counselors brunch

Posted on Sat Mar 11th, 2023 @ 6:48am by Lieutenant Commander R'elle & Lieutenant Reeza Cuyu

2,085 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: A whole new world
Location: r'elle's office
Timeline: after the launch

R'elle had invited Reeza Cuyu to a brunch in her office. She wanted to touch base with the other woman as R'elle was her boss. Still she kept it easy and friendly. Cuyu was a very good councilor and a nice person. Being a single parent wasn't easy but she was doing pretty good by ll accounts.

Reeza had had a long morning, and it wasn't even yet noon. Her daughter was acting up this morning, and they'd fought, and then she was nearly late for her first day. Her first client had a violent outburst, and she had taken a bit of time to recover from that. Now, she was ready to meet her new CO for lunch. She hurried to the woman's office. She rang the chime, and let herself in when R'elle said it was OK.

"Hello! Counselor R'elle ! I am so sorry I was almost late today. My daughter isn't adjusting well to the change." She said, as she settled into a chair.

"Ah well! This too shall pass and you don't need to call me counselor. Just r'elle will do. Go ahead and order something and I will too then we can talk and take care of business."

Reeza nodded. "Thank you." She used the PADD to order herself a cucumber sandwich and some fried potatoes. After a minute, the replicator dinged, and she placed the plate in front of her, with a large metal cup that she carried. She tried to get a gallon of water in her system every day. Some days she was successful, and some days she was not. "Please call me Counselor Reeza, then. We don't use our family names on Bajor, and in Starfleet, either, though the Terrans sometimes forget." She settled down then. "What would you like to discuss? Also, a Klingon CMO? Isn't that...unusual?"

R'elle ordered a hot chocolate and some sweetmeats.

'Yes it is very unusual. But the Lionheart is an unusual ship. That said Klarth is a great doctor and a good friend. Once you get to know him, i think you'll like him. So tell me, what kinds of patients have you treated. I want to get a feel for you as it were. Writing can only tell you so much! " She took a sweetmeat and chewed on it.

Reeza nodded. "Most everyone!! At my last ship, the Hope, we had a crew of all sort of species and races. I didn't see everyone, obviously, but my strangest was the Tellarite. He was our mess chief." She said. "Had a bit of trauma from his planet's war, and I helped him with that. I hope I did, anyway." She smiled. "Of course, the regular suspects, too-mostly Terrans. You know how the Terran officers are-stoic. Takes a while to break them down." She paused to eat a little. "I am glad to hear that he is nice; I suspected as much, just wouldn't have pegged a Klingon for medical. I can't wait to formally meet him." She said. "So far, everyone has been welcoming."

"We have a good crew. They have been through a lot and now we have to go from one dimension to another. " she chuckled. "Klarth is just one example. Our crew is varied but sturdy and loyal. As for terrans, I assume you mean humans, yes they can be stoic and stubborn. Our last captain was stubborn as a mule. She was human. She, well she had been through a lot and was scarred emotionally. She is home now. Our new Captain, well so far I like her. Seems to know her stuff. Tough but she can be friendly too. I think she is what we need."

So far, Reeza seemed to be just right. She had a personality similar to R'elle's. She was perky and upbeat and an excellent councilor if her record was any indication.

Reeza nodded. "I had heard just before we onboarded that you got a new CO. Some kind of affliction hit your other one?" She smiled. "Word travels fast up here; I am surprised the entire fleet hadn't heard about my husband's death." She had to joke about it because it would crush her otherwise. "Anyway, thank you for this, it's a nice break to the day. I worry a bit about Soja, my daughter-she was doing well yesterday, but today, she seems...distant. I don't know how well she slept but she wasn't noisy."

"Well it's good to worry. That's natural. Maybe she's just adjusting to life aboard a new ship. She still very young so it can be an adjustment. My advice is to just keep an eye on her for now. OH and as for the Former CO, I wouldn't call an attempted assassination an affliction. We had an assassin slip on bard with some refugees we took in from Gabriel Station. Turns out she had infiltrated the crew and was posing as one of them. We later found out she was half orion and was on a mission to kill H'orri a former crewmate of ours. H'orri managed to best her but not before she nearly killed the Captain and H'orri was gravely wounded in the process. The vadala swapped out H'orri, captain Hadenbeer and shorn, the assassin for Captain Wilson. Poor captain Wilson. They didn't ask her if she wanted to come here. Apparently she had her own command aboard the Belleraphon but now she's stuck with us. Seems really nice though and very competent. Seems to know what she is doing! So here we are, of on an adventure through alternate dimensions."

