A/N: Realized I must be tired after I wrote this fanfic assuming the date of Cole's birth was the same as his canonical death even though the wiki page clearly said that his birth was in 2029. This fanfic was going to take place in 2038 but really there's no real reason the story has to take place in 2038 so changed it to 2050 just so I could write an adult Cole.
Chapter 7:
After Kamski's late night visit, Connor was left feeling bewildered. Hank, it appeared shared similar feelings about the matter.
His eyes seemed to drift away in the distance as his right hand absentmindedly stroked his chin.
He had been acting like this for most of the day up until the evening.
"You seem preoccupied, Anderson. Is something wrong?" Connor asked.
"What happened the other day? Why was Kamski at your house?"
Connor shrugged.
"I don't know why he was there."
"You didn't invite him?" Hank asked cheekily.
Connor glared at him.
"Why do you think I called you in the first place?"
Hank's frown deepened.
"You mean to tell me he broke into your home without no one noticing? Even when your house has been installed with the recent state of the art surveillance technology."
"Wouldn't mean a thing if it's built around Kamski's own code. A lot of companies used his programming in alot of their products."
"I didn't know that. When you first called, I thought you were pulling some kind of a prank. You didn't have to call me. It would have been easier to call 911."
"It would have taken them longer to get there and you told me I could call anytime."
"Any reasonable time. Some of us need beauty sleep."
Connor raised his left brow in disbelief.
"I'm not just talking about me, Connor. If I had known you were going to call me i would have left my cellphone on my bedstand. My ringtone's so loud, it startled my son so much he fell right out of bed. Of course it gave me a good laugh but-"
"I see. Next time I'll just leave it in the hands of a 911 operator."
Hank chuckled.
"Oh come on, Connor I was just playing. I hate to admit it but I'm glad I'm the first person you thought to call. To be honest I was a little worried I'd arrive too late."
He smiled. Connor noted it was a sad smile.
"A grumpy son is the least of my worries if it means seeing my partner another day. If it's an emergency I don't care what time it is. Call me alright."
"Alright."
"Especially Kamski shows his face again."
"Speaking of Kamski, he said something about there being a connection between the last two cases and Cyberlife."
Hank's eyes narrowed.
"You don't think he could have been lying?"
"He may be secretive but Kamski's never been a liar though he has been known to evade the truth."
"I thought you said you weren't exactly best friends."
"We aren't but being a part of a squad you get to know the members of your team very well."
Hank frowned.
"I see."
"He also told me not to pry too much. What exactly does Cyberlife have to gain keeping this hush-hush? Does your son know anything about this? I mean he's the assistant CEO isn't he?"
"Cole's never told me anything about this. I don't think he's involved in it at all."
Connor's cellphone chose that point to ring.
The young man took out the phone from his pocket. It was a call from Carl, his stepfather.
"Hello?"
"Connor?"
The raspy voice on the other end was panicky and filled with worry. What was Carl doing calling him?
He glanced at Hank who was looking at him with a raised brow.
"Oh Carl, I didn't expect you to call here so late."
"You're as calm and collected as ever."
It sounded accusatory with the intent of riling him up. Carl had the habit of making statements like that to get a reaction out of him.
Rising to the bait however would just lead to Carl making him feel guilty for acting out irrationally. Instead Connor chose the neutral route.
Hank noted after Connor had answered his phone that the young man's usual stoic expression broke. The subtle movement of his eyebrows and dilated pupils conveyed that whoever was on the phone had surprised him.
Even weirder was the brief frown on his face as though what this Carl had to say had offended Connor. As quickly as it appeared however it was replaced by an unnaturally stone like face making Hank feel as though he imagined it.
"No need to continue with the charade. You didn't call to make small talk."
Not long after that, Hank saw his eyes widen.
"Oh is he alright?"
"What room is he in?"
"I'll be there."
Connor hung up the phone.
"What was that all about?"
"I just got a call from my father at the hospital. I'll need to call in early to go see him."
"Is it alright if I accompany you? I can drive you over there. It's just a couple minutes until our shift is over. I'm sure Fowler will understand."
