Jetta Dowe sat at her desk, sobered up and already trying to figure out what the future may look like for the Morro Bay.

She hadn’t been Captain of it long–not at all–but still held a heavy place in her heart for it. But the more and more logistic reports came in, the more and more likely it looked that for a long time, The USS Morro Bay would have to be decommissioned until further notice. The Captain could barely grasp the past few days, but what she did know was that that ship was home to many, and held in high regard within Starfleet.

Before she could continue her train of thought, there was a beep from the door.

“You may come in.” Jetta called, and the door swooshed open–with Sylvester Mikhailov walking inside. He looked better–still a small limp in his step, but he was doing better. She greeted her XO with a smile. “Sylvester.”

“Doctor Sullivan is making me go to mandated therapy.” He scoffed, leaning against one of the walls.

“What?” Jetta sat more upright. “It’s a good idea, but for what reason?”

“I. . . .may of suspended Ensign M’Hark.” He cleared his throat while saying that.

“What???” Jetta fully stood up. “I–first off, you can’t do that. Second off, why, third off, he saved your life, fourth of, did I mention you can’t do that?”

“Technically, I can. You weren’t there, and I presumed you we’re busy, so…” He rubbed the back of his neck, as Jetta walked up to him. Sylvester glared down at her. “He disobeyed orders multiple times, nearly got half of us killed, and risked getting me, Ensign Prias and himself all injured.”

“He–what? Sylvester, you and I both know people are being pardoned for self defense in this situation, right? You forced the kid into suspension for…defending himself?” Jetta walked over to the window, pouring herself a glass of. . .somehting. It was hard to tell in the lighting of the room.

“Jetta, surely you understand where I’m coming from. He’s a sort of….charity case. Doesn’t know what to fully do in situations anymore, all that jazz.” The XO tried to give an awkward smile to ease his worry. Jetta was his Captain before his friend.

“I do.” Siiiiiip.

“Oh, thank the gods, you-”

“BUT.” Jetta put the glass down, glaring at him. “I also don’t. Part of Starfleet is growing and learning how to live as a person–opening the world up with open arms is what we do. In what world is this behavior from you okay?”

“It’s…” He trails off. “I-”

“It’s not. Something tells me this is stemming from your…” Jetta pauses. “Sorry if I’m overstepping here, but you talked to me about your mother.”

“It…could be explained by that.” He rubbed the back of his head, as Jetta motioned for him to sit down.

“First things first, I’m lifting that suspension. No objections.” She offered the drink to Sylvester. “Second off, I know how you are with therapists. Or any help, for that matter. So…you can talk to me if its needed.”

Sylvester took a deep inhale, internally weighing his options. But what did he truly have? What could he do? Well–nothing besides talk….

“I think this is from more than Mama.” He rubbed the back of his neck, eyes slowly trailing around the room. “No, it surely does play a part in it–she wasn’t herself after…everything that happened. That diagnosis she got-”

“-essentially put a big stamp on her head, didn’t it?” Jetta frowned. Sylvester nodded in response as he continued.

“When she was hired anywhere, Mama could barely work. She could barely function! But she had too, and…well. You know the story. Put in a care facility, and no matter what they did-” He started to panic just a little bit, recalling the awful events of his early adulthood. “-it just. . . I’ve seen how the story ends. I’ve seen it first hand. If I can try to save him from a fate like that-”

“But he’s not her.” Jetta stated, simply. “And you have no place to determine that, nor is it okay. You’re in a position of immense power over him–not some Junior Lieutenant over an Ensign.”

“…Yeah.” Sylvester sheepishly admitted, ears flat against his skull. “I understand. It’s just–surely you understand where I’m coming from?”

“I do.” She offered a small smile. “But that cannot be only that.”

“Urgh, maybe not.” Sylvester rubbed his face as he sat upright. Each time his mind thought back to any Caitian, it was just red. His childhood bullies popped up every time! Of course, Runt was more like an annoying little bug than a bully, but–

Wait.

“..Oh my god.” Sylvester put his hands in his head, letting out a groan. “It’s my bullies from grade school. I still have things I need to resolve from that, and they we’re all Caitians.”

“And you didn’t know this until you worked with one.” Jetta got a small smile on her face once again. “So when he came around, and then saved your life…”

“I hate that your right.” He sheepishly smiled at Jetta, and she just chuckled.

“You’re a little predictable, Mikahilov.” She took a sip of her drink. “Juuusst a little.”

“Well.” Sylvester let out a deep exhale and stood upwards. “We’ll be arriving at 11 very soon. I can…get to seeing a therapist there, very soon.”

“Good!” Jetta waved the XO off as he started for the door. “And make sure to close the door on your way out. OH, oh! Don’t forget to apologize to M’Hark!”

“Whaaat? Can’t hear you, the door is closing!” Sylvester called as he got a smug look on his face, walking out just as the door fully closed. Jetta just rolled her eyes and went back to her PADD, making sure to approve the pending multi-request folder of counseling sessions.

Perhaps it was time to get a counselor aboard the Morro Bay…