100 Chances Fic
Theme: 3. Before Then but After That
Author: taricalmcacil
Rating: FRC
Genre: Hurt/Comfort
Words: 510
Summary: Julian has some issues after returning from 371.
Ben hated to reprimand the doctor, but since his return from Internment Camp 371, there were few members of the senior and infirmary staffs that hadn’t felt his temper. Bashir fidgeted as he stood at attention in front of his desk.
“Doctor, you need an attitude adjustment. I know you’ve been under a lot of stress, but there’s no reason for you to take it out on your friends.”
Bashir mumbled something that he couldn’t quite catch.
“What was that, Doctor?”
“I said, What friends?” He didn’t expect the look in Bashir’s eyes, a strange mix of anger and hurt.
“Doctor -
“They should have known! You should have known! I thought they were my friends!” Bashir’s voice started low and cold, he had never seen him speak with such intensity. But as he spoke, he seemed to lose some of his fire, so strong seconds before.
“They didn’t even notice I was acting unusually until it was too late.” Almost a whisper.
“Doctor.”
Bashir studiously avoided his gaze and after a moment he realized it was because the man was dangerously close to breaking into tears and was struggling to keep a straight face. He made the decision, and was on the other side of his desk and pulling the doctor into a hug before he was aware he was moving.
“Just let it out, Julian.”
Bashir did, spending the next few minutes sobbing crying into his commanding officer’s shoulder. No wonder he had been blowing up at everyone the last few days. When he finally pulled away, Ben thought he looked a bit more cheerful, a bit more relaxed. He offered Julian a handkerchief from a desk drawer, and all traces of his tears were quickly removed from his face. He leaned against his desk as the other man did so, and when he shifted, looking like he wasn’t sure whether or not to offer the handkerchief back, he shook his head.
“Just keep it.”
Julian nodded and carefully folded the cloth before storing it in his uniform jacket.
“Julian? I’m sorry.”
The doctor looked at him oddly, giving him Ben the distinct impression that Bashir hadn’t expected anyone to apologize for not seeing the difference.
“Thank you sir.”
“Anytime you need to talk…”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Ben gave a short nod as he straightened to his full height. “I hope you aren’t going to spend the evening alone.”
Bashir shook his head. “Miles and I were going to play darts.”
“Have fun, doctor.”
Bashir finally offered a small smile. “I will.”
“Good. Dismissed.”
He followed the doctor into ops, watching as he boarded the turbolift and ordered it to the promenade, sighing as he vanished from sight. It was Dax giggling that brought him around. He ignored the old man and gave Major Kira the nod to give a Lewis Zimmerman docking permission, only half paying attention to the goings on in the room. The rest of his thoughts remained on the Julian Bashir, hoping he was finally on the way to dealing with his imprisonment.
Author: taricalmcacil
Rating: FRC
Genre: Hurt/Comfort
Words: 510
Summary: Julian has some issues after returning from 371.
Ben hated to reprimand the doctor, but since his return from Internment Camp 371, there were few members of the senior and infirmary staffs that hadn’t felt his temper. Bashir fidgeted as he stood at attention in front of his desk.
“Doctor, you need an attitude adjustment. I know you’ve been under a lot of stress, but there’s no reason for you to take it out on your friends.”
Bashir mumbled something that he couldn’t quite catch.
“What was that, Doctor?”
“I said, What friends?” He didn’t expect the look in Bashir’s eyes, a strange mix of anger and hurt.
“Doctor -
“They should have known! You should have known! I thought they were my friends!” Bashir’s voice started low and cold, he had never seen him speak with such intensity. But as he spoke, he seemed to lose some of his fire, so strong seconds before.
“They didn’t even notice I was acting unusually until it was too late.” Almost a whisper.
“Doctor.”
Bashir studiously avoided his gaze and after a moment he realized it was because the man was dangerously close to breaking into tears and was struggling to keep a straight face. He made the decision, and was on the other side of his desk and pulling the doctor into a hug before he was aware he was moving.
“Just let it out, Julian.”
Bashir did, spending the next few minutes sobbing crying into his commanding officer’s shoulder. No wonder he had been blowing up at everyone the last few days. When he finally pulled away, Ben thought he looked a bit more cheerful, a bit more relaxed. He offered Julian a handkerchief from a desk drawer, and all traces of his tears were quickly removed from his face. He leaned against his desk as the other man did so, and when he shifted, looking like he wasn’t sure whether or not to offer the handkerchief back, he shook his head.
“Just keep it.”
Julian nodded and carefully folded the cloth before storing it in his uniform jacket.
“Julian? I’m sorry.”
The doctor looked at him oddly, giving him Ben the distinct impression that Bashir hadn’t expected anyone to apologize for not seeing the difference.
“Thank you sir.”
“Anytime you need to talk…”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Ben gave a short nod as he straightened to his full height. “I hope you aren’t going to spend the evening alone.”
Bashir shook his head. “Miles and I were going to play darts.”
“Have fun, doctor.”
Bashir finally offered a small smile. “I will.”
“Good. Dismissed.”
He followed the doctor into ops, watching as he boarded the turbolift and ordered it to the promenade, sighing as he vanished from sight. It was Dax giggling that brought him around. He ignored the old man and gave Major Kira the nod to give a Lewis Zimmerman docking permission, only half paying attention to the goings on in the room. The rest of his thoughts remained on the Julian Bashir, hoping he was finally on the way to dealing with his imprisonment.