Posted by Major Stanley Wong (Professor of Psychiatric Medicine) in Cross at Stan’s Quarters -

Posted by Lieutenant Miriam Cross (Chief Medical Officer) in Cross at Stan’s Quarters -

Posted by Major Stanley Wong (Professor of Psychiatric Medicine) in Cross at Stan’s Quarters -
Posted by… suppressed (15) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Miriam opened her eyes after a good night’s sleep ,she was ready to get out of bed when she remembered the appointment with the psychiatrist ‘’Darn’‘ Cross muttered before pulling the duvet over her head.
Knowing she could not stay there for the whole day the female doctor got out of bed and made her way to the shower,brushed her teeth after which she got dressed in her doctor’s uniform,that is tunic and trousers, brushed her hair,poked her tongue at herself in the mirror and left.

Standing outside Mr Wong’s quarters Cross focused on the door and just like a little girl imagined the horrible monster inside that would surely swallow her up .
Hearing a small voice in her head saying * You’re loosing it my dear doctor* Cross took a deep breath and pressed the chime.Hands behind her back she managed to put up a smile.
Cross CMO.

Inside at his desk Stahley was refamiliarizing what he knew of PTSD and its attendant problems. He was dressed as always casually. Although for Stanley it was pretty conservative. He wore a green polo shirt and dark blue jogging shorts. He looked up from his computer as he heard the buzzer, scratched his head and called out. “Yes come in please!”

Dr. Wong

Cross stepped in her smile still on,though she wondered how long it would take before it disappeared . ‘’Good morning Mr Wong ‘’ Miriam noticed what he was wearing and wondered how many clothes he had brought with him .
Cross CMO.

As the door slid open Stanley looked up to see who it was. Seeing it was Cross Stanley stood up and smiled broadly at her greeting. He clasped his hands together in front of him and smiled profusely as he greeted her. “Ah doctor Cross! ” He declared. Please have a seat and let me know how I may be of service to you. “Or if you prefer, we can just chat about all the latest gossip!” As he sat down Stanley couldn’t help to think that just to tease Cross, he would have to remind her that his correct for of address would not only be doctor but to remind her that with his rank that made him the ranking doctor on board! :D He knew though that something like that was far down the road once they got to know one another better.

Stanley pushed a small glass bowl over to the edge of his desk where Cross had sat. In it there was piled up little mints. “Have a mint, Doctor Cross?” he asked.

Dr. Stanley Wong

Sitting down Cross took a mint ‘’The latest gossip ? What latest gossip? ‘’ the doctor asked knowing that on the Merrimack gossip moved at a warp speed no yet invented.

’‘ let me know how I may be of service to you’‘.

‘’I thought I was suppose to see you’‘ Cross replied ‘’Have I mixed the dates ? Shall I make another appointment?’‘ she asked in a polite tone .
Cross CMO.

Stanley smiled and leaned back in the comfortable chair he was sitting in now and clasped his hands behind his neck as he spoke to Cross saying, “Yes doctor I believe you were supposed to come in. But I want you to know that you are always welcome to stop by. I like for my services to be available to all whenever they need it.”

Cross also was sitting in a comfortable and relaxed way,keeping eye contact with Stanley the whole time though there was an assessing look in her eyes ‘’Why thank you doctor ‘’she replied back ‘’That’s very kind of you’‘.
Pausing then for an instant Stanley asked Cross. “So have you been keeping up on your diet and exercise doctor?” Stanley asked. If so, I believe we can perhaps move along to some other concerns, you may have.”

Dr. Wong
‘’Oh most definitely ‘’ Cross responded back and with the dusty rose of her cheeks it showed.

. If so, I believe we can perhaps move along to some other concerns, you may have.”.

‘’Actually I would rather we get to know each other better and gradually build our relationship on trust that way, after all what had happened in the past has shaped us into what we are now.’‘ her voice was both honey sweet and calming ‘’What do you think Mr Wong?’‘ .
She smiled but it held no joy.

Cross CMO.

