Chapter 13

"Permission to enter the bridge, Captain?" Nicole asked.

Captain Picard smiled. "Permission granted."

Nicole smiled back as she entered the Bridge. Data was close in tow. Geordi was on the Bridge this morning. He gave Nicole a nice hug.

"You are feeling better." Troi said, hugging her daughter.

"Surprisingly, I woke up in a good mood." Nicole said.

"That's wonderful!" Troi beamed.

It was the truth. Nicole did wake up in a good mood. She asked Admiral Styrrec if she and Data could have a romantic breakfast. He was "happy" to oblige. They had Tofu eggs, whole grain toast with jam, and veggie bacon. She ate as much as she could till she felt full. Then they went on a romantic walk through the ship. Their last stop was the Bridge.

"Damn!" Geordi groaned as he checked over the engines.

"Let me guess. The Enterprise is being testy this morning." Nicole joked.

"When is she not testy?" Geordi asked, smiling slightly at the joke.

Nicole laughed. "I told you all of the modifications you did would come and bite you in the ass."

Geordi gave her a look as if he was glaring at her.

"Were you not the one who assisted Geordi in many of the ship modifications, Nikki?" Data asked.

Nicole turned her attention to her boyfriend standing in front of her. He was so close that she was able to kick him. Data just tapped her back with his shoe.

Nicole glared at the Android. "You helped us too, Data."

"Correct, but are you not an Engineer?"

Nicole rolled her eyes. Data looked pleased with himself. Geordi had a cocky smile on his face.

Admiral Styrrec walked onto the bridge. It was time for Nicole to leave for court on Earth. It didn't matter where her mental state was, she still had court. And today they were going over what happened with Corey. Nicole sighed.

"It will be alright. We can always talk when you get home." Troi said, telepathically as she gave Nicole a hug.

"Thanks mama. I am sure I am going to need it."

She followed Admiral Styrrec and Captain Picard into the turbolift.

"Let's start at the beginning, Lieutenant. You decided to leave with Captain Corey Williams." Admiral Aarons started.

Nicole bit her tongue to keep her temper down. "Yes ma'am."

"Why?"

"Because I wanted to hang out with my friend."

Admiral Aarons raised a blonde eyebrow. "But you murdered him?"

"Only because he was trying to kill me, ma'am." Nicole said.

"I find it hard to believe that Corey, who is a fine officer, would just randomly want to harm someone else." Admiral Aarons said, walking around as if she was addressing the room and not just Nicole.

"And you think I have the answer?"

"Do you?"

No matter how badly Nicole wanted to turn away, she didn't. She hardened her baby blues and said, "I do not."

"But you aren't denying that you killed him."

Nicole's telepathic abilities had to be subdued so she was unable to sense what Aarons was planning. However just by her expression and body language Nicole knew that Aarons was trying to get her to lash out by pushing the right buttons.

It surprised her when she found out Aarons was going to be not only the one questioning but the case manager as well. Aarons was one of the Admirals against Nicole coming back. She felt Nicole was unfit as an officer because of her PTSD. Although there were many fine officers who are even high ranking Admirals who suffer from PTSD. Mark was one of them.

"No I am not." Nicole said.

As Admiral Aarons addressed the court, Nicole's eyes drifted over to Captain Picard. He was trying to tell her to breathe. Nicole took several deep calming breaths.

"That's it, Nikki. Just breathe. I am right here."

Nicole was having a panic attack. She couldn't tell what brought this one on. However, the calming male voice was soothing enough to bring her back.

"She's alright, she's coming too." Dr. Crusher said.

Nicole attempted to open her eyes, but the pounding in her head and the bright lights of the courtroom made it nearly impossible to.

"It's alright, honey. You're safe." Troi told her telepathically.

"It hurts to open my eyes." Nicole said, telepathically.

"She said it hurts to open her eyes." Troi told Dr. Crusher.

"Do I have permission to give pain medication? We do not want her pain lasting too long." Dr Crusher explained.

Nicole felt something press to her neck. After a couple minutes she saw a pair of gorgeous yellow eyes. She knew immediately who they belonged to.

"Data." Nicole said.

Data nodded his head. "Yes."

