The old blue car, one of the few things he had wanted to keep, slowly pulled into the secluded parking lot outside the seemingly neglected building, thoughts and memories swirling around his already anxious and active mind. Once he'd got into the city, he'd found his way without even thinking, as if the old mustang had somehow remembered its own way round the old busy streets. Switching off the engine he sat quietly as his watchful deep brown eyes looked out of the windshield and nervously searched in every direction he could see. They swept over the other cars parked nearby and he was slightly ashamed at his relief when he didn't recognise any of them, that was until he saw Adam Fuller's car parked in its usual spot. Asking himself for the thousandth time what the hell he was thinking coming back here and letting out a deep breath he made up his mind to just get this done. However, his body wouldn't do as his mind was telling him and he sat still as stone, still staring out of the window. Giving himself a mental slap, he forced his seemingly heavy feet onto the ground and across the tarmac. He walked slowly and heavily up the familiar staircase and entered through the same door he walked out of two years before. Every time he had imagined himself one day coming back here it had never been this way, in these circumstances. He nervously pushed on the creaky wooden door, almost fooling himself into thinking he could hear all the same noises and voices he had heard every time he had done this before. But the voices he heard were in his memories (not anywhere else, he told himself) as the building was eerily quiet. As soon as he walked into the main building his stomach twisted in knots and he fought hard against the nausea that was rising fast. Looking around the familiar old room he suddenly felt without question that he didn't belong there. He knew this had been a mistake, he wasn't ready. He was about to turn and run out of there as fast as he could when a strange voice called over to him.

"Hey, you need some help?" asked a dark wavy haired kid with what he could only describe as a bad quiff as he reached the bottom of the pole he had slid down so many times over the years.

"Yeah, I'm looking for Captain Fuller." Tom replied uncertainly, looking him up and down with distaste.

"He's busy right now. Sit down and I'll let you know when you can go in." he said with a dismissive wave of his hand.

"It's ok, he's expecting me. I'll just go in and wait.", Tom suggested, not wanting to deal with new people on top of everything else.

"Look kid, the Captain is busy. I'll tell him you're here and when he's ready you can go in" he replied impatiently surveying the slight young man hiding under an old hat and messy fringe.

"I don't think you understand. I'll just…"

"I said wait! Take a seat, he's on an important call and he'll get to you when he's ready."

Hanson rolled his eyes let out a deep sigh and sat down heavily on the nearest seat, which just happened to be at Penhall's desk. He smiled as he looked over the desktop at Doug's disorganised mess, his mood softening and his mind settling slightly as he saw the photograph of little Clavo, who was not so little now. He'd missed so much. His eyes scanned the room and he suddenly felt quite angry when he saw where the young man was sitting. That was his desk, and he's moved it! Instantly running out of patience and not wanting to be sat alone right now in this room, that seemed so familiar yet so strange, he decided he was not going to wait any longer. This was going to be difficult enough, he didn't need his nerves having time to make it worse. Removing the hat he'd been hiding under and raking back his hair he walked over and standing over the desk cleared his throat before saying

"Look, McCann is it?" he said looking at the plate on the desk and offering a good impression of a sincere smile. "Captain Fuller asked me to come in, here I am, and I haven't got all day."

"Listen!" McCann started before he stopped dead as his eyes met the face standing over him. Now the hat wasn't obscuring the features, he recognised the face looking out of Judy's photograph, the dark eyes looking out from the still boyish face in frustration.

"You're Hanson!" he blurted out. Shocked at seeing the ghost made real, McCann was at a loss what to say and what to do.

"Last time I checked. Does that mean I can I see Captain Fuller now?"

"Sure. He's been hoping you'd call in." he replied, trying to seem calm and casual. "I'll show you in."

Tom rolled his eyes as he followed the unfamiliar officer and bit his tongue to stop himself from stating that he knew the way, he'd been here before. It wasn't the kids fault he was new. He also decided it was probably best not to start off on the wrong foot with this guy. That soon stopped being his main concern as his anxiety and unease grew with each step he took towards the small room at the back, the scene of so many heart to hearts and confrontations over the years. Unbidden his mind suddenly flashed on how that room had looked during Jenko's days and when McCann knocked and opened the door, he half expected to see the late police captain sat in the midst of his chaos. Of course, the voice that answered wasn't Jenko's and the office was calm, neat and organised as usual.

