(Day 2)

Garak and Bashir had spent the day practically joined at the hip, barely moving out of arm's reach of the other. Once night fell, the question whether or not to share the bed wasn't even voiced. Both had gotten changed before Julian followed Garak through into his room and together, they worked on transferring the extra blankets and the heat-retaining rocks from the lounge area. Having not been in there all day, the bedroom was now much colder than the living room had been.

Earlier, Julian had introduced Garak to the wonders of Earth hot water bottles. It had taken some effort to warm through the volume required to fill his hot water bottle up properly, but Julian had loudly and repeatedly insisted that it would be worth it when they retired for the night. Once the bottle was full and sealed tight, he had slipped it within the covers over on Garak's side of the bed.

Julian rubbed his arms trying to keep warm as he longingly looked over the bed, he was more than ready to dive in and get cosy. "Garak, do you want to take the lead regarding how many blankets you want? I'd rather avoid a repeat of last n-n-night if we can help it."

Garak nodded, he hardly wanted to go through that again. Quickly assessing the quantity of covers that had been piled up, he took off a few of the heated ones. He'd have Bashir's warmth and that rubber contraption; a couple of the regular blankets should be sufficient. If not, they could always add more. Climbing in, his feet met the warm pocket of the bed where the Doctor had placed the hot water bottle earlier.

Garak found himself closing his eyes and let out a satisfied hiss, he was suitably impressed and had to concede that it was a vast improvement. "I can certainly see why you are so fond of these outmoded devices; they do their job well."

Julian couldn't believe Garak had been so quick with his positive comments. His friend was normally reluctant to outright praise anything of Terran origin, particularly if he had personally vouched for it. He was far too cold to gloat, however, and just got into the bed himself. "Sometimes the classic designs are the best, they don't need to be fancy. My mother worried about me living out in space and made sure to pack one in my suitcase before I left. A gesture I didn't appreciate at the time, I thought she was being overly pushy and needlessly interfering."

Garak snorted. "So that's where you get it from? It's all starting to make sense."

Julian shook his head. "It's a little more complicated than that… I suppose you could argue that we both start out with the best intentions, although we have differing opinions on what is and isn't appropriate."

Garak could sense the mounting tension coming off the Doctor's slim frame, his companion had gone remarkably still beside him. Perhaps Bashir was as uncomfortable talking about his family as he was? Garak decided to brush past the topic. "With families it is always complicated, we don't need to discuss them any further if you don't wish to."

At the statement, Julian relaxed somewhat. He was relieved that Garak hadn't started to probe him for more information as was the Cardassian's usual inclination when he came across something that Julian was reluctant to talk about. He moved his leg to poke Garak affectionately with his foot. "Thank you, Garak."

Garak shot Bashir an affronted look. "Kicking me seems an odd way of showing your gratitude, but I suppose you had to drop the gracious bedside manners eventually."

Properly laughing now, Julian turned on his side towards Garak and shoved him playfully in the chest. "Oi! I'll have you know that my bedside manner is second to none!"

"Often the secondary cause of injury and distress to your patients? Yes, I quite agree with you." Smirking, Garak was starting to enjoy himself now and elaborated further. "You relish in treating the infirmary like your very own torture chamber. I honestly don't know why you are so critical of the methods used by the Order when they so closely mirror your own! You round up poor and unsuspecting station residents only to subject them to irritating and invasive procedures."

Julian's laugh died in his throat. When he thought about it, Garak did always make a point of avoiding the infirmary where he could. Maybe there was a slither of truth to his assessment, hidden beneath the layers of exaggeration. Raising a brow, he looked questioningly into his friend's eyes. "…torture chamber? Really?"

Garak let out a rich chuckle of his own. "Yes Doctor! Why else would it be so blindingly bright in there? I am sure I'm not the only one who lives in perpetual fear of you, my Dear."

Shaking his head at Garak's last statement, Julian broke out in a grin. Glad it was just a joke. For a heart stopping moment he'd thought Garak knew and was making some sort of reference to Khan's ruthlessness or to the horrors committed during the Eugenics Wars. He leaned over Garak to wrap his arms around his torso, pulling the unmoving Cardassian into a hug.

Pressing further into the embrace, Julian whispered against the silk of Garak's pyjama top. "Living in fear you say? Well, you seem pretty relaxed around me now for someone who is supposedly afraid of me."

Garak paused for a moment, suddenly caught up in thought. If he was being honest with himself, he was fearful when he was around the Doctor. Although, for quite different reasons than he'd jokingly suggested. Their developing friendship was a weakness that he could scarcely afford. Bashir had a way of shaking him to his very core and regularly made him question almost everything that he'd been raised to believe. Worst of all, he treated Garak like he was a person who was worthy of his attention.

