Julian yawned as he sat up when the computer informed him it was 0700 hours.
He caught sight of his dress uniform and frowned, a delegation of Starfleet brass were arriving this morning and all senior officers were to be there in dress uniform.
He threw the covers back and scratched his chest as he climbed out of bed.
How I long for the days of the 'boring, dismal' space station as Paul Timar called it when it appeared on the assignment roster.
"Boring and dismal lasted all of six hours!" He smirked as he made his bed.
That was just about the time Gul Jasad showed up demanding to know what happened to Gul Dukat and his Galor class ship.
"If you wanted boring Julian Subatoi Bashir you should have taken Dr. Delon's offer when you graduated!" He answered himself as he pulled his pajama top off and headed to the bathroom for a shower.
He glanced in the mirror as he passed it and did a double take.
"NOOOOO!" He exclaimed with a moan.
Worf walked along the Promenade cutting a striking and commanding figure in his red dress uniform.
He frowned as he saw Dr. Bashir hurry into the Infirmary.
He hoped there was not an emergency.
Perhaps I should stop by in case the Doctor's absence needs explaining.
Julian loaded the hypospray with an antihistamine and pressed it to his neck and clenched his fist as the medication entered his system.
He closed his eyes and sighed as the urge to scratch subsided immediately.
"Doctor?"
Julian placed the hypospray back on the cart in front of him before he turned around.
"Commander, is there something I can do for you?" If Worf was here it must be serious. He hates Doctors, as he has told me many times before.
"I saw you come in and thought perhaps there was an emergency." Worf scowled.
"No, no emergency thankfully." Julian answered blinking.
"Then... we should be on our way to the docking ring."
"Yeah,okay." Julian replied and followed him out.
Worf eyed him seruptitiously as they waited for the turbolift.
The doctor did not seem his 'peppy' self.
"Are you well?"
"Yes, why do you ask?"
"You do not appear to be your exuberant self."
"Um, I'm just a little tired is all."
"I see." Worf replied, annoyed that he had been concerned about the man.
Julian squeezed his eyes shut as the turbolift came to a halt. It helped him little as he stepped out into a blurry corridor. He blinked again hoping to clear his vision and followed a few steps behind the Klingon commander as he walked to the others.
Julian came to a stop next to Worf and straightened his uniform.
"Nice of you both to join us considering the Gettysburg has begun docking procedures." Sisko admonished.
"I am--"
"Here they come." Sisko interrupted coming to attention and pleased to see his officers do likewise.
The airlock rolled open and four Admirals stepped forth.
"Welcome back Admiral Whatley." Sisko smiled.
"Thank you Ben, it's good to be able to come back. You succeeded in getting this station back and holding the Dominion off. Starfleet wants to know your secret." Whatley smiled as they shook hands.
"Well, I did have some help."
"Very effective help." Whatley nodded.
"My crew appreciates that sir."Sisko answered for them all.
"Let me introduce you to my co-Admirals--Chestler, Kellin and T'Var."
"Welcome to DS9, this is my senior staff..."
"Sirs." Julian nodded as he was introduced.
"Ben, if it's not too much trouble we'd appreciate a tour."
"Of course Admiral."
"Of the whole facility." T'Var added.
"We'll start with operations. Major, Mr. Worf, you'll join us. The rest of you are dismissed to your duties until I contact you."
Sisko led them to the turbolift and departed for Ops.
"I need to change and get to my repairs. See you later?"
"Hmm? Later? Of course Miles."
The Chief nodded and went to the turbolift.
"If you'll excuse me, I need to make sure Quark is on his best behavior." Odo added and followed Miles into the turbolift.
Julian watched it descend and leaned against the wall tiredly.
At least my vision is clearing now. Damn antihistamine is almost worse than the itchiness! Almost.
Julian pushed off the wall and slowly walked to the turbolift.
If I can make it through the day I'll be okay and with a good nights sleep...
I just hope there isn't an emergency because I don't feel up to dealing with that right now.
He stepped into the lift and held the back rail as he called for the habitat ring.
He went to his quarters and changed into his station uniform then checked in at the Infirmary, which thankfully was slow at the moment, but it was still early.
Maybe I should go and get a nap, it would help.
"Doctor, you had a communique from Starfleet Medical last night, they had some questions about that Bajoran flu you treated a few weeks ago."
"Thank you Kirby." Julian replied and headed to his office.
He had spent nearly two days on the surface treating it.
