Chapter 1
It's been a little over a month since the successful and peaceful revolution and the androids and humans lived mostly in peace with each other. There was off course still humans that hated them, but most of them didn't really have a problem with them and it was now a crime to hurt androids. Marcus and the others were spread out around the city, some even owned houses now and had families. Those who didn't have a place to stay yet lived in the new Jericho with Markus, Simon, North and Josh. Markus and Simon had even started a love relationship since it didn't work along with him and North because of the differences between them, Markus tried to be calm and peaceful while North was more off a strict person and was still not found of humans. She accepted that they were together, though, and if she was jealous, she didn't show it. She seemed more proud of them actually.
Connor lived with Hank and Sumo. They continued to solve crimes together and seeing Connor by Hank's side was a normal sight to the other workers at the DPD and they had also become fond of the android as well. Even Gavin had stopped treating him like shit, for the most part anyway, and they could at least be in the same room without him calling him stuff, especially when Hank was close by, or give him hateful glares he had done when Connor had first arrived to the station. Even if Connor was a deviant now and could decide things on his own he didn't mind working at all, Hank had even asked him once and he had assured him that this was what he wanted. Connor liked working and Fowler was glad that someone wasn't complaining about work and had let him stay.
The snow had slowly started to melt away and the sun shined on the half-clouded sky, peaking thru the clouds. Connor and Hank had left early for work, thanks to Connor who always said it was better to be early than late despite Hank's moaning over being woken up. Connor reminded Hank of Cole when he did that, back when Hank had to take Cole to school and the little boy used to wake up before him despite his own promises to wake him up. And since the revolution Hank began to see Connor's real nature he still would try and hide, he had the same curiosity and innocence as a small child despite his intelligence and when he had started talking he never shut up, even if Hank told him so, and when he would look at Hank with those brown, innocent, apologetic eyes he would sigh and let him continue whatever he had been talking about.
This day was like any other long day with not so many crimes, but as it was time to go home and Hank put on his jacket and was about to leave the office, Connor stayed at his desk and was looking thru his paper work and computer.
-Ya coming, Connor?"
-Yes, Lieutenant, I'm just going to finish my work and then I'll go. You can go before me." he said politely.
-You sure?"
-Yes, I promise to finish my work as quick as I can. I'll get a taxi."
He was always like that with work, always wanted to finish things, make things done.
-Alright, be sure to hurry, it's still getting hella dark out there quickly. And Connor, call me Hank, ok?" he asked for probably the hundredth time.
-Got it." Connor said with a smile, answering both "commands". Hank turned to leave with most of the other workers, a few were still there so Connor wasn't alone, but Hank couldn't help but felt slightly worried and gave a last glance towards his friend. He would be fine.
He heard Sumo's loud, happy barking inside the otherwise quiet house as he parked the car and stepped out, walked over to the door. When he unlocked it, Sumo was by his feet in a sec and drool was all over him as the dog jumped and tried to lick him.
-Aright, alright, Sumo." he said as he patted his head. "Hungry?" the dog ran to his bottle as if he knew what he meant, and Hank filled the bowl up to the edge, some bits of food hit the floor, but Sumo didn't mind, this was heaven for him, and he quickly began to eat.
-Your favorite friend will come home later today." Hank said to the dog that just continued to eat his food without a care in the world.
Hank sat down in the sofa with a glas of whiskey and turned on the tv and switched to a football game and could finally relax after another long day at work, and wouldn't have to have Connor complaining about his drinking. For a while anyway... Some minutes later, Sumo jumped up on the sofa beside him and laid down, his big body covering most of the sofa, laying his head on Hank's lap. He sighed but was too tired to order him to get down and just let him stay and patted his head and scratched behind his ears. After a good while of waiting, worry started to fill Hank again, he had even barely touched his whiskey on the table. Connor was still not home. Has something happened? His fatherly instincts began to take over, but he tried to shake that feeling of. Connor is a fucking police android, made to fight, he could take care of himself. The kid had proven that many times on their missions. But still…
The fact it was dark outside and he had promised to be home by now, and he always came in time, made Hank lose focus over what he was watching, the images just flashed without no pattern before him and Sumo seemed to feel his worry because he licked his hand and snuggled closer to calm him, that Connor would be home soon. But when some more long minutes had past, he glanced at the clock, it has been over an hour and he still wasn't home. The hell?
Just as Hank was about to rise the hell up and start looking for that idiot, the door was thrown open, then slammed shut with a loud sound that filled the house and Sumo jumped and whined in surprise before he ran to the hall to greet his second owner, but then Hank heard more whimpering and he quickly stood up and hurried over to the hall as well.
-The hell have you been, Con?! I have been worried sick..."
He paused and his body froze when he saw what had caused Sumo to whimper and now look up at him in worry. His heart dropped. Connor was standing close to the door, almost pressed himself against the wall, was frozen in place, held shaking hands close to his chest that raised and fell far too quickly as if he was trying to control his breathing, and stared at the other wall before him, as if he was paralyzed. But what had first caught Hank's eye were that his LED was flashing red in the half dark. He had learned from his time with Connor that it meant that the android in question was feeling threatened or upset and his head was twitching slightly. His formal clothes he took so good care of was dirty and slightly torn and he had some gashes and blue blood was coming from a wound on his shoulder and the side of his head, the tie was loose.
-C-Connor?" Hank said again, softer this time as he felt his anger turn into concern in a split second. Connor lifted his head to look back at him, but his eyes were not entirely focused on Hank at all. The side of his face had a bruise, as if someone had hit him hard and blood ran down from his nose like the gash that he now noticed on the side of Connor's neck. His eyes held total fear and tears were pouring down his face, but he didn't answer and immediately looked away again, looking like he would pass out any moment. Hank was about to say something more, but the lump that was forming in his throat made him swallow his words and he could only stare at him. He has never seen him cry or be so… scared before. Sumo continued to whimper, knew that something was terribly wrong with Connor. Hank walked closer, slowly so he wouldn't scare the terrified android more.
