Jayme walked the streets, window shopped, and enjoyed the cool morning air as she wandered to the Paladin medical center in the heart of Starfleet. She arrived and was early for her tour and lunch with Karissa so she decided to check on Nate. She entered through the public entrance since her medical credentials were good on base but not in this facility.
She stopped at the desk and said, "I'm Jayme Fletcher and I would like a moment of Dr. Fletcher's time." The young woman at the desk smiled and checked.
"Have a seat he will be with you in a moment, ma'am."
Jayme wandered around the waiting area. It was only a moment before Nathan motioned her through a set of doors into the emergency room and back to a small office. He kissed her and took her hands in his, smiling as he sat against the desk so he was almost eye to eye with her. "You were a sleep when I left this morning and I refused to wake you--sweetheart."
Jayme smiled, leaned in and hugged him saying, "That's okay."
"You're here for that tour with Karissa and lunch, right?"
"Yes, I was hoping you'd walk with me over to her office." Jayme smiled and shook her head as an incoming emergency was announced.
"Would love to, but work calls."
Jayme watched him leave and then followed the signs to Karissa's office.
The door was open as Karissa was going over charts. As Jayme approached, she looked up and smiled. "I sensed you were on your way over," she said. "Ready for that tour?" she asked as she stood up.
Jayme nodded, and followed Karissa. Jayme put her hands in her suit pockets and thought about the areas they walked through as they talked. They ended in the physicians' lounge where they found a table and sipped tea while they waited for their order.
"This is a wonderful facility," Jayme said looking around.
"I was quite impressed with it myself," Karissa replied. "I never thought I'd have such a nice office," she smiled. "So what's been on your mind lately? Still struggling with what you should do?"
"Yeah, I'm still weighing my options. Nathan was quite impressed with the twins... which opens a whole new area that's in conflict, which is my living on base 90% of the time."
"Well, I can't say that's conducive for a good working relationship," Karissa replied. "But on the other hand, you have to weigh what it is that you want most. Some decisions aren't easy ones. Trust me, I know."
Jayme looked away and wished their lunch would arrive. "I wish I could just focus on the medical team I've created on base, and leave being the CO to someone else... although that still leaves me separated from Nathan, but it wouldn't be so bad."
"What do you want to do most with your life?" Karissa asked. "Do you know?" She asked this, because many times people really didn't know what they wanted. They just went along with what seemed right, leaving their hopes and dreams in the past. But she knew how important it was not to disregard those hopes and dreams.
"I don't know." Jayme said after taking a sip of her drink. "I know. I should sit down and talk to Nathan."
"That might be a good start," Karissa agreed. "It's always important to make decisions as a couple, and I don't think you have any problem being your own person or making your own decisions," Karissa smiled. "So now it's a matter of coming to the best solution for the both of you. But it's also a good idea to know what you will accept and won't accept, or at least some idea of it."
"At this point, I could resign from the service or become part of the reserves, be with Nate and work on my finals in med here at Paladin. They've already offered to work with me. But the core has been my life for so long." She shook her loose hair and tucked a segment back behind her ear in a nervous gesture. "I'm not an administration type, and that is what they have me doing."
"So you're clearly not happy doing your current job. Maybe it would be better for you to do something more suited to your desires. It's always hard to change what we know, but sometimes we discover things about ourselves when we do. Trust me, coming here to Serenity was outside of my comfort zone, but I came and have been much happier here."
"I know Nathan wants me here full time and not just on my leaves. We haven't been here much longer then you have -- six weeks is all. I think I need to talk to the people above me in the chain of command and make some plan, because I hate this."
Karissa nodded. "Talk with Nathan first, then talk to your superiors. That way you know what you want when you do speak with them. Life is too short to not enjoy it." Her dark eyes gazed at Jayme with a soft smile on her lips.
"Did Kassia send you to check up on me?"
Karissa's smile brightened and a twinkle sparkled in her dark eyes. "Actually Kassia told me I should get to know you, but yes, to check in on you was well. She was concerned how the shift in your position would affect you," she replied.
Jayme laughed and added, "Yeah, I'm working too much and having nightmares... nothing new with me. Except my husband and I work and live almost as far apart as two people can get on this rock."
"And that's not the ideal situation for people in love, is it?" Karissa replied.
"No." She was starting to get her headache back behind her left eye. But she took a sip of her wine and then commented, "Nathan sure enjoyed the visits with the twins. He hasn't said anything outright to me but I think he's getting to the point of wanting kids."
"And what about you?" Karissa asked gently.
"I want them." She looked at Karissa and shook her head, but added, "It scares me."
"What scares you about it?" she asked.
"The whole being pregnant, delivery, and then the responsibility for raising the results," she sighed, "I know women have been doing it forever, and modern medicine takes a lot of the risks out of the delivery and prenatal care, but still Tiyanna was really the only child I've had contact with."
Karissa smiled. "And would you do anything in your power to protect her?" she asked curiously.
"Yes." Jayme thought that was a weird question to ask. "Why?"
"It's not so different with your own children." Karissa smiled. "I have twins, so you can well imagine what a handful they are, and there are times I don't feel like I'm being the best parent I can be to them. But on the other hand, I love them more than life itself and sometimes that's all it takes. But you'll know if you're ready. It's a big responsibility for sure, but sometimes it reaps the best rewards." Karissa smiled.
Jayme looked at her watch and thought about several things she should be doing, one of which was to find her husband for a moment about this headache. "This was fun we should do it some time again in the near future. I have a few things I have to get done and I'm sure you have patients to see."
Karissa smiled. "Yes, it is about time to get to work once again," she replied. "You know, when you track down Nate, it might not be such a bad idea to set aside some time for later where you can both talk, and I hope the headache goes away. OH! And you're more than welcome to make an appointment with me," she replied. "Though Kassia did mention it wasn't one of your favor things to do, but was very beneficial for you."
Stunned Jayme looked away and then said, "I'll call next time I'm in town. How much did she pass on about me?"
"I actually have your file," she said. "After all, I am the Chief Counselor here, so it's my responsibility to know everyone here that might need my help."
"Great!"
"Well, my offer is open," she said. "And it sounds to me like, if nothing else; you could use a sounding board. I don't have to take on the role of Counselor. Just come talk, like we did now, for lunch." She smiled.
"Ok, I'll keep that in mind." She stood and picked up her little purse and slipped it over her shoulder as she started to leave the table.
"I hope you feel better," Karissa said. "By the way, the twins would like to see you and Nate again too." She smiled.
"I'll be here all week, maybe we can have a picnic at the park."
Karissa smiled. "That sounds like a great idea!"
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