As she approached Dukat's quarters, Kira began to question if what she was doing was the right thing. What if she only made things worse? Perhaps Ziyal had been mistaken. After all, it wasn't as if she and Dukat had the kind of relationship that would actually be good for the ailing mind.

To her surprise, when she arrived there was only one guard posted at the door to his quarters.

"Lieutenant, are you the only guard on duty here?"

The guard took one look at Kira, noted her rank, and answered directly, "Yes, sir. Due to the condition of the prisoner, the constable didn't think more than one would be necessary. There is, however, as an extra precaution, a forcefield around the entrance."

Kira frowned, "What do you mean 'the prisoner's condition'? Has he been injured?"

"No, sir. The prisoner has been quite docile. However, the constable wasn't quite sure when the sedative Dr. Bashir gave Dukat would wear off or what his reactions would be when it did, so he ordered the forcefield."

Oh,no. Sedated? This was definitely going to be harder than she had thought.

"Very well, lieutenant," she said in her most authoritative, don't-question-me voice, "If you will do the honors, please, I need to enter."

She waited for the lieutenant to drop the forcefield so she could enter. After a few seconds hesitation, he did as she had ordered. Kira stepped to the door and it slid open silently. Mentally crossing her fingers, she stepped inside.

The lieutenant wondered for a moment if he should inform Constable Odo of the major's presence. He knew the major's reputation and her purported feelings toward Cardassians. However, he was also Bajoran. He smiled slightly and turned his back again towards the door. If she wanted to exact a little revenge, no one would find out from him.

Kira paused just inside the door. It hissed shut behind her and she took a few seconds to acclimate her eyes to the dimness she had entered. She slowly looked around the room. It looked quite ordinary, barring the rather large amount of paintings that covered the walls. Kira noticed almost immediately that they were all ones that Ziyal had done. She continued her scan of the room, trying to find its occupant. Then she spotted him. He was sitting in a far corner of the

room, legs pulled up to his chest, arms crossed and head resting on his knees. Kira felt an odd lurch in her stomach at the pathetic sight. Stepping cautiously, she slowly made her way deeper into the room. She sent up a quick prayer to the Prophets for guidance and then quietly made her way over to Dukat's side. She sank gracefully down beside him, setting her things down on her opposite side.

Alright Nerys, it's time to make good on your promise. You're strong, you can do this.

With a deep breath, she reached out her hand and laid it gently on his arm. She felt him tense at her touch but he did nothing to acknowledge her presence.

She spoke in as low and soothing a voice as she could muster. "Dukat, it's me, Major Kira...Nerys. I've brought you something."

She waited tensely to see if he would answer.

He knew as soon as she entered the room. Somewhere in the deep recesses of his mind, he had recognized her distinctive scent as she had moved silently into his quarters. It didn't matter. He couldn't face her and sincerely hoped that if he just ignored her long enough, she would eventually take her tormenting presence away.

But she didn't. Instead, she came over to where he was and sat down beside him.

Leave me alone! His mind cried out in agony, trying to sink deeper into itself to escape the painful words he knew would come. He already knew it all. It had been repeating non-stop thru his mind ever since SHE had died in his arms. He had killed his daughter. His Ziyal, the only light he had left in his life. He had allowed her to die and done nothing. He was everything they said he was. It was all so useless and he knew it...and he couldn't bear the knowledge.

What could she possibly say that his torturous conscience had not already thrown at him?

He heard the soft rustling as she seated herself beside him. And then he felt her touch his arm. He automatically stiffened in self-defense. Then she did something even more unexpected. She spoke softly, her voice devoid of the harsh edge it usually carried when she addressed him.

"Dukat, it's me, Major Kira...Nerys. I've brought you something."

Well, he KNEW who it was. He may be mad, but he wasn't stupid. Oh yes, he knew he was loosing his mind. The sedative the good doctor had given him was only holding the pain and the voices at bay. It would wear off and then he knew he would be at the mercy of his unforgiving conscience once more.

So, she had a gift for him, hmm? Ordinarily, he would be extremely wary of anything the major might think of giving him. Right now, he really couldn't care less.

"Dukat...please. Look, I know we've had our differences Ha! He thought, that was an understatement! but I think...I think that Ziyal would have wanted you to have this."

He thought for a moment. Please? She had actually said please to him? And what would she have from his daughter that she would even consider giving to him? His ever lively curiosity piqued, he made the tremendous effort of dragging himself out of his depressed stupor. He slowly turned his head and saw her sitting beside him, an expression on her lovely face he couldn't quite decipher.

Kira watched as he turned his head, ever so slowly, in her direction. She swallowed nervously, not quite sure what to do now that she actually had his attention.

"Well, major, care to tell me what it is?"

His voice ran over her like an electric shock. Odd, she hadn't ever noticed how deep it was.

He watched as she gulped and clutched her hands together nervously. It was such odd behavior for the normally self possessed major that he couldn't help being just a little more curious. She suddenly looked up and their gazes locked.

Kira couldn't breathe. She looked up and was caught in his steady gaze. She couldn't seem to formulate any coherent thoughts, much less words. Then, she abruptly remembered what it was that she had brought for him. She tore her gaze away from his and reached down beside her to pick up the small round disk she had brought.

He felt suddenly lost as she tore her gaze away from his. It was one of the few times that she had ever looked directly at him. She seemed to avoid eye contact with him as if it was the Dendrian plague.

She reached for something on her other side and then turned back to him. In her hands she held a small black disk. It rather resembled the base for some form of art. She lifted it up and then pressed something on the other side. An image sprang to life on the little base. It was a hologram of Ziyal. She was standing, hands clasped behind her, a beautiful smile lighting up her face. Kira watched his face closely for a reaction.

Dukat stared at the miniature image of his daughter. She looked so beautiful, he almost couldn't stand it. This was how she should still look. Alive and smiling and so beautiful it hurt just to look at her.

Kira watched as he stared, entranced, at the image of Ziyal she held in her hand. His eyes filled with tears and he reached out an unsteady hand to take the small base from her.

"Where did you get this?" he whispered.

Kira answered, with a voice suddenly choked with emotion, "She gave it to me, when she first came to the station. I don't know where she had it done."

He looked up suddenly from his study of the small hologram.

"Thank you, major. You have no idea what this means to me."

She smiled tentatively back at him, "You're welcome."