In the twelve days that followed Leo managed to pry herself from the tendency to mentally draw an "x" on her imaginary calendar as each day passed. She continued with her studies, demanding as hell but now well within her capabilities even in an utterly new context. Data continued in his seminar sessions, often accessing the insights, gained through casual conversation with Leo, that could assist him or his team with various scenarios. Much to his surprise some of them, like the "sideways reasoning" idea, became default links in his positronic net in a very short time.

Most evenings Data would call on Leo at her quarters, as his sessions typically ended later than her classes. There had been no repetition of the events of the evening of her exam. There had been no awkwardness either, for that matter. Their kiss and Leo's concerns, and Data's sleep-only sleepover, were accepted as a natural part of the process. They fell into the habit of listening to music (sharing a vast breadth of tastes in common), strolling the campus or going to the Neutral Zone to dance and discuss their day's activities. If Data had been reminded of his friend Tasha, Leo realized that the speed with which this attachment was forming brought Paul to her mind. It was Paul who had told her, "It doesn't take long to figure out when you're stuck with someone for life. It doesn't happen often, but just try and fight it when it does."

A few days before he was to leave, Data found himself with an afternoon free of seminar sessions. He had not formed any particular social connections among the seminar attendees, and Leo would be in the classrooms until early evening. Left to his own devices, Data wandered the campus as he had during his tenure as a cadet. And as he had then, now he naturally gravitated to "Boothby World", and the gardens he so enjoyed in years past.

"Well I'll be damned," the old man pronounced as he saw Data approach. He got down from the ladder where he'd been pruning one of "his" trees, and put down his shears. "I'd say you've grown up, but you can't, can you?"

Data shook Boothby's hand. "Mr. Boothby, I could not leave the Academy without finding you and saying hello. You, and your grounds, are looking very well."

"I, and my grounds, are very well maintained thank you. The grounds by me, and myself by useful living and the odd shot."

"Of Jack?" Data inquired with what could best be described as a "positronic twinkle".

"Now who could have told you about my dark secret," Boothby mused as he beckoned Data to join him on one of the oak benches he'd made himself over the years.

"It is safe with me, sir. My new friend Leora Eileen O'Reilly, whom you know as 'Ollie', divulged it to me one night as we were celebrating her examination success."

Boothby chuckled under his breath. "I do know Ollie, I do indeed. And I know she's become rather more attached to you than she'd like." Boothby wasn't given to gossip, but then this wasn't some idly curious third party. "But thrn you know that."

"I do. And I must confess that I have become 'attached' to Leo as well, though I do not dislike it in the least. Leo is concerned that my departure will mark the end of our friendship. Even though she tells me she understands the dynamic of communication and relationships in the 24rthcentury, I fear she still clings to a set of learned assumptions that no longer apply."

"Well she has to cling to something, doesn't she? Everything she knew and was got left behind, and everything she's found is still beyond her grasp."

"I must disagree, Mr. Boothby. 'Everything she was' Leo has in fact brought here with her. If she had not, we would not have come to know each other. I would not have found such great assistance in her opinions and conversation, both for the seminar and my everyday existence living with humans. I believe I may have discovered the possibility of a rare friend in an unexpected place and all that she is, she has been prior to our first meeting."

Boothby realized he'd just heard the android equivalent of a testy comeback. "Well, well, Data it's nice to know that Leo isn't wasting her time getting worked up over someone that has no interest in knowing her."

"She has already told me that she knows that I want to know her, not know 'about' her." He paused for a moment. "Leo is getting 'worked up' over me?"

This made Boothby laugh out loud, as Data sounded for all the world like a first-year cadet with a crush on an upperclassman. "Let's just say she shares your beliefs about friendship, and leave it at that. I have to live here once you're gone, and she knows where to find me."

Data didn't quite know what he meant, but as was increasingly the case he could judge that no harm would be done by the question going unanswered. "That is reassuring, though she has made it clear to me already that she wishes to continue our acquaintance as I do. I do wish I could help her overcome her inherent doubts surrounding the concept of geospatial proximity and its potential effect on interpersonal relationships." He'd opted for "geographical" when discussing the matter with Leo; although it wasn't accurate in this context, he'd felt it wiser to use terminology she was accustomed to.

