[Counseling Room, J.E.W. Consulting offices, Deck 226, SBC - Early Jan. 2398]
after S4M2
This was a session Judy always thought was necessary, but had somehow not come along until now. The older woman had always been worried about Captain Naira's mental state, as Lead Counselor in December '96 and certainly as SOO in the spring of '97. Now, after a Breen attack that had shaken everyone's confidence in the safety of their home on the station, Naira seemed to see the need for help, if only for the trauma of the attack.
Judy was, of course, ready and happy to help. Even though she expected a tough process of opening the captain's mental shell, in which her usual aid of home cooking would not be of much use, she didn't shirk from the job.
The room itself had two comfortable sofas, large enough for even Judy's sons (each 6'3" in height) to lie down on, some artwork (including a landscape painting by Max of the couple's vacation property in winter), bookshelves heavy with assorted literature, a coffee table with a full pitcher of water and two empty glasses, and a wooden desk in the corner.
Judy was seated behind that desk, decked out in a muted lavender-colored pantsuit and an elegant scarf, as well as black, horn-rimmed glasses. In these situations, she had to be very particular about her appearance - not to look too sad, but also not disrespectfully happy (the sweater Mabel had gifted her for her birthday, with a corgi butt embroidered on the back, stayed on the ranch after the attack).
The counselor waited for the captain, all the while looking over the food section of her beloved New York Times to pass the time.