After getting a late start the following afternoon, Connor and Hank were finally at the cabin and enjoying a moment of peace and quiet away from the busy city. The cabin was truly a sanctuary that spared the two detectives their sanity and eliminated their stress just by being able to sit beside the lake and not have to worry about anything for a few days. Leaving Sumo behind to be tended to by Chris, and taking the Corvette up through the woods to enjoy the restored car on a lengthier drive, the duo found the small reclusive space to be the ideal place to hide from the world and take a much needed breather after all of the excitement they had recently endured.
The quiet drive came to an uneventful end as the cobalt blue vehicle reached the correct drive and pulled up to the cabin. The isolated getaway was just as inviting as ever.
"She handles nice and smooth." Hank noted proudly as he and Connor stepped out of the restored Corvette and headed toward the cabin with their bags in hand. "And that shade of blue is perfect for her."
"Yes. I agree." Connor pocketed the key into his jeans and followed Hank up to the front porch of the cabin as Hank pulled the cabin's key from his own pocket with a smooth motion. "Maybe we should find another vehicle to restore for next spring."
"You want to work on another car?" Unlocking the door Hank stepped inside the cabin and dropped his gray dufflebag and small cooler on the floor by the sofa, Connor doing the same with his black backpack. "Where would we put it?"
"Perhaps you could sell the Pace and replace it with the new car after it's been finished."
"And risk ruining a perfectly restored vehicle in the line of duty? Hell no! Gavin learned that lesson the hard way."
"What if we worked on the Pace itself then? It's not as rundown as your old Oldsmobile Cutlass, but it could still use some restoration."
"Sure, why not?" Standing in the middle of the sitting room Hank pressed his right hand to his lower back as he tried to stretch out the knot that consistently formed as a result of the damage he received to the muscles after being shanked all those months ago. "Before we even think about tearing apart a car or anything else for the following year, let's just enjoy this weekend and relax for a while."
Connor nodded in agreement as he picked up the two bags by their handles and headed up the staircase to put away. "I'll put these in the bedrooms."
"Hold it." Hank walked over to Connor and unzipped the side pouch of the dufflebag and pulled out an age worn book. It was a hardcover detective novel that had yellowed pages and a worn out, almost bent spine from years of enjoyment. "I need this."
"How many times have you read that particular book?"
"No idea, but I still enjoy it every time." Looking out at the lake through the back window near the kitchen Hank motioned to the dock with a coy grin on his face. "I wonder if it'll get any better next to the lake?"
"I do not know."
"That's right, you don't." Holding up the book Hank made a move toward the backdoor and gave Connor a stern glance over his shoulder. "But I'm going to find out."
The sun was beginning to set and Hank was already half way through his book as he sat on the dock with his feet dangling in the cool lake water. As he enjoyed the same story he's already read countless times before he became suddenly aware of a loud rustling sound in the branches of the trees that outlined the property along the lake shore. Glancing up and using his hand to shield his eyes from the sunlight, Hank traced the source of the commotion to Connor who was standing on a low hanging, thick tree branch that was almost nine feet above the ground and loomed ominously near the currently dormant bonfire pit in the backyard.
"Connor?" Shouting to the deviant from where he sat Hank watched as Connor balanced precariously on the branch. "What the hell are you doing up there?"
"I'm climbing the tree."
"Yeah, I can see that. I mean what the hell are you doing climbing the tree at all?"
"I have made great strides in overcoming my acrophobia and I would like to continue to make progress."
The response left Hank with more questions than answers. "...So you climbed a tree?"
"There aren't any trees back home that are of an adequate enough height to climb. This moment seemed ideal."
"Don't fall, all right? I don't want to have to explain to Fowler that you; a deviant who can run from rooftop to rooftop, land on the back of a moving train, wrestle guns out of the hands of violent men and change the world for the better, fell out of damn tree."
