<USS Avalon> Decisions, Decisions

"Decisions, Decisions."
Skyler and Braelin
 
Skyler awoke with a start. She looked at time and realized she still had  
time before she had to report to the bridge. Getting up she checked on Tavi one 
 
last time and then walked into the bathroom. Turning on the water she let it 
get  as hot as she could tolerate and then she stepped in. The hot water ran 
across  her taught muscles doing whatever possible to relax them.
 
All she could think about was what Braelin had told her. One that she and  
her niece were Q-like. Or more to the point had Q-like psi abilities. It still  
amazed her that the good Dr. had managed to make it through the academy and  
graduate without anyone finding out. Secondly, the possibility that Tavi may  
have these same abilities.
 
Stepping out of the shower she dried off and slipped into a clean uniform.  
Once everything was in order she quietly slipped out and made her way back to  
sickbay. She wanted to catch Braelin before she went off shift to get the test 
 results. She was nervous about getting these results yet she needed to know. 
 Both for her own peace of mind and most importantly for Tavi. Tavi needed to 
 know where she came from and where she fit in.
 
Whatever the results they were still a family. She and Tavi would be a  
family no matter what happened. She had made a promise to Tavi and she planned  
to 
keep it. As soon as things settled down they would make it official. Family  
name or no. She walked into sickbay and looked around. She saw Braelin in the  
back and quickly but with a sense of urgency walked back to where she was.

"Good morning Braelin. I hope I am not disturbing you? I  couldn't sleep so I 
thought I would come down and see how the test results were  coming. Have you 
started testing the samples yet?" 


Brae made an effort not to chuckle.  "The  tests have been run," she 
reported, dark eyes twinkling.

This was the moment Skyler was dreading. "Ok, so  what are they? Does Tavi 
have these Q-like abilities?" She didn't  realize  how fast her heart was 
pounding.  


"Sit down..." Braelin busied herself getting two  cups of tea from the 
replicator.  "Catch your breath.  The universe  will not end, I promise."

Sitting down Skyler took a deep breath. True, it wasn't the end of  the 
world, but it could change things. She was not good at change. "I know the  
universe will not end, it's just I am not good at change in my life. I guess 
you  
could say I am stuck in my ways."  


Braelin set a mug of tea in front of Skyler and  sat down with her own mug.  
"Tavi does have the genetic sequence I was  testing for," she said slowly and 
clearly.  "However, it is not activated  at this time."  She paused for a 
moment.  "Proximity to Meg could very  well change that."

Skyler was in the  middle of taking a sip of her tea. She paused and looked 
at Braelin. "So....Tavi  has these Q-like psi abilities? Same as you and Meg. I 
was not expecting this at  all. How do I deal with this or more importantly 
how do I help Tavi deal with  this."  


Shaking her head, Brae said, "At the moment, Tavi  is simply a developing 
telepath.  We don't know who her parents were or  where they came from, so 
those 
telepathic abilities could have come from  anywhere.  Anything more than that, 
we'll have to wait and see what  develops."  She had thought of offering to 
block that development, or  conversely, to trigger it herself so that it could 
be dealt with right  away.  But there would be repercussions from either of 
those actions, and  the repercussions could be more than she was willing to 
deal 
with.  It was  far better to let things take their natural course.

"If we wait....and she spends more time with Meg,  won't that cause her 
abilities to become more active? She is already somewhat  confused about what 
is 
happening to her now as it is." Finishing her tea Skyler  wondered how she 
could 
find out about Tavi's parents. If she could at all.  


"That's a distinct possibility," said Brae.   "Of course, it may be that 
would happen even without exposure to Meg's catalytic  ability.  And, of 
course, 
it's remotely possible that it may never  happen.  But what she's dealing with 
now is plain old garden-variety  telepathy, and anyone who teaches telepaths 
can teach her how to work with  it."

The tension seemed to flow  out of Skyler's body.  "I can teach her what I 
know, if she is willing to  listen. Right now she is a little hesitant to talk 
to me. I'm not sure if it is  because it scares her or if she is afraid I may 
not want to adopt her."  Surely she doesn't think that?  "Braelin I want 
nothing more than to  adopt Tavi. I don't care what powers she may or may not 
have. 
You've dealt with  this with your niece, perhaps you can help me."  


"I will help you in any way I can," said  Braelin.  "I know what it is to 
grow up different, in more ways than  one.  But the best you can do for Tavi is 
what you've already been  doing.  Nothing has changed about her except that 
she's beginning to grow  up."  She smiled.  "Of course, many parents find that 
to 
be the most  difficult thing of all."

Smiling Skyler nodded her head. "I have never raised a child or even  been 
anything close to a parent. So all of this is new to me. Granted I wouldn't  
change any of it for the world. Tavi has changed my life in ways I can't  
express. I appreciate your help Braelin. At least now I know what we are 
dealing  
with. Now all I have to do is sit down and try talking to Tavi. If she will 
talk  
to me."  


"Is there any reason to think she  wouldn't?"