Connor nodded.
"Alright."
After the two finished visiting with Carl, Connor followed Hank back to his car. As they were heading out of the hospital, Connor spotted several men masked in black masks and suits at the front desk.
Once they were seated in the car, Hank spoke.
"Y'know you make the most funniest faces when you're flustered."
"Of all times, you pick now to tease me about it?"
"I think now is a good time."
"Did you see those men at the front desk?"
Hank frowned.
"Yeah, they stick out like a sore thumb."
"I wonder what they were doing there."
"They weren't visiting anyone that's for sure."
Connor glanced at him.
"What makes you say that?"
"Those men were androids. They carry on the same uniform as the RK-800s."
"You mean the androids that exclusively work for law enforcement?"
"You could say that."
"Why would they be at the hospital though?"
Hank shrugged.
"Who knows?"
He glanced at Connor.
"Listen why don't you drop by our place tonight?"
Connor raised a brow.
"Why?"
"I feel uneasy driving you back to your place especially with Kamski running amok and that threat."
"Wouldn't that be an inconvenience to you?"
"Not to me. I'll pitch the idea with Cole and see what he thinks."
As the two drove off, Connor glanced around the car. It was an old car from a company that no longer sold cars. A bobbing hula girl was sitting on the window on the passengers but not much customization over all.
"Is this your car?"
"Yeah, my son insisted I keep my old car even though I wanted to get a new one."
"Why?"
Hank shrugged.
"I don't know. Nostalgia maybe."
"I can see that."
As they drove by several streets, Connor spotted a familiar looking neighborhood. He had drove here in the past when he had been living with Carl.
If he remembered Carl used to live in a house on this block before moving in the large house on 8941 Lafayette Avenue.
They passed his old house before driving into a parking lot to a house five houses down.
Eventually the two parked outside a surprisingly quaint looking home. The two stepped out of the car.
"I'd never have imagined the assistant CEO living in a place like this," Connor said.
"Well it's more efficient than getting a home by yourself. You'd have no one to help clean it up when it gets messy."
"True."
"Maybe you ought to think of investing in a roommate yourself, Connor."
"I'm perfectly fine living on my own."
Hank glanced at him skeptically before fishing his keys from the pocket of his brown coat.
He unlocked the door gesturing for Connor to come in.
Connor followed behind Hank glancing at the interior of the living room.
A man with short blond hair was seated on the couch next to a large St Bernard that had cozied up next to him.
"Hey dad."
"Hi son."
"How was work?"
"Just your usual business and you?"
"Exhausting as usual. Mariah had me doing a lot of paperwork."
"I see. Do you mind some company? I brought someone from work."
Cole's blue eyes lit up at the sight of the young man behind his father.
"Cole this is my colleague, Connor Bourne," Hank said gesturing to him.
He motioned to Cole.
"Connor this is my son, Cole."
"Pleased to meet you."
Cole narrowed his eyes.
"Can you cook?"
"Um, yeah. I've been known to cook a few things."
Cole sighed.
"Thank goodness."
"Why?"
"My father's supposed to cook tonight but he's a hopeless cause. None of it is remotely edible."
"Hey!" Hank sputtered.
"So can you cook for us tonight?" Cole asked.
"Um sure."
"You don't have to agree if you don't want to," Hank said.
"That's alright. I don't mind cooking for you two. Can you show me the way around your kitchen?"
Hank showed Connor where he stored the pans.
"Do you got any meat?"
"Yeah."
"What about flour?"
"It's in the cupboard."
"Got any vegetables."
Hank's lips curled in a frown.
"Yuck."
"I worry when you say things like that."
"Oh yeah?"
He opened Hank's refrigerator. it had tons of condiments ranging from mayonnaise, jelly, Tabasco sauce, and ketchup.
A six pack of caffeinated, cherry flavored pop was on the second shelf alongside a box from a local pizza joint. Other food such as hamburgers bought from fast food restaurants was on the bottom shelf.
Connor perused the fruit bin finding a couple of apples but the vegetable was filled with another six pack of pop.