Fuller sighed as he heard the soft tap on the door.

"Come in." he said absently

"Captain, I really think you should…"

"McCann, I told you I'm a little busy right now" Fuller barked, eyes still focused on the paperwork in front of him, one hand scribbling notes as the other held the phone screwed to his ear.

"Captain Fuller?" came the familiar soft voice, sounding nervous and unsure. Fullers head shot up at the sound of that voice and despite all his misgivings and nerves about this meeting he couldn't suppress a smile when he saw the figure standing in the doorway.

"I'll have to call you back." he said immediately putting down the phone.

"I'll leave you to it." McCann said quietly as he discreetly left the room.

Adam Fuller sat still and looked at the young man in stunned silence. It was like he had stepped out of a time capsule. The hair was slightly shorter and tidier than it had been when he last saw him, but while the others had lost that youthful look, his face had remained unlined, his form as fragile and as skinny as it had always been, in fact he appeared totally unchanged, apart from the scar on his forehead just below the hairline over his right eye.

"Tom. Jesus it's good to see you" he said as he walked over and offered the younger man his hand.

"Thanks. Hey, where did you find Joe Friday?" he asked gesturing to the man outside the door.

"I was down an officer and he reminded me of an old friend" Fuller said with a grin. Hanson looked at him, eyebrows raised and an impatient look on his face, one Fuller remembered well.

"How you doing?" Fuller asked, remembering the last time he had seen him.

"I'm doing better. It's been hard, but I'm still here." he said smiling awkwardly. "I'm so sorry about Harry." he said, grief clouding his features.

"We all are." Fuller replied before emotion over took him, "You have no idea what a relief it is to see you" he finished surprising the younger man by pulling him into a hug.

"It's not that I didn't want to…." Tom began, still feeling slightly uneasy and strangely a little embarrassed.

"Hey, I understand." Fuller replied looking into the familiar, if older, dark eyes. "How are you? Really?"

"I won't lie to you, Coach, I feel a bit like I'm in the twilight zone here" Hanson replied with a nervous smile. "It's still the same, but different somehow"

"I can imagine. It's been a while." Fuller replied gesturing for Tom to take a seat.

"Almost two years" he sighed. "But it's ok, I'm good. Really." He finished as he sat carefully in the chair before Fullers desk.

"Then it was two years well spent Hanson."

"I hope so. Can you call me Tom? Please? That doesn't feel right anymore."

"No problem. You sure you're good to be to here?" Fuller asked gently and carefully, trying to assess the state of mind of the man before him, while also being astounded how after all this time it was as if he had only been away a matter of days.

"As long as I keep up with the meds I can pass as perfectly normal" he replied with a crooked grin. Then more seriously as he noticed his old friend's expression, "Honestly, I'm through the worst, I think. You don't need to worry."

"Are you still seeing the shrink? Does he know you're here?"

"Yes, and yes. Please, Captain Fuller, don't worry, I'm ok."

"Sorry, but I've heard that too many times and I've been worried about you every second since I last saw you."

"I know that was probably not the best way to handle it, but it worked." Tom replied trying to defuse any conflict before it started. It was too early for that. "Captain, we're both avoiding why I'm really here", he finished, all too aware that he really didn't want to hear what was inevitable.

"Tom, I'm sorry, it didn't seem right that this conversation happened on the phone."

"Tell me!" he said calmly and decisively fixing Fuller with a steady gaze.

"It's not good. When Doug was thrown from the car part of his back was broken, the bone was shattered, and it's caused damage to his spinal column. They've removed the pressure and there's a lot of swelling so they can't tell for sure at the moment but…..Tom's it's very likely that he's going to be permanently paralysed from the waist down. There's rehabilitation and physiotherapy of course, but they're being realists. He's going to need some serious support here Tom.", he said kindly looking across at the dark eyes filling with unshed tears.

