Ok, go easy on me guys, this is my first attempt at writing a serious story that centres on Garak and Julian. If I have them out of character feel free to tell me. (But do it nicely 'cause I'm a fragile soul :) )

The promenade was busy; as it always was during the lunch hours. Bajorans filed out of the temple, fresh out of morning services, and went their separate ways. Noise from the dabo wheels and the shouts of the customers drifted out of Quark's, where members of many different species sat drowning their sorrows or gambling their money away.

On the other side of the promenade, at their usual table in the replimat, a human and a Cardassian sat eating their lunch. The human dropped his fork onto the table.

"You want to do what?!"

"You know that is insane?"

Garak rolled his eyes. "Doctor, I assure you I have planned everything thoroughly. There is nothing 'insane' about this."

Bashir stared incredulously at his friend. "But, Garak, it sounds-"

He cut Julian off with an impatient wave of the hand. "I don't want your opinions on it, Doctor, I want to know if you're coming with me."Julian's eyes widened. "Coming with… Garak, you know I couldn't even if I wanted to!"

"Oh, let me guess… your insufferable Star Fleet regulations forbid it," Garak replied. "Well, let me ask you this, have you ever considered ignoring the rules?"

Julian sighed and picked up his fallen fork. "Not this time, Garak."

The tailor leaned forward. "You do realise that you owe it to me."

"I owe it to you?!" Bashir exploded. "How did you figure that one out?"

"I was the one who let you listen in to the conversation between me and those badly dressed Kling-on sisters," Garak pointed out. "And you never even thanked me for it."

As Julian began to splutter again, Garak held up his hands. "But there's no need to worry about it. I'm offering you a way to make up for your transgression and clear you of your debt to me."

Dax watched the heated argument with interest and turned to Worf.

"No," he said quickly.

"No what?"

"You were about to ask me to go over to the doctor's table and find out what they are arguing about. No."

Dax looked innocently at him.

"No!"

"But, doctor-"

"Ahem."

Garak looked up slowly to see a very uncomfortable looking Worf standing at their table.

"May I join you?" he asked gruffly.

"By all means," Bashir replied, relieved to have a break from the argument.

This was not the answer Worf wanted to hear, but seeing no honourable way out, he sat down at the empty chair.

An uncomfortable silence fell over the table and Bashir glanced around the replimat, catching sight of Dax in the process. He smiled, knowing the Trill too well to be fooled by the Kling-on's sudden sociality. He leaned forward towards the wary Kling-on.

"You can tell Dax that we were talking about paint samples," Julian whispered.

Deeply relieved, the Kling-on stood up. "Thank you, Doctor."

"Well, I'm glad that's over with," Garak muttered as Worf made his way back to his former table. "Now, your answer please?"

Please review and tell me how I'm doing so far! :)