Bashir/Garibaldi, heehee
Yay! I can finally post my Multiverse 2004 Ficathon story here.
(Incidentally, this is the story that was written for me, a shiny River/Galen fic.)
***
Title: "Paths That Don't Often Cross"
Author: Bud-Clare
Universes: Babylon 5 (mid season 4), Deep Space 9 (mid to late season 5)
Summary: One of Jadzia's experiments goes wrong. Oops.
Pairing: Bashir/Garibaldi, but just a little.
Rating: PG (Sorry.)
Length: 2,670 words.
Disclaimer 1: I don't own anything. Leave me alone.
Disclaimer 2: Beware of flying technobabble.
Disclaimer 3: Okay, yes, there's a little plot-hole relating to the motion of the station. Sue me. If the tv shows themselves can fudge things like that, so can I.
***
Julian liked to get up bright and early in the morning, even if it was never precisely bright in space. Getting an early start made him feel as if he'd accomplished more each day.
While early was good, but there was such a thing as too early, even for him. The red alert klaxons, for example, came far too early. Staggering to his feet, he accidentally knocked Kukalaka onto the floor.
He threw some cold water on his face at the bathroom sink, then headed for a comm panel, putting Kukalaka back on his shelf as he passed by. Just as he was about to contact the bridge to find out what was going on, the alert was cancelled. This didn't reassure him one bit.
"Bashir to Ops." Julian rubbed at his eyes and mentally prodded his brain while he waited for a response.
"Go back to sleep, Julian. It's nothing to worry about."
Julian blinked doubtfully as he processed this. Jadzia, in Ops at 0430? Check. Suspicious red alert? Check. "Don't worry, Julian"? Check.
Julian sighed. "And which experiment, exactly, went wrong this time?"
"Am I getting that predictable?" He could hear her smile over the comm channel.
"Perhaps just a little."
"The briefing is at 0600, if you're that curious. Now go back to sleep. Dax out."
Julian stood in the dark and considered his options. He could go back to sleep for an hour, or he could use the extra time to catch up on some reading...and possibly doze off during the briefing. He grabbed Kukalaka and slipped back into bed.
*
Julian arrived a few minutes early and took a seat. Kira said good morning as she carried her morning cup of raktajino over to the conference table, and Odo nodded a greeting. No one else had arrived yet.
"So, any theories as to Jadzia's latest venture?" Julian said, still a little bit groggy.
Kira's pre-caffeine smile wasn't quite as bright as her usual one, but it was sufficient. "Your guess is as good as mine. All I know is that she interrupted a perfectly good dream involving a pair of Risian masseurs. I think that Jadzia's holosuite programs may be a bad influence on me."
Odo made that odd sound in his throat that passed for a chuckle, but the conference room door opened before he could comment. Sisko strode into the room, Worf at his side.
"Dax isn't here yet?" Sisko sounded mildly perturbed. But then, he often sounded mildly perturbed, and Julian couldn't really blame him.
Kira smiled again. "So, you don't know either?"
"She said not to worry," Sisko replied, sighing. Julian couldn't help but muse that Captain Sisko had, over the years, managed to raise exasperation to an art form.
They sat in silence for several minutes, Odo pointedly checking the chronometer periodically. Julian considered making a joke about her lateness, but chose instead to drum his fingers on the tabletop until Sisko glared at him to stop. "Sorry," Julian said, abashed.
At last, the door swished open again to admit both Dax and O'Brien. "Sorry we're late," she said.
O'Brien looked somewhat bleary-eyed as he trailed along in her wake, but Jadzia herself looked just as chipper as usual, in spite of having been up all night. Julian wondered idly how much additional genetic manipulation he'd need to undergo to have her apparent constitution.
O'Brien and Jadzia each took a seat. "Last night," Jadzia began, "I was experimenting with tetryon waves. I was testing out a theory regarding the interaction of tetryon particles and gamma particles, and the resulting effects on the tetryon waves. The theory is--"
Noticing that she was losing her audience, she moved on. "What I didn't expect was that the alpha particles emanating from the station's reactor would cause a cascade effect."
