Psyche review

Posted on Sat Jan 3rd, 2026 @ 6:51pm by Lieutenant Jeremy Ezio & Lieutenant Commander Melanie D'BrooNi- Haistro

2,183 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Short Treks
Location: Counselors offices

ON:

Mel had not been looking forward to this one. Usually the annual psyche review didn't phase her but so much had happened in the last year, she felt like she had aged twenty years. She pressed the chime and waited.

"Come in." Barely arrived, Jeremy hadn't had time to make the office his own. Get to the Saratoga, was what he'd been told, so that's what he'd done. Altaïr had complained about having to leave friends but knew this was military life. It wasn't the first time they had packed up and moved quickly.

Jeremy sighed softly as he glanced around the barren room and quickly replicated a large bunch of fragrant roses in a nice vase. He was just in the process of arranging them on the small coffee table when his fellow Trill walked in. "Good afternoon doctor," he greeted her, "I'm Jeremy Ezio. I've seen your profile so I know you're the chief medical officer but unfortunately due to the hurry I haven't been able to read your file. I'm sorry, I literally arrived here just as you called."

Mel nodded. "That's okay. I'm sure we will manage. Shall I take a seat?"

"Please, make yourself comfortable. Can I get you anything?"

"Coffee?" Mel said. "White no sugar." She sat down on the sofa. "I can fill you in on my file. What do you need to know?"

"Everything you wish to share," the hybrid answered as he arranged for the coffee to be served. "And most importantly, what do you need from me in order to help you. And what you need help with."

"Well as you probably know. I was widowed. For the second time actually. And I lost our child in the aftermath of it. I think its more other people concerned about my adjustment to all this more than me actually," Mel said taking the offered mug.

The counselor's expression reflected a touch of sorrow at her revelation. "That must be extremely rough on you," he sympathised, "I can understand your immediate circle of people being concerned." He had been there himself for a while after losing his fiancée, being joined and being left with a child all in the same week. But that was years ago now.

"How much time has passed since you lost your husband and child?" He asked carefully.

"About 6 months. Charlie and I went back to Earth for a while. Stayed with my son. I had some counselling and threw myself into work. Doing shifts at Starfleet medical. But well the wanderlust got me as always and I took a commission then," she explained. "Ended up on this ship. Paddy had graduated anyway. No reason to stay on Earth. And I wasn't going to go play widowed lady of the manor on Betazed for Keiben's side of the family. They wanted us to come but its not what I or Charlie wanted. They said as his wife I inherited a bunch of stuff and property but I didn't need it. He has a sister deserves it more than I do so I told them to give it back to the family. It would have been different if our son had survived of course. Keiben would have wanted our son to carry on his line but well life has a funny way of working out some time doesn't it."

Jeremy nodded in understanding, somewhat being a widower himself. "Didn't he also have a brother?" He asked, though he knew Betazed was a matriarchal society, so the brother might've just gotten nothing out of it. "And yes, life does do that," he added in agreement. "Your son, Paddy? I assume he graduated Starfleet academy, how does that make you feel? He will be out there facing danger too .."

"He did have a brother yes but it doesn't work that way in their society. Matriarchal," she shrugged. "Off course I worry about Paddy but he has to live the life he chooses just like the rest of us. I'm so proud of him for graduating. Of course I also wish life had worked out so he could have met his younger brother," she said sadly. "At least both Paddy and Charlie have each other. I think in a way it brought them closer. They seem to talk more now. Every week on subspace they have a private call if they can do. Me and him also. Well I suppose they could be checking in about me though its nicer to think they have matured and got past the fratching when they were younger."

"Did you not have another son?" Jeremy thought hard but he recalled that she did or was he mistaking her with someone else. "It's good to stay in touch with your children," he noted, "I have my son here with me. My ex occasionally tries to call him but my boy wants nothing to do with him. Aside from the fact he's actually supposed to leave us alone.

"Sadly my other son did not survive the birth," Mel said. "I don't remember much of the experience. I briefly got to hold his tiny body but I was under a lot of pain relief. Its like a dream," she said sadly, "and then he was gone."

Jeremy cast her a sympathetic look. "There are means to remember more if you desire. Meditation is one of them, the assistance of a Vulcan you trust to help clarify memories is another." He paused. "I actually meant someone your file lists as Tay? Is he not your son?"

"Tay, no Tay," she smiled. "Hes my brother. I can see why you might think that. Mother died and I had to bring him up. Hes cleared the academy too. Madly in love with a half Vulcan girl he knew from years ago. Daughter of a colleague I worked with. Hes hoping to impress her father enough he might let them wed. I really ought to catch up with him. I may need to buy a hat in the future. Well I hope I do."

"You should. And I can relate to having to raise a sibling. After our parents were killed I was left to take care of my younger sister. Family is important," Jeremy agreed with a nod. "But being allowed to Wednesday sounds... archaic."

"Im sorry. I am not familiar with that phrase," Mel said confused at his last statement.

