By the time, the "colleague" arrived, Julian was awake, but still hadn't completely recovered. His chest sported a nasty burn from the phaser beam, a constant weight had settled on his sternum and he struggled to take in deep breaths.

As soon as the doors parted for the new arrival, Julian shrunk away as much as he was able to with his wrist and ankle still chained to the post. Everything that had happened was just too much; first it was his secret being revealed, then it was the way people looked at him differently, and now it was the fact he had to be restrained because people feared him. He hated being feared! He just wanted to help.

When footsteps began echoing throughout the room, Julian turned his head away from the visitor. He didn't want to give the person an excuse to use the remote and inflict pain.

Sisko noticed how Julian immediately retreated as soon as the door opened. He saw the look of defeat on his face before he had turned it away. It was obvious what Julian was feeling.

But the new visitor approached Sisko and Miles and completely ignored the doctor. He didn't even look happy to be there, he just looked like a man who was doing his job, even though he didn't particularly enjoy it.

"You two are free to go" the man said, gesturing to Sisko and O'Brien. "As long as you keep your mouths shut, there will be no problems. The door is open, and if you turn left and take the second door on the right, you'll meet an escort that will take you back to your ship." The man stood completely straight, showing off his six foot four, bulky figure, obviously trying to intimidate them. "Here are the PADDs you will need to memorize."

Sisko and O'Brien stood up slowly, surprise and anxiety etched on their faces. The fact that the man was letting them go and ignoring Julian worried Sisko to no end. "What about Doctor Bashir?" Sisko asked suspiciously.

The man's face changed. He went from looking emotionless, to looking as malevolent as the woman had. He laughed maliciously. "Oh, didn't you hear? He has a court date!"

Miles took a menacing step towards the man, before Sisko's hand touched his shoulder as a silent warning. "How can he go to court without counsel?" O'Brien demanded, fidgeting on the spot.

"I will be serving as the good doctor's attorney," The man said mockingly. "He'll get all the 'defense' he needs before he's sent to the Institute."

Sisko and O'Brien glared at the man with a burning hatred. He was enjoying his job. Condemning an innocent man to a miserable life at the Institute was unspeakably cruel!

Without warning, Sisko removed his hand from Miles's shoulder and launched himself at the man, tackling him to the ground. The PADDs and a phaser tumbled to the ground. What Sisko didn't consider, was the man's build. He pulled back his fist to deliver a solid blow to the man's face, but was stopped by the hand that closed round his throat.

Sisko was pushed off the man and held to the ground; this man's strength was incredible!Sisko was focusing all his effort on prying the hand off him, but to no avail. He began to see stars as the man increased the pressure.

But then the pressure disappeared. As Sisko gasped for air and held a hand to his own throat, he saw the man had collapsed next to him. He turned his head and saw O'Brien standing with a phaser in his hand; he had a look of pure anger on his face.

As Sisko stood up, Miles searched the man's pockets, trying to find the remote. After going through all the nooks and crannies, all he found was a small device which he immediately recognized as a key.

"Damnit! The remote isn't on him!" O'Brien swore. "That woman must have it with her." Shaking his head in disappointment, he went back to Julian and unlocked his wrists and ankle. He was startled when Julian flinched away from him, looking closer, he could see he was shaking. Maybe from the aftereffects of being tortured and then stunned? Miles mused to himself as he draped one of Julian's arms around his shoulder.

It was when he stood up fully, that he suddenly remembered the Captain! "Sir, are you alright? We have to get Julian out of here!" O'Brien said urgently.

"I'll be fine, Chief," Sisko replied, even though his throat was still raw. "We have a trial to attend!"

Sisko moved to help Miles support their friend and followed the instructions the man told them. "Have you still got the phaser, Chief?" he whispered.

Before Miles could reply, Julian pushed the two men away. "I can walk," was all he said as he took a few steps and promptly collapsed against a wall. His body just felt so exhausted; he couldn't make it more than a yard! It must be the excessive amount of phaser beams he had endured. Or maybe the torture device in his head?

Before he was even aware, Miles and Sisko began supporting him again and took him towards the supposed location of the escort.

