Care To Explain?

Posted on Thu Apr 5th, 2018 @ 6:53am by Colonel Jason "Jack" Frost

1,199 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: The Emerald Road
Location: First Officer's Office

Anika paced in her office, periodically kicking the pillow that had fallen from the couch and she hadn't bothered to pick up. It helped some, to relieve the restlessness that these reports had raised in her. This mission seemed chock full of violence already, and now it was breaking out in their crew. In the privacy of her office her face was grim, it was rare that physical fights broke out, but this ship had three such incidents in the past few months. All with respected members of the staff, that normally would rise above such behavior. Including herself- though her altercation had been with her arse of a brother it still counted. There had to be something in the water. It was time to get the other half of the story shed been told by Lt. Thomas. "Yashui to Frost."

"Frost here, what can I do for you Commander?" Jack was expecting this, he knew it was coming and he knew where it had come from. Not that he could blame the good doctor for doing his duty.

"Can we speak, my office?"

"I'm on my way." So the dreaded meeting was called and Jack would answer it. He left his office informing his new assistant that he would be occupied until he returned and to forward anything immediate on to Major Snyder.

Anika was sitting on the arm of her couch with her foot resting on the cushion when the chime rang and she called for him to enter. She was very relaxed, and calm.

Jack walked in and habit had trained a quick scan of the room. He was safe on board and he knew that but it was a hard habit to break. "You wanted to see me Commander?" His gaze falling upon the Commander on the arm of the couch.

"Sit...please. Doctor Thomas came here with quite the story of how she assaulted one of your staff?"

Jack took a seat and leaned back looking at the Commander waiting for the questions to flow. "Assault might be a strong word Commander, physical disagreement at best."

"Fill in the blanks for me if you wouldn't mind?"

"I was in my office at the time of it starting so its best to ask the Doctor and my Assistant for the details, by the time I arrived they were on the floor beating each other." Jack replied, which was strictly true to from his point of view.

"She did provide me with a transcript of the conversation. It was quite compelling. Though quite the violent reaction from our colorful doctor. "

"Fleet and marine have an icy relationship, some more than others, my assistant has already admitted that she provoked the Doctor and I will be dealing with her shortly when I return." Jack explained.

"Fair enough. She will have to be disciplined, just so you are aware."

"That of course Commander is within your rights." Jack expected that Acacia would catch some flak, after all she did engage in a fight even if she didn't start it. "I will have the marine report to you for disciplinary action once she has been treated by a medical professional."

"Very good. I know you handle your own discipline on the marine decks Colonel so that is not an immediate concern of mine. I don't wish to impinge on what is your territory." She raised a PADD from her desk and tapped it. "This however...I suspect that you know what is in this report."

"I have some idea yes." No doubt the report from the Doctor about Acacia's injuries.

"That report, does concern me." Taking a breath to calm herself, she carried on. "Normally, if you were under my direct command I would insist on counseling. "

"Commander." Jack stood up. "I understand you have duties and responsibilities to the ship and crew. I have in my career done things I am not proud of, be part of combat that change people. There is a reason I've been alone all these years, to protect people from me, so that what happened to Acacia doesn't happen. What happened was an accident nothing more. There is no need to make an issue out of this where there need not be one." It was clear by his tone and stance that this topic was one to tread lightly with the marine and not one to poke aggressively.

"Please sit Colonel." Anika waited for him to do so and then continued. "This is where i differ from your average commander in starfleet. I have seen combat. I understand, at least in part what prompted this accident. Now, if you'll forgive me a personal question....do you care for her as much as she clearly does for you?"

"I fail to see what this line of questioning into my personal life or affairs has to do with this Commander. Both parties have admitted it was an accident, she woke me from a nightmare and I reacted, nothing more." Jack replied.

"I was simply going to suggest, that if you care for her, that you think about talking to her. Tell her your secrets. Not all at once of course... " she knew that he would be resistant to counseling. She had been when it had been her in a ground combat situation. However...she also knew that pressure applied to a vessel with no outlet resulted in that vessel exploding, shattered beyond repair.

"I will take that into consideration Commander." Jack was not even close to talking about what happened, he'd just gotten a taste of having Acacia seeing his scarred body in the shower, she was working on his gloved hands next. No way he was ready to talk about his past which was the source of what happened this morning.

"Just remember that everyone is allowed the chance to heal on the inside Colonel. Even you." Anika could see that he was not going to be receptive to further input from her, and also saw part of the reason he'd gotten his nickname of 'Jack Frost'. She'd read his file, and she knew his history except for the classified bits. She was sympathetic but she wouldn't let another accident slide without them seeing a counselor.

"Indeed." Jack replied. "If she is receptive after what happened I will consider it." When however would be the decider, too soon and it would ruin everything. "Will there be anything else Commander?" The Frost in his name showing with his stone, emotionless expression.

She didnt think for one second that the doctor would not be receptive to him, although that might not be something he knew. "You understand I will not overlook a second incident..."

"Very clearly Commander." Jack replied keen to have this unpleasant meeting, even if it was by his own action it came about, over with.

"Good. I think were through then Colonel." Privately deep in her mind she made a note to buy Acacia a drink and ask her how the make up session went.

The meeting concluded Jack departed and with a sigh of relief too, the Commander but another that was drawn into his past by his own actions that morning.

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