Rating: MC
4 - Search Delayed - 4
They continued to walk through the rubble-strewn streets in silence. Julian was surprised that they didn’t see anyone else. Of course, he thought, it was close to dark. The sun was already setting. Most Cardassians had probably made sure to be off the streets already.
Garak stopped abruptly. Julian stopped and turned slightly to see his Cardassian friend lean against a nearby wall. The boy in his arms was concerned, “Elim are you okay?”
For the moment Garak didn’t seem to be able to respond. His face was a tight grimace, he was sweating and there was a slight tremor that encompassed the entire body. After a few seconds he managed to hiss a request, “Julian… take Kamar… I can’t…”
That was all he managed to say before Julian removed Kamar from the trembling arms. Garak’s immediate reaction was to lean down and wrap his arms around his stomach. “Julian, I think… you… were right.”
“That’s beside the point at the moment. We need to get you back. And soon, it’s almost dark.” Julian would have been amused to hear Garak concede that he was right under other circumstances, but now he was worried. “Can you walk?”
“I don’t think…” Garak gasped out the response.
“Is Elim okay? Did I hurt him? Elim, please, I’m sorry.” The boy had a few tears running down his cheeks.
“Kamar, Elim is sick, but he will be fine. We just need to get him home.” Julian replied softly while using his free hand to rub the tears away. “Okay?”
“Did Kamar make Elim sick?” worry filled the boy’s voice.
“No Kamar… you didn’t… make me… sick.” Garak managed.
“Do you think if you were able to lean on me for support that you could walk?” Julian had moved next to Garak and placed a hand onto the sweaty forehead.
“To much for you.” He replied.
“You don’t worry about that. Do you think you can manage with my help?” Julian was gentle, but insistent in his questioning.
He received a slight affirmative nod in reply.
“Okay. Good.” Julian maneuvered his arm to support the weight of his friend.
Garak managed to put one of his arms around Julian’s shoulders while the other remained tightly about his middle. Kamar reached down with the hand that was behind Julian’s neck to touch the larger arm there in a comforting manner.
“Kamar… can you tell Julian the way home?” Elim asked all his concentration was going to staying up right.
“Yes.” The boy reply confidently.
“Good boy.” Garak sighed in relief.
They staggered through the streets in this manner, stopping occasionally to let Elim catch his breath and gather his strength. By the time the shuttle came into view Julian was carrying the limp Cardassian, his feet dragging along behind them.
“Wow!” Kamar gasped. “Who’s is that?” He pointed at the shuttle.
“That is mine. We are going to stay there.” Julian replied with a little effort.
“But, Garak’s house is just beside the monu- monuments.” Kamar struggled to pronounce the last word.
“I know, but there are things that I need to help Elim and you in the shuttle.” Julian replied.
“You could bring them to Elim’s house.” the boy was adamant about staying there. “You could help Elim there.”
“You can tell him... not afraid of doctors.” Garak spoke for the first time in a while.
“I’m glad to hear you speak. I thought you had passed out on us.” Julian spoke as he continued towards the shuttle.
“You’re a doctor?” Kamar’s eyes went wide with surprise. “Good thing the others didn’t know.”
“Yes, Elim told me.” Julian thought for a second as they drew nearer to the shuttle. “That’s why we need to stay in the shuttle. It’s where all my medical stuff is located. I need it to help you two.”
There was a short pause before Kamar declared, “If it will help Elim. Okay, as long as we are all staying here.”
“We are all staying here.” Julian struggled to key in the entry code using the arm that was holding Kamar. He finally managed and the door slid open. He sat the boy down inside helping Garak to sit in the shuttle propped against the doorframe. “Kamar, why don’t you go up front and rest while I attend to Elim.”
“Uh, I want to stay with Elim.” the boy was suddenly very timid.
“Are you uncomfortable about being up front on your own?” Julian decided to be patient with Kamar. He could remember being a scared little boy thrown into a strange place with only strange people around him. Plus, he needed the breather before trying to move Garak into the shuttle.
