The BLTS Archive - Merry Christmas, Julian
(or What Do You Give The Doctor Who Has (Almost) Everything?)
by Yavanna (kcolohan@sidsplace.win-uk.net)

---

To celebrate the fact that I finally figured out how to access this
blissfully spam-free new group through my service provider I thought
I'd post this little offering. It's seasonal; it has no real plot to
speak of; it's as slushy as it is slashy and of course it's about my
favourite ST pairing Julian Bashir and his plain and simple friend
Garak!

Comments as ever welcomed (but please be nice - it *is* Christmas!)

DS9 characters etc. copyright Paramount Pictures, story copyright
Karen Colohan December 1995. Feel free to pass this story on provided
this disclaimer remains attached to it.

---

It was an unusual sensation, waking late to the knowledge that he had
no need to get up, put on his uniform and hurry to the Infirmary for
the start of his shift. Julian Bashir was not entirely certain that it
was a sensation he liked. Oh, it was pleasant enough to be able to
relax completely for once, but it left him feeling oddly directionless
- and lonely. If there had been someone there to share his bed with
him perhaps he could have enjoyed his lie in more, but it had been
some months since Julian had last woken up with someone at his side...
Ah well, it was just for the one day - Christmas.

As had become his custom Captain Sisko had given as many of his staff
as possible a day's leave today. He was a firm believer in observing
both Starfleet and Bajoran festivals and holidays where it was
practical to do so. In honour of Christmas he was arranging one of his
famous dinners for this evening with all the senior staff invited.
*Please, no beets this time!* thought Julian with an involuntary
groan, considering the prospect as he pushed back the covers of his
bed and padded on bare feet into the shower.

Some time later, casually dressed in a crisp, white cotton shirt and
loose trousers tailored from a soft, black material, the young doctor
sat in an armchair in his quarters. In his hands he held a small
package which he fiddled with absently. It was, if one cared to look
at it that way, his Christmas present to himself - a very expensive
present. Julian didn't like to remind himself just how much latinum he
had actually spent on it. And in the end would it be worth what it had
cost him? Ah, now there was the question. There was no doubt that in
essence this small item represented precisely what Julian most wanted
for Christmas, but still...

Finally, with a decisive gesture, the young man undid the plain
wrapping to reveal - a single holosuite program rod. A little
apprehensively he looked up at the wall chronometer. It showed nearly
1300 hours. It was time to see if it had indeed been latinum well
spent. With a determined look on his face Julian hurried from his
quarters and headed for Quark's - and a much anticipated appointment
in the holosuites.

---

The Cardassian tailor had been more than a little perplexed by the
insistent and mysterious summons he had unexpectedly received from
Quark. He gave serious consideration to ignoring it at first, but he
had to admit that it had piqued his curiosity. Besides, he
rationalised to himself, he wasn't doing much trade today thanks to
Starfleet and their irritating human holiday. All those hypocritical
protestations of goodwill to all men - tomorrow every one of them
would be back to their petty squabbles, just as usual. Shaking his
head at the naive folly of these humans Garak closed up his shop and
headed for the bar to find out exactly what the Ferengi had discovered
that he was so convinced he would find of interest.

The moment Garak walked through the door Quark hurried to his side,
taking his arm and drawing him into a private corner of the bar. An
obsequious smile informed his features as he looked up at the tailor.

"Ah, Garak, there you are..." began the Ferengi unctuously.

"Quark, please let's just skip the pleasantries." Garak waved one
broad, grey hand dismissively. "Now tell me, what is this astounding
piece of information you wish to share with me?" he demanded
acerbically. *And just how much is it going to cost me to find out?*

"Y'know, Garak, I think you need to relax more," said Quark
solicitously, studying the impassive Cardassian face in front of him.

"Quark..." Garak loomed over the Ferengi impatiently. Quark held up
his hands placatingly.

"All right, but listen to me, Garak. I really do think that you should
pay a visit to holosuite 3 right now." Quark favoured the tailor with
a sly smile.

"And why would I want to do that?" asked Garak with a sigh.

"Well... let's just say that Doctor Bashir is currently running a new
program in there; one that he has only recently acquired. I'm quite
sure you'd find it most - intriguing." Garak raised an eyeridge
questioningly. "It's a program your young friend paid handsomely to
have written especially for him - to meet some *very* precise
requirements," continued Quark.

