The BLTS Archive - Erin'ka
Second in the Uluhshan series
by BGM (bgmanic@gmail.com)

---
/You let me feel your danger
I let you make this feeling clear here
I want the touch of your charms
The heat of your breath
I wanna say all those things
That would be better unsaid/

You're so physical

- Nine Inch Nails
---

"Well?"

Julian felt himself tremble uncontrollably.  The Cardassian, his
friend, his lunch companion, was staring at him expectantly from
across the table.  The roar of patrons laughing and chattering
dwindled to a dull distant muffle as the blood poured through his
veins and thundered in his ears.  He was certain his face was a deep
shade of red.

Garak's lips twitched with tempered amusement.  "I'll understand if
you don't want to," he said, his voice nonchalant as he lowered his
eyes to the menu.  "Perhaps I was mistaken."

"No," Julian whispered, shocked at how much he wanted to let Garak
know otherwise.  He clenched his fists and clumsily rose to his feet.
"I'll ... be waiting," he said breathily, beating a hasty retreat out
of Quark's.

Garak smiled slowly and put his menu down with deliberate care.

---

When Julian rushed into his quarters, he felt like the temperature on
the station had raised to unbearable levels.  He tugged at his collar,
leaning back on the wall to gather his scattered wits.

Ever since 'Uluhshan' had made his way into his life a week ago,
Julian had found no time to really think about the implications of
what he was doing.  It was fun in the beginning, albeit a little
alarming.  Then it had lowered into dark waters indeed.  He cast his
anxious gaze at the chair and gnawed on his lower lip.  Soon, Garak
would be here, and he would no longer have the safety of privacy
anymore.

Julian cried out and shoved himself away from the wall when the chime
rang.  He exhaled, closing his eyes.  Before he could begin to doubt
his actions, he reached out and pressed the door trigger.

Garak was already smiling.  With a particularly reptilian languor he
placed his hands on the frame of the door and leaned in.  "I must
remind you, Doctor, that once I step over this threshold, 'no' will
cease to have any meaning for me.  Do you understand?"  His eyes
glimmered with anticipation, something the tailor couldn't quite mask
despite his sang-froid.  Julian felt pinned by it, compelled to nod
his head frantically.

"Good," Garak drawled, giving him a sinuous smile as he entered.  He
glanced over his shoulder absently when the door closed then took his
time to assess the doctor's quarters.  "Much like I expected them to
be.  It saddens me to see you've not decorated since my last visit."

Julian remembered that some year ago, when they had investigated the
circumstances surrounding the Padar boy, Garak had been in here.  He
wondered if the Cardassian had felt the same way about him that night,
when he woke him in his bedroom without announcing his presence at the
door.  Julian turned around, distracted by these thoughts, and moved
toward the replicator.  "Would you like something to drink?"

He gasped, closing his eyes when he felt Garak's hand in his hair.  He
hadn't heard him move.  "Ever the gallant host," the Cardassian purred
in his ear, twisting his hair into knots as he pulled his head back.
Julian winced, his hands flailing up to grip the replicator dais.
"'No' has no meaning for me," Garak continued, stroking his fingers
down the length of his throat, "But I wouldn't dream of causing you
distress.  Now that I know what you like, I have a good idea about
what the limits are.  But though I am a very good judge of character,
even the best of us can err on occasion.  When you feel uncomfortable
about continuing, I want you to say 'Uluh'.  Conquered.  I will know
to stop."

Julian nodded with difficulty and suddenly let loose a strangled cry
when Garak shoved him against the wall.  He braced himself as best he
could, panting erratically.  "Don't be frivolous with the word,
Julian," Garak said from behind him.  "Or it will lose its meaning
just as quickly as 'no' has."

Julian nodded again, staring wide-eyed at the wall.  He didn't know
whether to turn around or not.  He decided to stay as he was, feeling
the heat of his body lick at his groin.

"Turn around."

