Supporting Each Other

Posted on Sun Mar 26th, 2023 @ 2:01pm by Lieutenant Veznia MD PSyD & Captain Abigail Laurens

Mission: Pursuit
Location: Counsellors Office

Abigail had only been in Veznia's office for a few moments but she could already sense the Counselor's intense interest in her unscheduled presence. One didn't have to be Betazoid to feel the Counselors concern. Taking the mug that was offered to her, Abigail curled up on the couch, tucking her feet under her and held the mug to her lips, instinctively blowing across the top of the hot liquid. "How are you holding up with the aftermath of the Koldaran encounter?" the Commanding Officer finally enquired, an equal amount of concern echoing in her own words.

Veznia exhaled. "Is that why you're here? To check up on me?" The Denobulan smirked. "Well, I have been thinking a lot about it." She took a spot next to Abigail on the couch.

"I think we all have," Abigail replied quietly. "I don't think there's a single moment that passes that it's not in our minds, and I don't expect that will change any time soon." She sighed softly, taking a sip of her drink. "I'm going to order full psych evals for the whole crew," she stated firmly. "Start with the senior staff, triage as necessary. I need to know how everyone is handling this. I expect we'll be dealing with the aftermath for quite some time."

"Mandatory evaluations can be seen as a pretty aggressive order." Veznia said, the doubt permeated into her inflections. "Framing it as annual reviews might go over better." The Denobulan offered. "I spoke with Doctor Morgan about setting up an optional support group which might help to identify those in most need."

Abigail nodded slowly. "You can word it however you like, I just want to make sure it's done," she responded. "The support group sounds like it could be a good idea. Have Commander Gunnison schedule you access to one of the conference rooms, it should be big enough to accommodate anyone who may wish to attend, and it would be an environment that is less clinical, it may attract more people if it's seen as social support rather than medical intervention."

"That was the thought as well." Veznia bit her lower lip. "How are you holding up? "

Abigail paused, looking away from the counselor, her gaze drifting around the room, taking in her surroundings. "I wonder every day if it was worth it," she finally said softly, turning her attention back to Veznia. "Was it worth the loss of lives? The trauma to the crew? Was it worth the consequences?" She sighed, leaning back and running her hand through her dark hair. "I still feel like I can't get that stench out of my hair or my skin. It's like it's so deeply embedded that it doesn't matter how much I shower, the smell of death lingers."

Veznia nodded. She understood well. “We can’t go back and change the decisions that we’re made. We have to accept them and try to move forward from it.” She inhaled sharply and then exhaled. “I can see if the Doctor can get you a nasal analgesic to help with any lingering smell.”

There was a soft sound that escaped Abigail's lips, a half laugh, half sigh. "It's in my head," she finally said softly. "Completely psychosomatic, and on a logical level I know that... but logic and emotion don't usually coexist very well do they."

The Denobulan allowed that statement to hang in the air for a moment. "Psychosomatic symptoms shouldn't just be dismissed, sometimes it's important to address them as if they were real."

"I'm sure it will get better over time," Abigail replied quietly. "I apologise, I'm sure you have other things to do, other crew members to deal with. I'll get out of your way."

"You're not in the way. Certainly not." Vez shook her head. "And don't apologize, not to me. All I wanna hear is when you and I are getting together for another beach party."

Abigail offered a faint smile. "Book a holodeck, I'll be there."

"I will be holding you to that you know?" Veznia stood.

"I'm sure if I don't show up the Chief Medical Officer will support your crusade," Abigail smirked as she stood up. "Thank you, Lieutenant, for your time. If you need anything, you know where to find me."