Fear

By:  Elizabeth Dunn	

Disclaimer:  Paramount owns all the characters and locations in this.  I just can claim the idea.  This story is rated NC-17 for some implied non-cons and explicit m/m sex.  If this bothers you, go.

Pairing:  G/B	

Spoilers:  Nope, not this time

Feedback:  Starry_Night_98@hotmail.com

Summary:  Can horror lead to love?

1/

********

Julian Bashir closed his eyes; trying to shut out all of the sensations he was feeling, trying to block the words as much as the pain.  He had been on a scouting mission when Jem'Hadar forces captured him.  At first Julian hadn't been overly concerned.  He knew that a Dominion interrogation usually involved questioning, then being thrown into a prison camp until the prisoner was either rescued or exchanged, as sometimes happened. 

This was different though, different than all of the reports had led him to believe.  Apparently, the Cardassian love of torture and rape had been passed to the Vorta.  From the moment the Jem'Hadar First had turned him over to his Vorta overseer, Julian had been beaten, abused, tortured, experienced it all.  He had very quickly lost track of time, lost as he was in waves of pain.  Also, the Vorta, whose name Julian did not know; introductions hadn't been made, had put the speaking talent of his race to good use, finding all of the doctor's fears and insecurities and turning them against him.  His lack of self-confidence and self-esteem, his fear that he wasn't respected as a person, he found all of them.

"So, Doctor, are you still being stubborn?  I assure you, your stay with us will be much more pleasant if you only cooperate.  Tell us what we need to know!"

Julian looked up at the Vorta, contempt in his eyes.  "I've told you, I know nothing.  My security clearance is low, I have no information worth anything, and, even if I did, I would never tell you.  I'd die first!"

"Doctor that can certainly be arranged.  I give you one more chance.  Give me the information I want, or you'll see sides of me you never wanted to."

"Never!"  Julian's defiance was clear to read, in his voice, face, and even his posture, having managed to stand straight for the first time since the interrogation started.  The Vorta took all this in, his expression changing.

'My, aren't we the defiant type?" he crooned to Julian.  "Such spirit.  Such...passion."  He reached out and took Julian's chin in his hand.  The doctor flinched away from the touch.  "Well, I can see taming you is going to be quite a challenge.  I'm sure I'll find it enjoyable.  First!"

"Yes."  The Jem'Hadar first walked over.

"Take this young man to my quarters and lock him in.  My plans have changed somewhat."  As the Vorta turned to leave the room, he turned to address Julian one more time.  "You have spirit.  I told you I enjoy a challenge.  And believe me, I will enjoy it.  Pity," he gave Julian a look filled with mocking sadness.  "I'm afraid you won't like it one bit."  With that, he exited the room.

"Come," the First growled.  He grabbed Julian's arm and dragged him out of the room to a future uncertain.

********

The Vorta went to his command center.  "Place a call to Deep Space Nine," he ordered.

"Channel open."

"Captain Sisko here.  What may I do for you?"

"Greetings, Captain. I have called to address you on a matter of some urgency."

"How may I assist you?" asked Sisko in his most diplomatic voice possible.  'Damn I hate having to be nice to these people,' he thought to himself.  'But as long as Starfleet chooses to try to play diplomat with the Dominion, I have no choice.'

"Actually, I thought I could help you.  You see, I heard that you misplaced a certain Chief Medical Officer recently."

Sisko blanched.  "What do you know about Dr. Bashir?  Do you know where he is?  Are you offering to help return him?"

"No, I'm not offering to help you.  I know where he is.  He's mine.  I merely thought it would be polite to inform you that your Dr. Bashir won't be coming back anytime soon.  And I warn you; any foolish attempt to recover him will be met with severe resistance.  Have a good day, Captain."  With that, he cut the connection.

"Damn!!  Sisko to senior staff.  Report to my office immediately.  We have a situation."

