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Intro: The Pup is Found

Sirens and blinding lights tore through the frigid and quiet streets of Chicago waking and confusing all their midst. Five black vehicles ran through the streets through the crowded darkness like wolves on the hunt, and their scent was getting stronger. Jay flipped out his phone hitting Voight's phone number that was on speed dial. The phone nearly went to voicemail until a gruff voice picked up the phone,
"I'm up I'm up. This better be good to call me this late" Hank tiredly mumbled as he tried to rub off the grogginess from his eyes. Jay skipped the pleasantries and cut to the point,
" you're not going to believe this but one of our informants tipped us off on the location of the drug den we've been looking for. They confirmed that multiple of our gang affiliated offenders have frequented the location just this week and will be heading back tonight." This got Voight sitting up.
"That's great but where the hell is it?"
Jay didn't hesitate in answering Hank,
"Look out your window and to the left."
Hank rose to his feet and looked out the window to his left, frozen in time while his suspicions and theories came together and all made sense.

Ever since his new neighbors moved in about a year previously next door to him, things got sketchy in a few months. There'd be figures slinking across their yard into their basement through the outside hatch at all odd hours of the night. There'd also be obnoxious and loud conversations between multiple individuals that'd last for hours. But more oddly and importantly the owners had a small son.
"Mary and James Foster are their names are names, they have a five year old foster boy named Oliver Lee Benjamin" Hank recalled for Jay.
"Well it makes sense how their den got so popular and so funded. They're using those four grand checks they get every month" Jay replied.
"Yeah and on the odd chance they get the slip on their drug possession, distribution and gang affiliation charges their child abuse and neglect charges will hold em'" Hank said, remembering the many times the little boy came to his house asking for food or even some water. When asked his explanation was that his guardians were in serious debt. But that didn't seem right. How could they afford two BMW's and top line clothing they showed off constantly but yet their kid was extremely bony, malnourished and in stuck in shaggy old clothes?
"Listen we're seven minutes away get ready because this could get ugly quick in a hurry" Jay warned hank.
"I will don't you worry about me, just get here asap" he told Jay before hanging up and jumping into some spare clothes in his closet and his kevlar jacket. As he whipped open a drawer in a cabinet close to his bed and strapped his holster and weapon on his side he thought through the plan coming together in his mind. He had to get Oliver out and fast.

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Hank planned to go out his back door and sneak up around the back of the house to enter through the lowest window which Hank presumed to be Oliver's bedroom window. It was the window Hank had seen Oliver sneak in and out of before so it meant the window had to be unlocked and easy to open which, taken out of the context of the situation, was a very scary detail. The fact that anyone could sneak into that window with a defenseless five year old was disturbing and another reason to get Oliver out of that house before someone else did. Hank ran down the stairs boots pounding to the back door. Before he snuck out into the night he put an LED light in a kitchen window on the dimmest setting so he could find his way back in the pitch black. It'd be especially useful if someone caught him in his rescue, he could just dash through the yard to the light and not have to try and find his house blind. Once the light was angled so it shined into the back door's window he slipped into the night without a sound. He stepped carefully as he waited for his eyes to adjust enough to see shadows and outlines of the environment around him. He kept his steps swift and steady as he crouched down getting closer to the house. Once under the chest high window he took a minute to listen for any voices or sounds that would tell Voight he was spotted or snuck up behind. The coast was clear. Hank raised himself to the window and knocked stiffly a few times before pushing up the window enough for him to slip into. He peered in to try and see or hear any movement to tell him that he was at the right window but it was too dark to see clearly inside. Hank whispered Olivers name into the window a few times just loud enough to hear his echo go into the room, "Oliver, Oliver! Wake up kid wake up it's Mister Hank, I'm coming in." Hank pushed himself up to get his head and chest through and pulled his legs into the room. With his boots on the thinly carpeted floor he began to walk toward sounds of rustling cloth and confused moans until his shins hit wood. A bed frame to be exact. A little body stirred and whined, "Huh? Papa I..I didn't take anything" Oliver rubbed his eyes and pushed himself back until he found the wall making it stiffly crackle. "Oliver it's Mr. Hank I'm not here to hurt you," Hank said trying to not work the boy up to much. "Mr. Hank?" oliver responded in confusion leaning forward to find where hank was in the shadows. " Yes just trust me okay? You're not safe here right now, I need to get you out okay?" Hank said feeling for the boy's shoulders and gently holding him steady. "Wha-wh-why? What's happening? Oh no is Momma mad? Is Papa mad?" his voice peaked and quivered with fear. "No they're not but they're doing some dangerous things with dangerous people and I just want you to be safe while the police take care of what they're doing" Hank explained quickly. He knew he could have made this less frightening fo an event but there wasn't much time left. "Mr. Hank I'm scared, what about about my cars? What's going to happen?" he started to fearfully babble and question. Hank tightened his grip slowly and rubbed his shoulders, pausing Oliver's fearful gargle of words for a moment. "Oliver listen to me," he said softly, "I promise you everything will be okay.." "Bu-b-but Momma and Pappa, I-I don't like them! They hit me when their mad! They really really hurt, I don't want them to get mad! Please!" Oliver's voice got louder and more fearful with every short breath he gasped for. Hank gently ran his hands up the boys neck until he could feel Oliver's small, tear stained cheeks and curly soft hair. "Shhh. Remember what I said to you when I took you into my house after you passed out in the snow in your yard outside your house? I promised to you that whenever you came to my house they'll never hit or hurt you. You'd be safe. Well that's exactly where I'm taking you. I'm taking you into my house where you can be safe and I can take care of those bad guys that hurt you. That never changed you hear me?" He felt Oliver's head quietly nod. "Whatever happens next I'll make sure you're safe okay?" Oliver's head nodded again a lot stronger this time. Hank wiped Oliver's cheeks dry with his thumbs and traced the boy's figure until hank found his hands, "That sound good to you Ollie?" Oliver nodded in response once more after a moment of silence. "Okay just stick with me, we have to be really quiet and really fast" Hank explained before guiding Oliver to the window and slipping out feet first. Hank's boots hit the ground he turned around and quickly felt for Oliver's small waist so he wouldn't fall out. Once he found the boy in the darkness with his hands Hank lifted him out and up into his arms and dashed across the yard as the street was charged with blaring sirens and flooded with flashing lights. Hank reached his back door as he saw his team and SWAT circle around the house, ready to charge in. With one swift motion Hank ripped open his back door and slammed it shut, safely locking them in from the chaos that was about to erupt outside. Hank carried Oliver up to a spare bedroom that was on the other side of the hall from his room and pulled back the blankets to put him somewhere soft and warm to wait out the scurry transpiring. Once Hank pulled up the blankets and turned to the door Oliver stopped him "Mr.Hank where are you going?" he begged pulling at Hanks stiff arms. "I'm going to take care of those bad guys remember?" he said as he stopped and turned around. Hank turned on a bedside lamp to help see Oliver better and ideally make him feel a bit safer. The light casted a warm glow into the room, illuminating Oliver's sunken in and terrified eyes. Hank kneeled down by the side of the bed with Oliver still holding onto him and spoke looking into his dark eyes, "I know how scary and confusing all this right now" he began softly. "But you're being a really brave boy right now you know that?" Oliver retracted his hand from Hanks arm and pulled his knees up to his chest, hiding his face behind his mop of red curls. "Well you are. You've beaten the bad guys Oliver, it's over"Hank said reaching out to gently put a hand on Olivers scrawny knee. But when he did Oliver's head shot up in surprise and his body jumped. But to Hanks interest Oliver's expression didn't match his reaction. His face was a questioning one with his eyes fully meeting hanks and his eyebrows arched in a confused expression. The face Hank received was loud, clear and unmistakable. So much so it captivated his full focus and curiosity, slowing movement around him and freezing him in place with his hand still on Oliver's leg. Which was also intriguing by the fact that he didn't try to swat it away when Hank reached out to him. Their eyes were locked in a conversation that neither of them had intended or expected. A conversation of confusion and hopeful discovery. Hank found himself unable to tear his eyes away from Oliver's. The boy's eyes shifted and questioned him. Searched him. Their green hue glowed in the lamp light making Oliver look more alive. Hank nodded as Oliver's questions sunk into his mind and acknowledged them. After a few moments of this shared silent conversation hank dropped his head to break away from Oliver's eyes to answer, "Not all people are bad Ollie, and I'm sorry you've never known that. I hope that you'll let someone make it true for you someday," Hank said softly. Oliver's eyes glistened and softened at hank and so did his body language. He was more relaxed and focused on hank now which allowed hank to explain what was about to happen next, "What's going to happen is I'm going to bring you to the police station and one of my friends will ask you a few questions and all you have to do is tell them the truth. Then when you're done your social worker will come pick you up and take you back to the house to get your things before going somewhere safe to sleep. That sound good to you?" Oliver gave a small nod in response. "So what I'm going to do now is make sure that it's safe outside then I'll carry you out to the car okay? I'll be right back." Oliver nodded disappointed and curled back up again, letting his hair cover his eyes. Hank tried to give one last small smile before turning to the door and walking out down the stairs.

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When Hank opened his door he was met with officers, flashing lights and Jay making his way across the yard before he had to call for him.
"'Sarge we got the owners of the house in the back of our first truck and most of the gang members in the second. The other two are on the curb waiting being watched until the third comes. The house is being searched through top to bottom and all evidence is being collected" Jay debriefed Hank when he reached him on the front lawn.

"Good, now when you get to the station I want both owners separated and questioned until they break. I don't care how long it'll take and don't put them in a holding cell until I have a chance to speak with them myself" Hank ordered looking over Jay's shoulder at the house that was buzzing like a hive with uniforms storming in and out.

"Hey Voight" Jay asked, interrupting his focus.
"Hmm?" hank replied turning his attention back to Jay.
"You said on the phone that there was a kid in the house, we found a few trunks of old clothes, some toys and a backpack but no kid." Hank grinned at Jay's confusion.
"Of course not. That's because I got him out before you got here."
Jay looked at hank in confusion,
"Wait how? In that short of a time? How'd you even get into the house without being found?" he asked looking from Voight to the house behind him trying to figure it out in his mind.
"I entered through the bedroom window which I've seen him sneak out of before. Then I snuck him out of the same window and got him into my house through the back door" he said nauntilantly.
"We should go get him and bring him in, he could probably give us more information on the parents" Jay replied looking to Hanks house then back to him.

Hank nodded in reply.
"We will but here's what I want. I want Burgess to question Oliver when I bring him in, you and I will interrogate the fosters and I'll have Ruzek and Atwater make sure our other offenders get to cook county without a fight" Hank ordered.
Jay nodded in approval, "sounds good I'll tell the others" he replied turning to walk towards the center of the madness while Hank turned back to his front door.

When Hank walked into his dark and quiet house, it created a stark contrast to what was happening outside. Voight knew Oliver may not take to well too after all that happened tonight. Which is why he took it slow up the stairs and called up to Oliver up the stairs to to meet him at the top of the stairs.

Hank watched his step up the stairs, focusing on his mussel memory of his house. He was so stuck in his momentary focus he didn't even hear Oliver's steps until he was right in front of him, hiding behind the wall peeking out at him with one eye looking around the corner.

"Hey Oliver we're going for a ride to the station. You want to see my police car? I know how much you like cars" he said smiling as he ran a hand around Oliver's fragile shoulders. He was met with some resistance and refusal but with a gentle hand Oliver started down the stairs.

Hank followed Oliver at the same pace with an extra blanket on his shoulder which he used to swaddle him in, which covered him completely even hiding his little bare feet.
"Mr.Hank I....I don't wanna" Oliver whimpered looking up at the flashing chaos coming from the windows in the door.

Hank looked to the windows then back at Oliver's red and blue illuminated face. His eyes were vacant and jumbled, wrought with fear.
"If you're scared just close your eyes, I'll carry ya. Especially with those bare little feet of yours" he smiled, "they'll get frozen to the ground if you're not careful" he said jokingly, pointing at his feet.
"No no, too cold" Oliver shook his head and shuffled his feet. The frozen expression on Oliver's face melted slightly towards Hank warranting a mirrored smile from him as well.
"Alright let's go do this" Hank said as he picked up Oliver in his arms and opened the door to the flashing chaos outside.
Voight didn't know it yet, but this wouldn't be a normal case.
The sudden change in noise and temperature hit Oliver making him to shiver and clutch Hank's shoulders a little tighter. When the house came into clearer view surrounded by police and movement he pulled the blanket over his head completely covering his face. He turned his head towards Hank, cautiously laying his head down in the crook of his neck and shoulder. When Hank didn't shrug him off Oliver gave in to the melody of Hank's muddled steps and breathing taking away the sound of his world coming down around him.

Things only got more quieter when hank buckled Oliver in his seat in the back of the patrol car after an officer helped put the car seat in.

Hank thanked the officer before jumping behind the wheel rolling the car away into the darkness swiftly. The farther and farther they got from the scene the happier and calmer Oliver seemed to become. He kept his gaze out the window watching all the sleeping houses breezing past them by and all the street lights that shined into the window. Hank would glance into his rear view mirror at Oliver and thought about trying to make conversation.

But when he saw the static confusion and fear had melted away from Oliver's face and replaced by a blank quiet expression Hank couldn't bring himself to speak. He didn't want to disrupt the only peace and quiet the boy would probably get tonight. So much was already said and done and it'd only be a matter of time before he'd be thrown back into the fray again which no little kid should be. Probably the most upsetting and angering part of this situation was that a parentless, innocent seven year old kid was caught in the middle of what would gravely impact adults and the worst part?

This was normal and hank could tell all Oliver wanted was stability and someone who'd want him which is what every child vitally needed. Thoughts of seething fury and disgust flooded hank's mind. He was definitely more than willing to tare into these delusional and distrubing people for what they did, and especially for what they didn't do.

He'd get justice for the boy. Logically that's all he could do. But deep down hank knew there had to be more he could do. There had to be. But hank knew he had to push those thoughts from his mind and focus on the interrogations and what information he could beat out of them in order to get the two locked away. Luckily for hank, his crew, and ollie they had buried themselves too far to wiggle free and hank would be the one to nail their coffins shut. At this point that's all he could do.

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It only took Hank twenty minutes to get into the station and pull into the fenced off reserved section of the parking lot that was strictly for police vehicles. The lot was full of patrol cars as there weren't many on the graveyard shift but the citizen parking was completely quiet and empty. Hank put the car in park and got out looking at a section of the lot which had a row of missing vehicles which meant he must have beaten his team already. Which was good considering the poor frazzled little kid that he had with him. Hank opened Oliver's door and unbuckled him, lifting the boy into his arms once again before going into the station through the officer's entrance. Once inside the bright building, Oliver peeked out from under the blanket, curiously taking in all the new sights. Lines of locked door and dark hallways slept and the sound of hanks boots echoed through the hall. Oliver opted to keeping his head back on hanks shoulder with forehead leaning on the side of hank's neck. He was exhausted and he just wanted to cuddle his stuffed animal dinosaur Bronn and go to sleep. It also didn't help that the continuous steady movement of Hank's feet and heartbeat were lulling him into a calmer state. In this moment he didn't care about where he was or what was around him. He just let Hank's body move for him. The lights of the different rooms and spaces filtered through his closed eyelids causing his eyes to flicker open a few times. But a clean and gentle smell carefully filled his senses. It wasn't a strong scent that made his belly ache and his head hurt. It didn't make him dizzy or sick but really it was doing the opposite. It was leading him into a deeper slumber until he finally gave up fighting and let the warm and safe feeling overtake him hiding him from his fear. Hank hadn't realized Oliver had fallen asleep until he went to put him down on the couch in his office and he didn't move. His body was heavy and still. Hank reached a hand up to Oliver's back and felt how slow his breathing had become. Hank didn't have it in him to put Oliver down and wake him from his soft sleep. He had already experienced enough tonight and would experience more once everyone got there. Plus if he felt finally safe enough to fall asleep in Hank's arms he didn't want to take that away from him. So Hank took Oliver with him to get whatever spare socks he could find for his feet to keep him as warm and comfortable as he could make him, only putting them down to slip the women's extra small socks (that were still to big for him) on his feet and picked him back up again swaddled in the blanket. Hank slowly walked back and forth in between the light coming through the windows from the street and city beyond creating a gentle ambiance and because of this hank didn't turn on the lights. He kept walking back and forth in the center aisle between all the desks. After a few rounds of pacing Hank looked at the mop of red curls on his shoulders as he walked and finally realized how calm he too felt. It made him realize it was all due to the sleepy boy in his arms. It brought hank back to simpler times. To when his whole family was together. When his son Justin was alive and that young. Hank was entranced and wrapped up in this moment he didn't hear his team come in until they loudly forced themselves through the door at the bottom of the stairs and began parading up the stairs with both fosters in cuffs loudly demanding to see a lawyer and Oliver. Hank turned on his heels quickly and got to his office and shut the door right before the fosters made it up the last set of stairs. He quickly shut all the blinds so no one could see inside and the Fosters couldn't see Oliver from the outside. Their loud voices were enough to wake Oliver suddenly and fearfully from his sleep. When his eyes shot open the peaceful look was gone from him. It was all fear, pain and confusion. Hank sat down still holding him and kept Oliver tightly against his chest to give him a few moments to wake up and catch his breath. "Hey hey hey, whoah woah, it's okay Oliver you're safe, you're in my office and they can't hurt you" hank said rubbing Oliver's back as his immediate panic faded slowly. Once Oliver was breathing slowly enough Hank let him sit up before explaining what was going to happen next, "Okay Oliver, I'm going to have my friend detective Burgess ask you a couple questions in another room for a few minutes and she'll bring you back here to wait for your social worker okay?" Oliver nodded sadly, keeping the blanket around his face so only his eyes were seen. He looked down with the same solemn expression and extended his his hands out with the blanket to hank expecting he had to give it back. Hank took it back but only wrap it back around him. Oliver looked up in surprise to see hank was smiling, "You can keep it if you want" he said. Oliver smiled back for the first time that night. "Thank you Mr. Hank" he said grabbing onto the blanket eagerly. "No problem Ollie" Hank said with his smile only growing on his face. But that moment was disrupted when a stiff knocking came from his door with a voice, "Sarge we're home and ready for you." It was the voice of Antonio, one of the people on Hank's team. Hank got up and opened the door to a tall and well built man with slicked back black hair, daring brown eyes and a clean shaved face accompanied by two small earrings. Two leather holsters strapped to his shoulders made his chest seem larger solid. "Burgess is in room four?" Hank asked. "Yeah and Jay's waiting for you in Mary Foster's room. But be warned she's been screaming like a freakin' banchey the moment we put her in cuffs. I'd say bring in ear plugs but that's just my suggestion on keeping your eardrums and sanity" Antonio warned. "We'll take care of her. Take care of the finalizing of their case file and criminal record. I'll bring Oliver to Burgess then go handle the creature." "Yes sir" Antonio agreed, walking back to his desk in the large room while Hank stepped back inside his office and shut the door behind him where Oliver sat listening and waiting. "You ready Oliver? This may be the toughest part yet I'm going to be honest. But my friend Burgess wants to help just like I do okay?" Oliver nodded pulling the blanket tighter around him. "The worst is over. You'll never have to see those bad people again I promise. You'll live somewhere better better with better people and have a better life I promise you" Hank said softly holding his hand out to Oliver from the door. He pushed himself off the couch and hobbled over to Hank, part of the blanket dragging on the floor behind him. Hank picked up the blanket and put it around Oliver's shoulders before taking his hand. Hank lead him to a blank room with only two chairs, a table, and mirror. The woman who met him had brown hair, a small figure but a gentle face. She smiled brightly and waved from the table she was sitting at, getting up to greet him. "Hi Oliver! My name is Detective Burgess but you can call me Kim" she said bending down to shake his hand. Oliver leaned closer to hank, holding his hand tighter and shamefully looking at his feet. "It's okay if you're not comfortable. All I want is to talk okay? And we can take a break whenever you want" Kim's voice was sweet and soft which brought Oliver out of his shell enough to look at her and nod. Letting go of Hank's hand and letting her lead him to the table. Oliver looked back at hank with fearful hesitation but Hank gave him a small smile and wave which gave him a little more confidence. But as he waved back dread and fear filled him and all he could do was watch Hank disappear and the door shut. Hank didn't even have to open the door to be hearing the lady's scream he could practically hear it from the the hall. When he turned the corner Jay was waiting for him. "I read their charges and possible sentence to both of them. But I didn't want to stay in there longer than I had too, especially with the wife" he groaned rubbing his temples. "Alright then lets in and have a talk" Hank replied, his voice deeper and more gravely than it's normal tone. Once they both locked their weapons in the safe's down the hall from the room they both walked down the hall and went into the den of the screaming vulture. Mary Foster was very excessive in her obnoxious multi-patterned blouse and pants with abnormally large heals. Her make up was way to bold and jarring to be okay and her excessive jewelry didn't help at all. When he laid eyes on her his blood went cold and dry. His merciless eyes stabbed into her, keeping her in her place. His jaw was locked and his lips curled up into a scowl he couldn't wipe off his face. Jay dropped the case file down on the desk and sat down in front of her while Hank stalked and prowled behind her. Even though they had made their presence clear Mary Foster still kept screaming and demanding until Hank slammed his hand into the table and barked a few inches away from her face, "SHUT IT. When you're in that chair you don't get what you want I run the show. Got that straight?" She only glared rudely at him over her shoulder and crossed her arms. Hank stood up somewhat satisfied she had shut up and looked to Jay to begin. "Alright so let's go over what we already know which is pretty much everything " he began as he opened the folder. " You and your husband were homeless druggies until you got in with the gangs across Chicago and the U.S. You agreed to smuggle drugs over state borders and sell product in exchange for a rising percent in what you earn and a place to crash. You earn favor and money which is when you start to paint your false white picket fence dream. You get a house, a couple cars, new clothes , new look, and get part time jobs to make you look more like a normal couple. But then you went even further by becoming foster parents for Oliver when he was six" Jay spoke but was interrupted by aimless yelling. "Excuse me!! I love my son, my husband loves my son! We did all that to provide for him!" she tried to yell but was stopped dead in her tracks by hank slamming the desk over her shoulders. "That's a load of bull" he growled in her ear. "You only ever loved the money that you got and when the social worker didn't have to visit anymore you threw him away like a worthless trophy to collect dust and make it look like you deserve that gold" he stood up still talking. "But I'll tell you what. You are right about one thing. That kid is a thing of gold. He's a real sweet and smart kid. I actually should thank you. You let me meet someone very special, so thank you for that. Because every time you left him outside in the rain, the scolding sun and freezing winters I got to hold the gold from YOUR lot. We've had a lot of nice conversations you know..." "Okay I'm going to stop you right there sir!" Mary interrupted in an offended tone pointing at Hank. "I don't appreciate your suggestions that I don't care about my son because I always..." " Did I ask you a question?!" Hank yelled after being interrupted for the second time. "Well I shouldn't have to sit here and be falsely accused of such horrible claims!" she yelled with an heir of arrogance that seemed to make the tons of gold and silver rings she had on her fingers and ears to shine louder and clink together like a wind chime strung out on steroids. Even the pearls around her neck clinked and clacked. Hank couldn't handle this woman for much longer. "I didn't ask you any questions so you shouldn't be talking" he barked. "You say you take care of your child" Voight got in her face, his growl low and loud. "Okay let me show you these." Voight ripped open the case folders and slammed pictures of extensive bruising and scratches pushed the pictures towards her. He walked around the desk and put his hands on the back of her chair. "You know what these are? These are pictures I took of Oliver every time I have brought him into my house and he's had new bruises and scratches every time..." "I.." Mary tried to speak. "I'm not done yet Hank growled louder shoving those pictures off the table in disgust and pulled another set of pictures that were of weight numbers on a scale. "Do you know how tall a seven year old should be? Forty six to fifty inches and his weight should be forty six to fifty pounds. Do you know how tall Oliver is? Do you know how much he weighs?!" Hank slammed on the table again making her jump this time. "He's forty inches!" he yelled, "and do you know how much he weighs?" he yelled even louder. "Thirty two pounds! That kid shouldn't be walking, I should have you in here on murder charges at this rate in additions to the whole list of charges you have! And let me tell you how screwed you'll be if we get a confession from Oliver!" Hank's anger had blurred his senses so much he didn't realize he kept pulling her chair farther and farther back until the point if he were to let go she'd slam her head into the concrete floor. "Just know I'll be more than willing to testify against you in court and watch your acts get buried alive" he growled right into her ear pulling her chair back farther until Jay intervened. "Sarge." Hank looked up with a glare at Jay and for a moment suspended her while she screamed and cried before shoving her harshly stomach first into the table. Hank huffed and walked past the door to Jay but a knock on the door stopped him. Hank tore open the door. "What?" he asked sharply before realizing who was standing in front of him.

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Burgess flinched back at Voight's sudden and sharp tone. Hank stepped out of the room and took a deep breath.
"Sorry, what do you need?" he asked, the edge melting from his voice.
"Sarge we've tried talking to Oliver and we got some information on his living conditions and treatment in the house but when we asked if he had ever met the people in his basement and that's when he curled up and broke down in the corner. Kevin, Hailey and I all tried but it's no use." she informed him quickly.
"Alright give me a recorder and document everything he already told you and I'll take care of the rest, and oh, h is social worker Emily Cravas is coming so let her in when she gets here" he ordered walking down the hall with her.
"Once you're done with that add child abuse and neglect on their sentencing" he added.
"Yes sir" burgess replied peeling away from Voight to get to her desk.

Once Hank opened the door he was met with a hysterical and disheveled Oliver. The complete opposite of the sweet sleeping boy from before.

Hank put the recorder on the closest chair and hit record. Once it was set he sat on the floor slowly and cautiously put a hand on Olivers shoulders, gently whispering to him,
" Ollie, Ollie, it's me. It's Mr Han..." before he could get another word out Oliver turned around and buried his head into Hank's chest and told him everything in a traumatic babble. Tales of insane strung out criminals hitting him, touching him, and threatening to kill him if he didn't get another bag of white powder fast enough.

It didn't stop at the gang members either. The Fosters would become cruel and abusive too. So much so he had to go as far as to run from the house to be safe from harm. After dark and disturbing story after dark and disturbing story, it all came out.

It came out so fast Hank was concerned Oliver was about to become sick all over the floor. He was so worked up he was choking on what little spit he had and heavily wheezing and gasping for air. Hank was speechless. The pure terror and pain on the boy's face was agonizing. But what was even more torture was what came from Oliver's mouth next.

Mr. Hank?...what did I do wrong? Why don't they like me? Nobody likes me! Nobody! Nobody!! NOBODY!" Oliver kept screaming louder and louder as he pounded on the floor next to him harder and harder.

A sharp pain accompanied by some instinct jabbed at Hank deep down making him scoop up Oliver and swaddled him in his blanket that was on the floor so he couldn't violently thrash. Hank sat down in a chair holding Oliver tight and close, rubbing his head and face to try to console him. To try and stop his painful wailing and harsh convulsions.

Hank rested his head on Oliver's whispering to him to breathe and that he wasn't going anywhere. Hank didn't know how much time had past but a while later there came a knocking at the door.

It was Emily Cravas, a tall, nicely dressed black woman with gorgeous and lavish curls. It was Oliver's social worker. When Emily walked into this sight she quickly walked over to Oliver concerned about his well being.

Hank then quickly explained what happened earlier that night and some of the things that Oliver had endured in that house. This caused her to also start for tears to stream down her face. She stroked Oliver's hair and apologized profusely.
"I'm so, so, so sorry Oliver. I'm so sorry" she gulped trying to compose herself.
"Let's go get your things and take you to the boy's house you were at last time okay?" she asked gently. Oliver turned his bright red, tear soaked face away from Hank's shoulder to her,
"C..c..can Mr Hank come? I'm scared" his voice shook.
"Oh Oliver I..."
Hank interrupted her promptly,
"No don't worry it's okay, I've got to go home anyway. I live right next to the house but I'll need to tag along with you in your car if you wouldn't mind."
"Oh no don't worry! That's not a problem" she smiled brightly.

With that news Hank stood from the chair, still cradling Oliver and carried him out of the room. As they walked through the office Hank's team fell silent. Painfully silent. Just watching and hurting for a reason they searched each others faces for, but couldn't find the answer to.

When they got to Emily's car Hank stayed in the back seat right next to Oliver the whole ride until they arrived at the house which caused Oliver to hide under his blanket in fear. Hank hugged him over the shoulder,
"It's okay Ollie, It's all over. It's all done" he stroked Oliver's shoulder. It wasn't long until Emily brought Oliver's few belongings and put them in the trunk.

Hank knew this was the moment he wasn't looking forward too. Letting Ollie leave. Hank unbuckled his seatbelt and wrapped his arms around Oliver one more time and whispered in his ear
"I will always care. You'll never have nobody. Never forget that kid."
Hank forced himself to let go and step out of the car and speak to Emily before they left. To his surprise when he did she hugged him.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you" she cried.
"It's no problem, I've had kids of my own. You've got a special one" he smiled looking at Emily in the lights.
"I know" she smiled wiping her tears before reaching into her pocket to take out a card and hand it to Hank.
"My cell is on the back if you ever want to check in."
Hank smiled doing the same and giving her one of his cards,
"I will. Take care of that kid" he said honestly.
"I will sir..he seems to have grown a liking to you Sergeant Voight. Who knows? If he runs off this'll be the first place I check" she said causing them both to chuckle.
"I'll bet on it. Don't worry he'll be safe if he does. He knows that."
Emily hugged him once more before parting ways. As he watched the car drive away something in him didn't feel right. To see him go wasn't okay. All he kept thinking as he looked down at Emily's card was he'd come back.
"I'll come back for you Ollie. I will" he thought to himself as he turned to his front door.

But what he saw in the windows was empty and cold. Even colder now that he didn't have that one light next to him. He turned the knob and walked inside, saying hello to the ghosts that haunted that tomb of a house.

Surely tonight would be another sleepless night.

Chapter Text

It's been three months since the big arrest of four Chicago gang members and more importantly to Hank, the arrest of the couple Jake and Mary Foster who were the guardians of little 5 year old Oliver who Hank had watched and partially took care of the year the Fosters moved in next to him. Now that Oliver is in a group home for orphaned boys lead by his case manager Emily Cravas and no longer close to him Hank can't help but keep thinking of him. Out of all the kids he saved in his career and kids of his own he's had why was this one different? Why couldn't he forget Oliver? Why couldn't he just let him go? But with his life only consisting of his unit now maybe a change could be good. Trudy believes this too when she confronts Hank about something he thought he could keep to himself. A plan he couldn't explain simply because he thought himself crazy for even considering what he was about to do.

But he was knees deep in it now and he needed help.

3 Months after the events of The Pup is Found..."

Hank got up to shut his door to try and give himself some quiet for at least a few moments to have a drink. Tensions were high lately on this case among the intel team lately and the superiors over this case breathing down their necks was not helping team moral whatsoever.

When Hank shut the door his office finally fell quiet. He pulled out a bottle of whisky he hid in his desk and poured himself a small glass. He relaxed back in his seat as he took the smooth swig with a sigh.

As he put the glass away the clock on his computer caught his eye. It read 4:12pm. That's when he remembered something he thought he couldn't forget. It'd been on his mind for weeks. He went into a scramble as he searched through every drawer in his desk.

There was something he needed and urgently. How could he misplaced this paper work? Where was it? After a few moments of searching through drawers full of papers the phone on his desk rang. He looked up from the drawer he was looking through at the time on his screen next to the ringing phone. 4:13 on the dot. Hank sat up and slid his seat over to the phone picking it up on the fourth ring.
" Right on time again huh kid?" Hank found his lips pulling into a smile across his face. A little voice answered excitedly, "Mister Hank, Mister Hank! You answered!" the familiar little voice chimed through the phone.
"Hi Ollie" he chuckled from the excitement in the boy's voice.
"Mister Hank why didn't you answer last time? I thought the bad guys got you" his voice sunk in fear.
"Don't you worry about me when it comes to the bad guys they're the ones that should be scared" Hank replied with the same smile still not disappearing from his face.

Oliver giggled on the other end of the phone lightening his mood. His infectious giggle fluttered in Hank's ears that caused his heart to beat just a little quicker.
"Tell me Oliver how's school going? Make any new friends?"
"No... but Mister Hank?" his voice suddenly changed and quivered like it did that night 3 months ago.
"Yeah?" At that moment Trudy had came into his office holding a large envelope to Hank in her hands. Her eyebrows arched in excitement as she pointed from the envelope to Hank. Hank nodded gesturing with his hand to quickly give it. She did as he ordered, tossing it onto his desk. He snatched it with his right hand and adjusted the phone with his left and began to open it ignoring the fact that Trudy hadn't left his office.

He cared more about what was in front of him and the whimpering voice coming from the phone in his ear.
"Mister Hank I'm leaving" he sniffled, "More people are coming to take me and I don't want to go." His voice quivered more and more as the words fell out of his mouth.
"Well that should be an exciting thing shouldn't it?" Hank asked him as he scribbled his signature over multiple papers.
"No! No it's not!" he responded in a panic.
"Mister Hank why can't I just stay here? Why can't I stay with you?" his cries got louder and louder to the point that Trudy moved closer in concern trying to understand what was going on.
"Oliver, Oliver, listen, listen to me. Are you listening?" Hank said slowing Oliver's cries down.
"The people you are going to meet soon are people I know really well for a long long time and they even promised to me they'll take care of you. They're really excited to meet you, they've been thinking about doing this for you for a long time" he said to Oliver as he glanced up at Trudy who'd been there the whole time listening and beginning to understand the situation the longer she listened. She continued to give questioning glances as Hank turned his side to her and kept talking to Oliver,
"I'll tell you what Oliver I'll ask you tomorrow how it goes okay? At 4:13 on the dot, I promise okay?"

Silence and sniffles was all he got at first but after a brief pause Oliver mustard up an okay of a squeak to respond.
"Sounds good to me, before you hang up can you go find Emily and bring her the phone for me?" hank asked looking over the paperwork in front of him.
"Yeah, hold on" Oliver muttered as he got up to search for her, followed by soft sniffles and rustling as he got up to start moving.

In the moments of quiet that followed Trudy pulled her chair closer to Hank's desk showing she wasn't going anywhere until she had answers.

"Are these it?" she asked with an excited hush.

Hank nodded his head as his phone buzzed againin time to hear Emily's uptight and tired voice,
"Hiya Hank, please tell me you have the paperwork. Today's the deadline and I need them because if I don't he's going to someone else and he's just not ready for that at this point and.."
"Emily" Hank interrupted her racing train of thought.
"Don't you worry I've got all the paperwork here and signed in front of me. His room at the house is all ready and I made dinner before I came to work this morning. As soon as that clock hits six I'll be waiting your front door" he spoke reassuringly.
"Oh thank goodness" Emily sighed with an ease she didn't have before.
"I haven't been able to get him to eat all day never mind even getting him out of his room. I'm pretty sure you're the only reason I've seen him at all today" she explained.
Hank chuckled softly in response then spoke,
"Just keep him from running from the house and I'll handle the rest I'll see you then" he said hanging up his phone. The second the phone left his ear Trudy began speaking,
"Who was that Hank?"
Hank sighed in relief, "Emily Hammond, she's looking for the last of the papers. I got to go."

