" Dawn. Hey, Dawn. Wake up, Dawn."

Dawn moaned in her bed. " What Kenny?" She asked, clutching her jaw under the blanket.

" We have to go, Dee Dee."

" Where?" She muttered.

" The dentist."

Dawn froze. If the dentist found out about her tooth....

" Kenny, schedule it for another day, I... I don't want to go."

Kenny studied her for a moment.

Then he sighed. " Wait here."

Dawn didn't even move.

Kenny slipped off her bed and walked out.

Dawn prayed he would leave her alone.

He did not, unfortunately.

He came back with dentist tools.

Dawn nervously peeked out of her blanket. " Kenny, this isn't necessary."

Kenny rolled his sleeves up slightly and gave Dawn a look. " Dawn, you've been acting weird when it comes to your mouth the past few days. This has to stop."

Dawn shook her head. " Bu-"

" You trust me, don't you?"

Dawn nodded reluctantly. " Unfortunately."

" Then trust me on this. Please."

" Found the issue."

Dawn, who was propped up in pillows, had her eyes squeezed shut and prayed Kenny hadn't found the actual issue.

" Your tooth is crooked because of your fall last week."

He found it.

" How did yo-"

Kenny cut himself off as he observed Dawn's expression. " Wait... You knew, didn't you."

Dawn remained silent.

" Oh, Dee Dee. Don't you know you should tell someone when this happens. I can fix it, thankfully, but it might hurt a little."

Dawn's eyes widened and she shook her head rapidly. " No, Kenny, plea-"

Kenny took her hands. " You trust me, don't you?"

Dawn looked down. " More than anyone."

" Then trust me on this. Please."

Dawn gulped, her heart pounding as she looked up at Kenny. His warm, reassuring smile softened her panic, but the sight of the dentist tools on the nightstand still made her stomach churn.

“Kenny, I don’t know…” she murmured, fidgeting with the hem of her blanket.

“Hey, hey,” Kenny said gently, taking her hands in his. “It’s me, Dee Dee. I’m not going to do anything crazy. We’ll take it one step at a time, okay?”

Dawn bit her lip, her nerves still coiled tightly, but she nodded. “Okay… just… please be gentle.”

Kenny chuckled softly. “Of course. I’d never hurt you, Dee Dee.”

He picked up a small flashlight and tilted her chin up. “Let’s start simple. Open up for me.”

Dawn hesitated but eventually parted her lips. Kenny turned on the flashlight and peered inside, his brow furrowing slightly as he examined her teeth.

“There it is,” he murmured, spotting the slightly crooked tooth. “Does it hurt?”

Dawn flinched. “Only when I eat or touch it too hard.”

Kenny nodded, setting the flashlight down and grabbing a small mirror. “Alright, I’ll need to adjust it, but I promise I’ll be as gentle as possible. You’re doing great so far, Dee Dee.”

Dawn gave a small, nervous laugh. “I’m not sure about great…”

Kenny’s smile widened. “You’re still here, aren’t you? That’s pretty great to me.”

His words managed to calm her slightly, and she leaned back into the pillows, gripping them tightly as he prepared.

“This might feel a little weird,” Kenny said, taking a pair of gloves and slipping them on. “But if it hurts too much, just squeeze my hand, okay?”

Dawn blinked. “Squeeze your hand?”

He held up his free hand. “Yep. No judgment. Just let me know if it’s too much.”

She stared at his outstretched hand, then slowly reached out and held it. “Okay… I’ll try.”

“Good girl,” Kenny said softly. “Alright, here we go.”

He carefully adjusted her tooth with gentle, precise movements. Dawn winced at the pressure but squeezed his hand whenever it felt too intense. Kenny would pause, giving her a moment to breathe before continuing.

“You’re doing so well, Dee Dee,” he murmured. “Almost done.”

Dawn’s grip tightened, her eyes watering slightly, but she nodded. “Just… get it over with…”

A few more adjustments, and Kenny finally leaned back, exhaling in relief. “Done. See? That wasn’t so bad, was it?”

Dawn opened her eyes, still teary but visibly more relaxed. “It… it didn’t hurt as much as I thought it would…”

Kenny chuckled, taking off his gloves and setting them aside. “Told you I’d take care of you. How does it feel now?”

She tentatively touched her tooth with her tongue, her eyes widening in surprise. “It… it doesn’t hurt!”

“Perfect,” Kenny said, ruffling her hair playfully. “Now, no more hiding stuff like this from me, alright? We’re a team, Dee Dee.”

Dawn smiled, her cheeks flushing. “Thanks, Kenny… for everything.”

“Anytime,” he replied, leaning back with a grin. “Now, how about we celebrate with some soft food? Doctor’s orders.”

Dawn laughed softly, her nerves finally fading. “Only if you’re paying.”

“Deal,” Kenny said, taking her hand as they headed out of the room, her smile brighter than ever.