That did it. She starts to laugh. It's not a normal laugh. It starts as one of those fueled by too much tension breaking and begins settling into genuine warmth.

"Oh, Data," she blurts out between fits of laughter. "I've missed you!"

She holds up a hand. "Before you make some comment about 'I've been in your close proximity' however many times that's not what I mean." She sighs. "Hell, I don't know what I mean." She rolls her eyes. "Just skip the small talk. I'm worse at that than you are."