Author's Notes: I am putting a warning on this chapter since it will be a memory induced panic attack. Like I said before, Tucker will be in this, but not a whole lot. Data and Geordi are such good friends though.
Chapter 2
Nicole hated to be alone. Which is why she hated being sent into the Jefferies Tube. Her mind liked to wonder. And without someone to talk to keep her grounded, made her work that much harder.
"I'm leaving you in charge."
Nicole turned to look down each side of the tube. She thought she heard something.
"Hello?" Nicole called.
There was nothing. She took a deep breath and continued her work.
"I'm leaving you in charge. You are the Captain now." Captain James Barnes said to Nicole on the bridge.
Nicole's eyes went wide. She was just an Ensign. An Engineer. She shouldn't be anywhere near the bridge. Much less take command of the ship.
"James, you can't be serious! I am just an Ensign." Nicole said.
Captain Barnes took her hands in his. He was so tired. So done with everything.
"You are more than Ensign, Nikki. I know you can do this. I know you can get this crew home. I have faith in you." Captain Barnes said.
Nicole looked into her captain's lifeless brown eyes.
"I promise I will take care of the crew and get us home." Nicole said.
Captain Barnes smiled slightly. He then transferred command over to Nicole.
"I love you, Nikki." Captain James Barnes said.
"I love you too, James." Nicole said, allowing the Captain of the Newton to kiss her passionately.
Nicole came out of the Jefferies Tube an hour or so later. She was covered in sweat to the point her hair was soaked at her hairline.
"Ma'am?" An Ensign asked. "Are you okay?"
Nicole shook her head. She then collapsed to the deck.
"Commander La Forage!" Barclay called as he went to Nicole's side.
Geordi came rushing over. He moved Barclay out of the way to tend to his assistant.
"Talk to me Nikki. What's wrong?" Geordi ordered calmly.
Nicole's hands began to shake as she brought them to her head. "H-h-elp m-m-me." Nicole stuttered.
"Reg, get me a glass of cold water." Geordi ordered.
The Chief Engineer then called the Bridge for Data and Counselor Troi to come to Engineering.
"Here Commander." Barclay said, handing the glass to Geordi.
Geordi muttered his thanks. He then helped Nicole hold the glass to bring it to her lips. Nicole drank a little of the water. It was refreshing and cool against her dry throat.
"H-H-He l-left m-m-me i-i-in ch-charge." Nicole stuttered. The blonde hair and brown eyes of Captain Barnes filled her memory.
"It's okay, Nikki. You're safe now." Geordi said, grabbing Nicole's hand. "Can you squeeze my hand?"
Nicole looked down at Geordi's hand holding hers. She didn't have the strength to squeeze his hand, but she was able to curl her fingers. Geordi rubbed his thumb against her hand for comfort. Geordi knew that Nicole needed physical touch to keep her grounded when she went into a panic attack. Usually Data or him helped her come to her senses, because Tucker didn't understand how to help her.
"What happened?" Data asked, crouching next to his best friend.
"I don't know. She went to boost sensor efficiency. And when she came out of the Jefferies Tube, she was like this." Geordi said, still stroking Nicole's hand.
"Nikki, can you hear me? It is Data." Data said.
Nicole was so out of it, she couldn't respond. She just stared at nothing in particular.
"Deanna, are you able to pick up what's going on?" Commander Riker asked. He knew he shouldn't be here. Geordi didn't ask for him. However, Nicole was his daughter, he needed to know if she was alright.
"I can't tell. She's just so upset that I am having a hard time trying to pick up what exactly is going on." Troi said.
"Data, Geordi, we have a medical team on its way." Commander Riker said.
"Acknowledged." Data and Geordi said in unison.
"D-D-Data. G-G-Geor-di." Nicole stuttered as she looked between her two best friends
"Yes. We are here Nikki." Data said.
"What is it, Nikki? What is it you need?" Geordi asked.
Nicole couldn't answer. Her mind was racing. Her heart was pounding. She couldn't get a handle on where she was at.
Nicole shook her head violently. "I-I-couldn't s-s-save them!"
"You may have to sedate her." Commander Riker said as Dr. Crusher walked in.
She asked one of the nurses to get a hypospray ready.
"Nicole." Geordi said.
Nicole couldn't answer. She was trying to get away from them. She ended up dropping the glass of water. Dr. Crusher got into position with the hypospray. Data moved Geordi gently out of the way so he could grab Nicole's shoulders.
"Lieutenant!" Data said in his command voice.
Nicole froze. That voice! She heard it before.
Through her blurry vision she was able to see a pale face with the most peculiar eyes.
"Data." Nicole said, a little more clear this time.
"Yes. It is me. Just focus on Geordi and I." Data said.
"Geordi?" Nicole asked.
A darker face came into her view as the paler figure moved out.
"I'm right here." Geordi said, grabbing Nicole's hand.
"I couldn't save them." Nicole said as tears fell down her cheeks.
"I know. You were able to get your crew home, Lieutenant." Data said.
"I did?" Nicole asked.
"Yes. You're safe now." Geordi answered.
Nicole blinked a few times. She wiped her eyes with her free hand. She was slowly coming back.
"Data. Geordi." Nicole repeated as her two best friends came into her cleared view.
Both Data and Geordi nodded their heads. It caused a small smile to creep across Nicole's face.
"I am sensing calmer emotions now." Troi said, smiling a little.
"I still would like to sedate her. Just in case." Dr. Crusher said.
"I think we should let Data or Geordi do it, Will. Nicole's emotions are still over the place." Troi said.
Commander Riker nodded to his Imzadi. Dr. Crusher handed the hypospray to Data.
"Keep your eyes on me, Nikki." Geordi said, grabbing her face in his hands to force her to look at him.
"Thank you." Nicole muttered before everything went dark.