February 2375

Julian was exhausted.

He was doing his best to work full duty shifts, eat, sleep, and raise Ricky alone, but it was a hard schedule because it left no time for himself. Colonel Kira was now in charge of the station and Starfleet was supporting her, but there were also other changes and Julian felt extremely overwhelmed.

While he worked, Keiko willingly took care of Ricky along with Kirayoshi and Molly simply because it would get Ricky used to socializing with strangers. Julian, however, had assumed complete responsibility for his son when he was not on duty for fear that Starfleet might deem him an unfit parent for seeing the need to rely on others. Such a situation had never made him feel so alone.

Starfleet had pulled Dr. Grayson from the station with very little warning and Julian didn't know where she was now, as they had never gotten to say goodbye to each other. He had asked Starfleet where she had gone, but had been basically told to mind his own affairs and focus on handling his responsibilities.

Now, it was over two months since his blowup with Sisko and Julian was awake at 0500 trying to calm Ricky enough that he would sleep. He was so tired and yet, he had to stay awake for his little son.

The Promenade was dark and Julian was walking with Ricky in the chest sling, hoping the movement and sounds of the station at night would lull his little one to rest.

A yawn escaped Ricky's lips and Julian took the opportunity to sit on a bench and watch Ricky slowly settle into a sleep, "Oh, Ricky, I'm glad you're feeling better," Julian spoke softly, sighing gently.

Once Ricky was asleep, Julian dared not move because he was scared of waking his son, but at the same time, he wanted to go to bed. He was so very tired and needed a proper rest in his own bed, but he would settle for having a catnap on a bench if it would just get them both through the night. He resigned himself to accepting that as the only way he would get some rest and closed his eyes.

"Doctor?"

Julian groaned softly, but didn't open his eyes, "What is it?" he asked in a quiet, sleepy voice.

"Is sleeping sitting up a new trend?" Garak's voice suddenly asked as Julian felt a pair of familiar hands suddenly rest on his shoulders. "Ricky seems perfectly happy, but you can't possibly be…

Julian sighed sleepily, but opened his eyes to find Garak and Odo, "Oh, Constable, is there an emergency?" he asked in a tired voice. "Whatever it is, can we handle it quietly? Ricky…"

"I've observed you for over a month walking the Promenade at night with Ricky because he won't sleep," Odo observed quietly, his expression concerned. "You've then done every day shift you've been assigned at peak efficiency. Sooner or later, Doctor, you're going to break and you won't be good for anything or to anyone. Maybe you should send your son to Earth where he can be looked after!"

"…Ricky seems healthy enough, but what about Julian?" a gentle, familiar voice suddenly spoke.

"…Ricky's daddy has been looking after him quite well, but hasn't been looking after himself…"

Julian suddenly felt a hand touch his skin and he jerked awake, shocked to see that he was looking up at Odo, Kira, Doctor Girani, Nurse Jabara, and a concerned looking Miles, "Good to have you back, Julian," Miles spoke worriedly. "You didn't drop Ricky off at the usual time and Keiko found you passed out on the floor of your quarters. Ricky was in his highchair with food in front of him…"

"I was getting ready to feed him and I just got so tired," Julian spoke softly. "I'm still tired."

Doctor Girani looked at a biomonitor above the bed, "You seem to have developed a mild case of influenza stemming from overexhaustion," she replied. "You've been doing double shifts since Doctor Grayson left and then you've been taking care of your son. You're severely dehydrated right now…"

Grief filled Julian's heart and he closed his eyes, too tired and unwilling to admit that he had deliberately overdone it to prove Sisko and the others that he could be successful as a parent.

"It's probably best to let Doctor Bashir get some rest for now," Julian heard Dr. Girani say softly as he drifted into a deep sleep. "Once he's less dehydrated, I'll release him from the infirmary…"

"Doctor?"

Exhaustion filled Julian's body as he woke and found that the infirmary was unusually quiet. He slowly sat up and was surprised to see a dripline in his hand and a blanket covering him from the waist down.

