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

Posted by Commander Roman Alden (First Officer & Chief Science 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… suppressed (8) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

Rand accessed the comms looking to those around her as if there was nothing out of the ordinary going on. As far as the crew knew, he was working in a classified assignment with medical. [O]Yes, Lt. I will bring that down shortly.[C] Rand finished the task she was doing and then quickly went back to their quarters. She grabbed one of his long sleeve button downs, slacks, underclothes, socks, shoes. She put them all in a bag then paused. She wasn’t sure, but she would ask Lt Hart before she handed it over. If Roman was allowed regular clothes he might want to shower and clean up. She put his toiletries in a separate bag and then headed down to his room. Pressing the comm again [O]Lt Hart, I have the items you requested.[C]

Yeoman Rand

Leah stepped out and smiled and took the bag. “Thank you”. She paused for a moment before adding. “We’re calling Henry and Maryann. Wish us luck.”

~Leah Hart, NP

“Good. I hope it goes well.” She knew they would be thrilled to finally see and speak to Roman after all this time. “Oh, Lt. Hart. I didn’t know, but when you said clothes to be around others, I packed his toiletries. Including his shaving things. He’s very particular about his appearance. I didn’t know if he was allowed. I can take it back with me.”

Yeoman Rand

She shook her head. “That won’t be necessary. I think a shower and freshening himself up would do a world of good.” Leah considered Rand for a moment. “Thank you, for your support and help during all of this. I know it’s not easy on either of you, and there will be some fallout to deal with in the aftermath, but know that you steadfastness has made a difference for him, and for the work he and I are doing together. I don’t think he would have come as far as he had without you.”

~Leah Hart, NP

Rand nodded and smiled slightly. “Anything I can do, just tell me.” Rand left, knowing she couldn’t see him. The words ‘fallout’ and ‘aftermath’ were ringing in her ears. They made it hard to concentrate on her work the rest of the day. It wasn’t anything Rand wasn’t expecting though.

Yeoman Rand

Leah stepped back into the temporary quarters and held out the bag for Roman. “There are toiletries in there. Why don’t you go have a shower and freshen up. I’ll hang out with pip,” she said, moving to sit on the floor with the rabbit.

~Leah Hart, NP

“Oh, fantastic. Thank Rand for me.” He said. He took the bag and left Leah with the little orange spotted Netherland dwarf rabbit. Roman went into the bathroom and did not come out for nearly an hour. Leah heard the shower running for a while, and then the sounds of him doing various self care tasks: brushing his teeth, deoderizing, shaving, doing his hair.

After grabbing the terminal and setting it on the desk, Leah grounded herself by giving Pip attention. After awhile she grabbed her PADD and did some reading, letting the time pass. There were some who would have bene appalled that she left him alone with a razor, but Leah trusted her instincts and while he was frustrated, she didn’t get the impression that he was in despair right now. Something had shifted. Was it enough for the long term? She wasn’t sure, but for now she felt it important to extend some trust to him.

Then, at last, he came out, dressed in the clothing Rand had brought for him. He looked much more like his normal self: formal, professional, clean and perfect. It made him look a tad unapproachable, especially with that sullen expression on his face, but it also seemed to help how he felt and saw himself.

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

She smiled. “How do you feel? Ready to call them?”

~Leah Hart, NP

Roman was surprisingly cooperative. He kept the other toiletries, but the razor he brought out with him. “Do you need to hold onto this?” He asked politely.

“Yes,” she said simply, holding out her hand.

He handed it over without argument. He had assumed the answer was yes, but he was hoping for a no.

He scowled. “What do you think?” And there was more of that attitude he’d given her throughout this process.

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

“I don’t know,” Leah said, her voice calm. “I’m not in her your head and body and I’m not empathic. I can take a very educated guess based on your body language but at the end of the day you have to tell what is true for you. So, how do you feel right now, and are you ready to call them?”

~Leah Hart, NP

“Let’s hurry up and do it,” he’d never admit to it and he didn’t really understand it, but anxiety was making him feel ill. He didn’t want to wait around if she wasn’t going to let him not do this.

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Leah said nothing more and simply set up the terminal at the desk. She pulled the desk over so he could sit on the edge of the bed comfortably and still be seen on the screen and put in the call to Henry. She stayed in view for now.

~Leah Hart, NP

Roman sat with perfect posture on the edge of the bed, leaving space for Leah. His face was intentionally unreadable.

Henry answered quickly and on the screen appeared the retired Captain and his wife, a red haired older woman, somewhat petit, but nice looking. They both smiled widely when they saw Roman. “Roman, you’re looking good.” said Mrs Caliano. Mr Caliano grinned. “Like always. How are you doing? Rand called us-”

“She did? She… What did she say?” Roman asked, his mask swiftly shattered as anxiety and embarrassment showed on his face.

“Roman, it’s okay,” Mr Caliano said gently. “It’s not uncommon for officers that’ve been through something to go through this. Not at all.”

“I don’t care.” Roman stated, surprisingly harshly.

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Leah glanced between Roman and Henry. “And that is something that can be discussed later. Regardless of the circumstances, we’re here now. I will facilitate as needed, but this is a conversation that has been waiting to happen now for awhile. So… talk. And if anyone needs to take a break, then we take a five minute break.” She shifted her position slightly so she dipped partly out of view but was visible on the edge of the screen.

~Leah Hart, NP

Marianne sighed, “You’re right Lt. Hart. We apologize. We’re just worried.” She looked at Roman. The work was always so important to him. “We’ve missed you.”

Roman frowned uncomfortably. “I know. I’m sorry.”

“You don’t need to be sorry, son. We understand,” Mr Caliano said. “I’ve followed your career. I am very proud of the man and Officer you are.”

Roman looked away with a very slight shake of the head. He didn’t think he deserved proudness. Not from them, at least. “I failed when it mattered.”

“Roman, son, look at me,” Mr Caliano said, “Jay’s death was not your fault. You didn’t fire on the Ardent, you didn’t blow that bulkhead. Jay knew the risks of joining Star Fleet and you, nor me, nor Mom could have stopped him joining. You are his brother not his keeper. No one blames you.” He blew out a breath. “I’ve seen the footage Roman. There was nothing you could have done, even if you hadn’t been hurt too. We are thankful we didn’t lose you both.”

Roman rubbed his leg, as he often did at the memory of his injuries. There were tears in his eyes. “I should’ve been able to help him. It should’ve been me, not him.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO