Orders

Posted on Thu Apr 14th, 2022 @ 8:40am by Lieutenant Sky Jansen-Carey & Commander Antonia 'Tony" Stoffels

Mission: Free write
Location: Tony's quarters / Sky's office

Tony was getting ready for bed when she received notice of an incoming transmission. Seeing who it was from she turned on her video despite the fact she was already in pyjama's.

"Hi aunt Avril." She said with a grin.

The woman on the other end of the screen on earth was someone she had known all her life. Avril Jenston was her godmother's boss and friend. Admiral Avril Jenston now was the top psychiatrist in Starfleet a woman in her early sixties with short greying blond hair.

"Tony, it's been too long honey." She said while she smiled. Avril was extremely fond of this young woman and she was not too happy with the task she had to set her. "How are you."

"Fine as always, aunt Avril. A bit nervous though starting as first officer on a new ship."

"I heard about that, Tony. And I heard about the ship." She sighed. "Not in a good way. "One of the junior therapists who has just done a tour on the Resolution has complained. It is a very serious complaint so that is why I need you to work as a therapist as well as a first officer."

Tony exhaled. "Hasn't aunt Denny filled you in? I am already evaluating the captain."

"Yes she told me. I did have a chat with her. And in light of this report I want you to continue with that, and instead of reporting to Denise, you will be reporting back to me. But I also want you to evaluate the chief counsellor Lt Jansen. This junior therapist has accused her of malpractice basically. Of not doing the captain's evaluation and in fact being in a relationship with him while she was still his therapist. I need you to assess her mental state, Tony. The woman has a history of mental disease."

"I know aunt Avril. She has been upfront about it. Did not even try to hide it from me, and she was very honest about her relationship with Xavier as well."

"That speaks for her. But I still need you to do an eval on both of them. Knowing you I know you will be honest, even if that is hard and unfair to ask of you." Avril said gently. "I hate asking you to do this."

"I know. You have always been fair as well."

The older woman nodded. "And Tony. When this is over...make some friends. If they come out ok, be friends with them if you want to. Yes Denise told me everything. And you know that most therapists serving on ships bend the rules. Even those on starbases and planets do. You know that technically Denise should not be your father and uncle's therapist as they are also her close friends. But as both stupid bullheaded men won't see anybody else it has been allowed. The same for me and Wain London. If the benefit outweighs the dangers it will be allowed. Just don't try to hide it. Will you listen to me on this?"

"Awww."

"No Tony I mean it. I know you are lonely and you need friends. it is not healthy for you to go on without. So I will make this an order if I have to."

Tony grinned." Thank you aunt Avril. You are the best."

***The next morning***

Tony was free the next morning but she knew that Sky was working so there was no better time than the present so after showering and eating some replicated food she went to Sky's office and hit the chime.

"Come in" Sky looked towards the door as it opened to reveal Tony. "Hi Tony, or should I say Commander!" she smiled. "What can I do for you?"

"I guess Dr Stoffels would fit more for why I am here this morning, Sky." She quickly told the senior counsellor what admiral Jenston had told her. "Avril Jenston is a fair woman, Sky. I am sure that she will listen to me but I will have to make an effort."

Sky nodded. “To be honest I was wondering how long it would be before my fitness to be Chief Counsellor was called into question.” She sighed as she took a seat motioning to Tony to do the same. “Please ask your questions.”

" I am afraid it is a little more than just a few questions, Sky. I am to do a complete evaluation, so several talks and monitor you over a period of time. Now I don't plan to tell anybody about this. Not even Xavier. If you tell him it is up to you." She sighed. "Let's start at the beginning. How was your relationship with your staff. Why do you think someone complained instead of coming to you."

Sky sighed. “I thought my relationship with my staff was off to a good start. Though I can’t say I’m surprised that the person who complained didn’t come to me. Maybe she thought that speaking to me wouldn’t get her anywhere so she went straight to my superiors instead. I am in a relationship with my superior officer, that in itself is ... controversial.”

"But you broke it off before it got too serious right? You counselling him" Tony said. "You did the right thing. And the voices in your head, has that ever been a problem during your first tour on the ship?"

Sky shook her head. “No problems since I came onboard, up until now and as you know I’m getting help for that. As for Xavier, I stopped being his Counsellor as soon as we became romantically involved.”

