Posted by Lieutenant Tandra Mika (Chief Mental Health Officer) in Mentors Change Your Life Forever

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Sharah Fayth (Chief Star Fleet Medical Officer) in Mentors Change Your Life Forever

Posted by Lieutenant Tandra Mika (Chief Mental Health Officer) in Mentors Change Your Life Forever
Posted by… suppressed (33) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Out of all the conversations that Sharah needed to have, this was the one that gave her the most sick feeling. Tandra was her friend, probably the best one she had, but Tandra was also her mentor. She had been there to keep Sharah from giving up those first months on her first cruise. She’d believed in her, and Tandra had saved her life. Literally. Star Fleet was everything to Tandra, and it had been for Sharah too. Things had changed for Sharah though, and it was time to accept that. She felt the guilt and worry churn and sour her stomach. She couldn’t bear it if Tandra was disappointed in her. Sharah wanted Tandra to hear it from her first, before anyone else had a chance.

Mika had been back to work for a little while now, and the benefit of being a Department Head (for now anyway) was Sharah could see the schedules for anyone. So she knew what time Tandra got off, and was waiting by her office door for her.

Lt. Cmdr. Fayth, SFCMO

Tandra still wasn’t seeing patients. It gave her a lot of time for administrative duties, but she missed the work she loved: working with people. She still wasn’t going anywhere without Séan or another person she trusted. So when Tandra got off, she grabbed her things and planned to head to Séan’s office. Instead, she saw Sarah by her door and smiled. “Sharah! What brings you here?”

~ Mika, CMHO

Sharah grinned, “Well I haven’t seen you in a bit. We’ve both been so busy. I just wanted to catch up. If you aren’t up for it though, maybe tomorrow?” She hoped not tomorrow. Even though OED was much bigger than a ship, gossip seemed to travel faster.

Lt. Cmdr. Fayth, SFCMO

“No, today is good,” Mika said and smiled. “I’m happy to see you. We haven’t seen enough of each other.” She said.

~ Mika, CMHO

“No we haven’t. I thought about coming by before, but… well I didn’t want you to think I was hovering or coming here for work,” Sharah admitted.

Lt. Cmdr. Fayth, SFCMO

Mika shook her head. “I wouldn’t have minded.” She said. “How have you been?”

~ Mika, CMHO

Sharah started walking, “Good other than busy. I had my yearly regular neurology appointment, and everything looks good there, actually. That was a nice surprise.” She paused as they reached the door, “Where would you like to go?”

Lt. Cmdr. Fayth, SFCMO

“That’s good to hear,” Mika said. “Uhm, just the hospital cafeteria, if that’s okay.”

~ Mika, CMHO

“Sure,” Sharah turned and headed down one of the other wings. The cafeteria was so much more than what one typically experienced at a hospital. They had expert chefs that prepared all the meals for the patients and here. It was more like a high end restaurant. There was nothing replicated here, it was all prepared from real ingredients grown on OED.

The only nod to a normal cafeteria was the buffet line, but you could order anything from the kitchen. Sharah moved toward the buffet line. Both women were greeted warmly by the various staff in the room.

After getting their food, Sharah let Tandra pick where she wanted to sit.

Lt. Cmdr. Fayth, SFCMO

Tandra picked a corner with a good view of the room and a clear exit route. She sat down with her choice of food and smiled at Sharah.

~ Mika, CMHO

Sharah sat at the other side, where Tandra could see, but Sharah could be a buffer. It also helped she would know someone was going to approach them as soon as they had the thought.

“So, how are things with Sean?” Sharah asked with a grin.

Lt. Cmdr. Fayth, SFCMO

Tandra took great comfort in that. It was one of the things that made her comfortable being out with Sharah. She smiled, “They’re really good. He’s so nice, Sharah. And he’s been really great about… You know. The recent stuff.”

~ Mika, CMHO

Sharah was grinning, but her tone was serious, “Well I would certainly expect so. Or Yavia and I might have to pay a private visit to him.” She was serious, and everyone knew Yavia had a crazy streak, but it was meant to make Tandra smile, ar least. If Sean wasn’t understanding he had no business being a counselor.

Lt. Cmdr. Fayth, SFCMO

“I will take you up on that if the need ever arises,” Mika said and giggled. He was more than understanding - he escorted her everywhere and when she couldn’t sleep in her own home, he let her stay over with him.

~ Mika, CMHO

Sharah smirked, “Good. Make sure you remember. He better know how lucky he is.”

“How is work?” Sharah didn’t want to bring up what happened. Tandra was back on light duty, but it seemed a safe general topic.

Lt. Cmdr. Fayth, SFCMO

“Busy as ever,” Mika sighed. “I feel bad not having a caseload, but I know I’m not ready for that.”

~ Mika, CMHO

Sharah huffed an understanding snort, “There are days I never see patients. The administrative work is overwhelming some days. I try to remind myself that that is its own case load, and that is a huge load off everyone else’s shoulders.”

