The BLTS Archive - Goodnight, Mr Garak
by Jo Z. Pierce (jopierce_pi@yahoo.com)

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Published: 01-27-08 - Updated: 01-27-08

Keep your phasers on stun. I do not own Star Trek in any of
its many incarnations.

This is my attempt at a Garak & Bashir slashy piece.
Everyone's doing it. So why not?

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"Can you open the door yourself?" Dr. Julian Bashir asked
Garak through his heavy breathing.

The doctor's arms were wrapped around the tailor's waist,
almost as fully as an ancient measuring tape. Garak stumbled
slightly, pulling the young doctor with him, as he reached
for the control panel. The doctor struggled again, as he
tried to lift his companion for the evening.

"I am perfectly capable, Doctor," he asked, defensively, and
slurring his words just slightly. "Just, what do you think I
am?"

"Drunk, Garak."

The Cardassian laughed, almost patronizing the doctor. He
reached for the control panel, and entered a few numbers.
The computer responded, just as patronizingly, and denied
them entry.

"You can't even remember your own security code, Garak."

"Of course I can! I simply entered the wrong one. I don't
want you to know any of my personal, secret...  secrets... "

"Your secret secrets... " Dr. Bashir mumbled, mocking his
drunk Cardassian friend. Then, he sighed and laughed. He
shook his head. He rolled his eyes. Finally, as a final
response, he readjusted the Cardassian's weight, pulling the
man's right arm around his own right shoulder for support.

"I know, Garak. I know. But you forget. My Medical
override?"

"Oh yes. Well then, let me try that again." Garak punched in
a few more numbers, at which point the door slid open, as if
welcoming the Cardassian back into his reluctant home.

"Good, Mr. Garak. I didn't want to explain this sort of
Medical Emergency to Sisko tomorrow morning."

"I am glad you have such a clear mind. If there's one thing
I could never call you, Dr. Bashir, it would be
shortsighted."

The two stumbled into the room. Indeed, it wasn't really a
stumble, as Garak swayed side to side, and Bashir jerked
back and forth, responding. It was almost a clumber, if
there even was such a word.

Dr. Bashir released the Cardassian into the first chair that
they came to. He was too exhausted to drag him all the way
to his bed. He knew that Garak wouldn't know the difference
anyway, in the state he was in.

"Garak, just how many drinks did you have?!"

"A mere five, Dr. Bashir!"

"Five glasses of Kanar, and you are this intoxicated?"
Julian asked, genuinely surprised by Garak for the first
time in months.

"Oh, no. Not five glasses... " Garak said, smiling.

"Five bottles."

"Cases... "

Julian laughed at the claim, as he positioned a footstool in
front of his drunken companion, offering it up as an
opportunity for him to recline. Julian even pulled off his
friend's boots, trying to make him feel a bit more
comfortable before he fell asleep.

"You can't be serious!" he finally added, knowing that the
night's friendly game of wordplay was still going strong,
even now.

"Serious? Of course I can be serious. But honest... ?"

"Of course not. How silly of me to even suggest such a
thing." Julian finished making the tailor as comfortable as
possible, then stood up, tall and straight. The effort was
for naught, as he then swayed slightly. Julian was now
feeling the effects of the long night's antics at Quark's,
and the long journey back up to Garak's quarters.

"Well, Garak, would you like me to get you something? A
hypospray, perhaps?"

"And waste the affects of five cases of contraband Kanar?"
Garak laughed at the very thought. The doctor laughed, too.

"Well, then. I guess I can come check on you in the morning.
On my way to sick bay."

"Well, my dear doctor, why not just stay the night?" Garak
asked, in a suggestive tone.

Julian froze, surprised yet a second time that night.

"I could make the experience...  quite... . memorable," the
Cardassian offered, in a tone that was almost a hiss.

"Garak, it has already been quite memorable."

"Oh, I mean memorable in a more...  intimate...  way... "
Garak's eyes closed, as a wide grin formed on his face. If
snakes could smile, Julian was convinced that this is what
they would look like.

Julian wasn't sure if Garak had actually passed out, or if
he was simply imagining something too explicit to speak of
and still maintain a veneer of mystery.

"Garak," he replied, playing along for the sake of the game.
"If that were ever to happen, I'd want it to be with someone
who would remember it the next morning."

"Trust me, my dear doctor," Garak responded, dreamily.
"/When/ it happens, I'll remember it for the rest of my
life."

Dr. Julian Bashir smiled at his companion's response, and
let out a small laugh as he turned for the door.

"Goodnight, Mr. Garak."

He waited a moment for a response. Hearing none, he nodded
gently, and walked out into the dark and lonely corridor.

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The End