I was relieved to be pulled out of the turbo-lift shaft, my muscles aching from holding on extra tight to the ladder. My hands and feet were cold and tingling. One of the two put their hands on my shoulders and guided me through the hallway. At first, I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me, but I could see a faint glow in the distance. As we drew closer I felt more relieved to be able to make out the shape of the hallway. We stopped at the large door to main engineering. The door was mostly metal, but had a small glass window that allowed a soft, dim light to pass through. The three of us pressed our heads together to look inside. It was dark, except for the soft pulsating glow of a tall piece of machinery. Shadows frantically passed in front of it, moving back and forth, some seeming to disappear into the shadow of the floor.

"Think you can manage to get this one open?" Geordi looked at Data.

"I can try."

I backed up to give him space. He pressed himself against the door and tried his best to push it open, but it only groaned in protest, not seeming to budge. Geordi joined him as well, but it didn't make any difference.

"Well, so much for your super strength… We'll have to find another way in and fast."

Data opened his mouth to comment, but stopped. "This is the only entry into main engineering, but I recall seeing a Jefferies tube in the schematics nearby."

"Perfect! Let's go!"

Data's face lit up with excitement as he led the way down the hall. The darkness grew again around us. I could vaguely make out his shape as he knelt down and pulled a panel off of the wall near the floor. Both of them crawled in and I followed behind. The air felt thin and I quickly found myself struggling to breathe in the darkness. I couldn't catch my breath.

"Data…" Geordi gasped. "If the counselor… and I lose consciousness… you have to get life support back online… that takes priority."

A chill ran down my spine and I froze in place for a moment. That's why the air felt so heavy since the power went out. I nearly forgot I was in space again. Without power to life support we would have no air to breathe… and there were crew members inside main engineering this whole time, using up the oxygen. If I were stuck in my quarters at this time… would I be suffocating right now?

"Data?" Geordi pulled me out of my panicked thoughts. I hadn't realized that Data didn't answer.

"I understand, Geordi."

I didn't realize they had stopped until I grabbed onto Geordi's ankle. I didn't hear it. I did hear Data push the panel off of the tube. The metal rang against the floor and I had hoped that with the light there would be more air to breathe, but the atmosphere only grew heavier. Before I could get my bearings both of them were on their feet and rushing towards the controls. I tried to stand, but staggered before falling again to the ground. I found myself giggling uncontrollably, hunched over on the floor. There were other bodies around me.

"Damn it!" A fist slammed down against the console and Geordi looked over to Data who was quickly typing onto a wall panel. "The- the codes! What… the… console codes!"

Data said something in response, but I couldn't make it out. His voice grew more distant and the glow of the room seemed to darken as well around me. It was like a fuzzy blanket, holding me down in place. My head rested on the floor and I could only stare at the warp core as it illuminated the room. It's pulsations slow, almost matching my shallow breaths. I felt as if I were the starship, drifting through space… The darkness surrounding me as I drifted off… The stars welcomed me.

I sat there on the bottom steps, not daring to enter the living room. I knew my mother was there… but I knew better than to bother her at this hour. I was supposed to be in bed, asleep, but I couldn't. I was scared. My thoughts had wandered to a terrifying place.

My father was gone, but where did he go? I was there for the funeral but we never got to bring him home. Where did they take him… and where would I be going when I died? Would we meet again or at the end of everything would that just be it? Just a sudden end? Nothing?

"Abby?" A weak, gruff voice called out behind me. I froze. "What are you doing up so late?"

"You…" My voice was small and hushed. A voice I had not heard in a very long time. I turned back to look at him. "You aren't supposed to be here. It's too early."

"Ah." He sighed, taking a seat on the step. "But who will be here to comfort you if I am not?"

I looked back to the wall. Around that corner I knew that if I were to make myself known, my mother would scold me and send me back off to bed. I had tried to explain myself before, but she never wanted to talk. She never listened to what was on my heart. To what I was afraid of at night. If I could have slept through the night I would have, but it seemed like she thought I was only making things difficult for her. I was forced to face it alone, sitting on those steps to scrounge up any kind of comfort I could feel by knowing she was nearby.

I fell asleep on the bottom steps more nights than I could count… but it wasn't long before I learned that she was not someone I could go to for help or comfort.

I suddenly looked back to my grandfather who was now standing behind me. The memory had faded from around us and I could hear the faint sound of music. He stood there patiently, his hands folded on his cane.

"Why are you here?" I asked, my voice had returned to normal.

He shrugged slowly, seeming to drag out the moment. Or maybe because there was no rush at all. "I will always be with you."

My heart dropped and I could feel the tears well up in my eyes. The scene faded to the hospital room where those words came from his mouth in a whisper. I sat by his bedside and held his hand. I had watched him that whole day, alone, and watched him drift in and out of consciousness. Claire de Lune softly played in the background accompanied by the beeping of the machines attached to him.

