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Story Notes: This story was inspired by 'Alone, Together: Season One,' a multi-part series written by Matt Campbell for the Sid City Social Club. I didn't borrow anything from Matt's series, but I enjoyed watching it and offered to help him with the future of 'Alone, Together,' but he instead encouraged me to pursue creating my own works and I decided to follow his advice.

Interment Camp 371 was no longer his everyday reality, Julian knew, but he still bore the scars and the burden of being starved, beaten, and experimented on. He was an Augment and the proprietors of the camp had found him interesting enough to subject to experimental, exploratory surgery. He knew something was inside of him, but he hadn't known what it was. He just knew they had implanted it into his body.

And he was now feeling ever-pressing symptoms of nausea, fatigue, and pure anxiety when people got too close to him. Medical tests he had performed on himself were showing an unusual result, but he couldn't bring himself to believe that they were true because he was physically a man and such a result was impossible for a man. The mere idea of it was ridiculous, but the results...

–Sisko to Bashir,” a voice suddenly filled the combadge that sat on the chest of his uniform.

Julian scoffed irritably and waved the tricorder over his abdomen once more, an act he had first done when he spotted a fresh surgical scar there during his first post-camp shower. He had locked his quarters and spent several minutes scanning himself before coming to the conclusion that he had.

The results were the same and Julian felt scared; he couldn't be pregnant because he was a man and yet, the scan picked up an implanted uterus and a living being developing inside of said organ. He hadn't been aware during the procedure, but he had been told that Augments were useful for to the continuation of life in a way that normal Humans were not. Garak, Worf, and Martok had known something was wrong because he had collapsed shortly after being brought into the group cell and they had managed to help him rest as much as one could in such deplorable circumstances.

Now that he was back on Deep Space Nine, however, Julian knew he was in deep trouble with Sisko and the others because he had avoided a post-camp exam. He didn't know what to say or feel, but he knew he didn't want to see or talk to anyone right away. Swallowing hard, he removed his combadge and set it on his coffee table before silently retreating to the safety of his bedroom.

–Old friend, I'm in trouble,” Julian spoke softly as he picked his bear, Kukalaka, up from his place and held it tenderly to his chest before getting into bed. –I'm in trouble and I don't know what to do.”

Of course, the bear offered no reply and Julian quickly found himself succumbing to sleep.

*****

The door chime rang repeatedly, but Julian didn't stir. He was so tired and if he was indeed pregnant, his recovering body needed as much rest as he could get. Sleep was so inviting right now.

A door slid open and quiet footsteps filled the air, –His bloody combadge is on the table,” a voice said.

–Chief, he's in his bed asleep,” a gentler voice spoke. –And he's got a teddy bear with him.”

Julian stirred and opened his eyes, profanities escaping his lips as he saw Miles and Jadzia standing in the doorway to his bedroom, –Sisko's been trying to get a hold of you for hours,” Miles said worriedly.

–I was tired,” Julian replied groggily, a yawn escaping his lips as he spoke. –What's the matter?”

Miles frowned, –You!” he replied worriedly. –You never checked in for an exam at Sickbay!”

Julian froze and suddenly became quite scared; if he went to Sickbay, they would find out about what had happened to him. The Federation would want to study him, take the baby, or cart him off to some scientific facility to see what the Jem Hadar had done to him. Tears pricked his eyes and he couldn't stop himself from breaking into anxious sobs; he didn't want to be locked away like some exhibit.

Jadzia's expression became one of concern and Miles looked uneasy, –What are you crying about?” she asked in a concerned, gentle voice as she moved over to the bed and sat. –Julian, you're sweating...”

Deeply afraid of being found out, Julian looked at his blanket anxiously, –I know,” he replied nervously, his voice trembling. –A sweat or two and tiredness are normal...in my condition.”

Jadzia's eyes widened in shock and Miles immediately looked concerned. Their looks felt so condemning to Bashir that he forced himself out of his bed and barricaded himself in the bathroom.

Miles swore and hurried over to the door, but he found it locked, –Julian!” he exclaimed worriedly.

Unfortunately, Julian's stomach chose that moment to lurch in response to the pregnancy and Julian found himself throwing up in his toilet. Silence filled the air and a wave of dizziness suddenly passed over Julian that was so severe that he quickly found himself in a slow spiral into unconsciousness.

