"So soon?" Danielle asked more worriedly. She took a step forward. "Captain, your wound is not stitched. If you go back on the field without proper time to heal-"

"I can handle my own, thank you, Angelwing," Canard interrupted firmly.

"But Sir, I-"

"No 'buts'. I'm fine, and I'm going."

Danielle looked at him with a mix of worry and annoyance. 'Of course he'd go.' Then she had a thought, if he must go then someone should make sure he doesn't push himself. She didn't want to bother Amy or Abby on this. Besides, she was the one who mended the wound.

"Captain, you're right. I can't force you to stay."

Canard was surprised and confused. He didn't expect her to say that. And he didn't expect her next choice of words.

"So, I'll just go with you."

The tan drake was shocked, and so were the twins. The last time she was out, she got captured by Dragaunus' goons. They might be on the prowl again, and DuCaine knows what else could happen to her if she came along. He wasn't about to risk anyone's lives, especially Danielle's.

"Absolutely not," Canard stated, leaving no room for argument.

Marcel and Thom looked at each other with wide eyes. It seemed like Danielle was about to drop the idea out of reflex or fear, when her face faltered. But she didn't. It was her responsibility to make sure all the soldiers were healthy, and she wanted to live up to it. And she felt that included captains.

"Sir, a medic on the field is a necessity, especially if some soldiers are still recovering from injuries," she argued right back.

"That is not your choice to make, Angelwing. I am the captain, in case you've forgotten."

"Look. You may be the captain, but I'm a medic. And I say your wound is too much. Please, either let me come or both of us stay here." Danielle interjected.

"But the Scouting Patrol is going to need a leader."

Thom spoke up, much to the captain's growing anger. "I'll go with them Sir."

"Who's side are you on?!"

"The reasonable side. Danielle has some sense here, Captain."

Canard looked to Marcel, hoping for support. "Back me up, would you?" However, it seemed like the Captain was out of luck when Marcel replied.

"By letting you bleed out again? No way, no how."

There was a moment when Canard looked like he would bend: he looked at the twins and at Danielle silently, his expression softening ever so slightly. But it didn't last. A fierce frown grew in its place, scarily fast.

"This isn't a democracy, soldiers!"

The tone in his voice made both McMallards say, "Yes, sir!" out of instinct.

"Excused," he growled out, sending them on their way before they added any more of their own opinions into the pot.

He watched them leave before glaring back at Danielle. "If you insist, you can assist in the Scouting Patrol. I will be leading the Extraction team, as planned."

"Thank you." Danielle said, seemingly satisfied at the captain's change in mind.

However, Canard still seemed mad that he was put down over something like a 'small cut'. "I honestly don't see what you guys are so worried about? It's just a scratch."

The cream colored dolly turned around to look at him, an incredulous look on her face. " A scratch half the size of my forearm! I mean no disrespect Sir, but for pity's sake! Think about yourself, not the mission!" Her voice started to carry some anxiety as she breathing grew heavy.

"The mission is what's going to end this War, not my well being," Canard frustratingly said. "Honestly, Angelwing, you need to look at the bigger picture."

Danielle frowned at him. "The Resistance needs a true leader, though, sir," she argued. "If you can't even take care of yourself, how do you expect to take care of your team?"

The coils of anger were already winding tighter and tighter in Canard's soul, but at that very statement, something snapped."So I'm a bad leader?!"

Danielle flinched. Bad choice of words. Half of her wanted to curl up and hide, but the other half knew when someone asks you something, you must give them an answer. Swallowing her fear, Danielle tried to clear up that statement. "I didn't say that."

But it didn't work.

"What about you, huh!? All you do is pine away for your pitiful family!"

Danielle glared at him. "Do not mock my family!"

"Everyone's lost someone, Danielle!" he yelled. "And it's your brother's family, not yours!"

"What do you know?! You were a single child!" Danielle snapped back. Hearing this, Amy and Abby poked their heads out from behind the door, Greybeak and Wally looked up from organizing, and the McMallard twins stood by for signs of trouble.

"Ugh!" Canard growled out. "Why are you so hooked on that?! My family is right damn here, and at least I can keep them safe!"

"Not while you're injured!' Danielle tried to reason, choking back tears. 'Captain, I want to end this war as much as you do, but the resistance needs a leader! Every puzzle needs all its pieces."

"First off, don't tell me what the resistance needs!" he outright shouted at her. "And if that's your brother talking, then he must be really stupid. "

Danielle gasped at what he said. Everyone froze. Half were expecting Danielle to run away, the other half thought she would yell back at him. But no one, not even Canard was prepared for what happened next. Danielle shut her eyes, and then...

*SLAP!*

Everyone gasped. Canard sat on the floor, rubbing his face to ease the harsh stinging sensation. He glared up at Danielle. Before he could say anything, Danielle pointed to him as tears flowed down her face.

"If that's how you feel, then I'm sorry for wasting your damn time!" With that Danielle stormed away, sobbing. A furious Canard was about to follow her, when Thom and Marcel stepped up, blocking the hall . "Get out of my way, McMallards!" Canard growled.

"That's enough, Captain!" Thom said in a stern tone. Then he steps forward. "Go blow off some steam Captain. I'm taking over the Scouting Patrol."

"Lieutenant-!"

"End of discussion Sir!"

The livid drake didn't say anything. He stomped off to his room, on his very last ounce of self-control. When he got there, Canard took his pillow off his bed and screamed right into it. Meanwhile in the personal quarters of the Medical Bay, Danielle did the exact same thing before she began to cry again.