Coffee and Toast, A Breakfast Adventure(Sean)

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean smiled at her, his attempt to reassure her that he wasn’t in the least bit offended by the assumption. People tended to forget about mental health professionals when considering hospital assignments, and considering that a good portion of the general population didn’t know the difference between a psychiatrist and a psychologist, he didn’t expect people to know the details of his job. Particularly not people he had just met who had no affiliation with Hammel and thus had no cause to know. “There’s nothing to forgive.”

He then nodded in agreement; a school-wide screening would be a nightmare. Not only would it violate the rights of the students, but trying to coordinate it would be a never-ending headache. “It would be, which is why I’m grateful that for the most part my students are self-selecting.” Or he selected them himself.

The telepath took a few more bites of his breakfast sandwich, quite satisfied with this. He would have to remember this for the next time he came out to the diner, so that he could order it again during a brunch trip, either before work or while out with Josh.

Sean could empathize with the notion of not having a set schedule. While his day was often comprised of a hodgepodge of appointments, Hammel never failed to throw him curveballs. Students who needed emergency chats, disciplinary sessions, random faculty meetings called because of the Board of Trustees or growing pains by faculty or staff.

It still didn’t measure against the chaos of working in a hospital. “But you like it that way?” He asked. He had to assume that she liked being assigned to random areas and having a constantly shifting schedule, otherwise, she would no longer work for a hospital. There were plenty of opportunities for trained nurses outside of hospital settings, even in this economy. This area of Vermont hadn’t been hit hard by the depression at all, thankfully.

“The nice part about medicine is the ability to directly impact people’s lives for the better. It’s why I could never retire,” he said with a chuckle. “I wouldn’t know what to do with myself.”

[Jennifer Joy]

When he smiled at her Jen couldn't help but grin back. It was her own stupidity that led to her mistake. sometimes she really did wonder why she was so stupid. Sighing she took a sip of her water through the straw and smiled slightly. " Yes there is... but thanks." Smiling she looked down at her breakfast grinning as she thought about the shift.

There hadn't been many patients, so she was glad for that, but she was also gald that it was over. She loved her job but it was more of a convenience to have a polite conversation over breakfast. " Oh that's nice." Looking down and away from him, almost nervously Jen tried to bat away the thoughts that were on her mind. I on the other hand wasn't given a choice.

No. She couldn't afford to think like that right now. Jen tried to bat away the thoughts that were clouding her mind. She was over this, she wouldn't allow herself to fall again into the pits of her own personal despair.

She couldn't afford to. If she fell back she would end up right back where she was, overworking herself, and most certainly not being healthy. She would end up hurting others, along with herself. Jen didn't want to hurt anyone, she didn't want to make things any worse. For now she would, and could just combat those self degrading thoughts that snuck in. It was the only way she could be happy.

She was jolted out of her thoughts when she was addressed again. "Oh? Hmm? Well yes I suppose so." Jen looked away. It wasn't that she liked or didn't like it. " It is just my duty." She didn't really see any other options. Besides, this was putting her abilities to use, and that was all that the pleasant nurse could ask for.

Jen nodded at him as he commented on the medicine. "OH I know, Medicine is so helpful." Chuckling she looked at him. "I really don't think I'll ever retire either."

[Dr. Sean Neville]

These were the moments when his telepathic ability led to internal conflict; since Sean had only just met Jennifer, and he hadn’t disclosed his power to her, it would be rude to comment on her thoughts. At the same time, he wanted to reassure her that she wasn’t stupid for making an attribution error; everyone did it. Since he was no longer the boy he had been four decades ago, he chose not to comment to that effect. Instead, he continued to smile, and reiterated, “I assure you there isn’t. However, he left the matter at that.

Her thoughts were shifting fairly rapidly, and he could detect the avenue and her discomfort with them, considering the way that her surface thoughts were shifting to and fro. That was a matter for another day, since he couldn’t simply ask her about it. A crowded diner and a new acquaintance were not the makings for a detailed personal discussion.

“It’s still an admirable mindset,” Sean replied, as he finished off his sandwich. He reached for his napkin and wiped his face and then he peered down into his mug. Considering his agenda for today, he didn’t think it was possible for him to drink enough coffee. “I’ve met plenty of people in similar positions who don’t go about it so eagerly or willingly.” He had worked with some of those people, long ago.

His smile widened at the comment, and he nodded in solidarity. “You and I can usher in a new wave of people who will have to be pried away from their desks and stations, possibly kicking and screaming.” Although her days of retirement were several decades further away than his were. Such was youth.

