Chapter Text
Julian turned over under the secure weight of the blankets, only to paw at the empty space that was now rapidly cooling.
The doctor cracked open an eye, it was still very dark in the room.
"Garak?" He croaked into the dark. There was no answer.
"Elim? " He called next, mustering the strength to sit upright.
The two had been together for some time now. Though they still hadn't really told anyone, and they didnt really do displays of public affection passed their usual once a week lunch.
It was even kind of rare for Julian to sleep in Garak's quarters. Ever since he removed the wire, the cardassian had kept his quarters warmer. He still tried to tamp the temperature down a bit for Julian's comfort, but the doctor argued that it was silly to changed even the one place left on the station where he wasn't freezing.
Julian hoisted himself up and swung his legs over the side of the bed. Being so much warmer in this room did have its perks, the floor was never coldly waiting to greet his feet for one.
He stretched and carefully listened as he crossed the room. His hearing was better than Garaks, and it served him well for finding his partner at any given time of the night.
There was a thud from the washroom.
Ah.
Julian made his way closer to the door, he could hear feet shuffling.
"Elim?" He called again, knocking lightly.
The door simply opened to reveal said man.
"Hello dear, I hope I didn't wake you " the cardassian gave his signature grin. "I was coming right back." He added, flicking the lights off.
"Pre-mission jitters?" The good doctor asked, taking Garaks hand as the cardassian lead the march back to his bed.
"Now dear, what would I even have to worry about?" Garak hummed, sliding back into bed. " I simply needed to use the facilities. " he redirected.
Julian knew the man was probably lying. They needed his help, they were going to try and de-comission a jem'hadar relay on their end of the game quadrant. And though Garak wasnt starfleet, sisko had somehow managed to convince the cardassian that his expertise, hobby or not was essential to keeping the station they all called home, safe.
"We wont need to be up for some hours yet, try and sleep." Julian insisted as he shuffled himself into bed next.
Garak's arms immediately found him. It was possibly due to his reptilian nature, he always basked in the warmth that Julian's body had to offer.
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"Dr. Bashir and Garak, reporting in. " Julian helpfully logged them both as they entered the ship.
"Good, just waiting on dax then. " Odo nodded.
The crew was made up of Chief O'brien, Odo, Dax, Julian, and Garak. O'brien and Garak had the most knowledge of Jem' Hadar circuitry and programs, while Dax had the piloting experience, and odo had the advantage in the founders. Julian was there in case of attack or accident.
Dax decided to appear at that moment and that meant the whole crew was aboard. Everyone said their hello's and got to the bridge of the defiant.
"Now remember, this is currently the closest known relay to the other end of the work hole on Entax 3, no beaming, keep this covert, you'll be taking the runabout down and back after making sure the relay is unusable.
In and out. If you dont report back in 8 hours after arrival, well automatically send help. Keep safe. Sisko out. "
The commanders voice fed into the comm.
With that, The docking clamps were released, and they were off.
The trip was almost 16 hours out, they had some time to kill, so Garak and Bashir were happy to sit near the back of the bridge and banter on their newest read.
Odo shared a glance with Dax, that though Julian had completely missed it, it didnt go unnoticed by Garak, who had been smiling as Julian defended the traits of his favorite character.
"Have you read the story constable? " Garak hummed without ever turning his head away from Julian, who now paused in his tirade.
"Once. Some time ago now. I can't say it held my interest. " Odo dismissed.
"Nothing to note on the doctor's terrible choice in favorites?" The carrdassian prompted again, earning him a mock offended scoff from his own favorite debate partner.
"No. How you can stand the slog of fictional plots that leave nothing to the imagination is beyond me." He sighed tiredly.
"Suit yourself!" The cardassian relented.
He was just letting the changeling know he noticed these things. They weren't enemies, and they weren't friends either. For the most part they did understand eachother though. After Enabran's whole attack on the gamma quadrant went sideways, Odo had been suprisingly docile towards him.
Even more so, the chief of security often regarded him as though he felt sorry for him, despite the fact that it was Garak who had tortured him for those brief hours aboard Enabran's ship.
Time wore on, 16 hours was hard to kill, but Odo soon insisted that the three members not piloting, go eat food before their arrival. It was a sound plan considering it was best to be prepared for anything.
