No Labels

Posted on 01 May 2026 @ 9:48pm by Lieutenant JG Delainey Carlisle & Theo Winters

1,613 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Episode 21 - Helix
Location: Counselor's office
Timeline: MD 7 1130 Hours

Theo finished cleaning up the room he shared with Serran. Taking extra time to make sure he got things spotless and perfect. Not that Serran cared about that necessarily, rather, he just wanted to do things right.

When he was done, he headed to the counselor's office. He was dealing with more than one challenge. He knew he couldn't handle them on his own, but he knew where to find help.

He pressed the chime outside the Counselor's office door.

“Come in,“ Carlisle called out, her voice indicating a small degree of surprise. She wasn’t expecting anyone, but her office doors opened upon hearing her invitation. She looked up from her desk and smiled. “Hello, Theo.“ She gestured for him to come in and make himself comfortable. She had only spoken to him once so far, but she had been happy to help him sort out some of his feelings concerning his sexual identity and relationships. She found herself scanning his features, feeling protective of the young boy.

Theo's face reflected uncertainty, and he was struggling with something profound.

"I, I need to talk to someone. I was going to talk with my dad, Serran," he added as if she didn't know who he considered his father to be, even though in his mind he knew she did.

"But, he got a call from home, his mother, I think, "his father died. That seemed a lot more important than what I was going to talk to him about."

“I’m very sorry for your father,” Carlisle replied sincerely. “I am certain he would always make time for you no matter what he has going on, but I can understand your reluctance, and I’m happy to listen to what’s on your mind. You can always come to me, Theo.”

"Thanks, I appreciate it. I don't know who and what I'm attracted to, but I'm not sure what to call it."

"I'm not even sure how to explain it, or if it's real."

"Dad has taught me a lot about computers and coding, so I've been writing some holodeck programs. I could write, I have written some em..." his voice trailed off slightly, "graphic, but I don't."

"I like kissing, maybe a little more with both other guys and girls. More guys, I think. But I'm probably the only fifteen-year-old in the history of the world that doesn't want to have sex."

"Is that unusual or what?"

Carlisle was never sure she was going to be able to follow Theo‘s train of thought, but she appreciated how direct he was. “I’m curious as to why you think you’re the only 15 year-old in the history of the world that doesn’t want to have sex?” She knew it was a risk to respond to a question with a question, especially with a teenager, but she genuinely wanted to understand his point of view before she risked launching into a soliloquy. She was very much aware of the age difference between them and of not wanting to appear old and out of touch.

He shrugged his shoulders and sighed. Not too much to be theatrical, but enough to be noticeable.

"Okay, maybe not the only one. But almost everyone thinks about it. And I don't mean being obsessed with it, or thinking about it all the time, or wanting it right now. I mean, I don't even think about it happening in the future."

“So what do you think that means about who you are?“ She appreciated Theo‘s clarity, but needed to know more about what exactly he considered the problem.

"I don't know for sure. I don't know if this is normal for me/or if anything will change when I get older."

"And if I don't change, if this is the way I am, how do I navigate relationships. Because I may not be the only teenager thinking about it, but most do. How is he, she, they, whoever going to take it?"

“It sounds like you think it means there’s something wrong with you, and if that’s true, you’re worried a potential partner will think less of you?” She could’ve said Theo was getting ahead of himself and encouraged him to focus on the present, but it was important to Carlisle that she not sound like an adult minimizing his feelings. Even more importantly, she needed him to recognize all of his underlying negative thoughts.

The teen paused before answering. "Yeah. Mostly, I feel like there is something that needs to be fixed. And I'm worried about what any potential partners, as you put it will think, but just as importantly, maybe more importantly, how do I relate to them?"

Theo‘s last question seemed to reveal the heart of the matter. Perhaps he was only thinking something was wrong because he assumed he wouldn’t be able to relate. “Let me ask, do all of your friends eat the same foods, wear the same clothes, and have the same hobbies?“

"No, of course not," he replied almost immediately. "But, I don't..."

"Okay, I know you're going someplace with your questions, I'm aware enough to figure that out, but what exactly are you getting at?"

"I'm not trying to be an asshole, I just want to know."

Delainey laughed at his comment about not wanting to be an asshole. "I know you're not trying to be difficult, and I appreciate your curiosity. My point is that despite not having everything in common with your friends, you've still managed to find ways to connect and relate, right? So why does this particular difference have to mean there's something wrong with you that must be fixed?"

Theo leaned back in his chair. "Okay, I guess that makes sense. But isn't there a difference between someone I want to hang out with or jump into a holodeck adventure with and someone I might want to be romantic with? That I should want to be romantic with?"

“That word should keep sneaking in, doesn’t it?“ Delainey replied. “Do you see the problem with that?“

The teen didn't say anything for several seconds as he processed what the counselor had suggested.

"I don't know. Maybe?"

"What sho..." he stopped himself. "What is a better alternative? Do you have any suggestions?"

Carlisle smiled. “I do, but first, I’d like to hear your ideas. You said you could maybe see why that word ‘should‘ could be causing problems. Tell me more about that.“

"I think maybe that I keep using the word should because I'm dealing with what I think other people's expectations or, instead of setting my own, I'm figuring out my own."

"That seems plausible," Delainey replied evenly."

"Thanks," the teen replied. "I guess that helps some; it means it's up to me. But I still need help figuring it out."

"You said you had some suggestions. Could you tell me what they are?"

Carlisle smiled. "Sure. I was actually thinking the same thing you were about exploring your own expectations for yourself. Maybe you could start by thinking about what you value? If other people weren't around and you only had yourself and your needs to consider, what kind of person would you be? What sorts of actions or beliefs would be most important to you?"

"I value honesty, commitment, and trust. So, if I only had myself, I would try to exhibit those same qualities. I try to do that now anyway."

"I believe you," Delainey replied. "So, keeping in mind those values that matter to you most, where does judging yourself for feeling or not feeling things you think you should fit in?"

"It doesn't, or maybe more accurately, they don't. Judging myself doesn't change things. It doesn't fix things. "

"But, it's still hard not to do it. I still feel left out. like I'm missing something that I should desire."

"I get that," Delainey replied with an acknowledging nod. "I think it comes down to making a choice daily on what you're going to tell yourself. Some days you're going to tell yourself you're missing something, and some days you're going to choose to believe you have nothing to judge yourself for. Expecting perfection right off the bat is not realistic, but with practice, I think you'll figure out the truth you can live with."

"I hope so. I think you're right. Serran, Dad said he was going to help me learn to program holodeck scenarios. Maybe that will help."

"Sometimes focusing on other things can be helpful, I agree. Sometimes when we're lost in our own thoughts, it helps to do something physical."

"I hope you're correct, but even if that's not the case, I think it will be fun."

Carlisle feigned shock. “Oh no, not fun.“

Theo laughed, "I know. Right? I mean, I think it would be good for both of us."

“I agree with you,“ the counselor replied. “As much as I believe in using skills and strategies to help people cope with their challenges, sometimes the best medicine is time and a wee bit of distraction… Healthy distraction, that is.“

"I am pretty sure that Dad is going to make sure the distraction is a healthy one."

“Knowing him as I do, I think that’s a pretty safe bet,” Delainey responded with a chuckle.

"Boring, but healthy. Maybe we can set up a time for me to come back later."

“You’re welcome to come back anytime,” Carlisle replied, sincerely. Delainey put a hand beside her mouth and whispered, “Don’t tell anyone, but you’re one of my favorite people here.“

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