The following morning arrived with the kind of quiet that felt intentional.
Shae knew she was late before she even reached Cassandra’s office door.
Not officially.
Not by regulation.
But Cassandra Blackwell had a way of making “on time” feel like a negotiable concept you were already failing at.
Shae knocked twice.
“Come in.” She stepped inside.
Cassandra was already at her desk.
Of course she was.
Eyes scanning a datapad.
Posture perfect.
Expression unreadable in the way Shae was beginning to recognize as dangerously alert.
Then Cassandra looked up.
And immediately paused.
Her gaze dropped.
“Major.” Shae straightened.
“Ma’am.” Cassandra stood.
Slowly.
Too slowly.
Her eyes narrowed.
“You’re limping.” Shae froze for half a second.
Then shrugged.
“It’s minor.” Cassandra didn’t move.
“That wasn’t a statement you were invited to make.” Shae sighed.
“It’s fine.” Cassandra walked around her desk.
“Take your pants off.” Shae blinked.
“…Excuse me?” Cassandra didn’t even hesitate.
“I need to assess the wound.” “I just came from medical.” “And now you’re here.” “I’m cleared for duty.” “You’re limping.” Shae opened her mouth.
Closed it.
Then tried again.
“This feels excessive.” Cassandra stopped directly in front of her.
The room got quieter in that immediate way it always did when Cassandra decided patience was no longer part of the conversation.
“Don’t make me ask you again.” Shae straightened slightly.
Cassandra continued, voice lower.
“Because if I have to ask you again, I will take them off myself.” Silence.
Shae stared at her.
For once, she didn’t have a quick reply ready.
Not immediately.
Then she exhaled sharply through her nose.
“…That’s not in any protocol manual I’ve read.” “It is now.” A beat.
Shae’s jaw tightened.
Then, carefully, she reached for the waistband of her uniform pants and shifted them down just enough to expose the bandaged thigh wound.
Not dramatic.
Not slow.
Just resigned compliance.
“There,” she said flatly.
“Happy?” Cassandra didn’t answer immediately.
She stepped closer.
Looked down.
And her expression changed.
Slightly.
But noticeably.
The wound site was redder than it should have been.
Swollen at the edges.
The dressing had a faint discoloration that hadn’t been there the day before.
Cassandra’s jaw tightened.
“…That’s not healing properly.” Shae leaned back against the desk.
“It’s fine.” “It is not fine.” “It’s a little irritated.” Cassandra crouched slightly, inspecting it more closely without touching yet.
Then she exhaled slowly.
“Early infection.” Shae frowned.
“That seems dramatic.” Cassandra shot her a look.
Shae immediately corrected herself.
“…Unfortunate wording.” “Stand still.” “I am standing still.” “You are arguing while standing still.” “That’s multitasking.” Cassandra stood again.
Expression now fully focused in clinical mode.
No irritation.
No humor.
Just control.
“You pushed it too hard,” she said.
Shae tilted her head.
“I walked.” “You were stabbed.” “Yesterday.” “And you ignored recovery protocol.” Shae opened her mouth.
Then stopped.
Because there wasn’t a good argument for that one.
Cassandra reached for her medkit.
“You’re going back to medical.” Shae immediately straightened.
“I can handle it.” “You are not handling anything.” “I’ve handled worse.” “That is not the standard.” Cassandra turned back toward her.
Her voice sharpened again.
“You are not a field problem to solve yourself, Major.” Shae went quiet.
For a rare moment, she didn’t push back immediately.
Cassandra continued, slightly softer—but no less firm.
“You are an officer under my command.
That means you report injuries.
You do not ignore them.
And you do not decide when they are ‘fine.'” Silence.
Shae exhaled.
“…Understood.” Cassandra studied her for a long moment.
Then nodded once.
“Good.” She closed the medkit with a firm click.
“And you are staying in medical until I clear you myself.” Shae groaned.
“Of course I am.” Cassandra didn’t look away.
“No arguments.” Shae muttered under her breath: “This is worse than combat training.” Cassandra replied immediately: “It is called consequences.
And this time, Shae didn’t argue back.