Reeza made a surprised face. "I would agree that it's not an "affliction." Geez. "But I hope the crew has regained it's footing, and I am trauma trained, so if you need to bump a few down to me, I am happy to take them on." She nodded as she ate a bit more. "Soja will be fine; she's actually adjusting much better than I expected to her losses and being moved around every few years or so. If this posting hadn't opened up, we would've stayed put, but the reminders were a lot for me. I don't honestly know how much of her father Soja remembers, she mentions him but not an extreme amount. She knows what death means, and that it's forever, but we don't discuss it much in depth unless she wants to. I figure that's the healthiest way to approach things. And play therapy, and I don't discourage her from, you know, imagining her dolls have two parents and the like." Reeza didn't know why she felt the need to explain her parenting choices, but she did. Probably for reassurance that she was doing it OK. "Some days, I just figure if she's still alive at the end of the day, I did enough, ya know?"

R'elle nodded. "Yes best not to push it. So often death is a difficult subject, especially for a little one like her. it's hard for her to understand. When she is older, but right now, perhaps just let her ask and then answer. Little ones can be quite resilient. I won't say not to worry, just try not to worry excessively. So, just try to take it day by day! I'm sure Soja loves you and you love her. More than likely she needs time to adjust.
As for taking on a few patients. please do1 The crew is tough but a lot of changes are happening very fast so it' s hard for some to adjust. I know I find it difficult to keep up sometimes. However we will get through this."

Reeza nodded. "Absolutely. Just tell me how to help them and I will do it." They were almost finished, but she had so much to learn still; she had time but she was chomping at the bit to get ready to serve.

"Well empathy is a good way to start. Have them tell you the problem." She took another sip of her hot chocolate. "Help them with their problem. Now with Starfleet as you well know, we have a plethora of diverse cultures and species, so that is something to keep in mind. Don't be afraid to use your heart but temper it with common sense. Don't be afraid to listen to your instincts. Listen to your patient as well. Sometimes what they don;t tell you is as important as to what they do. Know when to push and when not to!"

Reeza nodded. “Of course!! I once did ten sessions for a Klingon. I feel like I can do anything after that!” She hoped she didn’t sound cocky, just experienced but excited.

"Klingons can be challenging for sure. Most can! Most races can present a challenge, you just have to figure out how to overcome them. However, based on your record, I have full confidence in you!" R'elle said.

Reeza smiled. "Thank you for that vote of confidence. Absolutely everyone has special challenges; sometimes the difficult part is coming up with a treatment plan or even just temporary assistance, especially to the ones who insist they are "just fine."

"Oh K'tal's claws. Those are the worst. It takes a lot of patience to deal with those kinds and make them realize they are not fine!" R'elle replied.

Reeza laughed, but nodded. "Yes!! They're usually the worst!! And of course, us as the counselors are pretty hard to deal with, I've found. After my husband died, I know I tried to dodge the counselor and even medical...but in the end, it was best to talk about what happened and how I felt about it and make a plan to try to move forward. Not move on, just forward. I still have Soja to raise, after all."

"I would love to meet Soja. I love kids. Maybe we can go get ice cream or something. The three of us!"

Reeza smiled. “She would love that! We will arrange something.”

"Wonderful. Well any more questions or anything?" R'elle asked.

Reeza shook her head no. "Just one. Do you prefer us to send you our session notes and stuff like that daily? Do you prefer we chat about our days with our patients after duty? At my last posting, our Chief Counselor preferred we did an outline or notes on the PaDD and send them to her that way."

"I prefer just to chat! By all means keep notes and feel free to send me copies but I am very friendly and like to chat. Notes are sterile and so unpersonal. I much prefer the personal approach." R'elle said.

Reeza nodded. "Perfect! I prefer that, too." The would work out great, then. "Otherwise, I guess lunch time is over!" Bummer. She was just starting to relax.


"Alas, all good things. Why don't you drop by after work and let em know how your day went? That is if you're not too tired and your daughter permits it." She said with a grin.

Reeza nodded once. "Good idea! Actually, that might be a good time for you to meet her; Doria has an appointment with Engineering but I believe that Lt Commander trLhoell is escorting her there but will take notes. He is interested in that part of her make up." She let out a deep sigh. "They-whoever "THEY" are say that parenting one child is hard, but more than one gets easier but I don't think they really know. It seems hard. Really hard."

"Yes, the android girl. Now that one must be an interesting case. So many questions about her. I bet engineering would love to take her apart. Hopefully you and Rayek will prevent that! She's still a sentient being after all." R'elle said.

Reeza nodded. "She IS an interesting case. I am sure he won't!! He is doing well; I just hope it doesn't trigger ill feelings for him." She started to clean up from the brunch. "Thank you for this, it was nice!"

"You are most welcome Reeza. I will see you tonight and you can tell me how the day went!" R'elle said.

Reeza smiled, and then nodded. "See you later!" She chirped on her way out. Thankfully, she hadn't spilled or dropped anything!

"Take care reeza." r'elle said as her new counselor left. ~What a nice girl. She was going to fit in well here. She hoped Reeza's daughter would be able to adjust. Sometimes it's hardest for little ones.~ r'elle thought.

 

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