November 14th, 2061:

Time is fleeting...

The quiet of the hospital waiting room was disrupted only by the sound of soft rhythmic footsteps as a young doctor, Dr. Renee Kovan, approached the lone occupant of the entire silent waiting area. The worried occupant sat upright in the chair with perfect posture, a coin dancing gracefully over the knuckles on their hand silently, and their usual work suit was immaculately pressed to perfection. It had been an uneventful night in the hospital save for the emergency call that had arrived just after two that very morning. It was the emergency case that Dr. Kovan had taken on herself regarding treatment and had fought so valiantly to save the life of her unexpected patient.

It was a close call but the patient, a stubborn man of advanced age, had miraculously pulled through. It seemed this particular patient had a reason to hold for a little while longer.

"Mr. Anderson?" The doctor called out softly as she stood beside the occupied chair with her patient's electronic clipboard pressed to her chest. "I'm Dr. Kovan."

"Connor. Please, call me Connor." Standing up quickly the coin disappeared into his pocket as Connor extended his trembling hand for the doctor to shake. "How he is? Please, tell me everything, I need to know."

"Very well." Shaking Connor's hand Dr. Kovan spoke to him respectfully and truthfully. "I'm sorry, Connor. Your father has suffered from a massive heart attack."

Connor's posture visibly slumped at the somber news. Though it was expected it still had a heavy weight over his mind and inside of his heart.

"He survived the ordeal, but he's still a very sick man." Dr. Kovan explained calmly as she remained honest with the worried detective and son. "The drugs being used to treat his liver cancer may have been the cause of the heart attack, but we'll run some tests to make sure before providing any additional treatment."

"I... I understand." Connor swallowed nervously as he studied the doctor's demeanor carefully. He was worried; almost on the verge of tears as he tried to think of what to do next. "Can I see him? Please?"

"Yes. He's asked to see you already, and in this case, we'll make an exception of the late hours." The attentive doctor smiled at Connor warily as she motioned with for him to follow after her down the corridor to where Hank was resting. Her demeanor was professional, but her eyes were full of traitorous emotions. "He's very weak, but he should still be lucid."

"...Thank you."

Quietly Connor followed Dr. Kovan to the intensive care unit where Hank had been admitted after his arrival. The room was dimly lit and the single patient inside the private room was dozing lightly and propped upward in the bed as a cardiac monitor silently recorded his weak slow heartbeat. The device was also monitoring his blood pressure, oxygen saturation and body temperature. An I.V. administrating pain relieving and cardiac stabilizing medication ran into the back of his pale hand as well. A nasal canula was under the Hank's nose to give him additional oxygen to ease his breathing while he rested as much as possible from his heart attack.

A few stray, shortly trimmed gray locks hair clung to Hank's sweaty forehead as he dozed somewhat peacefully in the bed. Without the longer hair that once covered his face to hide his features the aging skin around Hank's blue eyes and mouth was much more prominent. The paleness of Hank's face and the dark bags under his eyes made him look sicker than Connor thought was possible considering Hank was always so very strong.

"You can stay as long as you like." Dr. Kovan offered kindly in a whisper as she showed Connor into the room. "Talk to him. Be sure to tell him everything you want to say while he's still awake."

Approaching the bed quietly, keeping every step deliberate and light, Connor stood at the bedside and gently lifted the sick man's cool, limp hand up from atop the white bed and held it tightly in his own. The moment he heard the door 'hiss' shut as Dr. Kovan left the room Connor felt his heart skip a worried beat in his chest as her words sunk in like a crushing stone.

"...Connor." Hank's blue eyes opened partially, and even in the dim lighting he recognized Connor immediately. Giving his son a reassuring smile Hank tried to return the tight grip around his hand, but he didn't have the strength. "You look good, son. Lieutenant Connor Anderson: Youngest police Lieutenant in Detroit history... I didn't say it back then, but I'm proud you're the one who broke my record after so much time."

"Hi, Hank. I haven't been a Lieutenant in almost nine years." Connor replied in a voice of masked worry. Whether Hank was making a joke or didn't remember Connor's promotion made the deviant worry for his father's health all the more. "Captain on the other hand, that's still going strong."

"And you haven't called me 'Hank' for quite some time, either."

"Sorry." The remark confirmed Hank was joking and remembered everything in his life. "I guess I still see you as that hard-boiled detective with a gruff exterior hiding a massive heart of gold."

"You always were a sweet-talker, kid. It's one of your best traits."

"I learned it from you." Connor sat down on the edge of the bed and held on to Hank's hand as he spoke. It took everything in him to not cry as he ran a biometric scan over Hank's body and noted the human's incredibly weak vital signs and the severity of the cancerous tumor spreading over his liver, his lungs and his pancreas with every passing second. "I'm glad to see you're awake."

"You know," Hank reached up with his free hand just enough to point to the blank spot in Connor's right temple as he spoke. "even after all this time I still look for that damn light. It used to give away what you were really thinking without me having to guess or pressure you to talk to me."

Reflexively Connor brushed his hand over his temple briefly before placing his palm atop of Hank's hand still in his grasp. "I don't need it anymore. I know who and what I am. And it's all because of you."

"If you were to tell me all those years ago that I would've outlived Jeffrey, I would've told you that you were crazy." Taking a slow deep breath Hank cleared his mind and his throat as he spoke. "...And if you were to tell me that I'd have an android for a son I would've told you that you were out of your damn mind! But here we are. As father and son."

"A family." Connor managed to weakly smile for only a second as he spoke with Hank, the two detectives speaking from the heart during those bleak morning hours. "Together."

"Together." An appreciative grin appeared on Hank's aged face as he looked at his son with utter admiration. "I take it you're the one who found me and called for help."

"You didn't answer your phone when I called you last night." Remaining calm Connor replied as casually as possible while he forced a grin of his own to his nervous face. "I was worried, and I needed to check on you despite the late hour since... you know."

"Yeah, I know."

"When I came over to check on you, I found you unresponsive on the kitchen floor, barely breathing. I can honestly say that was the most frightened I've been in all my life."

"It's okay, son. I'm just old and it happens."