"I won't fall." Connor reassured Hank as he stepped a little further out on the branch, his hands using the smaller branches above his head to as a guide and to help keep his balance with each step. "My gyroscope is perfectly calibrated and I'm not experiencing any vertigo."
"Uh-huh..." Closing his book Hank stood up from the edge of the dock and walked over to the tree where Connor was standing, leaving wet footprints along the dry wooden boards of the dock as he moved. Standing near the bonfire pit Hank looked up at the deviant and watched as Connor continued to maintain perfect balance on the tree branches. "How do you feel when you're looking down?"
"Balanced." Without hesitation Connor replied smugly as he stared straight down at Hank without wavering even in the slightest. "Have you finished your book?"
"Half of it. I'm going to go inside and make myself something to eat. And I don't trust you to not fall out of that tree as soon as I turn my back, so climb down and build a bonfire for me, will ya'?"
"If you insist." Walking back toward the trunk of the tree Connor turned to his side and took a single leap off the branch and landed perfectly on his feet beside Hank with a heavy 'thud' on the soft ground. Standing upright with perfect posture Connor gave Hank a somewhat amused look. "Do you require assistance in the kitchen or shall I proceed solely with the bonfire?"
"Are androids part cat or something?" Seeing the deviant's flawless jump was impressive to say the least. "It'd definitely explain your introverted nature, too."
"I'm merely structurally sound." Connor explained with a casual indifference. "As are all androids, it's quite normal."
Muttering a little Hank rubbed his palm over his bearded chin to cover his mouth for a moment. "...Nothing about you is normal."
"Pardon?"
"Nothing, just thinking out loud. Uh, there should be some firewood in the cellar. Here," Hank reached into his back pocket and handed Connor a small butane lighter to use. "this is a lot more convenient than trying to keep matches lit."
"Agreed." Accepting the lighter Connor set about gathering dry firewood from the cellar to build a modest fire in the pit. "I'll proceed with the bonfire."
The sun had set and evening slowly gave way to night. With his right arm tucked beneath his head Connor laid on his back on the cool grass a few feet away from the roaring bonfire as Hank sat down on a log next to the fire to finish the rest of his book in the light of the flames. Staring up at the appearing stars overhead Connor felt the same sense of peace he had felt the night before when he had brought Skye out to the cabin to see the stars in all of their cosmic glory. A few shooting stars streaked in bright white light over the inky blankness just as they had the night before, and another chorus of crickets sang their song and Connor couldn't help but think of Skye herself.
As the sense of peace washed over his own mind Hank glanced over the top of his book and stared at Connor for a moment before he too turned his gaze upward toward the stars. It was truly a gorgeous sight to behold.
"Too bad we can't get a view like this back in the city."
"...Yes." Connor agreed from where he was laying. "It's very pretty."
"Then again, when you can't see the stars every night it makes you appreciate it a little more whenever you do get the chance."
"How long are we going to stay away from the city?"
"I don't know. I figured three days would be nice." Hank marked the yellowed page in his book and closed it slowly before placing it on the warm grass near the fire pit. "I know you can't be homesick. Are you thinking about a 'certain' female deviant?"
Feeling himself blush Connor paused for a moment before he answered honestly. "...I apologize if it's a distraction."
"Don't apologize for thinking about someone, kid. Especially someone you really care about. You miss her and it's a normal response."
"Do you miss Rose?"
"Yeah, I do miss her a little."
"A little?"
"We, uh, we're not entirely exclusive to one another at this point. We're good friends, don't get me wrong, but we're not ready for a committed relationship. To be honest, I don't think I ever will be. Not after Barbara."
The prospect of losing someone that he loved in such a brutal manner was too upsetting to fathom. "I can't imagine that type of emotional turmoil."
"And I hope you never will." Leaning back a little Hank folded his arms over his chest and gazed at the stars with a serene stare as he sat beside the fire. "I like it out here. No chaos, no violence, no sirens... Just stars and crickets. Perfect."
