"Strays"
Hank Anderson's Home
It had been several rainy, miserable days in a row since the investigation into the crimes of Martin Jonas and CyberLife had gone underway, and one by one each person who had taken part in the investigation in one way or another spoke to the precinct psychiatrist as they had been ordered. Even so, the dark cloud of the stormy weather couldn't compare to the dark cloud that the gnarly case had left hanging over the heads of the dedicated detectives and officers put in charge of the horrific investigation. No one knew what to say or how to react to discovering that such an abhorrent crime had been taking place for so long without anyone even taking notice. It was as if the precinct had a collective heart that had been shattered by that single crime, and only through a collective means would the precinct be able to heal and finally move on in order to continue to protect the city.
Having had his own session with the psychiatrist under his belt, Connor sat on the couch of the livingroom with his laptop open, but the screen was left to idle on the desktop since he wasn't sure if he could handle working on any cases while his head felt so foggy. He couldn't focus his thoughts or ignore the lingering emotional turmoil swirling around inside of his heart. He had already been through so much in such a small frame of time, and now it felt like his entire past was racing to catch up to him whether he was ready to face it or not.
The only motion in the entire house came from Sumo circling his pillow to curl up and take his afternoon nap while Connor sat alone on the couch. The large dog normally liked to cuddle with Connor, but he seemed to understand that at the moment Connor just needed a little space for the time being.
While Connor became lost within himself Hank had gone out to the city to take care of his own errands for a few hours. When the man finally returned, he didn't return alone, and his guest was one that neither of the detectives could've expected. The moment the front door opened the entire house took on a new feeling.
"All right, here we are." Hank muttered as he kept something carefully bundled up inside of his coat lapel to keep it out of the cold rain. "But don't get too comfortable, you're just staying the night like we already discussed."
"Hank?" Connor had no idea who Hank was talking to and needed to make sure his friend wasn't losing his mind. "What's going on?"
"Oh, nothing much." The Lieutenant replied as he closed the door and immediately sighed when Sumo got to his paws and came over to him while sniffing the air curiously. "Just found this little guy needing some shelter for the night."
Connor watched as Hank walked over to the couch and revealed a small kitten cuddled up in his coat looking entirely innocent of the world around it. Based on the kitten's size Connor knew it was too young to be away from its mother, but it was still old enough to survive without her as long as someone else was willing to step up and give them some help.
"Found him in the parking lot hiding inside of an old paper bag. Little guy was screaming his head off, so it was hard to ignore him." Very gently Hank slipped off his coat one sleeve at a time to ensure that the kitten was still bundled up, then placed the coat down on the couch beside Connor. "I think I got him pretty warmed up, but now he's going to need to eat."
"This kitten can't eat typical cat food yet." That was the only thing that Connor could think to say. "It's far too small."
"Yup, I know. I stopped and got a few things for him since he's staying the night."
"Why not take him to the humane society?"
"It's Sunday. All of the animal shelters are closed on Sundays for some damn reason."
"Oh. That makes things needlessly difficult."
"Yeah, but it's not too strange for me to deal with. I left the bag with the stuff I bought for him in the car, so I'll be right back. You keep him from getting lost in between the couch cushions."
Connor tilted his head a little as he gave Hank a strange look. He was still getting used to being around someone with a sense of humor as opposed to being smothered by strict discipline and analytical minds that couldn't be bothered to make witty retorts or ironic statements.
While Hank went outside without his coat just long enough to get his shopping bag, Connor pulled down the fabric of the coat and got a better look at the kitten. They had silky soft gray fur with white socks on their back paws and a small smear of white under their chin. Their eyes were currently blue - a trait all young kittens shared - and they were looking up at Connor as if trying to figure out who he was and why he was showing them any attention.
Sumo promptly made his way over to the couch and rested his chin down on the cushion as he sniffed at Hank's coat and managed to catch the kitten's attention. The little ball of fluff was just as curious about Sumo and reached out one tiny paw to bat him on his nose in an incredibly delicate manner.
"Be gentle." Connor urged as he put his hand on Sumo's head and lightly ran the back of his opposite index finger along the kitten's head and back. "You're very big, especially in comparison to a tiny kitten."
"Got it." Hank announced as he returned to the livingroom through the front door and placed the bag down in his recliner. "Damn rain better quit soon."
