Julian Bashir Meeting An Alternate Universe Version Of Himself Who Still Goes By Jules. Jules Doesn't

Julian Bashir meeting an alternate universe version of himself who still goes by Jules. Jules doesn't fake eye contact as well as Julian. When he speaks, it's mostly in short direct sentences, as few words and as to the point as possible. He can still ramble for an hour on a topic he's passionate about though.

Julian realising in slow horror that Jules is also a doctor. Jules also works for Starfleet. Jules is also stationed on DS9. Jules is friends with his own Garak, who thinks he is delightful and intelligent and interesting. Jules is still friends with a Miles O'Brien who thinks he is a little weird and off putting but will fist fight anyone who talks bad about him. They still play darts and racquetball, though Jules isn't quite as good, he and Miles still treat each other as friendly rivals.

Jules, who is still a diligent and dedicated professional, who takes pride in his work as a doctor, and whose parents were arrested and charged before he ever set foot on Adigeon Prime. Jules, who mended Kukalaka and continued to stitch him up for years to come just like Julian.

The slowly dawning horror Julian has at realising that this is who he might have been, and that Jules is, in fact, fine. He wasn't top of his class, but he's still a damn good doctor. He can't work for three days straight without sleeping, but he's no less dedicated. He's not as physically adept, but he's doing fine. He's loved. He's fulfilled. He's happy.

Julian Bashir isn't sure how any of that is making him feel about himself at all, nor does he know why he finds himself crying himself to sleep that night.