Analyze That!

[Jason Conway]

1035
Roger's Office
Infirmary

"I think I understand what you're meaning to say." Roger began, and Jason relaxed a little more. Just having somebody say they understood where he was coming from and what he was trying to process was relief enough. Roger went on to explain a little story from his time at the Surgeon General's officer back on Earth. Jason found it more than interesting and listened intently. "I would worry about a soldier who puts his sole and absolute trust in a leader, NEVER asking a question. That means he is stupid, and stupid is dangerous. No one here fits that bill. Which tells me you're worrying about nothing. If I may, General?!" Conway tilted his head and nodded for Roger to go on, "Ask for a day of Liberty. Turn the running of the base over to Jones and Miller for a day, head out into the forest, and just let go. Just for a few solid hours, even. I promise you, the problems will still be here, and I promise that you will figure them out. Ok?"

"Yeah..." The General mulled this over for a few moments, "It's a little out there but I suppose it's not a bad idea. Come to think of it I know of a small stream nearby, I took an interest when one of the science department reported a species of fish similar to a brown trout were seen swimming there. I'm sure an old Air Force General could pull a few strings and have his fishing gear shipped over in the near future. I'll have to take somebody with me though, I've got a spare rod if you're interested?" He offered to Roger only half-serious with a wry smile on his face. "As for those relaxation exercises, I'd be interested to find out more, if you've got something you can email me I'll take a read and, in the privacy of my quarters, I may just give them a try Doc..." He finished. Both men shared a smile and a silent pause. If nothing else, today had been useful for Jason. He needed to make some me time, whilst putting everyone else and the running of the base first was noble enough he now realized a crash and burn scenario was on the horizon if he didn't take his foot off the gas for five minute.

Glancing at his watch, the expedition leader sighed.
"Well Roger, I've gotta get going. I won't bore you with the long list of things I've gotta be doing but I promise, Doc, that I won't be rushing them as much as I used to." He stood up to shake the good Doctors hand, "Thank YOU Doc. And you let me know if you ever want to take me up on that fishing trip." He nodded, breaking eye contact and making his way to the office door. No doubt the next few candidates were lining up to speak to the base head-shrink. Boy, oh boy was life in another galaxy quite something.

<tag Dr. Roger Harrison and whoever is next!>

[Dr. Roger Harrison]

1038
Infirmary
Meropis

Roger could feel that his words were making an impact. Much could be culled from a patient's body language, and Jason's was now relaxed, more "man" and less "military". Roger was always on guard for the subtle shifts in body language; he used these cues to direct the discussions.

Yeah...It's a little out there but I suppose it's not a bad idea. Come to think of it I know of a small stream nearby, I took an interest when one of the science department reported a species of fish similar to a brown trout were seen swimming there. I'm sure an old Air Force General could pull a few strings and have his fishing gear shipped over in the near future. I'll have to take somebody with me though, I've got a spare rod if you're interested Roger raised an eyebrow. He'd love that, actually. Who wouldn't?! A few million light years from home, his wife couldn't say a WORD...He should. He nodded.

I would certainly be game for that. Yes, it would be nice. Two guys out in the wilderness, doing guy things with no women around to bug them about it, and no military to make rules, and no aliens to throw monkey wrenches into brilliantly-laid plans. The general had a PLAN!

"As for those relaxation exercises, I'd be interested to find out more, if you've got something you can email me I'll take a read and, in the privacy of my quarters, I may just give them a try Doc... Roger smiled, and nodded.

Yes, I will do that. ALong with some notes from a session I had earlier with Captain Miller. Really, you should TALK to her...she might be your greatest untapped resource, you know. He let that hang there.

Well Roger, I've gotta get going. I won't bore you with the long list of things I've gotta be doing but I promise, Doc, that I won't be rushing them as much as I used to....Thank YOU Doc. And you let me know if you ever want to take me up on that fishing trip. Roger nodded once, and saw the man out. He let out a sigh, and showed in his next patient. Today was going to be YET ANOTHER long day of headshrinking. He wondered for a brief moment if he was too damn old for this anymore, and then decided he just needed more coffee.

Tag: Jason Conway, for a read-through, and OPEN!