She took a deep breath, releasing it slowly. Julian thought that maybe she did look a bit tired, after all. "It caused a slight tear in the fabric of space-time," she said.
Sisko sighed. "How exactly does one cause a slight tear in the fabric of space-time?" he said.
"Well, sir, I was able to stop its growth almost immediately after it began to form. That's why I didn't think it was worth dragging everyone out of bed. It's stable, and very small. The area's been sealed off--"
"What area?" Sisko interrupted.
"It's in one of the storage rooms in the docking ring."
"So how do we fix it?" Kira said.
"That's the problem," Jadzia said.
"You mean another problem?" said Odo.
Yes, Jadzia was definitely beginning to look a bit frayed around the edges. "I can't seal it just from this side," she said. "It needs to be sealed up from both sides simultaneously. We need to widen the tear enough to move some equipment through."
"Through to where?" said Sisko.
"The tear leads to an alternate universe. Not," she rushed to finish before anyone could interrupt with the obvious question, "the mirror universe. It's a universe we've never encountered before."
Everyone relaxed perceptibly. No one wanted to deal with their evil alter egos first thing in the morning.
"What do you need to do?" Sisko said.
"I need to take some equipment through, set it up, and calibrate it. Once that's done, I can come back and activate the equipment from this side. Chief O'Brien will calibrate the instruments on our side, and monitor the tear while I'm gone."
"Fortunately," she added, "sensors show a breathable atmosphere on the other side. The tear appears to open up inside a structure of some kind."
Sisko studied her for a long moment. "I know you wouldn't make up a story like this just to get a chance to explore an alternate universe," Sisko said, giving her that look that made it clear that she'd damn well better know it, too.
Jadzia suppressed a smile, her eyes sparkling. "Of course not, sir."
"How soon can you be ready?"
"I can have the equipment ready by 0900, with the Chief's help," she said.
"Good. I'll be accompanying you, just to be sure that you don't have too much fun. Major, you'll be handling this afternoon's negotiations in my absence."
Jadzia smiled. "Yes, sir."
"Yes, sir," Kira echoed, sounding pained. Trade negotiations between Bajor and the Andorians were likely to be achingly uneventful.
"Mind if I tag along?" At Sisko's look, Julian hurried to add, "Purely for scientific reasons. Sir."
Sisko sighed deeply. "Wear something inconspicuous."
*
Julian meandered through a bustling marketplace called the Zocalo. It was much like the Promenade, but noisier, more lively. It was invigorating, and fascinating. Julian did his best to study the various alien species without being noticed. What he wouldn't give for a chance to scan them with his tricorder.
Like Captain Sisko and Lt. Commander Dax, he was wearing utterly nondescript clothing, his combadge affixed to his shirt and hidden from view by his jacket. It had turned out to be a wise precaution, as their uniforms would have raised more than a few eyebrows, and the last thing they needed was to run afoul of this station's security.
Sisko was helping Dax to set up the equipment, leaving Julian free to learn all he could about this place. Jadzia had hacked into a computer terminal when they'd first arrived, so they knew the basics: the layout of the station, its location, and its purpose. This universe didn't have a close-knit federation of planets, but rather a loose conglomeration of squabbling races, each vying for the upper hand. The whole thing was fascinating.
He was wandering by a small cafe when he noticed that someone was watching him, a bald man in a suit. Curious, he met the man's gaze.
The man appeared to be assessing Julian in a way that was both unnerving and intriguing. It reminded him quite a lot of Odo, actually. An off-duty security officer, perhaps, and probably a damn good one, at that.
This put Julian in an awkward position. He had in some way attracted the wrong sort of attention, and it would be prudent to allay whatever suspicions this man might have. On the other hand, Julian knew little of this universe, and could easily betray his ignorance and make matters worse.
Julian felt a bit of a thrill, to be honest. He loved a good cat-and-mouse game, and the real thing was far more satisfying than a holosuite program. He was eager to match wits with this man, whoever he was.
Julian made no effort to hide his fascination as he sauntered over to the man's table. "Mind if I sit?" he said, exuding confidence and a touch of amusement as he looked the man in the eye.