Connor tilted his head a little to look up at Hank sitting a few feet away. "Maybe when you retire from the precinct you can reside out here more often."
"That's a nice thought." The admission in Hank's voice was sincere and intrigued as if he had been thinking the same thing. "Leave all my worries behind in the city and just enjoy life in the forest away from people... Why not? Sounds like paradise."
It was dawn when Hank awoke first and proceeded to enjoy the quiet morning to himself while Connor remained asleep for as long as his rest mode was directed. Setting about the cabin silently for the sake of politeness toward Connor, the senior detective showered off the smoke from the previous night's bonfire and made himself some fresh coffee down in the small kitchen downstairs. Looking out at the lake through the window again as he sipped at his coffee Hank decided that he'd finish reading his book and then spend the rest of the day doing something that Connor wanted to do, but it was then he realized he couldn't find his book.
"Cripes. I left it outside."
Hank grumbled to himself as he put his mug down on the countertop and walked through the backdoor toward the smoldering pit of stones and ash. Spying his book laying a few inches from the pit where he had left it the night before, he reached his hand down and was immediately overwhelmed by a sharp, burning pain in his right forearm.
"Ah! Fuck!"
Stumbling back and pressing his left palm over his pained forearm Hank looked closer at the book on the grass and saw that a rattlesnake was huddled up next to the still warm stones surrounding the bonfire. The snake's tail had been damaged by a predator and despite being shook it failed to make its warning sound as the rattle was too damaged to function properly to keep intruders at bay.
"Oh, shit..."
Lifting up his palm Hank looked down at his raw flesh and saw two perfect puncture wounds in the side of his right forearm right in the middle of the limb. The skin around the marks was already beginning to swell up and bruise as his body reacted to the damage to his flesh and to the venom now beginning to course steadily through his veins.
"Connor?"
Walking very slowly away from the snake Hank returned to the cabin and was met by the deviant in the kitchen as Connor had apparently head him yelp in pain a moment before.
"What's wrong?" Connor had indeed heard Hank outside and was now running a biometric scan on the senior detective's body. "Your voice and vital signs indicate severe distress."
"Damn snake bit me."
"A snake?" Fully alert Connor looked down at Hank's right forearm still being protected by his left hand. Gently he pushed away Hank's left hand and performed a more thorough scan over the wound site carefully. "I can detect trace amounts of venom from within the wounds."
"Of course. There's only one venomous snake species in all of Michigan and it just so happens to bite me."
Lightly Connor ran his fingertips over the wound to collect a sample of the venom still on the inflamed skin and pressed it to his tongue to properly identify it for proper treatment despite Hank's disgust.
"Correct. This is the venom of a 'sistrurus catenatus catenatus'; the Eastern massasauga rattlesnake." Guiding Hank over to one of the chairs beside the kitchen table, Connor proceeded to locate the first aid kit stored in the hall closet of the cabin as he spoke to the stricken detective from the distance. "What are your symptoms?"
"Uh, aside from being in pain and feeling like an ass, I have a weird metallic taste in the back of my throat and my heart feels like it's going to beat out of my chest at any fuckin' moment."
"Slow your breathing. The rapid heartbeat is most likely in response to the adrenaline rush as a result of the pain from the bite or even fear."
"Yeah, I'll try." Hank took in deep breath and let it out slowly and repeated the process until he could feel his heart beginning to slow steadily. "So... You wouldn't happen to have any antivenom in that fancy first aid kit, would ya'?"
"Antivenom requires constant refrigeration, so unfortunately, no." Returning to Hank calmly Connor wrapped some gauze around the bite to keep foreign matter from entering the wound and proceeded to monitor Hank's pulse with his right fingertips against the side of the senior detective's neck. "Elevated heart rate, but no tachycardia."
"Ah jeez, I already feel flu-ish..." Lamenting openly Hank pressed his left hand against his forehead. He was beginning to sweat and feel awful. "And dumb..."
