Author's Notes:
I'm a lifelong reader of fan fiction and this will be my second attempt at writing my own story. Garashir as a pairing continues to inspire me, both onscreen and through the wonderful fics on here already. This is my own attempt at the survival situation/cold Cardassian trope.
Please be kind, my writing is still very much in its early stages. Comments and feedback would be appreciated :)
(full disclosure: this was originally posted on AO3 but FanFiction has been a safe space for me literally forever so thought I'd better add it here too) x
(Day 1)
Ridiculous. That's what this situation was, Julian angrily mused to himself as he fought his way through the habitat ring. He had to step carefully over all the discarded possessions which currently littered the halls. The bulk of the station's occupants had already left, having obediently boarded the shuttles when advised and made their escape. Everyone except the last of his medical team, who he had just accompanied to the airlock, and one stubborn Cardassian that he was going to have to physically remove himself. What was Garak thinking? Julian was hardly going to leave him here alone to take his chances on the station. What sort of friend did Garak think he was?
As he reached Garak's quarters, Julian's temper had almost reached boiling point and he had to take a calming breath before he used his medical override to forcefully unlock the door. He was relieved to find it still recognised his entry code. At least something around here was still working! He sidestepped determinedly over the threshold once the door was partway open, there wasn't time for the usual pleasantries.
Garak was sat on his sofa, a cup of tea in hand. He looked up in amusement at the visitor who had so rudely barged into his living room, safe in the knowledge that there was only one person it could possibly be.
"Doctor! Why this is quite the surprise, I wasn't expecting guests. Would you care to join me for a cup of red leaf?"
Garak was so blasé, Julian could have laughed if the circumstances weren't so dire. "Garak! Please tell me you are at least packed and ready to go?"
Meeting Bashir's eyes, Garak made no move to get up. "Go? Why, Doctor, where do you suggest I go? Into one of the escape pods to Bajor? I hardly think the Bajoran's would be very happy with that arrangement."
Julian frowned and put his hands on his hips. "Precisely. That's where we ALL should be. If there's a problem when we get there, then the Bajorans can deal with me."
Garak gave the Doctor a fond smile. "Oh, that would be worth seeing. But no thank you. There is really no need. Catastrophic system failures are hardly rare occurrences. In fact, isn't this the 3rd one this month? Life support may be temporarily disabled but with an empty station there will be plenty of oxygen for some time yet, even more so once you've made your escape. I'm sure Sisko and the Defiant will be back long before things become critical. They are only away on a routine local mission as I understood it. Not that I'm privy to that sort of information, of course, but one unwittingly overhears things in dressing rooms... I am in no doubt that your tolerant friend Chief O'Brien will get us patched up again in no time, he has a knack for reanimating all of the Frankenstein systems that keep this station limping along."
Julian shook his head in disbelief. "I'm sure he'd be thrilled with your vote of confidence... Garak, please be serious. I'm not leaving you here."
Garak took a sip of his tea and spoke slowly, as if indulging a child. "Then, I'm afraid we are at an impasse, my Dear. Now, why don't you run along and get yourself off the station and stop using up all my air? Surely, the former occupants need their CMO with them down on the surface. As you said, that's where you ought to be."
Julian was beyond irritated now, crossing his arms as he glared at Garak. "No. Don't try and pull that on me, I'm not putting up with any of your nonsense today. You can't guilt trip me into going. If you insist on staying here then you leave me no choice, I'll just have to stay here with you. As a Starfleet officer and this station's doctor, I cannot in good conscience abandon you. Someone needs to be here to keep an eye on your vitals, should the conditions worsen."
Julian wanted to add that more importantly, as Garak's friend, of course he was going to be there for him. However, he wasn't quite ready to open that can of worms. He could never be sure how the Cardassian would react. Garak always seemed extra suspicious and wary whenever anyone showed him any sort of consideration and Julian didn't want to get his back up.
Garak's mouth dropped open in shock, Bashir couldn't be serious. What was the Doctor playing at? He hesitated only for a second before regaining his composure. Rising to his full height, Garak spoke sharply to Bashir in his most authoritative tone. "Don't be absurd! I must insist you leave here at once. Go. Now."
