When I Touch the Water

Posted on 23 Feb 2016 @ 11:35am by Lieutenant JG Drusilla McCarthy & Lieutenant JG Rael Psy.D.
Edited on on 24 Feb 2016 @ 5:36am

1,783 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Episode 10 - Symposium
Location: USS Galileo - Counseling Offices
Timeline: MD23 1100

[ON]

Lightfooted Rael.

This is what they called him, once upon a time. The moniker remained apt even now as the Vulcan counselor wound through sickbay like a shadowy wisp. Disturbing nothing, leaving no trace. He may as well've appeared from thin air as he caught her just outside her office.

"Lieutenant McCarthy," Rael's greeting was quiet.

Dru jumped, she praised the Lord that she didn't have anything hot in her hand as she realised that the liquid would have spilled and scalded her skin if she had of.

As her heart still raced, the counselor turned sharply on her heel as she faced the culprit and her hands moved to her hips. "What the hell?!? Seriously?!? A little warning next time if you wouldn't mind..." Her eyes drifted to the man's collar before continuing, "...Lieutenant."

His head bowed apologetically. "It was not my intention to startle you, ma'am. I am Dr. Rael," the Vulcan introduced himself. "Your new assistant chief."

The name rang a bell with Dru when she initially heard it but the follow up information helped to piece the puzzle together. Her heart still raced in her chest from the fright which the alien had given her but perhaps she was partly at fault also...her mind had been wandering when he approached. "Doctor Rael...I've been expecting you. I must say that finally having some help in counselling is a welcome change. It's only been myself for sometime now and Naois only joined our ranks in recent weeks."

"Indeed," his brows lifted. "I imagine that must have been a rather grueling case load. I shall be happy to step in wherever I may be of use," he said and offered her a slight smile.

Hesitating for another moment, Drusilla indicated to the room as she invited the man to join her. "So, do you want the good news or the bad news to start with?"

Rael followed. "I'll imagine that they segue into one another neatly, so perhaps the good to ease my way." It was a joke. He was joking.

As she rounded the desk, Dru pointed to the chair facing her as her hand moved to gently caress her abdomen before taking her own seat. "With a crew of ninety odd people and only three of us, you will be kept busy. I've been waiting awhile for someone of your expertise in psychology so I also have a backlog of cases I would love you to take a look at."

"Of course," Rael said as he sat down and he inclined his head--undaunted.

"The bad news is this..." Dru indicated to their cramped surroundings, "...our one sole office... which all three of us have to share. We will be each slotted into a shift pattern which in theory means that we have the office for the hours we are on shift but you would know better then anyone... when a counsellor you never work a shift pattern, you work when and if needed."

He winced very faintly. "I see. Yes, that is somewhat inconvenient, but I suppose we'll have to wing it as you say."

"Fortunately the ship has a pretty nice Arboretum which enables a separate and sometimes more calming location in which to be able to meet people. The quarters can be difficult as everyone outside of command and department heads share a room so finding time which suits you both to meet there can be difficult... any questions so far?" Dru replied.

He leaned forward, hands pressed together over his knees. "Do you have anyone in particular you would like me to take a look at?" his eyes flicked toward the patient files on her desk.

Dru wrecked her mind for a moment before someone specific popped into her mind. "Actually..." Pausing for a moment as she looked across the pile of PADDs, the counsellor instead grabbed her computer terminal as she angled it towards her colleague. "Lieutenant Junior Grade Oren Idris... Chief of research. Seventy-four year old El-Aurian with authority issues in which he struggles to be in charge and but also struggles with people more senior to him. Take a read of his notes."

Rael took the PADD and skimmed it as she spoke. "I see," he observed as his eyes tracked thoughtfully over the words before him.

Sitting bak into her chair, Dru studied the man closely for a moment before deciding to poke him a little and seeing what he was made of. "What precisely is it that you see?"

His thoughts were coalescing, and his brows furrowed as he consulted the PADD. When he delivered his response, it was without looking up. "I see that this individual very plainly is seeking someone to offer him a degree of understanding that he feels he has never received. Quite the universal conundrum, I'm afraid."

"And why do you feel that up to this point nobody has succeeded in getting through to the patient enough in order to offer him what he seeks?" Dru's finger's gripped her abdomen as a cramp shuddered through her womb, a pain she was becoming so used to.

