A/N: I know I said that chapter 25 was the last one but Roy and Joanne refused to tell me their story until I told a little more of Hank's story. So, here it is.

Hank's Haunting - 26

The beeping of the alarm clock woke Roy with a start. He didn't feel rested and wanted to throw the annoying gadget against the wall. Then he remembered the events of the previous day. Swallowing his pride, he rolled over to his left to face his wife. Joanne's back was to him as she sat on the edge of the bed sliding her feet into her slippers and yawning. He reached out to her, allowing his fingers to gently stroke her back.

"Morning, sweetheart."

Joanne grimaced at his touch. She knew she needed to apologize, but she also felt that he had been unfair to her. Still, she didn't want there to be tension between them. "Morning." She turned around, looking into his tired face and smiling at his bedhead hair. "Roy…, I…"

"No, Jo." He reached up, running his hand down her arm, needing to physically feel her body. "I was wrong. I'm sorry. You have every right to do whatever you want and… I was being selfish. I hope you have a good day at work," he said, placing his free hand behind his head as he'd seen Johnny do so many times when he was stuck in Rampart.

Joanne was shocked. Had he just apologized? She had prepared herself to accept his admonishment and to apologize herself. Yet, her ears had just told her that he felt badly for how he had reacted.

"Roy, I'm sorry for not telling you. I hate that you found out from Rebecca, but I promise, I didn't go looking for employment. I just stopped by Bloomers to get some flowers for her and I was offered a job. I couldn't believe it." She allowed a smile to cross her face. "I won't let it interfere with our family life, I promise."

"It's okay," he said, remorsefully. "I'm happy for you."

She leaned over, kissing his cheek. "I better get going. The kids would sleep all day if I didn't wake them up on my way to cook breakfast."

He watched her pull on her robe and step out of their bedroom. He hoped he had truly meant the words he'd just spoken to her. He also hoped that she had spoken with sincerity, as well. Otherwise, their happy family might not stay that way for long.

E!

Rebecca inhaled deeply as she stood in front of the elevator doors waiting for them to open. She stared nervously at her freshly bandaged hands, silently hoping that Mike had been able to bandage the gaping wounds in her husband's soul and that Hank's emotional injuries were healing as well has her own physical ones. The doors opened, bidding her to enter. Stepping inside, she pressed the button and watched her reflection appear as the shiny metal doors closed. She reached up to straighten her wind-blown hair just as the elevator jolted to a stop. This was it. This was the moment she had been praying for all night. She just hoped that when she walked into Hank's hospital room, the man she had loved for over twenty years would be ready to greet her, instead of the shell of the man with whom she had lived for the last few weeks.

E!

Mike pushed his turquoise cafeteria tray along the metal rails, reaching for a bowl of fruit and a cup of oatmeal. He finished off his order with a carton of milk and a cup of coffee then headed for the cashier.

"I'd like this to go, please." Mike didn't want to leave Hank alone for too long. They had made a lot of progress a few hours earlier and the quiet engineer didn't want to leave him alone with his self-recriminations still hovering nearby.

"Yes, sir," the young woman responded, passing him a bag to carry his disposable containers in before handing him some plastic utensils.

He paid for his meal, then quickly replaced his wallet into his back pocket, retrieved his bagged items and his coffee cup, then headed back for the elevator. As he stood waiting for the car to reach the lower level, his thoughts turned to Rebecca Stanley. He hoped she had been able to sleep soundly. He could tell she was exhausted, and if the Stanleys were going to repair their marriage, then both needed to be well rested and ready to move forward.

As the elevator doors opened, he looked down the hallway and saw Rebecca entering Hank's room with tentative steps. He smiled to himself, stepped back inside the elevator, and returned to the cafeteria. He would give them some time alone while he ate his breakfast.

E!

Rebecca lightly knocked on the door of Hank's hospital room. When she heard no response, her heart leapt into her throat nearly choking her. She pushed open the door slightly just as she heard the toilet flush.

Looking around the room, she felt her hopes crushing around her. The visitor's chair was in the upright position with the blanket neatly folded in the seat. Obviously, Mike had not stayed with Hank after all. Now, she almost dreaded seeing her husband walking out of the bathroom, pushing his IV pole along with him. He would be angry, no doubt. The only problem was that now she had no idea what to try next. The sound of the bathroom door opening startled her and she spun around to face whatever lay ahead.

Hank washed his hands, as best he could, considering one was covered with tape and IV tubing, then opened the bathroom door. He reached back, pulling his IV pole over the threshold then headed for his bed. But the sight before him made him stop abruptly.

"'Becca? I didn't hear you come in," he said with a grin, positioning his IV pole near the head of his bed and climbing back in.

She helped him cover his bare legs without saying a word, unsure of how to respond to his change in demeanor from the previous night. "H-how do you feel?"

"Hungry," he snickered. "I thought they would've brought breakfast by now." He looked up into her worried eyes and saw a hint of confusion there, too.

"Da-uh, would you like for me to get you something from the cafeteria?" She asked, still puzzled by his behavior.

"No, no... Mike offered to bring me something back, but I didn't want to put him out. He already stayed with me all night and..." he hesitated.

Rebecca felt her eyebrows draw together in confusion. Had he just said that Mike had stayed the night? "Um, Mike stayed last night?" She asked, looking back at the visitor's chair and folded blanket.

"Yes... But, you already knew that, didn't you?" He asked, holding out his hand to her.

Rebecca blinked her eyes rapidly, keeping the tears at bay. She had cried a lifetime of tears just in the last few weeks. She looked again at the perfectly folded blanket. Of course Mike would never leave the blanket in any condition other than the way he had found it. She looked back up at her husband, his hand still reaching out for her. Then swiftly closed the distance between them, reaching her own bandaged hand out, offering her acceptance of his unspoken apology.

Hank traced the tape over the bandaged hand, feeling the tickling in the back of his throat. He had never intended to hurt her, and yet, here was the evidence. Slowly, he brought the injured hand up to his face, gently kissing the gauze-covered palm, closing his eyes as he felt her sit down on the edge of his bed.

Rebecca allowed him a moment, sensing his need to physically touch her injury. Then, feeling him begin to shiver, she reached out to him. She brushed his bangs away from his forehead, placing her warm moist lips on the bare skin near his dark hair line. She felt him releasing her hand and sliding both of his hands up her arms to her face, maintaining his touch the entire length of her arms, crossing her shoulders, and caressing her face. She felt him gently pulling her face downward, desperate to feel their lips meet. And she complied with his silent request. The kiss was brief and chaste, but held the compassion of forgiveness and the promise of so much more to come.

E!

A/N: Thank you for reading this and I especially thank those who have left reviews and PM's. I appreciate your patience and understanding of my need to 'finish' this – again. Now, maybe Roy and Joanne will share their story with me.