It was a minor inconvenience to the Bajors but since they were dealing with other species one had to be vigilant in treating it should someone who could be succeptible to it come into contact with them.
He'd also imposed a week long quartantine which initially went over like a lead balloon until Bajor's head doctor supported his decision when he saw the wisdom of not exposing non-Bajoran's to something that could harm them.
Julian got a glass of water from the replicator as he answered the communique.
He glanced at the glass and knew he'd have many more before the day was over since the antihistamine was expected to cause dry mouth.
"Is Dr. Bashir still in his office?" Jabara quizzed Kirby.
"As far as I know."
It wasn't the first time he'd lost all track of time and missed lunch and Jabara had made it her personal duty to see that he ate.
"Doctor?" She inquired not finding him at his desk.
"I'll be right out." He called from the small lavoratory located off the side off his office.
She remembered when he first arrived and had the small room built.
It contained a toilet, small sink, shower and a cot where he'd slept before when he didn't want to be far from a patient.
"So what can I do for my head nurse?"
"Go to lunch. It's after 1300."
"Sometimes I wonder who's really in charge here." He commented as he passed her.
"Why you are Doctor." She responded innocently.
Julian laughed and left the Infirmary.
She smiled as she returned the empty glass to the replicator and went back to her duties.
Julian walked into Quark's for lunch and felt pretty good now that his bladder didn't feel like it was about to explode.
He sat down at the bar and drummed his fingers while waiting for Quark to attend to him in the crowded bar.
Five minutes became ten and he grew thirsty again.
"Quark!" He called but got no answer from the busy Ferengi.
"QUARK!" He tried again.
"Just a minute Doctor, I'm so busy I can hardly keep up. It's like latinum on legs!"
"I'm thrilled for you really, can I get a drink now?"
"Here." Quark said and poured a drink into a glass and placed it down in front of him.
"What is it?"
"It's green."
"I can see that."
"That's it's name. I just got it in, try it and tell me if it's any good."
Julian took a sip.
It was kind of lemon-limey, pretty good tasting.
He drank it down and was going to order another but Quark had vanished again.
"Freel, get me another of these...green drinks. I'll be at a table upstairs, please send someone up so I can order lunch." Julian requested. Freel gave him the drink and Julian headed for the stairs with it.
He slipped into the only vacant table overlooking the dabo tables.
Five minutes later a waiter appeared and he ordered a stacked crescent sandwich with a pickle on the side and another drink since he'd finished the one he'd had.
I'll have to remember to tell Quark how refreshing it is. I wonder where he got it, maybe I can get a case for myself.
He hoped his lunch would come soon, he was famished!
Miles O'Brien walked into the Infirmary and looked around but didn't see Julian.
He was going to ask him if he wanted to get a snack at Quark's to tie them over until the buffet later.
"Chief? Can I help you?"
"Is Julian around here somewhere?" He asked Jabara.
"No, he went to lunch...an hour ago." She replied glancing at the wall chronometer and frowning.
"Computer, locate Dr. Bashir." Miles ordered.
'Dr. Bashir is in Quark's.'
"Ah, that explains it. The bar was inordinately busy, he probably had to wait a while."
Jabara nodded relieved.
"I'll bring him back for you."
"Thanks."
Miles nodded and left, crossing the Promenade to the Ferengi bar.
"Afternoon Chief.
"Business slowed down a bit Quark?"
"Yeah, but my lunch crowd brought in a lot of latinum." Quark grinned.
"For which I'm sure you're extremely happy about. Where's Julian?"
"Upstairs."
"Thanks." Miles replied and headed for the spiral staircase.
He reached the top and espied Julian at a side table where he appeared to be attempting the Gramilian sand pea trick Miles had taught him... with little success judging by the amount of peas littering the floor around him.
"Julian?"
"MILES! Have a drink with me!" Julian exclaimed and held up a near empty glass. "It's green!" He added then broke into hysterical laughter.
"Oh, my God." Miles breathed. Julian was bombed. Not just a little, but thoroughly.
"Julian, we need to get you out of here." He whispered and hauled the younger man to his feet.
"I'm... I'm not done with my peas!" Julian protested.
"You'll be done completely if Sisko and the Admirals see you!" Miles hissed.
"Admirals? Oh...yeah." Julian laughed as Miles put an arm around his waist to help him walk.
"That's it, one foot in front of the other."
The were just a few steps from the Promenade when they ran into Worf.
