A/n: This chapter is for lisac1965 as a thank you for starting a new C/7 story, "Finding One's Heart". I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as I did that new story. :D
U.S.S Voyager
Chakotay irritably shifted around his bed in search of a remotely comfortable position but although every nerve and muscle in his body was crying out for sleep, obviously his alternate had been just as sleep deprived as he had been during this whole surreal experience, his mind simply refused to surrender to unconsciousness. Whenever he approached drowsiness thoughts of Seven would promptly jolt him into alertness again. Rationally he knew he should be less worried about her than he had been on the mirror Earth, but his feelings were disobeying reason. She'd been in control then, had been able to push any wayward painful emotion into the background under the crushing weight of practicalities such as breaking him out of jail, searching for a way home or convincing her parents to assist them. Now none of those distractions were available to her, or to him for that matter, and they had to face what they'd been through. What had they been through? Certainly something which should have bound them together, but he couldn't suppress the fear that she'd avoid him now and go back to hiding behind the indoctrinated rules of the Borg…
He groaned to himself and heavily rolled over, intending to bury his face in the pillow to try and block out the memory of Seven's face as that deplorable Trill backhanded her. He knew that wringing that drunken woman-beater's neck would probably have provided all of the emotional catharsis he needed, but he'd never get the chance now… To his surprise his side struck the pointy edge of a PADD, discarded thoughtlessly on one side of the large bed hours before, rather than the accepting familiarity of his mattress. An uneasy sigh left his throat as he lifted it up to eye level, it was the letter written to him by his counterpart. Curiosity gnawed relentlessly at his gut as his finger hovered around the button but doubt forced him to pause. What would his other self, a man who had made very different choices from himself, sticking loyally to the principles of a Maquis and paying the price of his freedom, think of him who in the back of his own mind, had sold out Maquis values for Federation security and a trip home? He hated his own fears and rapidly quelled them, pressing the button to show the letter on screen. I did what I thought was right for my own set of circumstances, how could he judge that? He reassured himself as he began to read:
Chakotay,
I hope you understand my reasons for writing to you, it was actually Annika's idea but I agree with her, we have some issues we need to air out, as my ethics teacher at the Academy, Commander Lovik, would've said. I wouldn't lie to you and say I was pleased to wake up as the First Officer of a Starfleet ship, I gladly left that part of my life behind a long time ago. I know now that you thought you had too. I want you to know that I don't blame you for entering this alliance, it kept your crew alive in the most impossible of circumstances. I know that you probably feel some guilt for not being able to continue to fight the Cardassians, I feel guilty when I see people alive on this ship who I saw die in that battle, I suppose that guilt is something we'll both have to carry with us for the rest of our lives. I wish you a safe trip home and a happy life. I intend to have mine.
I have one request of you, please look after Seven of Nine and I'll do the same for Annika.
Chakotay
Chakotay let out a tense breath he hadn't realised he'd been holding as he read the last sentence, a small smile playing knowingly across his lips. Yes, the writer of this letter was definitely more like him than not. It was almost like reading the reply to his own thoughts and suddenly he was overwhelmed with regret that he hadn't taken the time to write something down about his experience for his other self to take comfort from. Although, he acknowledged with a soft chuckle, when the other Chakotay heard from the Hansens what he'd been doing he'd probably understand why he'd hadn't had the time. His eyes swept over the more complex emotions expressed in the main paragraph of the letter, filing them away for later, and instead focused on that taunting final sentence. What was he doing moping around in here when he could be talking it out with the only person who could possibly understand? "Computer, locate Seven of Nine." He commanded swiftly.
The Computer didn't seem to register his impatience, instead answering ponderously after a few long seconds, "Seven of Nine is in Sickbay."
"Sickbay?" Chakotay echoed in bemusement. That was the last place he'd seen her and the Doctor hadn't picked up on anything then. "What is she doing there?" he muttered anxiously as he sprang up from his bed to head for the door.
"That information is not on file." The Computer intoned seriously.
"I know that!" Chakotay snapped in exasperation as he left hurriedly for Sickbay.
"Well, according to all these scans the operation has been a complete success." The Doctor told Seven with a relieved and satisfied smile as he lowered the tricorder away from his patient. "But the most important thing is how you feel about it…" He continued quickly as he peered into her pale face, concerned by her lack of response.
