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It was late at night when they went to bed. Hank put his arms around Connor and buried his face in his chest. This wasn´t much like Hank.
“Are you ok, sweetheart? All a little bit at once, hm?” Connor asked, concerned.
Hank sighed. “Yes it was. I believe she blames herself. She must have been to hell and back a thousand times down there.”
Connor couldn’t help but chuckle. “And you are blaming yourself. Perfect Anderson style. Look, none of you are to blame for anything. But I guess it is hard for both of you to see it this way, with the way you grew up.”
Hank buried his face even deeper in Connor's chest. “I love you Connor, I love you so much. I don't want to talk anymore. Just make love to me please.”
“Are you sure?” Connor asks.
“I am. Please, and let me see those beautiful eyes of yours while you do so.”
Connor smiled. “As you wish.”
Hank laughed out, “you were watching the Princess Bride again. Of course, of all Androids I must get the most romantic one.”
They started kissing each other. Connor's lips all over Hank's body. Tonight was just about him and Connor was eager to give him what he needed. When he finally pushed into him, Hank hugged Connor tight again. Connor held Hank’s face in his hands, looking him in his wonderful blue eyes when he started to move slowly. Hank moaned deeply. “Connor, my Connor, I love you. Oh God, I love you.”
Connor smiled. “I love you, too. Always have, always will.”
They came almost together. Lying close together, Connor runs his Hand through Hank's hair. “Sleep now, sweetheart. You need to rest.”
Hank woke up in the late morning. He smelled bacon and voices with laughter from the kitchen. He smiled and made his way to join them. Jo and Connor were laughing and teasing each other.
Jo smiled even brighter as she saw Hank. “BB, how are you? She pushed her wheelchair towards Hank and put her arms around his waist.
Hank kneeled to her to hug her too. “I am good. My two most precious people are here. How could I not be good?”
“BB?” Connor asked.
“Big Brother,” said Jo and Hank simultaneously.
The three enjoyed breakfast together. Jo broke the silence. “Hey Connor, Markus and your friends did so much for me. Can we have a little party and invite them all? I would love to meet them all.”
“You are sure you are ready for something like that?” Hank asks with sorrow in his voice.
“BB, I spent nearly two years in a dark room and the last weeks in hospital. Believe me, I am ready. I want to go on. I am not made of glass.”
“I will see Markus later anyway; I will set something up. On a Saturday sometime soon?” Connor looked at Hank.
“Do I have a choice against the two of you?” Hank sighed.
Later that day, Connor and Markus meet at new Jericho.
“Connor, so good to see you. Come inside, everybody is right there in the living room.”
Everybody was there, and Connor was happy seeing his friends again. Markus poured him some Tritium. “How is it going, is Josephine ok?”
Connor hesitated “I think so, even though I am sure she is not really letting her feelings out, she is afraid it will be too much for Hank and her.”
“That is not a surprise I think, she must have been through awful things,” North said.
Connor was silent for a while. “Markus, when do you think deviants first appeared?”
Markus frowned. “Why are you asking?”
“When I visited Jo alone in the hospital, she told me a few things. She talked a lot about an Android named Sam. He was assigned to the medical field, too. She says they loved each other. The way she talked about him, I was thinking he must have been a deviant. But that was almost 4 Years ago. He died protecting her in the attack, she was wounded and ended up in captivity. In there, she was also only with Androids. Helping each other to survive. She said the Androids are the reason she was alive after all that time. They always found a way to distract the IAS when they came to torture her.”
Silence filled the room. Markus finally broke the silence. “To be honest, I don’t know. It is possible.”
“What happened to the memories of the Androids in the field? I mean, they were resigned to the army. Did they store that stuff maybe?” Connor asked hopefully.
“Possibly, I will check that.”
“Something else, Jo wants to meet all of you. She's inviting you for dinner. Hank says she is a very good cook.”
North was the first to answer. “That would be cool. After all I heard about her, I really might like her.”
“How about Saturday in two weeks?” Connor suggested.
“We will be there. Maybe I can find out some things about Sam and the Androids which were in captivity with her.”
While Connor was in new Jericho, Hank and Jo enjoyed their time together. “It's been so long since we've been like that,” Hank said.