He saw it, from the corner of his eye, and glanced over to her. "Lieutenant McCarthy, are you all right?"

Dru was surprised at the question, it took her a moment to realise what it was that her colleague was asking about. Pulling her hand away, the counsellor placed it on the table top as she pulled her seat in closer to the desk. "I'm fine. Why do you ask?"

"You appear to be in pain."

"Just a cramp I'm afraid. Nothing to be worried about."

"Indeed." Rael would still worry a little, though, but he didn't push it.

Dru nudged a finger across the screen as she attempted to pull the conversation back on topic. "So Oren?"

"Well," the Vulcan gathered up all his pondering. "Very few will ever understand what it is to experience near biological immortality. The implications to his psychological well-being are staggering, especially since he's not surrounded by El-Aurians who would easily accommodate this unusual longevity--but in fact by those like us, who will only ever live a fraction of his lifespan." Rael blinked. "Is that what you were looking for?" he asked, eyes crinkling in amusement.

"Somewhat... where do you feel that his issue with authority stems from though?" Dru replied.

"I think that is something that mightn't necessarily avail itself of a patient file," Rael murmured. "Those kinds of issues tend to be deep-rooted. I would need to speak with him before forming any real theories. You'll find I'm quite a bit more hands-on than you may be used to, I apologize in advance." There was that, and there was the simple matter that he didn't really believe it was--well, courteous to form such opinions beforehand. A patient was more than a file. More than a collection of issues. They were a whole being with unique experiences; this was what he strove to balance every day. "This--" Rael tapped the PADD "--has all got its place, but it is no substitute for talking."

Dru nodded her head in agreement before smiling. "If you looked at the file you would find that the answer isn't there... Oren doesn't do very well with counsellors and people tying to analyse him. He can open up but always keeps a part of him locked up and set aside. It doesn't matter who it's been throughout the years, people have found it difficult to connect with him which has caused some concerns. Especially with his recent promotion to Chief of Research."

"Indeed." Rael did not appear concerned--though he was Vulcan, and it was just as likely that he wasn't emoting as a rule. "Then I suppose we shall have to see about opening some of those doors. If they are doors which can be opened," he amended, a thread of humor in his tone.

"One other thing..." Dru took back the PADD before bringing up one note which was noted as being extremely important. "Oren is manipulative. It's still unclear if it is linked to his El-Aurian personality or if it is something which he adapted as a means of deflection. He is capable of turning a conversation around without the person realising it, no matter their level of training."

Rael scanned the note briefly. "I understand," he said as he inclined his head. "And I thank you for the information. I shall do my best to establish some type of working rapport with him."

Dru studied the man once more before sitting back into her chair as her hand briefly returned to her abdomen but only for mere seconds. "I'll scan through the files and see if we have anyone else who might benefit from the input of a psychologist otherwise form here on in, the distribution of patients will be done three ways; between myself, yourself and Naois. Does that sound ok to you?"

His eyes watched the movements of her hand, but he elected not to pry any further into that matter. "Yes, Lieutenant. That shall be most sufficient."

Leaning forward to her desk, Dru selected one in particular as she brought up the details contained within. "Hum... I'll need to reconfirm your duty schedule as it hasn't been definitively decided yet. Have you gotten your quarters assigned?"

"Not as of yet," he answered. "I am still technically registered under Jupiter Station."

Making a number of notations on her PADD, Dru handed it over to the officer, "Take this to the quartermaster, they should be able to sort you with a room and I should have your shift sorted by days end. I suspect that you will be on Beta but it will mean Naois moving to Gamma which is why I need to reconfirm."

He grasped the PADD between his fingers carefully. "Of course, Lieutenant. Thank-you very much."

"Well... if there is nothing more?" Dry sat back into her seat as her eyes never left the man.

"I do not believe so at this time, Lieutenant McCarthy. Please remain well," he added, noting her pained movements for a second time.

Dru looked up at the strange statement. She wondered if he knew...she wasn't purposely keeping it from him it was just a difficult situation given she still didn't know if she was keeping the baby.

Hesitating for a moment more, the counsellor finally nodded her head at the officer before looking back down at the PADD in her hand. "In which case you are dismissed."

[OFF]

Lieutenant JG Drusilla McCarthy
Chief Counsellor
USS Galileo

&

Lieutenant JG Rael
Assistant Chief Counselor
USS Galileo

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