[Deleted]

Roger set about making his office ready for his newest patient. It was Lt. Telion. Roger had read his file-an admirable man, military bloke, and just heading into the peak of his career. Roger also read the dark stuff-his losses, and the note from his former commander that someone needed to give Koren a reason to keep on, lest he quit the Stargate program. Roger had been careful not to push the man into a session after their first meeting-unlike Calmara, or even Aear, he knew that the Lt. was going to be a tough cookie to crack, and he'd have to pull out all of his psych tricks, plus, for sure. His other psych evals were all done by miliatary docs, but since Roger wasn't military, maybe he could offer insight that he others couldn't. He could hope, anyway. 

Lexington had already prepared the office, cleaning-wise, so all Roger had to do was prepare himself. He got a fresh legal pad-he liked to keep one for each patient, and he preferred the vertical style as opposed to spiral notebooks. Even shrinks had their quirks, and Rog was no exception. He was ready quickly-interested to get started, as he always was, so he took the last few minutes to straighten his desk, as it was visible from the area he conducted his evals. He put papers away in the drawers, and then got photos of Lucy and Minnie dusted off and straightened. The night before had been tough-he'd had a few flashbacks, and missed Lucy a lot. He'd narrowly avoided the drink, but only because sleep took him sooner than he expected...he'd have to see if Kana was OK after finding him snoring in his desk chair. 

A quick glance at his laptop told him it was time. He shut the machine carefully, grabbed his pen, and went to the door. He opened it, and the tall man was already waiting. 

Come in, Lt. Do you prefer I call you Koren? He hoped so; Lieutenant was so formal. It would do better to build rapport if they could be a little more casual with each other. He led the man inside, and indicated the couch. Please, have a seat. Get comfortable. 

Water, coffee? It was always nice to make sure your client was comfortable, at least physically. Roger went around to the large armchair across from the couch, holding his clipboard, and settled in. He looked at Koren. 

How are you today? 



Tag: Koren Telion

[Koren Telion]

Koren approached the door and was about to knock when he stopped and sat against the door frame and sighed a heavy sigh. It had been a stressful arrival and now Koren needed rest, but there was none to be had. Koren knew the security of the new base would be a full-time job, but he hadn't counted on the computerized AI to be giving them such a hard time. He and Fee had been working around the clock, with Fee trying to create an algorithm that would allow her to control the AI in a predictable and safe manor, and Koren trying to manage personnel for all of the breaches, locked doors, venting, power outages and just overall chaos that the system was causing in the meantime. Fortunately nobody had been badly hurt (at least not yet), but Koren knew that if he and Fee couldn't get a work-around running soon, eventually the odds would catch up to them and someone would end up in the infirmary from more than a minor burn or some oxygen.

And that brought up another matter in Koren's mind; Fee. Koren was about to go talk to a shrink; probably one of his least favorite pass-time's, but the military had required it since he'd joined, so it had become part of the routine. Koren immense empathy made him a frustrating patient, so he was told, and his intelligence led him to be able to outthink most of his military shrinks who were just in it to clear their soldiers and get their quota done. Koren had no problem with talking about a great amount of his life, but there were a few things he did a very good job dancing around, like a tide pulling a boat off-course; his sister, and now Fee. Whenever a shrink had tried to get him to talk about his sister, he'd always bring up his grief and loss of Connor, and the shrinks would always take the bait. But now Koren had a new thing he didn't want to talk about, and that was Fee, and Koren was determined to dance around her too. Koren didn't know how yet, but he was pretty sure that if Dr. Harrison was like the rest of his shrinks, he wouldn't want to hear about it anyways.

Koren stood up, straitened his BDU's and knocked on the door. It opened quickly, and there stood the stalky man with hair just about as crazy as Koren's and eyes that could burn holes in your soul if you weren't careful, magnified by the big glasses he wore to take his notes. "Come in, Lt." He said brashly, "Do you prefer I call you Koren?"

"Whatever is fine," Koren threw back. He didn't intend on being 'mates' with this Dr. Harrison; he only intended to get cleared and get out.

"Please, have a seat." Said the man, "Get comfortable." Koren plopped down on the couch and, without giving it much thought, simply lay down and close his eyes, taking a brief respite from the day, a little curious to see how the doc would take it.

"Water, coffee?" He heard the Doc say as he got settled in.

"None, thanks," Koren said quietly in a relaxed, light tone as he let his body sink into the couch. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all...

"How are you today?"

"Exhausted." Koren said with a sigh, 'opening up' to the Doc, "Long hours with no breaks...can you believe it's week 2 and we've already discovered we're understaffed here?" Keep the conversations rolling, and away from Fee. That was the plan.