"I'm afraid the only cure for that will be common sense and experience. Sometimes you do have to see it to believe it, especially when you've just been dumped three centuries into the future and find the only one worth making friends with is a positronic professional nomad."

"I must disagree with you again, Mr. Boothby."

"You've always had an annoying habit of doing that, Data, now that I think of it."

"Leo has made it very apparent that she considers you to be 'worth making friends with'. She cherishes your company and holds your opinions in high regard."

"Yeah, well, I get my work done twice as fast when she's around to hand me things while she explores the meaning of life." His expression made it clear that Leo's sentiment was returned in kind. Every year he met a few of the new ones who were different, not necessarily smarter but more questioning in their outlook. He could tell them a mile off, they often had a faraway look as they tried to figure out the world and their place in it. Data had had it. Picard, on the other hand, had been somewhat the opposite… he knew everything, and was always anxious to tell Boothby what new certainty he'd discovered or the latest way the imprecise approach of others had annoyed him. Oh well, he'd turned out pretty well all things considered. Where some people respected certainty, Boothby had never underestimated the value of doubt. No doubt, no learning, he'd often said, and if you weren't going to learn then why the hell were you at Starfleet Academy?

Data accessed his internal chronometer and acknowledged it was nearly 1800 hours. "Please excuse me, Mr. Boothby, but I am scheduled to meet Leo at her quarters. Tonight I am going to teach her the 20th century Earth dance known as 'swing'."

"There you go, isn't life a mystery wrapped in an enigma."

Data cocked his head, "Please clarify?"

"Think about it, Data. Ollie got shot forward three hundred years to have an android teach her a dance that was popular before she was born. It's good to see you Data. And don't give up on her, as friends go you could do a whole lot worse."

Data smiled the only smile he knew, deciding not to tell Boothby he knew this was a repetition of the advice he had given Leo. "Be well, Mr. Boothby. I hope we will meet again." He shook hands again as he rose from the bench and walked toward the part of the campus where Leo lived.

Boothby shook his head and laughed to himself as he gathered up his pruning tools to return to his workshop. "Nice kid," he muttered, "maybe Leo can shake some of that starch outta him."

Two days before Data's scheduled departure he informed Leo, "My crew mate Geordi will be piloting the shuttle that will return me to the Enterprise," she didn't get exactly where that would be, but it didn't really matter. "He will be flying in to the shuttle bays tomorrow morning, and will be staying overnight at the Academy before our return the following day. I would very much like to introduce you to him. Perhaps we can take him to the Neutral Zone. Like me, he enjoys music and is much better than I at socializing."

"Yikes, that puts us both on the sidelines, huh? I'd love to meet him. He's your best friend, isn't he?"

"Yes. It seems peculiar to be able to select one over the others, which would seem to require some type of emotional evaluation."

"Don't start, will you?"

"Forgive me. As you and others have observed in my presence, every friendship develops a character of its own. This would seem to allow for differentiation and even hierarchy, whether in the presence or absence of emotion."

"Close enough for jazz." She'd been pleased to learn, the first time she said it, that he was well aware of the expression. After all, he was also a jazz aficionado, though his instrument of choice was classical violin.

Against her more selfish instincts Leo really was glad that Data had suggested his friend join them on their last night out before his departure. Having him "all to herself" would change nothing, and was likely as not to trigger more of her own melancholy philosophizing than even she could stomach. And she truly was excited by the prospect of meeting someone new, someone she knew would probably be the kind of person she'd like to meet because he was the kind of person that had engaged Data, who shared many of her ideas about what made people interesting to know. She'd agreed to meet Data and Geordi at the coffee shop near the club, wanting a few quiet moments at least to shake hands and exchange niceties in case the club was busy.

When Leo approached the table where the two obviously best-friends were seated, Geordi nearly knocked it over leaping to his feet. What had they been talking about? Guy stuff, she imagined, even an android was basically a "guy". Data steadied the table with a disconcerted look at his friend.

"Leo, I would like to introduce my friend and crew mate Geordi LaForge. Geordi, this is Leora Eileen O'Reilly."

"Leo, hi, hey I'm really glad to meet you," Geordi shook her hand a little sheepishly.

"Hey, Geordi, likewise. No need to wreck the joint on my account."

Geordi's mortified expression was answered by a poke in the ribs from Data. "Smartass," he explained with a straight face.

When he saw Leo stifle a snicker Geordi commented, "Now how'd he manage to meet one of those?"

