Posted by Lieutenant Nathan Harland (Counselor) in Counselors office - 0900 Ms. Sofie Mynah

Posted by Ensign Chloe Harland (Nurse) in Counselors office - 0900 Ms. Sofie Mynah

Posted by Lieutenant Nathan Harland (Counselor) in Counselors office - 0900 Ms. Sofie Mynah
Posted by… suppressed (5) by the Post Ghost! 👻

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“Ewww you mean like read old people texts,” she wrinkled up her nose as if Nathan was asking her to read chicken bones like a voodoo witch doctor. The blinking of her phone brought out a bead of sweat to her forehead. Sophie’s eyes locked on the vibrating rectangle in Nathan’s hand. Grabbing his phone she dropped in a chair slinging one leg over the edge as she inspected his phone. “You know you could like find a case that expressed the real you and not this,” she held it with her fingertips like it was a dirty diaper, “grandpa case. I mean you are not there yet. You can’t be more than like fifty right?”

“I am thirty-four you ungrateful git, that’s strike 2.5.” he said staring at her with a fiery intensity.

“Well you look so good for your age,” she nodded. Sophie was sincere in her comment. There was no way she couldn’t be with the expression she was wearing. It was the look someone gave a person that was telling you their deepest darkest secret and you needed to assure them you understood. “I am sure old women in their like thirties think you are so handsome.”

For one of Nate’s vibrations, Sophie had ten. Swinging her leg down she held out his phone no longer caring about the case. “Read read,” she wiggled in the seat gripping his phone like it was a lifeline.

“Ugh my life is on the line and you are killing me. Like your hands around my throat and you are like choking the,” her phone blipped two more times.

“Okay okay,” she looked down at his phone. “Baby are you busy,” Sophie read the text an instantly replied. “No honey what up,” she read out loud her reply before hitting submit.

Sophie

“Wait… I said read not reply… read,” he said as he looked at her with an incredulous look as he looked down at her phone.

“Shhh read,” she almost yelled with her eyes locked on her phone in his hand. “My turn,” she shook his phone.

“Why is Apollo wanting to find out where to meet up for the festival… Apollo really Sophie?” Nathan said as he looked up at her. “You couldn’t find someone with a real name? You had to go for someone named Apollo? ” he asked as he shook his head in that disapproving nature almost all fathers had.

Nathan Harland

“His name is Winston Bartell the third but that is like so boring so he goes by Apollo which is like that historical guy. You know from the show Battlestar Galaxia. He’s hot,” she twirled her hair. “Oh you should come to the festival with …you have a wife right?” The phone buzzed again and she motioned for Nathan to hit her with the next one.

“I do… but honey you can do better than someone named Apollo… really? Next, you are gonna tell me someone named La La likes you.” he said, clearly not a fan of these fancy names the guys thought made them sound cool.

“Hey no scanning. LaLa was short for....something,” she waved it off, “ and I am so getting more than that. My phone is going off the hook. You are only getting like a text every five minutes. I mean what’s the point in even having someone message you that little. When LaLa and I were together he texted me from like 5 pm when we got home until like 1 am. Many times we fell asleep on each other but that’s not the point. The point is to stay connected. “Right now we are deciding when to leave for the festival tomorrow. It’s on Gamma so we have to catch the shuttle to the surface. It starts about ten am and goes until whatever. My parents have a 12:00 curfew on school days so we have to catch the shuttle back but we have no idea when that is. Do you know how late they run to and from the surface,” she asked?

“Is there a text from Livvie, Sax, Magnus, or Plum? They have been trying to find out or find a ride,” she asked innocently.

“Oh she texted back,” Sophie said looking at the message. Looking at him she let out a huge awww and smiled. “Thank you for coming. What are their names,” she spun the phone back around to Nate to look at the image from three days ago of when they all fell asleep watching the movie. The text was from Chloe but the question was from Sophie. Nate would see what he had gotten back then. Several selfies in a row that Logan had taken with Nate’s phone of him and his sister. “They are so adorable.”

