"Were you watching me sleep?"

"Hm? Nah. Chair just happened to point that way," Hank said. I was all limbs on his couch when I woke up; the ceiling fan paddled slowly above me providing a soft stream of air around the house.

Damn, it was gonna be a hot day.

I watched him watching me. "You're full of shit."

"I swear! Ain't watching you. Just thinkin'."

I pushed myself up and flung an arm over the back of the cushions. "You wanna tell me what about?"

"No."

I laughed and shook my head, then got up and stretched, my eyes automatically pulled towards Sumo's empty corner. I paused and Hank noticed.

"I miss him, Al."

I straightened up and went over to lean against the room divider so we could talk. "I know. I'm sorry."

"You know I got him for Cole, I ever tell you that? Don't think I ever told you. Don't think I ever told Connor this story, either. Dunno why. Back around, uh, '32 or '33, when I was out on a case, hoarding situation. We found the owners dead and the daughter missing. Turns out she killed the parents cause she couldn't get emancipated and the abuse was so bad. The girl barely had a bed to sleep on. But she left the dog. Thankfully he was smart enough to rip open whatever food wasn't rotten and keep himself alive. It was the neighbors that heard the barking and finally called us in. Fowler wanted to call animal control. 'Fuck that,' I said. 'I'm taking this guy back to my boy .' Yeah, they were buddies." Hank drifted off and downed the rest of his coffee. He shot up with some new-found energy and offered to make breakfast. "What you eating these days? Eggs okay?"

I was taken aback and chuckled at this thrilling scenario. "Um, yeah, yeah eggs sound good, Hank, thank you. Hey, while you do that, would you mind if I take a quick shower? I'm feeling a little gross."

"'Course."

It felt strange being back here. Not only the domesticity of it but to remember how it used to be, how Hank used to be only a few years ago. Breakfast? Bah! Cigarettes and whiskey and maybe a slice of toast was the old norm. Chinese food containers used to line the toilet tank but now... Is that fucking potpourri?

I heard Hank yell from the kitchen, "Mind the mess, Al. Been trying to force myself to stay sane. Clean house, clean mind, and all that happy fucking bullshit Connor taught me. Fuck ."

He muttered something else but I couldn't make it out.

What fucking mess? Let's take inventory. Okay, one beer can on top of the trash. Two shirts hung at the end of the shower rod away from the hose, one pair of boxers that didn't quite make it into the hamper, and one small bottle of -

"You fucking pervert," I giggle-whispered to myself.

I stripped down and didn't waste any more time admiring the change in scenery; I didn't want those eggs to get cold, either. We had never made anything for each other before. This was going to be nice. Yeah, an actual fucking breakfast.

The nostalgia was tugging at me, tugging in a very inappropriate area and I quit the shower before I let it take over. I quickly dried off and redressed and padded back into the kitchen where Hank was already sitting with a plate, another next to him.

"Hey hey hey, I got a blowdryer. Use that shit and don't get water all over the hardwood!"

Dried hair done, I was finally able to enjoy Hank's basic cooking and god damn was it good.

"This something else Connor taught you?"

"What? Nah, come on, who doesn't know how to make eggs. Been having a little more motivation recently. Not recently recently, but in the grand scheme of things, yeah, been trying to stay away from the fast food. Connor was up my ass like a flag pole about my cholesterol when we first met. He can analyze everything, you know. He was a prototype, built to analyze all sorts of shit, which apparently includes food."

"I'm glad. Thank you for this, Hank."

"Yeah."

After eating, I expressed my desire to head home. "I'm sure you have shit to do. Are you planning on heading back to the station soon?"

Fact is, if I stayed any longer, I'd want to crash his chair right into the floor.

"Mm. Might stop in quick later to check on Connor. It's only been a week, if shit was blowing up, I'd go in immediately but I need a few days. And now, you know - I uh, fuck ."

Now, you know...me.

