"Finding Dawson"
(previous post the endearing "Learning to Fall")
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Stardate: 60322.1315
Setting: USS ANUBIS, Cns' office
Serenna had made a quest for Mr. David Dawson sound easy. The fact she
didn't consider was that the small human counselor (who appeared to be
Bajoran for the time being) was actually just that... human. Only
human. And not a very brave or courageous one at that. The ensign had actually
only been in active service for under a month and this was a little too
early in her career to consider facing something as, well, big as an angry David Dawson.
He had threatened her. She had escaped with her life. She'd been lucky.
She had no desire to push her luck. With a huge sigh, however, she managed
to convince herself that this was what she was here for and if he killed
her then she... well then she would have died in the line of duty. Her
father would be proud. Okay, so he would probably be angry first... suicidal
later... but then he'd be proud.
Who was she kidding?
Susan gave a nervous chuckle to herself, her father would probably hunt
down David Dawson and slaughter *him.* The mental image of the aging admiral
beating up the ANUBIS's looming CEO was an amusing one and it was with
that thought in her head that Susan set off to find Dawson.
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Serenna had said that she should check "main areas." So, naturally,
Susan started with the bridge. She found it silent except for the buzz of
machinery and beeping computer indicators. She hadn't exactly expected
to find David there... in fact she'd known that she wouldn't.
**What on EARTH would the ex-CEO of the ANUBIS be doing on the bridge
unless there was trouble?** Nothing. It was a skillful technique called procrastination: she wasn't actually *looking* for David... just looking like she was looking while she was thinking about looking. Maya was at her station and utterly absorbed in something. Susan didn't disturb her, but she was glad to see that she was in one Shillian piece again.
----------
Next Susan decided to venture into the Black Hole. That was the last
place she expected to find David. Last time she'd seen him he hadn't exactly
been in the mood for company. Nevertheless, unlike the bridge, the lounge
offered an opportunity to ask *other* people if they'd seen David. If they had
then Susan wouldn't have to... she could just let Serenna know where he was
last seen.
That thought in mind, Susan looked around, hoping to spot someone
familiar. She did. As luck would have it, the ANUBIS's CMO was sitting at a table alone. At least Susan was relatively certain that the blonde figure
with her back to her was the CMO. Smiling Susan approached her.
"I don't suppose..."
Lea jumped so high at the unexpected sound of Susan's voice at her
shoulder that Susan stopped.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you"
Lea spun around to see who was talking and gave a small sigh of relief,
"No... I'm sorry. I was distracted. How can I help you?" She gestured to
the empty seat opposite.
"I don't suppose you've seen David since we arrived?" Susan asked as
she sat down opposite Lea.
The CMO shook her head, rubbing her wrists subconsciously. Her face had
darkened at the mention of David's name, "Do you think there's
something wrong?"
Obviously she was wondering why the counselor was hunting for him.
Despite inward disagreement, Susan shook her head, "No. Serenna was just
wondering where he was. I told her I'd help."
Lea smiled weakly, still rubbing her wrists, "You could just ask the
computer?"
Susan watched Lea's wrists in fascination, "No, Serenna doesn't think
that's a good idea. Do your wrists still hurt?"
Lea looked confused for a second, "What? Oh" She looked down at what
she'd been doing self-consciously, "Oh, no. It's just..."
She looked at the counselor's concerned eyes and after a minute she
sighed, **no time like the present**, "No. I just... I keep feeling as if the
ropes are still there..." She looked down at her wrists again, "That probably
sounds crazy..."
Susan shook her head slowly, but said nothing. Eventually Lea looked up
again, "I don't know what's wrong. There is nothing medically wrong
with me."
Susan noticed a glossiness in her eyes, as if she was about to burst
into tears. Susan reached a hand across the table and took the CMO's. "Lea,
it's only natural. You can't expect to go through a trauma like you went
through and not suffer some kind of effect." Immediately Susan felt guilty for
not checking up on Lea before.
The CMO swallowed, "I know... but it's not the first time. It seems
like I'm always the one who gets the crew into a mess..."
Another stab of guilt. "No, Lea. Don't say that. It's not your fault
that this mission was canceled. We messed up. We were in too deep for our
own good." What she meant was that *she* messed up and that *she* was in to
deep for her own good, but she couldn't bring herself to say it. Instead she
met Lea's eyes. "Have you been experiencing any other symptoms?"
"Of what?" the doctor asked.
Susan shifted in her seat, "I mean, have you experienced any other
ill-effects of your capture?"
Lea shrugged, "I couldn't sleep last night. But I think that was just
because of my over-active mind."
Susan could relate. However, she doubted that Lea's lack of sleep was
merely because of a busy brain. "Lea, I'd like to see you in my office later.
When you have the time?"
Susan would have taken her there immediately, but she wanted to prepare
a session rather than make it up as she went along. Besides, she still
had that obligation to find David...
Lea nodded, "You think I need counseling?"
In the past those words had led to trouble. Now however, Susan
believed that the medical officer would understand, "Yes, Lea. As I said, you've been through hell. You need to talk about it. I know you may not want to but..." she looked at the CMO's wrists, "I think you need it."
Lea nodded in understanding. Susan would have been happy to say her
goodbyes and leave but then Lea's face lit up.
"You know, David likes to spend a lot of time on the holodeck..."
Susan's heart sank.
--------------- 2005 post #222
Stardate: 60322.1320
Setting: USS ANUBIS, bridge
Stardate: 60322.1325
Setting: USS ANUBIS, 'Black Hole' Lounge
Tallulah Habib {thabib@eject.co.za}
Ensign Susan Mei
Head Counselor
USS ANUBIS
---------------
"Life is mostly froth and bubble,
Two things stand like stone,
Kindness in another's trouble,
Courage in your own." - Adam Lindsay Gordon