Julian hiccuped, twisting and keeping his shoulders splayed on the
wall.  He stared at Garak, clearly overcome by desire.

Garak laced his hands casually behind his back and appraised him from
head to toe.  Julian squirmed under the defiling observation, craning
his neck so that he could rest his head on the wall.  "What are you
thinking about?"

Julian blinked and tried to focus on an answer.  "I suppose I'm a bit
overwhelmed ... confused."

"How so?"  Garak wasn't pacing.  He wasn't moving at all.  His eyes
were staring directly into his own and stripping away all useless
facades.

"This happened so fast," he breathed out.

"Ah.  You're hesitating.  Perhaps I'll encourage your confidence
tonight."

Julian lowered his head, though kept his eyes on Garak.  It was an
instinctual gesture, reverting to the ancient predatory drive.

"Perhaps." Garak was clearly pleased by the response but his smile
suggested Julian's display only amused him.

He broke the spell moments later and turned around, looking as though
he were searching for something.  When he spotted the chair he smiled
over his shoulder.  "Ah.  Here it is."  He swiveled the chair to face
Julian and patted the back.  "Sit."

Julian walked diffidently toward it and slid into the seat.  Garak
remained behind and lowered his hands gently on his shoulders.  Julian
softly 'hmm'ed and leaned his head sideways.  "I've been thinking
about it a great deal," Garak said with an absent air as he slid his
hands down the length of Julian's arms.  "Wondering why  this lovely
doctor felt compelled to constantly ask me about my past."  Julian
moved to protest but Garak clamped his hands over his shoulders and
kept him still.  "It still puzzles me, Julian.  That you would be so
interested in something as insignificant as a tailor's past."  He
relaxed his hold and snaked his hands upward, settling loosely around
his neck.  Julian shuddered, feeling the beats of his heart thunder in
his ears.  "Are you still interested?" Garak asked, and Julian knew
the question needn't be asked.  He nodded helplessly.

Garak squeezed his hold, then released him.  "Bring your hands behind
you." His voice was pleasant, Julian decided.  Not at all loud, unlike
anyone in Garak's position would be prone to project.

No, Garak was subtle.  The authority came from the conviction that he
was in control.  Slowly, Julian brought his hands behind him, around
the back of the chair, unconsciously linking them at the wrists.  He
waited, then started when he felt Garak's fingers caress his palms.
The Cardassian's skin felt cool and dry.  Garak immobilized his
twitching arms with one hand while he bound the wrists with the other.
Julian couldn't guess what it was; a stretchy kind of fabric that
clung to his skin as soon as Garak let his hands loose.  He couldn't
imagine where the Cardassian had kept it hidden.  When he tested the
bond, it merely constricted further, much like a tourniquet but more
comfortable.  When he relaxed, the material relaxed as well.

"I expect that as the evening progress, we'll stop needing this.
You're a bit flighty at the moment, and I need to relax you a bit.
Later on, we'll let those pretty wrists breathe."  Garak walked around
the chair and stopped in front of Bashir.  He smiled a viper's smile.
"Comfortable?"

Julian squirmed, not used to the sensation of being restrained.  "I'll
manage."

"Good.  Because I want you comfortable.  At least for now.  I think
I'll have that drink now," he said teasingly, moving toward the
replicator. "Rokassa juice, warm."  He flashed a pleasant smile at the
doctor as the drink materialized.  "I know this offends your sense of
smell, but I'm sure you'll indulge me."

Julian raised an eyebrow.  "Your nerves need to be soothed?  And here
I thought you were in perfect control of yourself."

Garak paused in mid-sip, his eyes rising to meet the younger man's.  A
sudden gleam seemed to swallow the blue of his gaze completely,
bathing them in endless darkness.  He lowered the drink without
sipping it.  Julian gnawed on his lower lip, wondering what the
Cardassian would do.  Obviously, he hadn't taken kindly to his
comment.  "Why do you suppose I was exiled, Doctor?"

