It was the middle of November and another early winter quickly left Detroit covered in snow and ice that left everything absolutely chilled to its core. While many of the homes and apartments in the city cranked up the heat, invested in thick blankets or even made a few fires in the fireplaces, other places needed to rely on less effective methods to try to keep warm during the relentlessly chilly nights. Older buildings had cracked walls, missing windows and massive holes in the ceiling that allowed snow, ice and wind to pass through the neglected shelters. Only thin wooden boards and weak tarps could be used by the less fortunate to try to keep the feeble housing secured during the brutal winter season.
The houses in the reclaimed neighborhood were all prone to such extreme weather conditions and needed to be secured before any permanent damage had been done to the properties. In order to keep the already neglected houses from decaying any further, Connor used all of his resources to temporarily secure weather resistant plastic sheets over all of the windows of the houses, pull tarps over the roofs, and secure the doors with wooden boards. It looked more like Connor was preparing for a hurricane than a blizzard, but his methods were effective all the same.
Only after securing his tools and extra supplies in the basement of his own house did Connor finally get out of the ankle-deep snow and below freezing temperatures. The deviant detective was trembling as snowflakes and ice crystals began to drip from his hair and clothing as he wandered through his insulated house and made his way to the thermostat to check on the house's current temperature after he finished taking care of his property.
Due to the rapidly freezing temperatures looming over the city Connor had to speed up his repair procedures and had managed to install a new furnace, hot water heater, electrical wiring, water pipes and filters for the house's vents before winter had set in. However, the lack of power being supplied to the house made all of the repairs and replacements nearly useless during such inclement weather.
"Seventeen d-degrees as of the m-moment."
Shivering as he spoke Connor knew that it was too dangerous to remain in such a cold environment for too much longer. Being exposed to extreme temperatures would damage his system and overtax his recently replaced thermal regulator.
"I sh-should check on Lucas's house, then r-return to Hank's house."
Zipping up his leather jacket and pulling down his wool beanie over his hair and ears could only do so much to protect Connor from the cold weather. The deviant's face was still exposed to the wind and snow, and wearing only jeans with his tan work boots did little to protect his legs from the cold air. After trudging down to Lucas's house just a few doors down to check on the property Connor was greeted with a warning regarding the weather forecast and knew he needed to be quick to keep ahead of the blizzard.
...LOADING INFORMATION:
...INCOMING WEATHER ALERT:
WARNING:
-SNOW AND WIND ADVISORY IN IMMEDIATE EFFECT-
[...A blizzard is expected to reach Wayne County at approximately 17:43 on 11/20/2039]
[...Wind gusts estimated to reach 45mph - 55mph]
[...Temperatures expected to fall to -12°F by nightfall]
[...Snowfall estimated to fall between 4" - 7" overnight]
[...Black ice is expected - road travel is actively discouraged]
[...Rolling blackouts are to be anticipated]
-SEEK ADEQUATE AND IMMEDIATE SHELTER-
"Damn it, n-not now."
Swearing to himself Connor rapidly checked over Lucas's property while trying to ignore the biting cold cutting into his exposed artificial skin. The deviant detective still loathed the cold and struggled with memories of Amanda attempting to overtake his mind to assassinate Markus post peaceful Revolution in the original timeline that had been essentially erased save for what Connor could still remember. Living on the icy streets as a homeless deviant and then falling through the partially frozen pond to save Cole only made his disdain for the cold even worse. The extreme cold always hurt his body and plagued his mind with negative associations.
Determined to handle things properly Connor ignored the icy sting tearing into his exposed hands and along his face as he double-checked Lucas's property to ensure that the snowstorm didn't damage his little brother's house. He didn't want all of Lucas's hard work to be for nothing due to natural forces that no one could alter, control or prevent.
As he checked the doors and windows Connor received a message from Hank asking the deviant about where he was and if he could possibly stop by a convenience store to pick up some cold medicine. It seemed that he wasn't the only one being affected by the cold weather and feeling hurt, rundown and just plain lousy thanks to the early onset winter hitting Detroit seemingly out of nowhere.
