Dawn swallowed hard, her fingers curling around the blanket as she stared at Kenny. His expression was steady and filled with concern, but the mention of pain had her nerves spiraling.

"Kenny," she began, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don’t think—"

"Dawn," he interrupted gently, keeping her hands in his. "You’re not going to feel better by ignoring it. The longer it stays like this, the worse it could get. Let me help you."

Dawn glanced at the small array of tools Kenny had brought. A dental mirror, a pick, and some other items she didn’t recognize gleamed ominously under the bedroom light. She bit her lip and hesitated.

"But… what if you mess up?" she whispered.

Kenny chuckled softly, his warm laugh easing a fraction of her tension. "Dee Dee, I’ve helped fix things for you before, haven’t I? This is just another thing on the list. I promise I won’t let anything happen to you."

Dawn looked at him for a long moment, searching his face for any sign of uncertainty. But there was none.

Finally, with a shaky sigh, she nodded. "Okay… but if this hurts too much, we’re stopping."

"Deal," Kenny said, a smile tugging at his lips. He gently helped her sit up straighter against the pillows, tucking the blanket around her shoulders.

"Alright," he said, grabbing the mirror and pick. "First, let’s see how bad it is. Open up for me."

Dawn hesitated, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "Do I have to?"

Kenny raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Unless you want me guessing in the dark, yes, Dee Dee. Come on, it’s just me."

With a groan, Dawn opened her mouth, though she kept her eyes tightly shut.

"Good girl," Kenny murmured, leaning in to inspect her teeth. He tilted her head slightly with one hand, the mirror reflecting the inside of her mouth. "Let’s see here… yep, there’s the troublemaker. Your front tooth shifted from the impact, and the gum around it looks inflamed."

Dawn winced at his words. "It doesn’t look that bad, does it?"

Kenny straightened, giving her a teasing smile. "It’s not the worst thing I’ve seen. You’ll live."

"Gee, thanks," she muttered.

"Now," Kenny said, setting the mirror down and picking up the pick, "this might feel a little weird, but it won’t last long. You’ve got me here the whole time."

Dawn’s eyes widened as he brought the tool closer. "Kenny, wait! Are you sure you know what you’re doing?"

"Relax," he said, his tone calm but firm. "I’ve seen the dentist do this plenty of times. Trust me, Dee Dee. Deep breath."

Dawn clenched her fists on the blanket, her breaths shaky as she tried to follow his instructions.

The moment the pick touched her tooth, she flinched, her nails digging into the fabric.

"Hey, hey," Kenny said, pulling back immediately. "Too much?"

She shook her head, though her voice wavered. "N-No, I’m okay. Just startled me."

Kenny nodded, his free hand brushing her shoulder in reassurance. "Alright, let’s try again. Remember, deep breaths."

This time, Dawn managed to hold still as Kenny worked. His movements were careful and precise, his focus unshakable as he gently adjusted the tooth.

"Almost there," he murmured.

Dawn whimpered slightly, her grip tightening on the blanket. "It’s starting to—"

"Done," Kenny announced, sitting back with a grin.

Dawn blinked in surprise, her mouth still slightly open. "Wait… that’s it?"

"That’s it," he confirmed, setting the pick down and inspecting her face for any signs of lingering discomfort. "How do you feel?"

She moved her jaw experimentally, the ache duller than before. "It’s… better. Still sore, but not as bad."

Kenny’s smile softened, and he reached out to ruffle her hair. "Told you I’d take care of you."

Dawn gave him a small, sheepish smile. "Thanks, Kenny… I guess you were right."

"Always am," he teased, standing up and gathering the tools. "Now, let’s get you some ice for that soreness. Then maybe you can treat me to breakfast for being the best dentist ever."

Dawn laughed, the sound lighter than it had been in days. "Fine, but only if you promise no more surprises like this."

"No promises," Kenny called over his shoulder, leaving her to shake her head with a smile.