Trudy was smiling ear to ear as Hank gave her a look to keep quiet.

"Out of all the kids I've seen..even my own, and I can't let this one go. Like Justin and Erin." He stopped talking as he became lost in thought looking to the wall on his right.
"Kid deserves a chance, it's already been taken from him enough, no kid deserves that and at this point I don't think anyone will after this" he looked back up at Trudy who had a pang of softness in her eyes. She smiled at her fellow Sargent and replied after a moment of quiet.
"I didn't expect anything less. I just wasn't sure if that part of the Hank I knew was still there."

Hank was caught off guard by the wholehearted statement which was mirrored by the expression that ran across his face. She was right. He didn't expect to have this in him anymore after losing family he had made. The only people he had were either gone or hundreds of miles away. He sighed as he felt it sink into his mind for the first time in a while. He had the urge to reach for the whisky bottle again but he didn't. Instead he looked back at Trudy and replied honestly
"Neither did I." This caused her smile to sadden briefly but it lifted as soon as it sunk.
"A lot has happened Hank, a lot has. But everyone deserves to find a reason to really enjoy life and that especially applies to you" she said unclasping her hands to hold Hank's stiffly interlaced fingers.

Hank's head dropped from her eyes from the moment she grasped his hands. He shook his head hoping to blame this softness on the whisky but the truth was he was no lightweight.
"It's true Hank" Trudy said truthfully, "it's true for the both of you."
Hank just nodded and met her eyes again in response. He had no words or protests in that moment, he was to stuck in the moment to think.
"Does the team know?" she asked slipping her hands back from his. Hank took his hands back and replied,
"No I'm keeping this as a personal matter for now. They don't need to know my business all the time like I don't need to hear all of theirs." Trudy sat back in her chair and replied automatically,
"Unless it affects the team in any way which this does. You really think you can do this completely by yourself? You know what Al would say wouldn't you?" she asked softly knowing the territory she was stepping into.

But Hank didn't stiffen, he more crumbled and let out a stiff sigh as he sunk back into his chair. The reply came stumbling off his lips,
"we're a pack man, your pups are mine and mine are yours. That's how this works."

Trudy chuckled "exactly. Now I won't say anything on one condition" she said standing up and pushing in her chair.
"Oh so we're talkin' conditions now. Since when?" Hank replied with a grin returning to his face. He sat back in his chair with his arms folded as Trudy shot back,
"yes we are, and my condition is the both of you over my place for dinner next Friday at six sharp or you'll have to eat your food cold and only you."
Hank gave a laugh, " alright condition accepted. Thanks Trudy" he replied.
"Any time Hank. Now go get that boy of yours before someone else does" she said smiling as she opened his office door and left him alone to come back to his present moment. He looked up at the clock that now read 4:35.
"Only a couple more hours" he kept thinking to himself.
"Hang on Ollie, only a couple more hours now."

By the second five thirty rolled around Hank already had both feet out of his office and walking down the center of the bullpen for the stairs.

He checked his pockets for his keys, wallet, badge, and firearm as the team exchanged their goodnights in tired grumbles and asked no questions as to why he was leaving this early. But even if they did ask he wouldn't give them a straight answer anyway. The only one that noticed was the only one who knew which was Trudy, who, when Hank passed the front desk gave a smile and nod to him on the way out the door to his car.

Once outside Hank had to flip on his sunglasses to watch where he was going through the glaring, setting sun which was definitely making up for lost time hiding behind the clouds all week.

The warm air welcomed him to toss his coat in the back seat and roll up his sleeves before strapping in the booster seat he had bought and hid in his car a week ago for Oliver before jumping into the driver's seat, throwing the keys into the ignition and into drive.

He rolled the windows down and the sun roof back as he rolled out onto the livening streets of Chicago following the directions read out to him by the GPS, trying to keep the car within the speed limit. What could he say? He had a lead foot with a history of not having to go by speed limits when his heart rate was increased.

The houses soon spread out and became larger with every mile he drove. The streets became wider with more room between cars and the streets separated by large fields of grass in front of each house. The GPS read out his last direction to turn on 4th Melbourne Avenue and the destination would be on his left. It was finally time to put Oliver out of the misery that had consumed him all day. Just a little farther.

Hank ran through a mental checklist of his preparations back as he pulled up to the curb of a big brick house and large dark green field. The grass was well kept and well played on as far as Hank could tell by the little feet pressed into the grass and the few misplaced basket and soccer balls burrowed in bushes and against the fence on the right of the house. He wondered if one of the pair of little footprints in the grass were Oliver's as he walked up the driveway with colored chalk drawings covering every foot except the small path that lead from the driveway to the front steps of the house.

As far as Hank could tell the kids were barefoot when they were last out here which must have been a few hours ago. The grass was gently pressed and rolled with little dots in between each patch most likely being little toe prints in each patch through the yard. Not torn and harshly printed as it would have been if they were wearing shoes.

The little footprints made him stop and think a moment of what his days would be like soon now that for once he had someone to come home too. It would be starkly different from the vacant house of memories he had left, but Trudy's words repeated in his mind again and he knew she was right.

He personally didn't need any pity or anyone's comfort that was never a need to be fulfilled for him. It was nice but he was doing just fine without it. But yet he still found himself warm against the cooling night as he rang the doorbell and waited for an answer.

It took a minute or two for someone to approach the door but before Hank went to ring it again the door went flying open inward to Emily whoes curls stood on end but her clothes were still neat and clean with a few ruffles here or there probably from little hands getting her attention.

She pulled open the door with a scatterbrained expression,
"Hank! Hello! Welcome! You're a bit early" she smiled pleasantly surprised.
"I am, I told you I'd be here and I have all the papers right here signed and ready to go" Hank said tapping on the left side of his coat smiling slightly back at Emily in an attempt to ease her surprise and restlessness.

"Oh thank goodness! Please come in, come in" she breathed with pure relief as she stood by to let Hank enter.

When he stepped in there was no denying that little boys inhabited this house. Toys, socks and video games were scattered on the carpet, couches, and chairs as well as into the kitchen where, on the table, glasses of water and juice still remained with empty plates.

"I'm so sorry about the mess!" Emily exclaimed nervously,"I was going to get this all cleaned up before you came but you weren't playing around when you said you'd be here!"

"I wasn't and don't worry about it. Work was slow so I figured I'd head on over early. Oh and here are the goods" he grinned unzipping his coat and giving her the envelope of papers. She snatched them in her hands and ripped it open, scouring over every paper and every line intensely.

With every line she scanned her smile grew and her nervousness turned into stillness and after some time of silence she stood straight up with a bright face and glossy eyes. She looked at Hank and took a deep breath,
"Well Sergeant Voight once I sign these Oliver is all yours." The emotion in her eyes swelled causing some tears to run down her soft flushed cheeks.

"I'm sorry" she said dabbing her eyes, "It's just been a long road for him. I thought I'd never have to truly say goodbye for a final time. I thought I never would have too" she whispered wiping her eyes. Although her tears streamed down the smile in her face read relieved and finally at peace.

Hand held his arms open to give her a quick embrace, "you'll never have to worry about if he's safe or clothed or loved anymore. You have my word." he said letting her go.
"I know, I know it's true this time" she replied with dryer eyes and a bigger smile.
"Let me go get him for you. He'll be so excited" she said as she turned right for the staircase and disappeared around the corner when she reached the top.

When her footsteps disappeared out of earshot Hank retraced her path to the stairs and took his stance at the bottom of the stairs feet shoulder width apart ready for who would come flying down at him soon.

With his hands in his pockets he relaxed and listened to the quiet noise of the house. Some clips of voices and thuds of feet cut in and out of his ears until a familiar little face peered from atop the stairs around the corner. His soft green eyes widened in disbelief and sparkled as bright as fireworks. This little hands that were clutching the wall for dear life were now flying towards him wide open.

"MISTER HANK!" Oliver yelled at the top of his lungs as he jumped from the fifth stair aiming right for Hank. He caught the little monkey in a spin and before he could even say hi Oliver was shaking his shoulders in an excited flurry.
"Mister Hank what are you doing here?!" Hank laughed as Oliver's contagious joy and excitement bubbled and brewed in his chest.
"Taking you home that's what I'm doin'" Hank replied.

The second emotion that hit Oliver was confusion. He tilted his head like a confused puppy not completely understanding what was happening. Seeing this, Emily came down and put a hand on Oliver's shoulder and asked "Oliver? How'd you like Mister Hank to be your Pappa from now on? What do you think?"

Oliver's eyes doubled in size and his mouth hit the floor.
"Wh..wh..what? What?! Is this for real?!" he asked looking between Emily and Hank. His whole face was a glow and his eyes were glistening as if a dream was becoming real in front of him. He couldn't believe his little ears.
"Wait..this is real? This isn't fake? You're not faking it? This is for real?" he asked tossing his head back and forth shaking his shoulders excitedly.

With every word out of his mouth his voice climbed higher and higher with excitement and shock.
"This is all real Ollie, all real. Your car seat's in the car, your room's all set...home is waiting for you" Hank said compassionately looking into Oliver's eyes that was the most lively and brightest he had ever seen them.

"Go and get your things kiddo I'll be here waitin' for ya" Hank put Oliver back down on the floor gently before he took off up the stairs and around the corner in a flash.

Hank could hear all of his excited cheers and happiness from where he stood at the stairs. Emily laughed and started up the stairs after Oliver but before she did she turned around, "we'll be right back down in a few. Feel free to sit down and be comfortable."

"I'm okay right here, thank you though" he smiled in response . Hank stayed right at the bottom of the stairs listening to the excited scurry happening above him only stepping away to unlock and pop the trunk to prepare for when Oliver came parading down the stairs with his things.

Hank walked back to the stairs just as thundering feet came racing down the stairs with an old and dirty red backpack with an old and dirty hanging on by a thread and Emily carrying down a box that she put down on the floor when she reached the bottom.

Hank had expected her to turn back up the stairs to get more things...but he didn't. Hank tried to look at Oliver but he was to busy pretending to fly around to pay attention so he looked at Emily with a questioning look,
"That's it?" he asked. Emily just sighed and sadly nodded in response as she easily picked up the box again ready to bring it out.
"Don't worry it won't be like this for long" Hank reassured.
"Alright flash you ready to go home? Dinner's waiting and I really think you're going to like your room" Hank said holding out his hand facing the door.

Oliver gasped and gawked at the thought of his own actual room in a house that could be his and that was safe. But more importantly and exciting to him was that maybe Mister Hank could actually be his Pappa and not someone he would always have to run from and be scared of. Someone who wouldn't hit him or push him away but someone who actually wanted him. Someone who liked him, and as Hank lifted him into the car and buckled him in Oliver pulled at Hank's neck, pulling him in closer as he leaned over to buckle him in.

"Listen I'm going to need my head to drive out of here" Hank chuckled giving Oliver another hug before standing back up to shut the door. But before he could Oliver stopped him,
"wait...Mister Hank?" Hank pulled the door back open,
"Yeah Ollie?" Hank pulled the door back open.
"Umm..what do I call you? My other mamma and Papa didn't like it when I called them that but I never remembered their names" he said sheepishly, looking at his feet and back to Hank. Hank chuckled fondly, frozen in the moment of his soft face and shy eyes that were fluttering back and forth at him.

"Whatever you want Oliver. Whatever you're comfortable with" he replied. Oliver's darting eyes settled on Hank and his nervous expression melted into a smile.
"Okay so I can...if I wanted?" he asked again unsure if it was really true.
"Whatever you're comfortable with Ollie" Hank replied honestly before shutting the door and jumped into the driver's seat.

"Alright kiddo ready to go?" he looked up in the rearview mirror at little Oliver.
"YEAH!!" he threw his hands into the air with his little balled fists. Hank laughed,
"Alright then, let's go home."

Chapter Text

For the entire ride home back to Hank's house Oliver's arms were stretched up to reach the pink orange sky through the opened sunroof, trying to keep his arms up against the racing wind.

But with one cool blast he pulled his arms back down and tucked his hands under his legs with a shiver. Night was falling. But he still kept his eyes to the sky that was whizzing by them, turning an indigo blue that was swallowing the sky slowly like a river of blue molasses.

After some time the sunset disappeared into a dark indigo blue hid behind the skyline of the windy city glowing underneath the blanket of the night. Oliver shivered, rubbing his arms and legs together against the cold wind now beginning to blow straight through his small body. He squirmed and shifted to try and find the most shielded position from the cold but he didn't have much luck.

The wind followed him however he moved. With the cold darkness sweeping over Hank took off his shades and tossed them in his pocket as he drove to make the lights of the world easier to see.

But when he did in the rearview mirror he saw Oliver contorted in his seat shivering and curling up against the wind assaulting him through the windows. His red curls were blowing into his eyes and tickling his nose making the wind a little less friendly. He fought to keep his hair out of his face but it was no use, the wind just kept comically flushing right back into his face as he swatted.

Hank hit the buttons on his door to close the windows and turned on the heat in the back seat compartment. Oliver's body unraveled and opened up to take in the soft warmth wrapping around him and with a happy sigh he closed his eyes and laid his head back melting back into his seat without a word.
"That feel better?" Hank asked trying not to look up in the rearview mirror and focus on the road. But he still snuck himself a glance and smiled at the flash of what he saw.

"Mmmhmmm, nice and toasty" Oliver replied blissfully, turning his face towards the stream of heat coming from the vent above his head.

"Good" he replied. "Now coming up soon I have something I want to show you but you're going to have to close your eyes when I tell you too though."

"Another surprise?!" Oliver exclaimed as it seemed a lighting bolt had just hit him with new energy. His eyes darted from window to window as he squirmed in his seat trying to search for this new surprise.

"Where? Where?" his head flipped back and forth.

"Well you won't see it if you keep wippin' your head around like that" Hank replied with a grin. "I'll tell you when it's coming up don't you worry about that. But for now just stop turning yourself into a pretzel" he chuckled navigating through the crowded Chicago streets.

"Oookaaayyy, you promise?" Oliver giggled.

"Yes I promise" Hank replied quickly glancing into the rear view mirror then back to the road in front of him.

Oliver relaxed and sat back into his seat contently with his eyes closed absorbing the gentle steady stream of warmth wrapping around him. The white noise of the car against the cool night lulled him into a temporary slumber until the car had considerably slowed down and the noise disappeared.

He sat up and rubbed his eyes looking confusingly out of the windows at the houses around him that were sprinkled with warm light lasting through the darkness like stars. But all these flashing windows weren't quite the ones he was waiting to find. He was trying to look between the window lights into the darkness for the shape of Hank's empty house but didn't have luck with this street or the other few that followed.

His excitement bubbled and bubbled the more streets they turned down looking around to try and find his home. He restlessly tossed from one pair of windows to another until Hank's voice broke the silence.

"Alright Oliver I'm going to need you to close your eyes now and no peeking" he gave oliver a grin that made him giggle excitedly and close his eyes. His little feet kicked in a quick rhythm back and forth in front of him as he tried to contain his energy.

Oliver tried to sneak little looks through the cracks of his fingers but Hank wasn't one to miss a beat,
"Hey mister I see you peeking back there don't try that on me" the grin on his face stayed the same as the car turned and slowed to a stop down the street.

Oliver was tempted to sneak a peek but before he could let his fingers loosen Hank was already unbuckling him from his seat and picking him up as a chilly breeze swept up through his shirt and coat giving him a shiver as he was set back down onto his feet.

Hank's hands provided him some warmth however as he turned Oliver in the direction he wanted him to face then moved his hands under his arms to catch him in case he tripped.

"Alright kiddo just trust my lead and keep your eyes closed okay?" Hank gently lead Oliver forward for some steps then stopped to turn him around until he was stopped in place by Hank's large hands on his shoulders that held his shoulders gently firm in place.

It was such a new and grounding feeling Oliver became distracted in it and hadn't opened his eyes until Hank bent down to his ear and spoke, "now go ahead and open those eyes and tell me what's different."

Oliver's fingers loosened from his face and clasped together against the breeze and what he saw was just a black void of where a house should have been.

It was an awkward but clean cut space with just slabs of concrete in the ground. Oliver confusingly looked from the black space to the houses left and right to it and the house on the right was none other than Hank's house. So that must mean the space was---no--- it couldn't be.

Oliver's head shot straight up to Hank's eyes, "wha...wha what happened?" he asked.

"Look there" Hank directed, " my house is right there and you remember what was next to it" he pointed waiting for it to click in Oliver's mind which took nearly no time at all to connect.

He gasped and backed into Hank with his eyes frozen in shock towards the gaping black hole that was in front of him. His fingers weaved their way loosely across his lips restraining his thrilled screams. But they were able to squeak out in whispers,
"It's gone...it's all gone. It's gone it's...it's it's POOF!" he expressed wildly with his arms hitting

Hank's arms on accident but he didn't care. He rubbed oliver's shoulders and bent down to reply,
"And it's never comin back. It's all over now Ollie. It's all done. Now all that's left to do is to go home" he pointed left to his house where warm light came through the curtained windows.

Oliver's eyes were fixated like a moth on a lamp looking at the widows that in his eyes glittered like gold.

"Home?" Oliver's voice was so thin and broken with just that one word. But to Hank it was as strong as the wind blowing into his ears. He squeezed his shoulders a little tighter but couldn't resist pulling him into a hug with a fond chuckle.

"Come on let's go see your new room" Hank assured Oliver towards his house which didn't take any convincing on his part. The moment he pushed him to go Oliver had taken off across the yard and was already at the door jumping up and down waiting for Hank to get over there and open the door already.

He scooped the keys from his pocket and put the key into lock and clicked it open when he had reached the door just a few steps behind Oliver who was already pushing through the small crack in the door inside the warm cozy house. His eyes were glittering as if he were in a castle.

He was home. He was really home! He ran from the front halfway through the circular laid out house flying like a little free bird. He had made his way around the house once as Hank hung up his coat and loosened the laces on his shoes.

"Hey flash why don't you come and take your coat off and stay awhile?" He called around a corner where he heard the footsteps coming around the closest.

Almost immediately he heard "Okay!! COMING IN FOR A LANDING! BROOOOOOMM" he flew into the room with his arms spread out wide and jumped loudly to a stop in front of Hank who already coatless and shoeless waiting for him.

Oliver ripped off his coat and threw off his shoes as if he had ants nibbling at him all over. He tossed his shoes under the hallway table and tried to jump up and reach the coat hooks that he couldn't quite reach.

He was like a little monkey trying to jump for a branch that was far out of reach. Hank couldn't help but watch for a few more seconds chuckling before taking the coat slowly from Oliver's hands to the coat hook above.

Once his fingers released his coat he flew off into the hallway again and found his way to the stairs like he had already lived there for most of his short life. But up the stairs were dark and ominous so his little feet didn't scurry any further until Hank came around the corner and flicked on the lights which was made Oliver feel safe enough to run up on all fours to the top of the stairs and to the door he remembered from what felt like years ago.

His little fingers danced and fiddled with the nob and his eyes glowed in its reflection with such a glimmer you may say even the door itself had a haze of illumination. Hank's steps got louder as he got closer to the top step which was when Oliver tore his longing little hand from the door to his side again and started to jump up and down in place not able to control the excitement and joy bubbling up in every inch of his small body.

His little fluttering feet sent excited little rumbles through the floor which traveled from the soul of Hank's shoes up through his body to his head where to him time slowed. He didn't even notice his hand resting on the door knob until an ecstatic glimmer of Oliver's face zapped him in a way that made his hand tingle back to its reality. He wanted to say something meaningful to Oliver before opening the door but he knew all they both wanted to say was already written on their faces and in their eyes, after years of dealing with people it was easy to read the stories everyone tries to hide from the surface so with a face this bright it was all too easy to hear.

Hank gladly pushed the door open for Oliver to finally fly into the room with complete amazement at what was now all his. The very first thing to catch his glittering eye was what looked to be a small red truck in his room. In his room! Oliver took off and jumped as high as he could to try and clear the edges to fly right into the bed of the truck which was an actual bed with a comfy new mattress, blankets and pillows.

"This--- is all mine?!" he asked running his hands all over the new bed and garage like shelves surrounding it.

"Yeah it's all yours" Hank replied smiling uncontrollably at this point from Oliver's joy and glee that just grew and grew.

Hank hadn't realized how strong and contagious this gentle little spirit could be. When he had contact with oliver before he was silent, withdrawn and terrified. He didn't as much as talk never mind smile and run and giggle like he was doing now tonight.

Maybe this was the boy that Emily talked about that Hank hadn't had the privilege of meeting earlier, could it be? Regardless Hank enjoyed staying in this moment. He normally wasn't one to entirely indulge in these kinds of moments. Well, at least publicly anyway.

But tonight that wasn't the case. Tonight it was just the two of them together waking up and turning alive like neither of them had before. Hank walked over to a car garage like door close to the door and got Oliver's attention,

"Hey ollie check this out." He pulled up the door to reveal a car garage like closet which had new clothes and shoes neatly folded and organized which didn't last to long when Oliver got to it and searched through all of them with awe.

This was twice as much as he ever had. The room, the clothes, this was all far more than anyone had given him. He almost could fathom this all could be real or forever.

But this wasn't the end of the surprises as Hank reached further back into the closet and pulled out a dark blue backpack with dinosaur skeletons and his name embroidered on the front. He reached for the bag slowly, letting the new stiff fabric slip into his hands and rub against his skin making the new smell even stronger in his nose.

"All this is mine? Forever?" he whispered as he ran his hand over his name, feeling like he was seeing it for the first time.

Hank's reality was fractured for a moment with a wave of memories of the time and people who were long gone.

This left him far behind and alone, not that he minded being alone, but this was a nice change. With those bright green eyes something inside him started to breathe and kick to life again. Something he didn't realize was long gone too.

"Yeah, yeah this is all yours" he nodded. In the pause that followed they locked eyes and were frozen in each other's gaze until Oliver pushed himself to his feet and gave Hank a purely thankful and warm smile, as if he were looking at friend. Or better, someone who loved him as much as he did.

Hank's usually rough and hard exterior crumbled almost immediately as he returned the smile and stroked Oliver's cheek with a gentle hand.

He let it fall back to his side and told Oliver to freely explore his room while Hank went back out to the car to get his things and when he did so he found something unexpected. Not only in this box was there a white bag with his name pinned to it but a black one as well with Hank's name pinned to it.

This made him particularly curious as Oliver's bag was filled with his clean toys and few clothes he had. But the other was a mystery. He picked up the black bag and put it on the table and upon closer inspection he noticed the paper with his name on it wasn't a paper at all. It was a note that read,

"August 22,2019

Dear Sergeant Hank Voight,
Or maybe for the sake of this letter could I just call you Hank? I wanted to sincerely thank you again and acknowledge the decision you made to take Oliver in and hopefully you realize if you haven't already, what sweet soul you've saved. You and I both know how many things are missing and broken in his life so over the years I've saved everything I could to at least give him closure on his past when he's older. To try and make it easier for him. I've seen him as a beautiful infant, happy sweet boy and now a broken child I can barely recognize. I hope with these remains of his innocence you could bring that little boy back better than he was in the beginning. And if it's not to much, could I get updates on him? Or maybe some pictures? I completely understand if you're not comfortable with it as his new guardian. It's just that I've known him so long he's like my own in a way. Thank you so much and I hope you welcome all the joy he'll bring you like he has me.

Sincerely,
Emily Cravas".

Hank smiled putting the letter down now even more interested of what was in the bag then he was at first. So he swiftly cut it open and lifted the contents out to look at each thoroughly. He ended pulling out a couple photo albums, letters, a notebook, some DVDs labeled with dates and a smaller bag of toddler/baby clothes.

One of which was a blue shirt with a police car right on the front. Hank found himself chuckling at the irony and surreal-ness of this moment.

He then flipped open the first album to be shown an infant in the same small shirt he held in his hands. Even as tiny as the shirt was it was still to big for his small body. But what kept his stare a bit longer was one little red curl that lipped out from under his hat.

He took out the picture and flipped it over to see the date and a note that read "you were such a tiny boy! But don't worry little one, great things come in the smallest of packages ;)"

Hank had to stop himself for now and save these later because Ollie still needed to eat. So he slipped everything back into the bag and putting it in a corner to come back to later because he was definitely going to have to look through the albums and watch through the DVDs. They may hold the key of how to bring that happy boy back.

Chapter Text

Hank opened the bedroom door and found Oliver lying on his back looking up at the soft lights of blue planes swirling around his ceiling in a peaceful trance, not making a sound or even acknowledging that Hank had walked in and with his toys.

"I think you may be missing these" he said lowering the bag to the floor.

Oliver spun around to face him and rolled to his belly to his hands and knees like a startled animal. His eyes were frozen on Hank and his arms quivered slightly. It seemed that his past had a nasty hold on him by the way he froze when he saw Hank. The only difference was he actually relaxed and smiled after a few moments of looking up at Hank, taking a seat back on the floor waiting for him to talk.

"So you've found another surprise?" Hank smiled glancing at the ceiling and visually tracing the light back to its origin in the driver's seat of the car part of the bed.
"

Another?" Oliver said perking up "are there more?" he shifted up to his knees to try and get closer look at his face.

"Well you tell me, here I've got your toys here for ya" Hank replied putting them slowly on the floor for him.
"

My toys!!!" Oliver squealed jumping to his knees and hugging them close and once he was satisfied he began to organize them on the floor in front of him examining them before putting them down.

"Why don't you bring those over here and put them on these you'll be able to find them easier" Hank said walking over the line of toys to the back wall of the room where two shelves hung neatly nailed to the wall.

Oliver pushed himself off his belly and to his feet to fallow Hank to the corner of the room near the window where he got his look at the shelves which were also customized to Oliver's tastes. The first shelf was painted like a parking lot and the second upper shelve was painted like an air strip. Perfect for his small collection.

"Woah!!! That's cool!" Oliver jumped on his tippy toes to try and get a better look. "Hold on hold on use this" hank laughed pulling out a step-stool from the side of a cubicle shelf next to them. Once the stool was in place Oliver was off running back and forth from the door where his toys were placed to the shelves across the room at an excited speed.

"Alright flash take it easy I'll be downstairs getting dinner" Hank said to Oliver fondly before turning to the door.
"Okay! I'll be here" he replied distracted by the plane in his hands.

Hank chuckled to himself walking down the stairs and reheating the dinner he made earlier that day. It already felt so natural to him having the little guy around and it was only the start. Two seats, two place settings, two occupants of the house, it all felt right for once. No doubt it'd be work but Hank wasn't estranged to effort.

Now he was estranged to cooking and not grilling but he'd figure it out. He did when Camille died.

Well, he tried, maybe not succeeded. But doubt wasn't something in his vocabulary. He'd do it one way or another.
He set their drinks down and walked up the stairs to where Oliver was just finishing up organizing his toys to his preference.

"You ready to eat?" Hank smiled getting Oliver's attention from the doorway. Oliver smiled and nodded pushing himself up to his feet quietly but contently.

It was different from the loud and excited reactions he had received earlier but it could just be exhaustion. Their dinner was quiet, nearly silent with Oliver eating his food wearily, keeping his glance flickering from his plate to Hank then back again.

It was a sudden and peculier behavioral change that wouldn't have been noticed by others.

Hank was going to ask as he cleaned the dishes when they were done so Oliver could have more breathing room and not feel cornered when asked of this possible trauma

. So after Hank put his dishes on the sink he walked over to Oliver's empty plate. Hank's instincts told him not to but it was already to late. Oliver had jabbed Hank's hand with the bottom of his fork.

Hank reeled back with a sharp grunt and held his bleeding and stinging hand to see if what he just felt was actually there which it was. He didn't feel as angry as he was confused.

He looked up at Oliver who was pale white in terror and despair. His body was was frozen solid and rigid in Hank's sight. It didn't even seem that he was breathing. Hank wiped the blood off his hand and grabbed a bandaid quickly from the cabinet before approaching Oliver carefully and unfazed.

"Oliver? You can put the fork down, you're not in danger I'm not going to hurt you" he said quietly as his hand met Oliver's stone cold grip.

"Just let the fork go."

Oliver didn't move. Hank slipped his fingers under Oliver's thumb slowly and gained the leverage he needed to overpower his grip and release the fork from his hand which Hank pushed onto the floor and slid under the table with his foot.

As Hank observed he made his hand take the space between Oliver's fingers where the fork was and held him still.

"There ya go that's it. Let's just talk. Can we do that?" he said in a gentle whisper. Oliver's eyes were glossed over and petrified, They were locking in focus but yet so lost.

"Oliver... Oliver!" he said louder to try and get his eyes to just shift over to his. Just a little shift was all he needed and his first sign of luck was a single blink, followed by another and another until his eyes twitched back to reality.

His lungs forced in a jolt of air in, shocking him back to life. He let out a loud yelp and tried to rip his hands off the table but Hank's grip was too strong.

"Let me go! Let me go! Let me go! Please, please, don't, don't..don't....don't" he panted.

"Shhh it's okay it's okay. You're not gonna get hit, I just want to know why you're scared so I can help" Hank said honestly Oliver continued to struggle and panic for a few moments but when Hank's grip proved solid he settled back in his seat and grew tired of resisting.

He curled his head into his chest, his hair covering his eyes as he whimpered, "I don't want to die!"

"Why do you think you were going to die?" Hank asked softly softening his grip on his arms.

Oliver couldn't choke out an answer because he was still lost. But in the silence Hank was able to put his own answers together.
"

They never fed you. But they fed themselves and those scary people right? Hank tried his first thought.

Oliver nodded and sucked in a few breaths before answering, "I...I just wanted a little *ghasp* bu..bu..but *gulp* they'd get mad. I was just hungry! *ghasp* my belly hurt and *ghasp* and, and" Hank moved from his seat tjo Oliver's side as he visibly got more and more upset.

"Easy it's okay, you're okay. How about this? If you're still hungry I'll get you some more then you put your dishes in the sink when you're done so you'll get all the food you'll need. Does that sound good?" Oliver kept choking on his words so he just nodded in response.

But he was still terrified, Hank could tell. He'd seen enough fear in his life but this was somehow different. Hank shifted to his knees and slowly wrapped his right arm around Oliver to see if he could pull him into a hug and to his surprise Oliver lowered himself shakily to the floor from his chair and folded into him out of fear and exhaustion. Hank wrapped his arms around the boy's fragile shoulder and patiently waited until he could breathe again. Hank then pushed Oliver back slowly until their eyes me,

"It's been a long day little man, why don't we get you to bed for now and in the morning I'll make a big breakfast in the mornin' how does that sound?" Oliver nodded and held on as Hank picked them both up and walked up the stairs to his room where it was clean and warm.

Hank set Oliver on the bed and took out the first pair of pj's her could grab which had planes all over them. Oliver changed and threw his clothes on the floor opting to not get up tonight which Hank would allow this one time.

Oliver snuggled into his blankets and clutched onto his stuffed dinosaur Bronn trying not to make a sound. Hank sat on the side edge of the bed blocking the light from the halfway and Oliver's glossy eyes which slowly wandered and swirled inside of his head. His movements were stiff and sore as he shifted himself in bed, turning away from Hank.

Hank pulled up the sheets to his cold and clammy chin then walked over to the side Oliver's eyes were facing, slowly setting himself down to the floor as to not spook him. Even in the dark room gently lit by the planes above Oliver could still see Hank and in fear of him and himself he pushed away. Hank put his hands up on the side of the bed where he could see them and spoke,

"Oliver..I just want you to listen. I'm not mad at you. You did what you did because you were scared and hurt. I understand that. I also understand that you did what you did to survive and eat and that's none of your fault. Okay? None of this was your fault." He slowly extended his hand on the bed with his palm facing up towards the quivering Oliver.

"I'm here to help you Ollie, not hurt you." Hank's voice was such a gentle whisper that the rasp disappeared from his voice almost completely and left only a wisp that drifted between him and Oliver.

With the light from the hall casted on Hank's face Oliver could see every inch of his expression which seemed soft and quiet. Not loud and painful like before. The little hope in his eyes kicked in his little chest causing his hand to inch into Hank's.

His fingers curled up and around his causing them to disappear into the warmth that was his worn old hand. But it still had it's soft spots and Oliver was able to find each one which melted the fear from his body slowly. Oliver pulled Hank's hand to his chest and rested the bridge of his nose on his knuckles then closed his eyes for a moment, breathing in and out normal again.

Then his eyes shifted and focused on Hank's, "Mr.Hank? Umm." His face faltered away in sheepishness.

Hank tilted his head waiting for his response patiently,
"Umm, emily rubbed my back to help me sleep. Could..you?". Hank's smile grew across his face and he answered,

"I could do that, it may not be the best but I can do that." Hank shifted to his side and reached right hand around to his back. Just from the first slow, wide circles up to his shoulders and all the way down his back Oliver melted into a peaceful slumber in minutes.

When his stirring stopped Hank took that as his sign that he could leave Oliver to peacefully sleep while he went downstairs and took a look at the pictures and videos Emily had given him. Once downstairs he poured himself a drink and slipped the first disk in with the album open next to him. But once the TV flickered and it began Hank couldn't just watch the first one.

Chapter Text

"Pappa?...they're your friends right?," Oliver asked holding Hank's hand a little tighter as they stood waiting outside for the door in front of them to be opened. Hank looked down at Oliver and nodded squeezing his hand, "yes for a long time. You have nothin' to worry about. Promise." Oliver nodded but still visibly not remaining entirely convinced. Hank smiled, trying to give him some reassurance right as a shadow blocked the light behind it. The nob twitched and the door opened to a small woman with straight, silvery hair. Oliver flinched back and ducked behind Hank as the woman greeted him, " Hank right on time!" Her smile was small but evident as they briefly hugged and Hank replied, "of course, wouldn't miss it."

"Well get on in here boys Randall's almost finished cooking" the woman said invitingly as she stood aside and held the door open for them to enter in. When they entered Oliver recognized that this house looked similar to his house, cozy, well put together, and friendly. But even the smell of food cooking couldn't keep that warm feeling from fleeing from him once the womans hand drifted closer to his coat. Oliver ripped it from her and backed right into the door backwards to get away from her in fear.

"Woah, woah, I'm sorry Oliver I didn't mean to scare you. I just wanted to help." Her voice was soft and sincere. But his heart was running rampant and out of his control. It was already to late. Hank stepped to Oliver and put an arm around him letting Oliver cling to his leg. Hank spoke reassuringly to him, "It's okay Ollie. That's my friend Trudy. We've caught a lot of bad guys for a long time."

