Who Counsels a Counselor?

Posted on 25 Aug 2016 @ 3:37am by Ensign Splendora Nightingale & Lieutenant JG Jonas Flynn PsyD

1,538 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Episode 12 - Recluse
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 3, Counselor's Office
Timeline: MD -05 - 0915 hrs

ON:

Letting out a sigh and stretching his neck to the side, Jonas stood from behind the desk and made his way over to the side of the office he was already thinking of as the therapy zone. The view, the comfortable seating, the access to a replicator, even the subdued color palette of the room... all of it worked together to create a soothing and hospitable environment. The opposite side, while still conducive to conversation, was in truth more of a work space. An ample desk from which he and his staff could comfortably complete the endless documentation that accompanied their profession.

He stretched his back and headed over to the replicator, ordering his third (or possibly fourth) coffee of the day. This time a light roast, with cream, and just a pinch of cinnamon. He savored the aroma before drinking deeply. Then he simply turned and admired the sight of the stars streaking past as he waited for one member of that staff to arrive.

Splendora had learned that the new Chief Counselor had arrived just after she'd left the transporter room. She hadn't heard the name nor had she bothered to read the file. She just wanted to get this done. She was a counsellor but she hated having sessions herself. She sighed as she reached the door.

Taking a deep breath she hit the chime button.

"Come in!" Jonas called, moving back towards the entrance to the office. In truth he had no idea with whom he was about to meet, only that the officer another new arrival and that there had been some glitch in accessing those files; however, as the door swished open he felt his smile widen.

"I can't believe it! Dora??"

Splendora's eye widened. "Jonas!!!" She leapt into his arms. She didn't make friends easy but Jonas and her had clicked from the beginning. She planted a big kiss on his cheek. "Oh my! My DH is my best friend!"

Jonas laughed, squeezed her close, and spun her around. "That won't be a problem, I hope?" he asked, knowing the answer even before he asked the question. He used the momentum of their twirl to carry her up into the 'therapy zone' and set her gently down near the long, curvy sofa. Then he sidestepped to the replicator and returned with a large glass filled with mint ice tea, knowing from experience it was Dora's favorite.

He sat down and gestured for her to join him, marveling as he took another sip of his coffee that he hadn't dropped it during their impromptu choreography. "So, how long has it been since our last letter... two months? What have you been up to?"

Splendora sighed. "It's actually been six months and it's been rough." She said honestly. Jonas was one of the few people that knew the real her. They had shared so much and they really talked about everything.

With his brow furrowing slightly, Jonas dropped his tone from jubilant to concerned. "I'm sorry to hear that. What's happened?"

Tears filled her eyes and this was Jonas so she didn't hide it. "Drisilla died last week."

Jonas said nothing. With any other crewman he would let the tears fall and maintain a professional distance, but this was Dora. He gently put his arm around her shoulder and let her lean into him.

Splendora let herself cry. She hugged Jonas back. After what seemed like forever she stopped crying, she took some of the tissues on the table and wiped her eyes. She sniffed. "So it's been rough." She looked at Jonas. "Sorry to dump this all on you."

"No, no," Jonas reassured, gently rubbing her back. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

She shook her head. "I'm not really ready to talk about it yet. I'm still processing." She took a moment to compose herself. "So tell me about you. What's been going on. You haven't written in six months." She sipped her tea. It wasn't an accusation, it was a 'hey buddy I was worried about you' kind of statement and she knew that Jonas knew that.

Jonas accepted the change in subject without protest, very aware that grief was a process and this loss achingly fresh. He knew they would talk more later and he was suddenly grateful that she wouldn't have to go through this by herself. He would be right there at her side.

"Has it really been six months?" he asked, realizing it most likely had been. "I guess I was more focused on this than I thought. Preparing to become a Chief Counselor, I mean." He finished his coffee and set the empty cup on the table. "Phlaria was great, you know? Very supportive. She even stepped back on a couple of missions to give me the chance to really work with the captain, the first officer... to dig into those aspects of the job we rarely have to deal with as staff counselors."

He shook his head at looked Dora directly in the eyes. "To be frank, it was a little rough at first. But I stuck with it, and it got a little better. I realized it was the next challenge I was looking for."

"It's always rough at first Jonas." She studied him for a while. "You were made for this position you know? Phlaria saw it, our professors saw it you just needed to see it." She smiled at him. "I'm so proud of you and I'm so happy that we're both here." She truly was proud of him. He'd had it rough. She knew from the letter that did come but he was driven and worked so hard. He was going to do great things and she was glad Starfleet recognized it.

Jonas dropped his eyes a bit and focused on the table. "Thank you." Her words did mean the world to him. He reflected on what she'd said and knew she was right. Now it was time to get to work.

"All right, Ensign," he announced in his usual, cheerful vocal timbre. "We have got a lot on our plate. The Admiral indicated that the counseling department had been understaffed for some time, so it seems we'll be starting off by playing catch up." He stood and walked over to the desk to retrieve a stack of PaDDs he had prepared for their meeting. "Need a refill?" he asked on his way back.

"Yes please!" She said. Work she could do. She needed that now.

Returning to his seat with the fresh drinks in tow, another tea for Dora and switching to a large water for himself, he sorted the PaDDs into three distinct piles. He pointed to each as he gave their description. "There we have pending appointment requests, over there are the files of the new arrivals, and here," he gestured to the smallest stack, containing only two tablets. "Here our ours. The first order of business is to declare one another fit for duty. Or as fit as possible, given all the dirt we have on each other."

Splendora got her usual evil grin in place. "Okay I'll do yours first. Question 1."

Jonas felt his eyes widen and his cheeks start to blush. He knew that look.

"Do you have a sudden urge to run through the ship naked yelling 'I am King'?" she asked.

"Not recently," he answered, playing along. "After the first few times it just wasn't as shocking anymore, you know? Although this is a new ship..."

Splendora laughed. "How about the urge to take over the ship and take us to Risa where we can all go on a shore leave to remember?"

"No. Risa is so 2387," Jonas huffed derisively. "Once I've psychologically bent the majority of the crew to my will, we're going to that Ba'ku planet in the briar patch." He pointed to his face and added, "After all, it is my moral duty to preserve this for the next generation."

She laughed even louder. "Darn. I was hoping for Risa." She took his PADD and dramatically added her thumb print. "Healthy for duty....pending a chocolate milkshake" She waggled her eyebrows and pointed to the replicator.

Jonas shook his head sternly. "Not until you've answered a few questions of my own, Miss Lady." He lifted a PaDD, assumed his most professional posture, and quietly began.

"If you were an isolinear rod, in which operating system would you prefer to be installed?"

Splendora lost it completely. She just howled with laughter, and unable to hold back any longer, Jonas joined in. He had in truth been a bit concerned, when hearing of her loss, that she'd truly be fit for duty at this time. Their conversation had made it clear that she was herself. It would be rough, but she was going to be okay.

Once they'd recovered, he made the proper notations in his colleague's file and set it aside. "Very well, I think we've both earned those milkshakes, but we do need to get a feasible appointment schedule up and running. What do you think about...?"

OFF

Lieutenant JG Jonas Flynn PsyD
Chief Counselor
USS Galileo

&

Ensign Splendora Nightingale
Counselor
USS Galileo

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