Author's Notes: This Chapter will be partly based on what happened after Geordi and Data left with Nicole. Then it will lead into what happened after Tucker attacked Nicole in Chapter 13 of Fix You. There will be spoilers from the incident as well. There will be a memory of what happened before Nicole left for The Newton. Captain Jones will be brought up through a memory.

Chapter 4

"Talk to me. Now." Geordi said, holding Nicole's shoulders.

Geordi and Data went to Engineering with Nicole. They went straight to the office. Just in case Tucker would try to follow.

"What are you talking about? I thought we were here to talk about the schedule." Nicole said, smirking a little.

"You know very well what I mean, Lieutenant." Geordi said, a little annoyed.

Nicole closed her eyes and sighed. When she opened them, tears began to form behind them.

"Tucker's just upset that I may leave." Nicole explained.

"What do you mean?" Data asked, puzzled.

"I was given a promotion to Lieutenant Commander and a Chief Engineer position on The Stormcaller." Nicole said.

Geordi smiled as he congratulated Nicole. However, Nicole just looked away. She didn't want to take the position. She wasn't ready for it.

"What is it?" Data asked.

Nicole looked back at her friends. Tears were streaming down her face, smearing her makeup.

"I-I c-c-" Nicole began to stutter.

Geordi placed a hand on his assistant's cheek. He spoke calmly to her.

"Hey. Easy. You don't have to accept it. You can stay where you are at."

"Geordi is right, Nicole. You make the choices you want." Data added.

"I am so proud of you." Troi said as she hugged her daughter.

Nicole was an Academy graduate now.

"Thank you mama." Nicole said, smiling.

"I hate to break this up, but Nicole and I have a briefing to get to." Admiral Collins said.

Troi pulled Nicole back just enough to place a hand on her cheek. Her dark irises met baby blues. The same baby blues as Nicole's absent father. Actually Troi sees a lot of Nicole's father in her.

"Remember, you don't have to do anything you don't want to do. You can still back out of this mission." Troi said.

"I know mother, but you taught me to push myself. To better myself." Nicole said, smiling. "I will be fine."

Nicole hugged her mother one last time before she followed Admiral Collins to Starfleet Command for the mission briefing.

"Do you two think I should take the test again?" Nicole asked as she sat down at a table in Ten Forward.

Some time had gone by since Nicole told her best friends about the promotion. She, of course, decided not to take it. Although, the last couple days, she thought about taking the bridge officer's test. A month ago, Tucker attacked her, causing her to hit her head on the console. She went into a coma because of it. She was in Sickbay for several weeks. And a couple days ago she was able to return to work.

"It would help me. One of us can be on the bridge while the other is in Engineering. And I can give you your own codes in case you need to shut down the engines." Geordi said. He said the last part quietly so no one overheard them.

"You could also benefit from being a bridge officer." Data explained.

"What do you mean?" Nicole asked.

She didn't get a chance to hear. Lieutenant D'Sora, Data's girlfriend, walked in. Data excused himself. Geordi and Nicole tried their best not to be angry. They didn't mind that Data was in a relationship. It was who he was in a relationship with.

"I didn't like how he was touching you." Captain Christian Jones said, as he took Nicole's face in his.

"I know you don't, baby. You need to understand that it's just for the mission. I need to get close to him to figure out what's going on." Nicole explained, tearing up a little.

Nicole let Christian kiss her passionately. She even let him place his Academy ring that was on a chain in her hand. It was a promise that after this mission they'll be back together on The Yukon.

"Please come back to me." Christian said, kissing Nicole again.

"I will." Nicole said, kissing her Captain back.

That night she allowed him to make love to her. It was the first time since their relationship started after she graduated two months ago.

The next morning, Christian drove her to the location where she was going to take the transport with the other Ensigns to The Newton. He held her hand the whole time.

Christian wasn't the type to let his emotions get to him. However, last night he cried while Nicole slept. He was against sending her on this mission since they didn't know how James Barnes would act. They didn't know if he would harm his officers.

Starfleet knew Nicole was a Riker. She had the fighting spirit of one. And she could definitely defend herself. She was HIS little fighter. She was also dedicated to this mission. She read over the details. She knew what was asked of her.

It still didn't stop his fear….

He parked the car, but he stopped Nicole from getting out. He brought their joined hands to his lips. Christian placed a gentle kiss on her hand.

"I love you Nicole Elizabeth Riker. Please come home to me." Christian said as tears formed in his eyes.

Nicole pulled the Captain close to her and kissed him on the lips.

"I love you to Christian Lee Jones. I promise to come home to you." Nicole said, kissing him once again.

She then got out of the car with her duffle bag. Christian watched her go from the car. He stayed till the shuttle left and went into space.

He then tapped the console on his air car. "She is gone, Admiral." Christian said.

"Let's hope she stays safe." Admiral Collins said.