"Hey Dawn, wake up."

Dawn groaned, turning over in bed as the morning light crept through the blinds. "What happened, Kenny?"

Kenny sat cross-legged at the foot of her bed, his warm smile on place. He leaned forward, gently shaking her shoulder. "We have to go, Dee Dee."

"Where?" Dawn mumbled, burying her face into the pillow.

"The clinic, where else?"

Dawn froze, her body tensing under the blankets. "No," she said flatly.

Kenny chuckled, running a hand through her messy hair. "Awwww, don't worry, Dee Dee. Did ya forget yours truly is the doctor?"

Of course she hadn’t forgotten.

She just didn't want to go.

It wasn’t Kenny she disliked. It was doctors in general—their cold, clinical demeanor, their tendency to withhold information as if she wouldn’t understand.

She hated the sterile smell of the clinic, the fluorescent lights that buzzed incessantly, and the feeling of being small and powerless.

Kenny, however, had already picked up on her resistance. His grin widened as he crossed his arms. "Ohhhh, I get it now. It’s not the appointment, it’s the doctors. And the clinic, huh?"

Dawn said nothing, but her silence spoke volumes.

"Okay," Kenny said, standing up. "Stay here. I’ve got an idea."

Before Dawn could protest, Kenny left the room, returning a few minutes later with his medical bag slung over his shoulder.

She squinted at him. "What are you doing?"

"Making you feel safe," he replied simply, setting the bag down on the dresser. "If you hate the clinic, then I’ll bring the clinic to you. Right here. In your comfort zone."

Dawn sat up, her heart softening at the sight of him. Kenny wasn’t just her boyfriend—he was someone who truly got her, someone who knew when to push and when to ease off.

"Seriously?" she asked, half amused, half touched.

"Seriously," he replied, opening his bag. "I’m the doctor, remember? We’ll do this right here. No buzzing lights, no weird smells, just us. Sound good?"

Dawn hesitated but eventually nodded. If anyone could make her feel comfortable during a checkup, it was Kenny.

Kenny snapped theatez gloves on and held one of Dawn's hands. " Remember, if you get scared, you can grab my hand, okay?"

" Why would I need your hand?"

Kenny was giving her a teasing look, though she could see the concern. " You know how you get during these."

Dawn looked down sheepishly. " Yeah. I do."

Kenny's hand found her chin and gently lifted it. " Hey. You're human. It's normal, okay?"

Dawn nodded. " Okay."

Kenny nodded, then took the stethoscope out and put it in his ears, warming it between his hands before slipping it under Dawn's nightsuit and pressing.

" Breathe in.... Hold.... Out. Okay, once more. In.... Hold.... Out...."

Kenny could hear it- the loud and fast thump thump, the one that Dawn always got when she was nervous.

" Come here."

Dawn looked at Kenny, suprised but didn't resist. She leaned forward, and Kenny gently pressed her head on his chest

" Hear it?" He whispered.

" Yeah."

" Try matching your breathing to mine."

Dawn looked up at Kenny with nervous eyes. " What else are you checking."

Kenny took one of Dawn's hands and rubbed a glove covered finger in a circular motion on it. " Eyes, ears, mouth, nose, lungs, reflexes. The usuals."

Dawn leaned on Kenny's chest. " That's not gonna hurt, is it?"

Kenny looked at Dawn, suprised. " Hurt? Dawn, none of this is to hurt you. Why would you say something like that?"

Dawn looked away. " No reason."

Kenny frowned, his playful expression softening into concern. "Hey, Dee Dee," he murmured, tilting her chin back toward him. "What’s going on? Did something happen before? You can tell me."

Dawn hesitated, her teeth worrying her bottom lip. "I don’t know… Doctors always made me feel like… like I wasn’t supposed to ask questions. Like I was just supposed to sit there and take it, no matter how scared I felt."

Kenny's eyes softened further, and he reached up to tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear. "You’re not just some patient to me, Dawn. You’re my Dee Dee. I’m here to help, not scare you. Got it?"

She nodded, though her gaze lingered on the floor.

"Good." Kenny pressed a quick kiss to her temple before pulling back. "Now, let’s finish this. And remember, if you feel nervous, just squeeze my hand, okay?"

Dawn nodded again, this time with a little more confidence.

Kenny slipped the stethoscope back under her nightsuit and pressed it to her chest. "Alright, let’s try this again. Deep breath in... hold... and out."

This time, Dawn’s breathing was steadier, her heart still quick but less erratic. Kenny smiled. "Better. You’re doing great, Dee Dee."

She managed a small smile in return.

He shifted to check her lungs, listening carefully as she breathed deeply. Satisfied, he moved on to her eyes. Kenny gently tilted her head, shining his little flashlight into her pupils.

"Eyes are perfect. No surprise there," he teased.

Dawn rolled her eyes, but she didn’t pull away.

Next were her ears. Kenny gently turned her head and examined each one, murmuring reassurances as he worked.

"Mouth and nose next," he said, holding up a tongue depressor.

"Ugh," Dawn groaned. "I hate that thing."

Kenny chuckled. "I know, I know. But it’ll be quick. Say ‘ah.’"

Reluctantly, Dawn complied. Kenny checked her throat and made a playful show of inspecting her teeth. "No cavities either. You’re a model patient, Dee Dee."

"Yeah, yeah," she muttered, her cheeks faintly pink.

Finally, Kenny tapped her knees lightly with his reflex hammer, watching as her legs jerked involuntarily.

"Reflexes are spot-on," he said with a grin, packing up his tools.

Dawn leaned back against the headboard, a sense of relief washing over her. "That’s it?"

"That’s it," Kenny confirmed, tugging off his gloves. He reached for her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "And you did amazing."

"Thanks," she murmured, squeezing back.

Kenny pulled her into a gentle hug, his chin resting atop her head. "You’re braver than you think, Dee Dee. And I’ll always be here to remind you of that."

For the first time, Dawn felt a little less afraid of doctors—and a lot more grateful for Kenny.