the ride home is silent, Connor leaning against the window feeling sick still, hugging his knees to his chest. Hank keeps glancing at the rookie, trying to get his words together. he feels guilty. Connor had been so upset, Hank had to pull over twice for him to puke. the younger man is really not happy with his current situation.

Hank pulls up to the house and parks, looking over hesitantly at Connor. he sighs, watching Connor unbuckle.

"hey kid, look, I know you're mad at me," Hank starts. Connor glances at him then away again.
"but it had to be done, Connor. I couldn't let him keep hurting you." Hank murmurs. Connor tenses immediately and Hank frowns at him.

"you sound just like the school nurse." Connor mutters.

"huh?" Hank asks, confused.

"so, I'll tell you what I told her." Connor says. his voice is just as quiet as before.

"and whats that?" Hank ask, softly. Connor shifts in his seat, staring harder out the window.

"that I can handle it myself, so but out. you're only gonna make things worse." Connor says firmly. Hank looks confused, frowning.

"Connor, what do you mean kid?" Hank asks. Connor hugs his knees tighter.

"if you try fighting for me, I get hurt worse in the end, so don't. I can handle Gavin, I've had worse Hank. Gavin is nothing compared to the things I've had to face before. I've had worse, a lot worse. a stupid little bloody nose, I'm just fine." Connor mumbles. Hank shakes his head slightly.

"Connor-" Hank tries.

"I don't need help." Connor says firmly.

"I won't let anything like that happen to you Connor, okay?" Hank says firmly. "I will help keep you safe. you don't deserve that Connor. 'specially not from some idiot like Gavin Reed, the stupid fucker." Hank says firmly.

"I don't need you-" Connor tries.

"I'm going to fight for you." Hank says firmly. "you deserve better kid." Hank adds. Connor goes quiet, hugging his knees tighter.

"why?" Connor asks, quietly. he looks at Hank for the first time since they got in the car. "why?" he asks again.

"because, someone needs to. now what do you want for lunch?" Hank asks. Connor looks annoyed for a moment.

"I'm not hungry. I still feel sick." Connor mumbles. they get out of the car, heading for the house.

"I'll make a pizza, leave you some in case you get hungry later." Hank murmurs. Connor nods and heads for the garage. "hey, look, Connor, I'm sorry. I am really, but I don't regret it. I won't ever think about changing my mind. okay? you need someone to be in your corner, Connor. you can't stop me, okay? do you understand?" Hank asks. Connor looks over at him.

"I'm just going to get hurt in the end Hank." Connor mumbles. Hanks jaw tightens.

"I'll keep you safe kid." Hank assures. Connors whole body tenses and there's a small tremble to him.

"I've heard that before. so many times.... thats what everyone promises." Connor mumbles to himself. he rubs his wrist gently, like an old injury still hurts, before shutting the garage door.

Hank decides he needs to do more research into Connors foster life background, pull any medical, school work, foster, and disciplinary files he can find. he pops a frozen pizza in the oven and gets to work.

Hank gives up by the time the pizza is finished. all he could find was a limited medical file, 12 miles long, a list of old foster houses, and nothing more. he'll have to dig more up at work, he can't find anything else in the public record.

"Connor! hey, pizza!" Hank calls. its quiet a moment, but then Connor comes out. his nose is a mess of bruises and swelling, but the blood is gone. "let me grab some ibuprofen from your nose, and some ice." Hank says, moving towards the freezer.

"I'm okay." Connor says quickly.

"well, I'm not. you're getting ice and ibuprofen." Hank says firmly.

"I won't take them." Connor frowns.

"don't fight me on this kid. I'm trying to get the swelling down." Hank huffs. Connor goes quiet a moment, before shaking his head.

"I won't take the pills." Connor says firmly. Hank looks over with a huff.

"why not dammit?" Hank snaps. Connor looks away before he sighs.

"I... I was an addict baby. addicted to whatever it was my mother had in her system. they took me long enough for me to get clean, then gave me back. I was once again addicted to whatever drugs my parents did from the day I was given back to the day I was taken once again." Connor sighs. he shakes his head. "doesn't matter what they are, I don't take pills." Connor says. Hank pauses, stiffening up, before clearing his throat and licking his bottom lip.

"okay... I'll make you an ice pack." Hank says. he continues towards the freezer but the air is awkward. Connor watches him.

"I-I'm sorry." Connor says, softly. Hank shakes his head.