"And who wrote this program for him - you?" enquired Garak. "I thought
you always promised your clients complete confidentiality."

"Of course I do!" declared the Ferengi with an air of injured
innocence. "But I didn't write this program. The doctor chose to take
his business elsewhere."

"So how do you know what the program entails?" asked Garak pointedly.

"Well, I may have mentioned the name of a programmer to the doctor - a
business acquaintance of mine as it happens..."

"Of course, I understand," interrupted Garak with a cynical smile.
"Though I still don't see why Doctor Bashir's leisure pursuits should
be of any interest to me, Quark." The Ferengi threw the tailor a
sceptical look that clearly indicated he wasn't fooled for a moment by
the Cardassian's apparent casualness.

"Oh, you will, Garak. Believe me - you will," Quark assured him, a
knowing gleam in his eyes. With that he leaned forward and in hushed
tones proceeded to describe at some length exactly what the doctor's
program involved. By the time he had finished Garak's cornflower eyes
were wide with surprise and a strange light danced in their depths.

"I see," said Garak at last, his brain working furiously to process
the implications of what he had just heard. "Thank you, Quark, and I
believe I should like to extend the rental on holosuite 3. Shall we
say - another three hours?"

"It's always a pleasure doing business with you, Garak," replied Quark
with a toothy grin as the Cardassian handed over his latinum,
receiving in return the override code to holosuite 3.

---


Julian stood nervously in the empty holosuite. This was ridiculous.
Why was he so jumpy? He'd used the holosuites plenty of times before
without giving it a second thought. *Yes, but you weren't running
*this* particular program before, were you?* his conscience reminded
him. *Damn it! It's just an image - a simulation - where's the harm in
that? Surely this is better than making a complete fool of yourself
out there in the real world - and you know you would have done sooner
or later. How much longer would you have been able to stop yourself
from acting on your feelings and asking the question you know you
really shouldn't ask?* another part of his brain countered reasonably.
Burying the still feebly protesting voice of his conscience Julian
cleared his throat self-consciously.

"Computer, activate program Bashir Omega One."

At once the blank walls of the holosuite disappeared, replaced by the
illusion of a light, airy room. Julian looked around him avidly,
noting all the details. It was a perfect representation - exactly as
he remembered it from his last trip home some four years ago. He
couldn't claim that all the memories associated with this place were
good, but the cosy familiarity of his own room in his family's house
on Earth was comforting nevertheless. Yes, this was a far more fitting
setting for this program than a facsimile of his quarters on the
station would have been. Well, so far so good the doctor found himself
thinking with relief, but the real test of the programmer's skill was
still to come.  The setting was perfect, but what of the company...?

There was a light tap at the bedroom door, interrupting Julian's
somewhat nostalgic reverie. He took a deep, steadying breath before
moving across to open it. *Merry Christmas, Julian, and may you get
what you *really* want...* Slowly, with his heart pounding furiously
in his chest, the doctor pushed the door aside. The action revealed a
solidly, reassuringly recognisable figure - albeit in this setting
distinctly out of place.

"Hello, doctor," came the greeting, the familiar cadences of Garak's
voice as perfectly reproduced as his physical form. "I do hope I'm not
late."

"Not at all, Garak," replied Julian with a hugely relieved smile. "Why
don't you come in."

Julian watched as the holographic simulation of his Cardassian friend
walked past him into the room. It was perfect; the doctor even caught
the faintest hint of the warm scent of the tailor's skin as he passed
him. Oh yes, the programmer Quark had recommended most certainly knew
his job! The likeness was remarkable, now to find out how much of the
essence, the complex personality, of the Cardassian had also been
captured...

The doctor suppressed the sudden flicker of guilt he felt as he
wondered what the hell the real Garak would say and do if he knew
about this. Would he be angry? Would he refuse to meet Julian for
lunch any more? That certainly wasn't the result the doctor wanted to
achieve. He still very much desired the real Garak's company too.
*Well, if you're careful there's no reason why he should ever find out
about this,* Julian told himself firmly. *And at least this way you
can get all those absurd fantasies out of your system without having
to worry about embarrassing yourself totally every time you meet him
for lunch.* The doctor had been finding it increasingly difficult to
conceal his body's reaction to the Cardassian's physical proximity
during their recent lunches.

