Poltergeist #29"
By: Teilani Dane, Chief Medical Officer, [PC]
Patia Zoei, Chief Counselor, [PC]

Stardate: 58204.20 0830

=Teilani's quarters=

Teilani woke up she was a little stiff. It seemed that her bed was becoming lumpier day by day. She sat on the edge, stretching and yawning. Picking up a robe from the floor and putting this on, she walked to her seating area. Over to the replicator she ordered: “Coffee, Jamaican blend double strong, double sweet.” Holding the mug in her hands and inhaling the fragrance she looked out the window, seeing the stars and a piece of the upper pylon from Qultuq. Then suddenly she saw a falling star, quickly she made wish.

Putting her coffee mug on the table she headed for the shower, only to get the scare of a lifetime. Instead of warm rays it was freezing. “Cold, cold, cold, she muttered, jumping up and down in the shower.

Towelling herself dry she put on a clean uniform and looked at her self in the mirror. Not only starting the morning with a cold shower but she also had a bad hair day. “Ah well, she needed to see a hairdresser quickly, cutting her hair would be easier to maintain it but for now braiding it was the only option. Luckily she was in no rush, sickbay was empty and the EMH could handle all little accidents etc.

Walking back to the seating area she asked : “computer are there any messages pending?” “2 messages pending,” the reply came. Teilani walked over to the wall console and accessed them.

The first one was from counsellor Zoei, asking her if they could meet for a follow up appointment. Teilani arched an eyebrow, a meeting for an hour and a half and after working hours. She wondered what Patia was planning. Hopefully she was not going to get into the sickbay incident. Teilani had already pushed this far away in the back of her mind.

“Computer send a message to counsellor Zoei confirming our today’s appointment for 1800hrs.

“Message sent.”

“computer display next message.” The next message was not a nice one. It was from her headnurse Ally, telling her that she had decided to leave the Zion and that she had accepted a new assignment back on Bajor.

“Oh swell, Teilani muttered, and where do I get another head nurse this quickly?” But she could not blame Ally, she knew that Ally wanted to be close to her family. Hopefully she had not yet left, cause Teilani wanted to say goodbye.

Finishing the last coffee, which was unfortunately cold, Teilani headed out the door, planning to tour the Zion again, as well as visiting Qultuq.

************ The day had passed quickly. Teilani had managed to catch Ally on her way back home and they had said their mutual goodbyes. Teilani was surely going to miss her. Putting some new lingerie and casual clothing she had purchased in her quarters it was time to go and meet the counsellor.

A quick strole and Teilani was at the counsellor office. She ran the doorchime. No answer, nothing. She hit the doorchime again. Then she decided to knock. It seems that each electrical system onboard the Zion was having a bad day.

=counselor's office=

The knock on her door startled her. She had been anticipating the arrival of the ever punctual Dr. Dane, but she had expected the door chime to ring. Something else must be going on now. A note to Lieutenant Silvio might just be in order.

Crossing to the door, she attempted to open it for her visitor. The first three attempts to open the door failed. Finally, the door slid slowly, painfully open. Dr. Dane stood on the other side.

"Good evening, Dr. Dane. Please come in," Zoei stepped back from the door.

“Good evening Patia, you wanted to see me,” Teilani said.

"I did want to see you. I apologize for the delay in requesting this appointment. I should have done it much sooner." Gesturing to the couch she said, "Please have a seat. Would you like something to drink? Jamaican blend, double strong, double sweet?"

"Yes please," Teilani giggled as she walked over to the couch. "I think I need to change my recipe for coffee." She sat down on the couch, tucking her legs beneath her, making herself quit comfortable. She had never paid much attention to the counselor office, but it was a nice surrounding, calm, relaxing and the everlasting smell of gardenias.

"Occasionally, it is nice to have something about yourself that is predictable to others. At least with a drink choice, it works out to your benefit as well as theirs," Zoei chuckled. Stopping at the replicator on the way to her sitting area, she stated, "Jamaican blend, double strong, double sweet and raspberry ice tea with two raspberries." Picking up the steaming mug and the cold glass, she turned to the sitting area. Dr. Dane appeared more relaxed than she had seen in quite some time. It was a good sight to see.

"One Jamaican blend, double strong, double sweet," Zoei said as she handed the large mug to the doctor before settling herself into the chair at a right angle to the couch where Teilani was seated. She tucked her right foot beneath her and allowed her left leg to drape over the top of it.

"I hear Sick Bay is settling down a bit. How is that going?"

"it is going very well," Teilani said, taking a sip from her coffee. "I must admit I have a fine crew, despite all the technical failures lately. Unfortunately one of them left this morning.

"And how about you Patia, Teilani studied the counselor's face. "How have you been doin' since we docked. Have you been eating well."

