Author's Notes: In honor of the spooky season I wanted to do something a little fun. This Chapter will be based after the incident with Tucker in Chapter 11. There will be spoilers to that chapter in case you haven't read Fix You. There'll be talk about not only verbal abuse but physical abuse as well. However, Data cares so much for Nicole.

Chapter 3

Nicole looked at the plaque on the door. Soong. After Tucker slapped her on the face and she scurried in the other way to the turbolift, her feet brought her here. To the android's quarters.

Her hand trembled as she attempted to push the doorbell. She heard Data's voice on the other side of the door.

She was a complete mess when she entered Data's quarters. Tears were falling down her cheeks. Her hands trembled at her sides.

"D-Data." Nicole croaked.

Data placed his paint supplies down and went right over to Nicole. He pulled her into a hug. He even lowered his temperature to keep her cooled. Nicole cried into his chest.

"You're just an Ensign! Why the fuck would he give you the Chief Engineer position!?" An Engineer said angrily.

"Do you think I know!? I am just doing what I'm told!" Nicole said back, just as angered.

She did not blame the poor Lieutenant. He was next in line. Not her.

He got up in her face causing her to walk back into the bulkhead. Nicole could see the fire burning in his light colored eyes.

"It's because you are sleeping with him. So he is giving you special treatment."

"That's untrue!" Nicole raised her voice.

The next thing she knew was her cheek began to burn. He hit her!

"You're a worthless piece of shit."

"Easy Nicole. I am here." Data said, calmly as he held Nicole close.

"I'm worthless Data. I do not deserve to be part of this crew." Nicole said as she continued to cry into Data's chest.

Data pulled Nicole back enough so she could look at him. He was dissatisfied with the way Nicole was talking about herself. He took her face in his hands as his yellow eyes met her baby blues.

"Listen to me, Lieutenant. You are not worthless. You are an excellent officer. Geordi speaks highly of you. This is why he gave you the assistant position." Data said, calmly.

Nicole shook her head. She wasn't a great officer. If she was such a good officer she would already be a Chief Engineer. She wouldn't be this scared by her past to take the position.

"Nikki." Data said.

"NO!" Nicole shoved Data out of the way. Spot was startled by the interaction that she jumped off the chair and hid under the desk.

Data knew exactly what was going on. He went into action. He knew he needed to call for either Troi or Commander Riker, but right now Nicole needed him. Otherwise, she wouldn't have come to his quarters.

"Lieutenant!" Data said in his command voice.

Nicole shivered at Data's raised voice. She turned to look at him. She noticed not only the two golden pips like hers but the single black pip as well. Nicole immediately went into attention. Her hands at her sides.

"Commander, I-I apologize…" Nicole began to say.

Data took a few steps up to her. "You listen to me. Now Lieutenant." he ordered.

Nicole nodded her head. "Yes sir."

"You are not worthless." Data repeated.

"But." Nicole began.

"No Lieutenant. You are an excellent Engineer." Data said.

Nicole nodded her head. She then repeated what Data said. "I am an excellent Engineer."

"You are not worthless."

"I am not worthless." Nicole said, quietly, but still loud enough.

"Geordi speaks highly of you." Data said, taking another couple steps to Nicole. They were standing face to face.

"Geordi speaks highly of me." Nicole said.

Nicole blinked as she relaxed. Data took Nicole's face in his hands as he wiped the tears from her eyes.

"You got your crew home." Data whispered.

Nicole moved to wrap her arms around Data. She cried softly into his chest.

That night, Data allowed Nicole to stay in his quarters. He didn't have a bed for her, but he let her sleep on the couch. Data replicated a blanket and pillow for her. It was the wee hours before Nicole finally got to sleep.

After a few months of being in the Neutral Zone attempting to start a war with the Romulans. Captain Barnes asked Nicole to be the Chief Engineer. Nicole tried to decline the position. It fell on deaf ears, because the Captain already noted it in his log.

Nicole read over the message from Starfleet again. They approved for her to retake the bridge officer's test so they can give her the Chief Engineer position on The Stormcaller. A galaxy class starship. She sighed as she placed the datapad down on the console.

"Problems?" Geordi asked as he took a seat next to Nicole.

Nicole shook her head. "No sir. Everything is okay."

