Nathan stood looking out the window, his back to his wife. Jayme was looking everywhere but at him. He'd spoken to her but she'd maintained absolute silence for the whole hour he'd been visiting. He knew she wasn't happy that the Chief Medical Officer of Paladin was her primary doc and that he'd done above and beyond medical tests on her and the baby, including an amniocentesis assay.
The door opened and Karissa entered with a PADD in her hand, a lab jacket on, and a smile on her face; Which Jayme's instant reaction was to smack it right off. "Nathan, please step out while I examine Jayme."
He looked at Jayme who briefly met his gaze and then looked away totally blank and uncaring. "Okay." He headed for the door and checked to make sure it was secured behind him before walking away and running into Marcus--her father.
Marcus asked, "How is she?"
"Medically stable according to Will. The baby didn't suffer any stress from this mis-adventure. Also DNA came back that yes it is mine..." A smile crossed his face and then dissolved almost into tears, "She still isn't cooperating or talking to any of us. She at least screamed and threatened Will yesterday during the testing. Karissa is having a go at her now--hopefully she can get through your daughter's hard head."
"Hi, Jayme," Karissa said as she took a seat in a nearby chair. "How are you feeling today?"
Jayme just stared out the window from her bed, hands resting lightly in her lap. She felt spacey and disconnected--the meds always did this to her and she'd told Kassia this. Then just quit taking them, but now...
"I imagine you're better than when you were brought in," Karissa said. "You certainly look better. But the question is how do you feel?"
Jayme glanced briefly at Karissa and then closed her eyes and ignored the other woman's presence.
"You can try to ignore me all you like, but I'll still know what's on your mind," Karissa replied. "I'm not going away no matter how much you'd like me too . . I however suggest you do talk to me. It would be better for the both of us . . After all, I am your friend too, Jayme. We've known each other for a long time now . . . Let me help you."
Yeah, right! Jayme thought. Then get me off these damn meds.
"I can adjust the dose, but you need to be on them," she replied. "Nathan told me you haven't even been taking the meds Kassia prescribed you."
Jayme glared at Karissa a moment and then went back to looking out the window. Not reduced--none! Jayme thought to herself.
"That won't happen," Karissa replied calmly. "Jayme, the medication is in your best interests. No one would prescribe it otherwise. Instead of talking about this, why don't we get to what's been bothering you . . ."
Jayme realized that Karissa wasn't just answering after luckily guessing... She brought up the shields thinking of emptiness and cold crystal...blocking all of her thoughts even from her own mind.
"I can still feel you," she replied. "My abilities are stronger than most mental shields, Jayme. And all you're going to do is manage to make yourself feel worse by depleting more energy that you don't have."
Jayme ignored her.
Karissa suddenly slammed her PADD down on the table beside her. It was hard enough to almost break the thing.
Jayme jumped, startled and looked at Karissa briefly and then relaxed and brought her shields down before they crashed down bringing her down with them.
"Now that I have your attention . . ." Karissa went to Jayme and had her sit down. "Sit before you fall. You're still not completely healed up from your little nature walk."
Jayme sat and ran her fingers through her hair and messaged her scalp, "I'm fine. Pregnant, but fine or so Dr. Hancock said."
"You're far from fine," Karissa replied.
Jayme crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head, no, "No. I'm fine, really."
"That's why you're under weight? Why you're having nightmares . . . That's why you took off on a hike without telling anyone that very well could have gotten you and Kama killed . . . You're fine, huh?"
"The pregnancy is making me tired and nauseous. 2nd, I've always had nightmares--check my chart, and 3rd I went on vacation...it was bad timing but we've had survival training and would have survived."
"You were hypothermic . . ." Karissa replied. "You wouldn't have survived much longer . . . Jayme; I know you were thinking of hurting yourself." Her voice was quiet, but not reprimanding. There was understanding in it.
"That's your opinion, Doctor." Jayme stood and paced a bit and walked towards the door.
"I wouldn't try leaving. There's a security officer on the other side of that door and they will restrain you if necessary," Karissa replied.
Jayme walked back towards Karissa and paused just out of striking distance for both women, "Sign me out. I'll stay in the city with Nathan...I don't need to be held here counselor. I am not going to hurt myself or anyone--I'll give you a verbal contract."
Karissa shook her head. "No chance. Until I have complete cooperation and I can see for myself that you're starting to eat and gain weight again, you're stuck here . . . There are things you need to deal with, Jayme. Kassia was able to help you through some of it . . . I might not be Kassia, but I am capable of helping you. It might not be something you want, but it is something you need."
"You can't hold me here!" Jayme sat down and then said, "I've explained why I'm under weight, I said the vacation was bad planning...I've given you my word. I have a base to run! I'll take the meds and I'll show up for counseling."
"Still not good enough. You've been non-compliant with your meds and in your current psych condition it would be irresponsible for me to let you go and return to your job . . . You're here for at least two weeks, and just to warn you, if you don't cooperate, you could be risking your career. Sooner or later, these issues that you have will interfere with your better judgment, just like with the camping trip . . ."
"WHAT?!" Jayme yelled jumping back up to her feet causing a wave of dizziness to strike, "Two weeks--that's ridiculous---Call Nathan...he'll get me released."
