" Wake up, Sunshine."

Dawn groaned and shifted in her bed. " Kenny..... Is that you?"

" Who else would it be, Dee Dee?"

Dawn groaned. " Kenny..... I want to sleeeeeeeep....."

" But Dawn-"

" Besides," Dawn mumbled. " My stomach hurts."

Kenny's playful expression vanished. "Wait, what? Your stomach hurts?" His voice was laced with concern.

Dawn, still half-asleep, buried her face deeper into the pillow. "Mmm-hmm... it's probably just a cramp or something... nothing big... let me sleep, Kenny..."

Kenny wasn't buying it. He knew Dawn well enough to recognize when she was trying to downplay how she felt. "Dee Dee, tell me exactly where it hurts."

Dawn sighed heavily and lifted a hand to gesture vaguely around her lower abdomen. "Somewhere there... I dunno."

"Okay, that does it," Kenny said, determination replacing his earlier lightheartedness. He placed a firm hand on her shoulder. "Come on, sit up. Doctor Kenny is on the case."

"Noooo," Dawn whined, clinging to the blanket like it was her last line of defense.

"Yes," Kenny insisted, gently but firmly pulling the blanket down. "The sooner we figure this out, the sooner I let you go back to sleep."

Dawn reluctantly sat up, clutching her stomach. Her face was slightly pale, and there was a faint grimace on her lips. Kenny's heart sank a little at the sight.

"Okay, Dee Dee," he said softly, pulling on a pair of gloves. "I'm going to check your stomach, alright? If anything hurts, tell me right away."

Dawn gave a reluctant nod, biting her lip nervously.

Kenny knelt in front of her, placing his warm hands gently over her abdomen. "I'm going to press lightly first," he explained. "Ready?"

"Yeah," she muttered, though she didn't sound convinced.

He began pressing in different spots, watching her face closely for any signs of discomfort. "Here?"

"No..."

"Here?"

"Ngh... a little."

Kenny frowned and continued, moving to her lower abdomen. "How about here?"

Dawn flinched, a sharp gasp escaping her lips. "Ouch! That hurts!"

Kenny's concern deepened. "Got it. That's your lower right side, Dee Dee. We need to take this seriously."

Dawn's eyes widened in panic. "Seriously? Kenny, don't say stuff like that! You're scaring me!"

Kenny softened his tone, taking her hand. "Hey, hey, it's okay. I didn't say it was anything bad—I'm just being cautious. But we need to monitor it, alright?"

Dawn nodded hesitantly. "You're not taking me to the clinic, are you?"

Kenny smirked faintly. "Not if I can help it. But if it gets worse, you're not getting out of it, Dee Dee."

Dawn sighed. "Fine... but only because it's you."

"Glad to hear it," Kenny said, standing up. "Now, I'm going to get you some water and a heating pad. Lay back and try to relax."

As he walked toward the kitchen, Dawn called after him. "Kenny?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks... for being you."

Kenny grinned over his shoulder. "Always, Dee Dee."

When Kenny returned to the room, a glass of water in one hand and a heating pad in the other, his heart sank at the sight of Dawn. She was curled up on the bed, clutching her stomach with a grimace of pain etched across her face. Her breathing was uneven, and her knuckles were white from how tightly she gripped the blanket.

Kenny immediately set the items down on the nightstand and knelt beside her. "Hey, Dee Dee," he said softly, his voice calm despite the worry creeping into it. "I’m back. Let’s get you feeling better, okay?"

Dawn whimpered, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "It hurts, Kenny… I feel like my stomach's trying to tie itself in knots."

Kenny's heart clenched. He hated seeing her like this. He knew if she was showing this much pain, it was serious. His brain automatically switched into doctor mode, analyzing the symptoms and thinking of what to do next.

But before any medical expertise could come into play, he did the one thing he knew always calmed her down. He reached out, gently booped her nose with his finger, and then pressed a soft kiss to her cheek.

Dawn blinked, the sudden gesture momentarily breaking through the haze of pain. "K-Kenny… what was that for?" she asked, her voice hoarse but tinged with surprise.

He smiled faintly. "To remind you that I’ve got you, Dee Dee. Always."

She sniffled, managing a weak smile despite the discomfort. "You're such a dork."

"And proud of it," Kenny teased, though his tone remained gentle. "Now, let me do a quick check, okay? I promise I'll be gentle."

Dawn nodded reluctantly, still clutching her stomach. Kenny retrieved his stethoscope, slipping it from around his neck as he sat on the edge of the bed. He warmed the metal disc with his palm before pressing it lightly against her abdomen.

"Alright, Dee Dee," he instructed softly. "Breathe in for me... good... and out."

