From a list of tumblr fic prompts – simmoslxter asked for Bernie – Someone's greatest fear

Spiders, clowns, monsters under the bed. That's what children should be scared of, Bernie thinks to herself as she crouches over the bed, stethoscope in her ears and taking the pulse. But the child in front of her has wide eyes, not fear, no, something more. Something deep, a visceral terror that the child probably can't name, not with words. The fear of losing their family, of being alone, in pain, dying. And what world is it where a child must experience that fear?

Bernie can fix this child, superficially. She can stitch his wounds, give some antibiotics and some fluids. She can offer soft words of comfort, a place of safety for a short while. But she cannot give him what he needs the most - assurance of a life lived without fear, constant, pressing fear. Treating children is never satisfying for her, because every child she saves is a child going back to a war torn country, once again at risk, and it breaks her heart. But it's not her job to stop the war, it is her job to minimise the consequences. So she continues, because stopping would be worse, because she needs the army, to keep her from confronting her own fear and shame.