Questions

Posted on Sat Sep 9th, 2023 @ 5:45am by Lieutenant Sky Jansen-Carey & Commander Antonia 'Tony" Stoffels

Mission: Starship Side Quest
Location: Tony’s Quarters

With her thoughts full of concern for Kay, Sky made her way along the corridor heading to see Tony. She wasn’t sure exactly what to say but she’d make it up as she went along.

"Come!" Tony said. She had just come of shift and made herself comfy on the couch with some hot tea and an old fashioned paper book.

Entering Tony’s Quarters Sky offered an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry to bother you Tony, but I need someone to talk to regarding Kay.”

"Kay? What has she done. Don't tell me she punched someone again? She is supposed to give up that nonsense."

“No, it’s not that” Sky made her way over to a seat and sat down. “I have reason to believe that something from Kay’s past may have come back to haunt her. She won’t talk to me about it at all, in-fact she practically ran out of my office in her haste to get away. I’m worried.”

"Kay? That doesn't sound like her. Maybe it had to do with her wild years? She broke a lot of noses from what I heard. Maybe one was a senior officer who complained?"

Sky shook her head. “No, this is something...deeper than that. She was afraid to tell me incase I hated her for it.” She sighed. “If I could have given chase and confronted Kay about it I would have, but I don’t think it would have made much difference.”

"Hated her? She is like a cuddly puppy." Tony said. She loved Kay to bits but did see her as a younger harmless sister. "Aside from the brawling she is one of the nicest people I know."

Sky nodded. “I know, that’s what’s worrying me. It’s not like Kay to act this way, at least not from what I know of her. Could it have anything to do with her childhood? The bombing?”

Tony faced closed up straight away. "Ah...that.... that was a long time ago." She thought for a while. "It scarred the adults, I can tell you that. Especially Wain and Denise... it nearly broke them. Kay was very badly injured. Denise being Denise made her go to therapy. Hell she made us all go to therapy while she bottled the whole thing up... I have never seen it bother Kay but she doesn't talk about it. None of us do really."

“Then maybe it’s time you all did” Sky absentmindedly massaged her back as she made herself more comfortable. The weight of her twins was quite a strain on her back at the best of times. “Can we talk with Denise?”

"Uhm sure. Maybe you should talk to her alone. It may make her uncomfortable talking about it if I am there. There are days when she still sees me as a child." Tony chuckled. "And I don't want to gang up on her, not on this."

Sky nodded. “That’s fine, would you prefer I call her from my office?”

"You can use my com station while I take a shower. You may want to talk to me again afterwards."

“Thanks Tony” Sky smiled warmly. “I may just be worrying about nothing, but I’d like to be sure.”

"You are absolutely right. This is just something that is not spoken of in our families. I know it is still painful for Denise, so go gently." She got to her feet and moved to the bathroom.

Waiting until Tony was gone Sky opened a channel and requested communication with Denise. She smiled warmly as the channel was connected. “Hello Denise, I hope I’m not catching you at a bad time?”

"Ah Sky." Denise returned the warm smile. "How are you?" As Tony's supervisor she had been indirectly involved in Sky's therapy.

Sky smiled. “I’m, or should I say, we’re doing just fine thank you. The road to recovery is, as always, a long one but I’m ready for the challenge now.” She paused. “Actually I’m calling as regards Kayleigh, I have concerns.”

"Oh?" That caught her by surprise. "The last I heard she was behaving herself and coping filling in for you. Has she let you down somehow?"

“Ohh no not at all” Sky shook her head. “She’s been exemplary. I’m worried because I think something from Kay’s past has come back to haunt her, something she’s so afraid to tell me because she thinks it’ll make me, and everyone else, hate her.”

Denise blinked in confusion. "Kay? ... I have no idea what that could be. Kay has always been among the better adjusted people in this crazy family. Always a ray of sunshine."

Sky nodded. “May I ask about the...bombing?” She gave Denise a curious look.

"THE bombing." Denise's face fell. "Why?"

“It’s just something Kay said before she left my office, it’s made me wonder.” Sky gave Denise an apologetic look. “I’m sorry if I’m reopening old wounds, but it could be important.”

"It is a very old wound but not so much for Kay. It is for me and for her father. We lost a child in that bombing."

Sky nodded again. “Is it possible Kay could be blaming herself for that? Or for something else to do with the bombing?”

"No, she was five. I was the one who blamed herself." Denise sighed. "I sunk into a very deep depression and even tried to kill myself. So did Wain. We both blamed ourselves for not being there. We were not at home when the bombing happened. And I made sure that all kids went to therapy afterwards. No it can't be about this."

Sky wasn’t so sure. “Was anyone ever caught in relation to the bombing?”

"No. We know who was behind it though. It was the Reshtarc. The same Klingon family that was behind the attacks on Tony and her family now. Maybe that brought it back for her? But again Kay is usually pretty balanced. This does not sound like her at all. I uhm would it help if you talked to my therapist? I still find it hard talking about Joanna."

Sky paused to think. “Perhaps, or maybe I’m just reading this all wrong. To be honest I’m not sure what I’m hunting for, I just want to help Kay.”

"If you think there is something you must follow your gut. It is usually the right way to go." Denise admitted. "But I am probably blind on this issue. I did not think she had a trauma over the bombing, if so she has hid it very well."

Sky nodded in agreement. “I think it’s way past time she spoke to someone, whatever this is it’s not good. I’ll see what I can do.”

"I will mail you my therapists detail in case you want to talk to her and I will let her know just in case and give her permission to share details." Denise said. "Do what you can for Kay, I want my little girl to be happy."

Sky nodded. “I will Denise that I promise you.”

"Thank you, Sky. And I am glad to see you doing so well." With that she broke the connection.

Tony came out of the bathroom toweling her hair. "How did it go?"

Sky gave a smile. “So far so good, Denise is giving me her therapist’s details. I just wish I knew exactly what I was hunting for. It would be so much easier. Anyway I think I’ve taken up enough of your time, I need to clear my head for a little while.”

"Ok. Let me know if I can help, you hear." Tony said. "I will keep an eye on Kay as well in the mean time."

Sky nodded. “Any help is always appreciated Tony, if there’s one thing I’ve learned the past few months it’s that I can’t do everything alone.”

"Indeed. That goes for all of us." Tony said with a warm smile. "Keep me posted as much as you can."

“I will that’s a promise.” Sky smiled warmly before she headed on her way.

{OFF}