Chapter Text
November 14th, 2059:
Time is fleeting...
What was supposed to be a typical morning was disrupted when Connor walked down the hallway to get ready for work and found Hank collapsed on the kitchen floor. Reacting quickly Connor assessed Hank's vitals and called 911 for assistance, while cybernetically letting Abby know what had happened. Following the ambulance in the Corvette the worried deviant informed Lucas of the situation and asked that he bring Abby to the hospital so they could all be together with Hank after he was treated.
The quiet of the hospital waiting room was disrupted only by the sound of soft footsteps as a young doctor, Dr. Renee Kovan, approached the lone occupant of the entire waiting area. The occupant sat upright in the chair with perfect posture, a coin dancing gracefully over the knuckles on his right hand silently, and his usual work suit was immaculately pressed to perfection. It had been an uneventful morning in the hospital save for the emergency call that had arrived just after six that morning. It was the case that Dr. Kovan had taken herself and had fought so valiantly to save.
It was a close call but the expectedly stubborn patient had pulled through.
"Mr. Anderson?" The doctor called out softly as she stood beside the chair with a 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 right front pocket as Connor extended his shaking right hand for the doctor to shake. "How he is? Please, tell me everything. I can take it."
"Very well." Shaking Connor's hand Dr. Kovan spoke to him respectfully and truthfully. "There's no easy way to say this, so I'll just say it. Your father has suffered 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... understand." Connor swallowed nervously as he studied the doctor's demeanor carefully. He was worried; almost on the verge of tears. "Can... The rest of my family will be here soon." He stated in a weak voice. "But can I see him now? Please?"
"Yes. He's asked to see you already." She smiled at Connor warily as she motioned with her left arm for him to follow after her down the corridor to where Hank was resting. "He's very weak, but he should still be lucid."
"...Thank you."
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 room was dozing lightly and propped upward in the bed as a cardiac monitor silently recorded his weak slow heartbeat, 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 left hand as well. A nasal canula was under Hank's nose to give him additional oxygen to ease his breathing while he rested as much as possible from his too recent heart attack.
A few stray shortly trimmed gray locks of 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 his 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. I'll show the rest of your family to the room once they arrive."
Approaching the bed quietly, keeping every step deliberate and light, Connor stood at the bedside and gently lifted the sick man's cool, limp right hand up from atop the white bed and held it tightly in his own.
"...Connor." Hank's exhausted 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."
"Hi, Hank. I haven't been a Lieutenant in almost twelve years." Replying sharply Connor tried to keep the evident fear out of his voice through a distracting conversation. "Captain on the other hand, that's still going strong."
"And you haven't called me 'Hank' for quite some time, either."
"Sorry... 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."
"I learned it from you." Connor sat down on the edge of the bed and held onto 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, lungs and pancreas with every passing second. "I'm glad to see you're awake."
Hank reached up his left hand just enough to point to the blank spot in Connor's right temple. "You know, 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 left hand over his temple briefly before placing his hand atop 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."
"That's a nice thought." Blinking slowly Hank was fighting his own fatigue with as much strength as he could muster. "If you were to tell me all those years ago that I would've outlived Jeffrey I would've told you were crazy." Taking a slow deep breath he 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."
Remaining calm Connor replied as casually as possible while he forced a grin of his own to his nervous face. "When I walked down the hallway to leave for work 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'm sorry, dad. This wouldn't have-"
"Shut up, Connor. Whether you were there by beside me or not I still would've had that damn heart attack." Hank managed to give Connor a sincere broader smile as his aged blue eyes continued to shine with alertness. "I'm old, I'm sick, shit happens."
"The doctor thinks... your heart attack was the result of the medication currently being used to treat your cancer. She will run tests and find an alternative for you to take instead."
"Connor, I don't want to go through all that bullshit again."
"I'm sorry dad, but it's necessary. There are no other options."
"Actually, I do have one other option, son. 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." Rubbing his thumb over the back of Connor's hand Hank never let the grip go. "I've thought all about it and my mind it make 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 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."
Completely stunned by the admission Connor stared at Hank with a mixture of deep emotions swirling in his soulful brown eyes. "Dad..."
"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 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."
Connor was silent as he stayed beside Hank while holding his hand tightly and never tearing his eyes away.
