Note: I don't own Star Trek or it's characters, and you know it.

Julian Bashir scanned the busy replimat, searching for the table he and Garak usually reserved for their weekly lunches. The table was empty, so he took his tray of food and sat down, watching steam rise from his soup as he waited. As usual, his mind was working on at least three different levels. In the back of his consciousness, and being given the least amount of attention, was the research he was conducting back in Sickbay. He was sure nothing fruitful would come of it until he actually got back there, but it never hurt to keep trying. On a more significant level for the moment was the book Garak had lent him, and which they would probably end up discussing today. It was another "classic of Cardassian literature" and he was looking forward to debating some of its finer points with Garak. What he was thinking about at the moment, however, had nothing to do with literature – or, as far as he could tell, with Garak.

He looked up in time to see his Cardassian lunch companion sit down opposite him at the table. He smiled. "Hello, Garak. Held up at the shop?"

"Yes," came the reply. "I'm afraid there was a last-minute emergency with some ripped seams."

Julian had no idea whether or not there was even the slightest chance that this was true, but he accepted it anyway. As they both started eating, their conversation turned (as predicted) to the novel they had just read. Although he participated in the ensuing debate, Julian was unsurprised when Garak noticed that he wasn't giving it his full attention.

"My dear doctor, I'm getting the impression that your mind is elsewhere." Garak's voice had an air of concern which, were it aimed at anyone else on the station, would not have seemed so genuine. "Is something bothering you? Not an emergency in Sickbay, I hope."

He shook his head and set down the spoon. "I'm sorry, Garak," he apologized. "Apparently Vic is giving dance lessons in the holosuite- old Earth dances, like the Swing or the Waltz. Sisko and Dax are going, since Kasidy's off the station and Worf is- well, you know, Worf. I think Odo and Kira are going to go, too."

Garak tilted his head inquisitively. "And this is a bad thing?"

"Actually, the lessons sound like a lot of fun." Julian sighed. "And I know that I can probably find a holographic dance partner, but-"

"But you don't want to be the only one there without a real dance partner." Garak finished the sentiment for him. "Doctor, I fail to see why you cannot attend with someone from the station." He held up a hand to quell Julian's rising protests. "I understand that you are not currently involved with anyone, but I have been given the impression that old Earth dances do not require the participants to be romantically invested."

Julian stared at him. "Why do you know anything about Earth dance practices?" He didn't really expect an answer, so he was unsurprised when Garak merely smiled obliquely and made a comment about how informative adding darts to dress shirts could be.

In truth, Garak had overheard about the dance lessons while tailoring, and had looked up the rest of the information on his own. Although he generally used tailoring as an excuse for information he had come upon in less innocuous situations, he had to admit that every once in a while it really did turn up something handy. Now, he turned to the good Doctor and put on his best "innocent" smile: the one he knew nobody ever fell for, but which the Doctor, for some reason, seemed to enjoy.

"My own knowledge of human dance practices is, of course, highly limited. I would welcome the opportunity to remedy my lack of ability. Is this lesson limited to the senior staff?"

Much to Garak's delight, the Doctor looked more than a little uncomfortable. He toyed with his spoon for a while before answering. "Well, um, technically I think he wants to keep it to the senior staff, unless…" He trailed off. Garak waited, giving him some gentle prompting.

"Unless?"

"Unless a member of the senior staff takes someone else." He frowned at Garak apologetically. "Sorry, Garak. I guess Sisko wanted to make sure that the holosuite didn't get too crowded."

"Of course, if you want to take someone with you, you'll need to take someone who isn't on the senior staff, I presume." Garak widened his eyes in mock-realisation. "Unless you were thinking about taking the Chief?"

Julian chuckled. "No, Miles isn't going, except possibly to point and laugh. And even if he were going, I'm sure Keiko would object to us attending together." He was sure that Garak had an agenda in this conversation – when didn't he? – but, as usual, he thought it was best to play along. It's more fun that way.

"Well then, I suppose you'll just have to settle on taking a hologram." Garak paused for a moment. "That is, of course, unless you would care to invite me to join you?" The casually tossed-out question was accompanied by yet another of Garak's mysterious-but-charming smiles.

Julian considered it. On the one hand, he knew that several of his colleagues (Kira and Chief O'Brien came to mind) were somewhat less than friendly with Garak. On the other hand, it really wasn't their business, and Garak would probably be better company than a nonsentient holocharacter. Why not? He asked himself. I imagine Garak would be an… interesting… dance partner.

"Well, I suppose you could come with me," he finally said, "but try not to antagonize Kira, or O'Brien, or Sisko, or-"

Garak cut him off smoothly. "I'll see what I can do. Ah, when exactly is this lesson taking place?"

Julian was sure that Garak already knew the answer (he did) but he answered him anyway. "Tomorrow evening, at twenty-hundred hours, in Vic's."

Garak gave Julian a polite little half-nod and a smile. "Well then, I look forward to seeing you there."

Julian smiled back, and was about to resume their literature discussion when his combadge chirped at him. "Sickbay to Bashir. Ensign Rija broke her arm."

He stood up, tapping his badge to respond as he did so. "I'm on my way."

He turned to Garak, ready to apologize, but the Cardassian held up a hand. "I understand, Doctor. Go treat your patients."

Julian, thanking Garak, hurried off to Sickbay and left him sitting at their lunch table. Each of them contemplated the upcoming dance lessons with an intriguing mix of anticipation and trepidation. Garak, of course, was pleased with himself for his excellent handling of the conversation. Julian was eagerly anticipating the time spent with his friends and colleagues. Both were looking forward to learning something new, but neither was really sure what to expect. Old Earth dancing was far from the preferred pastime of either participant. As such, while they prepared to go about the rest of the day, each of them thought, near-simultaneously: what have I gotten myself into now?