"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 blinked, completely confused. " Dee Dee, look at me."

Dawn didn't.

Kenny gently took her face and turned it to him. " Dawn, I want you to remember something. Any bad thing that you went through with any other doctor, that doesn't apply to me. You're the most important person in my life, Dawn."

Dawn, who was clutching onto his green and white stripped shirt, looked at Kenny. " Really?"

Kenny nodded and wiped her tears away. " Yes, Dawn."

Dawn nodded. " O... Okay."

Kenny took the stethoscope again. " Okay, this time, I'm going to check your lungs, okay? But what I'm gonna to next is different from what others have done."

Dawn blinked. " How's it-"

Kenny brought her in for a warm hug, his chin on her head. He gently placed the stethoscope under her nightsuit on her back, pressing it gently.

" In.... Hold it..... Okay out. Again, Dee Dee. In.... Out....."

He took the stethoscope off and leaned back to look at Dawn in the eyes. " Perfect, Dawn. Nothing to worry about."

Dawn smiled. " Thanks Kenny."

Kenny nodded as he picked a penlight from his pole of stuff. " Okay, Dee Dee. Look at the light, okay?"

He put a finger in front of the flashlight and turned it on. " Look at it, Dawn." He said, gently opening her eye with a finger.

" Good girl. Other eye. Good. They're clear, Dee Dee."

Dawn breathed a sigh of relief. " Oh thank goodness."

Next, Kenny picked up the othoscope. " This might tickle a little." Kenny warned as he tilted Dawn's head and peered inside. " Good. No wax buildup. You've been cleaning them well. Other ear." He crawled to the other side and tilted her head again. " Good."

He put the device down and picked a wooden stick. " Look at me, Dawn. And open your mouth."

Dawn groaned. " Do I HAVE to?"

Kenny tugged on her chin. " Yes."

Dawn sighed but obeyed, and Kenny didn't waste any time.

" Good girl."

Dawn sighed. " Are we almost done yet?"

" Few more things. Reflexes. Then we have to see your blood pressure."

Dawn's eyes widened. " Blood pressure?!"

Kenny picked the hammer up. " Yeah, but it's not that bad. Okay, stick your legs out."

Dawn reluctantly extended her legs, eyeing the small reflex hammer in Kenny's hand. "This better not hurt," she muttered, clutching the blanket around her waist.

Kenny chuckled, crouching beside her. "It won’t. Promise. Just a little tap, Dee Dee."

He tapped gently just below her knee, and her leg jerked reflexively.

"See? Perfect," Kenny said with a grin, moving to the other leg. He repeated the action, and Dawn's second leg kicked in response.

She wrinkled her nose. "It’s weird, but okay."

Kenny set the hammer aside and picked up the blood pressure cuff. "Now for the part you’re worried about. It’s just a quick squeeze on your arm. You’ll barely feel it."

Dawn hesitated, her eyes narrowing at the cuff. "Are you sure?"

"Positive," Kenny replied, kneeling beside her again. He wrapped the cuff snugly around her arm and secured it. "Relax your arm for me. Good girl."

Dawn bit her lip as Kenny pumped the bulb, the cuff tightening around her arm. "It’s not so bad," she admitted, exhaling slowly.

"Told you," Kenny said with a wink, his focus on the gauge. After a moment, he released the pressure and removed the cuff. "Perfectly normal. You’re as healthy as can be, Dee Dee."

Dawn relaxed, leaning back against the pillows. "Thank goodness. Is it over now?"

Kenny reached out to brush her hair back from her face. "It’s over. You did amazing, Dawn."

She smiled, a faint blush creeping into her cheeks. "Thanks for doing this here. I don’t think I could’ve handled going to the clinic today."

Kenny’s expression softened as he took her hand in his. "I’ll always do whatever I can to make things easier for you. You’re my Dee Dee, remember?"

Dawn squeezed his hand, her heart feeling lighter than it had in days. "I remember."

He leaned in and kissed her forehead. "Now, how about I make us some breakfast? You’ve earned it."

Dawn laughed softly, the warmth of his care wrapping around her like a blanket. "Sounds perfect."

And for the first time, the thought of a doctor’s checkup didn’t seem so bad—because Kenny made it feel like home.