Trudy nodded, "that's right. You can trust me." Oliver still clung to Hank's leg and looked between the two hesitatingly holding out his coat but grabbing it at the last second scared he wouldn't get it back. He whimpered bracing for the retaliation of his actions but it didn't come. Instead it was Trudy who interrupted Hank mid sentence, "it's okay Oliver. How about I show you to your seat at the table and we can hang it on the back of your chair. Would that be better?" Oliver nodded his head and Trudy got up and walked them into a small dining room that was already neatly set with nice plates, dishes and cups. Trudy walked over to two chairs and pulled one out with extra cushions on top for Oliver and helped him up to the table. She pushed his plate and silverware closer to his hands and took his cup to fill it up with water. "What can I get ya Hank?" she asked. "Just water for me tonight please" he smiled. "No problem, and I'll see where Randall is with the food" Trudy replied, leaving the two of them in the dining room alone. With the room vacant and quiet Hank took the opportunity to try and settle Oliver in his chair and ease his building anxiety. He moved closer to Oliver, putting his arm around his chair and speaking in an indoor tone, "Did you know that Randall drives and works on a big fire truck?" Hank smiled. Oliver's eyes and ears perked up.

"Fire truck?" he asked. Hank nodded and replied,

"Oh yeah he does! Maybe if we ask we could see some pictures." Oliver nodded, still unsure of these new people and everything around him. Hank moved his hand from the chair to Oliver's shoulders and held him still in his seat.

"You're doin good" he encouraged him before taking his hand away and turning forward in his seat. Just then Trudy came in with two waters and another person in toe behind her. She set the drinks down in front of them and went over to her seat on the other side of the table as the man approached Hank with his hand extended and a friendly smile on his face.

"Nice to see you again Sarge, especially under better circumstances."

Hank shook his hand with a smile, "please, Hank, we're off the clock and it's nice to see you too Randall" Hank said sitting back down.

"And who do we have here?" he asked taking a step to the right to see Oliver huddled in his chair. He walked over slowly and crouched a couple feet away from Oliver to not spook him.

"My name's Randy. But my friends call me Mouch" he smiled.

"Mmss?" Oliver whispered through his legs that were curled into his chest.

"What was that bud?" Randy asked not hearing him clearly.

"Mouse?" he spoke a little louder lifting his head from behind his knees. Randall chuckled and stopped anyone from correcting Oliver, "it can be mouse to you kid, if you can be champ to me?" Oliver tilted his head slightly, meeting Randall's warn but soft, brown eyes "champ?"

"Yeah champ!" Randall smiled. "Because that's what you are kid and I won't let you forget" he winked and stood back to his feet.

"Well I ought to get our food. Don't want it cold" he said before slipping into the kitchen to bring out dishes. After a few more trips of plates of foods and other things for the table they all sat down and began to eat. But as they did Hank saw the panic rising in Oliver. His body got tense, his face was wet and pale. His eyes vigorously twitched between the food and Trudy and Randall across the table.

"Oliver, Oliver look at me" Hank gently grabbed his shoulder to redirect Oliver's attention before he snapped.

"Look at me" he said guiding his small chin with his other hand.

"Just like at home. You'll get your food then if you're still hungry we have seconds then we wait so you don't get sick again. And when we're done we'll bring our dishes to the sink" Hank spoke softly as he stared into Oliver's twitching eyes. Oliver blinked a few times before nodding and sitting back in his seat. But he visibly didn't relax the rest of the meal in which Hank did the talking for him, only whispering to Hank asking where the sink was.

After some stories and conversation Trudy asked to speak with Hank for a minuet in another room but this was only heightened Oliver's state causing him to desperately cling to Hank and start to panic once more.

"Hey hey, how about this? Why don't we all go to the livingroom and get comfy. Trudy and your dad can talk and I can show you some cool pictures of the fire truck I work on" Randy said quickly fixing the situation and subduing his panic. Oliver slowed down and took a breath as he released Hank's leg and fallowed the group over to this living room and pulled himself onto the couch while Hank and Trudy spoke in the corner of the room. Concern laced her face as she spoke quietly to Hank,

"Hank I think you need to call that Dr.Charles over at med." Hank's face twisted in confusion.
"For Oliver" she clarified. "I've seen kids over the years go through things and a good group of them made it alright, but this guy I'm not sure. Not to mention he doesn't have a support system. Don't get me wrong now he has you which has really given him a chance but he needs more." Hank sighed and nodded looking at Trudy acknowledging she was right.

"Just let your unit know, maybe establish some connections that way and we'll be here too. And I've got to say he's got a way of growing on you ina hurry" she said looking over at the couch fondly, watching Oliver lean over Randy's shoulder who was sitting on the floor below him and watched the pictures.

Hank's lips pulled into a grin "yeah he does. I'll call Dr.Charles and see what he can do." Truddy nodded looking back at Oliver,

"And what if he can't?"

Voight looked and respond "then we'll figure something out."

Chapter Text

Hank opened the door slipping into the lobby of Chicago Med without a stir or glance. The precise opposite way of how he commonly rolled in. With a flash of his badge he could get just about anywhere he wanted. But there was only one thing he came for today.

"Excuse me I'm here to see Dr. Charles at three" Hank said to the woman at the front desk.

"Okay and what's your name sir?" she asked brightly with her hands on the keyboard of her computer.

"Hank Voight" he replied. Immediately the woman's eyes widened and her hands fumbled for the phone.

"I'll page him right now sir and I'm very sorry it may take a couple minuets" she replied as her eyes darted from the numbers to Hank. He gave a soft expression as he replied,

"no problem." He walked a few feet to an empty wall to his left and leaned back to wait. His eyes methodically scanned the room left, up, right, down, and back again. A. constant 360 at all times. It was just natural for him. But he soon came to realize he would have to show Oliver that the world wasn't constantly chaotic, dark and unpredictable all the time. Last time Hank had Camille for that and all he had to do was protect them. He rubbed his forehead gaining his control again and focusing on his surroundings again. That is until a friendly familiar voice to his right turned his attention.

"Hank! It's good to see you, glad we could make this work" Dr.Charles smiled shaking hands.

"As am I. I'm real grateful you're taking this up" Hank smiled.

"Of course! Why would I not?" Dr.Charles replied.

"Eh, well, I'm not sure how payments are going to go but I'm sure we'll discuss it" Hank said as they began walking. But Dr.Charles stopped and put his hand up shaking his head and replied,

"Hank my services are free to you as yours is to us." For once in a very blue moon Hank was left speechless at Dr. Charles's generosity. For once in a very blue moon Hank was left speechless and at the generosity of another no rather. He tilted his head in a grateful confusion and tried to respond but nothing came. Dr. Charles found this quite amusing, letting out a chuckle and smile as he raised his hand,

"Don't worry about it Hank I'm serious. As for today I talked to Melinda earlier so I can take all the time we need today before I meet the little guy tomorrow." Hank smiled as they walked to the elevators.

"Sounds great Dr. Charles, thank you again for this" Hank said stepping in.

"Of course" Dr. Charles smiled. "Now I know earlier earlier this week we talked about Oliver and his past three homes, how you met him, what he was like etc. But today I really want to go into all the details so we can start the healing process as quick as possible. It sounds like he's been through enough already" he explained. Their words and footsteps echoed in the quiet halls of the offices above the hospital which was where his office was located. When Hank walked inside it was only lit gently by the sun coming in through the windows making the space quiet and calm. Just as Hank hoped and figured it would. The two sat down across from each other and began to talk and question which began with Dr. Charles.

"So after our call I went through his whole medical file here" he said flipping through it on his desk, "and I noticed the severe loss of weight and hight that was recorded and I can already tell you now in addition to PTSD his brain is stuck in a fight or flight stage which is not only is a bi-product of the PTSD but also it's making it a lot worse." Hank nodded in response to Dr. Charles showing that he was fallowing.

"But also in looking at his files on his behavioral therapy from the ages of four to five, the same time we he was switched to his second home and these notes really lead me to believe that just the abrupt change in and of itself was enough to stunt his development and induce PTSD" he explained. "As much as we can't do anything about the stages he's missed we can make his life immeasurably better with a little more information. So tell me Hank just in this week how has he acted when it comes to meal times? What do you notice?"

Hank nodded acknowledging the questions then replied. "Breakfast, I can't get him to eat anything. He's terrified to come down stairs and eat something. Lunch, the teacher can't ever get him to sit down without running and once they do get him to Sid down he gets aggressive when they go to take his tray away even though it's empty. Dinner is worse I can barely get him downstairs to eat and when he does scarfs food down like he'll never eat again then throws it all up an hour later and when he's done with his plate and I go to grab it he gets aggressive. There was an incident he jabbed me with the back of a fork then he broke down terrified" Hank replied. Dr. Charles nodded then asked another question of Hank.

"Let me guess he also complains of headaches and stomach pain too right?" Hank nodded and replied,

"he does pretty frequently. Not when he's home but at school or at night."

"He gets frequent nightmares too?" Dr. Charles asked.

"Yeah I can barely get him to sleep through the night in his own bed" Hank replied. Dr. Charles nodded and wrote on the pad in front of him.

"He talked about bad guys coming to get him or kill him. He hears them screaming, yelling and banging at his door. The floor is sticky and red , lots of things" Hank sighed. Dr. Charles wrote all this down without a word, noting to himself to talk to Oliver about it on a later date.

"So we have weight loss, malnutrition, and lack of sleep all in addition to and affecting the PTSD. Am I missing anything?" Dr. Charles asked Hank. Hank replied,

"separation anxiety too. It's difficult to to get him to go with his class in the morning or if I go to the bathroom while watchin' TV he gets scared. He can't talk to anyone, he just ends up hiding behind and clinging to me." Dr. Charles wen back to writing on his notepad before grabbing a smaller one.

"Okay so here's what we're going to do " he announced. "As much as I don't like giving young kids medication we're going to give Oliver half a tablet of some sleeping medication he can take with pudding or applesauce at night to help him sleep. As for meal times I want him drinking at least three cans of a nutritional drink a day called Pediasure. It's a drink for kids his age who fail to thrive, it'll give him twice the amount, even more, of the calories he needs and isn't getting. In the morning have him only drink this and eat some gummy vitamins for now. We can increase to food when he gets better. But make it something fun and relaxing in the morning, something to look forward to whether you watch TV together in the morning or a game or something he enjoys. That way you'll have more bonding time and it'll give him a better association with breakfast. As for lunch try to pack him one that way when he goes to eat he has control of the intake, containment, and when he goes to put it away. I also for now I want him in a more quiet room with less kids so he's not so threatened by their grabby hands, and I want him drinking a can of pediasure with lunch as well. Now as for dinner have him involved in making the food he's going to eat, make it fun for the both of you. Also buy the plates with the three dividers with whatever he likes on them, same with the bowls and cups. I want to get him out of this survival mode his brain is stuck in because if we don't we can never start improving his mental state" Dr.Charles finished.

"This all sounds good to me, thank you Dr. Charles" Hank said taking the prescription slip felling better that they now had a game plan. But it still looked like Dr. Charles had something else to say. After a moment he did indeed speak,

"Hank can I now ask you a question?"

Hank nodded "of course."

"Well I just want to make sure you know what you're getting yourself into. He's going to need time from you and a lot of it. This means you'd have to cut your work hours down immensely. That means you can't be running out in the middle of the night, you'll need to have weekends off at least and holidays. This will require a lot of consistence, patience and compassion which you can't give him if you're not there and I really don't believe Oliver will be able to recover from another move or family" Dr. Charles said honestly with concern in his voice. Hank nodded honestly expecting this from more than just Dr. Charles so he wasn't phased.

"I am aware and the proper steps are being taken, rest assured" he replied. Dr.Charles nodded with lingering concern hiding in his eyes.

"One more question if you don't mind" he asked. "What does he like to play with?" To his surprise Hank's stoic face cracked just enough to see the curl in his lips.

"Planes, trucks, cars, dinosaurs and a new one. Puzzles."

Dr.Charles smiled and replied, "thank you Hank. I think that'll be all until tomorrow. Thank you for coming, I'm looking forward to meeting him soon." Hank held out his hand to Dr.Charles,

"and thank you for seeing him, we'll talk soon."

The Next Evening........

"A doctor? Is something wrong with me papa?" Oliver asked shyly as he held Hank's hand with both of his, peeking around him as they walked through the lobby of the hospital. The two approached the desk and signed in keeping their voices down as there were few people now still remaining, which was perfect for Oliver. Quiet and lots of space made this new place and people less threatening. Hank lead Oliver to the sitting area and tapped on his lap, telling Oliver to come and sit. Once he crawled up and sat down Hank looked at him and responded,

"there's nothing wrong with you. You just need some help is all. Ya see I was able to stop the bad guys from hurting you again and now this doctor is going to help you feel better. Stop all the scary dreams, the belly aches, headaches, and when you get really dizzy and fall. Or when you get scared and see the bad guys again even though they're already gone."Oliver's eyes shrunk and he laid his head on Hank's shoulder starting to shiver and shake. "You're okay, this doctor will help you. Just talk to him like you do me okay?" Oliver nodded in response picking his head back up and relaxing a bit in his lap. That is until a large man came walking towards them. Hank lifted Oliver to his feet and greeted the man with a slight smile and nod before looking too Oliver and gently leading him forward introducing him to the man.

"Ollie this is Dr. Charles. This is the doctor who will help you feel better." Oliver nervously backed up until he was standing directly on Hank's feet.

"It's okay why don't you guys fallow me and get settled?" Dr.Charles asked. His voice was calm and not intrusive at all. His very presence didn't feel nearly as large as he stood. The two fallowed him to his office which was clean, welcoming, and ambient thanks to the windows. In addition to this there were colorful paintings around the walls and a little sitting area with a few chairs and a couch which Dr. Charles motioned for Oliver to make himself comfortable at. But Oliver just opted to sitting on the floor across from the couch. Not before becoming very nervous and uneasy when Hank went to the other side of the room for them to have their space.

"Hi Oliver, it's nice to meet you finally. I'm Dr.Charles like your dad said earlier" Dr.Charles said turning Oliver's attention away from Hank. His little hands shook and his eyes darted around as he tried to keep his focus which was proving difficult the more he tried. So that just meant Dr. Charles had to play this a different way. So from the couch he bent over to reach underneath the coffee table and pulled out a puzzle on a tray which he set down on the table.

"You know Oliver I know you and your dad came here for my help but in all seriousness I need yours! Because I hear that you are quite the puzzle master" he quietly exclaimed. Oliver looked from the puzzle then up to Dr. Charles and reached his hands out to pull it closer to his side of the table. Once he had it Dr. Charles watched as Oliver's mood and disposition melted slowly and his shaky and frail hands started to move in time with his eyes back and forth from the box to the table. Quickly the puzzle already began to take its shape and color.

"Wow I must say Oliver I'm really impressed, you're really good at puzzles!" he smiled. "Now if I could ask Oliver, how do you feel with your dad? Does your help hurt more or your head?" Oliver didn't take his eyes off his puzzle but he still responded,

"No. Papa makes it go away. Sometimes he gives me medicine to make it better or it just goes away when I see him and I'm home."

"Home with your dad?" Dr. Charles asked.

"Mhhmm" Oliver nodded. Dr. Charles smiled and asked another question,

"Can you tell me what you like about your dad?" Oliver paused and fiddled with the piece of the puzzle he had in his hands as he thought.

"Umm, he's nice. He lets me have food, he doesn't yell at me or hit me. Oh and he made a room for me, it's got all of my favorite things. He also hugs me when I'm scared and gets rid of the bad guys."

"Sounds like he's pretty awesome" Dr. Charles said seeing the tiny crack of a smile on Oliver's face.

"Now about the bad guys. Is it the people you were in the house with? Or when you see them in your bad dreams?" Dr. Charles asked. Oliver didn't respond. His hands grew slow in moving and putting the pieces together until he dropped the pice he had in his hand. His eyes fixated on the far end of the coffee table. His left eye began to twitch and so did his head slightly. Dr. Charles looked at Hank with confusion and concern as he tried to get Oliver's attention back.

"Oliver? Oliver can you hear me? What's going on? Can you tell me?" He clearly wasn't seizing because the rest of his body was fine and he was whimpering which was a sign that he was breathing. Dr. Charles got onto his knees and leaned over the coffee table reaching carefully for his chin. But immediately Oliver screamed and seated at him, flying backwards into Hank who had moved in close at the right time. All Dr. Charles could do was draw the curtains slightly and observe what was happening since moving him from Hank would make things exponentially worse. Hank wrapped and squeezed him tight tucking Oliver's head into his shoulder.

"Easy, easy Ollie you're okay. Tell me what's happening, what do you see?" Hank asked while rubbing his back with a little force to try and get him to relax and come back to himself.

"T..th..the bad gut *gasp* was gonna *gasp* *hic* was hur..hur..hurting my *gasp* head. *cough* *gasp*." He was too worked up and in hysterics to continue talking and his eyes seemed to keep twitching and closing on their own. He didn't try to hug Hank or respond to his touch, as if he didn't know he was being held and didn't know where his body was. Yet he knew he was safe enough to not fight back. Dr. Charles came around behind Hank and spoke lowly as he sat,

"Hank do you have your badge?" Hank nodded.

"Okay perfect. Give it to Oliver to hold and when you give it to him ask what you just gave to him" Dr.Charles advised. Hank did as he was told and asked Oliver what he just gave him once the badge was in his shaking hands.

"B..badge" he replied trying to catch his breath.

"Yeah that's right, what shape is it?" Hank asked with a nod from Dr. Charles.

"A..a star and circle" he said tracing the star and leather around it. His breathing was still sharp and uncontrolled and his body was still ridged and frozen.

"Hey Oliver? Do you know where you are right now" Dr. Charles asked but only getting a spacey look in return.

"Okay do you know who's holding you?" Oliver rested his head finally on Hank's shoulder responding softly,

"Pa..pa." His little hand reached up and began to trace the lines on Hank's neck and shoulder as Dr. Charles explained to Hank what had happened.

"Me moving towards him seems to have triggered an especially traumatizing memory causing his brain to go into a dissociative state to protect itself. He doesn't know where his body is or the difference between what's real and what's a memory causing more fear and anxiety." He sighed and shook his head. "I don't want to put someone as young as Oliver on anxiety medication but if these episodes become more frequent we'll have no choice." Hank nodded in response not liking this conclusion either but understanding.

"If he improves and the number of episodes decrease over a month or two we can hold off on it for now. But in the meantime I want him gaining weight and sleeping with the strategies we talked about yesterday. I also want you to keep his social circle as small as possible as to not add additional stress and anxiety" he explained. But after he did he noticed something about Oliver's focus. His eyes weren't focused on his face at all, but his body and his hands. When Dr. Charles went to move his hands he became afraid again. As Oliver steadily progressed Dr. Charles just watched where his eyes payed the most attention too until he was able to be let go of and stood back on his feet. He was now very quiet and withdrawn but not terrified. He stuck close to Hank but still seemed curious in the puzzle on the table. So Dr. Charles let him go back to it as it seemed to ground him more.

"Excuse me Oliver, I want to get something for you" Dr. Charles said calmly and pleased that he hadn't raced back to Hank who was clearly his safe place and anchor meaning he still had a chance here. He went over to his desk and took out an ambulance toy matchbox car, slowly approaching Oliver, letting him see him switch the car back and forth between both his hands. He then bent over and held his palm open giving Oliver the car.

"I wanted to give this to you before you left to add to your collection. I'm sorry for startling and scaring you like I did. I only want to help. Could you forgive me?" Dr. Charles asked him.Oliver looked at the car then right up into Dr. Charles's eyes as he slowly reached out and took the car from him cautiously to the pleasant surprise of Hank and Dr. Charles as well. But what came next would look silent but yelled so loud to Dr. Charles. Oliver looked up and held contact with his eyes and nodded, responding to his question he had asked. For a moment with the sun across his face from the windows across the room the fear seemed to fade for a moment and let the small crack of a smile show.

"There may be hope for this one yet" he thought.

"Thank you Oliver, I promise more fun things next week okay?" Dr. Charles smiled.

"Okay, bye bye" Oliver replied walking back to Hank. After saying goodbye and setting up. his next appointment they left to go home. Or at least that's what Dr. Charles figured.

"So you remember the police station right?" Hank asked starting up the car. Oliver nodded looking up from the ambulance car in his hand.

"Well I'm not done working yet so we're going to go there for a little bit then go home and have dinner okay?" he asked looking into the rearview mirror. Oliver nodded asking,

"can I still play with my car the doctor gave me?"

"After your homework" Hank said with slightly raised brows and a smile. Oliver let his toothy smile show as his eyes squinted into laughter which pulled at Hank's cheeks. He unbuckled his seatbelt to turn and face Oliver as he spoke.

"Now these people you're going to meet are good people. They also catch bad guys and they are your family as much as you have made me. They'll protect you no matter when you trust them. You have nothing to be afraid of them. Okay?"

Oliver nodded with a little hesitancy but if Hank trusted them then maybe he could. As the car moved forward the word 'family' coated his ears. It felt as nice as it sounded, and it was about to become a lot bigger.

Chapter Text

This hall was a lot less scary in the light and when he wasn't scared. Oliver didn't remember much of what he'd seen that night all except Hank's face and flashing lights. But he did remember what it sounded like. It was the echo of boots below him on this same exact floor they were walking on now through the back entrance of the station. But the difference now was the pitter-patter of his own feet alongside the billowing boot steps that made Hank's presence known and his own hidden and nearly nonexistent.

"You remember this hall?" Hank asked, glancing over his shoulder as they walked on.

"Yeah, I do. But I only remember making my wish in here" Oliver replied with a shadow of a smile on his lips. Hank looked at him with a quirked brow, "wish?"

Oliver nodded, "uhuh."

"Well what's the wish?:" Hank asked curiously.

"I can't tell you cause if I told you it'd never come true" he replied, his smile growing ever more present on his face.

"Huh," Hank smiled, "well tell me when it comes true."

"Okay, I will! I just wanna make sure" Oliver whispered the last part to himself which was drowned out by a quick blast of the noise of officers bustling back and forth but he was only exposed to the commotion for a moment before reaching a set of stairs with a locked door at the top. Hank went up first to tap the code into the door before opening it for Oliver to come up and through to the infamous black sight, the bullpen of intelligence. Inside it wasn't as chaotic and riveting as it was pictured at this time since there was only one guy at a desk and a girl on the computer in the corner. The girl seemed to involved in her work to see them come through but the guy who was sitting closest to the office did.

Jay momentarily glanced up at Hank as he walked through and went back to his work. But a flash of red down by Hank's side caught his attention causing him to glance back up again. Once he did his eyes were met with a blank space but not his ears. He angled his vision to the windows of Hank's office and heard just one word. A name actually, it was Oliver. Oliver, Oliver, where did he know that name from? He tried to covertly position himself to get a better look without being seen but no matter what position he took he didn't have any luck getting sight looking on him. After nearly being caught shifting and spying in his seat by Hank he gave up and dropped his eyes back to work. He shook off the curiosity trying to blind him by shaking his head and letting out a sigh. Maybe it was simply the police in him heightening this curiosity to know but he knew it was still none of his business. So why couldn't he mind it? That one flash of red itched and scratched in his memory taking his focus away from his work. But he forced himself on as Antonio would be back soon from a meeting with his CI soon and Voight would like the information upon the whiteboard sooner or later so he had to push through.

Jay ended up getting his work done fairly quickly, printing pictures, copying information up on the board and writing connections and evidence they had for their case. But before he could take a step to turn around his curiosity came back and bit him like a bad habit. He was so close to the window he could get a glace of the kid to see if he was the one Jay was secretly hoping it was. He stood at the far left of the board acting like he was looking through his work but really he was using his peripheral vision in order to make sure Hank's back was turned before he looked and to his luck, Hank was on his computer giving Jay the perfect window. Jay leaned out from around the board and looked through the slits of the blinds on the windows and saw him. A little boy with small, frail stature, a small face, raging red curls and green eyes with freckles all over his little cheeks and nose. He was on the couch playing with something, that something which he couldn't see but as he watched him Jay's memory came to him and left him shocked. Oliver, the boy from two months prior. It couldn't be him. But it had too. Jay remembered that night he first met Oliver when he was brought in very clearly. Kim, Haily, and Adam were trying to talk to him but it wasn't working.

"Guys stop, he's clearly traumatized, you're not gonna get anything from him. Let me" he remembered insisting then getting some food from the fridge and a drink and going to the room Oliver was waiting in. When he walked in he was met with a heartbreaking sight. Oliver was curled up in the corner behind the table and chairs shaking, crying and choking for breath. He closed the door behind him and sat on the floor a few feet away after introducing himself. He tried to offer him food and water but he was so upset he refused to take it. Jay had remembered sitting there offering his hand to Oliver, but he just flinched away, looked up at Jay and curled up sadder than he was if that were possible. He wanted comfort. He wanted it so bad but he couldn't trust it he didn't know how to accept it either. Jay's face pulled down in a pained and sadden expression as he felt something inside him twist. He didn't know what to do. How could he comfort a kid who was terrified to simply be talked too never mind touched? But what if he didn't have to do either to help. He remembered reaching into his pocket to take out his cuffs and slid a tiny bit closer to Oliver.

"Hey, Oliver? How about this? I hold one and you hold the other" he softly asked him. Oliver looked over his shoulder at the dangling cuff Jay offered and to Jay's surprise Oliver took it and held on. His eyes drifted between the cuff and the floor actually beginning to calm down. Jay spoke calmly and honestly, telling the boy it would be okay and that he'd stay there to protect him and it really began to work! That is until Haily came in again to try and get answeres which sent Oliver back into his terrified state. Of course, she wasn't successful at all but Hank ended up being successful which Jay was there for. He was there watching from behind the glass listening to every horror and unjust thing the kid was subjected too. He watched him scream and hit his own head demanding the answer as to why no one wanted him and at that point Jay had shut the door so he was in by himself watching as tears fell from his eyes. He could have left but he didn't, he had made a promise to him which was to stay and protect him. It hurt him to watch Oliver go asking himself if the next time he'd see Oliver was under a tarp or in handcuffs. But he wasn't. He was only a sheet of glass away now. Jay was frozen in place for a couple seconds just watching him, confirming that this was real. When the realization hit movement in the office in caused him to snap to attention and acted like he was reviewing the information just in time for Voight to come behind him and look over the info himself. Jay kept his eyes to the floor as he stepped back to his desk and pretended to read as well. But it only had to be for a few moments as he returned to his office as quick as he came and returned to some files on his desk. Jay let out a breath and took his own leave to the break room to fill the growing pit in his stomach which had been empty since his short breakfast that morning which he couldn't even remember what he had. He gladly opened the fridge and went shelf by shelf searching through containers, empty cups and take out boxes until he reached into the farthest corner on the last shelf and struck gold. It was leftover pizza the district had ordered the other day so it was fairly fresh. He snatched it up and prepared to dig in until he saw a sticky note on the cover reading "DO NOT TOUCH. If pizza goes missing, you go missing-Ruzek." Jay huffed and rolled his eyes as he tossed it back in the fridge. There had to be something, anything in this thing that was edible. But the only thing he could come up with was some leftover Chinese. Jay opened the box to take a wif of it to make sure it wasn't rotten and expired. God knows he made that mistake once. Luckily it smelt fresh so Jay threw it in the microwave for a few minutes then sat back and enjoyed back at his desk in the bullpen that was currently silent which wasn't a way to commonly describe the bullpen. Jay continued to shovel mouthful after mouthful, nearly finishing off the plate until a tiny tap against the boot on his right foot caught his attention. He put the plate down on his desk with one last bite and looked down at his feet to find a small ambulance matchbox car that was shiny and clearly new. He hadn't even heard it rolling towards him. He looked up at the way the back end of the car was angled and saw Oliver clutching to the side of the doorway nervously sniffling and shifting clearly scared to cross the threshold of Hank's office but being equally scared about not having his toy. Jay held up one finger to his lips and rolled the car on the floor back to him and once Oliver could reach it he snatched into his grip. He very quickly rolled it and flipped it in his hands looking over and over the car almost compulsively until he was satisfied and calm again. Jau had expected Oliver to dissipate as fast as he appeared into Voight's office but instead, Oliver looked up at Jay's face seeming to recognize him and remember that night. Jay felt his lips pull into a smile and his cheeks bubble up which lured Oliver out even farther out from behind the wall he was hiding behind. Jay leaned to the right in his chair to see more of Oliver's face and gave him a wave hoping to receive one back. But Oliver stayed still, staring up at Jay with deep green eyes. As much as Oliver seemed to recognize Jay he still was scared and he didn't want to startle him more than he already was. Jay glanced quickly into Voight's office to make sure he was facing away from the windows and then gestured to Oliver to hold on one second as he dug into his desk. In the back of his bottom drawer, he pulled out a stress ball with white faded lettering on it and held it between two fingers to show Oliver before rolling it on the floor towards him. Oliver watched as it rolled to him and very softly touched the toe of his left shoe and looked at Jay with his head tilted in confusion causing his hair to all flop to one side. Jay motioned for him to roll it back to him so Oliver got on the floor with his knees pulled up to his chest and pushed the ball back from the wall he was sitting behind. Jay's smile grew wider and his expression became more childish. Jay pushed the ball back a little farther to the left so Oliver had to reach out farther, causing him to come out a little further from his corner which warrented an expression from Oliver that simply said "Why? Did you really have to do that?" Jay tried to hold in his laughter but a chuckle escaped his mouth as the ball came back to him. After a few times of doing this Oliver seemed to have had enought and got back at him by pulsing the ball to the far right sending it under Jay's desk. Jay quircked an eybrow at him and grinned noddeding as he reached back under the desk, his face saying "alright I see." Jay rolled the ball back with a little more force in response to the ball being sent under his desk causing Oliver to try to move faster to catch the ball but with no luck. It ended up rolling behind him and Oliver twisted back and forth in confusion until he found it behind him. He settled into the middle of the doorway which pleasently surprised Jay as he had finally been able to get Oliver closer to him and calmer. The shrowd of fear was melting away from his eyes and exposing the child playfulness that had been hidden. Oliver's lips curled around his teeth with is tounge sticking out of the side of his mouth as he pushed the ball as hard and fast as he could to Jay. Jay's reflexes snapped into action catching the balll with ease. But the change in speen made him grin exposing some of his own childness mischeif that luckily no one could see except Oliver. Jay tossed the ball between his hands, getting quicker and quicker making Oliver's head flip back and forth in intense focus. So intense that Oliver's body moved back and forth with the ball. But in one quick move Jay threw his hands behind his back, leaned forward and tossed the ball over his head sending Oliver's eyes into a spaze of confusion trying to find it in space. But he didn't find it until it nearly hit him in his head. Once he had the ball in his hands he put them behind his back and leaned forward just as Jay had done. But the first attempt ended up bouncing off the back of his head and the second attempt was even better. It ended up with the ball somehow landing perfectly on his head nestled among his many curls like an egg in a birds nest. Jay came so close to completley cracking and laughing loudly at this perfect confused scene. After he recovered Jay pointed to his own head to tell Oliver where the ball was and with a few head shakes Oliver freed the ball from his curles and onto the floor. Jay was still sniffling his laughter so he didn't realize that Oliver was just looking at him. He saw this from the corner of his eye and looked up to see something he didn't expect. A crack of a smile across Oliver's face. Time froze for a second, he couldn't look away from his smiling face it was magnatizing. He beleived that he had finally gotten through to him. Jay gave Oliver a warm smile which caused Oliver's to grow to. They enjoyed the moment until Oliver's eyes darted in fear to a sound behid him.

"Kill joy" Jay mutterted under his breath knowing who was behind him without even looking behind him. Antonio had come back from his meeting with his CI and already started talking details and information. He was then quickly fallowed by the rest of the crew that filled up the room quickly causing Oliver to split back into the office. The rest of the hour went realitivly quickly, Hank went through their game plan for the next day with the information the team had all gathered and that was it. But before dismissing he made his announcement about Oliver and how they'd all see a lot more of him in the upcoming time and with that they were all dismissed. On the way out they gave him smiles and waves but Oliver just cowered behind Hank, that is until Jay stood to leave and decided to give it one more shot. He gave a smile and a wave to Oliver to then be the only one to get a wave from Oliver. Their eyes met and froze one more time before, both acknowledging that there would be more to just this one moment and all the moments after.

Chapter Text

Hank finished off his morning coffee just as the sun-filled his kitchen through a window over the sink which cast his shadow onto the floor and wall across from him. He rinsed out the mug for extra measure and headed for the stairs as he looked at his watch which read 11:23. Pretty late in the day for Hank but Oliver needed the sleep and it was thanksgiving vacation so there was no harm done in sleeping in especially before the busy day ahead. Hank climbed the stairs and began drawing a bath before going to Oliver's room and walking in. When the door opened Hank scanned the floor for how much wasn't on Oliver's bed because the more things on the floor, the worse nights sleep he got and the harder the day that lied ahead. But from the angle, he was walking everything was in a large mass of tangled blankets on his bed which he somehow managed to get himself into, so much so, that even his bright red hair was hidden amongst it all. Hank approached the bed quietly and looked between layers of blankets to figure out which way he was facing but he couldn't tell so he just gently shook the mass to stir the one inside it. After a few shakes, small squeaks could be heard as the ball unraveled, revealing a sleepy sloth stretching his arms up from around his stuffed dinosaur. Oliver sat up and wiped his eyes as he wobbled on his bed trying to sit on his legs to be somewhat level with Hank to greet him albeit half asleep and his hair shooting out in every direction some even leaning over and tickling his nose. Hank chuckled and did his best to brush the wisps out of his face so he could see clearly but they still persisted on tickling his little nose with tiny red fingers. Oliver shook his head like a puppy and tried shoving the curls back until his hair finally stood and leaned back at an angle that would keep them out of his face as long as he kept his head up straight which was easy, considering Hank standing above him with a smile on his face.

"I guess I'm going to have fun trying to make all that nice and neat huh?" Hank asked.

"Huh? Oh, yeah, today's..Thanksgiving right?" he asked gloomily tilting his head back down in defeate and completely covering his face in a fluffy red curtain.

"Hey look at me," Hank said using his hand to lift his chin. "I know you're worried but remember what Dr. Charles said about your buddy bag. We'll put him in a different room and you can go to him whenever you feel scared and it's going to be the same as if we were eating at home. Just with a couple more people, that's it." Oliver's head got a little lighter on Hank's finger that was still holding his head up to ensure eye contact and focus. Oliver looked down from Hank's eyes as to replay the words in his head wishing he could change them. Oliver was about to be insnared by the prison that was his racing and damaged mind. That is until he looked back up at Hank on his own, holding his gaze like a mirror and lifting his head from his hand.

"Pappa? Can I help like I last night when we go?" he asked looking down at his feet as he grasped them and began to rock slightly. "With food and plates?"