The surreptitious return of his formal title wasn't lost on the young
man, who inhaled unsteadily.  "I've given up trying to figure that
out, Garak."

Garak's lips twitched, as though trying to contain amusement.  "Oh
don't give up on me so soon, Doctor.  You were making such wonderful
progress, after all."  He took his sip, carefully, taking the time to
savor the beverage.  Licking his lips in satisfaction, he set the
glass down on the table and clasped his hands together.  "Would you
know?" he asked.

Julian narrowed his eyes, his hands twitching behind him.  The
material flexed as though anticipating.  "How would I know you're not
lying?"

"Do you care?"  The retort surprised Julian only in its truth.  No, he
speculated, he didn't really care at all what the Cardassian might or
might not have done in his past.  There were a lot of things in his
own history he wasn't inclined to share, and he had no reason to force
the Cardassian to do otherwise.

Julian settled for a comfort zone.  "I'm curious, but if you don't
want to talk about it--"

"No, no, no, Doctor.  Such placating answers won't do.  I want you to
be direct."  Julian had to note the absence of 'truthful'.  Garak
understood that the past was called so for a reason.

Julian also realized that during this preamble, he had almost
forgotten that he was tied to a chair about to be subjected to Garak's
whims.  The thought made him flush, and he closed his thighs in a
subconscious effort to shield himself.

"Tsk."

Julian looked up.

Garak nodded at his knees.  "Should I consider binding your ankles,
too? Keep those legs spread, Doctor.  I wouldn't want the evidence of
your arousal so crudely hidden from my eyes."  His voice was
deliberately lecherous, and Julian bit his lower lip again.  Slowly,
he parted his knees and closed his eyes.  He could feel the heat in
his groin - unbelievable heat - encouraging his cock to harden.  It
was becoming uncomfortable.  He clenched his fists, and had to wonder
about the odd comforting sensation he felt from the binding material.

When he opened his eyes, Garak was much closer.  He crouched to his
level and lowered his hands to his knees, smiling.  "For every act, I
wish for you to be silent.  I will test the full limit of your
control, Doctor.  If you are able to suppress the barest sound, I will
answer any question you may have about me."

Julian raised his eyebrows.

"You heard correctly.  If, on the other hand, you're unable to
resist--" he said this while raking his hand boldly across a slim
thigh, "--I may request something of you that will most probably test
your strength.  Oh not your physical strength," he was quick to
dismiss at Julian's horrified look, "I'm no sadist, and it wouldn't do
to break such lovely skin.  No, Doctor.  My tests will challenge your
strength of will.  Of discipline.  It will be a most interesting
display ... IF you should fail."  Garak straightened up. "Stand up."

Julian gave the Cardassian a withering glance.  "And HOW do you
propose I do this?"

"I don't recall binding you to the chair.  Do you?"  Garak was
remarkably patient, and for a moment Julian wondered if the Cardassian
was getting anything at all from this encounter.  One look at the
tailor's tautly stretched pants, however, disabused him of his doubts.

Negotiating his hands up from around the backing, Julian stood up,
finding strength in his legs he had suspected was gone.  Garak hummed
with satisfaction and pressed his hand over the nape of Julian's neck,
guiding him toward the writing desk tucked against the far wall.  He
cleared a few things from it, notably the monitor, which he set aside
on the sofa along with every other item from the desk.  Julian waited
quietly beside him, his mind reeling at what the tailor had in mind.
A sound 'slak!' forced him to reality and he realized he was no longer
bound.  Garak threw the flimsy fabric aside and appraised the doctor
critically.

"Sit," he nodded at the table.

Julian felt his heart renew its racket in his chest.  Trying to
control his breathing, he scrambled over the table and sat at the
edge.  Garak went to place himself between his legs, making no apology
for the uncomfortable proximity he'd chosen.  "Still swimming in
doubt?"