"I'm seventy-four years old and that's twenty-one 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, Connor. You gave me a second chance at life, a family, 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 dedicated husband to Abby, great brother to Lucas, and an even better 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 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 be 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; that he really was alive. "you, Abby, Henry, Lucas, Maddy and Chloe are all I have. You're my father. You're Lucas, Abby and Chloe's father, and you're Henry and Maddy's grandfather. We all still need you."
"Connor, it was my honor to be yours, Cole, Lucas and Abby's father. And it was an even bigger honor to be Henry and Maddy's grandfather. Even after I'm gone you'll always be my sons, just as Abby will always be my daughter, and Henry and Maddy will always be my grandchildren. Nothing will ever change that. I'm proud of all 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. "...Abby and Lucas are on their way. Shouldn't Henry, Maddy and Chloe be here to at least say goodbye?"
"No, no... I talked to Henry over the phone last night and I told him how much I loved him, then I texted with Maddy last night after having a quick chat with Chloe after she brought me my meds' last night. 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." Even at death's door Hank's paternal instincts were always strong. "Please promise me you'll live your life, keep protecting your family, and finally see the world."
"I... I promise. I will."
"Connor, look at me. 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 right knuckles Hank's hand weakly put his hand over the back of Connor's right hand to hold it still.
"Connor, 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 and smile proudly at the bighearted deviant he had taken in as his own. "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."
Hank let out a touched laugh as he lifted up his left 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."
Restraining the urge to sob Connor leaned forward and let Hank wrap his left 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 left 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 hims steadily. "I really do."
"I love you, too, dad."
"I'm gonna' miss you. You... Henry... Lucas... Abby... Maddy... Chloe. I honestly do love you, son. I love all of you."
"We love you, too, dad." 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, dad. I'll be here for you for as long as you need me. I promise."
There was a light knocking on the door to the private room as Abby and Lucas arrived Connor turned to face his other family members without ever letting go of Hank's hand. Without a word Connor was able to communicate the severity of the situation.
Entering the room slowly Abby reached out her hand to hold onto Hank's hand for a moment as she leaned toward the retired detective slowly. Whispering words of affection, appreciation and pure adoration Abby said her goodbyes to Hank with tears in her hazel eyes. Giving Hank a kiss on his cheek Abby squeezed his hand one more time as she sat on the edge of the bed to stay with him during his last seconds of life.
Barely able to walk without stumbling Lucas forced himself to walk over to the bed and sit down on the edge on the opposite side from his big brother. Gingerly lifting up Hank's left hand, his motions very mindful of the I.V. in the back of the appendage, Lucas held tight and proceeded to thank his father for taking him in, for helping him to discover himself and for making him always feel loved and wanted.
"I'm going to miss you, dad." Lucas managed to choke out without his voice cracking. "I wish you'd reconsider, but I know better than to try to change your mind about anything." Holding tightly onto his father's hand Lucas refused to let him go. "Thank you for everything you've done for me, for Maddy, for Chloe and for everyone else. We love you, dad..."
Remaining at his father's side all through the dwindling early morning hours 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 while Abby and Lucas held tightly onto Hank's hands. The young deviant's soulful brown eyes were full of mournful tears as he watched and heard Hank's chest rising and falling at a slower and almost undetectable rate.
The heartbeats became slower.
Slower...
Wrapping his right fingers around Hank's limp left 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 now 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.
"...Goodbye, dad." Laying Hank back down on the bed Connor watched as Abby and Lucas gently crossed the passed detective's strong calloused hands over his stilled chest, and held his own hands atop of Hank's hands for a moment longer. "...We'll miss you forever. I'll never forget you."
The sun itself even seemed unable to rise on that broken morning as the Anderson's wept for their dearly departed father in the silence of the hospital room.
November 15th, 2059:
Utterly broken Connor sat on the brick patio of the house all through the previous day, the night and well into the next morning after finally being coxed into leaving the hospital by the kind doctors and nurses. Unable to sleep and unwilling to do anything that would take his mind from the loss of Hank; his father, Connor himself was feeling incredibly lost and alone. Lucas had to return to his home to be with his wife and daughter, and Abby had cried herself to sleep hours beforehand.
Staring off into nothingness of the barely rising sun as he sat in quiet contemplation he was only vaguely aware of a presence joining him on the patio.
"Hey, Connor." Skye spoke softly as she put her right hand to her friend's left shoulder lightly, and sat down beside him. "I... I wish I knew what I could say. What I could do to help."