As soon as the room cleared Dax and Odo shared another look before the trill burst into giggles.
"You know, I hadn't noticed until you shot me that look, those two sure are....comfortable these days aren't they?" Jadzia smiled.
"It would be easy to misplace if you didnt know them so well. After all, they've been eating lunch weekly since long before this development, from an outsiders perspective, nothing has changed." Odo simply commented.
"I didnt think Julian liked...well... men. " Jadzia added. "He's never shown any interest in any others, its always been women." She hummed.
"And yet for some unfathomable reason, he chose Garak of all people" Odo grumbled.
"Well, Garak's been trying to court him since the first day he met him. So im not really shocked on Garak's part. " Dax laughed. "I just was never sure Julian knew that arguing is something else entirely for a cardassian. He never let on to knowing about their customs. " she cringed lightly, but her smile never left her face.
"Or that Garak was serious about such things. He definitely goaded the doctor into arguments in jest for some time, but I wouldn't be able to accurately pinpoint when it stopped being just teasing." Odo added.
"Well keep this just between us for now. " Dax winked, Odo just shook his head in defeat, once again unable to ascertain how the hearts of people who were so different seemed to grow fond of eachother in such a way.
His own budding feelings for Kira were completely different. They were alike. They had known eachother a long time. But those two. A spy and a doctor who had nothing in common. In fact, despite sharing books and operas and media of any kind, it seemed neither found much enjoyment in the others recommendations. Yet they continued such a ritual and seemed happy to do so. He shook his head again, it would be time for his own break soon.
He excused himself to his quarters when O'Brien got back. He could trust the man to keep Garak away from important computers on the ship while he rested in his bucket.
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It only took 7 more hours to reach their destination, most of which was spent with the rest of the crew sleeping, only rising when there was about 45 minutes until they were scheduled to take the Galileo down to the surface.
Or at least that's how it was for Garak, who dressed himself in the thickest, warmest cloths he had. Entax 3 was far from this systems sun, and was mostly an icy wasteland on the continent they were headed too.
Garak hated the cold. He didnt even want to be here. But he owed Sisko for the whole situation those months prior with Odo and Enabran.
The away team met together, Odo was staying aboard the defiant. ' No Changeling had ever hurt another' so it was safest to have him aboard their main transportation in case of emergency. The rest of the crew was heading down planet side, Dax for discreet manual piloting, Obrien and Garak to destroy the relay, and Julian in case of physical emergency.
"Ha! Im shocked you can walk in that" O'Brien immediately jumped on the chance to poke fun at Garak.
"Cardassians dont preform at peak in sub zero conditions. " garak simply stated, unwilling to argue with the chief at this time.
"Hopefully, we wont be there to enjoy said conditions long." Julian grinned, also dressed in a starfleet issued snow suit.
The relay was in an outpost in a wooded area on the major snowy northern continent below. The planet was otherwise only inhabited by fauna without significant intelligence.
"Stap in boys, it should only be an hour or so for us to reach our destination. " Dax chirped from the pilots seat. O'brien sat in the co-pilot seat if only to avoid Garak sitting there. "Dax to Odo, ready for launch, send the signal back to ds9 and open the launch pad field." The trill commed, receiving a quick confirmation before they took off.
The view out of the window was scenic and beautiful from the safety of their transport. And it was easy to spot the huge beacon tower the relay used. It was nearly 5000 feet above ground level, nestled safely between some naturally occurring mountains.
"Prepare for landing. " Dax announced, taking them down towards the break in trees near the outpost controlling the tower.
The landing was smooth, and all seemed well, the blast of frigid air that hit their faces made sure they were awake as they disembarked.
Dax had landed near the tree line where a 10 foot drift of ice blocked the view of the runabout from the outpost, they didnt scan any life signs, but the jem' Hadar were excellent at surprises, so it was best to err on the side of caution.
The group trekked the 800 feet or so to the post, Julian still couldn't find any signs of life before O'brien went to work on releasing the lock on the door without tripping any silent alarms.
Garak glared at the icy landscape as if it had personally wronged him, Julian thought it was rather cute.
They were in in no time, and Julian was happy to help Garak walk, offering an arm. The cardassian was already losing mobility from being in the cold for the meer 45 minutes it had taken them to get inside.
