The BLTS Archive - The Cheap Date
The Second Garak and Bashir Mystery
by JA Ingram (cjjingram@localnet.com)

---

Disclaimer: TPTB own it, but that doesn't mean they deserve to keep
it.

For my sweet Mark, whom I love and respect, for Charlene Vickers who 
always gets me into these messes to begin with (but betas, so that's
good), and for Christopher Ingram, my favorite cheap date.

Author's Note: This was originally posted on a whim to ASCEM, however
since then I've decided to turn this into an ongoing mystery series.
As such, there have been slight revisions made to this story that
weren't in the original post. Please enjoy. -Jen

---
First Date: A Favor
---

Julian had his feet propped up and had just started getting
comfortable when the chime to his quarters chirped. He sighed and
tried to keep the annoyance out of his face as he rose to answer. It
had been a bad day, filled with rude, demanding patients and he had
just wanted to relax and get himself back into shape.

Why do people keep coming to me, he thought as he approached the door,
it's not like he was the only doctor on board. Dr. Okuna was supposed
to be on night shift, "Enter."

Standing before him was Garak, with a slightly uneasy expression on
his face, "Good evening, doctor. I hope I'm not disturbing you?"

"Not...really." For a moment, Julian felt little caught off guard. The
tailor had never come to the doctor's quarters before, well, not to
his door anyway. The last time he'd been in these quarters, Garak been
standing over Julian's bed in the middle of the night to take him to
an orphanage on Bajor. Actually, even knowing of Garak's odd habit of
showing up in the middle of the night unawares, he almost found it
more disturbing to see Garak just standing in the doorway like a
normal person, "Are you ill or something, Garak?"

"No, not at all," a shadow of discomfort crossed Garak's features and
he stepped back. "I'm sorry, I apologize for coming unannounced. I
won't keep you any longer. Have a good-"

"Wait," Julian stopped him, "Isn't there something you needed?"

The tailor paused, then shrugged, "The replicator unit in my quarters
isn't working and I was wondering if I could impose upon you to allow
me to use yours, if it wouldn't be too much trouble?" Garak asked
apologetically.

"No, no trouble at all," Julian stepped back from the entrance and
gestured for Garak to enter. "Please, come in."

"I normally wouldn't ask, but there are several Vedeks and Bajoran
leaders touring the station for the conference this week and I didn't
want to cause any...well, you understand," Garak shrugged, politely
looking around Julian's quarters as he explained, "Normally, my
presence wouldn't be a disturbance, but these men and women don't live
here and might object to sitting next to a Cardassian in a restaurant
for...obvious reasons." He took a breath and walked toward Julian's
replicator in the kitchenette. "There's something wrong with the power
supply to my replicator unit and Chief O'Brien assured me that he'd
look at it in the morning. You're one of the few people I know who
wouldn't mind me using yours until mine is repaired."

"Well, I was getting a bit hungry myself, actually," Julian gave him a
friendly smile.

"I had only intended to replicate the food and go, Doctor," Garak
said. "If you have plans, I don't want to keep you."

"No, not at all, I was planning on dining in myself. Please, feel free
to join me," Julian invited.

"Thank you," Garak bowed his head slightly in acceptance. He turned to
the replicator, "Oh good, your unit has quite an extensive menu. Let's
see, Roast Tarkelian fowl in wine sauce with new potatoes and carrots
and a large glass of iced tea, lightly sweetened."

"That does sound good," Julian said. "Today was so hectic I barely had
time to breathe much less eat today." He gestured toward the
replicator, "Would you mind?"

"Not at all." Garak ordered a second plate and Julian gestured for him
to join him at his small table. "This does smell good, doesn't it?"

"Very, I'm famished," Julian dropped his napkin into his lap and the
two fell silent as they ate. At first, neither man spoke because
hunger occupied their attention but after a few moments, Julian began
to wonder if he should begin some sort of discussion. Occasionally,
the two men shared lunches at the replimat, talking about literature
and such, but in this unusual circumstance he had no clue what he
should talk about. "Um, so how was work today?" Julian winced
inwardly. He might as well have asked how the weather was on the
Promenade. Coming up with small talk always made him feel awkward.

"Honestly? It was terrible," Garak dabbed at the corners of his mouth
with his napkin then paused to sip his drink. "It seemed like everyone
who entered the shop today was in a foul mood. One customer was so
insulted that I didn't have her dress size already in stock, that I
thought I'd have to call security."

Well, apparently Garak approved of the topic after all. "I know what
you mean," Julian said ruefully. "I had to deal with a bunch of idiots
who decided to try mountain climbing in one of the holosuites with the
safety protocols turned down. They acted as though it was my fault
that they got hurt and when I pointed out that the safeties are there
to protect them, they practically blistered my ears with foul language
and insults. I really hate tourists."

"A necessary evil in a Space Station, I'm afraid," Garak grinned. "At
least you didn't have a 480lb, 7'8" Balgorath threaten to disembowel
you because you implied she wasn't petite enough to fit in something
off the rack."

"Wow, I never realized being a tailor was so hazardous to one's
health," Julian chuckled, "Now I have this picture in my head of you
being sat on a big angry woman with a boar's head and large tusks
wearing a too-tight ball gown."

"You're not too far off the mark actually. I'll admit, being a tailor
does have an element of danger at times, my dear doctor," Garak smiled
and ate some of his vegetables before launching into another hilarious
tale of his near death experiences within the retail industry.

After dinner, Julian and Garak replicated some dessert and sat on the
couch with their coffee and continued their discussion. The topics
ranged from station gossip to art and philosophy. It was like one of
their lunches, only the topics were more free flowing and less rushed.
He was actually enjoying himself and beginning to really get into the
flow of things when he realized they had lost track of time. "It can't
be after 12 o'clock, can it?" He looked up at the chronometer on the
wall with surprise.

Garak rose from the couch and stifled a yawn, "It is getting late,
excuse me, I'm afraid I really must be going. This day is finally
beginning to catch up with me. However, I do want to thank you for
your hospitality and your company. It has been a pleasure, doctor."

"Julian."

"Excuse me?" Garak asked.

"My name. Call me Julian." A reluctant look crossed the older man's
face and Julian hastened to explain, "Where I'm from when two people
spend an evening meal together and consider themselves to be friends,
we call each other by our given names."

"I see." Garak gave a slow nod, "Cardassians are a very formal people,
doctor. When we are in the presence of someone we admire or who holds
a respected position, such as yourself," he gestured politely toward
the younger man, "we tend to use their titles instead."

"Well, perhaps you'd consider a compromise." Julian smiled, "When we
run into each other during the day or when I'm on duty, we'll use our
usual greeting for one another. When we meet for an evening meal or in
private, you can call me Julian, all right?"

"Very well," Garak nodded. "Julian, then."

"And your given name is Elim? I'm pronouncing it correctly, yes?"
Julian asked.

"Uh, yes you are." Garak looked a little taken aback.

"Do you...not want me to use your given name?" Julian inquired,
gauging the man's reaction.

"Actually, I'd prefer you didn't. No offence, doctor," he added
quickly, "it's just that not many people have ever called me that. I
confess, I never liked my name, even as a child. 'Elim' never suited
me much which is why I always went by simply Garak, then as I grew
older, I merely got used to not hearing it spoken aloud."

"Why not? It seems like a perfectly good name," Julian frowned. "Very
dignified, actually."

"Too dignified in many ways, it always seemed to be the name of an old
man, or at least I always thought so." Garak leaned a little closer as
if sharing a confidence, "Although I do strive to age gracefully, I'm
not yet ready to give up all of the follies of my youth."

"I understand, perfectly. Plain, simple Garak it is, then," Julian
teased, mocking Garak a little. The first time Julian and Garak had
met, those were the very words the Cardassian used to introduce
himself.