Shaking his head Connor just let more tears flow down his face and land on the brick patio beneath him. "It's okay, Skye. 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." She stated in a calm tone as she stayed beside Connor to be a comforting presence. "Neither can we. I'm sure he was entirely at peace because he had his family with him."
"When... Hank was diagnosed five years ago neither of us knew what to say or what to do. And when he started to really get sick in the summer all we could think to do was hide out at the cabin for as long as possible while keeping his condition secret. When Henry and Maddy were both asleep upstairs all we could do, all we could say was... goodbye."
"Goodbye?" Skye just stared at Connor with empathetic bewilderment. "Why just 'goodbye'?"
"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 right hand over his soulful brown eyes as he mourned for the loss of his family. "...I wasn't ready, that's for sure."
Tightening his hand on Connor's shoulder Skye kept her voice low and collected. "Does Henry know?"
"I... I called him this morning." Crying again Connor struggled to find his voice and fight through his understandable pain. "He's devastated. Gavin is bringing him home for us."
"What can I do to help?"
"Just... Just stay with me. I don't want to be alone right now."
"I won't go anywhere." Skye moved her hand from Connor's left shoulder over to the other shoulder, and pulled him in close for a hug. "You saw me through my worst pain and I swore I'd do the same for you."
As the mourning deviant leaned against Skye and wept as heavily as his heart could bear Connor finally found himself able to finally accept the truth.
Hank wasn't there anymore.
For what felt like years Connor sat on the brick patio in mourning with Skye 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 Skye discreetly took her leave of the back deck and went over to talk to Gavin in private in regards to the situation.
With utmost care Connor stood up from the patio 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 onto 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 right hand along Henry's back in a comforting manner Connor remembered all the times he 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 was sad, hurt or sick himself, and he had Hank watching over him or giving him words of comfort.
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, Henry. 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... He went peacefully and he loved you, Henry. He loves us all and he knew we loved him."
"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. "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. The pain he suffered over the past few years over and he's with your Uncle Cole and Grandma Barbara now."
"...And he's at peace."
"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 as peace."
Keeping his right hand on Henry's back Connor and his 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 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. Gavin had spread the word through the precinct on Connor's behalf and Skye spread the word through the deviant community to ensure those who respected Hank knew of the tragedy.
As was customary for first responders, 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, daughters-in-law and grandchildren. 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 and Abby was getting the clothes ready, Henry was passed out asleep on the couch. Emotional exhaustion took its toll and it knocked him out cold, but Henry's hand was still clutched about the gilded pocketwatch with all his strength. 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 Lucas entering the house and it was evident he too had been crying.
"Hey, big brother." Lucas greeted in a sad whisper as he entered the livingroom and gave Connor a hug.
"Lucas." Accepting the hug Connor held onto his big brother in a tight embrace. "Thank you for coming back to the house."
"You look terrible."
"I feel terrible."
Lucas released the hug with a breathy sigh as he looked down at Henry. "I imagine Henry feels the same."
"Yes, he's truly heartbroken." Recomposing himself Connor looked to his little brother somberly. "How are Chloe and Maddy?"
"Chloe is upset and Maddy is crying her eyes out. I don't think she'll be able to go back to school for quite some time."
"I can understand that."
Rubbing his right palm over his tear filled green eyes Lucas tried to focus on helping with the arrangements and then mourn in private. "What do I need to do to help?"
"Could you just help me keep Henry company? I don't think he can be left alone for now, he's too upset. And Abby's still grieving and needs time to herself."
"Of course, Connor. He's my nephew."
"The funeral is in three days." Connor stated in a low whisper as he and Lucas stayed behind the couch where Henry was sleeping. "Turns out dad had everything already taken care of for all of us."
"How'd he do that?"
"Very discreetly. He took care of the arrangements, had all the paperwork signed and everything paid for. We just had to confirm his identity, go to the wake in two days, and the cemetery on the third day."
"Well... I guess tomorrow we should, uh, go shopping?"
"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. It'd be best to let Abby lead us through this since neither of us have handled a funeral before."
"I suppose you're right."
"Please, watch over Henry for me. I need a moment for myself and there is something I need to take care of."
"Yeah, I got it. Go do what you need to do, Connor."
