Author's Note: This chapter deals with some heavy stuff. Mainly self harm. Some family cuteness between the Rikers though.
Chapter Seven
After the incident with the Hekarans, Nicole wanted to brush up on the theory of warp drive causing rifts. So while it was her day off, she sat her computer at the table researching the information. Temporarily standing up to get another cup of coffee. She was on her fifth cup of coffee when the door chimed.
"Come in."
Troi walked in with Commander Riker.
"Counselor. Commander." Nicole said.
"You don't need to be so formal, Nicole." Commander Riker sighed.
Nicole placed a PADD down on the table. "What can I do for the two of you?"
Commander Riker leaned over to see what Nicole was working on. "What are you working on?"
Nicole handed him a PADD of her notes. "Since the incident with the Hekarans, I am seeing how warp drive causes rifts."
Troi shook her head. "Even when you aren't working, you're still technically working."
"You know it!" Nicole smiled.
Commander Riker handed her the PADD back. "We came to talk to you." He said.
"About?" Nicole asked, confused.
"Data asked for your father's blessing." Troi said, telepathically.
Nicole leaned back in her chair. "Really?" She asked.
Commander Riker rolled his eyes. "Telepaths." He paused. "Anyway, I told him I would think about it."
"Nicole, sweetheart, we both know that Data "loves" you very much, but…." Troi looked at Commander Riker.
"You don't want to give me away?" Nicole asked, looking at her father.
Commander Riker sighed. It wasn't like him to talk about what he wanted. Not even to Troi.
"Nikki, do you remember how negative I was against you two?" Commander Riker asked.
"Yes."
"I never told you why. Did I?"
Nicole shook her head.
"It was not because he's a second officer or that he outranks you. I know he can take care of you. I just-" Commander Riker sighed. His blue eyes were glistening. Was he going to cry?
"I think I understand now. We just built up this relationship and now you are afraid that you'll never see me again."
Commander Riker nodded his head. He looked away from his daughter. Nicole stood up. She placed her hands on her father's forearms. She then used a term that she used once before, but barely used.
"Daddy." Commander Riker looked at Nicole "Although you were technically never there, you are here now and I can tell you that I will still be Nicole Riker. Data supports me in my obsession with the warp core." That caused Commander Riker to smile. "You know that he wouldn't hurt me. Hell, he even went to Earth with me when I got my damned tubes tied."
"She's got a point there, Will." Troi said.
"I'll be alright. I promise. And I will still be on the Enterprise if it makes you feel better. I doubt Data wants to transfer anyway." Nicole said, letting go of his arms and hugging her father tightly.
Commander Riker wrapped his arms around his daughter. He kissed the top of her head. Thankfully, she was just an inch or two shorter than her mother. They were like that for a few minutes. Commander Riker cried soft tears into Nicole's dark hair. Not many saw the tough Commander William T. Riker like this. Troi barely saw this side of him. Nicole wished that he showed this side more.
"I give you two my blessing." Commander Riker said.
"Really?" Nicole asked, smiling excitedly.
Commander Riker nodded. Nicole hugged him again. "Thank you, Daddy! Thank you!" She kept saying.
The Enterprise was on its way to Altrea IV, a planet with a core that was cooling and solidifying. They were still a day away. So after her shift in Engineering, she decided on seeing Data.
They had a wedding to plan! She asked her parents to keep it quiet though since her and Data were thinking of a way to tell the crew. Geordi even promised to keep it quiet. She wanted it to be special!
Nicole also needed the distraction. Regen hasn't let her alone much this week. Today while she was Engineering, he contacted her telepathically and tried to convince her to not go through with the wedding. He kept telling her that he can give her more than Data could.
Why was Regen acting this way? Why go through all of this trouble to contact her now? Maybe because Nicole wouldn't go back to him. Not after what he did.
Nicole stood outside Data's quarters. She was in a pair of Starfleet Academy sweats and an old graphic tee. Her dark hair was pulled back into a ponytail. She was going to the gymnasium after this. A little light workout would do her good before their date this evening. She took a deep breath and tapped the button, waiting to hear Data's voice allowing her entry.
"Hi Data. I know this is sudden." Nicole said.
"Hello Nicole. You are correct. I was not expecting you till 1900 hours." Data said, putting his art utensils down.
"Please, don't let me interrupt you." Nicole said, walking over to her fiance. A term that doesn't feel real yet.
Data hesitated before he picked up his utensils and began painting again. Nicole stood behind him to look at the painting. It was mostly one color. Mainly red.
"What're you painting?" Nicole asked, trying to assess the painting.
"I am attempting to paint only using one color." Data said, making horizontal brush strokes in the center of the canvas.
"I noticed that you are using red. Have you tried different shades of red?" Nicole asked.
"Hm." Data titled his head. He grabbed a few different shades of red paint from his "art cart". He titled his head again as he added it to the painting, bringing it all together. Nicole watched in awe at Data's speed. She could not be happier to marry this man!
Once the painting was done, it looked like a version of a sunset. Nicole was reminded of the sunsets they saw on Earth.
"Did you like being on Earth or would you like to live on Betazed?" Data asked, putting his paint supplies away.
Nicole sighed. They haven't really talked about where they were going to live after the wedding.
"I don't mind living on Betazed." Nicole said, leaning against Data's desk. "But I don't want my grandmother to be bugging us when we are home."
