Summary: "He wondered if his brother's enhanced senses allowed him to smell fear, if he could hear the hammering of his heart in his chest." Tech doesn't like the medical wing. After all, his experiences there never were that pleasant. One-shot. Set after the simulation in S1E1.

Fear Of The Unforgotten

Hunter was the only one who the Kaminoans allowed to walk Tech down to the medical wing- they'd said that the whole squad was too much, and Wrecker decided that he'd get checked out later on- but Hunter had argued until they reluctantly agreed that he came along. Because Hunter knew how Tech felt about the medical wing, one of the only ones who really understood what the Kaminoans had done to him before their first meeting.

It was their fault that Tech needed his goggles- his eyesight had been fine before they'd decided that it needed to be better. Shame that the operation made it worse. At least they gave him a chance with the goggles, instead of scrapping him. Not that he felt lucky about it.

Hunter kept a steadying hand on his shoulder as he walked, as supportive as the day they met one another.

But it wasn't enough for Tech.

The smells of the infirmary- the blood, bleaches, sweat, the metallic scent of the equipment- were too much for him.

He felt like a young cadet again, being marched in to have needles poked into his eyes, to get sedated, to have his head cut open- all for his sight to be forever ruined upon his awakening.

Tech didn't realize he'd stopped until Hunter was standing before him, gripping both of his shoulders and ordering him to breathe. "Tech- Tech, listen to me."

His unsteady gaze landed on him, and he probably looked mad with his diluted, uneven pupils, goggles or not- it didn't help that he was still out of sorts as a result of the fall from the droid's shoulders back in the simulation, which was why he was even here to begin with. He didn't realize that he'd held his breath until he began speaking, his words coming out in near-gasps as he struggled for air. "I-I can't do this."

"Calm down. Focus." Hunter soothed. "You're going to be just fine, Tech. You hear me? I'll be right there beside you."

"Hunter..."

"Take a deep breath. It'll be over before you know it."

Tech didn't believe him.

He wondered if his brother's enhanced senses allowed him to smell fear, if he could hear the hammering of his heart in his chest.

Hunter's voice was soft so that no one passing by could hear it. "I know that you're scared, Tech, but you have to let them check you out. They won't touch your eyes, I promise."

Something about Hunter had always been able to ground Tech, to pull him back down to his feet so that he was no longer drowning in a sea of memories and fear. He was, metaphorically, his lifeboat, guiding him to the safety of a quiet beach.

"I am going to jump off of the droid before it gets shot next time." He decided, letting out a shaky breath.

Hunter offered a small smile at that, patting his shoulder. "Probably for the best."

Tech would certainly have a grudge against concussions after all this was over.