Chapter 3

The Pain Begins Again

Kathryn and Chakotay walked silently toward the transporter. Chakotay for the most part kept his view straight ahead never looking at Kathryn. Kathryn on the other hand shivered whenever she thought of Chakotay and his wife, Seven.

When they appeared at the hospital, Kathryn had to increase her pace to keep up with Chakotays stride. She had never realized it before, but his steps were so much larger than hers. I wonder how he hid that from me for so many years she thought.

When they arrived at Sevens room, Chakotay hesitated at the door. Kathryn put her hand on his arm trying to comfort him but he quickly pushed it away. He looked through the window at his ailing wife as the tears began to fall. He looked at Kathryn and quietly mumbled, "you first."

Kathryn approached the bed with hesitation. Sevens body just lay like a corpse sprawled over the bed. If Seven had been skinny before, she certainly was skin and bones now. The implant over eye had been removed, and the scar underneath was still visible. The probes on her arm that were a solid black before were now a pale white. And with the exception of a few locks of hair that remained, Seven was completely ivory in color.

Kathryn sat on a stool next to the bed and began softly talking to Seven.

She honestly didn't know what else to do. So as the tears began to fall she began the conversation with Seven.

"Hello Seven, Its Kathryn. I'm sorry I took so long, I had a misunderstanding with Chakotay so I am sorry that I am late." She hesitated for a little while unsure of what to say next. And suddenly Sevens head moved to the side and her eyes opened slowly.

"Captain is that you?"

Kathryn got up from the chair and stood closer to Seven. "Yes it is me." Slowly Seven moved her hand over to Kathryn. "Please don't cry captain crying is irrelevant. Dying is a part of life there is no need for tears." If anyone should be crying it should be me."

Kathryn increased her hold on Sevens hand. "Seven you have nothing to be sorry about the death of your child was not your fault. Sometimes bad things happen but you can't explain them."

Sevens grip got tighter and she looked Kathryn dead in her eyes. "I was not speaking about the death of my child; however thank you for your condolences." And then Seven took a breath and Kathryn's heart stopped beating for a moment after what Seven said next. "I am sorry captain that I took the love of your life away from you. I never dreamed that any man could love a woman as much as Chakotay loved you. I am sorry that I have malfunctioned."

Now the tears were really streaming down Kathryn's face. She was about to tell her that she was wrong, when Chakotay and the doctor came in. Seven let go of Kathryn's hand and spoke once more to her. "Between us only captain." Kathryn nodded as she left the room. She sat on the bench in the hallway speechless of what she had just heard.

Just then a mass of doctors and nurses came spilling into the hallway. They all entered Sevens room. And just as the door was closing Kathryn heard on of the nurses say, "We are loosing her."

Kathryn sat on the bench for another hour before Chakotay finally exited Sevens room. His shirt was stained from blood. He looked up at Kathryn and very quietly he sat down next to her.

"You can go home now if you want to; there is no reason to stay.

Seven is dead.

TBC