Enjoying their third consecutive replimat lunch together in as many days, Bashir and Garak were having an animated conversation.

Julian had made a point of familiarizing himself with the 'Meditations on a Crimson Shadow' as quickly as he could, knowing it would make Garak happy. Unfortunately, he was now being asked to pass judgment on that very piece of Cardassian literature.

"Don't say it, doctor! I can tell simply by looking at you that you hated it."

Julian smiled sheepishly. "Not... entirely, Garak. I liked it better than 'The never-ending Sacrifice'."

"Ah!" Garak sighed heavily. "Yes, and we both know what that means."

Exchanging a good-natured smile, resigned to the fact that literature was something they would never agree on, they dug into their desserts - Julian spooning his I'danian spice pudding, Garak enjoying the remainder of his uttaberry crepes.

For a moment, despite the light-hearted atmosphere, Garak's face took on a slightly pained expression and Julian noticed it the moment he looked up at his companion. "Are you feeling all right, Garak?" he asked solicitously, unpleasantly reminded of a question he'd asked the Cardassian tailor barely a week earlier. Just before he had very nearly lost his friend thanks to the malfunctioning implant in his brain.

"I'm just fine, doctor," Garak said, his memory giving him an uncomfortable jolt as well. So he confirmed, "Really, I am."

Julian looked at his mysterious friend intensely as if to make sure that this time, Garak was being truthful. "Hmmm..." he murmured. "You do look a little too pale, but that's to be expected considering how ill you've just been."

"There you go. That's all it is, doctor." Garak smiled disarmingly. But he felt a pang of guilt. After everything the young Federation doctor had done for him recently - spending endless hours at his bedside, braving Enabran Tain himself and even putting up with Garak's own frightful and even dangerous temper while going through withdrawal - he deserved nothing less than total honesty.

What an odd concept, the Cardassian thought. Of all the people he had ever known, it would be a brilliant but naive young human to whom he was being more truthful than to anyone else in his life. And the truly ironic thing was - Julian Bashir didn't even know it to appreciate it.

"Garak?" Julian asked quizzically, aware that Garak was weighing up whether to tell him anything more.

"I don't wish to alarm you, doctor. And I'm not certain there's really anything even you could do about this, but..."

"Tell me," Julian urged gently, his hand moving across the table and stopping an inch from Garak's own before he withdrew it quickly.

Garak didn't fail to notice the stillborn gesture of comfort. "It's merely a side effect of no longer using the implant, of course, and I'm certain it will go away..."

"What will?" Julian asked patiently. "If it's some kind of withdrawal symptom, Garak, I can help you."

"You really think so?" The tailor was not so sure. Not to mention he felt very awkward to be whining about such a thing, but then again... perhaps the doctor would have some idea?

"Yes, I think so." Julian said lightly and with a smile, but his concern for his friend shone through.

Garak returned the smile, making light of his condition. "It appears that thanks to my no longer steady supply of endorphins, I'm in a perpetual state of depression." He hesitated. "Aside from a few moments now and then, that is."

He didn't elaborate that those 'moments' were in fact his lunches with Julian which, ever since his illness, were becoming a daily rather than a weekly diversion. This development should have made Garak happy. Unfortunately, it seemed to instead worsen his condition, because their companionable lunches were followed by empty afternoons, lonely evenings and seemingly endless nights.

"I'm so sorry, Garak," Julian said, compassion softening his voice.

"I shouldn't complain about something so insignificant." Garak took a deep gulp of his rokassa juice.

Julian's eyes widened. "You certainly should! There's absolutely no need for anyone to feel depressed anymore in this century when there are so many ways to cure depression."

"Such as?" Garak enquired, watching the doctor pick up his mug of Tarkalean Tea - extra sweet as always, fittingly enough - and frown in concentration as he played with the rim of the dish.

"I could give you some medication," Julian suggested, not in the least bit surprised when Garak shook his head. "What about something natural? The Bajorans use the leaves of a night-blooming flower known as Hebares, crush them and inhale them in steaming water..."

"No, thank you, doctor. I'm sure you appreciate that I have had quite enough of any form of medical attention for some time."

Julian nodded. Of course, Garak hated nothing more than to come anywhere near the infirmary, and having been forced to spend nearly a week in medical care - even if it had been in his own quarters - had been an intrusion on the very private Cardassian's life which was not something he cared to remember. Let alone repeat. Julian thought about pointing out that he wouldn't need to visit the infirmary to receive medication, but he knew it would be a fruitless exercise.

