Garak had assumed that the Numancia would dock on Starbase 217, since it was Saavik's headquarters. However, the ship traveled to Deep Space 9 instead. Apparently, a Starfleet Intelligence officer was waiting for them there. Garak knew Danal would have to answer to them too, even if the Vulcan admiral had seemed contented enough with his play. Saavik had assured him he was free to go back to Cardassia, though.
He had thought first of accompaining his former colleage to wherever she went, but he really did not feel comfortable around her; too many old memories stirred inside of him when she was close, and those memories disturbed him. So he thought of taking off in his ship and fly back to Cardassia. He could have left at any moment, and still, he stayed with the Federation officers and arrived with them at the station, his ship resting on Numancia's docking bays. The idea of returning to Deep Space 9 appealed him.
He stepped into the station surrounded by several Starfleet officers, and the feeling pleased him somewhat. And then, he wandered the familiar corridors and he felt as if a trance took control of him. He went to the promenade and many people recognized him; every one adressed him and several greeted him fondly. He smiled sincerely at them; he was feeling well. He was about to enter Quark's when Bashir's voice called for him.
"Garak! I was told you were here and couldn't believe it!" he exclaimed.
"Doctor," he called him back. Julian's boylish smile was already plastered on his face. No matter the years that passed by and no matter what experiences he lived, the cheerful doctor always seemed to retain his naivety and joyful nature.
Bashir had been his only company, his only friend for a long time, before any other dared to trust him. During his last years in Cardassia, he had truly missed him and his conversations.
"So going to Quark's?" the man asked knowingly.
"Where else?" he replied, and they went in together.
Some things had changed, but the place was still what he remembered. Garak found the noisy place to be appeasing. The Ferengi smirked at him when they aproached and he addressed him as if their last meeting had been yesterday. Suddenly, Garak found himself wishing it had been yesterday.
"I have been thinking on opening a tailoring bussiness again," he shared sincerely.
"There is a place in the promenade you can rent," Julian informed him hopefully. "If that's what you want," he added, "I guess you were actually thinking of Cardassia."
"Yes, I was," Garak answered.
And he truly had been thinking of Cardassia, until he had put an step back in Deep Space 9 again. Then, finally, he saw his life with a clarity he had never seen before. For many years, he had lived in this place of exile wanting to return to his homeland, dreaming with that day he would be back. And he had returned. He had gone back to the house where he had grown up, but it was empty; even after rebuilding it, he was not entirely confortable living in it. His country... it left always a bittersweet taste in his mouth; he could not recognize it anymore and the idea of building it back again... he had reached the conclusion it would leave him as depleted and unsatisfied as his old home's reconstruction. Sadly, he had to accept Cardassia was not his home anymore.
He must had been absent for a while because both Bashir and Quark were looking oddly at him.
"Are you ok?" And it must have been a very long time since Quark was the one asking him.
"I have never been better," he cheerfully replied.
For years he had lived in this place of exile longing for his return, but now he had finally understood he did not really want to, because the cosmopolitan station had become his true home.
"Where in the promenade is that place you said?" he inquired.
And those were his true friends, his true family. Deep Space 9 was where he belonged to.
Julian was speaking about the place, with that naivety in his eyes that could never fade away. He had been asked many times why he had wanted to expose Koval. It was something Garak could not share. It was too personal, and too silly, he realized. Koval had played with Julian; he had used his innocence and his love for adventure and had almost broken him. Garak just wanted to make him pay. He had wanted to do so for a very long time and finally had seized his opportunity.
"I think I'll rent the place," he commented.
Garak knew he was not precisely a good guy, but life always seemed to give him another chance. Koval had payed. Maybe he now could finally settle down and become simply a tailor and enjoy Julian's open friendship without restrain. Maybe finally he could be happily at home, and forgive himself for all his past bad deeds.