The walk to the holodecks from Chakotay's office was conducted in total silence. Seven glanced at him every so often but his face was unreadable as he walked wordlessly at her shoulder, she knew she should say something but all her courage had been drained from her by her previous admissions. It wasn't until they stepped into an almost completely repaired Holodeck 1 and the doors closed behind them that he spoke, his throat convulsing in a near constant gulping motion as he did so. "Do you think the files will be intact?" he asked as she pressed commands into the console set into the wall.

Seven kept her eyes fixed on her task. "It's most likely; we managed to recover 90 to 92% of the data from the Hirogen occupation." What if it happened during the lost 8 to 10% of the time? Chakotay's mind asked but the question never left his lips as he knew that Seven was thinking exactly the same thing, as evidenced by her sharp sigh and her swift change of subject. "I have set the computer to follow my lifesign through the simulations, we should see what happened." She looked round at him as she struggled to settle the note of fear in her voice and he nodded his head in permission. With a press of a button they were plunged into a mirror world of violence, populated by holograms, Hirogen and oblivious versions of the crew.

They followed Seven in her multiple personas through innumerable simulations, the Klingon Annexations of 2223, the Romulan Civil War and the Crusades to name a few but no romantic entanglements made themselves known, her characters seemed almost as solitary as Seven herself. The only thing Chakotay learned was that there were many women who were lucky, judging from the files, that they were not in Seven's position. He was jerked from these thoughts by Seven's gasp as she watched her crusades persona fall from a stab wound to the stomach, a Hirogen looming over her. "Doctor we have a wounded prey, fix her and then send her to the new World War II simulation on Holodeck 2."

Chakotay winced at the callousness of the statement and once again hatred for the Hirogen bubbled up inside him. He looked at Seven to gauge her reaction, seeing that she looked understandably ill, faint even. "Are you sure you want to keep going?" he asked her cautiously.

It wasn't disgust at her own previous injuries, eighteen years with the Borg meant she was almost impervious to gore, or even morning sickness that made Seven feel weak at that moment but the knowledge that they were entering her last simulation, the last chance to know the paternity of her child… She couldn't look at Chakotay even as she answered him. "I am fine." She muttered but he could see through the lie as she leaned heavily on the wall for support. "Computer, continue programme."

The blood soaked battlefields of Constantinople were suddenly replaced by the dim and smoke hazed interior of a restaurant Chakotay recognised from those horrible hours of fighting the Hirogen, not bomb damaged but full of laughing holographic Nazis, Tuvok serving drinks at the corner bar, Kathryn weaving expertly between the tables and Seven on the stage, singing in a beautiful but he couldn't help but notice, sultry voice. He had to shake his head slightly to come out of the trance when she stopped and headed to the bar, a Hirogen grabbing her by the arm as she did so. The exchange was short, he was glad to hear her blunt denial but then Kathryn stepped in and sent her back to the stage, visibly angry and humiliated, this woman didn't bother to cloak her emotions as Seven did, as she was doing right now, standing watching at his side.

Seven dropped her head in embarrassment as this holographic persona, De Neuf, slammed a door in retaliation during an argument with the Captain, even brainwashed how could she be so volatile, so human? It's not you, it's someone else's mind in your body, her rationale soothed but she couldn't help casting a guilty look up at Chakotay only to find him smirking in what she could only term dry amusement. Confusion ruled as she mulled this strange reaction over until that is De Neuf appeared again, leaving her room to sit alone in the dark as if waiting for something. Chakotay had the same suspicion, his blood pressure rising in anxiety with every passing second. The sound of the clock striking three thudded unnaturally in their ears as they watched De Neuf rise with a pistol in hand and open a side door, immediately confronted by a man they both recognised, Chakotay.

They watched in paralysis as the passion and grief filled discourse escalated, they knew what was coming, knew they were looking at lovers even before they mentioned the lost baby, a baby that was now ironically far from fictional or lost, though it's parents' romance still was. Seven wanted to cry with Annette as she did, unable to believe she couldn't remember being held or kissed like that even though it was before her very eyes.

Chakotay, having had a lot more life experience than Seven, had had enough confirmation about the full extent of the situation even before he saw the couple disappear into the bedroom but it didn't make it any easier for his brain to comprehend the ramifications, Oh Sprits…what have I done?

