Get Them While They're Young

Posted on 25 Mar 2015 @ 12:42am by Lieutenant Prudence Devin Ph.D. & Laeon Wylde

1,225 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Episode 08 - NIMBUS
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 3, Sickbay
Timeline: MD-03 - 13:00

ON:

Prudence Devin smiled weakly as she finished the inventory. Standard things that were something anyone could do. But yet, it was good to have an up to date overview of the physical stocks. However, through it, she had been studying the teenager. Because this was clearly not a place for a child. So she was curious to how and why he was here. So she didn't hesitate to walk over to him, giving him a small smile. "Hey," she said, not letting go of his eyes once his met hers. "I'm Prudence Devin."

Laeon watched her with surprise at the sudden and upfront introduction, but smiled gently to her in return. He was also curious about her, not having seen her around before. "Laeon Wylde," he offered in return, touching his forehead before pushing the hand away to motion to her with it. "Are you a doctor?" he asked, abashed at having to ask, but making a guess with her in medical teal.

"Here I'm a counsellor," Prudence admitted, a small smile on her lips as she held Laeon's eyes. "But I have medical training and I am a psychiatrist..." she searched his face for a moment before deciding to be honest. "Now, unless Starfleet recruits young...you're not actually in the Fleet. How come you are still on the ship and not back at the Starbase with the rest?" she asked bluntly, but it was softened with a small smile. She remembered being a teenager. Honesty and not being treated like a baby was what she had preferred.

He gave a half grin at the direct question, shaking his head as he set the pile of replacement blankets on the bed. It was refreshing. "I volunteered to help out over the exercise," he replied honestly, shrugging gently. "Not to actually treat of course, the small things that take time up from others."

"Why?" she asked as she smiled weakly, shaking her head. "I mean, how interesting will it be being here while we are..." she stopped, meeting his eyes. "Playing at war." She understood the need for the training, but found it...unsettling. Starfleet was about exploration to her. War games reminded her of the darker sides of it.

Laeon glanced across to her as he took a gentle breath, considering his options. In the end, there was only one option. For better or worse, he'd never been one for lying. Like his father, even blunt truths were easier than lies to him. "My father is Dr Wylde. I'm....technically a child," he couldn't keep the note of frustration from his voice. "I would have had to stay on the starbase if I didn't work. And I don't like being left behind."

She held his eyes before smiling, reaching to touch his arm. "Well, just as well then," she said softly. "Even as a technical child...you can still pull your weight and you will do well. Just...stick close to me when you get unsure, okay?"

His smiled returned at that and he nodded, watching her with curiosity as he leant against the side. "What....*really*....does a counsellor do?" he asked with interest. "Father says you're like the Priests back home."

She raised an eyebrow at the words before shrugging. "It depends on what your Priests did. We...help people. People with mental issues, emotional troubles or who just want to talk. We offer therapies and exercises that can help."

"Do many people in Starfleet and on the Galileo have mental problems?" he asked with an innocent air, his blue/violet eyes blinking.

"I think it's why most join Starfleet..." Prudence said teasingly, her eyes shining playfully. "We're put in stressful situations. It has its effects. So we try to help. A lot of people are far from family. It gets lonely...so they need to talk. Someone who won't judge."

"And you won't judge?" he asked softly, trying to get a sense of her, and what her job had to be like.

"I won't judge," Prudence said before looking around, clearly considering something before moving closer to him. "It is not easy. But I know that everyone is different. I have not lived someone's life, walked in their shoes, heard their thoughts. Therefore, I have no right to judge..." her eyes shone gently before nudging the boy. "I can advise and I can prescribe treatment."

"Like a doctor then," he said softly, nodding as he watched her. "Then you are like the Priests. What...what do you do if you think someone needs to talk to a Priest but can't or won't?"

"I try to sit down with them...talk of other things. Gain their trust," Prudence said softly as she watched the boy. "And if it does not work, I tell them straight. Better to be honest if you ask me."

He nodded slowly, frowning as his jaw tightened and he glanced away, unsure if he should say anything.

She watched him, her eyes softening before she touched his arm. "So maybe we should sit down and talk?" she suggested gently.

He shrugged softly, licking his lips before looking back to her, but couldn't quite meet her eyes. "My father....he suggested I could talk to someone like you. But...I don't know....I think he needs to. But he won't."

"Well...nothing stops me from talking to both of you," Prudence pointed out, watching him. "I'll get him into my office...talk to him. Okay?"

"Don't say I said anything. He won't be happy about it," Laeon's frown deepened as he shook his head. "He...tries to pretend things don't hurt him. But he still has nightmares. I feel them."

She held his eyes before she touched his arm. "I think you might need to talk too," she told him in a gentle voice. "As much as he does. And I will drag him into my office."

"I'd like to see that," he laughed gently, his eyes warm as he watched her. "Sorry. I suppose this isn't really the time for this."

"We're in transit...it's the perfect time," she said teasingly, her eyes gentle as she watched him. "I'll see if I can speak to your father later today."

"Thanks," Laeon visibly relaxed as he glanced down to his hands. "He's so bloody stubborn," he whispered to her with a gentle shake of his head. "And a doctor, so he always denies when anything is wrong."

Prudence nodded as she watched him, her eyes gentle. "I suspect this runs in the family, Laeon...stubborn, I mean."

His eyes widened at the suggestion and he laid a hand on his chest. "Who me?" he said innocently before a smile returned and he laughed softly. "Okay, well maybe a little. My uncle Jaq says that Dad and I are too alike and that is half the problem when one of us has a goal in sight."

"It can be, I've heard," she said softly, holding his eyes before smiling gently. "So...maybe we can talk tomorrow? And I shall find your father and ask him to see me."

"Hm," he watched her, musing on it for a long moment before finally reaching out to squeeze her shoulder. "Deal."


OFF:

Laeon Wylde
Civilian/Sickbay Volunteer
USS Galileo
[PNPC Blake]

&

Lt. Prudence Devin
Chief Counsellor
USS Galileo

RSS Feed