"No," Julian said.  He hesitated, looking away from the Cardassian's
penetrating stare.

"But?"

"I don't like to be kept guessing," he confessed.

"No you don't, do you?"  Garak smiled fondly, as though this was
nothing new to him.  "I imagine it's torture for you, sitting here and
wondering what will happen next."

Julian looked sharply at his friend, accusing.  "And you're enjoying
every minute of it."

Garak seemed surprised.  "Of course I am.  It pleases me to see you
torn, wondering how to act, what to say, judging what would please me
and what wouldn't ... fearing what I could do if you say the wrong
thing."  With every word Garak looked as though he was inching closer.
His voice lowered and he added, "Do realize one thing, Doctor.  I am
simply here to enjoy you, and you will have ample opportunity to enjoy
me," he said archly.

Julian swallowed, unable to respond.

So Garak said, "As of now, I want you to be quiet.  Let's see if that
mouth is disciplined," he purred, splaying his hand on Julian's
throat.  With a slow, intimate speed, Garak lowered his fingers and
unfastened the front of Julian's uniform.  He kept his eyes riveted on
the young man, watching for any reaction.

And reaction there was.  Julian's eyes widened, his body trembled, his
lips parted, but for the exception of heavier breaths, he was quiet.
Garak separated the lapels and tugged the sleeves down his arms,
revealing the thin undershirt that was part of the uniform.  The
silence in the room became nearly oppressive.  Julian knew he wouldn't
stand it for much longer. Uniform off, Garak was now pulling the shirt
above his head and throwing it unceremoniously behind him.  Shivering,
Julian was now sitting without a shirt and a uniform bunched up at his
waist.

Without warning, Garak seized one of his erect nipples and squeezed.

Julian bit down on his lips but made no sound.  Garak looked pleased.
"Very good Doctor.  You've earned a first question."  He lowered his
hands and braced himself against the table, waiting.

Julian stared incredulously.  "A question?  All right ..."  He sighed,
hugging himself.  It felt very cold all of a sudden.  "What was the
reason for your exile?"

"I betrayed my father," Garak said simply, choosing not to go into
details. Julian had hopes that this was the closest that he had come
to the truth, although he knew there was an important link missing.
He opened his mouth but Garak held up his finger.  "One question at a
time.  Lie back."

Resigned, Julian swung his legs over the desk and laid back.  He laced
his fingers over his stomach and stared at the ceiling anxiously.  He
was slightly light-headed, and his heart still hadn't calmed.  He
wondered just how far this night would go.  How far Garak would push
*him*.

Speaking of Garak ...

Julian widened his eyes before he quickly shut them, overcome by the
kiss the Cardassian bestowed him.  He felt vulnerable, lying there on
the table, helpless as Garak bent down to plunder his mouth with such
exotic skills. He writhed, feeling the irritating friction of clothes
on his erection, and the contrast his bare chest offered as the
tailor's hands caressed him there.

So it was completely pardonable that he should voice his arousal, a
simple moan that bled into the kiss, something Julian was certain the
Cardassian would overlook ...

Julian shuddered, opening his eyes slowly as he realized he was no
longer being kissed.  Garak was inspecting him closely, clear desire
in his eyes but tempered by a painfully obvious disappointment.  "You
raised my hopes, Doctor ... I see that I was wrong to be so
optimistic."

A breath-seizing fear gripped Julian and he struggled to sit up.
Garak allowed him, leaning back from the table and helping him off the
surface. But where Julian had meant to stand, Garak continued the
movement and led him to the bedroom, his hand a firm fist over his
own.

He yelped when Garak pushed him onto the bed, and for a moment Julian
thought the Cardassian meant to take him.  It was an exciting thought,
but it became evident after a while that Garak had another idea
entirely.  He retrieved the band of fabric he'd brought with him and
stretched it over the doctor's head.  When he released it at
eye-level, Julian gasped as the material hugged his head and
obstructed his vision completely.  He could only perceive light and
obscure shapes -- nothing he could translate to a concrete image.  He
jerked his head when he felt Garak's voice whisper in his ear.  "Do
you trust me?  Don't lie."