"And that's why the jem' Hadar have a post here, and not the cardassians" O'Brien smugly laughed as he passed the reptilian man.
Garak just huffed in annoyance, he didnt even have the energy to rebuttal such a statement in his current condition.
The inside of the outpost wasnt much warmer in these outter halls. That was to be expected, the only part that would really need warmth was where ever their computer was, which was where he'd come into play anyway.
"According to these structural scans, the main hub should be coming up in the next corridor to the left, it'll bring us close to the tower too" O'brien explained, rubbing his hands together for warmth despite making fun of Garak only minutes before. The tricorder said the temperature in the outpost was currently -26° c. At least there was no wind chill inside.
"It doesn't look like this outpost has been occupied in some time" Garak stuttered out, "no prints in the dust on the floor or otherwise." He pointed out.
A good sign for them.
"No evidence of any of these doors being used for some time either" Dax agreed.
"Just through here now." O'brien said, setting about unlocking this door to their promised warmth and computer.
Garak could've wept with joy when the door opened with a hiss and a small wave of warmer air flooded the frosty hall they had huddled in.
Julian openly sighed in relief as they ushered their way into the empty room.
It was at least 30° warmer in here. It still left the room colder than anything Garak would usually tolerate, but was better than the rest of this damned planet.
"Alright, Garak will be with me, we're going to get to work making this whole place obsolete. Just keep watch." O'brien chirped, motioning for garak to join him at the main station.
O'brien got to pulling lower panels off to mess with the circuitry while Garak started fiddling with the software end of things.
The doctor couldn't help but miss the usual back and forth they'd have in this situation any other time. Him pushing Garak's buttons on his espionage and Garak deflecting about how he enjoyed computers as a hobby and he was just a humble tailor. Unfortunately the cold seemed to be impeding any such fun in this situation. Well that and the threat of death by the Jem'Hadar.
O'brien made some comment on how old their systems were and Garak did respond with something about how their computer software wasnt up to maintenance either. Yet the relay was obviously still in use, sending and picking up messages from ships near the wormhole to the dominion. This would cripple the dominion for sometime. At least when it came to sending information in the first few solar systems within the wormhole's vicinity.
Garak would've found it immensely amusing to disable them completely, but his mood was soured with the cold, his fingers barely wanted to move and his metabolic rate was in the trashcan. He simply wasnt built for the cold.
They were there for about three hours, Garak was feeding self learning viruses into the system and O'brien was stealing components from around the compounds main computer room that would ensure the tower would be unusable if they tried to salvage the system. Then Garak would simply leave a few bombs around the base of the tower.
He was just setting the last charge when the most shrill sound broke through their silence.
"Shit!" He heard O'Brien cuss down the hall before the man came speeding towards garak and the others.
"There was a booby trap- we gotta go- this place is going sky high a lot sooner than what was planned!" The human yelled, certainly catching the rest of their attention.
The group scrambled to run outside, taking corners in leaps and bounds before a sudden blast shook the whole compound, knocking them all to the floor.
"Run!" Dax yelled, helping hoist O'brien off the floor.
Another explosion, this time definitely shaking the charges they had set. The building shook and they could hear the beeping of their own devices activating.
All four members looked at eachother and made a last mad dash for the door, hearts pounding and ears ringing. The defiance' crew barely cleared the last door frame before the charges set in the base for the relay tower went off almost in unison. The blast wave sent them and shrapnel flying across the open snowfield.
Then came the rumbling.
Julian's heart leapt right into his throat as he glanced to the tower, three walls had been completely obliterated. The thousands of feet of machinery started to tilt.
Thank every diety it wasnt exactly in their direction, but it was too close. They were too close. This wasnt supposed to happen until they were on the Galileo and leaving. The debris could kill them- or the impending avalanche from the surrounding mountains.
Julian glanced around, the motion sent a wave of vertigo through his head. He definitely had a concussion from that blast.
He spotted Garak face down only 10 feet away. He tried to slowly glance around and saw Dax pulling a disoriented O'brien up and decided he'd grab garak.
Upon lifting his companion he noticed the bruise forming on Garaks forehead, right near his left ridge. A heavy chunk of concrete sat near, he must also be concussed.
