Request For Help

Posted on Saturday, 1 May 2021 - 8:45pm by Lieutenant T'Lanna Vali

Mission: Operation: Peace or P'Jem
Location: USS Standing Bear | Counselor's Office
Timeline: 2394 - Afternoon after Rescue

ON:

Grol was not certain about any of this. He was not one to openly seek counseling advice but he reminded himself that this was not for him. He had to know what was going on. Something was wrong and he had to know what the hell was going on. The counselor was on leave officially but she'd been working on and off and this time he checked the computer knowing that he'd find her in her office.

He walked towards it and pressed the chime waiting.

T’Lanna looked towards the door, “Come in”

As the doors parted Grol walked in hesitantly. "Counselor...do you have a moment?"

“Grol, of course please come on in” T’Lanna smiled warmly, “Take a seat, make yourself at home.” She looked at him curiously. “What can I do for you?”

"If you are busy I can come another time."

“Not at all” T’Lanna offered a smile. “You obviously came here for something.”

He sighed. "I...require your assistance."

T’Lanna nodded, taking a seat herself. “What can I do for you?”

"It's not to do with me but Chief Eyelaya."

T’Lanna looked at Grol curiously. “Oh? Has something happened?” She had a sudden horrible thought about her encounter with Eyelaya in Engineering. She hoped this hadn’t anything to do with that. “What’s wrong?”

"I don't know." He said sitting back. "She's not been herself as of late. She's quiet and she has these headaches and is ill...I've tried to get her to go to sickbay but she doesn't want to. I don't know how to help her."

T’Lanna nodded. “I see. May I ask when this all started?”

"I noticed it the night after you all left for P'Jem." He said.

T’Lanna’s heart sank, had she caused Eyelaya harm during her outburst in engineering? “You said she won’t go to Sickbay? Have you tried suggesting a home call? Have one of the doctors drop in to see her?”

"I have but she refuses. I would not push but it is getting worse. I am...tempted to call medical but...that would be a betrayal of her trust and she had been betrayed by so many."

“We can’t leave her to suffer Grol, perhaps we can find a way around this that won’t look like you’re involved. What do you think?” She offered a warm smile.

He sighed. "Yeah... Maybe if you speak with her. I … wish she would allow me to help her."

T’Lanna nodded. “Eyelaya is ... a very private person, you’re lucky to have gotten as close to her as you have. I could drop by your quarters on the off chance to see Eyelaya, she wouldn’t know you’d been to talk to me.”

He blushed slightly. "She has been there every night for the last week."

T’Lanna smiled. “Then you've obviously become someone she cares very much for Grol.”

"Our...relationship is hard to explain at least for me." He shrugged. "I'm not certain that I could be what she needs."

"Don't run yourself down Grol, Eyelaya obviously needs you or she wouldn't be with you."

"Hmmm. Perhaps." He scrubbed his hand down his face in pure frustration.

“Don’t worry” T’Lanna offered the best reassurance she could under the circumstances. “Go home, do what you normally do, and I will join you in a little while. As far as you’re concerned you didn’t know I was coming to visit so act that way.”

"I feel horrible about lying to her." He said. "She has been patient with me."

“Then tell her, we can talk to Eyelaya together.” She offered a brief smile. “It’s not a perfect solution either way.”

"Yes." He stood. "See you later then."

“Later it is” T’Lanna nodded.


====== That Evening======

Grol sat with Eyelaya on the sofa. She was curled up in his arms reading and he was dreading the confrontation that was to take place.

T’Lanna reached Grol’s door, pressing the chime she hoped she wasn’t about to start a major confrontation with Eyelaya.

"Enter." Grol called.

"I wonder who it is," Eyelaya said as she sat up closing her book.

T'Lanna walked inside offering a polite smile. "Hello Eyelaya" She looked towards Grol.

Eyelaya got a feeling that this was planned. "Grol?" She asked.

He sighed. "I was worried about you."

"What?"