The holographic Garak was standing patiently in the centre of the room
as the doctor wrestled with his conscience, an affectionate smile
gracing his features. Finally Julian closed the door and walked across
to join him. An answering smile curved the doctor's full lips as he
moved to greet him as he'd so often wished he could greet the real,
living, breathing Garak.

---

Garak climbed the spiral stair leading to the holosuites with a
strange mixture of anticipation and apprehension. To say that he had
been surprised by Quark's description of Doctor Bashir's new program
would have been to grossly understate the case! Nevertheless, the
tailor did his best to rein in his sudden excitement - surely it was
all quite innocent - a misunderstanding on Quark's part. But the
Ferengi had seemed very certain of his facts...

Yet the good doctor had never shown the slightest interest in pursuing
a more intimate friendship - had he? Or were human reactions so very
different from Cardassian ones that he simply hadn't noticed the
signs? Garak's mind worked furiously, trying to find any hints or
suggestions he might have overlooked. No, he was certain, Doctor
Bashir had always seemed quite content to pursue an entirely platonic
relationship.

Indeed, the tailor mused, the doctor had always appeared quite
flustered by his periodic efforts at flirtation and had never seemed
to respond to them or attempt to reciprocate them. Or had he assumed,
wondered Garak with sudden insight, that they were not sincerely
meant; that they were just another game? From where the doctor sat
would such an assumption have been unreasonable? Hardly.


If that were so it was not at all surprising he hadn't responded -
even if he had wished to. The tailor had come to understand Julian
well enough to know how much he hated to appear foolish and he would
certainly not be alone in not wishing to have his overtures
rejected... Garak sighed. How wrong the young doctor had been he
reflected wryly.

And how unobservant *he* had been, thought the Cardassian ruefully.
Even with all his much vaunted skills as a gatherer of intelligence at
his disposal he still hadn't been able to divine the feelings of one
guileless human. How his former colleagues would deride him for his
foolishness! Doctor Bashir was sufficiently besotted with him to spend
a small fortune in latinum to have a holographic facsimile programmed
that he could sport with, while the real object of his affections
harboured his own fantasies in lonely silence. *Ah, how ridiculous we
have both been, my dear doctor. Well, if I understand your human
traditions correctly I believe it is customary for friends to exchange
gifts during your Christmas observances. Perhaps today we can follow
this custom - and then we may both receive what we desire...*

Garak stopped outside the closed door of holosuite 3 still feeling a
twinge of unaccustomed nervousness. What if Doctor Bashir viewed his
presence as an intrusion on his privacy and became angry? That could
spell the end of all his newly awakened hopes. *Deal with such things
when - and indeed if - they happen, Elim,* the tailor chastised
himself. *You're simply procrastinating. Now - open the door!* Before
he could think better of it Garak tapped in the override code and
waited for the door to slide aside and admit him. As it did he quickly
stepped inside and reengaged the holosuite's privacy lock. Then he
turned around to learn the secrets of the doctor's fantasy world.

The sight which greeted Garak was of a flushed and exceedingly
flustered Julian Bashir hurriedly pulling himself free from the
enthusiastic embrace of a perfectly fashioned replica of himself. The
Cardassian doppelganger merely regarded the new arrival with entirely
appropriate irritation before turning to confront the doctor.

"Julian, what is the meaning...?" began the holographic Garak, but the
rest of his question went unasked as Julian hurried to freeze the
program of the Cardassian. Then he turned to face the real tailor
apprehensively.

"Garak! What - what are you doing here?" he asked nervously, his
tongue darting out in an anxious gesture to moisten his suddenly dry
lips.

"To be frank, doctor, I might well ask you the very same question,"
observed Garak slowly as he took a moment to study his surroundings.
"This is very cosy, isn't it?" he added, indicating the bedroom
setting with a wave of one grey-skinned hand. Julian's gaze dropped
abruptly to the floor and he blushed furiously, all the while thanking
his lucky stars that he hadn't got beyond simply hugging and kissing
his holographic companion. If Garak had arrived a little later...

"I - I'm sorry, Garak. I really never meant to..." he began, but then
the doctor's brain lighted on something that didn't quite make sense
and he looked up, a sudden frown crossing his face. "Wait a minute,
how did you get in here? And how did you know about this program - I
only received it yesterday and it's not in the main holosuite
database?"

