Skin Deep: Part II Chapter Twenty-One, a startrek: the next generation fanfic

Hi Everyone! Here it is! The last bit of this (greatly extended) 'lost' chapter is finally done. Thanks so much for reading, and I hope you enjoy it! :D

Chapter Twenty-One

The door chime for the runabout's small medical office sounded and Dr. Crusher looked up from the pre-op scan she'd run on Mikey.

"Enter!" she called, smiling when she saw Data stride in through the sliding doors. Or, perhaps, 'dance' might have been a better word.

The android seemed to have a giddy glow about him, and he beamed a great smile the moment he saw her.

"Good afternoon, Beverly!" he greeted.

"Hello, Data," the doctor greeted back, not quite sure whether to return his smile or pull out her tricorder and give her friend a quick check-up. "You seem quite chipper."

"'Chipper'?" Data repeated, his eyes flicking to the side. While Data no longer defined terms out loud like an interactive thesaurus, she could tell he was looking it up. After a brief moment, his eyes focused and his smile grew even brighter.

"Why yes!" he said. "Yes, I suppose I am!"

"Any particular reason for this jubilant attitude?" she teased.

"There is," he told her, his pale face flushed with pride as he revealed: "I have a date this evening."

Crusher raised her eyebrows.

"A date? Who with?"

"With Kurak," he said, as if this information were obvious.

Crusher stared, not quite certain she'd heard him right…

"Kurak?"

Data smiled a bashful confirmation.

"Yes, Doctor," he said. "She set me the challenge this morning when she kissed me outside her laboratory."

"Challenge…?" Crusher shook her head. "Data, let me get this straight," she said. "Kurak kissed you. Kurak? Overprotective Klingon scientist with a surly disposition."

"Her advances were quite…insistent," he told her. "I had initially intended to decline her overture, but once Counselor Troi helped me to…unpack…my own feelings, I realized—

Crusher held up a staying hand.

"Wait, Data," she said. "Stop right there. Are you telling me that Troi encouraged this?"

Data blinked.

"Is that so surprising?" he asked. "Kurak is an intriguing female, I am a passionate male…" He tried to maintain a smoldering look, but his irrepressible smile rather ruined the effect. "I invited her out for a short trail ride, just to talk, and she accepted! Oh, but Doctor, I am nervous. I feel… God, I haven't felt so much conflicting emotion since the awful overload I experienced on the Amargosa Station. And yet, somehow…"

"You want to savor every moment?" Crusher said, empathy warming her wary eyes as she watched his all-too-human face. Wesley had worn a similar look when he'd fallen into his first crush…and how well she remembered her own experience…

Data's amber eyes lit up from within.

"You understand!" he exclaimed. "I knew you would! Do you have any advice for me? I…I have never… Well, not since I installed the emotion chip, and before that the only woman I ever 'officially' went out with was Lt. Jenna D'Sora, and she and I…we were not…"

"Data," Crusher broke into the babble. "I know this isn't what you want to hear right now. But, my advice is not to make too much of this. Take it slow. Remember, you will be returning to duty aboard the Enterprise in a little over a week."

"That may be debatable…" Data lowered his eyes, speaking so quietly Crusher had to strain to hear him.

"What was that?"

"I said, of course you are correct, Doctor," Data said quickly, quite aware she knew that he was covering. "I understand that this…whatever it is between Kurak and myself…cannot be long-term. But, as I am learning, what one understands and what one is feeling are often two entirely different things."

He snorted a slight laugh through his nose and shook his head. He had washed up and changed his soot-smudged clothes before coming to the runabout and, though he had combed his hair back in its accustomed style, he had chosen not to treat it to stay that way. The result was a hank of hair fell forward in a surprisingly natural-looking wave, just brushing his forehead.

Crusher resisted the motherly impulse to smooth it back, and gave his shoulder a warm squeeze instead.

"You're doing fine, Data," she assured him. "For all her defensive bluster, I know when Kurak cares, she cares deeply. I'm sure the two of you will have plenty to discuss on your date."

Data raised his eyes to hers, and opened his arms for a hug she warmly returned.

"Thank you, Beverly," he said, and pulled away, turning his gaze toward her scan. "But, I have been selfish. Speaking of all this when my thoughts should be with Mikey. Is he awake, Doctor? May I see him before the surgery?"

"Of course you may, Data," she said. "He's in the next room. I believe Kay and Ishta are with him right now if you'd like to spend some time together. I just wanted to go over this one last time before we begin."

She gestured to her scans.

"Will you be available to observe the procedure?" she asked him.

"The captain has given me permission to stay, Doctor," Data said. "Although, as this is my leave, I would have done so anyway..."

Crusher smiled.

"Then I'll have Alyssa replicate you a gown," she said. "I think we'll both feel more comfortable with you there to keep an eye on the technology...just in case..."

"I understand, Doctor," Data said. "I would be honored to observe."

"Thank you, Data. We'll be ready soon."

Data nodded once, then left through the sliding door to the main sickbay.

Crusher sat back behind her desk, her lips stretched in a small, bittersweet smile.

"So, our Pinocchio has discovered love…" she mused. "This better not be some Klingon test. If that woman hurts him, I'll…"

But, she knew she couldn't protect her android friend. Data had boarded the roller-coaster, and the ride had already begun. All she could do was cross her fingers and hope he'd still be smiling at the end.

Data entered the main sickbay to see Kahlestra and Ishta sitting at a fold-out table set up next to Mikey's biobed. A quick glance at Mikey's readings showed his biorhythms were stable, but Data found it more reassuring to see the boy sitting up and laughing with the girls.