They sat down for a moment and the waitress approached. "Geordi, can I get you something? They make the best replicated excuse for coffee I've found since I got here."

"I'm fine, thanks. From what I hear you have your own stash of the real stuff."

Leo offered an innocent shrug. "Guess I know the right people."

"Hey, congratulations on passing the warp tech exam. That one's a bitch even for someone born here."

"Speaking of knowing the right people…" Leo indicated Data. "Your crew mate here snatched me from the jaws of disaster."

"I have explained to Geordi how we met," Data informed her.

"Well I'll bet your version lacks drama," Leo teased him, knowing he'd "process" it correctly.

"Are you kidding? He told me that your 'distress diminished precipitously' after he'd worked with you for an hour or so," Geordi volunteered with a grin, "and believe me for Data that's high drama."

With an appreciative nod, Leo intoned, "Ooooh, in that case I take it back." She liked this guy already. If she'd thought that Data's colleagues gave him any "special" treatment she could see she was dead wrong.

Geordi was every bit as bright, fun, and unmercifully teasing as Leo hoped and expected he'd be. Having arrived at something of a profile of Data, the reinforcement of her conclusions by a third party who knew him so well was a secret relief. The fact that Data's first act had been to rescue her from disaster was something Leo was a bit concerned might get in the way of her good judgment.

Once at the club, which was pretty quiet, more talk occurred than dancing. Histories, adventures, aspirations were shared over synthehol (Geordi) and Jack (Leo). When a Miles Davis tune came on the sound system, Geordi sat up and took notice. "Where the hell did they find that?"

"Moi," Leo announced proudly, and Data volunteered, "Leo brought with her a large collection of digital data storage devices containing music of many periods. Her collection of classic jazz is most impressive."

"Yeah, the disks themselves are pretty useless here but being digital they can be transferred."

"You mean the captain of the Avalon let you return to earth to pack?" Geordi was incredulous.

"You gotta understand, I lived in a rural area, in the woods. No neighbors to see, in fact nobody but the fisher cats and raccoons would have noticed anyone come and go in the middle of the night. So I was permitted to go back to my house, with a security detail of course, and select exactly 45 kilos of personal possessions to bring with me. Ten of those were music, and the rest were books. Real books, with pages and everything. And no, I don't wanna donate them to the Academy's antiquities collection, thanks."

"You have forgotten, one pair of tiger striped pajamas," Data reminded her to Geordi's surprised laughter.

"Data, when did you get interested in ladies lingerie?" he demanded.

Leo hastily explained, "They're not what you'd call lingerie, Geordi, trust me." Suddenly sympathetic to Data's plight of being double-teamed all evening by friends far quicker on the draw than he was, she added, "Data was visiting one evening and I was very rude and changed into something more comfortable, then promptly fell asleep. He was a perfect gentleman, I assure you."

"He might be the only one you ever meet around here," Geordi warned her.

"I've managed to take care of myself pretty well, thanks."

"Yeah, I guess you have to considering what you're up against. I don't know how well I'd do if you dumped me centuries in the future."

"Hey, can I try those on? I've been wondering about them all night," Leo indicated Geordi's visor. He'd explained its purpose and the subject had been abandoned.

"Well you're not going to see anything much. Like I said, they connect to my vision centers via special ports."

"Please? I won't break it or anything."

Geordi looked over at Data. "Is she always like this?"

He nodded gravely. "I am afraid so. Once she has determined a goal she is exceedingly persistent in pursuing it."

"I suppose passing warp tech from three hundred years in the past deserves a little something, here," Geordi carefully removed the visor and held it out to Leo, who took it gingerly by the edges and held it as if it were made of spun glass. It didn't fit like glasses, but she managed to set it on her face balanced on her nose. "So, how does it look?" she asked Data.

"Very… contemporary," he offered diplomatically as Leo handed the visor back to Geordi.

The campus-wide communications system chimed. "Commander Data, please report to the nearest subspace communications center to respond to a hail." Another chime, and the announcement was repeated.

"Excuse me," Data took his leave.

"So is this the cue for you to ask if my intentions are honorable?" Leo was only half kidding.

"He's a big boy, Leo, and it's not my turn to watch him."

"I'm sorry, that was plain tacky. But for real, you're his best friend. It must seem weird that he got focused on anyone so fast."

