Mute Distress

Posted on Thu Jan 5th, 2012 @ 9:15pm by Lieutenant Commander Dylan Blake & Commander Cailean Fox, M.D.

919 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Unmasked Miners
Timeline: After the breifing

Feeling his knees tremble as he padded across the deck toward his station Blake caught the sleeve of Doctor Fox whom had been observing him causally he felt for sure: "Doc," he started and licked his dry lips. "I think I might be in need of your assistance."

"Easy, now." Fox replied quietly, "You just need a glass of water, and to have a seat." he continued, "'Course you might not believe me when I tell you this is all in your head." he added, ushering him back across the Bridge towards the doors that led to the conference room.

Normally Blake would have had a quick, witty remark already to the reply. In his current state that simply wasn't the case and the Doctors casual use of the word 'water' only seemed to escalate his nerves. Despite this he followed the elder physician back into the conference room, now empty of crew and collapsed into the closet seat.

"It doesn't feel like its all in my head," he said at length. "For starters I can't seem to stop shaking," he lifted his trembling hands to show Fox, "and sweating like I don't know what."

"It's called a Psychosomatic response." Fox replied, turning from the replicator with a glass of cold water in his hands that he set on the table before him. "It's a result of your Hydrophobia - a fear of water. You're actually just beyond the expertise of my particular type of medicine, but seeing as how you're ready to fall over, I think my input it warranted." he smirked.

Cailean took a seat at the head of the table nearest to Blake, normally reserved for the Captain, but since she wasn't here there was certainly no harm in him taking the seat. Fox scratched the side of his cheek absently, brushing the edge of his mustache before leaning forward towards Blake. "Son, you're not going to drown in a glass of water. Drink up. At the rate you're perspiring, you're going to need the hydration." he smiled. "It's nothing to be ashamed of. We all have our fears. I can understand you not expecting to come face to face with a fear of water in Starfleet, of all places."

Blake had watched the level of clear liquid settle once Fox had placed it upon the smooth, polished desktop with wide eyes, hyper sensitive due to his overloaded senses. He smiled weakly and slowly bought the glass closer enjoying the cold glass against this sweating palm while his second tugged fruitlessly at his collar.

"I know it sounds stupid," he said giving the glass another once over before lifting from the table top to his mouth. He took a small sip, then with his tongue wiped the moisture across his dry lips shivering slightly at the cold liquid slipped down. "Its always frightened me.... I can't even swim...." he confessed returning the glass onto the table and turned his eye to Fox. He felt calmer now, if only fractionally relieved that there was at least one person that understood how he felt excluding the lovely Sehra.

"Can't imagine you'd need to in Starfleet." Fox replied plainly, "We tend to operate in space." he added with a smirk, "But we all have fears. I happen to be deathly afraid of spiders, sometimes at even the mention of them. Turned out to be one helluva fear on Basmati Prime. Their entire species are eight-legged insectoids and I was the second ranking Doctor... believe you me, that'll test your limits." he smiled. "This isn't something you're going to get over in one event. It's a process, son, so let's start slow."

Glad that Fox understood how he felt Blake felt intrigued to hear how the physician managed to cope with the residents of Basmati Prime but knew that this wasn't the best time to ask questions with the Ranger on a countdown. "Alright," he sighed. "Where do we start?"

"Step out of the away mission." Fox replied matter-of-factly. "If it's causing you physical discomfort, why put the rest of the team at risk?"

Blake choked on the second mouthful of water: "Really? And tell the Captain..." he coughed. "I don't really want this plastered around the ship, if you understand what I mean?"

"It is what it is, Lieutenant. Ain't no if's and, or but's about it. You've got a case of Hydrophobia and that isn't something we're going to cure by the time this away mission gets on it's way." he continued, shaking his head, "But if you want moral support to tell the skipper, then I can come along with you." he added.

"You'll come in with me?" Blake blinking back tears from his coughing. "Oh thank you, that would be great. At least we can say I'm not completely crazy."

"You're not crazy, son, just going through a rough patch. It happens to everyone at some point. We'll get you through it - well, the Counseling staff more than me, but I'll help you as much as you need." he smiled. It generally wasn't his department to treat the more psychological of disorders, but in this case as it was manifesting with physical issues, it might not be a bad idea for him to remain a part of the whole healing process. Who knew, maybe he could help it go that much faster.

"Thanks," Blake smiled faintly then pushed the glass of chilled water across the table: "I think I've had enough water for one day."

 

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