Author's Note: Some spoilers for the Episode Inheritance. I am going to split this Chapter into two chapters so I don't have a really long chapter. There will be talk about Dark Page in this one.
Chapter Eight
Nicole woke up in Sickbay the next day. Her body screamed as she tried to sit up. Dr. Crusher placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Easy." Dr Crusher said.
Nicole groaned. Her body shook as she laid back down.
"Are you hurting?" Dr Crusher asked.
Nicole nodded her head. She placed a hand on her forehead. The feel of a bandage was rough on her skin. She took a look at her hands. She saw they were both pretty bandaged up.
"I treated your wounds, but I don't want to give you pain meds till I ask Commander Riker first. Just rest as best you can." Dr Crusher said, smiling.
Nicole nodded and closed her eyes. She fell back asleep.
"Why do I have to make the decision?" Commander asked.
"You are her father, Will." Dr. Crusher said.
Commander Riker pointed to Data. "He's her boyfriend though. He should be making the decision. Not me."
Dr. Crusher nodded her head. "Yes, Data is her boyfriend. Not Husband. That is why I am asking you about giving her pain medicine. You are on her paperwork as the one to ask about medications."
Commander Riker looked at Dr. Crusher, stunned. "What?"
"When Nicole was recovering from her PTSD, I asked her to fill out some paperwork for me. That way if something like that happened again, then we knew what to do. She put you down as the one to control her medications." Dr. Crusher explained.
Commander Riker looked over at the Android. "What do you think?"
"I have observed Nicole does have a high pain tolerance. She has been known to continue working while dealing with severe pain." Data said.
"Yes, but she shouldn't let pain linger though." Troi said.
"I agree with you, Counselor." Data said.
Commander Riker sighed. "Nicole also has an addictive personality. I will approve some medications, but not too much. Just enough to make it easier."
Dr. Crusher nodded her head. "Very well."
Dr. Crusher made a note on Nicole's chart before she got a hypospray ready. Nicole was still sleeping. Once Dr. Crusher pressed it to Nicole's neck, a more relaxed expression was on Nicole's face.
A couple hours later,
Nicole was sitting up in one of the bio beds. She was still really sore, but feeling a tiny bit better since Commander Riker okayed for a small amount of meds. She couldn't leave Sickbay just yet, but a certain android walked in that lightened up her mood.
Nicole smiled weakly. "Hey, babe."
Data sat in the chair next to her bed. "Hello, my dear. How do you feel?"
"My body aches like hell, but I am okay now that you are here."
Data nodded his head. He held Nicole's bandage hand in his. Nicole observed her boyfriend. The Android seemed distracted about something.
"What is it, Data?"
Data mimicked a sigh as he met his partner's eyes. "Dr. Tainer revealed to me that she was my father's wife."
Nicole was stunned. She'd known Data for a really long time. About 8 years now. There was no mention of Soong having a wife.
"I do not believe nor doubt her. I can not think of a motive as to why someone would want to pose as my mother either." Data said.
Nicole adjusted herself on the bed. Data helped with fixing the pillow behind her.
"Perhaps I should let you rest."
Nicole shook her head. "I am alright baby. Did you talk to Dr. Tainer about it?"
Data tilted his head. His puzzled expression intensified. "We chatted in Ten Forward. She made certain points to justify her claims."
Nicole took Data's hand in hers. "Baby, I know this is all confusing to you." She paused to place a kiss on his fingers. "Maybe you should try and look through the records and see if there is anything to verify what she is saying."
Data and Nicole talked a few minutes more on this before Data left for Engineering to give Geordi a hand. He pecked her on the lips before he walked out.
Later that evening, Nicole was able to leave Sickbay, but she couldn't go back to work just yet. She needed extra time. It felt good to be out of Sickbay though. She stopped by her mother's quarters for a family dinner. Data was going to join them too!
"Hey dad." Nicole said, hugging her father.
"Hey. Are you feeling any better?" Commander Riker asked.
Nicole pulled back a bit. "Emotionally or Physically?"
"Both." Troi said.
Nicole looked over at her mother as she let go of the first officer. "I am feeling better emotionally, but physically I feel like hell."
Troi smirked. "I can tell you are feeling better emotionally."
Nicole rolled her eyes. "Mother."
Commander led Nicole over to the couch. He had her sit by him.
"Data should be here soon."
"He's always on time. His internal chronimator makes sure of that, dad."
Troi joined them moments later after setting up the table. Making sure there was enough Blue Leaf Salad for Nicole. One of her favorite meals.
"Would you like to talk about what caused the mental breakdown?" Troi asked.
"It's funny, mother. I don't know what caused it. I am just thankful you and Data were there." Nicole said.
"I am thankful too. I still would like to know what causes this." Commander Riker said, motioning at Nicole's still bandaged hands.
"We're still trying to figure that out, dad. We know that I have PTSD and it causes me to have panic attacks, but when things like this happen we have no idea what causes them." Nicole said, taking a sip of her Betazoid tea her mother handed her.
"What we do know is that her PTSD started on Betazed." Troi said.
"And that is why she went to Earth with you, Deanna." Commander Riker said. Troi nodded her head.
"Don't worry dad, I am usually able to control it. I just don't know what caused it this time." Nicole said, smiling at Commander Riker.
"Does it have something to do with Regen?" Troi said, telepathically.
Nicole shot a glance at her mother.
"Data. I am happy you are here. I think your little lady is fighting with her mother telepathically." Commander Riker smiled at the Android. It caused him to get slapped by his daughter.
Data tilted his head. He looked puzzled.
"Why don't we eat and then we can chat?" Troi suggested.
Nicole got up from the couch. "Yes, I am hungry."