The accompanying smile on the Cardassian's face indicated he also
understood the reference.

"You have it exactly, my dear doc-excuse me, Julian," he corrected
himself. "Are there any other customs I might share with you instead,
then?"

"A handshake," Julian offered the Cardassian his outstretched hand.

"Very well, Julian. Thank you," Garak took Julian's hand in his,
gratefully.

It was supposed to be a simple handshake, but just as their hands
clasped, Julian felt as though something passed between them like a
shock of electricity or the pull of a magnet. Despite the confidence
of his grip, the look on the other man's face implied Garak also
seemed a bit out of sorts. Their hands remained touching for just a
second or two longer than was necessary, then Garak released his hand
and headed out the door, "Goodnight, Garak," Julian called out.

Garak gave him the briefest of smiles and said a simple, "Goodnight,
doctor," and left.

Julian stared after the door for a few moments trying to decide what
he was feeling right now. Perhaps it's just fatigue coupled with
stress, he decided and concentrated on trying to clear his head before
moving toward the bedroom.

---
Second Date: The Emergency
---

It had been several days since their evening meal, and now he and
Garak were sitting together at the replimat. They kept to their usual
safe topics, literature and politics, and Garak referred to Julian as
'doctor', while Julian made sure to keep his hands to himself. That
handshake bothered him for some reason he couldn't place and he was
just happy to be back to their normal routine.

Just sitting down with their trays, Garak and he were already in a
lively debate about the use of alliteration in one of the books they
were both reading, when Julian looked over to see Cherinala, one of
Quark's Dabo girls, rubbing her temples as she tried to focus on her
soup. "Excuse me for a moment, Garak," Julian interrupted and turn in
his seat toward the girl. "Are you all right?"

She blinked slowly and squinted at him blearily, "I...I don't know,"
her hands were shaking slightly and her head dipped alarmingly toward
the table.

Julian caught her shoulders just before she fell face first into her
lunch, knocking over his chair in the process, the accompanying
clatter attracting the curious gazes of several of the Replimat's
occupants. "Okay, we're going to the infirmary now, sweetheart. Garak?
Can you help me give this young lady a hand?"

"Yes, of course," the Cardassian arose from his seat and helped Julian
bring the young woman to her feet.

"Bashir to the infirmary." Julian tapped his comm badge as he draped
one of the girl's arms over his shoulder while Garak did the same.
Cherinala was tall and Garak was just a few inches shorter than
Julian, but they balanced her between them as best they could and made
their way out of the Replimat, toward the Promenade.

//Yes, doctor?//

"I'm bringing someone to the Infirmary. She's had a dizzy spell. I
need you to go ahead and prepare some hyposprays. We'll be there
momentarily," Julian's voice was cool and confident as the they made
their way there as quickly and safely as they could.

//Do you need me to send a stretcher, doctor?// Nurse Gianella asked.

"No, Mr. Garak and I have it in hand, I think," Julian answered. "Well
now, what's got you feeling so bad?" He asked the young Dabo girl
cheerfully.

"I feel strange..my head...my stomach...hurts," she said then
collapsed, causing Julian and Garak to have to keep their balance as
she lost consciousness.

"I can carry her," Garak said, lifting her into his arms as they
hurried down the corridor.

"We're almost there," Julian said, jogging beside Garak and feeling
the woman's pulse. "Her heart rate is quite elevated." His eyebrows
knitted together in concern.

"Drugs?" It was the first thing that popped into Garak's mind. Quark,
for all his faults, kept a fairly respectable bar, but recreational
drug use still happened, especially among the youth set and pleasure
workers. Late nights, high energy levels, and easy money were always
contributing factors.

"I'm not going to speculate until I use a medical scanner on her, but
it's a possibility." The doctor struggled to fight the sudden burst of
annoyance that bubbled up within him. In the last three weeks, he had
treated eight near overdoses and a host of side effects from illicit
drug use. It was a waste of life, and he found the risks these
otherwise healthy people were taking abhorrent. The chaos and disorder
these people made of their lives--how they could choose to live like
this was something he couldn't even begin to fathom.

The reached the Infirmary and Garak laid her on the biobed Julian
indicated. The doctor took the medical tricorder from Nurse Gianella
and began to scan her. "Hypospray, please, 2 ccs of tetrahydradone."

"Orange D?" The nurse asked, looking at the girl with sad eyes.

"Starting to look that way," Julian said grimly.

"So young..." the nurse said sadly. She and Garak watched Julian as he
administered the hypospray and waited for it to take effect.

"Alright then, sweetheart, how are you feeling now?" Julian asked her
softly as he lifted her eyelid and examined her pupils.

"Wha-what happened?" the girl asked, obviously still disoriented.

"You tell me,"Julian said. "Do you remember taking anything?"

"No." Cherinala answered weakly.

"You have a drug called Orange D in your system, Cherinala," Julian
told her. "I need to know where you got it from."

"No," she looked at him with a confused expression. "I don't use
drugs, I swear. The only thing I had today was some juice before I
went on my lunch break."

"Was anyone standing near you at the bar? Did you pour the drink
yourself?" Garak asked, stepping toward the bed.

"Rom was bartending, but I don't know how this happened. It's been a
busy morning," She winced and held her stomach. "I think I'm going to
vomit," she said weakly.

The nurse handed her a kidney shaped tray and Julian administered
another hypospray, "That's the medicine working. Unfortunately, it
causes nausea so I've given you something to help you through it. Are
you absolutely sure you didn't take it yourself?" Julian asked.

"I don't do drugs," she insisted. "Some of the girls probably do, but
I have a little sister to support. I swear, Dr. Bashir, honest."

"Okay, Cherinala, I believe you, but either way I have to get a drug
panel and report this to Constable Odo. Nurse Gianella will monitor
you while you get some sleep, okay?" He gave her a kindly smile and
patted her shoulder.

"I can't!" She tried to get up but the nurse and Julian gently
restrained her. "Quark will dock me and I can't afford it!"

"Don't worry about Quark," Julian said. "I have a feeling he'll have
other things to worry about this afternoon. Rest." He nodded to the
nurse and she put a blanket over the young woman.

Julian tapped his comm badge, "Bashir to Odo."

//Yes, doctor?//

"We have had another near overdose, can you meet me at the Infirmary?"

//I'll be right there.// The changeling's gravelly voice seemed to
echo the same emotion Julian, himself, was feeling. This drug problem
aboard DS9 was beginning to escalate and it was a complication he
really didn't need right now.

Julian turned to Garak and sighed, "Your lunch hour is nearly up. I
apologize for taking up your time like this."

"It couldn't have been helped, doctor. Besides," he glanced at the
girl, "I enjoyed watching how you handled the situation. It
was...illuminating."

"How so?" Julian asked.

"You were surprisingly patient despite your annoyance at the drug
findings, and you didn't immediately jump to the conclusion that the
girl had taken the drugs herself. Most would have, especially given
her line of work." Garak answered.

"Quark runs a pretty tight ship when it comes to his Dabo tables and
drug addicts can't count cards and be trusted to handle money," Julian
answered. "Even if she was a habitual user, it wouldn't have affected
the level of care I offered her. She's still a person in need of my
help."

"So if she is telling the truth, then someone in Quark's bar is
slipping drugs into the drinks of young girls." Garak looked at the
doctor with a thoughtful expression. "The constable won't be overly
happy about that."

"I imagine not," Julian agreed.

At that moment the constable appeared in the doorway. Julian broke off
from Garak to speak to Odo for a moment. Garak watched the interaction
between the two. He didn't bother listening to what was being said, as
much as he was just interested in watching the younger man's facial
expressions and demeanor. For a man barely into his thirties, Julian
Bashir was a very skilled and compassionate doctor. The Cardassian
carefully studied Julian as he talked to the constable in low, serious
tones, the harsh lights in the sickbay illuminating his face. He was
fine-boned, but not delicate, Garak decided. He wasn't feminine in
either his looks or his mannerisms, quite the opposite, but he
possessed a delicate touch and a natural grace which the older man
found very attractive.