Stanley smiled and his eyes twinkled as he shrugged his shoulders. “I am an open book doctor.” He said to Cross. “A somewhat boring one I’m afraid but an open one, nonetheless. If there’s something you want to know about me merely ask.”

Dr. Stanley Wong

Since he did not kick her right away from his quarters, Cross figured she was up until now on the right track ‘’Any family back on Earth? If so you must miss them being so far away from home ?’‘ the female doctor asked with an inquisitive glance.

Cross CMO.

Stanley smiled and nodded. “Family?” he asked with humor in his voice. “My father passed a few years ago. My mother Carlita still lives in Havana with my aunt Diega. Her other sister, my aunt Jaidyn and her husband my Uncle Hernando also still live in Havana. I also have my father’s brother who lives in Miami with his wife. I also have my father’s two other brothers and their wives living in Shanghai.” Stanley paused then and smiled saying, “I won’t bore you with all the cousins.” H then smiled at the thought as he said, “I still have grandparents on my father’s side of the family who live in Beijing. “.

Cross listened with attentiveness and curiosity.

Scratching his head for a moment he continued as he continued. “My oldest brother lives in Spain, another brother lives in Santiago Cuba. I have two sisters both of which live in Canada.” Stanley laughed as he said,” Well that’s the short version. And to answer your question it is yes; I miss them all terribly.

‘’A short version? You’re family must be scattered around the globe ‘’ she commented.

” And what about you Doctor Cross? Any family for you?”

Dr. Wong

‘’Not much to say,mother was sixteen when she gave birth to me ,we lived with my dear grandfather ‘’ Cross replied now fixing her eyes on an imaginary spot on the floor ‘’I don’t know what would have become of me if it wasn’t for him,he’s dead and mother ‘’ she shrugged her shoulders ‘’I don’t care about her, she was never a mother to me ..that’s about it ‘’ the doctor whispered the last few words.

Cross CMO.

” So, Doctor Cross, “Stanley began. “It would seem like you had a few gaps, a few openings in your life when you were young. I have never been to the place where you came from, but I always imagined that from their geographical place on the map that family would be a very important thing. Very central to the culture. Is this the case or am I mistaken?”

Dr. Stanley Wong

‘’I’ll make it more clear ,we lived at the outskirts of a small fishing village ,grandpa had no siblings and only one child, my mother ‘’ Cross stopped as she thought of the place were she grew up ‘’Grandma died years before I was born and had a sister who according to my grandfather decided to enter a convent in India ‘’ the doctor smiled.

‘’Guess we are a dying breed ‘’ then she went on ‘’As for my biological father I never knew him though grandpa did but that’s another story ,so you see doctor Wong not all families are alike ,true my mother is still alive but I do not want to make any contact with her and neither does she ‘’ at this point Cross opened her arms and shrugged.
‘’Maybe that is why I consider the Merrimack my home’‘.

Cross CMO.

Stanley considered what Doctor Cross had said for a moment before replying. “Believe it or not doctor your story is a tale as old as the old ships with sails. The sea and later space always seemed to beckon to those with something missing in their lives or those who felt no anchor to any place or group of people. Such a thing is you might find it interesting to know often tied to that gene of yours that worries you so. “

Cross twitched her nose ‘’My dear, the gene does not bother me the slightest bit,its those around me that are bothered ‘’ she did no blame him for not understanding the full extent of what she did in the past and maybe once she regained her strength would happen in the future .If Cross was honest with herself she would admit missing that adrenaline rush.

Pausing then as he looked across the room at the blank wall Stanley said, “I am on the other hand quite the opposite. I am simply rebellious. My father and uncle run restaurants. They are quite successful at what they do. I was to have started another in the chain which would have been located in New York and my brother was to have started one in London. “Stanley chuckled before. saying. “I upset the applecart as they say and decided on another profession. ”

The doctor put a hand over her mouth and tried to stifle a giggle ‘’I don’t think you were cut out to run a restaurant’‘.

Then out of nowhere Stanley asked the question of Cross that had been plaguing him.” But Doctor Cross. ” He began in a voice which sounded as if he were someone trying to walk across a minefield and juggle at the same time. ” Tell me about your friendship with Joe?”