Hank put a gentle hand on his head to stop his rocking and replied, "I'm sure we could work something out. But we have to get ready first so go on and get into the bath for me and wash up then let me know when you're done so we can try and do something about this" he motioned to the puff that was Oliver's bedhead.

Oliver's brow quirked up in an arch, "what do you mean thiiiiiiiiss? Thiiiiiiss is okay look at my horns!" He pointed to two strands of hair which were sticking out on thier own then continuing to headbut Hank in the stomach. Hank chuckled fondly as he gently pushed Oliver by one shoulder in which Oliver willingly fell backwards back onto his bed with a light "ooof."

"Alright little man lets get going we don't want to be late" Hank said turning to go to Oliver's closet door as he plucked a dinosaur towel from one of the hooks. Oliver sat up from his bed and shuffled across to the floor to Hank as he lead the way to the tub which just finished filling up by the time they enterted. Hank turned off the water and left Oliver to soak and wash up so Hank could then wash and tame Oliver's hair which would prove to be just as difficult as Hank remembered it to be. Even after washing de-tangling shampoo through every hair his curls still managed to intertwine like vines and get stuck in the brush, making things a little more difficult and longer of a process. Hank had given up halfway through trying to make it out of this dry his shirt was already collecting the droplets of water coming from Oliver's hair when it was brushed including the puddles of water around the top of the tub. After fighting with Oliver's hair he got dry and Hank helped him into his outfit for the day which was a maroon buttondown shirt, brown pants and black shoes shined to perfection. With a little finishing touch being a festive fall bowtie which somehow made him look a little bit older than he actually was. Hank got down on one knee to fold Oliver's collar back over the tie and straighten out his shirt before getting back up on both feet to walk to his own room to get ready himself but not before turning to the small shadow looming behind him.

"I'll only be a few minutes why don't you go downstairs and finish your drink before we go?" Hank asked standing in his doorway with two beady eyes stuck to his. It was obviously clear to Hank that the idea of being somewhere he wasn't didn't sit well with Oliver. His eyes darted feverishly from him to the floor, his brow wrinkled in fear and his feet seemed to freeze to the floor, only allowing the top half of his body to cruple in making himself smaller and smaller. Hank knew that it would take time for Oliver to recover but there wasn't anything to be afraid of. Except being late. He took in a breath stairing at Oliver debating what to do, to tell him to go and shut the door or something else. But it then clicked into his mind, if he walked Oliver down to the kitchen it was almost like clearing the room of a building before the team entered in behind him, he'd show Oliver he was safe and maybe even eventually teach him to do the same to combat his fears. His expression softened as he took Oliver's hand gently to guide him to the stairs and begin walking down.

"Let's go downstairs and I'll show you there's no reason to be afraid" Hank said looking back up at Oliver as they walked down. Once they had reached the bottom Oliver's hand latched on Hank's as he turned the nob of the front door stiffly back and forth,

"See? The door's locked, no one can get in unless you let them and we don't answer the door for strangers." Oliver had nodded in response but it seemed there were still thoughts violently swarming around his mind so Hank guided him to the kitchen where he showed Oliver that the back door was locked, windows were locked and he could see through them to see what was outside of which was only sunshine, frost and a few birds. After the room was clear Hank helped Oliver up into his chair to turn his attention to something else to distract him from his anxiety so it wouldn't keep eating him up in which Dr. Charles also suggested giving him something concrete to do to occupy his mind in a different more positive way. So once Oliver was situated and sipping his breakfast drink Hank reached into a cubbord to pull out a puzzle from the bottom shelf which hadn't been opened yet.

"Thought maybe you needed some harder ones considering how fast you finished the others" Hank said opeing the box and slowly dumping out the peices on the table. Oliver's eyes lightened in surprise and some of the fear melted from his cheeks allowing for his expression to relax and shift to a content curiosity. His fingers reached out for the peices and flipped them over with one peice in each hand.

"Don't forget your drink" Hank said aloud already in the doorway of the kitchen with one foot in the middle and one foot outside in the hallway. Oliver took a sip still stairing at the puzzle in front of him allowing Hank to sneak off to his room and get ready himself without concern. By the time he was ready and came downstairs Oliver's glass was empty beside him and the pieces on the table were seperated into small piles above the area of pieces already put together. The moment Hank's feet touched the stairs Oliver had been frozen in hesitation waiting for the footsteps to come closer in which he relaxed once he realized it was only Hank who was already slining his coat over his shoulders.

"Ready to go Ollie?" Oliver nodded sliding down from his chair with a stumble and over to the coat rack where his coat was and wiggled into it as Hank told him too. After zippering it up to his chin he grabbed his furry dino bag and slung it over his shoulders and looked to Hank to start leading the way out the door and to the car. Once buckled in the car it didn't take that long of a time to drive over to Trudy's house which had two cars parked side by side in the driveway and steam coming from a window on the right side of the house which Oliver could smell from the sidewalk. They walked up the familiar steps to the door where Trudy answered the door with her hair tucked behind her ears and some sweat on her brow. Her hands seemed damp from and red from scrubbing as well as her nose that still seemed to have some reminents of something white and creamy.

"Hey, guys! On-time as usual! Come on in Randall's in the kitchen but you two are free to make yourself at home, the game is on and there's snacks on the side tables." She lead them in where Oliver fallowed the same ritual he had been for the past couple months or so which was hanging his coat right next to Hanks then doing the same with his shoes and fallowing Trudy to a quiet spare bedroom upstairs where he could put his backpack and get to it whenever he needed it. As he fallowed her down the stairs his nerves bubbled over, letting what was on his mind flow freely from his mouth quickly,

"Can I help? Please?" He fiddled with the hemming of his sleeves which were tucked to his chest in defensive apprehention and looked off to the right away from Trudy fearing the voice in his head would be right. But based on the response he received it was wrong,

"Of course! I won't say no to some extra hands especially when you're cooking for a pack of hungry dinos." He wasn't sure where this came from but he gave a very small smile and chortle in response to Trudy, fallowing her into the kitchen where Mouch stood over the stove slaving away at four pots popping and boiling with different foods and incrediants, those of which were also strewn about the counters and dirty dishes piling in the sink.

"Hey babe where's that old shirt you had on the couch from earlier? I bring backup" Trudy said searching around the kitchen that was full of different platters of food and dessserts. Mouch turned around quickly at Trudy then doing a double take before responding,

"Hey there champ you're here! I think you put it in the bathroom hun." Trudy nodded and turned to the halway and Mouch took another look over the stove before turning his head back to Oliver. Something about Mouch's aged face and bright eyes drew Oliver to him and didn't make him as scared or nervous.

"Hi Mouse," he said smiling a little more now and swaying side to side on his feet. "Can I help?" The smell that filled the kitchen actually made his stomach grumble and his chest warm versus making him feel sick and ridged. It drew him closer to Mouch's side, almost touching his elbow to see what was on the stove. He still held one foot behind him in apprehension to back away just in case but this was the closest he'd ever come to someone new. Mouch nearly froze as if he had seen a deer trying eat from his pots, he didn't want to spook this fragile shadow away. So he kept his eyes on what he was doing and with a smile replied,

"Once Trudy comes with a shirt to cover you with. We don't want to get that snazzy tie dirty do we now, and I'm sure your dad would like it if he didn't have to get food out of your nice shirt. So why don't you come roll up those sleeves and wash your hands while you wait? I'll grab the stool for you." He put the spoon down he had in his hand and walked to a closet right near the back enterence of the kitchen and pulled out a step stool to put in front of the sink and to his surprise Oliver hopped right up the stool and stopped on the top step to try and unbutton the cuffs on his sleeves. He managed to get the left button undone but he was having difficulty pushing the button on his right arm back out through the hole to undo it. Just as he was in the middle of his struggle Trudy came back into the room and set the large shirt on the back of a kitchen chair and walked over to him noticing his struggle. Before she moved from the chair though she preposed her question before apporaching him as to not startle him,

"Oliver do you need help with that?" Oliver put his left hand on the sink for balance and turned to Trudy's voice nodding and stiffining slightly as she approached. She held her hands out and waited for Oliver to willingly give her his hand on his own terms to make him comfortable and only used her fingertips to unbutton the cuff.

Letting her hands drop back to her side she asked, "Do you think you can roll up your sleeve just like the other one?" Oliver nodded his head definitely and pushed up his sleeve up past his elbow then folding and tucking the cuff around the bunched up sleeve like the other one and washed his hands. As he did Trudy stepped away to pick up the shirt and present it to Oliver for when he turned around and when he did a grin cracked the corner of his mouth.

"It's a big truck" he said reaching for the shirt in her hands.

"It is, Mouse picked it out for you this morning. What do you think?" Trudy asked helping Oliver put the shirt on the correct way.

Once his head popped up from the front he looked down at it and nodded with the same crack of a grin on his face, "yeah, it's like the one from the pictures."

Without turning around or missing a beat Mouch replied, "It actually is! The same exact one as a matter of fact. The best engine in the city." With the last sentence he turned around to Oliver, giving him a smile and wink which made the tiny grin on his face grow just a little more.

"Now get on up here champ there's still a few things to do" Mouch said welcoming him to pick up the stool and move closer in which Oliver did once the shirt was properly on him.

"I'll go make sure the Bears are still winning" Trudy said as she turned back before leaving for the living room leaving the two in the kitchen to keep cooking. Oliver, once realizing he was alone began to panic slightly but Mouch's voice broke through,

"Alright kiddo it turns out I'm almost finished with a lot of this but I need to mix them together now, You bring your strong arms today?" Oliver turned to Mouch's face and nodded, taking a moment to breifly look down at the truck on his shirt to find something familiar to him.

"Good! Give me a second to shut off the burners and get this big pot off the stove." Oliver nodded and backed up off the stool watching Mouch do just as he said and set the pot down on the counter with a cloth underneathe and welcomed Oliver back.

"Okay I'm gonna need you to be my mixer while I add some last touches, you think you can do that?" Mouch asked holding out a spoon with a smile. Something felt familiar about this as Oliver wrapped his fingers around the wooden spoon and began to stir the thick pot of boiling substance in front of him. It had felt like he had been here in this same space doing the same thing exactly with Mouch. But he had always cooked with pappa, not with mouse, but it felt like he was.

"Mouse? What's this?" Oliver asked curiously as he did his best to keep stirring.

"This my friend is my famous chilly, I've won money because it tastes so good" he said smiling proudly as he sprinkled in spices.

"Chilly? How is it cold look at all the smoke" Oliver asked confused, blowing at the steam that was bellowing from the pot.

"You are right it is not the temperature chilly but that's its name. It's reaaaaalllllyyy tasty with hamburg and beans and all sorts of good stuff" he explained. "Which reminds me! I almost forgot the cheese! Here put the spoon down and you can help me, there's supposed to be lots of cheese on chilly." Oliver did as he was told, setting the spoon down on a tile beside the oven and waited for Mouse to come back with what he needed which only took him a few seconds.

"Now since your hands are small just take a handful out of the bag and spread it over the top, get a big handful," Mouch said presenting Oliver with the bag of cheese in which he reached his small hand in and began sprinkling the cheese ontop. After a few times of adding cheese and stirring Mouch was satisfied with this and had him help with the veggies and the mashed potatoes until it seemed they were down to the last thing. Brownies. This made Oliver especially excited as he knew what brownies were from having one at school every once in a while from his teacher. They mixed the powders with the eggs and the water until it was a thick, sticky and delicious batter which Mouch let Oliver secretly lick the spoon clean when they were done mixing. But as he did Oliver got the batter all over his nose, chin and lips, making Mouch laugh as he watched Oliver trying to lick the chocolate from his nose with his tongue. His laughter confused Oliver as he had never heard much of it himself as far as he could remember. But in a way the happiness on his face made Oliver's own grin crack a little wider again. Oliver stood still as he let Mouch wipe his face clean with a damp paper towel and dry him off with a new one and watched his face which pricked a question in his mind.

"Mouse? What's an Uncle?" Mouch stopped wiping off his face and rolled the paper towels in his hand amazed that he actually just spoke.

"Oh, well, If your dad had a brother than his brother would be your Uncle" he explained.

"Are you my uncle Mouse?" he asked tilting his head hopefully. His eyes for once were warm and soft almost mirroring Mouch's own.

"Well, I am not your uncle" he said trying to hide his frown. " But I am something sort of called your Godfather. It's when let's say papa goes on a trip we're the ones that take care of you. We take you to school, the doctor just like papa does." Oliver's eyes were a mix of happy, confused and sad all at the same time.

"So I don't have an uncle. I wish I did, a kid in my class was talking about all the places his uncle brought him and all the things they did" he explained looking at his lap. Mouch put the paper towles in the trash and crouched in front of Oliver sitting on the chair and replied warmly,

"You can, you know why? Because the cool thing about this thing called family can be whoever you make family. Those who aren't related to you, like how papa isn't related to you but he's still your papa right?"

Oliver nodded shooting his eyes right up in response.

"Well that's because you love him and he loves you. He takes care of you because he loves you and he would never leave you. There are some people that you'll meet who may be the same and you can make them part of your family. You're not out of luck yet champ" he smiled gently touching his leg for a momment and then moving it back to his side. Oliver didn't flinch as he did so and just processed the answer he had just recived.

"So, that means I could still have an uncle?" he asked.

Mouch looked up at him and gave him a big warm smile, "Exactly. How about we get that shirt off and I can show you something." Oliver did as he said and squirmed out of the shirt then fallowing Mouch to the living room where it was now full of people. They stopped at the doorway where it was still quiet enough for Oliver to be comfortable and hear Mouch over all the voices,

"All those people in there, a lot of them with the firetruck shirts on? They're my family, they're like my brothers and sisters. We love each other and stick together close through everything. A lot of them have helped stop me from falling off a high place, or getting lost in a fire or getting hurt and so have I." Oliver listened and looked across all the unfamiliar faces amazed how many people could be a family. They all smiled, laughed and sat together which made Oliver feel a little warm and fuzzy.

"This is what it looks like" he whispered under his breath clinging to the doorway, curious but still terrified of all the people.

"Thanksgiving?" Mouch asked just barely hearing him. Without turning to look at Mouch he nodded and stuck his head out a bit farther finding his papa sitting on a comfy chair with a table in the middle of him and a circle of people around it playing cards. He wanted to go over there but he was to terrified to move. Sensing this though, Mouch lead him through the room to the circle right by his side. When they approached the table Hank looked straight through the people at him with a smile on his face and waved for him to come over. He was just about to when a flash of fluttering white which landed in front of him. Oliver picked it up and came face to face with someone very familiar.

Excitment shot through him as the man spoke, "Hey there bud! You got my card thank you!" It was that guy at the station that'd roll the ball on the floor with him and taught him how to make and fly paper airplanes. Oliver handed the card back in shock with a tiny glimmer in his eye forgetting his name until someone at the table said it and reminded him.

"Aight Jay come on man let's see it" the large dark man said. Jay. That's right, his name was Jay like the bird. Jay looked down at his card and his smile shot across his face as he laughed victoriusly and showed the card off,

"I belive that's an Ace folkes! Black jack!" The other people around the table groaned as Jay grabbed money that was in the middle of the table and brought it all to him. Oliver stood there behind him unsure what to do until Jay turned around and hit him with a big, inviting smile he always gave him. It caught Oliver by surprise and made his smile flash just large enough for a moment for Jay to clearly see it.

"You know what Oliver? I think you're my good luck charm, my lucky ace, how does that sound?" he asked holding out his hand for a high five realizing a little to late. Just as he was about to apologize and put his hand down his hand was gently and quickly tapped by Oliver's small fingers which had caught him off guard and those watching. Oliver just stood there with a small smile on his face as he nodded and looked to Hank and Mouch that were still watching. Mouch smiled winking and giving Oliver a thumbs up before letting him return to Hank's side in which he climbed up into his lap and settled, looking around at his first real Thanksgiving and maybe his first real family.

Chapter Text

Hank stepped through the falling snow beginning to cover and cushion the ground. He adjusted the dinosaur hat he was holding which had a scarf tucked in it. Once he knew it was firmly in his gloved hand he picked his head up and began to survey the crowd of kids pouring from the school and onto the playground. They ran around in puffy coats like little rainbow marshmallows and frolicked through the grounds trying to catch snowflakes on their tounges. Hank didn't bother to look completely through the entire area, he knew where Oliver would be, on the swings, near the sandbox, or hovering at the fence with the aids. He joined the crowd of parents waiting to be let in to pick up their kids and found Oliver right away in what was the sandbox, trying to mold snow in his hands by himself. After the people in front of him were let in then out through a separate gate after wrangling their kids Hank was let in. All around him kids complained and refused to go to their parents when they called or tried to beg for just a few more minutes. Finally made sense why it took so much time for him to be able to get to the gate. He signed the paper in the aid's hands and picked up Oliver's backpack against the fence among the other children's bags. He took a few steps forward to get through the other parents and yelled out Oliver's name clear and quick. With no hesitation, Oliver's head whipped around to attention, and he began to run towards him with arms open. Some parents looked over at Hank, annoyed that he had called Oliver's name so loudly but stopped when they realized how quickly and excitedly Oliver came to his side.

"Pappa! Pappa!" Oliver said throwing his arms up to be picked up or hugged.

Hank smiled "hey kiddo! Come here." Hank wrapped Oliver up in a big hug. "Here I got you your warmer hat and scarf from home, I didn't expect it to snow so fast," he said swapping Oliver's hat and wrapping the scarf cozily around his neck and face. Hank took Oliver's hand and walked him to the car. In which while walking Oliver excitedly talked about a Rudolf puppet he made that day and how everyone got a cookie with lunch even if you had your own. Hank listened and responded intently as he picked Oliver up and buckled him in, not before touching his cheek with a smile on his face. Oliver's face was rosy and brighter than he ever saw it.

"Sounds like you had a fun day kiddo, you think you up for more?" Hank asked buckling him in.

"Yeah! Oh dad I didn't feel dizzy today even when out in the snow! It's still really cold" he shivered and shook in his seat.

"Good, that means you're getting better, and here let me go turn up the heat," he said closing the door and jumping into the driver's seat. He reached over and turned the nob up to replace the heat that escaped from the open door and drove slowly out of the parking lot to the rode. The snow was pasted to the ground in the neighborhood streets, tall banks of snow lining the sidewalks and ice hanging off of roofs. Oliver looked out the window and quietly observed for the rest of the ride, clearly tired of all the word soup that had just come out of his mouth.

That is until he began to recognize his surroundings even as they blew by.

"Pappa? Are we going to the station!" he asked excitedly sitting up in his seat.

"We are, I have a few more things to do until I'm done and for a little time I'll need you to stay with Jay, okay? I won't be long." Oliver started to shrink back in anxiety at Hank mentioning that he'd have to be away from him. His stomach began to hurt and he was cold even though the heat was on. He felt his breath escaping him, again and again, every time he tried to breathe. He was scared, really scared. He didn't like this feeling and he didn't like being away from Hank.

The car came to a stop and Hank turned around and put a hand on his knee and spoke,

"Hey listen to me, you're gonna be fine. Remember what Dr. Charles said at your last appointment ?"

Oliver swallowed hard and sucked a breath in, "that..that you'll come back..and you wouldn't leave alone if something is bad" he replied. Hank nodded his head with a small smile.

"that's right. And you have your calm box" Hank added. Oliver nodded, feeling a slight edge off the fear. He quietly followed Hank's lead out of the car and into the station. It was especially bustling today with many officers and civilians who were being loud. He squeezed Hank's hand as they went by up the stairs and released as the noise faded. Which was another thing Dr. Charls had told him to do. He remembered he always had to open and relax his hand though because if he didn't he was blocking the anxiety from getting out, like a car in a broken tunnel, it couldn't get out. So he did, letting go for a moment then, he wrapped his fingers back around Hank's hand. Without a word they walked right past the break room into Hank's office where Oliver curled up on the couch and took out a book, trying to settle down and focus on the words. Slowly but surely the words came into focus. His body warmed back up, making his muscles feel good and his belly better. Even when the occasional person walked in the office Oliver would just look up to see and watch them until they would turn to leave, and eventually he got used to the rhythm of his environment. First talking would get closer, followed by footsteps that would get closer until there was a knock at the door and the new voice would speak quietly and then the same would happen in reverse and fall silently again. But just when he got a sense of normalcy things went to change again, Hank got up from his chair and sat on the couch beside him.

"Ok kiddo here's the deal, Ive got to sit in a boring meeting for an hour, you'll stay in here and Detective Halstead will just check in on you ok? He doesn't stay if you don't want him too" Hank explained just like Dr. Charles taught him to. Give him a timeframe to help reassure that he'd come back, ensure his safety and his space all while keeping him in a safe environment. But that didn't stop Oliver's panic from setting in like a flash, Immediately his body visibly tightened and his breathing shortened, it started to get harder to see. What if he didn't come back? What if he left him again? His mind was crashing down around him again but on the outside he was shaking, his eyes weren't focused or present and he began biting his fingers hard. Hank could see his eyes glazing over, his face going pale and he was barely breathing, as if his body was frozen but shaking all over.

"Hey hey it's alright, I'm not leaving the building I'm just going to another room ok? Can I put my hands on your shoulders for a minute?" he asked, following what Dr. Charles had told him. He had dealt with trauma before but with a little kid beyond traumatized like this he was flying blind, and he hated it. He hated not knowing things, it made him angry and frustrated but he couldn't be right now, he couldn't show a hint of it. That he at least knew how to do.

Very very slowly he placed his hands on Ollie's shoulders, letting him pull away at any second if he felt he needed too but besides his muscle tremors from being so tight he didn't flinch under Hank's touch. It was...bittersweet in a way. His mind was fighting things he couldn't understand but yet he did feel the immediate need or instinct to fight Hank. But Hank couldn't help but wonder if that'd be enough to help him.

With Hank holding him carefully he spoke, "it's ok Ollie, I won't be leaving the building, I'm still here just not in the room; and Jay will just pop in every once in a while to make sure you're ok..other then that the room is yours, does that sound good?"

Ollie nodded apprehensively clearly not liking this idea at all but knowing deep down he couldn't change that decision and that aggitaterd him. Something between emotions that he couldn't identify were choking him fast. Immediately he grabbed Hank's wrists tight thinking that maybe if he held Hank in place he wouldn't be able to move and leave him.

"No! Don't leave! Let me go with you!" he yelled, his face getting red and digging his nails into Hanks wrists without realizing. He kept pulling his arms towards him with whatever strength he had. Hank knew he couldn't just break Ollies grip like his instincts were screaming to do. The pain didn't translate to pain exactly, more translating to an aggravation he didn't understand. He knew it was unfounded but that didn't make it any less confusing. But he kept his cool

"Ollie" he said a little stern "I'm not leaving this building, I'm just going to a different room IN the building, that's all and I won't be gone for long" he tried to explain. He lifted one arm that was being held high enough to get his other hand on one of Ollie's hand to peel it off. But this only seemed to upset him more, causing him to yell more and attract Jay's attention as he had poked his head in to see what was going on.

"Olliver, Oliver listen to me, breathe" Hank kept trying, he resisted fighting Ollie as that could just possibly trigger him more and make him struggle further. This seemed to slow ollie down at least physically. It stopped him from pulling and yanking at least but not panicking.

"Ollie, breathe, like Dr. Charles taught you ok? Focus on breathing, how about I let you sit in my chair until I come back, just let me clean it up ok? Is that a deal?" he asked. Oliver seemed to stop crying and resulted to just sniffling for a few moments before conceding, giving him a nod but his feelings didn't let go of him at all. He still shook, cried and didn't calm down. Hank took his own jacket off the coat rack after a thought fired off in his brain, something Dr. Charles said at the last session before he left, something about coping mechanisms..

"now getting rid of any child's separation anxiety is difficult and needs patience. With that being said, even though the situation, causes and age are a little different I think the same coping skills will still apply" Charles said in his memory. Next only pieces came back. Pieces such as,
"make goodbyes quick and positive"
"be consistent" and the one that finally stuck out to him
"offering a article of clothing, or a blanket of yours can give a sense to the child that you are there from just smell and association. It hasn't been clinically proven to work for every case but for Oliver I think it could help. In a way you're there without physically being there and could keep him calm for short periods of time. This partnered with consistent time away and adding time on to that period away with repetition can pretty much ease separation anxiety. Or in Oliver's case make it a little easier for him to have a healthy attachment and detachment to you."

Well he wasn't doing it EXACTLY like that obviously but he did have a coat. He tried to get up but he was still held tightly and intensely.

"Hey, is it alright if I give you something before I go to my meeting? does that sound ok?" he asked, just needing to get his hands free in order to move but Ollie still didn't let go.
"here, how about I get you comfy in my chair huh?" he asked desperately hoping this would be it because he was running out of ideas.
Thankfully Oliver let go of Hank's arms slowly, then fully letting go when Hank didn't move or walk away like he feared. But once his arms were free he did just as he promised and picked Oliver up and put him gently in the chair behind his desk as Jay who had been watching up to this point walked away quickly so he wouldn't be spotted by either of them.

Hank took his coat off the rack and put it around Oliver's shoulders, wrapping it around him tightly like a hug (another strategy the Doctor posed) and gave him his cars from his small backpack to hopefully offer a distraction.

I'll be back when the little hand hits two ok? I'll be back" Hank promised as he ruffled his hair gently and finally he got a nod from Ollie which allowed him to make a quick exit like he had been instructed to do. Which ended up leaving Ollie in the chair by himself; the same chair he ended up freezing in and staying completely still for the first ten minutes before he began to settle in to his surroundings. Everything was ok, everything was safe, it wasn't loud, there was no hitting no screaming, as long as he stayed in this room he'd be safe. Just stay in the bubble was all he thought and as long as no one came in everything would be ok.

With a shaky hand he barely reached out of the leather shell of Hank's coat and pushed his car back and forth rhythmically on the table over and over, feeling the texture change from desk to folder then back to desk again. He listened to the change of the sound of the tires on the different textures until it looked like he was hypnotized. But in reality he was starting to settle, play with other cars, creating different patterns to move his cars that had different noises and textures. It was soothing to his mind and even to his body. His hands weren't shaking anymore but merely cautiosly exploring with his senses. Once he had wheeled and raced all over the desk and the chair his curiosity began to carry him ,ending up getting out of the chair and rolling a car on the windowsill. The sun beamed down on his fingers, warming them versus the freezing cold glass he rubbed against. The sound was different, less muddled then the wood he noticed and it felt like a smoother push then the wood; there weren't as many little bumps and grooves on the metal as there was on the desk. He walked along the cill back and forth over and over until a new sound entered his bubble, one that he himself wasn't making.

It came from behind him where the doorway was, alerting him that someone unwelcome was coming. Immediately he jumped, sending his car flying to the floor as he immediately tucked himself back first into the corner with his fists tightened. But when he looked to the door there wasn't a person there, but a police matchbox car in the corner of the doorway that wasn't there before. The sound had come from the ball rolling on the floor, but what was this car? Where did it come from? It was so close to the door, he was too nervous to reach out and grab it what if someone grabbed him? What if someone hit him if he tried to go for it? But the police car was so shiny and a great addition to his collection! He wondered how the wheels sounded and how the tires felt rolling on the ground. He waited and stared at the car and the door for some time still frozen in the corner. More time passed and it had still been quiet, nothing had changed, he didn't hear anyone move, maybe it was actually ok to take a look. He tightened his grip around Hank's coat and put it so it also covered his head as step by step he got closer to the car until he could almost reach it with his small fingers. He kept his head down at the floor, not daring to look up in risk of making someone mad if he looked at them. Once he could reach he snatched it and ran back to the chair where he was safe and stayed still a few moments in case someone came to hit him back for taking the car. But it never came, it stayed just as quiet as it was before. No one came in, no one yelled, but something else did come through the door. A small clear and blue plastic ball came in past through the doorway and into the corner of the wall to his left and it looked like something was in there like little shreds of paper. Slowly he got down from the chair and crept over with the coat over his hood like before and crouched over the ball. There was a big seam straight down the middle of it that came apart when he squeezed it and paper fluttered to the floor. But among the blanks was one with blue pen writing on it. He picked it up in between his first finger and his thumb and read what the note said. There wasn't much on the note,. All it said was,

"Hey Ace it's me Jay. Come take a peek outside!" Jay, oh right the big guy with the blue eyes and brown hair, the one that was playing cards with Mr. Hank that he helped grab the card for. He didn't seem so bad. Mr.Hank smiled at him and talked to him, far more than he had seen interact positively before, and what was one peak? Mr. Hank said no one would come in so as long as he stayed in his bubble everything would be ok.

So stood up straight and simply just moved his head to the open door and what he saw was Jay sitting on the floor next to his desk with an ambulance, a fire truck and another matchbox car in front of him. He took the ambulance car and pushed it to the doorway and Ollie watched it until it came to a stop at his feet. But now what? Adorably he was frozen in place, looking back and forth from Jay to the ambulance at his feet and he stayed like that for a few moments before the fire truck came to his feet too. He looked up to Jay as if looking for direction on what to do because he still was sat on the floor. But now that Oliver was looking at him Jay could continue to try and talk to communicate with him. He motioned towards himself after pointing to the cars, telling Oliver to push the cars back to him. Ollie looked from the cars to him again, thinking that Jay wanted him to bring the cars back. Well they were Jay's cars after all but brining them back would mean he'd have to walk out of his bubble which he was not about to do. So instead he opted for pushing them back across the floor, slowly and carefully one by one until Oliver had no more cars left but his own in his hand. Jay was practically celebrating in his mind, he had finally gotten Oliver to trust him a little! Carefully he aimed and pushed the police car hard, sending it further back into the office for Oliver to retrieve. Oliver just watched the car go right by his feet and into the corner, standing still not quite knowing what to do or really what Jay wanted. He wasn't keeping the cars to himself, he wasn't yelling at him or hitting him to give them back..he was just sitting there. He pointed Oliver to the car in the corner then pointed back at himself, he wanted him to push it back to him. Well..that was easy enough right? He pulled Hank's coat around himself tight again and walked over to the corner, picking up the car and hobbling back to his spot in the doorway. He squatted back down and set the car on the ground when an idea came to him. He tilted his head curiously then sent the car flying toward's the desk instead of Jay. Easily Jay reacted with quick timing to grab it before it slammed into his desk and held it up with a proud smile at Oliver. He was finally starting to get it! Jay pushed it again but instead of fast he barely pushed it forward just enough so the car came to a stop in between them both. An unspoken challenge to try and get Oliver out of his bubble. But it didn't end up working how Jay thought it would because Oliver froze in place then slowly looked at the car he had in his own hand then the police car and used his car to push the police car back to Jay all without moving from his spot. But now his car was in the middle and the police car was back in Jay's hands.
Jay gave a fond chuckle and a nod "quick thinking, that was good you got me there, now how about this?"
He pushed the police car into Oliver's car sending it sideways to the left, leaving both cars stuck in the middle of them, now giving a whole new challenge to the little boy drowning in Sarge's coat.
Oliver's face became downcast, he couldn't reach the cars without moving, and what if this was a trap? What if he would be hit for reaching for it? If he left the office he'd no longer be in his safe bubble then anything could happen. He stared at his car sadly, knowing he couldn't get it back and there was no way he was about to move. He sat down defeated and pulled the coat around him tighter as he resolved to simply leave his car out in the ether to never come back to him.
"Oh..buddy it's ok, here, it's ok" Jay said leaning forward to push the car back to where Oliver could reach. As he did Oliver visibly flinched and pulled himself right against the doorframe, getting ready to hide behind the wall or run but all that happened was his car and the police car rolled back to him. Oliver looked up at Jay in remnants of fear but also confusion, he just..wanted to push the cars back and forth?
Oliver sat up and pushed them back to him again and caught them when Jay sent them back and they did this for a few turns, just in a silent and calm exchange. Nothing more and nothing less, just friendly and simple interaction. That is until Jay switched it up on him, first sending one car for him to catch then quickly angling a second to his opposite side and sending it. Cute little guy's eyes nearly went cross eyed trying to follow both at the same time, his arms reached out as fast as he could muster and randomly out in both directions. His reflexes were awfully slow, more slow than a child his age would be, just showing how much his previous situation messed the little guy up. It didn't even seem he understood what 'play' was all that much but to Jay's surprise he seemed to be catching on. The next round of cars that came at him also went in two different directions, one into Kevin's desk actually making Jay laugh and nod as he got up to get the car. When he came back he nodded with a proud smile "atta boy that's it! You're getting it" he encouraged.
A little light then seemed to go off in Oliver's eyes and the cars became more strategically pushed into all different directions each time, all to make Jay go get the cars or lunge on the floor to catch them. He'd chuckle from time to time too, laughing was good. Laughing wasn't yelling so it was a good thing!
Back and forth they went. Exchanging tricks and cars, sometimes even all four at once. The more they did this it Oliver's face lightened up, Jay even caught a couple of grins around his cheeks! That's when Jay tried his trick again, leaving the cars in the middle of them to see what he'd do and to his surprise Oliver actually scooted out from the doorway just enough to reach the cars and push them back. Miraculously? He didn't retreat. He stayed where he was and would push the cars back as they had been.
After a while Jay stood up and got to his desk, pulling out a bag of chips "here, you hungry?" He said sliding the bag across the floor to him. Oliver snatched it and hugged it to his chest, backing up to the doorway again and pulling the bag open, stuffing the chips down his face.
"Hey hey slow down slow down" Jay said softly "I'm not gonna take it from you that's all yours, here see? I have my own" he said taking out his own bag and opening it. Oliver's shoulders slowly came down from his ears and he slowed his chip intake to slower bites all while his eyes were locked on Jay. But even that seemed to relax, his eyes would wander curiously around the office at his surroundings. The desks, the boards, things hung up around, there was a big boar head on the wall that seemed to catch his attention. He leaned out of the doorway to try and get a better look although that wasn't going help. Jay chuckled and stood up from his spot and sat up on his desk "you can get a better look, we don't bite" Jay said to him with a smile.
Wearily Oliver wandered away from the doorway, clutching Hank's coat as if it were a shield as he got closer to Kevin who had been watching from his desk quietly as he worked.
"It's ok little homie, that's woolly up there, he's a boar. Or a big pig to make things easier, don't worry it won't move" Kevin said, being smooth and collected as he always was which was why he was the one to handle a lot of either tough victims or tough perps. He could easily swindle words out of people without as much as raising his voice.
Oliver stepped close enough to see better but no farther. This guy was big and intimidating as the boar head hanging on the wall, who knows how hard he could hit.
"He's a little weird I gotta admit but that's me personally" Kevin said with a soft smile. Oliver searched his face for any warning signs on Kevin's face but his expression was just as docile as Jays'. He nodded quietly,
"he's big."
"Yeah he is pretty big, we don't have any here in Chicago, maybe in the zoo though" Kevin replied.
Oliver tilted his head and furrowed his brows "zoo? What's a zoo?"
"You never been to a zoo big man?" Kevin asked
Oliver shook his head to Kevin and looked between him and Jay curiously.
"Well maybe one of these days we can change that huh? That sounds like a plan?" Kevin asked holding his hand out, not realizing Jay was shaking his head for him to stop but it was to late Oliver was already recoiling away from him. But he didn't step back or run away, he just froze in his spot staring at Kevin for a bit. That is until his little hand came from the safety of his leather shell and tapped Kevin's hand as if it were a hot stove then came right back under the coat in a flash.
Kevin took his hand away with a smile and a wink "then it's a deal little dude, we'll go to the zoo sometime and see the animals. You just ask uncle Kev alright?"
"Uncle?" Oliver's head tilted to the right ever so slightly as a little gleam in his eyes reflected the sunlight from the windows, causing Kevin and Jay to smile. It was as if for just a brief second he came to life. Those eyes so soft and innocent was enough to soften the coldest heart and definitely more than enough to melt theirs.
"Yeah little man, if you want you can call me uncle Kev, that is if you want too. You don't have to though" he said smiling.
That's when Oliver turned around to Jay who was far enough behind, leaning on a desk to give Oliver space so he felt safe and began to take a couple steps towards Jay.
Jay froze in a discreet awe, Oliver was closing the gap..willingly. Jay slowly squatted down, making each of his movements as careful and gentle as possible as to not scare him away all the while he did what he could to keep his heart in his chest.
"What about you?" He asked in his little voice.
"Me?" Jay asked smiling
Oliver nodded, "could you..be my uncle too?"
In all the firefights, all the combat, blood and craziness Jay saw he never hesitated once. But now? This little boy had his heart completely stopped and for the life of him he couldn't get it to start again or the beaming smile off his face as he looked to Kevin in disbelief and compassion.
Kevin could barely contain this same feeling too as he was wearing the same smile Jay was as he looked back to Oliver.
"Y-yes, yeah absolutely, if that's what you want, we can be your uncles sure!" Jay finally replied with a chuckle, holding out his hand palm up to Oliver gently. He held his breath in the seconds that came after, if Oliver shrank away he'd take his hand right back, but, if there was a possibility of earning his trust Jay would take it.
Oliver's eyes looked between Jay and his hand just as he did with Kevin but he looked back up into Jay's eyes this time. Locking onto them for the first time in the entire month and a little more that he had been around.
Oliver kept locked on and nodded, giving both of them the tiniest smile around the corners of his lips and around his eyes that sent their hearts soaring. It was ever so small and slight but it was there! They could easily see it and it caused them both to smile and chuckle fondly as Oliver put his hand in Jay's gently for a few moments and shook his head in approval.
"I never had uncles before" he said looking between both of them.
"Well then, let me and Jay be the first to say thank you for giving the title to us. It's a special thing" Kevin said, smiling earnestly and honestly at Oliver who was standing a little taller now it seemed to them. He was still small and frail on the outside but in those eyes there was a spark that wasn't there before, brining his husk alive.
It was so bright even Hank could see it from where he hid at the bottom corner of the wall of the stairs, just high enough and sticking out enough to see them at the top of the stairs without being seen. Thank goodness for that because Hank couldn't wipe the giant smile off his face that broke every bit of his mask that he wore so commonly. Gosh...when had he felt like this last? He couldn't remember, maybe seeing his grandson the last time years ago..but that was another life ago. So long it was a memory. But now something about that look in Oliver's eyes broke him free somehow inside.
The irony was beautiful. The boy who was kept prisoner, just a husk of whoever he was supposed to be or could have ever been bringing others to life with just a little smile on those lips and in his eyes that had been dead and gone before.
'I wish you were here Camille....you'd love him...probably more then I'm capable of understanding....you know, I wouldn't be surprised if this was your doing' Hank thought to himself as he took a breath and stepped up the stairs one by one, a much tamer smile on his face but a smile all the same.

