#mountainashtree

I glanced over his perfectly tailored suit, wondering ifthere was ever a time when he didn’tlook good. Well, perhaps when he was wearing that watermelon outfit… “You lookfine, dearest.”

Garak tilted his head, eyes narrowing now. “That isn’t aringing endorsement.”

“What are you so nervous about?” Being direct – blunt,actually – stood a better chance of cutting through his hundred layers ofevasiveness when it came to things like this.

As expected, he gave me an affronted look, and then sighed.“It’s nothing particularly dire. It’s just that… I’ve never gone out on a date,as such.”

“What, really?” I crossed my arms and leaned back againstthe wall, fascinated. “It certainly didn’t seem like you were inexperiencedlast night.”

That earned me an even more affronted look. “There’s adifference,” he said, fussiness now out in full force. “I’m hardlyinexperienced in bed. That is, after all, a necessary skill for an agent. Goingout on a date, however, is an entirely different matter.”

“That isn’t a necessary skill for an agent?” Eager to getunderway, I took his hand and practically dragged him out of his quarters.

He went completely silent, expression becoming unusuallydull. I didn’t press him on the matter, knowing that he wouldn’t answer meuntil he was ready.

Once we reached the Celestial Café, he perked up somewhat.“Ah, this should be nice,” he remarked, pulling out my chair and beaming at me.“It’s not as though meals together are unfamiliar territory, even if this istechnically a new experience.”

“You seriously expect me to believe you’ve never done thisbefore?” It completely baffled me to think that Garak of all people had everstruggled to find someone to date. How could anyone resist him? “Not evenonce?”

He took a moment to compose his thoughts, aimlessly rubbingthe back of my hand as he did so. “Being in the Order didn’t exactly allow for…personal attachments. At least, not publicly. I had some entanglements, shallwe say, but I’ve never been in a position where I was able to simply go out todinner with the person I cared for.”

I nodded, turning my hand to grasp his. “Yeah, I supposethat makes sense. It just really confused me to think that you’d ever hadtrouble finding a date. You’re so ridiculously attractive that I can’t take myeyes off you.”

Garak’s mind visibly screeched to a halt, and he stared atme almost blankly as he struggled to find an appropriate response. “That’s…very kind of you,” he replied at last, ducking his head.

“Sorry, did I make you uncomfortable?” I gave his hand agentle squeeze, worried. The last thing I wanted to do was upset him.

And then he smiled at me – a real, genuine smile – and Iknew everything was all right between us. “Not at all, my dear. It was simply asurprise. And, pardon my delay in returning the compliment, but you’re quiteirresistible yourself.”

I grinned back at him, delighted to be out together. “I’mglad we’re doing this. It’s about time.”

Expression still warm with affection, he inclined his headin agreement. “It is indeed.”

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“People have been talking, you know. None of it’s good.”

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Aside from a half-hearted call so the door would open, Ididn’t react to Julian’s arrival. I simply stayed curled up on my side,simultaneously wishing he would just leave me alone, and that he would stayforever. I couldn’t determine which wish was stronger.

“Hallo, Garak.” Dr. Bashir grabbed my desk chair and wheeledit over to my bedside, then plopped down in it without further ado. “How are wefeeling today?”

“Fine. You can put that infernal thing away.”

He completely ignored me, studying his tricorder as he ranscans. “Well, your neurotransmitter and endorphin levels finally seem to bestabilizing a bit. They’re not ideal, but at least closer to normal thanthey’ve been since I removed your implant.”

“How delightful,” I replied without the slightest trace ofenthusiasm. There seemed to be very little in the universe worth celebratingthese days.

Ever since the surgery, it was like I’d settled into a worldof perpetual grey. There was no brightness, no color… no hope. And no matterhow I tried, I couldn’t lift the crushing weight that sapped away my motivationto do much aside from lay in bed.

Dr. Bashir tapped his fist on his thigh, still staring at myreadings. “How are your headaches?”

“A little better, I think.”

“Is the medication helping?”

I mustered up enough energy for an awkward shrug. “Isuppose, but it makes me feel dreadful.”

“Still?” He frowned, exhaling sharply. “I’m sorry. I’m notreally sure what else I can do about that, aside from reworking the formulaagain.”

“It’s fine, Doctor. Don’t trouble yourself.”

The furrows in his brow deepened, and he sat back. “What amI to do with you, Garak?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean that you haven’t left your quarters in close to twoweeks. Your shop’s just sitting there, sad and empty. People have been talking,you know. None of it’s good.”

“I’m afraid I’m not overly concerned with what people aresaying.” I was tempted to roll over so my back was to him, but that seemed toorude even in my current, uncaring state.

“Exactly. That’s what I find so worrying.” The good doctorleaned forward, and to my surprise, gently laid his hand on my arm. “You’rejust getting more depressed hiding away in here.”

“Isn’t that simply an after effect of removing the wire?”

“That’s causing issues, of course, but there’s things we cando to help you adapt. And none of them involve you isolating yourself in herefor another two weeks.”

I sighed, knowing that he was right. Staying here, sinkingdeeper and deeper into the murky depths of my despair would only be detrimentalto me in the long run. “What sort of things?”

“Well, we’ll start small. How about dinner with me tonight?”As he asked the question, he slid his hand down to grip mine.