Connor's hand moved up to Hank's forehead, brushing aside Hank's left palm in the process and remained there for a moment. "No fever, but you are perspiring heavily and your skin feels unnaturally cool. Are you nauseated?"
"A little."
"Also a common symptom. Lean against me." Connor insisted as he took charge over the odd situation. Pulling Hank's left arm around his shoulders Connor helped Hank to stand up from the chair very slowly. "I've already informed the nearest hospital of your condition via cybernetic message and confirmed the species of the snake that bit you. They'll have everything ready to aid you once we arrive."
Hank laughed a little as Connor instinctively took control and helped him to stand back up from the chair to lead him to the car parked out in front of the cabin. "You know, without that damn light in your head, even when it wasn't working, I sometimes forget you can contact help without needing a phone or to say a single word out loud. Must be nice..."
"It has its benefits." Connor replied in a lighthearted manner as he walked down the steps and opened up the passenger side door. Carefully he helped Hank to sit down and positioned Hank's right forearm down and across his lap at an angle. "Keep your arm below your heart, it'll slow the spread of the venom."
"How the hell do you know so much about snake bites?"
"I cybernetically downloaded the required information after you told me you had been bitten."
Closing the door with a controlled slam Connor walked around the front of the vehicle and sat down behind the steering wheel. In a flash he had turned the key in the ignition and backed the Corvette down the drive and onto the road. Connor turned in the direction of the nearest hospital and pressed down against the accelerator as he cybernetically tracked Hank's vitals without saying a word.
"Let me know if you begin to feel drowsy or if your vision begins to blur."
Hank sighed and noted a new sensation in his affected forearm. "What about a tingling feeling around the bite?"
"That's to be expected."
"What about numbness in the face?"
"Also a common symptom. Just remain conscious and keep your breathing steady."
"Yeah, right." Hank let out another deep sigh and leaned back in the seat as he tried to keep his breathing nice and slow. "For what it's worth, I'm sorry I ruined this little vacation of ours."
"You're always telling me not to apologize for situations beyond my control or intention," Connor replied coolly without missing a beat as he turned onto the next road and sped up a little more. "I would never expect you to do the same."
"I'll be damned. You really do listen to me."
"Of course I do."
"Then why are you still so stubborn?"
Connor turned his gaze a little to give Hank a stern look. "Because I listen to you."
Laughing once Hank shook his head. "Smartass." Tightening his hand over his bandaged wound Hank let out a sigh of pain and tried to take in another deep breath to ease his discomfort. "...Fuck."
"You're pale." Connor's right fingertips pressed against the side of Hank's neck to check his pulse. "And your heart rate is beginning to elevate again. We're less than two minutes from the hospital."
"...Already?"
"Corvette."
Despite the dire situation Hank laughed again as he fought the urge to shut his eyes. "Guess we fixed her up just in time, huh?"
"Stay awake for me, please." The deviant's voice was urgent but not panicked or even worried. "Unconsciousness can cause your blood pressure to drop and your heart will beat faster in an attempt to compensate."
"You learned all of that from downloading info on snake bites?"
"I downloaded additional information on human biology and anatomy from numerous medical texts after you lost your kidney. I have also acquired an extensive database on human ailments and reactions."
"...Oh. That's handy."
"We're at the hospital." Connor stated calmly as he pulled the car into the emergency parking lot outside the hospital. Throwing the car into park Connor opened his door and motioned for Hank to stay put. "Wait here, I'll find a doctor."
"...Right."
Hank was only just beginning to feel drowsy and his stomach was disagreeing with him. Pressing his left hand back to his forehead, pulling his hand away from his bandaged wound, he leaned back against his seat he fought even harder to keep his eyes opened and nearly jumped when his door was pulled open by Connor. With two orderlies, a doctor and a gurney in tow Connor set about helping to move the injured detective from the car onto the gurney for transport.
"...That was fast."