Julian was not fazed in the slightest and stood his ground, he'd seen all of this before. "How impolite! Garak, that's not how you normally treat your houseguests is it? I thought Cardassians prided themselves on their superior manners and hospitality! Aren't you always berating me for my species' supposed lack of social etiquette?"
Garak narrowed his eyes. Bashir could be so petulantly childish when he wanted to be, the young man was arguably as stubborn as he was. Short of physically incapacitating the Doctor and bundling him onto an escape pod, Garak didn't see that he had much choice. Misery does love company, as the Terrans say.
Garak smoothed down his clothes and gracefully retook his seat. "Fine. Do what you must, Doctor. Your impressive list of accolades does mean that you technically outrank me. However, these are my quarters so don't expect to order me around like one of your patients."
Julian rolled his eyes and acquiesced, taking his travel bag off his shoulder. "I will be back shortly then. Since we are staying, there are a few things I should collect from the infirmary."
Garak watched Bashir leave, somewhat confused as to why he would put himself at risk in this way. The two of them weren't that close, why did he feel personally responsible for his wellbeing? This odd compulsion to look out for him was becoming a worrying habit of the Doctor's and had begun to make him uneasy. If he had any hope of figuring out Bashir's motives, he would need to increase his efforts and look out for any deviations from their normal dynamic. Unless, of course, it was all perfectly professional? It had been some time since he had recovered from the trauma of having the wire removed, was the Doctor still concerned that he was in a weakened state? Garak was certainly no delicate damsel in distress who needed rescuing! He could take care of himself.
Still, Garak had to admit that there were worse people he could be stuck here with. The good Doctor was at least relatively interesting and was a lively conversationalist, once you got past the Federation dogma. On a side note, Bashir was also not half bad to look at either. He would have to watch himself there. Without the distraction of the replimat's crowds, the Doctor was more likely to notice any prolonged physical contact or lingering looks on his part. Fortunately, he didn't become aggressively animalistic the way many of his countrymen tended to once their pheromones and hormones were riled. Garak was safe in the knowledge that he was certainly no Skrain Dukat! He was perfectly capable of keeping his baser instincts in check, thank the Guls. Also, this wasn't exactly the first time he would be alone with the young man in question.
Yes, Garak concluded, even with the extra complications this was still the preferable option. Much better than squeezing himself into one of the uncomfortably small escape pods, at any rate. The thought of being stuck in one of those windowless crates brought forth a genuine shudder which thankfully Bashir was not around to see. He didn't need the Doctor correctly diagnosing any more of his ailments and neuroses, he had an air of mystery to maintain after all.
- - -.
When Julian eventually got back to Garak's floor, he lamented that all the transporters and replicators were out. Even with his enhancements, he was sweating and short of breath from the physical exertion. Dragging several blankets (heated and standard) filled with; food and water rations, two oxygen tanks plus masks, and his basic med kit, the length of the station was not how he'd intended to spend the afternoon.
Garak eyed the Doctor's choices as they were brought in and had to admit that he'd been thorough. The trip the infirmary should make their stay somewhat more comfortable. He was already wearing a thin blanket and was relieved to see that Bashir had brought several more back with him. The one had on was stylish but wouldn't be much use once the temperature plummeted, it could barely cope with the station's normal environmental settings.
Humming, Garak frowned in mock confusion. "Just how long are you planning on staying with me Doctor? I daresay you have enough here to last us longer than 26 hours. I don't recall actually asking you to move in with me. Although, where are my superior Cardassian manners? Please, make yourself at home. Feel free to impose your presence on my humble living space for as long as you deem necessary."
Julian exhaled slowly, telling himself that Garak was just trying to get a rise out of him. He was not going to give the old lizard the satisfaction of starting an argument, nor was he going to allow him to drive a wedge between them this early into his stay. They were on good terms right now and he intended for them to remain that way.
Smiling genially, Julian gestured at the pile of supplies. "I thought it better to be overprepared just in case this lasts longer than expected. I'm sure an experienced tailor, such as yourself, would agree? I am confident you've survived your fair share of life-threatening fashion emergencies in your time."
Before giving Garak a chance to respond, Julian crossed the room and collapsed in a heap on the sofa. "Garak? I think I'll take that cup of tea now."