"The h-house is secured."
Connor backed away from the house and attempted to breathe a warm breath into his palms to stave off the cold. The effort did very little considering Connor was already chilled inside and out, and the deviant's palms were still icy cold.
"I c-can quickly get t-to the store and get Cole h-his medicine, then return t-to Hank's house."
The unwillingness to ever let anyone down would seemingly be Connor's personal downfall. Keeping on foot to avoid any dangerous vehicular mishaps would also prove to be detrimental to Connor's physical health as he did his best to support his small family in the only way that he felt that he could. Being selfless often led to a lack of self-care on Connor's part, but that was a character flaw that the deviant detective would both deny and not see as a weakness in general.
The large house with the covered pool in the backyard was intensely warm in comparison to the snowstorm swirling about outside the closed doors and windows. With a small fire glowing in the hearth to keep the livingroom warm and inviting, the entire house felt like an actual sanctuary welcoming anyone and everyone who needed shelter from the intense cold. Hank had built the modest fire, placed the metal screen over the hearth to keep the burning logs from rolling onto the livingroom floor, then proceeded to bury Cole under a layer of three blankets as his sick son curled up in a ball on the couch with Sumo right beside him. Despite doing his best Hank was unable to protect Cole from the common cold or from developing a nasty chest infection that winter.
Lightly Hank pressed the back of his hand to Cole's forehead and winced at the fever clinging to his son's body. While Cole was otherwise very healthy and could often shake off any illness that managed to cling to him, Hank couldn't help but worry about one illness developing into a second worse illness or being misdiagnosed as one minor ailment in comparison to another far more serious alternative ailment. A parent's worst fear was being unable to protect their family.
"How's your head?" Hank whispered as he pulled back his hand and watched Cole's glassy blue eyes look up at him. "Need anything?"
Speaking softly Cole tried to not aggravate his chest or throat. "...Chest hurts."
"You were coughing pretty hard for a while. I'll bring you a heating pad to hold against your chest, it'll make the pain ease up."
The devoted father went in search of the electric heating pad stored in the hallway closet and soon heard Cole coughing again. It seemed that his son could only get a few precious minutes of relief from his coughing fits before another one would rear its ugly head and burn through his aching chest.
"Connor will be back with some cough syrup soon." Placing the heating pad down against Cole's chest through the mound of blankets was all Hank could do to help his son feel only slightly better while he was so sick. "That'll help you to breathe and get some sleep."
Cole continued to cough as he wrapped his arms around the heating pad and held it against the center of his chest. Soon a steady warmth began to emanate from the heating pad and seep into his aching chest to soothe his strained muscles and ribcage after the repeated coughing left his whole body feeling as if he had just run a marathon.
With Cole taken care of for the time being Hank tended to the fire and made sure the flames wouldn't burn out any time soon. The wind was beginning to pick up speed and Hank knew that the risk of a power outage was very real. If the house lost power then they'd lose heat very quickly. The fireplace was the best way to keep the livingroom properly warm.
Just as Hank placed a new log down into the hearth the front door opened and shut quickly as Lucas and Bruno managed to get to the house despite the intense cold and snow outside. The sight of the duo covered from head to toe in snow was a little frightening considering how quickly Lucas and Bruno could walk even while in foul weather.
"We managed to find some warm food before every business in the city shut down for the night." Lucas confirmed as he revealed a paper take-out bag that he had kept safe under his heavy brown trench coat. The deviant placed the bag down on the coffee table and reached inside to reveal a small container of hot chicken noodle soup for Cole to try and eat while he was sick. "Soup for Cole and an extra cheesy panini for Hank."
"Thanks, son. Get your coat and shoes off, and then grab a quilt." Hank urged as he watched Lucas shake off some of the snow by the front door as the warmer air washed over the deviant. "You two have got to be freezing!"
"Let me dry off Bruno's pelt first, then we'll gather together in the livingroom."