"I shouldn't have left you alone, dad. This wouldn't have-"

"Shut up. Whether you were there or not I still would've had that damn heart attack." Hank managed to give Connor a sincere and broader smile as his aged blue eyes continued to shine with alertness. "I'm old, I'm sick... shit happens. That's the one constant in life itself; shit always happens. I knew a heart attack would've caught up to me eventually. Just glad it happened during retirement and not while I was still on the force."

"The doctor thinks- It's speculated that your heart attack was the result of the medication currently being used to treat your cancer." It was difficult to discuss what was happening, yet Connor forced himself to do just that for his father's benefit. "She will run tests and then find an alternative medication for you to take instead."

"I don't want to go through all that bullshit again."

"I'm sorry, dad, but it's necessary." Connor felt guilty for having to essentially force Hank to go through his medical treatments. "There are no other options."

"Actually, I do have one other option, son." As he spoke Hank tightened his grip around Connor's hand as much as possible. "And the doctors already know what I want."

"What is it?"

Hank paused for moment just long enough to squeeze Connor's hand as much as he could possibly squeeze. "To stop the treatment altogether."

"But... you have stage four liver cancer." Connor shook his head a little with naive confusion at the answer. "Without the treatment you'll just get sicker."

"I know, son. I know." As he spoke Hank sounded entirely calm and at peace. "I've thought all about it and my mind is made up."

"Dad, I don't understand." The deviant's soulful brown eyes went wide and glazed over with absolute sorrow. "Why are you giving up?"

"Connor." Hank slowly wrapped his other hand around Connor's hand and held on as tightly as he could. "I'm ready, son. I'm ready to die."

"Dad..." Completely stunned by the admission Connor stared at Hank with a mixture of deep emotions swirling in his soulful brown eyes. "But why?"

"I'm old, son." The certainty in Hank's voice was a deep contrast to his otherwise weak, fragile appearance. "I'm old, I'm sick, I'm tired, and most importantly, I'm ready."

"But with the treatment-"

"Two years, kid. And that's the best case scenario." Letting out a shuddering breath of pain Hank steadied himself as he spoke and reaffirmed that he was okay with his decision. "Connor, I'm already dead. My heart just doesn't know that it's time to stop beating. I guess it's as stubborn as your own heart. Another one of your best traits."

Connor was silent as he stayed beside Hank while holding his hand tightly and never tearing his eyes away.

"I'm seventy-six years old, and that's twenty-three years more than I ever would've imagined for myself; that is until you showed up." Patting Connor's knuckles affectionately Hank held onto his son's hand with as much strength as he could muster. "You already saved my life. You gave me a second chance at life, another family to love, and one hell of a grandson that I couldn't possibly be prouder of. It's okay to let me go now."

"I don't want to let you go, dad!" Unable to contain himself any longer Connor practically burst as massive tears welled up in his eyes. "I need you."

"No, you don't. Not anymore. You're your own person; a good man with a big heart who chose to dedicate himself to protecting the people around him. You're a great brother to Luke, a great father with a great son of your own in Henry, and in time it'll be your turn to be a 'Papa'." The pride in Hank's words was as sincere as it was palpable. "Promise me that you'll live your life and not merely go about existing in sorrow. You don't need me to guide you anymore. You even said so yourself that you know who and what you are. There's no doubt that you know where you're going, too."

"I don't want to go alone."

"You won't be alone, son. I promise."

"Dad," Connor's pleading for Hank to somehow find the strength to keep living only proved that the android turned deviant in fact had a real heart; it proved that Connor really was alive. "you, Henry and Luke are all I have. You're my father. You're Luke's father and Henry's grandfather. We all still need you."

"It was my honor to be yours, Cole's and Luke's father. And it was an even bigger honor to be Henry's grandfather. Even after I'm gone, you'll always be my sons, just as Henry will always be my grandson. Nothing will ever change that. I'm proud of all three of you and I love you will all that my old heart has left to give."

It was difficult for Connor to respect Hank's wishes but he knew it was the right thing to do. His respect and love for Hank outweighed any notion he had of trying to postpone the inevitable because he alone wasn't ready to accept it.

"...Shouldn't Henry and Luke be here to at least say goodbye?"

"No, no. I spoke with Luke yesterday afternoon. He knew I was going downhill, and he promised to not say anything to upset either you or Henry. And I talked to Henry over the phone last night right on time, and I told him how much I loved him." Hank had clearly been aware of his mortality for some time. "In a way, I already said 'goodbye' to them. A sense of 'impending doom' is a pretty common symptom of heart attacks and as it turns out it's kinda' handy."

Slowly Connor was losing the battle against his grief, and it was evident on his face.

"Son, please don't do that." The last thing Hank wanted to do in his final moments of life was see Connor upset. "Please promise me that you'll live your life and finally see the world."

"I... I promise."

"Connor, look at me." Hank urged in a level tone without the faintest hint of fear or uncertainty in his words. "Look me in the eyes."

Forcing himself to lock onto Hank's blue eyes Connor obeyed the request but his anxious tic with the coin returned. As he prepared to juggle it over his knuckles Hank's hand weakly put his hand over the back of Connor's hand to hold the coin still.

"Believe me. You don't need that coin anymore. You can handle anything that comes your way. Son, you're going to be okay, and I will be, too." Hank continued to comfort his son out of a paternal instinct and smile proudly at the bighearted deviant he had taken in as his own son. "I'm just going to see Cole and Barbara again. I've been waiting a long time for that."

"No, I don't want you to go!" The tears were now running down Connor's face as he spoke with an emotionally quaking voice. "I don't want you to go, dad."

"I know." Hank let out a touched laugh as he lifted up his hand toward Connor, the I.V. in the back of his hand was forgotten in the motion of the compassionate gesture, as he reached out to comfort his emotionally distraught son. "Come here, son. Come here."

Restraining the urge to sob Connor leaned forward and let Hank wrap his arm around him as the two hugged each other and let their mutual tears of pain flow freely from their hearts and into one another. Connor rested his head over Hank's chest and listened to the struggling beat of his old stubborn heart while Hank ran his hand through Connor's hair lightly.

"I love you, son." Smiling as much as he could Hank's eyes began to dull and drifted close as his strength ebbed away from him steadily. "I really do."