XXX

"Where is the defendant?" The judge was growing impatient as time moved on. The Doctor and his counsel were meant to be in the court room ten minutes ago, and he hated people being late!

"I don't know; my associate was meant to bring him here a while ago. I'll go and check." The woman with the remote, Catherine Watson, was known as the best lawyer this side of Bajor. In her twenty years of law, she had never lost a case, and she would not start with that infuriating doctor. With a small smile, she walked towards the door and discretely took hold of the remote in her pocket.

XXX

"Come on! This way" Sisko had taken the lead of the trio and Miles walked next to Julian in case he became too weakened or overwhelmed and needed assistance. So far, Julian was walking fine, if a bit stiff from the stun aftereffects.

"The man said left! What makes you think it's this way?" Miles asked grudgingly. He had always hated not knowing what to do, and even more so that Julian's career and life was on the line.

Sisko spoke as he continued walking; taking a quick look at every door they came across "There are only three of us, Chief. The escort is expecting two. Besides, it wouldn't surprise me if this is a trap as well. We've only got one phaser, and Lord knows Julian can't avoid any hits in his state." Sisko winced as the words left his mouth; he made Julian sound weak and feeble, something he most definitely wasn't. Stopping in his tracks, he turned round to face the doctor.

"Julian, I didn't mean that the way it sounded. I just don't want you to get hurt because of your previous injuries. I'm sorry," he put a friendly hand on his shoulder. "Come on; we've got to get to the court room!" He smiled at his friend, and was surprised to see Julian smile himself.

The sound of a door opening echoed all around them, and made Sisko's blood freeze in his veins. With a silent gesture to hide, the three officers tiptoed into a nearby room and waited for the person to walk past.

Once it was all quiet, they left the small room and continued their search for the courtroom.

XXX

Watson walked with speed she never knew she was capable of. When her associate never returned with the doctor, she knew something went wrong. Now she was panicking, thinking that the three prisoners escaped and would ruin her carefully thought out plan.

Turning the last corner to the cell, she paused when she saw the door open. Cursing, she entered and found her unconscious accomplice on the floor, looking around the small room; she saw the discarded chains that were used to restrain the doctor.

Catherine knelt down and slapped her friend on the face, to encourage him to awaken. "Malcolm! Wake up, you idiot!"

A small moan was the only response she got, before she slapped his cheek with all her might. She bit back a laugh at the yelp Malcolm made in surprise. His face glowed a deep red where her hand had hit his face.

"Glad you're with me! C'mon, we need to get back to the court room. Have you got the hand cuffs? You'll need them; there is no way Doctor Bashir will walk out a free man!"

Malcolm nodded and slowly stood up, blinking to fight the dizziness. "Have you still got the remote?"

Catherine nodded and took it out of her pocket to show him. "Let's go,"

XXX

"I hear voices!" Miles whispered to his friends. They had been wandering around for what seemed like hours, and he was quickly becoming anxious. But these voices didn't sound like the woman or her colleague. It sounded… official. Like…a judge!

Sisko noticed it to, as did Julian. They marched up and peeked inside the closest door and they all sighed in relief when they saw the judge and jury.

"Finally! It's about time we settle this!" Miles patted his best friend on the back "Are you ready, Julian?"

Taking a deep breath to calm his nerves, Julian nodded and straightened to his full height. He took a few short steps towards the door. As soon as his hands touched the old fashioned wooden door, he paused and turned round to face his commanding officer and best friend. "I want to thank you for everything! Are you sure you want to counsel for me? I understand if you don't want to; your careers could be at stake. I just don't want you to feel like you have to do it. I wouldn't mind. I mean, I would like it if you did. But if you help me-"

"Julian!" Miles hugged his friend to calm him down and show his affection, but also to shut him up. He knew for a fact that when Julian got nervous, he babbled. "We're gonna help you, okay? If you think we're gonna let you go in there without help you're daft! Ready?"

All three men took deep breaths and pushed the doors open.

Sorry for another late(ish) update; I was really busy today. I hope you liked it; let me know in the reviews!