Switching Doctors

Posted on 17 Nov 2014 @ 3:15pm by Petty Officer 1st Class Pieter Van Zyl Ph.D. & Lieutenant Prudence Devin Ph.D.

2,229 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Episode 07 - Sojourn
Location: Starbase 84 - Deck 84, Deck 22, Office 11
Timeline: MD05 - 1000hrs

[ON]

Pieter always prided himself on being a man in control of himself and his duties as both a human being and a Starfleet enlisted officer. So, while he could understand how his less than friendly demeanor could be perceived by his coworkers, Pieter was always sure that, no matter what, his coworkers respected him and knew they could rely on him for practically anything, including objective criticism.

In that spirit, Pieter made sure to always greet his evaluations, physical or otherwise, ahead of time (unlike a lot of his coworkers). But, that day, as he'd prepared to book himself a session with Dr. Zambrano, his message had been responded to with an automated response, telling him that the good doctor had transferred and he was being given (like a child in a custody dispute) to a certain Dr. Devin. Making a face at the screen the entire time, Pieter begrudgingly made an appointment anyway, agreeing to meet this Dr. Devin, in an office on the station, per his own request. The last thing he wanted was to be stuck with a stranger in some bar and being forced to endure the conversations of everyone around them.

Prudence Devin had already set up everything up the way she liked it before a session. She had her own little rituals. There was a pot of green tea and two mugs. The office had a potted plant which she had personally taken from her own temporary quarters. Plants helped. And this modified one did not upset anyone's allergies.

She stepped back and took a breath, making sure she looked presentable. Her hair was curled but styled, she wore makeup but not enough to distract. She had learned long ago to adapt her appearance for situations. She wanted to look professional; not cheap. Even the diamond earrings she wore weren't that noticeable. She glanced at the time and smiled as she heard a knock on the door. "Come in," she said, remaining standing.

The doors hissed open in front of him and Pieter slowly walked in. Instinctively, he looked around to do a quick once over of the office before settling his eyes on the woman in the middle. She looked professional and nice enough, both of which Pieter immediately appreciated. He found it very encouraging to meet someone who believed in keeping their appearance presentable and immediately attributed it to her age. That was another thing he'd noted upon getting the message of his old counselor's reassignment. He didn't want to be stuck with some child telling him how to act and feel. No, this was much better, he decided.

"Lieutenant," he signed, formally addressing her before giving a quick salute.

She smiled at him saluting her, shaking her head. "At ease, Mr Van Zyl. I prefer not to use ranks during counselling sessions, so you may call me Devin or Prudence. Come and have a seat."

Pieter nodded, expecting such a response. It was all a part of making him feel at home. In all honestly, he wouldn't be using her name at all. Names were always a pain to sign. "Thank you," he said instead before following the doctor further into the room. "Call me Pieter," he told her and waited for her to sit down before following.

She smiled as she held his eyes, searching them for a long moment. "I am a bit surprised but happy to see that you arranged this yourself. Usually I have to drag people into the office for their evaluations. Now, would you like some tea, Pieter?"

"Yes. Thank you," he replied with a small nod. "I prefer to stay on top of my responsibilities," he began. "I have never had problems with going to see a counselor. I was surprised to see my doctor had transferred." He hoped she wouldn't take offense. He knew his tone was often misinterpreted and he didn't want her to get the wrong idea.

Prudence chuckled, nodding as she stood to pour the green tea. "It always comes as a shock to me when I learn someone I saw was transferred. Starfleet has never been good on informing the patients of the staff of...well, anything. Some send messages to let them know, others just...believe it will be someone else's problem."

"There should be a better system," Pieter just declared with a serious nod, looking genuinely put out of sorts at such disregard for proper protocol. As the doctor stood to pour tea, he struggle with himself to not instinctively stand up as well, at least out of politeness.

"We can always try and approach the admirality about a better system," she said and offered the cup to him, holding his eyes. "You are a man who...appreciates when things run proper."

Pieter took the cup and set the cup away after a courtesy sip so that he could reply. Growing up the way he did, Pieter always found his life was much easier when things were handled in a routine manner. It was why he'd quickly adapted to a military life in Starfleet. There was comfort to be had when you knew how things needed to be.

He nodded to her. "Yes," he added.

She nodded at the word, a small smile pulling at her lips. "Everything in its place, everything belonging somewhere. It is easier to handle than chaos. Chaos...confusion...it can be difficult. Structuring your life cancels out those things..." she looked into her cup, considering it. "How does that...balance with your job?" she met his eyes again, with a small smile.

"I am a Botanist. When I place a plant somewhere, the chances of it running away are very slim," Pieter explained before taking another small sip of tea, his eyes not leaving the doctor's face the entire time. He couldn't read her smile, but he couldn't help but find it intriguing. For once, he wished he could hear the tone of her voice; maybe it would clue him in.

Prudence nodded at that, the smile warming. She could identify with it. And given what she had read in his file, she understood why he had gone for botany. Flowers can't scream and run away either. However, his disability hadn't affected his record. He was more than capable and had adapted to it all. "I do love plants and flowers myself. Something so tranquil...soothing, almost."