He'd been somewhat infatuated by the young physician for some time but
had never acted upon his feelings. Garak had enjoyed many lovers, most
agents who worked undercover needed to be flexible in their sexuality
because pillow talk often worked better than torture when trying to
pry secrets from a target. However, he'd never allowed anyone close
enough to him to actually feel anything. Sex was a means to an end in
his world and he'd grown to think of the act in cynical terms. He
hadn't taken a lover in almost two years, not since he'd been with a
silk merchant he'd met on the station and that had merely been
something to ease his tension. When he first met Julian Bashir, he
considered seducing him. He was attractive and young, but as he got to
know Julian, he'd changed his mind.

There were some people Garak just didn't sleep with, and Julian was
one of them. Those were the kind of individuals who made him actually
feel something, and in his world, that was a dangerous thing.
Unchecked emotion made you vulnerable, and besides, Julian Bashir was
a heterosexual man. He'd broken up with Leeta just a few months
previously, and had never shown any interest in anything other than
polite conversation. Still, every once in awhile, he'd look at Garak
in a way that made the Cardassian suspect Julian had some attraction
toward him as well. The other night had been very pleasant, if awkward
at first, and watching the compassion and maturity the young physician
had shown toward his patient filled Garak with some unknown emotion.
He admired Bashir greatly, perhaps that was all it was, but as time
passed Garak grew tired of his exile, and the thought of taking a
companion was beginning to appeal to him. Perhaps it was old age, he
thought dryly. His cold bed and the Cardassian instinct to seek out
companionship was overriding his common sense. It would pass, as long
as he kept his head and didn't take Julian Bashir's possible interest
in him seriously.

Odo left the doctor to go talk with the girl and Julian approached
Garak with a chagrined expression, "Again, I apologize. We hardly ate
a bite at lunch. I know you only have a few minutes left. If you'd
like, you can come with me to my office. I have a small replicator in
there, it's just programmed for snacks and sandwiches for when I have
to eat on the go, but it's better than nothing. I know you don't have
one in your shop and the lines in the replimat are ridiculous this
time of day."

"If you wouldn't mind the company," Garak said accepting. After all,
he thought, he was hungry and the doctor had a point about the long
lines. He'd never gotten around to installing a food replicator in his
shop. He disliked having food around the fine cloth and most people
shopped with him because he never used replicated materials in his
garments. The food replicator might give them the wrong impression and
his shop was far too small to bother with such a thing when there were
restaurants all around them.

They settled in Julian's small office, Julian behind the desk which
was crowded with various PADDs and Garak in a comfortable arm chair
across from him. The small replicator was in the wall near the desk,
placed there for convenience, Garak imagined. Being a doctor aboard a
space station could be hectic and the physicians who served here often
had to eat at least some of their meals at their desks. Julian paused
before ordering their lunch, "Any preferences? Chicken salad, roast
beef, or ham and cheese, perhaps?"

"Nothing with pickled vegetables or mayonnaise. I never have gotten
used to those particular Terran delicacies." Garak made a slight face
to emphasize his distaste of the two condiments.

"Really? I love kosher pickles, myself," Julian shrugged. He then
addressed the replicator, "Two sandwiches with roast beef, Swiss
cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, and spicy brown mustard on toasted wheat
bread. Two servings of cottage cheese and fruit, and two glasses of
vegetable juice, cold, with a lemon wedge. Sound good?" He asked Garak
as the items materialized on the small replicator pad.

"Very healthy," Garak approved.

Julian handed his companion a plate and began to eat using the desk as
a table, "Well, when you have to catch your meals on the fly, you do
your best to avoid junk."

They ate for a few minutes in silence and as Garak bit into his
sandwich, his eyebrows lifted in surprise, "This is actually quite
good."

"They don't have sandwiches on Cardassia?" Julian asked around a
mouthful of food.

Garak gave him a withering look, "Putting meat between slices of bread
is hardly a revolutionary concept, my dear doctor. I just meant that I
normally don't eat this sort of thing. It really, what's the term
you'd use on your world? Hits the spot." He smiled and took another
bite.

"I'll admit I prefer a hot meal with lots of vegetables, but a
sandwich can be a man's best friend in a pinch. The key is to avoid
potato chips or greasy snacks. This way all the food groups are
represented and you get plenty of healthy fiber from the wheat bread."

"Spoken like a true health care provider," Garak added.

"It's one of the pitfalls of the job," Julian shrugged. "After you've
seen what happens when people abuse their bodies with junk and empty
calories, you start watching what you eat."

"Well, thank you, doctor. I appreciate your diligence in protecting me
and my waistline," Garak joked as he dug his spoon into the cottage
cheese and ate.

"Julian," the doctor said.

"Excuse me?" Garak asked, wiping the corners of his mouth.

"My name. You called me doctor again. We agreed we'd be less formal
when we're alone," Julian said, twisting a bit of lemon into his juice
and taking a sip.

"As I recall we agreed to do so only when we were at an evening meal
and in private quarters. This," he gestured around them, "is your
office."

"My private office, and I won't have time for an evening meal, so this
is it," Julian said.

"I'm not sure-" Garak began.

"C'mon Garak," Julian snorted, "It's just a name, and it would make me
happy."

"Why?" Garak asked, ignoring his sandwich and looking at his companion
curiously.

Good question, he thought to himself before throwing caution to the
wind. "It just would," Julian shrugged. "You're my friend and friends
use one another's names."

"Very well...Julian," Garak sipped his juice, then looked up at the
chronometer. "I have a fitting in another 15 minutes or so. I suppose
we'd best finish eating and hurry about our day."

Julian had finished wolfing down half his sandwich and was working on
the cottage cheese, "I'm really sick of this drug situation developing
on board. It's just a matter of time before it gets out of control. As
it is now, Odo and his security team haven't been able to find out how
the drugs are getting on the station. They're checking every ship as
it comes in, but no luck. I just don't understand how could anyone
justify selling dangerous and illegal drugs for profit, no matter what
the short-term rewards might be? "

"When ever and where ever you have groups of people under stress,
you're going to find an active drug trade." Garak sighed. "As a
doctor, you know people self-medicate to relieve pain and stress. We
saw a lot of it among the ground troops on Cardassia. As you know, I,
myself, had an addiction to the implant I'd received years previously.
That sort of dependence just creeps up on you and before you know it,
you're using just to feel normal."

"Of course I understand the psychology," Julian said, picking at his
fruit, "I just don't understand why a person would put an unknown and
dangerous substance into their bodies and risk addiction or death for
a few minutes of pleasure. Especially when medical and psychological
counseling is free and available on board. It boggles the mind,
frankly."

"We do a lot of things that are dangerous on a daily basis, merely
because they feel good," Garak countered. "Not all of us do it with
narcotics, but we still justify them like any other addict until we
stop seeing the risks and merely look at the short term rewards."

"So, you're using that to justify unregulated drug use? Should we also
seek the legalization and trade of narcotics like Orange D on board
just because people will use it whether it's legal or not?" Julian
asked with a dark scowl.

"No, Julian," Garak said, taking a sip of his juice, "Not at all. I'm
saying that people use drugs to numb their emotions, just like sex is
sometimes a substitute for intimacy. Sex is a potentially dangerous
act, but people hop from one bed to another, unprotected because they
figure that in this age most sexually transmitted diseases can be
cured with a hypospray. They don't take into consideration that those
illnesses can only be cured if they're reported and some, like Deltan
Fever, can't be cured at all."