“Worried about Elim.” the mumble was so quiet that Julian wasn’t sure that it was within the Cardassian hearing range. Then, slightly louder, “A little bit.”
“I see. How about this? I’ll go with you and get you some stuff to draw and color. You can do that for a little bit while I get Elim settled. Then you can stay back here with me and Garak.” Julian was gently persuasive.
“Will it take long?” Kamar was almost convinced.
“No, I’ll be as quick as possible. I know you like spending time with Elim.” Julian smiled slightly at the thought of the strong bond the two Cardassians shared.
“Okay. Is it okay for Julian to get me the colors?” he directed the question at Garak.
“Yes, I’ll be fine while he gets you settled.” his smile was of the brilliantly honest variety. Kamar was so wonderful. Elim wasn’t sure how he had become so important to the boy, but he was determined to make sure he deserved the special status.
…
After getting Kamar settled Julian returned to help Garak. He managed to lay passive body down on the biobed nearest the door. The only response this got was a groan. Bashir noted the clamminess of his friend. Slight fever, his mind instantly diagnosed. He pulled a thermal blanket up to mid neck ridge before sitting on the edge of the bed.
The shuttle was warm to him, just like Cardassia Prime. He had set the temperature controls to Cardassian standards, figuring that his patients wouldn’t appreciate the cold that is Federation standard temperature. He was going to have to get used to the heat anyway. He sat there for a moment to catch his breath, watching the man lying there with his eyes closed tight trying not to let the pain show. Julian patted the hand next to him before going to work. Garak groaned slightly in response.
Julian worked diligently for a few moments determining just what he was up against. “I’m afraid there isn’t much I can do for you now. If you would have listened earlier I could have made this easier on you. We’re just going to have to let this take it’s course.” he paused in his explanation and sat down next to his friend again.
“Elim” upon hearing his name Garak opened his eyes to look at Julian. “Your body is rejecting the food you ate earlier, it’s made worse because you were already malnourished and exhausted. You are also running a slight fever. I’m going to do what little I can to help, but this is going to be an unpleasant night for you.”
Garak nodded his understanding before closing his eyes again.
“Try to rest.” Julian moved about the shuttle preparing what he would need to help his friend through the rough night. He hooked up a nutrient flow to fight against dehydration, and attached a few monitors so that he would know if any complications arose. He administered a hypo of medicine to help with the nausea, but didn’t think it would be of much use at this point. “How are you feeling?”
“Cold… stomach hurt…” Elim groaned.
“Your temperature is a few degrees above normal.” Julian replied.
“Still feel cold.” He gripped the blanket.
“I know it’s the fever.” Julian replied with a slight smile. “I’m not going to take your blanket. Try to sleep.”
“Can’t…” was all Elim was able to say before he rolled over and hung his head over the edge of the bed. Julian had prepared for this; he reached down and retrieved the bucket from beside the bed. Garak retched into it violently. After a few moments the retching sound stopped, but the limp form on the bed seemed disinclined to move.
“You think you’re done for the moment?” Julian asked softly.
A slight nod was his only reply. “Alright then, let me help you to a more comfortable position.” He carefully maneuvered his slightly shaky friend onto his back, “ Looks like I’ll be taking your blanket after all. I’ll get you a clean one first.”
Julian went over to the replicator and ordered a damp rag at just below room temperature. He considered it warm, but knew that it would be slightly cool to Garak. “This is going to be cool.” He warned before starting to clean the Cardassian’s face. Elim shivered slightly upon first contact, but didn’t complain or try to move away. After cleaning all of the sick for off his friend he took the soiled blanket and the rag to the recycler. He returned with a new blanket and tucked Garak in snuggly.
“The cool rag felt good… helped my stomach.” Elim spoke the soft, almost request.
“So, that works for Cardassians to?” Julian asked with rhetorical jocularity.
“What?” Garak was not at his intellectual best.