"don't be. I shouldn't have pushed you. I'm sorry." Hank murmurs. its quiet again for a few minutes, nothing but the sound of Hank loading ice into a bag and wrapping it in a towel. he holds it out to Connor. "look, when its something like the pill thing, or the shit you went through, just tell me you don't want to talk about it Connor. its not a can of worms you want to open yet, if ever." Hank says. Connor nods slightly, taking a slice of pizza and taking the ice pack from Hank. "wanna watch tv?" Hank asks. Connor shrugs.

"sure, okay." Connor murmurs. Hank leads Connor to the living room, sitting on the couch. Connor sits on the other side, leaving a cushion between him and Hank. Sumo takes the extra cushion and stretches out between them, over their legs happily. Connor gives a small half smile.

"anything you want to watch?" Hank asks. Connor shrugs again and shakes his head.

"I... I don't know much about tv, Hank. Carl was the only person who allowed me to watch it..." Connor says. he sounds ashamed, and Hank frowns.

"hey, kid, don't sound so... ashamed. you can't help your past. its alright. if you don't know about something, or you've got past issues with something, tell me. you don't need to be ashamed. look I get it, I wasn't in the foster system, but I've been a cop a while. I know about how bad the foster system is. I'm not going to hold anything against you." Hank assures gently.

"I... I feel like the idiot I was always told I was." Connor mumbles.

"you're not an idiot, Connor. you can't help what you don't know." Hank frowns.

"but, I-" Connor tries.

"you aren't an idiot." Hank says firmly. Connor goes quiet, glancing over at Hank. "you're smart, strong, and brave, kid. don't let anyone tell you that you're not, okay? you're a foster kid and it takes a lot to survive in the conditions of foster care, not to mention all the shit you went through before you went into foster care. you're not an idiot." Hank says firmly. Connor looks away.

"you are the only person who thinks that." Connor mumbles. "Hank, can I ask a small favor from you?" Connor asks, attempting to change the subject. Hank frowns a little.

"depends, what do you want?" Hank asks. Connor glances back over at Hank hesitantly.

"if... if either of my brothers appear, don't tell them I'm here... please." Connor begs. Hank looks utterly confused.

"Connor why? I could understand not telling the brother who threw you out, but the other brother?" Hank asks.

"I don't want them to find me." Connor mumbles. Hank frowns.

"you have two brothers, how can I tell them apart?" Hank ask. Connor looks confused.

"huh, why?" Connor asks.

"I'll be slightly friendlier to the one who didn't kick you out." Hank says. Connor snorts slightly.

"Leo kicked me out. he's an ass." Connor says. "he'll make it pretty clear I'm not a little brother to him. I don't he'll come looking for me unless he wants me to get the rest of my stuff..." Connor trails.

"and the other?" Hank asks, curiously. Connor gives a small smile.

"Markus. he'll call me by name. he'll be polite, asking about his little brother. the difference is noticeable, even if you only meet one of them. you'll know which is which immediately." Connor assures. Hank nods.

"did you have any... bio siblings? or just adopted siblings? never heard you say anything about bio siblings." Hank says. Connor goes quiet a moment, before nodding.

"I... I did... had a twin brother, but..." Connor trails. Hank frowns.

"but?" Hank asks. Connor swallows.

"I don't remember his name, we were six when he went missing." Connor mumbles.

"missing?" Hank asks, shocked. Connor shrugs.

"he... got burnt... pretty badly one day... they were yelling at him and she grabbed a pan from the stove, it was still hot, still had food in it, and slapped him across the face with it... I went to school that day without him.... when I got home, he was gone." Connor says softly. Hank looks shocked. "I never saw him again... I don't know if he's alive or not." Connor frowns.

"have you ever tried to... find out? to find him?" Hank asks. Connor shakes his head.

"I don't remember his name." Connor says. Hank nods.

"if he is alive, if he shows up here, should I tell you? should I tell him you're here?" Hank asks. Connor shakes his head.

"he won't. trust me. if he is alive he won't...." Connor says. "I bet he doesn't even remember me." Connor sighs, looking away. "I used to call him Nines, because I couldn't say his name... but I don't remember his real name." Connor frowns. he looks ashamed again.

"you were six, Connor... I bet we could find h-" Hank starts.

"no." Connor says firmly. Hank frowns. "no Markus, no Nines, and certainly no Leo." Connor says firmly.

"okay. okay." Hank murmurs. "there's more pizza if you want another slice." Hank says. Connor nods slightly.