This gentle young man would be his undoing in the end, of that, he was sure. Garak was also worried that he could well be the Doctor's undoing if he wasn't careful. He wasn't a popular man, and the last thing he would want was to put Bashir in danger. The Doctor had already earned his own place on Tain's radar, which was worrying enough. Several people on the station had also started to notice and comment on their growing ease around each other, perhaps fearful that he would lead the good Doctor astray. Little did they know that the reality was quite the opposite.

When Garak didn't respond to the barb, Julian cast a worried glance up at his friend. Garak's face had become unusually pale and sombre, his eyes missing their normal spark. To Julian, who paid attention to the Cardassian's each and every micro expression, Garak looked utterly lost and withdrawn. Making a move to sit up, Julian felt compelled to erase the cold visage before him and try to bring back the Garak he knew. Without stopping to consider what he was doing; he tentatively raised his hand to stroke the scales along Garak's jaw.

Garak, on feeling the Doctor's soft caress, involuntarily closed his eyes and leaned his cheek into the warm palm of his companion. Despite knowing that he didn't deserve to be the recipient of such gentle ministrations, he revelled in the physical tenderness that Bashir offered. He should put a stop to this and end things now while he was still able. But Garak couldn't muster the strength to sever whatever this was, he wanted to be selfish for once and to enjoy this temporary reprieve while it lasted.

As Garak reluctantly opened his eyes, he caught the Doctor looking at him with such open concern and warmth that it took his breath away. Bashir had no business bestowing that sort of affection on a damaged and ruthless person such as himself. His path had always been a solitary one, and rightly so. His role was to watch and observe from the shadows, staying unattached and free of sentimental complications to do what had to be done for Cardassia. That had been all Garak had known for most of his life. He honestly had no reference point or comprehension for what he was required to do in this sort of situation.

Against his better judgement, Garak cautiously reached his own hand out to brush the Doctor's cheek with his fingertips. He hardly allowed himself to believe that this was really happening, that they were both sharing in this moment together. Had he passed out long ago and this was merely a phantom of his own imagination or a particularly fevered dream? That seemed the more likely scenario. He searched Bashir's eyes for an explanation but couldn't bring himself to speak and ask why or how, too terrified to break the spell.

Julian was shocked that Garak had allowed this sort of contact, even more so that he had reciprocated. The Cardassian had previously been quite guarded and protective of his personal space when they were together. He tried not to jump to conclusions, it couldn't mean what he was hoping for. Perhaps the cold temperature was affecting his friend more than he was letting on? Julian dearly hoped that wasn't true. He had been quietly pleased with this development and to think that it was instead a physiological response would be crushingly disappointing, not to mention worrying. To be safe, he made a mental note to do a quick check with his tricorder in the morning, not that Garak would likely put up with that. Julian tried to shut off his tumultuous thoughts, meeting Garak's eyes he allowed himself to savour the simple sensation of shared touch. It was tangible proof of the growing trust they had for each other.

After a few moments, Garak let his hand drop away from the Doctor's warmth. He busied himself trying to get into a comfortable position to sleep in. Observing from the corner of his eye that Bashir hadn't moved to join him yet, Garak grasped his hand with his own and rolled onto his side, pulling the Doctor along with him into the spooning position from that morning.

Julian cottoned-on to the plan swiftly and settled down against the Cardassian's back, one arm folded under his head and the other looped around Garak. Julian couldn't help but notice that Garak seemed reluctant to let go of his arm. It was being firmly held around the wrist to keep it in place, the realisation of which caused his stomach to do a succession of happy little flips. Perhaps he wasn't the only one who was enjoying their increased physicality?

Anything he could do to keep that blank and desolate look off Garak's face was well worth doing, Julian was more than happy to offer whatever solace that he could. He wondered sleepily if his friend ever felt as lonely as he did, despite living on a busy station surrounded by people, he often felt isolated and adrift. At low moments, sometimes even touch starved. It was what usually prompted him to seek temporary comfort in another's arms which was, admittedly, not the healthiest way of dealing with things. Julian could only imagine how much more intense it must be for Garak, having been forcibly cut off from his own people.

Julian rested his forehead against the tough scales and ridges of Garak's back, which were discernible even through his many layers. He breathed in deeply, savouring the earthy scent that Garak seemed to naturally exude. Given that their current arrangement hadn't been at his insistence, he decided that he could risk pushing things a little further. Julian placed three light kisses to Garak's scales; one to the bared skin on the back of Garak's neck as he had done earlier, another just below the first over his collar and the third kiss was applied between his shoulder blades. Julian felt Garak freeze underneath him before his muscles slowly started to relax again. His arm was drawn in even closer and he smiled as he felt Garak rub his thumb gently against his hand.

Leaning over Garak's shoulder, Julian quietly murmured into his ear. "Goodnight, my dear Mister Garak."

As he absorbed the use of his usual term of endearment, Garak turned his head back slightly to bring their faces as close as the angle would allow. In the end, he was almost brought nose to nose with the Doctor who hadn't moved. Locking eyes with Bashir, he quirked his lips. "Sleep well, my dearest Doctor."