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It had only been a few months after Al died when it happened. It had been quiet in Intelligence the last couple days. The cases they did have were short ones that were usually wrapped up within the day or handed over to other units at Hank’s order.
Which was the first sign to everybody that something was wrong. Sure things had been different since Al died, but it wasn’t like Hank to willingly hand over cases in any situation. Now he was doing it with little resistance.
It took them another day to figure out why.
When Hank started coughing constantly and wheezing whenever he gave orders, it didn’t take long for the unit to piece together that their sergeant was sick.
But Hank was still Hank and suggesting he take time off was met with a glare and an order to get back to work. Even though most of their cases were being handed off, so there wasn’t much work to do. Hank just locked himself back in his office, only coming out when it was absolutely necessary. But they all knew he was sick and only getting sicker as he kept ignoring the problem.
When it got to the point Hank couldn’t even sit up he was coughing so badly, the team knew they had to make a plan.
While the most obvious choice would probably be to call an ambulance or Trudy, there were problems with both those options. They all knew how much Hank hated ambulances and that kind of attention and would probably refuse to go in one.
And while they should’ve called Trudy, she had been gone that week with Randall finally enjoying some of their vacation days. She’d come back if they told her what was happening with Hank, but they’d all get an earful about it.
So Jay proposed what seemed like the next best option.
“We do rock paper scissors and the loser takes care of Sarge,” Jay said that night as he, Antonio, Adam, Kevin, Kim and Hailey sat in the break room listening to Hank wheeze and cough through the wall.
“Why don’t we just take turns?” Adam questioned, but it was tuned out as everybody nodded and agreed for Jay’s idea.
So everybody split up as they made a bracket of sorts. Antonio and Kim did rock paper scissors, while Jay and Hailey did it and Adam and Kevin. Then the losers from each round, Kim, Jay and Adam came together. After losing every game he played, Adam was the ultimate loser and the one left to take care of Hank.
Everybody else left quickly after it was decided who’d stay, leaving Adam and Antonio there. Adam sighed, trying to figure out what the hell he was supposed to do now. Antonio seemed to know what he was thinking as he stood up, peeking into Hank’s office for a moment before shutting the door and coming back to Adam.
“He’s sleeping right now, so just keep an eye on him. You can try to get him home, but it’s probably easier to take care of him here. Kim’s going to drop off some supplies and dinner in an hour, and I’ll be back in the morning. Call an ambulance if you think he’s going to die,” Antonio explained, standing up.
“Can’t you stay a little longer?” Adam asked, standing up as well.
Antonio shrugged. “I could but I’d rather be home with my kids. Maybe you should get better at rock paper scissors then?”
Adam huffed. “It’s not my fault I’m bad at that game.”
“Have fun, Ruzek.” With that Antonio waved before leaving. Adam rolled his eyes, heading back to the break room and flopping down on the couch.
He looked out the door, his gaze softening when he saw Al’s hat that was hung up on the wall. He sighed, closing his eyes for a moment before opening them again.
“You should be here, Al. You would know who to take care of Sarge better than I can,” Adam muttered, letting his eyes close again as he drifted off.
—
Two hours later it was dark outside and Adam was back in the breakroom, organizing everything Kim had dropped off. He’d already eaten the dinner she brought and how he was laying everything else out. Medicine, washcloths for Hank’s fever, snacks, water bottles and more had been packed into two bags.
Honestly it was a good thing Kim had picked up supplies because if it was Adam who went, he would’ve forgotten half of this.
Adam had just gotten everything laid out and was thinking about checking on Hank when a thud had him running into the office.
When he opened the door, Hank was laying on the ground, his shirt soaked through with sweat as he tried to sit up but failed. The thin blanket Jay had put on him hours ago was wrapped around him and clearly hindering his movements.
“Sarge- Hank, hey, I’m here,” Adam said, kneeling down next to him and removing the blanket. Hank was gasping, eyes unfocused and clouded over with fever. He squinted when Adam helped him up and back onto the couch.
“Al?”
Adam froze, his hand dropping the blanket he bent to pick up. He cleared his throat, lowering himself into a chair. Hank was still watching him, clearly waiting for an answer.
“Uh, no, it’s Adam.” Adam didn’t mention that Al was dead. Neither of them needed to hear that right now.
“Where’s Al?” Hank rasped, leaning against the couch now.
Adam closed his eyes, pressing his hands against his face. He couldn’t do this right now. Not when it had only been three months since they buried Al, three months since Adam had to say goodbye to his mentor, the man that was more a father figure than anything else.
And now here he was, sitting in this office as he tried to figure out how to explain to his sergeant, his other father figure in a way, that his best friend had been dead for months.
“He’s not here right now. But I’m sure he will be later,” Adam said eventually.
Hank stared at him for a moment like he wasn’t sure if he believed him but eventually nodded. Thankfully Hank fell asleep ten minutes later, Adam quietly headed to the bathroom once he was sure he was asleep.
Adam splashed cold water on his face trying to calm down his racing heartbeat. He kept telling himself he only had to make it to morning, then Antonio would come back and Adam could go home. Just until the morning.
Thankfully Hank didn’t wake up again and Adam ended up falling asleep for a few hours in the break room again. By the time Antonio arrived at eight the next morning Hank was still sleeping, a cool cloth on his forehead and Adam was pacing the bullpen erratically.
“How’d it go?” Antonio asked, leaning against his desk.
“How do you think it went?” Adam huffed.
“Go home, Ruzek. I got it from here. Platt called this morning, said she had a feeling something bad happened and she was cutting her vacation short. So I’d go home before she arrives and demand to know why she wasn’t called as soon as Hank started getting sick.”
Adam winced, knowing Antonio was about to get an earful but grateful he didn’t have to be there after the long night he already had.
“Thanks, Toni.”