Even just a little empathy, the smallest of nonverbal apologies, means something. Beverly gets it, even if she can't really answer very well. It still means enough to her.

"Some do," Beverly answers softly. "Some go through the Academy, graduate as full-fledged Starfleet officers, and are never prepared for everything that entails. As Starfleet officers, we are held to a higher standard than anyone else. Civilians are never expected to do what we do or to uphold our protocols. But, no matter where our loyalties are, learning to defend yourself isn't considered assault."

So Annie would be well within her rights to learn if she wanted.