“The cool rag.” Julian replied with a sigh. “I’ll get you a fresh one.”
He dabbed Elim’s forehead with the rag before slowly moving it around the outside edge of an eye ridge and across the cheek to the mouth. He moved to repeat the gesture on the other side of the exquisitely sculpted face. “As much as I am enjoying this particular ministration, I think you need to help Kamar.” Garak reached a hand up to the one at his face and took the rag he found there. “He is in need of attention.”
“Yes, I should see if I can find any information on Pottrik Syndrome.” Julian moved towards the computer screen at the very back of the shuttle.
“No, I mean he is scared and hurting right now. You should go get him. Let him know everything is fine.” Garak had almost forgotten how dense Julian could be sometimes. “Doctor, the last adult that he was close to got sick and died.”
“Oh, yes, I see. I guess I should…” Julian trailed off a little unsure what to do or say.
Garak grinned, but didn’t open his eyes, “Just bring him back here and make him comfortable. Be there for him while he’s scared. I’ll help you after my nap.” He emitted a long yawn.
“Right.” Julian replied. He could do that much. He walked into the front compartment of the shuttle to find Kamar lying on the floor coloring fiercely.
“What are you drawing?” Julian asked as he squatted down to get a look.
“Nothing, trying not to scratch.” he replied, “I really itch and…” He looked up at Julian with tears in his eyes. “Is Elim okay? I don’t want Elim to be sick. I don’t feel good. I want Elim, please. I want my sister.”
He was crying in earnest now and breathing erratically. Julian pulled Kamar into a firm, comforting embrace. He made rocked back and forth with the boy in his arms making soothing sounds. “It’s okay, it’s alright. Elim’s fine. You’re going to be fine. We’ll find your sister soon.” Julian repeated this like a mantra until the boy’s crying abated.
“I’m…” he sniffled, “I’m sorry.”
“For what?” Julian asked softly.
“For crying, for not being…” more sniffling, “being strong, like a Cardassian.”
“Who ever told you that crying made you weak?” Julian asked with an encouraging smile.
“Aamin. He said I was weak because I cry. Said I’m not Cardassian.” Kamar replied.
“Well, Aamin doesn’t know anything. Crying doesn’t make you weak. I think you are a very strong Cardassian.” Julian spoke in a reassuringly firm manner. “Now, do you want to go see Elim?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, but you will need to be quiet. He may be sleeping and he needs rest.” Julian looked at Kamar closely, making sure the boy understood.
“I’ll be quiet.” He started scratching at his chest.
Julian touched the small hands and admonished gently, “You’re not supposed to scratch.”
“I know, but I really itch.” He squirmed in place trying not to scratch.
“Well, let’s move to the back and I’ll see if I can help you with that.” Julian picked up the pad and coloring implements.
…
Kamar turned out to be a wonderful patient. He answered all of Julian’s questions to the best of his ability. He laid still for the most part and allowed Julian to do the scans that were need without complaint. The biggest problem was that in trying to keep himself from scratching he tended to wiggle a lot. Julian didn’t really mind pausing when the wiggling interrupted his scans. He tried distracting Kamar from the problem by telling him stories. They did everything as quietly as possible to prevent disturbing Elim, who had mercifully fallen asleep.
Julian had discovered a little bit about the boys condition, but wished that he knew more about Cardassian anatomy and physiology. He wasn’t sure exactly how to help Kamar. The symptoms were being brought on by inflammation in various areas of the body. Julian had applied an ointment early to see if it would help with the itching, but it only provided a slight, temporary relief. He now understood why. For the moment the best he could do was to give Kamar an anti-inflammatory that worked for most species and very rarely had side effects. It wasn’t very strong, but it should help a little bit.
First thing in the morning he would be contacting the nearest Starfleet Aid Clinic to get a copy of the Cardassian medical database. They had finally convinced the Cardassian Union to give them access, as long as no Starfleet officer took the information off planet. So, Julian didn’t have a copy yet.