"Good idea." Checking through the provided food Hank sighed with gratitude as he saw the piping hot soup and knew it'd help Cole feel better as soon as he had enough strength and appetite to eat anything and keep it down. "Do you know where Connor is right now?"
"I spoke to him cybernetically and confirmed that he had been securing our houses from the storm." Lucas called out from the bathroom as he finished drying off Bruno's fur with the towel, then returned to the livingroom with Bruno trotting in front of him. The K-9 unit peered at Cole's sick face for a moment before he gently pressed his nose into Cole's chin then rested his own chin down on Cole's arm to keep the sick boy company. "He confirmed that he'd be picking up some medication for Cole before coming here."
"How long ago was that?"
"Approximately nineteen minutes and twenty-two seconds."
"All right, then he should be here soon." Hank pulled back the curtain over the window and peered out at the snow and wind whipping around the property. Detroit was right on the cusp of a painfully cold blizzard that'd be talked about for months. "I'm glad you're both going to be staying in the house during this storm. I know your office downtown is secured, warm and that you have everything you need, but I'd hate to think of you and Bruno stuck out there without anyone to rely on in case you two ended up sick or something."
"One of the perks to us being androids is the immunity to human ailments." Casually Lucas leaned over the back of the couch and ran a biometric scan over Cole to monitor the little boy's vital signs. He could see that Cole had some congestion in his lungs due to mucus as opposed to fluid, and he knew that Cole wasn't going to be feeling great for about a week as he recovered. "Perhaps it'll be androids who find a way to cure the common cold and find a flu vaccine that helps eradicate influenza as opposed to just weakening it every season."
Cole could only cough again and curl around himself even tighter as he laid in his sick misery on the couch buried under his blankets and two loyal dogs.
"You'll feel better soon enough, son." Hank promised as he let the curtain fall from his fingers and cover the window again. He had caught sight of Connor making his way up the partially shoveled front walk and toward the front door, and he decided to meet the deviant at the door itself. "You got some hot food, warm blankets, and you'll have some medicine in a few minutes that'll ease that nasty cough. You'll be back on your feet and playing the trombone again in no time!"
Waiting by the front door Hank prepared to take the medicine from Connor and give it to Cole himself. He didn't want his son to suffer any longer than absolutely necessary with his illness. It was in Hank's nature to always protect those he cared about in any and everywhere possible. When Connor didn't appear outside the door or try to communicate with anyone despite being so close to the house, Hank sensed something was wrong. Peering through the door's peephole Hank spotted something that made his stomach drop and his blood run as cold as the blizzard raging outside.
"Connor?!"
With that single name just passed his lips Hank pulled the front door open and rushed outside into the cold snow and wind. Kneeling down in the middle of the icy walkway was Connor looking disturbingly pale, still and almost essentially void of all life. It was as if Connor's body had become frozen in place and the deviant was unable to take a single step forward. Connor's eyes were closed and his entire being was freezing to the touch.
"I got ya', son. You're going to be okay."
Hank stood behind Connor and wrapped both arms around the deviant's icy chest. After pulling Connor up to his feet Hank pushed Connor forward while also supporting a majority of his weight to direct Connor inside the warm house to thaw out and regain his strength.
"It'll be okay, I'll get you warmed up."
Lucas saw Connor's frozen form and heard Hank's words as the two detectives returned to the livingroom. Moving swiftly Lucas took Connor's weight from Hank's grip and carried his brother over to the fireplace and laid him down on his side to lay before the glowing hearth. It was important to get Connor's temperature elevated, but it couldn't happen too rapidly without sending the deviant into thermal shock.
"Connor, talk to me." Lucas begged as he removed Connor's snow-soaked beanie and unzipped his frosted over leather jacket. Tucked inside the jacket was a small paper bag containing Cole's cough medicine, and the reason behind Connor's current condition. "Ah, you fool... You didn't take the time to warm up inside the store before returning to the streets. That was very dangerous."
"Damn it." Hank took the medicine from Lucas's grip and opened the bag to peer inside. "I should've told Connor to take his time and not rush it."