"I am sorry to hear you lost one. Was there trouble at home? Or just an opportunity to move on?"

"Ally just wanted to stay closer to home, her parents needed some additional care, Teilani explained.

"I have been eating well, when I remember to eat. It is a minor little problem I have had off and on for years. I get very involved in what I am doing and the next thing you know, six hours have passed and I have missed at least one meal. I could have worse bad habits, I suppose," Zoei chuckled.

"Moving on to the reason why you are here, I think we should touch base about some things that have happened in Sick Bay. I asked that you come later in the day so that you wouldn't have to return to work after our meeting. Sometimes these sessions get a little raw and I didn't want to put you in a position where you needed to be professional right after you walk out the door. I have no doubt you could handle it, but I prefer to deal with the tougher issues when there is time to unwind afterwards, so to speak. I am referring to your two patients who became prisoners."

Teilani smiled "ah the sickbay incident, I passed out did you know that." Teilani looked in the distance, remembering. "You know Patia, it was really weird seeing two persons relating to the Kitty, it was as if I was back on the ship again, prior to my escape. They claimed being innocent, that they had nothing do to about it, but I knew what I saw."

"I do not doubt you saw what you said. I did hear you had passed out. That was the cause for my concern for you. It was bad enough living it the first time. Reliving it was undoubtedly more traumatic."

"I could not let them go as if nothing had happened. But now I wish I had never mentioned them. "I just wanted them to be brought to justice." Teilani felt tears stinging behind her eyes, she pushed them away. Nobody would ever see her cry.

"You understand you are not responsible for your deaths, don't you? And I mean deep in your heart of hearts. Because you reported them does not mean you are responsible for another crew members actions." Patia leaned forward and laid her hand on the arm of the couch. "Red, I hope you allow yourself to cry in private. There is no shame in tears and sometimes it brings healing."

"I know I am not responsible, not directly anyway. And as for the crying, Teilani looked at Patia, I have done that more then enough when I was little, hearing about my parents and baby brother's disappearance . I made myself a promise never to cry again. I know that a good cry brings healing and relief, but I am afraid that if I start I can not stop, so although I know it is wrong, tucking it away is better.

"Tucking it away will only hold it off, it will not stop it from coming. It may not be today, or in your near future, but there will be a day where it will happen. It will most likely strike you when you least expect it and are unprepared for it. That causes me a little worry for you. Having suffered a terrible loss at a young age, I know what it is like to go through your entire life walking on the fringe. There is fear of involvement because involvement means the possibility of loss and pain. There are coping mechanisms that make you feel like you are in control when you aren't totally. The only way to handle it honestly with yourself is to deal with the underlying issues and move forward. I want you to notice, Red, I didn't say move on. I don't believe anyone ever truly moves on from those life changing events, but they can move forward with them rather than being held back by them."

Teilani stood up and walked towards the window, crossing her arms. "I understand what you mean Patia, but I can not do that alone. Or to be more honest I am afraid to. I realize that I must accept this it forms a part of me shaping me to who I am today.”

Teilani walked back taking her same position on the couch. It felt good talking to Patia. She seemed to be the only one who understood her.

"You don't have to do this alone. You have several options. First, we could meet to work through this. If you are not comfortable with that, for whatever reason, I could help you arrange some intensive sessions with the counselor on Qul Tuq next time we are back here. I do not feel you have time for that before we leave the station this time. Finally, and this is not something I feel you need at this time, a brief leave could be arranged where you could undergo even more intensive, or immersion, therapy. What you have gone through has shaped you. In order to survive it and become successful, you had to draw strength from it."

Patia leaned back in her chair and reached for her glass of tea. It was empty. Rising from her seat, Zoei looked at Dr. Dane's mug. "Would you like a refill?"

Yes i would like a refill please." Teilani let Patia's reply sink in before she answered. I would rather work with you about this, she paused........... I trust you Patia. And I rather talk to you than some stranger on the station."

Taking the mug from Teilani's hand, Patia walked to the replicator. "Jamaican blend, double sweet, double strong. Raspberry iced tea" The drinks filled quickly. She carried them back to the sitting area and handed the mug back to Teilani. "I am honoured by your trust. Since we have already been here over an hour tonight, I suggest we decide on a time to meet again. We can start fresh on a new day. How do you feel about that idea?"

"I would like that very much," Teilani said smiling while accepting the hot mug. “Maybe we can have lunch together or so or maybe share a holodeck program.”

"Good. I think we should plan on some sessions here to deal with the issues, but I would enjoy having lunch together as well. I am open for lunch tomorrow if you like. Once we are back underway, we can begin our sessions, as long as you have no objections?"

“I have no objections at all. Teilani stood up, taking the mug with her. I will contact you tomorrow for lunch”.

"That will be nice. Have a good evening," Zoei nodded to the doctor as she left the office.