Author's Notes: I apologize that it's been a good bit since I updated. I've been going over my older fics so there may be some updates. Especially with The Truth. So please check it out if you haven't already and tell me what you think.

Chapter 10

"Data, it's alright. I don't need you to assist me in taking a shower." Nicole said.

"I wish to though." Data said.

After undressing Nicole, Data took his uniform off.

"Yes, but I don't want Geordi yelling at me for allowing water to get into your systems." Nicole said.

"It is alright, my dear. The sonic shower is designed so water does not get into my systems." Data explained.

Nicole sighed. She stepped into the shower. The warmth of it was relaxing against her achy muscles. Psychically she was doing better from the incident with Corey. The scars were practically healed. Her mentality was a different story.

Data had Nicole lean her head back so he could wash her ratty hair. This was the first real shower since leaving Sickbay. She had a few sponge baths just so she could feel clean.

After her hair was washed. Data used her favorite Betazoid body wash to lather her up. As his fingers brushed against her more personal bits she gasped. She gripped onto Data.

"Are you alright, Nicole?" Data asked, titling his head.

Nicole's cheeks turned a lovely shade of pink. She turned away to rinse off the soap. She was mindful of the more personal bits which tingled from Data brushed them.

"Are you aroused?" Data blurted the question.

Nicole smiled lightly. She forgot Data didn't have a "sensor". He was known to ask or say things that were on his mind. Although it could be annoying at times, Nicole thought it was adorable.

"Can you blame me, Data? I don't remember the last time we were intimate." Nicole explained, keeping her focus on the shower wall.

"It has been 1 month and 8 days since we had intimate encounters with one another." Data said.

Nicole turned back around once she was rinsed off. A smile was plastered on her face.

"Let's just forget it." Nicole said, turning off the sonic shower.

Data observed Nicole as she walked out of the shower and used a towel to dry herself off. She was in fact upset about something. Every time he tried to assist her in her day to day tasks, she seemed distant. They barely even kissed. Last time they kissed was exactly 3 months ago.

He continued to observe her as she dug through her dresser for some clothes. She settled on her usual attire. Gray Starfleet Academy sweatpants, and a black Starfleet Academy Engineering division tee. He tilted his head in confusion when he saw the woman before him pull her wet hair back.

His iconic memory reminded him that his partner disliked how frizzy hair got when she didn't spend the amount of time to dry it. She also had a collection of products on the counter in the bathroom to help tame it.

"I am not an amoeba under a microscope, Data. Stop trying to observe me. I'm alright." Nicole said, not looking at him.

"Nicole, I told you several times that I care about you. As your significant other, it is normal for me to be concerned about your well-being, my dear." Data said.

"You shouldn't be concerned about someone like me. You should find someone else to love." Nicole blurted.

She sat down on the bed, disturbing Spot a little. Her back was to him. Data's modesty program was practically yelling at him. He noticed he was still undressed. He got dressed himself. When he came out of the bathroom, Nicole was still sitting on the bed. Spot was nudging her arm. Data thought he heard faint crying coming from his partner.

Data walked up to Nicole. He crouched down in front of her. His hypothesis was right, she was crying.

"I do not want someone else, Nikki. I want you." Data confessed.

"But I can't give you what you want, Data." Nicole said.

"What do you mean?" Data asked.

Spot had crawled into her lap. Nicole could sense the concern coming from the feline. She was worried about her owner's girlfriend.

Nicole just kept her focus on the feline in her lap. She didn't want to look at Data.

"Nicole, look at me." Data said.

Nicole shook her head. "You better get going to the bridge. Captain Picard won't like you being late."

"I can always ask for time off, Nicole. I do not want to leave you right now knowing you are in distress."

"Please Data. Just go."

Data tried to kiss Nicole, but she wouldn't allow it. He kissed her forehead instead.

"I will be back later this evening." Data said.

Nicole didn't say anything. Once the hissing of the door shut. She cried as she pet Spot.

Nicole knew she needed to tell Data what was going on. She just couldn't though! She felt that it was better for him to find someone instead of wasting his time with her.

Sometime later, Troi came by for a counseling session. She had Data join in since it was beneficial for the both of them.

"Nikki, I understand you are hurting, but in order to help we need to know what's going on." Troi said.

"Mom, seriously, I am fine. I just want to return to work already." Nicole said, smiling.

Troi knew the smile was fake. It didn't take a telepath to know that she was hurting. It broke Troi's heart to know that her daughter had been through this much pain.

"We both know that you are not fine, Nicole. It doesn't take a telepath to know this." Troi said.

Nicole deflated. Tears began to well up in her eyes as her hands formed into knuckles. Her nails were long enough to make small cuts into her palms.

"I can't deal with this anymore, mommy." Nicole said as tears fell down her cheeks.

"I know, baby. I know." Troi said.

"I wish they never reopened the case. I was doing so well without having to remember what happened."

Troi moved closer to Nicole to hold her tightly. The cuts on Nicole's palms were tiny. More like scratches. Data placed a hand on her leg just above her knee. He'd seen other officers do this many times for comfort.

"Data doesn't deserve someone like me. I am too broken to give him what he wants."

Troi looked over at Data. She could see from Data's expression that he generally cared for her daughter. Data even told the empathic counselor and the first officer that he wished he could resign from Starfleet so he could be with Nicole. He "loved" her.

Data met the dark iris of Troi. Troi was trying to get him to talk to Nicole.

"Nicole, Imzadi, I told you that I had this need to care for you. This need is stronger than my quest to become human, my dear." Data said, applying a little pressure to Nicole's leg.

"Why do you care so much, Data?" Troi asked.

Data tilted his head. Troi's eyes drifted to the young Lieutenant clenching onto her mother like she was a life line.

"As you know, I do not have emotions. However, I find myself constantly thinking of you, my dear. When we are apart for prolonged periods of time, I review the images I stored in my memory banks. It leasons the sensation of incompleteness brought on by your absence." Data said.

"Images?" Troi asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes, Counselor." Data nodded his head. "My memory is not just words that were said previously, but I am also able to store images in my memory banks. I have a file that is labeled My Nikki. I store texts and files that I saved for her. I also stored the sexual program that I made for her there."

Nicole stirred against her mother. She turned to look at the Android sitting on the other side of her. No words were exchanged between the two of them. Just baby blues looking at yellow ones.

"I am sorry, Data." Nicole said after some time.

Data tilted his head. "For what, Nikki?"

"For feeling like this."

"There is no need for you to apologize, my dear. You are in distress. I noticed many humans deal with strong emotions when they are upset."

Nicole found herself leaning into the Android. Her Android. Data wrapped an arm around her.

"Please don't leave me." Nicole said, quietly.

"I will stay as long as you need me to, Nikki." Data said, repeating the same words he said to her so many years ago.