Tea and Empathy

Posted on Sun Feb 2nd, 2025 @ 1:06pm by Lieutenant JG Summer Wyse & Lieutenant Commander Jack Slattery

1,570 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: A marathon not a sprint
Location: Counsellors office

[ON]

There was always one on a Starfleet ship. The one that most officers feared more than the Chief Medical Officer. And it wasn't always the Captain, oh no.

It was the Counselor. The one who would look at you and probe into memories that didn't sit comfortably, that would challenge you. Jack used to hate counselors, back when he was a younger man and a junior officer. Used to hate how they prodded on his reckless nature. But things changed. Maybe he just mellowed with age, or maybe the USS Antares had taught him differently. It had been a learning experience, that was for sure. It had matured him.

He rang the chime of the Chief Counselor's office. Since they were escorting the Marathon, he took this quiet moment to go and see her. To introduce himself.

“Come on in” Summer was just at that moment busy tidying up, she’d somehow misplaced a PADD and had pulled apart the sofa trying to find it, when it had been amongst her other PADDs all along. She turned and smiled as the doors opened to reveal the new First Officer. “Commander Slattery, what can I do for you?”

"Hopefully not too much, Lieutenant Wyse," he said as he looked at her. "I was hoping we could...talk. I'm looking to get to know the crew I am serving with...and I suspect you'll want to use your training too since I am new to the ship."

Summer nodded and smiled. “Talk is what I do, on and off the record. Please feel free to make yourself at home, and call me Summer if you’d like, I don’t stand on ceremony in here.”

He smiled as he walked to sit down, nodding. "In which case, call me Jack here," he said, deciding it was easier. Much easier. "I haven't really had the chance to meet the crew properly. Was a bit of a quick...shift into this posting."

Summer nodded. “I know, Ty’s... Commander Acevedo’s departure was pretty quick.” She silently cursed herself for her slip of tongue.

Jack gave her a small nod, noticing the use of the first name. But he didn't comment on it. "Big shoes to fill," he said, with a small smile. "Those I talked to said what a swell guy he was." Which in itself was an interesting place to be.

Summer smiled. “Indeed. He had to depart on...personal business unfortunately. Anyway what made you decide that the Wolff was the ship for you?”

"It was a First Officer posting," Jack said with a small smile. "I'll sound callous, but that was all I cared about. Could have been a cargo freighter and I would have jumped on it to get from where I was."

“Was it that bad where you were?” Summer looked at Jack curiously. “Do you plan to stay long term, or will you be looking for something else?”

"I plan to stay. I am not fickle," he said before thinking about her first question. "I had a new Captain who wanted someone else as his First. It's understandable, but you know how it is when you know you're not wanted in a position. You lose some of that..." he paused, considering the words. "Drive."

Summer nodded. “Of course, it’s Human nature to let yourself be influenced by what others think of you. It doesn’t matter if you’re the best, if someone else says you’re not then you eventually end up believing it. Well you won’t have that problem here.”

He watched her before the smile became almost playful. "I don't know, I could be really bad at my job..." he said teasingly, because he didn't believe he was. He was good at his job, he had been great as a pilot as well. But he also needed to click with his Captain and that was the real reason he had left the other ship.

Summer smiled warmly. “I think you’ll fit in quite nicely around here, we’re not judgemental and Taliserra is a wonderful Captain. I’m sure the two of you will get along just fine.”

"She is a very solid Captain," he said before he nodded. "I understand that the previous First Officer was...very well liked. I am not here to replace him in that sense. But I want to bring my best to the ship and crew."

“Ty was...” Summer paused. “Sorry I should explain, though no doubt you’ve probably guessed by now. Tyrus and I were...involved.” She smiled. “I’m carrying his child. He had to leave the ship due to a problem at the time, he’s only recently learned he’s going to be a father. He’ll be popping back and forth so you’ll get a chance to meet him at some point.”

Jack nodded, watching her but there was a tension in him now she spoke. "I suspect so," he said, before he rolled his shoulders slightly.

Summer gave Jack a curious look. “I’m sorry did I say something to make you uncomfortable? It’s just I’m sensing a change in your emotions, you seem more tense.”

"Can't hide anything from you, can I," Jack said before he chuckled. "It is unusual to get a former First Officer back on the ship. I suppose the idea makes me uneasy. It'll take me a little time to settle into the role here I think."

“Well Tyrus wouldn’t be here in an official capacity, as far as I know he’s planning on visits to see me. That, of course, depends on where we are and where he is as well.”

Jack nodded, a small smile coming to him as he watched her. "Well, my fragile ego is grateful he wouldn't be here in an official capacity," he said and shook his head. "I know his reputation. It is big shoes to fill."

“I can imagine they are” Summer nodded and smiled. “For what it’s worth I won’t be comparing whose best XO” she grinned playfully.

"Good, makes me feel better," he said, in a jokey tone, watching her. "I'm sure I will find my own space here, so to speak. It is just taking a little bit of time to get settled. Luckily the mission isn't too...strenuous."

“Let’s cross fingers it stays that way” Summer smiled. “Even the simplest missions tend to turn out not so simple at times.”

"In my experience, that...happens far too much. If it isn't external forces, it is...bad luck," he said before he smiled, shaking his head. "Half of our choices are down to luck after all."

“That’s very true” Summer nodded. “Let’s hope good luck is on our side this time instead of bad luck!”

Jack laughed, shaking his head at the idea, his blue eyes focused on her. "You say that," he said, his voice suddenly softer. "But we will only see that when we look back at it all. Not that I mind. Living in the moment is often enough."

“Sometimes living in the moment is all we have” Summer smiled. “There are times when you simply can’t look at what’s ahead, so you have to go with what’s happening as it happens. No harm in that though.”

"That's good," Jack said as he nodded, becoming serious. "I just want to do the best I can here, on this ship."

“Well if you ever need someone to sound off to, or someone to just air your frustrations to, you know where to find me.” Summer smiled warmly. “But I’m sure you’ll do just fine.”

"Thanks," Jack said as he looked at her, the smile returning at hers. "It always helps when the Chief Counselor says that...means you're not secretly writing a strongly worded message to the Captain that I should spend time in sickbay..."

Summer couldn’t help but laugh at that one. “Ohh no I don’t do that, let’s just say I’m the new breed of Counsellor who believes in outright clarity.”

"Oh, outright clarity?" Jack asked with interest before he smiled, unable to stop it. Because the way she laughed made him relax. "Well, it certainly sounds better than the padded rooms that you find in books."

“Indeed it does, besides we don’t have padded rooms on Starships just the brig” Summer grinned. “It doesn’t work in quite the same way.”

"I'd suggest airlocks..." Jack said, with a small and playful smile. "With gravity off..."

Summer grinned. “I hadn’t considered that one, it’s one to bear in mind.”

"Well, come to me for unique ideas of..." Jack paused and narrowed his eyes a little. "Alternative arrangements?" He shrugged before he took a deeper breath. "I've enjoyed talking to you, Summer. I appreciate you taking the time."

“Likewise Commander, anytime you want to chat you know where to find me” Summer smiled warmly.

Jack nodded and stood, watching her for a moment. "I should get...back to it. Still a lot to get my head around. I hope you enjoy the rest of your day."

Summer nodded. “Thank you for the wonderful chat” she smiled warmly. “I’ll see you around the ship.”

OFF:

Lt. Commander Jack Slattery
XO

&

Lt (jg) Summer Wyse
Chief Counsellor

 

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