"Hank, I - how about Wednesday evening? I can pick you up and we'll do something? Is that too soon? I don't..."

He looked at me in contemplation. "Nah. I need to get out. Come by whenever."

I agreed and headed for the door. He trailed me a few paces before saying my name. "Thanks. For last night."

"Hank…. I'm the one who should thank you. I don't know - I had myself convinced you wouldn't want to see me again. I was wrong. It was stupid. And I am so happy to see you're doing okay now."

"Yeah well, most of the week was shit. I think I scared Connor and Lana into thinking I was gonna blow my brains out. But really I think I was pissed off that I was so distracted."

"What do you mean?"

He shrugged and tightened his robe belt. "You know what I mean, Al."

My breath stuck again and I bit back my lip to stifle the little twang of pain in my eyes. He had been distracted knowing I was back in town and felt guilty for it instead of focusing on his loss. Maybe even angry that I wasn't there...

"It all should have gone so differently, Hank. I um, I need to get going, I need to… I'll be back in a couple days, okay?"

We nodded our goodbyes and I took off to head home.

Hank fuckin' Anderson with a clean house and homemade food, with a roommate and partner who cared for him, a social life out at community events and Lana's bars, getting promoted to Captain on the force (I still couldn't believe that one to save my life), and not completely losing his shit last night… Hank's life had finally taken a turn into normalcy and maybe he'd let me be a part of that. He would. I wasn't entirely keen on getting to know Connor and Lana immediately, I wanted time to become acclimated to this new Hank. I didn't have anything against them really, but they had been pretty damn nosy that night at the bar. Yet it was all in good intention, I could see that now. But I think if anyone suggested a double date anytime soon, I would scream.

When Wednesday evening rolled around, about 7 pm, I walked down to Hank's house and knocked on the door.

I heard him faintly beckon me in and I entered but he wasn't anywhere to be seen. I followed the distant curses down the hall and to the bedroom where I peered around the frame to observe a mess of shirts on his bed. Graphic t-shirts, short-sleeve and long-sleeve button-downs, a blazer? He hadn't noticed as I watched him hunch down to the bottom of his closet and yell, "Just gimmie a fuckin' minute!" Then softer, "Nothing fuckin' fits and I-"

I couldn't help but giggle, announcing my presence as the spy.

"Ah geez. Okay, you caught me. I didn't know what we were doin', but I wanted to wear something new and I don't - what're you doing?"

I had started picking through the discards on the bed and discovered a medium-blue linen dress shirt designed to have the sleeves rolled up. I shook out the wrinkles and presented it to him.

"Does this fit? It's really nice."

"You think?" He grabbed it and shooed me away. "I'm shy, wait out there."

I stepped out into the hallway to lean against the wall out of sight of his doorway. "I saw a ton of files on your table, Hank. You go in?"

"Nah, Connor and Lana dropped by earlier to pretend to clean and he needed to pick some things up while staying at her place. I think they picked up on somethin' but I didn't say nothing. They're too damn perceptive, it's annoying."

Hank came back out, patting himself down. Fuck, was he an attractive man. Think he even lost a little weight. And for once he didn't have a t-shirt on underneath. Well, fuck me blind with those forearms.

"You're drooling, Alex. Let's go," he said, brushing past me. He grabbed a jacket from the back of his sofa and ushered me out of the house.

"What are you thinkin'? For food. I don't wanna hear yet any of the other shit you might be stirring up there. Ain't ready for that."

I gawked at the suggestion. "I would never! Okay, okay, a couple options. I was thinking of heading to the plaza. They have food carts all this week, all sorts of things. There's also still music down at the amphitheater. We could hit that, too."

"I'm down. You drivin'?"

"Oh, I walked here. I sold my car a few months back finally. But hey, don't scowl at me! Gimmie the keys, I can drive."

"Oh no, no one touches the wheel except me. You're paying for dinner."

