Posted by Lieutenant Kreed (Chief Medical Officer) in Temp Quarters- Assessing the Situation

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Leah Hart (Nurse Practitioner/Counseling) in Temp Quarters- Assessing the Situation

Posted by Lieutenant Kreed (Chief Medical Officer) in Temp Quarters- Assessing the Situation
Posted by… suppressed (8) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

“That is your choice,” she said softly as she slipped off the bed to her feet. “And you can change your mind at any time as well.” Leah drew in a deep breath. “Are you sure there’s nothing I can bring you? A comfortable sweater, a blanket from you bed. Anything?”

~Leah Hart, NP

Roman thought a moment and then looked up at her, “A visit from my pet rabbit? Oh, and… maybe see if Rand will make a Scottish coffee… If not, then her tea.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Hart offered a soft smile. “I think we can make that happen. Let me see what I can do. I’ll be back in about half an hour, maybe less. If you need anything while I’m gone, ask the duty nurse.”

Leah moved to the door and paused, looking back at him, her brown eyes intense. “I can understand if all this seems hopeless, but for what it’s worth, You’re not hopeless and neither is this situation. You are not the first person facing this sort of situation that I’ve worked with, Commander. And what I can tell you is that there is a way forward for you. I’m certain of it. And I don’t speak in certainties unless I’m very certain. We may not know each other terrible well so far, but I think you know me just well enough to know that I don’t say things for the hell of it.” There was an energy in her voice, one that was different than the calm questioning, and one that made her Spanish accent just a tiny bit stronger. It was something akin to determination mixed with sincerity.

~Leah Hart, NP

Roman knew he was not the first nor the last person to face a situation such as this. Repeatedly hearing it wasn’t really helpful. In fact, it made him feel more dismissed and unimportant than anything else. “No, you don’t.” He said. “I suppose we’ll see each other in a half hour.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

There was a tell many people had when word landed in a way that resonated with them. She had hoped hers would, but those signs were not there. That was okay, but it meant she would need to adjust something of her approach. In what way remained the question and something she would ponder before she returned. Leah gave him a nod. “Back soon,” she said before slipping out of the quarters.

~Leah Hart, NP

While she was gone, Roman reclined on the bed, hands behind his head, and simply waited quietly for her return.

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Leah left Roman and returned to Sickbay, looking for Kreed. She spotted him talking with another staff member and simply gave him a deep look and gestured towards his office. She let him finish his conversation, and stepped into the office, taking up residence in one of the guest chairs. Her body was tired and she took a moment to try to relax without showing just how fatigued she was. It was something to deal with later, but right now she was still on. She had a patient who needed her.

~Leah Hart, NP

Kreed followed her inside and sat behind the desk. “I take it from your body language you have seen the Commander?” he asked flatly.

Kreed

She nodded slowly. “We’re not done for the day in terms of having a full assessment, but I have a pretty solid picture of the situation we’re dealing with. I’m giving us a 30-minute break, for both our sakes. This is always hard work for everyone.”

Leah slouched in her seat and tapped her fingers on her thigh before she looked at Kreed. “My intention is to give him some positive interaction to help his current state. I still recommend that he remain in the temp quarters under observation, but we can allow vetted visitors. In this case, I think it will be beneficial for his fiancee to visit, along with his pet rabbit. I’m also going to allow her to being a beverage, coffee she makes, for them to enjoy together. Connection to the positive things in his life is super important right now, because the note was not just a warning. It was pure chance that it was the catalyst for all of this, but the fact remains that the commander is suicidal. Not was, but is. So I am proceeding under that premise. My intention is to continue my assessment and hopefully by the end of today’s chat he and I- maybe with Rand involved yet, I’m not sure- will have an action plan for his treatment. One that is realistic, he and I both agree to, and will ideally get him back on duty doing the work he loves.”

~Leah Hart, NP

Kreed was thoughtful and then said “I would be cautious about including Rand too much. I am not a psychologist by any means… but even I can see the troubling level of codependency between them. For both of their sakes, I would stress caution. That being said… I am obligated yo inform the Captain of your assessment. She will need to name an acting First Officer until such time as Commander Alden is deemed fit to return to duty.” Kreed’s word carried an surity to them. He knew Alden would recover. It was simply a matter of how… and when.

Kreed, CMO

She knew it would hit Roman hard. he was acting as if he just answered Leah’s questions then everything would be fixed. Her job would be to prepare him for the journey they had started and guide him. But she shouldn’t predict where they would end up. “I will trust the captain to do so mindfully. And I hear your caution and understand it. In some ways I share it, but some support network is better than none. If I can help them find balance along the way, I will, but right now, I have a person who has lost hope, Kreed. We both know how powerful even a shred of hope can be. I don’t want to take away the possibility of him finding that, because we on the outside don’t understand their relationship.” She definitely had thoughts on the couple so far but they were simple impressions and Leah knew people were more complex than the surface they presented, solo or in relation to others. Until she understood better, she was treading gently.

~Leah Hart, NP

“Too true. I simply do not wish, should the Commander not follow through and do the work he must, for him to drag down anyone else with him.” Rand was a good officer, and so was Alden. But Kreed was hesitant to rely on one to help the other… especially if the ‘help’ meant one of them had to be uncomfortable or exposed.

Kreed

“I don’t want that either,” Leah said. “These situations can go a variety of ways, and even though I’m trained in how to handle any of them, I’m going to trust my intuition, as I always have. It rarely leads me astray, and I know at least what I’m up against in this scenario. Just continue to trust me to handle this the best way I know how, and if I get at all uncertain, I promise I will consult with you.” He knew her well enough from a professional standpoint to know that Leah did not have an ego when it came to the treatment of her patients. She did not believe she was always right, she could admit mistakes, and she truly believed that each patient was the expert on their life. Her whole purpose was to help reframe things so that they could find clarity where there was murkiness, and shine a light in the places where darkness had taken hold. She revealed the path, but never created it.

~Leah Hart, NP