Rura Penthe #86"
By: Teilani Dane, Chief Medical Officer, [PC]
Patia Zoei, Chief Counselor, [PC]

Stardate: 58205.11 1330

"Family matters"

As Teilani came back from her so called social gathering with the Captain and the Klingon XO she noticed that one of her nurse and a young crewmember were holding each other in a somewhat tightly embrace. More or less kissing and..........

"Excuse me, you to. There is a time and place for that and it is not here! She snapped at them.

The two young people did not know how fast they should let go of each other and returned to their jobs.

Teilani barged in her office and sat down at her desk, her foot tapped annoyingly on the floor. She realized that this could not go on any longer, snapping at her crew, not sleeping.

She tapped her combadge -/= Dane to Counselor Zoei. I would like to make an appointment if that is possible."

Zoei to Dane, I am working on reports for the afternoon. Whenever your schedule is free, please stop by. Patia shook her head. Tension was evident in Dr. Dane's voice. She also sounded very tired.

thank you. Expect me in about an hour or so.

Teilani looked at the pile of reports on her desk and started to sign them off one at the time. The hour passed quickly and Teilani got up to see Patia.

*** Counselor office ****

Teilani hit the door chime.

"Enter," Patia called. She stood up from her desk and pushed her chair away. She stretched slightly toward one side.

"Good afternoon Patia," she said softly as she headed for the big couch with all the pillows. Chucking a big red one to the side she made her self comfortable.

"Good afternoon, Teilani. Did you want a coffee?" Patia paused by the replicator on her way to her seat.

"Yeah why not," Teilani responded softly. She wriggled a bit on the couch and ended up propping a yellow cushion behind her back and caressed a soft pink flurry one in her arms. Absentmindedly she stroked the pink fur. Suddenly the word tribble came to mind and she chuckled.

"Raspberry Iced Tea, Jamaican blend, double hot, double sweet" Patia turned as she picked up the mugs. "What has you laughing, Teilani?"

"It’s not important,” Teilani said with a small smile, stroking the pink fur.

"What is going on that brings you here?" Patia settled in her chair and tucked her feet up under her.

"You know Patia, she started.”I will not beat around the bush but I need to have your professional opinion. Ever since we had this riot I can not got to sleep"

"Is there anything in particular that is keeping you awake? Or you just can't sleep?" Patia asked.

"I just can not get to sleep. Ever since we had this riot I am on the edge, it’s like I have to do something very important and if I go to sleep I might forget about it. It is driving me nuts and me....... Teilani clang to the pillow as she tried to hide her tears.

"Teilani, when you sleep, who do you dream of?" Patia asked.

Teilani stroke the pink fur. "home." she whispered.

"Tell me about home," Patia's voice was low. She leaned forward slightly as she waited for Teilani to continue.

Teilani shot a small smile. "Home was nice when my parents were still around. After their divorce and subsequent disappearance it all changed." Teilani spoke softly. She put the pink pillow beside her and reached for her coffee. The warm liquid managed to relax her a little.

"My elder brother suddenly had suddenly the responsibility for the rest of the family and he became overprotective, Melissa my sister well she suddenly had the idea of becoming mother for me and my baby brother. I must admit they did a fairly good job but when I applied for the academy I was forbidden to go."

Patia nodded slightly. "When you dream of home, what do you see?"

"Well I see my house it looks old and worn out, but there is no-one there, I call there is no answer, when I leave and turn around I see my brother, my sister and they look so old. They don’t say anything they just point to the road. When I walk down that road I hear some one call my name, its my little brother and he is running up to me, just as he is almost there he is stopped by something, something I can not see." He then calls out to me "Find me Lane, find me." He always called me Lani," Teilani spoke softly.

"How old are your brother and sister in your dream? Are they very old? Or just older than they were when you left?" Patia asked.

"They look very old, but why you ask?"

"Do they look the age they should be now? Or older still? Can you tell how old you are in your dream? I am just trying to understand, Teilani," Patia smiled softly.

"They look much older, actually the age my parents should have been. Me, I look the same. I see from their faces that they blame me for all that has happened."

"Have you ever considered contacting them again? I know what you said happened, but sometimes, with a little distance, feelings change."

"Oh Patia, “Teilani said barely hearable. "I feel so alone."

"Teilani, I can understand why you feel that way. Family is very important. What can we do to help you feel less alone?" Patia left the question open ended. She would be willing to assist Teilani with resuming contact with her family or helping her get in contact with someone who could help her locate her brother, but she wanted to know what Teilani's more urgent need was, in Teilani's own eyes.

"I honestly don't know Patia, Teilani said softly.” I have worked so hard to get where I am now and look where it has led me. Chief Medical officer on a big starship responsible for the ships crew. And I don't even know if my family is proud of me." Teilani sighed and her face became a bit stern, pushing away the tears and the emotions that ran havoc through her. She took some deep breaths and fixed her green eyes on Patia's face.

"I will be alright," she said as she reached out for the pink furry cushion.

"I am sure you will be all right, but there are ways we can help to make this a little easier, or to at least get some questions answered for you. Would you like me to contact your brother and sister back home?" Patia realized Teilani didn't have her pebble. "Teilani, where is your white stone?"

"Would you do that Patia, Teilani asked.”Contacting them?" She reached for her mug and finished the now cold coffee. "My stone," Teilani felt in her pocket and got a bit panicked. "I don’t know......... I ................where is it. I haven’t.......... I haven’t seen it. I must go look for it. Teilani stood up and frantically threw the cushions on the floor, reaching between the cracks of the couch.

"Teilani, please calm down. Isn't that your stone on the floor? By your foot?" Patia gestured near her left foot.

Teilani looked down and indeed there it was. She picked it up and the coolness of the pebble made her calm down. She took a deep breath as she looked at it, focused herself on the color, the touch of the little stone.

"I would be happy to contact your family for you. Let me know whom you would like me to contact and the last place you knew them to be. I will take it from there."

"I think it is better to contact Uncle Brexen first, he is not a real uncle but he will definitely know where my family is. Last time I spoke to him he was on the freighter USS Tiberius heading for Vanelan Prime." Teilani said.

“I will start there,” Patia smiled gently.