If one good thing had come out of Garak's illness, it was that Julian now possessed an infinitely better understanding of his mysterious friend. Not as deep an understanding as he would have hoped for, but it was certainly a start. Who knew if one day, he wouldn't manage to learn more still?

"Have you tried to distract yourself?" Julian asked.

Garak briefly gave the human that 'oh, you're so naive' look which made Julian feel like a young child. "Of course I have, doctor."

"How?" Not one to give up easily on a patient, especially one he considered his friend, Julian soldiered on.

"I have visited a number of holosuite programs especially recommended by our ever diligent Ferengi bar tender. I've spent time reading and simply relaxing, having a nice meal, listening to the most soothing Vulcan music I've been able to appropriate..."

"Alone?" Julian interrupted Garak's list.

Garak blinked. "How do you mean, doctor?"

Julian smiled, glad that sometimes, even he got to be a step ahead of the Cardassian. "I mean, did you do all those things alone? By yourself?"

A flash of pain traveled across the Cardassian's face. "Why certainly, doctor." Not about to wallow in self-pity, he added pointedly, "I do prefer to be on my own, as you may have noticed in all the time we've known each other."

"Really?" Julian dared, quite aware that the Cardassian's hermitlike lifestyle was far from being by choice. He was an exile on Deep Space Nine, and - in the eyes of the station residents - a dangerous one. Julian knew better by now, but it didn't change the fact that if Garak hadn't been as lonely and disliked as he was, he never would have felt the need to use that blasted implant continuously in the first place.

Garak wanted to protest the doctor's implication, but one look into the warm, understanding dark eyes stopped the words before they ever made it out of his mouth. It was difficult, but he admitted, "Well, perhaps my solitude is not always entirely by choice."

Julian nodded. "In that case, would you consider allowing me to spend more time with you?" When he saw the question in the Cardassian's eyes, he explained, "Outside our lunches together, I mean."

Garak looked suspicious. "I must tell you that I don't appreciate being pitied, doctor."

With a sigh, Julian said, "Do you think I have lunch with you out of pity?"

Garak actually for once did not know what to say. A situation Julian took advantage of shamelessly. "Exactly. Even if you were not still my patient and this wasn't your convalescence therapy, I'd be more than happy to spend time with you."

"What about your numerous friends and acquaintances, doctor? Won't they mind?" It had left Garak's mouth before he could stop it. Even his anger at the unconscious jealousy which had laced his voice couldn't make the words disappear again.

But Julian clearly had not taken offense. "It's quite possible to have more than one friend, Garak," he said lightly.

'Not for me,' the Cardassian thought with bitterness. But he managed a smile anyway. "If you're certain," he agreed hesitantly. "I shall put myself in your capable hands, doctor."

"Splendid!" Julian beamed. "Dinner in my quarters?"

Warmed and gratified by the honest enthusiasm in the human's demeanor, Garak agreed.

Julian was making plans. He was determined to help Garak fight his depression. And they'd both have fun in the process.

With a perpetual smile on his face, he prepared everything for the tailor's arrival. They'd agreed to have dinner at 21:00 and Julian was just about done preparing an authentic Middle-Eastern meal. He had the computer playing some music to match and from every corner of the room, oil lamps were lighting up the large silk cushions spread out over the floor, their jewel tones shimmering in the soft light. He'd even managed to appropriate one of Nerys' incense burners and a heavy sandalwood, patchouli and mikarmo mix was filling the air with its warm, exotic scent.

The only thing missing was his guest.

As if on cue, the door chime rang and Julian called out, "Enter!"

Pleasantly assaulted by more fragrances than he remembered inhaling in the lushest Cardassian bath house, Garak entered the dimly lit room. "Doctor?" he called out.

"Right here, Garak." Julian appeared out of the half-dark living room, smiling invitingly.

The moment Garak saw his host, the other delights the doctor's quarters had to offer were forgotten. He never even took note of the charmingly decorated interior of the room, finding himself mesmerized by the vision before him. Dressed entirely in deep blue silk from his high-collared tunic to his long, loose trousers, Julian Bashir quite frankly took his breath away.

"Garak? Is everything all right?" Julian enquired for the third time.

"Certainly, doctor." Garak got himself under control. "I was merely overcome by how delightful you... have made everything. And the music is quite charming. What is it?"

Julian looked very pleased. "It's a recording of instrumental Middle-Eastern music from 20th century earth. I hope you don't mind me making a whole theme out of dinner?"

Smiling, Garak assured him, "Not at all, doctor. I'm honored. I merely wish you would have told me so that I might have dressed for the occasion myself."

"There's nothing wrong with the way you're dressed, Garak," Julian said firmly, meaning every word of it.

