From: Bethany \ (mouse3of3_at_yahoo.com)
Date: Mon Aug 11 2008 - 21:02:07 PDT
"Home Again, Home Again"
Cont. from "In Port"
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Location: USS PATRIOT
Stardate: 2.80811.2228
Scene: Turbolift -> Counselor's Office (after Rahul's post)
Tam watched Gorman walk down the hallway, away from the turbolift, until the doors closed. He had reacted very oddly to that question about his wife; then again, not being able to access Katlina Gorman's records, she didn't know what the situation was between the two of them. It couldn't have been too bad-- she would have picked it up or it would be noted in his records-- but it also couldn't be the greatest situation. Still, she was going on speculation, and as long as she didn't have anything concrete and it wasn't impacting his duty, there was nothing she could do to help unless he asked for it.
Although she did wish that not everybody assumed that any question she asked was going to be written in their psych profile.
That conversation continued to circle through her mind that day as she worked on the psych evaluations. Finally, she looked up from her terminal. "Computer, does GATEWAY have any scheduled shuttles to BAJOR within the next two days?"
It took a few seconds, but the computer eventually spat out an affirmative, as well as a list of times. "Do you wish to reserve a time?"
Tam mulled it over, until the computer asked again, prompting a response. Finally she sighed. "Yes, reserve a seat for tomorrow morning. 0930." Decision made, she was able to focus on the evaluations again, entering them into the ship's database.
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Scene: Shuttle
Time: 0945
Maverick had to admit that he wasn't expecting to be sitting next to the counselor on the ride through the wormhole. Not totally surprised, really, since she was Bajoran and they were headed to BAJOR, but also not what he was expecting. She smiled pleasantly enough when she realized that they were sitting together, at least. "Visiting someone?"
"Oh, yeah, an old friend." He grinned, anticipating Moo's reaction to his unannounced arrival. "You?"
Her smile was a little fainter. "Family. I haven't been home for a while."
"Sounds like fun. I haven't been in a while, either." He kept talking in that vein for a while, but she wasn't exactly an enthusiastic participant. He shrugged it off, though, figuring she was probably just distracted. He was busy trying to figure out how to greet one of his favorite people, he wouldn't be surprised if she was trying to do something similar.
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Location: BAJOR
Time: Later that day
Scene: Esna Tehrin's house
The door opened easily, letting Tam into the cool house, dark after the bright sunlight outside. The front rooms were empty, but she could hear voices from the kitchen in the back, along with the occasional clattering noise. "Tehrin?"
The noises stopped. "Niala?" After a second, her aunt came through the doorway, wearing a broad smile, and gave her a powerful hug. As soon as she let go, Tam's great-grandmother took her turn hugging her-- it had taken her a little longer to get there. Meanwhile, her aunt started talking and trying to guide them both to the kitchen. Within minutes, the three of them were sitting at the kitchen table with glasses of kava juice and catching up.
"I'm just glad you stopped here when we were home," Tehrin told her. "Another week and we would have been gone. I'm supposed to be in Kendra Province for a month, she's going to stay with your parents." Menyo nodded, while Tehrin considered Niala for a moment. "You are going to visit your parents, aren't you?"
"Of course. Is Mother even home, though? I'd imagine ship's technicians are in demand, now that the war's started." Luckily, that distracted Tehrin enough to have her start on that tack, and the topic of visiting her parents was dropped. Her aunt knew her well, though; when they stood up from the table, she said, "You can leave your things in the spare bedroom. You need a quiet place to do your classwork-- don't look at me like that, I know you brought something to do with you-- and while your mother's home, she has consultants and clients coming through for her own work. Your brother won't be any help, either, so you may as well stay here."
"Thanks, Tehrin."
"How are your classes going?" Menyo asked. The old woman, while somewhat tottery on her feet, still had a good memory. "Aren't you finishing those courses soon?"
Tam sighed. "Soon, yes, but not soon enough. We need a CMO on the PATRIOT, and I still need a few more courses before I earn the degree." She frowned. "Besides, I'm getting very frustrated with everyone assuming that any question I ask is based in psychiatry. At least in sickbay most of the people you see know that the questions actually are straightforward."
Tehrin grinned. "I thought you wouldn't like being a counselor. You liked sickbay too much."
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NRPG: Yes, this is proof that Tam actually does have a life outside of her office and sickbay. It's also to set something up for later. So how are all the other characters enjoying shoreleave?
Bethany B.
Ensign Tam Niala
Ship's Counselor
USS PATRIOT
From HyperNews_at_youth.net
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