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As if it hadn’t already been a weird enough fucking week.
That was the main thought running through Hank’s mind as he walked into the break room that Friday afternoon.
First, Hank had to take Sumo to the emergency vet, after he managed to eat, not one or two, but seven quarters that Hank had dropped on the ground. He wound up being fine, but the incident had left him $251.75 in the hole. Next, and god knows how, Connor managed to break his voice box, leaving the android mute for 3 days while they waited for a replacement part (There went another $500). And by far the weirdest event of the week—and probably year— the ‘death’ of Elijah Kamski.
He hadn’t actually died, although Hank couldn’t care less if he had. The whole thing had been a wild misunderstanding, a story that Hank didn't quite grasp the details of, and quite frankly didn’t want to. From what Conner tried to relay to him, Kamski had gone to spend the week at his ‘summer house’ (God, Hank hates rich people) at the same time a satirical article came out claiming he had died, and the lack of signs of life coming from Kamski house lead people who couldn’t read website descriptions to believe it was actually true. The whole thing got wildly blown out of proportion and it’s was national news for ten hours, before being disproved late last night.
While that piece of weirdness hadn’t cost Hank any money, it probably cost him more brain cells than he could afford.
So yeah, pretty weird week. And just when he thought it couldn’t possibly get any more insane he walked in on Gavin Reed crying in the break room.
Gavin Reed didn't cry. That wasn't something he was supposed to be able to do. Gavin yelled, Gavin punched, Hell Gavin vomited if he was freaked out enough, but he didn’t cry. And while he had developed a lot as a person in the past months since the revolution, he hadn’t experienced nearly enough character development to explain why he was sitting on the break room couch, elbows resting on his knees, face pressed to his fists, with tears streaming down his face.
He considered for a moment just walking away, but reluctantly gave in to the voice in his head, which sounded suspiciously like Connor, telling him to do the right thing.
He approached Gavin cautiously, as if he were a wounded, feral cat.
“Hey Reed? You okay?”
Gavin's head snapped up. He stared at Hank for half a second before hastily getting up to leave the room.
“Fuck off Anderson. Leave me alone.”
Hank cringed at Gavin’s voice breaking on the last syllable. Being gentle might not be the best approach here.
“Like hell you are,” Hank said, grabbing him by the forearm and turning him around, “I don’t remember seeing you cry once since I’ve known you.”
Remember was a key word there. Hank had, in fact, seen him cry once in the over ten years he’d known him, but in his defense he doesn't remember much at all about Cole’s funeral.
Gavin pulled his arm away forcefully, “What am I not allowed to cry now?”
Hank resisted the urge to roll his eyes at the bad faith response, “You’re allowed to cry Gavin. Just like I’m allowed to show concern for your wellbeing.”
Maybe it was the the admittance of concern, or the rare use of Gavin’s first name, but something Hank said must have broken through to him because Reed dropped the arm he was still holding up defensively and sighed.
“Fine. No, I'm not okay.” He said, dropping back down onto the couch, leaving space for Hank to sit down beside him.
“My brother had a bit of a… scare I guess? I kind of thought he was dead for most of the day yesterday.”
Shit that was… wow. Although it did explain why Reed had called in sick the other day, despite seeming like his usual brash self the day before.
“That fucking sucks.” He stopped for a second to take in the information he just learned, “I didn’t know you had a brother?”
Gavin swiped his hand over his face, sniffling.
“Half-brother, technically. We ah, haven’t really talked in years. Had a big falling out over his job, both said some things we shouldn’t have, you know the deal.”
He let out a shaky laugh as another tear dropped down his face, “And yesterday, when I heard the news… I guess I just realized how much I missed him.”
Hank stayed quiet for a moment. He knew how soul crushingly devastating grief was. He wouldn’t wish grieving a loved one upon his worst enemy, not even for just ten hours.
“Have you talked to him since this happened?”
“No,” another pained laugh, “He probably wouldn’t even pick up the phone. I don’t even know if he wants to see me. I don’t think I could handle it if he just told me to fuck off.”
He looked up, eyes shut tight, with his lips pressed into a thin line, before choking back his tears and turning to look Hank in his eyes.
“I just want to see my brother again.”
If that didn’t shatter Hank's heart, he didn’t know what would. He hardly even thought before pulling Gavin into a hug. It’s stiff and awkward, but somehow Hank can still tell that Gavin appreciates it. Which is why, after a minute he asks,
“What if I came with you?”
