Catching up

Posted on Sun Mar 20th, 2022 @ 11:11am by Lieutenant Sky Jansen-Carey & Commander Antonia 'Tony" Stoffels

Mission: Free write
Location: XO's office
Timeline: After visiting Sickbay

{ON}

Sky was practically grinning like a cheshire cat as she stood outside Tony's office door. Pressing the chime she waited for a call to enter before walking inside. "Commander are you free to talk?"

Tony let her in. "Of course. My door is always open to you. Come in Sky. Anything to drink?" She asked. "As you can see I am finally starting to decorate the place."

"Looks good" Sky smiled and nodded. "If you ever need any help feel free to ask."

"Thanks. It will take a while longer to get my own stuff here. But now that I am seeing a few patients I thought I had to make it a bit more homey."

"Sounds good" Sky nodded "Actually I err .. have some news." Sky paused for good effect. "I'm pregnant!"

Tony smiled brightly. "Oh Sky! I am so happy for you. That is amazing news!"

"I know!" She practically jumped up and down for joy. "So far everything is looking good, as Rutherford put it I have Xavier to thank for this one."

"Oh?" Tony asked. "How come?"

"My last pregnancy was conceived between Talsi and myself, hence the difficulties in my carrying Talsi's child. This baby is Xavier's child, we're more compatible." Sky smiled. "I just have to get used to the idea that I'll most likely get passed over for every away team for the next eight or nine months!"

"You can be sure of that." Tony grinned. "But that would be true for every crew member not just because you are the captain's wife. It is just too dangerous. I am so happy for you though."

Sky nodded. "Thank you Tony, I'm not Xavier's wife yet but hopefully one day."

"If this does not make you his wife in spirit I don't know what does. And that is the most important thing isn't it?"

Sky nodded. "Of course!" she smiled warmly. "I'm sorry if you found dinner awkward the other night, Tal is ... outspoken and deadly honest, I've gotten used to it being part of their marriage but to someone else she must seem very uncomfortable to be around."

"It just brought back a hell of a lot of bad memories." Tony tried to keep that serene counsellor look on her face.

"Oh?" Sky looked at Tony concernedly. "Are you forgetting that you're talking to a Betazoid? I can feel what you're trying to keep buried. Sit down and talk to me."

"It's just that the De Ruyter captain and his awful wife kind of bullied me. They would ask me to dinner once a week and then undermine my self confidence and say that I only got the job because of my father and grandfather. It was awful. Yesterday... well I thought Talsi was doing the same."

"Oh I see" Sky nodded understandingly. "Trust me when I say Tal wasn't trying to be mean to you. She is ... The most point blank person I have ever met. She automatically says what is on her mind without stopping to think how others will take it. I've gotten used to it now, but it must have been very unnerving last night."

"It was. She and I talked so I understand it now. Last night it brought back some really bad memories."

Sky nodded as she listened. "You thought that history was about to start repeating itself?"

"Yes I really did. My time on the De Ruyter was not exactly fun."

"Well you don't have to worry about that now" Sky smiled. "This is not like the De Ruyter, here you'll be treated properly and if you've any worries just come and see me."

"Thank you. I really appreciate that. I have a lot to learn about being a first officer and I don't want others to see how inexperiened I am."

"Well we all have to start somewhere, Starfleet wouldn't have put you here if they thought you weren’t ready.” Sky smiled.

"I hope not. But to hear someone say every day for 18 months that you only got it because of your father is not good for self confidence."Tony admitted.

“Of course not” Sky agreed. “You must have to prove it to yourself, and you’ll have a chance to do that here.”

"Thank you. And it feels so good that I can unburden msyself to you. We all need someone like that."

“That’s what I’m here for” Sky smiled warmly. “Not just as ship’s Counsellor, but as a friend too.”

"Well that is going to be hard if you will be my counsellor. You know my views on that. I am trying to make Xavier understand that distinction as well."

Sky nodded. “Well being a friend and Counsellor isn’t classed as so much of a conflict as being romantically involved with someone. Xavier isn’t my patient anymore, so no conflict there.”

"No you are fine. But as I am towing the line with him, I can't be friends with you and I really need a counsellor." She smiled.

“What’s stopping you being friends with me? I can be both your friend and your counsellor.” Sky smiled. “There’s no conflict there for me Tony.”

"it's against the rules." Tony said. "And I take those rules very seriously. You can't be friends with your patients."

“When you’re aboard a starship friendships happen Tony, depending on crew numbers sometimes it can’t be avoided.” Sky paused. “However if that’s what you want I can step back from being your counsellor and place you with someone else. We don’t have a very big counselling department at the moment though.”

"No, no. I trust you already. I really want to continue with you. I am going someone I can talk to to keep me sane on this ship. I know I am a by the book kind of girl but that is just the way I work."

"Fair enough" Sky nodded. "So does that mean I'm now just your counsellor rather than your friend? I'd be disappointed if that's how things are going to be between us."

"It has to be that way. I thought you would understand? You had the same lectures I had. I don't want to repeat what happened between Xavier and me."

Sky looked at Tony curiously. "What did happen between the two of you?"

She sighed. "You were there when he agreed to a few sessions with me. But this morning he got defensive and backed down. Then accused me of not opening up about myself and not wanting to be his friend. I told him I am talking to you and I am just doing my job. It ended badly Sky. Neither of us backed down and he walked out. I am in half a mind to ask the admiral to reassign me."

Sky nodded. "Give me some time to talk to Xavier okay? I know I can't Counsel him but I can direct him back to you."

"Thank you." Tony said. "I would appreciate that."

Sky nodded. “Don’t worry he’ll come round eventually.”

"I hope so. Thank you so much for helping, Sky."

"My pleasure" Sky smiled warmly.

{OFF}