Cats or Pegasi Part II
Posted on Mon Dec 16th, 2024 @ 5:28pm by Sergeant Audie Fitch & Lieutenant Jayak Zek
Edited on on Tue Dec 17th, 2024 @ 11:07pm
2,344 words; about a 12 minute read
Mission:
Episode 16 - Silent Cries
Location: Various - Promenade - Empok Nor
Timeline: MD001 0900 hrs
Hopefully, that wouldn't come back to bite her if she ever had to come to Zek professionally! "I think, too, that I'm skeptical that someone can help who hasn't had the same experiences, if that makes sense?"
How could someone 'get in your head' if they hadn't experienced combat, or patching a child back together, hoping to keep them alive long enough to get them to a proper medbay...
"To an extent, I agree with you," Zek admitted, once again taking a sip of his smoothie. "I can't know what it is like to be, for example, a drug addict. That does not mean that I have not worked with such people and seen what works and what doesn't. It also does not mean that I cannot have the compassion to understand their situation and help them through it. See, if we all had the same life experiences, then we would only see things one way. Sometimes, that outside perspective, a different way of looking at a problem can be very helpful. But not always. One size does not fit all."
He had to admit that Audie was rather thoughtful. Sure, she was a bit guarded when talking about counseling, but at least she was genuine. "As another example, I do not have a cat, but I can tell that your stroking it, is quite soothing to you. Different experience, yet, I certainly understand, I think."
He then continued, "As a marine, if you were, Prophets forbid, trying to infiltrate somewhere, you may have some of the information, but not all of it. Counseling is the same thing. We navigate as best as we can with the information that we have. Does that make sense to you? I probably have pontificated much too much, as it is, but I do have a tendency to wander into philosophical thoughts."
"Oh, pontificate away!" Audie chuckled. She was actually enjoying the candid conversation. "And I guess it's right, that you take what you know and deal with it! Of course, there are people who are more inclined...receptive to treatment, I think. Even from a medical standpoint, there are folks who need intervention, but adamantly refuse for whatever reason." She shrugged. "And there are patients who just don't respond to treatment. So, would you like to try cat-petting therapy?"
"So why do you think it is that people are not receptive to such intervention?" Zek asked with a knowing grin. "And if Buster wishes to be pet, I am available." He held his free hand out at arms length, kept his attention on Audie, and acted nonchalant. Cats made their own decisions.
Giving Buster a little nudge, she urged the sleepy cat over to Zek's lap. Buster didn't fully wake up, but just flopped onto the new 'pillow', purring and 'making biscuits' in the air.
"There's people who think they don't need it," Audie answered, "or think it shows weakness to accept help." On some level, she fell into both those categories. "I guess it depends, too, on life experience? I mean, I had to deal with what was going on by myself, so I think I just became self-reliant." She grinned. "And I have Buster to talk to, he's great therapy!"
She took another sip of her shake, then continued. "There are people who are afraid of being labeled crazy, having it on their record." She shrugged. "And maybe they've had bad experiences? I mean, I'm not saying that there's anything wrong with getting counseling, and what you said was right about setting a path and letting them find their way."
Zek chuckled lightly when the cat plopped into his lap without as much as a thought. He did not mind being trapped with Audie. "Self-reliance is definitely important, but it also is important to know when the load is too much for oneself to handle. There's nothing crazy about that. At least I don't think so. I just have to wonder, being so self-reliant, whether there is a significant other in your life."
"Oh, um, not specifically." Was she a little defensive? "I mean, I do have my family among the Kingsmen...a family of choice, but I'm not, like, actively looking for a man." She shrugged. "I don't think I'm any less without one, but I'm not against finding the right guy."
Maybe it was her preconceived notion that someone she considered a friend would suddenly become more? Or maybe she was afraid of commitment? Either way, she was content to let it be.
"I apologize if it sounded like I was implying that you were somehow less without a man in your life. Nothing could be further from the truth. Perhaps it is a woman that you would want in your life?" Zek grinned at Audie as he queried that. He doubted she was that type, but you never knew. It certainly would be interesting to watch her reaction. "Or perhaps some other gender...?" He waved his hand, moving slightly under the growing weight of Buster. "It matters not."
"But I am curious why you say, 'not specifically.' Does that mean that there is someone in the picture, so as to speak?"
"No, at least not at the moment." Audie shrugged. "I work with plenty of men, but they're friends, comrades...I don't see them romantically, but that doesn't mean that one day one of them won't become more."
That would answer his question about gender preference without going into it specifically. "I guess there's someone I wouldn't mind connecting with, but it's not something you can force, right?" A light blush came to her cheeks at the admission. "What will be will be! What about you? Does anyone make your toes curl?"
Zek noticed the blush and stifled a chuckle before it could come out. So, she did have a romantic interest. He was not about to intrude upon someone that had her heart placed elsewhere. "I'm new here. I have not had the opportunity to find out. Then again, I think our definitions might be different. Perhaps we should find out. Tell me about the gentleman that has caught your fancy."
"Oh, well...." Was she falling for the trick of deflecting topics? Audie grinned and shook her head. "I mean, he's funny, but kind, too, and confident...he knows when to be serious and when to laugh. But we're just good friends, comrades." Like all the Marines, they shared a bond that went beyond just friendship, but didn't yet cross the line to more.
"But you want more?" Zek prompted. "What's his name?"
"More? Not necessarily." Audie shook her head. "I just want what's in my path...but it's something that, dunno, should find me, not that I seek out." She certainly wasn't going to give any names, partly from embarrassment, and partly because putting a name to it made it more 'real'.