Sophie

“Logan and Mara… ” he said as he flipped through texts as he looked up.

“Oh my god those are the cutest names. So like historic,” she toyed with a lock of hair. “I bet you came us with them. You seem like the traditional type especially with all those strikes things.” Getting a far off look in her eyes Sophie popped a bubble from her gum and looked at him intently. “Do they really work,” she asked genuinely interested. “I mean yes you have to say they do to make everyone think you are a good parent but like what do you do when you get past two?”

“Why does it say you are failing Geometry? It’s shapes… just shapes… my two-year-old puts the shapes in the right hole…” Nathan said as he looked at her sternly.

Nathan Harland

“Wait. What,” Sophie seemed serious for a second. “I like can’t be failing that. Show me,” she asked utterly confused.

Looking at the message from the school she thought about it for a second and then. Let out a sigh. “Don’t worry about that Nate. It can’t be right and if it is I will just tell them I am emotionally stressed right now and I need them to adjust my grade to reflect the struggle I am going through. Luckily I am back to seeing you and Mr. Graystine is such an arse,” she rolled her eyes. “He hates me and all my friends. It’s not my fault I am failing. He just like doesn’t like kids at all. He should be something else like maybe a plumber or something else,” she shrugged it off as if it wasn’t a concern. “You’ll see. When your kids are in school how if the teacher doesn’t like you you won’t pass.”

Glancing down at Nathan’s phones Sophie got a strange look on her face. Instead of paraphrasing, she started to read. “Hey baby look I know this is short notice but today is the sonogram and....oh my god you are having another baby,” Sophie seemed to burst with being happy. “Can I help you pick out the name. I mean Mara and Logan aren’t bad but hear me out,” she moved to the edge of the seat excitedly. “Lucretia,” she said slowly letting it roll off her tongue.

Sophie

“No… noo… no… no.... no.... hell no.” Nathan said adamantly as he took the phone from her as his eyes narrowed as he looked at the message.

“Hey,” she grabbed for the phone. “No fair. We each get one. That was the rule.” Like a sitcom, Sophie was trying to get to her phone lodged securely in the counselor’s back pocket only she did not have the arm span that came with a man that was six foot. The scene was like a T-Rex trying to grab something past the end of its nose.

As if he had a sixth sense, Nathan swatted Sophie’s hand which seemed to be reaching for his pocket as he kept his gaze on his communicator. “No you can’t have your phone back… but… field trip,” he said as he looked up.

“Oh yes,” she stopped happily. “Yes yes yes yes,” she stood up. Only a parent would recognize the dance she was doing in front of Nate. At two it was called the potty dance. At sixteen it was the I won dance. Either dance was easily interpreted by anyone with a child. “I just need to tell Apollo, Lala, and Celia where to meet. Thank you,” she wrapped her arms around Nate like he had just rescued her. “I promise to have you back before 11 pm so you can watch the news or whatever you old people do,” she said giving him a final squeeze.

“Why are you touching me… no touching… that’s how you Epstein things and I ain’t about that… hands-off.” Nathan said as he brushed her away before collecting himself. “And we are not going to see your friends… lord how daft are you, we are going to see my wife in the sickbay. You read the message, did you forget already?”

“What,” she stared at him confused. “You said field trip not trip to sickbay. Why do I want to go with you there,” Sophie leaned her head in slightly as if she was hard of hearing. There was no way she could have heard him correctly. He did not say he was taking her to where people hacked and coughed.

“I can’t leave you here alone, you’re a minor,” he said as he looked at her with a squinted gaze as he seemed to have a moment of clarity. “Let’s teach you why not to have sex until you are married… yes your parents will love that and your friends can be jealous… and if you behave you can get your phone back as we can try round two next week,” he said with a devilish smirk as he bolted up from his position.