Part of Jefferson Ave was shut down to traffic for the food trucks, nearly everything you could imagine. This was one aspect of human culture that thankfully remained in this city and was regaining popularity as people moved back in. There were plenty of androids accompanying their friends and newfound families and partners for the night. Hank and I quickly bee-lined to the first truck that caught our eye, a chicken and waffle stand.

Hank told me a story of just this past New Year's when he and the other two had celebrated and how much Connor had enjoyed the human traditions. How Connor had his first kiss that night but Hank had to break through Lana's hesitancy. He just wanted the kid to be happy and dammit it was going to happen because he needed some alone time again.

"Can't believe it's only gonna be August soon," he said. "Feel like so much has happened this year."

"Yeah? Tell me. What other shenanigans have you've been up to that would surprise me?"

He scoffed, nearly spitting up the last bite of food. "Ah, okay, let's see. Snowball fight. Uh, karaoke on a public stage, yep, that painting class I mentioned, and the symphony, oh, then a damn dance class, don't give me that look, I gave up real quick. That's the big stuff, I think. Dunno, otherwise same old shit."

We were heading past a few more trucks, determining what to partake in next as he continued to speak. "When I'm not at the station or the field, I'm at home. You know, before Connor met Lana, all last year was just the two of us and it was mostly work. Couple ball games. This whole year so far was a whirlwind with the two of them and just being home with the dog and the tv. Lots more tv now that I'm not smashed all the time. I still have one or two but it's not what it was, want you to know that. Gave up the smoking, too, all of that's done."

We grabbed a large container of loaded nachos and found a bench where we could imbibe.

"Tell me more about your friend, the woman."

He raised an eyebrow as he shoved the refried beans and cheese in his face. "Not a lot, Alex, really. Met at that painting class, went out a few times for coffee, she'd come to the house maybe once since we met, just chat. Work and politics, that kinda shit. Haven't seen her since the stupid dance class. She told me she liked me but I uh -" He waved his hand dismissively to complete the rest of the thought. "Didn't see her like that. She was a nice lady, I had some nice times with her, but I couldn't get over her being - ah, that makes me sound like a real prick. Her being an android, I can't do it. Even if she was human I probably wouldn't have."

Deep down, I was feeling a tint of jealousy. Not just of Danielle, but of Connor and Lana, too. They had been there to see Hank's transformation and haul him out of his comfort zone and go live. I wish I had seen that. But I was also so grateful to them for helping him and being his friends because it culminated in this night out where it was my turn to get to know Hank all over again.

He brushed his hands on his pants and stood to toss the garbage. "You wanna head to the theater? Not too late to catch some music."

We drove a few minutes down the river to the amphitheater and sat out in the back lawn. There was still some invisible barrier between Hank and I. This desire to pick up where we left off and I know it wasn't just me, but the tension was already palpable. His eyes would linger a moment too long; a fractional silence when speaking that was drawn out only a microsecond more; making the conscious effort to not touch any part of my body as we walked and sat together. There was this pull I know we both felt, some silent and steady click of the gears rotating back to something inevitable, one way or another.

He stretched out on the grass, kicking his foot to the tunes of the jazz bands as I sat up and people-watched in the settling darkness. The lights of the theater illuminated the musicians but didn't spread out too far into the crowd; it was ethereal, this home-grown spectacle against the down and distraught citizens who merged into the looming night.

"Well, what the hell do my eyes spy, is that the Captain?"

Hank and I both turned our heads to the left and Hank grumbled a few choice words under his breath as he stood up to greet the man.

"Why you gotta bother me on my days off, Detective."

"Hey, we're like distant family now, Hank, gimmie a break."

This must be Gavin.

The man introduced himself and I returned the favor with a wave. He directed his attention back to Hank.

"You coming back to the office? Connor's been great but we really need someone meatier in that chair. Woah, hey, sorry, all right, didn't mean it like that, sorry, Captain. Seriously though, Connor told us all what happened, I'm sorry to hear. Really."

