By Karahkwa Ross

Codes: ST: DS9 B/ED, B/JS

Series: The Right One (2/7)

Rating: Well, not PG but not NC-17 either.

Disclaimer: All things Trek belong to Paramount. The situation is purely my own and I mean no copyright violations. No money is being made.

Summary: Sequel to “Not the Right Night.” Julian and Jake talk, only it doesn’t go as either had planned

Julian Bashir sighed as he left his office. In the last week, his life at had gotten even more boring. He’d only had one patient, no dates in the evening, no one to go to the holosuites with, and not a thing he could do about it.

He had been feeling better that morning and he knew that was all because of Kasidy Sisko. She’d come in for a check up and her joy at knowing her baby was doing well had rubbed off on him. She’d hesitated to know the baby’s sex but Julian was finally allowed to give her the good news about her daughter.

A part of her, he was sure, was disappointed. With her husband god knows where, she was probably hoping for a little boy to name Benjamin. But then again, with Jake for a big brother, a girl did make a matched set for the man.

Jake…

Julian ran his hand over his face as he walked the corridor to his quarters. His mind kicked back to another trip down this hallway. Jake Sisko had tried to help him the other night when Ezri’d dumped him and he’d come on to him.

No wonder the guy was avoiding him like the plague. Damn. He really liked Jake. Not just as a friend. But the kid was way too young for him and… Jake’s a great kisser.

Julian shook his head. He should be grateful he hadn’t been put on report and cut his losses. He couldn’t have Ezri and, ten to one, Jake wouldn’t encourage his advances anymore now than he had that night.

Jake was miserable. He’d been avoiding Julian for nearly a month now and he hate it. The doctor was a friend. So what if he’d done some stupid things when he was drunk? It didn’t mean that they couldn’t move on as if…

Jake sighed and stopped that train of thought. Oh, who was he kidding? He wasn’t avoiding Julian because he was afraid the man had meant the things he’d said that night. It was more that he was afraid that Julian didn’t mean them. He’d never meant for it to happen, but sometime during that ride in the ‘lift, Julian had made his mark on Jake.

He didn’t know what it meant but he couldn’t get the man and his kisses out of his mind. He’d woken up from several wet dreams with Julian’s name on his lips and he’d started using his memories of that night to jack off.

He was in deep and he knew it. But he had know idea if Julian…

Before Jake could finish his thought, Julian came up beside him. The table he was sitting at had a great view of the Promenade but he’d been so caught up in his thoughts he hadn’t seen Julian.

“May I sit down, Jake?”

Jake’s mind went blank on him. There was one thought running like a broken record in his head. Oh God.

“Jake?”

“Of course, Doctor. I’m sorry. I was just… somewhere else.”

Julian smiled and sat down across from him. “Thinking about your dad?”

“Actually, no.” Jake sighed. “I’ve been able to keep my mind off missing him lately.”

“That’s good. I know how much Kasidy misses him and I… well, I just hate to think that you… Well, what I’m saying is if you want to talk, I’ll be more than ready to listen.”

“Thanks, Julian. I appreciate that.”

Julian smiled and Jake’s heart skipped a beat. “I also wanted to thank you. For getting me home the other night when I was drunk. I… I’m sure I was very annoying. At least that’s what my roommates at the Academy said I was like when I drunk.”

“You don’t remember?”

“Vaguely. I know I was with you but beyond that…”

One little lie. It was one little lie, but Julian regretted it the moment it was out of his mouth. Jake’s face had fallen and the doctor felt like he’d just kicked the younger man in the gut.

“Well, you weren’t that much trouble. I mean-“

“Then why have you been avoiding me?”

“I haven’t. I’ve just been busy.”

Julian shook his head. He’d known the other night had bothered Jake and he’d only lied to ease the tension between them so they could get back to the way things once were. “Something must have happened. Or you wouldn’t be so… skittish.”

“It’s nothing. I just… When we got to your cabin… well, you didn’t have much modesty and… well, I was afraid if I said anything you’d be embarrassed.”

“Oh.” Julian was stunned. He’d been hoping… “Well, I’m not that modest normally, Jake. Don’t worry. But thanks for trying to spare my feelings.”

Jake just forced a smile and nodded. He felt awful for lying but if Julian didn’t remember then…

“You won’t avoid me anymore?”

“No. I’ll see you around."

“Well, I’ll see you later then.”

Julian rose and walked away. It was all he could do to keep himself from grabbing Jake and kissing him. He wanted to know if Jake really tasted like he remembered, pure sweetness with a hit of the tart lemon from his drink.

At the memory, Julian mentally cursed.

Jake’s eyes followed Julian’s retreating back. He couldn’t help it.. The man had a fine-looking caboose. He finally managed to pull his graze away when the older man’s words came back to him. “I know I was with you but beyond that…”

It didn’t do any good to be pining after someone you couldn’t have. And if anything Julian had just proven that he was off-limits.

“Damn.”

TBC in Not the Right Place