STF

Counselor Check In

Posted Sept. 2, 2022, 12:31 p.m. by Lieutenant Cara Esmé O’Farrell (Counselor / Education Specialist) (Jennifer Ward)

Posted by Ensign Samuel Andrew McIntyre (Security officer) in Counselor Check In

Posted by Lieutenant Cara Esmé O’Farrell (Counselor / Education Specialist) in Counselor Check In

Posted by Ensign Samuel Andrew McIntyre (Security officer) in Counselor Check In
Posted by… suppressed (10) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
” Well growing up on ships has its advantages Lieutenant my dad was the commanding officer of the first starship I went onto and I used to sneak onto the bridge every chance I got to sit in the Captain’s Chair when I was younger. But as I got older I spent a lot of time around the Marines on board and that’s where all my training started a sergeant who had a daughter on board who was my age at the time. And that’s when my father wasn’t pushing Starfleet regulations on me or explaining commanding a ship to me.” Sam replied to the Lieutenant as bringing up his dad changed his tone and demeanor fast to angrier with some ounces of hatred towards the man he was just speaking of.

McIntyre Security Officer

“So the Sergeant was a kind of mentor for you. Were you and his daughter good friends?” Cara didn’t miss the anger towards his father. It wasn’t a story Cara was unfamiliar with. Parents often loved or were so dedicated to what they did, to their own life’s work that they just assumed their children would want to follow in their footsteps. Anger and frustration at one’s parents weren’t a cause for concern in a general sense. It happened, and the purpose of this meeting wasn’t to deep dive into any issues the ensign had, but to get to know him and make sure there were no glaring immediate problems.

O’Farrell

” Yes the Sargent was an excellent mentor as for his daughter yes we were close friends we were like two peas in a pod for years went through boot together rose threw the ranks together until my last year in the Marines we were slatted for another promotion and she was offered a chance to take a larger promotion aboard a ship I was gonna let her pass it up so we split she was later Killed in action and I left the Marines. I spoke to her father once before my transfer but that was it. I’ve tried to hide that pain and emotion for far too long.” Sam replied to the counselor his expression now one of loss and pain and suffering.

Mcintyre Security Officer

Cara quietly acknowledged his words and his admission that he had been trying to hide his grief. “I am very sorry for your loss. Even though we know it’s a possibility, we know the risk, it doesn’t ease the pain when we lose them. Tell me about her.”

O’Farrell

” Mara was just one of those girls smart beautiful and could outshoot half the men in her battalion with an excellent smile dark hair fair skin killer blue eyes she loved to dance. And thank you, Lieutenant.” Reached for a photo outta his inside jacket pocket and handed it to the Lieutenant. ” I’ve kept this photo since high school of Mara and me during our senior year.”

McIntyre Security Officer

Cara took the photo and looked at it. “She looks like she loved life and was always smiling. Senior year, so before you both joined the Marines? Where was this taken?” She passed the photo back to him. A very special person indeed to be kept inside his jacket pocket.

O’Farrell

Taking the photo back and placing it back inside his jacket. ” It was taken out by the bay there in San Francisco the night before graduation and she loved life to the fullest every day. We had signed our papers for the Marines earlier in the year together and were shipping out the day after graduation. The day we left her dad watched us leave like a proud father knowing that everything was gonna be ok. We had promised him and each other that we would have each other’s backs and come home safely together. That first yr that Mara and I had come home was like the day we left her dad was there to pick us up and we had drunk and barbequed with her dad. Mara and I by then had been together since middle school so I asked her dad one of the biggest questions I would ask anyone by that point in my life, which was to ask her dad if I could marry Mara which he told me I could and two days before we had returned to duty I asked her to marry me she had said yes. Oh, I was on cloud nine at that point and felt invincible. The day she died regardless of our status I felt horrible and drank a lot for a couple of days and I almost couldn’t face her father because I felt I had failed the promise I had made to her and him. He had told me the day I finally faced him that it wasn’t my fault she knew her duty and sacrifice and the risks and gave me a shot glass and a fifty-year-old bottle of bourbon only to be cracked and drank when I go to visit her, and that he was proud of me. That was our last conversation ever he died after the transfer to Starfleet. I made sure they were buried next to each other and I took two shots of that bourbon and I do it every yr or now whenever we go home. Sorry, Lieutenant I didn’t mean to ramble the question just brought up so many memories.” Sam had replied to her question feeling sad now and a little embarrassed because of the memories that had just got brought up and he had rambled on after the feelings tore threw Sam like a knife being jammed into his heart and tall strong solid as a rock Marine broke down like a sad little child.