Walking toward the hallway from the livingroom Connor turned to look over his shoulder where he saw Lucas sitting down in the recliner beside the couch as he ran his left 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. 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 Maddy growing up, with a generous amount of Connor, Abby, Lucas, Chloe, Cole, Barbara, Sumo, the now late Captain Jeffrey Fowler and other officers from the precinct also strewn about.
"Dad, I don't know what you were going to do with these photographs, but I'll keep them all safe for you. I promise."
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. 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 needlessly ended Cole's life. Hank pushed Jeffrey away and resided in self-imposed isolation until Connor came along. "It's difficult to believe you're both gone now."
Continuing his search through the 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.
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 and Maddy as the babies 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 were practically overflowing from the box.
So much of Henry's life had taken part with Hank actively involved.
The photos of Maddy were just as abundant and it was clear that Hank loved his granddaughter as much as his grandson despite them not having the same interests in common. It was understandable for the pre-teen to be so heartbroken that she couldn't leave her house at the moment.
But it was the photos of Hank working with Henry on the Corvette and playing with Henry when he was still a little kid and a baby 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 tucked 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 he needed to be strong while Abby, Henry and Lucas were feeling weak. "...And we're all going to miss you so much. We already do."
November 17th, 2059:
The 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 all gave the deceased detective the proper send-off he so rightfully earned. Connor was sitting in the corner of the funeral home with Abby and Henry, his right hand ever present on his emotionally distraught son's left shoulder and his left hand gripping Abby's right hand. Lucas made sure Chloe and Maddy were okay and sitting next to Abby and Connor. Abby used her left hand to support Maddy while Chloe sat on the other side of her daughter and held her other hand.
Lucas 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 Abby, Henry and cry himself, Connor was truly grateful for Lucas stepping up as he did.
The minister in attendance stood at the podium and began to deliver a nice sermon regarding Hank's life on the grieving sons' behalf. Guiding his family from the back of the room toward the front Connor took a seat near Lucas while keeping his hands wrapped around Abby and Henry's hands the entire time.
A photograph of Hank working with Henry on the Corvette was clutched between in Henry's free hand tightly as the mourning grandson stared at the image with an utter ache in his heart. During the sermon all the family 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, Lucas, Abby, Maddy and Chloe 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. "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 as he wrapped his arm around Abby's waist, but the heartbroken young man could only bear to look for a few seconds before sobbing and pressing his face into Connor's shoulder.
Hank was clearly as peace and free of his pain, but that freedom left his family with an agonizing reminder that he was never coming back.
As Connor and Abby wrapped their arms around Henry they too began to breakdown and quickly walked away with their 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." Abby encouraged as she fought to keep her own voice steady for her son's sake. "Just cry..."
"This really hurts!"
"I know. We're all hurting, too..."
"When will it stop?"
Connor closed his tear filled brown eyes and remembered when he had asked Hank the exact same question so long before. "...It doesn't stop, Henry. It just gets a little easier to live with one day at a time."
Lucas found his big brother, sister-in-law and nephew comforting one another and embraced them in a hug of his own. "Hey, it's going to be okay."
As the surviving members of the Anderson clan mourned together the other attending guests paid their respects and left quietly. Every member of the family gathered together at the quiet area after their emotions got the better of them.
Doing everything he could to remain strong on Henry's behalf Connor fought to compose himself, and asked for Abby 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.
Returning to where Hank was laying peacefully in the coffin Connor approached and gazed down at his father's face one more time. Reaching behind the large memorial wreath composed of multiple white flowers Connor retrieved the three framed photographs containing images of himself with Abby and Henry, of Cole with Barbara, and a third framed picture of Lucas with Chloe and Maddy.
Placing the photographs inside the coffin under Hank's arms Connor stifled another sob and spoke to Hank in a 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 you go."
Slowly Connor closed the lid to the coffin and bowed his head against the smooth cool dark surface as he let himself silently cry again.
"I love you, dad. We all do, and we always will."
It was going to be a cold slow night for the 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. And yet the house still felt like their home, and it always would be.
Back in the livingroom at the house Henry sat on the couch with his mom, Uncle Lucas, Aunt Chloe and Maddy at his sides as they too began checking through the box of photographs that Connor had found in Hank's bedroom. It made them all feel better seeing images of Hank smiling and playing with Henry and Maddy, and seeing Hank spending time with Connor, Lucas, Abby and Chloe 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.
