"Perhaps." It would make sense. His first thought has always been to shield Lal from unpleasantness. "Though, I have several very painful memories of my father's. When my grandmother died, he could not handle the idea of all he had lost. You, me, Lore, grandfather... I think it was then that the idea of isolating himself began. When he had me back, we left the Enterprise, and didn't return. He only contacted Geordi again when I was in danger, and he had nowhere else to turn."

Here come the waterworks. Lal reaches up to wipe tears away from her cheek with the back of her hand. "I understand why he chose to leave Starfleet, but not why he has gone to such lengths to avoid people who care about him. Who care about us. He would rather sever all ties than face death again. But, what's the difference? They aren't gone yet."