McIntyre Security Officer

Cara got up from her seat and moved to an adjacent to him and set her hand carefully on his arm. The other holds a box of tissues within easy reach. “No apologies necessary. It hurts at first, ta talk and remember, but it gets…clearer ta be able to remember the joy instead of the pain.” She let him cry for however long he needed to. Part of healthy grieving was acknowledging the loss and the pain it leaves behind.

Eventually she said, “Memories are precious and should be taken out and dusted off from time ta time. You said you’ve kept it mostly bottled up. Have you allowed yourself to mourn for them at all? Even if in private?”

O’Farrell

After taking a couple of the tissues and whipping his eyes and blowing his nose Sam regained his composure before replying to the Lieutenant. ” Thank you, Lieutenant and no not even in private have I allowed myself to break down this badly. I’ve always found a way to like working a lot.

Mcintyre Security Officer

“That’s what I’m here for, lad.” She set the box down and got up returning quickly with a glass of water. “Work can be good. One foot, one task, after another. And grievin’ doesn’t always mean breakin’ down. Sometimes it just means lettin’ the loss make itself known at the moment, and then lettin’ go. Sometimes it’s havin’ a box of memories on a shelf and takin’ it down every so often. And sometimes it’s allowin’ herself ta cry.”

“We can work through the process targeted if you like.”

O’Farrell

” Thank you for the water and yes we can work through the process that would be nice.” Sam responded as he drank the water.

Mcintyre security officer

“I will send ya some choices for times ta come back, and we’ll do that.” A quick tap on her PaDD did just that and he would receive the memo when he returned to his quarters. “Now why don’t ya tell me what ya are most lookin’ forward ta on Atlantis.”

O’Farrell

” Honestly it’s getting to explore and see different planets and their cultures from the Starfleet point of the way, not the marine’s way unless it turns hostile Lieutenant.” Sam replied to the question asked.

McIntyre Security Officer

“All wonderful things ta experience.” Cara felt there was a bit of caution needed here though. “I would strongly suggest you speak with your DH Lt Cmdr Mardusk about that Star fleet vs marine way and his expectations.” She knew absolutely that the chief of security had very strict rules about that and strong opinions.

“Last question for you, Ensign. What do you think is going to be your biggest obstacle?”

O’Farrell

Sam concentrated on the question a bit before answering. ” Well, I would say that it is gonna be making sure that I think like Starfleet and not like a Marine when it comes to certain situations. So that way we don’t have an incident on our hands and I handle my temper a little better Lieutenant.” Sam responded to the question. ” As for the Commander, I will make sure I talk to him about how he likes things are done when it comes to his security staff.” was his response to her suggestion.

McIntyre Security Officer

Cara felt that was a realistic evaluation. She doubted the transition would be easy, but at least he had some time from the Academy behind him. “I think if you keep those things in mind, they will help you make the transition. I’ve sent you a choice of days and times to come back. After you get your shift rotation from the CoS you can pick a time that works best for you.”

“Now, do you have any questions for me? Anything I can help you with before I send you on your way?”

O’Farrell


Posts on USS Atlantis

In topic

Posted since


© 1991-2024 STF. Terms of Service

Version 1.15.9