He moved the stethoscope to different areas, listening carefully. His brows furrowed slightly as he detected some unusual gurgling sounds. "One more deep breath... perfect. You're doing great."

Dawn winced as he moved to the lower right side. "Ow…"

Kenny immediately pulled back. "Got it. Sorry, Dee Dee. I’ll be extra careful."

He set the stethoscope aside and began palpating her abdomen with gentle but precise movements. "Tell me if anything hurts, okay?"

Dawn nodded, biting her lip.

When he pressed near her lower right side again, she flinched sharply. "Ouch! Kenny, that really hurts!"

Kenny's expression turned serious. He knew that kind of pain could indicate something more concerning. He took a breath, trying to keep his voice calm and reassuring. "Dee Dee, I think we need to get you to the clinic for an X-ray later today."

Dawn's eyes widened in panic. "The clinic? But Kenny—"

"I know, I know," he said, squeezing her hand gently. "I promise it’ll be quick and easy. And guess what? I’ll be with you the whole time. You won’t have to deal with anyone else but me."

Dawn hesitated, her breathing uneven. "Do we really have to go?"

Kenny nodded firmly. "Yeah, Dee Dee. I just want to make sure everything’s okay. Better safe than sorry, right?"

She sighed, clearly not thrilled but trusting him enough to relent. "Fine… but only because it’s you."

Kenny grinned, relieved. "That's my girl. We'll head out in a bit. For now, try to sip some water and relax."

Dawn leaned back against the pillows, still looking a bit uneasy but comforted by his presence. "Thanks, Kenny… for everything."

"Always, Dee Dee," he said with a warm smile. "Now let’s get you feeling better, one step at a time."

The clinic's waiting area was calm and filled with the gentle hum of distant conversations and shuffling papers. Kenny strode in confidently, his face calm and collected. Dawn, however, clung to his side like glue, her eyes darting nervously around the room.

The receptionist, a cheerful woman named Marlene, looked up from her desk and smiled brightly. “Ah, Doctor Kenny! What brings you here today?”

Kenny returned the smile, gesturing toward Dawn with a tilt of his head. "This one needs an X-ray."

Marlene's eyes softened as she took in Dawn’s tense posture and the death grip she had on Kenny's arm. "Oh dear. Not feeling your best, sweetheart?"

Dawn forced a weak smile. "I’m fine," she muttered unconvincingly, her fingers tightening on Kenny’s sleeve.

Kenny chuckled softly. "She’s not fine. Her stomach's been giving her trouble, and I want to make sure it’s nothing serious."

Marlene nodded, already typing on her computer. "Of course. Let’s get you checked in. I’ll notify Radiology right away."

As Marlene worked, Kenny leaned down to whisper in Dawn's ear. "See? Easy peasy."

Dawn shot him a glare. "Easy for you. You’re the doctor. I’m the patient."

"True," he teased. "But I’m also your boyfriend, which makes me your personal shield from all things scary in this clinic."

She sighed, though the corners of her lips twitched slightly. "You’re so annoying."

"And yet you’re still glued to me," Kenny grinned.

Marlene handed Kenny a clipboard with a form. "Just fill this out, Doctor Kenny. You know the drill."

He took the clipboard and led Dawn to a nearby seat. She practically collapsed into it, still holding onto his arm. Kenny set the clipboard on his lap and began filling out the form with swift, practiced movements.

"Name: Dawn Berlitz. Age: 10. Reason for visit: Stomach pain," he muttered as he wrote. "Any allergies, Dee Dee?"

"Only to annoying boyfriends," Dawn deadpanned.

Kenny laughed, shaking his head. "Noted. I’ll make sure to prescribe extra doses of myself later."

Dawn groaned, though her anxiety seemed to ease a bit.

Once the form was complete, Kenny handed it back to Marlene. "All set."

"Great! Head on back to Room 3, and Radiology will be ready for you shortly," Marlene said with a reassuring smile.

Kenny stood, helping Dawn to her feet. "Come on, Dee Dee. You’ve got this."

Dawn hesitated but finally nodded. "Only because you're here," she admitted quietly.

"Always," Kenny promised, squeezing her hand as they made their way down the hallway.

After a few minutes, a nurse in pale blue scrubs appeared from the hallway. "Doctor Kenny? Room Three is ready for you."

"Thanks," Kenny said with a polite nod.

He turned to Dawn, who was sitting rigidly in her chair, nervously fiddling with the hem of her shirt. Her face had a wary look, but Kenny gently smiled at her and offered his hand. "Come on, sweetie. Let’s get this over with."

Dawn blinked up at him, then slowly took his hand and stood up. As they walked down the hall, her eyes kept darting to Kenny’s scrubs. He was dressed in a light green set with a neatly tucked-in shirt, practical sneakers, and his ID badge clipped to his pocket.