Geordi raised an eyebrow above his VISOR. "Are you sure? It doesn't look like anything."

"Geordi, please!" Nicole pleaded as she stood with the letter in her hand. She wasn't ready to tell her friend about it.

Geordi just held up his hand. "I will stop pushing." He paused as a smile crept across his face. "Are you ready for tonight though?"

Nicole relaxed and smiled back. How could she forget!? They've been talking about it for several days now.

Today was the human holiday called Halloween. Kids were coming to Engineering all day for treats. And The Command Team decided to put together a Halloween party tonight. They also wanted to hold a costume party contest for the different departments.

Nicole and Geordi talked it over with the teams. They decided to go as werewolves since they hide down here. Only coming out when needed. They were going to be Vampires, but that was already taken by none other than Stellar Cartography.

"The costumes are all ready to go. We just need to figure out who is joining." Geordi said.

"Well, so far we have you, me, Barclay, Carson, and Matthews." Nicole said.

Geordi held up 4 fingers. "We still need four more, Nikki."

"If operations weren't doing their own thing then we would have Data." Nicole said, rolling her eyes.

Geordi chuckled. "Yeah. Any idea what they are doing?"

Nicole shook her head. "He told me that it was a secret when I asked him about it this morning."

Geordi just rolled his eyes behind his VISOR.

At the Halloween party,

Nicole along with Geordi could hardly contain their laughter. Not only were the Command Team decked out in Dixon Hill get up, Data was dressed as the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland. The android was in a full rabbit onesie; he even changed his eye color to red.

Data joined his friends on the couch. He sat on the opposite side of Nicole. He tried to have a serious conversation with them, but Nicole couldn't keep the smile off her face.

"You know I can't take you seriously in that costume, Data." Nicole said, smiling.

Data tilted his head as he watched his best friends teasing and laughing. He understood that they weren't met to come across as harsh by no means. It was how humans acted around each other. He did not mind their behaviour. Actually, he quite enjoyed hearing the laugh coming from Nicole. She seemed better than she was a few days ago.

However, the teasing and laughing quickly ceased when Tucker walked up to the trio. He asked to steal his girlfriend away from them for a dance. Nicole tried her best not to shiver at the intense gaze her boyfriend was giving her. She took his hand and allowed him to dance with her.

Geordi made a fist with his hands in his lap. When Data brought Nicole into Engineering the morning after she was upset, his VISOR picked up on a heat mark that was coming from her cheek. It wasn't that strong, but it looked like someone smacked her across the face. Nicole wouldn't tell him or Data anything. She kept silent about it.

Geordi had his thoughts on who did it. The man who was holding his assistant possessively. He wanted nothing more than to rescue her from him.

"Are you alright, Geordi?" Data asked, interrupting his thoughts.

"Yes I am alright, Data. I just don't like how Tucker is holding our friend." Geordi said through gritted teeth.

"I unfortunately agree with you, Geordi. Commander Draver is holding Nicole closer than he should be for a dance such as this." Data said, watching the pair.

Geordi tore his eyes away to look at his best friend. "You must feel the same way I do. You have this need to protect her. To keep her safe."

Data looked at Geordi. "I do not have feelings whatsoever. However, I do have the same need to protect Miss Riker. I do also think that Commander Draver may harm her if we attempt to intervene."

Geordi then got an idea. "Stay close and follow my lead. We are going to save Nikki."

Data nodded his head. The ears from his costume flopping some. It made Geordi smile.

"I must apologize, we need to get to Engineering. To go over the schedule for the Night Shift for the next few weeks." Geordi said, smiling kindly.

It took Nicole a moment to understand what was going on. She turned her attention to Tucker.

"It will only take maybe an hour or so babe. I can meet you in your quarters when we are done." Nicole said, smiling.

Tucker tried his best to control his anger. These were senior officers. It wouldn't look good if he lost his temper with them.

"Very well. I will be expecting you, babygirl." Tucker nodded his head.

"Yes babe." Nicole kissed Tucker on the cheek before she left with her friends.

Data looked over at Troi and Riker who were talking to the Captain before he walked out of Ten Forward. Troi mouthed a "thank you" to him. He nodded his head to the empathic counselor. He then left the party. He quickened his pace lightly to catch up with his best friends.