The cardassian struggled to stand, and almost took Julian back down with him. He was much heavier than he looked. And the two of them stumbled around like a couple of drunks. The tower groaned and suddenly the blasted walls caved completely, the slow tip turned into a thud that shook the very ground they stood on, before the tower rapidly rushed to meet the ground.
"Come on come on!" Julian yelled, pulling Garak towards the runabout.
He heard the Crack of the tower's tip hitting the mountains first, then the roar of metal giving way as supports and pieces broke off the thing and crushed entire sections of forest in one go.
They ran, not looking back. Dax held a hand out in the runabout's bay, helping pull the two aboard.
The ground shook hard, Dax stumbled to the cockpit and started the ship immediately, they lunched hard as they dislodged from their icy bank, O'brien was yelling something to Dax but Julian couldn't make it out beyond the ringing in his ears. Or was that the ringing of metal tearing against ice outside? The sudden wind from all the displacement from the tower, mountains, and the now rushing avalanches shook the Galileo mercilessly.
Dax tried to pull up, but a heavy gust sent the back left tread into the tip of a tree, sending them into a sudden spin.
Julian looked to Garak, who was staring back at Julian in pure shock. The cardassian reached a mittened hand out, and Julian grasped it tightly.
Then it went dark.
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"D-d-doctor? "
"Come on Julian- wake up!"
That last bit was Dax's voice, Julian's brain was almost sure of it, before a sudden sharp strike to his cheek had him very suddenly awake and reeling.
Julian's forehead knocked right against Dax's as he sat up-
"Ah-"
"Ow!" Dax yelped, shuffling back from where she had been sitting over Julian's legs.
"Oh hell, sorry- " Julian gasped, rubbing his forehead.
"We crashed. " O'brien helpfully groaned from where he was resting against the rather dented side door of the Galileo.
"G-good to s-s-see you awake d-doctor." Garak said with a nod, he was also sat near Julian.
"Why does nothing ever go smoothly where the dominion is concerned." Julian groaned, taking in the runabouts condition.
The first thing he realised, mostly thanks for Garaks speech, then as his senses came to him. It was cold.
"No heat?" He asked. Dax shook their head with a frown.
Julian tapped his comm, and a burst of loud static bombarded his ears.
"I think all the debris that's been kicked up has ruined comm links." O'brien once again, so helpfully supplied the obvious.
"Does anything on the runabout work?" He asked.
"R-replicator still f-functions... and emergency lighting. " Dax explained.
"Any obvious injury?" Julian asked, though he started looking Jadzia over already as he inquired.
"Hearings a b-bit off for me, im sure it'll come b-back, dizzy and cold, but im fine" Dax sighed, shooing Julian away.
"My ankle" O'brien said, Julian glanced over and noticed the mangled mess that was the chiefs left ankle. "Broke it in the crash" he said. "Think the cold is helping though, doesn't hurt too bad as long as I dont go waving it around" he smirked, trying to bring anything other than misery to their prospects.
"Damn, I can splint it, otherwise its gonna have to wait until we get a sickbay." Julian hissed, wobbling over to the Replicator for some basic supplies.
The runabout was tilted heavily to the left. He had no idea where they had landed, but the ship didnt seem to move or groan to indicate it being anywhere but the solid ground.
He got what he needed to brace his friends ankle, rolling up the snow pants as gently as he could, wincing as O'brien groaned in protest. "Sorry chief, doing my best." He apologized.
"Just hurry it up will you" O'brien huffed, refusing to look any other direction but up.
With his splint tightly around the ankle he took a moment to check O'brien's head, "just a light concussion" Julian mumbled to himself.
"Ha. You're one to talk, I dont even have a stupid flashlight and I can see you're eyes are two different sizes." O'brien laughed.
"Yeah yeah. That first blast gave us all a good tumble, let alone the second one." Julian smiled, then turned to Garak.
"You're pale. Anything other than the softball sized welt on your forehead?" Julian asked as he shuffled closer. Garak gave an uncomfortable side eye to the other passengers but didnt move.
"Just pretend they aren't there- whatever- but you'd better tell me- I'm not letting you die of embarrassment." Julian huffed more assertively.
The cardassian gave him a withering glare but conceded.
"I can't m-move my l-l-legs-" he started, cutting Julian off before his panic could take a hold of him. "N-not paralyzed. I b-b-believe my pelvic bone is-s-s broken. " he quietly explained.
