Impossible Dream
Tank and Lula give a collective sigh of relief the moment the chubby hamster jerked up and lets out a squeak in Lula's firm strong hand, and then take him to see the vet right away. Dr. Dolittle, the kind, energic 50-something lady who takes very good care of all Tank's cats, is still away on honeymoon with her 6th husband, so the always smiling assistant of the clinic takes them to Dr. House instead, and the vet soon decides to keep the hamster hospitalized for 12 hours for further observation.
Joe Morelli, still dizzy from Lula's kiss, listens half-heartedly to the conversation, and feels a sudden pang of panic as Tank thanks the vet and turns to leave. Morelli doesn't know what is wrong with him. He never ever thinks very much of Tank. The silent ebony giant, in Morelli's eyes, is but a thug, a hired muscle, a brainless, soulless minion who follows Ranger around like a guard dog and does whatever Ranger bids. But now suddenly something has changed inside Morelli. He can clearly see—or rather feel—Tank's worthy qualities. He realizes Ranger's right-hand man is actually a brave, smart, caring and truthful person. He has never felt so safe and protected when Tank held him so gently and tenderly in his hand, and he just doesn't want Tank to leave...
Morelli flings himself against the plastic wall of Rex's portable cage and cries out desperately like an abandoned child at Tank's broad, muscular back. He then freezes and gapes at himself as he finally understands what he just yelled. He lowers his head slowly. Tears well up in his eyes. Fragments of long-forgotten memories come back to him. He thinks of his almost always drunk and angry father. He thinks of his one impossible childhood dream. And he knows perfectly why he cried out at Tank, "Daddy, don't leave!"
He can't believe he's still aching and longing for a loving father after all these years.