"You take care of Cole;" Lucas urged as he focused on his weakened brother. "I'll take care of Connor."
The way Lucas immediately fell into the role of a caretaker and began to assess his brother's vital signs seemed impressively natural. It was as if Lucas had been designed to treat and help people as opposed to being Connor's replacement to hunt down deviants.
"Cole?" Hank opened the bottle of cherry flavored cough syrup and sat on the edge of the couch next to his young son's legs. "You need to take this. It'll make you sleepy, but it'll also take away that cough for a few hours so you can get a break."
Slowly Cole managed to sit upright on the couch to accept the measured dose of liquid medicine from his father's hand. He barely managed to gulp the red tinted cough syrup before needing to lay down again and try to rest. Cole's chest was just hurting him and made it difficult to sit upright for too long.
"That was good. Sleep for now, and I'll keep your soup warm by the fire until you're ready to eat it."
While Cole began to drift off into a restful slumber at last Lucas continued to tend to Connor and do everything in his power to get his brother to wake up and speak to him. The severe cold had forced Connor into emergency stasis mode to conserve his waning power. If Connor became too cold his hardware would suffer physical damage and his Thirium could freeze and turn to slush that would be unable to properly flow through his lines.
"Wake up, brother." Lucas pressed his fingertips to Connor's right temple and attempted to manually reactivate Connor's systems. "Connor, respond."
Hank knelt down beside Connor on the floor and pressed his palm across the deviant's forehead. The icy sensation under his hand made Hank wince as he knew that Connor was hypothermic and in need of assistance.
"Get his boots and jacket off." The Lieutenant directed as he relied on his training as an emergency first responder. "Roll him on to his side with his chest facing the fireplace to get as much warmth on him as possible. We need to make sure that he gets warm without overheating in the process."
Lucas silently did as he was instructed and removed Connor's boots while Hank carefully slipped the unconscious deviant's arms from the sleeves of his jacket. Once Connor was laying on the floor in his jeans and long-sleeved black shirt, Lucas slowly rolled Connor onto his side and watched Hank tuck a small square pillow beneath Connor's head for some support.
"There's some extra blankets in the upstairs closet. We'll use those to keep him warm." Hank stated confidently as he kept his hand on Connor's shoulder then rubbed his palm up and down the deviant's upper arm to try to use friction heat to get the deviant to respond. "Connor, can you hear us?"
"Dad?" Cole opened his eyes and looked over at Connor while Lucas went upstairs in search of the additional blankets. "What's wrong with Connor?"
"He got too cold today. He's going to be all right in a while though, go to sleep now."
Suddenly Connor began to shiver as his system struggled to keep his Thirium from freezing and turning to slush. The rapid synthetic muscle spasms were the only way to keep icy crystals from forming and obstructing Thirium flow while Connor's core temperature remained dangerously low. However, as he shivered Connor began to steadily warm up and didn't notice Lucas dropping a thick quilt down over top of him as he laid on the floor before the fireplace.
"He's starting to warm up." Lucas confirmed as he pressed his fingertips to Connor's temple again. "You take care of Cole and I'll monitor Connor's condition."
"I'm going to take care of both of them. Connor's frozen to the core because I asked him to stop at the store for me, so the least I can do is help him get warmed back up and recover after all that."
"Very well." Sitting on the floor beside Connor's back, Lucas continuously scanned his brother's system for any changes. "We'll work together and ensure that they recover twice as quickly."
The storm outside the house began to increase in intensity and started to affect the power throughout the entire city. Lights flickered with the taunt of going black at any second while the constant glow of the fireplace fought the encroaching darkness while keeping the sheltering family warm. The outer rooms of the house were beginning to cool down due to the strength of the snowstorm rocking the house on its foundation, whereas the livingroom remained consistently warm and surprisingly quiet for everyone as they tried to keep warm and rest.
Cole had fallen asleep and stayed asleep with Sumo and Bruno keeping him warm under his blankets. Connor was still unconscious, but his core temperature was stabilizing enough that Lucas didn't feel the need to constantly hover over his brother. Hank was hovering between Cole and Connor while Lucas used the hearth to warm up some Thirium for Connor to drink and continue to keep Cole's soup warm for the little boy.