"Actually, it's his superior that has recommended your stay . . . The Chief Medical officer for Paladin, Dr. William Hancock," Karissa said, knowing Jayme would bristle with the information.
Jayme wavered and reached for the back of the chair she'd gotten out of for some support. "He isn't my physician or husband... My husband will get me out." Jayme was hot and could feel sweat building as she swallowed hard.
"Nathan isn't going to get you out," she replied. "If you'd like, you can talk with him . . . We can begin our sessions tomorrow . . ."
"Tomorrow? You aren't considering this one of the sessions?" Jayme saw her shake her head no. "I suppose yesterday and today aren't going to count towards the two week hold?" She saw the counselor nod in response. "You bitch!"
Karissa didn't flinch at the words. Instead she got up. "The nurse will be in to bring you your lunch shortly. They'll be monitoring how much you eat . . . I'll send Nathan in now . . . See you tomorrow, Jayme," she replied and left the room, nodding to an officer just outside the door.
Jayme watched her leave. She walked over and sat on her bed with her feet up, and chewed on her thumb nail while she waited for Nathan to show up. The aforementioned nurse arrived and set a tray down. Before moving the tray over she handed Jayme a med cup and a glass of water.
"No thank you," Jayme said and tried to hand the med cup back.
"Major," She said with a smile, "Counselor Bentara ordered this and wants you to take it."
"No." Jayme ignored the woman in a Starfleet medical uniform and closed her eyes to take a nap while she waited for Nathan. "Tell the counselor I refused."
~I suggest you take it~ came a voice into her head. ~If you don't, make no mistake, I'll come back in and give it to you forcibly. I won't be taking no for an answer . . .~
Jayme sat up and took the items from the nurse, but instead of taking the meds she tossed the glass of water into the face of the nurse. "Fine, make me," Jayme said standing beside the bed, arms relaxed and on her hips."
The door opened and Nathan entered with Karissa.
"You can go," she said to the nurse. Karissa held another dose of the medication and walked to the bed. "I guess you don't want to resume your life, do you? Because at this rate, you'll be tossed out of the Marines on a psych discharge."
"That's your opinion; and I intent to fight it if I have to go all the way to Starfleet HQ to be evaluated. I'm not going to walk around as a space cadet while you trump up a case against me." She turned and looked at Nathan, "Get me out of here."
"I have no authority over your admission or treatment. I will be here, I'll join you in session, and I'll hold you so that they can give you the meds...but that's all I'll do, sweetheart."
Karissa held out the meds for Jayme to take once more. "The easy way or the hard way?" she asked calmly.
Jayme continued to stare at her husband; she couldn't believe that he'd said that, that he'd help them... Jayme looked at Karissa and the meds and shook her head no. She felt Nathan move in and wrap his arms around her and said in her ear, "Jayme--please don't fight this."
"I don't like the way they make me feel...all spacey and weird. Karissa, please, don't..."
"Look, take this for now," Karissa said, "And I will promise to try to find something that works and doesn't leave you spacey . . . all right?"
Jayme turned in Nathan's arms, resting her head on his chest and said, "I'll take it in a little bit after my stomach settles...okay?" She felt Nathan turn her in place and walk the few steps to her bed. He sat her on the edge and held her. He kissed the top of her head. "Karissa?"
Karissa shook her head. "You need to take it now . . . and it's even better with some food . . . I know it's tough, Jayme, but you have to force yourself to eat . . . and take the medication . . ."
"...I can't." she cried, just melting into Nathan's embrace.
"Nathan, if I leave this with you, can you make sure she takes it?" Karissa asked, sensing Jayme's distress and not wanting to push her farther than she'd already had to.
Nathan knew he couldn't give her an order but he shook his head no. "Karissa, can you load a hypospray with something for the nausea..." and then he projected to her...add that med to the injection...
Understanding reached her and she gave a slight nod. "I think I can arrange that," she replied. "I'll be right back . . . Maybe you can ease her anxiety a little . . ." Karissa smiled gently and disappeared out the door.
Nathan just stood there, held her and waited. As they did he murmured, "Slow deep breathes, Jayme."
After a few minutes Karissa entered once again. She went to the bed and quickly injected the nausea mediation along with the other. She waited for a reaction of any kind.
"Your stomach should be feeling better," she replied.
Jayme relaxed visibly in Nathan's arms. The tears slowed and she turned her head making eye contact with Karissa, "Yeah," sniff, "It's beginning to settle. Sorry...Why am I so cold?"
"You've been through a lot . . . The stress and anxiety has caused it, but you should start feeling a little warmer soon . . ." Karissa replied. "Just give yourself some time . . . A sweater wouldn't hurt either." She smiled gently.
Nathan pulled one of her blankets up around her. "Jayme, eat your lunch and then take a nap...you'll feel better."
"I'm not hungry...but I'll eat."
Karissa moved the tray over and watched from the door. After Jayme had finished most of the meal she left leaving Nathan to settle her in.
The next few days were more of the same, before Jayme saw they were serious about the 14 day hold, medications and counseling...and then she fell into the routine and took the meds without a fight.
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