Posted by Lieutenant Commander Katie Nunn (Counselor) in Ensign Bailey’s Quarters - Side Sim

Posted by Ensign Charlie Bailey (Doctor) in Ensign Bailey’s Quarters - Side Sim

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Katie Nunn (Counselor) in Ensign Bailey’s Quarters - Side Sim
Posted by… suppressed (3) by the Post Ghost! 👻

<snip>

Katie gulped as she paged through all of the information streaming through the device. She kept herself focused on it until she noticed the splash of wetness and the hand squeeze, turning her head to study Bailey. “Are you ready?” she asked, her voice breaking slightly with the emotion of the situation the two were in. She squeezed her hand tightly. “I’m here for you,” she added, firmly.

Lt Cmdr Nunn, CNS

Charlie closed her eyes and took a deep breath before turning back to Katie and giving a hesitant nod. “I’m ready…” she replied, barely louder than a whisper. She cautiously opened the record and began to read.

==============================
STAR-FLEET AUTOPSY RECORD
DECEDENT: Elena Jennifer Bailey
AGE AT DEATH: 33
==============================

Charlie tentatively began to scroll down the screen, wiping the occasional tear away. Although she was used to reading and even writing these reports, she couldn’t muster her usual professional detachment as she began to read the details. As she began to scroll further down, she suddenly froze and her breathing and heart rate went through the roof. Thrusting the PaDD away from her, it clattered on the deck as she wriggled free of Katie’s embrace and scurried down the other end of the sofa. She curled up in a tight ball and sobbed uncontrollably, her body trembling in shock.

Dr Bailey

Katie remained silent as Bailey read, not wanting to completely intrude on the woman’s private moment as she figured out what had happened in her past. Her detachment quickly ended, however, when she flung herself to the other end of the sofa. Katie blinked in shock for a moment before reaching down to collect the PADD and glance at what Bailey had been viewing. As the autopsy photos came into view, she felt her own stomach turn, taking all of her skill to calm herself to be there for her patient. She quickly skipped past the gruesome photos, looking through some of the details and noting that the time of death placed the elder Bailey as deceased before Charlie ever could have seen her in a hallway. Filing this information away, she returned her attention to the terrified ensign and made her way off the sofa herself, kneeling down in front of Charlie and wrapping her arms tightly around the trembling ball. She didn’t say anything for now, just being present with Charlie in her misery and pain.

Lt Cmdr Nunn, CNS

Charlie could feel herself mentally spiraling down a rabbit hole into darkness as the graphic images relentlessly flashed in her mind. She was terrified that she wouldn’t be able to find her way back to the surface when she felt the comforting arms of the counselor wrap around her. They embraced in silence for a few minutes before Charlie finally lifted her head and looked into Katie’s eyes. She opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. After a few attempts to voice her feelings, she shook her head and gave up, sliding off the sofa onto the floor next to Katie. Instinctively she buried her face into Nunn’s shoulder and clung onto her for dear life. Eventually she summoned the strength to speak as she blurted out, “I’m sorry!” amidst her sobs.

Dr Bailey

“You have nothing to be sorry for!” exclaimed Katie as she hugged Bailey with all of her might. “I should have previewed the report, I’m so sorry…” her voice trailed off in misery as she was awash with feelings that she made the situation worse. Hopefully knowing now would eventually lead Bailey on a path of recovery, even if this particular moment was so intensely painful. Hopefully.

Lt Cmdr Nunn, CNS

Charlie clung onto Katie, scared to let go as she sobbed. After a couple of minutes her grip finally started to loosen as she slowly began to regain control. Charlie wrestled for a moment with the one burning question in her mind and eventually asked in a quivering whisper, “…did I see her…before we were rescued..?” As much as the answer terrified her, she had to know.

Dr Bailey

Katie glanced through the report one more time before answering, wanting to be absolutely sure before she responded to Bailey. Finding the important detail, she looked at it for a few seconds and then made steady eye contact with the young ensign. “No, you didn’t,” she said firmly, waiting a moment for that to sink in before continuing on. “Her time of death is before you were rescued.” She held the woman as tightly as she could as she processed the news.

Lt Cmdr Nunn, CNS

Charlie’s eyes went wide as a wave of relief came over her. “Are you sure?” she stammered, not quite believing what the counselor was telling her. For so many years she had lived with the guilt of leaving her mother behind, she couldn’t quite believe it had all been in her head. As she processed the news, she began to feel the weight of those years slowly dropping off her although in truth she felt a little stupid for not having tried to find out earlier. She gratefully clung to the counselor as tears of relief flowed down her cheeks.

Dr Bailey