First Steps to Healing

Posted on Mon Sep 14th, 2020 @ 12:36am by Lieutenant Lily Marlow

Mission: End of Line
Timeline: MD 01
3760 words - 7.5 OF Standard Post Measure

It was time for Sekat's first appointment, Lily glanced around the room she had acquisitioned for the various therapies she would be using for healing.

Attached to the ceiling were two parallel bars, hanging above a massage table. On the left side of the room were some shelves which contained the oils and ointments needed. Also there were her accupuncture needles in sterile containers, and a small table nearby.

On the right side of the room was a large screen, which looked like a window overlooking a view of a forest with a stream nearby. The lovely babbling sound of the stream, with the intermittent sound of birds, could be heard. The sound of a breeze dancing amongst the tops of the pines rustling the needles. An aroma emitter with essential oils lightly scented the room, with the natural scent of the forest.

Not too far from there, was an area for some Tai-chi exercises. Even though there was a room for that purpose, Lily felt that a more quiet area for part of therapy would be better. In pots there were several plants, Basil, Rosemary and Peppermint. Towels and cloths, to clean the hands, as well as sheets to cover the patient, as well as the massage table.

Last but not least, Lily was not dressed in Star Fleet issued uniform. For this type of therapy, she needed to be dressed in flexible, comfortable clothing. Her shortsleeve tee-shirt was a medium blue, her active wear pants, black. She stood on a towel barefoot, awaiting for Sekat's arrival.

Sekat waited in the doorway as he arrived, glancing around the room and taking in the various scents that touched his senses. His eyes were drawn to the large screen before they settled on his new boss. "I am here," he announced as he approached her, "what do you need me to do?

Lily smiled in greeting,"Hello Sekat, first off come on over and take a seat on the massage table. I don't know if you've had a massage before, but when I give massages, the person, isn't clothed. I drape a sheet across their body to give them coverage but also give me access to the areas I will be working on. This is something I want to discuss with you before we proceed."

"We have already agreed that I will accept being touched," Sekat acknowledged as he sat down as directed. "I had also anticipated the requirement to disrobe and I have no objection, assuming that we are afforded complete privacy. I do not need others to see the extent of the damage to my body." Not only was his left leg considerably damaged, there was also still visible scarring to his left foot and right shoulder, where the Parathan had bit him.

Lily nodded, "That is a private matter, and others should not be privy to that." she stated, moving over to the door, and entering a code."No one will have access into here, without permission. Except in case of an emergency, then it can be overridden." moving back towards Sekat."I specifically asked for this room to be set up, for privacy, and to have a more relaxing atmosphere. If you would like an added measure of privacy, I can put up a screen between here and the door. I refuse to have anyone step inside, whenever they wish, to interrupt a healing session." a note of protectiveness in her voice. For she was protective over those whom she treated.

"That is acceptable," Sekat said as he started to disrobe.

Lily got a sheet, as he started to disrobe, holding it up until he was ready to lie down on the table. When Sekat was settled, the sheet was laid across him. She then pulled out a privacy screen it creating a shield between the table and the entrance of the room.

"Computer, lower the lights by 30 percent." making certain they were not too bright.

"One other thing that I need to mention, is at times, when a person is massaged there is an emotional release especially when scar tissure is worked on." Lily remarked, "Just wanted to let you know before I begin." as she warmed her hands, as well as the oils she would be using. Cold hands, cold oils not conducive to starting the healing process.

"I have not experienced this before," Sekat answered quietly, "what kind of emotional release are you referring to?"

Lily pulled up a stool, after pulling the sheet up over his shoulders, he lying on his stomach, and looked into Sekat's eyes. "When working on scar tissue, the emotions dealing with the injury, may come up with rememberence. Most of my patients have shed some tears. Some heavy, some.. only a few tears."

Sekat gave her a stoic look. "I am Vulcan doctor," he replied, "I do not....cry." Yet he tried to make himself comfortable, steeling himself for the impending touch.

Lily understood that this was certainly going way out of his comfort zone. "We wil proceed in just a few moments. Just let me know when it gets uncomfortable when we start." she said, then stepped away to where she was in front of the forest scene. She had to make certain she was centered, where there would only be just a connection with the injuries and body, but not any emotions no personal baggage to be brought over by just a touch.