Jo smiled “yes, and I can't tell you how much I missed you. Missed this. All that time I was thinking about you so often, if you would be here when I have a chance to survive. To be honest, I was sure you would shoot yourself or would drive drunk and have an accident. And even when I know it is an Anderson habit, I felt guilty.”
Hank tucked Jo under his arm. “I know, same here with me. I guess we both can get out from our skin.”
Jo held on tight. “I am so happy you found Con.”
Hank smirked. “He found me. And to my luck he was very stubborn. He is the best that's happened to me since Cole. I still miss him like hell. But Connor turned the blackness into light, let me see the good memories. I didn´t think I had a future. Now I can't wait to see what is coming.”
Jo smiled. “Yes, I haven´t seen you like this in your entire life. You are shining when he is around. And I already love him beyond belief, too. He is such a treasure.”
“Who is a treasure?” Connor asked as he entered the kitchen.
“My new baby brother. I just realized that now I am a big sister.”
“And you skipped the diapers part.” Hank laughed.
“You are not sincerely calling me that from now on?”
“We will see. Hungry? Dinner will be ready any minute.”
“Sure. I also talked to Markus. He and the rest of the gang will be here on Saturday in two weeks.”
“I am really looking forward to that. I missed the whole Deviant thing. I read a lot about Markus and the others. Did you think about staying with them first after it happened?”
Connor was silent for a brief moment. “Not really. Neither Markus or any of them blamed me for what happened. But as a matter of fact, the FBI found them because of me. It didn´t feel right for me, even when it was just my programming. I was so close to deviant at that point, I simply should have known better.”
Jo smiled, sympathy in her eyes. “Self-doubt, well you make a fucking hell of an Anderson.”
Hank’s laughter was loud and truly full. “Oh yes, he fucking does.”
5 Days Later
Hank and Connor were off to work, a new case on red ice dealer. The follow a route, coming to an appended house. They had brought the gun in their hands, carefully searching the scene. Suddenly Connor registered a move on their right side. He saw the gun in the other man's hand and without thinking, he pushed Hank away. Warning him “right side, Man with gun.”
It all happened in a second. Hank was moved by Connor's chest, heard him, saw the man, and fired, taking the man off his feet. But the bullet of the gunshot hit Connor in his shoulder.
“Connor! Oh god, Connor, are you ok?” Hank was terrified.
“Just my shoulder. Bullet was moving right through it. Nothing important is damaged. It will be good in 1 or 2 days. I just need some tritium and rest.”
“Yes, I am filling Follower in. The backup will take care of the scene, we can write the report later. Do we really not have to go to the Android hospital?”
“No, it´s ok. And as far as I know, I have my private nurse at home. Just take me home please. It really hurts.”
When they arrived home and Jo saw all the blue blood she was furious. “I am here for what, a few weeks and one of you already gets shot?”
“Jo, we are cops, it happens. You know it. You worked in a dangerous job as well. I am fine. Nothing serious, I promise.”
Jo still had tears in her eyes and trembled. “But I am scared, I could lose you or Hank. I have back what I expected to be lost forever. A family. I can’t lose that. Not now, not ever. Not when both of your lives are on the line at the same time.” Tears were running down her face, she tried to push herself towards her garage. But Hank and Connor held on her at the same time.
“I know you are scared; I am sorry to worry you. Please stop crying.” Connor was near tears now too.
Hank stroked Jo´s hair. “We are sorry baby girl, it will be alright. You know Androids are hard to knock of.f” He didn´t believe it himself. He was scared to death when he saw Connor bleeding. Hurt with a bullet that had hit him when it wasn´t for Connor. “You must come down now.”
It took both men a while to comfort her. They finally took the completely exhausted woman to bed and stayed with her until she finally fell asleep.
They were sitting quietly on the couch for a while when Connor broke the silence. “Maybe Jo is right. We are lovers, we work together. All I was focused on today was you keeping safe. And know you feel the same. That is not good. I will bring danger to both of us sometime soon.”
Hank sighed. “You are right, but what can we do? Just assigning a new partner wouldn’t change that much. We still will be on the same cases most of the time.”