Just the sounds of his boot steps were enough to send all three of their heads shooting up in the direction of the stairs and immediately Jay and Kevin stiffened up as they backed away . But Oliver's eyes just beamed brighter as he finally broke free of his spot he was frozen to and ran to Hank with his little arms open.
"Papa! You didn't leave!" He cheered, wrapping his arms around Hank's hips and putting his face into his side immediately.
Hank's face lit up again, putting one hand behind Oliver's head gently and the other around his shoulders.
"Yeah of course I didn't! I told you I was just in another room!" Hank smiled running a hand through Oliver's red curls.
"Come on kid let's go start your homework huh? You can do it at my desk" Hank said giving Ollie a tap on the back, a signal to start moving.
And as they walked Oliver turned back to Kevin and Jay and gave a smile and a wave before going back into the safety of Hank's office. A sign that progress was happening and friends were finally being made.
When Oliver was comfortably back in the office Voight stepped out and closed the door behind him,
“Jay, Kev come here” he said, surprisingly a lot less gruff and cold than they expected.
They gathered around him and gave him their full attention, ready for whatever came next but the soft smile on his face told them nothing like chastisement.
“Thank you two, you don’t know how big that was. He’s getting comfortable with you two, don’t take that lightly” his voice taking on a kind tone as he held his hand out to each of them and shook them. Kevin and Jay looked at each other briefly with surprise, their glance asking each other if this was really happening and certifying that Hank had been watching the whole conversation before. They knew Hank was scarily aware and discreet when he wanted to be but they never did quite get used to it, though, it’d be a good thing for Oliver.
As the days played out it actually seemed that Oliver was good for Voight too. He hadn’t smiled as much, or slowed down comparatively with the past. Especially ever since he had gotten captured by a cereal killer and nearly died in captivity. He had gone none stop after that. But there was a very thin mist of peace settling around his eyes. He wasn’t slowing down on his career, that wasn’t it, but the light behind his eyes seemed a bit brighter than before. And it seemed Oliver too was beginning to find his voice.

Chapter Text

The sun's light began to break through the cold dark sky with softening blues hues over Chicago. The wind still giving a harsh chill to anyone brave enough to venture out into the frozen darkness before the sunrise would find the city empty—a rare and fleeting stillness in Chicago.
Hank was already up quietly getting ready for the day ahead of him, turning on the light just long enough to choose his clothes and set them on his bed before turning it back off. The quieter and darker the better the chance Oliver would stay asleep and it wasn't difficult for Hank to get around his own house in the dark, if anything he could do so completely blindfolded if he wanted. He buttoned up his shirt and pants before grabbing his boots out of his closet. He was careful to put his boots on when he was downstairs versus in his room to keep Oliver asleep. Even with the medication prescribed by Dr. Charles to help him his sleep was very fragile. Just one wrong step or noise and he was up in alerted panic as Hank learned.
He stepped gently on his way to the bathroom and set his boots outside before closing the bathroom door to finish getting ready and setting out Oliver's toothbrush and toothpaste ahead of time as per his routine. Once he was finished he walked down the stairs into the kitchen and turned on the light but not before setting his boots down by the front door on the way where Oliver's shoes were waiting as well. With the two pairs beside each other it was almost comical the size difference. Hank's boots stood tall and rigid, ready for action. The laces clean but worn which spoke of travel and experience while Ollie's shoes were small and new. In fact they still had that new shoe smell and pronounced colors that new shoes had. Honestly if Hank thought about it the more little touches of Oliver that were around the more the house felt fuller and more alive. There was life in it where there hadn't been before, a normally empty fridge always had food, not to mention the couple drawings hanging up as well as a school calendar for the year. There were dino plates in the dish strainer, his little coat hanging by the door with a few toys scattered here and there. A couple matchbox cars on the coffee table, some fidget toys on the kitchen table in a little box and some Dino blankets on the couch. These things added color, life even to this once empty and at times haunted, desolate space.
Hank poured the grounds, flicked on the machine and let it brew. As the warm smell filled the room he grabbed the planner from the table, flipping to the week ahead. There was a lot to keep track of—Oliver's school schedule, doctor's appointments, therapy sessions, it was a lot even for him. Sure he could keep track of his caseload but keeping track of a child was a whole other ballgame— especially Ollie. There were doctor's appointments to manage his severe anemia plus all the conditions that came with it. And then there were his appointments with Dr. Charles to give Oliver more tools to cope with the severe PTSD and anxiety. It was a lot—to say the least. But it gave Hank more of a life in a way.
According to the planner there were two appointments on Friday afternoon, one a doctor's appointment and the second being a session with Dr. Charles. Hank had it worked out with Dr. Charles that most of his appointments would be on the same day as to keep things organized. Though there were still the sessions with Dr. Charles that were more often than his checkups but it still helped surmount-ably with management between both of their busy schedules.
The smell of his coffee disrupted him from his thoughts, calling him to grab a mug and join the awake world finally. With a steady pour he raised the cup to his lips, the steam filling his nose with the o sweet smell of coffee. As he sipped he then walked over to the toaster and dropped some bread in leaving it to toast to begin breakfast. Speaking of which he also needed to ready Oliver's lunch for the day, of which was prepared with the help of Mouch and Trudy thank goodness. He didn't know where he'd be without them. He smiled softly to himself as he walked to the fridge and pulled out a few things and placed them on the table. A ham, cheese and lettuce sandwich, some vegetables, some fruits and a chocolate protein drink. He also put a few extra snacks for him to eat through the day. Oliver needed to eat through the day or he'd experience headaches, dizziness and in extreme but not rare cases loss—of consciousness. There had only been two times where Oliver had to be hospitalized. Both only for a day but that didn't mean they were difficult. The stays meant needles, tests, people coming in and out at all times which messed up his sleep which then made the anxieties and night terrors worse. It was an ordeal Hank liked to prevent in any way possible.
He zipped up Oliver's lunchbox and placed it on the counter by his own travel mug on the table near the door. Heading back to the kitchen he sat back at the table going through the planner again, the coffee by his left hand offering a gleam of warmth in the dropping temperatures.
Although it was warm in the house Hank still couldn't help but notice the sudden fog that crept into his kitchen, causing him to rub at his eyes thinking he had something in them. But there came a smell too, a smell that didn't match the coffee or the regular scent of his house. It smelt like something was—-burning?
Abruptly a piercing beep ripped through the silence sending Hank shooting straight up out of his chair, sending the planner flipping out of his hands and nearly spilling his coffee on the small table he was at. The sound was ear piercing there was no way this hadn't woken Oliver up. He yanked a stool from the table and shot up towards the fire alarm, reaching up and tearing it down in one strong tug. When he pulled the alarm way it stopped but he took some ceiling bits with it. He had grabbed it so hard and fast he nearly ripped it off the ceiling. But he didn't stop there. He turned into the thickest of the smoke to see his toaster. Da— it, the toast. The toast had burnt sending the thing smoking. Hank yanked the chord out of the wall and picked it up without sense of heat or thinking. He put it right under the window off the counter to let the freezing air quench the smoke and clear out the room but all the while this was happening he hadn't heard the unsteady stamping of feet down the stairs until he turned around to the doorway where he was met with a plastic cup and a splash of water at his chest. It had been a full up of water and now his shirt was soaked. He looked down at himself in confusion, his mind not entirely catching up with the current events as his own adrenaline was just starting to calm down.
Here he was—in his hazy kitchen— with a soaked shirt—and smoldering toaster—in the early hours of the morning. Hank blinked the smog away as his mind caught up with him, the rough breathing helped too but it wasn't his own. It was thin, wheezy—familiar. He looked up from his shirt to see Oliver standing there, arm extended out and frozen like a statue. His little chest was heaving and his slightly mouth agape trying to suck in air. His eyes were glossy and wild with fear, the dark bags under them making his eyes cold and dark.
"Oliver" Hank said as realization came clear to him. Oliver had heard the alarm and rushed to find him, Oliver must have thought Hank was in trouble so he tried rushing down to save him with the water on his side table in his room.
Hank watched as Oliver's body began to crumble in a fit of shaking, a soft and broken sound escaping his little lungs. It was somewhere between a distressed whimper and a squeak that made Hank's chest lurch right before his body.
"Oliver, Oliver! Hey, hey Oliver it's ok, it's ok you're ok!" Hank reached forward with both arms extended, racing the gap between them to catch him. Oliver's knees buckled and he slumped into Hank's arms without another sound, his whole body going limp and still. Hank had dropped to one knee and caught Oliver as he fell forward to the floor, making contact with Hank's chest and shoulders.
"Oliver! Oliver! Can you hear me? Talk to me, come on talk to me" Hank said supporting the back of Oliver's head and the other arm wrapped around his back. Shifting his own body he pulled Oliver's head into his chest while leaning his little body against his leg that was upright from when he leaned forward to catch him. Hank lowered his head immediately to Oliver, listening for his breathing, feeling for a pulse. His little heart was beating fast but strong. He could feel it begin to slow down due to being shut down out of fight or flight now. But he knew it would hit Oliver harder when he came too. He'd be groggy, weak, his body would hurt all over—this was going to be a very different day.
He stayed with Oliver there on the floor, head cradled to his chest and his body up against his leg until Oliver's eyes began to twitch and flicker. He sucked in a couple quick and panicked breaths until his eyes flew open and his body jolted back to life. His arms flew up as he wobbly shot upright trying to look around the room.

"f-- fi--fi--fh-pa!" Oliver rambled incoherently. His breathing picked back up where it had left off, short and quick gasps that were shallow and panicked.
"Hey hey! Ollie it's ok, everything is ok just look at me, look at me" Hank said in a hushed and gentle tone. There was a hint of something else too. If someone were to have been listening carefully they'd hear something akin to--panic? Relief?
Hank carefully wrestled to get Oliver completely in his arms against his chest, speaking softly all while he was fighting.
"Ollie breathe, breathe, deep breaths, deep breaths, I'm here, I'm here!" Hank managed to get his arms around Oliver and gently squeezed giving some pressure to try and draw Oliver back. Dr. Charles said that in some cases, and if permitted, deep pressure can help ground an individual in the throughs of a panic attack. Of course you would first have to get consent but in this case he just acted.
"You're safe, you're ok, you're ok, there's no fire. It was just a little smoke." When Oliver felt the pressure he thankfully began to slow down. His arms stopped flying forward to get up and instead gripped at Hank's wet shirt. His fight and flight drive dampening from being held.His wheezing slowed into a broken up whimper and his eyes began to clear when he found Hank's concerned stare.
"That's it, that's it, it's me, you're ok. You're safe, you're safe." He just kept repeating himself until Oliver stopped moving completely and was able to recognize Hank's eyes were focused on him.
"F-fire? There's, there's--Papa?" Oliver looked up with aching and tired eyes. But there was something warm there, alive again. That little spark he seemed to get whenever he would look at Hank, it was barely flickering but it was back.
"No, no fire. Just some smoke that's all, that's all it was, there's no fire see?" Hank shifted his body so Oliver could see the kitchen that had now cleared out mostly so he could see the room clearer now. His little eyes darted back and forth looking for the blaze he expected but there really was nothing.
His focus then shifted back to Hank, feeling the wetness of his shirt under his clenched fingers. Oliver's eyes searched him up and down seemingly looking for something but Hank couldn't figure out what. Until he finally caught his breath to talk again,
"You're---ok? Are you hurt?" he asked.
Hank smiled warmly as his heart hit an extra beat, it all made sense to him now. Oliver must have thought there was a fire and Hank was in trouble, so he did all he knew to do. And that was to use water to put out the fire to protect him.
"No, no I'm ok don't worry I'm ok. And so are you, hear me?" he responded. Oliver nodded before letting out a shiver that rippled through his body. He whined as he forced his eyes shut and buried his face into Hank's chest.
"You're head hurts doesn't it?" Hank asked gently. He only received a sad nod from Oliver in response.
"Ok..ok come on, you can stay in my bed again ok? We'll just..take it easy today just you and me" he said in a whisper. Hank picked Oliver up into his arms fully and got to his feet. It broke his heart how easily he could carry Oliver, sure the little guy gained a few pounds since being adopted but he still felt like skin and bone. Getting up the stairs wasn't strenuous for Hank but then he had handled bigger and heavier, he opened the door to his room and slowly set Oliver down, cradling him carefully as he did.
"That's it nice and easy, you're ok, let's get you warm again yeah?" Hank said quietly. Oliver at first grabbed ahold of Hank's shirt in some sort of reflex, not wanting him to let him go out of fear.
"It's ok, we're gonna wrap you up and I'm gonna go get your heavy blanket and stuff from your room then I'm going downstairs for a minuet. I won't be leaving the house, it'll just be you and me today. Is that ok?" Hank asked as he pulled the blankets up to Ollie's nose and tucking them in around his little body. Oliver let his shirt go and snuggled against the pillow, allowing Hank to go do what he said he'd do and grab a few things. His stuffed triceratops named Red was the first thing he grabbed. It was one of the very very few things Oliver owned when Hank first met him. Next was a small weighted blanket that was soft and dark blue. It had been a gift from Dr. Charles to Ollie. Really the both of them as in the beginning Hank really had no 'tools' to help him right out the gate. There was a few other things Hank grabbed, the few books he had, a fuzzy airplane blanket and warm socks. When he returned he made Oliver cozy on his side of the bed then sat down next to him. Ollie curled in against Hank, touching his leg and the tail of his shirt. When he did this he knew he'd have to rub Oliver's back until he fell asleep as was their ritual whenever he would try to sleep. So his call into the station would have to wait. Unfortunately with this snag? The day would have to wait.
(Just part one! Part two being written)

The sun's light began to break through the cold dark sky with softening blues hues over Chicago. The wind still giving a harsh chill to anyone brave enough to venture out into the frozen darkness before the sunrise would find the city empty—a rare and fleeting stillness in Chicago.
Hank was already up quietly getting ready for the day ahead of him, turning on the light just long enough to choose his clothes and set them on his bed before turning it back off. The quieter and darker the better the chance Oliver would stay asleep and it wasn't difficult for Hank to get around his own house in the dark, if anything he could do so completely blindfolded if he wanted. He buttoned up his shirt and pants before grabbing his boots out of his closet. He was careful to put his boots on when he was downstairs versus in his room to keep Oliver asleep. Even with the medication prescribed by Dr. Charles to help him his sleep was very fragile. Just one wrong step or noise and he was up in alerted panic as Hank learned.
He stepped gently on his way to the bathroom and set his boots outside before closing the bathroom door to finish getting ready and setting out Oliver's toothbrush and toothpaste ahead of time as per his routine. Once he was finished he walked down the stairs into the kitchen and turned on the light but not before setting his boots down by the front door on the way where Oliver's shoes were waiting as well. With the two pairs beside each other it was almost comical the size difference. Hank's boots stood tall and rigid, ready for action. The laces clean but worn which spoke of travel and experience while Ollie's shoes were small and new. In fact they still had that new shoe smell and pronounced colors that new shoes had. Honestly if Hank thought about it the more little touches of Oliver that were around the more the house felt fuller and more alive. There was life in it where there hadn't been before, a normally empty fridge always had food, not to mention the couple drawings hanging up as well as a school calendar for the year. There were dino plates in the dish strainer, his little coat hanging by the door with a few toys scattered here and there. A couple matchbox cars on the coffee table, some fidget toys on the kitchen table in a little box and some Dino blankets on the couch. These things added color, life even to this once empty and at times haunted, desolate space.
Hank poured the grounds, flicked on the machine and let it brew. As the warm smell filled the room he grabbed the planner from the table, flipping to the week ahead. There was a lot to keep track of—Oliver's school schedule, doctor's appointments, therapy sessions, it was a lot even for him. Sure he could keep track of his caseload but keeping track of a child was a whole other ballgame— especially Ollie. There were doctor's appointments to manage his severe anemia plus all the conditions that came with it. And then there were his appointments with Dr. Charles to give Oliver more tools to cope with the severe PTSD and anxiety. It was a lot—to say the least. But it gave Hank more of a life in a way.
According to the planner there were two appointments on Friday afternoon, one a doctor's appointment and the second being a session with Dr. Charles. Hank had it worked out with Dr. Charles that most of his appointments would be on the same day as to keep things organized. Though there were still the sessions with Dr. Charles that were more often than his checkups but it still helped surmount-ably with management between both of their busy schedules.
The smell of his coffee disrupted him from his thoughts, calling him to grab a mug and join the awake world finally. With a steady pour he raised the cup to his lips, the steam filling his nose with the o sweet smell of coffee. As he sipped he then walked over to the toaster and dropped some bread in leaving it to toast to begin breakfast. Speaking of which he also needed to ready Oliver's lunch for the day, of which was prepared with the help of Mouch and Trudy thank goodness. He didn't know where he'd be without them. He smiled softly to himself as he walked to the fridge and pulled out a few things and placed them on the table. A ham, cheese and lettuce sandwich, some vegetables, some fruits and a chocolate protein drink. He also put a few extra snacks for him to eat through the day. Oliver needed to eat through the day or he'd experience headaches, dizziness and in extreme but not rare cases loss—of consciousness. There had only been two times where Oliver had to be hospitalized. Both only for a day but that didn't mean they were difficult. The stays meant needles, tests, people coming in and out at all times which messed up his sleep which then made the anxieties and night terrors worse. It was an ordeal Hank liked to prevent in any way possible.
He zipped up Oliver's lunchbox and placed it on the counter by his own travel mug on the table near the door. Heading back to the kitchen he sat back at the table going through the planner again, the coffee by his left hand offering a gleam of warmth in the dropping temperatures.
Although it was warm in the house Hank still couldn't help but notice the sudden fog that crept into his kitchen, causing him to rub at his eyes thinking he had something in them. But there came a smell too, a smell that didn't match the coffee or the regular scent of his house. It smelt like something was—-burning?
Abruptly a piercing beep ripped through the silence sending Hank shooting straight up out of his chair, sending the planner flipping out of his hands and nearly spilling his coffee on the small table he was at. The sound was ear piercing there was no way this hadn't woken Oliver up. He yanked a stool from the table and shot up towards the fire alarm, reaching up and tearing it down in one strong tug. When he pulled the alarm way it stopped but he took some ceiling bits with it. He had grabbed it so hard and fast he nearly ripped it off the ceiling. But he didn't stop there. He turned into the thickest of the smoke to see his toaster. Da— it, the toast. The toast had burnt sending the thing smoking. Hank yanked the chord out of the wall and picked it up without sense of heat or thinking. He put it right under the window off the counter to let the freezing air quench the smoke and clear out the room but all the while this was happening he hadn't heard the unsteady stamping of feet down the stairs until he turned around to the doorway where he was met with a plastic cup and a splash of water at his chest. It had been a full up of water and now his shirt was soaked. He looked down at himself in confusion, his mind not entirely catching up with the current events as his own adrenaline was just starting to calm down.
Here he was—in his hazy kitchen— with a soaked shirt—and smoldering toaster—in the early hours of the morning. Hank blinked the smog away as his mind caught up with him, the rough breathing helped too but it wasn't his own. It was thin, wheezy—familiar. He looked up from his shirt to see Oliver standing there, arm extended out and frozen like a statue. His little chest was heaving and his slightly mouth agape trying to suck in air. His eyes were glossy and wild with fear, the dark bags under them making his eyes cold and dark.
"Oliver" Hank said as realization came clear to him. Oliver had heard the alarm and rushed to find him, Oliver must have thought Hank was in trouble so he tried rushing down to save him with the water on his side table in his room.
Hank watched as Oliver's body began to crumble in a fit of shaking, a soft and broken sound escaping his little lungs. It was somewhere between a distressed whimper and a squeak that made Hank's chest lurch right before his body.
"Oliver, Oliver! Hey, hey Oliver it's ok, it's ok you're ok!" Hank reached forward with both arms extended, racing the gap between them to catch him. Oliver's knees buckled and he slumped into Hank's arms without another sound, his whole body going limp and still. Hank had dropped to one knee and caught Oliver as he fell forward to the floor, making contact with Hank's chest and shoulders.
"Oliver! Oliver! Can you hear me? Talk to me, come on talk to me" Hank said supporting the back of Oliver's head and the other arm wrapped around his back. Shifting his own body he pulled Oliver's head into his chest while leaning his little body against his leg that was upright from when he leaned forward to catch him. Hank lowered his head immediately to Oliver, listening for his breathing, feeling for a pulse. His little heart was beating fast but strong. He could feel it begin to slow down due to being shut down out of fight or flight now. But he knew it would hit Oliver harder when he came too. He'd be groggy, weak, his body would hurt all over—this was going to be a very different day.
He stayed with Oliver there on the floor, head cradled to his chest and his body up against his leg until Oliver's eyes began to twitch and flicker. He sucked in a couple quick and panicked breaths until his eyes flew open and his body jolted back to life. His arms flew up as he wobbly shot upright trying to look around the room.

"f-- fi--fi--fh-pa!" Oliver rambled incoherently. His breathing picked back up where it had left off, short and quick gasps that were shallow and panicked.
"Hey hey! Ollie it's ok, everything is ok just look at me, look at me" Hank said in a hushed and gentle tone. There was a hint of something else too. If someone were to have been listening carefully they'd hear something akin to--panic? Relief?
Hank carefully wrestled to get Oliver completely in his arms against his chest, speaking softly all while he was fighting.
"Ollie breathe, breathe, deep breaths, deep breaths, I'm here, I'm here!" Hank managed to get his arms around Oliver and gently squeezed giving some pressure to try and draw Oliver back. Dr. Charles said that in some cases, and if permitted, deep pressure can help ground an individual in the throughs of a panic attack. Of course you would first have to get consent but in this case he just acted.
"You're safe, you're ok, you're ok, there's no fire. It was just a little smoke." When Oliver felt the pressure he thankfully began to slow down. His arms stopped flying forward to get up and instead gripped at Hank's wet shirt. His fight and flight drive dampening from being held.His wheezing slowed into a broken up whimper and his eyes began to clear when he found Hank's concerned stare.
"That's it, that's it, it's me, you're ok. You're safe, you're safe." He just kept repeating himself until Oliver stopped moving completely and was able to recognize Hank's eyes were focused on him.
"F-fire? There's, there's--Papa?" Oliver looked up with aching and tired eyes. But there was something warm there, alive again. That little spark he seemed to get whenever he would look at Hank, it was barely flickering but it was back.
"No, no fire. Just some smoke that's all, that's all it was, there's no fire see?" Hank shifted his body so Oliver could see the kitchen that had now cleared out mostly so he could see the room clearer now. His little eyes darted back and forth looking for the blaze he expected but there really was nothing.
His focus then shifted back to Hank, feeling the wetness of his shirt under his clenched fingers. Oliver's eyes searched him up and down seemingly looking for something but Hank couldn't figure out what. Until he finally caught his breath to talk again,
"You're---ok? Are you hurt?" he asked.
Hank smiled warmly as his heart hit an extra beat, it all made sense to him now. Oliver must have thought there was a fire and Hank was in trouble, so he did all he knew to do. And that was to use water to put out the fire to protect him.
"No, no I'm ok don't worry I'm ok. And so are you, hear me?" he responded. Oliver nodded before letting out a shiver that rippled through his body. He whined as he forced his eyes shut and buried his face into Hank's chest.
"You're head hurts doesn't it?" Hank asked gently. He only received a sad nod from Oliver in response.
"Ok..ok come on, you can stay in my bed again ok? We'll just..take it easy today just you and me" he said in a whisper. Hank picked Oliver up into his arms fully and got to his feet. It broke his heart how easily he could carry Oliver, sure the little guy gained a few pounds since being adopted but he still felt like skin and bone. Getting up the stairs wasn't strenuous for Hank but then he had handled bigger and heavier, he opened the door to his room and slowly set Oliver down, cradling him carefully as he did.
"That's it nice and easy, you're ok, let's get you warm again yeah?" Hank said quietly. Oliver at first grabbed ahold of Hank's shirt in some sort of reflex, not wanting him to let him go out of fear.
"It's ok, we're gonna wrap you up and I'm gonna go get your heavy blanket and stuff from your room then I'm going downstairs for a minuet. I won't be leaving the house, it'll just be you and me today. Is that ok?" Hank asked as he pulled the blankets up to Ollie's nose and tucking them in around his little body. Oliver let his shirt go and snuggled against the pillow, allowing Hank to go do what he said he'd do and grab a few things. His stuffed triceratops named Red was the first thing he grabbed. It was one of the very very few things Oliver owned when Hank first met him. Next was a small weighted blanket that was soft and dark blue. It had been a gift from Dr. Charles to Ollie. Really the both of them as in the beginning Hank really had no 'tools' to help him right out the gate. There was a few other things Hank grabbed, the few books he had, a fuzzy airplane blanket and warm socks. When he returned he made Oliver cozy on his side of the bed then sat down next to him. Ollie curled in against Hank, touching his leg and the tail of his shirt. When he did this he knew he'd have to rub Oliver's back until he fell asleep as was their ritual whenever he would try to sleep. So his call into the station would have to wait. Unfortunately with this snag? The day would have to wait.
(Just part one! Part two being written)

Chapter Text

The sun slowly crept up the horizon unthawing the frozen blue sky with light oranges, reds and pinks. Chicago slowly began to rise with the sun. Cars began warming up, trains began running and people began walking to work. While everyone came to life Hank was up and walking down his stairs to start his morning. He wiped his eyes with one hand on the railing to help him down as he woke up. It had been almost exactly twenty four hours since Oliver’s panic attack and he hoped he would be able to get him back to school today. He himself had to get back to work. The team was waiting for him back at the district and so were a couple cases. He’d kept up with them by phone while looking after Oliver but it was different actually being there and working.
He felt the last stair under his foot as he was disturbed by an unfamiliar sound. It sounded like something being dragged, something metallic against concrete and it was coming from his kitchen. He stayed close to the walls and kept his feet light, his eyes trained on the origin of the sound. As he rounded the corner he took a knife from a hidden shelf and flipped it open behind him, it wasn’t his gun but it would have to do. But as soon as he cleared the threshold he saw his back door wide open and a familiar and small body with red hair dragging–was that his toaster? Hank flipped the knife closed and stuck it in his pocket quickly before he spoke and announced his presence.
“Oliver? What’s going’ on? Why is the toaster in the backyard? And why are you out here? You could get yourself sick.” He was sure to keep his tone easy and even as to not startle him more then he’d already be. Sure enough Oliver startled, jumping out of his skin as he flipped around to face him. His eyes were scared, face frozen in fear as well as the rest of his body.
“Hey hey, you’re not in trouble, you’re not in trouble. Come on lets go back inside huh? You’re shivering, it's freezing. Come on, it’s ok just come to me” Hank said with his arms open with a soft tone. Oliver looked from his feet to Hank’s eyes in a scared shame before dropping the chord and slowly stepping over to Hank. Ducking his head and holding his arms up close to his chest, beginning to shelter himself from what he thought was coming. It was heart wrenching for him to watch Oliver like this. He knew things like this would have gotten him struck or worse. He could only imagine, screaming, fighting–fear.
“You’re ok Oliver, listen you’re not in trouble I’m just a little confused is all. Why did you take the toaster outside? Especially in this cold, it’s not safe for you.” Hank said, making sure there wasn’t any anger or even frustration in his tone. He knew Oliver would catch on if there was, he had before.
Oliver looked up hesitantly a few times before making eye contact,
“It was gonna hurt you..it was gonna explode..like last time. And-and then I-I’s be alone” he said, his voice shaking as well as his body.
Hank smiled fondly with a pang of heartache, how could he even respond to something so–so innocent?
“It wasn’t going to explode kiddo I just left the toast in there too long, that was my mistake and I’m sorry it was so scary” Hank began as he crouched in front of Oliver, giving him his space if he wanted it.
“And hey listen to me. I will always be here for you, no matter what, I’ll be here even when you can’t see me. You call for me, it doesn't matter where you may be, I'll find you and I’ll bring you home–with me. Always, it’s you and me to the end. I promise.” Hank said it with every part of him, his soul, his heart, whatever he had left–he said it with everything.
Oliver’s shoulders relaxed from his ears–his eyes clearing of whatever tears he may have been holding back. He had never heard those words before. He had only dreamed of them in that dark house, that someday someone would say things like that to him–that he’d be loved. He walked towards Hank now, closing the gap between them willingly and on his own. His eyes were searching Hank’s with an heir of confused curiosity–and was it hope? Hank reached out his hand slowly and gently to Oliver, offering it to him in a sign of peace. He was safe, Hank wasn’t going to hurt him and he had nothing to worry about. Oliver looked down and took hold, his cold little hand being covered by Hank’s who was at least twice the size of his own.
“Come on kiddo, let's get you warm and ready for school ok?” Hank asked, rubbing his thumb against Oliver’s skin.
“Do you think you’d be up to it today?” he asked. Oliver took a moment and nodded quietly.
“Could I stay with you after papa?” he asked, squeezing Hank’s hand.
Hank smiled, “yeah you can stay with me until I’m done. After I pick you up you can nap in my office, you can help Trudy if you want, and say hi to uncle Jay and Kevin. Then what do you think we ask if Trudy and Mouse want to have dinner with us, how does that sound?”
“Can I help?” Oliver asked
“Absolutely” Hank smiled. With that Oliver nodded and willingly followed Hank upstairs to get ready for school. This process was very routine to Oliver, first starting out with getting his clothes on for the day followed up by going down for his medicines and breakfast. After that was finished he’d brush his teeth at the sink and then get bundled up which took a few minutes. He had layers of sweatshirts, coats, hand warmers in his gloves and socks before he slipped into his shoes. And once Hank was ready the last step were scarves for both of them but it was always two of Hank's scarves. Oliver preferred his to the smaller one Trudy bought him. Hank would never catch him without one even if he was in the classroom waiting to be picked up at the end of the day. He either had it around his shoulders or in his hands and took little smells of it. Hank assumed it was similar to Oliver calming down whenever he’d wear his leather jacket. After all, the coat always seemed to help him calm down when he needed it so Hank just always let Oliver keep one.

