Garak would have liked to respond, but instead threw back his head and violently sneezed. "What the HELL was that?" he asked promptly, bemused. Julian giggled, taking a few steps away from his friend.

"I think you may be allergic to cats Garak. It's okay, it's normal," he reassured the preoccupied tailor.

"No, I meant the sensation ... the ... the ..." he wiggled his nose before emitting another fabulous sneeze. "DAMN that feels good!" he said with a huge grin.

Julian stared. "You mean to tell me you've never sneezed in your life?"

He sniffed contemptuously. "I'm not pregnant, nor am I Bajoran Doctor. Cardassians do not sneeze." His nose tickled nose again, and he smiled. "Oh ... Oh ... here's another one ..." he let it come, sneezing again with violent force. When he looked back, tears were in his eyes but he looked blissful. "Great Gul, I've never felt anything quite so good before. Well ..." he flashed Bashir a seductive look. "Aside from that of course."

"Garak, I am amazed at this. It's almost medically impossible! But then again, cats aren't exactly Cardassian so it's possible your people have never developed the ..." Julian trailed off, and he thought of all the research papers he could write on this fascinating aspect of Cardassian body workings when another sneeze drew his attention. When Garak looked back, his look was somewhat different.

"Garak?"

"Drop the cat," he growled.

"Wh--" Julian gasped as Garak took the kitten from his hands and delicately deposited on the ground. When he turned back, he grasped the doctor's wrist and pulled him into a darkened shadow.

"I'm sorry doctor, but all these 'outbursts' have made me somewhat ... well, see for yourself."

Still cloaked by the small alcove they'd taken refuge in, Julian gasped. "Oh Elim! No, not--" His voice became muffled, then became clearer again, "--now! We can't ... in the corridor ..." his voice segued into a moan, and there was a long moment of silence, broken only by whimpers which their hosts were obviously trying to surpress.

When Julian finally emerged from the shadowed corner first, he was running his hands over himself, trying to erase the creases in his uniform. Garak followed, smoothing his hair.

"Is there anything else I should know about you Garak?" Julian asked, throwing the tailor a glance as he picked up the cat and licked his lips.

"Well. I do shed my skin at the end of the season, but I don't think that'll be a problem."

As they walked down the stretch of corridor, Julian stared darkly at him.

"I do!" Garak insisted as they rounded the corner.

Another sneeze echoed in the corridor, then a shuffle and a tiny mewl. Julian suddenly cried out indignantly. "Elim! Wait until we're inside quarters for goodness' sake!"

The End