=/\= SB 234 - Athena's temporary quarters =/\=
Athena had decided to meet with Ensign Hopeler in her quarters, well at least what was passing for her quarters. She smiled when the young woman arrived and invited her in. "Can I get you something to drink?"
Mimi walked in and tried not to jump as her boss asked the first question. She felt like an fool when it took her a few seconds more than it should have to answer such a simple question. "A cup of hot tea."
Athena tired to seem even more inviting as she nodded and said, "Make yourself at home," and motioned to the two chairs with the end table between them. She moved off to the small alcove that held the small replicator to get their drinks.
Mimi sat down and looked at all the walls. {She's going to send me back to the academy.}
Athena returned setting two mugs of tea on the stand before sitting down. "Mimi, relax," Athena said afraid that she'd get jittery just from the strength of the other woman's emotions. "I wanted to thank you for filling in for me when I couldn't get back to the ship and I've read your report and its satisfactory."
Mimi sipped at her tea to keep from showing her utter shock. She took in all that Athena had said and thought for a couple minutes before asking, "But... I .... did I actually do the job properly?"
"What do you think was wrong with the job you did," Athena asked and was even more glad that she had decided on a more private setting for this meeting.
"Well... I sort of abandon the adults and went to be with Rachel," Mimi stated with a hard swallow.
Athena held back her amusement as she thought of all the times she had believed she done an inadequate job. She shook he head, "Mimi, what would you consider your strengths?"
"Well, I'd been doing extra studies specifically on children when I was ...." the younger woman's words fell short when she tried to think about how she felt when the orders to report to the Chimera had been given to her.
"When your life was abruptly interrupted by with a new direction and challenge," Athena finished for her. "The truth is I requested you from your academy scores and the studies you were doing. I needed a counselor that could relate to children.... wasn't afraid to work with them and made them feel comfortable." Athena sighed and took a couple sips of tea while that information sunk in. "Believe it or not sometimes when working on a ship ...like the Chimera, you forget how to just be."
Mimi's forehead was furrowed in concentrated thought as she listened to Athena and sipped on her tea.
Athena continued, "So, where do you think your first mistake was?"
"When I gave others orders to help out and I went to be with Rachel," Mimi answered quickly as she had replayed that moment over and over again in her head.
"And at that moment what was your greatest strength," Athena asked watching the other woman closely.
"Familiarity with Rachel and Martin ... but Laura was there.." Mimi started but Athena putting her hand up stop her from saying anything else.
"And the other counselors... what was their strength," Athena questioned.
"Well they had been through similar situations like that before," Mimi replied.
"So, you delegated people to their strengths and went to be with a little girl when she need a warm body to hug and a friendly face," Athena stated simply and added, "You did fine. I'd even predict that you might get other chances to prove yourself if that's what you want... but for right now why don't you go and relax a bit before doing a couple of evaluations." Athena handed the junior counselor a padd with a list of names on it. "Go get out of here."
Mimi jumped up with the first true smile Athena had seen, "Thanks you ... yes, Ma'am."
=/\= End Log =/\=
Commander Athena Wellington
CCON
&
Mimi Hopeler
Jr. CON (NPC by Jass)
USS Chimera-B (deceased)