The Gang's All Here

Posted on Tue Sep 16th, 2025 @ 9:18pm by Captain Shran dh'Klar & Lieutenant Commander Callie Raven-Grayson & Lieutenant JG Kate Kono & Lieutenant JG Benjamin "Ben" Dalton & Lieutenant Viviana Del Rio

1,782 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Holding Pattern Hijinks
Location: Sickbay- PT Complex
Timeline: After Relearning the Basics

Ben has another PT appointment with Viviana and this time he remembered to message Counselor Raven-Grayson. He also told Kate which was was easier to do as they shared the same bed.

He was in Sickbay with Viviana wondering what exercises she was going to have him do. He looked around but didn't see the counselor nor did he he Kate. He wasn't disappointed just surprised as he thought both would be here but then he reminded himself that his appointment hadn't actually started yet. So both Kate and the Counselor could still arrive and not miss anything.

"I asked Kate and Counselor Raven-Grayson to come and see what progress I hopefully make today. I hope you don't mind Doctor."

Viviana offered a simple smile. "I don't mind. I spoke with the counselor as well. Based on how things ended last time, I think it important to have the counselor around, help you with the mental aspects."

Callie was running a little late, offering a very apologetic smile as she walked in to join Ben. “I’m so sorry! My appointment overran a little, it’s been one of those days!” She offered Viviana a warm smile.

"It's okay Counselor, we haven't started yet and thank you for taking the time to be here." Ben answered with a smile.

"Counselor, if you don't mind, might we speak for a moment?" she inquired. She looked to Ben, "We'll be just a moment. Go ahead and start with your breathing and stretching exercises."

"Sure thing." Ben answered as Viviana and Callie got to together to discuss whatever was on Viviana's mind.

Out of nowhere, like a jack-in-the-box, Kate sprung up and hugged the both of them the moment they stepped in for a private moment of conversation.

"Hey guys! Thanks for inviting me to the jungle gym! How are you two?!" Her voice dripped with ignorant happiness with complete aloofness to the fact that they had both intended on having a private word. "I think you're doing great, Ben!" She then turned to Viviana, "Whatever you're doing to increase his stamina is awesome, by the way!"

Ben smiled at Kate and gave a thumbs up as he continued on his stretching exercises.

Viviana remained serious as she spoke softly to Callie, ignoring Kate. It wasn't that she disapproved of the high energy Kate, only that at the moment, she had important matters to discuss regarding a patient. "Counselor, you'll need to keep close tabs on Ben. Physically, everything is fine. The biosythnetics are working perfectly. He is suffering from a lack of confidence, amongst other things. I think it likely he'll start off well again but then begin to slide when he begins to doubt himself."

Callie nodded. “We’ve already had one counselling session, I know Ben is struggling with his self-confidence hence why I’m here to offer support alongside Kate and yourself.” She offered Kate a warm smile. It’s going to take time, but once Ben gains that confidence there’ll be no stopping him.”

Ben's eyes focused on Callie and Viviana. He briefly wondered what they were talking about and then decided it didn't matter; he would find out soon enough if it was about him. He smiled at Kate and continued his exercise's.

"Alright Ben, time to get you up. We'll start with balance again" Viviana noted as she made her way back over to Ben.

Ben looked up as Viviana made her announcement. He gave a nod of acknowledgement as he placed his hands on the arms of the chair and pushed up, coming to a stand as he wobbled a bit before getting steady.

"Whoa their big fella" Viviana said jovially as she came up on his right side, helping him steady himself. "Alright, standing is good. Now center yourself, get your balance, feel your legs under you."

"Right, right." Ben answered and then remembered to spread his feet farther apart to broaden his center of gravity. He waited for Viviana to tell him to proceed with the next step.

Viviana scanned him with her tricorder, confirming that everything was as it should be. "Whenever you are ready" she said, casting a glance over at Callie.

"Okay." Ben replied automatically and then slid his left foot forward in what amounted as a half step. He did the same thing with right foot bringing it even with his left.

"Everything looks good. Keep going Ben" Viviana noted as she continued to keep tabs with her tricorder. Everything was as it should be. This was just a matter of the patient trusting the prosthetics, which was easier for some than others.