Data thought about it for a moment. "I know some humans enjoy the comfort of their families."
"Yes this is true. I do miss my grandmother at times. It was hard seeing her hurt when she was here last. I know she would like it if I lived on Betazed." Nicole said.
Data tilted his head as Nicole thought about it. She would love to be on Betazed. The gardens were beautiful, but it would be easier to live on Earth when they were docked.
"Let's stay on Earth. I love our house out in the country." Nicole suggested.
Data tilted his head. "That seems reasonable." He said.
Nicole smiled, but it faded quickly. She wanted to desperately tell Data what was going on. Not only is her fiance, but he is also a second officer. He could help all that he could.
"Are you alright, Nikki?" Data asked, walking up to Nicole. "You know, you can talk to me about anything you wish. Any subject."
"I know." Nicole said, a little too quiet. She then gave Data her best smile. "I'm going to go work out. I'll see you tonight." She walked out of his quarters without another word. She even ignored his calls to her.
This was stupid! She was no better than Jenna when she dated Data. He probably thought that Nicole wanted the relationship to end. She didn't! She wanted to keep this going. She loved the android with all of her heart. Then why doesn't she just stop being a baby and tell her lover what is going on. They can fix this stupid mess. Together.
She sparred with Worf a bit. He knocked her around a few times. Nicole knew that she was going to be feeling it in the morning. Everyone knows better than to spar with a Klingon.
She took a sip from her steel water bottle and thanked Worf for the sparing. An image popped into her head as she took a sip of water though.
She was in her quarters, getting ready for her shift. She looked up at the mirror expecting to see her reflection, but she saw him. Regen. He was smiling. Laughing that adorable laugh. His dark eyes were so dreamy.
She walked over to the punching bag. She punched it. Hard! She wasn't focusing on the pain in her knuckles. She tried to punch through the mirror to break through the image. She didn't care that her knuckles were starting to bleed.
She also didn't know that her emotions were moving all through the ship. The 15 different telepaths on board could probably pick up on how she was feeling at that moment. Angry. Frightened. Sadness.
"Nicole."
That voice. It sounds almost caring. It seemed to break through the haze of the image as well as the blurred vision from the tears.
"Nicole, stop it!"
There was that voice again. It sounded so familiar.
"Lieutenant!" A different voice. More forceful. It sounded familiar as well.
Nicole felt arms pull her away from the punching bag. Her hands were soaked and drippy. A person came into her cloudy vision. This person was beautiful. Her expression was calm. She was reaching Nicole telepathically.
"Easy baby."
"Mother?"
"Yes, it's me. Stop. Just stop. I am here now."
Nicole blinked a few times. Her legs felt like jello. Her hands were badly bruised and bloody. Her heart pounded so loud, she could feel it in her ears. If she wasn't being held, she would have fallen right on the deck.
"What happened?" Nicole croaked. Her throat was so dry.
"You came to see me, but you seemed to have a mental distraction."
That voice. These arms around her. They weren't human. They belonged to…
"Data." Nicole croaked again.
"Yes. I am here." Data said.
"Perhaps we should try sitting her down." Troi said.
"Dr Crusher is on her way, Counselor." Data said.
Data helped Nicole over to a spot away from most of the equipment. She noticed a trail of blood. Was that coming from her? She sat down. The bulkhead felt nice against her back. Data lifted her hands. He wrapped them in a towel trying to be mindful of the cuts that would be there for sure. Troi held up a bottle of water to Nicole's lips. Nicole took a drink. It was refreshing! She started to feel something. What was that?
"Ouch Data!" Nicole said, a little more clearly.
"My apologies, Nikki."
Nicole started to jerk her hands away, but the android strength was too strong for her.
"Nikki, baby, relax. We're only trying to help." Troi said, telepathically.
"I don't need help!" Nicole said quite loudly.
She didn't want help! She wanted to keep punching the mirror. She could see Regen laughing at her. Nicole shoved Troi out of the way as she stood up. With inhuman speed and strength, Data pinned Nicole against the bulkhead.
"No! Let me go!" Nicole yelled, trying to fight against him. Punching his chest. However, that android strength was too powerful for her.
"Lieutenant, stop!" Data said sternly.
He knew when Nicole was going through a panic attack that using her rank helped keep her grounded. He also knew that if he needed to, Geordi would help out. It seemed like only the two of them could bring Nicole back to the present.
Nicole looked up and saw…..
Those yellow eyes. They said so much. So much control. So much strength. But they said something else. Concern. Concern for not only Troi, but for Nicole. His fiance.
Nicole stopped fighting against him. She searched his face. Hoping he would give her that strength, that control to break through the mirror of the past.
"Data! Data, kiss her!" Troi said through the haze.
"Counselor?"
"Nicole is in there! I can read her. Kiss her!"
Nicole heard voices, but all she could focus was on those yellow eyes. They were so mesmerizing! So beautiful!
Data kissed Nicole. Nicole's head was going a mile a minute, but her body was reacting to the kiss. She tilted her head to deepen the kiss. She even felt her bloody hands grip his arms. Blood was on his uniform from her hands.
The kiss shattered the memory. And the android that she was in love with was on the other side of the memory. She ran to him. Right into his arms.
Data broke the kiss. Nicole placed her forehead on his.
"Thank you." Nicole said, panting.