Geordi shook his head. "Actually you're wrong. It happens pretty frequently. Data's always noticing things in people that make him want to learn more, to know them better. It's the opposite that's usually true of other people though, not a whole lot of them return the interest. Not in the right way, anyway."

Leo just blinked at him, and he laughed.

"Maybe it's me, but you just looked exactly like Data when he's caught by surprise."

"Well I guess I can't grasp that Data would be seen as, I dunno, a geek or something. He's so bright, and interesting, yeah maybe he's a little stiff socially but who isn't sometimes?"

"Look, I can say this because I'm his best friend, but Data is a geek. He's the genius kid that everyone wants to have help them with their homework, or be on their debating team, or talk about himself like he's a living science project." That he was expressing himself in 20th century idioms wasn't lost on her. "And all he wants when he finds someone who's interesting, who seems like they maybe have something in common with someone who at first glance doesn't really have much 'in common' with anyone he lives or works with, he just wants to know them. As people, to find out how those appealing aspects fit into the whole. Sure part of it is to learn how to accomplish that in himself, to seem more 'natural', but it's a small part. Data's nature sets him apart by default, so what he looks for most is common ground, something that can help him connect. What he gets, usually, is someone looking for information or entertainment. And when it comes to socializing, there are more than a few women who think of just one thing when they find out what he is."

Leo almost blushed. It's not that it hadn't occurred to her on some level, but more as an idle curiosity than anything else. And not because she was particularly noble; fact was, all other things being equal, getting laid would be at the bottom of her to-do list for some time to come. "Jesus, Geordi, that's nasty."

"Yeah, it is. Imagine meeting someone you wanna connect with socially and intellectually and yeah, in his own way, emotionally, and being seen as a life size sex toy. Or a walking tech library, or an interactive resource for all your computer problems."

"Or a tutor in warp tech," Leo added, a bit dispiritedly.

"Uh-uh, that was different. He came to you to try to help, and from what he told me things just went on from there. Closest thing to natural since when he came to the Enterprise and met us. Except this time he wasn't assigned. Are you getting me?"

"Yeah. And if he's told you as much as he seems to have, you know I'm kind of in the same boat. I'm the curiosity, the antique, the ready resource for history and popular culture from years gone by. Though nobody's thought of me as a sex toy so far…" she had to add the last bit, she couldn't help it. Geordi laughed a bit self-consciously.

"Yeah well that was a little over the top I guess. Look, Leo, I just wanted you to know that whatever you have in mind, you just haven't responded so far like the usual 'tourists' in Data's life. He recognizes that too, and it makes him all the more serious about keeping you there no matter where it goes from here."

"He knows I'm a little funny about distance. But what have I got to compare it to? I mean it's not that I'm overcoming some trauma from the past, no abusive relationships or lying weasels to flash back about. But what I did have, like you have now, was a best friend, and you know exactly what I mean when I say it's like suddenly having a need filled you never knew you had. It comes on fast, and over time the roots grow miles deep, but once it's there you wonder how you ever lived without it. And when it's gone you can't imagine ever knowing that kind of connection again. It's not 'falling in love' even if it's just as unexpected. It's falling in knowledge, a complete and utter knowledge of each other that makes misunderstandings impossible and explanations unnecessary. And I had that for most of my life, and I lost it, and what I'm flashing back to if anything is what it felt like when I first figured out it was happening with Paul." She knew Data must have told him. "I never expected to find that the first time, and I don't expect to find it again. And I don't want to find it in someone flying off to another galaxy when I'll probably wind up doing the same."

Geordi leaned forward and it seemed to Leo exactly like he was looking her straight in the eye, visor or no.

"And what would you say if I told you I think you already have, and no galaxy is gonna be far enough to stop it?"

She looked away, then at the table, and then in Geordi's "eyes". "I'd have to say I hope you're right."

He nodded, and patted her hand. "I'm the chief engineer. The day I'm not right the Federation flagship blows up."

In spite of the serious turn the conversation had taken, Leo burst out laughing. "I guess that's reassuring, to somebody." By then Data was returning to their table.

"Our rendezvous coordinates with the Enterprise have changed. I will discuss the details with you later," he told Geordi. Then to Leo, "Captain Picard sends his regards."

"Excuse me?" Leo looked from Data to Geordi in astonishment. "Just when did I get so famous?"

