Round two

Posted on 09 Mar 2020 @ 2:23am by Lieutenant Commander True Keading & Captain Jonathan Reynolds

Mission: Mission 3 - Whom gods destroy ...
Location: Counselors office
Timeline: MD1 19:20
1706 words - 3.4 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

Charlotte was getting fed up. Eddie was meant to be with her tonight and now he had nipped to their quarters to say he was going to a girls quarters and running an errand for Jon. It had taken a little firm probing, it seemed her son was keeping things from her. Important things that really Jon should be appraising her on. Important developments that had occurred because Jons new girlfriend … this counselor had decided in her wisdom to set up her son with someone she knew. And on top of that Jon was sending Eddie on errands to this Counselor.

She deliberately waited until her son had, had enough time to complete his task. Whatever the hell she needed a purple bag for and allowed him to go see this girl. Until she knew everything if she pushed Eddie would push back.

Jamming the chime on her office door she heard something she didn't expect. Was that a baby crying? "What the hell?"

Did Jon have another secret kid he had kept quiet in their divorce? He had wasted no time getting involved with this woman. Had they been together for longer than they were making out?

"Come in," True called over the sound of Ziva's unhappy wails. It really was the last thing she needed at the moment, unless the person happened to know about babies and how to calm them down. She figured remaining calm herself was the first step but she couldn't help be a little nervous.

When the door opened however she was completely stunned. "Charlotte." She said dumbly.

“Counselor Keating,” she said stiffly walking straight in. “We need to have a further conversation about my son.”

Her eyes sought the screaming and squirming child, “But first tell me that’s not another child out of wedlock of Jon’s. Because if it is I’m going to be revisiting our divorce settlement and in need of one of your teams services as that’s just further pain I cannot take right now,” she told her bluntly.

True couldn't help but snort. "Hardly. This is Rosaline Belikov's child. Since she's currently in sickbay I'm watching Ziva for her." It dawned on True that Charlotte had said something about Eddie. "What about your son?"

She visibly seemed to calm somewhat before continuing, “who do you think you are setting up my son? He’s way too young for dating and has commitments I’ve already outlined to you on Betaziod and made it clear to you to .....”

The baby screamed again ... “made it clear ....”

“What are you doing with that child. They are hungry. Can’t you tell. The child is laaa’ing,” she told her.

"Well I met her five minutes ago, so excuse me for not knowing her language. And I didn't set Eddie up with anyone. I introduced him to someone his own age hoping that he would make a friend because Tia desperately needed a friend." True dug in the bag for a bottle while saying all this to Charlotte.

“I don’t believe you. I think you knew exactly what you were doing and now he’s got some weird bonding with her which I’m blaming that responsibility completely on you. And really Jon should have told me about at the time. I’m his mother, I should not be the last person who finds out when something huge happens to my son,” she shook her head as the woman in front of her found a bottle of milk.

“That needs warming,” she held her hand out for the bottle. “Put your little finger in the babies mouth and let them suck on it while I sort that. It’ll take a few of minutes. That will hopefully tide the poor mite over.”

"None of us knew about Tia's bonding abilities, not even her parents. Everyone thought she was too human. Besides, there's no reason to think that this just won't fade as they get older. They are really young after all." True sighed, she was tired of all the accusations every time she met this woman.

“Well I hope your right, as Jon’s mother will likely have a fit otherwise,” she ordered a warm hot water flask from the replicator and placed the bottle in it. “And that child’s really young. Eddies becoming a man. One who shouldn’t be running around doing errands for you.”

"I've never asked him to do anything for me," True said truthfully. "But," she said, thinking about how to phrase this. "You've done a good job with him, you and Jon. He's a sweet young man." When he kept his hormones under control, True reminded herself.

"He is very sweet but he is my son counselor," she stated pulling the bottle out and testing the milk on her arm. "This is okay to give to the baby now."

"I never said he wasn't. I'm not trying to steal him from you. If anything I'm just trying to navigate being the third wheel in his life. He's graciously allowed that. I have no sway over him nor should I."

She snorted, "Your a counselor. You know how to say all the right things people want to hear. You sure managed to cement yourself in his life and no … you will not steal my son from me.

The child counselor," she indicated the bottle and still crying infant.

True gave it to the baby to appease her. "Why are you so threatened by me? I'm not stealing anyone. I have no desire to be Eddie's mother, I've not asked him to do a single thing, I merely introduced him to someone who needed a friend desperately. And I'm already paying the price for that, from you, Jon and Eddie. Poor Tia doesn't deserve any of the attention she's gotten anymore than I do. I was doing my job which is to safeguard the mental health of those on the ship and I have to say it, apparently in your case I've failed but you have not given me a chance."

"I'm not threatened by you," Charlotte hissed. "And give you a chance. I do not wish you to be my Counselor. With this situation thats too weird. And I can hardly see us being friends, can you? Seriously? I am supposed to pour my heart out to you about my divorce and how difficult and different life is for me now onboard my ex husbands ship, in which you now happen to be sleeping with him?"

The baby was really sucking that milk fast clearly starving and was half way through the bottle already.

"You need to …." Charlotte sighed and pulled the bottle back from the child. It was faster. "If they ingest it that quickly they will get horrible gas. You need to burb them now or the baby's going to be in a lot of pain."

"Don't be ridiculous, I'd never assume you felt comfortable enough with me to spill your guts in such a fashion. Jon isn't even a patient of mine for obvious reasons. But we could try a thing like being civil to each other and stop accusing me of something every time we meet." True propped the baby up against her shoulder and grabbed a rag to throw there in case of spit up. "But you really haven't given me a chance, you look for things to nitpick and pry at. It's getting old fast. You are not the only one on this ship who has suffered loss. You're not the only one hurting but you are the only one coming up with excuses about why and how to stay in that spot and as a counselor it's my job to point it out to you. I had someone before Jon. He didn't exactly cheat on me but he was someone I intended to spend my life with, someone I gave everything to and in the end he just walked away. It might not sound similar but as a counselor it's hard to get people to trust you and he was the first to look at me as anything other than my profession. It took me a while to get over that, I was bottom dwelling until I met Jon."

"But why would I want to give you a chance?" Charlotte asked seriously. "And so what you got hurt once. Now your sleeping with the Captain and so far he's behaving himself. I'm one up on you in the hurt stakes. He cheated twice remember. He couldn't even behave himself when I was pregnant with Eddie it seemed.

What is it about you that commands better treatment? I'm as pretty as you. I'm as educated. I sacrificed my hopes and dreams for him. Theres far more to me than just angry ex wife you know. I'm not asking for him back but as our sons mother I need to be in the loop. For everything. None of you are giving me the chance to parent effectively. I seem to just be just shut out. I'm not nitpicking. I'm fighting to stop that."

"I'm not parenting Eddie. Jon is." True sighed, giving up. "It's not my fault if he's not keeping you in the loop. Maybe you should take this up with him." As for the other things Charlotte said, honestly True couldn't think of a reason why she should. True had just hoped that somehow deep down they could make peace with each other because she was willing and wanting to. It didn't appear it would ever happen.

The blondes eyes narrowed. She was right in one respect Jon needed a hell of a chewing out but whether she was willing to concede it or not this woman had influence over her son and she didn't like that. And she also didn't like this woman being right.

"You need to burp the child at least another two times," she said simply turning for the exit. "Then they will likely sleep, so I would get a basinet sorted counselor. Good day."

OFF:

Charlotte Reynolds
Ex-wife NPC Jonathan Reynolds

●● Lieutenant True Keading
Chief Counselor
USS Andromeda