"You'd have a lot better chance of overdosing from Orange than
catching Deltan Fever," Julian replied, "I may treat 50 cases of
sexually transmitted disease a year, all so far cured with a hypo and
a lecture on safe sex, but I've treated nine overdoses in little over
a month, three of them this week alone including that girl in there.
Eventually, they're going to start dying and I won't be able to stop
it. Orange D--" Julian made a disgusted noise in his throat as he said
the name. "O.D.-I don't know if it's a general warning or a drug
pusher's idea of a sick joke calling it that!"

"You said that Constable Odo is searching all incoming shipments and
docking stations?" Garak asked thoughtfully.

"Yes, but it's a big station," Julian took another bite of cottage
cheese then continued. "Even with his entire security force and some
of the Starfleet marines searching, you and I both know that as long
as there is a profit to be made, the drugs will keep coming."

Garak stared at his hands thoughtfully, "May I have one last word with
the girl before I go-if it wouldn't impede her recovery, of course?"

"Certainly," Julian's eyebrows quirked up in surprise, "but Odo
already questioned her. I'm sure if there were anything to be learned
about how she ingested the drug, Odo is already checking on it."

"One of the requirements for being a great interrogator or a great
tailor is to listen to what is being said without injecting your own
preconceived ideas into the process," Garak explained with a slight
smile. "Odo has his own agenda: stopping the drug trade, which is
good, but it may blind him to other possibilities. You want to save
your patients, so your questions have to do with the 'what' and 'how',
Odo wants to know 'who' and 'where'--I think I'd like to know the
answer to 'when'. When did she become exposed to Orange D?"

"We already know that," Julian leaned back in his chair and drank the
last of his juice. "She said she drank some juice at the bar.
Obviously, someone slipped it in her drink then."

"How is Orange D usually taken, doctor?" Garak grimaced apologetically
at his companions disapproving frown. "I'm sorry, how is it usually
administered, Julian?"

"It's sniffed or smoked," Julian explained. "It usually isn't ingested
orally, but whoever put it in her drink probably didn't know that."

"Unlikely," Garak disagreed, "if someone put something in her drink,
it was intentional and it was done by someone with an agenda who was
familiar with the drug. She's a pretty girl and doesn't seem to live a
lifestyle which would make her the target of someone who would kill
her intentionally. She was on her way to lunch so nothing would be
gained by having her swoon at a Dabo table and there are too many
other players and witnesses for someone to slip a few extra chips into
their pockets while she was under the influence anyway. Chances are,
with revenge and greed not the motivation for this crime, the only
reason a girl like that would be given a drugged drink would be if her
assailant wanted sex. We both know Rom is the last person who would
ever do something like that and he's the only person to have contact
with the glass other than the girl. No," Garak shook his head,
"something is missing."

Julian gathered their plates off the desk and put them back on the
replicator pad for recycling then rose to his feet, "Well, let's go
ask then," the doctor looked up at Garak for a moment and grinned.
"First a replicated dinner at home, now a replicated lunch at my
desk-Garak, you're turning into a very cheap date."

"Excuse me?" Garak asked, a little taken aback. "What exactly is 'a
cheap date'?"

"It's just something we say on Earth," Julian shrugged. "It means that
you're happy with a simple and inexpensive meal and that you don't
have to be wined and dined to enjoy my company, that's all."

"I see," Garak responded slowly, "well, I suppose that means that you
also consider this to be a date, albeit a 'cheap' one, then?"

"Well..." the doctor suddenly appeared to be at a loss for words. His
mouth hung open slightly as if he were trying to think of some
response, any response to Garak's question.

"I'm flattered, Julian," Garak rose from his seat and grinned
mischievously. "However, if this is your idea of seduction, next time
let's try for something a little less on the cheap. You are, after
all, an up and coming doctor, and I wouldn't want to compromise my
virtue for a mere sandwich and a glass of juice. I do have my
standards, after all."

"You are an terrible person, Garak," Julian said, rolling his eyes.

"I can see why you're still single if that's how you talk to all of
your dates, my dear Julian," Garak chuckled. "Now, let's go see about
this mystery we have before us."

"Agreed," Julian held out his hand and Garak accepted it. Something
seemed to pass between them just as their fingers touched and both
men's breath stilled.

Julian stepped closer to Garak and looked into his eyes. Garak's face
was soft and open, his eyes searching as if to try to fathom what the
younger man was thinking. Julian felt a sudden surge of energy fill
his body and, it was then that he knew that he, not Garak, was now in
control of what was happening between them. The doctor had felt some
attraction toward Garak in the past, but had never acted on it because
Garak had always seemed so unreachable, so unobtainable. The doctor
had noted on more than one occasion in his Personal Logs that the
Cardassian was like smoke, thick and dark, but when you tried to reach
for it, insubstantial. He caressed the back of Garak's hand with his
thumb experimentally and watched as the other man's expression changed
from surprise to something deeper, warmer.

Julian stepped forward then dipped his head, his mouth just inches
from the unmoving Cardassian's. He closed his eyes, stepped back, then
shook his head as if to regain his senses, "I'm sorry," he backed off
and let go of his companion's hand.

"What?" Garak asked weakly, clearly affected by the near kiss.

The heat within Julian's eyes grew. He clenched his hands and took a
breath, allowing the tailor to see for himself that he was very
interested, but reluctant to move upon the attraction too quickly.
"It's not time, not yet. I just...I wanted to kiss you and it's too
soon for that."

Garak licked his dry lips and struggled to regain his composure. He
wasn't used to not being in control and this young man had him feeling
like an adolescent virgin. It was highly disconcerting. "Oh. I...see.
I-"

Julian stepped forward again and placed a warm hand on Garak's cheek.
Their gazes locked, "Just so you know, I am going to kiss you
eventually," Julian said bluntly, "where and when the time is right."

Great Hebetian Gods, Garak's brain seemed to melt in his skull, when
did Julian Bashir get the upper hand? Panic and desire tore at Garak
for a moment. On one hand he wanted to run as far and fast as he
could. This man had torn down his defenses utterly and was succeeding
in manipulating him in a way no other person ever had. On the other
hand, the only thing he wanted at that moment was to feel Julian's
lips on his, the tall human pressed against him, hard and ready. The
doctor was stating very clearly what his intentions toward Garak were,
and in all the years the Cardassian had known Julian Bashir, he'd
always assumed that if they ever did become lovers, it was Garak who
would do the seducing. Now, he realized, that would not be the case.

"We should go talk to Cherinala," Julian said softly, caressing
Garak's cheek once more before dropping his hand. Julian moved toward
the door and gestured for Garak to follow. "Are you coming?"

Garak's mind drew a blank, "What?"

"To talk to Cherinala, the Dabo girl?" Julian smiled slightly,
somewhat amused by the affect his touch had on the usually composed
tailor. "You said you had questions to ask her before you went back to
the shop."

"Questions?" Garak asked dumbly, "Yes. Yes! Of course," Julian stepped
aside to allow Garak to exit first and the tailor began to feel a bit
annoyed. His friend was enjoying having the upper hand far more than
he should. This whole situation was a bit unsettling, really. He was
far too old for this sort of thing.

Garak tried to ignore the strange feelings the doctor had conjured in
him from their unexpected and unsettling moment together and instead
focused his attention on the girl lying on the biobed. As he
approached her, he waited for Julian to awaken her gently,
"Cherinala?" Julian's voice was soft as to not startle her. "We need
to ask you a few questions."

She opened her eyes slowly and looked from one man to the other, "I
must have nodded off."

"You were supposed to," Julian assured her. "Your body wasn't made to
be subjected to that kind of sudden stress. You're just lucky Mr.
Garak and I were there to get you to the infirmary so quickly."

