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Recovering from the effects of mild mistletoe poisoning was rough, leaving Connor’s systems drained and worn out. He’d already had a week off work, and whilst he appreciated that the worst of the symptoms were gone…
Bed rest wasn’t for him.
It was only a week before Christmas and there was nothing to do sitting around all day. Sure, he was allowed to walk around the house a bit. But he couldn’t go out, something about letting his body recover after the poison, not overexerting himself. Sounded like a whole lot of boring to him. If he had his way, he’d be back at work, looking forward to the time off he and Hank had arranged for Christmas. However, Hank was stern on making sure that he paid the technician’s advice.
“If I come home from work and find you’ve gone, you won’t have time to die. I’ll fuckin’ kill you first.”
Behind the threat was care, but Hank could still be scary when he needed to be. So, Connor listened.
Leaving him with his current predicament. Boredom. He could only play with Sumo so much until the dog got tired and fell asleep on the couch. Could only read so many books, listen to so many Christmas songs (until he also started to find them as aggravating as Hank did).
He’d told Hank just as much in the morning. Before leaving for work, the man had left him with the cryptic reply:
“I’ll find something for you to do. This evening, I’ll have something.”
Connor groaned. It wasn’t long before Hank was due to return but he was bored out of his mind. Bored. Bored. Bored. The word tasted flat on his tongue. So, he closed his eyes and fell back into stasis.
He must’ve slept sounder than he thought he would, because when he next opened his eyes, it was to a light tapping on his bedroom door.
“Mm, come in…”
In came Hank, already out of his work clothes, Sumo trailing at his feet.
“Hello to you too. Boy, wish I could stay at home and sleep all day.”
Connor glared at him. “I’d happily trade places.”
“Alright, alright, sorry. Sore spot to poke. But you’ll forgive me.”
The android perked up. “Is this the ‘thing’ you’d find for me to do?”
“Yep. Hold on—” He rushed to the side of the bed when Connor scrambled to get out, holding a hand on his knee. “Slowly, remember? You’ve still got a week left to recover.”
“I’m not made of glass, Hank.”
“Didn’t say you were. Just said you need to take it slowly.”
He conceded, letting Hank help him out of bed: but as soon as he was on his feet he brushed him off.
“I’ve been walking around the house by myself while you were out, yesterday. I’ll be fine.”
That didn’t stop Hank walking closely behind him.
“Look, I’ve… I’ve got to lead the way anyway! You don’t know what the surprise is.”
Hank stepped around him, before stopping suddenly, looking Connor up and down and frowning. “You’ve got to get some better clothes on, first.”
“Thank you.” Connor drawled. “These are your clothes that I’m wearing. I don’t know if you just insulted your own wardrobe.”
“No—they’re nice clothes. I mean a coat. Fuckin’ cold outside, you’ll need a coat.”
“We’re going outside? I thought I wasn’t allowed!”
“Well, technically we’re goin’ in the back garden…”
“I don’t care. That’s still outside. I haven’t’ been out there in ages!”
Hank held up his hands. “Well, hold your horses. Let me get your winter stuff and then we can head out.”
Connor nodded, jittering with excitement as he waited for Hank to come back. Sumo seemed to pick up on his energy, running up and down the hallway before flopping onto his side on the floor, sneezing.
“Here’s your coat. And hat.” Hank came back around the corner, narrowly missing Sumo with a sidestep. “You’ve riled up the dog, I see.”
Connor snatched the coat and hat, pulling them on quickly. “Is Sumo coming out with us?”
“Of course. Can’t exactly leave him inside now he’s all excited for it.” Hank picked the door keys back up, making his way to the other end of the house. “Hope my surprise isn’t shit now, I’ve got two of you expecting big things of me.”
“Whatever it is, I’m sure it’s great.”
“Eh, buttering me up now?”
“Is it working?”
“Depends. Are you trying to get me to shave time off your recovery period?”
Connor scowled. But his mock annoyance didn’t last for long, not when they reached the backdoor and Hank clapped his gloved hands together.
“Alright. Don’t expect too much. But… I did spend a few hours getting it all sorted, so it can’t be terrible.”
With that, he swung open the door. Sumo leapt out first, diving into the snow. Connor followed out more slowly, looking up and his face lit up in awe.
The back garden had been transformed. Usually a small area where they left the outdoor furniture, now it was a Winter Wonderland. Fairy lights hung from the fences, golden yellow and flashing softly. At the far end of the garden were a few snowmen, not unlike the ones Connor had made at the first snow of December: they were modelled to look like the three of them, Hank, Connor, and Sumo. The chairs and tables had been rearranged and to the other side of them was a Christmas tree. Except this one wasn’t artificial: it was real, in a pot and with tinsel strung all around it.
“It’s not much. But you kept saying we needed more decorations about the place, and you loved the snowmen before, so…”
Connor beamed. “It’s amazing. Thank you, Hank. It’s… it’s beautiful.” He stepped towards the tree, tugging on the end of the tinsel. “I think this is what I’ve been missing the most, cooped up inside.”
“What, the fresh air?”
“Nature. The snow and the birds and everything. Plus, it’s been lonely at home…”
“I offered to take time off work!”
“You know you haven’t got any left. And Fowler wouldn’t let another of his best officers be off work right now, just before we’re due to have a break anyway. But this: it reminds me that you are here. Soon you’ll be back home, we’ll celebrate Christmas, and then we’ll back in the field together…”
“Yeah, just try not to wander off on your own at crime scenes again, and I think that’ll happen.”
Connor gasped. “I—I was a hero!”
“What you did was commendable, you caught the killer. But try and bring backup next time.”
“Alright.”
“And—”
“Don’t say it again—”
“Don’t lick mistletoe!”