Chapter 4

Over the course of the next week, Haley became more and more withdrawn. Deanna had, of course, been the first to notice. She no longer sensed the turmoil Haley had been going through but this was worse. Deanna sensed nothing - no emotion - coming from Haley. It was as if Haley was the one with the emotion chip and she had just clicked it off. Deanna did her best to try to help Haley but the security chief was more interested in throwing herself into her duties and immersing herself in reading tactical and security protocols. No one, not even Data, could break the force field Haley had enveloped herself in.

It took a formal order from Commander Riker to get Haley to accompany him to the lounge.

"You are going to have a good time tonight, Lieutenant Foster. And that's an order too," he informed her and, for once, he was not joking. It took an hour and most of his best jokes before he was able to get a hint of a smile to cross her lips. A couple more jokes later and he was able to elicit a laugh.

"Well, that's an improvement," Will smiled as he moved his chair closer to Haley's. "Haley, we've all been very worried about you. Let us help you with whatever it is that you’re going through."

"I am so lucky to have such wonderful friends," Haley smiled at Will, "but I’m fine. Really.”

Will gave Haley a look of disbelief but did not press her further, deciding she was just not ready to talk. He put his arm around Haley to give her a comforting hug as Haley rested her head on Will's shoulder for a moment. It was then that a voice came from behind Haley.

"Am I disturbing you?" the voice asked hesitantly.

"No, of course not, Data. Sit down. Haley and I were just talking." Will moved his arm back to his side and repositioned his chair to its original place.

"It is very nice to see you smile again, Haley," Data commented. He meant his words but was extremely disappointed it was Commander Riker who had achieved this and not himself. He had also noticed the uncomfortable feeling he had experienced at the ball had returned when he saw the commander's arm around Haley.

The friends were soon joined at their table by Deanna. As the group broke up for the evening, Haley was forced to admit she had enjoyed herself. Deanna gave her a comforting hug before she left and reminded Haley she was available any time to talk.

"Thank you, Will. It was really good to -"

"-rejoin the land of the living?" Will finished.

"Yes." Haley laughed giving Will a gentle squeeze of the elbow. She turned to Data and smiled. "Good night, Data."

"Good night, Haley." Data smiled back but his eyes showed his worry. Throughout the evening, whenever he had moved to touch Haley, she had moved away and he did not understand why.

Data decided to determine conclusively if Haley had been avoiding him, or simply showing a preference for Commander Riker’s touch. Data invited Haley to lunch two days after the evening in the lounge. Unfortunately, Haley had other plans for that afternoon, namely a flushing of a unit that fed into the force field generator in the brig.

“I am still concerned you are over working yourself, Haley. Will you have dinner with me tonight?” Data asked, trying again.

“I really can’t, Data. I have to go over the unauthorized entry protocol drill scores for tomorrow. Starfleet will be expecting my report by Thursday and I haven’t even started it.” Haley shrugged and smiled, but again as Data reached to touch her hand, Haley suddenly needed some information from science station two and moved quickly to retrieve it.

Data tried three more times before he concluded that experimenting during a meal with Haley was not necessary. Not only was Haley avoiding his touch, she was avoiding him completely.

Data talked to Geordi, but his friend did not have any answers. “I know she’s been busy, but I’ve not noticed her being distant to me, Data. Have you done something to upset her recently?” Geordi asked.

“Not that I am aware of. Would she not tell me if I have offended her?” Data questioned.

“My gut says yes. She’s never been one to play mind games. Haley’s always been cut and dry in her ways. I’d say you need to talk to her, Data.” Geordi shrugged, helplessly.

“I have tried to talk to her. She will not, as they say, give me the time of day,” Data confided. In the end, his friend could offer up no other advice.

 Data knew Commander Riker would be the next logical person to speak to, but his emotions regarding Haley, and Riker touching her, however irrational, caused Data reluctance in this instance.

Left with few options, Data made an appointment with Counselor Troi.

Counselor Troi's appointment schedule was full for that day so Deanna would not be able to see him until early the next afternoon. During the rest of his shift and while he was getting ready for his dinner date that evening with Lieutenant Sandra Deslauriers, Haley was in Data's thoughts. He missed spending time with her. He missed her smile, her laugh, everything about her. She had not even attended the last two poker nights, which had never happened before.

