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Chapter 7: Confession
Sisko and Winn arrived in front of the temple and passed through the doorway to find Kira holding one of Dukat's arms behind his back, pressing him against the wall. "Why couldn't I just take him to the brig?" Kira demanded, seeing them.
"Because there are things we need to discuss," Sisko responded.
Winn crossed her arms, walking over to Dukat. "What part of 'stay put and keep a low profile' has eluded your understanding?" she probed, irritation in her voice, but not anger.
The color drained out of Kira's face as she looked back at the kai. "You knew about this?"
Facing Kira, she nodded. "Child, I would like to explain things to you, but this is not the place."
The colonel nodded, concern for her kai's sanity building. "Does this mean you'll let me go?" Dukat inquired.
Kira tightened her grip on his arm. "Nice try. We'll deal with you later."
As she pressed him further against the wall, he moaned as everyone heard a popping sound. "That, Major, was my shoulder," he growled.
"Its 'Colonel,' and I don't care if it was your head," she spat.
Dukat was led to a cell and the armed security guards were assigned to watch him. Before the others left, Winn approached the cell. "I'm sorry about this. I'll get you out of here."
He sat back on the bench, leaning against the wall. "Did you really think that people like us had a chance at living a normal life?" he asked her.
She sighed and closed her eyes for a moment. "I had hoped as much," she added quietly.
When Sisko, Kira, and Winn were standing outside of the brig, Winn spoke. "You don't have to leave him in there."
"You'll forgive my caution. Experience has taught me not to trust that man," Sisko relayed.
"Would someone tell me what this is all about?" Kira requested.
Winn nodded. "Come with me, child."
Sisko headed back to work while the two women entered Winn's suite. "Tea?" the kai offered, stepping over to the replicator.
"No, thank you," Kira declined, shaking her head.
Holding a steaming cup of Bajoran jumja tea, Winn seated herself in a gray chair across from Kira, who had selected the couch. While Kira waited patiently, Winn blew over the tea before sipping it. "You want to know why," she assessed.
Kira became animated, gesturing with her hands. "What possessed you to become involved with Gul Dukat? And whose idea was it to disguise him as a Bajoran?"
"The idea was his. The last time I visited the station, he found me, disguised as one of our people. I had no idea that it was him. I was disenchanted with the Prophets and looking for something more. Do you remember when we spoke last?" Winn mentioned.
"Yes. I suggested that you resign," Kira recalled.
Winn took another sip. "That is exactly what I'm doing. Dukat and I were both looking for a cause. We thought we had found it, until the Prophets showed us the error of our ways."
Frustration was still evident on Kira's face as she stood. "That still doesn't explain what he is doing here now, with you! How could you just betray the Bajoran people?"
Sighing heavily, Winn closed her eyes for a moment. "Child, it has been a very long day. We escaped the Maquis and an old friend of mine is most likely dead," Winn explained, as she had to Sisko, how they had arrived at the Maquis space station.
"So you justify an affair with Dukat by resigning?" Kira seethed.
"It wasn't exactly an affair. That's where it becomes complicated. By resigning as kai, I am not betraying the Bajoran people, but saving them. That's really what I wanted to discuss with you. I feel that you have a heart for the interests of the Bajoran people, and you are receptive enough to the Prophets to become kai."
Kira stared at her incredulously. "Me? I could never handle that kind of leadership. I'm a soldier. I've shed blood. I don't have any training!" she protested.
Winn smiled kindly. "And that is exactly why you would be good for the job. You have a fresh perspective and regarding the politics, you're a blank slate. You would undergo training, if elected."
"It still doesn't answer the question. Why is Gul Dukat still with you?" Kira pursued.
Winn had not even tried to answer the question for herself. Why is he still with me? Because, despite all reason, I want him with me. Our destinies have become intertwined and we need each other. "You won't like my answer. He and I need each other."
Furry and confusion sat in the colonel's eyes and her volume increased at each point that her speech brought up. "That doesn't make any sense! This man married a Bajoran woman and fathered a daughter during the Occupation, he seduced my mother, he tried to seduce me! He even fathered a child with a married Bajoran woman while masquerading as a religious cult leader! Why would you…" Kira trailed off as Winn began sneezing.
The blonde woman had managed to fight it somewhat when speaking with Sisko, but the day was having its affects on her and she could no longer control it. Kira replicated a tissue box for her. After a while the sneezing subsided. I didn't know she had allergies. I haven't seen anyone sneeze like that since..., no, it can't be. Can it? "Kai Winn, are you pregnant?" Kira asked in a softer tone.
Winn's answer came in the pale look on her face, as well as her silence. Her eyes focused on her tea as she finished it. Slowly she looked back up to meet Kira's questioning gaze. "Child, I know that this makes very little sense to you. It came as a shock to me. I have made my peace with the situation though."
Kira's eyes flashed with certainty and relief. "He knows, so he's forcing you to stay with him! I knew he was using something to"-
"I haven't told him," Winn broke in.
"Then why keep it? If it's Dukat's, why not end it?" the younger woman suggested.
"It's not possible. First of all, you know better than I do how interconnected the blood vessels are between mother and child. Secondly, I was denied this chance earlier in life. Perhaps the past generation can atone by making the future generation better," Winn explained.
Kira massaged her temples. "This is crazy," she said simply.
"Are you angry with me, child?" Winn inquired.
Resting her elbows on her thighs, Kira slumped forward. "No, I'm a little disappointed, but not angry. I think you're out of your mind, and this whole thing is psychotic. But I'm not angry. What will you do when you resign as kai?"
"I don't know," Winn replied quietly. Suddenly her stomach growled. "It's been such a long day. I don't think I've eaten since I left the Maquis."
"In that case, you can rest up and we'll deal with this in the morning?" Kira suggested, standing and walking toward the door.
Winn stood to stop her. "Wait, I can't just leave him in the brig all night."
Kira sighed, knowing that allowances had to be made sometimes. "I'll see that he eats, and that Dr. Bashir looks at his shoulder."
The other woman smiled appreciatively. "Thank you, child."
(My thanks to excessivelyperky for reviewing :D)
