Drifting in an out of a well-deserved sleep, Steve was awoken by a warm hand patting his wrist, the slight screeching of a metal chair against linoleum floors disrupting the silence along with it.
Drawing in a deep breath, he cracked his eyes open a slit, annoyed at the time it took for his vision to clear. Much to his surprise, the person he'd expected to sit next to him wasn't the one grasping his arm.
"You're looking pretty good for a guy who got shot with a semi-automatic rifle less than twenty-four hours ago, Stephen Jacob."
The warm hand squeezed his wrist one last time, before Hank straightened back out in the uncomfortable chair, running a nervous hand across his face when he couldn't think of anything else to say.
"It wasn't as bad as it looked…a couple more days and I'll be out of here again.", Steve said with a groggy voice, needing several attempts to finally keep his eyes open, "How are things in the outside world? Mike said the press was after you again last night…"
"Oh…oh, they sure were. Bunch of piranhas.", Hank replied, slowly weaving back and forth in his chair, hands clasped in his lap to keep them from fidgeting, "I heard every rumor and accusation under the sun from them…that Riley and I worked together on this thing, that I had some secret interest in the outcome of the shooting and the political goal to legalize gay marriage, that I was cheating on my life partner and coordinated this whole…thing to draw attention away from his murder, make it look like he was just one of the victims…it was very…humiliating and infuriating."
"I am sorry to hear that…that was uncalled for. I hope the press conference Condon and Olsen put together cleared much of that up."
"Don't worry about me. I've got this. You and I both know that I've been through worse, heard the insults, got beaten up for my sexual orientation…I've developed a thick skin. It's you I was worried sick about. Once I heard that you'd been shot and nobody could tell me what your condition was…heck, even when I stopped by the store, they had taped off the area where…well, where you went down and I saw…the blood. And I…I felt horrible…for everything. The things I said, my silly insinuations, the needless pressure I put on you while you're trying to catch a dangerous killer…I am ashamed by my selfishness."
A tear rolling down Hank's cheek was quickly wiped away, as the bar owner kept his glance lowered, absent-mindedly staring at the IV line disappearing along the inside of Steve's elbow.
"What's all this talk about guilt lately?", the young Inspector countered and shifted to the right a bit to get a better look at Hank, careful not to disturb the fresh incision on his waist, "The only one guilty here is Riley…and the man he hired to carry out this cowardly shooting. Sixty-four families have been torn apart over the hate and greed of a desperate man who was hiding his true intentions behind the cloak of a selfless agenda. Believe me, you're the last one who should feel guilty about anything. You were just…hurting. And reacting. And being a human being. And all of that is okay."
His soothing words caused Hank to sob uncontrollably, raising a hand in front of his face in a futile effort to disguise the emotional outbreak. It took him several long seconds before he regained his composure, his eyes red rimmed and watery by the time he glanced back up.
"Look at us, Stephen Jacob. Six years ago, it was me in that hospital bed. Getting to know a young rookie cop who cared way too much for his own good. The same trait that got you into this whole mess now. I fell in love with you back then, madly in love, even though I knew you'd never switch sides. Part of me always hoped though, secretly praying that things would turn around. In the meantime, I was infatuated by your gentle kindness, your natural gift of caring and finding just the right words…it's something I was never able to find in Barry."
"I know.", Steve answered calmly, grateful to clear the air with a trembling Hank, hoping to lift some of those burdens and false expectations off his shoulders after all these years.
"I guess I wasn't so subtle, eh?", the bar owner said jokingly, as both men shared a warm smile, "And here it took a case as horrific as this for me to realize that I'd rather call you my friend than hope for something…more profound…. that will never happen. That is, if I haven't destroyed the friendship we shared with my stupid actions."
Steve shook his head, growing tired after the nonstop assortment of visitors and phone calls this morning, naturally starting with Mike as soon as the doctor allowed him into the room.
"You haven't. Everything is fine, believe me."
The simple gesture of forgiveness brought on another wave of weeping, as Hank buried his face in his palms, his cries of relief echoing through the private hospital room.
"You are too good for this world, Stephen Jacob. I just hope you know that."
With a quivering voice, Hank got up from the chair and wiped his eyes one last time, before motioning toward a brown paper bag on the small table by his bed.
"I brought you some chocolate muffins, the ones you like so much.", the bar owner said with a warm smile and leaned forward to squeeze his shoulder, "You were…ehm…you were sleeping when I first came in, so I thought I'd put them within reach but then you started to stir and woke up and I…well…I decided to stay and say Hi."
The awkward but genuine caring tone in Hank's voice warmed his heart that morning and Steve leaned back against the hospital bed, before covering the bar owner's hand with his own.
"I'm glad you came. I appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to stop by and visit."
"It's the least I could do for everything you and the Lieutenant have done.", Hank assured him and shrugged, "I was in the neighborhood because I am meeting with the city to officially sign the club over to be turned into a memorial. I just…I will never look at that building the same way after what happened. And I think…it's time to move on, no matter how difficult it will be."
"That's the first step toward healing right there."
The encouraging words made Hank's face light up and the bar owner nodded in appreciation, before taking a step toward the door.
"Always full of wisdom, my friend.", he countered and pointed at the clock on the nearby wall, "Listen, I gotta get going and you need to get some rest and heal. There'll be an official ceremony at the memorial site next Wednesday. It would be wonderful if you guys could make it."
"We'll be there.", Steve assured the other man, feeling his body growing increasingly tired with every word said, "In the meantime, don't hesitate to call us if you need anything, okay? You got our number."
As the exhaustion-induced grogginess overcame him once again, Steve closed his eyes, allowing his body to relax and drift back to sleep, not realizing that Hank remained in the room for several more minutes, watching over his friend with a newfound level of respect, love and admiration.