The Experiment (Data x reader)

Life-threatening

As much as you enjoyed reading books, one of your favorite things to do when you were stressed was to organize them. You didn't want to admit it, but the incident on the bridge had shaken you up rather badly. Piles of books surrounded you in your otherwise empty classroom as your mind sorted through everything that had happened.

Once Q had left, Wesley, who was no stranger to life-threatening situations, very calmly thanked you and told you that in the future, you shouldn't throw yourself in harm's way like that. You were too shell-shocked to respond, and besides, Data had rushed to your aid as quickly as possible and was asking you an unending series of medical questions. Once it had been ascertained that you hadn't been injured, Captain Picard had ordered a temporary end to the experiment, and, on top of it all, you and Data were banned from seeing each other until 'further notice' which no doubt would come in the form of an emergency meeting. You and Data had both protested, but Captain Picard ordered you sharply off the bridge, and he wasn't going to take 'no' for an answer.

You, of course, returned immediately to your classroom, shaking with fear and adrenaline, and you'd been sitting there reorganizing your bookshelves for the past fifteen minutes. Entirely too much had happened that day- falling in love should never be immediately followed by death threats.

Your affection for Data especially lingered in your mind. Being well-read, you could think of so many romances between normal young women and emotionally unavailable men: Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, Jane and Mr. Rochester. Why not y/n and Mr. Data? You shook yourself out of these thoughts. It was nonsensical, and besides, what if Q had been right? What if something terrible were to come of the experiment?

Someone knocked lightly at your classroom door. "Come in," you said, miserably aware that it couldn't be Data.

It wasn't Data, but it was the next best thing. Geordi LaForge stepped tentatively into the classroom, smiling sympathetically at you and your piles of books. "Data told me what happened. He asked me to come check on you."

That was kind of him. You smiled back at Geordi, mustering every last bit of cheer that you had. "I'm fine, Geordi. I'm just a little shaken up, that's all. Thank you for coming. Do you know if Picard is going to call a meeting soon?"

"Well, word on the street is that they're in conference right now. And even if they do decide something, they might wait to tell you the verdict," Geordi pointed out.

You wanted to express your anger at this, but you forced yourself to calm down. "Thank you, Geordi. And tell Data thank you from me. I'll see you later."

Geordi took the hint and left. You rejoiced in being alone again and rested your elbow on the nearest pile of books as you thought. You couldn't keep your mind off Data. You tried to visualize him smiling at you and blushed at the image. Above all else, your intention with the experiment was to see Data happy. To think that Q might have ruined that for him enraged you. Data deserved to have a chance to feel. You tried desperately to think of more cheerful things.

You couldn't help but giggle like an overexcited schoolgirl when you remembered Data in the captain's chair. He'd been so authoritative and commanding- kind of hot, actually, if androids could be hot- and you'd loved the feeling of sitting beside him on the bridge. You hated thinking that you may never be allowed on the bridge again- or, what if Captain Picard never lifted the ban between you and Data? What if you never saw him again? What if your only contact from now on would be through Geordi? As much as that disturbed you, you had to admit that you were amused at the thought of Geordi constantly running back and forth between your classroom and the bridge.