"WORF! WOOF! WOOF! WOOF!" Julian called and laughed at his joke.
Worf stopped and stared at them.
"You..." Worf started then turned to O'Brien scowling. "He is drunk!"
"I didn't realize that!" Miles retorted.
"Ssh, don't tell the Admirals." Julian whispered, then giggled.
"If the Admirals, not to mention Captain Sisko, see him like this..."
"I know Worf, that's why I'm trying to get him out of here!"
"Yes, yes,that is wise."
Julian punched Worf in the chest and grinned.
"I like you Worf! I really do!"
"Come on Julian."
"Where we goin' Miles?"
"To the Infirmary." Miles replied walking him to the door.
"Do you think that is wise?"
"Jabara can give him something to sober him up."
"I had not thought of that."
"Oh, no!" Miles exclaimed.
"What?" Worf asked.
"Lemme see." Julian said as Miles looked down on the Promenade.
"Sisko is headed for the Infirmary! Worf, get them away from there!" Miles ordered.
"How?" Worf inquired startled.
"I don't care! Make something up! Just get them away from there!"
"Right!" Worf replied and hurried down the stairs.
"Hurry Worf." Miles whispered peeking over the railing.
"Hi!" Julian waved to them.
"Julian, we have to be quiet because... because the Jerries are around here." Miles whispered.
"They must have snuck over the Rhine." Julian nodded quietly.
Miles pushed him back from the railing suddenly.
"That was too close, they almost saw us."
"Who almost saw you?"
Miles spun around startled, taking Julian with him.
"Whoa!" Julian cried as he lurched.
"Major!" Miles said with pounding heart.
"The Jerries, Chief!" Julian hissed.
"What is going on?" She demanded.
"Uh...Captain? Sir?" Worf called as he came off the bottom step just as they were about to go inside.
"Mr. Worf? Is something wrong?"
"Uh, no sir. If you're looking for the Doctor, he is not inside."
"Really? Where is he, the Admirals wanted a tour of the Infirmary?"
"He... was... called away."
"Away? Where?" Chestler asked.
"A... ship... arrived. Some of the crew were ill, the Doctor went to tend to them." Worf replied silently congratulating himself for his quick thinking.
"Really? I'd be very interested in observing him in action."
"You cannot! I mean, the illness may be contageous, we cannot allow anyone else to board the ship."
"Until Dr. Bashir says so." Sisko added. "Until then why don't we continue our tour? I'll introduce you to some of the merchants that keep the morale up out this way."
"If you'll excuse me, I must return to my duties."
Sisko nodded and watched Worf climb the stairs to the upper Promenade as he led the others to Quark's.
"How did this happen Chief?"
"I don't know, but my guess would be that 'green' drink he had at Quark's."
"If that little toad intentionally did this I'll have his head!" She replied helping O'Brien get Julian to the turbolift.
"The Captain is taking them to see the shop owners." Worf reported rejoining them.
"Good! Nice job of keeping them out of the Infirmary, now all we have to do is get Julian there."
"Across the open Promenade." Kira reminded him.
"I know, I know." He sighed.
"You two take him until I make sure the coast is clear." Miles said as they boarded the lift.
Kira clenched and unclenched her fists as the lift moved.
She would not relax until Bashir was safely in the Infirmary.
The lift stopped on the lower floor and she gasped.
"OPS!" She ordered and the turbolift responded immediately whizzing them upward. "Thank the Prophets you overhauled these things last week Miles." She breathed turning to him.
All Miles could do was nod and pray they hadn't been spotted.
"Wasn't that Major Kira and Chief O'Brien?" Whatley asked.
"It certainly looked like it." Sisko nodded.
He was certain something was going on behind his back.
The look in their eyes... like a deer caught in the headlights.
"Captain, I am still interested in speaking to your Constable." Chestler announced drawing his thoughts back.
"Of course Admiral." Sisko replied ushering them toward security.
Once they were gone he vowed, he would get to the bottom of this mystery.
The turbolift reached Ops and Miles and Worf led Julian off with Kira leading the way to the office.
"Back spasm." Miles answered the questioning looks of the crew on duty.
They took him to the couch and sat him down while Kira dropped into the chair across from him and shook her head as he fell onto his side.
O'Brien and Worf opted to stand.
"So what are we going to do with him, we can't get him to the Infirmary with Sisko on the Promenade."
Miles sighed deeply.
Worf and Kira remained silent pondering the question.
