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

Posted by Civilian Yavia Crockett (Nurse - Sacred Heart Hospital) in Recovery in All Forms

Posted by Lieutenant Tandra Mika (Chief Mental Health Officer) in Recovery in All Forms
Posted by… suppressed (45) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
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

The pain meds and the sleep meds had her sound asleep a few minutes later.

~ Mika, CMHO

When Mika woke, Hannah was gone. She had a surgery scheduled, but Sharah was sitting beside her. She smiled. “How are you feeling? Did you sleep alright with the meds?”

Lt. Cmdr. Fayth, SFCMO

Mika started to panic when she didn’t see Hannah, but calmed when she saw Sharah. She nodded. Sharah could feel she felt more refreshed and a little more awake than she had. There was pain, but not too much. “Yeah, thank you. I’m… as good as you could expect.”

~ Mika, CMHO

“I’m glad you slept.” She squeezed her hand, “Hannah wanted to stay, but she was called away for an emergency surgery. She promised to come back.”

Mika smiled. “Okay.”

“There is someone I want you to meet if you are up for it.”

Lt. Cmdr. Fayth, SFCMO

Mika nodded. “I am. Who is it?”

~ Mika, CMHO

“Revna McKenzie. While you were sleeping, I was able to get in touch with her. She came immediately. She would like to meet you.” Sharah stood and went to the door and opened it.

Lt. Cmdr. Fayth, SFCMO

Through the open doors woman entered. She was average height, in good shape, and wore traditional clothing from Earth’s history. Her copper blonde hair was braided intricately and threaded through with beads. She had an heir of gentle confidence about her.

She walked over to the bed and sat in the chair so that Mika could see her with ease. “Hello Lt. Mika. I’m Revna McKenzie-Edman.” She offered her hand, but was okay if Mika didn’t want to take it.

Revna, Lady McKenzie

Mika sat up a little more and shook the woman’s hand. “Lieutenant Mika. It’s good to meet you.” She said with a small smile.

~ Mika, CMHO

Her grip was warm, soothing, comforting. She didn’t force the length of the contact, letting Mika decide. “Dr. Fayth tells me that you have been through a horrible experience. I’m here to help you if you would like me to.”

Revna, Lady McKenzie

Mika’s smile quickly faded and her hand dropped. She wrapped her arms around herself. “I… yes, I need help.” She said softly, barely able to bring herself to look at Revna.

~ Mika, CMHO

“It’s alright, Lt. We aren’t going to begin right now. Take a deep breath with me, please.” She took a long breath, held it for a 5 count and then let it out.

Mika took a breath with her, holding it, and then letting it out slowly.

“Good,” Revna nodded. “You can call me Revna by the way. What do you prefer to go by?”

Revna, Lady McKenzie

“Tandra or my last name, Mika, either is fine.” Mika replied. “I’m not picky,” she said and smiled her old friendly smile, but it seemed different, like there was some nervousness behind it.

~ Mika, CMHO

“Tandra then.” She smiled gently, “Would you like Dr. Fayth to stay, or would you like it to be just the two of us?”

Revna, Lady McKenzie

“Stay. Let her stay, please.” She looked apologetically at Sharah. She hated wasting Sharah’s time but she didn’t know Revna and she felt so unsafe right now.

~ Mika, CMHO

Sharah sat down on the edge of the bed. Mika could never waste her time. “I don’t mind staying.” She reached over and tugged Mika’s hand into hers and held it.

Mika held Sharah’s hand. There was a sense of deep gratefulness.

“Of course she can stay.” She sat up a little and ducked her head so she could look Mika in the eye. “Tandra, you and only you are in charge here. You need to know that. You can have whatever you need to keep you safe and comfortable.”

“I came today so you could meet me and ask whatever questions you have.”

Revna, Lady McKenzie

“I’m a counselor, Revna, I know how this works. I guess I just need to know when and where you want to meet.” Mika said. “Even once Sharah releases me I won’t be back to seeing patients, not right away.”

~ Mika, CMHO

She smiled and nodded in acknowledgement. “Of course. We can meet wherever you are most comfortable. Here at the hospital, at home, a park, a shuttle, in the middle of no where.”

“As for when,” Revna added, “right now, I would like to see you every day, and for a few days after you are discharged. Then we can discuss any adjustments.”

Revna, Lady McKenzie

That was extensive therapy. Then again, Sharah said she was good, and Sharah had probably told her what had happened and how bad Mika had been. “Um, at home.”

Mika pictured herself opening the door and the hooded, brutish Klingon overpowering her and knocking her out. “The hospital, actually,” she said, her voice a pitch higher, her heart rate going up, her breaths faster. “The hospital…”

~ Mika, CMHO

“Alright,” The woman’s head tipped to the side slightly. Revna was never one to pull punches, “Tandra, do you have somewhere safe you can stay when you are discharged. Someone you trust you can stay with?”

“She can stay with me,” Sharah said, squeezing Mika’s hand tightly. Though she was pretty sure she would rather stay with Sean.

Revna, Lady McKenzie

“I’ll stay with Sharah,” Mika agreed. Séan was a good choice too but she’d known Sharah longer. She could always move later if something changed.

~ Mika, CMHO

“Good,” Revna liked that idea. She didn’t know much about the young doctor but she could tell the two were close. “Is there anything you want, that you don’t have? Even something small? Anyone you want to be with you or call?”

Revna, Lady McKenzie

Mika shook her head. “No. I ended up leaving most my things behind on a previous post. And everyone I know of is here or knows I’m here. Except my family, but I don’t need to call them about this yet. My little brother needs to focus on school.”

