Family Secrets

By: N'kala99

Chapter One

Julian Bashir glanced up at the screen before him as it began to display the results of the

search he had been running. He had been looking to synthesize a new vaccine for the

recently developed Bolarian flu that had been running rampant throughout the quadrant.

The station had been introduced to the epidemic when a Tellarite freighter had docked for

repairs just a couple weeks before. Several inhabitants of the station were still down with

the nasty virus, and all Julian had been able to do so far was administer a temporary cure.

He'd been in contact with other doctors in the quadrant, who were also experiencing the

outbreaks, but so far none of them had had any luck. This time, though, Julian believed

he was onto something.

As the information rolled across the screen, the young doctor felt his pulse quicken. The

results looked promising. All he needed to do now was test the vaccine against the strain

he had cultured, and then he would know for sure.

"I've never known strands of DNA to be that interesting."

Julian jumped, startled, at the sudden voice. Turning, he scowled playfully at Jadzia Dax.

"You know, you could give someone a heart attack doing that."

Dax just smiled. "Then you're in the right place to have one. What are you looking at?"

Julian transferred a sample of his newly developed serum into a hypospray, then carried

the hypo over to another workstation where his flu sample awaited him. "If I'm lucky,

the answer to our latest problem."

"The Bolarian flu?" Dax correctly guessed. "After only two weeks?"

Julian didn't reply as he injected the flu strain with the compound, then watched the

screen anxiously for results. Dax moved closer and peered over his shoulder.

At first, it didn't look as though anything had changed. Just as Julian was about to give

up hope, the readout began to show the gradual dissipation of the flu virus. He ran a

second test to be sure, but the results were identical.

Dax squeezed his shoulder. "Congratulations, Julian!"

Julian grinned broadly and went about filling a number of hyposprays with the vaccine,

then loaded them into his medical kit. "As soon as I distribute the vaccine to the people

on the station, I'm going to alert all of the doctors in the sector so they can do the same. I

think the news will come as a bit of relief to the people suffering from this epidemic."

"I think it's more than that," Dax protested. "I can't believe you've found a vaccine in the

short amount of time you had. This is something that will definitely get you attention

from Starfleet Medical."

Julian shrugged. "I couldn't take all the credit. After all, there were several of us

involved in finding the cure. If it hadn't been me, it would have been someone else."

"Still, Julian, you ought to be proud," Dax told him. She followed him from the

Infirmary, easily keeping his excited pace. "Actually, I have some news for you. I came

down to the Infirmary to tell you that the Persephone will be docking with us tomorrow

for a week."

Julian tossed Dax a confused look as they boarded the turbolift. "Why are you telling me

this? I don't know anyone on the Persephone."

Dax's brow furrowed in confusion. "You mean . . . no one told you?"

"Told me what?" Julian asked.

Dax's eyebrows rose. "The Persephone is on her way to the Gamma

Quadrant for a treaty negotiation with Tanvora IV."

Julian frowned, deep in thought. After a contemplative moment, his shocked hazel eyes

turned onto the lieutenant. "My father? My father's coming here?"

Dax nodded, still confused. "I thought he would have said something to you."

A cool mask slid into place over Julian's features. "My father and I rarely speak

anymore."

"I'm sorry if I upset you, Julian," Dax stated. "I just thought . . . well, it doesn't matter.

Do you mind if I accompany you on your house calls?"

Julian forced a smile onto his face. "Of course not. I would be delighted."



=/\=

Julian severed the communications link with the last doctor and wearily rubbed his face.

It was late in the evening, and he had just finished transmitting the vaccine information to

every doctor within ten parsecs of the station. Now that he was done with that chore, he

was left with Dax's revealing news from that afternoon.

His father. Gods above, he hadn't seen his father since he had left to go to medical

school, and for good reason. Involuntarily, a shudder rippled through his body. Why did

his father have to come here, of all places?

And more importantly, how would he be able to hide the truth from all of his friends?

