=/\= Begin Log =/\= Athena sat in her office practicing for about an hour after the colonel had left her. Needing to take a break, she decided not to put off her first visit with the CMO. {Let the games (poking and prodding) begin.} She stepped out of the door and Billy gave her a relieved smile when she was wearing a uniform. She returned his smile and said, "We're off to sickbay." Athena didn't bother to take her time. She strode off down the corridor and let the marine catch up with her. It only took him a few steps before he had caught up to her. The two of them walked the rest of the way to sickbay in silence. Rangi leaned against the edge of the biobed waiting for Athena to arrive. There were a number of questions she needed answering, least of which was why the word 'inconclusive' appeared at the end of the recent updated report from the starbase. Athena walked through the sickbay doors and skimmed the room before her. She noticed a couple of disapproving looks from a nurse or two. She ignored the looks and continued to scan the room for Rangi. Rangi noticed the tall slim figure looking around the main ward and pushed herself away from the biobed. "Athena?" she said taking a step or two towards the counselor. Athena's head turned toward the sound of her name and recognition was in her eyes. She covered the distance between her and Rangi in a few strides. Athena furrowed her brow with concern and asked, "How are you?" "Errr...fine thank you." Rangi replied, a little taken by surprise at Athena's approach. She moved aside, indicating they go to the side bay. "I think that's my line actually!" she added giving the counselor a small smile. Athena smirked and said, "I'm fine." Athena wondered if Rangi had heard about Rob. {Surely she has.} Although her expression remain neutral, her eyes held a touch of sadness in them as she sat up on the biobed. Rangi busied herself setting out things she needed for the medical check. She knew that Athena would certainly have heard the rumours rife on board but was reluctant to raise the subject first. Glancing up she saw Athena watching her and slowly setting the medpadd aside, said quietly,"I'm so sorry about Rob. It was a shock for me...I can only imagine what it was like for you." "I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy," She replied as she looked away. She swallowed hard as she let her feelings about Rob rush through her. She willed the tears not to come and other than the one or two that filled each eye that's were they stayed. She took another moment or two before she looked back at Rangi and said, "I'm sorry it was such a shock to you. I'll be glad to talk about it if you need to." Rangi shook her head once."No...I don't need to for myself..but on the other hand....what about you? Have you spoken to anyone? I realize, you being the counselor here..its a bit different. But its never good to bottle things up. You were with him, Shane said... when he died." Athena's eye lids flutter partially shut as she nodded. "I talked with Shane already," Athena answered softly. Athena cleared her throat a bit and looked up. Changing the subject she started, "I bet you find I'm in perfect health with just a bit more going on up here," she finished as she knocked herself on the head lightly. The tricorder bleeped into life as Rangi began the first short test. She concentrated on the readings, giving the mention of Shane talking to Athena time to recede. Well, that's fine!" she said brightly smiling at her patient and resetting the recorder. "Can you lay back please...just relax...I'm only running scans this morning. Had any problems since you got back?" Athena lay back and took a deep breath and assumed a relaxed position. "No none other than a headache after...." Athena's words trailed off and her eyes closed as she mentally cleared her head again. She continued, "Except a headache after Rob's death." She let her eyes remained closed a few moments more until she felt as if she were in control again. "That's understandable" Rangi said quietly and wondered at the wisdom of practicing such self control as Athena seemed to do."Did it last long? can you describe it for me?" Athena shook her head before answering in almost a whisper, "No, not long. He felt cold and numb mostly and a bit confused." She closed her eyes and a tear slid down her cheek. She tried to answer more but as soon as she was about to day something another tear would escape and slide down her cheek. Rangi laid her hand on Athena's arm. "Its all right Athena...cry if you want to...come on." She sat on the edge of the biobed and squeezed the counselor's arm reassuringly. Her question had referred to headaches but she was glad the counselor had misunderstood her. Athena remained quiet for a few more minutes and then gave Rangi's hand a friendly squeeze of her own. "Its OK and Rob wouldn't really want the tears," she finally managed. She took a cleansing breath and wiped her face dry with her hand and then said, " You can continue." She gave Rangi a small smile that was full of reassurance, but only a friend would recognize it. Rangi smiled back but looked away. She felt awkward. {She's a friend...how could I have thought such things about her and Shane?} She stood up "OK..." she said making a renewed start. "Now...this series of tests you had recently....I'm a bit confused ... as indeed they seem to be...about the increased activity in your Gamma band Rhythms. Do you mind if I repeat a few of them?" Athena sighed deeply and said, "No, go ahead." Her words definitely showed a lack of enthusiasm. Rangi lowered the scanner she held in both hands. "We don't have to do it now," she said quietly."I understand you're probably sick and tired of being poked and prodded about....but I only want to repeat the series for the networks of inhibitory neurons. We could leave the rest." "No, I really do understand," she said congenially. She took a deep breath and asked, "Maybe could we talk about something else though while these go on?" She gave Rangi a smile and said, "You can't even begin to know how many times I have had to wait through testing with no one to talk to or a Doctor standing there scratching his head going 'I don't get this.'" Rangi smiled and lifted the scanner. "No one wants to make you feel like a guinea pig...though I can see how you might," she said tapping in commands."..did no one tell you what they were looking for?" Not really," she answered and then smirked. "The only thing I know for sure is that they weren't finding any answers," she replied in a disgusted tone. "It happens," Rangi replied with a shrug. She busied herself arranging various pieces of equipment on a tray. "Mmmm...very strange..." Rangi murmured to herself and frowned at the scanner. She reset the command and placed a thin silvery band across Athena's forehead. "They were testing you for phsychokenetic powers...telekinesis if you like." She looked down at Athena and smiled. "Ahh," Athena said a little too calmly before asking, "Did they find anything?" {I hope not.