Chapter Text
.·:*¨¨* ≈☆≈ *¨¨*:·.
Julian knew he was wonderful with children. He hadn’t graduated top of his pediatrics class for nothing, he adored little ones. Their round faces set in wonder when told something new, the way not one of them held a ill-thought in their heads. When he saw them in pain, Julian remembered exactly how it felt — sick days kept in bed with phlegm filled throats and bruises from roughhousing. Healing a poor child of even the simplest of ‘owies’ brought their bright smiles, and those were the grateful smiles he adored most.
He envied them. How they were left to live without intervention of labs with people in white coats meant for scientists who experimented, not doctors who healed. Julian had only been graced with six years of that carefree life. Nevermind he couldn’t grasp simple concepts — the differences between animals or between that and humans, how two numbers became something new, which side was left or right even if he held his hands up to create ‘L’s — Jules had only been a child. Children could be slow, but could still learn, if at their own pace. That was what hurt the most during his classes. He could have been completely fine with his disabilities without being augmented. Julian ‘Jules’ Bashir didn’t need to become an illegal mutant, hardly human now, and forced to hold back from parts of him that begged to be released.
In the end, he could at least help children in ways he never was.
The Bajoran baby squirmed on her mother’s lap, reaching out to grab at Julian’s hand rubbing a spot on her upper arm. She babbled, then giggled when he went to gently poke at her opposite cheek, turning her attention away as he continued to ease soft muscle in hand.
“Ok now, get a firm grip on her sides under the arms — yes, good.”
The mother did as so, positioning herself to fix her posture. “Ok, Mirana, let Doctor Bashir see your arm.” Her wrist lifted, taking Mirana’s chubby arm with it to present for the hypospray in Julian’s hand now.
He gave the syringe a little tap to make sure the vaccination inside was settled, then looked to Mirana. Round, black, eyes stared in horror at him and the hypospray. Tears began, the cries of a distressed baby echoing in the room before he could do anything. Quickly Julian hid the hypo behind his back (out of sight, out of mind), his free hand tucking his forefinger under Mirana’s chubby chin to give her a soothing touch and tickle. She giggled between sobs, as if unsure whether she should laugh or cry.
“Shh, shh, there, there Mira, you’re ok. Here,” Julian leaned in a bit so he was the center of her sight and attention, “Dunn, dunn, dunn!” he began to softly sing while his finger moved to her knees and tapped either one with each musical word.
He continued, tapping playfully at either shoulder, then back down to her knees, and right at her ankles with each little musical note that fell low and high. Her head followed like a little bird to its tweeting mother, until finally the finger tapped her nose, and Jullian pulled away. She laughed and clapped her hands, and Julian grinned right back — holding the empty hypospray off to the side where she could not see him put it down.
“And we’re done, love! You did so good, Mira, you deserve a treat.” he rolled his chair away to a table where he began to rummage through a draw.
“She still likes those little crackers?”
The mother had turned her baby around, legs across her lap that bounced a happy Mirana. “Yes, she’s teething more now so it helps with that.”
Julian was then back before them, unwrapping Mirana’s treat to hand off. Mirana reached for it and brought it right to her mouth to teeth on. “I see it, she’s got so many already popping out! You have enough medicine to rub on her gums?”
“Your nurse said he’d have it ready to go on our way out. She went through a whole tube in one week!”
“Astounding, Bajorans really can’t wait to sink their teeth into life.”
“Aren’t humans the same? Your’s look even sharper than our’s.” The mother stood, balancing Mirana on one hip.
Julian licked over his teeth, feeling the space where wisdom teeth once laid, the singular tooth that was still a bit out of place, and his canines that poked at his tongue. “You mean my canines, the rest are blunt.” He bared his teeth in a smile.
“Bajorans don’t have those anymore, we’ve grown no need.” she began to bounce Mirana who was still gnawing at her cracker.
“We did as well, but some of us still grow them. I could have had them filed away, but I like them.” The ability to gnaw on something hard with his canines easing a part of his brain that took joy from it.
“I’ve seen few with them, only ever the cardassians who horribly sneer and growl.” A somber tone came, a moment of silence. Julian did not butt in — for her sake. “It was honestly funny, thinking back on our history. It wasn’t as scary as I remember.”
“I'm glad you can laugh at them now.” Julian smiled. It wasn’t his place to delve into a conversation he had no right to jump in on. He hadn’t been through those dark years, only read about similar of Human history. He would listen and be a shoulder to lean on if wanted, and perhaps that could be enough for now as everything slowly healed.
“Well then, we’re off, Doctor. Thank you for your work.” The mother began to walk away.
“No problem at all, please take care and message me if anything new comes up.”
And he was alone, left to dispose of the empty hypospray.