Nathan Harland

“Hey this isn’t supposed to be a place where I learn something. I am supposed toooo,” she half squawked as he grabbed her elbow and began to half pull half lead her out of the room.

“Yay yay yay, I don’t care buttercup. Learning is part of life… if you can’t learn you can’t grow,” he said as he looked over at Mary and nodded.

“Session over already. You lasted longer than most,” Mary glanced at her wrist looking at the time. Miss Mynah was not a new client and the joy in receiving Dr. Harland wasn’t professional admiration. It was someone else having to take the rotation with her.

“Not over, I said I would keep her for the full hour… so I am.” Nathan said with a small curt smile.

“You are taking her in public. You are braver than I thought chief,” Mary jotted down a note on her PaDD. “Oh and don’t worry about hurrying back. Hot yoga is backed by cross fit and then spin class. Mrs. Mynah is always thirty minutes late,” Mary shared.

“Husband three point oh likes her fit,” Sophie rolled her eyes. Her step father was not bad as guys went. It was more her mom trying to act like she was Sophie’s age that annoyed her more than the current stepfather. He at least wanted to act like he invested in Sophie’s life if she gave him half a chance. The issue was he would find out her mom was a bit to handle and be gone like the last one so why even give him the chance.

“Sophie,” Mary said softly realizing her comment was probably too crass to not be given an apology.

Sophie didn’t need people in her business so she saved Mary from saying anything more. She liked Mary as people went. The past few years that she had been coming here at least Sophie felt they had developed a friendship and having a friend meant you never had to say you were sorry. “Save it,” she rolled her eyes.

“You are going to wrinkle my shirt,” Sophie pulled her arm back slightly. “I will follow you because you have my phone idiot,” she rolled her eyes. Brushing her arms where Nate was holding her, she fluffed out her hair and adjusted her purse on her arm.

“Fine.. then keep going… don’t you dawdle either I don’t have time for detours,” he said as he waved back at Mary and kept marching the young girl out.

“Have fun,” Mary called out like she was the mom and Nate the dad taking the kid out for a Saturday afternoon activity. So far the chief was unlike any therapist she had met. Maybe that was just what Sophie did need.

The familiar ring tone of Take me out to the ballgame began to ring through the waiting room indicating Chloe was no longer texting but calling. Across station, she stood in the medical room pacing wearing only the hospital gown. Digging through her purse, Chloe pulled out another prozac. Today was hard enough to get through. She needed to remain on an even keel so a bit more wouldn’t hurt to settle her nerves. Hearing his voice would do wonders however, more than the little anti-depressants she seemed to take like tic tacs these days. “Come on Nate pick up,” she looked out the window staring at the stars.

“Hey doll face, what do you need… I was just heading out .”

“Hey I know you are working but,” she hesitated. Nate knew her mannerisms well enough to guess the pause was her chewing on her lip thinking about what to say to him.

A small groan erupted from the little duck directly on his heels. She had had a small amount of respect for this Nathan Harland but the lovey wife thing was hard to swallow.

“Go on baby, what’s up… I read the message…” he said as he smiled softly as he heard grumbles from behind him as he turned to give Sophie a look to shut it.

Raising her hands Sophie complied. Whether or not he knew it, Nate could dump her off at the local school. No matter where he was going, it was far more interesting than where she could be.

“Okay so I am having the sonogram today. I didn’t know how to bring it up and then my mom and Meredith told me it would be a wonderful surprise if I baked a cake tonight to tell you the sex but you haven’t missed one yet and they said they would come but it was always you with me when I went with Logan, Maddie, and Mara,” Chloe rambled almost in a stream of conscious thought rather than a conversation.

“Whose Maddie,” Sophie tugged at Nathan’s arm as the walked into the turbo. “Phone or no phone this guy was far more interesting than geometry or sharing boring crap about her life.