He glanced at Hank in disbelief.
"Really? One six pack of pop wasn't enough? This is one of the reason why America has one of the highest obesity rates."
Hank scoffed.
"Shut up, I know that. Who says any of that's for me anyway? The six packs belong to Cole."
Connor sighed before closing the fridge.
He walked up to Cole who moved the St Bernard closer to him before Connor sat on the couch beside him.
"What exactly does that old man fix you every day?"
Hank snorted.
"Well yesterday he tried to fix a steak and nearly burned the house down. The day before that he tried to make spaghetti but the sauce he made with it was terrible."
Connor glared at Hank.
Hank looked at Connor innocently.
"I tried to make it like I did in college. I used ramen and everything."
Connor hugged Cole close.
"Stop, you're killing this poor man."
Cole shifted uncomfortably.
"Um, Connor. This is kinda getting weird."
Hank folded his arms.
"Don't be so melodramatic, Connor."
Connor released Cole.
"Listen Cole, can you do me a favor?"
"What is it?"
"Can you go to the store? I need you to buy some things. Do you got something I can write on?"
Cole took off his tablet off the table and opened an app.
"Knock yourself out."
Connor wrote several things before handing it back to Cole.
"There you go."
"Ok, I'll be back," Cole said before snatching the keys off the table.
"Don't wreck the car," Hank said.
"Real funny."
With that Connor returned to the kitchen and got out the meat setting it on the counter and filleting it.
"What are you doing now?"
"Filleting the meat."
Hank stared at Connor with narrow eyes.
"It seems like you and Cole really hit it off, huh?"
Connor didn't turn from his task.
"Something about that bother you?"
"You think you're not social, if he had an option my son wouldn't talk to people at all yet he opened up to you."
"Is that so strange? We're both quiet people."
"It's not just him. Despite this lonely air about you there's also something gentle in your eyes. It's like you were made to attract people to you. When we were first met, you came across as an arrogant hotshot who looked down on people inferior to you. I found I wanted to bring you down a peg so I deliberately tried to p-ss you off. It never worked."
Connor stiffened.
"Who is to say that it didn't?"
"Sometimes it's hard to tell how you feel, you don't exactly emote, y'know. Most of the time, I found myself more angry when you didn't. I wanted to punch your lights out but I didn't."
Connor glanced at him.
"Why?"
Hank stammered, he seemed enraptured by Connor's gaze.
The way Hank was glancing at him with piercing blue eyes and his twitching smile made it seem like he was the only valued person in the room.
He ignored the way his heart was beating rapidly in his chest.
"W-whenever I looked at your eyes, I couldn't."
Connor turned to continue his work. He took out a large bowl from a cupboard and some oil and flour from another cupboard before pouring the flour in the bowl.
Hank watched him as he coated the meat with oil before Connor placed it in the bowl of flour.
Cole came back once Connor had finished cooking the meat. Most of it was already a nice golden brown.
Hank helped him unload the groceries on the kitchen counter. Connor took some onion and pepper from the bags and set it on the cutting board near the stove.
Taking out a kitchen knife from the silverware drawer, Connor set to work cutting the vegetables.
Hank snorted.
"You're very dexterous with your hands."
"I practice."
Cole observed them from where he was sitting. Connor and his father were getting along surprisingly well.
It seemed the two worked closely together. When Connor asked for something his father would fetch it for him. He didn't miss the glances he gave the young man either.
After finishing dinner, Hank helped Connor serve the plates. Once everyone was served, Connor went into the kitchen.
"Connor, what are you doing?"
"I just have to finish the dishes then I'll be back."
Once Connor had gone in the kitchen, Cole spoke.
"So what's the deal between you and Connor anyway?"
Hank sputtered. His eyes drifted away from his son's.
"Nothing, we're just coworkers."
Cole caught him staring at Connor's butt and snorted.
"Really, it looks to me like you really like him."
"What gives you that idea?"
"Your eyes are always on him and you're always teasing him."
"You're crazy."
"You used to look at mom that way."
Hank turned towards him in confusion.
