Chapter Thirteen
"How is she?" Commander Riker asked as he entered Sickbay.
Nicole was still unconscious. Data was sitting at her bedside. He talked and talked about his day. Down to the smallest detail.
"There's no change. I checked her vitals this morning. If she stays in a coma much longer I will have to feed her through an IV." Dr. Crusher said.
Commander Riker sighed. "I wish she would stop being so strong and tell us exactly what's going on."
Dr. Crusher placed a hand on Commander Riker's shoulder. "She's been through a lot, Will. She's just now learned to lean onto others for support rather than herself."
"I keep thinking that if I was there to help her grow up….."
"Will, you need to stop blaming yourself." Troi said as she walked into Sickbay.
Commander Riker stayed silent. He watched as Troi walked over to Data. She placed a hand on his shoulder. Data knew she was there but did not look at her.
"I have a sensation of incompleteness brought on by her absence, Counselor." Data said.
"I know Data. I miss her too." Troi said.
"Mommy! Mommy help me!"
"Nicole?"
That time Data turned to look at Troi. "Counselor?"
"Deanna, what is it?" Dr. Crusher asked.
"I thought I heard Nicole telepathically." Troi said.
Troi tried again to contact her.
"Nikki, baby, it's mommy. What's wrong?"
"Mommy! Mommy! He's hurting me!"
"She's saying someone is hurting her." Troi told the group.
"Could it be Regen?" Commander Riker asked.
"It's a possibility. He could be trying to control her actions in her mind." Troi said.
"You mean like a dream?" Commander Riker asked.
"Yes." Troi said.
"Some coma patients are known to dream while in a coma. So she could be dreaming." Dr. Crusher said.
"Fight him, Nikki. I know you can." Data said.
Troi placed a hand on the Android's shoulder. "Data, you should head to your quarters and rest."
"I do not require rest, Counselor." Data stated matter-of-factly.
"No, but Nicole wouldn't want you to hang out here the whole time." Commander Riker said.
"Data, I promise I will tell you when something changes." Dr. Crusher said.
"Very well." Data nodded his head.
When Data walked into their quarters he was bombarded by Spot. They left Lorelai on Earth last time they stopped by to pick up a few Starfleet Academy Graduates. They had a neighbor watch the house and Lorelai while they were gone.
"Hey Spot." Data said.
Spot meowed at Data. She then went to the replicator to meow. Data replicated her supper. He placed it next to her bowl of water. He then went to his Computer to run his usual diagnostics on himself. While that was going on he found himself in deep thought. His thoughts were racing with the memories of him and Nicole. As well as over the past few months. He kept thinking there was something he missed. Something that would help.
When the diagnostics were complete. He walked over to the dresser to prepare for bed. Although as an Android he did not require sleep, it satisfied him to prepare for bed. Plus Nicole got him used to wearing night clothes to bed. Especially the gray pajama bottoms. He chose to wear his black under shirt though.
However, he found himself unable to activate his dream program. He ran a diagnostic on it, but nothing was wrong. He reached over to the bedside table to grab his communicator.
"Data to La Forge. Geordi I think something is wrong with my dream program." Data said.
"Alright, come on down to Engineering and I will take a look."
"Acknowledged. Data out."
With haste, Data changed into his uniform and headed to Engineering. He saw his best friend setting up a chair for him to sit in while they ran the diagnostics.
"Hey Data. What's going on?" Geordi asked.
Data sat down. "Well, I went to visit Nicole in Sickbay. When I got back to our quarters I was unable to activate my dream program."
"Hm." Geordi paused as he accessed a port in Data's head that activated the dream program. "Did anything happen between Sickbay and when you got your quarters?"
Data thought about it a moment. He then shook his head. "No. Counselor Troi was able to contact Nicole telepathically though. Her and Dr. Crusher think that the butthead is using her dreams as a way to control her."
Geordi folded his arms across his chest as he rested a hip on the Master Systems Console.
"I think that's the first time you used an insult portraying someone, Data."
"Is that not what you and Nikki call Regen, Geordi?"
Geordi nodded. "Yes. Nicole uses more adult words though."
"My respect program will not allow me to say such words, Geordi."
"I understand."
Geordi continued on with the diagnostic. He found nothing wrong. He had Data follow him into the Engineering office where they could talk privately.
Data shut down his need to put things away. There was a stack of PADDs all over the desk. There were even a couple empty coffee cups sitting there as well. However, there was a photo of the trio. Data, Nicole, and Geordi.
Data's iconic memory had him remember the day. They were hanging out at the beach in California. Nicole and Data weren't a couple yet, but they, along with Geordi, were building a wonderful friendship. Nicole and Geordi were on the beach instead of in the water, because they knew Data wouldn't be able to swim. They just played in the sand. Building sandcastles. Data was the one who took the picture.
Geordi looked over at the photo as well. "I miss her too, Data."
"I find it difficult to understand why she did not tell me that Regen was contacting her telepathically."
Geordi sighed. "Data, Nicole's an Engineer. She solves problems by fixing things. She spent a good chunk of her life fixing problems by herself. She only learned two years ago that she could rely on us. I also think he threatened her so she felt scared that something would happen so she did not want us getting involved."
"Geordi, I am Nicole's partner and you are her best friend. She should know that she can come to us when she needs to." Data said.
"I know. And I hope one day Nicole understands that." Geordi said.