"My sister?" Cherinala tried to sit up and Julian stopped her, easing
her back down gently.

The nurse got up from her desk across the room and approached them,
"It's okay, dear. After the constable took your statement he had Quark
let Leeta off to watch her. She's staying in her quarters until you
feel better."

"Leeta will take good care of her," Julian said with a nod. "She's a
good friend of mine and very responsible with children as far as I
know."

"Leeta's nice," Cherinala agreed, "She shares her tips with me
sometimes. I need to get out of here soon, though. Adona is only five,
she'll be worried if I'm not there to watch her after school and I
can't make money if I don't go back to work."

"I think after you leave here you'll find that Quark has undoubtedly
been encouraged by the constable to offer you some sort of sick
leave," Garak said dryly.

"You need to rest," Julian added. "Even if you could leave, the
constable is searching your quarters right now." Julian patted her
shoulder, "Not that we don't believe you, but it's standard procedure.
We need to make sure you were exposed at Quark's and not by something
in your quarters. We don't want Adona ingesting something potentially
fatal, do we?"

"No," Cherinala agreed, her brow furrowed with worry. "Am I in
trouble?"

"Not at all, my dear," Garak said smoothly. "We just need to go over
your statement one more time. You said you drank some juice Rom gave
you, did you put it down and walk away? Could anyone else besides you
and Rom have handled it?"

"No," she said, trying to concentrate. "He handed me the glass and I
drank it as quickly as I could. It was hot," she explained. "Today it
was kind of crowded because the ships were delayed due to the extra
security measures. Quark was saying that all the extra searches were
helping his business because the supply crews were all in the bar
waiting to be cleared to leave."

"That sounds like Quark," Julian muttered.

"Indeed," Garak agreed. "Did you eat or drink anything else before you
entered the replimat?"

"No, nothing," the girl shook her head. "I skipped breakfast this
morning because I was late getting Adona off to school." She paused,
"Except..."

"Except what?" Garak asked, his attention focused on her.

"I ate a piece of hard candy, but that couldn't have had anything to
do with me getting sick," she said.

"Where did you get the candy?" Julian asked, his eyes searching her
face.

Cherinala looked from one man to the other, "That's just it, I got the
candy from Craig. He left a small bag of it on the bar when he was
doing his rounds, and I figured he wouldn't mind so I took a piece."

"His rounds?" Julian asked.

"Yeah, Odo has all his security officers doing extra rounds." She
looked at Garak, "Craig works in security, that's why I know it
couldn't have been the candy that was poisoned."

---
Date Three: A Leisurely Walk Around The Station
---

Garak locked up his shop and straightened the cuffs of his tunic, then
brushed off the small bits of thread that clung to his clothes. Static
electricity, he thought. For some reason, every time he wore this suit
he wound up wearing half his discarded fabric odds and ends home. He
liked the way the deep green fabric looked on him so he wore it
anyway. The price of vanity, he reasoned.

"Garak!"

The tailor looked up to see Julian jog toward him and he suppressed
the sense of giddy expectation that bubbled within him. Ye Gods man,
he cursed inwardly, calm down. Acting like a hormonal twit over a man
nearly twenty years your junior is hardly dignified. "Doctor," he
greeted solemnly.

"Oh, I see," Julian slowed his pace and walked toward his friend,
"We're back to using formalities again."

Garak cleared his throat, "Doctor, I-"

"It's okay, Garak, I'm not planning on jumping you in the middle of
the Promenade," Julian grinned, throwing the Cardassian further off
balance. "I just wanted to talk to you about what happened earlier."

Garak's mind immediately flew back to their near kiss and he flushed,
"Well, it was probably just a momentary lapse of-"

"Not that," Julian interrupted him again, his smile almost triumphant
as he realized he had again caused the normally unflappable tailor to
fumble his response. "I meant the information Cherinala gave us about
this security officer, Craig."

"Oh, of course," Garak nodded, clearing his throat and regaining his
composure. "You didn't tell Odo what she said, did you?"

"No, but I don't know why you told me not to," Julian frowned. "If one
of his security team is trafficking drugs on the station, he should
know immediately."

"We don't know that he is, just that Cherinala ingested some candy he
left behind. For all we know, she might have been mistaken and someone
still could have spiked her drink," Garak said reasonably. "On the off
chance it is this Craig, if we tell Odo our theory and other members
of the security team are involved, it will tip them off." He took a
breath, "No, doctor, we need to make certain that Craig is at the
center of this, and if he is, who his confederates are. This way when
we do go to the constable, he can arrest them all at once. We don't
want them destroying any evidence because we acted prematurely, do
we?"

"That sounds reasonable," Julian agreed slowly. "So what do we do in
the mean time?"

"We go for a walk," Garak said and gestured Julian to follow.

"Where are we walking to?" Julian asked, falling into step beside the
Cardassian.

"I want to check this Craig person's security route," Garak said
quietly. He clasped his hands behind his back and carefully surveyed
the Promenade as they walked. It was a bit late, so the crowds had
thinned out, still there were a good many people milling about. No one
appeared to be watching the two, however, so Garak continued his slow
steady pace, occasionally pausing to examine some window dressings in
the neighboring shops.

"How do you know what his security route is?" Julian asked in a low
voice.

"I read the security logs and found his notes," Garak answered easily.

"You hacked into Odo's computer files?" Julian gave him an incredulous
look.

"Keep your voice down," Garak ordered, "and yes, of course I did. How
else was I going to find out-by following him? I may be a skilled
former agent, doctor, but I'm also the only Cardassian on board this
station and I think I would have been noticed. Besides, I had several
fittings to attend to and I have to earn credits to eat and pay rent.
Unlike you, Starfleet doesn't provide me with free room and board."

"Breaking into secured files is illegal," Julian whispered angrily.
"If you had gotten caught, I would have been implicated as well!"

"Oh please," Garak waved him off, "It wouldn't have been the first
time I've looked through some Starfleet log entries, and I assure you,
I've never been caught."

Julian quickened his pace to keep up with the tailor, "Which files did
you read?"

"Nothing of particular strategic interest, I assure you," Garak
answered, stifling a yawn. "I have a vested interest in the safety and
security of this facility as well, or do I have to remind you that Gul
Dukat has signed my death warrant twice already. No," he said, "I
usually only look through some personal log entries and whatnot just
to break up the monotony and keep my skills sharp."

"Whose files did you read? Mine?" Julian asked impatiently.

Garak turned to face his companion, his bored expression now
transforming into a grin. At last, he again had the upper hand. "Why
do you ask? Do you have something to hide, Julian?"

Garak's use of his name without having to be prompted first, threw
Julian a bit, "Everyone has something they'd prefer to keep to
themselves," he answered. "Those journal entries are private for a
reason."

"Hardly," Garak continued to walk down the corridor. "Someone at
Starfleet must go over the logs eventually or you wouldn't be required
to keep them. No, if you truly wanted to keep a secret the last thing
you'd do is make a record of it."

"Using that line of logic, what makes you think that if Craig the
security officer is our drug kingpin, he'd make an accurate accounting
of his security route to Odo?" Julian glared. Sometimes the tailor
tempted him into losing control of his emotions, especially when he
chose to be so patronizing.

"Because, under normal circumstances, Odo is a very thorough and
suspicious man. Verifying his security teams daily routes is simple
and if this Craig deviated from it in any way, it would send up a red
flag. No," Garak surmised, "if the drugs are coming from him, the
location of his source lies within his daily routine."

They rounded the corner and headed for the turbolifts. "So now where
are we going?" Julian asked. He had to admit, Garak's theory made
sense, not that he was about to confess it out loud.