"Did you have a run in with one of your staff? Something happened that might have triggered this?"

Sky shook her head. “No, nothing comes to ...” She paused. “Wait, I did have to have a discussion with one of the junior counsellor’s. From what I remember she had spoken inappropriately to a patient, she admitted losing her temper. I had to put a note in her personnel file regarding it.”

"That could very well be it. And we should follow up on it as she is obviously not a very good counsellor. If the complaint came from her it will make a lot more sense. And to cover all our bases let's have a few chats, you and I. You know I am pretty by the book. " Tony grinned.

Sky nodded and smiled. “I know, I swear I will be totally honest and upfront with you. I have nothing to hide and you know it.”

"I do. You have lived with your voices for such a long time now and when it threatens to become a problem you do ask for help. That is the most important fact. I just want to follow the rules. But aunt.. admiral Jenston also told me to stop being so uptight." She grinned. "Don't you dare tell Xavier."

Sky grinned. “I won’t I promise, but I will talk to him about this whole evaluation part. I don’t keep secrets and I don’t intend to start now.”

"Oh no. You shouldn't. But tell him that I will be fair. And that admiral Jenston will be as well. For both of you. She wants to see his eval as well."

Sky nodded. “Of course she does, she has to be thorough. I just hope she’ll find us honest and open enough to allow us both to continue with our careers here. If I have to I’ll resign my commission to stay with Xavier.”

"She will. Remember I have known both these admirals my whole life. I will make them see." Tony said with with determination.

“Thank you Tony I appreciate that” Sky smiled. “So what else do you need to ask me?”

"Let's start with the usual, how are you feeling, are you sleeping ok?"

“How I’m feeling?” Sky shrugged her shoulders. “How am I supposed to feel when my professional and personal integrity is in question? I’m understandably upset. As for sleeping, I sleep well at present thanks to being pregnant, I’m worn out by the end of my shift.”

"Maybe it would be wise to slow down for a little while. If you are this tired early on it the pregnancy it would be good to give your system some time to adjust. You are getting used to a lot of changes."

Sky nodded. “I wasn’t planning on dropping back on my duties until I reach eight months but I guess if I have to then I’ll have to. I’d like to try to keep my usual routine going for now.”

"I think seeing how tired you are already 8 months is going to be unrealistic. For your and the baby's health. Shall we go through your schedule together to look at what is least essential and make a hierarchy of what can be dropped first?"

Sky paused before nodding. “You’re right, I’d rather not risk anything going wrong. Let’s take a look.”

"Good." It was indeed a good sign she was willing to look at opportunities to take it easier. With a smile Tony got to work.

Sky looked at Tony as they talked over her schedule, she wasn’t really wanting to drop too much at this point. “This is my first assignment as Chief Counsellor Tony, I want to prove I can do the job.”

"I get that. Trust me I get that more than you know. And I am here to support you in that. What I want you to drop first is some of the paperwork. That can wait or I can help you with it. And I guess I am the last patient you took on. If you want I can find a therapist outside of the ship." Not what she would prefer but anything to make it easier on Sky.

Sky shook her head. “The paperwork I can do whilst I’m resting and I don’t mind sharing it with you. As for you seeing someone else, no way! You’re my patient and we’re keeping it that way.”

"That is actually a relief." Tony grinned as I had planned to book another session with you. "And that you can also take as a sign of trust. But you have to pick something to drop now. Just one thing, that is all I ask."

“Okay, how’s about the evening clinic I do once a week? It’s proved useful in the past but numbers seem to be dwindling now. I can drop it without it being detrimental to anybody.”

"You have a deal." Tony said. "We will make a list and over the months you may need to drop a few more things. If we make a list now it will be less stressful and you will be prepared to slow down gradually."

Sky nodded. “That sounds good to me, I’ve always been one to keep busy. I guess I just need to learn to slow down.”

"Sure if you learn to do things at a slower pace that would be good. Keeping busy but without the stress. I think we have done a lot for today. I would like to see you once a week for a while. And if you can fit me in this week as well that would be great."

“Of course I can” Sky smiled warmly. “Actually my appointment calendar this week seems pretty quiet compared to a normal week.”

"Great. Tomorrow?" Tony asked.

Sky nodded. “How’s about 11am? You can have the whole hour up until lunch, then we can enjoy lunch together?”

"Deal!"

{OFF}