Data arrived at the lounge with Sandra at 1900. They were engaged in conversation when Data saw Haley arrive with a PADD in hand and sit at a table with Commander Riker. Data tried to concentrate on Sandra but found he could not stop himself from taking quick glances towards his friends' table. He knew Commander Riker's behavior towards Haley was no different from countless other evenings the friends had spent together. Yet with each smile they exchanged, each burst of laughter, each friendly touch between friends, each time the commander would put his hand on the back of her chair or leaned over to look at the information on the PADD, that uncomfortable feeling returned for Data.

When Data and Sandra were ready to leave the lounge, Data glanced once more towards Haley. She and the commander were still going over the scores from the drills that had been held. Haley glanced up to see Data looking over. She gave him a quick smile before turning back to her work.

As Data and Sandra waited at the turbolift, he found he was unable to continue with their date.

"Sandra, I am afraid I must end our date early this evening. Please forgive me. May I take you to lunch tomorrow to make up for it?" he asked.

"Sure, Data. You seemed rather preoccupied this evening so it's probably for the best," Sandra replied. Data escorted the lieutenant back to her quarters, giving her a quick kiss before departing.

When he reached his quarters, Data was at a loss as to why he was feeling the way he was. He was looking forward to speaking with the counselor even more now.

The next day began quite ordinarily and stayed uneventful throughout the morning. Data could not stop himself from taking a glimpse at Haley each time he left his ops station.

The time had come for Data's lunch date with Sandra. Sandra was already at a table in the lounge when Data arrived. As he went to join her, Data noticed Haley having lunch with Lieutenant Gerard, one of the security officers under her command. Once again, that uncomfortable feeling returned.

Lunch with Sandra was not going well. She found herself having to repeat herself a number of times as Data became more and more distracted. His constant glances away had brought her to a slow boil.

"Earth to Data." The sarcasm in Sandra's voice was evident, even to Data.

"I am sorry for not being as attentive as I should be, however, I find myself to be a-"

"-little distracted?" Sandra finished with a hint of anger in her voice. "Data, you obviously don't want to be with me so why don't we just end it now."

"But Sandra-" Data replied confused.

"Don't 'but Sandra' me," she snapped back. "This is the second date in a row we've had where you have been much more interested in the events at other tables than in me. So why don't we stop wasting each other's time and call it quits? Goodbye, Data." With that, Sandra threw her napkin on the table and left the lounge. Data sat silently trying to analyze what had just happened. He slowly rose from the table to go for his appointment with Counselor Troi.

~ I hope the counselor will be able to help me understand what is happening, ~ Data thought as he made his way to the door of the lounge. As he passed, he found himself glancing over to Haley’s table. Her laughter seemed to taunt him as he exited the room.

While Deanna hated to see it happen as it was, she could tell from the moment Data walked into her office that this situation with Haley was coming to a head. Data was very upset and from what she had heard from Will and Geordi, it was his flirting teacher that brought him to Deanna’s office this time.

Troi wasted no time in asking Data to start from the beginning and tell her what was on his mind.

“A number of things, Counselor. But it would be fair to state they all involve Haley. I have found her lessons to me on dating to be invaluable. I still do not seem to be capable of maintaining a relationship for an extended period of time...” Data decided he did not want to lament over the ruined date with Sandra. It had been entirely his fault, but Haley the reason. Best to start there.

“Pardon me, Counselor. I wish to begin again. I am here because I have somehow offended a cherished friend and I need assistance in rectifying my error.”

“What’s going on, Data?” Deanna asking, wanting to see how he would phrase it.

“Haley seems to be avoiding my individual company and, I believe, any tactile encounter with me. I miss her.” His expression was so like the sweet, lost face Deanna had seen on him before the chip. She wished she could wave her hand and make the pain and confusion disappear, but this one, Data had to find on his own.

“Why do you think she’s avoiding you, Data?” she asked, softly.

“Her reason? I do not know. We have not quarreled. She has not expressed any displeasure with any of my actions, to my knowledge. I cannot conceive of what I may have done to upset her.” Data had been looking at his own hands, but paused here to meet the counselor’s black eyes. What he saw there unnerved him.

“I do not know, but you do. Is that not correct, Counselor?” Data asked, trying to keep the accusation out of his voice.

“I am Haley’s counselor too, Data. Anything she has told me, I can’t reveal to you, just as anything you say here, will not get back to her.” Deanna did her best to keep her tone factual.

Data lowered his head once more. It had still been there in her eyes. The knowledge. “I believe you have told me all I needed to know, Counselor. I am indeed the cause of the rift between Haley and myself.” Data rose to a stand. “Thank you for your time, Counselor. I now know what I must do.” Without another word, Data headed for the door.

Deanna wanted to call him back, but there really was very little she could say that would not betray Haley. Now all there was to do was wait and see.