How can I return data from `$http` with a $q resolve?

I have a javascript function which for this question I have simplified. It actually does some things to the data retrieved from the $http call and then I want that data to be made available along with a promise to the function that called it:

getTopics = (queryString: string) => {
        var self = this;
        var defer = self.$q.defer();
        self.$http({
            // cache: true,
            url: self.ac.dataServer + '/api/Topic/GetMapData' + queryString,
            method: "GET"
        })
            .success((data) => {

                var output: ITopics = {
                    details: data
                }
                // output is correctly populated with data
                defer.resolve(output);

                // I also tried this and it get seen in the calling function either
                // defer.resolve('abc');
            })
        return defer.promise;
    };

This calls it:

return topicService.getTopics("/" + subjectService.subject.id)
       .then((data) => {
           // data seems to be not defined
           var x = data;
});

Can someone tell me what I might be doing wrong. I thought the resolve would return data also but it seems not to be doing so.

via Chebli Mohamed