Posted by James Sinclair in Calloway’s Quarters- Mentoring in All Forms

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Faye Calloway (Counter-Intelligence Officer) in Calloway’s Quarters- Mentoring in All Forms

(snip)

She beamed at him through shining eyes. “For the record, I’m so glad you called me that day I got out of the brig. You’ve been the answer to so many of the questions I’ve ever asked.” Tess took this opportunity to rise up and bump the top of her head under Faye’s chin, making the woman laugh. “And don’t worry, Tess has things well under control while we’re apart,” she said.

Blowing out a breath, Faye nodded. “Okay, I’ll send you a note and let you know how it goes till we get to talk some more. And tomorrow I’m going to send Gavin the note about the wedding.” She ducked her head around Tess’ and smiled. “I love you, my big green man. And, uh, welcome to my crazy family,” she added with a wink.”

~Faye

“No other family I’d want to be a part of, love of mine. Talk soon. I love you.” and he waved and the comms went dark.

Daggum

Sitting at her computer, Faye’s mind was honestly still overwhelmed, but Micah’s message sat foremost. She was right there and all she’d have to do is put in the code Micah’s message gave her to allow her to simply reverse it. Without that clearance, her call would go nowhere.

Leaning back in her chair Faye exhaled. Micah said she could call. Dag said to call. And she knew full well if Alex was there beside her he’d have already opened up the channel. She chuckled to herself. Oh well, what could it hurt, right?

Faye put in the call.

Out in Pikelsimer’s ship Vanessa, Nadine had changed into her pajamas and brushed out her hair when the comm sounded. Frowning, she stared at the console, pondering. Did she answer? What if it was for Micah? Nah, he’d have routed it into the ship, no doubt.

Setting the hairbrush down, she padded over to the console and sat down. The calling location was in the Delta Quadrant on a Starfleet line. Oh. Maybe she was calling for Shara? After how she had hung up, maybe Faye needed to talk again? Well, she could always go and get her if needed so…

Faye found herself looking at her mom… twenty five years ago or so. Though it was clear Nadine also took after her father as well. “Hey, I hope it’s okay I called. Micah said I could and my fiance said I should, so…”

Nadine folded her arms on the edge of the console and smiled. “Hi. Faye.” She grinned more. “I’m glad you called, though I know how weird all of this is. It’s been… a lot.”

“Did you know about… her, or anything?” Faye asked.

She shook her head. “No. It was a closed adoption and so my parents didn’t know anything about my birth mother other than she had been young. So I could extrapolate, but I didn’t really know what to expect. Shara said this was news to you too?”

Faye nodded slowly. “I’m having… I…” She shook her head as she frowned, feeling a wave of emotion begin to seep over her.

“Faye? What’s wrong. I know this is a lot but for the record I am really excited to have a sister! I’ve been an only child all my life, but now I have Shara, and you, and Micah, and… Shara said you are getting married?”

Faye nodded again. “I’m sorry I’m not at my best, I just found out I had a step-dad and half-sister all in one fell swoop. And there’s all this other stuff as well and I… panic. Or rather my brain panics.”

Nadine leaned in and gazed at Faye with a soft expression. “What does that mean?”

She swallowed. “When I’m overwhelmed and especially when I’m stressed, my brain says ‘Nope, not doing this’ and goes… elsewhere. Which means I dissociate. Which happened earlier and so I’m still overwhelmed and a little frayed.”

She wasn’t sure what all that meant exactly but she understood Faye was being vulnerable in sharing this with her, in letting her into her world. “I don’t blame your brain one bit,” she said with a smile. “If I hadn’t been looking for Shara all these years, mine might be tempted to do the same thing.”

Faye looked down. She didn’t want to be rude or mean, but she wasn’t sure she could make it all make sense without scaring the poor woman away.

Nadine swallowed. “Look Faye, this is hard. We know next to nothing about each other and all I know is what Micah and Shara felt was okay to share. I know you’re in Starfleet, and Shara showed me a photo she has from your Academy graduation. I know you lived on Tracken with her and your Dad, Edward, and I know what became of that place through general knowledge. And… I know that Shara rescued you from a bad situation once and it was hard in the aftermath for both of you. That you two have been apart most of your adult life and you’re still getting to know each other. Micah said it plainly: we’re all new to each other. It’s just that you have a bit more history with Shara than I do. So hit me, Sister, what are you afraid to tell me? And don’t try and say otherwise- I can see it in your eyes.”

Taking a deep breath, Faye couldn’t help but chuckle. Yeah there was a lot of her mom in Nadine. No nonsense for sure. “I have Borderline Personality Disorder, and it’s complicated a lot of my relationships, but I am less symptomatic than I was before, but it tends to flare when I’m under a lot of stress. And I don’t read people’s intentions at the best of times. Social stuff can be a bit tricky for me.”

Nadine nodded. She didn’t know all the particulars but she made a mental note to look it up later. For now though, she could almost see the pain of it all in Faye’s eyes, even though she was trying to hold it back. “Well, I think we both will feel more at ease speaking plainly, so just assume that that is what I want. I’m a teacher and kids are pretty good at being blunt ninety percent of the time.”

Faye propped her chin in her hand and her elbow on her desk. “Tell me about them, about your job. Why did you decide to be a teacher?”

Nadine shrugged. “Always liked kids and I can be kinda bossy,” she said with a grin, making Faye chuckle. “But I like those moments when we’re into a lesson and I just see someone… get it, especially if they were struggling with a concept beforehand. I always liked learning and I like to be around people who also enjoy that. If I can make some kids who hate school hate it a little less, then I consider myself successful.”

That made Faye smile. She could see the passion underneath the surface of Nadine’s voice and she had to admit it sounded a lot like her own. “I have no doubt you are.”

{To be Continued}

~Faye & Nadine