"You should take a warm shower." The amount of cold rain soaking in Hank's clothes made Connor worry for his friend's health. "If a shower can keep me from getting sick when I get caught in the rain, I know it'll help you too."
"I'll do that after I get the little guy fed."
From where he sat Connor could see that Hank had purchased a small bottle and a canister of milk substitution made specifically to aid in the health and overall growth of kittens who no longer had a mother's care to nourish them. The way Hank carried everything into the kitchen and expertly cleaned up the bottle in the sink then prepared the perfect amount of formula for the kitten reminded Connor that the man's instincts as a father never truly disappeared after the loss of Cole. It was nice to see Hank's more compassionate and even gentle nature surface every now and then.
"This should do." Hank confirmed as he gave the half-full bottle a quick shake and then made sure it was a proper temperature. "The canister said to feed this to him about every four hours, and there's enough in that canister for six servings, so he should be good until we can take him to a shelter tomorrow."
"Let me feed them."
"Uh, sure." Handing over the bottle and a small hand towel that had been casually draped over his shoulder, Hank let Connor take charge of the kitten. "Do you know how to feed someone that small?"
"I can figure it out." With an impressively gentle motion Connor picked up the kitten to let them sit on his thigh, then offered it the bottle while holding the bottle at a slight angle to let gravity help without making a huge mess in the process. "It's okay. I can do this."
"I know ya' can. I just wanted to make sure that you're up for it since I know you don't have much experience with taking care of animals." As he spoke Hank patted Sumo's back and then kicked off his shoes. "Sumo and your aquarium are good starts, but your fish doesn't need much beyond clean water and some food in the morning and evening, and Sumo's just... Sumo."
"It's all right." Connor managed to get the kitten to take interest in the bottle and finally latch on with a ravenous grip. As soon the kitten started to suckle Connor slipped the towel under the kitten to keep the messes to a minimum. "Go take your shower. I can handle one feeding."
"Cool. There's more stuff in the kitchen just in case you need 'em."
Connor patiently held the little bottle for the equally little kitten and watched as it rhythmically suckled down the formula while Hank wandered into the bathroom. Steadily the tiny kitten's paws began to knead against the towel draped over Connor's thigh beneath the bottle, and purrs began to echo through the livingroom. It seemed like the kitten knew that they were in good hands and felt entirely comfortably allowing Connor to feed them and even hold them.
"You're lucky that Hank noticed you and saved you. The rainy weather isn't very kind to those who can't find proper shelter."
Almost fascinated by the kitten Connor reached for the A.R.I. glasses sitting on the coffee table beside his laptop and used them to get a better idea on the kitten's overall health. The glasses confirmed that the kitten was a female, approximately three weeks old, had no symptoms of an infection, didn't have any fleas or other parasites, and she wasn't suffering from any form of hypothermia. The kitten was rescued from the rain just in time.
"You're too young to be separated from your mother. Where did she go?"
The kitten of course didn't answer as she continued to suckle the formula and purr as loud as she could. It seemed she was okay without her mother as long as she had the kindness of two detectives and their gentle giant of a dog to look out for her.
"I wonder how many other people would be willing to take care of you like this?"
It didn't take long for the kitten to finish half of the bottle, and that was seemingly enough for the kitten for the time being. She released the bottle and then promptly resumed kneading the soft towel while climbing up to sit down on Connor's thigh to keep warm. The small kitten continued to purr even as Connor used the small towel to wipe off her chin, then decided to use A.R.I. to guide him in proper kitten care.
The next step was an awkward necessity, but Connor's didn't shy away. Picking up the kitten Connor held her against his shoulder, carried her into the kitchen and dipped the corner of the small towel into the warm water of the tap in the sink, and used it to clean up the kitten's posterior to ensure she was able to digest the formula properly and excrete her waste properly to avoid internal discomfort or infections.
A 'squeak' of surprise echoed in the kitchen as Connor tended to the kitten and then promptly carried the towel to throw into the washing of the nearby laundry room.
"My apologies, but that was necessary for your own health."
Such a noise perked up Sumo's ears and walked into the kitchen to check on the kitchen while Connor put the remaining formula in the refrigerator as per the instructions on the side of the canister, then let the used bottle sit in the refrigerator in the event the kitten wanted another helping. The large dog never got underfoot, but he did keep right at Connor's ankles as the young detective made his way back to the kitchen.