"Perhaps... we could transport him to the Infirmary?" Worf suggested.
Miles shook his head.
"If the Captain has the computer locate him he'll head there or try to contact him and until we can get him sober it's too risky. No, we need to get him off the station like you told the Captain he was." Miles finished and broke into a broad grin as he looked at them.
"The Defiant." They said in unison.
Kira walked through the corridor and motioned them forward when she found it to be clear.
They boarded the lift and said little to each other as it took them to the Defiant's docking berth.
She was glad Dukat had been paranoid enough to build a 'back door' into Ops.
The lift stopped and she again did reconnaisance.
They moved forward and Miles and Worf more or less carried Julian along.
They reached the airlock and Worf shifted Julian so he could place his hand on the access port since it took two command officers to board.
The computer recognized Kira and Worf and granted access rolling the airlock open for them.
"Lieutenant, Ensign, you saw nothing. Is that understood?" Worf ordered the two security officers on guard duty at the ship.
"Uh... yes, sir." The Lieutenant answered for them both.
"Good, make sure it stays that way." He ordered as they took Julian inside.
"The Doctor looked--" The Ensign whispered but was cut off.
"We saw nothing." His superior replied.
"Aye... sir."
The quad made their way down the corridor, past the mess hall.
Kira, in the lead, walked easily.
Worf and O'Brien on the other hand had a bit harder time.
The Defiant wasn't built for three grown men to walk side-by-side in it's corridors, even if one was thin as a reed!
"Ow!" Miles hissed as his boot made contact with a cornice board... again!
Worf's elbow bumped the wall and he turned sideways a bit in order to avoid a second encounter.
"Almost there." Kira whispered.
"There is no need to be quiet Major, we are the only ones here." Worf grunted as his boot hit the corner when he turned.
"Sorry, habit." She responded in a normal voice as the sickbay door slid open upon their reaching it.
"Let's get him onto the bio-bed." Miles huffed as the exertion of moving Julian from place to place started to wear on him.
Worf more or less picked Julian up and sat him on the bed then rubbed his sore elbow from the impact with the wall.
"Okay, let's find the anti-intoxicant." Kira said as she began opening drawers next to the bed.
"Captain, good afternoon sirs!"
"Lieutenant, Ensign." Sisko replied as he placed his hand on the console for access. "If one of you wouldn't mind?" He motioned.
Whatley stepped forward and let the computer scan his hand.
"I look forward to seeing the Defiant, the specs I've seen are quite impressive." Kellin replied as the airlock rolled open granting the access.
"I happen to think she's impressive." Sisko agreed proudly.
Kira stood and slammed the drawer shut on the cabinet with a snarl.
"Hey! Careful wit my stuff!" Julian said turning to look at her.
Kira placed her hands on her hips and bent down to him. "You don't have any anti-intoxicants onboard do you?"
"I coulda tol' you that." He replied.
"Julian,are you telling me we've spent the last half-hour looking for a drug to help sober you up and you don't stock it on the ship?" Miles asked from the foot of the bed.
Julian tried to sit up and see him but his head was spinning so he let it fall back to the bed.
"Don' need it, replicators don' give drinks."
Kira sighed and hit her comm. badge.
"Kira to Jabara."
"Yes, Major?"
"Are you alone?"
"Yes."
"Good, because I need a favor."
"My concern is that the Dominion had access to the ship more than once."
"I'm not thrilled about it either Admiral, but there's really very little we can do to prevent it outside of the precautions we've already employed."
His people had been working on that since the changeling had gotten on board under the guise of Ambassador Krajensky and nearly started a war with the Tzenkethi. A war, Sisko knew, would have made the Dominion incursion into the Alpha Quadrant nearly as easy as ordering a raktajino from the replicators.
"Is it possible to see engineering?" Kellin inquired.
"Of course Admiral, this way."
Kira walked through the corridor on her way to the airlock to meet Jabara who was bringing a hypospray of the hangover cure.
The head nurse had not asked any questions, though Kira suspected she knew who it was for since Miles had mentioned he was going to bring Julian back to her and that was over an hour since then.
Once we get Julian sober we can all get back to normal.
She came to a dead stop and looked around in a panic.
"It's a lot of work for Chief O'Brien to keep the station and the ship in working order but somehow he manages."
"Well, I am impressed." Kellin smiled.
Kira knelt and listened from her hiding place in the Jeffries tube and watched as Sisko and the Admirals passed by.