"Jesus- man- why didnt you say something!" O'Brien sat agape. Yeah his ankle hurt like hell, but the whole pelvic bone?
"I-it doesn't h-help to gripe C-Chief." Garak said stoicly.
O'brien huffed in immediate annoyance. "Seems that knock to your head didnt do anything for your Cardassian attitude "
"Dax, help me move him away from the walls, the cold is the last thing he needs." Julian said seriously.
"D-octor I dont think i-it is WISE!" Garak suddenly yelped as Dax helped lift him away from the floor.
"Hold on, I need to move you, then I can make sure your legs wont be sitting funny. " Julian hushed him, Garak just stubbornly sucked a breath in through his teeth as they lowered him down closer to the center of the floor, away from the heat sapping walls.
"We also need to warm you up, your too cold" Julian said, heading back to the replicator for thermal blankets and little hand warmer packets. He gave some to O'brien too, before coming back to Garak.
His heart clenched now that he could take in his partners pinched expression. Always trying to suffer silently. Julian paid no mind as he expertly opened the Cardassians layers of cloths before activating the heating packets to place inside them, apologizing as he also slid some part way into the pant legs where he could reach. He was quick to bundle the reptilian back up, hopefully his snow gear would help keep the head of the warmers.
Jadzia had already moved some boxes to lean against like a seat.
"What's it like outside?" Julian asked.
"From what I can see out the front, we're aren't barried, we're ontop of snow, broke a few trees on the way down. " Dax explained.
"Cold" O'brien huffed at the same time.
"Any indication of how long we've been here?" He asked.
"Tricorder still presenting time, we've been here 6 hours since landing. A little over 2 hours since the crash."
"Two more until Odo sends the signal. 18 until help if we can get comms back up. " Julian whispered, as if saying it too loudly would ensure the universe would make it happen.
"D-doctor.... I am....uncertain I c-can hold out that long consciously. " Garak stated simply, teeth still chattering despite the handful of warmers against his inner most layer of clothing.
"H-help me to the console, maybe I c-can work something out." O'brien volunteered, the cold starting to seep into him as well.
"No, first order is food and water. Then we'll see about communications." Julian said firmly, getting hot food and and drinks from the replicator. Ever thankful for small mercies.
O'brien's pinched expression softened as the warmth greeted his hands.
Jadzia was bringing something to Garak, soup only so he could sip it through a straw from where he lay. Julian grabbed some warm food for Dax and himself and joined her.
"The food should help. " Julian assured Garak, who just gave him a blank stare.
He was focusing too hard on hiding what must be immense pain and cold and lethargy. Cardassian pride and all that.
"I'll replace the hand warmers every hour, it should keep you from getting colder.
"Between th-the cold a-and injury, i-I might succumb to b-brumation. " Garak quietly mumbled.
"Cardassians do that?" Julian quietly asked, shocked at the news. "I wish you would give me any medical information on cardassians. " he grumbled in exasperation.
"M-maybe I w-will after thi-this" Garak said, but smiled as if it was a joke.
None of this felt like a joke to Julian. Sitting ducks for the jem' Hadar, cold and injured.
"Eat your soup Garak. " Julian sighed, offering the straw back to the reptilian man.
-----------------------
It was getting dark out now. It had been almost 10 hours since they arrived on the surface. They briefly tried to move O-brien to the console, but the pain made the man lose the warm food he had consumed and Julian immediately commanded they all stop. He gave O'brien another warm drink and went to the front by himself, leaving Dax in charge of watching the two as they dozed off.
He may be a doctor, but he did take that course on computers back in the academy. He did his best to route around in their damaged components to try and Jerry rig anything with enough juice to send out a signal.
There was so much damage, most of the front of the runabout had been pushed into the footwell. It was a miracle Dax hadn't suffered any serious injury to their legs.
Julian's head started to pound with a headache the longer he spent leaned over, so he decided it was time for another round of pain meds for everyone, and new heated packs for Garak.
Dax was awake, but obviously exhausted too.
"Sleep. We need it." Julian softly said, giving her a small hypo for the headache she was sure to have. "Buddy up with O'Brien, body heat is our friend." He added, handing her another thermal blanket.