"Harry?" Tom managed to croak.

"He went through the windshield, head first at high speed into a tree. His skull was fractured in several places and he suffered severe brain injury on impact, negligible brain activity I think are the words they used.", he replied, unable to keep the bitterness from him voice. "The doctors are saying the chances are slim to none."

"Harry's going to die? There's absolutely nothing they can do?" he said, the hurt that the words caused him distorting the young face.

"Very little. Without the machine keeping him going Tom…"Fuller finished with a shrug.

"I can't believe it." Tom said quietly looking around the room, trying to find something to focus on, anchor him and make this real. "How the hell did this happen?" Fuller retold the story for what seemed like the hundredth time that day, however, the calm and sympathetic face looking back at him on this occasion seemed to make it more real and made him feel he also was allowed to grieve and he was pretty sure tears were forming in his own eyes. They were certainly swimming in the eyes looking back when he finally looked up after finishing his story, but still refused to fall. Instead, Hanson stood and walked nervously around the small office, before leaning against the filing cabinets lining the wall, hands in his pockets and gaze fixed on the floor.

"Are you going to get these guys?" he asked quietly

"We're working on it. Tom, there's something else I need to talk to you about.", he began, and Hanson looked up from the spot on the floor that had seemed to have his full attention. "Harry put you as his next of kin. The doctors will need you to consent to…."

"Take me to see them.", Tom demanded calmly before Fuller could finish.

"Are you sure you're ready for that?"

"No, but I need to."

"You got it."

The drive to the hospital passed in almost complete silence, it wasn't an uncomfortable one however, both men lost in their thoughts. Fuller occasionally glancing over to reinforce that the prodigal son had actually come home while Tom was thinking of how he was going to handle the many not so happy reunions that were looming ever closer on the horizon. When they finally arrived, Tom was adamant that he wanted to see Harry first, part of him thought this was more cowardice as he wouldn't have to talk to Harry, and suddenly felt ashamed of himself.

He stood by the bed looking down at the face he remembered so well as he absently registered Fuller talking to some doctor. He wished they weren't there. He wanted to be alone with Harry and his thoughts.

"Hey, Harry. It's me, I finally made it back.", said quietly putting his hand over Ioki's that was resting lifelessly on the bed covers. "I hope you hear me because I'd really love to talk to you right now."

Harry's face seemed impossibly pale against the white bandages and the thick jet black hair spilling out from under them while the noises from the machines bouncing of the blank white walls were like pins in his ears. He noticed the other two men walking over to him and wanted to run.

"He looks like he's still there.", he said quietly looking down and pleading in his heart for those almond shaped eyes to open.

"I know. But he isn't, you know that."

"But do we? Are they absolutely sure?"

"As sure as they can be, Tom. This is Dr Bryan, he's Harry's surgeon. Dr, this is Tom Hanson, Harry's next of kin"

"Mr Hanson." The doctor said, offering his hand. "I understand that Mr Fuller has explained everything to you."

"Yeah.", he replied, still not taking his eyes from his sleeping friend. "What's going to happen if we wait?"

"Nothing. The machine will keep breathing for him, the tubes will keep feeding him, but he is unlikely to ever regain consciousness, I'm sorry."

"Are you telling us that there is absolutely no chance at all, that he'll recover."

"As I said, it's unlikely."

"That's not good enough. As long as there is even the smallest chance that machine stays on!" he exclaimed looking at the older man with stony determination.

"Tom…."

"No. I'm not doing it, I can't" he finished taking one more look at Ioki before leaving the room unable to stand it, Fuller didn't blame him, the rest of them couldn't either.

"I'm sorry Captain Fuller, I just can't let them….." Hanson started, as Fuller joined him a few moments later, his voice measured and calm.

"It's ok. It's a lot to take in and you need time to process, I understand. So, what happens now Tom?" he asked, looking at him with concern. Yes, it had been two years, and yes, he had seemed ok so far, but this was starting to feel like overload, even for Fuller himself.

"Show me where my partner is."

"Sure." Fuller replied with a smile and placed his hand on Hanson's shoulder as he led him away.