She went through her Tai Chi Kata, the one which put her mind at rest, her chi in balance, an aura of healing emanating from her. Massage therapy created an unseen current, as the therapist connects to the energy flow of a patient. It being done, she walked over to where Sekat lay, a few slow, centering deep breaths, warm massage oil on her hand.

Then she makes the first initial connection, touching his left shoulder just for him to get used to the contact. The touch wasn't too soft, nor was it too hard, her fingers seeming to have an instinct of their own adjusting to the texture of the skin and the injured area.

Sekat hissed involuntarily even though the shoulder injury had been far better healed than his leg. Being left-handed had probably helped with muscle stimulation. He caught himself gritting his teeth as she worked. "Can you ease up a little?" he asked softly.

Lily's touch eased up and she asked, "How is this?" wanting him to be more comfortable. This was all a part of getting to know the right amount of contact.

"Better..." Sekat tried to relax, telling himself that his shoulder was healed, that she really didn't need to do this there. But as she worked, he felt a warmth radiate down his arm, making his fingers tingle. "Am I supposed to have strange sensations in my arm?" he asked carefully.

"Describe the sensations you are feeling." her hands stopping but not moving from the shoulder. In massage therapy, the students were told not to break the 'circuit' that they have made with the patient. "Is it uncomfortable?"

"I am not certain," he admitted, "it feels warm, my fingers feel as though thousands of pins are touching my skin. I have not experienced this before."

Warm, tingling sensation like a body part which was out in the cold, warming up. "That is an indication of the circulation to your left arm opening up. You do have damage, and the scar tissue in some aspect acts like a dam, keeping water from completely flowing like it should. Its the same with a body's energy, if there isn't much flow, there won't be healing."

She continued massaging, moving her hands slowly and gently down his left arm to his hand, then back up to his shoulder. "I'll be switching to the next part of the back as well as the right shoulder." she stated, "Will make certain that the rest of the body isn't neglected. Have to have that balanced."

"I see..." This was all new to the Vulcan. "I have been a physician for a very long time but I have never really heard of this kind of therapy. Had I known sooner I probably would not be so... crippled?" He did feel like a cripple and he knew it hindered him while he was on duty, and it pretty much excluded him from away missions.

Lily listened to Sekat, then spoke gently, "Perhaps you would have been on the road of recovery sooner." she worked her way down to his waist, " Not everyone is into, what some call old-fashioned and maybe archaic style of medicine. There are others though, that are open to studying the alternative, more natural types of medicine, all in the name of being true healers."

With one hand still in contact with Sekat, Lily drew the sheet up over his shoulders. "I will be working on your lower section, the legs, the hips and the gluteus muscles, if you are willing for me to proceed." she mentioned this out of respect and wanting him to have a decision as well.

Sekat gave a slow nod. "Yes, proceed," he consented, "there is nothing wrong with archaic methods. Often it works better than modern medicine because it allows the body to adjust and heal itself." He did feel a little exposed but as a doctor he knew she would tread carefully and respectfully. He knew his leg looked bad, as the damage had been extensive.

Lily moved down, only moving part of the sheet, exposing just the left leg and part of the gluteus. She applied the oil which had the catsclaw herb in it, working on the other scar tissue. She was careful as she massaged, to start making the tissue more flexible. Right now it was more about helping the oil soak into the badly damaged skin, loosening the muscles around the scars as well.

Letting out his breath between his teeth, Sekat hadn't even been aware he'd been holding it. He'd been favouring the leg, he was aware of that but he wasn't aware of how stiff the muscles really were. He gritted his teeth, unable to hold back a groan of pain.

Lily's hands paused for a moment, moving her fingers to the pressure points near the knee to alleviate the pain Sekat was experiencing, holding it there for several minutes, until he let her know the pain subsided.

"Accupressure point to ease pain." she stated quietly. "I'll continue if you are up for it."

"No." Even though as a Vulcan his pain threshold was much higher than a Human's, even he had his limits. "Give me a moment..." He turned ever so slightly to face her, his expression one of utter discomfort which he tried to hide but failed to do. "Is your accupressure similar to Vulcan neuro pressure?" he asked, somewhat intrigued by the idea.

