All Connor could do was worry about Hanks sometimes. After Connor had finished tending to the needs to the growing strays he adopted he comes to the distinct realization that he hadn't seen Hank leave his room all morning. Now, Connor knew that Hank left to work whenever he wanted… but he hadn't come out of the room to eat the cold breakfast sitting on the table. So Connor gathers Mercury into his arms, the kitten growing heavier in weight since he last held it, and he knocks on Hanks door.
"Go away…" He hears a groan.
"You have a job," Connor reminds him, "You need to get up."
"Mmm… go… away…"
Connor rolls his eyes and turns the doorknob. Luckily, it wasn't locked and because of that Connor walks straight in. Hank rolls over in his bed so that he's not facing the door where Connor is standing in, making extra effort just to avoid looking at him. Connor stares at his father and decides to do something he hasn't done in quite a while. He scans him. One scan is enough to tell him what one-hundred medical droids could report to their superior officers. Hank had a fever. The man only reinforced that analysis when he is sent into a coughing fit. His body shakes with each cough and Connor is immediately at his side. He places Mercury on the bedside and leans over to touch his father's back.
He was burning.
Connor then takes a look at the bottles nearby his bed. He had been drinking in his room. If Connor judged correctly, he drunk all those last night, so that means he would also be having a killer hangover too. Talk about a bad mix. Actually, Connor wouldn't know, but his databases told him that both experiences could be painful in their own way. Hank's state was evidence to that.
He takes one look at Mercury who licks her paw and then pulls it over her ears multiple times.
"You'll watch him, right?"
"The damn cat is not going to watch me," Hank is suddenly able to speak coherently. He doesn't turn though. He's probably too tired to move.
Connor ignores his grumpy, sick, father. He stands up, goes back to the kitchen, and starts whipping up something else. Soup, he had learned, was the to-go substance for humans when they were sick. It was easy to digest and it wasn't hard on the human body. Connor stirs a simple chicken noodle soup. It came straight from a can in one of the cupboards. Connor had no doubt the can had been sitting there for a while but it seemed the best option compared to the limited resources in the fridge.
Sumo, from across the room, picks himself up lazily and waddles to the smell of food. He sits by Connor's foot, tail wagging, waiting for any food that might just drop on the floor by accident.
"Sorry Sumo, nothing for you today," Connor smiles at the dog. Connor had a weak-will when it came to Sumo. When Sumo would come to beg for food, as long as it wasn't toxic or harming to dogs, he would gladly allow Sumo to be his taste-tester. Unfortunately, Sumo seemed to like everything so Connor could tell if some things tasted badly or not.
After Connor is done with the soup he walks back into Hank's room and places it on the side-table. He retreats once more to checks the bathroom's supplies for any basic fever or cold medicine. All he could find was cough relief which seemed better than nothing. That's why Connor sweeps it out of one of the bathroom's drawer and carries it into Hank's room.
Connor settles himself on Hank's bedside and says, "I made soup," he then adds, "and I got something that may relieve your cough."
Hank throws his hand in the air and waves it in dismissal.
"Leave me alone…" he groans. It was then that Connor noticed how Mercury had made herself comfortable on top of Hank's side. Mercury was the picture of pure content, unlike Hank who huddled in his blankets.
Connor chuckles softly at the sight.
Hank ignores him.
"Alright, well, if you need anything… just call me," Connor tells him. He lifts his weight from the bedside and prepares to leave.
Hank stops him.
"Connor?" He rasps, his throat dry.
"Hank," Connor returns. He then says, quieter, "Dad."
Hank is silent for a few moments and then he finally says, putting Connor's poor hear to ease, "Thanks."