} She tried to remain calm as she anxiously awaited Rangi's answer. Rangi pursed her lips and tilted her head to one side. "Well..." she replied slowly, exchanging the scanner for the padd, "...it depends on what you mean by 'find anything'." She looked at Athena, reached to remove the band and continued:" Mostly the test say 'inconclusive'...that means 'yes'....and 'no'.Athena?...when we were on the planet you suffered headaches...strange...feelings. Has that continued?" "No, it hasn't," she said. She swallowed down the panic she was feeling as she asked, "What do they know?" Athena's unease was clear to see, and with such a revealing question, Rangi knew something was going on."Know about what?" she countered. Athena took a deep breath looked away and took another deep breath. Her eyes had darkened a bit in color as she looked back and asked, "About me being telekinetic?" Her expression was solemn as she watched Rangi closely for any and all indications of how she felt and what she was think and how she would react. Rangi sighed, pushed her hair back behind her left ear and looked at Athena. "They more or less know that you have or have the beginnings of telekinetic powers." She tapped the padd, "The heightened activity...right across the board..just points to that. You know that quite a bit had been documented on this subject..and your results are SO similar. Do you want to tell me what's happening?" "If I had my choice no and I'd just assume no one else know," she replied quietly. "But...," she paused a moment and continued, "its something that I've always had, but I've never been able to predict use until now." Rangi said nothing, biting her lower lip, deep in thought. She moved to perch half on the edge of the biobed."So what changed things?" she asked."Do you know? Was it caused or has it come about gradually?" She wondered just how strong these 'powers' were.{THis could have an 'up' or a 'downside'} she thought and looked at the counselor with a part worried expression. Athena noted the expression in Rangi's eyes and felt the curiosity that seemed to be running through the other woman. She answered, "It came about from the last mission; at least the control part." She sighed and closed her eyes as she waited for the inevitable barrage of test every Doctor seemed to want her to do. "I see." It was a simple reply and nothing more was added. Rangi stood in silence, her mind working through various options. Eventually she reached a decision and turned away, switching her various pieces of equipment 'off' and putting some into cases. Looking back to Athena she said, "I think you've had enough tests for now. I can't do more than has already been done and quite frankly, although I'd like to run them myself, its not fair to you at the moment." She paused and moved nearer the bed. "I want you to promise me though..that if you have any 'problems'...I don't know...headaches..blackouts..anything like that...you must tell me straight away." Athena looked at Rangi and could tell that she really wanted to run the tests herself. Almost regretting what she was about to say Athena started, "I will and.." She paused closed her eyes and swallowed, "And the colonel said you should have a good baseline and you needed to monitor me." She rolled her eyes and went on, "I'm sure he'll inform you of the details, so if you promise to only do each test once...I suppose I could subject myself to them just one more time," she replied. Rangi smiled to herself. "Thank you Athena...but I think I'll follow my instincts this time. You're in no fit condition to under go more tests..at least for a little while. I'll see the colonel..it won't be a problem." She stepped back, allowing room for the counselor to sit up on the bed."I don't know how you're handling this." she continued "..Robs death...your new 'powers'.." {the rumours} she thought "...but in my opinion..you're taking on too much. Deal with one thing at a time." Athena gave a small tight smile and said, "Sometimes life doesn't afford you that luxury." She sat up and stretched a little before hopping off the table. She took a step away and then looked at Rangi and said, "By the way tell Steve thanks for helping me out with that wet nightgown. His solution really brightened my day." Athena stated on her way once again, but didn't get very far before she heard one of the many rumors. She lightly tapped the nurse on the shoulder and said, "You should be careful passing out such confidential information you never know who might be listening." Athena leaned casually against the wall as she watch a rainbow of red pass through the horrified expression the nurse now wore on her face. Athena's words had stopped Rangi in her tracks {Steve?..wet nightdress and Steve?..why didn't Shane TELL me?..what a fool I am..} She quickened her step behind Athena and heard the second comment. The nurse glanced nervously at the CMO. "I'm sure you've got something that needs your attention," Rangi said quietly but with a meaningful look."This isn't really the place to be discussing..personal matters." "No ma'am" the nurse hurried away with one quick backward glance to Athena. Athena turned back to Rangi suppressing a laugh. She cleared her throat a couple of times and finally said, "I didn't know that many shades of red were possible for one person." A wide smile lit Rangi's face. "Me neither," she said then, more seriously added. "You just made something clear to me. You know? I'm as bad as the nurse. I really shouldn't listen to rumours." "Glad I could help," Athena said and added, "I never listen to them if I can help it." She smiled and looked at the ceiling before saying, "Especially as I seem to be the subject of many of them." Rangi gave a feeble smile and glanced away, as though watching the startled nurse. "I didn't used to listen," she said quietly. "Then one day..they came true." She turned to Athena who was looking at her. "But that was in the past..." she added and turned up the smile. Athena looked at Rangi thoughtfully for a minute and said, "The past does that if you never truly let it go." She gave Rangi a warm smile before giving her a wink and saying, "I have a marine to go and bother." {She knows?} Rangi asked herself as Athena walked away with a wave of her hand. "Athena!" Rangi called and waited for the counselor to turn. When she did so Rangi said, "We haven't had a chocolate sundae lately?" How about you and I make a date to do that when we get out of this mess," She cheerily replied. "We will!" Rangi raised her hand in farewell. Athena nodded turned back around and headed out the door where she picked up her marine escort. =/\= End Log =/\= LtCmdr. Rangi Summers CMO/2XO USS Chimera & Lt. Athena Wellington Counselor USS Chimera