Hank's pierced-lip "Thank you" wasn't entirely believable but it was an indication for the other man to leave.

"Little prick. He's not as bad as he used to be, now I think he just does it for the laughs," Hank said. He sat back down next to me, closer this time with arms slung over bent up knees.

"Yeah, he seemed like a bit of a dick. Is he new?"

"Eh, not really, been around for a few years. He was a real prick to Connor at the beginning, finally forced him out on leave cause he was being such a fuckin' cocksucker. But then after all that crap with Lana came out, Gavin softened up a bit 'cause he's her only family member and since she's dating Connor, well, he's not as much of a piece of shit as he used to be."

"That's good. Regardless, he still under-ranks you."

"He's just an ass. I don't let it bother me anymore. He does a good job, nothing unethical, good reports."

Hank had told me more about the Gavin and Lana mystery. A murdered grandfather with a fortune - this explained how Lana came to be a bar- and club-owner, and how Gavin had been their first suspect before an android turned herself in.

Hank laid back down. The music was dwindling and people were starting to empty out of the area as the sun had completely set and the river became illuminated by the refracted lights.

We talked a little more as people passed us. I told him about my stint in Niagara Falls, that even during all the upheavals and the revolutions, the border found a way to remain encouraging through music and light shows on the water (appropriately timed, of course.) He shared with me his trips to the record stores around the city with Connor, introducing the man to a variety of genres.

"I'll never forget the day he was waiting at the station for me and went through my shit. And this was at the beginning when I wanted nothing to do with him. Wanted to toss him in a trash heap and set it on fire. And he asks me if I listened to Knights of the Black Death. 'You listen to heavy metal?' I say. And he gave me some pre-written crap about not actually listening to it but he likes the energy. Hah, strange guy..."

He told me that they had been here once or twice last summer and Hank bemused that it would be a good place for all of us before the end of the season.

He caught his words and cleared his voice, "I mean if you want to come back and uh… yeah."

"Yeah, this was nice. I'd like that." Those eyes again. "Well, it's going to be tomorrow before we know it if we don't start moving."

"Can I treat you to a nightcap?"

"Okay."

Returning to Hank's house so late at night was a familiarity again wrought with deja vu. I had always been the one driving with him beside me snoring spit on the door handle. It felt like an entire lifetime ago in some faraway land where the river was flooded with whiskey and beer and condoms and yet, a perfectly sober man was behind the steering wheel, in a clean shirt, with brushed hair. God, I wanted to feel that hair. Hank caught me staring as he pulled up to the garage door and released the smallest inhibited smile.

"What the hell you looking at?"

I scoffed. "Sorry! Geez, I just can't get over this, Hank. It's nice, seeing you like this. This was the best day I've had in a really really long time. Fuck , I'm just reminiscing a lot today."

"You think you're the only one? It's fucking weird you being back all of a sudden, combine that with my dog dying, it's been a crazy fucking week already but I've gotten used to crazy fucking shit happening and I'm a lot more open to it now. I'd still rather be home, and I'm ready to get back to work now, but will you please get your ass in the house? I gotta take a piss."

He dashed to the bathroom as I looked over his massive bookshelf. Not too much had been moved around there from what I could remember, except one of the larger cubes housed his promotion photo from work. There was a smaller photo next to it of him, Connor, and Sumo right here in the living room. I put it back down as he emerged, confused for a split-second when he didn't see me immediately, and then asked what I wanted to drink.

"Oh. I could go for my usual, thank you."

I picked up a stray magnet clip from the floor to reapply to the fridge and then grabbed the tumbler when Hank offered it.

"Cheers."

He took the end of the sofa this time and I the other; Hank slouched into the cushions while I propped up my feet on his coffee table. I couldn't help but stare again at the empty space on the floor and recall how Sumo would lounge under my legs. I'd cry if I looked any more so I averted my gaze into my drink and the soft click of the ice cubes as they melted.

"So where are you living now? You said you were close, close enough to walk here."