"Hey, Kenny?" Dawn’s voice broke the silence.

"Yeah, Dee Dee?"

"Why do you have to wear... all that?" She gestured at his scrubs with a curious expression. "Like, the whole outfit thing?"

Kenny grinned. "You mean these super stylish clothes?" He gave a playful spin, making the fabric of his scrubs swish dramatically.

Dawn snorted despite herself. "Stylish is a strong word."

"Harsh," Kenny said with a mock gasp, clutching his chest as though wounded. "But seriously, these are scrubs. They're made for doctors and nurses so we don’t spread germs around. Plus, they’re comfy—like wearing pajamas to work."

Dawn tilted her head. "Really? But why don’t you wear one of those white coats like other doctors?"

Kenny shrugged. "Eh, coats get in the way. I like to keep it simple. Plus, I think I look cooler this way, don’t you?" He wiggled his eyebrows.

Dawn squinted at him. "You think everything you wear makes you look cool."

"Guilty as charged," Kenny laughed.

As they neared the X-ray room, Dawn slowed her steps. Her earlier nerves returned, making her grip Kenny’s hand tighter. Kenny immediately noticed and squeezed her hand back reassuringly.

"Hey, Dee Dee," he said gently, leaning down a bit. "You’re gonna be fine, okay? I’ll be right there the whole time. It’s just a few pictures of your tummy."

Dawn bit her lip. "Are you sure it won’t hurt?"

"Promise," Kenny said firmly. "The machine won’t even touch you. And if anything feels weird, you tell me, and we stop. Deal?"

"...Deal," Dawn whispered.

When they reached the room, the radiology technician greeted them warmly. "Hi, Doctor Kenny. Ready for the X-ray?"

Kenny smiled. "Yep. Dawn here’s the VIP today."

Dawn managed a shy smile as Kenny led her inside. "Let’s show this machine who's boss, Dee Dee."

Kenny guided Dawn into the X-ray room, where the walls were painted in a calming shade of blue. The large X-ray machine loomed in the center, its sleek metallic frame looking both futuristic and slightly intimidating. Dawn hesitated at the sight of it, clutching Kenny’s hand tightly.

"Hey, it's just a big camera," Kenny said softly, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. "Nothing to be scared of, okay?"

Dawn took a deep breath, nodding reluctantly. "If you say so..."

The radiology technician smiled warmly. "Don't worry, hon. We'll take good care of you. Doctor Kenny's got you covered too."

"Always," Kenny added, his voice playful but filled with genuine care.

He helped Dawn remove any metal items, including her necklace and bracelet, which he pocketed for safekeeping. Then he guided her to stand against the X-ray panel. "Okay, Dee Dee, stand right here. Feet shoulder-width apart—yeah, perfect. Now I’m just gonna position you a bit."

He gently adjusted her shoulders and placed her arms at her sides. Dawn's breathing was shallow, her nerves obvious. Kenny caught her eye. "Hey, remember what I said? I’m not going anywhere."

Dawn managed a weak smile. "You're really staying right here?"

"Yup." He tapped his chest proudly. "I’m the coolest X-ray buddy you'll ever have."

The technician nodded from behind the protective control panel. "Doctor Kenny, you'll need to step behind the shield."

Kenny frowned playfully. "Do I have to?"

"You know the rules," the technician laughed.

Kenny sighed dramatically, then leaned down to whisper to Dawn. "I’ll be right behind that glass. Keep your eyes on me, okay?"

Dawn's grip on his hand loosened slightly. "Okay."

Kenny gave her a quick thumbs-up before reluctantly stepping behind the protective shield. He kept his eyes locked on hers, mouthing, "You got this, Dee Dee!"

The technician’s voice came through the intercom. "Dawn, take a deep breath and hold it."

Dawn did as instructed, her eyes never leaving Kenny. The machine made a soft humming sound as it captured the image.

"All done! You can breathe now," the technician announced cheerfully.

Dawn exhaled shakily. Kenny was back at her side in an instant. "See? Easy peasy."

Dawn rolled her eyes. "Yeah, so easy," she muttered sarcastically.

"Hey, you crushed it," Kenny said, grinning. "Way braver than most people."

He helped her step down from the panel, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "Now, let’s grab your stuff and get out of here. I promised you a reward for being awesome."

Dawn raised an eyebrow. "What reward?"

Kenny winked. "You'll see. But spoiler alert—it involves ice cream."

Dawn finally smiled. "You're not the worst, Kenny."

"I'll take that as a win," he laughed, wrapping an arm around her as they walked back toward the reception area.