If the man was at all ruffled by Julian's boldness, he didn't let it show. "Please," he said, gesturing at the empty chair.
Julian sprawled into the chair. "So," he said.
"So," said the man.
For a long moment, neither of them spoke. They each watched and waited.
Julian decided to make the first move. "Security?" he said.
The man smiled ruefully. "Former."
"Ah. Well, you seem to be in top form."
"Recently former," the man amended. "Michael Garibaldi." He offered Julian his hand.
Julian shook the proffered hand firmly. "Julian."
Michael raised an eyebrow.
Julian smiled. "You said that you were former security. Does my name really matter to you?"
"Well, no, not really. Just curious is all. You're definitely not from around here."
"No, not from around here." Julian wondered if this was how Garak felt during their weekly lunches: being questioned endlessly, each answer scrutinized and dissected for hidden meanings. Fascinating. "I don't get the opportunity to travel much."
"And why is that?"
"Research," Julian replied blandly.
"What kind of research?"
"The kind that I can't discuss."
"Touché. So, you come from Earth?"
"Originally."
"And recently?"
"Elsewhere."
"I see," Michael nodded. "And what brings you to Babylon 5?"
"Former security, yes?"
"Yes," Michael conceded. "But for the sake of argument."
"Ah. Well, just sightseeing, really. My associates are here on business, and I decided to accompany them."
"Ah," said Michael. "What kind of business?"
"This conversation is getting a little redundant, isn't it? The business is not illegal, or even unethical. And you, Mr. Garibaldi, are no longer security. Now, are you going to buy me a drink, or should I get on with my sightseeing?"
Michael chuckled, relaxing slightly. "Fair enough." He signaled the waitress. "My friend here would like a drink."
"What can I get you?" she said.
Julian thought fast. There was no way of knowing what sort of drinks existed in this universe, so he'd have to keep it simple and hope for the best. "Whiskey," he said.
The waitress nodded and moved off.
Wondering if this was such a good idea after all, Julian searched for a safe topic of discussion. He couldn't talk about literature or music, since he had no way of knowing how much the two universes had in common, and he certainly couldn't talk about current events. He could probably tell amusing anecdotes about his friends--with a little quick thinking, he'd be able to remove any details likely to give him away--but he'd have to find a way to start the conversation first.
Michael saved him the trouble. "So, did you hear about that baseball player that was caught in a, shall we say, compromising position with both the daughters of the Centauri ambassador to Earth at the same time?"
Ah, baseball. Thanks to Sisko's obsession, Julian felt on somewhat solid ground. "No, I haven't been keeping up with the news lately. When did this happen?"
"Last week, apparently, but it took the press a few days to get the story. All they knew at first was that the ambassador had packed up his family and left Earth in a huff. So I hear that the guy--the baseball star--lost all of his endorsement deals over the scandal. Thing is, the very next day, he was signed as the spokesperson for a new line of...marital aids, I think they're calling them," he said, chuckling at the euphemism.
Julian didn't see the connection at all. "Why?" he asked, perplexed.
Michael's eyes lit up and he smiled impishly. Leaning forward conspiratorially, he said, "Centauri men have six...appendages. So, Centauri women have little interest in human men, having just the one. So, if one human male was good enough to snare two Centauri females at the same time..." Michael left the rest to Julian's imagination.
"Wow. Um..."
"Yeah," Michael said, pleased with Julian's reaction.
The waitress returned and set a small glass in front of Julian. Thanking her, he took a cautious sip, not usually fond of whiskey. "So," Julian said, satisfied that the whiskey would not kill him. "Tell me about yourself."
*
Most of the shops had closed and the crowds had vanished, leaving only a dozen or so people nursing drinks at the bar. The two of them had been talking for hours. So far as Julian could tell, he had not once tipped Michael off to his lack of familiarity with this universe. But then, why would Michael suspect something like that anyway? In Michael's world, suspicious people smuggled drugs or weapons, or plotted to start wars. They didn't pop out of alternate universes.