~ Mika, CMHO

“Does he like school?” Revna asked.

Revna, Lady McKenzie

Mika nodded. “He’s in the Academy. Following in my footsteps.”

~ Mika, CMHO

She laughed softly, “That’s a big compliment. Both my sisters refused to enter Star Fleet after me.”

Revna, Lady McKenzie

Mika smiled. “I guess I made it look cool.” She shrugged, “Whatever makes him happy, honestly.”

~ Mika, CMHO

Revna nodded. “That’s really the important thing, isn’t it. That they are happy. Not that they are like us, but just happy. Tell me about him.”

Revna, Lady McKenzie

“Uh, well…” Mika squeezed Sharah’s hand gently. “His name’s Tao, he’s adopted, he’s five years younger than me, always looked up to me. I used to help him with his homework before I left for the Academy.”

~ Mika, CMHO

“Was that exciting? When he was adopted?” Revna asked.

Sharah kept a gentle steady hold on her hand.

Revna, Lady McKenzie

“Of course it was.” Mika smiled. “It was a sad situation, my dad knew his birth family, and they died. He wanted Tao to be able to stay local so he took him in.”

~ Mika, CMHO

“Once a father, always a father? That was wonderful of your dad. What does he do?”

Revna, Lady McKenzie

“Own a little local clothing shop in Colorado,” Mika replied. “He used to run it with my mom, till she died.”

~ Mika, CMHO

“I’m sorry to hear that, Tandra. I’m sure you miss her very much.” She patted the back of her hand gently. “Does your dad design his own?”

Revna, Lady McKenzie

“Design, make, and sell,” Mika replied. She smiled a little, “Of course you can just replicate things, but a lot of people have an appreciation for handmade items.”

~ Mika, CMHO

“Handmade is just better, more authentic.” She grabbed a braid and leaned toward Tandra, but not in her space. “My uncle made the beads I wear in my hair. He’s a blacksmith. I would love to see some if the things your father has made. Did you ever make anything?”

Revna, Lady McKenzie

Mika nodded. “I used to help run the store. If I still had the time, most the things I wear would be handmade. Those beads are beautiful.”

~ Mika, CMHO

“Thank you,” she smiled fingering them, “Small but a strong reminder of family. When was the last time you had time to make something?”

Revna, Lady McKenzie

“Ugh, my Academy time,” Mika replied. She shifted in her spot and squeezed Sharah’s hand and Sharah could feel she was hurting.

~ Mika, CMHO

Sharah could feel her pain, but Revna noticed it as well. She took out an older model personal comm and set it next to Tandra’s hand. “Thank you for talking with me Tandra. I will be back tomorrow. I promise. However, that comm is a direct link to me. If you need or just want to talk, about anything, or you just need to know someone is on the other end, call me. Anytime, alright.” She stood and patted her hand reassuringly.

“Thank you for coming so quickly,” Mika replied. She picked up the comm in her free hand hand squeezed it gently. “Thank you.”

She nodded to Fayth. They could talk later. It was clear that Tandra was not nearly ready to be left alone. Sharah nodded back, “Thank you Mrs McKenzie. We will see you tomorrow.”

She looked at Tandra, “Do you want something for the pain?”

Revna, Lady McKenzie

Mika nodded. “Yes, please.” She sighed softly, “I just wanna not need it anymore.”

~ Mika, CMHO

“I know Tandra, but it’s only been a day. You have to let your body have the time it needs to heal.” She dialed in the hypo and pressed it to her neck. “There. Now, we’ve made sure you won’t be alone, ever. We being Sean, myself, Yavia, Ilena. One of us will always be here, and there is always a security officer outside. So go ahead and rest, I’ll be here while you do.”

Lt. Cmdr. Fayth, SFCMO

Mika nodded again. As the meds took effect her pain faded, but she struggled to fall asleep. Fear of the dreams she might have kept her awake. She tossed and turned gently, trying to get to sleep.

~ Mika, CMHO

Sharah tried to let her sleep on her own, but eventually she said something. “Tandra, do you want something to sleep? To keep the dreams away?”

Lt. Cmdr. Fayth, SFCMO

Mika nodded. Partly because she knew she needed the rest, and partly because she knew Sharah could be affected by her emotions and neglecting herself she thought might make that worse. And she just wanted to sleep, dreamlessly, to escape it for a while. The fear and pain, the aftereffects of it. Something to make her sleep and for a blissful while, it would all be gone.

~ Mika, CMHO

Sharah loaded the hypo and administered it. “There, you’ll be able to rest now.” Sharah fussed over her for a few minutes, tucking her in, getting another warm blanket, lowering the lights just a bit.

Lt. Cmdr. Fayth, SFCMO

It didn’t take long for Mika to fall asleep between the meds and Sarah’s fussing. She was comfortable and sleepy. She slept deeply and soundly throughout the night.

When she woke, nearly afternoon of the next day, she seemed more well rested. She was comfortable, tucked under the blankets, and it took her a while to really wake up. When she did, she checked the room to see who was with her.

~ Mika, CMHO

Yavia was next to her. She looked up from her PaDD and smiled. “Hi Tandra. Hungry?”

Yavia

“Hey Yavia,” Mika greeted and nodded. “A little. Maybe a small breakfast?”

~ Mika, CMHO

The Deltan woman smiled. “Coming right up.” She walked over to the replicator in the room and presses a button. “Sharah already programmed something in fir you. Said she remembered you eating this when you were on the Challenger together.”

She brought the tray over and set it on the bed table. “Do you need help sitting up?”

Yavia