“Do you prefer Dr, Sir, Lieutenant or Nathan,” Ensign Mary Hart asked handing Nathan a PaDD and exchanging the paper cup of coffee with a hot mug of steaming dark roast lightened slightly with cream. The color was not exactly what Nathan expected in his daily cup of joe but it was his first actual day on the job. Taking a sip what the coffee lacked for in cream was made up with more sweetness than he was used to. “How is your coffee,” she asked as they walked towards his office door. Nathan had briefly met Mary last week when he had met the other officers in the department. At that time he was just the assistant counselor but life moved fast and three days after his arrival Nate suddenly was thrust into head of the department.

“Too light too sweet, got it,” she said making a note on her PaDD. “I will endeavor to produce a more palatable brew tomorrow morning but today you have Miss Sofie Mynah and you are going to need something to sweeten that kid up. If Sophie was a cup of coffee she would be bitter and blonde,” Mary began to review his first case as they opened the door to the waiting room. “Good luck,” she whispered seeing Lt. Commander Phillip Mynah and his wife Aimee already in chairs waiting for Nathan’s arrival.

“Lt. Harland,” Phillip extended his hand. “This is my daughter Sofie and my wife Aimee,” he made the introductions and stood back.

“Mr. Harland,” Aimee smiled shaking his hand almost too excitedly. “We are so thrilled to finally have someone here that understands the needs of a family. The other counselors are not baaaahhhhd,” she drew out the word as she took back her hand so that it clasp with the other in front of her body. Aimee was definitely not in Starfleet like her spouse based on the athletic attire she was currently wearing. It didn’t take a shrink to guess she was probably on her way to hot yoga or spin class the second she left little Sofie in Nate’s care. “They just don’t understand the needs a family has at times.”

“We did a little research on you,” Phillip admitted with a grin. “My sister told us about your work with Stem Cell regeneration Techniques to cure Irumodic Syndrome in conjuncture with Boston Mass General. Dr. Bucknell is a friend of hers and he was in your private practice group if I am correct.”

“Not that we were snooping or stalking but Sheila told us about the amazing things you did with Mitzi Malone,” Aimee smiled as if the name was attached to someone everyone in the world knew. “You worked with her about a year on confidence training and motivational work. I can’t tell you how impressed we were learning that last year she finally made it to the Miss Federation Pagent. Not sure she will win,” Aimee shrugged it off, “but at least with her your skills made an ahhhmazing turnaround. That’s what we are hoping for with Sofie,” she gestured for her daughter to stand. Playing with the long locks of blond hair tumbling about Aimee’s sixteen-year-old daughter’s shoulders as Sofie snapped some gum still messaging someone on her communicator. “We need a way to make sure everyone sees the potential Sofie has an give her a confidence boost after the last pagent ” Aimee mouthed the last word like it was a secret.

“Honey we should let him get to the session,” Phillip suggested placing a hand on his wife’s back steering her to the door.

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In Nate’s office
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“Like why does all the offices have to look like an office,” Sophie said with a hint of valley girl type twang to her words. “Why can’t we do therapy on like a beach or maybe a night club. I mean wouldn’t that be fun.” Pumping out a few dance moves with her fist Sophie looked at Nate as if this would suddenly convince him to leave his current room and bring up Yo Yo Snookies Nite Club in the holodeck program.

Flopping down in one of the seats, Sophie, of course, chose the oversized bean bag in the corner, she continued to text as she began to ask Nate her first real questions. “So Nate how do you want to get started,” she asked. Her tone was not snarky or mean. It was more the annoying tone most late adolescents took when thinking they were have an adult conversation yet not the attention span or vocabulary to match it. “Like am I supposed to tell you how Robyn totally dissed me last week…this is her,” she flipped her communicator around showing Nate an image. The duck lipped blonde in the picture easily fit in with what one would imagine could be a BFF for gum-smacking, designer wearing Sophie Myhnah. Aside from the all pink attire that matched what Nate’s client was sporting, both girls had an oversized designer handbag on one wrist and along with a bedazzled communicator in their hands. “Or are you wanted to hear about how Celia just doesn’t understand why since we were transferred back I shouldn’t be head of the Soprano Serenade again.” Sophie’s voice held her full irritation but she still was making surprise faces as she texted and messaged throughout the conversation.

Kate Wyatt Neverbea Counselor O’Neill