How about a new life?

Posted on Tue May 12th, 2015 @ 9:29pm by Ensign Corrine Steiner & Lieutenant Commander Drewe Reed
Edited on on Sun Jul 12th, 2015 @ 3:49pm

Mission: Vagrants, Vagabonds, and Thieves
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: Backpost

[ON]

Corrie leaned on the sink, bringing her face close to the mirror. The image looking back at her almost seemed like a stranger. She had been running for so long and so hard from Starfleet. Now she was wearing the uniform.

Marit rang the chime and considered what she wanted to accomplish today with Corrie. The woman was a true survivor of any number of as yet barely spoken horrors, and Marit felt a special duty to ensure she felt safe, especially given the transition in counselors from Drewe to Marit.

Inside, Corrie snapped around from her look in the mirror. Given to anxiety attacks, she quietly asked, "Computer, identify."

==Lt. Commander Marit Lantry, ship's counselor.==

Sympathizing that it might feel awkward, not receiving a quick reply, Corrie rushed to the door instead of calling out. She pressed the open button and greeted her visitor, "Hello." Her welcome extended beyond the verbal. A regular user of aromatherapy, Corrie's proximity was heralded by the distinct smell of menthol.

Marit smiled. "Hello." Lantry took a whiff of the air. "Mint?"

Corrie chuckled, inviting her guest in with a gesture, "Menthol. I explore every avenue possible to strengthen and stabilize the nervous system. Can I offer you some refreshment? I'm pretty much tea queen."

"It's nice," Marit said, referring to the scent. In response to Corrie's offer of refreshment, she said, "No, thanks. I think I might have a bladder the size of a pea, so liquid refreshments during a counseling session are generally not a good idea for me," she added with a smile and a small laugh.

"Ah. Session." Corrie took joined her visitor in taking comfortable seating. The furniture was almost more bean bags than easy chairs. She wriggled, forming a snug mold, "I luv these things." She then pressed her hands together in her lap. "My thumbnail profile is: I can't sleep, I hate Ferengi, and Starfleet could be my job but never my life." She glanced off, confirming her thoughts, "Yeah. Good place to start." Corrie then smiled playfully at her visitor, "Your turn!"

Lantry chuckled and offered a look that said, 'All right, I'll bite.' "I need sleep, I hate to see people suffering, and Starfleet will be my life as long as I can help heal people who need it the most, regardless of their species, religion, or political affiliation." Marit's response was not as creative as Corrie's, but it was the best she could come up with in the moment. It was truthful, and the counselor found herself wondering what Corrie would make of it.

Corrie squinted playfully, "Zer Freud vould say... I don't need to worry about being turned into a laboratory ex-shperiment!" She smiled, extending her hands to grasp Lantry's. "I have this instinct that I've just met a friend."

Marit smiled. She didn't want to look a gift to therapeutic alliance in the mouth, but a small part of her wondered if Corrie wanted to announce fast friendship out of I'm not entirely conscious to skip over the difficult things in therapy. After all, the number one tenant a friendship was not to hurt the other friend, intentionally or otherwise. The reality of therapy was that sometimes it was necessary to cause pain to ultimately promote healing.

Lantry grasped the other woman's hands in return. "I'm pleased you're starting to trust me. I care about you too and want the best for you. As your therapist, there are going to be times when I encourage you to think about and talk about things you'd rather avoid. As I mentioned before, I do that because I ultimately believe it's what's going to help you heal. That said, there are going to be times when I don't feel so friendly. I also want you to know I don't expect anything from you in return. Friendships traditionally go both ways, but I don't expect anything from you in our therapeutic relationship."

Marit hoped her words would be received in the spirit in which they were intended. The nature of therapeutic work on board Starfleet installations was that counselors had to cope with the mixing of personal and professional relationships far more than what was typically ethically advisable. Unlike counseling practices of old, today's military counselors lived and worked much more closely with those they served.

Corrie's mood changed sharply and suddenly. From buried deep inside, wave of sadness surfaced, even borderline despair. "How much has the Captain and Doctor Reed shared with you about my... sleep disorder?"

"Only the basics," Marit replied simply. "I'm afraid she had to leave quickly and didn't have much time to give me a full briefing. I know you suffered rather extensive trauma not too long ago."

Corrine stayed frozen in an uncomfortably long stare, weighing the situation. "The full nature of my problem is classified."

That much Marit already knew, but that didn't stop Drewe from speculating. "What are you permitted to tell me?"

"You're going to have to be told anyway. I have dreams... premonitions. Fleet black ops made a lab rat out of me. Captain Von rescued me. Medically, you need to know about it because the side effects are debilitating, sometimes severe."

Marit expected to hear about torture, but forced experimentation? That wasn't even in the universe of what she expected. "What sort of side effects are you talking about?"

Corrie's tone was a resigned matter-of-fact, "Pretty much identical to severe apnea. Fatigue, impaired concentration, weakened memory storage, irritability, stress symptoms, risk of stroke..."

"I'm so sorry," Marit offered sincerely. "Have the medical staff been able to give you any kind of medication or treatments to reduce your risk of a stroke and other complications?" Lantry could certainly understand if Corrie was leery of medical professionals or ingesting any additional substances, but it was clear she needed specific monitoring. Already, she was thinking stress management and proper nutrition would be paramount for her going forward. The counselor was going to do whatever she could to make sure Corey helped as best as she could.

The weary woman shrugged, "Well, programs and regimens are aplenty. But many times I get too busy. I'm... not the most disciplined soul on this starbase. I suppose that I could have main computer nag me. Unfortunately... I hate AIs. Computers make wonderful servants but irritating masters." She managed a sheepish smile.

Not wanting to sound like an overbearing parent, but also deeply concerned for Corrie's health, she said, "Given what you could experience if you don't take care of yourself, I'd say it's critical for you to make time for seeing to your health. I know you didn't come all this way and survive all that you have just to keel over from a stroke," Lantry added with a small smile. She was trying to make a joke to cut the seriousness of her tone, but she remembered reading Drewe's notes after they had found Steiner. It was clear she was lucky to be alive. "I care about you is all I'm saying."

[OFF]

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Lieutenant Commander Drewe Reed [P: Landry]
& Ensign Corrine Steiner

Starbase 332
Pegasus Fleet