Checking Up

[fabulousrory21]

It's been six months, give or take a week, since the Enterprise shipped out. Six months since they've left San Francisco, their home (or second homes, as it might be for some).

As the ship's counsellor (Rory may be a psychologist, but she hates the word shrink), she's required to 'check in' on the ship's senior crew, and taking other cases as she sees fit and ensuring all crew are mentally prepared and fit for duty during this five year mission that they're on.

Today, her lucky patient is the Captain himself. James T. Kirk.

Comments

[captainawesome1701]

Ugh, he hates these days. Yes, he's getting better, and yes, once they get going, their little chats are completely fine, but he still has that sense of dread leading up to each one. Especially when he steps out of the turbo lift to start down the corridor towards her office. But he dutifully soldiers on, pressing the companel next to the door to let her know he's here.

[fabulousrory21]

"Captain," Rory greets him with a smile as she opens the door for him. "You're right on time."

[captainawesome1701]

"I'm getting better." Mostly thanks to Janice and her constant reminders, but still. He was! "So what's up?"

[fabulousrory21]

That makes Rory grin a little. Does Jim think by telling her right off the bat that he's better gets him out of this?

"That's good to hear." She motions to one of the two chairs in her office, offering him a seat. "Sooo, today, we're just going to talk and see how things are. Just like always. Sound good?"

[captainawesome1701]

Hey, it was worth a try, right?

"Yeah, I suppose." He sits in the chair and god, this is always the awkward part, trying to figure out where to start. "So...."

[fabulousrory21]

Taking the seat beside him, Rory crosses her legs and leans back a little. Her PADD is tucked into the side of her chair. Even though she doesn't use it openly in front of Jim, it's weirdly comforting to have her notes on him within reach.

"So... How have you been, Jim?" It's a sincere question, and she's got no problem slipping into the 'Rory and Jim' routine they always have for these sessions.

((WHATEVER. STRAIGHT TO THE ANGST.))

[captainawesome1701]

"I.... I had a dream the other night." He chuckles, trying to make it sound like a completely normal thing, but he's rubbing his palms together and completely avoiding eye contact with her. "It was... nothing. I couldn't see anything, I couldn't hear anything, I could barely breathe. It was.. well, it's what I remember from the coma, actually."

Re: ((WHATEVER. STRAIGHT TO THE ANGST.))

[fabulousrory21]

Even if Jim refuses to make eye contact with her, Rory's keeping her sights on him. She's listening as he describes this dream, this... nothingness, but his body language is raising red flags for her. Jim might be trying to make her think this is no big deal, but she's not buying it.

"Was this the first time you've had this dream? Have you had trouble sleeping lately?"

[captainawesome1701]

"Uh...." He has sleeping problems in the first place just from the stress of being captain, so it's difficult for him to determine if it's worse than usual or not. "No, it's not the first time I've had it."

[fabulousrory21]

"How many times do you remember having this dream, Jim?"

Rory typically doesn't remember her dreams when she wakes up, but the rare time that she does, she can count the number on one hand.