The tailor had swapped his rather drab daytime colors for a lush purple and anthracite outfit of a soft-looking fabric, much like velvet. Julian found himself disturbingly tempted to investigate just what the material was. Thankfully, he managed to gather his wits about him before doing something he might regret.

"I'm being a terrible host, Garak. Please, sit down. Dinner will be ready in a moment." He quickly turned and led his guest to the low table in the center of his lounge.

"You really have outdone yourself, doctor," Garak said appreciatively, now that he was able to take in the entire dinner setting. "No one could ever accuse you of not going out of your way for your patients."

Julian smiled at the Cardassian, glad that the soft lighting would hide his blush. He had realized while setting everything up that he would certainly not go this far for his other patients. If he was honest - not for any of them. Best not to think about that.

Once they were eating, Julian began to relax, keeping them both busy with light-hearted conversation. He was pleased to find Garak developing a ravenous obsession with falafels - apparently, there was a very similar dish on Cardassia which Garak had never been able to replicate in a palpable way.

"I'll give you the recipe later," Julian promised with a smile.

"Thank you, doctor." Garak chortled at the domesticity of the moment, and then proceeded to ruin it. "I do hope you haven't stood up one of your lady friends for the sake of my therapy, doctor?"

Julian almost laughed out loud at the irony. What Garak so quaintly referred to as his lady friends was a tiny group of women, ever more diminished in numbers, who had lost interest in him the more time he'd spent with Garak. Truth be told, it was about the same time he'd lost interest in them. So he assured Garak quite truthfully, "Don't worry about that. There's nowhere I'd rather be."

'And no one I'd rather be with,' Julian finished silently. What was the matter with him lately?

"I'm very glad to hear that," Garak said softly. He met Bashir's eyes for an inappropriately long moment, at the end of which he smiled to cover up his embarrassment. "Have I mentioned this dinner you've prepared is quite delicious?"

"You may have," Julian said, grinning. In fact, Garak had said so half a dozen times at least, but Julian was as happy as a child that he could do something nice for Garak. Now, how to help him over his depression...

Julian watched with amusement as the tailor chased yet another falafel around his plate before managing to impale it on the end of his fork and, after dipping it into a veritable lake of yogurt dip, inserting it into his mouth.

"Delightful..." Garak munched with his eyes closed.

Julian watched him, fascinated by the relish with which the Cardassian devoured such a simple Terran treat. Then his attention was diverted to the thin trickle of dip running from the corner of Garak's mouth. "Uh... Garak," Julian said, leaning forward without even thinking about it and dabbing at it with a napkin.

Garak's eyes flew open. He became aware of Julian's scent and body heat well before he felt the actual touch. When he met the human's eyes, they both jerked backwards with a tad of embarrassment.

"I'm sorry," Julian muttered.

"Thank you... doctor," Garak stammered at the same moment.

They laughed.

"It seems my table manners when in private company need revision," Garak said lightly, trying to ignore the fact that his pulse was racing.

Julian wasn't sure what to say. He smiled, grappling for words, but his throat was too constricted for a single sound to come out.

Thanks to his inherent Cardassian eloquence, the tailor got a grip more quickly and began to chatter about some insignificant business at his shop.

Julian was only half listening. He found himself entertaining thoughts about the Cardassian the likes of which he'd never had before. But then... that wasn't strictly true. And in his defense, he had never been that close to him, getting such a fantastic view of his elaborately ridged face by candlelight, the bright blue of his eyes, the sculpted shape of his lips, the so very different scent of his skin, more exotic than the finest incense...

Garak looked up from his empty plate to the vision of Julian Bashir staring at him, spellbound. "Doctor?" he said softly.

"What?" Julian squealed, promptly feeling a flush creep over his face right to the roots of his hair. "Sorry, what were you saying?"

Garak smiled, wondering if he was interpreting that look in the good doctor's eyes correctly. Not prone to jumping to conclusions, however insistent his libido may be, he decided to play it cautiously. "I was telling you that this dinner is most assuredly the highlight of my day." He watched with pleased interest as his words coaxed a bright smile from Julian.

"What are those?" Garak enquired once he'd pushed his empty plate aside. He reached for one of the small treats in the center of the table.

"Turkish Delight."

Garak smiled. "They certainly look delightful. Mmm..."

"Well, you just help yourself. A rise in blood-sugar levels is known to have a stimulating... I mean... mood-enhancing effect," Julian encouraged a little nervously.

"What about you, doctor?" Garak picked up the plate and held it out to his host.

"I couldn't eat another thing." Julian clutched his stomach dramatically to emphasize his words.

Garak stifled a laugh. "Ah, well... all the more for me, as you humans say." He smiled at Julian.

