Just a chat

Posted on Mon Apr 4th, 2022 @ 5:15am by Commander Peter Horn & Lieutenant Commander Melanie D’BrooNi- Haistro

1,242 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Episode 4 - The Fires Of Hades
Location: Infirmary
Timeline: wherever this fits after the station time transfer

ON:

It had to be done. Peter knew that he too needed to talk to someone and the longer he was going to put this off, the more negative effect this might have on him. And he also knew that he couldn't afford to have that happen. Not while at the moment, he actually felt like he was in a somewhat happier place.

Fully aware of the fact that the chief medical officer might be busy, the chief counselor made straight for her office. "Doctor, do you have a moment? If you are busy, I assure you this will not take too long."

"I can always make a moment for you Peter," Mel said indicating the chair opposite her desk. She wondered if he had finally got to a point where he was ready to talk about his options with his hand. She knew he had needed time to process.

Peter sat down in the indicated chair and folded his hands in his lap, unconsciously covering his right with his left. "I have been speaking with Harley," he started, and an odd smile touched the corners of his mouth as well as causing a similarly odd look in his eyes. "She said there are means to... regrow... it?" He paused for a moment. "She also said I might have already been told this, but I do not recall this even though it is probably very likely."

The counselor paused again as he avoided looking at his long-time friend for a moment. "I have not been in a good place for quite some time," he added, "but I am feeling... better... Not as I should be, but definitely better than before."

Mel nodded. "You just needed some time to process things and now your ready to talk options. Yes Harley is correct, your hand could be regrown. It would take a few weeks but we could do that and then the surgery to reattach things. Would you like for me to start the process?"

Slowly, Peter nodded. "Yes, I would," he answered after a long silence, "I am not myself with this monstrosity, it causes me a lot of pain and..." he hesitated. "I cannot feel my wife, or anything else with it."

"I will get right on it. I will require some equipment building and programming first though. I will speak with Chief Stoun. You will feel again Peter. Once its grown we will reconnect all the neurons and nerves," she told him.

"You are the only doctor I have ever fully trusted," Peter confessed to her. "Prior to the Copernicus' near destruction, I had already spoken with Chief Stoun, if we are fortunate he still has the readings he had taken then."

“I guess it just depends how long his to do list is right now. And what are his priorities. I will speak to him and try get things moving quickly,” Mel said. “How are the boys settling in here?”

"Ilyas adapts rather quick but he is still small," Peter answered, giving it a moment of thought, "Connor seems to be struggling. He has gone from a quiet child, always trying to be Vulcan, to even quieter. It seems as if he is avoiding us, I am not certain how to deal with this behaviour. The girls never acted like this, when we had to shift assignments." He paused. "I am also not certain what he has seen, before we were all reunited. I am certain something happened, but he will not speak about it."

"Ahh yes. Familiar with that. Paddy was just the same. Boys seem to want to be strong and hold it all together. He will come to you or someone when he's ready. Trust in that. I wish my daughter would try harder to be his friend. They don't seem to have got off on the best foot. I am sorry. Charlie thinks she's older than she is and keeps trying to hang out with an older crowd. I mean on the one hand I should be happy she's found a friend in one of the engineer ensigns. But I have well a couple of life times of memories of what Ensigns can get up too."

"Connor seems to have the same problem, since the girls have moved to the academy. He is now the oldest and seems to think he has to protect his younger brother against all evil. I am just concerned about him, and he will not talk to me, or his mother. Letting it fester does not feel like an option either..." He paused. "I am also not quite certain who was with him, when we were all separated. Perhaps I should speak with them, and they can somehow connect with Connor?"

"Its worth a shot Peter," Mel said. "I'm sure we can find out which escape pod he was in or if he was transported over." She assumed Peter Horn would know how to get that information better than her going on his previous posts.

Peter nodded. "I do not believe he was on any pod. Was Charlie not with him?"

"Charlie wasn't in a pod. She got beamed," Mel told him.

"That does not mean, she could not have been with him," Peter pointed out, "they could have transported together, or ran into each other...later." He cast his old friend an anxious look. "Please, I need to know how I can help my son. I need to know who he needs to speak to. Can you ask Charlie?"

"Of course," Mel said. "She shared ending up with Keiben's brother and a couple of others who succumbed to the AI. She had to stun them. I think she would have mentioned Connor if he had been one, so I guess that means she didn't have to knock him out at least."

"That is a bonus then," Peter smiled thinly, "I just wish he would talk to me, but he is so...uptight. I seriously wonder if this is a boy-thing. The girls were never this closed and well... I was not exactly a role model if we are comparing them to me at that age."

"Its a boy thing," Charlies voice rang out from the door. "Sorry I don't mean to interupt and If you want me to try talk to him I will do although we are not exactly friends me and your son Mr Horn. Im sorry personalities just too different. Hell ...."

"Charlie," Mel scolded. "Language."

"Sorry, heck ... better?" she glanced at her mother. "Heck he doesn't even appreciate SKUL."

Not even daring to guess what that meant, Peter said nothing, though his expression did speak volumes.

"Mum can I go hang out with Minka after ive done my yeoman duties. My homework is all up to date."

Mel looked at Peter and a idea crossed her mind. "Only if you invite Connor. Then you have a chance to talk to him." She smiled at her daughter who pouted back at her.

"That is an excellent suggestion," Peter answered, nodding in approval. "Yes, please find Connor and take him with you. If he protests, tell him it is counselor's and doctor's orders." He looked to Melanie to see if she'd support that.

Mel nodded. She suspected she would pay for this from Charlie later but yes. She was going to nudge her daugther towards more friends and if they could help Connor in the process win win.

OFF

 

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