A/N: Hey guys! This is yet another Grank (GracexHank). This story came about for two reasons. 1, I saw the episode when Hank's Nana came to Colorado Springs and 2, my sister and her plot bunnies.
I hope you guys enjoy this story.
Happy Reading!
And as always, REVIEWS = LOVE!
Hank watched as the train carrying his grandmother rolled away. He took a deep breath and escorted two newcomers down to the Gold Nugget.
It had been three days since Nana's departure and Hank was feeling like his old self again. He stood behind the bar of his precious saloon and inhaled the smells of old whiskey, cigar smoke and the salty aroma coming from his girls rooms. Hank felt good as he threw back a shot. He stepped out on to the wooden porch and leaned against the railing. It was early yet but people were already filling the street.
"Morning Hank." Myra Bing said with a wave.
"Myra, I need to talk to you." he said stepping off the porch.
"What about? I can't be late."
"Forget Preston. This is important." he said.
"Alright." Myra said. "What's this about?"
"Thank you." Hank said softly.
"For what?" she asked with a small smile.
"Helping me with Nana."
"It was no problem Hank. She was sweet."
"Right well, thank you all the same." he said before turning and going back to the porch. He watched her as she ran off toward the bank. He would never say it out loud be he was happy for her. He had always know that the connection he had with her would end the way it did.
"Morning Hank." Grace said as she sped past him.
"Wait." he said stepping down on to the street.
"No time." she said.
"Wait a minute." Hank said catching up to her. "I gotta tell you something."
"Oh alright." Grace said turning to face him. "What is it?"
"Thank you." he said. Her eyes grew wide. She didn't know what she was expecting but it wasn't that.
"Oh. For what?"
"Everything you did for me. With Nana. You didn't..."
"You're welcome." Grace said touching his arm, interrupting him. He nodded curtly before turning to walk away. On his way back to the saloon Hank spotted Horace Bing moving as fast as his spindly legs could carry him.
"Can we get this show on the road?" Jake asked as Hank entered the saloon again.
"Be patient. It ain't like you pay for this one." Hank said grabbing another shot glass. He poured them both a drink, they threw them back before heading down to Grace's Cafe.
XX
"Dr. Mike. I gotta telegram here for ya." Horace said out of breath as he burst in to the medical clinic.
"This says it's for Hank." Michaela said taking the paper from Horace.
"It's from that doctor friend of yours out in St. Louis." he said with a weak smile before bolting from the room. She looked down at the paper and sighed. She set a few a things in order before she headed off toward Grace's Cafe. She walked to where he was sitting with Loren Bray and Jake Slicker.
"What do you want Michaela?" Hank asked as he puffed on his cigar.
"I need to speak with you. It's important." she said.
"What is it?" he asked. She handed him the paper she had gotten from Horace. She patted him on the shoulder and went back to the clinic. Hank looked down at the paper in his hand. His eyes grew wild. He balled it in his hand, rose from the table and ran back toward the Gold Nugget.
"What's wrong with him?" Jake asked, his eyes on Hank's empty chair. Loren shrugged.
"Where did Hank go?" Grace asked her hands on her hips.
"Toward the saloon." Loren answered
"He didn't pay." she said.
"I think he got some bad news." Jake said.
"Are you gonna pay for this?" she asked him.
"Well no."
"Loren, what about you? You gonna pay for this?"
"No." Loren said shaking his head. Grace rolled her eyes.
"Some friends you are." she muttered as she walked back toward the kitchen. "Colleen, thank you so much for helping out when you come home. I know how much you love working at the clinic." Grace said as she joined Colleen Cooper at the counter.
"It's no problem, Grace. I like this too." she said with said with a gentle smile.
"I'm glad. Now I need you to do me a favor."
"What's that?"
"I need to go collect some money. I need to you to watch the Cafe while I'm gone." Grace said.
"Of course. Go ahead." Colleen said with a smile.
"Thank you baby." Grace said kissing her cheek. She untied her apron and walked in the same direction as Hank. When she arrived at the Gold Nugget she peeked inside the empty saloon, all she heard was banging upstairs. "Hank?" she called. She was answered with more banging. "Oh Lord." she said as she pushed the swinging doors open. Grace made a beeline for the stairs at the back of the saloon. "Hank?" she called again. More banging. She took a deep breath and climbed the stairs. There was only one door up there so she knocked on it. "Hank?" she heard him grunting through the door. "Hank? I'm coming in." she said pushing the door open to find him struggling with his chest of drawers. Just as she stepped into the room the drawer, the clothes within it and Hank came crashing to the floor. "Are you alright?" she asked rushing to his side.
"What are you doin' here?" he asked rising to his feet.
"Well I came to collect my money." she said. "But now I'm checkin' on ya."
"Is that all you wanted?" Hank asked walking to his closet.
"Yes." Grace said watching him shove some clothes in a suitcase. He reached into his pocket and then threw some money at her feet. "Now get outta here."
"Hank Lawson do you think I'm one of these common girls you order around here?" she asked him.
"Get outta here!" he shouted.
"What is wrong with you?"
"You wanna know what's wrong with me?"
"Yes." she asked. Hank took several large strides across the room until he was standing in front her her.
"Here." he said handing her the telegram. She uncrumpled it and read the words.
Hank Lawson. Stop. Ilse Lawsenstrom. Stop. Condition worsened. Stop. All family needed. Stop. In St. Louis, Missouri.
"Oh Hank. I'm so sorry." Grace said looking up into his eyes. "Who's going with you?"
"Nobody." he said turning away from her.
"Well somebody has to go." she said quietly rereading the paper.
"I ain't got time to wait." Hank said as he carried his things down the stairs.
"You just get two tickets for the train. I'll handle the rest." Grace said as he watched her march determinedly from the saloon.
