Ordered to the counselor

Posted on Thu Jan 2nd, 2025 @ 9:18pm by Lieutenant Commander Liam Reynolds & Lieutenant JG Alena Alessa

1,244 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Episode 8: Palingenesis
Location: Counselors offices
Timeline: After "the rescue"

ON:

Jon was still annoyed at being pushed into therapy. He would much rather do this with Liam but Leena was correct in that Starfleet wouldn't look on it that favourably. He had promised her he would make the necessary appointment.

He had been allocated the chief counselor it seemed. Pressing the chime he squared his shoulders sure this would be a miserable experience to have to relive.

Alena looked up from her paperwork at the the sound from the doorbell. She went to open. "Hello", she said with a smile for the man in front of her. He had to be Jon, whom Leena had told her would come. "I'm Alena Alessa. Please come in", she said, moving to let the man enter.

"Jonathan Reynolds. I believe you work with my twin brother?" Jon said. He looked identical to Liam. "I do hope he's been behaving himself?" he said jokingly.

Alena smiled. "I haven't seen much of him lately, but that's my own fault. Things has been crazy busy", she said. "So, what's what's going on?", she then asked, well aware that she might be digging up stuff that would be hard for the person across sitting across from her. She gestured to a small table with 2 chairs. "Please, take a seat".

Jon did as ordered. Not just by her but Leena too, her order to come see this woman. He assumed she knew little. "I was rescued after being kidnapped by the Romulans and the SoNa. They tortured me, so I was asked to report to yourself. I lost a few toes and well had the stuffing knocked out of me numerous times. I didn't break though," he said proudly. That was one of the few things that had got him through the ordeal. He didn't break.

"I've been given the overall picture. Mainly that you were tortured. That you survived and did so coming out of it sane, is impressive", Alena said with a smile. But inwardly, she was shocked. She couldn't come anywhere close to imagine how he felt.

She took the chair across from Jon's. "So, Leena said you'd rather do this with Liam. Which I get. Sometimes the familiarity is more comforting", she said. "But sometimes, inputs of outsiders can help. A fresh point of view on things", Alena said. "So, what's going on?".

"Well they are all a little twitchy I got kidnapped and tortured. Okay I lost a few toes and had the stuffing beat out of me a couple of times but I made it through. I'm a boxer you know. I'm used to having the stuffing beat out of me,. Leena is just following protocol," John said. "And they reattached my toes," he smiled at her casually.

While a part of her was churning with all the information Jon was giving her, Alena still smiled to the man. "So, is being a boxer a good outlet for you? In terms of venting feelings or pent-up energy?", she asked.

"Well that and .... ermmm other things," Jon said. He tried to close his mind so she did not get any images of working through pent up energy with a couple of beautiful females. "Keeps you toned and fit too," he added. Well actually it could be said for both.

Alena cocked an eyebrow at Jon. She had picked up on what he had tried to shield. It wasn't the first time a male had come to her and she had picked up on it. It didn't faze her. Hell, she had even had that kind of thoughts directed at her. So yeah, not anything new.

"As long as it takes the pent-up energy and stress, and as long as it doesn't hurt anyone, I'd say anything goes", Alena said. It was hard to keep her facial expression neutral. However, keeping a polite face was something she had mastered a long time ago. Her upbringing had been odd, to say the least.

Jon could sense the women was being overpolite and groaned inwardly. Did she think he was hitting on her? Unless Leena decided to give things a go for old times sake, as far as he was concerned he had sworn off women.

"Quite," he added determined to steer the conversation away from her potentially thinking he was coming on to her. "I'm also frustrated. They are keeping me with nothing useful to do for a full month at least until my next ship and command arrive. Unless you can find me something or sign me off as okay to help out on the station."

"I'd say that you are cleared to help now. I don't see any reason for you not to be able to help", Alena said. She had sensed that Jon was worried about something. Probably about the things he had tried to shield. But she knew he wasn't trying to flirt with her. Even if he had, she would've turned him down. She had no interest in men for the time being. "I'm more than happy to give you the all-clear that you are fit to start helping out around the station", Alena said with a smile.

The flirts she had encountered during her stay at the station had all been non-telepaths. Hence, it was quite easy to sense their intentions. However, the flirts brought her back to her teenage years in the isolated town she had grown up in, in the States. Relationships there had been a battlefield, to put it simply. Alena mentally shook her head, pushing back the memories. That was the past. She was in the present. Looking at Jon, she smiled again. Is there anything else you might want to talk about?", she asked.

"Don't take this the wrong way but not really. Your nice and all but I was ordered here to delve into feelings and well yeah not my bag so much even if I do have a brother with a counselling background. I'd much rather have a chat over a nice cold beer," he said.

Question do you counsellors get practice before qualifying. You know the whole bartender job and people offloading their worries?"

Alena smiled. "If only I had had that. I was helping a woman who i grew up with, Mrs. Anderson, to navigate the political minefield that was the community I grew up. By the time the residents learned that i wasn't 100% human, I was already disliked for not taking sides. It turned to near complete hostility after that. That's why I'm both a counselor and a diplomat. I majored in diplomacy, but I also find satisfaction in helping people". she told the man, thinking back to that time. Mrs. Anderson had been a force to be reckoned with back then. She shook her head inwardly, forcing herself back to the present.

"It would've been nice to get some experience in talking to people before this. I did have some sessions with other trainees at the Academy, but other than that, none", she went on.

"Ahh well never say never," he winked at her. "So am I free to go?"

"You are free to go. I don't see any reason why not to. Do make an appointment if you need it later, oaky?", Alena said as she stood. "Have a nice day, and do take care of yourself", she said with a smile.

Jon nodded. "Back at you," he said making his escape.

OFF:

Captain Jonathan Reynolds

Lieutenant JG Alena Alessa

 

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