"Garak..."

"Yes, doctor?"

Julian shifted a little awkwardly, nearly sliding off the smooth silk cushion on which he was seated. "Could you be happy here?"

Surprised by the odd turn of their conversation, Garak frowned. "I'm not sure what you mean, doctor."

Julian sipped some of his mocha while trying to come up with a way to explain. When he set down the tiny cup, he said, "I don't mean to pry or make you uncomfortable, Garak, and I hope you'll forgive me for being so forward, but do you think you'll ever be happy on this station?"

Garak was used to a certain degree of frankness from his young human friend, but this was a little more of an intrusion into his privacy than he could allow. "My dear doctor..."

Julian disrupted the familiar phrase firmly. "Answer me!"

Shocked at the insistence, Garak's mouth fell open. What had happened to the naive young man who at first had been so afraid of him? Impressed as he was by the doctor's courage, he had to put a stop to this. "I really would rather not discuss my happiness or lack thereof with you, doctor."

Julian knew he'd gone too far. Not too far from the point-of-view of offending Garak's sensibilities, although he could tell by the tailor's reaction that was the case. But more importantly, he'd gone too far to turn back and pretend he didn't know. He couldn't go on having lunches or even dinners with Garak, chatting light-heartedly as if the Cardassian's world was in perfect order.

"I'm your friend, you know," he said softly, deciding that despite Garak's own infinite need for secrecy, he himself could no longer shut Garak out. And more importantly - he didn't want to.

That last remark had Garak a bit puzzled, and Julian used the opportunity to continue. "Garak, I don't just want to be your lunch appointment. Or your dinner companion, for that matter." He stopped dead there. What did he want to be to the Cardassian?

"Really, doctor?" Garak said, his voice somewhere between mocking and vulnerable. He was too old and jaded to let human sentimentality get to him like this. And too fond of the doctor to look at it all as a joke.

With a little sigh, Julian went on, undeterred by the Cardassian's defense mechanism. "I know you don't believe me, even though I'm not the one to make an art out of telling lies..." Before Garak could protest, he continued. "And I know you're very private, and you don't want anyone to know that even you can be hurt. But I know, Garak. I know!"

"Well..." Garak weighed up whether or not to simply get up and leave or wait and see how much further the human would dare intrude into the carefully guarded fortress that was his life. An insurmountable curiosity won out and he stayed. "I must say I did not think you would use something confided in you during my illness against me."

"I'm not using it against you, Garak." Julian wanted to reach out to Garak, make him understand somehow. "Do you really think I was surprised to learn you hated life on this station?"

Garak's eyes narrowed as he assessed the human. No, Julian Bashir was not stupid. In fact, he was - despite his naiveté - one of the most intelligent creatures the Cardassian had ever encountered. "I suppose not," he conceded.

"Now we're getting somewhere."

With a snort, Garak mocked, "Oh really, doctor? And just where is it we are going?"

Julian boldly withstood the Cardassian's stern gaze, ignoring the fact that the bright blue irises were like ice. If Garak wanted to bait him, so be it. For once he'd surprise him. "You are going to let me help you, and I am going to make sure that from now on, you won't need artificial help to be happy."

Garak motioned to get up and leave, more disturbed by the human's compassion than he'd care to admit. He was also dangerously close to challenging the doctor's charity in ways the young man would certainly neither expect nor appreciate. What he had not expected was the slender hand which closed around his wrist and pulled him back down before he could escape. Losing his balance, he fell heavily on the floor cushion. He gasped, looking thoroughly perplexed.

Julian made up his mind. This was, after all, what he had wanted for a long time. "My dear Garak," he mimicked one of the tailor's favourite phrases. "There are better and more permanent ways to stimulate your endorphin levels than implants, Vulcan music, holosuites or food."

When Garak opened his mouth to retort, he found it closed by a warm pair of lips which was immediately followed by two trembling hands cupping his face and a slim body leaning forward and pressing against him.

Garak would have been startled if his mind had not reeled with the ecstasy the kiss set off in him. As it was, he forgot entirely what he'd been about to say, the moment he realized that Julian Bashir was actually kissing him.

The kiss grew more insistent as the human overcame his initial shyness. Encouraged by the fact that Garak didn't seem intent on killing him for his insolence, Julian smoothly rose and stepped over the low table without interrupting the kiss. Once he was on Garak's side, he knelt over him, pressing against him until the Cardassian capitulated and sank down on his back with a low moan.

Garak's first instinct had been to check his own pulse to ensure he hadn't died and entered some wildly erotic afterlife. Then, his pulse had grown so loud there was simply no need. He could actually feel his heart pounding. Or was it the doctor's? Julian's...