Commander Riker got up and held a chair out for Troi. Data copied the Commander which caused a smile to form from Nicole.
The next day, Nicole walked into Engineering. She came by to give Geordi the datapad about her restrictions and what day she could return. Which, if all works out, she could return back tomorrow once the bandages were off.
Geordi was sitting on the console. Data was in a seat next to Julianna Tainer, his mother. Still a little new to hear that Nicole will have a mother-in-law. Nicole walked over to the group. She handed Geordi the datapad. Geordi nodded after reading it.
"Stay for a moment. You may want to hear this." Geordi said.
"Oh?"
Nicole listened as Julianna talked about how Data walked around with no clothes on when he was younger. He felt that since he was immune to the elements, he didn't need clothes. It startled the colonists. So Dr Soong had to make a modesty subroutine so Data would put on clothes. It did make sense though, Data always put his clothes back on after they were intimate.
"I wish there was video or photos of this." Nicole said, a little too giddy.
"Why? So you can stare at your boyfriend." Geordi said, teasingly. Nicole just glared at him.
"Boyfriend?" Dr Tainer asked, confused.
"Yesterday, you misunderstood that I was in a romantic relationship with Counselor Troi." Data said.
"Lieutenant Nicole Riker. Data's girlfriend." Nicole said, extending a bandage hand to Dr Tainer.
Dr Tainer hesitated. Nicole put her hand down. "I am alright. I had some sort of mental breakdown, I think. At least that is what we're calling it." Nicole said, shrugging.
"It is nice to meet you." Dr Tainer smiled.
Nicole smiled back. When Commander Riker's voice came over the comm stating that they were ready to start drilling, Nicole took this as her cue to leave Engineering. She kissed Data on the cheek before she left. Dr Tainer smiled bigger at the little interaction.
She walked down the corridor, not quite ready to go to the turbolift. It felt good to be out and about.
I need to be more careful. I can't let Regen get to me. Nicole thought. Out of the corner of her eye she thought saw Regen, but she shook it off. She needed to get off this deck.
Back in her quarters, Nicole went to the replicator and asked for a cup of coffee. She sipped it slowly. Just then Regen appeared in her quarters.
"Go away, Regen." Nicole said.
"No. I told you already, a pretty lady like yourself should not be by herself." Regen said, folding his arms across his chest.
Nicole sighed. She leaned against the table and continued to sip her coffee.
"I am surprised you don't send off the alarms." Nicole said.
"That is because I am not really here. I am all in your mind." Regen said.
Nicole just rolled her eyes. "Why are you so keen on me being with you?" She asked.
"I can give you more than that android ever could." Regen said, walking up to her.
Nicole rolled her eyes. "I seriously doubt that."
"You need to drop the attitude, babygirl." Regen warned.
"Or you'll do what exactly?" Nicole asked, testing Regen.
Regen got into defense mode, but just then there was a chime at the door making him disappear. Nicole sighed and strengthened up. Smoothing out her civies a bit.
"Come in please."
Counselor Troi walked in. Since the incident in the gymnasion, her mother has been wanting to start counseling sessions.
"We had a counseling session. Remember?"
"Yes Mother." Nicole said, annoyed.
She didn't want to talk to her mother about her problems, but Data asked her to. He had been concerned about her mood lately. He constantly brought up how Troi helped him. Nicole decided to talk to her mother to shut him up.
"Hey, I am just wanting to make sure you are okay." Troi said, sitting down on the couch.
Nicole walked over and sat in the chair just across from the couch. "I thought we already talked about this at dinner. I am alright. One mental breakdown does not justify the cause for me to start counseling sessions, Mother."
Troi raised an eyebrow. "Look, do you want what happened to your grandmother to happen to you?"
Nicole sighed. "No, I don't. She kept that hidden for a long time though, Mother."
"Still." Troi paused. "Tell me, how have you been?"
"I've been alright." Nicole shrugged. "Been wanting to return to work."
"Are you liking being in Engineering?" Troi asked telepathically.
Nicole raised an eyebrow. "Mother, you know me, of course I love my job. You even said once that my obsession with the warp core could be unhealthy." Nicole said, aloud.
"Yes I did say that, but I don't want to hear about your obsession, sweetheart. I want to know if you like being in Engineering."
"Yes. I do. I am happy with my job and career." Nicole said telepathically.
"What about your relationship with Geordi? How is that going?"
Nicole raised an eyebrow again as she took a sip of her coffee. "What do you mean Mother?"
"Do you like working with Geordi?" Troi asked.
"Yes. He is my best friend." Nicole said.
"You were late returning to Engineering one day. What happened there?"
Of course Geordi would tell her something.
"Mother." Nicole paused. Should she tell her about Regen? It would be easier to tell her, because of how close they are. She decided to lie. Which was a BIG mistake. "I didn't hear him. I was in the bathroom."
"You're lying. He saw the marks on your wrist, Nicole!"
Nicole's eyes went wide! She had a mark or two on her wrist. Mainly handprints from when Regen gripped it.
"Mother, I am not trying to kill myself. I have never been suicidal nor will I ever be."
Troi sighed. Her daughter was hiding something from her. She knew better to just drop it. "Let's move on to a different topic. How's your relationship with Data?"
"I think we're okay. We haven't had a chance to really talk about the incident. I stopped by Engineering earlier to give Geordi the information from Dr Crusher. Data told Dr Tainer that I was his girlfriend." Nicole said.
"Not his fiance."
It wasn't really a question but Nicole chose to answer anyway. "Mother, we are waiting to tell the crew. You know that."
Troi nodded. "Well, I will end the session there. We can pick up again on Friday. I would like to see you twice a week."
"Noted." Nicole said.