"I love you, too, dad."

"I'm gonna' miss you. You. Henry. Luke. I honestly do love you, son. I love all of you."

"We love you, too."

Feeling Hank's arm beginning to weaken around his shoulders Connor looked up and saw that Hank's eyes were closed and that he had slipped into unconsciousness.

"...It's okay. I'll be here for you for as long as you need me to stay with you, just as you had done for us."

Remaining at his father's side all through the dwindling night and early morning Connor listened to every slowing heartbeat as Hank became weaker and weaker with each passing hour. Once the former detective's arm fell limply from around his shoulders Connor laid down on the bed next to Hank and held him in his arms in a comforting embrace. The young deviant's eyes were full of mournful tears as he watched Hank's chest rising and falling at a slower and almost undetectable rate.

The heartbeats became slower.

Hank had a faint content smile of peace on his face and wasn't at all in pain or afraid. It was as if knew something that Connor simply did not.

Wrapping his fingers around Hank's limp wrist Connor counted his father's dwindling pulse and held his own breath as the cardiac monitor displayed a flat lifeless line as Hank's heart had finally given out and finally stopped beating.

The silence from Hank's chest was deafening and eternal.

Unable to take the emotional turmoil Connor closed his soulful brown eyes as tears poured down his face and he clenched his teeth. He began to openly sob with indescribable pain as he listened to the nothingness that had been left in the wake of Hank's passing.

"I'll miss you forever. I'll never forget you and I will keep my promises. All of them..."

Laying Hank back down on the bed Connor gently crossed the detective's strong calloused hands over his stilled chest and held his own hands atop of Hank's hand for a moment longer. Hank's hands were still warm even as they fell lifeless under Connor's protective palms.

The sun itself even seemed unable to rise on that broken morning as Connor alone wept over his dearly departed father in the silence of the hospital room.

"...Goodbye, dad."

November 15th, 2061:

Utterly broken in both heart and mind, Connor sat on the back deck of Hank's house all through the previous night and well into the next morning after finally being coaxed into leaving the hospital by the kind doctors and nurses. Unable to sleep, unable to return to his own house next door, and unwilling to do anything that would take his mind from the loss of Hank; his father, Connor found himself feeling incredibly lost and alone. Staring off into nothingness of the barely rising sun as he sat in quiet contemplation, the grieving deviant was only vaguely aware of a familiar presence joining him on the back deck to express their condolences for the painful loss that resonated throughout the entire city.

As a retired police detective, Captain and relatively famous figure in Detroit's history meant word of Hank's death spread quickly. Those who were the closest to the Anderson family were the first to find out and the first to respond to the tragedy.

"Hi, Connor." Markus spoke softly as he put his hand to his friend's shoulder lightly and sat down beside him. "I wish I knew what I could say. What I could do to help you through this."

Shaking his head Connor just let more tears flow down his face and land on the wooden boards of the deck beneath him. "It's okay. I don't know what to do, either."

"I know you're feeling lost, alone, maybe even a little betrayed... But I know from experience that death isn't something humans plan. It isn't anything they can control. Neither can we."

"When... Hank was diagnosed five years ago neither of us knew what to say or what to do." Connor admitted in a somber voice. "And when he started to really get sick this past summer, all we could think to do was hide out at the cabin for as long as possible. When Henry was asleep upstairs all Hank, Luke and I could do, all we could say was... goodbye."

"Goodbye?" Markus just stared at Connor with empathetic bewilderment. "How so?"

"We didn't know what else to say about Hank's future, so we said 'goodbye'." Connor took in a deep breath to choke back a sob as he spoke. "Even though we already said what we needed to say to one another, how we made sure we knew how much we respected each other and loved each other as family, and even though we already bid one another farewell properly and said our final goodbyes... it turned out we still weren't ready for it to happen. I guess we never really can be ready for death." Bowing his head Connor let out another pitiful sob and wiped his hand over his soulful brown eyes as he mourned for the loss of his family. "I wasn't ready."

Tightening his hand on Connor's shoulder Markus kept his voice low and collected. "Does Luke know?"

"Yes." Sighing a little Connor confirmed his big brother knew of Hank's passing. The cybernetic message had been the most painful communication he had ever sent to his brother. "He's flying in this afternoon."

"And Henry?"

"I... I called him this morning." Crying again Connor struggled to find his voice and fight through his understandable pain. That phone call was the most painful conversation he had ever held with his young son. "He's devastated. Gavin is bringing him home for me because... Right now, I just can't focus on anything but Hank. I don't want to break down and cry while trying to drive Henry home."

"What can I do to help?"

"Just stay with me." The request sounded as pitiful as Connor felt. "I don't want to be alone right now."

"You got it." Slowly Markus moved his hand from Connor's shoulder to wrap his arm around his friend and pulled him in close for a side hug. "I won't go anywhere."

As the mourning deviant, father and son leaned against Markus and wept as heavily as his heart could bear, Connor finally found himself able to finally accept the horrible truth of his new reality.

Hank wasn't there anymore.

For what felt like years Connor sat on the back deck in mourning with Markus at his side, only moving when he heard a car door slam shut in the driveway beside the house. Henry came sprinting from Gavin's car and threw himself into Connor's arms as he too began to cry over the loss of Hank. While Connor held his nineteen-year-old son and let him cry against his shoulder, Markus discreetly took his leave of the back deck and went over to talk to Gavin in private in regard to the horrible, heartbreaking situation.

With utmost care Connor stood up from the deck with Henry still in his arms as he walked to the backdoor and guided Henry inside to the livingroom. Sitting down on the couch together the duo mourned for their loss and just held on to one another for emotional support. Henry was clutching the pocketwatch that Hank had given him in a death grip, almost afraid to let it go.

Rubbing his hand along Henry's back in a comforting manner Connor remembered all the times that he previously held his young son in his arms when he was sick, sad or just fussy as a baby going through growing pains. He also remembered all the times when he himself was sad, hurt or sick and he had Hank watching over him or giving him words of comfort as a developing deviant.

Those memories seemed so distant now...

Henry found the means to speak, his voice shaking and full of raw sorrow as he spoke with his father. "...I can't believe Papa is really gone."

