I'm sure this has come up before, but after multiple searches using different strategies, I haven't been able to find it. My apologies.

I have my character, Veronica, and Rex in my party. Veronica is set to "melee" and "stay close." When I enter combat, Rex runs forward, I start shooting, and Veronica crouches next to me. This happens with her default power fist, a thermal lance, and the Paladin Toaster. If I run up to an enemy, she may attack it. If I set her to ranged, she will attack. I did not have this problem in the beginning, but I always have it now.

Is there a way to fix this? Some setting I'm missing? Or perhaps an unofficial patch?

Tell her not to Stay Close, then she will go farther away from you. Also there is an Aggressive Setting that controls how they will engage. Passive means you have to be attacked, Aggressive means they will take the fight to the enemy even if you are not engaged in battle. Use different combos to get the behavior you want.

http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Companion_wheel

That sounds pretty normal to me, that's how I'd prefer her to act. She generally only goes for enemies that get too close, not like that idiot Rex who runs off and ends up getting himself killed all the time. I don't see what the problem is frankly.

I am having the same issue, she will just take cover. When they "enemies' get to close to me, she will defend me, and I find this acceptable. There will be times where she will do nothing and i am finding myself overwhelmed. That can be annoying, but happens rarely.

Doesn't Rex recover, as Veronica and ED-E do when knocked out? I find Veronica terrific. I gave her an incinerator (to get rid of the weight) and a grenade launcher (same) and she seems to pick the right weapon, including the Fist, every time.

If you're playing on hardcoe mode your companions don't get knocked unconscious. They die.