"What about Garak. He's in real danger here." Dax pointed out.
"I'll buddy up to him and leave the tricorder running. Im used to those sounds, it'll wake me immediately if it changes." He assured, which was true. Years of monitoring patients put that kind of high alert sleep into overdrive.
"Alright." Dax sighed.
Julian got a handful of heated packs from the replicator and another thermal blanket too, he undid Garak's layers again, this time snaking a hand under the cardassians collar to feel his skin. He was still much too cold. Julian sighed and started peeling the layers off his companion.
It stirred the usually sturdy man back awake.
Garak slowly blinked at him, confusion evident on his tired face.
"I need these off, bear with me when I get to your hips, you need body heat, well use the extra cloths as more blankets, but your getting too cold with just heated packs." Julian whispered softly, gently cupping Garaks jaw, rubbing his thumb across the rides that made up the side of his jawline.
Garak didnt move, he couldn't, Julian realised. Motor functions were heavily impeded by the cold. He gently peeled the four outer layers off Garak's torso, before slowly shuffling the extra layers on his legs down. The only sound that Garak made was a quiet pained wheeze. He didnt even have the energy to shiver.
Julian quickly stuffed the heat packs under the under Armour shirt and long John's before shuffling up next to Garak, pulling the jackets and sweaters over the two of them, then the thermal blankets. That would hopefully absorb the heat from the packets, and his own so he could dress Garak in them later.
For now he shivered as he pressed himself as close to the freezing body next to him. Once he warmed Garak enough, the cardassian would be able to produce a little heat himself and help keep himself warm too.
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"Od-ssstttttss-o galileo- comzzzssscchhttileo." A voice woke Bashir immediately.
"He turned and grabbed his shirt, pressing the comm.
"This is Bashir, Odo, do you copy?" He gasped.
"I hear scchhhzzztttttt-tus?"
Julian's head was pounding, and his thoughts desperately fought to catch up with him.
"Status?" He guessed. "Crash landed, we need assistance, transport to medical bay." He tried. He waited as silence stretched for over a minute, heart breaking as he was sure he lost signal before he and his companions suddenly started to de-materialize.
The four of them came back, waking Dax and O'Brien as the sudden warmth of the defiance medical bay enveloped them.
"Were back? - w-were back!" Dax suddenly gasped, standing up, almost knocking O'Brien over.
Julian sat up too, pulling his shirt back on, earning him an odd glance from O'brien.
"Computer! Open comms- we're on board! You need to destroy the runabout- the jem' Hadar can't know it was us!" Julian informed Odo.
"Already done l doctor. And we are going to rendezvous with a station runabout near the wormhole. Im on my way down to sickbay. " Odo's voice greeted the team who couldn't help the feeling of relief that swept over them.
"Help me-" Julian suddenly turned to Dax, ripping layers off of himself and Garak, who was ashen, and still unconscious.
He stood up and steadied himself before pulling one of the lifts out of its compartment slot on the med bay wall. Dax got the idea and grabbed the other end, the two worked to slowly shuffle Garak onto the lift and over to one of the bio-beds.
Julian immediately set about turning the heat up in it and setting it to regenerate for the pelvic bone after a scan revealed the shattered left socket and fractured right.
Next was O'brien who was conscious enough to try and help as he was hoisted up, just as Odo entered the room.
The constable didnt ask anything, just ran over and helped O'brien to the other available bed.
Julian did his scans and set about the regeneration of bine and deep tissue for the chief and turned the heat up in the bed for him as well.
"Hypothermia- a bit of frostbite, a few broken bones, and concussions. " he listed, grabbing the handheld sonic regenerator. He started on the concussions, first Garak, who still had a softball sized welt, then O'brien, then Dax, then finally himself.
The relief was pure bliss. And it cleared the heavy fog that he hadnt even realised was weighing him down quite so heavily.
Next was the hand held dermal regenerator. He started preparing the frostbite on Daxs ears and nose, then got to O'brien's ears and fingers, and his own nose, ears, fingers. He had everyone stripping to their lowest layer of cloths and checked everyone's toes too. Garak had some frost bite along the sensitive neck ridges, the scales black and withered.
He found himself greatful that Garak was asleep for this.
He worked on his fingers and toes next.
"What on earth happened back there?" Odo asked.