"I know." Connor empathized as he held his son's shoulders. "I can't believe it either."

"I miss him!" Henry began to sob even harder, and all Connor could do was hold him and try to soothe him with words of comfort. "I miss him so much!"

"Shh..." Doing his best to help his son calm down a little Connor told Henry about Hank's final moments. "He went peacefully, and he loved you, Henry. He loved us all and he knew we loved him, too."

"I... I spoke to him last night." Reclaiming his voice Henry finally let go of Connor and pulled the sleeve of his blue t-shirt up to wipe off his tears from his face as he spoke. His eyes were puffy and bloodshot from crying so hard for so long. "And I could hear it in his voice. He was saying 'goodbye' to me. I knew it was going to happen, but... it still seems so surreal."

"He wasn't in any pain during his final moments. He kept saying how proud he was of you and how much he loves you." All Connor could think to say and do was comfort Henry while confirming that their beloved patriarch didn't suffer and was at peace. "The pain he suffered over the past few years is over, and he's with your Uncle Cole and your Grandma Barbara now."

"...And mom."

"Yeah." Connor began to cry again as he wiped off his own tears only to have them return as quickly as he tried to remove them. "And he's with your mom. Everyone's together on the other side, and they're now watching over us all."

Keeping his hand on Henry's back, Connor and his mourning son just sat on the couch in the livingroom as they accepted the new reality that they were now forced to live through.

One without Hank.

Connor no longer had his father and Henry no longer had his grandfather.

Hank Anderson was gone.

Forcing himself to function through his pain Connor stood idle in the kitchen where he found Hank unconscious on the floor the previous morning as he cybernetically filed everything required for the funeral and had the misfortune of contacting their closest friends to inform them of Hank's passing. When he heard Rose break down and cry over the phone Connor almost lost it again himself, but he regained his composure for her sake. Gavin had spread the word through the precinct on Connor's behalf and Abby spread the world through Skye Tower to the other volunteers. Markus took it upon himself to inform the members of New Jericho Tower of Hank's passing as well to make things easier on Connor and Henry.

As was customary for first responders who passed away, there was a brief report on the news regarding Hank's life as a detective and of his death. There was even a small mention of Hank's surviving family - mentioning his sons and grandson - out of respect. It resulted in hundreds of flowers being delivered to the house and many more being donated to the funeral home where the wake was set to begin.

While Connor was handling the paperwork Henry was passed out asleep on the couch. Emotional exhaustion took its toll, and it knocked Henry out cold, but his hand was still clutched about the gilded pocketwatch with all his strength. Henry also had Opal, brought over from next door, curled up at his side. Standing behind the couch Connor looked down at his sleeping son's face and heard the backdoor in the kitchen quietly open. Glancing into the kitchen over his shoulder Connor caught sight of Luke entering the house and it was evident that he too had been crying.

"Hey, little brother." Luke greeted in a sad whisper as he entered the livingroom and gave Connor a hug. "I'm finally here."

"Luke." Accepting the hug Connor held onto his big brother in a tight embrace. "Glad you're home."

"You look terrible."

"I feel terrible."

Luke released the hug with a breathy sigh. "Did he..."

"No. It was peaceful." Connor confirmed as he knew what his big brother wanted to ask. "No pain."

"That's good. The last time I spoke with him I knew that he was saying his farewells. I wasn't happy about it, but I kept my silence as he had requested. Are you mad at me for doing so?"

"No. I understand why he did it."

"What do I need to do to help?"

"Could you just help me keep Henry company?" Glancing back at his son asleep on the couch Connor felt his heart breaking as he saw the redness of Henry's eyes even from the distance. "I don't think he can be left alone for now, he's too upset."

"Of course. He's my nephew, I'll do everything to support and protect him."

"The funeral is in three days." Connor stated in a low whisper as he and Luke entered the livingroom and stayed behind the couch where Henry was sleeping. "Turns out Hank had everything already taken care of for all of us."

"How'd he do that?"

"He took care of the arrangements, had all the paperwork signed and everything paid for this summer after we returned from the cabin." Connor wasn't at all surprised that Hank had been on top of everything even right to the bitter end. "We just had to confirm his identity at the coroner's office, go to the wake in two days and then go to the cemetery on the third day."

"I guess tomorrow we should get blacks suits to wear. I... didn't already have one with me when he passed."

"I have suits that you and Henry can wear." The idea of doing anything out in public sounded too stressful to endure. "I don't think it'd be very comfortable for us to go out shopping while upset, and I don't want to ask Henry to go anywhere at the moment."

"I suppose you're right."

"Please, watch over Henry for me. I need a moment for myself and there is something important I need to take care of."

"Yeah, I got it." Luke understood that Connor was fighting to stay strong for Henry and needed a few minutes to recharge his proverbial emotional battery. "Go do what you need to do, I'll be here if you need me."

Walking toward the hallway from the livingroom Connor turned to look over his shoulder where he saw Luke sitting down in the recliner beside the couch as he ran his hand through Henry's hair lightly. Connor had to force himself to walk down the hallway and enter the bedroom at the very end; Hank's bedroom, in order to finish his final task. Tentatively the grieving deviant pushed open the door and stepped inside the quiet and dark room very slowly.

The bed was perfectly made, and the blinds were drawn. Beside the bed on the nightstand were various prescription pain medication bottles, empty drinking glasses and dozens of photographs on the table beside the bottles. The box of photographs that Hank kept in his closet was sitting on the floor beside the bed - another sign that Hank knew his time was coming to an end and he wanted to see his family one last time.

Picking up the box from the floor Connor sat on the edge of Hank's bed and began sifting through the photographs himself. A majority of the photographs were of Henry and Connor, with a generous amount of Luke, Cole, Barbara, Sumo, the now late Captain Jeffrey Fowler and other officers from the precinct also strewn about.

It was there Connor found the golden watch - the same watch that had been a gift to Hank from his own father back when Hank was in high school - and the very watch that Hank had let Connor borrow the day he was taken captive and imprisoned in Chicago. It was the same watch that kept Connor determined enough to fight back and find his way back home.

