Can I talk to you?

Posted on Thu Oct 13th, 2022 @ 6:31am by Lieutenant JG Kiara Rahl (Jansen-Carey) & Commander Antonia 'Tony" Stoffels
Edited on on Thu Oct 13th, 2022 @ 7:58am

Mission: The Lost Brother
Location: Tony’s office
Timeline: Afternoon after ‘Drowning sorrows’

Less than 24 hours had gone by and Kiara was already feeling annoyed with herself for spending a night, albeit a pleasant night with a man she barely knew. Heading for Tony’s Office she hoped to catch her before she headed home at end of shift.

Tony had just been preparing to finish her shift for the day shutting down her padds before checking for any last minute messages.

“Commander?” Kiara peered around Tony’s open Office door, offering a smile. “Can I talk to you?” She stepped slightly inside.

"Come in." the XO said not really understanding what was going on here.

“Thank you” Kiara made her way across to a seat and sat down. “You said I could talk to you. It’s just I...” She paused. “After my talk with Soran last night, one I didn’t mention when we spoke this morning. I went to the lounge to drown my sorrows, not that I’m a big drinker or anything! Anyway, I went home with company. I spent the night making love to a man I barely even know!”

Tony blinked. "Wow. Uhm. Let me unwind this." She said. "You went to the bar here and picked up someone on the ship?"

Kiara nodded. “I got myself a little tipsy, not drunk, just enough to loosen up my inhibitions. I was feeling sorry for myself, so I asked him to take me home.”

"Is this something that you have used more often as a coping mechanism? Or is this new?"

“It’s new” Kiara paused. “He’s the first guy I’ve made love with since before...I was attacked.”

"And not withstanding that you regret that it was fast, how was that experience?" Tony asked gently.

Kiara paused a smile forming on her face. “It was...incredible! I’ve never had a night like it. Tyler was incredible!”

"You mean the bartender? You took the bartender home?" She tried not to smile.

Kiara grinned and nodded. “Like I said a glass of the strong stuff and my inhibitions went out of the window. He treated me like I asked him to, he made me forget the universe outside of my quarters for the night.”

"That is lovely. And did you still feel the same way this morning? That it was a good decision? No judgement here. I am just interested in your feelings."

“I...” Kiara paused. “I don’t regret it as such, I just...I did it because I was drowning my sorrows, not because I was looking for love. I had to take a morning after hypo because I couldn’t remember whether I’d used birth control or not! That’s a pretty big mistake after spending the whole night making love to a guy you just took home for fun.”

"You never got an implant?" That surprised Tony. Most rape victims couldn't get them quickly enough.

“I’m a medic, it’s easy enough for me to get hold of a hypo. Besides I wasn’t seeing anyone so there wasn’t really any need for one at the time.”

"That does make sense." Tony admitted. "And how are you feeling now?"

“Better I guess. I didn’t realise I was craving company as much as I was.” Kia paused. “After what happened to me I avoided being around men. I guess last night has proved I’m ready to move on.”

"That is good. It feels a little sudden, but it can easily be that in your mind you have been working towards this. I am glad for you." Tony said.

Kiara breathed a sigh of relief. “I thought for a minute you’d tell me I’m out of my mind!” She grinned. “I guess I just needed to hear it from someone else that I’m not crazy!”

"Of course you are not. This means you are healing. And everybody heals differently and at a different pace."

Kiara nodded. “I still have nightmares from time to time, not as often as I used to though.”

"I would like to see you on a more regular official basis." Tony said. "To work through that last of your trauma."

Kiara nodded. “I think that would be a good idea, thank you.”

"Good. For now I would like you to keep a record of when you have nightmares. Or when you have anxious moments during the day. If you don't have any even better."

“That I can do” Kiara nodded. “I keep a journal anyway, it was suggested by the Counsellor’s I saw back then. I’ll bring it with me next time I see you.”

"Very good." Tony said. she hesitated for a second. "I do need you to know that I am seeing Ren now." She watched how the other woman would respond.

Kiara nodded. “I’m happy for the two of you, and I’m not just saying that. I mean it.”

"I believe you. And I am so sorry that you got stuck in the middle. To be honest I think it made us both realise what we feel for the other. I am not sure we would have acted on it otherwise."

Kiara nodded in agreement. “It’s called fate, the two of you are soulmates destined to be together.” She smiled. “I never truly believed in that until now, maybe there’s someone out there for me.”

"I am sure there will be. " Tony said believing her words.

Kiara smiled warmly. “Anyway I should be going. Thank you for talking with me.”

"Any time. I mean it."

Nodding Kiara headed on her way, glad to have someone she could call a friend as well as a therapist.

{OFF}

OOC to be posted after one thats being done currently