"There was some kind of trap, I tripped it on accident setting one of our charges along the inner walls of the tower. " O'brien explained. "I removed a panel and this alarm went off and suddenly the computer in the room started counting down. I knew we had to get out ASAP, but we didnt clear the building before its own self defenses started going off, which prematurely started out charges too. " he recounted, feeling a little more awake without his own concussion.
"The tower came down, but took down pretty much everything in its path before we could clear the air. We spun out." Julian added.
"Luckily, lights and the replicator still worked after the crash." Dax added helpfully.
"Everyone should make a full recovery" Julian also added, treating the head wound while Garak was still out.
"Garak seems to have succumbed to a brumation of sorts as a means to survive the extreme cold and injury. I believe he should regain consciousness soon once im finished with the head injuries. Scans show normal activity in his brain, thank God. He got walloped by a block of foundational concrete during the initial blasts." Julian explained.
"Im sure itll just be another thing to brag about once he's up and at em'. We all know how he loves to point out how superior cardassian physiology is. " O'brien smiled, rolling his eyes.
"That reminds me, you two looked awful close in those sheets" the engineer teased.
Julian almost would've panicked about revealing his private life, but luckily he had the perfect excuse to keep Garaks secrets, secrets a little longer.
" unfortunately, those heating packs aren't enough to raise a reptiles body temperature efficiently enough. Im shocked he isn't sicker from the hypothermia. " Julian explained it away easily enough.
Dax just stood and watched, trying not to give any tells that they knew anything more at the moment.
"Im going back to the bridge, you should eat. Then Dax should join me until we can meet up with the other runabout. " Odo said with a nod, leaving as swiftly as he came.
O'briens bio-bed gave a small chirp about 20 minutes later while he was munching on some bread with butter. Julian came over and ran his few scans before printing out a brace and fitting it to his friends ankle.
"The bone is repaired, but its basically as fragile as a child's, you'll need the brace and some light exercise to strengthen the joint. I'll send those to your padd, if you find any more pain or discomfort just let me know. " Julian listed off, making O'brien frown.
"Maybe you should sit down for a bit in the meantime yeah? You've been at this since the crash. " the engineer pointed out, laying a hand on Julian's shoulder.
It made the doctor smile softly. He was tired, but he wasnt done yet.
"I will chief, once Garak is up. We'll be home soon too. " he reassured, but Miles O'brien could probably see right through it at this point.
"You're really worried about him. " he stated quietly.
"I just dont know enough about his species. Didn't even know they brumate under extreme cold, every time he needs help i feel like im failing- always in the dark!" Julian fruatratedly through his hands up.
"That in itself just proves your metal. Despite the secrets, despite it all. You always make sure he pulls through. Im sure he'll be fine and you can go back to your lunches and bad reading. It'll be alright." O'brien awkwardly tried to reassure him.
It was actually touching considering the high hackles the chief always had around the cardassian.
Julian gave a soft smile and felt his shoulders sag.
"You're probably right. This time. Only this time" Julian teased, earning him an elbow from the chief before he left to join Dax and Odo on the bridge.
Not two minutes after he had left did Garak finally stir. "D'ctr " he slurred tiredly.
"Garak!" Julian cried in relief, rushing to his bedside. He started scanning with a tricorder immediately out of habit.
"Th'lghts" garak hissed, reminding Julian that the light levels humans usually kept were really quite bright for cardassians. Especially cardassians recovering from head injuries.
"Right- computer! Lights at 35 percent!" Julian commanded, the room dimming to a warm low tone.
Garak finally cracked open those brilliant blues and glanced over at Julian, his features softening.
"Ssstunnin'" garak slurred, yet getting closer to full words.
"You flirt. Take it easy. You're in a bio-bed recovering from hypothermia, and regenerating your pelvic bone. " he instructed softly.
"Doess that mean You're vissssage iss the equivilan' t to a loli-pop?" The cardassian gave a sly grin, obviously proud of himself for that one.
"You can have a taste after you have recovered fully. " Julian said sternly.
"I'll have words about that when im- " Garak was cut off with a deep yawn. "When im back on my feet" he finished, grasping onto one of Julian's hands.
"You are incorrigable. " Julian laughed, almost tearing up. The sudden weight of fear finally melting off his shoulders like the snow from Entax 3. "You had me worried you know. " Julian sniffled, rubbing his thumb on the back of Garaks scaled hand.