Hank helped Oliver to the car that had been running by giving him a lift in and buckling him in, setting his bag by his side after he was secure inside and drove towards the school.
The drive was calm and quiet due to Oliver gently dozing in the back seat. Hank looked from the road and into the rearview. Poor little guy could barely keep his own head up and he still shivered every once in a while even with the heat on. Hank sighed and dialed his phone as he drove with one hand.
“Hank? Is everything alright? If you need to stay home with Oliver again I can totally cover for you” Trudy’s concerned voice answered after two rings.
“No—no I’m coming in but, I’ve got him with me” he answered. “I was going to bring him to school but—the second I put him in his car seat he fell right back asleep…I don’t know—just feel like I’m making a mistake.”
“Hank, if your gut is telling you he needs another day then that’s the right call” Trudy replied honestly.
Hank sighed, looking back into the mirror for a moment before looking forward again. Trudy spoke again in the gap with a hushed and compassionate tone,
“Hank, you’re not messing things up or making things worse if that’s what you’re thinking. You said he had an episode and the doctors say that these things are twice as hard on him. And keeping him with you, with us, I think it’s the best idea for him right now too. Last thing we need is making his conditions worse than they already are…Is his heart doing ok? His stomach, his..”
“Everything is ok Trudy” he interrupted carefully. “I stayed with him all day after he passed out and kept track of his heart rate. After less than an hour his heart was back to normal and he was sleeping most of the day.”
“Then by the sounds of things it’d be better for him to stay with us, I’ll let the team know you’re on your way in” Trudy replied.
“Thanks Trudy…hey uh..is Randall workin tonight?” Hank asked before he had a chance to hang up.
“Um..no he actually finishes his rounds of shifts tonight why?” she asked curiously.
“Just thought– maybe it’d be good for all of us to have dinner..think it’d do Ollie some good” Hank said. He was trying to make the words that came out of his mouth normal but it was such an odd thing of him to ask. At least that’s what it felt like to him.
“I think that’d be a great idea” she said with a smile in her voice. “I’ll be sure to bring something over, I’m sure Randall will have an idea” she chuckled.
“Ok sounds good, I’ll be at the station in 20” Hank said before hanging up with Trudy and focusing back on driving. The ride was a quiet one, Oliver stayed asleep most of the time until they came to a stop in the station parking lot in which he gently stirred.
“You awake kiddo?” Hank said, gently touching Oliver’s leg to help wake him up. His little hand found and held onto his after a few moments of his head slowly swinging around. When his eyes fully opened Oliver realized he wasn’t at school but back at the station.
“Papa? We’re..we’re not at school?” he asked with a soft confusion.
Hank smiled softly and shook his head “no, we’re not. Not today. I thought it’d be better if you stuck around with me until you’ve got enough energy for school. That sound alright?”
Oliver nodded and shifted himself upright as he rubbed at his eyes. His hand fumbled for the seat belt button to let himself free as his other hand looked around for his backpack.
“Hang tight kiddo I got ya” Hank said getting out and around to Oliver’s door, opening it for him and standing by as he got steady on his little feet. Hank took his bag as Ollie wobbled slowly but surely on his feet to the back entrance of the station where the warmth filled him with a little more energy. It wasn’t enough to get up the stairs but the two had a system by this point. Oliver would get right to Hank’s side and wrap his arms around his shoulders and hold on as Hank would scoop him up with one arm and get him to the top of the stairs then set him down.
Once they turned the corner into the bullpen they walked in quietly and right to Hank’s office where Oliver made his home on the couch and fell asleep almost immediately. By the time Hank hung up his coat Adam was already at his door with updates on their current cases, it seemed that today would be a fast one he could only hope.
“Hey Sarge we got a lead on that robbery case from downtown. Suspect’s name is Daneil Oveture he’s got a shop on fifth street” Adam said with a soft voice seeing that Ollie was with him.
“Kev and I can take care of it boss, don't worry, just wanted to let you know before we headed out” Adam finished.
“Oh and there’s a fresh pot on the counter” he added as he walked to his desk and grabbed his coat with Kevin in tandem.
Hank nodded with thanks as the two went down the stairs quickly and buzzed out the gate heading to the cars. The office fell silent after that, leaving behind bags near desks and coats on chairs telling Hank that they were all here just probably running around working on different things. These things of which he had to update himself on, but only after coffee of course.
After getting his cup he sat down at his desk and put his glasses on to begin catching up on what he had missed the last day give or take. The team was fairly efficient and effective without him so if he needed to he could always rely on them to keep things going when he wasn’t around. It didn’t mean that he took days off though, that wasn’t a concept that Hank understood or learned to participate in often. But with Oliver now it was more of a necessity then when he was just by himself. And thankfully it seemed the team was taking to Oliver quite easily. Adam and Kim made sense as they had their own adopted daughter who was 11, Kevin was always a gentle guy at heart, Antonio being a dad of two helped and Haily was gentle when it came to kids. Jay was a little surprising, come to think about it though, a young dude, a bachelor nonetheless, ecstatic to have a little guy around that called him ‘uncle’. Admittedly it was actually heartwarming to see the crew with him. Slowly but surely Oliver was realizing that these people were good people and if he wanted–even family. It was a good start for him, better then he would have had without them. Maybe this–incident the other day wouldn’t fully destroy their progress. Just another snag.

Later that night Hank and Oliver got home and settled, Oliver putting his bag down by the stairs, Hank putting his keys on the table by the door and the both of them hanging their coats up on the hooks on the other wall at the door. Hank flipped on the rest of the house lights on as he cased casually through the house, checking doors and windows as he went to ensure everything was as it should. Oliver of course would never know this but this house had been broken into before and neither ended too well for Hank specifically and there was no way on earth he’d allow that to happen now. Oliver kicked off his shoes and placed them neatly beside one another next to the empty space where Hank’s boots would go when he’d sit down eventually on the couch and unlace them. It was clockwork, they’d walk in, Oliver would take off his shoes and backpack and coats while Hank would hang up his own coat, take a walk around the house then sit down on the couch and take his boots off. Oliver didn’t understand why Hank did this but it was better that he didn’t because if he did the poor little guy would be far more paranoid than he already was and this house was his home—his forever safe place. And whatever it would take Hank would keep it that way.
Oliver jumped up gingerly to get his last layer hung then immediately dived into one of the leather chairs across from the couch that had his favorite plush blanket waiting in which he buried himself like a little animal in his nest. When Hank came back around to take his boots off he couldn’t help but chuckle at the fluffy blob happily nesting in the seat across from him. All he could see was Ollie’s nose and cute puppy-like eyes that smiled at him from under his mop of red curls. This was the first time in a few days that Oliver had the spark back in his eyes, Hank could see it now whenever he happened to glance up as he untied his boots.
“Papa, you have big boots” he said muffled through the blanket.
”Big boots? Would you believe me if I told you that your uncle Kevin has bigger boots then I do?” Hank said smiling.
Oliver’s little eyebrows raised as a little giggle escaped from his lips that were now uncovered. “Bigger?…Uncle Kevin is..very big” he shrugged.
“That he is, he’s strong too” Hank replied, sitting up, finally taking his boots off.
”It’s scary..but..he..isn’t..scary” Oliver said. He had a confused expression as he hid half his face back into the blanket. His eyes seemed lost in thought, no doubt confused at how he felt towards Kevin. Kevin was—good—in Oliver’s lack of words. He talked nicely, he smiled, he didn’t yell or throw him around, in fact, he barely touched him, just let him touch his hand if he wanted. And he hadn’t clamped it shut and trapped him either. Just a quick tap and all the while he was still and didn’t move. And Jay had been the same too, given he wasn’t as big as Kevin but still very big and able to do whatever he wanted to him and Oliver wouldn’t be able to stop it. But there had been nothing to stop. He played cars with him, gave him food, he hadn’t been mean at all either which further confused him.
Hank slid his boots aside and sat on the edge of the couch to get closer with his arms on his legs and spoke with that reassuring smile Ollie grew to love,
”You know kiddo not everyone who is big and scary are bad people. There’s ways to tell the difference between good people and bad” he said.
Oliver tilted his head curiously, “there is?”
Hank nodded “remember how Jay didn’t get too close because you wanted your space?” Oliver took a minuet to think back before slowly nodding in response.
“He didn’t push you to do anything uncomfortable or anything that scared you. It’s because he wanted to make you feel safe and to not be afraid. He was showing you he wasn’t going to hurt you and Kevin did the same. But hear me when I say this Ollie, you can trust in your own time at your own pace. You don’t need to highfive them, hug them or even talk to them if you don’t want to yet. They won’t hurt you, and that goes for Papa Mouse and Mama Trudy alright?” he told Oliver with a compassionate teaching tone with a gentle look in his eyes.
“And if anyone hurts you, or scares you you come to me” he nodded.
“No one can hurt you anymore, not as long as you're with me. And if you don’t fully trust me yet that’s ok too, perfectly ok. I’ll do whatever I can to get there, at your pace and your time” he said, getting off the couch and crouching in front of Ollie carefully and slowly.
Oliver didn’t move, he didn’t flinch or even shy away, to Hank’s shock, his little feet came out of the blanket and patted gingerly onto the floor so he was standing in front of Hank now who couldn’t help but look into his now soft and warm eyes. With the blanket huddled around his tiny shoulders, leaving a trail of fluffy material in the space between him and the couch where he had just sat.
But what happened next left Hank frozen in his tracks and his heart feeling–alive. Oliver waddled over to him with the biggest smile Hank had seen in the time he’d met him. The only other time was when he showed Oliver his adoption papers months back and told him he’d be staying with him for the foreseeable future and even now the same life in his little eyes shown through for a rare opportunity.
The blanket fell off his shoulders to the floor, revealing his small figure as he stepped into Hank’s space by himself with no fear and such a gripping look in his eye Hank just stayed frozen in space. As a matter of fact those soft green eyes kept him there which was a very different thing for Hank as he was never one to freeze, and yet in this little guy’s presence he was. And that wasn’t even the biggest step because before Hank realized Oliver’s arms stretched around his neck as far as he could get reach and pulled him slowly into his small embrace.
“I do–trust–you” Oliver said happily and with such loving and soft honesty it shot straight though Hank unlike anything did, not for a very very long time—actually probably since Camile.
“No one likes me…or loves me…or wants to keep me. But you do. I wanted to disappear and never have to come back..but then..I would miss you…I think I’d be..sadder..without you” Oliver spoke softly as his head of curls nuzzled against Hank's own. Hank dropped slowly to his knees, wrapping his arms around Oliver slowly then holding him close to his chest. With just skin and bone Hank could feel Oliver’s heart beat against his own, and his hand could feel the bones in his back and ribs. But Ollie didn’t fight, he didn’t pull back, he just—melted.
“You pick me..so I pick you papa” Oliver finished, his pale cool cheek against Hank’s own.
Hank wasn’t a man of emotion. But that didn’t mean he was entirely absent from them. In fact it was quite the contrary. He forced them away along with pain in effort to hold onto whatever was left of his soul, whatever was worth staying alive for now that he had lost everything a man could lose. If anything at times–the emotions were a storm he couldn’t run from no matter how much he fought like hell to keep them under wraps.

Hank gently squeezed Ollie, allowing him to stay in the hug however long he wanted and sweetly the little guy didn’t let go. He didn't want to.
“I pick you too buddy, I always will” Hank quietly responded with any and all affection he could find. Hearing a newly six year old try to explain that he’d rather ‘disappear and never come back’ was jarring and excruciating. It made him furious that someone this pure and little could be treated like this, but it also broke his heart. No kid should understand that desire nor the pain that drives someone to want to escape this world permanently.
The two stayed like this for a few moments as the dark outside settled around them with the freezing cold. But here, right now, nothing could reach them, hurt them. Not even their own broken minds.
There then was a ring at the door and Oliver instinctively tightened his grip around Hank in fear, practically jumping into his arms and hiding his head in the side of his neck.
“Hey it’s alright, it’s ok. Remember I asked you about having dinner with your godmom and goddad?” Hank said softly as he held onto Oliver gently as he fearfully squirmed around in his arms, trying to get as close to Hank as physically possible.
“It’s ok it’s ok, slow down–here how about I wrap you up in the blanket again and you sit on the couch while I open the door to show you who’s out there. Then you can decide if you want them to come in or not. I’ll be right at the door so you don’t have to be scared of them barging in ok?” he spoke evenly and reassuringly.
Oliver’s squirming calmed after a few moments of processing and he gave a nod but his hands didn’t leave Hank’s shirt after he slowly let him go. Without pushing Oliver away he reached behind him and wrapped him in the blanket, doing what Dr. Charles had shown him to do which was to wrap it snugly around his shoulders and then just a little more when Oliver put his arms back inside the blanket. The pressure was supposed to mimic a hug or being held, it was something simple that could still make Oliver feel safe without Hank having to physically be there and for now it seemed to hold off a full panic for at least the next few moments. It gave Hank enough time to get to the door and slowly open it and greet Trudy and Mouch who waited at the door bundled up with a bag between them holding things for dinner no doubt.
“Hey Trudy, Hey Randall” Hank greeted them smiling, giving Trudy a hug and Mouch’s hand a firm shake.
“Just say hi before you step in, he’s a bit anxious” Hank said before stepping aside to let them both be seen by Oliver who was hiding in one of the leather chairs. But upon seeing them in the doorway he poked his head up and his body immediately relaxed with the visual recognition.
“Hey there champ! How ya doin! Is it ok if we come in?” Mouch said with a careful enthusiasm in order to not scare him. Surprisingly he hopped right off the chair with a little smile and blanket wrapped around him and waddled to the door, giving both of them a side hug in which Trudy and Mouch returned cautiously and gently. They shuffled inside and took off their coats and boots similarly to how Ollie and Hank would when they got home, giving him more of a sense of familiarity with Mouch and Trudy.
“You want to help me with this stuff in the kitchen kiddo? I’ll need your help making the sauce, that sound like something you want to try?” Mouch asked as he picked the bag back up once he was settled. Oliver smiled softly and nodded, following him to the kitchen with his blanket dragging behind him.
“Trudy a minuet?” Hank asked Trudy quietly before she could follow.
“Yeah what’s going on?” she asked concerned
“I may….need..Randalls help with something” Hank said trying to force the word ‘help’ out from his lips.
“Sure, what for?” Trudy asked with her eyebrow raised. That’s when Hank recounted the scare with the toaster the day before and how Oliver dragged it outside because he was terrified it would ‘explode’. He admitted he didn’t know what to do to fix it which was another hard sentence to get out.
Trudy’s concern disappeared into a look of fond exasperation and comedy. She stifled a laugh as she shook her head, “I’ll talk to Randall, he'll know how to explain it to him. We’ll get this fixed Hank it’s alright, it’s just a snag that’s all” she said reassuringly. “Now come on before you pop a blood vessel from asking for help” she chuckled as she put her hand on his shoulder, pushing him towards the kitchen where Oliver and Randall were setting out ingredients on the counter and utensils to start finishing the sauce for dinner.
It seemed that Oliver helping make the food he was going to eat made his anxiety about food a little easier to deal with. He’d lash out less, smuggle food less or steal less food from others and so on. It’s like it gave him some sort of control, and not to mention he actually seemed to have fun doing it. He’d never stop smiling as he listened to ‘papa mouse’ telling him how to be careful when cutting things, what to mix together first and giving Oliver the chance to taste and smell things he never had before. It was a warm sight, a good one. Hank and Trudy couldn’t help but watch smiling and chime in with other things he hadn’t heard of.
Hank could see Oliver was getting used to them, their voices, their faces, dare he say he was actually beginning to bond with them like he had with Jay and Kevin. There was a hope. There was hope yet for Ollie in this ragtag group of found family. Even with this snag, there would be more to come for sure, but if today showed Hank anything it was that he could handle it.

Even if it was without Camile this time….

Chapter Text

The 21st district settled into a calm hum as people made their way to their homes as the workday came to an end. Hank was no different, he sorted through his folders case by case, looking to see that everything was as comprehensive and up to date as possible while Oliver sat on the couch in his office in front of him. He tossed back and forth trying to get comfortable trying one side then the other. Then he’d try his stomach and when that didn't work he’d flip onto his back but the squirming was in vain. No matter how he laid down his muscles still ached lightly and his head tightened. He kept looking at Hank, hoping that he would be finished any second so they could go home to eat and so Oliver could take his bath. But just as Hank took off his glasses and set the files aside Hailey quietly knocked at the office door,
“Hey Sarge? I hate to do this but there’s a witness here wanting to give a statement but they refuse to have it done by anyone who isn’t in charge and they’re pretty antsy about doing it tonight.”

Hank looked up from his desk and over his glasses, “why can’t this wait till morning?”He shrugged.  His tone wasn’t one of anger yet but of displeasure and frustration.

Hailey sighed with a shrug and similarly frustrated shake of her head,
“I tried, she won’t hear it. She refuses to leave until someone in charge listens to her and now. I tried to send her off but then she just went to the front desk to Lieutenant Platt and made a fuss to her then she tossed her back to me.”

Hank huffed and stood up, replying in a tone that he said loudly he wasn’t having it  “bring her in, just give us a minute.”

Hailey nodded and left the room, leaving Hank to take out his phone and text Trudy if she could come up and sit with Oliver for a little while until he was finished with this pest all the while Oliver looked at Hank for an answer to what was going on.
He came around to the front of the desk and leaned down to Oliver and said calmly,
“I’m sorry Oliver I got to do one more thing then we can go ok?”
Oliver’s eyebrows narrowed and his nose scrunched up,
“but you said we were leaving when you were done!”
Hank nodded, “I know I’m sorry it’s not intentional ok? Sometimes things..just come up when we don’t expect them too.”
Oliver’s lip raised into a little snarl as he stomped his feet to the floor from the couch, “but you said we were all done! I wanna go!”
Hank grit his jaw holding in a frustrated sigh, “I know kiddo I know, and I’m sorry, please–just trust me ok? We’ll be going home in just another hour ok? Until then you’re going to be with your godmother ok?” He kept his tone even with a touch of sterness. Dr. Charles talked about how Oliver’s attitude could alter just even purely based on his blood sugar, never mind the anxiety, the panic and other physical things. All of that saying that correction had to be done a different and very specific way in order to curb behaviors but also to be patient and understanding.
With his scrunched nose Oliver ducked his head and dropped his shoulders down from his ears in defeat.
“O-k” he mumbled with his hands buried deep in his pockets, avoiding eye contact with Hank except for occasional and quick glances up.

Just then a tap came at the door as Trudy stepped in with a big rare smile that turned quickly to confusion as she read the room.
“Not very happy are we?” she asked Hank.
“No..I’ve got to go take this woman's statement, says she refuses to talk to anyone not of high rank thus this tailspin. I’m only giving her an hour but after that I’m walkin out” he said quietly as he rubbed his thumb on his eyebrow.
“Ugh, is it Marianne again? I swear she’s in every other week trying to make statements on crimes she’s witnessed first hand in the neighborhood or accusing someone of stealing her cat, spoiler alert, she’s the one that always forgets to shut her doors and not just the screen door” Trudy said rolling her eyes.
Hank shook his head, “Haily says it has to do with the Bannermen case I don’t know” he threw up his arms.
“Don’t worry I got this covered ok? Go do what you need to do” Trudy said encouragingly, patting his shoulder with an assured smile.
“Thank you Trudy” he said, patting her shoulder back with a more relaxed expression on his face as he grabbed a notepad from his desk.
“One hour ok kiddo? Then we’ll get home and cozy ok?” he bent down to ask Oliver. But Oliver would just turn his head away in defiance with his little wrinkled brow and nose, causing a little lip snarl.
“Oliver— look at me” Hank spoke sternly, and just by dropping his voice enough Oliver caught on quickly and immediately turned his head to look up at him.
“Thank you, I know you’re not happy and I’m not either, I want to go home too. But there are times we sometimes can’t do what we want right away and we have to take care of things, understand?” Hank’s voice was back to his normal calm tone now, his expression softer than it was seconds ago.
Oliver nodded silently, his hands dropping out of his pockets and his grumpy expression fading into one of mopey acceptance.

Hank then got back up and headed out of his office towards the hall where the interview rooms were, leaving Ollie and Trudy alone together. Trudy got down just as Hank did with Oliver,
“You know what you do when stuff like this happens?” she asked him.

Oliver tilted his head curiously as a puppy would and shook his head no.
“You try to find a way to make it fun” Trudy said with a smile.
She offered her hand to Oliver, “want to see how we can make this fun?”
Oliver looked from her smile that could only be described as excitement with a dab of mischief and her open hand palm up to him.
He raised his hand up to rest it in hers after he gave a nod of approval, curious to see what this ‘fun’ Mamma Trudy was talking about.

She led him down the stairs carefully and to the front desk where a couple of tubs and boxes sat all next to each other in a row. They seemed to be filled with all different colors and textures but Oliver couldn't tell what kind of textures. He looked to the boxes then back to Trudy as they walked over and opened one up. Inside there were all sorts of Christmas decorations, red, green, gold, white, string lights, and that was only this box. Inside the others had wrapped boxes, a tabletop christmas tree and more things that could be hung easily with tape.
“Decorations…they’re decorations” Oliver said curiously as he ever so carefully dove his hands in to take things out and explore them. Suddenly he wasn’t as grumpy anymore, rather enamored by the colors and feel of these decorations.
“I was wondering if you would like to help me decorate the lobby, make it festive for Christmas” she asked smiling.
Oliver looked at her for a moment as the gears in his head spun. Finally a light went off in his head,
“Like at school” he said, making a connection in his mind.
“Do you decorate your classroom too at school?” she asked.
Oliver nodded with a little smile, “yeah! We do it each time, Miss Lisa even lets us have a Christmas tree…we make things to put on the trees, well, the others do, I just put mine on the school tree.”

Trudy felt her heart sink. He must have only known about the world through school which was probably his only escape from the house he was trapped in and that meant Christmas too. The only experience he must have had of the holiday was through class activities alone nothing more.

“Well how about you bring home  whatever ornaments you make and we can put them either on the little tree that goes on my desk or the one at our house” Trudy proposed to him.
Oliver’s eyebrows raised in surprise as little sparks went off in his eyes,
“Really? Is that ok?”
Trudy nodded enthusiastically “of course! And how about this? I’ll see if I can’t convince your papa to get one for your house so you can put any decorations you want on it, and you could decorate it together.”
A wonder filled smile took over his previously unhappy expression, giving his face a glow she hadn’t seen before on him.
“Really! My own tree? I never had that before, all the other kids talk about their trees, they have lights, and stuff on them, even toys!” he exclaimed. “What is it like? To have a tree in your house?” He asked.
“It’s so pretty, especially when you put different colored lights on, and shiny ornaments, if you turn all the lights off except the tree lights it lights up the whole room” Trudy said, painting a picture for him. “Sometimes in houses they’ll put up what’s called ‘garland’. It looks like little tree branches woven with lights all together and you can put it around the railing on your stairs, or on windows, or above doors and windows!”
“Whaaaat?” Oliver breathed. “You can do that? We don’t have anything like that in school! Do you have some?” Oliver asked, turning to a box and diving into it to find this magical thing.
Trudy reached for the box to search through with him, “well I don’t have that exact kind but I have this kind!” She took out a poof of red glittery stuff that looked like pine needles but were soft and tickly to the touch.
Oliver carefully reached out with a fascinated and questioning look, his eyes asking Trudy if he could touch it or hold it. Trudy handed him the pile and put it in his lap letting him have the whole thing and explore this new thing he found.
Oliver took it in his hands, wrapping it around his fingers, rubbing it against his cheek and draping it around his neck. His eyes searched it, watching the red thistles give off flecks of bright red against the overhead lights, moving it in different ways to see how the light changed the way it looked and how it felt when he twisted it around.
“What do you think? Want to wrap this on the railing up there? The one to your dad’s office?” Trudy asked, pointing behind her.
Oliver’s eyes lit up and a full smile now splayed over his face. His red curls bobbed back and forth as he excitedly nodded his head and tried to stand up with all of the garland in his arms. Some fell to the floor by his feet and his arms were consumed by it, giving him the look of being partly a floating red cloud. He excitedly waddled to the stairs trying not to trip over all the excess on the floor in front of him which just made Trudy giggle to herself.
“Oliver, do you want help? There’s so much garland it looks like its eating you” Trudy said playfully.
This got Trudy a precious giggle from Oliver who looked back at her upon hearing her voice.
“Yes please! It tickles!” he said giggling more and scrunching his neck back as it tickled the back of his neck and felt weird.
Trudy took the garland gently from Oliver’s arms and began untangling him from the furry knot he got himself in. And all the while he was giggling and spinning around in the direction Trudy would pull to try and help get himself out.
Finally when he was free the two went up step by step together, wrapping the garland around and around, Oliver helping place the tape on the way down. After a few minutes of working together they got down to the last stair and tied off the garland on the pole, finishing their first task.
Oliver looked up the stairs marveling at their work. “We did it! Is there more? Can we do more?” he asked excitedly.
Trudy fondly chuckled as the two walked back to the boxes in front of the desk, “yes we can! There’s more in the boxes, here help me hang this around the desk. Just like on the stairs you’re going to be my tape man ok? I need your help to put tape on these so it stays up.”
Oliver nodded dutifully and focused on the tape, trying to make every piece the exact length as the next and putting them where Trudy pointed him too.
“This is fun! I don’t get to decorate this much at school, Miss Lisa gives us things but says that everyone needs a turn, and I’m ok with that, but it makes me sad when it’s over because then there’s no more.” Oliver explained as the pair went across the desk with the ribbon bit by bit.
Trudy was taken aback by Oliver’s openness in this moment, by what she had experienced Oliver only ever seemed comfortable enough to speak to Hank on a normal basis, making this an opportunity she absolutely was overjoyed for. But interacting with Oliver was like interacting with a deer who would either run or attack if startled so she kept her smile the same and her tone happy and gentle which was something that required a little more thought but Oliver’s gentle temperament made it oddly easier.
“Well your teacher is right, everyone should have a turn and share. But now that you’re with your papa, and me, and papa mouse you can help with all the decorating you want.”
“You–really mean that?” he asked softly.
Trudy smiled and nodded, “yes yes you can. If you’d like we can ask your dad if you can come to our house and help decorate, I have aaalooot more decorations at home. Sometimes I have to do it myself because Papa Mouse works at a different time than I do.”
“Could we do it with Papa and Papa Mouse too? I want to do it with them too, like all the other kids do with their mama's and pappa’s ” he asked.
Gently and slowly she reached her arm up to set her hand on his shoulder, giving Oliver time and space to refuse her if he chose. But he didn’t move. He just traced from her arm to her face with his eyes that held a sort of calm she hadn’t seen in them before. She held his shoulder gingerly, the warmth that was rising in her chest traveling up to her to her smile as time seemed to slow for them briefly, allowing them both to take it in.
“I think they’d really like Oliver, I think it would make them very very happy. Oliver–your papa may not say it with his words all that much— but you are very special to him–and to us. I just want you to know that” she said.
“Special—I’m special? Does— that mean that–you choose me too?”

Chapter Text

Trudy’s heart folded. She was utterly speechless. Truth be told she never had thoughts of being a mom, nor was it ever really a thought that she had entertained but now, here in this moment, one was asking her to be his. With both hands on Olivers shoulders she finally spoke after taking a moment,
“Yes, yes Oliver we do, and you—you don’t have to choose us in that way if you don’t want to, ok? That decision is up to you” she said, trying to fight off her shaking voice. “No matter what, we'll always choose you, always.”
Oliver’s eyebrows rose, his smile grew, she’d never thought that look would ever be on his face. Oliver took a step forward into Trudy’s arms and wrapped his own around her, letting her wrap him up carefully. Trudy was thankful Oliver couldn't see her face at that moment and that they were alone because she was fighting tears that threatened to drop.
The embrace gave her enough time to recuperate when they pulled away.
After a moment oliver spoke, “mama are we done decorating or can we do more?”
Trudy nodded, smiling “yes, yes we can absolutely keep going, you choose the next one we put up.”

Some time went by quickly with all the fun the two were having throwing decorations around, playing with the ribbons and wreaths, before long the boxes were empty and the foyer and the lobby was decked out in Christmas gear.
“It looks so different now! It’s–fun” Oliver said, turning around in slow circles.
“Woah look at all this!” Kim’s voice came from a hall at the very end of Trudy’s desk.
“Looks like a winter wonderland, you do all this little buddy?” Adam’s voice came as well. Oliver’s body whipped around at the voices and tentatively backed up a little when they were out in the open.
It was clear Oliver recognized them and their voices as he didn’t immediately run to hide away  when he heard them coming. He watched as they got closer, Kim gave a gentle smile and a wave to greet him as Adam was sure to crouch down with a gentle smile.
Oliver turned slowly to Trudy and pointed at her before looking back at Adam and Kim to answer his question.
“Mamma helped,” he said, his voice quiet and a little pensive.
Adam looked at Trudy with a smile, both him and Kim clearly surprised Olvier called her ‘mamma’ but they didn’t let on that they were in order to not startle Oliver.
“Well you both did amazing! It’s beautiful, did you have fun?” Kim asked.
Oliver relaxed a bit and nodded, “I got to help with all of it this time.”
Trudy walked forward towards the group and put a reassuring hand on Oliver’s shoulder to hopefully help calm him, “yeah Oliver was just telling me how his teacher lets the kids in his class decorate their classroom but he doesn’t get to do as much as he liked so I thought he was the perfect little helper.”
“That’s great! Think you could help me with mine? He’s not the best at decorating” Kim said, putting her hand to the side of her mouth with a wink.
Adam’s face scrunched into a playful expression of disbelief, “hey I helped with Makayla’s birthday party and she liked it she told me so!”
Oliver’s head tilted curiously, “Makayla?” he asked. “Who’s that?”
Kim smiled as Adam got out his phone, “Makayla is our daughter, she’s a little older than you but she is the absolute best.”
Adam took out his phone and showed Oliver a picture of a little girl with dark brown skin, tight curly brown hair and a smile that was missing the two front teeth. Oliver quirked his head sideways and his eyebrow raised, she–didn’t–look–like Kim and Adam. Just like he didn’t look like Hank but he was still his Papa.
“She–doesn’t look like you” he observed. “Like how I don’t look like Papa.” Adam looked up to Kim unsure of what to say, Oliver had far more of an understanding then he expected a little kid to have. Kim gave Adam a tiny reassuring nod, telling him she had an idea of what to say.
“You’re right Oliver she doesn’t, she’s adopted, just like how your dad adopted you. But just because she doesn’t look like us doesn't mean she’s not ours just like how your dad is still your dad” Kim said sweetly, explaining it the best she could in a way he’d understand and it seemed to work.
Because as Oliver exchanged looks between Trudy, Kim and Adam a soft and subtle look of discernment cleared his normally dark eyes. Something had clicked for him in his fractured mind. He reached out to the phone with a soft smile, his hands going up to hold Adam's hand in place so he could look at the family photo on the screen without him taking it back.
He couldn't see this but Trudy staired Adam down with a look of surprise and suspense. This right here was monumental, two of these moments in one night? This was unheard of for Oliver! Normally he held onto Hank’s hand or used his fingers to cling to his belt sticking close to him like a shadow and refused to stray a step. He’d wave from a distance then duck back behind Hank or back behind a doorway or wall and that was it. But yet here he was, not by Hank’s side, initiating interaction on his own, physical touch on his own.
Trudy staired Adam and Kim down with a surprised and suspenseful expression mouthing  ‘ do—not—move’ over Oliver’s shoulder and all the while he was entirely unaware that he single handedly seemed to stop time around them and for Trudy, for the second time that night. Even though it was only a few moments in reality it felt like he took minutes looking at the picture in Adam’s hand, his soft smile lighting up his eyes from deep within.

Once he was satisfied he took his hands away and backed up to Trudy slinking to be near her side.
“I like it,” he said softly “I like the picture..it's happy.”

Before anyone could react the sounds of steps came echoing down from the stairs leading to the bullpen, the steps stopping, a buzz sounding, then a clink as the door unlocked then closed. Oliver’s head whipped around so fast Kim and Adam were afraid he’d break his own neck. But the second Oliver recognized Hank, the rigidness in his body dropped as he quickly shuffled on over to Hank, arms outstretched with the biggest and tired smile.
Oliver wrapped his arms around Hank’s waist as that's all he could easily reach, with the top of his head only coming to just about Hank’s lower ribs, his waist was the easiest thing to cling to. He nuzzled his face into Hank’s side in which Hank put his hand on Oliver’s back giving him a little squeeze.
“You came back,” Oliver said, holding onto him.
“Just as I said I would” he reassured him, a smile curling at his cheeks. It was a look Kim and Adam hadn’t really seen on Hank before, one they thought him incapable of. They looked at each other with awe in their eyes and a knowing smile on their lips. Honestly they weren’t even sure they should be witnessing this, and the look on Trudy’s face? For Kim that was almost more shocking. She knew her sergeant to be good and gentle with kids but this was different somehow, this was more—gosh Kim just couldn’t put her finger on it.
“Oliver helped with alllll this, now 21 is officially ready for christmas” Trudy said walking towards Hank and Oliver, gesturing to the room around them.
“All of this huh? Look at you go! See I told you she was fun” Hank said to Oliver as he pointed at Trudy with a wink.
“See? I tell everyone I can be fun but you guys never believe me!” she said jokingly, turning to Kim and Adam who chuckled quietly.
“We just needed to see it for ourselves that’s all!” Adam said with a cheeky smile and a shrug. Trudy just playfully huffed and rolled her eyes, turning her attention back to Hank and Oliver.
“You’re going to have to put up a tree at the house now I’ll have you know. Aaaaand he’s coming to mine to decorate tomorrow” Trudy said to Hank, gently giving Oliver’s cheek a rub with her thumb.
Hank chuckled and shook his head, looking down to Oliver, “that sound ok to you?”
Oliver smiled and nodded, rubbing at his eyes as he did.
“Yeah I want to do Christmas more” he yawned but all with a sleepily enthusiastic smile.
“Well I think it’s a plan then, I’ll pick you up from your god mom's house tomorrow” Hank said, being sure to lay it out verbally so Oliver would hopefully remember it for tomorrow. It was all part of the process of building his trust that even if the plans changed Hank would always come back and never leave him somewhere he wouldn't be safe or comfortable in.
“Alright lets get home like I promised before you fall asleep standing up” Hank chuckled to Oliver. Cutely he just nodded and yawned, holding onto Hank as he lifted him up into his arms to go up the stairs.
“Goodnight mama, goodnight uncle Adam and Auntie Kim” Oliver waved sleepily before he and Hank disappeared upstairs.
“Did that really just happen? I didn’t know Sarge was capable of smiling like that” Adam chuckled looking between Kim and Trudy.
“You may not have seen that smile before but it’s a real one,” Kim replied.
Adam looked at her with a quirked brow, “what is that supposed to mean? You’ve seen it? Why do I feel like I’m missin’ out?”
“It’s rarer than the eclipse but there’s a heart under all that rasp and armor. The trick is you just can’t directly admit that out loud” Trudy told him as she began to pick up the empty bins.
Ok…then I guess I saw nothin’” Adam said with a shrug but his eyes still glimmered with that curiosity Kim recognized.
“I’ll tell you in the car” she whispered. “Can we help you with those Sarge?” she asked Trudy.
“No I’m just going to put em’ behind the desk and call it a night…..before you two go” she said turning around after a moment, “you know your Sarge, you’ve spent enough time to know him, and you know this is real, him and Olvier. And you know he won’t ever ask for help or show that side of himself if he can help it. Just guard that alright? When you see it just let it be, he needs this as much Ollie does. Look out for them both ok?”
“Of course, of course we will, we get it” Adam said looking down at Kim then back at Trudy.
“You know we will Sarge, we’ll see you in the morning” Kim replied.
The group said goodbye and parted their separate ways for the night, both Kim and Adam stepping out into the frigid and quiet night.
“So..something you were going to tell me in the car?” Adam asked inquisitively, his head leaned down close to her ear.
“You can’t help yourself can you?” she chuckled. “Ok ok I’ll tell you. You know the night we found that den near Sarge's house? Well he and Oliver had actually known each other for a year before that happened. Sarge would find him outside in the winter and heat, sometimes the poor kid would even pass out from it. He’d take him in, getting him comfortable, safe, and began to give him some food. That night we came up to that house he actually snuck into the house, taking Oliver out before the bust went down. After that he couldn't stop thinking about him, and Oliver couldn’t stop asking for him apparently. So, one day, he called me into his office and asked about how I went through with adopting Makayla.”
“Really?” Adam said softly, hanging off of every word Kim said.
“So..I stayed later some days to help him with the paperwork until the papers came in” Kim finished the story smiling softly, remembering the day that they had arrived.
Kim had just stopped at the front desk in the late afternoon and Trudy handed her a large envelope, sliding it across the desk and holding it in place until Kim actually looked from her own papers up at her.
“Get this to you sarget Burgess” she had said in her normal ‘get this done or else’ tone.
“Yeah Sarge I got it” Kim said trying to pull the envelope again towards her but it didn’t budge.
“Get. This. To. Your. Sargent.” Trudy repeated pausing between each word. Confusingly Kim looked at her and nodded, now sliding the free envelope into her arms. But when she held it finally she saw something, a stamp, a familiar stamp. Her jaw dropped and she gasped with glee as Trudy shushed her and shooed her to get up the stairs, “go go on git! Go!”
Kim tried to act as normal as she could but her heart was skipping and twirling in her chest as she buzzed herself back in and raced up the stairs, praying that Hank hadn’t left yet and to her relief he was just coming out of his office with his things.
“Sarge! Sarge! Sarge!” Kim called up the stairs practically floating up the rest of the way. Hank froze in place knowing that his name repeated at all was never a good sign, but Kim’s beaming face entirely contradicted that.
“What? What Kim, what's going on?” he asked, concerned holding a gentle hand out to subconsciously slow her down but that didn’t seem to work as Kim whizzed past him to his office door and reopened it.
“Sarge, come on! Get in! Shut the door” Kim said in an excited whisper as she practically corralled him back into the room. Once the door was shut she buzzed around shutting the shades which just made Hank even more concerned and confused, these were for serious talks and not just any serious talks as even for those he commonly kept the blinds open. Hank stood in absolute confusion as she flew around then handed him a seemingly normal envelope with the biggest smile.
“What–is this Kim?” he asked, taking it gingerly in his hand as if it would explode at any point.
“Open it” she said beaming, careful to keep her voice low despite her excitement and when he didn’t begin opening it fast enough she told him to just flip it over with impatience.  And on this side, he got his answer, an official notary stamp from the city of Chicago.
“I think these are the papers Sarge, these have to be it” Kim said with anticipation. She watched as all confusion dropped from his face and was replaced by disbelief. His jaw loosened in awe and his brows raised, all the tension dropped from his shoulders. It was clear he was still trying to keep his normal mask of composure but Kim could see the excitement in his eyes. It was indisputable, it was written all over his expression like a book, a book that you could read just enough of the encrypted scribbles to see into the soul that wrote them.
It was so unfamiliar to her to see him like he was in that moment. There was–almost like a fullness now to his gaze as he looked through the papers, his smile just getting more warm and genuine with each page. It was something Kim wouldn’t forget even if she tried, to see that expression on Hank’s face? It was simply something priceless.
“Wow— so he really is serious about this…not that I doubt it of course, when Sarge sets his mind to somethin he’s like a dog with a bone” Adam said as the two got into their car.
“I’ve never seen him so..so happy? Gosh, is it bad I can’t imagine those two things in the same sentence?” Kim asked buckling in as the car started.
“Well what Platt said makes much more sense now, the guy’s lost–everything. Everything but the job” Adam replied.
“Well honestly? Whether he likes it or not, he’s got us, and there’s nothing he can do about it” Kim said with a soft smile.
Adam put the car in drive then swung his arm around her shoulders while he drove with his left hand, “you got that right. We got him, we got them both now, Platt’s got nothin’ to worry about.”  