Julian pressed his lips together.  "No," he said.

"Good.  I see you've been paying attention," Garak said, a laugh in
his voice.  Julian craned his neck as he felt cool fingers dance under
his chin before they forced his head sideways, as though perhaps Garak
were observing him more closely.  "The idea, however, is not to harm
you Doctor, and I hope you will at least trust me with that.  Keep
this in mind for the next hour or so."

"What will you do?"  Julian's voice was very low.

"Nothing you won't enjoy eventually ... when you learn to enjoy it,"
Garak answered cryptically.  Julian moved his mouth to reply, but all
he heard was the hiss of a hypospray, and soon there was only
darkness.

---

Garak smiled behind the rim of his glass of kanar, enjoying the sight
Julian Bashir made as he woke.  He had the most adorable lost
expression on his face, for a moment diluting his fear.  Julian has
said he did not trust Garak, but Garak hadn't believed him.  He had
never found a man so blindly trusting, clinging to the ridiculous
notion that he was invincible to pain, emotional or otherwise.  He had
come a long way from the na�ve young man he'd met a few years ago,
but Julian hadn't shed his perpetual disposition to see the good all
around him, nor was it Garak's wish to see it completely vanquished.

Still ... he'd make a poor Cardassian.

And perhaps that was why Garak was so taken with him.  He had no idea
if this urge to seduce the young man was a subconscious effort to
rebel against the very institution that had rejected him ... surely
this was more than a simple adventure to stave off solitude, but why
else then ...?

Garak pushed this concern far from his mind.  He would consider the
matter later, after the evening's entertainment was over.  For now, he
had a delectable young Human to attend to.

"Gentlemen," he said loudly, pleased to see that Julian cowered
instantly toward him.  A handful of gray faces turned simultaneously
to look at him as he spoke.  "I hope you appreciate my addition to
this meeting.  I thought perhaps we could take a breather from these
tedious talks."

"Garak, what--"  Julian began to say, but quickly clamped his mouth
when Garak touched his shoulder.  He had much to learn about
discipline, but the Cardassian was proud to see that Julian recognized
when he meant to be serious.

He had seated him at the end of a long table, still blindfolded and
naked. Garak wondered how Julian felt about the leather that caressed
his back and thighs with each subtle movement.  Positioned at six of
the nine chairs gathered around the table, members of the Obsidian
Order waited with anticipation in their eyes.  Corbin Entek, with
endless night in his gaze, Pythas Lok, Madred, before he went insane,
Vorlem, Erok and Sayem.  He could have easily chosen others - their
personality wasn't exactly important at this junction.  In fact, the
similarities ended at their looks - whatever else was irrelevant,
therefore not programmed. They would act to the extent of Garak's
preparations.

Garak smiled, feeling muscles jump against his hand as he stroked one
of Julian's bare shoulders.  He bent down, caressing his lips against
the delicate shell of his ear.  "I thought it would be an interesting
diversion to see you act out your fantasy, Doctor," he whispered.

Julian glanced blindly at his side, clearly puzzled and not a little
frightened.

"Have you forgotten so soon?" Garak said, capturing the tender lobe in
his mouth and suckling at the flesh.  Releasing it noisily, he added,
"Though you'll forgive me, I had no intention to make you the
station's resident slut.  I'm content in making you my colleagues'
entertainment for now." Julian backed into his chair, panic gripping
him for a moment before Garak relaxed him again with his hands on his
shoulders.  "You always have the safety of your word, Doctor.  But
indulge me for a little while ... and see where your strength and your
desires bring you.  I would like to watch - and I think you would like
that," he drawled, noting that Julian's semi-hard cock twitched in
response.