"Hey, I remember this." Henry held up a photo showing himself sitting on Hank's shoulders as they went to the park by the river. 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."
Lucas smiled as he saw that tucked down in the bottom of the box was a paper program for the first dance recital Maddy ever attended. Inside the program was a photo showing Hank dancing with Maddy after her recital ended. "This is from Maddy's first recital. I never seen dad dance until that night."
"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."
"No... Not even when he was at his sickest."
"He called you too, didn't he Uncle Lucas?"
"Yes. He spoke to all of us. 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 green eyes were welling up with unshed tears. "But ending the call... That hurt more than I expected. It was the last time I got to speak to him before he was at the hospital."
"I know." Henry wiped away a rogue tear from his own brown 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."
Lucas nodded a little and began checking back through the box of photographs to try to lighten the mood again. "I understand what you mean."
"I'm just glad that you, mom and dad were there with him when he passed." Glancing about the livingroom Henry realized that Connor wasn't anywhere to be seen. "Hey, where is dad anyway?"
Abby used a tissue to dry her eyes as she cleared her throat. "He went outside to speak on the phone and finish the final details regarding the funeral arrangements for tomorrow."
"Oh. He's been out there-"
Knocking on the front door stopped Henry mid sentence as everyone turned to look at the door. Getting up from the couch Henry went to answer the door and was greeted by Skye. "Hi, Skye."
"Hey, Henry." Offering the young man her hand Skye gave Henry's own hand a gentle squeeze. "How're you holding up?"
Accepting Skye's hand Henry's eyes dulled a little as he answered honestly. "...Not great. None of us are."
"I understand that. I just wanted to stop by and see if you needed anything."
"I'm okay, but I can't answer for everyone else."
Abby had also gotten up from the couch and walked over to the door to greet Skye. "Hi, Skye."
"Hey, Abby. Do you need anything?"
"Actually... There might be something you can do for us." Motioning back toward the couch Abby showed Skye the massive box of photographs sitting on the middle cushion and gave her a small smile. "Think you help could us turn these photographs into a type of slideshow or tribute for Hank?"
"I'd be honored." Skye was more than happy to help her friends in any way she could. "Hank had helped the deviant community so much, this is the least I could do for him and his family."
Quietly Henry closed the door behind Skye and decided to check in on his dad while everyone else sat on the couch and began discussing their new plan together. Walking through the backdoor of the kitchen Henry found Connor sitting on the brick patio 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 young father apologized morosely. "...I-I tried to stay strong."
"And don't be sorry. 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."
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 the night of the Revolution. There was no doubt that Hank's passing was irreversibly changing Connor's life, but this time he had his son, his wife and his brother to see him through the familial tragedy.
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 seemed that reason always and always would be his beloved family.
"It's okay, dad. Just cry... I'm here, and I'll always be here. Just as you promised me."
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. "...And I'll always be here for you, son. No matter what happens I will always be here."
November 18th, 2059:
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 had converged on 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 cemetery, and gathered together in their pain. There was a mixture of family and friends among former police contacts, the unlikely allies 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.
Of course Henry, Abby, Lucas, Chloe, Maddy, Noreen, Gavin, Aaron, Chris, Tina, Joel, Ben and Skye were all in attendance to pay their own respects to their fallen father, patriarch, friend, and ally. Hank had earned so much respect and trust throughout his life it was incredible to see.
The 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. Dozens of white 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 screen was set up to the side of the coffin showing a slideshow of the hundreds of photographs that had been collected throughout the years, 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 and Abby a subtle nod as his family sat in the front row. The sight of Henry being so emotionally vulnerable but strong, his son holding onto Abby's hand in a firm grip, 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; 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 the respect 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's was starting to cry again and Abby leaned up against his side for emotional support.
Closing his eyes tightly Connor bowed his head slightly as he repressed a heartwrenching 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. And he was... not happy about the arrangement. Even less so when he learned that I was in fact an android. 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 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. And 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.
"I had learned of Hank's 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. And 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 I was determined to give to my own son, and thanks to Hank, I know 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 his family began to cry again. "Hank was a dedicated detective, a vigil protector, a guardian, a friend..." Connor's right hand gently came to a rest on the corner of the closed coffin lid softly behind him. "and above all else he was a father, and a grandfather. He was the father that I never knew I needed, and the father I never knew I wanted until we met. I wouldn't be half the person, or father, 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 apart 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 Lucas. He accepted Abby and Chloe as his own daughters and always made them feel welcomed and loved. And 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. The same love and guidance was shown to Lucas when Maddy was born, and through Hank we raised our children without fear and only love."
