Chapter Text
Julian Bashir is busy cleaning up his new infirmary when he hears a voice call out hesitantly.
“Hello?”
“I'll be right- ow- right there!”
He rubs his head and steps out into the main area to find a woman, a beautiful woman, standing at the entrance and looking rather uncomfortable. When she spots him, she straightens up.
“Are you the CMO?”
“I am. Doctor Julian Bashir, at your service.”
“I wanted to see about setting up an appointment for my daughter. I just wanna make sure you understand- it's a little confusing because she's technically- well she- she looks and acts like she's older than she is. Doctor Crusher said that it would even out with her treatments and she would be fine, but-”
“It’s alright. Would I be right to assume that you’re referring to Molly O’Brien? Doctor Crusher made sure to give me her files, she seemed to have the same concerns as you. Wanted to make sure I was properly informed. Honestly, what happened to her is fascinating. I-”
She frowns at his word choice, her next words coming out clipped.
“That's right. Molly.”
“And I…realize now that your daughter being infected by an organism that aged her prematurely would not exactly be considered fascinating to you. Strike two for Julian today. I'm sorry, uhm, that must mean that you're Keiko? Or Mrs. O'Brien?”
“I am. And Keiko is fine. And well, I guess at least someone can get something positive out of what happened.”
“I really am sorry, it can't have been easy.”
Keiko nods. It's quiet for a moment. He tilts his head and looks at her softly, and she can't help sharing.
“People keep saying that it must have been nice to skip out on too many sleepless nights, but…I wouldn't have traded those sleepless nights for anything. Not that I don't- I love my daughter no matter what-”
“But you just thought you'd have more time with her as a baby.”
“Yeah. And now, after everything, I've brought her to live on a station where everything looks like this.”
They look around at the torn up infirmary, and Julian sighs.
“I know all this probably doesn't seem particularly reassuring, but I can assure you that I'm a very competent doctor. And I was first in my class in pediatrics, if that helps.”
“I- honestly, it kind of does. At least, if we're out here, I can know Molly will get the care she needs.”
“Exactly. I'll make sure to set an appointment for her as soon as everything is cleaned up. It was nice to meet you, Keiko.”
He holds a hand out and she shakes it.
“You too, Doctor.”
“Julian is fine, as long as you're comfortable with it. With Molly’s condition I imagine we'll be seeing a lot of each other, after all.”
“Julian then. I'll let you get back to things here.”
“The sooner it's done the sooner you'll hear from me.”
She chuckles.
“That's right. Goodbye for now.”
“Goodbye.”
Keiko walks out of the infirmary, and Julian can't help the briefest thought that her partner was very lucky to have her.
—
After Molly’s first appointment, Julian asks Keiko if she'd like to get lunch at some point. She doesn't exactly know anyone on the station really, so she's both happy and relieved to accept. At first she’s a little nervous. What if they don't have anything to talk about? What if he thinks she's boring? What if he's boring? What if they don't get along and then she has to have him as her doctor, especially Molly’s doctor, and it's forever awkward or tense?
She needn't have worried. He's energetic, that's for sure. And young. At least much younger than her. He can talk. He can really talk. But she has to admit that she kind of really likes it. Miles isn't much of a talker. Not that he doesn't talk to her, but he can just be a bit quiet. Data was always more interested in what she had to tell him, and perhaps a little too aware that people did not usually want to hear him talk about more technical things. She always tried to tell him that he could talk to her about whatever he wanted, but she knows he was still reticent because of the frequency at which people often told him to dial it back. She missed him. A lot. He was one of her best friends and she loved him dearly. They still write, and she's grateful for that, but she does miss being face to face with him.
Julian has none of his hesitancy, it seems. He goes on and on about medical school and what he's currently working on, and it's very technical and very charming. And then he's asking her about herself and he's hanging on her every word. She tells him about her family, and then he asks her about her work and she can't help going into her own technical speak as she tells him all about the work she had been doing on the Enterprise. When she mentions Data his eyes light up even more than they had. He asks about him, and she happily tells him all about her friend.
By the time their lunch is over, Keiko is more than certain that this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.