Cassandra didn’t remember the walk to medical.
She only remembered the report.
Major Carter.
Injured during combat training.
That sentence had repeated itself the entire way down the corridor, each repetition somehow worse than the last.
When she arrived, the medical bay was already tense.
Too quiet.
Staff moving faster than necessary.
Eyes tracking her the moment she stepped inside.
And then she saw her.
Shae Carter.
Standing in the far corner of the room like she was simply waiting her turn.
Except she was very clearly not “simply waiting.” Because there was a training knife still embedded in her thigh.
Cassandra stopped walking.
For half a second, the entire medical bay seemed to freeze with her.
Then she started forward.
Slow.
Controlled.
Dangerously calm.
Shae noticed her immediately.
Of course she did.
Her expression shifted—just slightly.
Not fear.
More like… resignation.
“Oh,” Shae said quietly.
“Hey.” Cassandra didn’t respond.
She walked straight up to her.
Stopped less than an arm’s length away.
And looked down at the knife.
Then back up at Shae.
Then back down again.
A long silence stretched.
The kind that made nearby medics suddenly find their equipment extremely interesting.
Finally, Cassandra spoke.
“What,” she said evenly, “is that.” Shae glanced down at the knife like she’d momentarily forgotten it was there.
“Oh.
That.” “Yes.
That.” “It’s…a knife.” Cassandra’s jaw tightened.
“I can see that.” Shae nodded, as if this was a reasonable exchange.
“It was a demonstration.” “A demonstration,” Cassandra repeated flatly.
“Yes.” “Of what.” Shae hesitated.
“Proper knife defense.” Another pause.
Cassandra closed her eyes for a brief second.
When she opened them again, something in her expression had sharpened further.
“You were restricted from combat training.” Shae lifted a hand slightly.
“It was technically a demonstration—” “Don’t.” The single word cut through the room.
Shae stopped immediately.
Cassandra stepped closer.
Now the frustration was no longer contained.
It was visible.
Controlled, but very real.
“Do you have any idea how many times I have told you not to ignore medical orders?” Shae opened her mouth.
Cassandra didn’t let her speak.
“Do you understand what happens when someone walks around with a blade in their leg?” “I was waiting for med—” “You were standing in a corner.” Shae blinked.
“That’s… medically adjacent.” Cassandra stared at her.
For a long moment, she simply stared.
Then she rubbed her temple.
Slowly.
As though physically restraining herself from doing something she would regret.
“Explain to me,” Cassandra said, voice dangerously level, “how this happened.” Shae sighed.
A long, tired sigh.
“It was going fine.” “That is never what people say before things go wrong.” “It was going fine,” Shae repeated, “until I stopped to correct form and he didn’t stop.” Cassandra’s eyes narrowed.
“So you were stabbed.” “Yes.” “In a controlled training environment.” “Yes.” “While restricted from combat training.” Shae hesitated.
“…Also yes.” Silence.
Again.
Cassandra stepped back half a pace.
Looked at the knife.
Looked at Shae.
Looked back at the knife.
Then said, very quietly: “Do you have any idea how angry I am right now?” Shae nodded immediately.
“Yes.” “Good.” A beat.
Cassandra stepped forward again.
“You are not allowed to leave medical until that is removed and you are stabilized.” Shae shifted slightly.
“I can leave medical.” Cassandra’s eyes snapped up.
“…What?” “I mean,” Shae clarified carefully, “I could leave medical.” “You will not.” “I won’t.” “Good.” Another pause.
Shae glanced down at the knife again.
Then back up.
“So… I assume I’m in trouble.” Cassandra gave her a long, unblinking look.
“You assume correctly.” Shae exhaled.
“Figured.” Cassandra leaned in just slightly.
Her voice dropped.
“Do you enjoy proving me right?” Shae actually considered that.
“…No.” A pause.
Then, more honestly: “Not intentionally.” Cassandra held her gaze for a moment longer.
Then straightened.
“Stay here.” Shae nodded.
“I am literally impaled.
I wasn’t planning to jog.” That earned her a look.
A very specific look.
The kind that said do not test me further.
Shae immediately lifted her hands slightly.
“Sorry.” “Good.” Cassandra turned toward the medical staff.
“Remove it.
Now.” Then, without looking back at Shae again, she added: “And someone tell me why I was told this only after it happened.” The room collectively flinched.
Shae, meanwhile, looked down at the knife again.
And muttered quietly to herself: “…this is going to be a long week.”