Caught out, Geordi half-muttered, "Well, see, when I contacted Data to arrange my arrival he mentioned he'd made a new friend, and well, I guess I sort of let it slip out…"

"Geordi is a very good communicator of social information," Data explained, "he is the Enterprise's most reliable source of unofficial information the crew may find useful."

Fixing Geordi with a suspicious stare, Leo mused "Who knew they still had Town Criers in the 24th century?" Suddenly she noticed the chronometer on the wall over the bar. "Oh jeez, guys I'm sorry but the transporters shut down for the night in fifteen minutes, and it's a long walk back to my quarters. I gotta fly."

Geordi managed not to knock the table over as they all stood. "It was a real pleasure, Leo, and I'm sure we'll be seeing each other again." Before she could answer he gave her a meaningful smile. "And remember what happens when I'm not right."

With a laugh, Leo impulsively hugged him. "I'll keep it in mind. I'm glad to meet you too. Nice to know that some of us cling to the antiques like Miles Davis."

Data wore a perplexed expression as he walked Leo to the transporter room. "I do not understand… what 'happens' when Geordi is not right?"

"I'll let him tell you. Look what time are you guys taking off tomorrow?" Data smiled at her use of the 21st century term.

"We are scheduled for a shuttle bay departure at 0900." He hesitated a moment. "Will you be there to mark our departure?"

"Does a bear shit in the woods?"

Data's brow furrowed slightly. "That would depend upon which species…" Leo silenced him with a smack on the arm.

"Data!"

"Oh. Smartass."

"Yeah, smartass. I'll be there."

The transporter engineer was waiting. "Shall I see you to your quarters?"

"Not tonight, do you mind? It's just… I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

He nodded, understanding but not repeating the probable reasons for her decision. "May I 'kiss you goodnight'?" he asked.

Leo demonstrated rather than verbalized her answer, and after she shimmered away Data rejoined Geordi.

"What do you think, Geordi?" Data didn't want to suggest anything that his friend would be compelled either to agree or disagree with based on their friendship.

Geordi gripped Data's shoulder and gave it a shake. "I think you've met your match, Data, in fact I think both of you have. This could get ugly."

After a moment's consternation Data ventured, "Smartass?"

"Smartass. Now let's go get some sleep, I'm beat."

The next day at 0875 Leo stood with Geordi and Data in the cargo area next to the shuttle bay. She'd given them a box of cd's to be converted for use on the Enterprise in Ten Forward. "Can't have the hot spot of the Federation flagship playing lame music," she said. Geordi hugged her goodbye with a promise to meet again and told Data rather transparently, "I'll just go see if the shuttlecraft is good to go."

Momentarily distracted by his exit, Leo was brought back by the touch of Data's hand on her shoulder, and turned to face him.

"Hey. Well according to you I'm not supposed to say goodbye. It's just not done in the 24th century."

"It is not necessary," he corrected.

Oddly, the tears Leo expected she'd be fighting were nowhere in evidence. It seemed Data and Geordi had convinced her to "relinquish her outdated assumptions" after all. No longer wondering about if she might see or hear from him again, Leo's only question was when. But she decided not to ask. Way too 21st century.

The kiss they shared had nothing of desperation or finality. It was sweet, soft, friendly. Maybe more, maybe later.

Wanting to lighten things a little, Leo cracked "Hey, we'll always have Paris." Data of course understood the reference; between listening to vintage music they'd also been watching vintage movies. "So tell me, what do they say instead of goodbye in the 24th century."

Data leaned close to kiss her cheek and whispered in her ear, "Á bientôt."

The following day was a busy one for Leo, a meeting with her program advisor (wow, some university positions will never die, she thought) and classes in starship operations and organization and logistical elements of starship command. If the captains were like CEO's by god the ship operations were a world all their own. It was nearly 2000 hours when Leo staggered through the door to her quarters and dumped her various computer jump drives and digital study media on the table. She'd barely had time to get a glass of water when the computer chimed and announced: "Cadet Leora Eileen O'Reilly, please report to the nearest subspace communications center to respond to a hail."

Smiling to herself, she decided to ask. Just so she could hear it out loud.

"Computer, origin of subspace communication please?"

"Subspace communication originates from the USS Enterprise. More detail?"

She was halfway out the door already.

"No thanks, computer, tell him I'm on my way."