"Somehow. You're always getting hurt. You're not even starfleet, you didnt sign up for this. " Julian huffed.
"I owed Sisko a favor." Garak dismissivly waved his free hand, but Julian grabbed that one as well, pulling Garaks gaze back to himself.
"Not anymore. And if i have my way, you wont be involved in any unnecessary risks again." Julian said firmly.
"Oh please doctor. I am a grown man. Besides, what life would I be living if I never took risks. I thought the idea excited you the way you come up with wild stories of my daring deeds!" Garak chuckled, but the doctor couldn't feel a pouting lip tugging at the corners of his mouth.
Garak sighed dramatically. "Look, I'll compromise. What if I stay and work at my shop for at least 6 whole months as long as we aren't bombed as revenge for the tower from the jem' Hadar." Garak smiled encouragingly.
Julian brought the back of Garak's hand up and kissed the back of it before releasing both hands back to his patient.
"I know I can't just...control you or your life. What if I just say no more ice planet's. " Julian sighed, making Garak laugh again.
"My dear, I couldn't agree more. " he hummed.
"Im going to get us some food. Don't sit up until that regenerator is done" the doctor said, rising from his seat to retrieve the sustenance required for them both.
Garak watched with an appreciative look as Bashir turned around, the doctor caught him immediately when he turned back around.
The doctor shook his head with an eye roll, Garak pretended to be innocent in it all.
"You're awful frisky for someone recovering from a shattered pelvic bone." Julian said as he sat near the biobed and offered a bit of a cardassian salad he'd seen Garak order in the replimat.
Garak took the bite with the same grace he did most tasks.
"Maybe I am just appreciating what I have after we both were placed in unfortunate circumstances. " Garak argued with a rather pleased smile.
Julian fed Garak his food, a bite for him, and then a bite for himself until they both had something in their stomachs.
Not long after the bio-bed chirped to say it had finished its task. Julian ran a few scans before he was satisfied before making a pair of canes and sizing them for Garak before finally allowing him to sit up.
"Use these, unless your keen on re-breaking those bones of yours. They'll need a little extra time to bulk up. " Julian said.
"But my shop!" Garak pouted.
"Can be outfitted with a rolly stool so you can sit and cut fabric. Besides, if you dont listen to your doctor, you dont get that lollipop." Julian gave a cheeky grin, leaning in to kiss Garak's cheek.
"Fine. You win this one. " Garak grumbled, taking the canes to see how they would cup his lower arms. They fit well enough, so he stood with Julian's help and the two made their way to the bridge.
The defiant intercepted the runabout crew closer to the wormhole, since the defiant was quite a bit faster. Kira was aboard and was quick to board the stealth vessel and check over the crew, much to her own relief.
"What you did was very brave, and you saved so many people who traverse near both sides of the wormhole, including the station. " kira praised the crew, but mostly the members that worked in ops.
Garak didnt mind, he knew she wasnt overly fond of him. She had actually been slowly getting warmer towards him since his last return with Odo. They weren't friends, but she wasnt actively treating him like an enemy. This may improve her mental image of him as well.
Usually he wouldn't care, but Julian liked her, and she was an important person among the station.
It was only hours after their regroup that they finally made it back home, garak actually played up his injury so Julian would walk him home without any extra prying eyes, but almost as soon as the door to his own quarters closed, he was happy and eager to pull Julian in for a kiss.
Julian Barked a laugh between kisses and gently walked Garak backwards to his room and sat him on the bed.
"No rigorous activity while you're healing!" Julian laughed yet still kissed along the ridges on his jaw.
"I think I was very patient in the medbay doctor, i'm sure there is a way we can work out my reward." Garak smugly suggested pulling Julian until he was standing between his legs.
"Fine fine, but i mean it, let me take care of you, at least then I can insure you aren't pushing your luck mister. " Julian was quick to accuiess.
Garak would agree to just about anything if it meant he still got his way at the moment, instead of an answer he was happy to slide his hands from their spot on the doctor's lower back, to his ass, happy to squeeze and pull Julian ever closer.
Julian couldn't help but chuckle at his partners eagerness. He was happy to relieve them of their cloths, helping Garak