Nicole smiled weakly. She tried to sit up, but the pain in her body and head were not helping.

"Easy. Take it slow." Dr Crusher said, placing a hand on Nicole's shoulder.

"What happened?" Nicole asked.

"You had a seizure." Captain Picard said.

Nicole's eyes drifted beside her. "Captain?"

Captain Picard was crouched down beside Data.

"It's a good thing she's able to recognize you." Dr. Crusher said.

"What do you suggest the next course of action is, Doctor?" Admiral Syrrec asked.

"I would suggest transporting her back to the ship." Dr. Crusher said.

"Absolutely not!" Admiral Aarons angered voice resounded off the courtroom walls. "There are hospitals here that can take care of her."

"My CMO is very capable of taking care of her just fine!" Captain Picard shouted back.

"You do NOT have the facilities to handle her."

"What makes you think you know what's best for MY crewman!?"

"What makes you think you know what's best for her!?" Admiral Aarons exclaimed.

Nicole pressed her ear as close to the door as she could. Mark and Admiral Aarons were arguing about her in his office over subspace chat. Admiral Aarons was wanting to send her to a facility. Admiral Collins was trying to keep her from going.

"More than you do! She's MY daughter!" Admiral Collins yelled.

"We both know you aren't her father." Admiral Aarons said.

"Keep talking to her Data." Dr. Crusher said.

"Nikki, love, it is Data. I am here. What is happening, my dear?"

"Come on, Carly. We both know that that piece of shit NEVER cared about her. Otherwise he would be fighting for her." Admiral Collins said.

"Mark, you seriously think Will Riker doesn't care about her. I bet you if you contact him and tell him who Nicole is. Then he would take the nearest transport to her." Admiral Aarons said.

"Daddy." Nicole said as she winced.

Time began to still. Commander Riker looked over at his little girl arching her back as she was dealing with another memory.

"Dad, you can't be serious! They can't send Nikki away." Adam said, tears were forming behind his eyes.

Admiral Aarons was trying to get the paperwork set up to send Nicole to a facility. She was also working on having Nicole resign from Starfleet. They were ending her career before it barely began.

Just like they were doing now. And she was absolutely terrified….

"Daddy! Help me!" Nicole yelled as she arched.

"Nicole, honey, stay with me, daddy's here. I have you baby." Admiral Collins said. He was trying to talk her through a panic attack.

"Nikki, I am here, sweetheart. Daddy's here. Shhh…" Commander Riker said.

Commander Riker was on his knees next to Data. Data was holding her hand. Geordi was holding the other. Commander Riker had his hands on either side of her face. His baby blues were looking right into her.

It felt like everything was getting away from her. She was no longer a Starfleet officer, she was no longer an Engineer, and she was probably no longer Data's girlfriend. Who would want to be with someone like her? She was a complete emotional mess.

"She's mine!" Tucker whispered as he glared at the First Officer.

"We'll see who she belongs to in the morning." Commander Riker said, smiling.

"I AM HER FATHER!" Admiral Collins yelled as he moved Nicole behind him. To protect her.

"Nicole, what is it? Talk to me, honey." Commander said.

Nicole was confused as to where she was. She was in Engineering on the Enterprise-D, but there was no personnel. It was just her, by herself.

"Hello Nikki Bean."

Nicole whipped around quickly. That was when she saw him. He was standing there by the console in the middle of the room. Nicole smiled hugely.

"Daddy!"

Nicole ran into the arms of Admiral Collins. However it wasn't Admiral Collins anymore. It was the first officer of the flagship. Commander William T. Riker. Nicole's actual father.

Nicole groaned as she came back to the present. She could hear someone. The gentle, yet firm voice sounded familiar to her. When she opened her eyes, baby blues just like hers were looking right at her as if they were looking through her.

"Dad." Nicole said, weakly.

"Yes. I am here. I will always be here, honey." Commander Riker said.

Nicole didn't know where the ounce strength came from, but she found herself sitting up and wrapping her arms around the first officer.

"I'm scared, dad. I don't want to be sent away." Nicole said as tears fell.

"You won't be. I promise. Daddy will do whatever he needs to to make sure you don't get sent away." Commander Riker said.