"This was your fantasy, not mine," Julian hissed, though his voice was
roughened by arousal.

"Regardless, we are here now, and I've set down the terms of my
punishment. Although were I in your place, I'd hardly call that
punishment at all," Garak added teasingly, releasing him.  He nodded
at his colleagues, who in turn began to crowd around Julian's chair.
He made a subtle movement, one the computer recognized as one of many
visual clues, and the men relaxed. It wouldn't do to overwhelm the
young man with raging Cardassian hormones so quickly.  Rather, Garak
wanted a slow seduction.  He chose a chair slightly out of the way and
made himself comfortable.

Entek was the first.  He lured Bashir into a standing position and
appraised him.  Julian was still blind to the men around him, and
doubtless he knew how many they were, or where they were located.
Garak smiled at this, relaxing his hands on his thighs and watching in
rapt attention.

Oh but how he was lovely, he thought.  When Entek trailed his hands
down the Human's flanks, Garak instantly admired the way Julian's body
arched with involuntary craving.  It occurred to him that Julian did
not know who he was dealing with, and possibly he thought that Garak
was among the men.  He smiled at this, sitting back as the show
continued.

Entek was not a man who liked to prolong pleasures.  At least, not
this simulation.  He lulled Julian over the table, face up, and raked
his hands down his smooth thighs.  Madred and Vorlem smiled wickedly
as they loosened their trousers and taunted Julian's lips with their
respective cocks. Julian, still blind to what was going on, barely
stifled a moan as he caressed his hands over his chest, his stomach,
as though he were performing purely for Garak's attention.  Entek
lifted Julian's legs and buried his face at his groin.  Startled by
the sudden move, Julian lifted himself from the table as he arched his
back.  His moan was now undeniable.  Pythas leaned down to capture the
doctor's mouth in a kiss, and Garak couldn't help but consider the
exchange very sensual.  Here were all men who had, at one point or
another, done horrible things to either advance their careers or
establish their reputation within the order - it gave Garak an
additional twitch of pleasure to turn them into voluptuous puppets
whose only goal was to pleasure the Human now sprawled over the table.

Garak hissed and squeezed his hand over his groin.

Julian was trying to say something, rushed, hissed words that were
incoherent between his animalistic breaths and strangled moans.
Madred shoved his cock in the doctor's mouth to suppress his efforts,
grunting when Julian suckled noisily at it.

Garak bit his lips.

Entek was straightening up, his mouth glistening, his fingers
preparing his entry into the Human's body.

Garak's body tensed as his hand slipped quickly into his trousers to
clutch his own painful erection.  He was suddenly light-headed, unable
to explain his reaction to the scene in front of him.  He'd seen this
before, recreated it for his own voyeuristic pleasure on countless
occasions ... perhaps it was the giddy realization that Julian was
real, and that he was so beautifully reacting to the hands on him, the
fine sheen of sweat the computer had never got a handle on ... or the
way he writhed ... or the way his body jerked downward in a silent
plea to be fucked ...

Barely suppressing a roar, Garak leapt from his seat and shoved Entek
away. He scrambled to free his erection then grabbed flailing Human
legs to steady him.  He waited, pushed his urge far into the reaches
of his control, and looked around at the men.  Without a word, they
backed away from the table and shimmered from their holographic
existence.

Julian was beyond notice, and he squirmed atop the table in a silent
but eloquent demand.  How could Garak refuse?  He bent over him,
bracing himself with one hand near the doctor's head.  Baring his
teeth, he hissed, "What is it you want?"  With an indelicate move, he
tore the fabric from his eyes. He nearly faltered at the sight of
those wide, dark eyes suffused with a desire he would have never
imagined.

"You," Julian breathed hurriedly, sitting up to kiss him.  Their
erections slipped wetly against one another.  Garak's body loosened,
unable to resist the pull of this young Human.  They kissed with
savage demand, and though Julian was still pinned by the Cardassian,
he gave as much as he was given. Soon Garak was breathless, needing,
his control forgotten.

