Dawn could feel her teeth chattering. Her fingers were playing with the helm of her dress, and her heart was thumping in her chest, ready to burst. Her nose took in the sharp smell on sanitizer, and she gulped.

" No need to worry, no need to worry." She kept muttering to herself.

But she couldn't stop worrying.

Because what was behind that door.... She dreaded.

She watched kids and adults go in and come out, alive.

But she couldn't bring herself to do that.

She didn't hear the chatter, everything warping in her brain.

Then, someone stuck their latex glove covered hand to her

She looked up to see her Auburn haired boy.

She had never seen Kenny in blue medical scrubs, and it worried her.

" Hiya Dee Dee."

Dawn gave him a tight smile. " H... Hi Kenny."

Kenny smiled warmly at her. " Come on, Dee Dee. It's not that bad, I promise."

" Promise?"

" I promise."

Dawn took Kenny's hand shakily, and he pulled her up and took her through the doors.

They walked through a large hall, but Dawn didn't notice.

She was too busy thinking of her doom.

What if Kenny accidentally poisons me? What if Kenny just pierces it in?! What if he gives me so many shots I die?! What i-

" Dawn? Earth to Dawn? Are you okay?"

Dawn's gaze snapped up to Kenny, who had stopped walking, hand still holding hers, looking back at her with concern in his eyes.

" I'm fine. No need to worry...." She managed to whisper.

Kenny didn't look convinced, but he didn't question anything.

He pulled her down the hall and into a room.

Green walls, green examination table, green everything.

Even the tray was green

The only thing that wasn't green was the bandaid layed on the tray, and that was blue.

And on the walls were pictures of him and his Pokemon, him and contests, and... Him and Dawn.

It managed to calm Dawn a little, but her heart was still thumping.

" Sit up here, Dee Dee." Kenny instructed, patting the table

She slowly crawled on and sat, looking at her fingers.

Kenny threw his gloves away, washed his hands, and took new gloves out, pulling them on his hands.

" How are you feeling?" Kenny asked.

Dawn didn't reply at first.

" Nervous."

" Why?"

Dawn didn't reply.

Kenny turned and observed Dawn.

The poor girl was shaking like a leaf, and she looked ready to burst into tears.

" Aw, Dawn...."

Dawn didn't look at him.

" It's just a small needle, Dee Dee, I promise. It won't hurt."

Dawn shook her head, tears already forming. " It always hurts, Kenny. No matter what."

Kenny gently tilted Dawn's face up and wiped the tears that escaped with his thumb. " Would it make you feel better if I took the gloves off?"

Dawn didn't reply, but she gave the slightest nod ever.

Kenny noticed, and took the gloves off, setting them to the side. " No use wasting perfectly clean gloves." He muttered.

Then he turned his full attention to Dawn. " You said it always hurt?"

Dawn nodded, embarrassed.

Kenny crawled onto the table. " Let's see why."

He gently placed a cool thumb on her arm and traced her veins.

Dawn gulped and grabbed his free arm, digging her nails into the blue cloth.

" A.... Am I okay?"

Kenny paused to look at Dawn. " Mhm."

Then he chuckled. " Ah. Now I see."

Dawn's eyes widened. " What? Is something wrong with me?"

Kenny shook his head, still smiling. " No no, Dee Dee. You're a clutcher."

" A what?"

Kenny gently booped her nose, and she giggled nervously. " A clutcher, sweetheart. It means you ball your fists when your nervous. You also grab onto people's arms."

He gestured to his hand, and Dawn froze. " Oh my God I'm so sorry! Please forgive me, Kenny! I promise -"

Kenny stopped her by placing a finger on her lips. " It's okay, Dawn. I forgive you."

Dawn was trying, she really was. She’d been doing better, she’d even been smiling and laughing at Kenny’s jokes. She thought she could handle it. But the moment Kenny prepared the syringe, a cold chill washed over her, and the panic set in.

Kenny, noticing the shift, glanced up at her. His hands paused mid-prep. "Dee Dee, hey, it’s okay, just take a deep breath with me, alright?"

But the cold sweat forming on Dawn’s skin made it impossible to focus. Her heart was racing again. The needle in Kenny’s hands seemed bigger, sharper, somehow more menacing. She could feel her hands trembling, her chest tightening with every passing second.