*********

Julian paced the room, wondering what was going to happen to him next.  At the sound of the door opening, he whirled to face his captor. 

"Ah, my pet.  Are you settled?  Comfortable?  Enjoy it, because the rest of your stay with me won't be nearly so pleasant."

"What are you going to do to me?"

"You know," said the Vorta, ignoring Julian's question, "you are very attractive, for a human.  I appreciate it.  I'm sure you're cursing your beauty now, aren't you Doctor?  I might have just let you go if you hadn't appealed to me so much."

Julian paled as the Vorta's words sank in.  "A toy," he whispered.

"That's right, a toy.  Very perceptive."

"What are you going to do to me," he asked again.

"Do?  Why," and the Vorta leaned close to him.  "I'm going to make you mine."  With that he grabbed Julian and stripped them both.  As he turned Julian over, the doctor cried out-not aloud, but deep down, in his soul, as a part of him died.

*********

Sisko looked at his crew assembled around his office.  "We have a problem," he announced.

Dax looked at him.  "A problem, Benjamin?  What do you mean?"

O'Brien, over in the corner, asked, trying not to sound too eager or hopeful, "Did you find something about Julian?"

"That I did, Chief.  Dr. Bashir has apparently been captured by the Dominion."  A shocked silence fell over the room.  "He has been interrogated, of course, but it seems something else has happened."

"The Cardassians," Kira snarled.  "What did they do to him?"

"Not the Cardassians this time Major.  A Vorta, who didn't see fit to give me a name, has apparently taking a liking to Julian.  He has informed me that he is keeping the doctor and that any attempt to rescue him will be a mistake for us."  Immediately the room erupted in shouts.

"Bloody hell!" 

"You don't mean that-"

"Benjamin, we just can't leave him-"

"Quiet!"  Everyone shut up.  "We are not-I repeat are not- going to abandon the doctor.  I plan on getting him back.  But, it behooves us to exercise some caution.  Now, I need to know exactly where he is.  Dax, I want you to trace that transmission."

"Yes sir."

"Chief, make sure the Defiant is ready to go.  I want you to pay special attention to the engines, weapons, shields, and cloak."

"Yes sir."

"The rest of you, I want you all to be onboard in an hour.  Dismissed!"

*********

Elsewhere on the station, Elim Garak was tossing in a restless sleep.  He had been thinking of Julian, how much he loved him.  And how he'd never know how Garak felt.  Garak valued their friendship too much to risk spoiling it.  Suddenly he sat straight up in bed, unsure of what had woken him.  "Lights on!" he snapped.

Nothing.  The room was empty except for him.  But still, Garak was sure that he had heard something.  A scream...  He tried to remember what he had been dreaming of before he had been jolted awake.  Julian, he remembered that.  But wasn't there something wrong?  Garak groped for the detail that was escaping him.  Then the bolt of fear ripped through him again.  Julian had been screaming!  Someone, taking him against his will.

"Julian," Garak murmured.  Then louder, in realization, "Julian!  They're hurting you!  I can't let it happen!"  Throwing a robe over his pajamas, he ran out of his quarters, heading for Sisko's office.  If it had been anyone else, Garak might've felt silly sounding an alarm based on a dream.  But Julian wasn't anyone.  He was the man Garak loved, and that was all that mattered to the tailor.

********

Julian lay curled on the floor, battered and bleeding.  After the Vorta had used him, he had left, laughing at Julian's weakness.  "Mark my words," he had said as he left.  "You'll become accustomed to it.  Soon I'll have you begging for it."

"Not likely!" Julian had shouted at the door, but his words went unheeded.  And now he sat, alone and hurt, doing something he hadn't done in a long time: praying.  "Please," he begged, to his God, the Prophets, whoever was inclined to hear him.  "Please get me out of here, free me from this."  The blackness that had been dancing at the edge of his vision since the Vorta had finished with him overtook him.  He sank into merciful darkness.

*********

To be continued...