In the meantime he focused on making Kamar as comfortable as possible, “I could replicate you a pair of pajamas.”
“ I have a pair. Elim made them. I wear them when I’m here. They don’t make me itch like most clothes does.” Kamar answered excitedly.
“I see, and where are these pajamas now?” Julian smiled at the boy’s enthusiasm, so similar to his own.
“In Elim’s dresser.” his face became ponderous as he answered.
Julian had figured as much, “Well, I can go get them for you if you’ll be okay on your own for a bit.”
“I won’t be alone. Elim is here,” he paused for a second. “But, I won’t bother him. I promise.”
“I didn’t think you would unless it was very important,” Julian replied. “I’ll be back shortly with the pajamas.”
“Okay.” Kamar picked up the coloring pad and became absorbed.
Julian returned with a pair of well-crafted, midnight blue pajamas that could have only been made by Garak. The material was very smooth, and the seams had been made in such a way as to minimize the friction caused by them. The pattern of the outfit was intricate and complex, but tastefully subtle. Julian helped Kamar to change into the sleepwear. The boy was clearly tired, he yawned several times before Julian had him snuggly in the pajamas.
“Now you need to get to sleep. Rest is just what the doctor ordered.” Julian joked lightly while tucking Kamar into the bed next to Elim’s.
“I’ll try, but it’s hard.” He replied sleepily.
“Why is it hard?” Julian asked.
“Well, the itching keeps me up.”
“Well, we’ll just have to see what I can do about that.” Julian answered with a knowing smile. He sat down next to Kamar and rubbed the spoon shaped ridge with slow soothing motions. This worked wonderfully and he boy was soon asleep.
“Where did you learn that trick?” Garak surprised Julian with the question.
“I didn’t realize you had woke up. How long have you been awake?” Julian didn’t answer the question.
“Not long. And you are trying to avoid the question doctor.” Elim smiled in his infuriatingly knowing way. “You were never very good at obfuscation or misdirection.” He answered the unasked question.
“Well, if you must know, I learned it while I was taking care of you after removing the implant.” Julian was bluntly direct.
“Oh, well, that is something best forgotten.” Garak waved the answer away.
“You don’t remember it do you?” Julian pried.
“As I said, some things are best forgotten.” He had become stubborn again.
“Just answer the question and I’ll drop the topic.” Julian hedged in the hopes of getting a straight answer.
“Doctor, you already know the answer to that question.” It was the final word on the subject.
“I see you are feeling more like yourself.” Julian replied in mock irritation.
“Yes, apparently all I need was a good nap.” Garak employed his affable tailor grin.
“Garak, I know you better than that. And, I know that you can’t possibly be feeling completely better.” Julian admonished. “Are you still feeling nauseous? Do you think you can manage to eat a little?”
“I would’ve feigned sleep if I knew you were going to pester me with questions doctor.” Garak smiled indulgently. “But, to answer your question, I don’t feel nauseous. I feel odd, and I told you to call me Elim, doctor.”
“And, I told you to call me Julian.” He emphasized his name.
“You most certainly didn’t,” there was mock affront in the tone.
“Okay, I asked you to cal me Julian. And you aren’t going to distract me that easily,” he took a look at the monitor showing the readings for Garak. It amazed him that the man could act so normal when he was this sick. “I’m going to give you some medicine that will help your stomach to breakdown and digest food. Then I want you to try to eat a little.”
Garak didn’t answer, so Julian went about administering the hypospray of medicine. “Now, what should I get you? It needs to be easily digestible, and you will need to eat slowly.”
“You’re being unbearable motherly, doctor.” Garak groused.
“Yes, I am. And, you aren’t going to stop me, so you might as well make the best of it.” Julian smirked recognizing the tactic. “I will leave you alone after you eat something.”
“Fine, you can get me some sem’hal stew,” he decided that he would rather enjoy having Julian wait on him. Of course, he would make sure that Julian didn’t know.
