Finding Solace

Posted on Sat Sep 26th, 2020 @ 7:30pm by Lieutenant Commander Teayana Starr
Edited on on Sun Sep 27th, 2020 @ 7:43pm

1,063 words; about a 5 minute read

Lieutenant Starr sat in a comfy chair going over some of her notes. Her legs drawn up under her with the PADD on the arm of the chair and a mug of coffee in the other hand.

Amri Vaughan knocked on the door to the office. She knew she had an eval to do.

"Enter" She called out as she uncurled her legs from under her and stood.
"Welcome, please have a seat. Can I get you anything to drink?"

She shook her head as she walked in to the office. "No thank you, ma'am. I am Ensign Amri Vaughan reporting for my eval." She took a seat in front of the counselor.

"It's nice to meet you Ens. Vaughan." Teaya took her seat again and hit a couple of commands on the PADD.
"As you know I'm Lt.Starr.
How have been adjusting since we have returned?"

She nodded, "I have gotten to meet a fellow crew member from my academy days."

"That's nice. How are you adjusting since we have returned from our past year of duty?" Teaya asked again hoping she just misunderstood the question but Starfleet officers were almost always the sharpest and the brightest and those who weren't usually didn't do ship dutys.

She shrugged a little, "It's just like a normal every day thing. Each moment an adventure or bad time, but it is good to relax for now." She smiled.

"How do you equate being trapped in the past before any of us were born or being caught in the two away team planet and the loss of fellow crew members normal or everyday?"
The counselor sipped her coffee then lowered her mug to her lap cradled between her hands.

"I didn't know the ones that passed away... To me, those were sad and bad times..." She pressed her lips a moment, "I had gotten into alpha after all that... The past was an adventure and a challenge... That we had to do... To me, that is what I take away from all of that... I wasn't on the planet deal... So, I can't account for all of that."

She felt like her mother was in her head childing her to be more caring, but she couldn't with those she didn't know that well. She was more about the job, before she gained confidence to make a friend.

This was going to take some pressing and a slightly delicate hand. "You know Amri, is it okay to call you Amri?"

She gave a nod, "Yes, ma'am."

Teaya gave her a soft smile. "We can be friends. just because I'm the ships counselor doesn't make me unaproachable. It's a a profession and a title, that's it. " Sometimes it is easier to talk to friends than to an higher ranking officer. At this moment you can think of me as an equal because at the end of the day we are and you can talk to me about anything at all."

She nodded with understanding, "I don't make friends easy... Many I knew in academy were out to ... Make themselves better... I didn't want people to... Try to do things and put me as blame ."

Twisting her mouth to one side a moment. "I'm not sure I follow? I understand the not making friends easily, but I need better clarification as to why you think someone would want to blame you? If you make a mistake, as adults, we own up to them. There is never and should never be any "blame."

She frowned a moment, "Some would try to make excuses and put their faults as if it was others and usually... They would smirk and get by with it." She let out an inward sigh, "My ex boyfriend was one of them... I was blinded. Then laughed at."
A few tears fell,."I have had a hard time since to ... Be a bit more social."

Reaching for tissues to hand to Amri. "Here dear. And is that affecting how you look at your performance and you emotions towards your duties?"

"No. I am able to perform and put it behind me, but with social with others... It's still a little difficult." She wiped her face. "It's a goal to work on, because not everyone is them."

The Trill felt a little relief speaking of that and finally feeling heard, if not understood.

"I'm not tying to rush this through, but I do have a lot of evaluations to do as you know. However I do want to see you again say, two weeks. I very much want to help you get past this to have a healthier outlook. In the mean time lets makes plans for lunch one day soon. I very much meant what I said about being friends." Teaya gave her a sweet smile. She was very sincere and never said anything she didn't mean.
"If you need to talk before that please feel free to make an appt. with me and we will meet again. Does that work for you?"

"Sounds good." she smiled, "I think it would be a positive thing, but I am so young still." The 21 year old giggled a little, "I have a lot to learn."

"I think we all do." Teaya gave a small laugh. Teaya set her mug on the table and stood. "Let me know when you have time for lunch and I will do my best to clear my schedule if possible. Once we reach home I will be unavailable for about a week. I'm going to get lost in the wilderness. " She smiled at Amri. "That's my big get away."

"Oohh. I plan to hang out with Lawson... I don't have family on Earth that's worth visiting." She looked around a moment, "Am I Dismissed?"

"Yes, for now. I will get your recommdations written up and in the mean time I will see you for lunch when you're available."

"Okay." She smiled gratefully and bid the counselor a good evening. Heading out of there to go check things out.

Teaya could not see any reason why the young officer could not return for duty at some point, but now wasn't the time. She had a few personal hang-ups but nothing she didn't feel could not be solved with some additional counseling and those would be her recommendations she would turn in to Starfleet Command.

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