Chapter Text

The clock on the wall in the kitchen read 10:03am. The sun was in full bloom in a sharp blue sky looking frozen like the city itself had become. It had only been the start of December and the very air felt like breathing ice, singing of the turning season and coming festive spirit. Almost overnight the city had begun to turn into a winter wonderland, yards with decorations being put out, lights being hung, houses being decorated, it all had begun fairly immediately.
While the holiday buzz stirred outside Hank looked at his watch and set down the papers in his hands,because today work would have to wait. Today was Saturday and Trudy had determined that they’d do as many Christmas activities as Oliver wanted to take and today was no exception.
She and Mouch would be over in a few hours and Oliver was still upstairs asleep. Hank usually let him sleep in a bit on the weekends but also he tried to follow Dr.Charles’s orders to keep Oliver’s sleep schedule as consistent as possible and not have sleep and naps run into each other.
It was funny, usually parents wouldn’t be excited to wake up their kids because that meant the chaos of the day would ultimately have to begin but for Hank it was different. Did he have to be careful waking Oliver up? Sure, but when those little green eyes opened and soaked up the sunlight only to focus on him? It was secretly one of his favorite things now, not that he’d ever admit it out loud to anyone but it absolutely was a favorite time of his.
So, he quietly set up the stairs carefully so as to not make too much noise and tapped on the door rhythmically once he got to it.
”Ollie—Ollie it’s me, I’m comin’ in” Hank announced just loud enough to be heard beyond the door. He turned the doorknob and slowly opened the door to Ollie’s room that was softly lit by a lamp that filled the room with soft glowing stars. These ones were particularly green since that’s what Oliver chose the night before.
It was part of his nighttime routine. First a warm bath after dinner, second was watching one sport or another with Hank on the couch for a little while after taking his sleeping medicine, then it was up to bed if he hadn’t already fallen asleep on Hank’s chest. If he was still awake Hank would turn on the extra heater in the corner of his room, let him pick out what color stars he wanted in addition to what sounds he wanted playing on his little speaker and then he would stay until Oliver fell asleep, rubbing his back if he asked for it. Gosh if anyone that knew him saw those gentle moments they wouldn’t believe their eyes because honestly nor could Hank.
He stepped in quietly going over to sit on the edge of Oliver’s bed, reaching across him Hank opened the curtain just a bit to let some of the sunlight through to light up the room but not enough to blind the little sleeper. He couldn’t pull it all the way open without overwhelming Oliver with the light, he had to adjust to it himself and then eventually he’d open the curtains himself to feel the sun. He had this new cute habit of wandering around the house wherever the sun came into the house when it was still light outside and lying down on the floor, couch or whatever surface like a puppy in a sun puddle. And when Hank asked why? Oliver just looked up at him with those green eyes and told him “it’s warm and it feels nice! Except the ground, the ground hurts but that’s ok I’m used to it.”
Which of course put another dent in Hank’s heart because between the lines Hank could safely assume that that is how he slept in his past and just came to understand it as ‘normal.’ No kid should know what that life was like and it hurt to know that’s all he knew until now. But now was different. Now he was safe in his own bed with his own blankets in his own room with his very own Papa, the only thing he ever wanted little did Hank know.
Little moves of the blankets and a squeak from under brought Hank back into the moment. He gently reached out to a spot of Oliver’s arm that wasn’t swallowed by the nest of blankets and gently took just two fingers and ever so carefully touched his arm and would stroke back and forth when Oliver didn’t startle and pull back. This way had been the easiest way to wake Oliver up calmly and not shoot him straight into a panic because that’s exactly what would happen and if you were lucky you wouldn’t get struck or kicked and the poor thing would fall out of the bed into the corner. Then it would take an extra 30 minutes to get him back to reality and out of said corner. Plus it was something only Hank would do. So whenever he did it Oliver didn’t startle as bad and even being extremely groggy be able to identify who was touching him.
When Hank made contact there was a brief jump and whimper of the blanket pile but right after that he fell calm again, stretching his little arm out to reach him. And after Oliver found his hand? Everything was ok. His little fingers wrapped around his calloused hands and then he’d relax again just clinging onto Hank’s hand.

“Really got stuck in there this time huh?” Hank asked with a fond smile looking at the ball of blankets Oliver weaved himself into.
It always took a while to get Oliver fully awake and that was mainly because of the anemia and deficiencies slowing his blood and oxygen circulation, not to mention that in addition he took a little bit of medication to help to get him to sleep and keep him asleep.
It was a gentle process, it had to be. Hank knew that he had to first knock at the door to announce himself to not possibly set off his fight or flight the second the sound hit his little ears. Then he’d come in quietly like he just did and find an arm or hand and gently rub until either he was refused, which came in the form of a big startle and whimpering, or, his little hand would grab his just like it was now. Next was the waiting game, you couldn’t rush this part according to Dr. Charles because it took twice the amount of time for Oliver’s senses to come to him then another child’s would. So after a minute of comfortable quiet Hank saw the blankets move and shift as Oliver stretched out his limbs slowly all while still holding onto his hand. After his little squeaks from his starfish stretch his body would fall still again but his hand that was holding Hank would start to move more than just twitches. His little fingers would trace Hank’s own as if verifying it was really him before he slowly poked his head from the blankets.
“There he is,” Hank said, keeping his voice soft and his face smiling, of which he couldn’t resist.
“It’s just me, you got yourself wrapped up in there this time.” Hank chuckled as he carefully moved a blanket back to expose
Ollie’s little rosy cheeked face. His eyes were sluggishly blinking and flickering as his brain started up and all the while still gripping onto Hank’s hand, pulling it closer to his chest. Through the back of his hand against Oliver’s chest Hank could feel his little heart beat pick up leisurely after each slow deep breath he took which signaled he was becoming more aware.
Oliver let out a sigh as his eyes began to stay open for longer increments until they were fully open and focused on Hank’s.
And there, right there, was one of Hank’s favorite parts he secretly kept to himself.
When he could see the warm green of his eyes find his own and soften in a cute sleepy stupor it made Hank smile honestly and sweetly everytime. It made him feel odd, like his insides were all warm and not..numb..like it had before. It was weird but Hank didn’t push the feeling away, even if he didn’t fully acknowledge it and secretly?
He indulged in it, especially when there weren’t other eyes watching.
“Hey there” he said smiling, “you ready to try and sit up?”

Oliver locked Hank’s hand to his chest and stayed frozen in place as his eyes dizzily shut again, giving Hank the sign that he wasn’t fully ready. But that was perfectly ok with Hank, there really wasn’t a rush today and even when there was he wasn’t going to rush him awake. Especially since Oliver didn’t do this on purpose. If Hank learned anything, it was involuntary— that he had to be woken. His body didn't react like other healthy kids would be. They’d be reactive to their name or touch of their parents fairly immediately. But for Oliver it took a little bit longer.
The quiet that filled the room was peaceful. The sun coming in gently through the half opened curtain warmed the colors of his room like warm marmalade, dripping in sweet and slow. Which was a contrast to the frigid cold that crept into every crack and crevice outside, although the sun was out it definitely didn’t feel like it. But here in this moment, it was like a soft spring day.
Oliver began to tussle more in his bed, rubbing his face on his stuffed triceratops the more his eyes began to stay open. And then the second moment Hank couldn’t help but fall for, Oliver made perfectly focused eye contact with Hank. It wasn’t sudden or intermittent but focused. Like his mind finally could make the acknowledgment of who was next to him and where he was.
Oliver wiggled close to Hank’s leg that was leaning on his bed and began to use it to try and prop himself up. But as he tried he still wobbled a bit, his muscles still not totally all awake but the little guy had made up his mind. He was sitting up. Hank gently used his hand on Oliver’s opposite shoulder to steady him as he wiggled upright like a little snake out of a charmer’s basket.
“You slept real good, didn’t ya?” Hank asked with a fond smile on his face and a chuckle on his lips.
Oliver’s red hair was pointed all different ways till Sunday, giving him a look of one of those birds that could flex out their feathers when they got disgruntled. But his face wasn’t disgruntled. In fact there was a look Hank hadn’t seen on Oliver’s face before. It was almost akin to happiness, but that wasn’t the word Hank’s mind was searching for. Content. Yes, contentment, that was it.
Oliver rubbed at his eyes like a little pup and nodded with a big half awake smile on his face in response to Hank who was still steadying him with a careful hand.
“Did you?” Oliver’s voice breaking through in quiet stutters, his little hand blindly reaching out to Hank’s chest which he kept missing. Depth perception, definitely not awake enough for that yet.
Hank chuckled with a little shake of his head. Every day he seemed to become more and more amazed by this little guy who, by all accounts, shouldn't understand empathy or compassion. But what came from his little heart was pure.
“I slept just fine, don't worry about me, do you remember what we’re doing today?” Hank asked, raising his eyebrows as he asked and keeping his voice soft and low.
Oliver’s eyes were still shut when his eyebrow quirked up and his head fell to his shoulder in an exaggerated question of confusion. A little ‘hmn?’ came from his nose which he wrinkled then itched from the funny feeling it gave him.

“Your Godparents are coming over soon, somethin’ about a Christmas tree?” Hank smiled knowingly. Trudy had convinced Hank to get one earlier that week and over the phone she said they were bringing ‘other surprises’. What that meant he had no clue but he was sure he’d find out soon enough.

Oliver’s eyes sparked open a little wider, lighting his face up with a little more color once he remembered Papa telling him that before. His head whipped up straight again making him dizzy but he was smiling all the same like his brain just didn't register the rest of his body.

“Mama and Papa Mouse? When?” he asked with a sleepy excitement, clumsily leaning forward to try and get his feet on the ground. But before he could he was held by Hank sturdily.
He helped Ollie untangle from his blanket nest layer by layer, pulling back the fuzzy blankets he’d received early on after he moved to be with Hank.
Most were kindly donated from Randall’s crew at the firestation which was a big surprise to Hank. Sure, he worked with CFD on cases, knew names, ranks, personalities but he didn’t expect such willingness to be generous like that. They even got him some of his clothes, some bedding, a pair of shoes and even a fire truck toy he loved endlessly.

One of the guys Hank only knew to be a Lieutenant by the last name Herman had even brought some of his own kid’s PJ’s that they hadn’t fit in for a while, and they were all surprisingly still in good condition exactly like the one he was wearing now.
It was a thin onesie that was light soft green in color with little brown bears for the pattern with a few buttons at the top of the chest. They worked perfectly keeping his whole little body warm and he didn’t mind the snug feeling of the material, he actually seemed to like it as he would choose one of the onesies first before any others. The only trick was to make sure he wore shoes with them because if not he’d constantly slip and fall on the wooden floors of the house.
And because of his physical condition he’d bruise far easier and worse than a healthy kid would; not to mention he was also at higher risk of breaking his already fractured bones that had long healed.

“They’ll be here in a couple hours so how about we get somethin’ to eat then get dressed, you can choose your pajama pants and shirt if you want too” Hank said.
He helped Oliver scooch forward enough for his feet to touch the ground and helped him shift his weight so he didn’t get those ‘funny tingles’ in his body, or the ‘big dark fuzzy spots’ and when he was adjusted he hobbled over to his closet.
He didn’t take much time to pick through his drawers to find what he wanted, a blue top and bottom with trucks planes and boats being the pattern of choice that was all a thicker but soft cotton texture.
As per their routine Hank left the room so Oliver could change, he was very insistent that he could and wanted to do things like dress and bathe by himself which was something Dr. Charles had said would be a common theme and reaction for someone in Oliver’s case.
As it turned out, those were the only moments Oliver ever had to himseslf. His prior ‘foster parents’ would just toss clothes at him and lock him back in the room or when it was bath time they’d do exactly the same, which was lock him in the bathroom for hours on end. It was the only time he experienced peace– so unless Oliver explicitly asked for help he left Oliver to do it himself.
Although during bathtime the rule was to keep the door cracked open and always respond back if Hank had called up to check up on him. Getting washed and clean first was also a part of the routine, then he could play with his bath toys until the water got too cold. Then he’d simply get himself out to dry off and slip into whatever pj’s Hank helped him pick out and after that he’d help dry Oliver’s wet mop of curls before giving him his medication and their ritual of watching TV together on the couch.

Hank was sure to keep the routines as best he could but that didn’t mean he didn’t make mistakes or his schedule had made things complicated. There had been times where Trudy was the one to bring him home and get him ready for bed, or sometimes he’d go to their house until Hank was finished. It never made Oliver too happy but the second Trudy or Randall would speak, a little smile would creep along his face and all was ok with the world.
And today would be no different. If anything it’d be more special, more fun. Trudy and Randall were coming by with some Christmas themed activities and things to show him and then if Ollie was up to it Randall invited him to come to the firehouse to meet the crew and decorate the station.
It would all depend on how Oliver felt after the first round of festivities. Although they were calm and fun activities they could still be overwhelming for a child being introduced to many new things.

At the top of the stairs Oliver paused and chose to took in the smell of food that crept up into his nose. Something felt different in his body, not anything like a warning or urgency–but something different.
The scent found its way to his stomach which grumbled and announced its demands quite loudly–waking up the panic that also lay dormant in his blood.
As quickly as he could he shuffled down the stairs as his heartbeat flooded his ears. He couldn’t miss food, what if by the time he got there it’d be all gone?
He stumbled and stuttered over his weak legs but he held onto the railing, saving him from going tumbling forward down the stairs. Although, when his foot found the floor he lost his balance a little and fell softly onto his bottom for a moment due to the surprise of not finding another stair. But, with practiced speed he pushed himself up with his hands onto his feet and ran after the smell as if it were a bird he was trying to catch.
When he came to the kitchen Ollie nearly slid right into the counter had Hank not been there to steady him.
“Woah there speed, you ok?” he asked, looking down at him with a hand softly across Oliver’s shoulders. Hank’s face was the same calm expression he always wore around Oliver. If anything it was one of the things that drew Oliver to Hank in the first place. His face wasn’t loud just like his voice. Up until Hank, most of the faces and voices he was around were raunchy and scary. But Hank wasn't at all like that even when he would correct Oliver, he’d never raise his voice.
“It’s ok, food’s not done yet I promise. Want to have another try at the eggs again?” Hank asked in order to slow the gears in Ollie’s head. Hank could practically smell his brain cooking with how fast those wheels behind his eyes were spinning.
Oliver looked at Hank then over to the counter next to him where a plate was sitting empty, clean and ready for food. It was just as Hank said, he hadn’t finished yet—he hadn’t missed the opportunity for food. All was well.
Oliver looked back up at Hank and gave a nod quietly, his eyes clearing of the panic that often drowned him with things like this.
Hank took a chair from the tabletop that sat right at the kitchen window where the table was partially secured to the wall.
He pulled it to his side and held it with a free hand and Oliver slowly climbed his way up the chair to his feet where his waist would meet the stove.
Oliver patted his feet on the chair, testing its stability and his own balance on the new surface. This was often a habit Hank noticed Oliver had, he’d tap or lightly stomp his feet when the surface beneath him changed. The first time he had come into the living room when they first met he did the same thing when feeling the carpet. Little taps with his feet as if to acclimate to the new texture and then he’d begin walking normally again, pensive–but normal.
Hank grabbed the bowl with the eggs from the counter to his right and set it beside the stove, just within Oliver’s reach.
“Remember last time? Just a few taps to crack it, then pull the shell open over the bowl” Hank said, demonstrating by cracking an egg into the bowl with ease.
Oliver watched each movement intently, seeing how Hank tapped the side of the bowl causing the shell to crack just enough for him to be able to pull the shell apart, leaving the egg to drop into the bowl with a plop.
Hank took another egg and offered it to Oliver with a careful hand, “remember don’t hold it too hard or it’ll break all over the place,” he said before putting it in Oliver's cupped hands that were waiting.
The egg was cool and smooth in his little hands, he rolled it around his palms slightly before arranging it into his fingers to line it up with the edge of the bowl.
Hank never had to really worry too much about Oliver breaking anything. He was always so tentative and ginger with anything you handed to him, as if either he was afraid he was going to break it or the object itself would bite him.
Even when he held Hank’s hand in the quiet moments Oliver never squeezed hard or accidently scratched Hank with his nails. It was almost akin to a cat knowing when to retract their claws to leave their soft paws exposed.
Oliver lined up the egg with the edge of the bowl and very carefully tapped it once. Immediately he picked it up to his eyes to inspect the egg to find there were tiny fractures forming on its surface, not deep enough to break it but it was starting too. After a few more careful taps, the shell finally gave way–oozing clear goop into the bowl as Oliver froze.
“That’s it, break it open a bit more, like that” Hank said, reaching over and separating the shell up more to let the whole egg drop into the bowl.
“What do I do with–this?” Oliver asked, holding the egg shell exactly in the same position he had cracked it in as egg yolk dripped onto his fingertips,
Hank chuckled and carefully took it from him with a paper towel and helped clean his fingers of the stickiness, which according to Ollie’s scrunched expression was quite unpleasant. As Hank wiped Ollie’s sticky fingers again Oliver muttered just under his breath ‘más clean’ to himself before he spoke again/
“Huevos are sticky” Ollie said unintentionally lougder, pinching his fingers together and separating them, watching them as he did so as if to ensure there was no residue left.
Hank paused what he was doing and looked over to Oliver in a muted surprise and confusion. “What did you say?”
“Huevos, it means eggs in Spanish,” Oliver explained, still absorbed in his fingertips.
Hank was entirely confused and taken aback. Not once had he heard Oliver speak Spanish in the almost year and a half he’d known him and Oliver was a storyteller. Not in the sense he compulsively lied but in the way where he turned whatever reality he found himself in into fantastical stories you’d find in a kids story book.
Hank paused and chose his words carefully, being sure to keep his tone curious then investigative, “you’re a smart boy kiddo, how did you know that?”
“My old house” he responded simply, tentatively. But something in the way he said it made Hank pause. He watched Ollie’s eyes cloud over for a few seconds the way they did when there was something too scary to talk about or a memory that was still to fresh and would swallow him up
But with the second part of his response his eyes cleared. That, or he did what he had to do in his little mind to hide from it.
“And school,” he added. “Miss Lisa teaches us the Spanish words for things too, like how milk means ‘leché’ in Spanish” he said pointing to the milk on the counter to Hank’s right.
“Huh…well that’s pretty cool. Why….didn’t you say other words like that before?” he asked. He had to be sure to be very very careful, as he had learned that when there was information being withheld from him he couldn’t help himself but press further.
Oliver shrugged, swaying side to side as he began to inspect his finger nails.
“It was a secret….but I think I can trust you with it too since you’re my papa now” he finally looked up and met Hank’s eyes with a little smile. It was as if that cloudiness was gone but Hank could see it for what it was. It was hiding, whether Oliver was doing it intentionally or subconsciously that’s what was clearly happening.
Regardless of the case Hank’s curiosity had been snuffed out by that light, warm feeling in his chest that caused him to smile even when he would try not to. It was like his chest cracked open in a warm way he didn’t have the words to explain. Something flickered behind Hank’s eyes. He didn’t say anything right away, afraid that even if he breathed the wrong way the moment would slip away.
Oliver had a way of doing that he’d quickly found out, but what wasn’t so quick was trying to figure out how to resist the way it brought his rough exterior to bits.
“Well your secret’s safe with me” Hank said smiling back.

Just then a knock was heard from the front door causing Oliver to spin in the direction of the sound like an alerted pup.
“Easy, it’s alright. It’s probably just your godparents, remember?” Hank said in his calm, comforting low rasp. Instinctually Hank’s hand hovered over Oliver’s back in order to catch him if he stumbled especially after how fast he had whipped himself around.
“Here lets get you down,” he said, moving to turn off the stove and hold out an arm for Oliver to grab onto. Even the way he held onto Hank was careful as he sat down and scooted off the chair to the floor. Oliver held Hank's arm as he got his legs back under him and then followed him to the door. But he didn’t wander far from the corner that turned into the living room, only letting his head out to peek around enough to see Hank reach the door and open it up with a similar calm expression.
The crisp cold whirled in hitting Oliver like a soft gust of air that slipped up his spine all the way to his head and landed around his ears. His body gave an involuntary shiver to the shift in temperature, his arms wrapping around himself to cover his little torso.
Oliver watched Hank’s expression, his body, any move he may make indicating something was wrong but those signals never came. Instead what came was the drifting greetings of two familiar voices.
Through the blinding sun Oliver saw the silhouette of the familiar figures of Trudy and Mouch all bundled and carrying bags.
The chill that had found Oliver still held on but that didn’t stop him from coming out from his hiding spot with a quiet excitement and happiness he’d come to associate the two with.
“There he is! Hey Champ! How’s it goin’?” Mouch’s jolly voice came in first. He carried most of the bags in his hands and set them down by the door before stepping further to let Trudy in. Carefully, Mouch dropped to one knee in a lumbering fashion and leaned forward as he always did when coming close with Oliver.
He didn’t move at first, but when Mouch’s voice filled the air Oliver’s feet pulled him forward on their own–like they knew it was safe to come out.
“Hi Papa Mouse!” he said with a soft chirp as he came out from around his corner. Oliver gently stepped into Mouch’s space with his little arms going to softly wrap Mouch’s shoulders, which Mouch carefully reciprocated,being sure to pay attention to Oliver if he wanted to pull away.
But this time was a little different. Oliver willingly put his arms around his neck and gave him a little squeeze, his little heart beating against Mouch’s with little thuds. The poor thing was still just skin and bones as he could feel Ollie’s ribs and back when he embraced him. It was like a stiff wind could blow him over or just a push could break something and it made his heart break like someone poking at a balloon. He’d make a mental note to cook more often and set some aside to help thicken him up a bit but for now he shifted his focus to the little smiling face going to hug Trudy.
Oliver repeated the same steps with Trudy, who bent over to reach him when she saw his arms extend towards her. Gently he hugged around her neck with a lean on her shoulder, then stood up and stepped away when he was satisfied.
When he was a few steps back his eyes lingered to the bags by the doors. They looked like they had stuff in them but what kind of stuff? Could he ask? Or was he not allowed too? What if he wasn’t allowed to even look at them?
This made him immediately avert his gaze to his feet, just enough to keep the adults in the edge of his vision, in case he had to move or dodge. But nothing harmful ever came. In fact it was quite the opposite. Trudy had taken a knee in front of him with that comforting smile she always gave him and was just talking to him.
“Don’t worry all will be revealed” she said with a wink. “Want to help me carry them into the kitchen?”
Oliver nodded, a cute sense of duty in his expression as he shuffled over to the door where the bags sat behind Trudy. Mouch and Hank joined and with one trip they were able to get to the kitchen where Oliver watched what came out of the bags.
Some were decorations and lights in all shapes, colors and textures. There were snowflakes, reindeer, santas, elves and penguins. There were little bears too and christmas baubles that glinted colors when you held them up to the light.
Oliver was astounded by the variety and would slowly inspect each decoration one by one with curious eyes. He hadn’t even noticed Hank and Mouch go into the kitchen with the rest of the bags.
He was just happy to see all sorts of fun, bright colors, and he got to put them where he wanted! He picked up an ornament of a star and held it up to the sunlight, watching specks of gold cover the carpet and the couch in a dust of twinkling color.
“Woahhhh,” he said under his breath. “It’s so shiny. I wonder what this one looks like” he reached for another ornament, this time of—wait was that a cookie??
Oliver held the cookie ornament up to the light, his brows twisting and knotting in confusion and awe. Slowly, he brought it up to his nose and gave a sniff. It didn’t smell like food. Still,he began to lift it to his mouth to taste it–just before Trudy turned around.
“Oh! that’s not real,” she said–quickly but in a calm tone to not startle him. Honestly it took everything in her to not laugh.
“I know, they look very real but it’s not actual food” she began to explain as Oliver lowered it from his mouth.
“Then why are they here if you can’t eat them?” he asked, confused and disappointed that this wasn't’ something edible.
“Because people are weird” Trudy replied with a small smile. “You know what’s even weirder?” she asked.
Oliver leaned in, his eyes curious. “What is it?”
“Some people bake real cookies, hang them on the tree, and just..let them go stale,” she said, raising her brows. “Not even a bite–just crunchy decorations”
Oliver’s confused face took on a look of cute shock as the muscles around his eyes twisted, “food you don’t eat?”
Trudy shook her head with a shrug, “I know! A complete waste of sugar if you ask me, and don’t get me started on gingerbread houses.”
Oliver’s brow cocked up, “Gingerbread…house?” he said slowly, like something he should remember.
“They’re made of the cookie stuff you eat right? With the frosting and candy?” Oliver asked after a moment. “We did that in school once…but I ate mine when Miss Lisa wasn’t watching,” he said with a pause.
There was a brief flicker of something behind his eyes—-something faint and gloomy that stopped him from saying anymore. Trudy could see it, just a flicker, and then it was gone before she could ask.
Just then, Mouch leaned into the room from the direction of the kitchen around the corner.
“Hey kiddo, want to make some cookies? I got plenty of frosting with your name on it!” he said, being sure to keep his voice light but full of brightness in his tone.
Oliver’s head flipped from Trudy too Much in a flash like a deer hearing something through the trees far off.
He tilted his head with a processing look. His eyes were squinted in thought and his nose wrinkled,
“We won’t be putting them on the tree… will we?”

Chapter Text

🚗 ⋆ 🦕 ⋆ 🚗

"Only if you want too buddy, you don't have too but, if you'd like, we could always use help decorating" Mouch said to Oliver across the small dining room table.
Swatches of frosting of colorful frosting streaked across Oliver's cheeks, remnants of the cookie project that were now in a container on the counter. In the sink nearby, dishes dried on a rack–Trudy insisted on doing them as the cookies baked, and Mouch had happily been roped into it.
He, too, was covered in frosting– his face a playful canvas, decorated in shapes and swirls thanks to Oliver's curiosity.like a canvas due to Oliver's curiosity. Once Oliver figured out you could "draw" on skin with frosting unlike crayons, well, that was it, the rest of the frosting became facepaint.
"We can go back to the firehouse?" Oliver asked, his eyes brightening with hope.
He'd been a couple times before, usually for just a couple hours. One visit came after their toaster smoked out the kitchen, sending Oliver into a full-blown panic. The next morning, he'd quietly placed the toaster outside in the snow.
Enter Papa Mouse.
With Herman's help, a box of tools, an old toaster and smoke alarm they quickly turned something terrifying into something fascinating.
For hours, they took apart the toaster to see how it worked and how the smokeshow came to be in the first place, why it happened and how to even make the perfect piece of toast.
The firehouse was slowly becoming a safe place.
"Sure bud, of course we can! But only if you're up to it. If you're too tired we can definitely go another time" Mouch answered.
Immediately, Oliver's eyes went to Hank, searching for an answer. His mind couldn't decide whether it needed permission or reassurance more.
Hank answered after a moment with a gentle smile and a soft shrug, "It's your call kiddo. We don't have to go for long if you don't want to. Could even just go for a drive."
Oliver tilted his head in response, his eyes seemingly blank in thought for a moment before giving a smile of his own and giving a nod of approval.
"Ok," Hank said softly. "Let's get you wrapped up then huh? It's real chilly out there" he said, standing up from his chair and giving Ollie a reassuring, careful, touch on his shoulder.
Oliver leaned into the touch just slightly–enough to show he wanted it, sought it. It was a very subtle move, so subtle Mouch hadn't recognized it, but Trudy had. And it brought a little upturned curve to her lips as she rose followed the others from her chair. Oliver hopped off the chair and followed Hank like a happy pup over to the living room where their shoes waited by the front door.
His little fire truck boots were tiny in comparison to Hank's boots. Even Hank's regular shoes were larger sitting beside Olliver's. Hank grabbed Oliver's boots first, handed them off, then handed Trudy and Mouch their shoes before he pulled on his own.

When everyone was bundled and zipped up they loaded up in their cars and began the brief drive to the station. Throughout the whole ride Oliver was silent but it wasn't out of fear. He was hypnotized by the colors in the sky from the setting sun, his face so close to the glass it was fogging it up. Hank had no doubt Oliver would try to draw it from memory the second he could. His nose deep to the paper with crayon smudges under the side of his hand, his lips biting his tongue ever so slightly in that hyper-focus state he went into when his little mind was set to something.
And when the drawing was done,it always found itself in one of three places, the fridge, the kitchen table or the folder he kept in his room that was stuffed with loose leaf drawings. All of the stories he'd made up about the stars, dinosaurs and caricatures were based on stories he'd heard of Camille, Al or Justin.
Except Hank didn't know about those ones.
He didn't know that Oliver remembered them. There were a few times where he had asked Hank about the people in the pictures he had around the house. The first time Oliver had come in it was one of the first things he asked about. Not food, not water or clothes, but the ghosts that hung around Hank in this house.
And yet despite the emptiness, when Oliver came into the picture the distance of the walls seemed to come back together. The air freshened up like a summer breeze, no longer that stale smell places got when no one was there to occupy them. It felt less like a mausoleum to the past and more like a place to live in, something new.

The sun began to relent to the dark sky and sink below the horizon as they pulled up to the firehouse. The bay doors were closed, but light still came from inside, alive with movement and flashes of colors if you looked close through the windows.
They parked right near the front door so Oliver wouldn't have to walk so far in the freezing cold. After all, Oliver still didn't have much strength in his body yet and the cold could rip through him like a sheet of paper. Hank still had to help him over long distances and up stairs. Oliver could handle more than the first year they met– but there was still a lot of ground to make up.
Oliver unbuckled his seatbelt and waited in the car until Hank got out and opened the door for him. Gently, he reached out to help Oliver's feet onto the pavement, making sure to hold on an extra moment in case there was any black ice. Last thing he would need was Oliver falling and breaking something on the pavement.
Little by little, Oliver and the crew made their way up to the station, their breaths curling up in thick steam under the oily sky. They kept their chins tucked against the wind and their eyes peeled open enough to see as they walked through the darkness.
Oliver held onto Hank's right arm as best he could despite his gloves. They made his hands feel loose, like he couldn't fully grip anything or feel anything. But they weren't numb, they didn't hurt really bad like they would without them. So he simply focused on trying to keep his little heavy feet under him as he kept up with Hank's stride. Or at least tried too, Hank wasn't used to having to walk slower and make shorter strides. Even when sneaking around he didn't go slow, he'd just stay low and tight, focusing on the muscles in his legs.
But, now with a pair of little legs shuffling beside him he had to pay more mind with how fast his feet were carrying him. One little tug on his coat sleeve told him he wasn't paying attention without Oliver needing to say a word. Not that he would have, Oliver would have fallen trying to keep up then voicing the need to go slower.
Luckily Hank was well versed in unspoken things. Cues, movement, even a subtle look carried entire conversations. Now whether this was a gift or just years on the job was still to be seen but, regardless it was one of the best tools he had on his belt and paved the way for his career.