As if able to sense his unease, Seven's tiredly bowed head snapped up abruptly to meet his gaze. "I am functional Doctor." She assured him listlessly.
"You considered yourself functional before." The Doctor reminded her with a frown. "Are you feeling nauseous or dizzy?"
"I have a slight headache." Seven reluctantly admitted, her eyes narrowed defensively.
The Doctor patted her shoulder sympathetically. "That's expected, what you've just been through could easily be categorised as brain surgery after all. Just don't do anything strenuous for few days and make sure to have full regeneration cycles for at least a week." He smiled at her encouragingly when she flinched at the mention of regeneration, thinking she was just irritated by the amount of work she'd miss. "Don't worry, I'm sure Commander Chakotay would be very happy to reduce your hours on the rota for a few days…"
Seven instantly stiffened as if she'd been hit by an electric shock. "I do not intend to ask for any special consideration from the Commander Doctor, he has more to concern himself with than arranging the rota to my advantage." She told him sharply through gritted teeth.
The Doctor backed away slightly, startled by her heated reaction. "Alright, it was just a suggestion…" He watched as she fell silent again, obviously lost in thought, and sighed. It would seem that her increased emotional range was already making itself apparent…
Both of them jumped as Sickbay's doors opened. The Doctor, with his back to the doorway, thought he could make a pretty good guess as to who it was by seeing the way Seven's face blushed brightly for a moment, then drained to a deathly pallor, fear evident in her eyes. "What can I do for you Commander?" he asked pleasantly as he turned to face Chakotay, aware of Seven shifting on the biobed to hide behind him as best she could.
"I was actually wondering if I could speak to Seven alone for a few minutes Doctor." Chakotay replied politely, his stance rigid but his eyes peering around the Doctor in an attempt to meet Seven's gaze.
The Doctor almost answered that he'd probably need more than a few minutes to talk Seven round, but wisely decided against as he stepped aside. "Of course Commander, be my guest. She's fine now." Despite privately wanting to witness how his pupil coped with this, he fought the urge and called to the Computer, "Computer, deactivate EMH."
Seven couldn't stop herself from cringing shyly as the Doctor disappeared, leaving them alone, but guilt prickled her when she saw that he'd noticed her reluctance, hurt flashing through his deeply dark eyes. "What is it you wish to talk about Commander?" she asked softly, avoiding his gaze scrupulously.
He stepped closer, a relieved smile breaking across his face as she broke the silence. "Everything." He admitted honestly, wincing sheepishly when she only bit her lip in reply. "Are you okay? Did something happen with your implants, while we were gone I mean?"
Seven shook her head rigorously as she slid off the biobed onto her feet. "Annika took good care of me if that's what you mean…" Chakotay saw her press her hand unconsciously to her cheek and knew she must have been thinking of the slap Annika would have woken up with the pain of. "It was a long-standing issue the Doctor has now corrected." She mumbled, turning her face away from him.
"That's good." Chakotay responded warmly before the frustration he'd been fighting with won control of his mouth. "Why won't you look at me Seven?" he asked painfully.
Seven's breath caught in her throat. "I…" She started to deny before seeing his expression harden. "I'm quite sure you find my appearance a…shock to you right now…" She mumbled in explanation, trying to walk past him as she did so but he grabbed her arm, gently but firmly pulled her around to face him.
"A shock?" Chakotay repeated blankly, "Why would I be shocked by anything about you?"
Seven blushed at the implied intimacy of his statement. "I am Borg again…" She explained lamely.
He stared at her disbelievingly for a few seconds. "Wait, this is about your implants?" Her eyes glistened enough to answer the question. "Oh honey, you're still beautiful…" He reassured her as gently as he could.
Seven swallowed hard, touched by his words in spite of herself. After all, no one had ever told her she was beautiful before… Her doubts recovered and she pulled back from him, "Not just that, I am undeniably Borg here. I assimilated people! I won't be forgiven! How can you possibly care about me…"
She gasped in surprise as he cut her off by pulling her tightly against him, their bodies moulding together, and kissing her softly on the lips. "Does that answer your question?" he murmured huskily as their lips parted briefly.
"Yes…" Seven whispered before bringing her face back to his for another, longer, kiss.
A/n: PLEASE REVIEW! :D