A/N: In case you didn't know, Jimmy is a character that showed up in the three part movie The Legend of Thunder. He is also referred to as Gold, or the guy with the yellow and black cap from the Johto region. I can probably expect you to know the other characters. Enjoy!

Chapter 3: Backstage Burdens.

After the last song rang out to the crowd, Smell Ya Later receded into the curtains. Ash and Misty took this opportunity to catch Tracey before he went backstage.

"Hey, we need to get back there with you." Ash said, gripping his arm. Tracey sighed and shook his head.

"I really don't think Gary would approve..." Tracey said, but he was shoved forward through the curtain by Misty. The security guard saw Tracey and allowed the rest of them through. The backstage of the Cerulean Concert Club was normally neat and organized, but Tracey and the gang walked into the trashed dressing room. In a matter of minutes, Gary had strewn all their sheet music all over the ground. There was a smog engulfing the room, and it smelled putrid. Gary was spotted on the couch rolling various herbs together in paper. Ritchie and Jimmy were busy on the other side of the room coming up with more songs together. Tracey sighed and went to join the two. Ash and Misty stood in shock at Tracey's lack of sympathy. Misty grew furious at Gary when he smirked at Tracey walking away. She slammed her fist on the table, but it didn't startle the high brunette. He was too stoned to give a proper reaction, and brought the rolled herbs to his lips. Misty slapped him across the face again, knocking the joint out of his mouth. Now Gary was furious.

"Either you must really like me Red, or you're asking for it." Gary spat, visibly seething. Misty glared at Gary and snatched the joint up from the floor before Gary could reach for it. She tossed it to Ash, who was afraid to touch it. He held it with two fingers and flushed it down the toilet. Gary was fuming and walked right up to Ash, sticking his face inches from his. Ash was visibly shaking from Gary's rage.

"You know you're a dead man now, Ashy boy." Gary said and pulled his fist back, but he was stopped. Ritchie and Jimmy were clutching both of his arms, while Tracey held his waist. Gary tried to pull away, but the combined strength of all his band mates were too much for him. He gave up and sulked back over to the couch. Ash and Misty thanked the band, and went to talk to Gary before they left.

"Listen, Gary..." Ash started out, but Gary turned his nose up at him and hissed. Ash stopped and looked down, ashamed that he couldn't prevent this.

"Shut it, Ash. It's not your fault. But don't go trying to help me either. I know I have a problem, ok? I was spiraling downwards as soon as I was born. So don't bother trying to fix me." Gary said truthfully. It seems like he was sobering up a bit, and Ash nodded. He walked out of the dressing room and back into the now empty auditorium. Misty was surprised at Gary's speech.

"...But Gary, how can you just kill yourself like this?" Misty said after Ash had already left. Gary shrugged and got up to look out the window. His band mates knew that when he looked out a window, he was thinking. And when Gary thought, he often got angry and hurt people. That was their cue to leave. Misty was left standing in front of the couch.

"I don't know. I figured no one would care anyways if I died or not. I'm not important anyways." Gary said and turned to face Misty. He looked completely sober now, and he was becoming more and more depressed each passing minute. He went to grab some liquor from the cooler near the sofa. Misty allowed him to for now. It seemed to be the only thing keeping him from hurting himself even more than he already has.

"Gary, I know a ton of people that care about you! Ash, Delia, Professor Oak..." Gary cringed when his grandfather's name was mentioned. He felt a pang of guilt for disappointing the old man who had raised him since birth, and uncapped the liquor. He took a long swig and then sat back on the couch. Gary could already feel the pain going away...

"Even I care about you, Gary. I don't know why, but I do. So you need to stop hurting yourself, because you hurt everyone who love you as well." Misty said sitting next to him. Gary looked up and sighed.

"Well I have an idea. How about you come to Pallet tomorrow to help me sober up? You seem to be the only one willing to, anyways. Plus I have to make this offer now before my buzz starts to kick in." Gary said and took another long swig of alcohol. Misty sighed. She now knew that she was Gary's last chance.

"...Ok." Misty said, sighing. This was going to be a while, especially judging by the wicked expression now plastered on Gary's face. She gulped.