“I could try to get a position as the leader of the day shift in the forensic. It has been vacant for a while now. I will be called when the crime scene is already safe. Safe workhours. Better payment. Jo has a long way to go. It is not clear now if she will be able to get prosthetics for her leg. And she is far from really handling what happened. Even when she tries hard to pretend.”
“I know. But would you like it there? Would you be happy? I don’t want you to deal with something you don´t like. We both know you are a born detective.”
“I think so. I was designed for that after all. I'll still be a detective in some way. Analyzing stuff at a safe crime scene.”
Connor couldn´t help smiling.
“Why are you smiling?”
“I just remember your face the first time I had blood and dirt in my mouth.”
They both were laughing now. “I will find out more about the job tomorrow. We must talk to Jo, too. She will kill us both for acting behind her back. Let´s go to bed. I am tired and I need to rest to get this shoulder better.”
The next day they all sat together for breakfast. “So, what do you think?” Connor asked Jo after telling her about their idea.
Jo hesitated. “I don´t know, I mean I would be lying if said I wasn’t happy to know one of you is safe. But I don´t want you to do something you don´t like.”
“I wouldn’t be, I promise. I'll call the chief right now, we don´t know if I have a chance after all. I have no idea how they'll think about a Deviant taking the place of a leading job.”
“They would be stupid not to take you. No one on this planet is better for it.” Hank said as he stood up, placing a little kiss on Connor's hair.
Connor blushed. “Stop flattering me.”
“Never, honey.”
Hank went off to work, Jo back to her rooms for now and Connor tried to call about the job.
A few hours later Connor knocked on Jo´s door. “Can I come in?”
“Sure, what’s up?”
Connor made his way towards the bed Jo was sitting on, back against the wall. He sat down at her side. “I have a job interview tomorrow, but it looks very good. They know me by name and they don´t have a problem with me being a deviant.”
“Really, that’s fantastic. I guess it is still not usual, even though it should be. But again, I don’t want you do something you don´t really want.”
“I know, don’t worry. I think it will be better for me and Hank too. We are at a point where the other matters more than a case. That’s not good and can put both of us and other lives in danger.”
Connor took a closer look at Jo. “You seem to be pretty knocked out. Problems sleeping?” Jo didn’t answer.
“You know,"Connor continuous " I sometimes do. In the beginning of being Deviant every damn night. I always watch out that your brother doesn´t notice it. I was very ashamed. I dreamed about the things I did. I still feel guilty because of them. Even when Markus and the other always assure me they forgave me because I followed my program, as I told you, I still felt so guilty. Not able to handle all the new emotions.”
Jo looked at him “Why did you hide it? Hank loves you.”
“At the beginning I was so unsure about myself; I was afraid Hank might kick me out. And we were far from confessing our erasing feelings. Later it was because I didn´t want to cause more trouble than he already had with Cole, you, and a new therapist on his shoulders. After his big breakdown and our fight it was pretty hard for him. It triggered my nightmares, but it was more important to keep him safe. It has always been, even before I was really deviating.”
Jo smiled. “You are so good, so kind and trustful. I don´t even have words for it. You, as a sentient being, could never hurt anybody. I glad you found Hank. For him, and to be honest, for me too. I love you baby brother.”
Connor smiled and took Jo in an embrace. “I love you too. Love of my life and a big sister. Best package ever.”
They both laughed. After a few minutes Jo broke the embrace. “Yes, I do dream a lot. As soon as I fall asleep it seems to happen. And I am not ready to talk about all of it in therapy. But unexpectedly, these are the things I can handle better than the dream I have every night. I see Sam. Sam as he led me toward the tanks to hide me and the other survivors when we were under attack. I knew what he was up to, to shift the tanks from the outside so a real hiding place would arise. I begged him to do it from the inside, to stay with me. He said he couldn’t, that it wouldn’t work that way. He held my face in his hands, told me he will still always be with me and thanked me for being his partner. I can still feel his hands on me when I wake. But I also feel the pain in my leg. The explosion was so hard, it shifted the tanks, and my leg came between a gap somehow and it was practically instantly torn off. Then when they captured us and took us to their vehicle, I saw parts of Sam lying on the ground. I miss him Connor, I don’t care if he was a deviant or not. I miss him.” Tears were running down her face heavily.
