Pre-Deployment Evaluation: Reece

Posted on Tue Apr 23rd, 2024 @ 7:20pm by Lieutenant JG Amelia Johansen & Captain Johnathan Reece

1,872 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: First Deployment
Location: Counselor's Office

Counselor Johansen had been making quick work of getting everyone's onboarding psychiatric evaluations completed before launch. That was her goal anyway. While everyone had been thoroughly vetted and trained, space travel was known to take it's toll on the mind and body, and the best way to keep the crew healthy was to have a good handle on who everyone was before the stresses of the mission began to take her toll. Next up for the day was Master Sergeant Johnathan Reece.

The door chime rang, indicating her next patient had arrived.

Amelia stood up and walked over to the door, pressing the button to open the door. "Master Sergeant Reece?" Amelia greeted. "Come on in and make yourself comfortable."

"Thank you, Ma'am," he replied, removing his Stetson as he greeted Amelia. His thick drawl was unmistakably Texan in origin. He ducked slightly as he stepped into the small compartment, then moved to sit on the couch that was positioned against the far bulkhead. There was only one other seat, and it was clear that Amelia sat in it.

Amelia followed him in, her strawberry blonde hair pulled back into a loose ponytail and her uniform worn exactly as directed by Starfleet code. She sat down and without taking out anything to read or writing on she opened the conversation, her tone open and almost always disarming. "So, really I just like to use these evaluations as an opportunity to get to know everyone as best I can before launch. These types of missions can start to take their toll on people if we don't take care of ourselves, and it's a bit harder for me to recognize if something is wrong if I don't know who you are to begin with." Amelia smiled warmly at the marine sitting across from her.

"I know we have protocol on deck, but when we are in here you should address me in whatever way you are most comfortable, Amelia, Lieutenant, Doctor, 'hey you," whatever is fine. So, off the bat, is there anything you think I should know about, or that you were hoping we could talk about when you came in today?" Amelia asked.

"Well," Johnathan shrugged slightly and frowned. "I am still having nightmares of when the damn Rommies attacked the Farragut and nearly killed all of us. My former crew mates, I mean."

"How often would you say you are having these nightmares?" Amelia asked.

It was just a few times a week, but after the attack, it's damn near every night now." He expression was clearly angry, and getting angrier the more they talked about it.

"Unfortunately, that is not uncommon for someone who has had a severe traumatic experience," Amelia said calmly. "Anything that slightly reminds us of our trauma will threaten to take us back to that moment. It can take time and some work to get to a place where we can remember without reliving it."

"Can you tell me how you've been feeling during the day after those attacks? I'm sure you're tired from not sleeping well. Anything else?" Amelia asked.

Johnathan thought about it for a few beats. "I've been very hungry as well, and obviously, my temper is very short right now."

Amelia nodded, "Makes sense. Can you be honest with me about something?" Amelia asked. "I want to know how you convinced Psychiatric to release you for active duty so soon after your last mission." Amelia kept her unassuming, nonthreatening demeanor as she posed the question to the Master Sergeant.

He simply shrugged as he replied. "I didn't say or do anything to lie to them, if that's what you're implying. I guess they felt that, with the war on, we needed every able body in the mix. You'd have to ask them."

Amelia shook her head, "I'm not implying anything, Master Sergeant. And I'm not threatening to pull you. I read that mission report. We're about to go back into war and we're going to keep getting banged up. If you're going to lead missions on this tour successfully, I need all of the information about you that I can get. Most people don't bounce back like that. How did you do it?"

Johnathan took a moment to think about the answer. "I guess it just comes down to compartmentalization. Had to learn to do it, back on the ranch. When your driving a herd of nearly two hundred cattle, you need to be able to think two and three steps ahead, plus be able to only concentrate on what's right in front of you, putting all the other thoughts and concerns in the back of your mind until you have a moment to focus on them."

Amelia nodded as Johnathan spoke. "A certain amount of that is healthy. Your brain builds those compartments and lets you lock away traumatic experiences because if it didn't you wouldn't be able to function. None of us would. My concern for you is that unprocessed events and emotions have gone into that compartment, and because we're not far out in time that compartment is buried very deep. Five steps ahead of you is a twister, and it looks like a Romulan warbird, and I want to help you get everything battened down before the storm."

"Am I making any sense?"

Johnathan considered Amelia's words for a few moments. Then, he replied, "Yeah, I think so."