<TAG: @roger >

[Deleted]

Already, Roger knew he had his work cut out for him. He wasn't going to get into Koren's head very easily-he knew that. He had a plan, though-start off slowly, build up trust. It was important that Koren trust him, and he trust the man now laying across from him. He already knew a little bit about him-based both on his records and from his sessions with others. He also recognized a haunting deep within Koren's spirit-but that he'd gathered from the man's eyes. Roger didn't exactly believe in "eastern" medicine, but he did know that the eyes told a lot about a person-from diagonsing Jaundice to what was going on with them emotionally. Often, Koren was sad. Roger wanted to know why. But today, they'd just get to know each other. He hoped. He stood, and poured out a paper cup of water for the Lieutant, placing it gently on the table in front of the couch. He remained quiet while doing this, and even while he settled back in. Finally, he spoke. 

Whatever is fine...None, thanks Roger nodded. Ok, starting off already skeptical. Not that he blamed Koren-Roger had sat in on some of the psych evals of soldiers, so he knew that they were cut-n-dry, wham-bam affairs-nothing personal, and certainly nothing to build the sorts of trusts that Roger so valued. However, he did carry a deep respect for the individual person, so he decided to go there. 

Koren it is. I prefer to refer to people by their name unless directed otherwise...I find it's more respectful, don't you think? I gave you some water, anyway...dehydration would be an unfortunate reason to find you in the infirmary later... Even simple yes-no questions would get the Lt. talking some at this point. Plus, the water could be used as a distraction-for either man. 

Roger expected Koren's explanation when he'd inquired how he was. 

Exhausted...Long hours with no breaks...can you believe it's week 2 and we've already discovered we're understaffed here? Roger nodded. He was feeling it, too. 

I know. I am a team leader...it's difficult with just a skeleton crew. You all seem to be working so hard, and I am here 48 hours at a time, with just enough break to eat and use the restroom. How are you dealing with the stress? Exercise? Drink? Card games? Roger expected Koren to keep to the surface for a good while...he would play along for a bit, pushing just a little deeper each time. 

Tag:Koren Telion

[Koren Telion]

"I know. I am a team leader..." Roger responded with a little bit of hidden pride it seemed. Koren hid a smile; the doctor was human. Good. Koren hated to deal with the high-and-mighty shrink types. "it's difficult with just a skeleton crew. You all seem to be working so hard, and I am here 48 hours at a time, with just enough break to eat and use the restroom." The doctor paused, looking up at the ceiling, then inhaled sharply, squinting his eyes together, and asked, "How are you dealing with the stress? Exercise? Drink? Card games?"

"More work, actually." Koren responded matter-of-factly, picking up the cup of water and staring down into it like it was going to give him so big revaluation, "I find that the more I work, the less I have to think about-" Koren paused for a moment, his hand shaking, suddenly fighting back flashbacks that threatened to assault his conscious brain. Wow, Koren thought, I knew I was getting worse, but I didn't think it was this bad... "...about other things," he finished, setting the water down in fear his suddenly shaking hands might drop it, determined not to open up so quickly.

<Tag @roger >

((ooc: hope you don't mind the Tennant-ism I threw in there))

[Deleted]

Roger was back in Shrink mode now, watching Koren's response carefully. He knew he was going to have to tread lightly-the man's distrust and distaste for Roger-or rather, his "title" of Doctor-was apparent, and Koren was poor at hiding it, though he was seeming to start to make an effort. Roger made a few quick surreptious notes, and listened to Koren's reply. 

More work, actually...I find that the more I work, the less I have to think about-" Roger noticed Koren's hand shake, and his eyes staring intensely into the bottom of the cup. Hmm. He'd bring this up later...a later session. For now, this was getting to know each other, mano-e-mano or however that phrase went. Bloody Americans had to bollox up the English language. Oh, well. He made a circle over the words "hand" and drew an arrow pointing outwards, to remind himself to bring it out later. He had his own shorthand, a fact that drove his old professors postively batty. Koren finished. 

...about other things. Roger just nodded. He tried a different tact. 

My wife, Lucy, she works for the FBI. She's a hostage rescue specialist, and I know that before our daughter was born, and I volunteered for this, she used to be like that. Working took her mind off of everything, including her tough cases. But eventually, she would find that it also took her mind off of the good things. Of course, I was patient, but some people weren't. We lost some friends because of it, but over time, she learned some other mechanisms...what was really bothering her was fears about being an adequate wife and mother, and once she was able to identify those things, we were able to deal with them. I suppose that what I mean is that you should think about what is driving you to overwork yourself-besides the obvious-and maybe face that head on. I can help, if oyu like. It won't happen overnight, but it's just food for thought. Worked for Luce, anyway... Roger sighed deeply. He tried not to bring his own life into sessions unless it applied, but sometimes he just liked to talk about Lucy. For both their sakes, he changed the subject. 

Something else that has been bothering me. I read through parts of your personnel file, and noticed that you've done a lot. You've been with Stargate for awhile, but you're still at a Lieutant rank. Have you turned down a promotion? Roger was trying to get Koren to simply speak. It really didn't matter-he could've asked him about his favorite dog or what he liked on his hotdogs. And Koren could give him an answer thusly. But really, Roger WAS curious. 

Tag: Koren Telion