"It was thanks to the investigative efforts of Detective David Willicker and Pro-Hero Priority that brought one of the long looked for criminals Damien Hawthorne to justice." The news caster's voice was stoic and placid. "This villain who had gone into hiding under the monicker 'Shadow Man' was found to have been operating multiple drug rings via secret tunnels that had been built underneath the city next to the sewers. Police are currently scavenging the tunnels for any clues as to how they were built."
The television clicked off in the bullpen as the Detective wrapped up his paperwork for the day.
He sighed deeply as he rubbed his neck. It'd been two weeks. But it still felt like yesterday.
He went to close the file that lay open on his desk.
"Hey, good job on that case man!" Another detective slapped Willicker on the shoulder on his way out as a sort of 'way to go' badge.
Willicker let out a slight wave of appreciation but made no effort to smile.
Everyone congratulated him. Said how lucky he was for such an iconic takedown. But it didn't feel like a win.
He knew the burden weighed heaviest on Priority and Tiva. The price was just…too steep.
As he went to put the file away, the image of the white-haired man poked out at him. After finding his body in the tunnels, an I.D check ran him up as Connor Kulano. There was nothing much more than petty theft attached to his record, which struck him as odd. A low -level thief getting wrapped up in a drug ring and kidnapping. It didn't track. It was assumed the rest of the family including a younger sister were long dead as searches revealed nothing.
With a sigh, he closed the file and placed it in his drawer.
There would always be questions. But for now…he would let it go.
"Still here?" the detective looked up to see the familiar gray hair.
"Dr. Marshal." The detective straightened slightly. The bullpen was almost completely dead, with only a few officers and detectives arriving for the night shift. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"
"Do I need a reason to visit an old friend?" The doctor shoved her hands into her brown petticoat, which suited her much better he thought than the white lab coat.
"I suppose not…" he shuffled his feet. "Although I'm not sure I'll be good company."
She smiled softly.
"All that means is that you're buying the first round." She looped her arm around his and dragged him out of the station.
He really was grateful for her arrival. He didn't want to be alone now.
As they exited the station, he stopped momentarily.
She looked back to address him, the wind blowing her gray hair slightly.
"What's wrong?"
The chill from the night air caused his breath to form in front of him.
"Do you think…" He paused. "Do you think…we'll ever be the same?"
She searched his eyes. And she bit her lip slightly.
"No."
The firm answer took Willicker by surprise.
"But I don't think it was meant to be that way." She looked up to the moon. "Losing someone…it's not something that you get over." The wind blew again. "A patient. A friend." She paused. "A daughter."
"Each of us will remember. Feel the pain and the hurt. And we'll use it to get better."
Willicker looked at her as she talked. He knew she was hurting too. But…he knew she was right.
"I'll use it to help others like her that come my way. That boy…" she chuckled as she remembered his temperament. "He'll use it to become a fine hero one day." Her face softened as she looked at Willicker. "And you and Priority. You will use it to drive you. So no… we won't be the same." She shook her head. "But I think that's a good thing."
His body tensed.
"You can't think of it like a hole." She walked up to him, placing her hand on his shoulder. "Don't think of all the things that are missing." She smiled softly. "Think of the things that you were given."
The stars in the sky were as clear as they had ever been. The cold wind and soft noises of a city at night were all somehow calming to Willicker.
Hana was right. He had been given so much. He would focus on that and look to the future to move forward. Besides…it's what she would've wanted.