As Julian left Ops, his shoulders slumped. He couldn't go back to the Infirmary, but he didn't want be in his dark and empty quarters either. He was saved from his indecision when Chief O'Brien rounded the corner.

"Julian! I've been looking for you!"

"Hello, Chief." Said Julian, cringing involuntarily.

"How about a drink at Quark's? I'm buying," Julian hesitated, torn between his conflicting desire to avoid others and his fear of being alone.

"Come on," wheedled O'Brien. He knew it would do his friend no good to isolate himself.

"All right," Julian relented.

"Great," O'Brien grinned and slapped Bashir on the back as they headed to the bar.

XXX

The young doctor was strangely quiet over the drinks he shared with O'Brien. In the past the Chief would have welcomed this change, but now he saw it as a sign that something was seriously wrong. Miles filled the awkward silence with prattle; anecdotes about Molly, complaints about the 'Cardie junk' that couldn't go a day without breaking down, and other such things, hoping his friend would eventually open up. However, all Julian did was stare at him with big eyes.

"Why do you keep looking at me like that?" He finally asked. Bashir hurriedly averted his gaze.

"Sorry Chief, it's just…" He trailed off, unwilling or unable to continue.

"What is it, Julian?" Miles asked gently. When Julian met his eyes again, Miles was surprised to see that he was teary-eyed.

"I saw you die. Your double, he was with me when… They killed him, Miles. I convinced him to help me… And they murdered him." His voice shook and tears leaked out of the corners of his eyes. Miles moved next to Julian and put an arm around his shoulder, drawing him close.

"I'm not going anywhere. I'm not gonna let anything bad happen to you." Miles whispered the words of comfort in his ear the same way he would for Molly. "You hear me? Nothing bad is gonna happen to you."

XXX

Julian leaned against the doors of his quarters with a sigh. After his breakdown in Quark's the Chief had insisted on walking him back. Miles had invited him to come home with him and visit with Keiko and Molly and had even suggested they play a game of racquet ball, but Julian had declined.

Despite his nap earlier, he was exhausted and just wanted to sleep. Julian collapsed into bed; barely taking the time to kick off his shoes and shrug out of his uniform jacket before he sank into oblivion.

XXX

Even though his sight was fuzzy from pain; Julian could still make out the shape of the cylindrical object brandished before him: A Klingon Pain Stick.

"I believe you remember this, Doctor." Garak taunted as he pressed the tip of the pain stick to Julian's stomach. "However, this time I decided that you're ready for a higher setting."

Julian was drowning in fear, gasping for breath as he waited for the agony that was sure to come. Garak smiled at his captive, before hitting the power switch.

Every nerve in Julian's body was on fire! Lights exploded in front of his eyes, surrounding Garak's smirking face. The colors of pain formed a halo around his tormentor.

"This is nothing" He heard Garak hiss over his own screams. "The worst is yet to come."

XXX

Julian's eyes snapped open. Garak's words reverberated in his head. Quickly, he got up and left his room, grabbing his civilian jacket and shoes and putting them on as he went. He had to get out of here! Away from the nightmares.

It was already mid-morning and the Promenade was bustling with life. Julian stumbled around aimlessly. He was still a bit disoriented and had to dodge to avoid hitting people, who gave him strange and confused looks as he shuffled past. Fortunately though, no one bothered him.

He was still wandering around with no idea of where he was going when he suddenly stopped dead in his tracks, paralyzed with fear.

Across the Promenade stood Garak talking to one of his customers. Julian's heart hammered in his chest at the sight of the Cardassian from his nightmares. Banishing the thought, he tried to will his fear away with deep breathes.

He was actually beginning to feel calmer, his heart was slowing down to a normal rate and his breathing became even. He was just about to continue walking when Garak turned around and spotted him. Julian's eyes went wide, and at Garak's smile, he panicked.

Julian shook his head, trying to will his stupid feelings away. This wasn't the same Garak! He wouldn't hurt him! His insistent thoughts about this Garak didn't overcome the overwhelming fear about the other Garak. His heart began pumping too quickly in his chest again as he saw Garak approach him. It was that smile! The same smile the other Garak had used when he had tortured him. The same smile he used when Smiley was killed. The same smile he used when he was instructed to slowly kill him.

The fear he felt consume his body had become too much for him and before he let Garak get too close, Julian did the only thing he could think of: He ran.

He no longer noticed the people he passed; his mind was focused on the image of Garak, chasing him. He had the pain stick!

Everything went quiet around him. He couldn't hear the yelps of people he ran into. Couldn't hear the hum of the station. Couldn't hear people calling after him. All he could hear was Garak's booming voice, echoing all around him "You can't hide, Human! I'll find you, and when I do, you'll be begging for death!" The voice sounded closer, like he was right behind him, ready to inflict indescribable pain.

Julian ran impossibly fast, non-stop until he reached his quarters. He sprinted in and immediately instructed the computer to lock his doors. He leaned against the wall and sank to the ground, hyperventilating. He feared his heart would burst from his dread and hysteria. His entire mind was focused on Garak's voice which surrounded him: "The worst is yet to come."