[Jennifer Joy]

Smiling at him she took a bite of her toast grinning as it was soon finished. She paid her waitress, just watching the traffic of the diner as it filed in and out. It was a nice enough dad and she had enough time before she would crash, so she sat there just people watching. That in itself was fun. When the man spoke to her again she nodded. Agree to disagree then."

Calming herself she thought happy thoughts, making herself think of the happy times. She remembered when Adam had first asked her out. Her daddy had been so protective of her, she just had to giggle at the thought now. There had been the rusty old shotgun and the can of mace her dad had forced her to bring. It was such a thing.

" Well I guess those people just need a bit more happy in thier day." Smiling Jen knew she firmly believed in the power of happiness and good deeds. Those who were grumpy or sad, just needed a little happy to cheer them up. Most people wouldn't turn down one of her cookies, or a flower.

Grinning she looked over to him and nodded. " Though I hope that Pilot Ridge gets an actual clinic." Smiling she tilted her head looking at him. "Even if there are only a few doctors it would be nice to work in my home." Yes Pilot Ridge had become her home now.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

When the waitress came by, Sean handed over his empty plate and requested one last refill on the coffee. While there was coffee at Hammel, he had to brew it himself, and it wasn’t of the same quality. Besides, he also had an early enough appointment today that he wouldn’t have the opportunity to stop into the staff lounge until after that first appointment, and he would prefer the caffeine as a buffer.

The telepath nodded in agreement; he believed that most people deserved to have a bite more happiness. He tried to do what he could, which tended to be limited to providing an ear to listen and a shoulder to cry on, in addition to non-judgmental advice. It wasn’t much, but that was how he had chosen to spend his life. “I’ve found that random acts of kindness go a long way.” As did trying to deflect unpleasantness on behalf of others, although that could be hit or miss.

When the waitress refilled his coffee mug, he thanked her and handed her the money for his meal. After stirring in more sugar and cream, he took a sip and then nodded. “I hope so too. It would go a long way in helping with emergencies, and I’m sure the parents would appreciate it.” When a child was sick, it was always nerve-wracking, and no parent wanted to couple that with a drive out of town to have their child receive care. “Maybe we could start a petition to bring some doctors in to open a clinic.”

[Jennifer Joy]

Jen gave a slight yawn. It really was past her bedtime. She had met an interesting person, true, but she also had gotten more information out of him. She hoped she would have the pleasure of chatting with him again and grinned as the waitress walked away with his money. Marie knew that she would stop by later when it was not so busy. She had said that she had wanted a chat with her, but the way business was coming, there was no time. That was all right, Jen could stop by later.

Jen was glad to see that he believed people deserved a little more happiness. All people did really. Happiness was pertinent in the attitude that others had throughout the day. " What a good philosophy that is." Jen grinned looking at him. " Really it can be as easy as opening the door for someone, or even just bringing in more flowers." Jen had to give a small laugh. "As long as they don't have allergies of course."

She had no idea who would make it possible, but if the clinic ever got running up here, well she would be the first one to show up at the door. She would rather care for those in her own town then at the hospital. don't get her wrong, it wasn't that she didn't like her job she was just more inclined to care for those closer to home. "If we had a clinic here, in town, it might make it easier on those in the town" She smiled slightly and nodded handing the waitress the money for her meal. "Maybe we should." She grinned and looked out giving a small yawn. "I have to go, but it was nice talking with you Doctor, who knows, maybe the clinic will become a real thing in the future."

With that Jenny walked out of the restaurant, navigating back to her small home, promptly going up the stairs and collapsing into the fluffy bed she had.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

“Of course,” Sean agreed with a nod and smile. Jennifer had correctly described the practice, while identifying what he liked about it; random acts were so easy to achieve while depositing unmitigated good into the world for others. One never knew if another person was having a bad day – even with the telepathy he couldn’t keep tabs on everyone nor did he have the desire to do so (Cobalt’s impressions aside). So why not do something to try to make someone else’s day a little more positive?

The clinic was, unfortunately, a matter for another day, since there was little that Sean could do to actually put the idea into motion. While he had a medical degree, he wasn’t a physician, and he certainly had no intention of leaving Hammel to work at a clinic. All he could do was encourage friends of his in the medical field to consider the matter, and if a concrete plan ever manifested, he could certainly recommend it to anyone he encountered who was in need.

“It was nice meeting you, Jennifer,” the telepath told her with a smile. “I hope to speak with you again soon.” He offered her his hand for a parting handshake and then watched her leave the diner.

Sean took another few minutes, checking his time before he would have to get to Hammel to begin the day. After one last top off on his coffee, he drained the cup, thanked the waitress again, and then pulled on his jacket and stepped outside to find his car. It was the beginning of another day at work for him.