Posted by Lieutenant Tandra Mika (Chief Mental Health Officer) in Recovery in All Forms

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Sharah Fayth (Chief Star Fleet Medical Officer) in Recovery in All Forms

Posted by Lieutenant Tandra Mika (Chief Mental Health Officer) in Recovery in All Forms
Posted by… suppressed (19) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Sharah had been on her rounds, but had gone to check on Mika several times. If she was asleep, Sharah was careful to not wake her. Another time Sean had been with her. That afternoon, she had to intrude and do her doctor thing. The door slid open and she stepped in. She walked over to the bed and sat on the stool beside it. “Hi Mika.”

Lt. Cmdr. Fayth, SFCMO

Séan was off working and Hannah was sitting with her instead. Mika smiled. “Sharah. Is everything okay?” She asked.

~ Mika, CMHO

Sharah smiled at Hannah. They weren’t really close outside of duty, but Sharah really liked her. She nodded her head at Mika. “Everything is fine. I just came to see how you are feeling, physically.”

Lt. Cmdr. Fayth, SFCMO

“I’m fine.” Mika forced a little smile, but Sharah could feel it was fake. Mika was scared and confused and sad. But she wasn’t in pain. “You always do a good job, Sharah.” Her normal cheeriness was gone, replaced by somber… meh-ness.

~ Mika, CMHO

Hannah gripped Mika’s hand, rubbing her thumb over the back. She gave Sharah a concerned look.

Mika squeezed her hand and used her free hand to do something Hannah had taught her while she was here: sign a reassurance. I’m okay.

Hannah smiled, I know, but I’m still here anyway.

Sharah could affect people’s mood to a point. Okay, beyond that really, but she didn’t like doing it. It wouldn’t help Mika deal with the trauma though. “I learned from the best.” She took Mika’s other hand, “but there are wounds I can’t heal. You need to see a trauma counselor, Mika. Soon. You know it’s important.”

Lt. Cmdr. Fayth, SFCMO

Mika smiled, but there was no happiness in it. Her smile faded and she hesitated for a moment. “I… I know I should. But… Who? I can’t see Séan. Korczak’s schedule is too full. He has no space for a new patient.”

~ Mika, CMHO

“Well, I was thinking about that. And it would be awkward to have to work with someone you would have to relive all of that with. Give them orders and such.” Sharah knew. She did it all the time. Korczak was the only counselor she had ever been able to continue to work with outside of the patient/doctor dynamic. “So I did a little research, and I found someone. With your permission I would like to reach out to her. Her name is Revna McKenzie, but you probably know her as Revna Edman.”

Lt. Cmdr. Fayth, SFCMO

Mika nodded. “I’ve heard of her. She’s published, taught at the Academy.” She looked up at Sharah, stressed and scared. “Do you think she would help?”

~ Mika, CMHO

“I think so. She retired from Star Fleet, but her license is still valid, and she submitted it to Sacred Heart so she could practice.” Sharah knew why and in what way she was practicing, but it wasn’t her place to say. “All I can do is ask.”

Lt. Cmdr. Fayth, SFCMO

“Okay, you can ask.” Mika said with a sigh. “I just… want things to be normal.“

~ Mika, CMHO

Sharah nodded. “I understand that.”

“You can’t get back to normal by hiding from it,” Hannah said gently, “and I know you know that. Just telling you what you told me.”

Mika smiled a little. “You and Sharah love telling me the things I tell you.”

“Well we have to make sure you know what a good job you did with us,” Sharah teased.

Sharah pulled out her tricorder, “Alright, let me check you over and see how you are healing.”

Lt. Cmdr. Fayth, SFCMO

Mika nodded again. “Go ahead.” She was healing well, physically. There would be scarring, but no permanent damage. The point was pain, not damage. Mika shuddered slightly and squeezed Hannah’s hand. “Tell me the results.”

~ Mika, CMHO

“You are healing just fine. I’ll do another round with the dermal regenerator tomorrow. There won’t be any scars. But you are going to be sore and tired for awhile. How’s your pain?” Sharah asked.

Lt. Cmdr. Fayth, SFCMO

Mika nodded. “I know I’m still on meds to help, but it’s getting better. Not so much pain near dose time.” She said.

~ Mika, CMHO

“That’s good. Keep taking it, for as long as you need to,” Sharah ordered. “It’s non-addictive. How are you sleeping?”

Lt. Cmdr. Fayth, SFCMO

Mika hesitated for a while. “Uhm.... Not that… well.” She said finally, glancing away. “It’s okay. It’ll be fine.”

~ Mika, CMHO

“I can give you something to help you sleep. Without dreams.” She offered because rest was important.

Lt. Cmdr. Fayth, SFCMO

Mika nodded uncomfortably. “Okay.” She felt… ashamed. Embarrassed. It didn’t make any sense to her, she knew this type of response was normal after that kind of event. But she couldn’t help but feel that way.

~ Mika, CMHO

Hannah squeezed her hand. “I’ll stay while you sleep. Your body needs it, but doesn’t know how to relax right now. It will help.”

Mika nodded and signed thank you.

Sharah moved over to a cabinet and pressed her palm. A soft snick announced the door was unlocked. She took out the vial and inserted it into the hypo. She walked over, “Do you need anything for pain now?”

Lt. Cmdr. Fayth, SFCMO

Mika nodded. “Yes, please.” She whimpered lightly and squeezed Hannah’s hand again. “I feel so pathetic.”

~ Mika, CMHO

Sharah dialed in a dose of her painkiller. She set it gently to her neck and there was a soft pop hiss as the medicine entered her system. “You are not pathetic.” She took her other hand. “You went through a horrendous experience. You were strong and brave. It’s okay to let others do that now. To be here to do those things while you rest.”

Lt. Cmdr. Fayth, SFCMO

Mika smiled again. “Sharah… thank you.” She said. “When you hear from Ravna Edman, please let me know.”

~ Mika, CMHO

Sharah squeezed her hand gently. “I’m glad I was here Tandra. I will let you know as soon as I hear something.”

Lt. Cmdr. Fayth, SFCMO