Memories from his childhood plagued Julian. As if they were scenes from a holovid,

images flashed before his eyes. One right after the other, the next more frightening than

the last. One such memory he had long since buried forced its way into the forefront of

his mind.

//Furious brown eyes flashed, pinning ten-year-old Julian in place. The boy trembled

under the glare, knowing what would come next. What always came next.

"Do you have any idea what you've done?" Richard Bashir raged, towering over the small

boy. "Do you have any clue in that brainless head of yours what you just did?"

"N-No, sir," Julian stammered, flinching.

"Thanks to you, the treaty I've been working so hard to settle nearly blew up in our

faces!" Bashir thundered, grabbing Julian roughly by the arm and shaking him. "If it

hadn't been for my quick thinking, we would have a full-scale war on our hands!"

"I-I'm s-s-sorry," Julian pleaded.

"Sorry? That's all you have to say for yourself?" Bashir bellowed incredulously. "When

I'm through with you, you'll be a lot more than 'sorry'!"

"No! Dad, please, . . ."//

A hand fell on Julian's shoulder, causing the young man to be violently jerked from his

memories. Jumping to his feet, he skittered away from the sudden assault and turned to

face the intruder.

Garak was watching Julian with undisguised surprise, his eyebrows raised high on his

forehead. Sharp blue eyes studied the doctor carefully before venturing conversation. "I

apologize, Doctor. I didn't mean to startle you. Are you all right?"

Julian forced his breathing under control and nodded. "I'm fine, Garak. Is there

something you need?"

"Actually, Doctor, I saw your light on and thought I'd come over and see what could

possibly be keeping you so late," Garak replied. "It is, after all, nearly midnight."

Julian checked his chronometer and found that Garak was correct. "I didn't even realize

the time. No wonder that last doctor I spoke with seemed upset at my call." He grinned

faintly. "I suppose next time I should pay closer attention to the time."

"Then I take it your search for the cure you've been so intent about has been successful?"

Garak asked.

"So far, so good," Julian told him, straightening up several miscellaneous items. "All the

patients have been responding well to treatment, but I'll know more in the morning."

"Then might I suggest you take the rest of the night off?" Garak said. "I dare say you've

earned it."

"You've read my mind," Julian replied. "Just let me finish cleaning, then

I'll walk with you."

It only took the doctor a few more minutes, and soon the two friends were on their way

back to their quarters. After a moment of companionable silence, Garak cleared his

throat.

"If you don't mind my asking, Doctor, what were you thinking about back in the

Infirmary?" he probed lightly.

Julian's normally tanned skin paled ever so slightly, but his expression showed only

polite confusion. "What do you mean?" he responded, buying time.

Garak raised an eyebrow at him. "Come now, Doctor. Surely you don't think I am

naïve. You practically jumped out of your skin when I touched your shoulder, and that

was after I had called your name two times."

Julian sighed. "Sorry, Garak. I guess I've been under a bit of stress lately. I wasn't

really thinking of anything in particular."

Garak nodded, though whether he accepted the doctor's explanation, Julian couldn't tell.

Silently, he hoped Garak wouldn't pry any further.

"You know, there is talk going around that your father is coming tomorrow aboard the

Persephone. Am I right in assuming that our weekly lunch date will be postponed until

next week?"

Julian stared at Garak. "How did you come by that piece of information?"

Garak shrugged. "One tends to hear all sorts of things when one is-."

"A spy?" Julian cut in, half-teasing.

"A tailor," Garak corrected smoothly. He gave Julian an amused look. "Really, Doctor.

I'd have thought you would have given up on that particular notion by now."

"Can't blame a man for trying," Julian replied easily. He came to a halt in the corridor.

"Well, here I am. I guess I'll see you around. I'm sure we can fit in lunch sometime this

week. Good night, Garak."

"Good night, Doctor." Garak watched Julian retreat into his quarters, a thoughtful look

on his face. The doctor, he knew, had deftly avoided his questions with a lot more skill

than the Cardassian had ever given him credit for. That alone intrigued Garak to keep a

closer eye on Julian for the following week to see just what it was that the young man

was hiding.