III.

Data had been waiting outside of Lieutenant Brookes' quarters for an answer for about twenty minutes before he realized she wasn't there. He decided that he would remain there and wait for her to return, then he could finish their tour.

As he sat there, he reflected on his session with Counselor Troi, it made him feel even more nervous than he already was.

It was just after he left Heva's quarters, after he had first taken her there. He stood outside the door for a long time, looking either direction in a self debate; something the counselor had described, but he had never experienced until now.

He finally made his decision and pressed his com badge. "Commander Data to the bridge."

"Go ahead." the captain replied.

"I must report to Counselor Troi's office at once for a session, would it be possible to replace me at my post for a little bit longer?"

"Of course, Commander. Is everything alright?"

Data considered this. 'Alright' was such a menial word to him, something people used as a comforting lie. Asking someone if something is wrong, when it really is and they reply 'Yes, I'm alright.' is typically a false response. Something he learned was okay to do at times. Now seemed an appropriate time to use the word in this context.

"Yes, sir. Everything is…alright. Data out."

With that, he made his way to sick bay and knocked on the counselor's door. Deanna, answered, looking groggy. "Data…I must have dozed off…did we have an appointment planned for today?"

Data shook his head. "No, counselor, I merely want you to answer some questions. I am experiencing a new emotion, I can't place a name for it, and I am concerned."

Deanna waved him in and rubbed her eyes. It was dark, and her desk was messy, he could see where she had fallen asleep. Her couch was indented, her body had obviously needed extreme rest to make an indentation that deep.

"I can come back later, counselor, if you need time to rest."

Deanna shook her head, waving him toward the chair. "Oh no, it's fine, Data. I was just bored, I suppose. I couldn't find anything to do and felt like taking a nap. Anyway, what's going on, Data? Is it about the new Lieutenant…what's her name…?"

"Lieutenant Heva Brookes."

She nodded. "Yes. Does it have to do with her?"

"Yes, I took her to her quarters and spoke with her quite easily, almost as easily as I speak with you or Geordi."

"That's good."

Data nodded, he looked off toward the desk, thinking of what else about this to say to Deanna.

"During our talk, I began to feel an interesting sensation. I wanted to keep talking to her, it is nothing different from what I feel in my friendships. But it was…different."

Deanna began to smile, then faltered, not wanting to break the face she always wore with her patients. "Go on."

"When we entered her quarters and she found her welcome basket, she picked up my welcome card first. I felt…embarrassed, and didn't want her to read it while I was there. Then as I was leaving, I felt a reluctance, almost as if I wanted to remain there with her. I didn't quite understand it, and when I stood out in the corridor, all I wanted to do was go back inside. Just to see her."

His emotion chip surged, he smiled and let out a sigh. He put a hand slowly up to his mouth and looked at Counselor Troi, feeling like he shouldn't have done that.

"Forgive me…I-"

"Data," Deanna interrupted. "What you are feeling is indeed a wonderful progress to your emotion chip's technology. I believe that you are feeling your first attraction to a woman. An infatuation, a fondness for someone that is deeper than friendship."

Data slowly turned his head to face her, disbelief filling his system. "Are you saying…that I am falling in love with the Lieutenant."

Deanna chuckled. "Maybe not to that extent yet. But you are definitely feeling an intimate attraction to Lieutenant Brookes."

Data couldn't help but feel a little bit embarrassed, he felt as though telling anyone about this was a bad thing. Most of all, he didn't want Lieutenant Brookes to know about his newfound attraction.

"Counselor, would it be possible to keep this between us?"

She looked at him, puzzled. "Data, you know I always keep a confidentiality promise with my patients." Data nodded briskly. "Yes, I know that. But…I have a strange feeling, like I don't want the knowledge of this infatuation to leave this room. I almost wish it hadn't been revealed to you already, not to give you any offense."

"None taken."

"Why do I feel this way? Isn't it generally a positive thing to let the other party know what your feelings are?"

Troi considered this question. It wasn't new to her, the feeling he was describing. When her and Will first fell in love, she was almost terrified to let him know. But eventually she found it to be silly, but of course it was normal for anyone to feel that way. It was how all humans felt when they had their first real crush.

"Data, when humans experience an attraction to someone, typically it's normal for them to be a bit shy about it at first until they are certain the other person feels the same. That's all it is, uncertainty. Eventually, you will be willing to tell anyone who will listen to you that you feel this way about her. For now, you may keep it to yourself. Observe this emotion further, you never know. It could actually grow to love and you could begin a relationship with her even."

The word 'relationship' struck a nervous and yet happy feeling in Data. Anxiousness, this was called.

"The word…relationship…makes me feel anxious. In a good way."

"Well good, Data. This means that you want to try a relationship with her, and that you are eager to do so. Like I said, observe things first. It may stay, or it may pass. But I would like to hear about the progress of this, I am proud of you for it. It's a big step into being more human for you."

Data nodded. He then looked at the clock, realizing that by now Heva must be back in her quarters.

"Thank you counselor, now I must go retrieve Lieutenant Brookes for her ship tour. I will update you tomorrow if you would like."

Deanna stood, nodding. "Yes, that would be great. Have a good tour."

When he stepped out of the office, he began to feel apprehensive, vulnerable, as if when he saw her again, his new secret would burst out of him. He told himself to remain calm and to act as normal as he possibly could.

With that thought in his mind, Data made his way to Heva's quarters, where she was waiting for him. He smiled and straightened up a little bit, then tripped over his shoes and struggled to get back to an upright position. He ended up catching himself on the wall beside the door and held it there, a hand on his hip and a nervous smile on his face.

Then he straightened back up again and cleared his throat. "Well, shall we continue with your tour then, Lieutenant."

Heva began to walk and he followed. "I told you to call me, Heva, Data." Data felt his face grow hot, the sensation of human blushing. He hoped that it didn't show.

"Yes…Heva."