"The New Normal"

Posted on 29 Apr 2014 @ 5:50pm by Lieutenant JG Delainey Carlisle & Captain Jonathan Holliday

839 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Episode 06 - Legend of Souls
Location: Dr. Carlisle's Office, USS Galileo
Timeline: MD 2, 1100 hrs.

ON
***

"How's the relaxation training going?" Delainey opened, letting her eyes meet Holliday's. She didn't get the sense Jonathan let too many people see the real him before he was assimilated, so getting him to open up afterward she knew was going to be a challenge. Still, with each session, Delainey believed he was starting to open up a bit more.

Carlisle hoped something as innocuous as deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation (exercises which required him to gradually tense and relax with deeper and deeper levels of relaxation) would seem both practical and non-threatening.

John had spent the time since his last meeting with the counsellor studying half a dozen different texts on relaxation. It seemed that every species in the Alpha and Beta quadrants had their own opinions on how best to do it. The Klingons naturally recommended killing something, the Andorians preferred something cold, the Vulcans something well thought out and logical. John however, had utterly no idea.

"Well..it's been....going." John replied honestly, not entirely sure how successful his efforts had been so far. He certainly hadn't felt the urge to shatter anything in his Ready Room for a few days, and there was less importance placed on breaking the necks of anyone who mentioned the Borg around him.

"I've been spending less time on the phaser range - so I presume that counts as a more relaxed frame of mind?"

Delainey offered an encouraging nod. "It does. As simplistic as it may sound, deep breathing and tensing and relaxing different muscle groups like we practiced signals your brain's calming response. How about your ability to recognize your level of anxiety?" Everyone had their own "anxiety tells" so to speak, and the first step to getting anxiety under control was to recognize the first signs that anxiety was escalating. Carlisle was teaching Holliday to assess his emotional state on a 1-10 scale.

"I would say...improving. Not that I aim to give away my feelings in front of the crew, as I am sure you understand."

John had been listening to himself more intently than normal, trying to pick up on any of the signs that the Counsellor had taught him, or indeed that he had read of in the literature she had provided. Still, the Captain had no desire to give away his emotional state in front of his subordinates, simply tolerating these counselling sessions were the limit of his comfort zone.

"I have to maintain that distance between myself and the junior officers, the senior staff as well to a degree. I am here to command, not to be cuddled."

Delainey hid a hint of a smile behind her hand. "I understand that's important to you, but remember, we're working on helping you identify your emotions and their intensity so that you can have a healthier sense of how to manage them given the trauma you've been through."

John remained silent and nodded in agreement. He could see now why the doctors back on Earth had recommended that he perhaps speak to someone in Delainey's profession so as to better adapt to his new situation.

"At least...at least the Cardassians should be easier to handle than the Borg...you know where you stand with them."

Delainey considered that and offered, "It wouldn't be abnormal for you to feel especially anxious around them or even more irritable than you expect. One lingering consequence of trauma is being quicker to perceive danger or threat than others. Your body and brain have been conditioned to go to 'red alert' more easily now, so when that happens, take a beat to make sure your perceptions are based in reality. I assure you, reacting that way doesn't make you weak, but strong."

"Well, that's what I need to be doing." John replied, sighing lightly before standing up and walking slowly to stretch his legs. He felt as if he had made great progress since his initial recovery from Borg captivity, and this new found strength was sure to serve him well in their upcoming mission.

"I think that will be sufficient for today - with your agreement Counsellor?"

Delainey couldn't help but wonder if that light sigh hid more turmoil than he was letting on, but she knew he would open up to her eventually if he was truly struggling. Carlisle knew to tread especially softly with Jonathan, as she knew a part of him still felt conflicted about even needing therapy.

Delainey nodded and offered a wan smile. "I'd like to see you again in a few days for a quick check-in. If you want to talk sooner, feel free to get in touch. It's no trouble."

"I'll bear that in mind Dr. Carlisle." John replied as he headed for the doors, feeling that a weight, however small, had been lifted from his shoulders, just in time for the Cardassians to replace it.


[OFF]

CAPT Jonathan Holliday
Commanding Officer
USS Galileo

Lieutenant Delainey Carlisle, M.D., Ph.D.
Counselor/Medical Officer
USS Galileo

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