"I like that something so alive can be so peaceful," Pieter admitted with careful gestures. "Nothing overstated, it all just is what it is," he explained. "If you wish, you could come to the Botany lab or the Arboretum on Galileo. We just replanted a lot of the destroyed decorative plants." Half way through the sentence, Pieter realised he wasn't quite sure why he was extending the invite. If it were anyone else, he probably wouldn't have brought it up but there was something calming about the doctor's demeanor that he realised he was relatively relaxed for someone who had just changed doctors.

"I would love that...thank you," she said, with surprise and warmth at the offer. She tilted her head, holding his eyes for a long moment. She could understand others struggling with the calm man of few words. Truth was, Prudence recognised that perhaps the deaf man didn't have that much he wanted to share with the world anyway. He was private. Inverted. But she didn't see it as necessarily a negative. "It must have been upsetting to see the destruction when it was happening? Plants...can't defend themselves after all."

"Luckily I wasn't there to face the destruction," Pieter admitted, looking relieved at the fact. "I was in Sickbay, under supervision after an allergy attack." He didn't feel like elaborating. Not everyone needed to know about his embarrassing allergy to the cuddliest creature in the galaxy.

She nodded gently, considering it. "How do you react to chaos, Pieter?" she asked, out of curiosity more than anything else. He seemed a decently balanced individual. Or at least, she didn't see any reason not to clear him for continuing duty.

Pieter pursed his lips momentarily as he looked down at the screen where the question was written out. It was an odd question for him as he'd never given it much thought. He just...did. Glancing back up at her, he took a moment to think of a brief answer.

"I adapt," he settled, then decided to clarify slightly. "With work, it's easy because there are priorities and protocols."

"And in your personal life, how do you adapt to chaos? Or perhaps chaotic situations is a better term?" she asked as she held his eyes. "Do you...weigh it over? Do you withdraw to previous experiences and solitude? Or do you...just act and see how it outfolds?"

Pieter stayed quiet, thinking. "People are difficult," he finally replied, trying to find the words to express himself precisely. "I get frustrated, so I usually just react." He knew that was why people usually avoided him, especially in a private setting. Despite his ability to communicate with people, it was still very limited in some situations and he couldn't help but feel frustrated whenever he was misunderstood or if he misunderstood others.

She nodded gently at the words, considering them for a long moment. They were honest words. She knew he didn't lie to her. He was a young man who was trying. And in her eyes, he was doing a lot better than she thought he thought. "It's what most people end up doing. So you find them difficult because you miss out on vocal clues, or because people do not understand yours?"

"Both," Pieter replied quickly. "People think I'm too blunt, but it's the only way I can be to make sure I am not misunderstood. But I still am." Pieter lowered his hands, finishing the phrase off with a shrug that clearly said 'But what can you do'. When he was in his twenties and just starting his career, he was a lot more sensitive to what people thought of him, but after the war and the experiences of the last seventeen years of service, he was used to people thinking whatever they wanted. It wasn't solely his responsibility to establish an understanding, even thought it usually felt like that was what was expected.

"People can be fragile," she said and shook her head, holding his eyes. "And the younger they are, the more insecure they are. I prefer blunt over...well, on the fence," she added, arching an eyebrow. "Now, is there anything I can help you with? I think...you're more than clear for duty."

Pieter just shook his head before starting to stand up. "Thank you," he told her, giving them woman a small smile in return, the first one of the session. He wasn't surprised about being clear for duty as he thought of himself as a very stable person, but it was a nice session.

"Send me a message when you are free to visit the Arboretum."

She stood, watching him before offering her hand to him. "I would love to, Pieter," she said, meaning it with all she was. "And perhaps you can give me some advice on what plants would survive in my quarters? I find that space travel play havoc on orchids, so I am on the market for something else."

"Orchids are difficult," Pieter agreed, obviously feeling her pain. While beautiful, the little buggers were incredibly fickle. "I'll see what I can find for you. I think the nursery has some beautiful Flame Lilies that are coming along nicely." He'd have to check his inventory of course, but Pieter had a habit of planting more plants than he'd need in his research, so giving some away wouldn't hurt anything.

"I would be grateful," she said and gave a nod, taking a deeper breath. "I find it...healthy to have flowers and such around me."

"I like having nature around me. I grew up on a nature reserve, so it's in my blood," Pieter revealed. It had been strange for his family when he'd taken such a strange career as Engineering. The rest of his siblings all remained in the natural sciences their entire lives while Pieter had only rediscovered that love of nature later on in his career. He often wondered if the war had had something to do with that, useless as it was to dwell on such things.

She watched him with interest at the words. She wanted to hear more, but that wasn't from a professional point of view. "I grew up in Oxfordshire...still green, but hardly a nature reserve."

"South Africa," Pieter just replied, motioning to himself.

"Exotic in comparison to me," she said and gave a small smile. "I will contact you soon, Pieter. You keep taking care of yourself."

"You too," Pieter replied. "I hope you enjoy serving on the Galileo." Giving her an encouraging smile followed by a curt, professional nod, Pieter exited the office.

Prudence watched him go, folding her arms. She smiled as she moved back to sit down, considering his words. "I think I will," she said aloud to the empty room. "If you're anything to go by."

[OFF]

Lt. Prudence Devin
Chief Counsellor
USS Gallileo

&

PO1 Pieter Van Zyl
Botanist
USS Galileo
[PNPC by Idris]

RSS Feed