I went on a short vacation spontaneously - that's why the posting on Sunday was cancelled and just happens now.

A rude awakening, so to speak, awaits us today. Oh and maybe a new friendship is formed, too.

Chapter 4

Hank didn't know how long he had been sitting in the chair by Kim's bed. Probably for hours. In fact, Hank had lost all sense of time. Still, he knew he wouldn't budge from the spot at Kims bedside until he was sure Kim was all right. I mean, until she finally opened her eyes. And smiled at him.

"Sweetheart, I need you to wake up, please. I need you to open your eyes and smile at me," Hank said softly to her.

Hank could hardly stand the silence in the room. So much reminded him of that time - of days gone by, when he had sat by Camille's bedside. When he had waited for her to wake up after surgery. Only this time it felt different. Worse. Hank felt the rising despair inside him. All the negative thoughts that threatened to come crashing down on him. Oh, it would be so easy to allow the darkness to take over. But he wasn't allowed to.

He had to be strong - strong for Kim, too. His Kim.

Hank was all alone with his thoughts here in the room. Al had left him alone a while ago - but not before making him promise that Hank would call if anything changed regarding Kim's condition. Hank couldn't have known that Al had actually taken that very same promise from Maggie. Al was more than concerned for his best friend now after that moment in the waiting room and the realization that Kim and Hank were more than just co-workers. He suspected that Hank would not survive another loss in his life.

Hank raised his hand and tenderly stroked Kim's cheek. He was so focused on Kim that he didn't even notice the door open and someone enter the room again. Connor Rhodes. The doctor stepped up to the bedside and checked Kim's vitals first before turning to Hank.

"She's stable, for now," Connor answered the unspoken question.

Earlier, by accident, Connor had overheard the words Alvin Olinsky had said to Maggie. And he had also seen that look on Hank's face - the mixture of fear, despair and hope that everything would be all right. He understood exactly what had been going on inside Hank in the last few hours. He, too, had been in a situation like this before. A loved one had been hurt and he was unable to help. Fortunately, Sarah had survived everything without permanent damage. Nevertheless, the fear had accompanied Connor for a long time.

And that's exactly why he knew how Hank felt.

"You should get some rest, too. When was the last time you ate something?" asked Connor.

"I'm not hungry," Hank replied.

"What do you think Officer Burgess would say when she wakes up and she realizes you haven't been taking care of yourself? You need to eat something. And get some sleep."

Hank shook his head. He wouldn't leave Kim alone - not even for a second. And sleep, he could do that even if he was sure Kim was all right. In the past, he had gotten by on little sleep when he and Al had been observing a suspect. Only this, this wasn't a stakeout.

Connor sighed. In that moment, he could understand how Will Halstead had felt back then, when Connor had refused to move even an inch from Sarah's bedside.

"I'll get you a sandwich from the cafeteria and some tea," he said then, leaving Hank alone for a moment.

Hank had lost all sense of time. He felt as if it was hours and minutes at the same time when the door of the room opened again and Connor Rhodes came back into the room. With a sandwich and a mug of tea as he had said.

Both he held out to Hank, who took it after a moment's hesitation. Connor then pulled up the second chair and sat down across from Hank.

"I've sat in this chair before, too. Eight months ago," Connor started to tell the story quite abruptly, "Sarah had fallen down the stairs."

"Sarah?"

"Dr. Reese."

Hank nodded. He knew the young doctor. Sarah Reese.

"I was sitting in a chair by a bed just like you back then, and I was holding her hand, and I was-" there were still moments when Connor was tormented by that very memory, "The whole time it had been so terribly quiet in her room. Just the steady beeping of the monitor. And it almost drove me crazy. Sitting here. Not being able to help her. I held her hand and I prayed that she would finally open her eyes. Smile at me. And tell me how awful I look and that I really needed to shave."

A smile crept onto Connor's lips as he thought of how Sarah used to complain when his facial hair scratched her when they kissed.

"That's why I can understand how you feel right now," Connor then explained.

"You have no idea how I feel," Hank muttered.

In his eyes, no one could understand how he felt. He had already lost his wife and son. He couldn't lose Kim on top of that. And the doctor had just told him that his girlfriend Sarah was fine. With Kim, Hank could only hope and pray. That everything would be fine. And as long as she didn't open her eyes, he didn't know. He didn't know if everything would be okay.

Connor remained silent. Maybe Hank Voight was right and he didn't know exactly how he felt, but Connor understood the desperation and fear that was going on inside the cop. And that's why he was here. Because he understood him. Because he knew Hank needed someone to be there for him in that moment. And he was sure that he preferred Hank over Dr. Charles with his wise cracks any day. Connor hadn't wanted the psychiatrist around then either.

And so Connor decided that he would stick around for a while. His shift was over anyway and Sarah had to work a few more hours. And until then, he would stay with Hank and Kim. Maybe Kim would wake up in that time - even if Connor, being a doctor, didn't quite believe it. She probably wouldn't be conscious for a few more hours.

The next morning, just as the sun was rising over Chicago, Kim slowly opened her eyes. Her eyelids felt so heavy. However, she did manage to open her eyes after all.

The first thing she noticed about her surroundings was the steady beeping of the monitor. And the smell of antiseptic.

She was in the hospital, probably Chicago Med.

And when she turned her head, she saw someone sitting by her bed, asleep. This someone had laid his head on the bed, had put his hand on hers, intertwined their fingers. Right then and there, Kim realized who that someone sitting at her beside was. Sergeant Hank Voight.

"Sarge."

That one word had been enough to cause Hank to be instantly wide awake.

"Kim," Hank was relieved. Like a weight was falling off his shoulders. Kim was awake. She was talking to him. She was all right. And that was all that mattered at the moment.

" Who else? Was anyone else hurt?"

"No."

"That's good, Sarge."

Surprised, Hank looked at her. Kim hadn't called him that in a long time-at least not when they were alone. In those moments, she called him Hank, and sometimes even Henry. Or Darling. But never Sarge. She only called him that when the others were around.

However, when Hank turned to the door, he noticed that they were still alone. Therefore, that couldn't be why she called him Sarge.

"Kim, I-"

"Where's Adam?" looking around the room, Kim said.

"I think back at the precinct. Or on the way over again, yesterday they spent a long time sitting in the waiting room and waiting for word on how you were doing," Hank replied.

" I would have thought he'd be here when I woke up too. However, it's good to have you here, sir."

"Sir?" he looked questioningly at Kim.

It seemed to Hank that she didn't recognize him. Well, not as her friend, anyway. In fact, it appeared as if she thought that he was simply her sergeant. And not the man she was happy with.

It seemed as if Kim had completely forgotten him! As if she had forgotten all about Hank. And the role he played in her life.