Julian had expected to enjoy a cat-and-mouse game with a perceptive security officer. He hadn't expected to enjoy a long, pleasant conversation with a man who he felt increasingly drawn to, but it had happened nonetheless. He suspected that he might be physically attracted to Michael, a notion that he didn't find as strange as he would have thought. He wondered if it was the way Michael's eyes scrunched up when he laughed, or maybe Julian had always had a latent attraction to bald men...
"And then," said Michael, laughing, "he says, he says to the guy--" He stopped smiling, suddenly all business again. Julian turned to see what he was looking at.
Julian found Sisko standing practically at his elbow, looking down at him. "Julian," the captain said evenly.
"C--" Julian caught himself, but a quick glance at Michael told him that the slip-up had not gone unnoticed. "Benjamin," Julian said, "I'd like you to meet my new friend, Michael. Michael, this is Benjamin, one of my associates."
The two men shook hands amiably enough, but Julian could see the gears turning in Michael's head; he was probably reaching some very interesting conclusions about their working relationship. Michael had, he had told Julian, been in the military for a long time, and his powers of observation were less than shoddy. He was certain to recognize a CO when he saw one. Julian hoped that Jadzia was nearly done with her work, or they might yet have a problem.
That thought made his heart sink. He liked Michael, possibly quite a lot. It pained him to think of leaving so soon.
"We have that appointment, Julian," Sisko said. "We need to go now, or we'll be late."
Julian nodded, hiding his disappointment as best he could.
"Maybe we can get together again before you leave the station," Michael said.
"I--don't think that will be possible," Julian said. "I don't think I'll have any more time for socializing. I'm sorry that we didn't get to spend more time together." That much, certainly, was true.
Michael seemed to pick up on the sincerity. "Yeah. Me, too," he said with regret. Julian knew that Michael had had a recent falling-out with his friends on the station, which made Julian feel even worse for leaving. It must be difficult being alone in a place like this.
They stood up and shook hands one last time, holding on a little longer than they really needed to. Their eyes met, and in that instant Julian thought that maybe Michael felt the same way.
Julian's throat felt tight as he turned and walked away, back to his own life.
(Incidentally, this is the story that was written for me, a shiny River/Galen fic.)
***
Title: "Paths That Don't Often Cross"
Author: Bud-Clare
Universes: Babylon 5 (mid season 4), Deep Space 9 (mid to late season 5)
Summary: One of Jadzia's experiments goes wrong. Oops.
Pairing: Bashir/Garibaldi, but just a little.
Rating: PG (Sorry.)
Length: 2,670 words.
Disclaimer 1: I don't own anything. Leave me alone.
Disclaimer 2: Beware of flying technobabble.
Disclaimer 3: Okay, yes, there's a little plot-hole relating to the motion of the station. Sue me. If the tv shows themselves can fudge things like that, so can I.
***
Julian liked to get up bright and early in the morning, even if it was never precisely bright in space. Getting an early start made him feel as if he'd accomplished more each day.
While early was good, but there was such a thing as too early, even for him. The red alert klaxons, for example, came far too early. Staggering to his feet, he accidentally knocked Kukalaka onto the floor.
He threw some cold water on his face at the bathroom sink, then headed for a comm panel, putting Kukalaka back on his shelf as he passed by. Just as he was about to contact the bridge to find out what was going on, the alert was cancelled. This didn't reassure him one bit.
"Bashir to Ops." Julian rubbed at his eyes and mentally prodded his brain while he waited for a response.
"Go back to sleep, Julian. It's nothing to worry about."
Julian blinked doubtfully as he processed this. Jadzia, in Ops at 0430? Check. Suspicious red alert? Check. "Don't worry, Julian"? Check.
Julian sighed. "And which experiment, exactly, went wrong this time?"
"Am I getting that predictable?" He could hear her smile over the comm channel.
"Perhaps just a little."
"The briefing is at 0600, if you're that curious. Now go back to sleep. Dax out."
Julian stood in the dark and considered his options. He could go back to sleep for an hour, or he could use the extra time to catch up on some reading...and possibly doze off during the briefing. He grabbed Kukalaka and slipped back into bed.