"if Leo shows up, just be ready to protect yourself." Connor says softly.

"is he dangerous?" Hank asks. Connor nods.

"he's an addict, almost as bad as my bi parents... a mean.. violent addict. he broke my arm on my first day with them. Carl was so mad. he said I was staying, and Leo threw a fit, threw me down the stairs." Connor frowns. Connor gives a small smile. "Carl was so angry, he didn't even try to stop Markus from breaking Leo's nose." Connor grins.

"yeah?" Hank snorts. Connor nods.

"Carl and Markus were the first people to stand up for me. it was nice. any time Leo even looked at me Markus would threaten him." Connor chuckles softly.

"how old was this asshole?" Hank asks. Connor frowns, thinking to himself.

"when I first got there.... maybe... 30? I think. Markus was 21." Connor says. "Carl was disabled so Markus stayed to help, Leo got thrown out because he was on drugs." Connor adds. Hank looks shocked.

"a grown ass man, beating on a kid?" Hank growls. Connor frowns, holding his arm where Leo broke it years ago.

"you make it sound like thats not why I was a foster kid..." Connor says hesitantly.

"it still pisses me off!" Hank huffs. Connor flinches slightly. "sorry." Hank murmurs. Connor shakes his head.

"no, I shouldn't be so sensitive." Connor mumbles.

"you're not being sensitive, Connor. PTSD is some bad shit, kid." Hank assures gently.

"but still, I am an adult, I should be able to handle a loud voice without flinching." Connor mumbles, hugging his knees, careful not to knock his plate over.

"some people can't, even if they weren't abused. thats okay Connor. don't get worked up over it. your human, shit happens." Hank assures gently. Connor nods slightly. its quiet for a few minutes.

"Captain Fowler didn't tell anyone I was homeless, because I told him not to. I didn't want anybody to know." Connor murmurs. Hank huffs slightly.

"well, letting you freeze shouldn't have been an option. freezing and starving are hard ways to go." Hank frowns.

"I didn't want to die, but I didn't have an option. its winter, shelters are full, I did what I could, Hank." Connor says. Hank sighs slightly.

"okay, well... you have a room here for as long as you want, alright? even if you leave you can come back." Hank assures. Connor nods, smiling slightly.

"alright. thanks." Connor smiles. Hank nods, leaning back against the couch.

"good, now, eat some more pizza, you're skinny, too skinny." Hank huffs. Connor flushes bright red, looking down at himself and the loose way the clothes sit on his body, then looks away.

"I'm good, than-" Connor tries.

"you ate one slice. eat another." Hank says firmly. Connor nods slightly, grabbing another slice, sitting back on the couch himself.

"okay, sure." Connor murmurs. Sumo shuffles over, whining, and dropping his head onto Connors knee.

"no Sumo, no pizza. your bowl is full, go eat." Hank warns. Connor smiles, patting Sumos head gently. Sumo whines.

"awww, Hank, he's so sad looking." Connor pouts, patting Sumos head.

"yeah, he begs, he's alright." Hank assures. Connor nods slightly, smiling at Sumo. the dog whines, laying down on the floor with a sigh. Hank chuckles, slightly, eating his own slice.

"he's a begger, but he's a good dog. keeps me going." Hank murmurs.

"he curls up with me at night. its nice." Connor murmurs softly, scratching behind Sumos ear.

"yeah, he's a cuddler too." Hank murmurs, patting the dogs head again gently. he sits back and grabs another slice. "you're a good boy Sumo." Hank murmurs. Sumo huffs, laying his head on Hanks foot with a huffed bark.

"thank you." Connor murmurs after a quiet moment. Hank looks confused, glancing at Connor.

"for what Connor?" Hank asks. Connor shrugs taking a bite of his pizza, staring at the tv.

"everything. you don't have to care, and maybe you don't actually care, but thank you... no one's helped me since Carl died." Connor murmurs. "so, thank you... I was ready and prepared to freeze to death out there, and you stepped in... you saved me. I really do appreciate it, thank you Hank." Connor murmurs softly. Hank sits quietly a moment.

"Connor, you don't need to thank me for showing you some human decency." Hank frowns. "everyone deserves a chance, I couldn't leave you like that, you needed help... you were going to freeze to death." Hank murmurs.

"yeah, but you didn't have to help me. I've needed help for years, and you were nice enough to help. thanks again. I'd probably be dead without you." Connor murmurs. Hank opens his mouth to say something, anything, but there's a knock on the door. Connor stiffens.