"Cole's fever has decreased." Lucas whispered as he finished running a biometric scan over the little boy's vital signs once again. "I've also noted that the congestion in his lungs is beginning to lessen as well."
"Finally..." Hank sighed in exasperated relief as he adjusted the blankets over Cole's shoulder to make sure his son stayed warm and comfortable. "Some good news."
"The hoodie you gave to Connor is very helpful." Lucas noted as he pressed his palm down on Connor's chest and felt that his body was warming up. The extra thick D.P.D. hoodie given to Connor was helping the heat from the fireplace to linger over the chilled deviant's form. "And Connor's core temperature is nearly back to normal."
"Even better." Sitting down on the floor Hank rested with his back pressed to the front of the couch and pulled his own blanket around his shoulders. "You know, this is the second time that I've seen Connor practically frozen to death because he put Cole's own wellbeing above his actual safety."
Lucas peered down at Connor's face and watched as his big brother began to twitch slightly where he was lying before the fireplace. "When was the first time that such a scenario had happened?"
"I had tried to take Cole out to a little frozen pond to teach him how to ice skate and even play a little ice hockey, but I had misjudged the thickness of the ice. Cole ended up falling in and Connor went in after him to get him out of the water and save his life."
"Connor never told me about that."
"Probably because I was being a massive dick to him at the time, and I didn't care that he nearly sacrificed himself to save Cole's life." Hank's admission came from a painful and embarrassing place in his life that he was eternally ashamed of. "Connor never complained and kept worrying about Cole even after he had been taken to the hospital and given the all-clear by the docs. I didn't know how much the cold was affecting him until he nearly froze to death in the livingroom. I wish I could take all my shitty behavior back."
"It seems that Connor's primary focus has always been taking care of others and protecting them before tending to his own needs."
"I could say the same for you." Crossing one outstretched leg over the other, Hank eyed Lucas and let the deviant know that he and Connor shared another trait beyond just their appearances and kind natures. "You've been actively watching over Connor and acting like his personal technician all evening long."
"Technician? No." Such an idea seemed too foreign for Lucas to accept as a potential reality for himself. "I was programmed to work as a detective, nothing else."
"Nope, no way. You're a free man now, and you can do whatever you want." As he spoke Hank lightly ran his hand along Cole's hair and hoped that his sick son would wake up feeling much better thanks to the medicine and heating pad easing his flu symptoms. "You could be a detective, a technician or even a damn firefighter if you wanted to. You just need to make that decision for yourself and go for it."
"I appreciate that level of confidence and support."
"And I mean it. I know Connor feels the same way." Hank felt Cole's body tense up for a moment as his son sighed in his sleep and curled up again as he continued to sleep deeply in a warm and safe environment. As he kept his hand on Cole's hair Hank noticed Sumo snuggling closer to Cole's legs and Bruno perk up his ears as he continued to watch over Cole. "You two are destined to do great things in this world. I know that sounds cheesy or like I'm putting impossible expectations for you two to live up to on your shoulders, but I'm being entirely sincere. You and Connor are going to fix this fucked up world once and for all."
"I doubt I'll be able to chance the world, but I'd like to think that my existence is more important than being a failed tool and assassin."
"It is. You're a great brother to both Cole and Connor, an amazing caretaker for Bruno," Hank was rewarded with a slobbery lick to his cheek from Bruno for saying such compassionate words. "thanks..." Wiping his cheek off with his shirt's hem Hank continued with what he was saying. "And you've become a respected, trusted honorary leader in New Jericho just by continuing to be a good person and doing good things. You're way more than what CyberLife could've ever tried to tell you what you could and could not be. You can be anything you want in this world as long as you don't give up on yourself."
Blushing faintly Lucas contemplated Hank's words and remembered what someone else had told him not too long ago. "That's what Chloe told me as well."