Connor takes her in his arms again. “I know you do. He must have been special. I want you to know I am always here. You want to talk in the middle of the night, no problem. I have ears like a bat, even then you say my name at a normal volume while in here, I will hear you and come over. And please remember, he is somewhere watching you. You are alive, safe, and happy.”
“I know, and thanks. I really could use some destruction. I am not one to just to do nothing. My therapist and physiotherapist are both saying I am pushing it far too hard. I have to be patient they say. But I am not very good at that.”
Connor laughed. “You are an Anderson, how could you?”
Jo laughed too. “Well I guess being raised by Hank had some kind influence on me. I hope your friends like me. Did they like Hank at first?”
“They are looking forward to meeting you too. Hank is one of the rare human friends they have. But they were not convinced at first sight. They thought I stayed because of guilt towards them and the rest of my programming. It took a while to convince them my feelings for Hank are real and I don’t want to be any place else. Humans are complicated, they don’t change the way they look at the world overnight.”
“I'll never understand why Humans don’t just see you for what you are. Even long before this here in Detroit happened, I always prefer Androids around me than Humans.”
Connor smiled. “Because you are special. You only see the good in us.”
The next day, Hank and Jo were waiting for Connor to come back from his job interview. They both looked up as Connor made his way towards them.
“I got the job.”
Hank took him in his arms and kissed him. “I knew it. I am so proud of you.”
“I will begin as soon as Fowler gives his ok, it shouldn’t be long. I told him that I want this job and why.”
“Sounds good. I really hope that Reed is not going to be my new partner. I'd rather shoot myself in the leg.”
Jo raised her eyebrows. “Oh god, the guy is still there? I remember him. ?”
“Oh yes” Hank groans, “I can't stand the way he treats Connor. And now it even worse since he works with us officially.”
“I am sure Fowler wouldn’t do this to you.” Connor said, “But I can't wait to see his face when I am in charge and more then one rank over him when me meet at a crime scene.”
All of them had big smiles on their faces.
Jo couldn’t help but think that she was pretty lucky to have such two great brothers.
In the night Jo has one of her worst nightmares since she came back. She fell out of bed when she finally awoke. The panic attack hit her so hard, she couldn’t breath. “Connor,” she managed to gasp out.
Connor heard her, keeping his ears sensitive after their talk. He tries not to wake Hank as he gets up.
“Were are you going honey?” Hank asked as he stirred in bed.
I promised Jo she can call me when she has a bad dream, I think I just heard her call,” Connor answers.
“Shall I come, too?” Hank looked at Connor.
“Hank I know it might feel bad, but you must understand that were is a big difference in talking about it to her android brother or you. She is scared you will worry too much. Give her time.”
Hank just nods and Connor sped up to the garage. Jo lay on the floor, desperately trying to catch her breath. Connor took her in his arms. “It's ok, breathe with me. Feel my rhythm. I am here. You are not alone.”
After 5 minutes she finally calmed down, still holding on to Connor like she was drowning.
“Wanna talk?”
“I don’t know,” Jo whimpered.
“You don´t have to right now. But I can stay if you want me to. Hank knows I’m over here and that you can't talk to him right now.”
“That must have hurt him.” Tears were pooling again in Jo´s eyes.
“Maybe a little, but he still understands. He couldn’t talk about his feelings after Cole's death either. The two of you will find a way in time,” Connor assures her.
After an after hour of comforting her, she finally falls asleep again.
Next Day
Connor and Hank were already home when Jo returned from rehab.
She left the wheelchair in her rooms and came over with her crutches. Without hesitation she threw herself in Hank's arms. “ I am sorry if it hurts you that I talk about certain things with Connor rather than you. Please don´t think I don´t trust you. Because I do. I always have. But you were always so strong for me. You could have easily turned me over to childcare and live your own life a lot easier. But you didn´t. You have always been there. Always strong, or at least making me think you are. You had given up so much for me. I want to be strong too, so you are proud of me. But right now, I just can´t. You are my world, my home since I can remember. You were all in one - brother, father, mother. I love you so much, I will never find the right words.”
