Long nights

Posted on Sat Sep 9th, 2023 @ 5:58am by Lieutenant Sky Jansen-Carey & Commander Antonia 'Tony" Stoffels

Mission: Starship Side Quest
Location: Arboretum
Timeline: Now & Then

{ON}

Plowing through files combined with being seven months pregnant with twins, had soon lead to Sky falling asleep. Her dreams taking her back to first arriving aboard ship after her recovery.

{ 4 MONTHS AGO }


For yet another night Sky had found herself unable to sleep, leaving a note incase Tal or Xavier woke to find her missing, she made her way to the arboretum. She normally found it a calming place to sit and relax. Sitting down in the normal quiet spot she chose to visit she sat reflecting on recent happenings.

Tony kept tabs on Sky's goings. She did this as therapy was not progressing as well as she hoped. After a good beginning Sky had seemed to draw back into herself and she found it harder and harder to reach her. This worried Tony a great deal. Trauma could be treated best if it was done as close to the initial trauma as possible.

So when she had found that Sky had left her quarters she quickly got dressed herself and followed her friend to the arboretum. "Couldn't sleep?" She asked.

Sky offered a shake of her head as she motioned for Tony to join her. “Second night running I’ve been out and about now.” She shrugged her shoulders. “I can’t sleep in the dark, and when I can sleep the nightmares just creep right on back in and wake me up again.”

"How about sleeping with the light on?" Tony suggested softly, not wanting to push too much.

“Like I said, nightmares” Sky sighed. “I saw Soran on my walkabout last night, we talked briefly.”

"How did that go?"

“It was...awkward at first” Sky paused. “I wasn’t sure how to feel about Soran at first, but he did save me. He did everything he did to save me.”

"His honour is his everything." Tony said softly. "He would have done everything to save you first. However it may have looked at the time."

Sky nodded. “I know, I just...didn’t see it when we first returned.” She leant against the tree she was sitting under. “I’ve never....been so alone and afraid Tony, I didn’t know how long I’d been there, it was impossible to tell.”

She squeezed Sky's hand. "I hear you. And you lived through it. You are with us now and we all love you and will keep you safe."

Sky nodded. “I know that Tony, that’s what makes this so hard! I want to be able to get back to my duties, to be me again!”

"You know it can't be rushed. Hell you were the first to tell me that. You are making good progress Sky, faster than I thought you would. Part of this is just taking the time to process what is going on inside your body. It will come back to bite you if you don't."

Sky nodded. “I know, that’s what makes it so hard. I feel like...” she paused trying to find the right words. “Like a volcano that’s waiting to explode, it’s a long wait before the final explosion that clears the built up tension, you know?”

"I know. And as a fellow therapist I will share more with you than I would with a normal patient. That explosion is going to come. So I don't want you back at work before that happens."

Sky nodded. “Then I guess I’d best get home, try and get some rest. I did leave a note but I don’t want Xavier and Tal to worry about me.”

"They will worry regardless." Tony said with a smile. "Not much you can do about that. And you don't have to go yet if this helps calm you down. I am in no rush to go."

Sky nodded and smiled. “I guess you’re right, hell I know you’re right.” She sighed. “It’s frustrating that I have to wear this inhibitor to control the input from my senses! I know it’s to stop me from being overwhelmed, but it makes me feel more in the way of cut off.”

"Believe me removing it now would not be a good idea. I would have to pump you full of drugs." Tony said. "We will tune it lower as soon as possible." Tony felt for her friend but moving too fast could really backfire.

Sky nodded understandingly. “It’s okay, I understand, I’m just not used to it that’s all. I appreciate everything everyone has done, and is doing, for me Tony. They do say we therapists make the worse patients.”

"That is true. You know what a bad patient I am." Tony smiled. "I do hope you will let me do my job."

Sky nodded. “Of course I will Tony. I need you.”

Tony embraced her. "Good. Now we can sit here as long as you like."

Sky hugged Tony back, it was good to know the nightmare was over but at the same time her road to recovery had a long way to go.

{OFF}