"See? If your new friend can see the best in you after just knowing you for a few months, then you know everything that we're saying is true."
"I wonder if Connor can see the best in himself as well?"
"You've noticed his sudden lack of confidence too, huh?" Hank looked up at Cole again and watched as his son slept peacefully and pulled his blanket up higher around himself and buried his face into his pillow. Being able to talk about such matters while both Cole and Connor were asleep seemed to be an ideal and rare opportunity that needed to be taken advantage of. "Kamski got into his head a while back, and even though I keep reminding Connor that he's been an amazing and caring person from the first day that I had met him, Connor just can't seem to see himself as the natural protector and guardian that he is."
"I understand what you mean by calling him a protector considering he works in law enforcement, but guardian seems redundant."
"Not at all." Trailing his gze over to Connor as he continued to rest Hank helped Lucas understand what he was saying. "When I say 'guardian' I mean the way he acts like a parental figure toward Cole, Aria and even you whenever you three need someone to watch over them while me, Gavin and Abby can't be there."
"Parental?"
"I guess in your case it's more fraternal than parental, but since Connor's known Cole since he was six he ended up being an honorary parent whenever I had to work and couldn't be around for Cole as much as I wanted, and he definitely took on a more parental role." A sly smile appeared on Hank's face as he looked at Connor and wondered what his life would've been like had Connor not shown up and altered time and space just for him. "I can't imagine my life without Cole, without Connor and without you being a part of it."
"You're speaking as if we're a family."
"Is that really so crazy? Families come in all shapes and sizes, and they're composed of people from all walks of life." The casual reaction was oddly befitting of such a deep and reflective conversation. "I'm Cole's father, you're Connor and Cole's brother and I think of you and Connor as my bonus sons, so... Yeah. We're our own little family. Deal with it."
Lucas couldn't help but feel as if Hank was correct in some way. He knew that Markus saw Carl as his own father, and he had met Kara and Luther who had taken in Alice as their own daughter after relocating to Canada. There was no way to truly define a family beyond a group of people who loved each other without question and always stood by to support them regardless of challenges and hardships.
By all account, the eclectic group of friends were also a family.
A deep sigh escaped Connor's lips as the previously hypothermic deviant began to stir and his sense of awareness broke through the darkness of his stasis mode. Twitching his hand Connor felt the warmth of the fireplace radiating on his palm and in turn he closed his hand into a fist as he opened his eyes and looked up at his warm, safe environment.
"You're all right." Lucas soothed as he put his hand on Connor's shoulder and pulled his brother's attention toward himself. He could see that Connor was a little confused and still slightly chilled, but he was otherwise he was on his way to a full recovery. "Once you can sit up you need to drink warm Thirium."
Connor attempted to push himself upright from the floor as his arms trembled and his senses came back online. Even though he was in a warm home with a blanket wrapped around him and had a roaring fire to keep him from freezing a second time, Connor still felt chilly and struggled to just keep his body still as he sat cross-legged on the floor beside his brother.
"You had suffered from momentary hypothermia after prolonged exposure to below freezing temperatures." Lucas explained as he helped Connor to sit upright and reached for the bottle of Thirium that had been left near the fireplace to warm up without getting too hot. "You're going to be all right as long as you remain warm and avoid such cold weather for the next forty-eight hours. Your replacement thermal regulator cannot take such strain."
"I..." Connor swallowed once before he took the offered Thirium and began to slowly sip at it to replenish his partially depleted reserves. The cold air had stung his air intake line and left his throat feeling unusually dry and irritated. "I just... wanted to help Cole."
"You did. Cole's going to be all right and he's now asleep."
Connor had noticed Lucas nodding in the direction of the couch and saw Cole indeed sleeping peacefully under his mound of blankets and with two loyal dogs keeping him company even while ill. Even though his scanners weren't functional Connor knew that Cole was stable and resting well. It was a strange feeling that he couldn't explain but knew was true all the same.