The whole time Hank held her tight in his arms. Slowly he pushed her far away enough that their foreheads could meet. “Baby girl, I know you do and I´m not sad, you have nothing to worry about. You are strong, stronger than I ever have been. And I didn’t feel like I gave something up because you were my home, too. Holding on to each other kept us alive and sane. And you have been such a brave kid. You took over household and cooking, taking care of me too, when you were still a little kid. I was so proud of you. I love you, too. And I will never let you down again. I promise - I will be here when you are ready to talk.”
Jo finally broke the embrace and looked at Hank and Connor. “Sorry for the emotional breakdown, therapy got me knock out pretty hard today.”
“Hey,” Connor says approaching from the other side, “You have two brothers here watching out for you. Don´t worry.”
Saturday
Everything was set for the party. Jo spent most of the day cooking and preparing. She decided to use the crutches instead of the wheelchair.
As usual the doorbell rang punctually. Markus, North and Jo were the first to enter, and Jo greets them, turning around to do so to the rest. All color left her face when she saw Simon. “Sam,” was all that she was able to say before she passed out.
She woke up on the sofa, a lot of bothered eyes staring from above her.
Hank was at the armrest, holding her face.
Connor knelt beside her. “I am so sorry, I can't believe after all we talked about, I forgot to ask you what model Sam was.”
Jo tried to set up. “Not your fault. Help me up. God this is fucking embarrassing. I must apologise to all of you. That sure was not the way I want to start the party and our first meeting.”
Her eyes searched for Simon. “Please Simon, especially to you. I am so sorry. I really must have troubled you.”
Simon smiled. “It´s ok. Never mind. I am rather sorry for giving you such a shock. Connor told us how close you and Sam had been. We all knew but completely forgot to find out his model number. Since you spent the most time here or in therapy, you haven´t seen a lot of us. And so no other models the same as Sam.”
“You're right, but still, please let’s forget about that and start again. I am so happy to meet you, I know you have done a lot for me. Starting from arranging my freeing to the set up for my new home. Let´s just have a good time, please!”
Everybody began to relax, and the party could finally start.
Jo enjoyed talking to everybody a lot. Even North seemed to really like her. After eating, they all sat together in the living room.
Markus opened a bag he brought along. “I have something for you. I wish it was more, but… He took out two boxes. “These are your private things which were found at the army tent after the attack happened, and some of Sam's. I couldn’t find more yet, they didn’t bury Android corps in wars and didn't store them either. I'll still try to find out more though, you seem to be a kind of legend to androids in the Iraq war be because you always were helping them when ever you could.”
Jo let out a sound of frustration. “No, why should they. They were good enough as cannon fodder, but not important enough to bury for sacrificing their lives. It was only logical for me to be helping them whenever I could.”
She took the boxes, looking at them for a while, before handing the one with Sam’s things to Hank and Connor. “I am far from ready for this. Keep it until I am, please.”
Then she opened her own box. There were pictures of her and a much younger Hank, Without a beard and one of her with Cole. There was her band from the army, a scrapbook and a key. “Shit, I forgot about that one completely.”
Hank took the key “What is that for?”
“A storage room. I took all my personal belongings there before I left. I paid for 2 Years. I don´t know what happened after that time. Which reminds me, I wasn´t declared dead, was I?”
Hank shook his head.
“So, I guess there must have been money coming in from the army regularly, I can´t believe I forgot about that. So much were going on, to contact the army didn’t come on my mind. After all they weren´t the ones who saved me. But If money was coming in and the bank didn’t shut down my account, the storage room should still be there with all my stuff. So who is the computer king in here who can help me to get in my old account?”
Josh stood up and they sat down together at Jo´s laptop. It didn´t take long for Josh to find out what they wanted to know. There was a very impressive amount of money in Jo´s account. And the storage room was still there, too.
“Well, at last I can pay you rent now, and don’t even try to talk me out of this.”
“We can get your stuff tomorrow if you want,” Hank said.
“And call the army,” Markus said. “You should be dismissed with honor and with a proper pension pay.”
Jo made a noise. “You think so? As I said, it wasn’t them who saved me or even looked for me. It was your people.”
“Yes, but it still is your right.”
