Posted by Commander Roman Alden (First Officer & Chief Science Officer) in Sickbay- Gathering the Pieces

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Leah Hart (Nurse Practitioner/Counseling) in Sickbay- Gathering the Pieces

Posted by Commander Roman Alden (First Officer & Chief Science Officer) in Sickbay- Gathering the Pieces
Posted by… suppressed (9) by the Post Ghost! 👻
The moment Leah stepped out of Roman’s room, she affixed a mask of ease upon her face and forced herself down the corridor. Each step seemed increasingly harder until she finally slipped through the doors into the medical bay. Leah stepped to the side, face drawn, and leaned against the wall. She closed her eyes and focused on her breathing. Innnn. Ouuuuuuut. Innnn. Ouuuuuuuut.

It wasn’t Roman and his situation that she was struggling with, even if trauma processing and suicidal patients took a lot of physical and mental energy. More than anything it was the similitude between their families that had triggered her own responses. She was too good at her job and too practiced at maintaining a professional mask where needed to let her issues interfere with the work they were doing together. That did not mean, however, that Leah wasn’t having her mother’s incessant criticism running in a loop in her mind just now. She had done some work to negate the narcissistic abuse, but at the end of the day it wasn’t something you could entirely escape. She could only work to ensure it didn’t take her down. Most days, it could. Today it would not. But that didn’t mean she wasn’t feeling emotionally fragile in this moment.

In short she needed a break. A chance to take a breath and check in with herself before she and Roman continued the hard work. They were close in certain ways and so far away in others, but she truly was proud of his progress. He had no idea what huge steps he had taken already. And yet, she knew he wasn’t in a good enough place to release him. He wasn’t ready.

“Doctor Hart, are you alright?”

Leah smirked, eyes still closed. Nurse Cappet. There was only one person who called her ‘doctor’ here, because she was in fact a doctor wth a PhD. But the confusion between that and the medicallylicensed doctors was too confusing in medical settings, so it was standard for NPs to be called ‘Nurse’. She was okay with that. She wasn’t ashamed of being a nurse. She enjoyed her work. “I’m okay, Sienna. Just need to take a breather before I go make a call on behalf of a patient.”

“Okay, if there’s anything you need, just let me know, alright?”

Sienna didn’t seem convinced, and Leah couldn’t blame her. Still, Leah nodded. “I will.”

She remained there for a few minutes, before moving further into Sickbay. She saw that Kreed’s office was empty, so she went in and sat at the desk. She had the computer look up Henry and Maryann Caliano.

~Leah Hart, NP

Henry was ex-Fleet, a Captain. He’d retired about twenty years ago, reason given, his family needed him. Captain Caliano had a fantastic fleet record with several awards and commendations. He’d been an Engineer and moved up through the ranks. He was in seventies now, but still had numerous contacts within the Fleet.

He had one child, Jason Caliano, a Lieutenant in Starfleet until five years ago when he passed in the line of duty, in a Klingon attack on the USS Ardent. Jay’s file listed his injuries and the cause of death of succumbing to numerous burns over a large body area. He’d died before the Ardent was found and the remaining crew rescued.

Maryann Caliano was nothing more than a military spouse. Henry’s wife since the two of them were in their twenties, she had waited patiently for him back on Earth during his career, doing clerical work and such things. She’d taken care of Jay on her own until Captain Caliano retired.

The Calianos were easily reachable by communication device, they still lived in the same home in Salisbury, England. Maryann didn’t always answer, but Henry always did. A habit he gained during his service.

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Leah sat at the desk after reading the information and waited till she was ready. She had the computer locate their residence on Earth and opened a channel. Then she waited.