A throat cleared and Julian looked up, deeply surprised to see that Garak was standing at the foot of his bed, "You never showed up for lunch and so I asked around," Garak explained in a concerned voice, his expression worried. "Constable Odo said that you've been in the infirmary since early…"

"I apparently passed out in my quarters when I was feeding my son this morning and Keiko found me," Julian explained in a weak, tired voice. "Doctor Girani says I have a mild case of the flu…"

Garak raised an eyebrow, "Well, I was going to tell you over lunch that the patterns for the clothes you ordered for Ricky's birthday in a couple of months are ready and you just need to pick how they're going to look," he spoke in a calm voice. "I can see, though, that you need something more…"

Julian sighed weakly, "What I need is some rest, but I don't like being so far away from my son," he replied in a groggy voice. "Could you maybe go check on him from time to time, Garak?"

"Oh, I think they'll let you out of Sickbay if you have someone to stay with you while you recover," Garak spoke in a calming voice. "I already made the offer to Doctor Girani and Odo. They say I can stay with you in your quarters until you recover. You can always have Ricky stay with the O'Briens."

Nodding, Julian offered a weak smile, "I'm sure I'll be a terrible roommate," he replied demurely.

Garak responded by moving around to Julian's bedside, "I've gotten used to your insufferable nature, Doctor," he replied, smiling. "It's either my offer or you can just waste away in here…"

"I'll choose your offer," Julian spoke groggily, sighing. "Do you think I could get beamed to my quarters so I can lie down again? I'm feeling a bit yucky now that I'm sitting up…"

Without waiting for a reply, Julian promptly laid down and closed his eyes because he was beginning to feel nauseous. Garak looked over to where Dr. Girani was and he nodded, letting out a small sigh.

"Can you please beam us both to Doctor Bashir's quarters?" Garak asked in a quiet voice. "I'd only be doing him a disservice by waking him and making him go through the Promenade right now."

Dr. Girani nodded and Garak closed his eyes as he felt the transporter whisk him away. A moment later, he opened his eyes and found himself standing beside Julian's bed. Julian was asleep on the bed with the dripbox on the bed and completely unaware that he had been moved from the infirmary.

Garak quickly moved Julian's sleeping form under the covers and set the dripbox on the bedside table before retrieving Kukulaka from the shelf. He silently deposited the bear in Julian's arms before moving out into the living room, settling himself on the couch, and pulling his personal PADD from his pocket. While Julian rested, he would work and then they could share a meal together later on.

It wasn't until dinnertime that Julian woke up and he was surprised, but pleased to see Kukulaka serving as his companion in bed. He missed Ricky, but he knew it was safer for him to be with Miles and Keiko until he could be declared healthy enough to take back his parental responsibilities.

The drip-feed had run dry and so Julian removed it before shakily getting out of bed, being quick to go to the lavatory to clean his hand so it wouldn't get infected. He still felt tired, but his stomach felt better and his feelings of yuckiness had eased considerably even though he was still feeling slightly feverish.

And Garak, Julian reasoned, had put him to bed after springing him from the infirmary…

"Garak?" Julian called out as he exited the lavatory and moved into the living room. "Garak?"

No response came and Julian sighed tiredly before moving over to the replicator, "Mint tea, hot," he spoke in a groggy voice, relief filling him when the tea appeared almost immediately.

Tea in hand, Julian retreated to the couch and drank it before laying down. The walk from the bed to the replicator had tired him out and Julian closed his eyes, figuring Garak had gone off to work because he had wasted his entire day babysitting an overemotional invalid who couldn't care for himself.

A hand suddenly touched his shoulder and he opened his eyes to see Garak standing over him holding a food box, "You really shouldn't be up and around if all you're going to do is nap," Garak spoke in a quiet voice before raising the takeout box. "I simply went to the Replimat to get us some supper…"

"I managed some tea," Julian spoke groggily as he got up. "You wasted a whole day's work…"

Garak scoffed, "Everyone's busy fawning over Captain Sisko's return and the arrival of a new Dax," he replied in an irritated voice, sighing. "My dear doctor, the only place you are going is back to bed. You hardly look any better than you did this morning. I will sit with you and share supper with you."

Julian frowned, "Sisko's back?" he asked groggily. "And there's a new Dax?"

Garak made a shooing motion and Julian quietly returned to bed without another word. He watched as Garak brought the box in and sat on the end of the bed to unpack it, "Chicken soup for you," the Cardassian said, handing Julian a small container of soup with a spoon attached.