A chorus of sniffles and crying accompanied Connor's words.
"I miss him. And 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 right hand over his heart as he gave his final words.
"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."
November 19th, 2059:
...but memories last forever.
Alone at the cemetery Connor stood before the newly placed headstone with Hank's name engraved upon it as he visited his father for the first time since the funeral. Hank had been laid to rest next to his firstborn son Cole and his departed wife Barbara. The fresh earth over the grave was dark and smoothed over perfectly as a sign of respect by the caretakers. As Connor rested his left hand atop the headstone he slowly bowed his head and placed a white lily down onto the headstone out of additional respect before repeating the action for 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 and let out a tired sigh as he struggled to find his voice.
"Hi, dad. I still miss you, we all do. I just wanted you to know that Abby and I decided to stay in the house. It's not the same without you, but I can't imagine anyone else residing in that house. Besides, Henry grew-up there, and I want him to always come home and feel at home."
Reaching into his right pocket Connor pulled out his quarter and held it in the palm of his right hand in a tight fist, rather than dance it over his knuckles as had been his usual nervous tic in the past. The coin remained perfectly still.
"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." 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 and I will always love my family in the same way you loved your own."
Rubbing the cuff of his left 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. Abby is staying with him right now and won't return to the facility until Henry's ready to go back to school. Lucas is going to make an effort to visit us more often for the sake of family, Chloe is going to branch out to other deviants to encourage them to reconnect with humans, Maddy is going to focus her studies on medicine to become a doctor, and I'm also going to make a habit of visiting Henry at school at least once a month to ensure he knows he has his family watching his back. It won't be the same without you visiting, too, 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, 2059. Dedicated Detective. Beloved Father, Grandfather, Husband and Friend."
"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 asked about an afterlife for androids and I know it does in fact exist. We will meet again someday up on the other side, and I intend to keep that promise, too."
Reaching up his right hand he pressed his palm down against the top of the headstone one last time. Reaching into his leather jacket's interior pocket Connor revealed one last parting gift before he rose to his feet, and turned to walk away with his head held high with a returning confidence in his ability to live without relying on Hank's guidance.
"It isn't much, but I think this belongs here. It's the last of its kind and I want it to be with you since you're one of the last of your kind - a pure heart of gold."
Placing the offered gift down atop of the headstone with his left hand Connor left it there for his father out of respect. Next to the white lily was one of the rare blue roses that Connor had unintentionally grown almost twenty years ago. The bud was large but closed as it refused to bloom in the winter cold.
"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 it won't be easy, but I will try. I promise you I will see the world at last, and Abby will be with me as we explore our world together. With Abby and 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 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 left thumb and took in a shaking breath to level his voice again.
"I know you're in a better place, and you're finally back with Cole and Barbara, so I don't doubt that you really are okay up there. And now it's my turn to take charge and protect the family just as you protected us. Until we meet again." Connor paid his final respects to Hank as he placed down his final offering before he begrudgingly left his beloved father behind. "...I love you, dad. I'll be sure to visit and tell you about everything that's happening with the family. You'll always be a part of it."
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 cherrybomb red Corvette that Hank had restored and gifted to Henry. The Corvette was parked along the dirt trail that lapped through the peaceful cemetery and its pristine crimson paint still glistened like a pure ruby 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, dad. I promise."
As the shining vehicle drove away from the peaceful cemetery at a slow pace the two objects were left behind on the headstone to continue to shine in the sunlight in Connor's reluctance 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 family had experienced together, was Connor's most prized material possessions.
One was Connor's old worn out coin and the other was the last of the unique blue roses.
The deviant blue rose slowly opened its petals and bloomed for the first time in the shining warm sunlight. Sapphire petals opened up wide and gently brushed over the surface of the coin as they sat side by side atop the headstone. The coin being a gift from Hank and the rose being a new form of life unintentionally created by Connor belonged together.
The two items symbolized life and rejuvenation for those who dare to dream, dare to hope, can still blossom in the wake of challenge or tragedy.
-End of Series-