[James Mulholland]

1145
Infirmary
Meropis

Why'd he have to get this at lunchtime? Jim understood why he had to go here. He hadn't received a head examination when he got to that mountain base. And now he was on that spacebase, and it was bound to happen sooner or later. But who in his bloody right mind wanted an appointment at LUNCHTIME. Naturally, Jim wouldn't have lunch often enough, having to do with he nature of his work. However, he wasn't out in the field now, and when he wasn't out in the field, lunchtime was sacred.

Jim entered with a smile on his face. The smile was his standard look. He didn't think about it. The Lieutenant was irritated, of course, but years of training taught him not to show it. This came especially handy when dealing with superior officers giving him buggerall to work on. He saw the head doctor and said "G'dmorning, Doc"

[Dr. Roger Harrison]

1145
Infirmary
Meropis

Roger made his final notes to send to the General at the end of the day. He made a note at the bottom to remind himself to send along a PDF of some of the relaxation techniques he'd thought would work best for the man, and then opened a fresh sheet. Who was next?! Ah, yes, Lt. Mulholland, a new recruit from the Australian Army.

A moment later, the man's accent rang out. Roger smiled warmly, and crossed to the door.

Please, come in. Good morning. Coffee, tea? Water? Please, have a seat, be comfortable. Roger indicated the orange chair and comfortable couch, whichever James would prefer. He got the man's drink, and his own refreshed cup of tea, and then settled in.

I understand you're here for your complusory psychological screening. Before we begin, I must tell you that whatever you tell me here is confidential; nothing but a pass/fail will go in your record, unless, of course, you tell me you plan to harm yourself or others. Otherwise, I am a civillan, and therefore, my reports are more private than those of a military doctor, so feel free to share what is on your mind. He waited for the man to begin.

Tag:James Mulholland

[James Mulholland]

1146
Infirmary
Meropis


"Nahh, I'm good. Thank you. Jim said, refusing the offer of having a drink. The Lieutenant sat down on the couch, a little tense and on-guard. He never liked head-doctors. Head-doctors had destroyed too many careers of his friends. Even though they were in good shape. Booted from the Regiment just like that.

"It's all good." Jim said. There really wasn't anything else to say. He'd wait for the Doc to ask, and he would answer. That's it.

[Dr. Roger Harrison]

1147
Infirmary
Meropis

Roger settled in with more coffee. He wasn't going to sleep tonight! The man turned down his offer of refreshments, so Roger got straight to work.

Nahh, I'm good. Thank you....Nahh, I'm good. Thank you. Roger just nodded. It never really was, but Mulholland was like the rest of the military men-weary of shrinks. Of course he was. Roger was not offended by this, and instead would lead the discussion.

Well, that's fantastic. This shouldn't take too long, then. Before we start, I need to remind you that whatever you tell me today stays here. Since I am not employed by any military or government, I am not required to make my reports available to your commanders. All they will hear from me is that you're fit for duty, ok? Now that that's out of the way, let's start with today. How are you feeling, besides "good?" How is your sleep?

Tag:James Mulholland

[James Mulholland]

1148
Infirmary
Meropis


James just nodded along with what the doctor was saying. He didn't really care about the usual stuff like the fact that he didn't report to his CO. Even if he was, it wouldn't matter much. This man wouldn't pry much loose from this Australian. He did have an answer to the question about sleep, though. "I don't know.. About six, seven hours a night. Easy asleep, easy awake. It's something you pick up in the military. You acquire the ability to sleep any time, anywhere." Jim said. The was nothing wrong with his sleep. He slept like a babe, but snored like a group of loggers sawing down an entire forest. Maybe that's why he couldn't keep a relationship. Well, that and the fact that he wasn't home most of the time.

[Dr. Roger Harrison]

1150
Infirmary
Meropis

Roger nodded as James reported no sleep problems.

I don't know.. About six, seven hours a night. Easy asleep, easy awake. It's something you pick up in the military. You acquire the ability to sleep any time, anywhere.

Fantastic!! And I read your file, you're in excellent health otherwise. Let's move on; how did you find your first mission? Your teammates; did they make you feel welcome? He was going to start off light, then probe a bit deeper. It was the best way, in his opinion.

Tag:James Mulholland

[James Mulholland]

1155
Infirmary
Meropis


"It was good, yeah. Ran into some trouble, but nothing you don't already know, I guess. And the team's great. Professional, yet also friendly. It seems to be a close-knit group that has gone through a lot together." Jim said. The team was much like his old team in that regard. And he liked it that way. He hoped to be really part of that soon as well, but he knew from experience that it might take some time. Especially with replacements.