"I hope I am not interrupting," he said as he approached, but the children broke out in a cheer.

"Data!" they cried happily.

"I knew you'd keep your promise," Mikey said, shooting Ishta a triumphant look. "See? I told you he'd keep his promise!"

Kahestra jumped up to grab the android's hand and pulled him into their group, saying, "Ishta and I didn't want Mikey to feel lonely, so we did most of our homework in here this morning. Nurse Ogawa said it was OK. You can tell my mother I finished three of the skill packets already, and I'm going to do the last one while we're waiting for Mikey to finish having his surgery. And Ishta's almost halfway through that play you asked her to read!"

"Oh yes?" Data asked, pulling over a lab stool so he could join their little circle. "What do you think of the story so far?"

"I think you humans are all nuts," Ishta grunted, spinning her padd in place on the table with her finger. "What kind of lunatic thinks some scuzzy old inn is a castle and a windmill is a giant? And the music sucks, by the way. Did humans really used to sing like that on ancient Earth?"

"Only in musicals," Data joked, unable to hold back his smile. "But, I am pleased to see how far you've gotten, Ishta. I really am looking forward to reading your report. You're both doing wonderful work."

Ishta hunched her shoulders and rolled her eyes, but Data was certain he caught a tiny smile creeping up her lips...

"Are you going to stay in the waiting room with us?" Kahlestra asked.

"No," Data said, and looked at Mikey. "Dr. Crusher has invited me into the operating room to observe."

Mikey's eyes grew wide and bright.

"You mean…"

"Yes, Mikey," Data assured him. "I will be right there with you the whole time."

Mikey sighed with deep relief and slowly sank down to rest his head against the biobed's shiny pillow.

"That's good," he said quietly. "Not that I was really scared or anything," he added, staring straight at Ishta. "I just…"

"It's all right, Mikey," Data said gently. "I'm sure we all understand how much courage it takes to face an operation like this. We're all very proud of you. Even Ishta, or she wouldn't have come in here to spend time with you. Is that not correct?"

Ishta grunted and shrugged.

"You already lasted longer than I thought, Cancer Boy," she admitted, and gave Mikey's arm a light punch. "Try not to die in there, OK?"

"Yeah," Mikey said, smirking as he rubbed the place she'd hit. "I'll give it a shot."

Kahlestra glared at Ishta.

"Why do you always have to be such a jerk?" she said.

"I told him not to die," Ishta retorted. "How's that being a jerk?"

"You know you—"

"Data," Mikey's tired voice interrupted the girls' burgeoning argument. Data gave both girls a warning stare, then moved closer to Mikey's side.

"Yes, Mikey," he asked.

The boy reached out a hand to give the android's fingers a powerful squeeze.

"How much longer?" he asked quietly.

"Dr. Crusher said she and Nurse Ogawa would be ready in just a few more minutes."

"Data?"

"Yes, Mikey?"

Mikey swallowed, his nervous eyes darting around the bright, clinical room before he said, "Will you sing to me again? Like you said you would?"

"Certainly, Mikey," Data said. "What would you like to hear?"

"Something nice," he said. "Like the one you sang before, in the speeder."

"'When I Fall In Love'?" Data said.

"Yeah, but a different one," Mikey said, his eyes wide and intense. "So I know it's safe…you know... To go to sleep…?"

Data nodded, and sandwiched the boy's hand warmly between his own.

"All right, Mikey," he said gently. "I think I know a song like that."

Kahlestra and Ishta moved their chairs a little closer to the pair, both girls sharing a solemn look as he began to sing:

Goodnight sweetheart, till we meet tomorrow
Goodnight sweetheart, sleep will banish sorrow
Tears and parting may make us forlorn
But with the dawn, a new day is born (so I'll say)
Goodnight sweetheart, I'll be right beside you
Goodnight sweetheart, you know my love will guide you
Dreams enfold you, in each one I'll hold you
Goodnight sweetheart, good night…

Dr. Crusher and Lt. Ogawa came into the room while Data was singing. The medical officers approached quietly, gently sending the girls out to the runabout's central lounge with Howard, then administering Mikey's sedative while finishing the rest of their preparations.

But the android didn't stop. He kept his eyes on Mikey's face as the boy slowly relaxed against his pillow, gently stroking his hair as his bright eyes began to close...

"That was beautiful, Data," Dr. Crusher said sincerely. "I'm sure that he appreciates it."

Data nodded, taking in a rather shaky breath through his nose.

"Yes, Doctor," he said.

"Come on," she said, taking him by the arm as he got to his feet and reluctantly let go of Mikey's hand. "Time to scrub up and get into our gowns. And Data..."

He looked at her, his head just slightly tilted, and she smiled.

"I want you to remember," she said, "no matter the outcome... Mikey has this chance because of you."

Data nodded and swallowed, his lips pressed tightly together.

"Beverly..." he asked her. "Do you... Do you still have a 'good feeling' about this operation?"

"I do, Data," she said, and gave his hand a friendly pat. "Let's get started."

To Be Continued...

References include - TNG: In Theory, Legacy, Encounter at Farpoint, Evolution; the movie Generations; 'Goodnight Sweetheart' (1931) by Ray Noble, Jimmy Campbell, and Reg Connelly from the 1991 album Ol' Yellow Eyes Is Back (lyrics slightly altered).

Your comments and reviews are always welcome! Thank you! :D