Garak held his deceased lover for a long time, cradling the man so gently, as though he could still break. He'd failed him. He knew that as he rocked back and forth, back and forth, trying to put him back together, but he was no doctor. He was just a tailor, plain and simple.
He'd deluded himself into thinking he could save the man. He knew this now. He pulled the man's body closer, sobbing into his hair. Had he just arrived a few minutes sooner-
He looked so peaceful, like he'd lost an eyeball and was now sleeping. Garak kissed his forehead tenderly and very, very carefully laid the man's body back down on the table.
"I love you, Julian," he whispered as he covered the man's half-naked figure with his coat. "I'm so sorry."
Sisko and Kira had Dukat contained, he'd given up almost too willingly.
Garak made his way to the holding cell where they'd stashed Dukat. One look was all it took for Sisko to evacuate the Starfleet personnel from the room, and Garak and Dukat were alone.
"Come for your revenge, hmm, Garak?" Dukat laughed. Garak didn't reply. He just stared at the man who stood before him.
Eventually, Garak knew, Dukat would grow uncomfortable. He didn't like to be stared at. Sure enough, the gul began to pace. "Aren't you going to say something?" he demanded.
Finally, after carefully calculating a response, Garak said, "I just want you to know, if it takes the rest of my life, if I have to follow you for the rest of your days, I will make you feel the exact way I felt ten minutes ago. When I almost arrived in time."
"I'd like to see you try."