"I'm afraid, my dear doctor, that you have just learned that you
should never put your trust in a Ferengi," said Garak over his
shoulder as he approached the frozen facsimile of himself. "I must say
though that you do appear to have been recommended to an excellent
programmer," he concluded with some admiration as he slowly circled
the motionless figure.

"Quark told you about this?" Julian's expression was one of
incredulity. "Why?"

"I have no idea," admitted Garak. "He really never struck me as the
romantically inclined type. Still, I'm rather glad that he did. Why
did you go to all this trouble, doctor?"

"Don't you know?" Julian shot at him more sharply than he intended.
Garak raised an eyeridge thoughtfully.

"I could make an informed guess, but I'd rather hear it from you," he
declared evasively.

"I - I wanted... Well, I ..." Julian stammered helplessly, unable to
find the words he wanted. "I am sorry, Garak. Are you really very
angry with me?"

"Let us say - surprised rather than angry, doctor. This must have cost
you a great deal of latinum," observed Garak mildly.

"Yes - it did," said Julian in a small voice. "I thought it would be
worth it though."

"Didn't you think you could cope with the real thing then, doctor?"
asked Garak with genuine curiosity.

"I - I don't understand, Garak. Our friendship - it wasn't like that.
I had to do something though. What I was feeling was driving me crazy,
but I didn't think..."

"You didn't *ask*, doctor."

"Garak?"

"Computer, discontinue holographic representation of Elim Garak." The
simulation vanished, leaving Julian to stare at the living, breathing
Cardassian in some confusion. "Well, doctor, what now? Oh, and
incidentally, my young friend, I took the liberty of renting this
holosuite for an additional three hours," added Garak with an
enigmatic smile. He was rewarded by the sight of the doctor's mouth
gaping as he struggled to find something to say, but the unexpected
turn of events left him speechless for once. Garak regarded him with
some amusement, one eyeridge quirking upward.

Running on instinct the tailor stepped closer to his discomfited
companion and proceeded to take full advantage of Julian's enticingly
parted lips. The hard Cardassian mouth covered the softer human one,
Garak's agile tongue taking the opportunity to explore its delicate
contours. Caught off guard the doctor forgot the protest he had been
about to voice as Garak moved in on him. In reality he forgot
everything but the fact that the real Garak's kiss was quite unlike
the rather hollow sensation he had experienced with the unreal one. No
programmer could have hoped to capture that precise, and completely
captivating, combination of sweet taste and spicy scent coupled with
the firm pressure of the tailor's lips. When they finally drew apart,
panting hard, Julian's hazel eyes were wide with an intoxicating
mixture of surprise and lust.

"Well," said Garak smugly, "I don't think I need to ask if that was a
more - enjoyable experience than your program was able to provide."

"And are you going to tell me that you didn't find it equally
enjoyable?" asked Julian with the faintest hint of a challenge in his
voice. Garak grinned at him disarmingly.

"My dear Julian," he purred, "something tells me that it is highly
probable that we are both going to get precisely what we most want
before this Christmas celebration of yours is over." The doctor
flushed again, but not from embarrassment, as he saw the unmistakable
gleam in Garak's eyes. Well, he wasn't about to deny the truth of the
tailor's words. Casting caution to the wind Julian glided closer to
the Cardassian again until they stood chest to chest.

"That depends..." he murmured coquettishly, glancing at Garak through
his long, dark lashes.

"On what?" asked the tailor on a breath.

"On whether you can do more than just kiss, my Cardassian friend,"
replied Julian suggestively. Warm, hazel eyes challenged clear,
cornflower blue and the tailor responded without hesitation. In a
heartbeat the doctor found himself swept up in Garak's strong arms.
The Cardassian laughed at the momentary expression of total surprise
which crossed the young man's face as he was yet again caught
completely off guard. Quickly Garak crossed the floor and deposited
his precious cargo on the wide bed. At once he joined Julian, the warm
weight of his body pressing the doctor down against the soft mattress.

"You should be careful what you wish for, my sweet Julian," whispered
Garak huskily, his hands roaming restlessly over the doctor's slender
form.

"Oh no, Garak, I very much hope that all my wishes are about to come
true. Do you think they might?" asked Julian breathlessly. He moved
his hips enticingly against the Cardassian's, the sinuous motion
rubbing his growing hardness against Garak's own firm erection. The
tailor gasped helplessly as the tantalising pressure drove all his
clever schemes from his head at once. All that mattered now was
getting out of these damned clothes...

