Author's Notes: This Chapter will be based around Chapters 20 and 21 of Fix You. Mention of both chapters. This Chapter will also be talk heavy so I apologize.

Chapter 5

Nicole didn't know why she let her friends talk her into this. Well her boyfriend and their best friend.

"Excellently done, Lieutenant. Are you ready for the last part?" Commander Riker said.

Nicole sighed. She looked to the holodeck doors. She could walk out the holodeck at any time. Data and Geordi were out there waiting for her. The Captain was there as well.

"Just do it." Nicole said.

Nicole walked out the holodeck not too long after.

"She passed." Commander Riker said, handing Captain Picard the datapad.

Nicole walked into the waiting arms of the Android. She buried her face in his chest. Commander Riker tensed some at the gesture. He still did not approve of their relationship, but Nicole made it very clear on her being with Data. And Data wasn't going to break off the relationship either.

"C'mon, let's get out here." Geordi said.

Data moved Nicole away enough to grab her hand. He led her away from the holodeck. Geordi followed. Staying close in case Nicole went into a panic attack.

Captain Picard sighed as he watched the trio turn the corner to head down the corridor.

"Is everything alright, sir?" Commander Riker asked.

"I don't know, Number one." Captain Picard said.

"Why did I allow you two to talk me into doing that?" Nicole groaned as she leaned against the bar in Ten Forward.

"Hey. At least it's over." Geordi said, placing a hand on Nicole's shoulder.

"You did pass if I might add." Data said.

Nicole looked at her boyfriend. "What? Did you think that I wouldn't pass?"

Data shook his head. "You misunderstood, Nikki. I had complete trust that you would pass the test."

Nicole smiled slightly. She then looked down into the black liquid of her drink.

"I am just glad that it's done. I don't think I can go through all that again." Nicole said.

Geordi took a sip from his drink. "Well hopefully you don't have to."

"Hello Captain." Data said.

Nicole and Geordi turned to face their Captain.

"Hello. Are you doing okay, Nicole?" Captain Picard said.

"At the moment I am." Nicole said.

"I regret to inform, Lieutenant. They are reopening the case." Captain Picard said.

All life drained from Nicole's face as her eyes went wide. She will have to relive her nightmare.

"They can't do this!" Nicole raised her voice as her hand slammed on the desk in the Captain's quarters.

"Nicole, baby, please calm down." Troi said, calmly. She placed a hand on her daughter's shoulder. Nicole just shook it off and moved away.

"There isn't anything I can do, Nicole. I tried. They want to reopen the case." Captain Picard said.

Nicole shook her head as tears threatened to fall. She couldn't believe that Starfleet wanted to reopen the case. Mark was the one that helped in closing it years ago. Now since he was gone there was no way in stopping them from ending Nicole's career.

"Why are they reopening the case, sir?" Data asked.

Captain Picard sighed. "They want to recheck Nicole's psyche."

Everyone was still confused so Nicole decided to clear it up. "When we were rescued, I ended up having panic attacks along with constant nightmares from my time being in command. Mark and Christian were the ones that kept me from going to Starfleet Medical. They took care of me the whole time. Keeping me grounded."

"Kind of like what Data and I do." Geordi added.

Nicole nodded her head. "Yes. Starfleet still kept a close watch on me. At one point they wanted to end my career, but Mark fought to keep it. He talked about how several officers go through trauma on a day to day basis, but they are able to keep their careers."

Nicole looked over at Captain Picard. He gave her a small smile. She didn't want to say anything about his time as a Borg. He knew what she was thinking though. The Captain still thought of that time frequently, but he did not let it control his thought process. He was in command and in control.

"You are still having nightmares though, my dear." Data blurted.

Nicole glared at the android. "You promised me that you would keep that between us!"

"I apologize Nicole." Data said. He mimicked the sadness in his voice.

"You couldn't do anything about it, honey. You were thrown into the Command position without any proper training and support." Commander Riker said, placing his hands on Nicole's shoulders.

Nicole moved away from the first officer. "I was just an Ensign! I shouldn't have been in command!"

"Lieutenant, relax. We aren't here to judge you about your past." Captain Picard said, trying to diffuse the situation.

Nicole just turned her back to try and regain control. Data came over to help keep his girlfriend calm. He let her bury her face in his chest. Nicole took several deep calming breaths as she took in Data's mechanical scent.

"I can have security on her at all times." Worf suggested.

"I can always set up a psych ward for Dr. Crusher to keep a close watch on Nicole." Geordi said, placing a hand on Nicole's shoulder.

Geordi let Nicole hug him. He placed a soft comforting kiss on the top of her head. It was to let her know that he cared about her. He would do whatever he needed to make sure his assistant was safe.

"I appreciate the both of you, but Nicole won't be on the Enterprise. Once we drop her off on Earth, we will be heading out." Captain Picard confessed.

"They are repeating what they did 6 years ago." Nicole said, letting go of the Chief Engineer.

"What do you mean?" Dr. Crusher asked.

"They want me to stay on Earth instead of on a Starship, because I am an Engineer. I wouldn't want to be on Earth." Nicole explained.

"My guess is that they wouldn't want you with the Collins's either." Troi said.

"Nope." Nicole shook her head.

"What about my place?" Data suggested. "I live out in the country on 3 acres."