The watch was important to Hank and Connor understood the honor it was to have Hank trust him with it on that fateful day, and why Hank had gifted Henry a pocketwatch on his first Christmas. Slipping the watch over his wrist Connor sighed and tightened it to fit properly before he began sifting through the box of photos.

"Dad, I don't know what you were going to do with this watch, but I'll keep it safe for you. I promise, and you know me, I always keep my promises."

With each photo Connor glanced through, tears would well up in his soulful brown eyes and threaten to fall at any second. So many smiling faces, so many people that had come in and out of Hank's life were preserved in the photographs. Images of Hank throughout the years as he himself grew up, went to school, joined the police academy were all filled with pride. Newspaper clippings of Hank's successful career as a police officer and a detective had also been collected, but Hank seemed more interested in the photographs of his friends and family than the newspaper clippings.

"Captain Fowler."

Connor found a photo of the late former Captain Jeffrey Fowler standing shoulder to shoulder with Hank the day Hank had been promoted to Lieutenant. They truly were good friends until the car accident that stole Cole's life. Hank pushed Jeffrey away and resided in self-imposed isolation until Connor came along. Jeffrey had passed away the previous winter from a heart attack as well, but he passed in his sleep after seeing his own grandchildren enter the world.

"It's difficult to believe that you're both gone now. You both seemed... indestructible."

Continuing his search through the beloved photos Connor noted the familiar faces of those who worked in the precinct, as well as the various people that Hank had given a break throughout the years, made the deviant's heart swell. Hank had helped so many people and never once sought any recognition for his kind deeds over the years. Rose and Hank holding hands and laughing together was a loving as it was peaceful. An image of Hank holding Aria up in the air and making her laugh when she was still a baby seemingly foretold of how amazing Hank was going to be as Henry's grandfather. Even the photograph of Hank proudly standing with his task force that took down the 'red ice' ring leading to his promotion to Lieutenant seemed to exude an air of respect and adoration.

Hundreds of photos of Hank with his late wife Barbara and late son Cole were difficult to view, but it only became more difficult as he uncovered photos of Hank bonding with Henry as the little boy grew up over the years. Eighteen Christmases, nineteen birthdays, eighteen Halloweens, eighteen Thanksgivings, easily hundreds of basketball games, dozens of trips to the park, a dozen more trips to the cabin, even almost as many photos of Henry playing with Sumo and then Opal, were practically overflowing from the box.

So much of Henry's life had taken part with Hank actively involved.

However, it was the photos of Hank working with Henry on the Camaro and playing with Henry when he was still a little kid and a small baby that made Connor start to cry again as he realized how much Hank truly loved Henry like his own flesh and blood. Much to Connor's delight the photo of Hank standing with Connor and Henry during Henry's graduation had been framed alongside the photograph of Barbara and Cole that had been on Hank's desk at the precinct, and they were tucked safely away inside the box. Holding the framed images in his hands Connor smiled and wiped away his tears.

"Dad, you had more of a family than you really knew."

It was getting harder for him to keep his emotions in check but right now Connor needed to be strong while Henry was the one feeling weak.

"We're all going to miss you so much. We already do."

November 17th, 2061:

The humble wake at the local funeral home was crowded with people who wished to give their final respects to the fallen former Captain, and in turn they all gave the deceased detective the proper send-off that he had so rightfully earned. Connor was sitting in the corner of the funeral home with Henry, his hand ever present on his emotionally distraught son's shoulder, while Luke took the lead and thanked the guests for their time and respects as they came to the wake to see Hank one last time. Too emotional to really do anything other than comfort Henry and cry himself, Connor was truly grateful for Luke stepping up to be the strong one in the family while he was feeling so weak.

The minister in attendance stood at the podium and began to deliver a nice sermon regarding Hank's life on the two grieving sons' behalves. Guiding Henry from the back of the room toward the front, Connor took a seat beside Luke and kept his hand on Henry's shoulder. They needed to be closer to the front even though it hurt to accept the truth.

A photograph of Hank working with Henry on the Camaro was clutched between Henry's hands tightly as the mourning grandson stared at the image with an utter ache in his heart. During the sermon all Connor and Henry could do was look at the opened coffin where Hank was laying. His face was calm and peaceful, but it was evident that the Hank that Connor, Henry and Luke all loved had long since departed. They could see his face, but they couldn't feel his presence.

"...He's really gone." Henry whispered despondently as he leaned closer to his father's shoulder. "He's never coming back."

Connor tried to gently 'shush' Henry as he ran his hand along his son's shoulders and back soothingly. "It'll be okay, Henry."

As the sermon came to a close the family and friends were asked to approach the coffin to say their final goodbyes. Forcing his legs to move Connor guided Henry forward but the heartbroken young man could only bear to look for a few seconds before sobbing and pressing his face into Connor's shoulder. As Connor wrapped his arm around Henry he too began to breakdown and quickly walked away with his son to escape the sympathetic stares from the other mourners.

Locating a quiet isolated area of the funeral home Connor embraced Henry and let him grieve for as long as he needed.

"Cry, Henry." Connor encouraged as he fought to keep his own voice steady for his son's sake. "Just cry..."

"This really hurts!"

"I know." The pain was undeniable, and Connor couldn't pretend that he couldn't feel it with every beat of his heart. "I'm hurting, too."

"When will it stop?"

Connor closed his eyes and remembered when he had asked Hank the exact same question so long before when he lost Skye. "...It doesn't stop, Henry. It just gets a little easier to live with one day at a time."

Luke found his little brother and nephew comforting one another and embraced them in a hug of his own. "It's going to be okay."

As the three surviving members of the Anderson clan mourned together the other attending guests paid their respects and left quietly. No one knew what to say or what they could possibly do to ease their emotional burden during such a heartbreaking experience.

Doing everything that he could to remain strong on Henry's behalf Connor fought to compose himself and asked for Luke to stay with Henry for just a moment. There was something that Connor needed to do before he left the funeral home, and it was something he wanted to do in private.

"I'll be right behind you." Connor promised as he pressed his palm briefly to Henry's cheek and used his thumb to wipe away his son's tears. "We're going to talk more when we're home, son."

