Chapter Fifteen

Data walked onto the bridge. Nicole was still in a coma. Doctor Crusher was doing everything she could. So it was best that he returned to his normal duties. Although as his shift began, he found his thoughts drifting to the young lieutenant laying on a biobed in Sickbay. He ran many different calculations in his mind to figure out how to wake her.

"How are you holding up?" Commander Riker asked as he came to stand by him. His propped up his foot against the console.

"I do not have feelings, Commander." Data said.

Commander Riker had a soft smile on his face when he said, "That isn't what I mean, Data."

Data tilted his head as his fingers moved across the Operations Station. "I find myself thinking of Nicole, Commander."

Commander Riker patted Data on the shoulder. "I do too. Nicole's strong though, Mister Data. She will come through."

Nicole looked at herself in the mirror. She was putting on makeup to prepare for a date with Regen. She wished that she could escape this prison and just wake up. She much rather be in the cool mechanical arms of her husband versus the warm arms of this man.

"Ready to, Imzadi." Regen said.

Nicole tried her best to hide her feelings as she nodded her head. Being a Starfleet Officer she learned some skills. And for some reason, Regen was unable to read her feelings. She used this to her advantage, because she could easily think of her husband while she was around Regen.

They were back on the beach. Regen was surfing again while Nicole sat in the sand reading. She had a datapad this time. She was reading a book by Bruce Maddox written about the Soong type Android. Data's schematics and a couple papers he wrote were in it. And a paper Nicole wrote on being Data's significant other was in it as well. She actually has a copy of this book. It's sitting on a self in the study.

"Are you ready to go home, Nicole?" Q asked as he sat down next to her on the beach.

Nicole sighed. "I wish I could. I miss him."

Q placed a hand on Nicole's cheek. Nicole looked at him.

"Think about him," Q whispered.

"Wha-" Nicole didn't get a chance to answer before Q placed a kiss on her lips.

Nicole sat up on the bio bed in sickbay. She breathed heavily as she looked around.

"Nikki." Dr. Crusher walked up to her.

Nicole jumped off the bio bed. She moved to a corner of a room to place her hands on her head.

"This can't be real. It has to be fake." Nicole said.

Dr. Crusher tapped her communicator. "Crusher to bridge. She's awake."

Q was on the bridge smirking. "Told you so."

Back in Sickbay, Nicole was still in the corner of the room. She hid her face in her arms crying softly. Dr. Crusher kept trying to speak calmly to her.

Q came in with Data, Commander Riker, and Captain Picard. Data tried to go forward, but Q stopped him.

"Let me." Q said.

Data mimicked a stern look as he watched Q approach his distraught wife.

"Nikki. You are safe. Regen can not touch you here." Q said.

Nicole raised her head up. Through blurred vision she saw Q. She pushed him back as she stood.

"Never do that again! I married you idiot!" Nicole exclaimed.

"Is that how you say thank you to someone who saved your life?"

Nicole rolled her eyes. Her eyes drifted to a pair of yellow ones. His expression was blank, but those yellow eyes showed joy. The joy in her being back. Nicole turned back to Q. Q smiled as he nodded his head.

Nicole ran into the arms of her husband. The shock sent him to the ground. Although, he did not mind. He held her as she cried. She was back!