The human and the Cardassian tore at each other's clothing with eager
hands, removing it as quickly as they could until they lay naked in
one another's arms. Smooth, caramel skin like the finest silk brushed
sensually against Garak's leathery, reptilian hide. Somehow in the
course of their frantic undressing Julian had managed to gain the
superior position and he was taking full advantage of it - not that
the tailor felt inclined to protest the turnaround - well, not with
any seriousness anyway...

The doctor was taking his time now, engaging in a leisurely
exploration of every inch of Garak's body. Julian skillfully employed
his agile fingers, soft lips and eager tongue to search out the
secrets of each part of the Cardassian's solid frame - except that
part the tailor most wanted him to devote his attention to. That he
studiously ignored, until Garak cried out in inarticulate frustration.

"Is there a problem, Garak?" asked Julian innocently, a wicked smile
tugging at the corners of his mouth. He was enjoying his ascendancy
over the Cardassian to the full.

"Julian..." rumbled the tailor threateningly.

"Well you didn't think I was going to let you off scot free, did you?"
said Julian primly. "You drove me wild for months while I sat there at
lunch, wanting you, getting so damned hard it hurt, but never daring
to say a word for fear of making a fool of myself. So now, my
overeager friend, *I* am going to make *you* wait while I have a
little fun."

Garak sighed theatrically - a sound which rapidly became a groan as
Julian bent his head and began to alternately lick and gently bite the
tailor's charcoal grey nipples. Such exquisite torture... The
Cardassian's eyelids drooped, veiling the pellucid eyes as the
sensations overwhelmed him. Julian grinned triumphantly, savouring the
sight of the usually calm and unruffled Garak writhing helplessly
under him. Oh yes, this was so much more than he had dreamed of -
assuredly the best Christmas present he had received in years, and all
the more delightful for being so unexpected.

The throbbing between his own thighs was becoming increasingly
insistent now, so Julian finally relented. He pulled Garak over onto
his side, turning as he did so until they lay head to toe. The tailor
needed no further invitation, his hands reaching for the doctor's
erection even as Julian caught hold of Garak's own leathery shaft.
They toyed with one another, learning which caresses brought forth the
most intense responses, but it was the human who first lowered his
head, carefully taking Garak's swollen member between his lips.

The tailor craned his neck to watch for a moment as Julian lovingly
closed his mouth around the hard sex, taking it in as deeply as he
could. The young man's eyes fluttered shut as he concentrated on his
task. With the rush of an unfamiliar emotion Garak dropped his head to
the doctor's groin, drawing the smooth-skinned shaft with its
delicate, flared head into his mouth, intent on bringing as much
pleasure to Julian as he was himself receiving from his friend.

Each man worked skillfully to delight his lover, all the while
savouring the unfamiliar smell and taste of the other - the spiciness
of Cardassian arousal vying with the musky scent of the human. They
prolonged their mutual exploration for as long as they were able
before tumbling over the edge together into the delicious moment of
release. Each gladly accepted the gift of their partner's seed,
learning the taste as they drifted lazily down from the heights. As
the last tremors faded Garak reached for Julian, drawing him into his
arms and cradling the slender form against his own muscular chest. The
doctor was smiling contentedly.

"Garak, how did you know what I wanted for Christmas this year?" he
teased sleepily.

"Oh, I have my sources," responded Garak in kind. "And I do so hope
you don't *only* want this for Christmas." Julian laughed
affectionately as he studied the tailor's hopeful expression.

"No, this is one present I want to enjoy as often as I can," he
assured the Cardassian. "The gift wrapping was superb, but what was
inside is quite breathtaking," he added sincerely. Garak smiled at the
doctor's half-serious flattery.

"And your gift to me is equally enchanting," said the tailor
approvingly, running his hands possessively over Julian's smooth
chest, "more beautiful than the finest silk - so very rare."

"I'm glad you liked it," said Julian softly, turning his head so that
his lips could explore Garak's face tenderly. "I know this probably
isn't precisely what either of us had in mind for today, but... well,
Merry Christmas, Garak."

"Merry Christmas to you, my dearest Julian - and may the days ahead
hold many more such delightful surprises for both of us."

---

The End