"You need to be kept warm. I'll find you something more suitable than Hank's coat since that garment needs the chance to dry off from the rain."
Connor returned to the couch and pulled the blue blanket that was draped over the back of the furniture down to wrap around himself, then wrapped one side of the blanket around the kitten to keep her warm without her getting tangled in the fabric. After a few more seconds of the kitten kneading her front paws along the soft fabric she finally curled up into a small ball of fluff and settled in for a nice, safe nap with Connor right beside her to help her keep warm.
Sumo continued to gently sniff at the kitten while wagging his tail. Slowly Sumo managed to hop up onto the couch and curl up next to Connor and the kitten without getting too close to the kitten as to accidentally lie on top of her. The lovable and protective dog seemed perfectly content to share space with the little kitten and help keep her safe.
"Now that she's been fed, cleaned and has a warm, safe place to sleep, I can focus on finding the kitten a shelter to take her in tomorrow morning."
Finally, Connor picked up his laptop and used it begin searching for local shelters that had room for kittens and managed to stop dwelling on emotional pain that he couldn't simply force away from his aching heart. It was nice to have something less bleak to distract his thoughts for a while. Taking care of a kitten and helping her to find a safe place to live was an improved change of pace.
Hank had finished his shower and stepped into the livingroom to check on everyone without the slightest hint of worry in his eyes. The man stood behind the couch and peered over the back of the furniture to see that Connor was wrapped up in the blanket with the kitten safely snuggled in and being kept warm alongside Sumo.
"He looks pretty content." Hank observed as he looked down at the napping bundle of fur. "Any luck with the shelters?"
"Yes. Also, the kitten is female, not male."
"Oh, well, I don't think she minded me calling her a little guy a couple of times since she now has a fully belly and a warm place to nap."
"I agree. There are several no-kill shelters in the city we could take her to in the morning." Connor passed his laptop up and over to Hank so that he could check over the list of shelters for himself. "There is one problem that we may run into."
"The shelters are pretty full, and they don't have enough personnel to bottle-feed a kitten around the clock. Right?"
"Correct."
"Well, we'll cross that bridge when we get to it."
"You seem fairly confident that we'll be able to help the kitten."
"I am, kid." Hank walked around the couch and placed the laptop back down on the coffee table before he patted Sumo's back and walked over to his recliner to sit down for a while. "I've helped puppies and kittens over the years just as I've helped people. Hell, Sumo was rescued from a puppy mill seven years ago."
"Somehow I'm not surprised that you rescued Sumo."
"Yeah, the big oaf has made himself at home ever since. But he's good company, and he didn't even judge me when I was at my lowest."
"I'll begin sending e-mails to the shelters and inquire about whether they can accommodate this kitten tomorrow." As he spoke Connor glanced down at the napping kitten and lightly laid his palm along the kitten's back to make sure she was still warm. He could feel her purring even in her sleep and that left him feeling confident in his ability to take care of such a small creature. "If they can't take her in, then I'll look for an alternative home placement."
"Good plan."
Despite the warm shower Hank still felt a bit of a chill and decided to get a blanket for himself. It took Hank only a few seconds to locate a spare blanket in the hallway closet and wrap it around his shoulders before he settled down in his recliner again. Feeling better, Hank decided to ask Connor how he was feeling and hoped that the younger man was starting to have a more positive outlook on life.
"I'm not gonna' pry, but did talking to the 'shrink' help you out?"
"Yes, actually." There wasn't any hesitation behind Connor's response as he continued to look for shelters on the laptop while also lightly petting the napping kitten curled up beside him. "I was able to properly sort out my emotions when speaking with her yesterday afternoon. However, that only seemed to reveal another problem that I'll need to find a way to face in due time."
"Can I ask what's up?"
"I'd prefer if you didn't." Connor's demeanor dipped as he tried to keep focused on his search. He needed to focus on something far more beneficial for his peace of mind. "I'm still trying to process everything I've gone through and uncovered since I began digging through CyberLife's secrets."
"Yeah, no problem."