Looking down at himself Connor took notice of the black D.P.D. hoodie that had been slipped over his head as he rested. It was Hank's hoodie and it smelled of the man's aftershave all around the collar. Something about being given the hoodie and knowing that it was undoubtedly Hank's hoodie reassured Connor that his friendship with Hank wasn't a distant memory after all. It seemed the man had grown to care about him in the new timeline just as he had done in the original timeline.
"Now it's your turn to be helped." Lucas continued as he encouraged Connor to keep drinking the Thirium. "The medicine you selected is helping Cole rest and remove the congestion from his lungs. Once he awakens, he'll have some warm soup to keep up his strength until his flu passes."
Feeling as if he needed to apologize for worrying everyone Connor attempted to explain his behavior but was promptly cut off by Lucas. "It wasn't my-"
"We know that you didn't intend to let yourself become affected by the cold." As Connor's brother Lucas already knew what the selfless deviant was going to try and say as he did his best to ease everyone's concerns toward himself. "You just pushed yourself too hard while tending to the neighborhood restoration project and doing what you could to take care of Cole. We understand."
"H-How severe is Cole's infection?"
"He doesn't require a doctor's care or antibiotics." After Connor finished the Thirium Lucas put his hand on Connor's shoulder and urged him to lay back down and get some more rest. As long as Connor remained warm then he'd make a proper recovery and wouldn't need to see a technician. "You on the other hand are on the verge of requiring an appointment at a facility to have your thermal regulator recalibrated a second time."
Laying back on the floor with the pillow under his head and thick quilt over his body, Connor refrained from putting up any argument to avoid being forced to go and see a technician. While he did trust Abby's skills and knew she'd never do anything to ever harm him, Connor couldn't shake his lingering fear of technicians and mistrust toward anyone who could tamper with his biocomponents or alter his software.
"We're all going to remain here in the livingroom until the storm passes." Lucas continued to explain everything as he watched Connor glancing about the livingroom to assess his current situation and options. "I'll lie here alongside you to ensure that if an error occurs in the night that I'll be able to help you immediately."
"Thank you, brother. And thank you, Hank." Connor acknowledged Hank's help and comfort as he tugged at the center of the hoodie and felt how soft and warm the fabric was under his touch. "I appreciate this."
"Just get better, son." Hank called out as he grabbed an extra pillow sitting in the recliner and handed it over to Lucas before handing him a quilt as well. "We're going to camp out here for the night, watch out for each other and make sure no one gets cold or sick again."
Glancing over at Hank as the man watched him and kept close to Cole laying on the couch, Connor felt an odd sense of protection that he hadn't felt since he had altered the timeline. It was as if the friend that Connor had once known had finally returned to his life and was now watching his back as if nothing had changed despite everything being affected by a single deviant's choice to defy space and time.
As he began to relax and allow his system to enter a light rest mode Connor sensed Cole beginning to rouse and watched as Hank immediately put his palm on his young son's forehead to monitor his fever. It was amazing to see how the care that Hank showed toward Cole could be shown toward Connor himself and Lucas whenever they were in need of a support and guidance.
"You two get some sleep." Settling down on the floor Hank leaned his head back to rest atop the couch cushions and proceeded to tighten his quilt around himself to keep warm. By staying close to Cole at all times Hank was certain he'd be able to keep things under control during the cold, windy night. "I'll stay up first to keep an eye on Cole and Connor, and I'll keep the fire going. When I start to drift off, I'll wake up Lucas and get some sleep myself."
Lucas held his pillow for a moment as he contemplated the logic behind Hank's suggestion. "Are you sure? I don't require any rest."
"I'm sure. I'm not gonna' be able to sleep much as it is, so it's just easier this way." Being a father meant that Hank had gotten used to having a very strange sleep schedule whenever it came to looking out for his family. The stormy weather and Cole's lingering sickness guaranteed he wouldn't be able to sleep much anyway. "I'll be fine for a few hours. I want all three of you to sleep, keep warm and not worry about a damn thing. I'll be here to watch after all of you until this storm's over and everyone is feeling much better. The holidays are just around the corner, and I want everyone feeling their best."
-next chapter-