Returning to where Hank was laying peacefully in the coffin Connor approached and gazed down at his father's peaceful face one more time. Reaching behind the large memorial wreath composed of multiple white flowers Connor retrieved the two framed photographs containing images of himself, Henry, Cole, Barbara and a third framed picture of Luke as his brother stood proudly before his own facility out in Boston.

Placing the photographs inside the coffin under Hank's arms one at a time, Connor stifled another sob and spoke to Hank in a hushed whisper.

"I know you'll be watching over us, but I thought you'd like to have these. Now your family will always be with you, no matter where we go."

Slowly Connor closed the lid to the coffin and bowed his head against the smooth cool dark surface as he let himself cry again. It's all he had the strength to do.

It was going to be a cold slow night for the trio of Anderson's as they begrudgingly left the funeral home to return to the house.

Hank's house.

The house that was now empty and void of the man that they all admired, yet the house still felt like their home, and it always would be.

"I love you, dad. We all do."

Back in the livingroom at Hank's suddenly too big and too quiet house Henry sat on the couch with Luke at his side as they too began checking through the large box of photographs that Connor had found in Hank's bedroom. It made them both feel better seeing images of Hank smiling and playing with Henry and Sumo over the years, and then seeing Hank spending time with both Connor and Luke over the past nineteen years. They were truly his family, and it gave them all a sense of familial grounding and emotional support when they needed it the most. Even though Hank was gone as a person, he'd always remain a part of the family in the form of spirit and beloved memories.

For the first time in days Henry was able to talk about Hank without crying in the process. The college student was still wearing the pocketwatch by the chain around his neck, and he had no plan to take it off until it was time to go to bed.

"Hey, I remember this." Henry held up a photo showing himself sitting on Hank's shoulders as they went to Riverside Park. Henry himself was only six years old at the time. "We went to the park after my very first basketball game. He showed me the secret to the perfect free-throw, and I haven't missed yet."

"It seems dad had the fortitude of an athlete while having the mind of a detective." Luke smiled as he saw that tucked down in the bottom of the box was a rare physical newspaper clipping regarding the score of the baseball game that he, Hank and Connor had all seen together in Boston almost twenty years prior. "This is from that first game we saw together. I wish we could've seen every game that season together, but... You know. It's not easy living so far apart. But that made seeing it with him all the more special."

"Yeah. I can't believe he made it to all of my basketball games." Henry was ever appreciative of Hank's support through his lifetime. "I knew it hurt his back to sit on the hard bleachers for hours on end, but he never once complained about it."

"No. Not even when he was at his sickest."

"He called you too," the sharp young man noted by the way his uncle was speaking. "didn't he Uncle Luke?"

"Yeah. I knew why he was calling, too, and I'm so glad I was able to talk to him one last time." The mourning deviant's blue eyes were welling up with unshed tears as he replayed Hank's final words in his mind. "Ending that call... That hurt more than I expected. It was the last time I got to speak to him."

"I know." Henry wiped away a rogue tear from his own blue eyes as he sighed and took a deep breath to try to ease his shaking thoughts. It was hard but he was able to remain composed as his grief continued to settle in. "He called me the night before he passed, at seven o'clock on Friday night as usual, but... I knew it was different. After I said goodbye and that I loved him, I put aside my phone and went to bed with this strange sense of dread hovering over me. And I just knew that when I woke up the next morning that... Somehow, I just knew he was gone before dad even called me."

"I understand what you mean." Luke nodded a little and began checking back through the box of photographs to try to lighten the mood again. "Check this out."

Henry looked at the photo in Luke's hand and smirked. "Is that dad and Papa?"

"Yeah. They spent a lot of time together and loved watching bizarre movies." The photo showed Hank and Connor sitting in the middle of the couch with their own snacks as they laughed at a ridiculous movie on the television screen. Luke had taken the picture when they weren't looking and snuck it into Hank's box of photos after having the image from his mind physically printed. "It was one of the few things that always made your dad laugh and put Hank in a good mood."

"I'm just glad that dad was there with Papa when he passed." Glancing about the livingroom Henry realized that Connor wasn't anywhere to be seen. "Hey, where is dad anyway? I haven't seen him since we got home."

"He went outside to cybernetically call people and finish the final details regarding the funeral arrangements."

"Oh." Henry realized that Connor had been curiously absent for quite some time and wanted to check in on him. "He's been out there-"

Knocking on the front door stopped Henry mid sentence as he and Luke turned to look at the door. Getting up from the couch Henry went to answer the door and was greeted by Markus.

"Hi, Markus."

"Hey, Henry." Offering the young man his hand Markus greeted Henry properly with a firm handshake. "How're you holding up?"

Accepting the handshake Henry's eyes dulled a little as he answered honestly. "...Not great."

"I had the same reaction when I lost my own father, I get it." Compassionate as ever Markus understood Henry's plight. "I just wanted to stop by and see if you needed anything."

"I'm okay, but I can't answer for dad or Uncle Luke."

Luke himself had gotten up from the couch and walked over to the door to greet Markus with a strong handshake of his own. "Hello, Markus."

"Hey, Luke, it's good to see you despite everything happening. Do you need anything?"

"Actually... There might be something you can do for us." Motioning back toward the couch Luke showed Markus the massive box of photographs sitting on the middle cushion and gave him a small smile. "Think you could us turn these photographs into a type of slideshow or tribute for Hank?"

"Absolutely." Markus was more than happy to volunteer the artistic skills that he had learned from Carl to show the departed man genuine respect. "It'd be an honor to help with such a display."

Quietly Henry closed the door behind Markus and decided to check in on his dad while Luke and Markus sat on the couch and began discussing their new plan together. Walking through the backdoor after crossing through the kitchen Henry found Connor sitting on the step of the back deck with both hands over his face as he silently sobbed in heartbroken mourning.

"Dad." Henry sat down beside Connor in a matter of seconds and pulled his dad up against him in the same tight hug that Connor had given him so many times before when he was upset. This time it was Henry's turn to take care of Connor. "Dad, don't hide."

"...I'm sorry." The mourning deviant father apologized morosely for his behavior. "I tried to stay strong."

"And don't be sorry, you're not weak for grieving. We all miss him."

"I'm supposed to comfort you," Connor forced his voice to steady enough to speak. "not the other way around."