"Oh. You'll laugh at this one. Yeah, swear to Christ, the cheapest apartment I could grab is over Eden Club. They converted an entire upper floor into low-rent gigs. Clientele didn't go down enough for the place to close, so I get to fall asleep to that steady purple glow every night. But hey, it's affordable and they like having humans live up there. Figure it helps people feel not as shady going in. I dunno."

"You're shitting me," he said. "Fuck ." He proceeded to tell me about his case there, right after the night he wanted to kill himself and Connor tossed him in the shower.

"Only reason he kept me alive was 'cause he needed me to go on this case with him. He didn't care otherwise. Not at that point anyway."

"You don't think he was already going deviant?"

"We've talked about it. He knew he wanted me alive but he still felt it was just his programming. He wasn't allowed out on a case by himself, he needed an officer, and since I was his assigned officer… He broke my damn window to save me. You know, sometimes I wonder what would have happened that night if I was successful. What would Connor have done with Sumo? And then I think, I saved that dog from a shitpile house, he was my son's dog, he woulda been alone if I killed myself. That fucks me up."

"Was that the only time you tried to kill yourself?"

"Only time with a gun. Didn't spin the right chamber, I guess. Hey, don't get me wrong here, I'm glad it didn't work. But at the time, well, I was pretty fed up."

"I'm sorry."

"Wasn't your fault."

We sat in silence for a while, growing more tired by the moment, he finished his glass before mine and sunk down deeper into the cushions.

"Hank, you're gonna fuck up your back like that, come lay down."

With none of the hesitances that had marked our previous time together, he stretched out with his head on my thigh and legs half-bent. He closed his eyes and wrapped himself tightly into the cushions and my legs. I downed the remainder of my glass, gently dropping it to the floor before entwining my fingers through his hair, my other hand along his bicep. I pulled out the hair tie and looped it on my wrist so I could comb through the freed strands.

He was already lightly snoring and I continued to caress his arm and his scalp until my energy faded as well.

I regained consciousness at the sound of his grumbles, nearly indiscernible, slurred and muffled into the cushions.

' Dyouwannamove….Comeonhere….Comeonwidme'

But my still-half-asleep self acquiesced and we somehow maneuvered and he enveloped me tightly in those arms.

We must not have moved because when his tv turned itself on softly at 6 am, we were in the same position and I tugged his arms tighter against me. Unfortunately, that prompted him awake and he grumbled into my hair, "Can't feel my arm."

I didn't want to let go, but I consented and let him tug himself free and sit up properly. I pulled myself back and stood to stretch so I could clumsily find the bathroom.

"Shit," said Hank upon my return. "Was gonna go back today. I think Connor was going to stop by."

"Oh. I'm sorry, I uh, I can leave. So you can get ready and head out."

"Nah. Don't you have work though?"

"Not until nine. What is this show?"

"Ah come on, you know Spongebob. Where they burn fires and drink tea underwater and the fucking squirrel needs a helmet?"

"Vaguely, yeah."

We burnt an hour on these early-morning cartoons. Hank made coffee and bacon and eggs and tossed me a plate before I could refuse. At one point Hank received a text message that elicited a chuckle.

"Connor heard us laughing. He's giving me the day off."

"I'm glad."

"Hey, here, gimme your number again. Never used it anyway and I mighta deleted it after a while."

I took his phone and created myself as a contact. "Needed to anyway, it's a new number. Here."

"Look shit's gonna be nuts for a while. I still suck at using this thing, but ya, you know, if you wanna… We can do something again."

"I'd like that. And if you're more comfortable, we can do something as a group."

"You sure? I know they won't say no, but the second they start asking anything personal, we leave."

"No, I - I thought about it. I think it would be nice to go out as a group."

"All right. Expect something soon then, I know the second I go back in, they're gonna want to do something to make me feel better. Little pains in my ass can't even take a shit without Connor asking me about my digestion..."