*
Julian arrived a few minutes early and took a seat. Kira said good morning as she carried her morning cup of raktajino over to the conference table, and Odo nodded a greeting. No one else had arrived yet.
"So, any theories as to Jadzia's latest venture?" Julian said, still a little bit groggy.
Kira's pre-caffeine smile wasn't quite as bright as her usual one, but it was sufficient. "Your guess is as good as mine. All I know is that she interrupted a perfectly good dream involving a pair of Risian masseurs. I think that Jadzia's holosuite programs may be a bad influence on me."
Odo made that odd sound in his throat that passed for a chuckle, but the conference room door opened before he could comment. Sisko strode into the room, Worf at his side.
"Dax isn't here yet?" Sisko sounded mildly perturbed. But then, he often sounded mildly perturbed, and Julian couldn't really blame him.
Kira smiled again. "So, you don't know either?"
"She said not to worry," Sisko replied, sighing. Julian couldn't help but muse that Captain Sisko had, over the years, managed to raise exasperation to an art form.
They sat in silence for several minutes, Odo pointedly checking the chronometer periodically. Julian considered making a joke about her lateness, but chose instead to drum his fingers on the tabletop until Sisko glared at him to stop. "Sorry," Julian said, abashed.
At last, the door swished open again to admit both Dax and O'Brien. "Sorry we're late," she said.
O'Brien looked somewhat bleary-eyed as he trailed along in her wake, but Jadzia herself looked just as chipper as usual, in spite of having been up all night. Julian wondered idly how much additional genetic manipulation he'd need to undergo to have her apparent constitution.
O'Brien and Jadzia each took a seat. "Last night," Jadzia began, "I was experimenting with tetryon waves. I was testing out a theory regarding the interaction of tetryon particles and gamma particles, and the resulting effects on the tetryon waves. The theory is--"
Noticing that she was losing her audience, she moved on. "What I didn't expect was that the alpha particles emanating from the station's reactor would cause a cascade effect."
She took a deep breath, releasing it slowly. Julian thought that maybe she did look a bit tired, after all. "It caused a slight tear in the fabric of space-time," she said.
Sisko sighed. "How exactly does one cause a slight tear in the fabric of space-time?" he said.
"Well, sir, I was able to stop its growth almost immediately after it began to form. That's why I didn't think it was worth dragging everyone out of bed. It's stable, and very small. The area's been sealed off--"
"What area?" Sisko interrupted.
"It's in one of the storage rooms in the docking ring."
"So how do we fix it?" Kira said.
"That's the problem," Jadzia said.
"You mean another problem?" said Odo.
Yes, Jadzia was definitely beginning to look a bit frayed around the edges. "I can't seal it just from this side," she said. "It needs to be sealed up from both sides simultaneously. We need to widen the tear enough to move some equipment through."
"Through to where?" said Sisko.
"The tear leads to an alternate universe. Not," she rushed to finish before anyone could interrupt with the obvious question, "the mirror universe. It's a universe we've never encountered before."
Everyone relaxed perceptibly. No one wanted to deal with their evil alter egos first thing in the morning.
"What do you need to do?" Sisko said.
"I need to take some equipment through, set it up, and calibrate it. Once that's done, I can come back and activate the equipment from this side. Chief O'Brien will calibrate the instruments on our side, and monitor the tear while I'm gone."
"Fortunately," she added, "sensors show a breathable atmosphere on the other side. The tear appears to open up inside a structure of some kind."
Sisko studied her for a long moment. "I know you wouldn't make up a story like this just to get a chance to explore an alternate universe," Sisko said, giving her that look that made it clear that she'd damn well better know it, too.
Jadzia suppressed a smile, her eyes sparkling. "Of course not, sir."
"How soon can you be ready?"
"I can have the equipment ready by 0900, with the Chief's help," she said.
"Good. I'll be accompanying you, just to be sure that you don't have too much fun. Major, you'll be handling this afternoon's negotiations in my absence."
Jadzia smiled. "Yes, sir."
