"Please, do not do this..." He begged gently.
Summer whirled around, her heart nearly stopping. She almost let go, but tightened her grip on the rail.
"Stay back! D-don't come any closer.." Her voice was that of a wounded, cornered cat. A kitten, desperately crying out for help. this made Data want to help
her even more. He tentatively took a step forward.
"Please, give me your hand...I will pull you back-"
"No! No, no, stay where you are. I mean it, I'll-I'll let go." Summer threatened. Data could tell this wasn't what she really wanted. That's when he decided to
use that against her.
"No, you will not." He said simply. His amber eyes begged her to let him help her. As she looked at him, Summer's face hardened.
"What do you want? Go away, you're distracting me!"
"That is true. I am distracting you. From making a terrible mistake." Data took another a step forward.
"Wha...How do you know? Maybe I'm doing the right thing..." Summer's voice trembled. Data shook his head.
"I do not believe that, and I know you do not believe that either." Another step forward.
"No one would care. As long as I don't get blood everywhere, and I look perfect."
"There would be questions. A lot of them. For many people, including myself. And the innocent crewmembers who work in this very bay." Data said, trying to
get her to change her mind.
"They may even be convicted of murder. I trust you know the conse-"
"I know what happens when someone commits murder in Starfleet!" Summer snapped, exhaling sharply through her nose. Realizing that wouldn't help, Data
decided to try another angle. Leaning forward, Data said,
"If you had really wanted this, you would surely have done it already..." Summer looked down again, more tears falling from her eyes.
"Please, go away. Leave me be..." Summer cried softly, surrender already rearing itself in her voice. Data took one more step, and was now
close enough to feel the heat from her body. His voice was soft, and gentle. Like that of an angel singing softly to a sleeping baby.
"Your intention is to end your life...I cannot allow that. If you allow me to help you, I will not speak of this to anyone."
Summer looked up, slowly. Green eyes met yellow ones. for a moment, they seemed to freeze.
"Please...do not let go..." Data whispered. Summer glanced down and saw his hand reaching toward her. Choking back a sob, she
slowly let go of the rail with one hand, and grasped his.
"S-sorry about the blood..." She stammered. A second later she threw her arms around Data's neck, and he carefully held her waist, pulling
her up and over the railing.
"Come over here, I can heal that..." He let her down gently and led her to a nearby first aid kit. A small instrument was inside, which Data used
to heal her hand.
A moment of silence fell between them.
"Did you mean what you said...about not telling anyone?" Summer asked timidly. Data nodded.
"So long as you do me a favor in return," He said. Summer looked up at him. Again, Data noticed her eyes. this time, they held something else. Life.
"Never do that again."
"I'm not very good at making new friends."
"Nor am I. But I do hope we can consider each other friends." Data offered as he walked her back to her quarters for the second time in a day. Summer pulled
the blanket tighter around her shoulders. Looking down, she realized her dress was ripped. Tutting, she pulled on the skirt slightly.
"He's not going to be pleased. I'll just tell him I tripped. This dress is an accident waiting to happen..." She said. Data chuckled slightly.
Sorry it's a shorter one. Will try and lengthen them after this, I just wanted to get it up and posted so I could move onto the next one.