"whose that?" Connor asks.

"don't know, stay here." Hank frowns, getting up. Sumo watches him go. Connor nods watching Hank head for the door.

Hank walks over and opens the door slowly.

"Lieutenant Hank Anderson?"

"whose asking?" Hank asks.

"I'm... I'm looking for my brother, Connor Manfred. I was told he might be here."

brother

this must be Markus.

"don't know'em." Hank frowns, trying to shut the door. but Markus stops him.

"wait! please, he's my little brother." Markus begs. Hank stares at him a moment.

"you're Markus then." Hank frowns. Markus perks up.

"you know Connor then, is he here?" Markus asks.

"no. he's my work partner. I don't know or care where he is, now scram. get the fuck off my property." Hank snaps.

"wa-wait! please! I'm begging Lieutenant Anderson. I've been looking for him for months. I thought maybe he went back to his home town but every trail I followed went dead and then one of my friends said they saw him, with you, walking into this house." Markus says. Hank glares at him. "he's my little brother, he's homeless, I want to take Connor home with me, please." Markus begs. Hank scoffs.

"he's not my problem. fuck off." Hank snaps, slamming the door shut. he locks it and heads back to the couch.

"they found me..." Connor mumbles. Hank frowns.

"its alright Connor." Hank assures. he sits down beside Connor, patting his shoulder gently. "its okay, they won't get in." Hank adds.

"but they know where I am. if Markus knows then Leo knows." Connor says.

"don't panic kid, its alright. just relax a little Connor." Hank soothes gently.

"they found me Hank.... Leo's gonna make trouble. I know he will. at the house, at work, where ever I go he'll bring trouble." Connor says.

"I'll keep us all safe. I promise." Hank assures gently.

"but Hank-" Connor tries.

"I've got you kid. I promise." Hank murmurs.

"Hank, you don't understand-" Connor tries.

"you don't understand, Connor." Hank frowns. Connor goes quiet. "face it, I've basically adopted you. you're basically my kid now. you're going to be fine. I won't let anyone hurt you." Hank assures. Connor goes quiet. he gets up and heads for the garage. "Connor?" Hank asks, confused. Connor doesn't answer, simply retreats to his room, shutting the door behind him.

"kid. I'm just a fucking kid." Connor mutters to himself, before laying down. "I'm an idiot. catching feelings for the first person outside of family to show me kindness, and he see's me as a replacement son for the one he lost." Connor sighs, staring up at the ceiling. he sighs and curls up on his side. "as if anyone would ever feel like that about you. you're fucking pathetic." Connor mumbles. there's a whine and suddenly a cold nose in his face. Connor smiles slightly. "I'm okay Sumo. I'm just stupid." Connor sighs softly.

Hank sits on the couch, utterly confused.

had he said something wrong? or was Connor just overwhelmed by Markus showing up? was he simply scared at the possibility Leo would show up? was Leo.... that bad?

Hank gets up, he needs to research Leo and find out what he can about the bastard before Connor ends up hurt.

"sent home from work early because of a melt down Sumo, a melt down. like I was five or something." Connor mumbles. "I'm pathetic..." Connor sighs. Sumo barks, nudging Connor gently with his, before curling up with him, whining softly. "I don't want another parent Sumo. I've had so many. my bio parents, Kim and Jane, Willy and Terra, James and Jenny, Mark and Logan, Harold, Mary, Ginny and Jack, Bonnie and Marko.... Carl... so many more. 17 foster homes, my original home, my aunts house, my grandparents house, now Hanks..." Connor sighs softly.

Sumo whines softly, cuddling closer.

"maybe I shouldn't have let Hank bring me back here. I should've known I'd fuck it up." Connor sighs softly. he looks around, before getting up. he needs to get out for a while. he pulls on his old jeans over the sweats Hank gave him and his old tattered jacket over the hoodie Hank had given him. he heads out of his room, as quietly as he can. Hank doesn't even seem to notice. Connor slips his shoes on and closes the door as quietly as he can behind him. it squeaks and Hanks head jerks up.

"Connor?" Hank asks. Connor dashes away as fast as he can. Hank runs over to the door quickly. "Connor!" Hank calls, flinging the door open. Connors gone. Sumo whines and walks over, plopping beside Hanks feet, glancing up at his owner with sad eyes. "oh Connor." Hank sighs softly.