Lt. Cmdr. Fayth, SFCMO

“It is,” Mika said, “That’s the only good part of my light duty. Since all I can do is paperwork, I can take as much off the hands of other providers as I can.”

~ Mika, CMHO

“And they are grateful for having you do that,” that wasn’t just assumption, Sharah knew. “Hannah has been a huge help. She is really excited about learning everything she can. I wish I wasn’t learning beside her.” Though Hannah never seemed to mind.

Lt. Cmdr. Fayth, SFCMO

Mika smiled. “I was her superior on the Saracen. She is very eager and has a lot of potential. You’re doing well with her, Sharah.”

~ Mika, CMHO

“I really like her. I’m glad she has seemed to settle in, especially with everything she’s been through.” Sharah hoped she didn’t lose that budding friendship, or this one with Tandra.

A soft worried expression crossed Sharah’s face for a moment. One Tandra would be familiar with from her days as a Cadet. “We are both lucky we got to learn under you.”

Lt. Cmdr. Fayth, SFCMO

Mika smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. Like she didn’t quite believe that. “I’m glad you think that. It makes me happy,” she said. Then she set a hand gently on Sharah’s shoulder. “So tell me, what’s wrong, Sharah?”

~ Mika, CMHO

“I know it. I learned a lot from you, and not just about medicine. If not for you, my natural first aid program would never have happened,” Sharah insisted. It was true. Tandra had encouraged her and helped her test and write the program.

She looked in Tandra’s eyes and sighed. “My tour of duty is up in 2 months.”

Lt. Cmdr. Fayth, SFCMO

Tandra was about to reply to the previous statement when she processed the second one. “Oh. You’re not going to re-up?”

~ Mika, CMHO

Shatah sighed, “If I do, I’ve already been told I’ll be transferred. I love Star Fleet Tandra, but…” she looked up at her, and the weight of all the pain, suffering, loneliness of her life was in her eyes. “I… don’t think I can go through starting over again. Of loosing everything I’ve gained here. Not…” she took a breath and closed her eyes, pulling herself in. “Not if I die like everyone else like me. I’ve already outlived most of them.”

Lt. Cmdr. Fayth, SFCMO

Tandra nodded. It was hidden from her face, but Sharah could feel her disappointment. Still, she smiled. “You should do what’s best for you. Your priorities have shifted, and that’s okay.”

~ Mika, CMHO

Sharah wilted. She didn’t want to disappoint Tandra. “I don’t know. That’s the thing. What is best for me, Tandra? I love Star Fleet, and I love Sacred Heart. I have… I have family and friends here. I’ve never had that. I’ll lose it when they transfer me.” She didn’t want to live what time she had left alone.

Lt. Cmdr. Fayth, SFCMO

“Sharah.... It might make me sad for a while, but that’s okay. You… You should. Stay, I mean. You’re happier than I ever saw you before. And I want that for you, even if it does make me sad.”

~ Mika, CMHO

Sharah smiled, looking nervous. “Thank you. I just… I just wish it didn’t make you sad. I,” she glanced around and dropped her voice, “I had a job offer.”

Lt. Cmdr. Fayth, SFCMO

“No, no,” Mika said gently. “Don’t worry about me. Really.” She smiled then, “What was the offer?”

~ Mika, CMHO

Sharah focused outward for a moment. She didn’t want anyone overhearing. When she was sure no one was listening, “Sacred Heart - Chief of Staff.”

Lt. Cmdr. Fayth, SFCMO

“That’s great for you!” Mika said. She was genuinely happy for Sharah, but Sharah could sense her conflict and her own emotions she was trying to hide. “Sharah, I.... I’m glad. Really. This is so good for you.”

~ Mika, CMHO

Sharah wanted to ask, but she already knew Tandra wasn’t happy here. Hopefully McBride took her suggestion. “Thank you. I’m thinking I am going to enter the reserves, so I can still serve.”

Lt. Cmdr. Fayth, SFCMO

“That’s a good choice. It’ll help your transition and help you feel connected to Starfleet.” Mika commented. “Are you excited?”

~ Mika, CMHO

“Nervous, really.” Shebwas banking all of this on the hope Charles and Yavia wanted to keep her. In a forever kind of way and not just temporary. Korczak told her she was being an idiot. Well, not so harshly, he would never do that. That she knew they did, even without her telepathy. That it was time to stop being afraid. They weren’t going to abandon her. “It’s a direction I never thought I would take.” She sighed, “Honestly, Tandra, I never thought I would still be alive to see the end of my tour.”

Lt. Cmdr. Fayth, SFCMO

Tandra smiled and hugged her. “You’ve been doing so well.” She said. “I think you’re going to be glad you did this.”

~ Mika, CMHO

Sharah hugged her back. She loved it because Tandra was one of the few people she could actually hug and they didn’t pull away from the contact. “I think so. I hope so. I don’t want to lose you.”

Lt. Cmdr. Fayth, SFCMO