This story is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either products of the author's 
imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, 
is entirely coincidental.   
 
STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE is a Registered Trademark ® of Paramount Pictures. 
Copyright (c) 1996 by Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved. No infringement was meant. 
 
"Facades" copyright (c) 1996 by BGM (Sophie Masse)             
 
Note 1)  This follows immediately after the atrocity that was Broken Link. 
 
~~~ 
 
Screaming cries of indignation.  Gasps of wrathful protest.  Cries of endless sorrow.   
 
Those were the sounds warring inside Garak's mind as he was politely led to his cell.   
 
A cell.   
 
He'd seen so many in his lifetime.  So many instances where he'd been in the guard's position.  Only he 
hadn't thoughtfully pointed his prisoners to their prison.  He'd shoved them.  Coupled with insults and 
snide remarks.  In cells much darker; much smaller than this.       
 
Nonetheless, he missed those days.  And he would never see them again.  //I am reduced to a nothing; a 
tailor on an isolated station, mourning my failure,// he thought in resignation.   
 
And what little hope he might have had to see his radiant Cardassia Prime anew had vanished with the 
Founder's harsh words:  //They're dead.  You're dead.  Cardassia is dead.//  Not even his pitiful attempts at 
revenge had succeeded.  He'd been too blinded by his own hate, too appalled at his own negligence.  At 
Tain's.  But that didn't matter now did it?  Tain was dead.        
 
Stripped of company, left with only his solitude and the burden of grief, Garak ducked his head and 
remembered old times.   
 
Quiet footfalls in the wide airy prison block thus went unheard.  Only when the intruder's gait halted 
before his cell did he lift his head, startling his visitor with the moisture gathered at the corner of his eyes.  
 
"Garak ...?"  Hesitant, unsure.  Garak let out a wry chuckle as he quickly wiped away the evidence of his 
anguish.  Emotions were killed, true feelings taken away as the Cardassian's features smoothed into cheer.   
 
"Ah Doctor."  His eyes threatened to water again.  The urge quickly swept away by the tailor's 
stubbornness, Garak forced a broader smile.  "Come to visit the insidious saboteur have you?"  Despite his 
valiant attempts, his voice fell flat.  Betrayed by his own impotence, Garak averted his eyes and dreaded 
the young man's response in silence. 
 
Julian's eyes, slightly distorted by the energy waves yet no less intense as they bore into Garak's, darkened.  
"I heard what you did," he said quietly, dispassionately watching his friend.  Friend?   
 
"I'm surprised you took a care to visit me then."  Suddenly clipped with anger, irritation and annoyance.  
Julian was surprised as he watched the tailor's eyes lock onto him.  Two delicately precise eyes staring at 
him, flashing with inexplicable anger.  "In fact, I'm surprised you're even acknowledging my presence." 
 
Julian's features turned desperate.  He hated the sudden anger in the Cardassian's voice; prepared to do 
anything not to hear it.  "What did you expect me to do Garak?"  Pleading, desolate.  "Leave you to rot in 
here for six months?   
 
Garak's face contorted into pure malevolence as he climbed to his feet.  A caged panther, being taunted by 
his feeder.  "I see.  And ignoring me whenever we passed each other is different?  You've left me Doctor.  
Left me to rot on this station.  A bigger cell, a bigger prison.  I have no friends.  Superficial 
acquaintances, yes. Valuable informative sources, yes.  Strategically placed friends in high places, yes.  
Yes to all but a -real- friend." 
 
Julian's eyebrows slanted in sorrow.  His chest heaved with difficulty, the simple act of swallowing an 
unexpected labour.  "I'm your friend Garak."  It was a weak argument, layered with all the anxiety he 
could muster.  "Please believe that.  If I haven't been exactly congenial lately, it's because ..."  Why 
indeed.   
 
//Think you idiot.  Why haven't you given him the time of day when he paused to smile at you?  Why have 
you kept on walking when you passed his shop?  Why find yourself imaginary work during lunch hours?//      
 
Garak was watching him intently, his eyes narrowed dangerously.  "I see," he whispered at the young 
man's lull.  "No reason at all then.  I'm sorry to hear that Doctor.  Might I suggest that, next time, a note 
would be appreciated before you terminate a friendship?  It's always more courteous to the one you're 
breaking it with."   
 
"Garak!"  Julian was shaken now, and on an impulse he abolished the force field separating them.  Still he 
kept his distance, looking at the now clear image of Garak's face.   
 
After a moment of silent stalemate, he finally stepped through.  "I'm sorry Garak," he said quietly.  The 
Cardassian watched him warily, his eyes never breaking the visual hold on his once ago friend.  "I'm not 
sure what it is you want me to say.  I know a simple apology isn't enough.  But help me out Garak, tell me 
what you want me to say."  His eyes widened fractionally.  "Is that why you sabotaged the Defiant Garak?  
Is that why you wanted to destroy the planet with me still on it?" 
 
The tailor cursed and spat viciously.  Julian took a step back, startled.  Never had he seen Garak so angry; 
so furious before.  "You think I would waste my hide on you?" Garak bawled suddenly.  "I assure you 
Doctor, even during our best moments of company I would have never thought to risk my skin over you.  
Call me shallow for it; call me egotistical.  It's the way I was born.  Cardassian, Doctor," Garak hissed, 
taking a few quick steps toward the young man.  He paused at his side, whispering harshly in his ear.  
"Born and raised a Cardassian.  It's what I am.  And it's why I did what I did." 
 
Julian had an intense desire to run away.  He hadn't meant to submit himself to this.  Stepping away to 
face the tailor, he made himself angry.  With himself for ignoring the tailor.  With Garak for even daring 
to blow out on him.  But he deserved it, didn't he?  "Fine.  You intended to die in the name of Cardassia.  