Somehow, the thought that after this kiss, he'd be allowed to finally call this wonderful human by his first name caused Garak to feel so ridiculously happy that he finally allowed himself to return the kiss. Vigorously.

They were clutching at each other with all the pent-up desire of many months of longing. In exact opposition to Garak's crumbling defenses, Julian's courage grew ever more impressive, until he finally withdrew for a moment and gave the Cardassian a heated, lingering look.

"I do believe it's working," he said hoarsely.

Garak was panting. "Is that your professional opinion, doctor... Julian?"

Bashir shivered pleasantly at the sound of his name from Garak's lips. "Oh yes. You're showing all the signs of increased endorphin production - flushed skin, dilated pupils, shortness of breath..."

"Perhaps we'd best make sure though," Garak said, pulling the human close again and taking his lips in a bruising kiss.

Moments later, both of them gasping for breath, Garak asked, "Is this your standard therapy for depression?"

Julian smirked. "Not at all." He began to fumble with the Cardassian's collar, yanking at the zip of his tunic impatiently. "This is a highly personalized form of treatment." His fingers slid down the zip and moved inside the soft top.

Garak gasped when he felt the warm fingers against his skin. "Nice to know you went through so much... trouble to get my prescription just right."

"It's tailor-made, if you pardon the pun."

Julian giggled, which made him all the more adorable to Garak, if that was even possible. He began to join in the doctor's efforts to divest themselves of their unnecessary clothing, slightly annoyed that he seemed to be getting naked much more quickly than Julian himself.

Looking up at the human who was crouched over his midsection and exploring newly revealed flesh which glowed silver in the soft light, Garak grabbed Julian's wrists and held them still. He drew them up to his mouth and kissed them, one after the other, before setting the hands palm-down on his bare chest.

"What have we been waiting for?" Julian said, his voice like velvet, as he stroked over the amazingly soft gray skin framed by narrow lines of ridges running all along the Cardassian's flanks.

Garak smiled. "An excuse?" he suggested helpfully.

Julian nodded, leaning forward to press his lips to Garak's muscled chest. That particular movement caused a deep groan from Garak, and Julian shot upright with fear that he'd somehow hurt him. "What's wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing! Nothing whatsoever. It's just that you were... that your... well... you're pressing against a particularly sensitive part of my anatomy, my dear."

Julian grinned. "Particularly sensitive, is it?" And as if to test the truth of the Cardassian's words, he smoothly moved a hand in between them, stroking over the impressive bulge in the other's dark, velvety trousers.

"Yes!" Garak gasped, the hoarseness of his voice only encouraging Julian to keep moving his palm over that bulge more firmly. "This might be something you're not aware of due to lack of knowledge when it comes to Cardassian anatomy, Julian, but..."

"Oh, I do know that much!" Julian breathed, lowering himself down to slide his still silk-clad form over Garak's bare upper body, enjoying the shudders of delight this caused.

Garak was groaning. The feel of the soft silk against his cool flesh was exquisite. His hands moved around the slim body on top of him, sliding beneath the loose top and touching skin which was even softer than the silk that covered it. His fingers kneaded their way up the human's sides, setting off all manner of delightful sounds.

"Is it a requirement..." the Cardassian murmured, "... that this treatment be carried out on the floor?"

Julian sighed, unwilling to interrupt for even a moment. "Bed," he offered, and they struggled to stand up together.

Following Julian across the room, Garak suddenly stopped, pulling the human back with his hand around his wrist. "Are you sure this won't be too much responsibility for you? My happiness?"

Julian smiled, leaning in to give his soon-to-be lover another deep, probing kiss. "You know I like a challenge."

"Well, in that case..."

Garak stretched out comfortably alongside his lover while his hand played in the soft, dark hair fanning out over his shoulder.

Julian sighed softly in contentment, his arm moving across the Cardassian's waist as he drew himself closer into his embrace. "Garak?"

"Hmm?"

"You never answered my question earlier."

Garak smiled. "I didn't have an answer then."

"Do you now?" Julian looked into his lover's clear blue eyes, seeing their future in them and hoping that Garak saw the same when he looked at him.

"Yes, I believe I do."

"Am I going to like it?" Julian teased, reassured by the twinkle in his lover's eyes.

"If you don't mind being the reason for my continued happiness on this station, then yes."

Julian beamed. "Treatment a complete success!"

Garak swiftly rolled on top of the slim, bronze body in his arms and kissed Julian breathless. When he looked down at him again, he murmured, "I think it's time for another dose now, doctor."