Therapy?

Posted on Thursday 2 July 2026 @ 21:27 by Lieutenant John Mitchum & Commander Caroline Miller

Mission: The Seal of approval
Location: Counselor's Office
Timeline: tbd
704 words - 1.4 OF Standard Post Measure

Every day, it seems, John is forced to be around the ambassador, his former lover. He has tried to get her out of his mind, but it seems she wants him back. They had a terrific 3 months together.....in fact it was so good, he had planned to propose to her, but she just disappeared from the Academy. John had checked on her, to make sure she was still alive, and he tried to contact her, but after 3 weeks of no response, he gave up trying.

Then, out of the blue, she shows up on the Merlin! As the assigned ambassador! And it's his responsibility to safeguard her live!

John realizes that if he wants to do his job correctly, he needs help.

So he made an appointment to see the ship's counselor.

Caroline was reviewing a few files when her schedule alerted her to an appointment. She reached for the file of their new security chief. "Iced brown sugar expresso," she told the replicator as she looked at his photo. Yes they had met in a meeting briefly but there had been more important things to focus on. The mission, the whales. So he was 25. He looked far too baby faced for the beard. It was an odd look. She shrugged, she never understood why some of the male of the species felt the need to grow long facial hair at a young age.

Her drink materialised and she sipped it closing her eyes briefly allowing a brief moment of calm before he arrived.

John approached the counselor's office door. He paused, straightened his tunic, took a deep breath and pressed the door chime.

"Come in," Caroline said to the door. It opened programmed too. "Lieutenant, please take a seat and get comfy. Would you like a beverage?"

John walked in when the door opened, and moved to an empty chair and sat. "Nothing for me, commander, I'm fine. And thank you."

"Well then what can I do for you Lieutenant?" she asked settling into her own chair and reaching for her coffee again.

John inhaled a deep breath in, then slowly released it. "As you probably already know, there is a new Federation ambassador on board. She and I had a....relationship at the Academy. We had 1 class together. Our relationship was intense, but brief. I had planned on proposing, but she left the Academy. That was 6 years ago. I thought I was over her....but then she's been assigned here." He absentmindedly kept clinching his hands. "I'm not sure I can properly do my job while she is here."

"Well you need to conquer that quickly Lieutenant as we cannot have a chief distracted by his personal life if the ship ends up in a serious situation," Caroline said. "Have you spoken to her?"

"No, I haven't. Truthfully, I don't want to talk to her at all." John made a gesture with his hand like cutting off contact.

"Well I hate to tell you this but I think your are going to need to speak to her. You need some sort of acknowledgement and understanding of the breakdown of your relationship and closure on it if you have a chance of being able to work together smoothly," Caroline told him.

"Maybe what I need to do is to find someone else...to take my mind off her." John looked at her.

"A rebound? Use someone to try ignore things rather than put your big boy pants on and go talk to the lady. Come on Lieutenant, I urge you to be a better person than that," Caroline told him straight.

"If that is your professional option.....I will try it." He stood up. "Thank you for your time, counselor." He turned towards the door.

"Till next time then," Caroline called after him, watching the door close behind him. She sincerely hoped he was going to man up and go talk to the woman. Considering a rebound, she shook her head in disbelief. Like that wouldn't of blown up further in his face.

OFF:

●●● Commander Caroline Miller
Chief Counselor
USS Merlin


Lieutenant John Mitchum
Chief of Security and Tactical
USS Merlin