As they neared the room where Doug Penhall was being cared for, Fuller had to almost catch Hanson as he was knocked flying by the fast moving ball of brightly coloured clothes and hair that turned out to be Dorothy Pezzino, throwing her arms around him in greeting. The shock on the younger man's face drew stifled laughter from the tall police captain as Tom finally registered who he had been accosted by.

"Tommy, I am so happy to see you.", she said, immense relief evident in her voice.

"Dorothy? When…er how? ", he stammered trying to work out what was happening.

"Oh, I'm back.", she shrugged, "And now so are you," she finished smiling brightly at him. "Douggie's going to be over the moon when he wakes up."

"Erm…, he awake now?" he asked prising himself loose and scratching nervously at the back of his head.

"No, he's sleeping, and he'd better stay that way.", she replied sounding slightly threatening.

"He needs to stay as still as possible while he heals" Fuller said almost apologetically in Toms ear.

"Ah! Well, ok, we won't wake him. Ok?" Hanson assured her with a small rather uncomfortable smile.

"Ok, well , I'm going to try and get out for a bit, I've been here all day. Can I trust you boys to look after him?" she said with a fond glance towards the room where Doug was sleeping.

"Of course." Fuller said feeling almost as uncomfortable as Hanson looked.

"Right, I'll see you soon, then."

As she turned to go, Tom quickly made his way after her.

"Dorothy?"

"Yeah."

"Clavo? Is he ok?"

"He's fine Tommy. He's going to be so excited to see you.", she said kindly, putting a hand on his shoulder. "They both are.", she finished before heading off, leaving him watching with a slight sense of relief before steeling himself to walk into the plain white sterile hospital room.

Tom walked through the door, the feeling of wanting to turn and run again was overwhelming but as he saw Doug lying in the hospital bed, looking smaller than he had ever thought possible, there was no question of turning his back now. He jolted as he heard the sound of the door being closed.

"Open that door!" he snapped as he spun wildly. Fuller looked nervously back; he didn't know what he was expecting from his young friend, but the early reminder of his fragile state was still something of a shock.

"It's ok, Tom. It's open." Seeing questioning look on Fullers face, Hanson's disappointment was like another presence in the room.

"I'm fine, I'm not losing it" he replied softly. "It's just, Doug's claustrophobic."

"I'm sorry, Tom. I don't think he's going to know right now."

"I can't believe he looks so small." He croaked. "Truth now ,Captain. What's going to happen?"

"I don't know anything more than what I've told you. The crash caused severe spinal injury and there is a lot of swelling. Tests have shown no sensation in his legs. The doctors say it's too early to tell and physiotherapy has come on so much these days, but it's likely he's going to be in a wheelchair for some time, if not for good." he said feeling like a stuck record, not that repeating it got any easier.

"Does he know?"

"No. He's only briefly regained consciousness and it's not the right time."

"I've thought about this moment so many times. Not once did I imagine this."

"He's going to need a lot of support; please tell me he's got yours."

"As long as he wants it. Although, after what I've done, he may not."

"Don't believe it for a second." Fuller said placing a hand on the younger man's shoulder.

"Do you mind if I have a minute with him, Coach?"

"Have as long as you need. Lot of catching up to do."

"Thank you."

"And if you insist on being on 1st name basis Tom, it's Adam."

"I don't think I can do that" Hanson replied, the old familiar laughter briefly flickering in his dark eyes. "You won't go far will you?" he asked suddenly as uncertainty and slight panic began to rise.

"I'll be outside." Fuller replied kindly. "If this is too much too fast, tell me."

"No. If anything, it's way overdue."

"Call out if you need me."

Tom watched as his former captain retreated through the doorway, glad at least that seeing him again had not been the disaster he had feared. He had hoped that he would feel more trust from his old friend, but he supposed that would have been earned again. That was a journey he didn't want to think about right now.

"Sorry it took so long, man." he said to the sleeping Penhall. "They tell me you were looking for me. Sorry Doug. I should have talked to you, you deserved better. Better than this!" he said with a sigh. "How the hell did we all end up like this huh? Doug, I promise, we'll get you through this. You and Harry."