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Troy stepped back, leveling his gaze at Oscar. “And as the medically trained professional here, I’m saying you need stitches, and you’re going to get them. So keep your ass in that seat, Staff Sergeant, or I’ll sedate you and then put in the stitches.”

Oscar still glowered, but he didn’t put up a fight. Tossing the swab in the nearby bin, Troy backed out of the room and down the hallway to the office. He stopped in the doorway, spying Dean as the man kicked back in his seat, reading a book, with a smirk.

“Why the hell do you look so pleased with yourself?” Troy demanded.

“I don’t hear you whip out the ‘Doc’ voice, like, at all,” Dean said with a chuckle.

“Quit eavesdropping like a little sneak,” Troy told him.

“It’s quiet as a tomb in here. I can heareverything.”

Troy rolled his eyes. “Can you do me a favor?”

Dean looked up. “What? Get the suture kit from the supply closet using my personal code so the system doesn't flag you as here when you weren’t supposed to be?”

Troy frowned. “You don’t have to make it sound that shady.”

“It’s only shady if you don’t tell me why you’re here instead of a hospital.”

Troy sighed. “We...there was a fight.”

“Between you two?”

“Ha! I’d be in traction if that were the case. Have you seen Oscar? Guy is twice my size.”

“Inallways?”

Troy blinked. “Did...you just ask about Oscar’s dick?”

“Maybe, why?”

“Because you never make dirty jokes or comments or even pretend sex exists in your world.”

“It exists,” Dean said, setting his book aside with a snort.

Troy’s eyes widened. “Holy shit, did you and Sloane finally?—”

“Hey! What do you mean finally?”

“Oh shit. You did!”

Dean pushed himself out of his seat with a sigh. “Right, I’ll get your supplies on the understanding that you shut the hell up and don’t finish whatever you were about to say.”

“Only if you give me the details later.”

Dean hesitated, grimaced, and then said, “Fine. Deal.”

Troy bounced up and down with a pleased smirk and waited as Dean stepped into the supply room. He’d honestly just taken a stab at what had made Dean more liberal with his comments and improved his mood so greatly. It certainly didn’t hurt that Troy had seen Sloane around the clinic the day before, and the usually surly-looking man looked almost radiant and happy.

“Good for you,” Troy muttered with a wide grin.

Dean reappeared with the supplies, shoving them into Troy’s hands. “Don’t hang around for too long, okay? Last thing I need is for some dumbass private to see you here, run their mouth, and suddenly we’re being asked questions.”

“We won’t be long. I just need to stitch the grumpy one up, and we’ll call it good,” Troy said.

“And here I thought that was your term for Sloane.”

“Apparently, since he’s getting laid more often, he’s not grumpy anymore.”