That didn't give you the right to choose demise for us though.  To decide in our place." 
 
"Those are the wages of war," Garak said, his voice thickened with experience and unpleasant memories.  
"You lose those you love, and die fighting for a worthy cause.  Fate is not always generous with those she 
picks for death."             
 
Julian frowned as he recalled Garak's initial words.  "Love, Garak?" 
 
The Cardassian blinked a few times before averting his eyes.  He turned his back and tucked his chin.  
"Care for, love.  It's the same thing.  I'm surprised you find my statement so surprising." 
 
"Not surprising."  Julian breathed.  There was a sudden rush of emotion weighing across his shoulders 
and he quickly went to sit on the thin wooden bench.  The same on which Garak would sleep and sit and 
stare at a vapid forcefield for six months.  "I wish you'd come to me Garak.  Talked it over with me before 
you acted on your hate." 
 
The tailor focused his darkened azure eyes on the young man, a world of outrage reflecting within their 
depths.  "Listen to yourself!  Put yourself in my place Doctor.  Would you have seriously approached a 
man who apparently made every effort to ignore you?  Would you have went to my door and asked to 
confide with me were our roles reversed?"  It was his turn to breathe harshly, the air not quite able to fill 
his lungs.  "Do you know how many nights I've laid in bed, wondering?  Wondering what I did wrong to 
push you away; wondering if I had disgusted you in some way?" 
 
"Garak ..." 
 
"Yes Doctor," Garak bawled.  "Disgusted, because that's the way you looked at me every time I smiled at 
you in greeting.  Do Humans have no values?  Do you simply throw away friendships on a whim?  Wake 
up one morning and decide the relationship is too boring for your taste?" 
 
Julian jumped on his feet, tears veiling his wide expressive eyes.  "That wasn't it!  I didn't abandon you 
because you disgusted me!  I just couldn't stand being with you anymore!" he sobbed.  "I was afraid, I was 
a coward.  Most of all I was childish."  He turned away, hugging his arms as Garak stared at him with 
some measure of confusion. 
 
The young man's laugh was unexpected.  "You know, I haven't changed a bit.  Let me tell you a story 
Garak," he breathed, sinking into his seat.  "I was sixteen.  Brasher than I was when you met me, believe 
it or not."  He took a cleansing breath.  "I met a man.  And I fell in love with the man.  Love Garak; -real- 
love.  But he never knew.  Do you know why he never knew?  Because I never told him.  So we grew into 
being friends.  Good friends.  It was a sort of friendship that couldn't easily be torn.   
 
"A friend of mine later told me he was interested in me."  He shook his head in reminiscent wonder.  
"You couldn't imagine the joy I felt at that moment.  The thought that everything would finally go my 
way.  In my moment of childish innocence, I told my parents."  A shuddering intake of air.  "My mother 
was happy for me.  My father was ... not."  Julian ducked his head, feeling the bruises rise from their 
grave, hearing the lash singing out on his skin.  "Suffice it to say, the 'talk' we had was encouraging 
enough to make me break off my friendship with Del.  I was determined to tell him, but I couldn't; not 
while he kept caring for me unconditionally, loving me.   
 
"So.  Not able to break the news myself, I became belligerent with him.  I gave him every reason for him 
to break it off first.  And he did ... eventually.  I never looked at another man after that." 
 
Julian looked up, his eyes flickering with shimmering tears.  "And then ... you came along, and I didn't 
think.  I became your friend.  I came to like you, and eventually ..." He shook his head and hugged his 
arms tighter.  "But I kept hearing my father, seeing his cruel face spitting out the insults as though I was 
sixteen again.  And I panicked." 
 
Garak bit back a sob.  Slowly he went to sit beside Julian, not quite certain where to put his hands.  When 
Julian leaned into him, it seemed like the most natural thing in the world to embrace the young man.  "I'm 
sorry," he said quietly.  "I didn't know."  
 
"No you didn't, and it isn't your fault.  I was stupid.  A child.  I can't believe I was influenced by a ghost ... 
a spirit of someone I thought I'd buried a long time ago." 
 
Garak's hands caressed the dark curls, amazed at their softness against his rough skin.  "You were not 
stupid.  And now that I know, it makes sense to me.  Though if you'd told me before, I could have helped 
you through this.  Helped you to cope." 
 
Julian chuckled as he pulled back.  "We all have our share of secrets Garak." 
 
The Cardassian gazed deeply into the Human's eyes, astonished at the intensity, the sheer pulling force of 
the young man's stare.  "I suppose we do," he murmured.   
 
"But I'm ready to bury my secrets," Julian went on, determination blazing across his eyes.  "I'm ready to 
put my past behind me.  Because I realised something today."  His hand reached up tentatively, touching 
Garak's smooth leathery cheek.   
 
"What is that Julian?" the tailor asked huskily.       
 
"I realised that I don't want you and I to end up like Del and me, fifteen years ago.  I blew my chance with 
him, and to this day I find myself regretting it.  But I don't want to spend another eternity regretting my 
chance with you Garak." 
 
The Cardassian's heart thudded hard against his chest, his skin a whirlwind of sensation with Julian's 
hand caressing his cheek.  "I'm glad to hear that Julian ..."       
 
Julian smiled and leaned forward, his soul freed from the once dangerous influence of his father by 
Garak's sudden understanding.  "Teach me to love again Garak.  And I promise you ... six months in this 
cell will pass by in the blink of an eye."  His eyes flashed mischief for a second.  "Provided Odo allows 
'private' visits on a frequent basis ..."  
 
Garak's eyes twinkled.  "I'll be certain to speak to him about it," he whispered, just before his mouth 
melded with Julian's; a perfect kiss engendered by a pair of lips tailored for one another.  
 
THE END