Chapter 11: Recovery

A week had passed since Richie, Gary, and Jackie showed up. Even Team Rocket dropped by to drop off a get well card (homemade because, let's face it, they don't have the money). Ash's fever had gone down to a not-so-dangerous level, but was still present.

That Saturday,

Pikachu was still in Ash's room. The washcloth had dried up and Pikachu took it off to place it in the ice water to dampen it again. As he turned, he didn't see Ash open his eyes. Pikachu jumped on the dresser without noticing Ash was sitting up watching him.

Pikachu reached for the basin. Suddenly, the yellow pokemon lost his balance and fell with the basin.

"Pi KA!" (AGGH!).

The basin fell to the floor and the water splattered making a huge mess. Pikachu, on the other hand, was halfway to the ground, with his eyes tightly shut, and felt two hands wrapped around his body.

"Chu?" (Huh?)

Pikachu squinted one eyes opened, before opening both as he realized that he was hanging from mid-air.

He was pulled back up and set on the bed.

He found that Ash was now sitting up, smiling weakly at the Pokemon.

"Pikapi!" (Ash!)

Pikachu jumped into Ash's arms and nuzzled Ash's chest.

"What happened?" Edward asked as he came running in after hearing the commotion.

"No one was hurt." Ash told him in a whisper.

"You're up." Edward stated the obvious as he pulled out a thermometer.

0000

"I'll call you, and raise you two." Jackie said to John they played poker with Dan.

"I fold." Dan said.

"Dan." John said. "You loosing at poker isn't going to make Ash any better."

"98.6" Edward announced going down the stairs.

Dan gave John a "you-were-saying?" look while everyone ran up the stairs.

They found Ash asleep with Pikachu napping right next to him. Ash was in a different position than what he had been in for the past three weeks. He was now lying on his side with an arm around Pikachu. The pokemon was nuzzled close to his trainer.

"Sweetie?" Delia asked as she caressed his face. She moved her hand to his forehead and found it cool. She smiled.

"Thank goodness." She sighed. "It's over."

"Not yet." Edward said. "I want him resting for one more week. Just to be safe."

"EXCUSE ME!" a voice from the front yard called.

Sarah and Matthew went to the window and opened it.

"CAN WE HELP YOU?" Matthew called.

"I WAS WONDERING IF WE COULD PRACTICE IN YOUR TERRITORY!" the girl called. "YOUR POKEMON BROUGHT US HERE!"

"OF COURSE!" Sarah called. "YOU'RE WELCOME HERE!"

"THANKS!" the girl called.

"So much for rest." Edward said.

Ash had not been disturb. He was sound asleep

"OH MY GOSH!" Misty cried when she looked out the window. "It's the Marina Underwater Pokemon Show!"

"LIZABETH!" Brock called as he ran out of the room.

"OH NO YOU DON'T!" Max and Misty called after him as they ran to pry him away from the youngest member of the show.

"Here we go again." Richie and May stated as they went to go follow.

Gary and Drew followed those two out the door leaving the adults with Ash and Pikachu.

"Ed?" John asked

"Yeah?"

"How do you think THIS fever will affect him?" John asked what was on everyone's mind.

Jackie had been told about the last time.

"Personally, I have no idea." Edward said.

"The way I see it," Professor Oak said. "It could either get him worse than the way he had been the first time, or it could get him back to the way he was before the first fever."

0000

A few hours later,

Misty peeked her head into Ash's bedroom to see if he was asleep.

"Misty?"

Nope. Ash was awake.

"Hey." She said. "How are you feeling?"

"MUCH better." He said. "How about you? You look like you haven't slept in days."

"More like weeks." She confirmed. "You had used worried."

"I'm sorry." He apologized.

"You couldn't help it." She told him. "You have some visitors."

"Who?"

"Jackie, Lizabeth, Ship, Kyle, Meredith, Richie, Drew, Professor Oak, and Gary."

"I figured Professor Oak and Gary, but what are the others doing here?"

"Passing through. They stayed longer when they heard you were sick. They'll be relieved to know you're up. By the way, Team Rocket even stopped by."

"Did they give you any…" Ash started to ask.

Misty shook her head.

"The dog pokemon scarred them, but told Meowth about your fever. They stopped by to drop off that card."

She pointed to the card that said "Get well soon, Twerp."

The two laughed.

"Those three." Ash sighed. "I don't know if they're good or bad."

Misty shrugged.

"Hey Misty!" Max called from the hall. "The free show's about to start."

"The Marina Group offered to give us a free show." Misty explained

"That's great." Ash said throwing off the covers.

"Where do you think YOU'RE going?" she asked.

"To say hello to everyone?"

"You're supposed to stay in bed and not to exert yourself."

"If you help me walk, then I won't be exerting as much."

"Only because everyone's been worried about you." She said putting his arm around her shoulders.

"Thanks Mist." He said giving her a peck on the cheek.

She blushed.

0000

By the time they got down to the show, Lizabeth was diving into her bubble.

"This is amazing!" Misty exclaimed.

"I knew you'd like it." Ash said as he sat down on the bench.

"What are you doing up, Young Man?" Delia asked her son.

"I'm watching the performance." Ash said.

Delia rolled her eyes, but hugged her son.

"You are your father's son." She told him.

"Good to see you up." Gary said to his ex-rival.

"Good to be up." Ash replied.

TBC