"I believe I understand now…. Your feelings toward this song…"

This voice was new and I looked around the room for the body it belonged to. My grandfather was asleep and the room was empty. Behind the window and the monitor were the stars and the vast darkness of space. I froze, waiting for more. Like I was afraid I would scare it away.

"Go, Abby…." I turned back to my grandfather as he spoke again. He tightened his grip on my hand. "It is alright to go…"

My eyes fluttered open and I grabbed at my face, but was quickly stopped. He folded my hands onto my stomach.

"It is… 'alright'... counselor. You are not in any danger."

"Data…" I breathed, looking around frantically. "What happened…?"

I still felt a bit dazed, but found that I had made it to sick bay. A tube was attached to my nose for oxygen. The lights were dim and the room was full of patients. The beds were full and the medical staff rushed around the room.

"We were successful in restarting emergency power to the Enterprise."

Right. The blackout.

"What about Geordi?" I tried to sit up, but was stopped.

"Dr. Crusher has advised that I let you know that 'everything is alright' and to rest. Geordi was able to withstand the conditions and is continuing his work to restore full power and operations."

I sighed, taking a moment to breathe deeply. "I am glad we made it."

"As am I." He paused and I could feel him staring. "Are you alright? It appears you are crying."

I wiped my eyes, not realizing. "Oh! I'm sorry…"

He looked at me confused. "Why do you apologize?"

"It's a bit embarrassing… I…" I stopped to think back on what I had dreamed about, but it was fuzzy. I could only recall the feeling.

"It's normal for a near death experience." Dr. Crusher chimed in, pulling out her tricorder to scan me. "Don't worry counselor, you'll get used to it."

I looked at her astounded.

She shook her head at me. "Really counselor… If you don't learn to make light of things then it will be difficult for you to adjust to life on the Enterprise. I know you didn't sign up for Starfleet, but near death experiences do happen out here a lot more often than it does on Earth."

I found myself looking to Data for assurance.

"It is true. I myself have experienced the end of my existence in an alternate timeline… Although I did not have the emotion chip to help me cope by means of humor. I did find comfort in knowing that one day I would cease to exist."

I shook my head, smiling defeatedly. Honestly, I felt that if I would have died at that moment… It would have been welcomed. It wasn't painful. It was almost peaceful.

"Your scan looks good. You may experience some memory loss, forgetfulness… Problems with speech or focus. It should only be mild, but let me know if your symptoms worsen."

I nodded. "Alright… Thank you."

She squeezed my arm gently and smiled before typing the buttons on the wall over my head. "We'll take you off the oxygen and let you sit for a minute before we let you go." After removing the tube from my face she turned to Data. "Keep an eye on her. My patients tend to run off today before I officially release them."

Data nodded in return, watching as she left. He looked pleased to be given orders to follow. I took this opportunity to sit up slowly. My head felt heavy and I folded my hands in my lap to try to warm them up.

"Oh thank goodness!" I turned to see Deanna who exhaled heavily in relief. "I was so worried about you!" She came closer and put a hand on my back, rubbing it gently. "How are you holding up?"

"I…." I looked over to Data and smiled. "I am fine. I was with Data the whole time. He kept me safe."

She patted him on the back with her other hand and I watched as a perplexed look flashed onto his face. It quickly turned into a proud smile.

"Great job, Data." She praised.

"Thank you counselor. Have you made contact with the bridge crew or the captain yet? Are they alright?"

"Yes. I just came from there. Whatever we were hit with was not an attack from a ship or planet… It seems we came into contact with some sort of anomaly… We are looking into it. Within a few hours we should be back to normal. They are beginning to get engines back online now."

I didn't think I could feel any more relieved today, but was proved wrong. I was thankful it wasn't an attack. Data began providing some speculation and offered to assist in engineering or the bridge, but Deanna reminded him he was not allowed to return to work. He looked to the floor, dejected.

"I'm sorry, Data… We greatly appreciate your help getting things back online, but the Captain's orders still stand to keep you off duty for now."

He didn't look at her, just nodded.

"As for you…" She pulled an item out of her pocket and held it out to me. "Due to the emergency, I was able to get this issued sooner than expected."

I ran my fingers over the cold, smooth metal. The insignia brought back the nostalgic feeling of Earth… of isolation and loneliness. My grandfather didn't wear his uniform during the funeral but my father did. This same symbol flashing through my head. On his uniform… framed in our home… the academy…

"Be sure to wear this at all times. It will help with communications, transport, and security clearance."

I looked back up at Troi and nodded idly. "Thank you." I put it on my dress, over my heart.

"I need to get back to the bridge now, but you two should return to quarters. We are on yellow alert."

"Understood, counselor."

Data looked over to me and waited patiently as I slid down onto my feet. I teetered slightly before finding my balance and allowed him to escort me out. Two security officers were waiting outside and joined us, following close behind. I was so ready to be finished with the day.