With a little gentle lift of the arm Oliver was clinging to, Hank helped him up the curb without incident and finally into the warm embrace of the firehouse.
The lobby was dark and still, only lit by the occasional table lamp and overhead lights further inside. Offices sat vacant and empty. Polished wood doors with glass panes sat closed and silent, void of any movement or activity. The first part of the house was like this, sleeping despite the other half being awake.
Sounds of revelry and echoes of laughter could be heard bouncing off the walls from further inside like a muffled cave. Oliver held onto Hank's arm a little tighter as the shadows curled around his feet like tongues of snakes licking at him, smelling him from somewhere he couldn't see. He was too focused on the corners to notice the voices. It was as if the jovial whispers weren't there and it was just the darkness threatening to swallow him.
Hank felt the tension around his forearm and gave Oliver's hand a squeeze, looking down and offering a small smile hidden only for him to see in the dim light.
Oliver's jaw loosened slightly from the locked pose it had taken and a smile crept in, making that odd and warm feeling come up in Hank's chest again. He never could explain it, honestly he was afraid of it and ignored it most of the time. But when it was just those eyes looking at him and no one else, a 'weak' part of him took the extra second to stay that moment.
Before he could say anything to him, the laughter had doubled in volume and sharpened into words instead of loud murmurs. The dark around them melted into warm overhead lights and lit halls and when they turned the corner into the large common area there was quite a sight to behold.

Between the livingroom and the kitchen a group of lively firefighters stood, two completely wrapped in paper and bows like half finished presents. One of them–a big man with tan skin, bald head and black mustache laughed at one of the guys who were wrapped up. He was shorter– grey hair, white skin and was rolling his eyes at the bigger man.
With a couple of seconds to take in the scene, the colors, the laughs, he recognized those two guys in particular. The big one was named Cruz. He was a big guy but he wasn't mean. If anything he was like a big stuffed teddy bear, always looking for something to eat, watching TV and napping wherever he could.
The first time Oliver met Cruz was when Papa Mouse brought him to the house for a quick visit before bringing him home. Papa Mouse had forgotten something and had to stop by to grab it and Cruz was watching the cubs game on the TV with a bucket of popcorn on his lap. He had invited Oliver to watch it with him and even shared the popcorn he had.
Oliver never had popcorn before, it was cheesy and really crunchy with hard bits in it that aggravated his teeth. He didn't like the way it felt but he still ate all of it so the man wouldn't take it away. But he didn't. He just kept putting more and more in his mouth and telling Oliver about his favorite player and how he couldn't believe they had missed a pass that cost them a goal.
He wasn't a quiet guy but he was a happy one. Oliver liked it when Cruz smiled, it took up his whole face, not leaving room for any of those scary things he was familiar with. So to see Cruz laughing now brought a certain lightness to the room.

The second man Oliver recognized right away. It was Herman, Papa Mouse's best friend who had a big family and showed pictures of them to Oliver all the time. He was shorter, with grey hair, pale skin, and an eye roll aimed squarely at Cruz.
Herman had been there when Papa Mouse let Oliver take that toaster apart the first time he ever came to the firehouse. He was a nice man who talked funny and always made sure Oliver had something around him to keep him warm. And when something would startle or upset him, Herman would spin around and handle the situation, usually telling people to keep it down or to 'chill out for god's sake'. It always seemed like he had a certain control in the house and kept things from getting out of hand. Except now.
Right now his face wrinkled in a frustrated look and his eyes rolled with a huff, clearly unhappy with the situation he found himself in.
Thankfully Oliver didn't have to figure out why because once Papa Mouse walked in the whole group greeted him with smiles and laughs.
"What did you get into this time Herman?" Mouch asked, trying not to grin.
Herman rolled his eyes again before he spoke, "I lost a bet and now they can't get enough of it."
"A bet?" Mouch asked. "And let me guess that required you to be part of the wrapping competition?"
Herman's lip raised with his nose in an aggravated sneer, "I told them to knock it off already but Cruz here keeps fueling this madness— resulting in, well.. this" Herman turned and gestured with his his to a small woman with blonde hair who was also wrapped up in paper, but she had a big smile on her face.
"Oh come on Herman get in the spirit!" she said.
Herman shook his head "I'll get there when someone cuts me out of this and stops wasting paper. You know if the Chief finds out about this I'm putting it all on you Cruz."
Cruz laughed heartily, "you were the one that made the bet Herman! And hey, remember, no one likes a sore loser" he winked.
"Oh knock it off now you're lyin'!" Herman responded immediately while wrestling with the paper taped around him.
Papa Mouse stepped forward with his hands in the air in mock diplomacy,
"Ok how about we all stop wasting paper so the Chief doesn't have us doing maintenance out in the bay all day. Besides, have you guys really got nothing done??"
Just then another woman walked into the room wearing a different uniform then the others. It was all blue and it looked like the top and bottom were attached, the patch on her chest was a little different too but same colors. She had shiny brown hair up in a ball on her head and her skin was a familiar olive tan.
"I leave for ten minutes to get a pizza and this is what happens? You all really are just a bunch of big kids" she laughed fondly and exasperated as she held a paper plate with what Oliver assumed to be the pizza. He'd only ever rarely seen it in his old house but he was never allowed to have any of it. The ache in his left hand that would come intermittently always reminded him of that.

Cruz spoke up first with his hands up and a cheeky grin, "ok for the record—it's not my fault that Herman made the bet and lost."
Herman's head whipped around, "ok Cruz? Quit lyin' out your ass.. you're the one that said you bet you could chug that soda before me, you started it!"
"Herm.." Papa Mouse's voice changed. One with a little more firmness behind it then Oliver was used to hearing. But he didn't understand that the tone was only simply meant to be a warning and not a threat.
"What?" Herman questioned before Mouch had stepped aside, revealing Oliver standing right against Hank. One hand clutched to Hank's arm and the other loosely holding his belt loop with a finger, clueless of what was going on around him. His face made it clear he wasn't sure how to interpret this setting, but he couldn't find any real danger in it. Paper was easy enough to rip through and it wasn't that hard. So then—-why had they wrapped each other in it? He couldn't quite get that piece. But he didn't have time to ask Papa because the whole room was silent now, all with surprised faces as if they got caught doing something wrong.
Herman's irritated expression crumbled away to something between apologetic with a covering of happy greeting.
"Heyyyy there buddy! How's it goin'!" Herman asked, smiling and wearily looking between Oliver and Hank.
Oliver blinked and gave a little wave with the hand that had been holding onto Hank's forearm.
"Hey Ollie! You here to have fun?" Cuz asked cheerfully, acting as if Hank wasn't standing there behind Oliver like a looming shadow.
"Is that why you're all wrapped up like that?" he asked, pointing to Herman and the other woman taped up in the paper.
For a second Herman opened his mouth to speak but Cruz quite literally stepped in to interrupt,
"Yeah! It's a game to see who can wrap the other person the fastest like a present! Want to give it a try? I've got extra." Cruz held up another tube of wrapping paper with snowmen on it and bopped Herman on the shoulder with it as if to say stay quiet.
Poor Oliver wasn't sure what to do. He looked up at Hank then back to the group in front of him, his eyes asking what to do and what to make of all this.
Before Hank could answer a gentle voice came from in front of him,
"Don't let them scare you little man, they're harmless. Dumb–but harmless."
It was the woman with olive skin and the different uniform. She crouched down in front of him without the plate now, her eyes a warm maple brown accentuated by sharp eyebrows.
"You must be Oliver," she said smiling. "I think you know my big brother? Big macho guy with black hair and a stuck face?"
Oliver tilted his head for a moment in thought before he gave an answer, the description clicking in with the details.
"Papa's friend? An–An–tonio?" The name rolled off his tongue slowly as if he were afraid to get it wrong.
The woman's smile was all the answer he needed. But something was different about that smile, something—hauntingly familiar. But he didn't recognize her face or her eyes, yet— there was something there that he had lost a long long time ago. Something that he couldn't shake. This caused him to fall silent, getting lost in her eyes as if watching a spiral spinning around and around in a hypnotizing motion.
Gabby smiled and chuckled, "yep the very one. Has he been treating you alright over there? If not you can always tell me" she winked.
Oliver slowly nodded, still seemingly entranced by the ghost of a memory that kept him far away.
Gabby held her hand out slowly as a sign of peace, trying to reach through the fog that enclosed him. She'd seen that look before, especially in children who had seen too much of the world's dark side.
"My name is Gabriella, but my friends call me Gabby...I'd like to be your friend..... if that's ok" she offered gently, her smile radiating to her eyes in the gentle way the sun comes through the trees at sunrise.
To her surprise, and Hank's, Oliver reached his hand out and very wearily curled his fingers around hers, her skin warm and soft. She didn't grab his hand with force or try to pull him away like hands had done in the past. But they wrapped around with the same tenderness Hank would when he would wake him up in the mornings. Just slow and warm, sensitive to his movements and careful if Oliver jolted or wanted to let go.
And this new person, Gabby, mirrored the same things he did. It made her far less scary, easier to predict her movements and deem her safe.
So when he held on and let her guide him it wasn't that scary, and Papa was right there holding his other hand so he was tethered and safe. She wasn't going to take him away, not with Papa there.
As they walked, Hank looked back at Trudy with a look that asked 'am I even doing this right?'
She chuckled exasperated and motioned with her chin for him to go with Oliver and Gabby, she knew they were safe in the house. Although all these guys were rough around the edges and often were like children themselves the house was a safe place especially if Hank was right there.
Besides, Gabby didn't take them far, just over to the big table with bins on it that held decorations like the ones Mouch and Trudy brought to his house earlier that day.
She guided him through each box, letting him pick out what he wanted to decorate first, asking questions about what he liked, what he didn't like and he ended up talking a bit with her.
Even letting Hank's hand go long enough for him to talk to Trudy.
"He seems to be coming around to this place. I know they can be loud and obnoxious but they're a good bunch" Trudy said at the doorway.
Hank nodded with a smile. But he paused before answering from the other part of the doorway, "he said somethin' this mornin,' he said it in spanish. Just a few words, eggs, milk, stuff like that. But he's never said anything like that before."
Trudy nodded, her expression contemplative as she responded.
"Maybe he heard things in his past...Chicago is a big melting pot where we've got all kinds."
"I know but, when he said it it was almost like it slipped out. Like he hadn't intended to say it like that, it looked like he felt it was..wrong in some way" Hank spoke aloud. His brain was always trying to put things together but especially about Oliver.
Things about Oliver's past came in broken pieces, like glass that exited out of his body through every nightmare and flashback induced tear. If there was an easier way Hank would do it...but he didn't want the boy suffering any more then he already had.
"Something to bring up in his sessions, maybe that Doctor Charles has some insight" she paused. "He could have picked it up for survival, we know kids have done more to survive."
Hank sighed and shook his head, "I know I just—-I don't know how I missed it. I mean I'm supposed to know this stuff and I missed it."
Trudy's eyes narrowed, "Hank, has someone been running their mouths again because if so I'll tear them a new one so fast they won't know what hit them."
Hank shook his head and waved his hand dismissively, "no no, no one's said anything. I've just—been thinking" he sighed.
His shoulders slouched in that way when he was trying to breathe under the weight of something, Trudy knew, she was the only one alive that did. Only Al and Camille knew him better. But she was the only one left.
She put her hand on Hank's shoulder, turning him to face her with a push that told Hank he wasn't getting out of this.
"Hank" she said to him with a softer tone than moments before. "You know Oliver better than anyone on this Earth and all that matters is that he knows it" she said, gesturing discreetly to Oliver who was smiling and giggling with Gabby. Both taking decorations and putting them on each other as if they were walking Christmas trees.
Trudy kept speaking, "and if he knows? Then that's all the proof anyone needs. Just because something came up that you didn't know doesn't mean you've made a mistake. And here's the truth: you're going to mess up, it's inevitable even for you." She carefully added some humor to that last sentence which made Hank give a look that was surprised, confused and touched all at the same time.
He shook his head as Trudy continued, "he wouldn't be alive without you Hank. You and I both know it—but yet here he is. He's slowly getting stronger because of you, and there will be more down the road but trust me when I say you're not messing up. Not yet. And trust me– I will tell you if you do, don't worry about that" she said with a half grin.
Hank's jaw had loosened, his neck stopped flexing as he fought back a smile on his face, not wanting anyone to see.
"And you're not alone in this Hank" she added. "Not anymore, I'm not going anywhere and trust me Randall isn't either. He's fallen head over heels for that little guy, and I'd have to say I did too" she said, smiling fondly in Oliver's direction.
And though Hank would never say it aloud, in a way he had too. A way he didn't know fully how to take in yet. It felt different, wrong—awkward even. Very awkward. But when those green eyes searched for him and would lock on– something in him yielded. Stopped entirely. And that? That was probably the most terrifying part that he was trying not to accept.
He didn't believe in all those things other people did, God, fate, destiny, whatever you wanted to call it. He lost faith in that a long time ago, those parts of him long dead and buried.
But this? Oliver?
This little guy gave him something he couldn't name yet, couldn't gather the words in an order that made sense. But watching Oliver go around the fire house with this rambunctious crew? The same thing happened all over again.
When Oliver would look around in a brief panic and make eye contact with him he'd smile with a nod that said 'it's ok I haven't gone anywhere' and the terror in his little eyes would clear and go back to exploring the world around him. A world that Hank made a little less volatile and a little more breathable.
They both settled into a comfortable silence as they looked on like two shadows. Only, these shadows weren't threats—they were guardians.
And as the night settled in colder, the firehouse only warmed up with the excitement of decorations and cheer.

Chapter Text

An afternoon chill whistled through Chicago's streets, tossing up shards of sparkling ice and snow with every gust, chilling even the best–bundled wanderers. People waddled quickly to and fro, darting from skyscrapers to office buildings– heading to meetings, calls or just an enclosed space to warm up. The legends of Chicago's winters were no legends. They might be of legendary proportions but nothing about them was a myth.

Signs on the sidewalks warned to stay a few feet more away from areas to avoid dropping spears of ice, LED signs on roads warned of black ice underneath, there wasn't one place the winter cold couldn't reach.

Except maybe district 21. But even then, a chilling touch of cold sat in corners and rooms where the heaters couldn't quite reach. Even up in the bullpen there lingered a snap around the protective sphere of warmth the radiators rattled to keep inflated.

But when there's work to be done the mind can cancel out things on the outside that interferes with the task at hand. Especially if you just kept moving– and the coffee pot percolating around the clock.

Besides, in the 21st? Coffee was never in short supply no matter how bitter it brewed. After all–half the departments in the city ran on nothing but caffeine and adrenaline anyway so coffee was always a necessity regardless of the season.

It's what kept the bullpen running like a well– oiled machine. Except today, it was as if the city fell asleep under the blanket of snow from the last storm. People went about their day but the usual brash cacophony was absent. Instead–just a quiet excitement that everyone held close against the chill.

Most of the team sat at their desks either typing away or searching through a nest of files and papers. Checking for any piece of the many puzzles of cases they were working through.

Kim sat at her desk, papers in one hand and the other taking her phone out of a drawer and setting it on top of a stack of folders after Adam whispered across the room to get her attention.

He tossed his head up and his eyebrows in a nod towards her with a whispered 'hey!' and held his phone up on his desk. Showing her to get her phone out and presumably answer whatever he was going to text.

Kim lifted her eyes from her file, eyebrow raised and cheek scrunched in a silent question. Not a word was spoken but clearly her expression asked,

'Can I help you? I'm kind of in the middle of something like you should be.'

Adam smiled and gestured as if to say to 'hold on' before he began furiously typing on his screen. Within a few moments Adam looked up from his phone and back at Kim as her phone buzzed.

She picked it up and read,

Adam: "Hey, don't forget to ask Sarge about tonight! With how slow things are we could get out early"

She typed back,

Kim: "I thought YOU said you were going to ask him, and why do I have too?? You're a grown adult too ya know?"

Adam sighed and shook his head,

Adam: Come on!! It'd be more natural coming from you!"

Kim: "What would be more natural coming from me? Asking if our kids want to go somewhere tonight together? Tell me, why is that so 'natural' coming from me instead of you 🤔"

Adam rolled his eyes,

Adam: "I don't know! It's just weird coming from another guy ok? And besides, he likes you better than me anyway..

Kim scoffed as she typed,

Kim: "Yeah– I can only imagine WHY"

"You know Kevin would do it"

Adam: "Hey that's not fair don't play that game! I'll admit it ok? Kev's got more swag then I do but that doesn't make him anymore of a man then me"

Kim chuckled at her screen, her brow raised and her eyes in flicking in Adam's direction.

Kim: "Getting defensive already are we? 😏"

Adam: "Oh no I know what you're doing, I am not getting distracted again. Just pop your head in real quick! Pleeeaaassee? Just nice and quick. I need to know how many tickets I'm buying!"

There was a pause in the thread. Kim was debating what to send back as Adam held his breath.

Kim: "Ok fine fine. But you owe me a coffee from that really nice cafe down the street tomorrow!"

Adam: What?? The one that's like..almost ten bucks a drink?"

Kim: It's either that or you're asking and I'm only giving you a minute to think about it.

Adam: "A minute???"

Kim: "60...59...58"

Adam: Ok ok ok! Deal! Whatever you want, just go soon cuz it's getting close to 2 'o'clock and he'll be off to pick up the little guy soon."

Kim took a deep breath in as she stood up and tossed her phone back on the desk. With a sigh she gave Adam a fond but exasperated roll of her eyes before taking a file and walking down the path of desks to Hank's office.

The door was open thankfully enough, usually a sign that it was safe to step inside, but when that door was closed? Usually it was because of a few things. Either, someone was getting disciplined, he was getting disciplined or there was a storm behind that door you didn't want to walk into.

Though the newest reason you didn't walk in was because Oliver could be napping or needed quiet. When that would happen Sarge would actually work at another desk or area for that time if they were busy and constantly needed him available. Other than that, the door was shut, the blinds were closed and everyone knew to be mindful of their noise level.

But if it was before 3pm then as long as the door was open you could walk in like normal which Kim did with a light knock.

"Hey Sarge got a minute? I've got a couple things" she asked.

Hank looked up from the papers in his hands and set his glasses down, "sure, what do you have?"

Well, here goes nothing.

"I got those tags you asked for off the van, it actually comes up as stolen from Indiana–originally registered to a Tyler Coolige. He reported the van missing from his driveway three days ago which would work with our timeline of the break-in" Kim said quickly and concisely exactly as she planned. Business first—-win him over, then she could ask.

Hank nodded his head with a satisfied expression. Kim could see the gears in his mind turning before he looked back up at her and replied.

"Good work. Go see if this Coolige has home security cams or any idea who would want to steal the van, maybe he got a look at our perp before he ran away" he said picking his glasses back up.

"Oh Sarge! Uh one more thing—not work related. Adam and I were going to bring Makayla to the Museum of Science tonight, they have a bunch of different decorations and stuff they put up for Christmas and we were wondering if maybe Oliver would want to check it out? I mean you absolutely could come too, you're totally invited I just..didn't know..yeah but anyway! Up to you"

There it was. Embarrassing stumble and all. Adam owed her big time for this.

Kim held her breath as Hank sat back in his chair, chin raised and lips pursed in thought. He nodded slowly as his eyes stared off in thought for a few moments before looking back to her again.

He shrugged his shoulders, "I don't see why not. It all depends on how he feels, we'll see when I pick him up. Though, I've got to warn you he isn't very social with other kids his age so far. He doesn't quite know how to do that."

Kim smiled and nodded her head respectfully, "that's totally fine! We'll just talk with Makayla, of course if you do come along, and let her know he's a bit shy."

Hank nodded in approval, "alright if you're ok with that then I'll see what he thinks. Speaking of which, I got to get to the car." Hank checked his watch before standing and taking the coat off his seat and slinging it around his shoulders.

"While I'm gone, why don't you and Kev take a drive and talk to this guy, I want any footage, evidence, even if he just saw a glimpse of something and call me with updates" he said, zipping up his leather jacket.

Kim nodded dutifully as she stepped aside for him, "got it, we'll take care of it Sarge."

With a breeze Hank walked out of his office and down the stairs without looking back, knowing his team had a handle on things but more to have some time to himself to think, something he couldn't stop seeming to do lately.

Kim walked back to her desk across from Adam's in which he whispered

"So what'd he say?"

Kim sat down in her chair, "well he said it all depends on how Oliver is doing. He's going to go pick him up now so we should know soon and you know what? Next time you're going to ask."

🎄🚗🎄🚗🎄

Hank pulled himself into the driver's seat of his car with practice ease, sliding the key into the ignition and twisting it before he even shut the door. Only once the slightly warmer air started to blast through the vents did he sit back and breathe.

His head had been a flurry of confusion and questions ever since he had made the decision to take in Oliver.

And the question that haunted him the loudest was just—why?

It made no sense to him the more and more he thought about it. Someone like him? With his record? His reputation? Taking in a little kid?

It sounded completely crazy to him. What had even got him here in the first place? How did he even find his way to this decision? He didn't have an explanation, and that was one of the most terrifying parts of it.

He had no answer. No answer his mind could come up with or make sense of. With Lindsey it had been a joint decision between him and Camile.

They both agreed to it, and God rest her soul, she was the light–of everything. She knew what to do, what to say, how to say it.

With Justin she just—-knew. It was something so natural to her it was nothing short of divine, or some sort of magic to Hank.

But she was gone—long gone.

And now here was Hank by himself sitting in this car staring at the clock in the cold. A little curly redhead with the greenest eyes he'd ever seen waiting for him to show up again.

Was it guilt that drove him?

No, he lived with a lot of shame and guilt, he knew what that weight felt like.

With Oliver it didn't feel like that. Sure, sometimes it would bring those things back up because it made him think of all the mistakes he'd made with Justin. All the things he did and didn't do or say, or say like he was supposed too.

But no new 'weight' was added to that sensation. Just the same old cold weight—one that could kill a man slower than physically being crushed by a mountain.

Then there was always the guilt of losing Al. Knowing he was the reason Al had gotten killed. He gave Hank another chance with his own life, and every empty desk, every time he looked at his badge, that ghost haunted him.

Times like this were especially loud when he couldn't turn and let his guard down, let that weight down, even for just a minute and ask Al what he should do.

There was nothing but a hole that screamed back at him.

Hank shook his head with an angry huff and threw the car into drive, slipping right out of the parking lot without a second thought.

He didn't have a second thought to spare.

Because now he had to answer a question. Would he go with Oliver to this thing tonight with Burgess and Ruzek? Well, the 'Ruzeks' now.

On one hand things like this were things he wasn't ever quite used to.

That 'domesticated' life never really fit him, at least not anymore.

On the other hand, if Oliver wanted too, who was he to stop Oliver from making progress in his life? As a parent that was his job was it not?

Help him heal, help him learn to live like he should? Help him make relationships and friends?

Gosh that was a word he hadn't used in what felt like three lifetimes, 'relationships'.

It wasn't even a word he could completely form on his tongue. Not without it feeling entirely weird and awkward about it, or making a fool of himself trying to explain it.

He shook his head again as he drove along the salt stained roads in silence, eyes flicking back every once in a while to the carseat in the right passenger seat before re–focusing on the road again.

All he knew was there was no going back now, and deep down somewhere inside him?

He didn't want to.

That weird and strange part of himself—the one he couldn't quite name– liked having that carseat in the back. It enjoyed having another person occupying his house and leaving little drawings everywhere. The quiet taps of little feet down the halls, or those curious eyes peeking over his shoulder while he did laundry or tried to cook.

It didn't relent and he couldn't figure it out to save his life no matter how desperately he tried.

And before he knew it he was already parking in the school's lot and walking towards the entrance, like that strange part of him was controlling his feet now.

He checked in at the front, showed his badge, same routine and motions.

The door unlocked for him and he stepped inside without a sound, walking down the already decorated hallways.

Trees, snowflakes, tinsel–they all covered the short walls with color and sparkle to where you didn't see the color of the paint behind them.

Hank's feet knew where to go without a second look, through the lobby, down to the left and go all the way down that hall and turn left one more time.

It wasn't a very difficult building to travel through, he'd been through bigger and more confusing. But still, that one part of him felt so out of place like a fish out of water.

And boy did it feel like he was drowning sometimes.

When Hank made the last turn into Miss Lisa's classroom there was Oliver sitting at a table near Lisa's desk at the front, rolling that same green car back and forth in a sort of rhythmic fashion. Lisa was in the back of the classroom fixing up some shelves, her long braids of dark hair making a curtain over her face as she bent down to put something back.

When she came back up and turned she clocked him right away and greeted him with a charming smile.

"Well Ollie, I think I win again! Your Papa's here!" she said, causing Oliver's head to whip up like a deer.

And there–right there—was what got Hank every time. Oliver's eyes found him and the second they did they grew twice the size, pulling his lips up into a smile with it.

"Papa!" Oliver cheered running out of his seat like a little marshmallow man with all his layers.

And that word right there? That was what brought Hank to one knee every single time without fail, arms open and a little smile on his face he couldn't wipe away.

Hank wrapped his arms around Ollie as he nuzzled his face into the crook of his neck, trying to squeeze Hank with his own hug.

"Hey there kiddo, how was your day?" Hank asked with that smile he couldn't hide away.

"It was good.. I knew all the clocks on the questions today! See?" he said, pointing enthusiastically to the paper on his little table.

It was a paper with a few rows and two columns with clocks on one side and a blank square on the other. Each clock showed a different time, and beside them, Oliver's shaky handwritten numbers—all correct.

"Don't forget to tell Papa you knew all the colors in Spanish today too!" Miss Lisa pretended to whisper as she gave Oliver a wink.

"Huh..that's so?" Hank asked Oliver, impressed and a hint of surprise.

Oliver was nodding with a sheepish smile on his face, his eyes clearly searching for Hank's approval.

Hank gave Oliver a pat on the back and gave him a real smile, one that only he could get out of him it seemed.

"He's a smart one this kid" he said proudly before slowly standing up to meet Miss Lisa.

Oliver's hand immediately went to Hank's like a magnet, his little fingers getting lost in his calloused hand.

And there it was again, that strange feeling—the one he couldn't put into words.

It spread through his whole chest like a small fire all the way down to his feet.

Any thoughts he had before he stepped in? Quiet–still there–but hushed.

He scooped up Oliver in his arms without even thinking, just holding him there like he belonged in his arms.

After a goodbye with Miss Lisa, Hank pulled Oliver's hat carefully over his mop of curls and lifted him back up with one arm carrying him out to the car.

Chapter Text

The sky was a deep blue, streaked with thin, white clouds like snow that forgot to fall with the last storm. It was as if the frigid cold had even frozen them in place up there.
Hank helped Oliver up into the car, giving him an extra boost where his little legs didn’t have the length or leverage. Not to mention, he was bundled up like a little marshmallow, so it was cumbersome to move.
With a click, Oliver was in his seat and ready to go. His fire truck backpack on his lap clutched in his little gloved hands. Hank hopped in and put the car in drive and as he rolled out of the lot he took a long breath and looked up into the rearview at the little eskimo in the backseat.
“You feelin’ up to somethin’ different tonight kiddo?” Hank asked.
Oliver’s head tilted in confusion, his brows knitting together in that new curiosity that began to show up in his eyes.
“Different?” he asked albeit nervously.
“Yeah, nothin scary, and we don’t have to go if you don’t want too” Hank said, his tone that gentle soft rumble few ever really heard.
“We’re going somewhere? I thought we were going to your work” Oliver straightened up against his seatbelt with anxiety in his chest.

Great. How in the world had he made a simple question difficult?
“We are kiddo, we are. Just after I’m done. Then we go home, eat, then, if you want to–we go.” He did his best to explain, but Oliver’s expression made it clear he was striking out.
He sighed to himself and looked at the road for a second before trying again.
“You remember Kim and Adam right?” he started.
The worry in Oliver’s eyes relented, just enough to give Hank some leeway.
“Auntie Kim and Uncle Adam?” he asked curiously, his head tilted to the side once more.
Hank’s jaw loosened, and the corner of his lip curled up in a hidden smile as he glanced back up in the rearview mirror.
“Yeah that’s right” he said, “and you remember seeing the picture of their little girl not too long ago? Makayla?”
Oliver’s head raised up a little straighter, his eyes turning down in thought as if he was looking for something on the floor but instead in his memory.
“The happy picture right? With Mama Trudy at your work right? She let me hang the shiny Christmas things that are on the walls now” he replied.
With the same smile Hank nodded affirmingly, “That’s right. They invited you to go with them to a museum— you ever heard of that?”
Cue the irresistible puppy head tilt again and the scrunched expression Oliver always wore when he was trying to think really hard.
“I don’t–think so–I’m sorry” his voice trailed off. It sounded familiar to him but no image came to mind.
“No need to be sorry kiddo” Hank said gently, “it’s a place you might like. Got all sorts of things you can see try out. The people at the museum put all sorts of lights up and stuff, they thought you might like to see.”
Oliver sat back in his seat, pulling his backpack close to his lap again before answering with hesitation.
“Will you be there too?” he asked, the worry building back in his eyes again. That look tugged at that soft spot in Hank’s chest— the one he hated acknowledging because it always left him without words. He fought back and forth in his mind for a few moments before letting out a slow sigh and a nod of his head.
“Yeah…I’ll be there kiddo” he conceded.
Well looked like he had plans tonight after all. Not that he had any to begin with.
The weight in Oliver’s eyes seemed to shift backwards and away from his eyes. His chest rose and fell slowly again and he laid back against his seat instead of sitting straight up like he had been. His eyes went to the window and back to his lap before he looked back up to Hank in the mirror.
“Ok—but only if you’re there” he said, “and if I can bring my car and red my dinosaur.”
Hank nodded with a smile, “I think that can be easily arranged. And hey if you don’t want to go or you don’t want to be there you just let me know ok? You don’t have to even say a word if you don’t want to, just look at me and nod. That’s all.”
Oliver nodded a little more confidently with a bit more of a relaxed expression on his face. His eyes drifted back to the world outside the window and watched the colors of cars pass by.
Meanwhile Hank sat back in his seat a little further. A long, slow breath came from his nose quietly as if a pressure valve was finally released in his chest. He may have stumbled but he caught himself in the end.
Why did he even stumble to begin with? He had no clue, maybe it was just because he was a man of few words and situations that required words were unfamiliar to him. Excluding work of course.

The rest of the ride was spent in a comfortable quiet as it always normally did. From the outside it would seem awkward and uncomfortable but on the inside this really wasn’t the case.
Oliver never acted uncomfortable in silence, he always seemed to need it to a degree it seemed, and that was completely fine to Hank.
If anything it gave him space to plan and think, two things his mind really never stopped doing, even outside the office.
As they pulled around the corner Hank hit the button on the fab he had for the gate and pulled into his usual spot that always stayed reserved. Not formally reserved, but everyone in the district knew better than to take his spot especially without permission and that included Sargent Platt’s spot too.
Once the car was in park Hank got out first and helped Oliver down, his little feet making contact with the salted lot with a crunch. He held onto Hank’s arm just a moment longer as his legs adjusted to standing and then looped his finger around one of the belt loops on Hank’s jeans and followed quietly.
They went in through the garage entrance which was usually only reserved for intelligence and their uses. All their tech, armor and weapons were kept down there so only a few people had the key which made the area quiet a lot of the time. In addition there was a staircase that led directly up to the bullpen, which was the reason Hank would bring Oliver up in through. It kept things quiet and kept him out of the eye of the district which is how Hank wanted to keep it, at least as long as he could.

Inside, the radiators hummed and rattled low, putting out enough heat to take the edge off from the chill outside. Hank’s boots thudded dully on the concrete, effectively hiding Oliver’s little pitter—patters of his feet. Up the stairs Hank helped Oliver up step by step until the door was opened up to the side hall of the bullpen. Kevin sat on his desk looking through a file, Kim typed away at her computer and Jay wracked his brain over a sea of papers. They all briefly stood as they heard Hank’s boots announced before actually seeing him, they all knew the sound by now.
What was new was the little shadow that appeared by Hank’s side, waiving at them and offering them a small smile each, “Hi Uncle Kev.. Hi Uncle Jay.. Hi Aunty Kim..” he said softly. But even that quiet greeting spoke volumes. It was proof of progress, of a growing connection to his outside world. And they were all here for it..
“Hey there Ace how’s it goin’?” Jay greeted me with a big smile. Honestly there was nothing better than this little guy taking his attention off this paper storm melting his brain. He turned in his seat and leaned down, offering out his hand palm up for a high five or handshake, but making it clear there was no pressure.
To Jay’s delight, Oliver gave his gloved hand a gentle squeeze, then glanced from the desk back up at him with a look that clearly said ‘that doesn’t look fun’.
Jay chuckled, “yeah it’s a lot of paper, it’s melting my brain and your unc there isn’t being all that helpful,” he said looking in Kevin’s direction.
“Aye man I got no idea what you’re talkin about, you lost the bet” Kevin grinned, throwing his arms out and dropping the file dramatically on his desk.
Jay rolled his eyes with an exasperated chuckle, “yeah but you didn’t tell me there was this much to do!”
Kevin gave a cool and cocky chuckle as he got down on his knee in front of Oliver, offering his hand in the same way Jay just had. “What’s good little man? Stayin’ warm out there? I know I’m freezin up here” he said as Oliver put his gloved hand in Kevin’s with the same ginger squeeze he gave to Jay.
“Don’t let Kevin lie to you he’s the one that wanted the heat turned down” Kim’s voice came from her computer with a laugh. “Oh and Sarge for the record I only turned it down two degrees so…just saying.” Her voice trailed off as she stiffened slightly, hoping not to draw correction from Hank.
“Wooooow throwin me under the bus like that are we now? Come on girl, why you got to wound me like that huh?” Kevin said to Kim with pretend drama, a hand to his chest to add effect.
“Hey you tell Platt why the electric bill is higher because I’m sure not” she replied.
Kevin looked up at Hank, who simply shrugged as he walked past. “You’re call Kev. You know how she is.”
Kevin slumped back in his seat with an–over-the-top look of defeat because he knew Hank was right and the wrath of Trudy Platt was not something to be trifled with.

“Go on and take your spot kiddo I’ll be right there” Hank said softly, patting Oliver on the shoulder as a signal to go get comfy in his office. And without question, Oliver did just that, going over to Hank’s office and disappearing from sight.
“Burgess” Hank said before following Oliver, “we’ll be there, we just take it slow.”
Kim held back her excited smile with a polite nod instead, but her eyes were clearly going off like fireworks. “Sounds great! I’ll let Adam know and oh– I hope it’s ok, but Kev will be coming too, said he had nothing planned tonight and owed Makayla a ‘solid’ after making him those cookies for someone in his apartment complex.”
She held her breath as Hank mulled it over in his head, that look of contemplation making him look off for a moment before responding.
“Yeah, sure. That should be ok, be good to have another pair of eyes” he agreed.
Kim gave a relieved nod and that was that. Hank walked back to his office without so much as another word and the day continued on as normal. Well, as normal as district 21 could be.

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