Hank decided it was time to turn on the television find something to watch during that chilly, rainy day. As expected, the baseball game had been rained out, which meant Hank needed to find a suitable substitute program for the day. With one eye checking through the channels and his other eye watching Connor gingerly tending to the kitten beside him, Hank had a feeling that the emotionally stunted and childhood-deprived detective would find a way to heal from his past trauma by being able to finally experience the things that he had wanted to enjoy as a kid.
Namely, spending time with animals.
The older man remembered how Connor had shared the story of asking Santa to bring him a family for Christmas, and he knew that Connor having a taste of a stable family life as an adult was already helping him immensely. A warm bed to call his own, the comfort of a loyal dog, the responsibility of his own aquarium, learning how to cook and having a warm meal always at the ready, were all small things that had a major impact in Connor's life in a very positive way.
When Hank had initially taken Connor in, he hadn't really expected to do more than give the younger man a place to crash for a while as he figured out what to do with his life. Seeing Connor's mood and mindset improving while also working hard to deal with his traumatic past gave Hank hope that his friend had a fighting chance to live a normal life. Every time it seemed like Connor was being faced with a challenge that he couldn't overcome, the rookie detective proved him wrong and continued to push forward and survive.
"Huh..." Hank's eyes narrowed coyly as he looked over at Sumo and remembered how much of a handful he had been as a puppy. "I wonder if anyone at the precinct would be willing to take in the kitten. When I rescued Sumo from the puppy mill, Fowler rescued a pup of his own. I bet we could circulate a picture of the kitten through the bullpen and find her a new home before sunset."
"That's a good idea." At that simple suggestion Connor seemed to lose all interest in e-mailing the shelters and was now in immediate favor of trusting one of their colleagues with the kitten's care. "I can use my phone to send a few pictures through the friend-group that Tina added me to."
"Yeah? Am I in the group too?"
"Apparently Tina has many different friend groups that she communicates with. We're in her 'professional' friend group together, whereas I'm in a second group that she's refused to identify since she likes to keep those types of things more personal."
"Sounds like Tina's got everyone in the bullpen pegged." Laughing a little Hank finally selected a movie to watch and then kicked up his feet to get more comfortable in the recliner. "Go for it, kid. Make sure you get some pictures of the kitten while she's awake too. Seeing those big blue eyes will undoubtedly be the big selling point and someone will leap at the chance to adopt her."
"Noted."
"I bet Tina'd be willing to help me with my own little favor too."
Connor didn't notice Hank whispering to himself as he set about using his phone to take a few pictures of the napping kitten without disturbing her to prepare to have sent to the bullpen friend group chat. After the kitten was awake again Connor would take a few more pictures and then give her some additional formula to ensure she was fed properly.
"Where should we have her sleep tonight?" Connor asked as he realized that neither he or Hank would be able to stay awake all night and keep an eye on the kitten. She was too small to be left without supervision, and she'd need to use a little box eventually. "I doubt that she'll be willing to stay in one spot for our personal convenience all night."
"There's a pet carrier in the garage we can clean up and then fill with soft towels and blankets for her to keep warm. I bet we can find an old shoe box and fill it up with newspaper or something for her to have as a litter box too."
"She isn't litter trained yet." That comment made Connor tilt his head with very minimal self-doubt. "At least, I presume she isn't."
"Cats have an instinct to dig and bury their waste, so she should know exactly what to do with the litter box once she knows what it is."
"You seem to know a lot about cats."
"I had a cat while growing. He was all gray with long fur. I called him Smokey." Hank watched as Connor gingerly hovered over the kitten and proceeded to take a few more pictures with his phone to have sent to the precinct. "He lived a long time and was my bud all through middle and high school. I miss him."
"It sounds like you'd like to have another cat to take care of."
"Nah, Sumo's all I need." The older man didn't want to necessarily tell Connor that he couldn't keep the kitten, but he did want Connor to consider all the work that went into tending to such a small and defenseless creature. "I'm working too many weird hours to properly tend to a little kitten like that. She'll need to be fed, cleaned up, kept warm, played with, bonded with, trained to not claw the furniture or carpets, and then there's the issue with getting her spayed when she's bigger, keeping up with flea and tick treatments, trimming her nails, brushing her fur... There's just a lot that goes into properly caring for cats that I just can't do anymore."
