Compromised

Date/Timing: late August 2024
Setting: Marshal's offices, The Shed; Vaucluse, NSW, Australia
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"He'll see you now," informs [Josephs' Equerry].
Yarrow bobs her head, enters the Marshal's office.
"Take a seat, Doctor," intones Josephs.
She does.
"How may I assist you?"
"I have serious concerns about Jackson Jones, Marshal."
Josephs inclines his head, 'go on'.
Yarrow takes a deep breath. "I can't hold off a diagnosis of PTSD any longer. His mental health is compromised."
Josephs makes a sound of acknowledgement. "Is the condition likely to pass to Logan?"
"No, sir. Logan may as well be made of [impervious/slippery substance] when it comes to experiences that traumatize others."
"Useful, that," murmurs Josephs. Raises his voice. "Is Jones' ability to fight compromised?"
"If his sleep disturbances continue or worsen, it will be, yes."
"How long before his health falls below acceptable minimum levels?"
"You can't seriously--"
"Doctor," sighs Josephs, "we're being wound down. We'll--Jones included--be out of jobs come the first of the year. I have to balance the safety of our area of operation, the time it will take to find and train a replacement, and the possible harm to Jones. Keeping him in the Conn-pod is by far the best option, if he can hold on until decommissioning."
Yarrow thins her lips. "I can't, in good conscience, recommend he be kept on active duty."
"Will he continue to perform his duties effectively?"
"I believe he will," she grits out, "but at great psychological cost. His psyche is already damaged and it will only get worse if he continues to deploy."
Josephs folds his hands atop his desk. "I will give the recommendations in your report full consideration, but the final decision to deploy Jones or not rests fully on my shoulders."
"Of course, sir," concedes Yarrow. "I thought it best to advise you of the situation in person."
"I appreciate it, Doctor. Is there anything else?"
"No, sir."
"Thank you, then, Doctor."
Yarrow bobs her head, stands, and trudges from the office.
Category:Ficlet
Category:Ash
Category:Ash's POV
Category:Ash (ficlet)
Category:Josephs
Category:Josephs (ficlet)
Category:Jackson (mention)
Category:Logan (mention)
Category:Sydney Shatterdome (setting)
Category:Pasta