But he needed to remember it ... remember old skills, it was very
important that he not succumb so readily, despite Julian's
intoxicating demeanor.  He splayed his hand carefully on the damp,
smooth torso and pushed.  "Lie ... still ..." Garak breathed
unsteadily, taking a few steps that brought him to the side of the
table.  "Today, I want only to see you ..." he whispered, his palm
curling over Julian's forehead and offering enough pressure to steady
him.  With his free hand he cupped the slender cock, a detached part
of his mind marveling at the heat it radiated.  Julian moaned with
abandon, gripping the sides of the table as he fought to remain still.

He was breathtaking.

"To watch you," Garak hissed urgently, pumping his hand, "To see you
lose yourself to pleasure ... as my hands on you dictate ... you are a
wonder to behold, Julian.  Such sensual energy, uninhibited ..." His
words had the desired effect, for Bashir began to lift his hips
without thought, yearning to come.  "Not today ... I won't take you
today ... the dessert I want to keep for the end, when I've satisfied
myself with the meal ..." he murmured, pumping his fist anew.
Julian's mouth hung open, his eyes closed, his forehead furrowed with
focus.  "And then," Garak continued, stroking him faster, "it will be
me inside you, fucking you ... can you see it, Julian?" he said,
stopping long enough to rub his thumb over the oozing tip of his cock.
That small touch, insignificant really, was enough ... as Garak knew
it would be.

Julian's face suddenly smoothed and a choked half-cry erupted in his
throat as he came.  The halted cry segued into an animalistic keening
wail as his seed spurted thickly over Garak's fist and his stomach.

Garak was riveted, focused on that normally sedate face suffused with
a lost expression that spoke volumes about his ecstasy.

He had much to do with his young Human friend.  Much to do.

Only after he had processed this thought that Garak bowed his head and
stroked himself to completion, a word spilling from his mouth before
he thought to keep it tucked in his mind.

---

The next morning, Julian sat at his console nursing a Jumja tea and
going over his schedule.  He had an absent smile on his lips, one he
realized was there only after Nurse Jabara commented on it.

"Hm?  Oh, I'm sorry," he smiled apologetically.

Jabara chuckled.  "Well don't apologize for it.  Here's those results
from the weekly physicals," she said, handing him a PADD.  She was
about to leave when Julian stopped her.

"Do you suppose the linguistic database has any information on
Kardasi?"

The request startled her, though given the doctor's friendship with
the only Cardassian on the station, she could perhaps understand why.
"I don't think so.  Those files were in the main central core when the
Occupation ended, so I'm assuming they were wiped out.  I know a
little bit of Kardasi, maybe I could help?" she offered.  She was
confused by his suddenly embarrassed look.

"I'm sure it's nothing, nevermind," he was quick to say.

"Doctor, I don't mind," she smiled reassuringly.

Julian sighed and looked up bravely.  "Erin ka."

A delicate eyebrow rose.  For a moment, she struggled very hard to
contain a straight face.  "Erin'ka, you say?"

Julian nodded gingerly.

She pressed her lips together and shook her head.  "I'm sorry, I wish
I knew.  Never heard that one before," she lied smoothly, wanting to
spare the doctor's embarrassment.  As she moved to leave, she wondered
if Doctor Bashir knew what he'd gotten himself into.  A Cardassian,
presumably Garak, declaring Erin'ka could only mean ...

She cleared her throat and looked up at the Cardassian in question
having just entered the Infirmary.  "Mister Garak," she nodded,
avoiding his gaze.

"Nurse Jabara, what a pleasure," the tailor smiled ingratiatingly.  "I
was stopping by to see if Doctor Bashir was free for dinner," he
added.

"You'll find him in his office," she nodded, stifling a grin as he
walked by her.  When he was gone, she shook her head.  "Erin'ka
indeed," she smirked.

---

The End