"Anyway, I'm content to live with Buster and stay out of trouble!"
Zek smiled knowingly. Audie was afraid of admitting her crush. "IF you say so," Zek simply told Audie. "Consider, however, maybe you're both waiting for the other to make a move. It would be sad for you to miss out on something just because you both continue to wait."
He waved his hand offhandedly. "But, what do I know?" He gave Audie a knowing grin. "After all, you and Buster seem to be doing rather well."
"My logical, skeptical brain tells me I'll know if...or when...it's the right time to make a move," Audie insisted, not sure whom she was trying to convince. "We're just friends, teammates, and I don't want to ruin that by doing something stupid."
For, undoubtedly, declaring interest would change the dynamic, so she needed to be certain. "Buster likes him, and cats are a good judge of character." The cat was sleeping contentedly on Zek's lap, purring softly.
Zek looked down at Buster and asked Audie, "So, this means I'm boring, then? Put him right to sleep.... But what I hear from you is that you're risk adverse. Not willing to take a chance for fear that it may go poorly rather than may go well."
"Boring? No, not at all!" Audie was actually enjoying this, even if the topics were things that might make her uncomfortable otherwise. But Zek was easy to talk to. "You are...comfortable, safe...Buster feels happy with you, and isn't that good for someone in your profession?"
"So I've been told," Zek answered with a shrug, trying not to disturb Buster. "I just wonder what you think of my observation, that you're risk adverse. It seems ironic for a marine, let alone a Kingswoman." Zek chuckled lightly at his purposeful torturing of Kingsman again.
"Eh, never thought of it that way...I mean, taking risks in the field is necessary to do my job, sometimes to save lives." Audie shrugged. "But taking risks in things that can be controlled, that can affect the rest of your life...some things you have to do, others, you let happen in their own time."
Zek shrugged. He was not certain that Audie was going to accept his observation but he had pushed as much as he was willing to do. "So, when you're not flying away with a Bajoran counselor or being a Kingsman, what do you like to do?"
"Sleep!" Audie chuckled then shook her head. "You've seen the journals...not that that takes much time, but I like to sketch, I dabble in sleight-of-hand, and I like to pick on my not-niece, Annie. Not very exciting. Oh, and I like to torment off-duty councilors, too!"
Zek threw his head back laughing hard. If Audie was not interested in someone else, he might be interested in her. She was definitely a spark plug. He looked at her hair again. Auburn? Red? Brunette? Prophets damn the lighting. "Well!" he exclaimed, controlling himself, and looking down at Buster who did not seem overly perturbed by his movement. "Sleep is very important, as is torturing counselors. Though, sleep will cure most future maladies. I'm not sure counselors work that way. Though, I don't think a counselor is really truly ever off duty. Though, I don't think I would have it any other way."
He paused for a moment and cocked his head interestedly at Audie. "Now, slight of hand has me a bit concerned. Are you going to pick my pocket? I'll warn you in advance, I have nothing there." He started chuckling at his own accidental play on the traditional magician's statement of "nothing up my sleeve." Again correcting himself, he continued, "I can't say that I have the talent."
"Oh, well, you see, I've trained Buster to pick pockets so I can claim innocence!" Audie laughed, then continued, "Sleight-of-hand takes a lot of practice. I started years ago to distract myself. There's some simple tricks, and there's a game called 'Cat's Cradle' that helps with keeping your fingers nimble. But you've got to have some talents, right?"
"Very useful cat," Zek replied skeptically looking down at the sleeping Buster. He raised his eyebrows when Audie asked if he had talents. "Apparently I have a talent for putting a cat to sleep," he informed Audie with a smirk.
"Hate to burst your bubble, but cats sleep most of the time!" Audie grinned and shrugged. "But really, you do have a talent for putting people at ease, so they feel good about talking to you, and that's really important to helping people."
"I am honored that you feel that way," Zek answered honestly, knowing it was likely very difficult for Audie to completely open to anyone. He obviously was able to wrangle more out of her than she would normally give. "And to think, that this is just my normal, charming self."
"Well, see, now, you could almost be a cat!" Audie laughed. "Guess that's what makes you good at your job, right?" She grinned. "You [i]are[/i] good at your job?" It actually was nice to know there was someone she felt that she could feel comfortable talking to, should she need to.
"Well, if that is what you believe, then it must be so." He tilted his head towards Audie. He let the statement sit in the air, looked down at the cat, and then back up at Audie with a secretive smile.
"Ah, well..." Using a token she had slipped from her pocket, she leaned forward and 'reached' behind his ear, producing the token from there as if by magic, showing it in her open palm, then closing her fist and showing that it had 'disappeared'. "It's all an illusion, right?"
"Illusions can be fun." He sighed contentedly. Life might be the ultimate illusion. Only the Prophets knew what was behind the veil. He certainly wished that he could decipher what more was behind Audie's. "Is there anything else you can do? Perhaps something that you could teach me?"
"Well, I can teach you some of these parlor tricks," Audie answered with a shrug, "or some old-school first aid stuff in case you ever run into an emergency but don't have all the pretty tech at hand." Technology was nice, but it wasn't always available or practical, so she'd learned to do without. Oh, and I could teach you to juggle!"
"I have always been a willing student," Zek replied with a smirk. "Just tell me what to do, where to be, and when, and I'm all yours."
A Joint Post By
Sergeant Audie Fitch
Corpsman Team 2, The Cure
USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Jayak Zek
Chief Counselor, Empok Nor
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