Chapter 10: Visitors

Two weeks passed with Ash's health going up and down.

"Excuse me!" a voice said knocking at the door. "Can my Pokemon and I have some water?"

"It can't be!" May exclaimed.

Sarah opened the door to reveal a thirsty looking Drew.

"Of course young man." She told him.

"Thanks." Drew said as he entered.

As Sarah went to go get the water, Drew's eyes landed on May.

"May? What are you doing here?"

"Waiting for Ash to get better." She told him. "He's sick with a high fever."

It was hard not to catch the jealous look in Drew's eyes. Only May missed it.

"If you'd like, I could stay here and keep you company." He suggested.

"Thanks." May said in shock.

Brock and Max snickered.

"Here you go." Sarah said handing Drew the water

"Thanks" Drew said.

"Mrs. Ketchem." May introduced. "This is Drew. He's one of my rivals."

"And crush." Max whispered to Matthew.

"Mrs. Ketchem?" Drew asked.

"Yes. She's Ash's grandmother." Max told him.

"Oh." Drew said in understanding.

"Actually," Brock said to May. "You and Max could head on to the next Contest with Drew if you like."

"ARE YOU CRAZY?!" May and Max yelled.

"The next one's in Johto in two months." Drew told them.

"What's in Johto?" Tracey asked as he entered the house.

"Tracey? What are you doing here?" Delia asked as she came down the stairs.

"Professor Oak sent me with this." Tracey said with a rolled up poster. "It's a little get well card from the Pokemon for Ash."

"That's sweet." Delia said taking the poster.

"How is he?"

"Temperature is now at 102." She said. "It's gone down half a degree."

"It still went down." Tracey told her optimistically.

"That's what I said." Delia told him. "Thank you for the poster."

0000

Three days later,

"How many people come here for water?" Max asked Matthew.

"A lot. Some people stop to give their pokemon a rest. It's a long way between the two nearest Pokemon Centers." Matthew told the boy.

KNOCK KNOCK

"Yes?" Matthew asked opening the door.

"Excuse me. Do you have any water from me and my Pokemon?" a boy Ash's age asked.

"Of course. Come on in." Matthew said opening the door wider.

"Thanks." The boy said. "I'm Richie."

"I'm Max." Max introduced himself.

"And I'm Matthew." Matthew introduced from the kitchen.

"So, how old are you, Max?" Richie asked.

"I'm nine." Max told him.

"One more year." Richie confirmed.

"Yeah. I can't wait. I'm traveling with my sister and our friends."

"Really? Have any fun adventures?"

"Oh yeah." Max said excitedly before frowning.

"What's wrong?"

"One of our friends has a really high fever. If he doesn't make it, then our adventures might be over."

"Don't say that." Richie told him. "I'm sure he'll come around."

"I hope so." Max said.

"Have you seen any rare pokemon?" Richie asked changing the subject. "I've seen Celebi, Lugia, and Moltres myself."

"Really?" Max asked. "I've see Groudon, Kyogre, Jirachi, Celebi, Manaphy, Rayquaza, Deoxyes, Lucario, and Mew. Not in that order."

Richie was starring at the boy in shock.

"Wow." Richie finally said. "That's a lot of legendaries."

"Yeah." Max agreed. "One more and that will make it an even ten."

KNOCK KNOCK

Max got up and answered the door.

It was hard to determine who was more shocked: Max, or the visitor.

"I just can't shake you kids off, can I?" Jack Walker asked Max.

"Hi Jackie." Max said allowing the Ranger in. "What brings you here?"

"Just passing through. Besides, I heard Dan's here."

"You know Mr. Ketchem?" Max asked.

"Ketchem?" Richie asked as he recognized the name.

"Yeah. We've met." Jackie said.

"Cool." Max said before frowning and looking up the stairs worriedly.

"Where are your sister and friends?" Jackie asked.

"May's out back talking." Max said.

"Hey. What's wrong?" Jackie asked the boy sensing something was wrong.

"Excuse me! Coming through!" Brock yelled running down the stairs into the kitchen.

The three heard the water running and the freezer door open. Then the sound of ice cubes being dumped into water.

Brock ran back out carrying a bowl of ice water with Matthew. He didn't notice the identities of the three.

"Brock?" Richie and Jackie asked as Brock ran back up the stairs.

The three ran after the breeder.

They stopped in front of Ash's door and peaked into the crack.

"It's too high." Edward told them. "And the nearest hospital is too far away."

"Do whatever needs to be done." Delia said.

"I'm trying, Delia." Edward said.

"That should help." Brock said as he laid a wet washcloth on Ash's forehead. "I emptied out the ice tray."

Max ran from the door.

"Max!" Jackie called as he and Richie ran after the boy.

Brock, Dan, Delia, Matthew, Edward, and Pikachu turned to the door.

"Was that Jackie?" Brock asked.

0000

"Max! What is it?" May asked as her brother ran out of the house.

"It's up again!" Max cried as he hugged his sister. "Dr. Oak said it's too high!"

Both May and Misty gasped and looked up to Ash's bedroom window.

"Ash will pull through." Misty said optimistically. "He has to."

May placed a hand on Misty's shoulder. Misty turned to the other girl as May nodded in agreement.

"We have to have faith." May said.

"Misty?" Richie asked as he and Jackie got to the door.

"May?" Jackie asked.

"Richie?" Misty asked.

"Jackie?" May asked.

"What are you doing here?" the four asked.

"So HERE'S the reunion." Another voice said.

Everyone turned to see Gary Oak with a small smirk.

Suddenly, his smirk turned to a serious frown.

"How is he?" Gary asked seriously.

TBC