"According to the records, Craig Wilkins, the only Craig I could find
listed as being in the station's security detail," Garak added,
"checks all the shops along this route every morning around the same
time the Dabo girl ingested the illicit substance in Quark's bar.
After finishing his route, he takes the turbolift down to the lower
cargo decks and inspects all of the unloading areas between Section 24
Bravo and Section 17 Delta."

They entered the lift and Julian ordered the computer to take them
down, "You realize this is going to take us several hours, right?"

"It will take quite some time," Garak agreed, "but not as long as it
takes Officer Wilkins. After all, he has to check at least 12 shops
including Quark's bar before heading down to the docks and we've
already skipped all that. Now, we just have to figure out which area
along this route would allot him the privacy and security he needs to
either manufacture or procure his shipments."

"You think he makes it here, on the station?" Julian asked, turning to
look at Garak.

"This was a refining facility; there are equipment and chemicals left
around that one could convert into a drug lab." Garak shrugged, "In my
experience, thieves and dealers, especially ones who have managed to
escape capture for this long, are smart and resourceful. He's not
making enough Orange to need a large space, so chances are his lab is
probably the size of a broom closet at best. Didn't Cherinala say he
left a bag of candy on the bar and walked away?"

"Yes, why?" Julian asked.

"It would be simple enough to manufacture the drug into some sort of
lozenge then leave it on the bar for a buyer to pick up. The candy
disguises the drugs and when the buyer wanted to use or test them,
he'd crush them back into a powder and inhale. Quite ingenious,
really," Garak explained.

"This is all supposition," Julian pointed out. The turbolift stopped
and they entered another set of corridors. "Even if you're right, if
he only needs a broom closet or less to manufacture the drugs, why
couldn't it be in one of the shops we didn't search?"

"Two reasons; First, there is too much foot traffic in and out of the
shops to manufacture something like that. I have a fairly large shop
in comparison, and my back room is almost nonexistent. Most of the
store owners use their back rooms as storage space, and people are
always going back and forth."

"And the second reason?" Julian prompted.

"Well, I can't be sure, but Odo routinely bugs and puts surveillance
cameras in all the shops. I know he does to mine and at least a few
others he considers 'of interest'." Garak smirked. "With this rash of
drug-related injury, everyone has now fallen under the subject of
'potential interest' to the constable."

The corridors were empty and their footsteps echoed hollowly,
"Speaking of people of interest-" Julian stepped in front of Garak and
stopped him by putting out his hand and laying it against his chest
firmly, but gently. He stepped forward and before Garak had time to
think, laid a quick, closed mouth kiss on the tailor's lips. "It
seemed like a good time to get that out of the way." Julian said with
a self-satisfied grin.

The Cardassian froze. "That's it?" Garak asked, with a frown.

"What do you mean, 'that's it'?" Julian asked, crestfallen.

"I mean, well frankly, I expected...more," Garak arched one eye-ridge,
"Not that it wasn't nice, I suppose."

"Nice?" Julian repeated in a hollow tone. He drew himself up and
glared, "Well, I didn't want to stick my tongue down your throat or
grope you with no warning. I was going for something appropriate to
the occasion."

"The occasion being that we're in the bowels of the station in the
middle of the night searching for a drug lab?" Garak asked archly.

"No, the occasion of what technically could be considered our third
date," Julian folded his arms across his chest.

"I think what humans consider courtship is vastly different than what
Cardassians do," Garak muttered as he continued down the corridor, the
doctor following beside him.

"You would have preferred something more dramatic then?" Julian asked,
his frustration becoming more than evident in his stiff posture.

"No, I mean it was fine for what it was. Honestly, doctor, it was a
perfectly acceptable display of affection. Really," Garak assured the
younger man.

Without warning, Julian shoved the other man against the wall of the
corridor and looked him in the eye, "My name," he said, relishing the
look of utter shock in Garak's eyes, "is Julian."

Julian pressed his mouth against Garak's, softening his lips slightly
after a moment and tickling the Cardassian's textured lips with his
tongue. Garak gasped at the onslaught and the doctor pressed the
advantage, his tongue slipping between his friend's lips as he made
sure this kiss would not be so easily dismissed.

One of Julian's long fingered hands cupped the back of Garak's head,
and stroked the soft hairs at the back of his neck, while his other
arm drew the Cardassian toward him. Garak moaned as Julian pressed his
hard length against him, causing the doctor to smile triumphantly
against his lips. Julian playfully ground his hips against Garak and
allowed the other man to feel how excited he was becoming. He allowed
his lips to trail over the tailor's cheek then nibbled at the other
man's earlobe, sliding his tongue under the ornate flesh and sucking
gently before whispering, "Is this more to your liking , my dear
tailor?" He teased.

"Who are you and what have you done with Julian Bashir?" Garak gasped,
giving in to the folly of the moment and cupping his companions taut
buttocks, drawing him close again as he returned the kiss.

Words abandoned them as the two men kissed one another in blissful
abandon. Hot, wet mouths clung together as tongues danced in promise
of the intimacy to come. Garak cupped Julian's cheek and pulled back,
looking deep into the other man's dark eyes. "When did begin to lose
my mind? What are you doing to me?" he asked, softly tasting his
companion's soft lips.

"For all you know, I've been seducing you from the first day we met,"
Julian smiled, kissing Garak quickly before adding, "I assure you, I'm
less innocent than I appear."

"Obviously," Garak gasped.

Julian chuckled and stepped back from Garak, watching in amusement as
the man straightened his clothing and ran a shaky hand through his
slightly mussed black hair. "I take it I made a better impression this
time?" He stared pointedly at the man's obvious erection.

Garak hastily tugged his tunic down to hide the evidence of his
arousal, "I don't know what has come over you, lately," he said,
flushing with embarrassment. "We've known one another for years and
you've never once-"

"You're just upset because for the first time since we've known each
other, I'm not the one stumbling around in the dark looking for the
answers," Julian answered smoothly. "If you'd just taken the hint and
pushed me against a wall years ago, we wouldn't be here now."

"This-I-you-!" Garak stuttered, utterly undone and at a complete loss
for words.

Julian felt a powerful surge of energy flow through his body as he
observed the effect his cooly spoken words had on his companion. The
student had surpassed the teacher, and he was enjoying this moment
thoroughly. "Now, as much as I'd like to finish what I started," he
looked Garak up and down and smiled a slow, hot grin, "I believe we
have other things to attend to first."

Julian walked down the hall, pausing at a storage room and hitting the
panel to open the door and then stuck his head in briefly. Satisfied
that it was empty, he continued toward the next room and waved Garak
on, "Aren't you coming?"

"I think I may very well learn to hate you, Julian Bashir," Garak
said, shaking off his discomposure.

"Trust me, Garak, what you're feeling right now isn't hate," Julian
said easily. "Why don't we look in some of the shuttlebay docks next?"

With no way to respond to that, Garak merely followed his companion,
his frustration at his lack of control simmering at a slow burn. In
this game of cat and mouse, Garak had the sneaking suspicion that he
was not the one currently occupying the role of the cat.

They searched for two more hours, Julian calm and collected, acting as
though nothing had happened, and Garak, desperately trying to forget.
They kept their conversation to the minimum and Garak kept close tabs
on Julian's physical proximity. The Cardassian felt very confused by
what had happened. Everything he thought he knew about Julian had
changed. He always thought the younger man had never so much as
entertained the idea of climbing into his bed, and now he felt as
though he were being pursued relentlessly by the human. It was getting
more and more difficult to keep his mind on their task. He kept
imagining what it would be like to stroke Julian's naked brown flesh
and kiss his way down to his-

"Did you hear what I said?" Julian asked, staring at him with a
bemused expression on his face.

Garak stopped and stared at him. "I-honestly? No. What did you say,
again?"

Julian stuck his hands in his uniform pockets and grinned knowingly,
"I said we've been at this for two and a half hours and haven't found
a thing. Maybe we should try searching again some other time."