"Understandable." Connor continued to watch the kitten as she napped and hoped that she'd be willing to cooperate for more pictures when she awoke. "It's good that you know in advance whether or not you'd be able to take care of a kitten before volunteering to keep her."
"You seem to be pretty good with her." Arching his brow slightly Hank hinted that Connor could take up the challenge if he was willing to do so. "You could always take her in and give her a home."
"...No." A darkness swam over Connor's vision as he tucked the blanket around the kitten's body to keep her warm. "I like her, but I just can't allow myself to become emotionally attached to her. I still need to work on bettering myself before I take on any big emotional commitments and responsibilities."
"Okay. That was a very emotionally mature response, so I can confirm that you're already doing great."
"Thank you for saying that."
The compliment wasn't one that Connor had been expecting to hear, not that he expected them in general. Knowing that his friend had faith in his ability to make a proper recovery and take on new challenges in his life that didn't revolve around constantly smoothing out his rough childhood. It was interesting how a single positive comment could have such a massive impact on someone's mind and view of themselves as a person.
An appreciated reprieve fell over the house, and the two detectives were able to enjoy a quiet day with the kitten safe in their care. Just as Hank had predicted, someone from the precinct volunteered to take in the kitten, and now they could sleep easier knowing that one more innocent life in the city had just been saved.
A change for the better was on the horizon, and as far as the two detectives were concerned the change couldn't come soon enough.
Detroit Central Precinct: Rear Entrance
The rain had finally stopped, and the two detectives made their way to the precinct to bring the kitten to her new caretaker right on schedule. The duo exited the car with the pet carrier in Connor's grip just as Tina's younger sister, Sasha, came rushing over to greet them and meet the kitten in person. It was love at first sight as Sasha cooed over the little kitten and happily took her in her arms to hold and cuddle for a minute. There was no denying that the kitten found a great new home, and knowing Tina, Connor and Hank would be getting frequent updates on the kitten's wellbeing without needing to ask. They did the right thing by simply asking for help for the kitten, and it was a poignant reminder that even when something seems hopeless or pointless, there's always at least one person who will stand up and offer to help if they wanted to do so.
While Sasha carried the kitten over to her car to secure in the pet carrier she brought with her and quickly surrounded the kitten with a soft blanket and offered it some food before taking her back home, Tina waved Connor and Hank over to another large van parked at the side of the lot. She had a massive grin on her face, and it was clear that she had something else on her mind for her two colleagues.
"Before you go..." Tina teased as she put her hands on the rear door handles of the van and prepared to reveal the contents within. "I thought you two would appreciate this as much as I do. We have a new batch of recruits who are going to begin their training tomorrow, and I thought you'd like to meet them."
"More rookies?" Hank crossed his arms over his chest and shook his head at the suggestion. "No thanks. I deal with them enough as it is."
"Not THESE rookies!"
Theatrically Tina pulled open the two rear doors of the van and then excitedly squealed as six German shepherd puppies came bounding out of the van and onto the pavement of the parking lot. All six were wearing small vests to indicate that they were police dogs in training, and they each had already been assigned a K-9 unit partner to work with in the morning.
"I'll never get tired of that!" Tina announced as she fell to her knees and let the puppies climb all over her as they sought some love and affection. "So glad Captain Fowler lets me be the welcome wagon every time we get a new litter to train!"
Connor wasn't expecting a swarm of puppies, but he wasn't about to decline the chance to greet them and play with them as well. Slowly he knelt down and soon had two of the puppies clambering to get his attention and show off how fierce they were sure to be by playfully chewing on Connor's hands and wagging their bushy tails happily.
"Surprised Fowler isn't out here watching to make sure you don't try to steal his new recruits." Hank commented with a knowing look as he gave a couple of the puppies some ear rubs. "I'm glad the precinct went back to using living dogs over the android dogs. Those 'K9' models were used and abused more than a weekend rental car."
The six puppies were all happy to be out of the van and burn off some energy in the contained parking lot. They were all in perfect health and eager to make new friends as they became acclimated to their new careers as police dogs.
"Good dogs." Connor whispered as decided to sit cross legged on the ground and let the puppies continue to climb all over him. It was hard to want to leave when the puppies were being so playful and affectionate. "You're being rescued by good people too. I can relate in my own strange way."
