Just saw an AU where Garak got taken to the internment camp first, like Odo left he and Tain behind and he was in there for a year before they brought Julian in and replaced him at the station.
Several things have occurred to me because of this.
Tain might not think there’s anyone out there to call out to, but Garak would know exactly how to get a message to Julian. And he knows that Julian would come. Not because he cares, no, but because the doctor still considers himself something of a ‘hero’ who has to go riding off to save everyone he possibly can.
So Garak would get Tain to do most of the work and then crawl in himself, hoping to send a message to Julian, using references to books they’d read together.
When Sisko brings the message to the senior staff, Julian shoots to his feet at the ever-changing numbers and letters and is like ‘shit that’s books that I made Garak read!’
Everyone thought Garak was dead and had already dealt with a mourning Julian, and this threatens to get his hopes up and he’s working on it round the clock so everybody just pops their head into his Quarters like…
Of COURSE! He’s telling me he’s in a prison camp! Of course, but what about this next part. Something about yearning? Oh, a request to be rescued, probably. Of COURSE I’m going to rescue you, you absolute git.
…alright then, we’ll just check back later….
And after they’ve completely deciphered the message, Julian is vibrating to get to where Garak is. Sisko has to send both Worf and Jadzia with him to make SURE he doesn’t just run straight into danger after his maybe-not-dead friend and so that his expectations will be curbed and if he finds out it ISN’T Garak, he isn’t too badly disappointed.
They’re attacked and taken to the camp and Julian gets to stand there grinning at Garak as the man berates him for being taken captive and Jadzia and Worf have to do the actual talking because Julian is just ‘heart eyes’ and ‘You’re alive’ and he’s trying to contain the hug he wants to give because he knows Garak hates public displays of affection-
And so when Garak takes him aside to talk alone in an empty barracks, Julian just gloms onto him like an octopus and Garak stands there, completely dumbfounded.
Like, this gives me fic possibility ideas like you wouldn’t believe, but I might not write all of them. So if this fires up your imagination, PLEASE write the thing!