"You're probably right," Garak agreed, eager to head back to the
security of his own quarters. He looked around the large shuttlebay
which would be filled with work crews loading and unloading supplies
in just a few more hours. "It is late and I'm getting tired, so maybe
it would be best to head back. We'll finish this again another day."

"I was thinking that maybe you could join me in my quarters for a
drink," Julian said, approaching the Cardassian slowly.

"I don't think that's...a good idea," Garak swallowed, watching
Julian's face as the doctor eyed him hungrily.

"Why not?" Julian asked, stopping within a few feet of the tailor.
"It's just a drink. We could go to your quarters if you prefer," he
offered.

Garak blinked,"Either I'm becoming more human or you're becoming more
Cardassian. Doc-Julian," he corrected himself quickly, then shut his
eyes and took a breath. "I'm old enough to be your father, you do
realize that?"

"More like a much older brother," Julian stepped closer and breathed
in the other man's spicy cologne. "Although, I confess I'm not feeling
very familial at the moment."

Garak held up a hand in warning and stepped back, "I'm far too old for
this sort of game you're playing, Julian. Once upon a time I would
have happily welcomed you into my bed, but my position aboard this
station is tenuous at best. Think about the implications our
involvement would have on both of our lives. Do you think Starfleet
would be happy to see one of their best and brightest shacked up with
an old man who happened to have once been an Obsidian Agent? It's
difficult to keep secrets like that from people, especially on a space
station. One night together and Quark would have a betting pool on
what will come first: your court-martial or my deportation hearing."

"You're over-thinking the situation," Julian frowned.

"And you aren't thinking at all," Garak rejoined. "I'm too old for you
and I'm an inappropriate companion for dozens of other reasons, not
least of which is the fact that I'm a Cardassian, and I'm a man."

"So? You're a man, so am I. What's your point?" Julian asked, stepping
closer to Garak again.

Garak held his ground, "How many openly homosexual officers are there
on this station? A handful at best? Do you think it's a coincidence
that only ten or so of them are human? Your military culture, for all
of its high ideals, isn't terribly fond of the idea of same-sex
couples serving aboard a military installation."

"Just because you don't often see it on this particular station
doesn't mean it can't happen," Julian said. "I know of a few Starfleet
captains who are involved with or married to members of the same sex.
Their careers have progressed and they haven't encountered any more
problems with their service than any straight couple I know of. The
military has welcomed openly gay, lesbian, and bisexual members into
service since the early 21st century. If you're worried that your
ethnicity is a problem, I personally think Starfleet would welcome the
opportunity to show that Cardassians and humans are capable of getting
along with one another." He smiled and leaned toward Garak playfully,
"We are getting along, wouldn't you agree?"

"This is a mistake. You're being horribly naive," Garak said weakly as
Julian dropped a soft kiss on his lips.

"I'm not asking for a commitment," Julian murmured, stepping closer.
"I'd settle for just a good roll in the hay."

Julian again reached for the Cardassian, pulling his head toward him
as he explored his mouth. His hand rested against the thick ridges of
Garak's neck and he could feel the Cardassian's pulse speed up under
his fingertips. "Garak..." he breathed against the other man's lips,
"would you please accompany me to my quarters, or do I have to take
you here and risk having to explain to Chief O'Brien why first shift
got a free show?"

"You leave me with so little choice. Julian..." Garak groaned as
Julian shifted his attentions by nibbling and sucking on his neck and
throat. "How did you become such a skilled manipulator?"

"Years of observation and practice," Julian kissed Garak hard on the
mouth and wrapped his long, lanky arms about him, pulling him close.

After their lips parted, Garak buried himself in Julian's throat,
nibbling at the curve of his neck and shivering as the light scrape of
his five o'clock shadow stimulated the sensitive skin of his cheeks.
"I surrender," he said, his voice hoarse with need. "Whatever you
want, it's yours."

"Can I call you Elim?" Julian chuckled, planting a soft kiss on the
Cardassian's mouth.

"You can call me whatever-is someone coming?" Garak went still.

"Me, in another ten minutes or so I hope," Julian whispered.

"No, I'm serious," Garak's focus sharpened as he heard the soft echo
of footsteps coming toward them.

Julian glanced toward the sounds. His eyes swept the immediate area
and he tugged at the tailor's arm insistently, "Behind those crates,
follow me," he said quietly.

The two men quickly settled themselves behind some large boxes and
peered through the gaps between the containers. A tall redheaded man
wearing a Starfleet security uniform and holding a duffle-bag looked
around the loading dock carefully before pulling a small communication
device out of his pocket. "They're running a diagnostic on the
communications relay up in ops so we have less than twenty minutes to
do this."

//Can we risk transporting in?// Came the disembodied reply.

"Use the frequency I gave you earlier and keep shifting your
distortion field so they can't pick up on your shuttle's cloak," the
human ordered.

Julian touched Garak's arm and mouthed, "Craig Wilkins?" to which
Garak silently nodded. He recognized the man from his personnel file.

There was a shimmer of light in front of Wilkins and then a dark
haired Bajoran man with a large facial scar appeared. "Where's the
product?"

"Here," he said, handing him the bag.

"That's all of it? What am I supposed to do with this much Orange? The
only reason I agreed to meet you here was because you assured me we
were going to do some serious business," the Bajoran spat out angrily.

"That's all I have!" Wilkins insisted tossing the bag toward the
Bajoran's feet. "Odo has been-"

The scar on the Bajoran's face was white with rage as he grabbed
Wilkins by his hair and tucked a phaser under his chin, "I don't give
a shit about Odo or about your problems. It's bad enough you left the
sample at the bar for some slut to take and now I have more heat on me
than ever. You said you were going to give me everything you had left
so we could set up a new lab off the station."

"Odo found some of my stashes and I couldn't afford to make more,"
Wilkins swallowed. "He's on to me! I know it! I need you to get me off
the station. I have the formula in the bag with the rest of the
stuff-it's worth a fortune to you! All I want is 100 bars of gold
pressed latinum and safe passage to the Orion sector, that's it Ranol,
I swear! I'm not trying to screw you!"

"What about the man you had cooking the drugs?" Ranol asked.

"Odo arrested him a few hours ago when he tried to sneak back onto his
ship. It's only a matter of time before he cuts a deal and gives me
up-you have to help me, please!" Wilkins pleaded.

"Humans," Ranol spat out, utterly disgusted. "You people make deals
with Cardies and sell poison to your own people then presume to tell
us how to live. I'm trying to build another army and all you want to
discuss is how much latinum you can squeeze out of me. I ought to kill
you and save Starfleet the trouble of a trial!"

"You need me! I can make as much as you want, I swear! Just take me to
your base and I'll have an even bigger lab up and running in a matter
of days!" Sweat dripped off of the human's face as he looked up,
pleading desperately, the phaser digging into his throat.

Ranol considered his offer carefully, "Fifty bars," he said.
"Twenty-five when we set up and the rest after the lab is up and
running and the sample tests pure. If you want safe passage to the
Orion sector, you'll settle for forty bars or agree to remain at the
base until we have at least twenty times more product than what's in
the bag."

"Absolutely, yeah," Wilkins agreed and Ranol released him. He stood
shakily, "You have the latinum, right?"

"Don't worry about that," Ranol said. "If what you say is true, the
syndicate I'm working with has contacts all over the Alpha quadrant
ready to invest. If you can't do what you say you can, the last thing
you'll be worrying about is your money."

"We have to get out of here, as soon as that diagnostic check is done,
they'll be scanning all of the lower pylons. Won't need that anymore."
Wilkins took off his communicator and tossed it toward the crates
where Garak and Julian were hiding. "I can't wait to get back to the
real world."