Dr. Stanley Wong.
He took her off guard Cross was no expecting this ‘’Years ago Joe was the D’H of security and we were in a serious relationship or at least that’s what I thought ‘’ as the female doctor went on her voice was not quiet in control ‘’I found out I was pregnant.....the Cmdr.I mean Joe came to my quarters and told me he came to say goodbye, his father had died and he was going to take over his family’s business ‘’.

Cross had to stop just long enough to compose herself afraid that she was about to start screaming at Stanley for bringing old memories back .

‘’I wanted to shout that I was with his child but did not,if he wanted to leave then so be it. Having him stay because of being pregnant in my mind at the time was not what I wished for .Apparently he saw me as,as for his sexual gratification nothing else and so I decided to say nothing at all’‘.
This time Cross stopped ‘’I’m sorry doctor Wong ,please bear with me ....for now I need to stop’‘.
Her eyes were curiously dead,she put a hand on her chest as her heart rate increased ‘’ I too feel pain and heartache you know ‘’Cross whispered.

Cross CMO.

” I can see that.” Stanley said deep in thought as he pursed his lips. ” But would it be a fair thing to say that perhaps you were attempting to replace someone in your life with Joe? That perhaps you had a grand idea of what Joe was and that he turned out to only be a flawed man?”

Dr. Stanley Wong

Cross heart was beating even faster ,this time with a strong feeling of annoyance and displeasure ‘’How dare you say that.I was not attempting to replace the man I loved with anything or anyone else I truly did love him ,apparently it was not mutual’‘.

Now she stood up and started pacing ‘’Anyway after he came back as the Captain’s first officer,I recognized him but he did not and when the Cmdr did he was surprised asking Mir is that you? .At that point I told him everything ,I gave birth to a son ,his son but the child was kidnapped ‘’ she omitted to say more knowing the secrecy of that mission ‘A few days ago all this was told to the Captain and..and I saw the Cmdr wipe out a tear ,that’s when I realized he had been trying to hide his feelings of sadness, resourcefulness ,sorrow and grief knowing he will never see his son’‘.

The doctor raised both hands hiding her face ‘’It hit me then,I was more at fault then he was for I never told him about being pregnant ,maybe had I done so things would have turned out differently ..now I have to live with the consequences of my actions’‘.
Cross CMO.

Stanley remained silent. Still, and watching her every move and listening to the tone of her voice. As she finished Stanley got out some tissues and placed them over in front of the chair that Cross had occupied. He then motioned for her to have a seat as he went back to get her a glass of cold water.

Sitting down she fiddled with the tissue ,the cold water was refreshing ‘’Thanks doctor ‘’ she muttered .

He was still silent as he waited for her to recover herself. Only after Cross had calmed down. “Doctor Cross, ” he began. “We all do things in our lives that we later regret. But the fact is that there is nothing we can do about the past. We cannot go back and repair it no matter how much we wish we could. The only thing that the past is good for is to act as a teacher. A list if you will of things not to do again. “.

Looking at the empty glass Miriam shook her head ‘’No.no not this, it will stay with me until the day I die ‘’.

“There is a difference with you though. You are getting an opportunity many never get. A chance to repair part of your past. ” Stanley then developed a quirky little smile. Something not intentional but one that would certainly telegraph to Cross that he already knew the answer to the question before he asked it. ” So have you and Joe made any attempts to reestablish your previous relationship?”

Dr. Stanley Wong

She now looked straight at him and managed a small smile ‘’Our relationship is now different ,yes we both care for each other and knowing there is always a loyal,faithful and genuine person I could lean on is definitely an asset ‘’ Cross put her hands behind her, picked up her hair for no reason at all only to let it fall back again ‘’Mind you he ain’t going to let me get away with murder ‘’.

And now with a honey sweet voice she asked ‘’What about you doctor are you married? Do you have children or a partner? Have you done something in the past that still haunts you to this day?’‘.

Cross CMO.