————————-
That is how Hank wound up, 2 hours later, with Gavin in the passenger seat of his car.
“Turn left up there.” Gavin said, pointing to an upcoming crossroad.
Honestly, Hank was surprised Gavin had agreed to the whole thing. It was a testament to how horrible the whole situation must be for him that he had barely fought Hank on his offer.
He had stopped crying at least, but clearly still hadn’t shaken the anxiety, and Hank couldn’t blame him. He certainly doesn’t know what he would do in this situation.
“It’s gonna be fine, kid” Hank said, resting a hand on Gavin’s shoulder.
“Yeah,” Gavin replied, as he got out of the car. He stretched, whether to relieve his anxiety or to shake adjust after the hour long car ride, Hank wasn’t sure, “Yeah, sure”
The house was big and quite frankly beautiful. It was definitely new, probably built within the last 5 years and it had him wondering just what Gavin’s brother did for a living to afford it.
He brushed his curiosity aside and followed Gavin up to the front door. Reed paused for a moment, then texted his hand up to knock on the door.
The door pushed open a bit, as Gavin’s fist made contact with the door. His brother clearly forgot to, or didn’t care to close the door properly.
Gavin continued forward, pushing open the door and walking into the foyer.
“Who the hell—” a familiar voice called out.Hank stood, frozen as the recognizable figure of Elijah fucking Kamski made his way down the stairs
What the fuck.
Kamski froze, “Gavin?”
Gavin stared for a moment before taking a deep breath.
“I thought you were dead.”
Even from where he was standing, Hank could see the color drain from Kamski's face.
“Shit, Gav I’m so sorry. I didn’t even think—”
“Yeah,” Gavin interrupted, “You didn’t.”
He walked forward to meet Kamski at the base of the stairs.
“Ten hours. I thought you were dead for ten fucking hours.”
Then, just like that the anger drained from Gavin’s anger and was replaced by the weak, heartbreaking voice Hank had heard in the break room.
“I thought I lost you.”
He took one last step forward and wrapped his arms around Kamski. His brother, Hank's mind supplied, was quick to reciprocate the action.
It didn’t look stiff and awkward, like the hug between Gavin and him. In fact Gavin appeared to melt into the touch and if Hank really strained his ears he could hear silent sobs.
Hank turned away, trying to give the two some semblance of privacy. Although it was hard to block out the sound of Elijah Kamski, renowned asshole, gently whispering, “It’s okay, I’m here, I’m sorry, I’m fine, we’re both fine,” over and over again.
After a few minutes Gavin pulled back from the hug and hastily wiped the tears from his face. Although notably he did not step away from Kamski, keeping his arm pressed against his brothers.
Kamski nodded towards him, “Lieutenant Anderson.”
Hank straightened up, “Mr. Kamski.”
Kamski chuckled, “Please, call me Elijah,” he would most certainly not do that, “I’m sure you have some questions.”
Hank blinked, “You’re brothers.” He replied intelligently.
“Half-brothers, technically,” Kamski echoed Gavin’s earlier words, “but only assholes invalidate something on a technicality.”
He put an arm over Gavin’s shoulders and pressed a quick kiss to his temple.
“Uhg, Eli.” Gavin said, shoving his brother’s shoulder and rolling his eyes.
There was the Gavin Reed he knew for the past 17 years.
“Same dad, different moms,” Gavin continued for his brother, “We saw each other once in a while as kids, got closer in our late teens, and had a falling out in our early 20s.”
“I’m older.” Kamski added.
“Yeah, by less than a year.” Gavin retorted, lightheartedly offended.
Kamski chuckled, then glanced back at Hank for a moment.
“Not that I don’t appreciate the company, but why did you bring Lieutenant Anderson along?”
“Emotional support.” Hank answered for him.
“I wasn’t sure if you’d, I don’t know, tell me to fuck off or something.”
The smile left Kamski's face, “What? Why would I do that.”
“Eli, I was a fucking prick the last time we saw each other.” Gavin replied.
“Yeah, so was I. Yet here you are.”
Gavin sighed, “We really need to talk about that.”
Kamski paused, thinking, before cautiously asking, “How would you like to stay here for a bit? You don’t have to, but it would give us time to talk.”
Gavin smiled, “I’d like that.”
He turned back to Hank, “Thanks for coming. I know you don’t hear this from me a lot, but I appreciate it.”
Hank smiled, “Anytime kid.”
What a weird fucking week.