"Yes, sir," Kira echoed, sounding pained. Trade negotiations between Bajor and the Andorians were likely to be achingly uneventful.
"Mind if I tag along?" At Sisko's look, Julian hurried to add, "Purely for scientific reasons. Sir."
Sisko sighed deeply. "Wear something inconspicuous."
*
Julian meandered through a bustling marketplace called the Zocalo. It was much like the Promenade, but noisier, more lively. It was invigorating, and fascinating. Julian did his best to study the various alien species without being noticed. What he wouldn't give for a chance to scan them with his tricorder.
Like Captain Sisko and Lt. Commander Dax, he was wearing utterly nondescript clothing, his combadge affixed to his shirt and hidden from view by his jacket. It had turned out to be a wise precaution, as their uniforms would have raised more than a few eyebrows, and the last thing they needed was to run afoul of this station's security.
Sisko was helping Dax to set up the equipment, leaving Julian free to learn all he could about this place. Jadzia had hacked into a computer terminal when they'd first arrived, so they knew the basics: the layout of the station, its location, and its purpose. This universe didn't have a close-knit federation of planets, but rather a loose conglomeration of squabbling races, each vying for the upper hand. The whole thing was fascinating.
He was wandering by a small cafe when he noticed that someone was watching him, a bald man in a suit. Curious, he met the man's gaze.
The man appeared to be assessing Julian in a way that was both unnerving and intriguing. It reminded him quite a lot of Odo, actually. An off-duty security officer, perhaps, and probably a damn good one, at that.
This put Julian in an awkward position. He had in some way attracted the wrong sort of attention, and it would be prudent to allay whatever suspicions this man might have. On the other hand, Julian knew little of this universe, and could easily betray his ignorance and make matters worse.
Julian felt a bit of a thrill, to be honest. He loved a good cat-and-mouse game, and the real thing was far more satisfying than a holosuite program. He was eager to match wits with this man, whoever he was.
Julian made no effort to hide his fascination as he sauntered over to the man's table. "Mind if I sit?" he said, exuding confidence and a touch of amusement as he looked the man in the eye.
If the man was at all ruffled by Julian's boldness, he didn't let it show. "Please," he said, gesturing at the empty chair.
Julian sprawled into the chair. "So," he said.
"So," said the man.
For a long moment, neither of them spoke. They each watched and waited.
Julian decided to make the first move. "Security?" he said.
The man smiled ruefully. "Former."
"Ah. Well, you seem to be in top form."
"Recently former," the man amended. "Michael Garibaldi." He offered Julian his hand.
Julian shook the proffered hand firmly. "Julian."
Michael raised an eyebrow.
Julian smiled. "You said that you were former security. Does my name really matter to you?"
"Well, no, not really. Just curious is all. You're definitely not from around here."
"No, not from around here." Julian wondered if this was how Garak felt during their weekly lunches: being questioned endlessly, each answer scrutinized and dissected for hidden meanings. Fascinating. "I don't get the opportunity to travel much."
"And why is that?"
"Research," Julian replied blandly.
"What kind of research?"
"The kind that I can't discuss."
"Touché. So, you come from Earth?"
"Originally."
"And recently?"
"Elsewhere."
"I see," Michael nodded. "And what brings you to Babylon 5?"
"Former security, yes?"
"Yes," Michael conceded. "But for the sake of argument."
"Ah. Well, just sightseeing, really. My associates are here on business, and I decided to accompany them."
"Ah," said Michael. "What kind of business?"
"This conversation is getting a little redundant, isn't it? The business is not illegal, or even unethical. And you, Mr. Garibaldi, are no longer security. Now, are you going to buy me a drink, or should I get on with my sightseeing?"
Michael chuckled, relaxing slightly. "Fair enough." He signaled the waitress. "My friend here would like a drink."
"What can I get you?" she said.
Julian thought fast. There was no way of knowing what sort of drinks existed in this universe, so he'd have to keep it simple and hope for the best. "Whiskey," he said.
The waitress nodded and moved off.
