Chapter Text
Hank sat at his desk going over reports and signing off on them. He knew he should have been going to Statesville and picking up Justin, but there was too much on his mind. After the murder of Diane Redfern, Hank had let the relationship cool with Laura. The last time he spoke to her was when he called to tell her that there was enough evidence to charge both Treadwell and Carpenter with murder and that her protection detail would be ending. Laura had thanked him politely and that was the end of it. He did not want to end things – but after Gradishar stated she knew about it, Hank felt sick. He could never use Laura just for IA to have a win.
“Yo Hank, I’m heading out,” Olinsky stated by the door, “you need me for anything before I head out?”
“No, I’m going to finish these reports first, Erin is picking up Justin.”
“You still seeing Laura?”
“No,” he answers with a sigh, “I need to call her.”
“You should do that.”
~~
Hank finished up his work got in his ride and started driving. Before he knew it, he was in front of Laura’s house. He pulled into the driveway, got out, walked to the door, and rang the bell. What was he thinking, it was close to midnight and he was ringing a widow’s door. When he heard a dog bark, he thought he might have come to the wrong house, but lights started flipping on and before he could turn the door opened and there stood Laura in a light pink negligee, with matching robe.
“Hank, what are you doing here?”
He looked at her, and his mouth watered, he suddenly felt like a man in the middle of the desert and Laura was the oasis. “I was driving and I ended up here.”
“Would you like to come in?”
“Yes,” as he glanced down he saw a medium size mixed breed dog at her side that was growling. “Is it going to bite me?”
“Oh, I’m sorry, this is Zuzu,” as she puts her hand on the dogs head and the dog sits. “She’s a sweet girl I found at the pound. She keeps me company during the day.”
Hank walks in and closes the doors. “Did I wake you?”
“No, I was going to bed and then I thought of something and was working in my office. Would you like a drink?”
“Yeah,” as he follows her into the house that is now more decorated and looks like a home then the last time he was there.
Laura goes to a cabinet and pulls open the doors to reveal a fully stocked bar. Getting out two glasses, she fills them with ice and pours two bourbons. “I meant to send condolences for the loss of your officer.”
“Thank you,” as he takes the drink and moves to sit in one of the leather chairs. “The place looks nice,” as he looks around.
Laura moves to the sofa closes to Hank’s chair and sits pulling her feet up onto the sofa. The large dog moves and jumps on the furniture next to her. “Tell me Hank why did you really come here?”
“Are your kids still not home?”
“No, they won’t be home till after Labor day.”
“My son, Justin got released today.”
“Well that’s good, why aren’t you with him?”
“Because seeing Justin is seeing my mistakes. No matter what I do, he rebels, and I don’t want to start the constant arguments again.”
Laura sits her glass down and gets up and moves to Hank, as she sits in his lap she watches him set his glass down and put his arms around her. “Darling, he’s an adult, and though I do not know him, he has to accept responsibility for his own actions. We can only help guide and do better than our own parents did.”
“How did I get so lucky to meet you in a grocery store?” as he pulls her into a kiss. The kiss gets passionate and before Hank can think she is pulling at his clothes, and he is lifting her up into his arms and walks to her bedroom. “God I’ve missed you,” as he sits her down and she stands before him and drops her robe and gown.
~~
Hank dreams about the first night he spent in Laura’s house. How the next morning he woke up to a quiet house, as he moves to find Laura, he realizes she is not there. Pulling on his jeans and t-shirt, he walks out and can smell fresh coffee and food cooking. In the kitchen, he finds Laura and the dog. Laura sitting at the island with a cup of coffee as she looks between a laptop and TV.
“Good morning,” he says as he wraps his arms around her.
“Did you sleep well?” as she sets her coffee cup down and turns to Hank.
“Like I’ve never slept before.”
“It’s the mattress,” she laughs.
“Well I enjoyed breaking it in last night,” as he starts kissing along her neck. “I also liked christening several rooms last night as well.”
“You are impossible,” as she pushes him away. “Do you have plans today?”
“None that I don’t plan to spend with you,” as he pushes a loose strand of hair out of her face.
~~
When Hank woke, Laura was still wrapped around him and a dog was at the foot of the bed sleeping. Hank wanted this. He wanted Laura in bed with him. How he had suffered these last weeks without her. He was done avoiding, fuck IA. They could do what they want. He had already told Laura everything months ago when they first met. He would just keep telling her the truth. It felt good.
Laura moved and pulled away and Hank watched as she began to wake up. She was like no other woman he had ever known. She stretched slightly and smiled, then slowly opened her eyes to look at Hank. “Last night was lovely; I missed doing that with you.”
Rolling to his side Hank pushed a strand of hair out of her face. “You are so beautiful. I have been a fool to ignore you. I want this, I want us.”
“You know that means?” as she rolls to her side to face him.
“It means kids. You get to meet mine and I get to meet yours.”
“But on the bright side, we get to enjoy each other’s bodies, and there are so many things I want to try,” as she pushes herself up and quickly flips him to his back and straddles him.
Hank quickly flips Laura onto her back, “I’m not used to letting others take charge,” as he goes to kiss her neck.
“I think you will get used to it,” as she sighs.
~~
Hank arrived home mid-morning. He needed a shower and change of clothes. He would have to start leaving clothes at Laura’s house and vice versa. Of course, reality told him that they would eventually have to decide on one house, and he already knew it was not going to be his. Unlocking the door, he had forgotten that his son was home.
“You’re getting home late,” Justin stated to his dad.
“I was”
“Don’t even, you were with someone, her perfume is all over you.”
“Well, I”
“We can talk after your shower,” as Justin walks to the kitchen.
~~
Freshly dressed, Hank comes into the kitchen where Justin sits watching TV. Pouring himself a cup of coffee, he sits down across from his son. “I’m sorry I didn’t come pick you up.”
“Yeah, well you sent the next best thing.”
“Look Justin, I need to tell you something.”
“What, that you’ve replaced Mom? Or were you just hooking up with one of your regular whores?”
Hank grits his teeth and pops his jaw as he tries to calm down. Laura had already gone over how he needed to be calm and tell Justin about her.
“She’s a professor. We met shortly after I got out. She knows everything and Justin, if you would just give her”
“I don’t need a mother, I had one.”
“Look, I’d like for us to go out for dinner, tonight.”
“Whatever,” as Justin stands and leaves the room.
Hank pulls out his phone and types a message, “Dinner, 8:00”
“I’ll meet you there,” came the response.