“Would you like yamok sauce with that?” Julian smiled. He had learned a few things about Cardassian culture during his years on the station, although Garak would claim otherwise.
“No, I don’t think I would.” Garak threw Julian off.
“I thought sem’hal stew was always eaten with yamok sauce.” Julian asked.
“Doctor, you should know Cardassians better than that. When do we ever remain that stagnantly boring?” His eyes glittered with mischievous delight.
“I’m not going to fall for that trap. One bowl of sem’hal stew and one of I’danian spice pudding. I hope you don’t mind if I join you?” Julian brought the food over to a small table next to Elim’s bed.
“Not at all doctor. It would be a pleasure.” Garak’s smile was genuine. “Although I must admit that I haven’t read any new literature, so I don’t know what we will discuss.”
“Well, I can tell you about my work.” Julian supplied after swallowing a bit of spiced pudding.
“That might prove interesting.” Garak replied cautiously after taking his first bit.
“I promise not to talk about any of your medical conditions, past or present.” Julian knew why Elim was hesitant. “Actually, I’m more concerned with Kamar’s condition. He is going to get very sick soon, and I don’t have enough knowledge of Cardassians to help him right now. Elim, you need to eat slower, or you’ll have another episode like earlier tonight.”
Garak stopped moving the spoonful of food and let it hover halfway between the bowl and his mouth. “I never thought I would see the day when Julian Bashir would tell me to slow down while eating,” he put the spoon back into the bowl. “This is an unusual occasion.”
“Well…”
“Doctor, I am not complaining, simply commenting on your growth.” Garak smiled his infuriating grin. “Now, why don’t you just read through the Cardassian Medical Database? I’m certain all you need to know is in there.” He took another bit of the stew.
“I’ll have to wait until the morning to do that. I don’t have a copy yet.” Julian replied in exasperation.
“Doctor,” Garak’s grin was that of the fond master, “you can get a copy right now. The clinics are open and manned at all times. This is a disaster area after all. I don’t have to tell you that the emergencies don’t end with the sunset.”
“Yes, I didn’t think. I guess the normalcy of the station has dulled my thinking.” Julian paused in his excitement. “Elim, I’m really sorry.”
“Whatever for?” His face was a mask of joviality. “It’s not as if you had let someone die. You simply are unaccustomed to life here on Cardassia. And, who could blame you. You haven’t been here for a full rotational period yet.”
“How long is a Cardassian rotational period anyway?” Julian was momentarily sidetracked.
“About twenty-six Federation standard hours.” Garak was able misdirect Bashir’s attention and wasn’t going to waste the effort. “You should be able to get a copy of the database right now. I recommend that you call the center in the Munda’ar Sector, that way you can ask about Iliana. She would have gone to that clinic.”
“Yes, that’s a good idea.” Julian began to eat the rest of his pudding very quickly. “I’ll finish this and then make the call,” he managed between mouthfuls.
“And, you told me to slow down. Really you should take your own advice.” Garak took another bit of his stew.
“My system is capable of handling the sudden large amount of food; I haven’t been starving myself.” Julian relied. “And, I want say anything more on the topic as long as you start taking care of yourself. And, don’t keep eating if you feel full. That could cause you some serious discomfort later.” He finished the rest of his pudding and replaced the empty bowl in the replicator where it dematerialized. “I’ll be up front if you need anything.”
“I’m sure I’ll be fine.” Garak continued to eat his stew in silence for a few moments before he laid it aside. He knew that tomorrow was going to be a tiring day, so he made himself comfortable on the bed and went back to sleep.
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Constructive criticism welcome. Remember, this is a first draft so be kind.
I acknowledge that Elim Garak, Julian Bashir, Cardassia, etc. are the property of either Paramount or CBS, not entirely sure which due to the changes in 2006. The story is however mine, and done solely for entertainment purposes.
COMING SOON:
CHAPTER 5
5 - Starting Anew - 5
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