Connor gave Hank an odd look as he reached his left arm into the car beneath Hank's shoulders and gently pulled him from his seat and out of the car while the orderlies grabbed onto Hank's legs. Working together the trio placed the Hank down gently onto the gurney while the doctor pressed the bell of his stethoscope to the sick detective's chest to check his heartbeat.
"How long ago was he bitten?" The doctor, a young man in his early thirties with black hair and brown eyes, asked as he listened to Hank's heart rate and breathing. "I need an approximate time to gauge the severity of the bite itself."
"Eight minutes and thirty-three seconds." Connor replied accurately as he walked along the gurney as Hank was wheeled inside the front doors to the hospital to receive treatment. "My chronometer is quite accurate."
The doctor unwrapped Hank's injured right forearm and examined the wound. "No sign of allergic reaction to the venom, but we'll need to test the antivenom for a possible allergen before we administer any form of treatment."
"...I understand."
Hank heard the worry in Connor's voice finally starting to well up as he was wheeled into the nearest exam room. "Hey." Connor looked down at Hank as the senior detective addressed him, but didn't say anything. "I'll be all right, son."
"I know."
"Good. Now step back and let the good doctor do his job." Hank lightly smacked the side of Connor's arm with his left hand to get the deviant to back up. "The sooner we get this over with the sooner we can leave."
"...Okay." Pausing just outside the emergency treatment room. "I'll be waiting outside for you, dad."
As two long hours passed by Connor began pacing through the waiting room of the hospital with his quarter dancing over his left knuckles, then flying over to his right hand to begin a new dance. Unable to sit still or stop himself from looking into the known statistics regarding the mortality rate for humans and rattlesnake bites, the deviant only stopped walking and thinking when a nurse cleared her throat and lightly put her hand on Connor's shoulder to get his attention without making him jump.
"Excuse me," the nurse stated sweetly as she spoke to Connor in a warm tone. "I have an update on your father."
Connor didn't even flinch at the term or question it as he turned to look down at the shorter nurse. "Is he all right?" The coin came to sudden stop between his right thumb and index finger as he waited for his answer. "Did he respond well to the treatment?"
"He's already shown improvement in his condition," the nurse confirmed with a sincere smile. "but Dr. Che will be able to tell you more."
"I can see him?"
"Yes. Come with me."
Connor was eager to check in with Hank and quickly pocketed his coin out of sight as he was shown to the room where Hank was resting. Dr. Che was making a note in Hank's electronic chart and checking his vitals on the cardiac monitor, but he didn't seem concerned with the detective's current condition. Hank himself was dozing lightly in an upright position in the private bed with a nasal canula under his nose and opened his eyes a little as Connor walked into the room.
"Dr. Che?" The deviant asked in a low voice as he approached the doctor tending to Hank. "May I come in?"
Dr. Che turned to look at the voice and saw Connor entering the room. "Connor, right?"
"Yes." Connor confirmed as he stood next to the bed and extended his hand out to greet the doctor properly. "How severe was the bite?"
"Could've been worse." Dr. Che explained nonplussed as he shook Connor's hand respectfully. "Fortunately only one of the fangs managed to find a vein, the other missed and the venom collected just under his skin. We removed the venom, cleaned the wound and bandaged it. We also administered the antivenom, a tetanus shot as a precaution and now have your father on antibiotics to stave off a possible infection. His vitals are strong and stable, but I'm going to have him admitted for the day to ensure he remains stable due his single remaining kidney."
Connor nodded a little as he looked at the two I.V.'s, one hooked into the bend of Hank's arm left and the other in the back of his right hand. They were necessary to ensure Hank's recovery, yet the sight was still uncomfortable.
"It was a good thing you didn't try to extract the venom yourself." Dr. Che continued the explanation casually. "Too many campers try to cut open the wounds to squeeze out the venom or try to find a way to suck it out and end up making the injury even worse. Even ice can make the wound worse."
