(Day 3)

Leaping apart as though burned, Garak and Bashir both dropped their hold of each other to frantically start searching the bedroom for the transmitting comm badge which had been attached to the Doctor's uniform. Communications being re-established was a good sign and suggested that the Defiant crew were situated nearby, if not already back on board the station.

Garak, although still moving more gingerly than normal, triumphantly held up the discarded item of clothing and threw it to the Doctor.

Julian caught it gratefully, flashing Garak a small smile before activating his comm badge. "Bashir here. Bashir to Captain Sisko. Do you read me?"

"Doctor! It is a relief to hear your voice. We had been informed that you failed to report to Bajor with the rest of the personnel. Are you in danger? We can't penetrate the forcefields enough to do a full sensor sweep, but we are picking up what looks like two lifeforms on the station."

Almost laughing, Julian fought to compose himself and avoided looking at Garak in case he set him off. He could only imagine how much Garak would enjoy playing off the idea that he was some sort of predatory and dangerous alien. Who knows what he'd jokingly say to Captain Sisko in the hopes of causing temporary alarm to the Defiant's crewmembers? Julian internally shook his head at the thought and cleared his throat. "No, I'm not in immediate danger Captain. It's just me and Garak here. We're both doing ok for now."

"Doctor, did you say it is you and Mister Garak? From here it looks like life support is down, can you confirm?"

Julian had turned to face the wall and was trying to sound as professional and competent as he could. "Yes, life support is down as well as many of the other major systems. We are currently sealed in Garak's quarters on the habitat ring. Can you advise when you will be docking with us? Any timeframe would be helpful."

"The Chief said it's going to take a few hours, 12 at the most. We are also working on bringing down whatever is blocking the transporter signals in the meantime. Can you wait that long? Or do you and Mister Garak need extracting sooner than that?"

Julian nodded to himself. "We have enough provisions to see us through to tomorrow morning, plus oxygen tanks in case things get worse. In honesty, we can't go much longer than that though, Sir."

"Understood, Doctor. Getting you out is our top priority. We will be in touch once we've docked and re-established control of the station. Sisko out."

Sighing with relief Julian sank down to sit on the corner of the bed, his uniform jacket still tightly clutched in his hand. That was that then. They weren't out of the woods yet, but the end was in sight. He was privately relieved that he had avoided the inevitable argument that would have ignited if they'd been ordered to take the last escape pod. Garak wouldn't have gone to Bajor without a fight, and as much as Julian would have wanted to avoid disobeying a direct order, there was no way he would have gone there alone.

Julian turned back to face Garak, his brain finally catching up with why they were in the bedroom in the first place. He leapt off the bed in an impressive show of agility. "Garak! What are you doing? Get back in bed! Right now! You need to keep as warm as possible. I don't want you losing consciousness again."

Garak raised his hands defensively, wincing slightly at Bashir's panicked tone. "Doctor, calm yourself. You don't want to waste ALL of our remaining oxygen in one go. I am feeling much better, thanks to you. We can easily move what we need into the living room where we can have a civilised conversation and a cup of tea… Do I have to remind you that you agreed not to order me around in my own quarters?"

Julian took a breath and rolled his eyes. He didn't actually agree to anything of the sort. Given Garak's recent dip in health, he had every right to treat him as he would a patient and that included the authority to order him around, regardless of where they were currently situated. A power, he told himself, that he only wielded when absolutely necessary to protect his patients' wellbeing. Somebody had to take charge when there was a significant danger to life. Preventing hypothermic coma in a cold-blooded species when stranded in freezing conditions would be one such instance. Not that it mattered, Garak had never been one to simply do what he was told.

Julian shrugged; he knew that Garak was just being stubborn for the sake of it. "Alright, have it your way. But let's be quick about it. The sooner I get you wrapped up, the sooner I can relax."

Garak found himself buoyed by the improvement in their situation and had returned to form, namely, trying his level best to wind Bashir up. A little altercation was good for the soul and got the blood pumping, after all. He happily diverted a portion of his remaining energy into provoking the Doctor. A worthy cause, if only for his own temporary amusement. It had started as a genuine attempt to distract them both from the cold, but now he was having far too much fun. His companion was always so beautifully exuberant when they were arguing that he couldn't help himself. Garak was sure that the good Doctor had no idea how provocatively he acted when they debated, some of his impassioned speeches and gestures would be positively scandalous were they to be witnessed back on Cardassia. The pair of them would have been arrested long ago for flirting so brazenly in public.

It was a shame Bashir wasn't privy to that information, perhaps Garak would have to enlighten him that arguing is akin to being sexually propositioned to a Cardassian. Although, admitting that he'd been blatantly declaring his interest for the young man for the entire length of their acquaintance would leave him rather exposed. Not to mention, having to concede that he took initial advantage of the Doctor's ignorance by encouraging him to reciprocate without knowing the duality of his actions. Well, all's fair in love and war. Or so he'd heard. Garak decided that he could worry about the minutia later. Given the events of the last few days, Bashir seemed more receptive than he'd previously given him credit for.

