There's Something About Cammy - Part 1

Posted on Mon Mar 23, 2026 @ 1:11am by Commander Caoimhe O'Connor M.D. & Lieutenant JG Minh Nao Psy.D., BSc, SFPC(Xeno-Psych), Psi-Track
Edited on on Mon Mar 23, 2026 @ 8:13am

1,204 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: S03E01 - Something about Tribbles
Location: Counselling Offices
Timeline: MD02 13:00

ON:

Coimhe huffed a little as she stared at the door in front of her. She wouldn't be here were it not for a meddling Kate that sometimes she had to question why there was ever a growing friendship with. Mandatory counselling like what the hell...why would she need counselling? There was many more staff scattered around the station who needed their heads checked; not to mention most of her staff in science. She had more important things to be doing.

Caoimhe felt a sudden strike of vulnerability as a thought of Ron and the evening before crossed over her mind. She couldn't allow emotion to interfere with her expected work. It was based to raise back up her shields and to allow allow any sight of the turmoil within.

Cursing again under her breath, the woman pulled down on her tunic till it nearly strangled her on her neck before pressing the door chime to announce her presence.

Sitting in her comfy chair looking at the cat from before, she smiled as the Commander entered the room swearing. Best way to break the ice, swear with them...

"Snickerdoodles, Pinnocle - I find those work better." Minh said standing up, "Minh Nao, looks like I am your Counselor."

Caoimhe blinked a little as she attempted to process the words that the counsellor threw out. It took a few seconds for the processing to catch up before she raised an eyebrow and moved into the room. "Each to their own Counsellor. I find that sometimes sugarcoating the truth doesn't have as much impact."

"Sugarcoating the truth is sometimes necessary," she moved her hair back showing a neural inhibitor on her neck, motioning to the Replicator, "care for a drink?"

Caoimhe sighed and rubbed her eyes as she moved to take an unoccupied seat. "Just a water would be great. The quicker we can get this over with the better. I'm only here because the Commodore pulled rank."

"Two waters. Large, Cold." As the replicator hummed, Minh turned over to read the body language from Caoimhe, Cold, Closed Off, Don't come near me. It was an interesting melange. To respect the wishes, she dropped off the water, and sat across in her chair. She took a gulp of water. "Right let's start. I've read the files, and well, I think the Commodore was right, you do need to talk about the past and what has happened. So please. I am here for you."

Caoimhe nearly choked having just taken a drink before the counsellor said her words. Taking the recovery time as a chance to think over what was just said; the coldness in her eyes hardened that bit more. "I thought you said that sugarcoating the truth is often needed?"

"There is a fine line between using it. Albeit this would dictate in a usual circumstance to sugarcoat, but you don't respond well to sugar coating. So, instead of beating around the bush with open ended questions, and wasting your time, I want you to tell me what you want to talk about." Minh attempted a direct approach, something she was hoping Caoimhe would appreciate.

Caoimhe paused as she attempted to take in the words that the counsellor had just spoken. There was a lot more in those few sentences than would have been the norm; it knocked her a little. Since yesterday it was becoming a lot harder to hide behind her normal icy persona. "That's not the easiest of questions to answer counsellor. I'm mandated to be here; I didn't come here with a specific topic of conversation."

"There was also a reason why I was chosen Commander. You are a tough person to open up, you have walls, you have walls behind the walls, and so do I. This is why I am sent here. I am a specialist if you will. I am here to help the hardest of the cases. I was requested. I know, how is it that someone fresh out of the academy, be able to help seasoned officers. I can show you if you will let me... OR I can make you think you are a chicken." Minh looked straightfaced. Not letting the poker face break.

Caoimhe parted her lips as if she was about to say something; her body tightening in reaction to the situation. There was nothing more she hated than being cornered into a situation but...at the same time things and people happened for a reason didn't they? People came into your life at a time they were most needed even if it went against every principle of science. "That makes it sounds like your issuing me with a challenge counsellor."

"Lower your defenses." Minh ordered. This was her purview. "You know the situation Commander. So I suggest we start talking or you can walk away. The Choice is yours, and I will rule you unfit for duty. Your Choice."

Caoimhe felt her back go up as she heard the threat. She had understood that the mandate was more for her mental health than an actual question of her ability for fitness for duty. The woman saw red. "So your basically saying that because I won't talk to you about my ex husband who kidnapped me and ruined my career; or tell you about the years I've spent proving to everyone that I'm not the same as him. This all makes me not fit for duty? "

Caoimhe's breaths were coming quicker and faster the more she talked, clear anger etched into each syllable as she let her emotions run riot. "If that causes you concern; God only knows what you think about my ex boyfriend coming back from the dead and me only finding this out in the last twenty four hours."

It is like Minh was thrown a curve ball, this should of been told to her by someone... "I apologize. My initial intent was to make headway with your past. I made a mistake. I hadn't known about your ex boyfriend coming back from the dead. Our ghosts come back from the dead, thus leaving unresolved issues..." She takes off the combadge, and stops the recording of the session.

"I think you need a friend right now. Perhaps a hard drink?" Minh reached for the Saurian brandy, "This is off record."

"Out of all of that, the ex boyfriend part is the part that's concerned you the most?" Caoimhe choked a little with a forced laughter before moving to her feet as the anger lead to an agitation that made the woman feel like hitting a wall was the only way to feel better.

The officer stalked over to the counsellors table as she zoned in on an object, taking it into her hand and brushing her fingers across the surface. She gave her sight focus to this object, channelling and funneling her anger before she hurt herself as she knew that was a very real possibility. "What do you do when said ghost comes back from the dead and confesses your the only reason he's still alive?"

:TBC

Commander Caoimhe O'Connor M.D.
Head of Research
Langley Station

Lt. JG. Minh Nao Psy. D.
Counselor
Langley Station

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