Lieutenant Commander Frank Stanton, Chief Medical Officer
Petty Officer First Class Emily Mallum, Captain's Yeoman
When Olivia's new yeoman first came to her, confessing to precognitive abilities and pleading for help in controlling them, Olivia swore that she'd do her best. She'd drawn on all the techniques for managing Cortexiphan abilities that Dr. Bishop had taught her and those she'd learned in the field since.
Tonight's session wasn't going well, though.
Emily was trying to deliberately access her ability, to no avail. Dr. Stanton sat back after another fruitless attempt, looking thoughtful. "You might talk to Ensign Phillips. He knows a lot about mental focusing techniques-"
"No!" Emily half-shouted, her voice holding a thin edge of panic. She recovered almost immediately, biting at her lip. "I'm sorry, I just, I don't want anyone else to know."
"Okay, Emily. We'll figure it out." Olivia smiled at the girl, hoping that was true. It'd taken considerable effort to convince Emily to agree to let Dr. Stanton in on her secret; Olivia didn't want to go through that argument again before it became absolutely necessary. She also didn't tell Emily that it was entirely possible that Simon had already discerned her ability, if she was projecting that "loudly." Nick also sensed her anxiety early on, but after learning the cause, Olivia had asked him to leave the girl to her.
But it was a good thing that Emily had agreed Frank's involvement. He'd done an advanced brain scan on the girl using a process developed through his work with Olivia and Nick and the other Cortexiphan subjects. The scan discovered a weak blood vessel buried deep in her brain. It would have burst eventually, Frank told Olivia later, causing a massive hemorrhagic stroke and probably death. He'd been able to proactively repair the blood vessel via delicate neurosurgery and scheduled Emily for regular follow-ups.
Now, Emily sighed and looked away. "I wish...I wish I could get a handle on it. So I could be useful to the ship."
"You're very useful," Frank said in a firm tone that invited no argument. "You remind the captain to eat and needle her until she does. That doesn't work for everyone, you know."
"It's true," Olivia said, picking up the thread. "I'd never get through all that Starfleet documentation if you didn't organize it for me."
Emily was shaking her head. "Yeah, but that's just my job," she protested, as if constantly keeping up with a Starfleet captain barely rated as an activity worthy of note. "If I could, I don't know, warn you if the ship was heading into danger or something..."
"When isn't it?" Olivia said wryly. "Emily, our abilities are helpful additional resources but they don't take the place of training and natural talent. And as far as your precognition goes, the best advice I have is: don't force it, it'll happen."
Emily made a face, then nodded. "Okay. I guess stressing out about it is...counterproductive, right?"
Olivia tried to suppress her surprise but Emily caught her out and grinned. "I listen. And, um, if we're not going to get any further with this tonight, I need to rearrange some of your scheduling for this week." She sighed with the manner of someone several times her age. "Everyone wants a meeting and they all want it now."
"Well, that certainly takes precedence. Dismissed, Yeoman Mallum," Olivia said, barely holding back a laugh. Once the girl had gone she glanced over at Frank and chuckled. "I think she'll be fine."
"Fine, or 'fine'?" Frank asked, mirroring her irony from a moment ago but softening it with a smile. "She doesn't need to pick up on your bad habits."
Olivia rolled her eyes and got to her feet. "This wasn't my appointment."
"Can't blame me for seizing a moment when you refuse to make one. How are you sleeping?" Frank cocked his head at her, frowning. "Or should I ask 'are you sleeping?'"
"Better most nights. Honestly." Frank looked doubtful but Olivia held up her hand in an old Earth gesture indicating she was telling the truth. "Captain's oath on it."
Frank sighed but seemed to take her at her word. He knew when to make a strategic concession, too.