DECK 10; SECTION 1: TEN FORWARD

[ships_counselor]

The look of Deanna Troi's table is worrying.

Maybe not to the untrained eye, of course. There is no screaming. There is no bleeding. There is no fighting, or crying, or deep distress. In fact, Deanna Troi, herself, is currently sitting at a table, one forearm resting on the table, the other balanced on an elbow, so her chin can rest in the palm of her hand, while she studies a PADD flat on the table in front of her.

Next to it, though, is a small bowl of chocolate ice cream.

That looks to have melted a while ago without her noticing.

Comments

[ships_counselor]

The curiosity is unmistakable, bubbling right under the surface as Beverly takes her first bites of ice cream in too long, but the kindness is in Beverly choice of patience. Given who they both are to the their positions, no matter past or future, and the kinds of decision they have to make, sometimes long thought out over months, or weeks, and sometimes in the spur of the moment, in minutes or a day, it was not rare to find them considering hard, important decisions.

But its the pause and the not pricking, the way several others had done, the makes it easier for Deanna to breathe and something in her shoulders to relax a little. To be Deanna Troi making this decision, and not only Counselor Troi making this decision. Because it's with someone who understands that sometimes you can't rush it and something you don't want to be asked, or maybe don't even have the right words, options or data yet.

Oddly enough -- and yet not oddly at all, because it is Beverly -- it actually makes her want to talk.

"I'm considering," she starts the phrase not as though she's revealing a secret, but more like she's answering a question Beverly did ask. Even if it wasn't out loud, and even though it was obvious she didn't have to answer or acknowledge it. "--the ramifications of creating a Counseling Staff for the new arrivals."

It was one thing to already be serving the over a thousand people in the crew complement, but hundreds more, was beginning to tax her already usually busy schedule and ability to handle it without feeling like something might slip. She was anything but willing to be bad at her job and to watch someone fall through a crack because she hadn't addressed the issue before it could become an actual issue.

[ethnobotany]

Beverly hadn't honestly put much thought into that idea, though now that she thinks about it, creating a staff to work with Deanna seems like a very good idea. Sickbay has a full staff normally, but now that there are other doctors from other places, they have turned up to help as well. Why shouldn't Deanna have the same support that Doctor Bashir has and Beverly's counterpart once had?

Though she hasn't been directly asked for an opinion, she offers one, as a friend more than anything else. "Sickbay has new doctors working there. From what I can tell during the very few times I've actually been there so far, they're a supplement to the Chief Medical Officer, a support system to make sure that the large number of people now living on this starship are treated within a proper time frame and that no one is overlooked."

Pausing for a minute, she takes another bite of her ice cream, tilting her head a little as she regards Deanna carefully. "I think..." she says slowly, as though she is weighing her words so they will have the desired impact, "if you find a staff you're comfortable with, it might be a good idea to have that same sort of support network."

After all, there are only so many hours in a day and so much energy one person can devote. Besides that, Chief Medical Officer or not, Beverly won't allow Deanna to overwork herself, so that is another concern.

[ships_counselor]

Deanna ate her ice cream, this time, as she considered Beverly's words and nodded.

"It was much the same when I approached Captain Picard with the suggestion of making a security team specifically for this area, especially in regards to Tasha and those who might help in that capacity as well. I believe the notion is beginning to spread throughout all of the ship now. Taking advantage od the situation as best we can to meet both the increasing needs of our new crew and the ones of the ship already."

Having a team though. Her own team. It was not an impossible concept. There were other positions she'd had before The Enterprise to have the qualifications to be appointed her. It had just never been something she was going to have to do during this duty assignment. Until suddenly it was and suddenly it made a great deal of sense, if she was willing to take this chance on the new arrivals as well.

[ethnobotany]

A new section of security? It's a surprise that Beverly doesn't know much about this and yet really, really not. She isn't really part of anything anymore, after all, but it does get her to thinking about trying again. Later. Right now, her focus is on her friend.

She twirls the spoon slightly between her fingers as she considers the situation. "I guess the biggest problem would be finding out who has the background and training and then whether or not you feel they're up to the task. You're good at reading people. I think you'll choose the right ones. If you think it's necessary."

Because in the end it will be Deanna's choice, her needs and the ship's, yes, but her choice entirely. A choice she'll have to live and work with afterwards. There will be no turning back. Beverly imagines something similar for her counterpart or whoever made the choice to allow other doctors into sickbay.

"Speaking as a friend..." Beverly leans over just a little to rest her hand on Deanna's lower arm momentarily. "I think it would be good. For you and everyone involved. It will give you extra time and a chance to rest, while giving other people options and a way to keep occupied."