Two

I have THE worst headache.

Julian rubbed his temples for the fifteenth time since he awoke on his cot. He'd been surprised to discover someone had been in his quarters, though this wasn't noticed until he sprinted for the bathroom.

After emptying the contents of his stomach in the nearest waste bin, he noticed a padd lying on the floor next to it. It seemed his visitor knew he'd make a visit to this particular location.

Gagging on some bile, Julian snatched the padd and squinted at the message:

Hope you are better this morning, Doctor. Quark told me of your free holosuite program and I am eager to try it with you. Please come to my shop as soon as possible - we must sober you up before it commences at 1430 hours. - Garak

"Garak saw me drunk?" Julian gasped, instantly mortified. Oh Lord, what if I said something insulting? Or stupid? Or both?!

The revelation seemed to snap Julian out of his drunken haze. Gazing at the chronometer, he realised it was already 1300 hours. He picked himself up off the floor, brushing his uniform down and made a beeline for the promenade.

"Doctor! I am glad to see you looking better." Garak chirped, watching Julian stumble in. "Please, come through. We haven't much time to prepare before our adventure!"

Julian didn't have a chance to respond before Garak's arm wrapped around his shoulders, gently guiding him to the back of the shop. The world span slightly as he was nudged into a seat. Don't you dare throw up on him, Julian.

"I must say, doctor, you gave us quite a fright with your degree of alcohol consumption yesterday." Garak commented.

"How do I know you didn't put some sort of sedative in my drink? I'm sure you'd be skilled at tha-," Julian fell into a pattern of coughing and dry retches.

"My dear doctor, if I were a spy wanting to extract information from you," Garak put a hand on Julian's back, "I would not take advantage of you in such a vulnerable situation."

"..I'm..sure.."

"Believe me, doctor, interrogating a drunken suspect is no way to obtain reliable information."

The retching subsided, and Julian gradually sat himself upright. "I haven't felt this awful in a long time."

"That's because you performed the unsightly practice of consuming Romulan ale, in combination with an excess of synthale. I assure you, doctor, there are far better beverages to indulge oneself in."

Julian groaned. "What's this..plan you mentioned to sober me up?"

"An old recipe we would use to rouse the drunks found in the streets back on Cardassia. It worked wonders - I have no reason to see why it wouldn't be effective on a human. Black coffee, double strong, no sugar," Garak collected a mug from the replicator and passed it to Julian. "Don't drink it yet. I have yet to add the final ingredient."

The artificial smell was enough to send Julian's stomach into somersaults once more. "Garak, I don't think I can keep this down."

"Nonsense, doctor. It is only a matter of perception," Garak moved to a nearby storage unit, sorting through a variety of items until he removed a singular glass vial. "Ah, there it is!"

"Let me guess," Julian coughed, fighting the bile threatening to rise in his throat, "That's the…truth serum you use for your prisoners?"

"I see your sense of humour is returning! We are making good progress," Garak gave the vial a gentle flick, the contents swirling in a delicate pattern.

"I believe the human equivalent of this is known as caffeine, but I'm almost not very familiar with human stimulants," Garak poured the contents of the vial into Julian's coffee, the dark-coloured sprinkles merging with the warm liquid beneath them to form a light brown mixture. He gave the mug a gentle shake before handing it back to Julian. "We used to refer to it as the chi-detot."

"The beverage or the…flakes?" Julian gazed into his mug, concerned.

Garak smiled. "Depends on if you were being interrogated or if you were the interrogator."

Julian sighed. "Garak, can't you be straight with me for once in yo-aumph!" He was cut off as the mug was forcibly pressed to his mouth, the hot liquid catching him by surprise. Oh, well done, Julian. When will you learn to shut up in times like this?

"Doctor, I do apologise for my hastiness, but are to attempt to keep to our schedule, hmm?" Garak looked sympathetically at Julian, who was now spluttering. "I know it isn't the most exquisite tasting beverage-"

"Are you kidding? It's bloody disgusting!" Julian wiped his chin with his sleeve. He rose to his feet, straightening his uniform. "I appreciate your help, Garak, but-"

"But I think my potion has done its job." Garak smiled, disappearing into a nearby dressing room.

Julian opened his mouth to retort, but stopped suddenly. He realised how the room was no longer rotating violently. The nausea had seemingly evaporated, and the unsteadiness in his feet now nonexistent. Unbelievable! This man is a miracle worker.

"Garak?" Julian shouted. "Can you give me the recipe for this?"