Data didn't have the slightest idea of what was wrong with Rina. She was avoiding him as good as she could.

She worked only when he was off duty and changed her schedule so that he was working when she wasn't.

If they were both in their shared quarters at night, she preferred to sleep in bat-mode, how she called it, on the ceiling instead of cuddling close and sleeping in his arms as she usually did.

Worst of all, she wouldn't even talk to him about what was bothering her. She shrugged him off when he touched her and didn't even look at him.

But what puzzled him the most was that she hadn't consulted Dr. Pulaski or Counselor Troi. The later grew more and more confused about the mixture and strength of Rina's emotions. Desire, love, shame, frustration, desperation and…fear.

Rina had become distracted and Dr. Pulaski had pronounced her unfit for duty. Melanie stayed temporally at Wesley's until the situation was solved.

Data entered the room and immediately heard the shower. He seated himself on the sofa and waited for her to come out of the bathroom.

He didn't have to wait for long. Rina stepped into the living area, dressed in her black bathrobe.

Their eyes only met briefly before she lowered her gaze and started hurrying towards the sleeping area when he quickly stood up and put his hand on her shoulder.

"Please wait. We need to talk."

She still didn't look at him. "I don't wanna talk." So she didn't deny that there was something wrong.

He cupped her chin and forced her to look into his eyes. "Rina, please tell me what is wrong. Did I do something to hurt you?"

She pulled back from him and lowered her lashes. "No. No you didn't hurt me," she replied quietly.

He gently brushed a strand of her still damp hair behind her right ear. He knew that she was extremely sensitive in this spot. Normally she found it nice and even stimulating to be touched there and it made her laugh and squirm in delight. But instead of enjoying the tickling sensation, she had said she felt at this kind of contact, she flinched away.

"Please don't touch me," she whispered, breathing more rapidly.

"Why? Please talk to me. I am concerned about you."

She blushed furiously. "I can't. It's too embarrassing." Her French accent was clearly audible.

"Rina. Rina, look at me." when she hesitantly complied, he continued. "You can talk to me about everything. No matter what it is, I will listen and try my best to help you."

Rina looked away. "That's just it. I don't want to harm you." If it hadn't been for his superior hearing, he wouldn't have heard her.

He looked puzzled. "Harm me? Why would you harm me?"

She shook her head. "I already said too much."

With that she fled into the bedroom.

If Data had been human, he would have sighed. He sat back onto the couch. He had to figure out what was going on.