"I'm familiar with the proper etiquette for snake bites." Connor sharply replied, not as a means to sound arrogant but to acknowledge Dr. Che's reasoning. "I'm glad I was able to gain access to such vital information."
Dr. Che nodded a little to acknowledge Connor's words.
"Does he have to remain in the hospital? He dislikes hospitals immensely."
"Well," Dr. Che picked up the electronic clipboard and made a few notes in the chart. "if he cooperates and if he shows no sign of illness within the next twelve hours, I believe I can let him go. As long as he has someone to keep an eye on him, that is."
"I will do so."
"Okay." Agreeing to let Hank go if he remained stable Dr. Che left the deviant to be alone with Hank just as the senior detective's eyes fell closed again. "He's going to be tired for the next few hours, but once he regains his strength and eats something I can permit him to be discharged by this evening."
"Thank you, Dr. Che."
Time passed by steadily with no sign of complications on Hank's part. Patiently Connor was standing at the foot of Hank's bed with arms crossed defensively over his chest as he observed Hank's behavior closely. As the recovering detective stubbornly pushed around the small cup of green jello around with the plastic spoon over the serving tray, Connor addressed him in a somewhat stern voice. Attempting to imitate the same paternal discipline that Hank often used against him while being stubborn with his own injuries, Connor reminded Hank that he needed to cooperate before he could leave the hospital and return to the cabin to heal.
"You must eat, otherwise you'll be forced to remain in the hospital overnight and receive intravenous fluids."
"Yeah, yeah..." Hank stopped fussing with the jello and gave Connor an annoyed look. "I hate green."
"Even jello?"
"When I'm getting over nausea, yeah. Especially wiggly jello."
"If I find you some red jello will that be acceptable?"
"Sure. Worth a shot."
The nurse outside the room had overheard the conversation and happily supplied the senior detective with numerous other jello cups to choose from. Flashing Connor a flirtatious smile and a wink she leaned in a little as she walked by. "He isn't the first cop we've had as a patient. We know the drill."
Connor was a little confused by the nurse's actions and gave Hank a perplexed look as she exited the room and lowered his voice. "...Why did she wink at me?"
"She thinks you're cute." Hank teased as he peeled off the foil lid of the red jello and finally began to eat a little of it with the white plastic spoon. Cherry was more appealing than lime on Hank's upset stomach. "She was flirting with you."
"Flirting? But I am not interested in her."
"That doesn't mean she isn't interested in you."
"Should I inform her that I am currently interested in Skye?"
"No, let her think she has a chance. Nurses get abused by gross, rude patients all day long. Stay nice and charming, it'll make her day."
"Do you flirt with nurses?"
"Not since I got engaged."
Connor finally lowered his arms from his chest and he gave Hank an odd glance. "Finish your jello and I'll speak with Dr. Che in regarding your discharge papers."
"Hey, Connor?" Appreciative of his son's every action Hank called out to the deviant just as Connor stepped through the doorway and into the hallway. "Thanks for staying calm and getting me here so quick."
A proud smirk appeared on Connor's face as he heard the genuine relief in Hank's voice. "You're welcome."
It was already dark by the time the two detectives returned to the cabin after their encounter with the snake. Hank was tired but he was no longer feeling ill and he had regained a considerable amount of his strength. All the same Connor insisted that Hank remain on the sofa in the sitting room and not risk straining his injured arm if his back ended up aching and throwing off his balance. Despite his reluctance to let someone else take care of him Hank decided to be cooperative for Connor's sake and remained on the sofa to rest.
"I don't need you to watch over me all night." Hank grumbled as Connor escorted him to the sofa and he sat down slowly. "The doctor said I'm fine."
"I'm aware. But I would prefer to take extra steps to ensure you remain fine."
"Can I at least go get my book by the fire pit?"
"I'll get it for you. And I'll make sure the snake is no longer on the premises."
"Be careful, don't let it bite you, too."
