Chapter 40: Doctor’s Orders

Dean sat on the operating table as Katherine performed a basic checkup on his cognitive functions.

She checked his hands for tremors, his eyes with a flashlight to see his reaction speed. And even tested his reflexes a bit. The more she tested the more her expression became cold, and clinical before finally asking the question.

“How much sleep did you get last night?

“Six hours… Maybe five?” Dean’s voice was heavy with exhaustion. Both mentally and physically.

She was keenly aware that he had stayed up the entire night before last. And despite how impressed she was with his ability to battle through the fatigue, it was not lost on Katherine that the only thing that had kept Dean going the entire time was coffee.

From his perspective, it was absolutely necessary to push himself to such an extent. He was the only one in Paradise Falls who could effectively oversee and command day-to-day operations.

Delegation had its limits. Yuki couldn’t explain where to place a barricade, how deep to dig a latrine, or who to place at what post. She was an effective manager, despite her lack of experience, but she needed guidance as much as anyone else.

And unfortunately, for the time being Yuki was the only one Dean could trust to relieve some of his stress.

Katherine sighed heavily and shook her head. Her expression was warm and sincere, but her voice was laced with anxiety.

“How are you feeling? Besides just general fatigue?”

It took Dean a moment longer to gather his thoughts than it normally otherwise would have, and that was sign enough for Katherine despite anything he said in his defense.

“Fine… I’ve had worse. Honestly, doc, I think you’re overreacting, I’ve seen combat under worse conditions and lived to tell the tale.”

Katherine didn’t disagree with Dean’s assessment, only its relevance to their current circumstances.

She placed her instruments down and sat in front of Dean. The look on her face was one of genuine care, but also stern in a way Dean had never expected from her.

“I’m sure you have… Far be it from me to tell you what your experience was like in the military. But Dean… Surely you understand that what you went through then, whatever that may be, is not the same as now. We don’t have medivac, we have very limited medical supplies, and the only blood we have is the one you just gave me yesterday. If you get shot out there, I’m going to be forced to choose between saving you and someone else. And then what was the point of donating your blood to the bank?”

Part of Dean wanted to fight back against Katherine’s words. But he was too tired to make the effort. And deep down he knew she was right.

“I understand… I’ll be careful.”

However, Katherine stood up and pushed Dean back down into his seat while hovering over him, her voice lowering to a command rather than a suggestion.

“No… You’ll be in the rear commanding your soldiers. You’re not an operator anymore, you’re a field commander, so act like it. The boys don’t need you laying down suppressive fire, they need your experience and knowledge.”

Katherine held Dean’s gaze until he understood.

“I saw that photo of you upstairs with what I presume are your parents? Curious how the only evidence that a life once existed in this house before the cold is a photo of your graduation from Special Reconnaissance school. And the patch on your bicep that says Ranger explains why you’re able to perform as an efficient commander despite how tired you are.”

Dean looked up at the woman who was staring down at him like a mother scolding an errant child.

“You know an awful lot about military organizational structure for a civilian doctor….”

Katherine scoffed and rolled her eyes, she walked towards the edge of the room and pulled off her surgical gloves, tossing them in the trash before heading towards the door. She stopped just long enough to turn around and meet Dean’s gaze as she stood up.

“There’s more to me than you might have assumed. Perhaps if you survive long enough to get some sleep, we can talk about it over drinks. Don’t get yourself killed out their Dean, we’re all relying on you now.”

Katherine left the infirmary, and in doing so, Dean found himself alone with his thoughts. And what she had said to him.

—

Katherine climbed up the stairs to find Daniel waiting in the foray. She was shocked to see that Yuki had let the boy into the home, but then again Yuki would never act without Dean’s orders.

When Daniel saw the mature beauty, he blushed and averted his gaze. She ignored it, but approached him regardless.

“Daniel, was it?”

Daniel instantly snapped his focus toward Katherine, trying to look into her eyes instead of elsewhere.

“Yes…”

Katherine nodded, sizing Daniel up for a few moments in silence before finally expressing her thoughts with a heavy sigh.

“Daniel, I know you and I don’t know each other very well, but I need you to do me a favor.”

Daniel practically shouted his response.

“Anything, just ask.”

Katherine immediately understood the boy was nervous around her, probably for a multitude of reasons, and that his mouth had just responded before his thoughts had caught up.

She naturally took advantage of that before he could correct the mistake.

“If he stumbles in the field today… I need you to drag his ass back to me, even if he kicks and screams. Can you do that?”

Naturally, Katherine knew was putting Daniel in a hard place. The boy clearly respected Dean and was loyal to him. But she was effectively asking him to take himself out of the field against his wishes if something were to happen to him.

He naturally hesitated, and Katherine latched onto that in a heartbeat.

“Daniel… He’s exhausted. And he just donated blood to ensure one of you guys can survive if God forbid the worst happens. I need you to promise me that if something happens, you will get him to me so I can take care of him.”

When Katherine put it like that, and showed such worry in her eyes, Daniel could only lower his head and avert his gaze. Mumbling through his teeth as he did so.

“I promise…”

Katherine flashed an approving smile as she patted the boy on the shoulder.

“Good… I’m going to go prepare breakfast, in his current state that man needs all he can get, go fetch him for me will you? He’s done below in the infirmary. Oh, and Daniel, tell Dean that once this is over I’m going to force him to get a good night’s rest even if the world is suddenly lit on fire.”

She then walked away and began to help Yuki prepare breakfast. Leaving Daniel to grapple with the agreement he had just made with Katherine behind Dean’s back.

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