Author's Note: I apologize that this chapter is shorter. I am dealing with writer's block and I feel that this chapter isn't the best I have written. I am still working on the fic but it is a slow process.
Chapter 8: You're Masquerading
"I tried to contact you!" Nicole yelled. A passing crewmember gave her a concerned look. She just smiled.
Tucker groaned. He was annoyed to find out that his girlfriend chose to hang out with two senior officers rather than him.
"I told you that I didn't want to be around smelly children." Tucker said, scrunching up his nose.
"Why do you not like them? They are the sweetest kids." Nicole said.
Tucker stayed silent. He wasn't going to turn this into a debate about the kids. He just wanted to know what she did when he wasn't around.
"Baby, please!" Nicole pleaded.
He whipped around. Glaring at her. His hands were gripped at her sides.
"You will stay away from those two! You are mine!" He said telepathically.
Nicole's eyes went wide. She didn't have a chance to speak before he walked into Stellar Cartography.
Later that day, Data came to Engineering to give Geordi a hand with a task. Nicole hid away in the jefferies tubes, doing a few maintenance things. She chose to be alone to think about the way Tucker was acting.
She really did try to contact him. She even went to his apartment to see if he was there and he wasn't. She then checked on the Enterprise. It didn't surprise her that he wasn't there either. So yes, she joined her friends on the holodeck to test a little theory of Data's.
They were watching a children's cartoon with Mia and Malachi while Mackenzie napped. In the cartoon they used ping pong paddles as ores to row a boat. Then they used a giant celery to slide down like a slide. Of course it was a children's cartoon, but Data wanted to see if it would be possible. So they tested his theory on the holodeck. It was fun!
At one point they decided to go for a swim. Well Nicole and Geordi did. Data joined in the fun but he sunk to the bottom. He had to walk several kilometers under the water back to shore. They are still attempting to get the water out of his systems.
The memory caused Nicole to giggle.
"What's so funny?" A voice asked from the entrance to the junction.
She turned to the voice quickly. She held up the tool in her hand, ready to use it as a weapon if needed.
"Tucker!" Nicole placed the tool down. "You startled me, babe."
Although she was still upset from their fight, she was glad to see her boyfriend.
"I am sorry, sweetheart." He apologized.
He crawled the rest of the way to her. Stopping next to her.
"What are you doing here?" Nicole asked. "Are you still having issues with that console? I told you to go easy on it."
Tucker smiled and rolled his eyes. "The console is fine. I came to apologize for the way I was acting. I didn't mean to upset you."
"No. I should be the one saying sorry. I should've tried to find you instead of hanging out with him."
Tucker moved to a sitting position in the jefferies tube. He placed a hand on Nicole's cheek. Tears welled up in his eyes.
"What is it, baby?" Nicole asked.
"You are such a delicate flower. I hate to destroy you." He said.
"Babe, we had a little argument. It happens all the time with couples."
Tucker didn't say anything. He pulled Nicole in for a kiss. Nicole kissed him back, her arms going around his neck.
"Do I really have to avoid Data and Commander La Forage?" Nicole asked once they broke the kiss.
Tucker looked down and smiled. "I am sorry about that. No you don't. I know it would be hard to avoid them since they are senior officers. You kind of have to report to them."
Nicole just threw her head back, laughing.
Nicole was on the bridge listening to Geordi talk about the controls on the Engineering Station. Since she was a full Lieutenant now it was time for her training. Usually she will be in Engineering while Geordi will be on the bridge, but it was Captain Picard who asked the Chief Engineer about showing her the bridge station in case she was needed up here.
Commander Riker came up next to his daughter. He leaned against the console, watching Nicole take notes on a datapad. She was also asking questions. He wanted to tell her how proud he was of her, but chose to keep his mouth shut. He didn't want to embarrass the poor Lieutenant. Maybe Later, he thought.
"Do you need something, Commander?" Geordi asked.
Commander Riker shook his head. "I am just seeing how it's going."
"It's going great! I am learning a lot!" Nicole said, excitedly.
"I am a good teacher." Geordi said, sure of himself.
Nicole just laughed out loud, but that laugh quieted down when Tucker walked onto the bridge. He came over to stand in between the first officer and Nicole. It looked like Tucker was protecting her.
"Commander, I was wondering if we could take the replicators offline, we are studying a pulsar." Tucker asked, as professional as he could.
"For how long, Commander?" Captain Picard asked, walking out of his ready room.
"Maybe about an hour or two, Captain." Tucker said.
"Make it so." Captain Picard said.
Tucker nodded his head. He went back to the turbolift. Captain Picard made a ship-wide announcement, preparing them that the replicators will be offline for Stellar Cartography.
Nicole turned her attention back to the Chief Engineer. It was weird that Tucker came all this way to the bridge. He could've easily just made a call over the on board communication system. Nicole just shook it off and went back to take her notes.