Jo was silent for a while. “Ok, under one condition. There is more than enough money on my account. And I hope to do something useful as soon as possible. If we get money out of this, every single cent will go right to new Jericho and the work you do for deviants.”
Now it was Markus’s time to be confused “I can't take this, it is your money.”
“So I can spend it how I want.”
Hank clapped his hand on Markus shoulders. “Forget it. You think I am stubborn, you don´t know her yet.”
They all laughed out loud.
Next day
It wasn’t that much that Jo had in the storage room. There were a lot of pictures, books, a music system, a TV, an amplifier, speakers, a microphone and a guitar.
Hank and Connor helped her to install the TV, music system and speakers.
Hank spotted the amplifier. “I can't believe you still have this old thing. Connor, you must hear her sing.”
Jo laughed “You are the only one who liked listing to me.”
“I loved it. We had hard times in the beginning. Police work was new to me, you were so little and battered after all that happened to us. I loved it when you played to me when I was tired and thought I wasn’t dealing well enough with it all. I remember you singing old Meat Loaf songs.”
“That’s right, it was one of your favorite albums. You were able to play it for hours. I had all the songs mixed up on this thing. Let’s see if it still works.”
Jo put the power on the amplifier. She searched for the right settings and began to play with closed eyes.
“Heaven can wait
And a band of angels wrapped up in my heart
Will take me through the lonely night
Through the cold of the day
And I know, I know
Heaven can wait
And all the Gods come down here just to sing for me
And the melody is gonna make me fly
Without pain, without fear
Give me all of your dreams
And let me go alone on your way
Give me all of your prayers to sing
And I'll turn the night into the skylight of day
I've got a taste of paradise
I'm never gonna let it slip away
I got a taste of paradise
That's all I really need to make me stay
Just like a child again”
Hank sat there with Connor by his side, both with tears in their eyes. Hank finally took Jo in a deep bear hug. “Fuck, I missed you so much.”
Jo smiled slightly into his chest.
The days went by. Connor found comfort in his new job, Hank was out at new cases and Jo spent a lot of her time in rehab.
Therapy still was pretty hard for Jo, but she gave it her best.
One evening Jo and Hank almost came home the same time with Connor already there. Hank started to walk up, when he heard Jo babbling, “The fuckers--- so stupid—fuck!”
Jo was pushing her wheelchair around and babbling nearly the same text, “Fuckers..as if I don´t know my own body. Such a fuck!”
Connor was standing in the kitchen, watching the whole scene, grinning brighter by the second. Suddenly he couldn’t hold on any longer and burst into hysterical laughter.
Jo and Hank stopped, shouting simultaneously, “WHAT?”
Connor tried hard to catch his breath enough to talk. “Jesus you are really two of a kind. I've never seen anything so funny in my life.”
Jo and Hank looked angry for a moment, then burst into laughter too.
After they all calmed down, they sat down for dinner together.
Connor was the first one to ask, “So what had you two so fucked up?”
Jo nearly choked on her coke.
“We have a case about red ice, the one your team is working on too. We are stuck. And it really pisses me off,” Hank said.
Jo sighed. “It will at least take 8 months and 2 operations to talk about prosthetics. I miss dancing – you know that was always my way to handle stress. Singing and dancing myself away to my favorite music from 90 till 20. I miss it. I just don´t know how to deal with my stress most times. So what is your case about?”
Hank sighed. “We have torn down a warehouse after a hint. We took several probes to Connor's laboratory. But nothing was found. Not a hint of red ice.”
Jo listened, excited. “What was in this warehouse?”
“Dolls from China, we expected the drugs inside, but there was none.”
Jo let her fork fall. “Seriously, don´t you remember the TV series?”
Hank was confused. “Which one?”
“From the 2020's, David Caruso CSI Miami. Their drugs were in the glaze of the dolls.”
Connor and Hank looked at each other. “Shit, I'll call Fowler!” Hank shouted.
Connor followed. “I'll inform the night shift.”
They were back in the morning, waking Jo up.
“You were right, This was one of the biggest solved cases on red ice ever. We don´t have the leader yet, but at least this way smuggling drugs is closed for him. You are a genius.”