"She has been hesitant of  late when I ask her anything. I don't want to push 
her but I also want to help.  Any suggestions?"  


"Well, I've never been a parent either," Braelin  admitted.  "But maybe it's 
that she's sensing your nervousness and she  doesn't want to make you more 
nervous?  Do you think it would help if you  could just relax?"

~Am I letting on  that I am nervous?~ " I suppose she could be sensing some 
nervousness  although I thought I was hiding it rather well. It probably would 
help if I  could relax but I'm not sure how to go about that." ~Well that's 
not true.  Moreya can certainly help me to relax~  


"Not being a counselor, I probably shouldn't be  trying to analyze your 
situation," said Brae, "but it might help you relax if  you could pick apart 
why 
you're nervous.  It's a lot easier to deal with  feelings when you know where 
they're coming from."

"You are probably more qualified to analyze my  situation than anyone else." 
Stopping to think a moment Skyler tried to think of  why she was nervous. "I 
think part of it is I am afraid that she is going to  decide that now that she 
has these abilities she is not want me to adopt her.  Sometimes I am not the 
most secure person around."  


"And maybe she will need you more than ever,"  Brae said firmly.  "It is very 
frightening to face the unknown alone, with  no stability in your life.  
Having someone there for you, even if  all that person does is be there, can 
make 
such a  difference."

"You are correct Brae. It is  an unknown we are both facing. I don't want to 
hide anything from her. She  deserves to know what is going on. I have an idea 
if you think it is good. What  if you and Meg came for dinner one night. We 
could all discuss it together.  Perhaps she wouldn't be so afraid with Meg 
around.  


"If it would make you more comfortable, then  certainly we can approach the 
issue that way," Braelin agreed.  "After all,  it is your family and you need 
to deal with things in whatever way you think  will work best.  I'm available 
to help however you believe help is  needed."

Running her fingers through her hair,  Skyler wasn't sure what to do. "To be 
honest I have never been in this situation  before and I am not sure at all 
what to do or what is the best thing to do. I am  most definitely open to any 
suggestions."  


Braelin felt that she was placed at a crux of decision.  She  could not make 
this choice for Skyler, Skyler would have to make her own  choices.  Once the 
choice was made, Braelin could help if asked to do  so.  But to make Skyler's 
decision for her would be to interfere.  The  actions of one or two rogue Q 
notwithstanding, the Continuum's non-interference  policy was somewhat more 
stringent and more detailed than that of the Federation  and Starfleet. "I 
can't 
decide for you," Brae said after long  moments of thought.  It was best to be 
honest.  "I can help you if  that's what you want, but I can't tell you what to 
do.  That would be  wrong."

Sighing Skyler nodded her head. "Braelin I  am asking for your help. I need 
your help. Will you help us get through this?  Especially Tavi?" Knowing she 
was asking a lot of Braelin she still hoped the  woman would agree.  


"I will help you," repeated Braelin.  "Let me know how you  would like me to 
help, and I will help."

Having made her  decision she felt alittle better. Not much. "Why don't you 
and Meg come for  dinner tonight. I will talk to Tavi before you arrive and 
then we can all  discuss any questions she may have. It will be very informal. 
Does that sound  okay with you?"  


"That sounds just fine."  Brae grinned, she felt so relieved at  having the 
burden of possible interference lifted from her.  "Let me know  what time and 
we will be there."

"How about 1900 hours  tonight? I will let Tavi decide the menu. She is 
becoming quite proficient in  using the replicator." Standing Skyler looked at 
Braelin. "Thank you Doctor. I  really appreciate your help in this matter."  


With a wink, Braelin asked, "And I haven't made you wonder whether  I'm 
really a doctor?"  She couldn't resist just a little bit of  teasing.  But she 
had 
studied medicine and obtained a degree, after  tiring of engineering at the 
ripe old age of 20.  She just wanted to take  Skyler a little off balance and 
maybe get her to laugh.
"Somehow I don't think you would have made it through Starfleet if  you 
hadn't at least studied the bare bones of medicine. You definitely know more  
than 
I do," she replied with a smile. 


"I read a lot," Braelin chuckled.  "All right, I'll stop  needling you.  For 
now.  Meg and I will come to dinner at 1900  hours."

Laughing Skyler nodded. "Somehow I think  it more than reading a lot. I look 
forward to dinner. And remember it will be  informal. Thank you again Braelin. 
I will see you later." With that said Skyler  made her way to the door and 
left. She hoped she hadn't made a complete fool of  herself.  

Skyler had actually taken this all better than  Braelin might have thought 
she would.  Of course, Brae was not the type to  show off with big flamboyant 
displays of her abilities.  Living quietly,  and doing good where she could, 
was 
more her style.  Now, though, it was  time to sign off-shift and get Meg's 
day started before getting a little  rest.  Braelin left Sickbay with a little 
wave to the nurses, glad as could  be that none of them had the slightest clue 
why Captain Skyler was so worried  these days.




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