Ranol's eyes followed the silver and gold badge as it hit the boxes
and caught a glimpse of Julian's eye through the gap, "Put your hands
up and step into the light," he ordered, leveling his phaser toward
them.

Julian froze and gave Garak a steady look before holding his hands
above his head and walking into the open. "I'm unarmed," he said
quietly.

"Who is this and what is he doing here?" Ranol asked Wilkins coldly,
"Is this a set-up?"

"No...no!" Craig looked at Julian in surprise, "That's Dr. Bashir-he's
the station's medical officer," he turned from one man to the other,
"I have no idea why he's down here, honest."

"I was just taking a walk," Julian said. "I happened on your meeting
and hid behind those boxes. I'm alone and unarmed, I assure you."

"This could actually work in our favor," Ranol grinned slowly. "I
could use a doctor on my team, and if I can't find a use for you there
are a lot of worlds outside of the Federation who would pay good money
for a man with your skills."

"I'm a doctor, not a dope pusher! I won't work for a criminal scumbag
like you," Julian's expression darkened. "And you, you were an
officer," He glared at Wilkins, "You disgust me."

"What did Starfleet ever do for me, except drop me on a rusty tin
bicycle wheel in the middle of a bunch of spoon heads and shit
sniffing Jori's!" His eyes shifted toward Ranol, "No offense."

"I've heard worse," Ranol said then punched Wilkins with the phaser
hard, sending him reeling toward the floor, "but call me that again
and you better have a weapon in your hand."

Wilkins spit out a tooth and some blood and slowly got back on his
feet. Ranol then turned his dangerous gaze toward Julian, "I'm not a
drug pusher, doctor. I'm a freedom fighter, and the only reason I'm
here is because this is the fastest way to make enough money to build
my army. You Federation bastards came into our space after we beat
back the Cardies and now you want to take everything we fought for
away from us. You talk about making us one of your allies while you
lord over us in *our* space station built on Bajoran blood and your
human captain pretends to talk to our prophets. You might have the
vedeks and the peasants convinced, but I'm not buying it."

"So you use that to justify selling narcotics to your own people?"
Julian asked.

"I only sell to people willing to buy," Ranol answered grimly. "If
they kill themselves by sniffing Orange D just to get high, so much
the better. It just means that we're culling out the weak and useless
and leaving more room for those willing to fight for our world."

"You're insane," Julian spat out.

"I'm pragmatic," he corrected. "It's just business, doctor."

"We have to go now," Wilkins said, rubbing his jaw.

As Ranol was questioning Julian, Garak had slowly slipped behind a
group of crates and maneuvered himself so that he was nearly behind
them. Looking around for a weapon, he noticed that the operator's
remote access control on the forklift was unlocked. Lifting the
controller from the vehicle, he carefully flipped on the power and
waited.

Ranol held the phaser out and gestured for Bashir to step forward.
"Remove his communicator, slowly." Wilkins stepped toward Julian and
Garak hit the controller causing the forklift to roll forward slamming
into Wilkins. Wilkins flew through the air and Ranol swung around to
see what was happening.

Garak threw the controller at Ranol's hand, knocking the phaser out of
his grip and sending it sliding across the floor. He body-checked the
Bajoran and they both tumbled to the ground.

Ranol roared with anger and started cursing and punching Garak, while
the tailor in turn, held his arm tight across the man's throat, trying
to subdue him.

Craig Wilkins lay still and bleeding. If he wasn't dead, he was most
certainly gravely injured. Julian didn't care either way. He scrambled
for the phaser and trained it on Ranol, "Stop!" He ordered.

Ranol stopped struggling and stared up at the doctor. Garak arose from
the floor, wiping some blood off his mouth as he rejoined his
companion. "Are you all right?" Julian asked.

"I'm going to have some bruises in the morning, but I'll be fine,"
Garak replied grimly.

"Fucking human traitor!" Ranol shouted. "I knew you people were in bed
with the Cardies!"

"I'm working on that one, actually," Julian responded evenly.

"Do you really think this is the most appropriate moment for humor?"
Garak asked, moving so that he was standing at Julian's side.

"It felt like it at the time, yes," Julian smiled, his eyes never
leaving Ronal's face.

Julian slapped his comm badge, "Bashir to Odo!"

//Yes, doctor?// Odo answered.

"We have a situation at one of the loading pylons. I need you to beam
a security team to my location to make an arrest. I also have a
cloaked ship on standby near this location. You need to put a tractor
beam on the ship before it pulls away."

//Understood, Odo out!//

There was a loud screeching sound outside of the shuttle bay doors and
a panicked voice could be heard over Ranol's communicator, //Sir! They
have a lock on us, we can't get away!//

"Perverts!" Ronal spat. "You and that Cardie animal! I hope he slits
your throat after he uses you then tosses your corpse to his riding
hounds!"

"Looks like you'll be staying for breakfast," Garak smiled humorlessly
at the Bajoran just as Odo and several security guards materialized
between them.

"I know you," Odo said, slapping the restraints on Ranol's wrists. "I
think the Bajoran High Council would like to have a few words with
you, Colonel Ranol. It appears we've caught Bajor's public enemy
number one, wanted for high crimes and treason including an
assassination attempt on one of the Cabinet Ministers. Take him to a
holding cell and contact Major Kira. I'm sure she'll have a few
questions for him."

"Aye sir!" The guard said as he forced Ronal to his feet.

"Sir! It's Wilkins, he's dead!" One of the security officers said as
he knelt down by the young man's body.

"He was your source of the Orange D," Julian said. "There's more in
the bag over there."

"We know. We found the lab earlier today and his partner confessed. We
were about to arrest him when I got your comm," Odo looked at them
both. "What exactly were you two doing down here, anyway?"

"Taking a walk?" Garak said with a sore smile as he rubbed his jaw.

Odo glared at Garak. "Taking a walk? In the middle of the night? Let's
see, so you're telling me that you and the doctor just happened to go
for a leisurely stroll, stumbled in on a drug transaction, killed
Wilkins with a forklift, and captured a terrorist?"

"Well, to be honest we only planned on taking a walk," Garak said
evenly, "The murder in self-defense and the capturing of a drug lord
was just something we did, spur of the moment." Garak looked at
Julian, "It was the doctor's idea, I just wanted some ice cream and a
little fresh air."

Odo nearly growled in frustration, "Why aren't I buying your story,
Mr. Garak? Usually you're a much more convincing liar."

"I should take Garak upstairs and see to his injuries," Julian
suggested, changing the subject.

Odo turned a suspicious eye toward the doctor, "I'll need to speak to
you both in the morning after you've gotten some rest." He watched as
his men led Ranol away. "Meanwhile, I have a busy night ahead of me."
Odo motioned his remaining officers who had Wilkins body on a
stretcher to follow him, then stalked off toward the turbolifts
leaving Julian and Garak to themselves.

"I can't wait to crawl into my bed," Garak said wearily, watching as
Odo disappeared behind the turbolift doors .

"Neither can I," Julian grinned and winked at Garak who flinched and
tasted the split on his lip with his tongue.
 "Please don't make me laugh," Garak begged. "Apparently, I don't take
punches as well as I used to."

"Come on," Julian said, putting his arm around Garak's waist and
pulling him toward the lifts. "Let me get a dermal regenerator on you
and then I'll be happy to tuck you in."

Garak half moaned, half laughed, "You're going to kill me."

"I realize you have great expectations, Garak," Julian kissed him
gently, avoiding further injury to Garak's swollen lip, "but even on
my best day, I'm afraid I can't fuck someone to death...but I can
try."

"Did I mention I was too old for you?" Garak asked, feigning
reluctance as he allowed himself to be herded gently into the
turbolift.

"Luckily for you, I'm a doctor," Julian smiled at him just as the
doors began to shut. "I promise I'll be gentle."

---

The End