Garak looked down at himself, hiding a smirk. "Is my torso really so repulsive to you that you need to shame me into covering it up?"

Incredulous, Julian's mouth dropped open in shock. "Shame you?! Don't be ridiculous! You look great! As you well know. But you also look cold. So, let's rectify that first before it becomes a problem, shall we?"

Julian was practically tearing his hair out in exasperation. Although, he had to admit that it was nice to see Garak acting more like himself. He clearly wasn't going to let a little near-death experience prevent him from being as difficult a patient as ever. Julian found Garak's bull-headed and belligerent attitude strangely heartening, this was a familiar dance between them, and the well-practised steps came easily.

Garak couldn't help but stand a little taller at Bashir's compliment. Positive comments about his appearance were few and far between these days, and he intended to savour this rare indulgence.

Garak sighed morosely. "Only great? Hmm, I suppose I have let myself go in recent years… The life of a tailor isn't the most active and exciting, you know. Especially, I would imagine, when viewed through the eyes of such a young and prominent Starfleet doctor who faces adventure and intrigue on a daily basis."

Julian, who had been hurriedly putting his uniform back on, stopped to frown in the Cardassian's direction. "Now who's fishing for compliments? Garak! Honest to God, if you don't put some layers on, I'm going to lose it. Get your glorious backside into gear and start getting dressed. Please… and don't look at me like that. I know perfectly well that you're enjoying yourself! I'm far better at reading you than you think. We can continue this discussion once you're more appropriately protected against the elements. In case you hadn't noticed, we are both still in some jeopardy."

Garak decided to let the Doctor think he'd won this round and dutifully donned his undershirt, a hideous oversized jumper of Bashir's, and completed the look with the least offensive of the patterned blankets. There, he was sufficiently cocooned enough to keep his ever-worried companion's fears at bay. It was sweet, he supposed, that he was so concerned about him. Being looked after wasn't something that he would ever get used to. Even as a young child, Tain had insisted that Mila not 'coddle' him, lest he grow up weak and of little use to Cardassia. He was glad that this behaviour only seemed to emanate from the good Doctor, Garak was sure he wouldn't be able to tolerate it from anyone else.

- - -.

Garak and Bashir spent the rest of the day cooped up in the living room together, both more on edge then they had been previously. Although the promise of being rescued at any time was welcome, they were more than ready to get properly warmed up again, it did add a tense formality to their interactions that wasn't there before. The threat was ever-present and had introduced an awkwardness, as though they were being observed or scrutinised. Neither wanted to, for example, be suddenly beamed out in any sort of compromising position and to have to explain themselves to a gaggle of onlookers.

When Julian had originally agreed to remain on the station (agreed wasn't really the right word as he hadn't given Garak much choice…) he didn't weigh each of the pros and cons but had simply gone with his gut. Garak was his close friend and his patient; he had every right to act in his best interest. Julian was aware that he didn't need to justify himself. He'd done his job and had ensured the rest of his staff had safely headed down to Bajor. He was fortunate to work alongside such a competent and skilled team, they were all more than capable and would have been prepared to handle any sort of medical emergency in his absence.

Julian knew he could argue that he'd acted within the professional boundaries of his role as CMO until the cows came home, however, it could be trickier to defend from a personal standpoint. His continuing friendship with Garak had always bemused many of the senior staff. Julian was sure he would never hear the end of this incident from Jadzia. He could only imagine how the Trill's eyes had lit up when she'd found out exactly where he was stranded and with whom. His choice to stay behind for Garak's sake could be viewed as a bold statement of his regard, Jadzia would gleefully interpret it in that way, whatever he said to the contrary.

Julian didn't particularly care for his colleagues' opinions on who he should associate with, it wasn't something that was really anyone else's business. His official report on the last couple of days was unlikely to result in anything more than a few raised eyebrows, but Garak was another matter entirely.

The Cardassian was very private and would hardly be pleased to find himself in the spotlight, particularly when it related to his health and wellbeing. Garak seemed almost ashamed on the rare occasions when he'd required Julian's help and was naturally reluctant to have anybody else see him when he wasn't at full capacity. Whether that reluctance was cultural or an individual peculiarity of Garak's, he wasn't sure. Patient confidentiality was something that Julian took extremely seriously. He intended to respect Garak's wishes and wouldn't be divulging anything beyond a basic outline of the environmental conditions they had endured together.

Regarding what was currently happening between himself and Garak, Julian concluded that they should put things on hold for the time being. At least, until they were out of this mess. It would be something they'd need to talk about later, in private. Being familiar with Garak's evasive tendencies, Julian could envisage himself needing to be the one to broach the topic. Ideally, someplace where they could breathe without difficulty and not worry about losing a limb to frostbite. That wasn't too much to ask, was it?