"Why not? We're family. We're supposed to take care of each other, dad. Let me take care of you right now."

As Connor wept in his son's arms the now orphaned deviant felt the same inexplicable and inescapable heartache that he had suffered through after Lucas had been murdered and after Skye had succumbed to her injuries the night of the riot. There was no doubt that Hank's passing was irreversibly changing Connor's life, but this time he had his son and his brother to see him through the tragedy now that his father was gone.

Hank wouldn't be there to keep the darkness from entering his heart anymore, now it was up to Connor to find his own reason to stay in the light.

"It's okay to cry, dad." Henry whispered as he let himself cry again alongside his father. "I'm here, and I'll always be here."

Connor tightened his hug and continued to weep against his son's shoulder as they held each other and supported one another as they endured their painful grief together. The loss of Hank had made Connor's urge to protect Henry stronger than ever thought was possible.

"And I'll always be here for you, son. No matter what happens I will always be here."

November 18th, 2061:

The day of the funeral.

The cemetery was peacefully quiet, and the sun was shining brightly in a strong contrast to the dark dreary mood of the day itself.

A massive group of mourners from all over Detroit had converged at the cemetery to see Hank for his final moments before being laid to rest. Dozens of familiar faces were peppered throughout the hundreds of people who had come to the funeral and gathered together in their mutual pain. There was a mixture of family and friends among former police contacts, the unlikely allies that Hank had on the streets, and the would-be criminals that Hank helped to get their lives back on track before they did anything that permanently led them down a dark path. Such an eclectic crowd was unexpected but welcomed all the same considering how much respect and love was being shown Hank's way.

Of course Henry, Luke, Markus, North, Josh, Simon, Kara, Rose, Adam (along with his wife and kids), Chris (with his wife and kids), Gavin, Abby, Aria, Tina (with her now husband and young son), Joel and his family, and even Jack were all in attendance to pay their own respects to their fallen father, patriarch, friend, and ally. Maria Fowler had managed to make her way to the funeral, although she couldn't bring herself to stay too long considering how fresh her own husband's funeral was in her heart.

The respectful memorial was composed of a flowery wreath with a portrait of Hank, the image was from his youth and taken the day he graduated from the police academy, and a second wreath showing him on the day of his retirement was placed beside it. Dozens of lilies had been collected and placed all around the coffin out of respect for the fallen man by the various mourners in the crowd. A holographic screen was set up to the side of the coffin showing a slideshow of the hundreds of photographs that had been collected throughout Hank's years of life and it brought the group a sense of peace to witness.

After watching the display for almost an hour it was time to begin the eulogy and lay Hank to rest at long last.

It wasn't easy but Connor found his voice and gave Henry, who was holding his pocketwatch in his hand, a subtle nod as he sat next between Luke and Rose in the front row. The sight of Henry being so emotionally vulnerable gave Connor an instinctive response to be strong on his son's behalf until Henry was able to come to terms with what had happened.

Donned in his black suit out of respect for the deceased Connor stood before the black coffin with his hands folded neatly before himself as he prepared to eulogize his late father. He stood before a generous gathering of family, friends and fellow police officers, both humans and deviants alike. Those who had had worked with Hank in the precinct and those who had come to know Hank as a friend from his work with the deviancy uprising throughout the city, had attended the funeral en mass to give the deceased retired detective, father and grandfather the respect that he had so rightfully earned.

"Captain Henry 'Hank' Lucas Anderson was a man of quiet resolve and loud virtue." Connor paused as he let out a deep breath to emotionally steel himself once more before continuing on. "Those who had the honor of working with Hank as an officer of the law knew that he could be crude, sarcastic and even short-tempered; but those who had the honor of getting to know Hank as a friend knew that Hank held a big heart full of compassion, patience, empathy and understanding."

Henry was starting to cry again, and Luke put his hand on Henry's shoulder while Rose grabbed onto his hand for emotional support.

Closing his eyes tightly Connor bowed his head slightly as he repressed a heart wrenching sob that had risen in his throat.

"When I first met Hank, we had been assigned to work together to handle cases with deviant androids on November 5th, 2038. And he was not happy about the arrangement. Even less so when he learned that I was in fact an android." Connor recounted in a low tone. "It didn't help that at the time I would follow him around more than Sumo ever did."

A small cluster of good humored laughter helped ease and lessen the crushing emotional tension in the air.

"Our meeting was under grim and unorthodox circumstances that seemed doomed to end in disaster, but as we spent time together and worked with each other to solve our cases and to better understand what was happening in the city, we were able to better understand each other. Our resulting friendship changed our lives forever; mine far more than his, and it was for the better."

Lifting his head back up Connor looked past the group of gathered mourners at the cemetery and to the blue horizon behind them. It was as if he was expecting to see Hank watching him from afar and giving him a cheesy grin for his efforts.

"I had learned of Hank's tragic past and of the utter despair he had endured alone. While I knew what happened I was unable to understand it until I had become deviant. Incidentally, it was Hank who helped me to realize that I am in fact alive and helped me to achieve my deviancy; to find my humanity. Hank helped me to find a heart and in time all I could do was hope that my own heart would become as strong as his. A strength that I was determined to give to my own son, and thanks to Hank, I succeeded."

Giving his final words to the mourners Connor felt the warm tears flowing down his face once more.

"Hank had said 'Time is fleeting, but memories last forever.', and he was right. He's still right." As Connor spoke Henry began to cry again. "Hank was a dedicated detective, a vigil protector, a guardian, a friend..." Connor's hand gently came to rest on the corner of the closed coffin lid softly behind himself. "And above all else he was a father and a grandfather. He was the father that Luke and I never knew we needed and the father that we never knew we wanted until we met. I wouldn't be half the person, or father, that I am today if he hadn't taken me in, if he hadn't given me the chance to prove myself. And I knew from the moment he passed away that my life had changed forever once again, but now it's for the worse because he isn't going to be a part of it anymore."

Connor's palm dropped from the coffin as his hands clenched into pained fists at his sides.

