
"That's Ash's hat." Misty said.
She paled when she realized what Togetic meant.
"ASH KETCHEM! YOU SHOW YOURSELF THIS MINUTE!"
Ash stepped out of the bush.
"For the record, BROCK pushed me into the bush." Ash told her.
"You HEARD me?" she asked in horror.
"Yeah." Ash admitted.
Silence.
"Do you all mind?" Ash asked his father, godfather, grandparents, friends, and Lance.
"Not at all." Daniel said.
"Let's go." Max said coming from the bush.
"But," May started.
"Now." Brock said.
0000
When everyone left,
"What are you doing here?" Misty asked him.
"Visiting my Dad and Grandparents."
"Your…my godfather is your dad?"
"And apparently, your dad is my godfather."
"I am so embarrassed." Misty stated sitting on the bench the gang had been sitting on during the battle.
"Why?" Ash asked as he joined her. "You confirmed that my fear had been nothing but paranoia."
"What fea…paranoia? When did you learn THAT word?"
"I know big words. But my fear was that you hated me."
"I could never hate you, Ash." She told him. "Be angry with you, yes. But never HATE."
"It's just…" Ash continued. "I've kind of had sort of a crush on YOU."
"Since when?"
"Since…it's been coming on so gradually, but I think I can first date it to after the Maiden's Peak incident."
"Oh." She said a little down.
"What's wrong?"
"I first started to like you since you first defeated Team Rocket back in Viridian. That day, I wanted to become your friend. After your Caterpie evolved, it turned into a crush."
"That long?" Ash asked.
Misty nodded.
Silence
"Now what?" Ash asked. "Both of us have our feelings out in the open."
"I don't know. This never happened to me."
"Well, we COULD…" Ash started as he inched closer to her.
"Yes?" she asked knowing full well where he was going.
Suddenly, Ash started coughing.
"Are you okay?" She asked worriedly.
Ash nodded even though he kept coughing.
"Here." She said pulling out a water bottle and gave it to Ash.
He stopped coughing long enough to drink some of the contents.
"Thanks." He told her in a hoarse voice.
She placed her hand on his forehead.
"You're burning up." She stated. "This wouldn't have anything to do with a few days ago, would it?"
"I don't think…no." Ash said as he tried to think about it. "But I do cough know what's going on."
"What?"
"I better tell you now while I can." Ash told her. "Ten years ago, I had a terrible fever that had cough started with a cold. I never cough COMPLETELY recovered. But, the doctor said there was a good chance it would cough return."
"Oh Ash." She sighed. "Why didn't you say anything?"
"I didn't want cough you and Brock to be on the lookout for it all the time. You would have freaked out with the tiniest sneeze."
"Let's get you inside." She said helping him up.
0000
"101." Sarah announced after she took Ash's temperature.
"See if I ever listen to you again." Dan told John.
"Instead of placing blame, shouldn't we call Ed?" John said.
"Good idea." Matthew said.
"Who's Ed?" Max asked.
"Edward Oak. Son of Professor Oak." John explained. "He was the third in our group."
0000
"Thanks for coming Eddy." John said as he friend appeared on a Pidgeot.
"Don't call me that." Edward told him as he entered. "Where is he?"
"In my old bedroom." Daniel said.
"Has Delia been contacted?"
"Not yet. We wanted your opinion first." Dan said.
"My opinion is to call Delia."
"Fine." Daniel said going to the phone.
Brock had just gotten off the phone with Gary to inform him.
"Have you called Delia?" Daniel asked.
"Not yet." Brock said.
"Better let me." Daniel said taking the phone and dialing the number for his house in Pallet.
"Thank you for calling the Ketchem Residence." Delia said into the phone.
"Del-"
"I'm afraid we're not at home at the moment." She continued. "But if you leave your name and number after the beep, we'll get back to you as soon as we can."
BEEP
"Del? It's Dan. Ash has a fever. We're not sure if it's the one. We're at my parents' home just outside of Fuchsia. Talk to you later. Bye."
TBC