=/\= Mess Hall =/\= Athena had just sat down with a salad and a glass of water. She was having a late lunch. She didn't sleep well the night before and got a slow start to her morning. She sat just sort of flick the bits of her salad around and not really eating anything. Rangi entered the mess hall and ordered a bowl of soup with crusty bread. She looked around the room seeking an empty table and saw two marines prepare to leave theirs. She made her way over to where they were and set her tray on the table as they moved away with a brief acknowledgment. She sat down and taking the bread in her hand, made to begin her meal. But a movement caught her eye and looking to her right she saw the adjacent table had one occupant. {For heavens sakes..} she thought looking back at her soup {.......Of all the tables I could choose..it had to be 'this' one.} She picked up her spoon and tasted her meal. Athena sensed the tension and forced herself not to look up. She took a bite of her salad but didn't really taste it. Nonetheless she chased the tasteless salad with a sip of water and then went back to flipping the lettuce leaves on her plate over. After three mouthfuls of soup Rangi stopped eating. She glanced sideways at the counselor and made her decision. Pushing the bowl away, she stood up and crossed the short distance to where Athena sat listlessly poking a lettuce leaf. "Can you spare a moment?" Rangi asked looking at the salad and not at Athena. "Of course," Athena replied softly and motioned to the chair opposite to herself. "What's on your mind," she asked. {Do you need to ask?} Rangi thought and after a slight hesitation, pulled out the chair and sat down. "We need to try and resolve this," she said evenly. "You're right of course...you work with Shane as I do...its impossible for you to avoid him and I shouldn't expect it." "I realize that but you also don't take any credit in what I say and I believe that is mostly due to the fact that you don't trust me at the moment," Athena stated plainly. She took a deep breath and continued, "I can only do so much to help keep things more comfortable for your state of mind until things are better. And I do think that it is something in your past that has triggered this dislike of me." Athena had laid her thoughts clearly out before them, but knew only Rangi's willingness is what would make anything work. Athena remembered Rangi's spoken thought about this. {"I don't want to talk about the past."} Athena sighed and waited to see what The CMO had to offer. Rangi seemed to consider the statement and spent a long moment looking at the table edge. "This is difficult," she said and at last raised her head, meeting Athena's eyes for the first time. "I know I'm being unreasonable," she said quietly "...but you must understand that I can't...control this..much as I'd like to," she added looking back at the salad. "I 'have ' thought over what you said...and perhaps you're right." Her expression had changed when she raised her head the second time. Athena nodded her acknowledgment of Rangi not being able to control it. When the CMO gave Athena a little bit of an opening she asked, "Would you prefer a more private place to talk?" Athena wanted to make Rangi as comfortable as possible since her own presence was part of the woman's discomfort for the time being. Glancing at the next table, where four talkative science crew had settled, Rangi was torn between wanting to have privacy and not wanting Athena's sole company but deciding she must finish what she had begun, looked at Athena and nodded. "That might be best," she replied simply and stood up. Athena abandon her barely eaten salad and suggested, "How about if we just walk around while we chat?" "All right." Rangi turned away and made her way towards the exit knowing that Athena followed. At the door she glanced back and waited for the counselor to join her. =/\= Corridors =/\= When they were both finally outside the mess hall doors Athena picked up were they had left off. "What were your thoughts about what I said to you the last time?" With a quick backward glance Rangi began to walk along the corridor and said to Athena, walking almost in step beside her, "You mentioned Rob. I was thinking about it and..well..it isn't the easiest of subjects for you to talk about either is it? " She gave Athena a sideways glance and continued. "You're right of course. I didn't trust him...by the end of our relationship...and the very reason I broke it off..there was no trust at all...not a glimmer." She slowed and stopped. "But Shane isn't like that. I know he isn't," she said confidently "...so why do I feel as I do?" Athena walked in thought for a couple of steps. "Well, I have a couple of thoughts. Past experience always creep in whether we want them to or not. Its those very experiences though that make us who we are. Old experience, pollen and maybe a feeling that things are going just a little to well with a new guy plus a few juicy rumors. I think could get to a person .....don't you?" Rangi took a moment to reply. She shrugged. "Possibly.." When Athena made no more comment Rangi said: "Professor Griffin knew of a case that lasted two years. He said that was rare and I only hope he's right. "Let's try and keep that as his only rare case," Athena said and gave Rangi an encouraging smile. Athena took a calming breath and then continued, "I know its hard for both of us to talk about Rob but.... I think we can handle it. Between the lasting effects of the pollen the rumors that seem to catch fire about me and the pollen. I'm sure that's the mix for your problem." Athena asked sympathetically, "So, how are you feeling so far?" Rangi half turned away,and waited before replying: "Quite badly to be honest." She turned to Athena. "I know I'm treating you like an enemy..I'm unhappy that you and Shane get along so well...which is ridiculous and I find myself watching every woman who goes near him. I'm trying hard to act normally but its difficult." Athena nodded in understanding. "Well, I hold no hard feelings especially now that I know the cause." She gave Rangi a small smile before adding, "It was a bit confusing before you explained though." Athena paused a moment or two. "Just know that I'm willing to talk about anything ...no matter how difficult. Plus, I will try to keep some distance between Shane and I. I'll consider it a favor for a friend. We'll hope that helps a bit." Athena stopped walking a moment and waited for Rangi to stop as well. With a confident tone, "We'll win; not the pollen." Rangi half turned to look at the counselor. She knew that Athena was trying her hardest to be helpful and understanding. She knew she was being offered a generous friendship but her overwhelming feeling was only to be away from where she was. "Yes...of course," she answered with a smile that wouldn't have convinced anyone. "Please excuse me." and without another word, she turned and walked swiftly away. Athena shook her head as she watched the CMO's retreating back. She understood Rangi's need to be free of her and actually this meeting went much better than the last. Athena wonder how much it cost Rangi to be constantly putting herself in such a position all the time. Athena continued on the way down the corridor with her thoughts. =/\= End Log =/\= LtCmdr. Rangi Summers CMO USS Chimera & Lt. Athena Summers Counselor USS Chimera