"It is similar, the oriental practice has been around for 2,000 years or more. "Lily replied. "You know, Sekat, we can change the treatment to using accupuncture. Which will help to loosen the muscles as well, and reboot the neural pathways. Also it will lessen the pain too."

"I would be agreeable to that doctor," the older phycisian replied formally, "at this moment, what you are doing causes me great discomfort and I fear I may not be of any use to you in sickbay, if I am in pain."

"I will still have to do some massage therapy, but it will have to be in small increments. I'm going to just finish putting the catsclaw ointment on you. And when you are ready, I'll do the accupuncture. I will tell you this, you will need to take it easy as the body will be adjusting to the start of the treatment. Definitely drink water after this." Lily stated.

"I am ready," the Vulcan answered, laying himself back down and trying to get comfortable. As it was, his left leg felt oddly numb and he knew she needed to finish in order for him to even be able to get to his feet. "Please proceed." Still, he felt his mental control was slipping as he had to reassert his focus to pain control.

Lily finished with Sekat's left leg, knowing that it was the best time to do so, before the pressure point was released. She was going to have to do the rest of the body, then the accupuncture. While Lily was working on the uninjured portion of his body,she mentally counted to herself, for the circulation to the areas of the injured would become evident, probably causing him some.. pain but it will end up dissipating, still she mentally braced herself for it.

The one thing she hadn't told Sekat, nor others, when she gave massages, she did pick up emanations of the pain the person was suffering. It wasn't enough to make it debilitating but she did feel it, she at times felt like a sponge like she was soaking up the pain. It was all a part of massage therapy, the circuit between the patient and the masseuse.

Sekat closed his eyes, audibly gritting his teeth as she worked and firmly gripping the sheet he was lying on in an attempt not to twitch too much. He seemed to relax more when she moved on to the uninjured part of his body, but it wasn't much. His barriers were slipping, and more than just physical pain was coming to the surface. Tears welled up in his eyes, unseen as he buried his face in the sheet, but the sobs he tried to hide were still audible.

Lily, keeping skin contact with Sekat, made her way back up to his uninjured shoulder, having covered his lower half with the sheet. She hooked a nearby stool with her toe and sat down on it, still mantaining the contact. Lily lowered her head, for it to rest upon the back of her hand, while Sekat's body released what was pent up. This was part of the healing process, but it was the most difficult part. She felt the pain, it reverberated through her, a raw emotional storm, then she remembered the most important part. This was a rather private moment for any patient. She needed to break the contact before being swept away.

"What's mine is mine, what's yours is yours." she whispered softly, raising her head, then lifting her hand from his shoulder, pulling the sheet up to his neck.

The words were unfamiliar to him, their significance lost. He turned his head towards her while lying very still on the table. He felt a warmth pull through his skin from where she'd touched him last and felt that covering him up was a nice gesture. "I feel very sleepy," he murmured, closing his eyes again, "and very drained."

Lily could emphathize with that, feeling drained herself.

"Go ahead and take a nap, Sekat. I won't be leaving until you wake up." Lily said softly. She pulled one of the comfy chairs near the massage table, settling in it. "I'll be just right here." she and her chair within easy reach if needed.

Lily could feel the waves of exhaustion coming from Sekat, it was making her own eyes droop down. It was beginning to look like Sekat wasn't going to be the only one taking a recharge nap."Don't leave when you wake up and find that I am asleep."hoping that he heard her. "If you need anything, let me know" cradling her head upon the arm of the chair, her head within easy reach for Sekat to touch if needed.

Even if he had wanted to move, Sekat felt so drained he believed he wouldn't have been able to if he tried. "I will not leave you," he promised drowsily, keeping his eyes closed. He could sense her proximity, could feel she was close by. The sense was waning as consciousness slipped from him, and he tumbled unto an uneasy sleep.

Lily fell asleep almost instantly, the soothing sound of the image on the screen, the scent of the forest drew her into a deep sleep. It was almost two hours later, that she woke up, feeling refreshed, and thirsty. Lily stretched, looking around to get her bearings, at first thinking that she was back home at her family's cabin in the forest , from where the video had been taken. She realized that she was still in the massage room, and that she had given Sekat a massage. Sekat..Lily quickly turned to check on him, wondering if he was still slumbering.

