[V-CO] LCDR Moonsong & LT Skyfire: A Change In The Air Part II
Moonsong
(( USS Veritas, Counseling Office))
:: Chythar sighed internally and nodded. She wasn’t the first to comment on the fact he had one, and he was certain it wouldn’t be the last time he heard it. ::
Skyfire: Okay. I admit you are correct. :: He paused for a moment. :: What of it?
Moonsong: It is not healthy to exhibit signs of a “martyr complex”.
:: He took a breath before once again picking up the cup of jasmine, raising it to his lips as he contemplated the words. It wasn’t the first time this had been brought to his attention, though the fact she noted it was a pattern made it higher on his list of priorities to deal with. ::
Skyfire: Right...so that brings us to countermeasures and how I break it?
Moonsong: We cannot determine the countermeasures without understanding why you do it?
:: That caught him by surprise. He considered the various times he’d risked his life without thought. The DSX incident was the most prominent in his mind, and he had another sip of tea while he considered. Had there been time to research other avenues, or was it a stupid hunch that nearly got him killed? His near-fatal experiment led him to the realization that had they tried other avenues, the casualty rate probably would have been higher than it was. ::
Skyfire: The last time, I was under the perhaps mistaken impression we would’ve been looking at Cardassian corpses if we had pursued other avenues. Other than that, I’m not sure.
Moonsong: Based on your file and my experience with you, some of it appears as if you put little value on your own life.
:: That was a good point he had no rebuttal for. Instead, he nodded slightly. Perhaps losing his biological parents as he had plus reliving the horrors of his past had made their mark on him in ways he didn’t anticipate. Recently, that changed. He had reasons to live: friendships with his colleagues, Alex, and the sense of family he hadn’t known before. ::
Skyfire: Point taken. :: Another thoughtful pause. :: Recently I found reasons to live, thus value to my life I didn’t see before..
Moonsong: You mean your relationship with Alex?
Skyfire: That’s a large part of it, yes. He’s one of the best things that’s happened to me in a while. My friendships with people are also important, because on at least two occasions I can recall prior to our assignment here, either Alex or myself was saved by a mutual friend.
Moonsong: It is good to have people that you trust… but trusting yourself?
Skyfire: :: Stalling by a sip of tea. :: It’s a process. All I can say to that is I’m trying.
Moonsong: It is a start. The knowing that you have to trust yourself.
:: He nodded slightly, though was at a loss how to continue for several moments. ::
Skyfire: Any other suggestions?
Moonsong: No… this is a process that will take time. :: pause.:: You need to remember that a dead doctor or mental vegetable cannot save anyone.
:: He remembered, perhaps a bit too well. Chythar nodded faintly as he finished his tea, allowing for the silent contemplation of her words to fill the air between them. After a few moments more, he gave a verbal answer. ::
Skyfire: Understood.
Moonsong: Anything else on your mind?
Skyfire: Only other thing I can think of is my medication. Currently on 150 mg of Sertraline for anxiety and low-grade depression. Recent observations indicate the depression’s been getting better, and the anxiety is really only noticeable in crowds.
Moonsong: ::nods:: All right. I would like to take you down to 100 mg to see how you do.
Skyfire: Got it. Should I follow up next week?
Moonsong: ::nods:: Yes, for now we will continue with weekly meetings.
:: Weekly meetings were not high on CD’s list of fun activities, but he understood the necessity to see how he was coping with the new dosage. One of the necessary evils of Starfleet life. ::
Skyfire: Got it. I’ll be in touch to set up an appointment.
Moonsong: It will be added to your schedule.
:: She rose to her feet. Fresh out of the academy, Chythar had been one of the first people she had met and they had become close friends. Almost siblings. Now… there was a distance. He had moved on with his life and that did not include her. He no longer needed her. Not the way he had.::
:: He followed suit as well, retrieving his empty cup. CD’s mind cast itself back to his first days meeting Raissa and the counseling he had undertaken voluntarily if only to save them the trouble of hunting him down later. The need he had for counseling back then, the overwhelming aspects of his abilities as he came to accept them as part of who he was. Now, the distance between them was...somewhat self imposed, he suspected. That closeness of being like a brother to her may never return. ::
Skyfire: See you next week, then. :: as he moved toward the replicator to dispose of his empty mug. ::
Moonsong: ::nods:: Good evening, Dr. Skyfire…
Skyfire: Counselor.
:: He made his way out of the office, his emotions creating a confusion within him. They had been close once, and now that would never be the case again. ::
:: She watched him leave. Feeling the hole in her heart growing. She dampened the connection between them until all there was was the awareness of each other. She had missed him so much. Now she would continue to.::
End
=/\==/\==/\==/\==/\==/\==/\=
Lt. Commander Raissa Moonsong
Ship’s Counselor
USS Veritas
=/\==/\=G239107RM0 =/\==/\=
&
Lieutenant Chythar Skyfire, MD
Medical Officer
USS Veritas NCC-95035O239002CS0