"Kenny, I—" she started, but her voice caught in her throat, the words tumbling out as nothing more than frantic whispers. "I can't... I can’t do this... I can't..."

Before she even realized what she was doing, she had grabbed onto his arm, her nails digging into his sleeve. Her body was shaking uncontrollably, her face turning pale as her breath came in ragged gasps. "Please, Kenny, no, no, I can't—please don't make me do this!" Her voice cracked as the tears started to fall, and she sobbed uncontrollably, holding onto him like he was the only thing keeping her grounded.

Kenny froze for a moment, surprised by the intensity of her reaction. He gently placed the syringe down on the tray, careful not to make any sudden movements.

"Dawn, I’m right here, okay?" he said softly, wrapping both arms around her. He wasn’t surprised when she buried her face into his chest, her sobs muffled against his shirt. "It’s alright, Dee Dee. You're not alone. I’m not going to let anything hurt you."

Dawn’s hands clenched tighter on his arm, her tears soaking into his shirt. Her body was shaking with the rawness of her fear, every muscle tense, every breath labored. "I can’t... I just... what if... what if it hurts too much?"

Kenny rubbed her back gently, his voice calm and soothing. "I won’t let it hurt. I’ll make it as easy as I can, okay? You don’t have to be brave right now. You just need to trust me."

Dawn pulled away slightly, still clinging to him, her eyes wide with terror. "I... I don’t know if I can," she whispered.

Kenny cupped her face gently, wiping the tears away with his thumb. "You don’t have to do it alone, Dee Dee. Look at me." He waited until her teary eyes met his. "I’m going to make this quick, alright? Just breathe with me. In... out... in... out."

Dawn nodded shakily, trying to follow his instructions, but her breathing remained ragged. Kenny kissed her forehead lightly, the gesture soft and reassuring. "I’ve got you. You don’t have to worry about anything, okay?"

But as he picked up the syringe again, Dawn’s body tensed, and she grabbed his arm again, her grip like a vice. Her breathing grew even more erratic. "Please, no... I can’t... I can’t take it... I can’t..."

Kenny looked down at her, seeing the panic in her eyes, and immediately put the syringe back down. He wasn’t going to push her, not when she was this overwhelmed. He took a deep breath and pulled her into his arms once more, allowing her to cling to him.

"It’s okay, Dee Dee. It’s okay. Just breathe, okay? We can stop for a minute. I’m not going anywhere. You’re safe here."

Dawn clung to him, her body shaking with every sob, but slowly, the frantic tension in her body began to ease. She rested her head on his chest, trying to calm her racing thoughts.

Kenny whispered softly to her, his words a gentle lullaby. "You’re doing great, Dee Dee. It’s okay to be scared, but you don’t have to go through this alone. I’m right here with you, every step of the way."

They stayed like that for a long while, Kenny just holding her as she cried, letting the storm inside her calm down. He didn’t try to hurry, didn’t pressure her to move past the fear. He just let her feel it, let her express it, and promised that when she was ready, they would try again.

After a few minutes, Dawn’s breathing started to slow, and her grip on Kenny’s arm loosened. Her face was still wet with tears, but there was a slight steadiness in her posture now.

"I’m sorry," she whispered, her voice hoarse. "I didn’t mean to freak out like that."

Kenny smiled softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Dee Dee, you have nothing to apologize for. I’m proud of you. You’re doing so well."

Dawn looked up at him, her tear-streaked face showing a mix of embarrassment and gratitude. "I don’t want to be this scared all the time. I just... I can’t help it."

Kenny cupped her face once more, his smile warm and unwavering. "I know, sweetheart. And it’s okay. You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to trust that I’m here for you."

Dawn nodded, her hands still trembling a little, but she was more at peace now. "Okay. I trust you."

"Good," Kenny said, picking up the syringe again but keeping it at her side, waiting until she was ready. "Whenever you’re ready, we’ll do this. No rush. I’m not going anywhere."

Dawn took a deep breath, wiped her tears away, and then looked up at him, determination flickering in her eyes. "Okay," she said softly, but more firmly this time. "Let’s do it."

Kenny smiled proudly, his heart swelling with affection for her. "You’re amazing, Dee Dee. Let’s get this over with, together."