*****

–...That's truly fascinating, but it's really of no consequence to what I need from him...”

–...Really, Doctor Zimmerman, I don't suppose this little interview can wait?”

–...Wait, this can't be right. His DNA's been resequenced...Oh, oh dear...Excuse me...I need to speak with the Bashirs right away. Excuse me, Captain Sisko.”

Julian felt something cool press down on his forehead and he jerked awake, certain that he couldn't have heard the comment about his DNA right. Captain Sisko was standing beside the bed along with a concerned looking Nurse Jabara, –Doctor, how do you feel?” Nurse Jabara asked softly.

–What happened?” Julian asked groggily, frowning. –I locked myself in my bathroom...”

Captain Sisko nodded, –Chief O'Brien and Dax broke the door and saw you passed out, so they had you transported here,” he explained in a quiet voice. –Doctor Zimmerman was here, but he left...”

Julian nodded, –I suppose I also ought to congratulate you,” Captain Sisko spoke calmly.

–You...you mean it's real?” Julian asked weakly, sighing. –I thought the tricorder was....”

Captain Sisko nodded, –General Martok said you had been subjected to some sort of procedure while in isolation, but he didn't know what,” he replied calmly. –He just knew you weren't well from it.”

–I'm pregnant,” Julian spoke as if the word was a disgusting swear word. –About three weeks.”

Captain Sisko nodded, –I put a call into Starfleet once Nurse Jabara confirmed the news and asked if they could send someone who's familiar with interspecies and unique pregnancies to be your doctor since you will obviously need special care. You also need to start eating and resting more.”

Exhaustion and anxiety crippled Julian as he slowly sat up, but he felt considerably better, –Oh, your parents are on the station,” Captain Sisko spoke in a kind voice. –In guest quarters.”

–I...how do I explain this?” Julian asked in a trembling voice, sighing. –I can barely believe it...”

Nurse Jabara gave him a reassuring look, –Well, I'd like to get you eating and drinking before I let you out as well as give you some prenatal shots,” she spoke calmly. –Why don't you get some rest while I do all of that? It'll give you some time to process everything without being crowded by others?”

As Captain Sisko left him to his privacy, Julian laid back down and allowed his eyes to close.

*****

–Captain, I know we should have been honest from the beginning,” Amsha Bashir spoke in an anxious voice as she, Richard Bashir, O'Brien, and an anxious Zimmerman sat in the war room together after O'Brien and Zimmerman had accidentally overheard the Bashirs talking. –Now, Julian is exposed...”

Richard Bashir sighed, –This is my fault and I want to do something to help him, Captain,” he spoke in a worried voice, his expression worried. –Please, don't let Julian lose everything he's worked for. I'd like a meeting with Starfleet to discuss what I can do so that Julian can stay doing what he's doing...”

Zimmerman, however, scoffed, –A pregnant Augment,” he grumbled. –I can't do anything with that.”

O'Brien froze as his jaw dropped, Richard Bashir paled, and Amsha gasped, –How can Julian be pregnant?” Richard asked anxiously. –He's not a carrier and he doesn't have the right....”

–He was recently in a Jem'Hadar Internment Camp and the parts were surgically implanted into his body,” Captain Sisko spoke quietly. –He's three weeks pregnant and very scared about it all...”

Richard Bashir swore, –Oh, Jules,” he spoke worriedly. –Captain, I'll do anything to make sure my son's privacy, dignity, and career are protected, especially since he's now expecting a child...”

–I'll contact Starfleet JAG and explain everything,” Captain Sisko replied. –Julian is resting in the infirmary right now, but you can go sit with him. Doctor Zimmerman, Chief, I trust you can keep this...”

Zimmerman scoffed, but nodded and O'Brien sighed, –No wonder he was so bloody moody when Dax and I tried to talk to him earlier,” he replied with a sigh. –I'll talk to Keiko and see if we can't give him a few things to make this whole pregnancy easier. He's going to need friends even more now.”

Captain Sisko nodded and left the war room, his heart heavy for Bashir's situation as he silently made his way to his office. Although pregnancy was a joy, the circumstances under which it happened were not joyful and the fact that Dr. Bashir had been genetically modified illegally made things even worse.


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