“Grol told me that you’ve not been very well, and that you’re reluctant to talk to the medical staff.” T’Lanna gave Grol an understanding smile. “I also know that this has only started since you encountered me in engineering. I wasn’t myself then, and I’m afraid that I may have caused whatever it is that’s troubling you.”

Eyelaya sighed. She looked at Grol. "Judas!"

He flinched.

Turning back to T'Lanna she said. "It's nothing. I have been working too hard and have a bit of a cold. I've been sneezing for days."

T’Lanna gave Eyelaya a slightly annoyed look. “Grol is not a Judas, he is extremely worried about you Eyelaya! So much so he felt the need to seek help of his own. He happens to care a great deal for you.” She offered Grol an understanding smile. “Now, tell me about the headaches you’ve been experiencing.”

"It's a headache counselor." She said. "I'm used to having them. I've been working long hours."

Grol jumped in. "But you are feeling ill too. Something is wrong you must get it checked out."

She pinned him with a look.

T’Lanna gave Eyelaya a concerned look, “Grol is right Eyelaya, isn’t it better to be safe than sorry?”

"No! I can take care of myself." She started towards the door.

"Eyelaya!" Grol stood but she was already out the door. He sighed and sat down putting his face in his hands. He hadn't meant to upset her.

T’Lanna sighed. “I’m sorry Grol, don’t worry she’ll calm down. Stay here, I’ll go after her.” Heading out of Grol’s Quarters she quickly followed after Eyelaya.

Eyelaya walked down the hall. She stabbed her finger at the lift waiting to go to engineering where she would be able to calm down.

“Eyelaya ... please wait” T’Lanna hurried to Eyelaya’s side. “I’m sorry if it feels like you’re being ganged up on. Grol is worried about you. He cares very much for you, he only wants to see you well.”

"He doesn't care." She said. "He can't even name what we are and he's going to care what happens to me." She sighed. "I told him I was fine and I am. It's a cold."

“If it’s a cold then you won’t mind seeing Ryan or Jared will you?” T’Lanna gave Eyelaya a curious look.

"I can handle a cold." She said.

“But are you sure it is a cold?” T’Lanna looked at Eyelaya curiously. “What if it’s something else? Would it hurt to get checked out?”

"If it gets worse I shall see doctor Rose."

T’Lanna sighed. “Eyelaya please, let me go with you. We could go now.”

"No. Thank you but no. I am fine. I'm going to my engines. At least they don't hound me."

“No one is hounding you Eyelaya” T’Lanna offered a brief smile. “We just care about you. If you want to go, then go.”

She gave a nod and entered the lift. It closed just as Grol ran up. "Damn it!"

“I’m sorry” T’Lanna offered an apologetic look. “I couldn’t convince her, she feels she’s being hounded.”

He gave a nod. "Yeah. It's my fault too. She's right. I can't name what is happening with us. I failed her yet again."

T’Lanna placed her hand gently on Grol’s arm “You have done nothing of the sort. This one is purely on Eyelaya. If she won’t let you help, then that’s her decision.”

"But am I really being fair to her. So many times, she's asked me if we are in a relationship and I can't even do that."

“Do you have feelings for Eyelaya?”

He sighed and then shrugged. "I care for her a great day but I honestly haven't stopped to examine things."

“You don’t examine love Grol” T’Lanna smiled. “It just ... happens. Does she make your world brighter? Happier? Better just for her presence?”

"Well that and she is the only one who understood me from the beginning."

T’Lanna nodded. “It sounds like love to me! When I’m with Raith he makes my whole world feel ... magical. Like there’s nothing I can’t overcome with him at my side. I’d be lost without him. Might I suggest you try telling Eyelaya how she makes you feel.”

He sighed. "Perhaps." He gave a nod. "Thank you counselor."

“My pleasure” T’Lanna nodded, and offered a smile. “It feels good to be useful after everything that’s happened of late.”

"It will take time." He said. "I should go and change and then try and find Eyelaya."

T’Lanna nodded. “Good luck, I hope she will listen to you.”

OFF: