Counseling Science

Posted on Sun Aug 11th, 2019 @ 5:17am by Lieutenant Commander Ariana Monroe-Wayne & Commander Hades,MD

1,939 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Episode 99 - Exordium / Epilogue
Location: Sickbay, SB 400
Timeline: MD 01 1130 hours

ON:

Kalani smiled. Hades had laid down next to her. She'd snuggled up close to him, which was hard to do since they were in a sickbay bed and then he'd been dead to the world the moment he'd laid his head down. She heard the door part and smiled waving Ariana in. She'd actually wanted to speak with the counselor.

Ariana could see that Hades was sleeping and wondered if now was a good time to talk. She smiled warmly and kept her voice low as she spoke. "Kalani, it's good to see you looking better. I can come back if now isn't a good time?"

Kalani chuckled. "He's pretty much dead to the world. I don't think he slept the entire month I was in the coma."

"Yeah he's a stubborn one alright!" Ariana grinned. "Yet he has the cheek to make me rest!!" She offered a smile. "Kalani I'm so Sorry about your baby!" Ariana gave Kalani an understanding look. "I know how painful it is."

Kalani's eyes filled with tears. "When I was on Orion I was told that I couldn't get pregnant. What if this baby was my only chance?" She tried to shake her thoughts but...they were there in the stillness..

"Kalani..." Ariana placed her hand on Kalani's. "Your baby was a miracle, there's nothing to say that miracle won't happen again. I know I still have one baby, but when I lost my son I thought my world was at an end!" She paused. "I went to the holodeck with a friend and during a routine program my dead husband appeared to me holding my son." Her own eyes misted over. "I realised then that miracles do happen! Don't give up!!"

She looked over at Hades' sleeping form. "He won't say anything. He won't even acknowledge the baby. I ..." She shifted. "Will you help me get up? I need to walk a little?"

"Are you sure you're strong enough?" Ariana gave what hand she could to Kalani to help her up. "It could be that Hades is struggling to accept the loss of your child. He was devastated at the thought of losing you, let alone your baby as well. He hasn't spoken to me about his feelings at all, in fact he transferred his counselling care to Splendora so I'm as much in the dark as you are."

Kalani gently moved Hades aside and with Ariana's aid stood. She turned and pulled the cover over him and they made their way out into the waiting area where they could talk and see the stars through the window. "It could be but...I think he's feeling guilty."

"What makes you think that?" Ariana looked at Kalani curiously.

"When we first got together I told him that I could not have children...or so I thought. He said he was fine with that and that he was not planning on having any maybe he feels guilty about not wanting a child...I..." She shook her head. "I just don't know Counselor. I feel. Lost. It's almost like a part of me is gone."

"As hard as it is to say and hear, a part of you is." Ariana looked out towards the stars. "It's something that you'll come to terms with in your own time, it won't be easy and perhaps in time that miracle will happen for both of you again." She looked back at Kalani. "As for Hades, perhaps he is feeling guilty or maybe he just doesn't know how to accept the loss of your child. Did you think that maybe he feels guilty for not being able to protect you?"

"Yes...that I know. One thing I am learning about my husband is that he seems to carry the world on his shoulders...and maybe perhaps a few moons." She smiled and took Ariana's hand. "I am so sorry you lost your baby too."

"Thank you Kalani" Ariana smiled warmly. "It takes time to accept, and to be honest it's not something you'll ever really understand or want to accept but as I've learned you have little choice. In the long run you have to accept it and move on. I have my daughter and my boyfriend to keep me going, you have Hades. I'll try talking to him about the baby but I don't know if he'll talk to me about it."

She smiled and was about to say something when she felt something roll to a stop by her leg. She looked down and picked up a round red ball. She held it up. "What's this....?"

"I have absolutely no idea!" Ariana looked at Kalani in surprise.

She looked around and just as she looked up a little Orion girl came running around the corner. She laughed and took the ball from Kalani who smiled at the child. The little girl smiled back at her and then at Ariana. She ran to another figure who lifted her up, a Romulan woman. The woman brushed the child's hair aside to reveal Vulcan ears. The girl smiled and blew a kiss to Kalani. "Bye mommy!" The woman and child disappeared.

Kalani stood. "Di....did you see that?"

Ariana looked as astounded as Kalani. She nodded at a loss for words herself. "Yes....I did." She looked at Kalani. "Did you....recognise the woman?"

"Not...personally but Hades told me about her. Lai...Lailira?"

Ariana nodded. "It's just....like with Jonathon and my son." She smiled warmly at Kalani. "I think she came to put your mind at rest, I just wish Hades could have seen it too."

Kalani looked at Ariana and smiled, "Well...I think he might have been trying to dissect this too much."