"Androids are unaffected by reptilian venom, as well as-"
"Connor." The senior detective gave the deviant an impatient glance as he realized his worries were unfounded. "Book please."
"Yes. Of course."
"And if you do find the snake, don't bother it!" Hank shouted cautiously as Connor walked through the backdoor. "The snake didn't do anything wrong."
"I won't harm it."
Pulling back the gauze bandages from around his right forearm Hank examined the cleaned out, but still sore wounds courtesy of the snake bite. The bruises were still prominent but they'd fade soon enough. Hank was just glad he didn't bleed severely and that the wound had stopped seeping from the venom or bacterial infection threatening to develop in his tissues.
"I found the snake." Speaking coolly Connor returned to the cabin and handed Hank his requested book. "It was apparently trying to use the residual heat from the bonfire pit to keep warm during the night."
"Yeah? Is it still there or did it take off when you got close?"
"Actually, I picked it up and moved it to the treeline away from the property. I also left a still warm stone from the fire pit in the shrubbery for it to huddle against for a while longer."
"Did it try to bite you?"
"No." The deviant confirmed casually as he sat down on the sofa next to Hank and looked at the exposed wounds on Hank's right forearm. "I can move faster than it can, so even if it made an attempt I wouldn't have been injured."
"I'm glad you didn't hurt it. A lot of people would've just reacted violently toward the snake and killed it out of petty revenge or some egotistical bullshit."
"I see no point in killing an animal for obeying its natural instincts and believing it needed to defend itself from a predator."
"Good, that's how you should react." Hank flipped open his book to the page he had marked from last night and leaned back against the couch cushion to resume reading. "I'm going to finish my book and then I'll go to bed. I, uh, I'm sorry I ruined the final day our vacation."
"Don't apologize, please." Connor sounded more upset over Hank's self disappointment than Hank did over such a silly matter. "We can return to the cabin another weekend whenever we so desire. In fact, we can stay an extra day right now if you'd like."
"Don't you miss Skye? I know I miss Rose."
"Yes, but, I would regret not being able to spend time with you in the cabin. Family is important, right?"
"Yeah." Truly grateful for Connor's upbeat attitude Hank smirked a little at the comment and patted Connor's shoulder once with his left hand approvingly in response. "You're right, son. Family is important."
"Can we stay at least one more day? Think of it as 'overtime'."
"Overtime, huh? I'm game. One more day won't hurt anyone." Hank confirmed proudly and noted Connor's positive demeanor on an otherwise negative day. It was surprisingly grounding and made things easier to deal with. "I know you don't like fishing, but I find it relaxing. What do you want to do tomorrow?"
"Fishing's fine with me." Tilting his head a little the empathetic deviant tagged on a single requirement for the hobby itself. "As long as you don't kill the fish after you catch them, that is."
"Connor, if I'll spare a snake after it bit me then I'll spare some fish after I catch them. Don't worry about anything like that."
"I'll always worry about you, dad." The deviant's response was surprisingly empathetic and full of concern as he virtually copied Hank's own sentiment word for word. "We're friends and we're family."
"True enough." Closing his book for a moment Hank gave Connor a pleading glance. "Do me one favor, will ya'?"
"What's that?"
"Next time you're sick or injured, you have to let me take you to see a technician so I don't have to bandage you up on the couch anymore."
"But I- All right..." Smirking kindly the deviant agreed to the terms and decided it was easier to placate Hank's worries for the moment. "I'll cooperate If I become harmed or incapacitated in the future."
"Oh, really?" Hank laughed a little at how quick Connor was to agree to the deals and remained somewhat skeptical. "I guess we'll see in time then, won't we?"
"You doubt I'll keep my word?"
"I doubt that you'll be able to avoid getting banged up on the job and that you will be so willing to sit on the sidelines when there's work to be done." The senior detective knew Connor better than Connor knew himself. "But in the end, you always keep your promises, so I'm not worried."
-next chapter-