"Despite his own pain and his desire to stop feeling, he still found the room to take in a stray deviant and raise him as a son and then do it all over again with Luke. He gave two lost deviants a home, a family, and a chance to have a decent life to live. When Henry was born, I knew that I'd never have the chance to fail as a parent because Hank would be there to guide me every step of the way and just by looking at my son, I know that I succeeded because of Hank's help."

A chorus of sniffles and crying accompanied Connor's words.

"I miss him. I'm going to miss him for the rest of my life, and clearly I won't be alone in this horrible grief."

Steeling his voice for the last time Connor clutched his hand over his heart as he gave his final words to his father's memory.

"I can honestly say from the depths of my heart that Hank was my dad; and of all the humans I have met in my life I know for a fact that Hank's golden heart; though broken, troubled and scarred - was without a doubt the biggest and the strongest heart that ever beat in this world. His heart was like his morals: Indestructible. And I know I can still feel his kindness resonating throughout this world that is now a little better for having had him protecting it."

Tears fell as an unseasonably warm breeze blew over the cemetery to provide a form of comfort over the grieving hearts as they huddled together to celebrate the life of Hank Anderson and mourn his passing on that tragic November day.

November 19th, 2061:

...but memories last forever.

Alone at the cemetery Connor stood before the newly placed headstone with Hank's name engraved upon the surface as he visited his father since the previous day's funeral. Hank had been laid to rest next to his firstborn son Cole, his departed wife Barbara, and was neighboring the headstone placed in memory of Lucas. The fresh earth over the grave was dark and smoothed over perfectly as a sign of respect. As he rested his hand atop the headstone the watch on his gold wrist glistened in the sunlight. Slowly Connor bowed his head and placed a white lily down on the headstone out of additional respect before repeating the action for Lucas, Cole and Barbara, leaving behind flowers for each of the dearly departed members of the Anderson family.

Returning his attention to Hank's grave Connor bowed his head again and let out a tired sigh where he stood.

"Hi, dad. I still miss you. I just wanted you to know that I decided to move out of my house and return home next door. It's not the same without you, but I can't imagine anyone else residing in the house and I wanted to make sure that both Sumos' graves in the backyard are tended to properly. Besides, I think Henry spent more time at your house than my own as he grew up, and I want him to always come home and feel at home."

Reaching into his pocket Connor pulled out his quarter and held it in a tight fist rather than dance it over his knuckles as had been his usual nervous tic in the past.

"I'm not quite sure how long it'll take before I can move on and continue to live my life, but I know I will be okay just as you said I will."

Tightening his fingers around the coin for a few seconds Connor's hand gradually relaxed into a calmer fist at his side.

"I'll keep my promise to you, dad, and I will live my life to the fullest."

Rubbing the cuff of his sleeve over the top of the headstone to brush aside a few stray bits of brown earth from the gray stone, Connor managed to flash a faint smile of pride as he remembered every moment that he and Hank had shared together through the years together as an unorthodox but loving family. Each moment played out in his mind in every vivid detail his incredible memory retained.

"Henry wasn't ready to come back to the cemetery just yet, but he isn't ready to go back to school and I don't blame him. He's sleeping in my old bedroom in your house and I'm sleeping on the couch to remain close by him until he's ready to return. Luke is staying with him at the house right now, but he will have to return to Boston tonight. Luke's going to make an effort to visit the city more often for the sake of family, and I'm also going to make a habit of visiting him in Boston, too. I know Henry would love to see a game with us and I'll be sure to catch another foul ball in your memory. It won't be the same without you, but we know you'll be there in spirit."

Unclenching his fist Connor crouched down to read the gilded plaque engraved on the front of the headstone for the first time since he arrived to visit Hank: "Henry 'Hank' Lucas Anderson. Born September 6th, 1985. Died November 14th, 2061. Dedicated Detective. Beloved Father, Grandfather, Husband, Friend and Guardian."

"Thank you for everything you've done, dad. You saved my life, and you gave me a reason to live. It may take some time, but I know I can find a new reason to keeping living even without you to guide me on my way. And I know for certain that one day we will see each other again. You spoke about meeting up on the other side one day and I intend to keep that promise, too."

Reaching up he pressed his palm down against the top of the headstone one last time before he rose to his feet and turned to walk away with his head held high with a returning confidence to lead him forward.

"You were right, by the way."

Lifting his hand from the gravestone he gave a weak smile of respect to his dearly departed father.

"I don't need this anymore, I didn't even touch it during the funeral, but I still think I need you. I'll try to live on as normally as possible and I know that it won't be easy, but I will try. I promise you that I will see the world at last. With Henry still in my life I know I at least stand a chance at being okay without you. I guess it's safe to say that Henry inherited his grandfather's heart of gold."

Letting one final rogue tear fall from his soulful brown eyes he wiped it away with his thumb and took in a shaking breath to level his voice again.

"I know that you're in a better place and that you're finally back with Cole, Barbara, Skye and both Sumos, so I don't doubt that you really are okay up there. Now it's my turn, my mission, to take charge and protect the family just as you protected us. Until we meet again. Thank you for everything you've done."

Connor paid his final respects to Hank as he placed down his final offering before he begrudgingly left his beloved father behind. There was nothing more to be done despite having countless words still needing to be said. Some words, however, could only be said by the heart and the heart could be heard in more ways than one to those who were willing to listen.

"...I love you, dad."

With his head held high and his mind marginally clearer, Connor walked away from the gravestone with a heavy heart but a clear mind as he ventured away from his deceased family and returned to the beautiful Corvette that he and Hank and restored together. The Corvette was parked along the dirt trail that lapped through the peaceful cemetery and its pristine cobalt blue paint still glistened like a pure sapphire in the light of the brilliantly shining sun overhead.

Whispering one last passing goodbye to Hank as he returned to the vehicle Connor turned over the car's engine and wiped away another tear.

"I'll see you on the other side one day, I promise. Until then, I have a new mission to accomplish, and I always accomplish my mission."

As the shining vehicle drove away from the peaceful cemetery at a slow pace a single object was left behind on the headstone to continue to shine in the sunlight in Connor's reluctant absence. Sitting idle atop Hank's grave, left behind to glisten in the bright afternoon sun and to serve as a reminder of everything that the two detectives had experienced together, was Connor's most prized material possession.

It was Connor's old coin.

-End of Series-