"I can understand that" Ariana smiled. "It took me a little while to get over the miracle I witnessed but it's helped me to move on, I just hope it helps you too."

She smiled again tears in her eyes. "I wish I knew it was real."

"It was real. We both saw her Kalani, she had your looks and Hades ears!" Ariana grinned. "I've never believed in the prophets before but I think they wanted both of us to be at rest judging from the miracles they've allowed us to witness. You deserve happiness, you both do."

She took Ariana's hand. "I wish Hades saw that. He feels like he doesn't deserve happiness."

"If anyone deserves happiness it's Hades!" Ariana offered a smile. "I consider him to be a good friend even though he's cagey about his feelings around me, more so because I'm an empath. I can understand that he's a private man, but he does need to talk as bottling it up isn't going to do him any good in the long run. Maybe between us we can encourage Hades to talk."

"I have tried."

As she said this there was the sound of a door whooshing open and a rather frazzled looking Hades ran past the waiting room only to double back. "What are you doing here?!"

Kalani sighed, "I needed a walk and wanted to talk to the counselor a bit."

"You are not supposed to be out of bed!" He looked at Ariana. "Why on earth did you bring her here?"

Kalani stood. "Hades..."

Before she could say anything he lifted her up into his arms and started out the door. "You can talk while you are resting."

Kalani looked over at Ariana giving her an apologetic look.

Ariana followed but paused at the door as Kalani was settled back into bed by Hades. "I err...I should be going. It's important you get your rest." In truth she felt like Hades was annoyed with her and pregnancy hormones didn't help, making her feel even more in the wrong. "I'll call back and see you when you've had chance to rest "

Kalani gave Hades a hard look. "Nonsense. He's just being nutty. Stay with me a while longer?"

She gave Hades a look and reminded him that he had patients. He huffed and stormed out.

Kalani sighed, "I'm so sorry...he's not usually like this. This....has been hard."

“I know it has, but I feel in the wrong for allowing you up and about.” Ariana sighed. “I don’t want Hades to be angry with me, or you, Kalani.”

She smiled, "Doctor Harris wanted to discharge me. Hades won't allow it. He treats me like a porcelain doll. You are not in the wrong. He's .... overprotective. He's moved up the wedding....I feel...overwhelmed." She confided.

"I know that feeling" Ariana nodded. "How would you feel about confronting Hades? He needs to face what he's doing, not just to himself, but to you too."

"Perhaps. I....have to think a lot on it. He's been through so much and part of me just wants to let him be."

Ariana nodded. "Sorry...it was a silly suggestion. Forget I suggested it." She offered an apologetic smile.

Kalani took Ariana's hand. "Don't ever be sorry for suggesting what you feel is right. I know Hades has not been the easiest but he does respect you."

"Maybe" Ariana's smile faded a little. "I'm not completely sure of that. He spends more time avoiding me than talking to me these days."

She sighed, "It's his way. He's got so much on his plate and he's worried about Splendora." Kalani looked around. "Can I confide something to you?"

"Of course" Ariana nodded as she looked curiously at Kalani. "What you say stays between us."

"Hades is really worried about Splendora. He's been searching for her all his life you know."

"Why?" Ariana looked at Kalani even more curiously. "Does this have something to do with what's happening to Splendora?"

"A long and complicated story but...she's his half sister. They have the same father. He cheated on his spouse and she on hers, Splendora was the result."

"His half sister!" Ariana smiled. "Splendora never told me that. I guess it explains a lot. Now he has the worry of what's happening to her too. I don't know how much more Hades can take."

"She doesn't know. He has not told her." She sighed. "I don't know how much he can take. I am worried about him."

"Okay so he has a sister who doesn't know what she is to him, plus the rest of the universe on his shoulders. I'm afraid if he doesn't do something soon I may have to force the issue. I may have to recommend relieving Hades of duty until he's received some counselling."

Suddenly Kalani looked down at her hands. She hadn't meant for this to happen. She knew that relieving him from duty would brake him. He'd been right about trusting people and here she was ignoring what he'd told her months ago. "I should not have said anything." She hated herself.

Ariana shook her head. "No, please Kalani I didn't mean...." She paused. "I won't say anything, but Hades needs to come and see me. If not for himself then for you!" She moved to stand up. "I've made you feel bad enough so I'm going now. Just tell Hades..." With that she turned to leave.

Kalani gave a nod. Her eyes filled with tears as Ariana left. She settled back and silently cried. If she cost Hades his career she'd never forgive herself.

Ariana paused as she reached the doors, looking back at Kalani. "Kalani I promise you, this will stay between us." With that she stepped out hoping that she wasn't letting her heart rule over her better judgement.

[OFF]

OFF:

RSS Feed