Kate found some overhead bars and hung on them so she could swing her feet free in the air while she watched Ben work his new legs. It was clear from the expression on her face that she didn't have a doubt in the world that Ben was going to be just fine. She didn't ignore what anyone else said about Ben's confidence as much as it was that the confidence she had in Bens's confidence was confidently confident. Even if they were keeping such talks confidential.

"Usain Bolt!" Kate cheered playfully.

Ben heard Viviana's announcement that all looked good. *So far.* he thought to himself as he slid his left foot forward and then his right. He stopped when Kate called out to him. "Usain who?" He asked, confusion on his face.

Viviana was equally confused with the reference. She offered a confused look to Kate before returning her attention Ben. "That's it, one step at a time. You are already doing better than last session."

Ben didn't reply, he just nodded as he slid one foot then the other in a slow but steady walk.

Kate made a mental note to herself to replicate a starter-pistol for encouragement next time they did this but in the meantime, she looked on and danced in response to Ben's progress. She only wished there was music to dance to but she danced anyway and skipped happily over to the makeshift finish line to mark her boyfriends goals and give him encouragement.

"Ten feet to go, Ten more feet!" Kate brought her knee up to her chest before pushing her leg out to catch the heel of that foot on the floor, draged it back toward her while shifting her center of gravity and repeating the process with her other leg to give the illusion of a dancing moonwalk that stayed stationary at the finish point while acting generally as goofy as possible to keep Ben's miind off of any pain as he progressed by being the clown that stole the agony. "Six more feet to! And it almost rimes with se..." She stopped and looked at everyone else looking at her and then just stood there and waved happily while wiping the sweat off her brow from the dance. She reverted to swaying form side to side instead of full-on dancing. "Don't worry about the assassins of joy! Just get here and I'll kiss you, like, a lot!"

Ben slid his feet one in front of the other, getting into a rhythm of sorts despite being slow it was steady. He looked at Kate who was doing some sort of gyration with her legs and feet, a bright smile on her face. He stopped for a moment, to look at her. "Six feet?" he asked hopefully. "A kiss?" He added hopefully as his feet seemed to move on their own towards Kate. Two more steps, five feet to go, another two steps four feet. He looked up and saw her smiling face urging him forward. He focused on her face, it was all he saw, all he wanted to see. Another handful of steps two feet to go, *Come on Ben!* He urged himself on, Two more steps, he was almost to the finish line, almost to Kate. Another step, he was standing in front of her. He looked at her a smile at het. "Kiss me Kate." He said softly.

With zero care about anyone else in the room, Kate leaned in and kissed Ben deeply, practically exploring his tonsils with her tongue. She giggled and wrapped her arms around him for both pleasure and support.

Ben sighed in satisfaction and pleasure as he wrapped his arms around Kate to both support him and show his love for her as she gave him a kiss he would always remember. "I did it!" He whispered to her.

"It is a good start, but before you let her get you too excited, we still have more work to do" Viviana interjected.

“Excitement is good, but don’t get overconfident it can be detrimental sometimes.” Callie offered. “You are doing very, very well, I’m pleased to be here to see it.”

Ben nodded at both Callie and Viviana's statements. They had good points he didn't want to get too confident to self-assured and then end up falling or worse. "Yes Doctor, Yes Counselor." He replied mildly, having been gently and professionally reminded about being overconfident.

"Back to work. You won't get used to these new legs without work" Viviana reminded. "Of course, with enough work you'll be able to function without thought again, and that is the goal"

Ben nodded, "Right you are Doctor, that is the goal. So, what's next on the agenda?" He asked while still standing next to Kate, using her for support both emotional and physical.

"You keep walking, building muscle memory of a sort, and training your mind. You have to get to a point that you trust that everything will function like normal, because it will. And you have to get to a point that you no longer think about things, you just do them, like everything is normal." Viviana tried to harden herself knowing she needed to be a little rough to get his attention and motivate, "¡Ahora muévete!"

Ben looked at her and her comment, he separated from Kate. "Back to the salt mine sweetie, you heard the Doctor." Ben said as he turned back to face Viviana, "I'm moving!" He said as began to walk back from where he came.

Callie smiled as she watched Ben walk, he was doing so well it was lovely to see. It was a huge morale boost for him to get this far, she hoped it would continue.

Ben continued his but steady walking, he was glad that both Counselor Raven-Grayson and Kate had shown up to lend much needed morale support. He needed all the help he could get. And with Viviana overseeing his therapy, all was off to a good start.

 

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