"Thanks," Julian spoke softly, opening the container as Garak took a scone sandwich and disposable container of tea out for himself. "So, how is Captain Sisko and the…the new Dax?"

Garak raised an eyebrow, "Chief O'Brien already told him that you've got the flu and are resting," he replied in a calm voice. "Captain Sisko said he'd be by as soon as he got settled to check on you."

A pained expression crossed Julian's face, "I'd rather not see him," he admitted softly. "I can't."

Garak frowned, "Before he left, he said some pretty terrible things to me, about me, and about my son and I just don't want to deal with him right now," Julian spoke quietly, his expression sad. "I just want to get better so I can have my son back with me and just go on as if I don't matter to this station."

Sighing irritably, Julian finished his food and set the container aside. Garak, however, frowned because he had heard gossip a few months ago about a fight between Sisko and Bashir, but he hadn't expected it to be anything other than rumors. Now that Julian was saying otherwise, he couldn't help but be worried about his friend. What had happened during that fight to elicit such a response from Julian?

The door chime suddenly rang and Julian scoffed, "I need to rest," he said, yawning as he laid down.

Garak took the dishes in his hands as he got up and went to the living room. He set his food down on the table and recycled Julian's dishes before answering the door. Captain Sisko was standing at the door looking calmer and as if he wanted to talk, but Garak didn't regard him with the same warmth.

"I was wondering if Doctor Bashir was available for a chat?" Captain Sisko asked calmly, his expression neutral. "I heard that he's sick with the flu, but I'd like to talk to him regardless…"

Garak sighed, "He's resting, but even if he wasn't, I don't think he wants to talk to you," he replied in a firm voice, his expression upset. "He said that the fight you had before you left…"

"Mister Garak, this is a Starfleet matter," Captain Sisko replied firmly, his expression darkening.

Garak, however, shook his head, "Even Starfleet cannot interfere in a relationship between an officer and someone who aided in work against the Dominion, Captain," he stated in an equally firm voice, silently hoping that Julian would forgive him for lying. "It was our time together at Starbase 375 that made us actually consider the idea of courtship, but we couldn't file the necessary forms because circumstances made that impossible. Now that you're back, though, we can file the forms…"

Captain Sisko's eyes widened, "Well, that would explain the rumors I've heard about you staying with Doctor Bashir," he replied in a concerned voice. "I'll prepare the forms, but I'll want to speak with…"

"Whatever you said to him before you left hurt him deeply and I don't know if he'll want to interact with you in anything more than a professional capacity, Captain," Garak stated, cutting him off.

A look crossed Captain Sisko's face, "That," he replied softly, as if just remembering what he had said.

"Now, I don't know exactly what was said, but I know that Doctor Bashir was hurt by it and you definitely owe him an apology," Garak spoke firmly, sighing. "Until then, good day."

Without waiting for a reply, Garak shut the door in Sisko's face and turned to sit down, only to find that Julian had heard them talking and got up. Julian's expression was one of intense shock.

"I…you lied to Captain Sisko?" Julian asked in a quiet, groggy voice. "And said we were dating?"

Garak sighed, "Well, he was being annoying and I knew you weren't ready to deal with him," he replied in a calm voice, his expression neutral. "He was acting as if his words caused no hurt to you, but if you're really bothered by my lie, I can go and personally tell him that you…"

"No, it's fine," Julian said groggily. "I just never imagined anyone would care about protecting me…"

Garak sighed, "Sentiment is the greatest weakness of all, I have been told, but I am not ashamed to care about someone who thrives on it," he replied calmly. "I care for you and Ricky deeply, my dear."

For once, Julian was speechless and silently moved towards Garak. He was tired, but he found himself silently hugging the Cardassian with all of the strength that he had in his currently unwell body. For a brief moment, Garak was taken aback by the hug, but he silently returned it because he knew the gesture would bring Julian comfort. Several moments passed before Julian returned to his bed for rest.

Swallowing hard, Garak silently went back to the couch and picked up his PADD to resume work.

