Author's Note: This has spoilers for the Star Trek TNG episode Attached. There isn't too much going on here. I just needed a good place to start.
Chapter Two
Once Nicole got to Engineering, she sat down at the console and got started on her work. This was going to be a busy day. The Enterprise was orbiting Kesprytt III, because the Kes wanted membership into the Federation. Most of the stations were on standby in case anything occurred. Which it did. Dr Crusher and Captain Picard were captured by the Prytt.
Nicole was on the bridge with a datapadd in her hand. She watched as her father followed a Kes leader to his quarters, leaving Data in charge of the bridge.
She walked over to Worf who had tensed. He probably was grinding his teeth as well.
"Relax." Nicole said.
"I do not trust The Kes." Worf said, through gritted teeth.
"He's just being super cautious." Nicole said.
"Still." Worf paused. "They are not to be trusted."
"You think everyone is not to be trusted." Nicole smiled.
Worf just laughed his loud Klingon laugh. By then, Data was standing next to his girlfriend.
"Can you sense anything from them, Lieutenant?" Data asked.
Data rarely called her by her rank. It was normally Nicole or Nikki, but the times he used her rank it meant business. At this point Nicole wished her mother was on the bridge instead of in a session, but being Betazoid has its perks sometimes.
"It doesn't take a betazoid to know that he is just cautious, Commander." Nicole gave Data a flirtatious wink. Data was oblivious to it, but Worf caught it. He just smiled.
"See!" Worf said, holding up his hands in Nicole's direction.
Nicole just laughed. "Can you blame him though? They seem to have a bunch of issues with Prytt." She explained.
"Being too cautious can be a problem in itself." A passing crew member stated.
"I have noticed in some species that being cautious can lead to distrust and war." Data said.
"I can definitely tell that he feels we are not to be trusted. I think that is why he didn't want to work with us on rescuing the Captain and Doctor." Nicole said, meeting the yellow eyes of the android.
"Then why ask to join the Federation?" A crewmember asked. Nicole just shrugged.
"Thank you, Lieutenant. You may return to your work." Data said.
Nicole smirked and headed for the turbolift.
A few hours later
Nicole was in the conference room. She was leaning by the doors that led to the bridge. She watched in awe at her father's diplomatic skills. It didn't take a telepath to know how pissed off he was. The Kes and the Prytt had too many issues to solve before either of them became part of The Federation.
However, it helped in finding Dr Crusher and Captain Picard, because soon they were being transported to the Enterprise.
After the incident on Kesprytt III, Captain Picard had requested extra security for the transporters so the incident didn't happen again. Nicole was working with Data in one of the transporter rooms. She had to keep pausing every few minutes or so to either gently rub her stomach or grip it.
"Nikki."
"Yes Data?"
Nicole continued to scan the transporter with her tricorder.
"I have noticed that you gripped her stomach 15 times in the last 32 minutes. Maybe you should go to Sickbay."
"No. I am-" Nicole stood up to move to the console when the pain was unbearable. She collapsed to her knees crying out in pain.
Data went to her side. He tapped his communicator "Data to Sickbay. Medical Emergency. Transporter room 3"
"Data, I am fine." Nicole tried to say through gritted teeth.
"No you are not, Lieutenant. I strongly advise you to go to Sickbay." Data said.
Nicole opened her mouth to protest, but shut it to bite her lip to keep herself from crying out in pain.
Dr Crusher came running into the Transporter room with a nurse at her heels. She came over to them and began scanning Nicole with a medical tricorder. All the concern left her face causing a small smile to form.
"All is good. She just got her menstrual cycle." Dr Crusher said.
Dr Crusher opened the medkit to set up a hypospray with pain medicine. "Have they always been this bad, Nikki?" She asked, pressing the hypospray to Nicole's neck.
Nicole opened her mouth to lie, but Data interrupted and answered for her. "Yes they have, Doctor."
Nicole glared at Data. Going through puberty was hell for her. She had to deal with getting her telepathic abilities as well as dealing with her first period. From then on, her menstrual cycles have been painful. She found ways to help, but there were times like this where the pain has been unbearable.
"Why didn't you come to me sooner?" Doctor Crusher asked, scanning Nicole again.
"I can usually handle the pain." Nicole said, smiling a little.
Dr Crusher rolled her eyes. "I would like to take her to Sickbay to examine her more."
Data moved to place his arm under Nicole's legs to carry her to Sickbay, leaving their work unfinished.
In Sickbay, Nicole was lying on a bio bed being examined by Dr Crusher. Data went back to the transporter room. He wanted to stay, but Nicole reassured him that she was okay. He kissed her on the forehead and left. After he left though, her mother Counselor Troi, walked in panicking. She sensed that Nicole was in pain. Troi insisted on staying. So here she was, standing on the other side of the bed, holding her daughter's hand while Dr Crusher examined Nicole.
"Well, the good news is, she seems to be feeling better, but…." Dr Crusher trailed off.
"But what, Beverly?" Troi asked.
"I wished you would've come to me sooner, Lieutenant." Dr Crusher asked.
Uh oh! It is never a good sign when Dr Crusher uses your rank. Nicole knew she was probably in trouble.
Nicole sat up on her elbows. "I am sorry, Beverly. I can usually get by just fine. I don't know what happened today though." Nicole said.
Dr Crusher sighed. She looked at Troi. "Can you give us a moment?"
Troi nodded and walked out of Sickbay. Nicole used this time to sit all the way up and let her legs dangle over the side of the bio bed. Thanking the pain medicine for making her feel better.
Dr Crusher placed her hands in her med coat. "Nikki, I know you think that you can handle the pain, but if they were that bad. You should've just told me. I would've been able to help you before they got out of hand. You aren't a machine."
Nicole hung her head. She kicked herself for not coming to Dr Crusher sooner.
"I am sorry." Nicole said, quietly.
"Hey." Nicole looked up. She met the comforting eyes of the kind doctor. "I am not mad, but now I need you to make a decision. It doesn't have to be now, but I would like to know before your next cycle. I am also going to give you some pain meds to help you through this one."
Nicole nodded. "What is it, Doctor?"
Nicole walked out of Sickbay an hour later with her mother.
"Do you know what you are going to do?" Troi asked her daughter telepathically.
Nicole shook her head. Her ratty dark hair hitting her face. It was easier to take it out of the ponytail while she was being examined.
"I thought I wouldn't have to make this decision."
"You also thought you wouldn't be dating an android." Troi stated matter of factly.
This made Nicole laugh. She got some strange looks from some crewmen walking in the corridor.
"No, that is true. It could make things a little easier if we decide to take our relationship to the next step."
"You mean, marriage?"
"Yes. I know it would be weird, but I care a lot about Data and if we decide to take it there then I wouldn't be against it."
"Then maybe you need to talk to Data about this, sweetheart." Troi said.
"Yeah, you're right. We had dinner plans this evening. I will talk to him then." Nicole said, tapping the button for the turbolift.
"Okay. Let me know if either of you need me. I will be happy to talk with the both of you." Troi said, following Nicole into the turbolift.
"Deck 8." Nicole said. The turbolift began moving. "Thank you, Mother." She said, hugging Troi.