"What..?" Jeremy frowned then shook his head. "Did the UT mess up? I'm very sure I said wed... That you need permission to get married, that's archaic. I don't recall my parents ever mentioning permission. My dad was a Romulan refugee, my mother Trill. I suppose she fell for his cooking because he was one hell of a chef."

"Well her father, Peter," Mel smiled. "Tay always wanted to have his confidence and respect. When he was younger he worshiped that Vulcan. Still does if we are honest and he's one of my oldest friends. And when he was considering bonding Seleya you know in the Vulcan tradition it upset Tay very much. I knew then he was in love with that girl. Peter did not bond her by the way so maybe he left the door open and saw it too," Mel smiled.

"Sounds like a good friend to have," Jeremy mused, "child bonding, another archaic business, from a time long past. Useful between warring clans perhaps but not in modern day." He smiled. "It'll hopefully be some time before my son brings home a lover. He keeps asking when I will after I kicked my now ex husband out." He shrugged. "Anyway, weddings... I hope your brother will be able to get it sorted. I'm sure he will if he does things the traditional way?"

"Yes," Mel nodded. "Leave them to it. So then I think I've adjusted to circumstances well enough. People forget Im a joined Trill and have a wealth of "experiences" that have been dealt with previously and I can draw on for strength," she said.

Jeremy chuckled. "Don't we just? I'll agree with you there, I'm joined too. I'm sure you'll adjust in time, it's what we do."

"So then what else do we need to talk about or do you feel you can sign me off?" Mel asked.

"Oh I've already signed you off but I was under the impression you wanted to talk," Jeremy smiled.

"Always. Especially if there's coffee," she said taking a sip contentedly. "What's new with you then?" she asked.

"Nothing much. Just trying to raise a child to the best of my abilities and keep an annoying ex at arm's length. Altaïr wants nothing to do with him but he keeps butting in from time to time. We managed well so far though and I think he doesn't know where we are this time." Jeremy uttered a frustrated sigh. "It's been a few years since our nasty divorce but I feel he doesn't want to accept it."

"Im sorry to hear that. Can I ask? Why does he want nothing to do with him?"

"Because my ex-husband is a liar and a cheat," Jeremy answered, a hint of venom in his voice. "Ahira caused is nothing but heartbreak after we got married. It wasn't long before I caught him with another man. Of course I kicked him out after that but he kept bothering us after the divorce was finalized. He thought he had a claim on my son, a right to keep seeing him but he was so wrong. Altaïr is my birth son, I am his biological father. Ahira has no blood tie to him at all. And now that Altaïr is older, he has decided he wants nothing to do with his former stepfather."

Mel nodded. "Hopefully that will calm down for you soon. Perhaps in some way its his way of keeping in your life even if its negative?" she mused.

"There's a court order that requires him to leave us alone and he can't come anywhere near us. He has no visitation rights whatsoever even though he thinks he does. If he tries to come near, ship security will arrest him. Wouldn't be the first time either and I doubt it will be the last. Ahira has issues, and to my shame I didn't see it until after we got married." He sighed softly in an attempt to calm his rising anger. "Some of it is in my medical file, I'm sure you'll find it an interesting read."

Mel nodded the smallest of nods not sure what else to say there. She sipped her coffee awkwardly. "What does Altair think of living on the ship?" she said trying to steer the conversation into a better space. It was clear Jeremy was getting upset.

"He doesn't know any better I'm afraid. He's never lived on a planet, well not that he remembers anyway." His child seemed to be his happy place as his expression changed from one of upset and hatred to one of happiness. "Of course he hopes I'll find someone to love again as he's craving having another parent. He's even trying to be matchmaker. But he enjoys star ship life and he's doing well in school."

"Sounds like despite it all he's very grounded. You should pat yourself on the back," Mel commented. "Although the matchmaker part, well if Charlie tried something like that I'm not sure how I would react. Has he actually suggested someone?" she asked.

"Priory, yes definitely. Even gone as far as to try and set up a date, much to my horror. Since we only just arrived here, thankfully he hasn't yet. Beyond a confidential setting I haven't really been able to engage any crew yet. And ethics forbid me from dating a patient, or at least while someone is my patient. I'm sure as a doctor, you entertain similar values? Your daughter has never tried to set up a date?"

"Date no, but she did accuse me of having an affair one time before I got together with Keiben. I was actually having some private flying lessons but she really got the wrong end of the stick," Mel chuckled. "Kids ehh?"

Jeremy nodded. "Kids," he confirmed, "and what if you were dating while you were single? That's your affair isn't it?"

"I don't think I'm planning on dating again for a long time," Mel said honestly. "Widowed twice now. Perhaps I'm cursed."

"I know how you feel," Jeremy agreed. "Sort of widowed once, as I was engaged and not married, and I went through a nasty divorce which might as well be being widowed. My son lost a parent twice. I'm not sure I want to be dating anyone either, but hey who knows right? Anyway, I probably should let you get back to your routine."

"Thank you Jeremy," Mel said finishing her drink. She stood up to leave. "Never say never ehh," she flashed him a smile as she left for the door.

Lt Cmdr Melanie D'BrooNi
CMO

Lt Jeremy Ezio
Counselor

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