"Just relax, Mr. Carter. You’re going to feel a little pinch, and then everything will be fine," Dr. Martinez said, her voice calm and steady as she adjusted the IV line. Garrett shifted in the dentist’s chair, his fingers gripping the armrests a little tighter. "Yeah, okay. Just… don’t let me say anything embarrassing," he muttered, already feeling the sedative start to take hold.

Dr. Martinez smiled faintly, her dark eyes crinkling at the corners as she leaned over him. She was in her late thirties, with smooth olive skin and a sharp jawline that softened when she spoke. Her scrubs hugged her figure subtly, the fabric stretching slightly as she reached for the instruments on the tray beside her. Garrett’s gaze flickered to her hands—steady, precise—before his eyelids grew heavy.

"Alright, Garrett, count backward from ten for me," she instructed, her tone warm but professional. He managed a slurred "Ten… nine…" before his words trailed off, his head lolling slightly to the side. Dr. Martinez adjusted the light above him, her brow furrowing as she noticed something unusual in his chart. "Hmm," she murmured under her breath, her pen tapping lightly against the clipboard. "That’s odd."