She tapped her comm. badge softly when they were out of earshot.
"Kira to O'Brien, we've got trouble, the Captain's on board and headed your way." She whispered.
"We've got to hide him!" Miles exclaimed upon Kira's warning.
Worf grabbed one arm, Miles the other and they pulled Julian off the bed.
"In here." Miles replied and they headed for a closed door.
Worf carried Julian inside and closed it behind him.
"Why're we hidin'?"
Worf placed his hand over Julian's mouth.
"Ut id ou o at or?" Julian asked looking up at him with a frown.
"You must be quiet."
"Uh erries?"
"Huh?"
"The Jerries? Miles told me they were here." Julian explained once Worf removed his hand.
"Jerries? Uh, yes, that is correct." Worf replied having no clue as to what he was talking about.
Julian settled for humming softly to himself so much so that Worf could barely hear it.
"And this is--Chief?" Sisko was clearly startled to see his Chief of Operations in sickbay.
"Afternoon Captain, Admirals." Miles nodded and stood.
Sisko could see the open panel in the bio-bed with a few pieces on the floor.
"Problem with the bed?" Whatley asked.
"Oh, Julian told me a couple of days ago he was having power fluctuations in this bed, thought I'd check it out for him before we go out again."
"Good... good." Sisko nodded.
Something untoward was definitely up since O'Brien was working sans tool kit!
"Have you been to engineering yet?" Miles asked casually.
"Yes,and I must say Chief, you have done an admiral job with the ship. No pun intended." Kellin complimented.
"Well thank you sir, the Defiant's a good ship."
"We have a buffet planned in the Wardroom for 1900 so why don't I walk you back to your ship and you can freshen up and relax a bit before dinner?"
"That sounds good Ben." Whatley agreed.
"We'll see you there... Chief."
"Yes, sir."
Sisko led his superior officers out and Miles breathed a sigh of relief as he headed for the back room when the door slid open again and he spun around.
"Chief, if you see the others please remind them I expect them to be on time for dinner."
"Yes, sir. I will, sir. If... I... see... them that is."
"Thank you Chief." Sisko nodded and looked at him a moment then left again.
Miles leaned against the bio-bed and willed his heart to cease its hammering.
He waited a beat just to be sure they were really gone before he went to the room and opened the door.
"O'Brien to Kira, Sisko's on his way off the ship."
"I heading back to you." Kira replied softly.
"See you soon." He answered likewise and helped Worf get Julian out and sit him back on the bed.
Worf went to keep an eye out for Kira while Miles put the bio-bed back together.
Julian watched him a moment then slid off the bed and went to the replicator where he got a drink of water for his dry mouth.
"Damn!" Miles cursed as he dropped the cover panel causing it to clatter to the floor.
"I got it Chief." Kira announced coming in behind Worf.
"Great, now all we have to do is get it into Julian." He replied standing after replacing the cover.
"Where is the Doctor?" Worf asked.
"He's right--" Miles stopped seeing the empty bed.
"He was right here!" He exclaimed running to the second door.
"If he has left here--" Worf halted heading the other way.
"He's over here." Kira informed them kneeling next to a different bed.
Worf and O'Brien joined her, relieved he hadn't gotten away from them as Kira injected the snoring man.
"Let's get him back on the bed." She ordered standing.
"Pleasant dreams Julian. You'll feel much better when you awake." Miles said as they left him after depositing him back on the bed.
"Computer, have any ships docked since the Gettysburg this morning?" Sisko inquired as he rearranged the centerpiece on the buffet table.
He hadn't had time to do much else since Kai Winn called on subspace demanding to speak to him which he'd spent two hours on.
It was almost dinner time and he expected the Admirals to be arriving soon.
'No ships have arrived since the Gettysburg.'
So Worf was lying, I thought as much,but why?
"Locate Dr. Bashir."
'Unable to locate.'
"Where is he?"
'Unable to locate.'
"When did he leave?"
'Unknown.'
"What was his last known location?"
'Docking port two.'
"The Defiant?" Sisko wondered aloud
'Please restate the question.'
"Thank you computer, that'll be all. Sisko to Odo."
"Go ahead."
"Constable, the computer can't locate Dr. Bashir, see if you can find him. I suggest you try the Defiant first."
"Understood, Odo out."
Quark walked in just as he closed the channel.
"Quark, what is this green stuff?" He asked as he peered at it.
"I'm glad you asked Captain..."
The End