==Decided not to say too much, as we're not done with the mission yet...==

[Dr. Roger Harrison]

1159
Infirmary
Meropis

Roger had started out easy...maybe TOO easy. It was like that with these guys, though, and he was going to have to dig in harder.

It was good, yeah. Ran into some trouble, but nothing you don't already know, I guess. And the team's great. Professional, yet also friendly. It seems to be a close-knit group that has gone through a lot together. Roger nodded once.

Great. How about your time before you joined the Stargate program...I understand you did a bit of special ops type things with the Australian Army? Did you see combat? Roger knew the answers, of course, but it wouldn't be counseling if he just give them a handshake and sent the on thier way, was it?

Tag:James Mulholland

[James Mulholland]

1202
Infirmary
Meropis

"What about it?" Jim asked, and a few moments later he continued. "To answer your question: I have seen my share of the sandbox." was all Jim had to say about this subject. While the necessary details of his deployments were in his service record -the one available to this psychiatrist, at least-, most of the information was classified. Basically, what it looked like post 2006 was a place of deployment and length of that deployment. The rest had pretty much all been handled with black markers. The Australian officer was not in the business of leaking anything to anyone.

[Dr. Roger Harrison]

1205
Infirmary
Meropis

He wasn't going to reveal much, was he?! Roger waited for James' reply.

What about it?...To answer your question: I have seen my share of the sandbox. Roger nodded.

When you were in the "sandbox," which I assume means Iraq, did you lose friends, Lt? I only ask because it's when you help yourself that I can help YOU... Roger let out a small sigh, and switched tracks.

Let's try something else. I understand that you were added to SM-1 at the very end of the last mission. I know you said you hadn't had time to see how YOU fit in, but from an outsiders perspective, how do you view the team's cohesiveness? Is this a team where you envision a place for yourself?

tag:James Mulholland.

[James Mulholland]

1205
Infirmary
Meropis

"Iraq, Afghanistan. The middle East, most of Africa. Somewhere in that general area. Jim said. And that's all he said about this particular subject. He wasn't going to answer the question about his friends. During his training he was taught to take the pain and to move on. Move on, but never forget. And honour them when you could. I don't need you to help me, doctor. I am fully squared away, and if I need someone I'll call home when I can.

"There might be, in time. It's a close group, and a new member doesn't easily gain entrance to such a group. Though I certainly think it will be quicker than with the SASR. When you complete the SASR training, and join a unit you're replacing someone. Be it a member that retired, or someone that got killed or wounded. You have a natural dislike for those replacements due to that fact. I do not think that I am replacing someone here, and therefore think it'll come quicker.

[Dr. Roger Harrison]

1207
Infirmary
Meropis

Roger was piqued, as he usually was when someone got defensive. It usually meant there was something there, bubbling below the surface. But he wouldn't press-there were ways to circumvent a patient's resistence-ESPECIALLY when said patient was in the military. A fast email to Major Eastlyn and Captain Evans would have this young man back in here if Roger deemed it warranted.

Iraq, Afghanistan. The middle East, most of Africa. Somewhere in that general area....I don't need you to help me, doctor. I am fully squared away, and if I need someone I'll call home when I can. Roger just shrugged lightly.

I am glad you have a support network. But actually, you AREN'T fully squared away until my name is on your Psych eval. Roger let that sink in a moment before continuing. I understand your reticence, it's in your training. But the day that your mind overrides your humanity because of the training is the day you, as a man...dies inside. Roger let James think about that for a few minutes. He was glad when the young man replied.

There might be, in time. It's a close group, and a new member doesn't easily gain entrance to such a group. Though I certainly think it will be quicker than with the SASR. When you complete the SASR training, and join a unit you're replacing someone. Be it a member that retired, or someone that got killed or wounded. You have a natural dislike for those replacements due to that fact. I do not think that I am replacing someone here, and therefore think it'll come quicker. Roger nodded.

That is very true, Lt. They ARE a tight group-a strange bunch, but they seem to make it work. One of the few on the base that seems to have just fallen into place fast without problems. I think you'll be fine. He waited a beat before continuing.

Well. If there's nothing pressing to discuss, then you can go, and I'll let the General know you showed up as ordered, and Major Eastlyn, as well.

That way, Mulholland could decide to continue or not.

tag:James Mulholland.