Jo laughed. “Glad I could help. You both must be tired as hell. Take some rest, how about good old series, and pizza later when I am back from rehab?”
“Sounds like a plan. See you later baby girl.”
Hank and Connor were still asleep when Jo came home. When the pizza was in the oven, she made her way to Hank and Connor's bedroom. She silently opened the door and couldn't help but smile at the picture in front of her. Hank and Connor lay spooning and deep asleep on their bed.
Jo stroked Hank’s hair. “Hey brothers, dinner's almost ready. Mind getting up?”
“We will be out of bed in a minute. That smells so good, what did you make?”
“Your favorite, well it was when I started cooking back then, original Italian pizza. I got the right flour and best cheese in town, real Italian panachuto.”
“Ok, I am up. Better hurry if you expect me to spare something for you,” Hank tells Connor while dressing fast.
Connor had never eaten a pizza like that. “That was so delicious. I want that every day from now on.”
Hank laughed. “Don´t force her. How was rehab today?”
“Good and bad, therapy and physio both think I am ready to find work for 2 Days, a few hours to start with. They talked about office work, but that won't work for me. All the jobs I can think of require a prosthetic. A little frustrating.”
Connor looked at her. “I am sure we will find something that suits you. You have no need to push yourself.”
Hank nodded. “He's right. Let´s settle your mind on something else. What shall we watch? You said something about old series.”
Jo shrugs her shoulders. “Don´t know. Something with medical or fire workers would be nice. They were hip in the 2020s. But not Grey´s Anatomy. Some real good stuff. Can you search for some Connor?”
Connor blinked and took the remote in his hand. “I have something that sounds interesting.”
The opening credits of 911 rolled over the screen.
“Oh fuck Connor you are a genius!” Jo shouted out.
“Tell him something new,” Hank smiled, “but I think I can´t follow.”
“Me neither,” said Connor.
“911, emergency calls. I should be perfectly prepared for that. I am useful and I can do it with the wheelchair.” Jo was very excited.
“That could work. They are in the same building as my office.”
“Sounds like a plan to me” Hank mumbled with the last piece of pizza in his hand.
“Yes, I will have to talk to my therapist first, but I don´t think she will have much against it. Maybe because of the stress level and possible triggers. But she knows I have good family backup.”
The three of them had a great evening with unhealthy food and drinks. Jo leaning on Hank, Connor's hand on her forehead as he holds Hank by his shoulders.
And again, Jo couldn’t help but think that she was pretty lucky to have such a good family at hand.
The next day flew by. Jo´s Therapist agreed that she could take a trial day at the head office for emergency calls. The day she spoke about it she visited Hank at the station.”
Hank smiled when he saw her coming in. “Hey Jo, great to see you here, Jeff were asking about you a lot.” He waved up to Fowlers office. He came down to meet Jo.
“Josi girl, so good to see you.” he gave her a hug.
“You are aware that you are the only one to call me this aloud?” Jo laughed and hugged him back.
They were talking for a while. Hank finally had to take some things to the evidence room. “I will be back soon, we can go home together then.”
Jo nodded and waited at Hank's desk. Reed had been watching her all the time. Jo faced him. “Are you going to say hello or just stare at me?”
Reed hesitated before he approached her. “I wasn´t sure you wanted me to. I am happy to see you. I was thinking about you a lot.”
Jo sighed. “I remember well that evening you comforted me here in this room. I tried to find Hank after having been bullied at school. It was about our parents, and I was pretty upset. Hank wasn´t here. You had been talking to me, telling me about your own trauma. I really did like you that day, maybe you were the first human man I really liked at all. And I know that good guy is somewhere buried inside you. But before you say something else, as long an you treat the most important people in my life like shit, there is no way we're ever going to talk to each other again.”
With these words Jo pushed herself to meet Hank and left a pretty shaken Reed behind.
Connor gave her a ride to her first meeting about the job, though it was in the same building. He visited her on his break. “How are things going?”
Jo smiled brightly. “This is so much fun for me. I know all the terms, I don´t even need much training, the shift leader said. I can have a job here when I want it. And I really do. This is something useful. I need to feel like I'm doing something useful. Don´t get me wrong, I have no intension to go to the army again. But it is just not like me doing nothing.”