Hank overheard the comment and knew that Connor still felt like he needed to somehow earn his keep around the precinct despite being a talented detective who had already earned his place and didn't need to worry about being replaced or cast aside. Then again, after everything Connor had been through - whether or not all of his trauma was being remembered properly or not - it was no wonder that he was so worried about being dismissed or left behind.
"How I wish I had the heart to work as a K-9 officer." Tina sighed as she scooped up a puppy to hold in her arms and get some kisses in return. "But if my K-9 partner got wounded in the line of duty, I'd have to go 'John Wicke' and hunt down the people who hurt my partner. Then I'd have to find a new career, and I don't have the attention span for something like that all over again."
"Which is exactly why Fowler is very particular about who gets a K-9 unit and who doesn't." Hank stated rather curtly. "When are these guys going to be picked up by their new partners?"
"Any minute now. They've been waiting to meet their new partners and get trained to protect our streets for a couple days now, and I know they'll make us all proud!"
Connor felt his aching heart beginning to warm as he was swarmed with puppy cuddles. There was something about the way animals didn't judge people by their appearances or their reputations, and only judged humans based on their overall character that was reassuring. If the puppies and the kitten all liked Connor without any fear, then that meant he wasn't a lost cause or someone that needed to be fear in order to survive.
"Has Sasha picked a name for the kitten?" Connor asked as he held two of the puppies against his chest and ran his hands up and down their backs to pet them and receive tail wags and slobbery kisses in response. "She looked like she already had everything ready for the kitten when we pulled in."
"Oh, yeah. She's naming the kitten Cosmo and is going to spoil her rotten." Tina looked over at Sasha as her sister prepared to back up and head for home with little Cosmo beside her. "Sasha's wanted a kitten for so long, and now that she has that little one who's going to need her constant care and love, she's going to be over the moon for the next couple of years."
"I'm glad your sister is willing to take on the challenge of taking care of such a small kitten." As Connor expressed his gratitude, he noticed the rear doors of the precinct opening and six young officers making their way into the parking lot. The new K-9 puppies would need to meet their partners soon. "I hope these aspiring K-9 units will be just as fortunate with their new partners."
"Come on, kid." Hank knew it was time to go and encouraged Connor to get up from the ground. "Our good deed for the day is done, and now it's time to head for home and enjoy the rest of our day off."
"Very well." Slowly Connor pushed the puppies off his lap and then stood up without accidentally stepping on any paws in the process. The puppies all took notice of the newly arrived officers and were soon claimed by their new partners to begin their training. "We wouldn't want to interfere with any training sessions by mistake."
Only once the six puppies were accounted for did anyone leave the parking lot. No puppy was going to get left behind on their watch, just as no kitten would be overlooked by mistake. Connor watched as Sasha made her way out of the parking lot and knew that he did the right thing by allowing someone else to take care of the kitten despite his personal desires for a pet of his own. It was the right thing to do for an animal in need, and he knew that in time he'd be in a better place mentally that would allow him to properly care for anyone and everyone who needed his help.
"Let's head for home." With a small pat to Connor's shoulder Hank led his younger partner back toward the Oldsmobile parked a few feet away. "The game was rescheduled for tonight, and I don't want to miss the opening pitch."
"While you're watching the game, I'd like to give cooking another try."
"Yeah?" The idea of Connor cooking instead of working for a day sounded like an absolute masterpiece. "What did you have in mind?"
"Not sure yet." Connor admitted as he opened the passenger side door of the car and looked at Hank over the hood. The slight chill in the spring air made it easy enough to decide to cook something with some heated flavor, but that didn't mean he had a recipe picked out. "What would you recommend?"
"Well, kid, I have an entire notebook full of meal ideas and recipes that you could check through any time you want. So I recommend that you do what you want, and don't let anyone tell you to do anything different." Hank urged with a bit of an undertone confirming he was talking about far more than just cooking. "For now, focus on keeping yourself happy and healthy, understand?"
"I think so. That's sound advice." Feeling much better than he had in several days, Connor sat down and fastened his seatbelt while he began contemplating what he was going to do after they returned home. "I'll be sure to keep that in mind from this moment on. I like the idea of doing what I want for my own reasons. In time, I'll be able to do just that without doubting myself beforehand every time."
-next chapter-