Sekat was sat upright on the bed, the sheet that had covered him now wrapped messily around his waist to provide him some form of modesty. He was sat, however, with his eyes closed and his hands lying palm facing up on his thighs. He was breathing slowly, his face devoid of any emotion. He looked almost serene. At the sound of footsteps, he opened his eyes. "How do you feel?" he asked, smoothly sliding into doctor mode.

Lily had noted his posture, his meditative state, and noted what she considered to be different than what he had been when they first met. Perhaps he was able to find his center once more. "I am feeling..rejuvinated. And how about you?" Lily walking over to get some water for both she and Sekat. She poured some water in a glass and handed it to Sekat. Then poured a glass for herself, setting the pitcher on a nearby small table. She perched on the back of the chair she had been sleeping on, taking a drink from the glass.

"Very sore," the Vulcan replied, "very stiff but... different. I do not know what you did, but it seems to have helped. For now." He accepted the glass and took a few sips. "I do not expect miracles, obviously, and I doubt this will last on the short term, but if we continue, my condition should improve, should it not?"

"This is just the first of many treatments, until you are in better condition, and yes, your condition will improve." her voice confident and sure."your next appointment won't be until the day after tomorrow. A day has to pass between treatments to allow your body to adjust." finishing up her water and placing it on the table near the pitcher. "Plus, it will let me get myself a bit more centered before I do the next massage, or for that matter, the accupuncture. " Lily stated, moving from her perch to where his clothes were set she picked them up and brought them along with his cane. "Your massage was the first one I had done, since I had been injured."She layed the clothing on the massage table beside him and turned to get the screen to give him some privacy for him to dress.

He appreciated the care for detail, and the opportunity to dress in private. Once he was fully dressed, he stepped around the screen, leaning somewhat heavily on his cane. "You should not over tax yourself for my benefit," he all but scolded her, "your health is as important as mine and I do not wish for you to become unwell or injured again due to my treatment. We will continue, when you feel physically ready."

"Duly noted, Sekat, however, I must point out one thing. I benefited from treating you." her voice rather firm. "If I had stated this would be my first massage given to anyone after recovering from my injuries, you would not have let me treat you. And I would have then questioned myself if I was up to the task, of both continuing using my skills and being able to fulfill the task of being a CMO. Granted, it would only have been a momentary questioning on my part, but still, the moment of doubt would be there. " her left hand planted on her hip, and her right hand up, shaking her finger at Sekat. Her jaw was in a determined set as she looked up into his eyes, he being four inches taller than she. She didn't yell or scream, the level of her voice an even tone.

"Besides my being tired from working on you, I felt that my chi was brought back into balance as well. This treatment for you, ended up being a treatment for me too." tilting her head slightly, a slight smile playing about her lips and into her eyes."Therefore I will keep watch over my health, and we will continue the treatment day after tomorrow. I do not intend on injuring myself when working on people. "

She walked over to where the ointments and oils were kept, picking up a bottle to give to Sekat and walked back to where he stood. "Here is the catsclaw ointment, you will need to continue to use for both the pain and to heal your scar tissue. Use it when you need it. It will lessen the pain."

He almost laughed at her stern expression with accompanying wagging finger. Almost, though his expression softened considerably. "Thank you," he answered sincerely, "and I am glad to have been of service to you." He paused. "Perhaps in time you can teach me so you will not have to do it alone. I am versed in neuro pressure but this did not feel the same."

"I would be delighted to teach you, Sekat. I feel that my knowlege of accupressure will coincide with your knowlege of neuro-pressure and will develop into something of great value. And the same as Tai Chi. It may have some similar details where meditation is concerned. All the knowledge I have, I am willing to share. And I am willing to learn as well." Lily stated, giving a nod and handing Sekat his ointment.

"I am not certain I am capable of teaching you neuropressure," Sekat admitted, "it is a very...intimate...procedure." He stood, a little unsteadily and gave her a small yet warm smile. "I will return to my quarters and get some more rest. I will see you tomorrow."

Lily raised an eyebrow at his remark, thought about it for a moment, then nodded. "I can see your point. Though we can discuss the differences at a later time. Sleep well, Sekat." Lily replied walking him towards the door, releasing the security protocol for him to leave.

Nodding once in acknowledgement, Sekat turned and limped out the door.