Connor gave her a smile. “I know. I am happy this works out for you. I will be ready to go home in a few hours. Do you want to stay till then or would you rather go home now?”
Jo shook her head. “No, I will wait until you ready.”
On the way home Connor kept looking over to Jo.
“Ok Con, what is it? There is something on your mind.”
Connor was silent for a while. “Do you think your brother would say yes if I asked him to marry me?”
Jo gasped. “You wanna ask him to marry you? Hell, I am sure he will!”
“To be honest I've been thinking about it for a while now. I want something special. But I have absolutely no idea what I can do. I am not sure that I can be romantic.”
“Well, it should be something or somewhere with a meaning to both of you,” Jo was thinking loud, “like the first place you kissed or something like that. At what point did you know you really love him?”
Connor smiled. “Just after the revolution. We met at the chicken feed. Your brother gave me a hug. And when he did so, I knew immediately he was way more than a friend I that I don’t ever wanna be any place other than close to him.”
“Of course. That is not romantic at all,” Jo smiled. “Fuck, you gave me goosebumps. That is the best romantic story I've ever heard.”
“Maybe, but the Chicken Feed is really not a romantic place to go,” Connor hesitated.
“No, but I might have an idea. I am a romantic ninja, you have to know.” Jo sounded exited “Markus can paint. I am sure you have a clear picture of the scene in your memory. Transfer it to him at let him paint the whole thing. When Hank is off at work, we can decorate the place real romantic. And I also have a idea for the rings if you want to hear it.”
“Sure, this sounds perfect so far.” Connor nodded.
“I am sure there is someone with goldsmith skills in New Jericho. How about taking your mood ring and something from Hank like his hair and making rings out of them? There will always something with you from the other. It must be done today of course, so Hank doesn´t realise you removed it. What do you think?” Jo asked Connor.
Connor smiled widely, “Wow, this is perfect.”
Jo was happy Connor liked her ideas. “Yes, talk to Markus about how long it will take him. And if I can stay there when it happens so you can be alone with Hank.”
Connor shook his head. “Definitely no to the last part. You are part of this. It is very important to me that you approve the whole thing. I want you to be there.”
Jo was close to tears. “Of course I approve. I love you. Seeing you marry Hank is the best thing that could possibly happen. How about a party in New Jericho the next day? Your people will be there. And you could invite Jeff and Ben, maybe Chris and some other colleges, too.”
Connor sighs, “You know we have to invite Reed if we invite half of the station.”
Jo smirked. “Yes, but I doubt he will come anyway. I talked to him lately. And I guess I made myself pretty clear.”
Connor was surprised. “What do you mean by that?”
Jo sighed. “It was some years ago. I tried to visit Hank but he wasn’t there. I was troubled and Gavin helped me. A real different Gavin than the one you know. He told me some things about his own past and childhood. In some ways it might even have been harder than ours, because we at least had each other. I don´t know why he decided that being angry at everybody is easier than letting someone get close. There is a good guy behind that shield. And I really liked that guy, a lot to be honest, and maybe he is still there. But I don´t have the power to search for that guy. I need to focus on me and Hank and you. I made myself pretty clear that I don’t even want to talk with him at all when he treats you and Hank like shit.”
Connor was silent for some time. “I know he isn´t really a bad person. And what you're telling me right now makes a lot of sense. I am willing to give him a second chance and I guess Hank will too. But it is really up to him.”
“I see it the same way. And please let's go back to the point of you marrying my brother.”
“I will have to ask first and he still has to say yes. I texted Markus to say we are on our way and that it is important. I told Hank we are out for ice cream. That should give us some time to see if your ideas are working.”
Markus finds them on the porch. “Hey you two, what brings you here?”
Jo answered before Connor even had a chance. “Connor wants to propose to Hank, and I had a idea. It includes your skills as a painter.”
Markus raised his brows. “Ok, then fill me in.”
They sat down together, the plan was laid out and they soon made progress. Jo smiled as she watched Connor and Markus making plans. She was very sure her brother would say yes to Connor's proposal.
She couldn’t wait to see it.
And then Connor will officially be her brother in law-
Again, all she could think was, “Family, I am home.”