“None of your business, keep coming,” he ordered as he turned a corner.

“Whose that,” Chloe said instantly on guard. While she was the one that had the actual affair, Delaney and Meredith’s words of caution over the past year that Nate would start something up with Keller filled her mind.

Chloe

“My appointment, I told you nothing was gonna stop me from being there for you… so we are having therapy in location… she is a minor so I really have no choice… is that okay?” he said as he stopped and paused to make certain this wasn’t going to be something that would cross a line.

Nathan Harland

“No it should be fine. The Sabre’s male nurse is hot as,” Chloe stopped pacing as she processed what Nathan was saying. The drugs calmed her nerves but at times they made her thinking slower. “She should be fine hanging out in the lobby. Sven is charming. He has great stories about the Sabre and its crew. He will easily keep her occupied but you kinda need to hurry. I told Mr. Mackenzie I was going for lunch. I only have an hour until I need to get back to duty. If I am a few minutes late its okay but it will throw off the lunch rotation.” Chloe sounded far more stressed than she normally was about stuff like this. Most of it was due to so many changes in the past few weeks. She had just started working at the clinic instead of the main sick bay. It was an adjustment. Life was just one big adjustment now yet at least Nate was back to being part of it instead of adding to it.

“Good, cause she is not one I think should be left unattended,” Nathan said as he stopped to think for a second, she mentioned the Sabre. What on Earth was the Sabre?

“They have your name at the docking gate 94. I will tell the doctor I need to get your client on board also. If they give you any slack don’t argue. Just contact the ex....oh never mind. I will send Jessica a message. She will get you on board. What’s her name,” Chloe asked.

“Who?” Nathan said aloud, not getting the question at first.

“The client you have,” Chloe was starting to get flustered as the messages from her mother kept popping up. “Nate, just hurry,” she asked clicking off.

Activating the other call Chloe felt out of breath. “Sorry mom I had another call.”

“Another call,” her mom sounded genuinely surprised.

“Clo you didn’t call him did you,” her sister Meredith’s voice rang out sounding a bit hurt and miffed. “Chloe we talked about this. This is a family thing. We have been there every step of the way with you on this and it is not like we should be just shut out because he decided to try and rekindle your marriage this week. You know what the lawyer said. If the baby is not his he can’t sue for custody.”

“But it is his baby,” Chloe rubbed her eyes feeling a headache growing behind them. “What am I supposed to do lie to him? To Logan? To Mara?” Her tone was becoming more angry the longer she was talking to her sister. With three divorces behind her, Meredith was the family expert on navigating the do’s and don’t’s of divorce. She knew her sister wanted only the best for her, only right now Chloe knew the best for her was Nate.

“Mara is two and won’t understand,” Delaney added trying to be helpful. “Look we are not trying to be difficult but I took off a day of work to be here and support you. You were the one who took off across the galaxy so the only way we can support you through all this is if you let us in. Don’t make us the enemy. Who was there for every step,” her sister began the steady lecture of loyalty.

“Enough Delaney,” Chloe’s mother stepped in. “It’s fine and all taken care of now. We are going to be there to support your sister and it is going to be perfect. Now Chloe where is the doctor? Shouldn’t he be ready to start,” her mom asked moving the direction of the conversation to where it needed to go. She was glad that Nate was on the Outpost with Chloe. The kids were his responsibility and at least in the times she and Drew were not there to help out, Nathan could take the kids. Jen was not thrilled by the idea of divorce nor was she sure getting back together with Nathan the right move. The only thing she knew was that her daughter was millions of light years away, alone, and needed help.

Chloe

— A Few Moments Later —

“Sophie sit…” Nathan said as he began to walk backwards as he pointed to a chair for her to sit. “I will be back just shortly,” he said as he turned bout as he looked around for Chloe.