~Leah Hart, NP

Her call was promptly answered by an older but fit, well dressed gentleman with grey hair. He sat in a chair with excellent posture similar to Roman’s and smiled in a friendly manner. “Two calls from the Sentinel in under a week? Color me impressed,” said the man. “Retired Captain Caliano, at your service, ma’am.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Two?? Huh. She wasn’t expecting that. Who else would have called them if Roman hadn’t? Rand? He hadn’t mentioned that. [o]Hello Captain,[o] Leah said with a relaxed expression on her face. [o] I’m Lieutenant Leah Hart. I work with the medical team here on the Sentinel. I’m calling on behalf of our first officer, Commander Roman Alden. I was hoping we might be able to talk for a few minutes and see if you might agree to a request?[o]

~Leah Hart, NP

“Of course, Lieutenant. Fire away.” There was deep concern on his face. First the call from Roman’s fiancee, in which she had shared her very troubling discovery and that she had told “on him”. Henry had assured the poor woman she’d done the right thing. Now a call from the ship’s medical staff? Had something gone wrong? Was Roman to be medically discharged? “I feel it important you know I am aware of Roman’s current situation. His fiancee called a few days ago, all in a worry.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Leah didn’t even bother to conceal her surprise. She sat back in her chair. [o]Oh. Well, even in that case, you must know that I am ethically obligated to keep Commander’s situation private. He has not given me permission to speak about it, regardless of what his fiancee might have already divulged. That being said, he did say it was okay for me to call you, even if he’s not thrilled with the whole idea. The gist is that he and I are talking about Jay. And I don’t want to bring up a difficult topic for you, but Roman is under the impression that you would not want to hear from him. While I tried to counter this knowing how close all of you were, he’s convinced. So I simply want to ask if you would be willing to have a call with him. I would be present as support but it would be between you and your wife, and Roman.[o]

~Leah Hart, NP

Henry nodded. “I understand. Perhaps I can convince him otherwise during this proposed call.” He seemed not surprised at all Leah didn’t know he’d already been called. He sighed a long sigh, not of contempt, but a tired one. “We’ve told that boy all his life he’s always welcome to call us or that we are there. Never could get it to stick in his head. Damnable “traditional” parents of his.” He nodded to Leah, “I have been wanting a call with him for years. Thought he’d call when he was ready. It never came. Suppose now I know why.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Leah tilted her head and let her thoughts percolate for a moment. [o]Sometimes when we have a fear so deep inside of us, we’ll do anything to avoid the possibility of hearing it’s true. Talking about Jay is understandably difficult for him, and it’s not something he does willingly. But I do know it’s the crux of everything. I think more than anything right now, Roman needs to know that you still love him, that he’s still your son, even though Jay is no longer here.[o]

~Leah Hart, NP

Henry gave a sad smile. It looked like he might cry the way his eyes welled up. “I’m not surprised. He never was very good with these things. Always kept everything to himself. Took us a week to pry out of him that his parents were the reason he had his broken arm in a cast instead of getting treatment with a bone fuser. He was nine.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

She nodded. [o]Growing up with abusive parents can be really difficult. And it’s often the more subtle forms that are the hardest to work through, because we can discount them so easily. It’s not real because it’s not obvious. But they shape us. [o] Her expression shifted into a smile. [o]But you know what’s also true? Love also shapes us. It doesn’t change what happened, but it can help that healing process.[o]

[o]I will let know Roman know that you would love to hear from him. I am hoping that we can make that call today, but worse comes to worse we can try tomorrow. Can you make yourselves available? I’m sorry I can’t set a more specific time.[o]

~Leah Hart, NP

Henry smiled warmly. “I’m retired, Lieutenant. Any time you and Roman are available, so are we. Call anytime. Day or night.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Leah nodded. [o]Alright, I will talk to Roman and see how it goes. Thank you for your time, Captain. I appreciate it, and I’m sure so will Roman. Good bye for now.[C]

She leaned back and blew out a breath. A part of her wanted to go right back to Roman to tell him the news, but she knew better. She needed a ten-minute nap and something to eat before she dared set foot in that room again.

~Leah Hart, NP