"Cole, I know you wanted me to go back with her but it wouldn't be the same. I'm not the same person I once was and I can't be the person she wants me to be."
"I know. I just want you to be happy."
Hank softly gazed at his son.
"Cole..."
Connor joined them at the table as Cole took a bite from his plate.
His eyes widened with surprise.
"Wow, this is really good."
Connor glanced at Hank who had left his plate undisturbed.
"Aren't you going to eat, Hank?"
"I'm not hungry so I'm saving it for later."
Cole glanced at his father with a smug smirk.
"You're missing out. His food's really good, might even make you fall in love."
Hank felt his face heat up.
"Enough of that, Cole."
Connor noticed Hank avoiding his eyes.
"Dad, can you get me some pop in the fridge?"
"Alright, I guess I can put my plate in the fridge then."
With that Hank got up from his seat and took his plate with him to the fridge setting it in the second shelf before picking up a soda for his son.
He reclaimed his seat tossing the soda to Cole.
"Thanks dad."
"Listen Cole, is it alright if Connor stays with us for the night?"
"Is there something wrong?"
"No, nothing's wrong. I just think he might be in danger if he stays at his place."
"Oh."
"So is it alright?"
"It's your house, though. I really don't have a say do I?"
"You do, Cole. If he's not welcome here just say so."
Cole glanced at Connor.
"Look I don't mind him staying here but you can't protect him forever. What's gonna happen tomorrow?"
"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it."
Cole chuckled.
"I'm heading to bed. Don't keep up Connor too late."
After he had left, Connor turned to Hank. His eyes seemed to wander as he folded his arms.
"Are you alright? You look kind of tense."
"I'm fine."
Hank got some dog food from the cupboard scooping out some to put in a large white dog bowl that was labeled 'Sumo.'
"If I didn't know any better I'd say you were worried about what Cole said but you don't come across to me for the worrying type."
Hank hissed.
"Don't talk so loud. The walls have ears."
"Sorry," Connor whispered.
"SUMO!" Hank called out, whistling for his dog who came bustling in, his feet clattering against the hard floor of the kitchen.
The St Bernard who Connor now knew as Sumo began chowing his food like it was his last meal.
Hank lowered his voice, speaking softly.
"I hate to admit it but you're right I am worried. Just because I seem calm doesn't mean I always am. I just don't want Cole to worry about me more than he already does."
"Then who will worry about you?"
Hank's eyes widened.
Connor smiled and winked at him.
"I guess that's my job isn't it?"
Hank smiled right back.
"Yes I supposed it is."
Connor turned to glance at the dog. Earlier he had noticed his left paw was a robotic attachment.
"I suppose there's a story why your dog has that metal leg?"
Hank shrugged.
"Don't really know. A while back, Sumo went missing and Cole brought him to the house looking just like that."
"I wonder if it wasn't replaced by Cyberlife. I guess they have everything now, huh?"
"I suppose you're wondering where you're going to stay tonight?"
"Well yeah I suppose I am."
Hank motioned for Connor to follow him. He lead him past two rooms.
"If you need anything I'm in the bedroom on the left side. To the right of that is the bathroom."
He continued to walk further down the hallway until they reached a room on the left and right sides.
"Cole's room is across from your room and you'll be staying in the guest room on the right."
Hank left Connor to the accommodations. He opened the door to the guest room and stepped inside. Most of it was empty, except for the sheetless mattress on the bed to the right of the room and the old worn wooden dresser clear on the left side.
There was a knock on the door panel minutes later.
"Knock knock."
Connor turned to face Hank.
"I returned with blankets. I wasn't sure if you'd be comfortable."
"Can I use the shower or do you two use it?"
"I already took a shower. My son usually takes one in the morning before work. So it should be free for you to use."
"Got any spare clothes I could borrow."
"Yeah, you intending to shower before bed."
"Well it can be refreshing."
Hank chuckled.
"Well then I think I have some spare clothes in my closet. I'll be back."
He left and returned with some clothes in his arms.
Connor took the pile from him.
"Thank you."
Hank smiled.
"Good night, Connor."
"Good night, Hank."