“Okay,” she readily agreed looking at the young, hot blonde in him mid twenties across the room. “Nate…phone,” she said snapping her fingers. She had no problem sitting her all day but there was no way she was doing it without her phone. She needed proof. She was on the Sabre. The Sabre. No one at school was going to believe she spent the afternoon on Aedan Teller’s ship without proof. Looking around she tried to spot something that had the ship’s name printed on it. Napkin, paper cup, heck anything would do as a souvenir.

“I assume you are looking for Ms,” Sven wasn’t concerned about getting the man to the right room. He was more concerned about which name to use. Discretion was the word everyday when you worked for Aedan Teller. The man was obviously her husband. It didn’t matter to Sven what name the wife was using. He just wanted to get it correct.

“That room,” he pointed with a stylus. “Oh and that is not your daughter right,” Sven asked with a hint of hope to his voice.

“There you are doll face,” he said as he entered the ship, looking around with a bemused and bewildered expression. This was not what he had been expecting. “This is new…” Nathan said the truth was though he had been here once before. A meeting for another time and another era.

Nathan Harland

Chloe just about dropped the phone hearing Nate enter the room. Setting it on the stand by the bed, she walked over lifting on her tiptoes so that Nathan could kiss her cheek. As his lips brushed her skin, it felt off. Probably because she was on edge. Nate’s actions demonstrated he was there one hundred percent for her. Chloe was the one making herself feel on edge. Luckily Nathan had years of being a therapist and pretending to ignore the obvious.

“I uh,” Chloe pulled at her sleeves working out nervous energy. Looking in his eyes, Chloe understood why she felt off balance. She should have walked in hand in hand with him eagerly chatting about what they would name the baby or if it would have her eyes of his. Instead she was forced to page him to get him to show. This was entirely from her making but maybe Meredith was right. Nate was so calm and relaxed. Maybe he was just establishing paternity which was why he showed. Talking to her family confused things in her mind all the time. Things made sense when Meredith or Delaney were talking to her. It was when she sat alone thinking, the conversations felt like lies.

“Clo,” Jen’s voice rang out overhearing the conversation in the room. The click of the mute button on the end of the line signaled a private conversation was occurring before it clicked back on. “Nathan, Chloe said you were going to make it. I am glad you did. I told her not to worry. You are a good dad. You would not miss it for the world.” Jen’s tone was a bit strained yet there was no hostility to it.

“My mom and sister’s are here for moral support…since I am so far away…and I wasn’t sure if you were coming…because I didn’t tell you. Not because you didn’t want to come. You did want to come right,” Chloe could feel her breathing was a bit more rapid due to her nerves. Today was huge. She not only was finding out about their baby, but mending her marriage, dealing with her sisters, and trying to get back to work in under and hour. Grabbing her wrist, she started taking her pulse to monitor her heart rate. If it was up again Dr. Stevenson would give her the lecture she gave women in her place about taking it easy.

“Of course he wanted to be here,” Meredith’s voice answered for Nathan. “It would be rather odd for him to not want to be at your side right Nate?” Meredith had always been the Kendrick sister that was concerned about how she and the family presented to the public. While her words sounded supportive, it might have been just because they did not have visuals so Meredith had no idea who could be in the room.

“Hey Nathan,” Delaney called out like it was a the daily social calls which seemed to never end from the Kendrick women.

“Sorry I am late,” Dr. Stevenson strode into the room. Not missing a beat, he walked over to shake Harland’s hand firmly. “Glad you are hear. I think its important to have the daddy around for all this stuff. It’s not there is a lot you can experience because mom here is doing all the work. Chloe,” he gestured to the table, “which is why the heart beat, sonograms, and such are so special to the Dad’s. You are an old hat though. This is your third child,” Stevenson asked looking at his notes.

“It’s their fourth. Their second child died last year,” Jen offered softly. “It was an accident. Drowning,” her voice was gentle but struggling. “I am not sure why the paperwork was not accurate. Chloe,” her mom asked from the phone looking for information.

Chloe