-Kid, what the hell happened?" he swore, the lump made him loose his normal strong, gruff voice. "Who did this to you?"
Connor still didn't say anything, only those gasping sobs came from him and his body was visibly shaking. Hank never thought androids needed to breathe at all, but it didn't matter now. He moved to put a hand on his shoulder and Connor's body tensed, he even pressed himself more against the corner as Hank's hand barely touched him, panic in his eyes. Hank stopped what he was doing and withdrew his hand. Whatever had happened, it sure had scared the hell out of him.
-I'm not going to hurt you, Connor..." He said with unease. But after some seconds of staring, Connor tried to walk past him, stumbling slightly as he tried to avoid him. Hank by instinct carefully took him by the arm and his breathing immediately hitched and he shook with a new vigor. Hank froze, thought Connor was going to self-destruct right there and then and was about to let go again when Connor suddenly threw himself into his arms with a strangled cry, burying his face against his shoulder as he cried softly. Hank was shocked for a moment before he wrapped his arms around him, held him closer, felt the android shake violently from the force of his crying, his sobs muffled by the fabric of Hank's t-shirt. Hank rubbed his back, like a father calming his child, stroked the top of his head, tried to avoid the bruise. Tears and blue blood were soaking him but he didn't care right now.
-Shh, shh, I'm here, Connor. It's alright. What happened? Please, talk to me."
He asked again, almost whispered, trying to get answers from the distressed android, but he only held into him tighter and continued to cry. He carefully led him to the bathroom and made him sit down so he could carefully take off his torn and bloody clothes and take care of his wounds, he didn't miss the way Connor curled up slightly when he touched him and that he was more exposed. Hank, now in the bathroom's light, could see the wound on his neck more clearly, it looked as if someone had cut right thru it. But what disturbed Hank the most, even as he tried to ignore it and not stare, was the blood covering Connors pants and... It was as if his heart stopped beating for a sec.
Don't fucking tell me that…
But it couldn't be anything else, and Hank wasn't stupid. He swallowed before he quickly moved and took one of the small hand towels to wrap it around Connor's neck in a desperate try to stop the blood that still came from the wound, normal bandage probably wouldn't stop the bleeding since android blood wasn't like human blood. He hoped it would help somewhat until Connor would be able could heal it himself or how it now worked. Connor's body went rigid as he got close to him.
-I'm just gonna wrap this around your neck, alright?"
Hank said calmly when he noticed this "I'm not gonna hurt you." He wasn't sure if Connor even nodded in approval or not, but he let him carefully wrap it around his neck. Hank then started to carefully clean away the rest of the blood on him. Connor would let out soft whimpers or hiss thru his teeth when Hank's touched his wounds, other than that, he didn't make a single sound. When Hank was done he took out a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt, that were a little too big for Connor, that he had bought for him not long ago. He frowned when he saw that his LED was still red and he still held that faraway look in his eyes. When he was dressed, he sat down by the bathtub, leaning his back against it. Hank knelt down before him, putting a hand on his shoulder, which Connor now allowed, felt his own eyes well up with tears, but he didn't let them fall. He needed to stay strong for Connor now. But he sure was worried, and the fact Connor hadn't said a word since he came thru the door made it even worse. He was now wringing his hands nervously and was staring down. He looked so fucking small and weak like this, Hank didn't like it one bit.
-Connor?" he said with the softest voice he could muster, trying to make him react, fucking say something. But nothing.
-Son," he continued as he tried to look him in the eyes.
"Whatever the fuck happened, you are home now, ok? It's alright."
He finally fully looked up at Hank, his dark, brown eyes had lost all its warmth and happiness, they were hollow and scared. But also something like guilt… or even shame. The sight and the silence were unnerving.
He then glanced away, seemed completely lost again, as if he was having a battle inside his own head, before he suddenly started to scratch at his own wrists desperately, clearly had no idea what he was doing. Hank immediately pried them apart before Connor could make himself bleed. Scratch marks covered his artificial skin. The only noises in the room were Connor's fast breathing and whimpers and Hank's soft whisperings of comfort. He had no idea what to do, had never seen Connor act like this before. Usually he barely showed any fear, had almost killed himself many times just to accomplish his mission or to protect Hank and others and Hank would scold him afterwards. But now he looked so small, lost and hurt. Hank's blood began to boil, whoever had done this to him, he swore he would kill the bastard who hurt him like this. His thoughts were interrupted when Connor collapsed against him again, buried his face against him with a small whimper and weakly held into him again. Hank immediately held him close.
-It's ok now. I've got you, I've got you." He soothed over and over again as he held him for a moment before he helped him up and let him lean against him as they went to the bedroom where he let him lay down. He immediately curled up before Hank laid down beside him. He had left the bathroom lights on, but he didn't bother to turn them off, a little light wouldn't hurt. The small light even seemed to make Connor more at ease. He was holding into himself as if he was freezing or still in pain. He wasn't sobbing anymore but tears still came. Hank held him close to him for the rest of the night. He would probably feel embarrassed tomorrow over that he had slept in Hank's bed if he knew Connor right, but he needed him now and Hank could defiantly not leave him when he was in this state. He would call Fowler the first thing he did in the morning, he would understand. Hank barely slept at all for the rest of the night, made sure Connor wasn't hurting himself and would hold him slightly tighter when he would whimper softly in his "sleep". Sumo was laying down on the floor close to the bed, made sure no more harm came to Connor.