"If you're game, I'd like to try a type of trigger induced response desensitization therapy. It works while you sleep. It's a tool available when someone is suffering from PTSD related nightmares. It's a derivative from eye-movement-desensitization therapy, but it doesn't require you to be conscious, or to relive any memories that your dreams aren't already making you relive anyway."

When she was done explaining Amelia watched Johnathan carefully for his response to her suggestion.

Johnathan considered the idea, then shrugged. "Sure, can't make things worse, can it?"

Amelia shook her head. "No. And no one is going to force you to talk about anything you aren't ready to under my watch," she promised. "But if you ever do want to talk, or need something extra you can find me any time of the day or night. Fellow marines are often good people to talk to as well."

He grinned softly as he nodded, listening to her speak. When she was done, he responded. "Trust me, Doc, no-one can make me say anything I don't want to. And as far as fellow MACO's, well," he shrugged slightly as he continued. "I'm the highest ranking noncom aboard. While those under me can certainly come to me with their issues, it would be improper for me to share mine with them. We can certaintly shoot the shit together, but my rank and position demands a certain level of separation from them. Much like the Colonel wouldn't talk about his personal issues with one of his junior officers."

"Who is going to be your support system then?" Amelia asked. "We do need a plan."

He frowned slightly as he considered her question. Then, shrugging slightly. "I guess, for the time being, that's you, Doc." He gave her a charming grin as he finished speaking.

Amelia nodded. "It can be a start, and my door will always remain open. But I will be pushing for you to find at least one or two peers that you don't feel a need to have this separation with. But we can work on that another day."

Amelia walked over to a shelf and pulled out a small white case and brought it back to her chair. "Whenever you are ready to start the REM trigger therapy, this is what it looks like." Amelia opened the case. "We'll just put two of this nodes near your temples, and I'll be in another room with this machine that will monitor your sleep patterns. If and when you start having a nightmare or night terror, there are certain signals that will be read back here. We'll need a few nights of data before we can start the second phase."

Johnathan nodded to both parts of Amelia's response. "I'll try, Doc, I give you my word," was his reply about finding a confidant to speak to. "Not sure when a good time for that would be, what with the war going on." He indicated the all device.

"All you have to do is let me stick these on your forehead before you go to sleep. I promise to make it as easy on you as possible," Amelia said. "I know we can't go digging too deep right now if you're going to be at your best out there. But this is at least something we can try. Medication is always on the table too if you ever think you want to talk about that."

He shook his head at the mention of medication. "No. I definitely can't have my senses dulled by meds. I'll come back tonight. Or you can meet me at my cabin, and we will try the sensors."

"I'll have everything ready, and you can just buzz me when it's a good time to stop by," Amelia suggested.

Johnathan nodded his head in agreement. "I'll try to get to bed at a decent time tonight, so hopefully it won't mess up your night too much."

"Not at all, this is what I'm here for, Master Sergeant," Amelia assured him. "You all have the hard jobs. The things all of our front line soldiers have to see and do can take their toll pretty quickly. I'll be working whenever I'm needed, and it's my pleasure to serve."

Johnathan smiled softly, an appreciative look in his eyes. "Thanks, Doc. That means a lot to hear someone say it. Sometimes, it can feel like we enlisted are simply seen as canon fodder by officers. I mean, we are, we just don't like to be reminded of it."

"I know folks forget to say it, but there are a lot of people who appreciate what you are doing and realize that their lives and freedom are counting on it. We know it won't happen, but they are also hoping everyone makes it home safe," Amelia responded. "It doesn't matter who they put in front of the cameras. When the people of Earth think about the soldiers who are fighting for them, the enlisted are who they think of."

Johnathan nodded silently as he listened. He could tell that Amelia believed what she said to him. For now, that would be enough for him. "Thanks for that, Doc. That does help." He then took in a deep breath and released it slowly. "So..I guess I'll reach out to you before lights out tonight, then?"

"Yes, let's get you started. And if you need anything else, don't hesitate to reach out, Master Sergeant," Amelia stated giving the soldier a nod of respect.

Johnathan nodded, then stood up. "Thanks, Doc. I'll talk to ya later." He then started towards the door.

Amelia stood up as Johnathan went to leave. "Have a good afternoon."

The large Texan nodded respectfully in reply, the strode out of the office, leaving Amelia to her thoughts.

~OFF~

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