"…Starfleet isn't happy about the news of your relationship with Garak, but they'll accept it for now considering that he's working for our side," Garak heard a firm voice say. "Just mind your behavior and attention to duty isn't anything less than expected of a Starfleet officer. As for the other issue…"

Garak opened his eyes and found that he had been laid to rest on the couch with a pillow under his head and a blanket over his body. He sat up and found that his PADD was on the table, but where was…?

The doors suddenly slid open and Julian, who was back in uniform, came into his quarters with Ricky in his arms and looking rested. Captain Sisko nodded at Garak briefly before silently leaving.

"Morning," Julian spoke in a slightly tired voice as he entered the quarters and gently set Ricky in his swing. "Captain Sisko wanted to talk to me in his office and I decided that Ricky needed to be home."

Garak frowned, "You still look as if you could use another few days," he observed worriedly.

"Oh, I'm off duty for a few more days barring emergencies, but Sisko did ask to see me about what you told him," Julian replied quietly, sighing. "As for the other issue, he says we'll talk when I'm better."

Garak nodded, having already known that Sisko would go to Julian about it because the word of a Cardassian wasn't worth very much nowadays, "I told him we became very close friends during my pregnancy and that after he left, we decided to try courting," Julian confessed in a quiet voice. "A lot of people already think we're courting because we eat lunch together every day and flirt…"

"Why, Doctor, I didn't think you had it in you to support my lies," Garak replied, smirking.

Julian sighed as he activated Ricky's swing, "Believe it or not, they're part of your charm," he replied in a tired voice, his expression tired. "If you've got work to do, I should let you get to it…"

"Julian, you look as if you could use some more rest," Garak spoke in a concerned voice, frowning.

Julian nodded, but turned his attention to Ricky, "Keiko already fed him breakfast, but he'll need to be entertained," he spoke, a yawn filling his voice. "Maybe around the time that he has his nap…"

"No, you'll go to bed now and I can entertain him," Garak spoke firmly. "You need rest."

Julian sighed weakly and gestured to the spot in the room where Ricky's toys, diaper bag, the shelf containing several children's novel tablets, and the stroller sat, "His stuff's there," he spoke tiredly.

Garak nodded and Julian quietly retreated to bed without even bothering to remove his Starfleet uniform before diving under his blankets. He fell asleep to the sound of Ricky cooing happily.

Hours later, Julian was awake again and well enough to look after Ricky on his own, so Garak had gone on with his day as much as he could. The first thing Julian had done was given Ricky a bath and put him in a clean diaper and clothes. Next, he had gotten a holonovel from the shelf and had sat on the couch with Ricky on his lap. Ricky enjoyed being read to and especially enjoyed being held by his dad.

Once the book was finished, Julian sat on the floor with Ricky and got him some toys. As they played, Julian began to notice that Ricky's interest was mostly focused on the simpler toys and he didn't even react to the computerized items. At nearly a year old, Julian realized, Ricky should have at least have some interest in the computerized items and other things, but he seemed to be in an ignorant bliss. It was concerning to him and Julian realized that he may have passed his disabilities on to his son.

"Even if you're like Jules was, I'll still love you," Julian spoke in a quiet voice, his expression patient.

Ricky cooed and looked up at him, smiling whilst offering him a ring from a collection of rings that children were supposed to sort on to a small plastic stand, "Is that for me?" Julian asked gently, smiling at his son's eagerness before he took the ring. "Just know that I love you no matter what, okay?"

The smile remained on Ricky's face as he returned to playing with the rings and Julian sat there, holding a drool covered ring in hand because it was obvious Ricky had either no interest in the item or had forgotten he had given it away. Julian watched Ricky for a few more moments and gained the additional observation that Ricky was simply zooming the rings around before sucking on them instead of trying to arrange them on the stand. Sighing, Julian silently tapped his combadge to call Dr. Girani to arrange an assessment for Ricky to see if, in fact, the boy was somehow developmentally delayed.

"Bashir to Girani," Julian spoke in a quiet voice. "Could you report to my quarters, please?"

There was a gasp, "Is everything all right, sir?" Dr. Girani's voice asked in a concerned tone.

"I'd like to have a conversation with you about Ricky," Julian replied in a quiet, tired voice, sighing as he continued watching his son play. "I think he might have some sort of developmental disability."