The room before them changed, following the couple into privacy. Seven had enough presence of mind to hurriedly deactivate the programme, they'd seen enough. Standing in the soulless, empty room surrounded by holopanels, Seven gasped for air as she stared at Chakotay who seemed disturbingly unaware of her presence, not that she knew what to say to him, even as her mind raced in desperation. Yes, she had considered this outcome, expected it on some level even but now that it was undeniable she had no idea what to say, her mouth opened but all that came forward was a frightened sob which unexpectedly turned Chakotay towards her. His gaze, which shamefully made her think of the kiss she did remember, seemed to go right through her and inexplicably words began to pour from her. "I…I didn't know…you needn't claim it…it's a hologram's child…" She saw him flinch and her throat constricted in guilt. "I'm sorry Commander…" she eventually choked out, begging him to end her misery and say something. That kindness didn't come, the horrible stare just continued until she could stand it no longer and fled from him, leaving him as alone as at that moment he felt inside.

Her leaving made him resurface like a diver coming back up for air. His first guilt filled impulse was to follow her but he knew that he could say nothing and he slammed his hand into his fist in anger and frustration. Good Lord, it's like Seska all over again… He thought wildly before crushing the cruel thought, Seven, whatever she might be, wasn't Seska.

With shaking hands he laid out the instruments which had at one time or another been in the hands of every one of his ancestors, running his fingers over the familiar engravings as he began the chant and tucked his long legs into a crossed position, trying to steady his thoughts as he waited for the sprits to claim him. The ancient words were shaky as his breath rasped, it would never work like this! The candle before him, its smoke trails leaving a sharp scent in the air, flickered but didn't extinguish, he focused on that flame as his father had taught him until finally his breathing steadied and his mind left his quarters behind.

He glanced around, expecting the familiar forest floor and his father's watching face to greet him but instead was shocked to be standing in his old room, littered with his old toys, sunlight filtered through faded blue curtains. What in the world? He asked himself as he wandered round the house, how was this supposed to help him? It was then that he entered the warmth of the old kitchen and the smell of baking bread surrounded him like a cosy blanket. The calm feeling left him as he saw who was bent over the stove. "Mom?" he muttered in disbelief as she turned to face him, smiling.

"Hello Chakotay." She said softly.

"This can't be right…I thought Dad…" he stuttered in shock. He had never seen his mother, who had died suddenly in his teens, during a vision quest and his father who frequently appeared to him had told him never to expect to, some sorrows went too deep.

She laughed. "You don't control a vision quest Chakotay, your sprit calls who you need." Her gentle face became more serious as she approached him. "What has you so troubled dear?" He blanched in guilt and she answered her own question. "A baby is nothing to be ashamed of Chakotay."

"I…I know but it's not a normal situation, we don't remember being together! I barely know her Mom!"

"Chakotay, did your father ever tell you that your ancestor, the greatest leader of our people, was the result of his mother's rape?"

Chakotay felt himself tense unhappily. "Father told me when he came to me…"

She looked at him again as if reassessing the situation. "If that Cardassian child had turned out to be yours would you have taken him?"

Chakotay was startled by the change in subject. "He wasn't!" She frowned at him. "I…don't know…" He thought back to that time, remembering the mixed emotions when he was released of his obligation. "Yes, I would have." He finally replied with more conviction.

She nodded slowly. "And what makes this instance any different?"

"Nothing…" He began but the truth escaped. "Seven was Borg…"

His mother frowned at him again. "Refusing to get rid of a child that has been forced on you doesn't sound like something a Borg drone would do." Chakotay couldn't deny the truth in that, the protectiveness he knew he'd seen in her was nothing less than fully human. His mother continued, "Did she seduce you or trick you, show any dishonesty?"

"No!" Chakotay exclaimed with more passion than intended as the memory of her guilt ravaged face on the holodeck burned itself on his brain. "She's been nothing but honourable towards me." He murmured.

"Good, you deserve nothing less…" she paused and stepped closer. "…and neither does she."

Chakotay nodded in agreement but gulped at the full daunting nature of what lay ahead. "No one's going to understand…"

"It's not their child on the line! The only one who's going to understand is Seven."

Chakotay smiled somewhat sadly at the truth in the statement before guilt at his selfishness punched him in the gut. He'd left a distraught pregnant woman, as blameless as he, alone to who knows what. "What am I going to do Mom?"

She stroked his face fondly. "You know without me telling you, you always knew my love. Don't worry, fate has its motives."

"But…" he started but realised as his eyes opened that he was staring at his own wall. The quest had ended. Slowly he rose off his knees and left the protection of his quarters, a frightening but determined resolution in his heart.

A/n: I'm not sure about this chapter at all, PLEASE tell me what you think.

I've published my first C/7 one-shot, it's called "A Perfect World" and it's based on "Human Error". Please read and review!