What was that noise? Kira wondered as she was torn from her slumber. Whatever it was, she wished it would be quiet. She was trying to sleep!
Why then, was she sitting up? And why was her pillow so hard? Kira brought herself out of her doze, looking around groggily. I'm still in Bashir's quarters! She realized suddenly, cursing herself for falling asleep on one of his chairs.
She pushed herself up from the chair, waiting to overcome her disorientation. She heard the noise again, it sounded like crying. Remembering Julian, she walked to his bedroom and blanched when she saw him. The sounds that had awakened her definitely came from him. He was in the throes of a nightmare, sweat covering his brow and his sheets twisted around him. Piteous whimpers escaped from his mouth as he tossed and turned on his bed.
She walked over to him, and sat on the side of the bed. "Julian, wake up." Kira whispered.
Nothing happened and he continued thrashing about, muttering incoherent words. His eyes were squeezed shut and his breaths came in pants.
"Julian!"
XXX
"This is my reward for treating you Terrans with the least bit of respect. Very well. I can learn from my mistakes. You want an example, Garak? Use him. Set an example for all Terrans, Let him die slowly, in public view on the Promenade... Let his pleas for mercy echo through the corridors for all Terrans to hear!"
Julian wouldn't let his fear show. He silently prayed someone would barge in and save the day.
It was when the Intendant asked Smiley what he had been thinking when he tried to escape that Julian's guilt nearly overwhelmed him.
He listened to Smiley's speech filled with shame for being the cause of his imminent misfortune.
"Not for you, Mister O'Brien. Oh, he's going to be taking you with him. Just not exactly where he though he's be taking you."
The Intendant nodded to Garak who stormed up to both Smiley and Julian and turned them around roughly. Julian was truly scared. He had been assigned to DS9 for less than two years, now he was already facing a horrible death.
Garak led them both to the Promenade and began preparing for the first torture, while the Intendant walked over to Julian and raised her arm, ready to strike.
Julian instinctively shut his eyes, bracing himself for the assault. But nothing happened. He heard her whisper "Julian!"
XXX
"Julian, wake up. It's only a nightmare. No one is going to hurt you!" Kira was trying desperately to urge Julian into wakefulness, gently shaking his shoulder "Julian. Wake up!"
XXX
He heard the Intendant's laughter echo around him. Laughing at his pain he was forced to suffer.
Garak had him suspended from the ceiling by his wrists and immediately began the assault. Starting with simple beatings via his fists and legs and turned into whipping and burns.
Garak had left him alone for a moment when he moved to collect a poker. Julian hurt everywhere! Nothing had been ignored, he just wanted to die!
When Garak arrived with the red hot poker, The Intendant walked up to him "May I?" She suavely asked. Of course Garak obliged, giving her a mock salute as he handed her the tool.
Julian couldn't take his eyes off the weapon; he had no idea where she planned on using it.
He howled when she pressed against his cheek, disfiguring him.
His screams drowned out her laughs as she left the poker on his face. It was total agony!
XXX
Julian was visibly crying now, his face screwed up in pain.
"Julian!" Kira near enough shouted. "Julian!" She shook him, unwilling to leave Julian trapped in his past trauma. He jolted awake from the awful memories and his fearful eyes landed on her.
"No, Intendant, please!" He begged, recoiling from her. Kira felt like she had been slapped. She wasn't like the Intendant is anything more than appearance! Was she? Putting her feelings aside, she attempted to calm Julian down.
"Julian, it's okay. It was just a dream. It's me, Kira." She firmly placed two hands on his shoulders, trying to stop him from thrashing and hurting himself.
Julian stopped shying away and looked up at her incredulously. "Nerys?" He breathed out her name in utter relief.
"Yes, it's Nerys." She assured him. As she gathered him into a hug, she felt him shake from the shock. "It's okay," she repeated. "It's okay."
Kira lowered them both back to the bed, still embracing Julian. She stroked his hair and continued comforting him until his eyes closed and he softened in her grip.
XXX
Julian awoke alone. Kira had gone. Shame washed over him as he remembered what had happened. Calling Kira the Intendant? No wonder she had left! It had been awhile since he'd stuck his foot in his mouth around her, but now he had managed to ruin their newfound friendship.
Disgusted with himself, he got up from bed and went to his living room. He started at what he found.
"Kira!" He exclaimed jubilantly.
"Good morning," Kira said, looking up from her raktajino. "I'm glad you're feeling better." She offered him a warm smile.
He looked at his feet guiltily. "Nerys… I'm so sorry."
Kira frowned, perplexed. "For what?"
"Last night when I called…"
"Don't worry, Julian. We're fine."
"Really?" He asked hopefully.
"Really," she smiled.