Wondering if this was such a good idea after all, Julian searched for a safe topic of discussion. He couldn't talk about literature or music, since he had no way of knowing how much the two universes had in common, and he certainly couldn't talk about current events. He could probably tell amusing anecdotes about his friends--with a little quick thinking, he'd be able to remove any details likely to give him away--but he'd have to find a way to start the conversation first.
Michael saved him the trouble. "So, did you hear about that baseball player that was caught in a, shall we say, compromising position with both the daughters of the Centauri ambassador to Earth at the same time?"
Ah, baseball. Thanks to Sisko's obsession, Julian felt on somewhat solid ground. "No, I haven't been keeping up with the news lately. When did this happen?"
"Last week, apparently, but it took the press a few days to get the story. All they knew at first was that the ambassador had packed up his family and left Earth in a huff. So I hear that the guy--the baseball star--lost all of his endorsement deals over the scandal. Thing is, the very next day, he was signed as the spokesperson for a new line of...marital aids, I think they're calling them," he said, chuckling at the euphemism.
Julian didn't see the connection at all. "Why?" he asked, perplexed.
Michael's eyes lit up and he smiled impishly. Leaning forward conspiratorially, he said, "Centauri men have six...appendages. So, Centauri women have little interest in human men, having just the one. So, if one human male was good enough to snare two Centauri females at the same time..." Michael left the rest to Julian's imagination.
"Wow. Um..."
"Yeah," Michael said, pleased with Julian's reaction.
The waitress returned and set a small glass in front of Julian. Thanking her, he took a cautious sip, not usually fond of whiskey. "So," Julian said, satisfied that the whiskey would not kill him. "Tell me about yourself."
*
Most of the shops had closed and the crowds had vanished, leaving only a dozen or so people nursing drinks at the bar. The two of them had been talking for hours. So far as Julian could tell, he had not once tipped Michael off to his lack of familiarity with this universe. But then, why would Michael suspect something like that anyway? In Michael's world, suspicious people smuggled drugs or weapons, or plotted to start wars. They didn't pop out of alternate universes.
Julian had expected to enjoy a cat-and-mouse game with a perceptive security officer. He hadn't expected to enjoy a long, pleasant conversation with a man who he felt increasingly drawn to, but it had happened nonetheless. He suspected that he might be physically attracted to Michael, a notion that he didn't find as strange as he would have thought. He wondered if it was the way Michael's eyes scrunched up when he laughed, or maybe Julian had always had a latent attraction to bald men...
"And then," said Michael, laughing, "he says, he says to the guy--" He stopped smiling, suddenly all business again. Julian turned to see what he was looking at.
Julian found Sisko standing practically at his elbow, looking down at him. "Julian," the captain said evenly.
"C--" Julian caught himself, but a quick glance at Michael told him that the slip-up had not gone unnoticed. "Benjamin," Julian said, "I'd like you to meet my new friend, Michael. Michael, this is Benjamin, one of my associates."
The two men shook hands amiably enough, but Julian could see the gears turning in Michael's head; he was probably reaching some very interesting conclusions about their working relationship. Michael had, he had told Julian, been in the military for a long time, and his powers of observation were less than shoddy. He was certain to recognize a CO when he saw one. Julian hoped that Jadzia was nearly done with her work, or they might yet have a problem.
That thought made his heart sink. He liked Michael, possibly quite a lot. It pained him to think of leaving so soon.
"We have that appointment, Julian," Sisko said. "We need to go now, or we'll be late."
Julian nodded, hiding his disappointment as best he could.
"Maybe we can get together again before you leave the station," Michael said.
"I--don't think that will be possible," Julian said. "I don't think I'll have any more time for socializing. I'm sorry that we didn't get to spend more time together." That much, certainly, was true.
Michael seemed to pick up on the sincerity. "Yeah. Me, too," he said with regret. Julian knew that Michael had had a recent falling-out with his friends on the station, which made Julian feel even worse for leaving. It must be difficult being alone in a place like this.
They stood up and shook hands one last time, holding on a little longer than they really needed to. Their eyes met, and in that instant Julian thought that maybe Michael felt the same way.
Julian's throat felt tight as he turned and walked away, back to his own life.