Hi everyone!

Okay, so I just couldn't help it. This little plot bunny has been biting at me for days and I've been dying to write something D:BH, especially Connor&Hank. I've got another fic that I will be uploading at some point, but that is very different from this one as it will just be a series of drabbles, and a much happier topic! Keep and eye out for Mischief And Me in the near future.

This will centre around the father/son dynamic between Hank and Connor, and how Hank copes with losing Connor at the end of D:BH – and in the new world.

This won't be a long story, a handful of chapters…but it will be intense. And sad, you have been warned.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Detroit: Become Human, I am just a mere human having fun with the brilliant characters brought to life within.

Enjoy!


Chapter 1: Reliving The Nightmare

Hank couldn't help but swear internally as he found himself trapped in an elevator with a shitting copy of his partner, gun trained on his every move. The Lieutenant hadn't thought anything much when Connor had turned up at his place earlier that night, saying there was something he needed Hank's help for. To be honest, the older man was just relieved to see the android unharmed. When he'd heard that Connor was going to Jericho and had seen the news reports of the aftermath…He struggled admit it to himself, but he'd been terrified for the kid.

Kid…Hank cursed himself as the word replayed in his mind. He'd only known Connor for a week, but somehow, in that time, the android had manged to shatter all the barriers he had erected around himself following his son's death. His anger at the world – androids in particular – and his determination to keep everything out of his heart had crumbled during his time with Connor. He was…Hank didn't know how to describe him, but he was the farthest thing from what he had considered an android.

Oh sure, when Connor had first appeared Hank would have quite happily tossed him off a roof or two. Things began to change when Connor had saved him during that chase with Rupert. Hank had been surprised when Connor changed course and pulled him back to safety without much thought, given how the android seemed so dedicated to his mission of hunting deviants. That was when Hank realised there was much more to Connor than any other android he'd met.

Then Connor had pulled him out of one of the many black holes of obliteration he found himself in nowadays. While he hadn't taken kindly to having the android break into his house and slap him awake when all he wanted was to drown in his sorrows and booze, he had appreciated the way Connor guided him back towards some vague semblance of normality. Not that Hank really knew what that was for him nowadays. As he had later thought over the events of that night, Hank realised that was when his feelings towards Connor had truly began to change.

Connor had chosen to not shoot the Tracis, despite knowing they were deviants. Seeing the conflict within the android had begun to stir something within him, and that only grew after their confrontation at the bridge. Confusion and drunkenness had driven Hank to point his gun at Connor, desperate to see whether the suspicion building in his mind had foundation. When Connor had confessed that he didn't want to die, Hank began to see the truth long before Connor did.

The android was becoming the very thing he had been designed to hunt. Seeing that change had fostered something protective in Hank, a feeling he hadn't known since-

Throughout the rest of their journey Hank had watched Connor carefully, seeing all the small evolutions of the…man Hank had come to be so fond of. His heart had almost leapt out of his chest when Connor chased down the deviant on the roof of the Stratford Tower: Hank had relived the moment that bullets went flying past Connor way too often in his mind. When he'd linked with it, seeing Connor so distressed had left Hank's heart in turmoil. He wanted to comfort him…but he just couldn't bring himself to do it. Knowing it was best to leave him to sort through the discovery of those emotions on his own, Hank had let it lie. He'd seen enough in Connor's face and eyes to know what changes that moment would bring about.

And then Kamski's place had happened. Hank had never been so proud, nor felt such empathy for the android. Seeing Connor refuse to shoot the Chloe proved the theory in Hank's mind, but he knew Connor was now walking a dangerous path. It was only a matter of time before Connor learned the truth.

Hank wished he'd seen him before he went to Jericho, to finally set things straight with Connor. To get him to face the truth that had been there for days: he was a deviant, but he'd simply been unaware of it. Connor had shown more humanity than many of the humans Hank had known over his whole life. Going to Jericho would make him face a choice unlike any other, and Hank wanted to make sure the android was ready for it. Even admitting he'd been concerned about Connor took a great deal of effort, but Hank was fed up of pretending.

He cared about Connor. Somehow, he'd managed to worm his way into that gaping wound in his heart and settle there with ease. When he looked at Connor…he could see flashes of Cole, of the man he could have been. Who Hank would have wanted him to be.

Which is why the police lieutenant was so furious with himself for falling for this stupid trap. He'd known something was off with Connor the moment he'd seen him, but he just didn't put two and two together. Not until it was too late. The other android's statement when it revealed itself had cut right down to Hank's bones, and he couldn't get the words out of his head.

I have a mission, Lieutenant, and you are going to help me accomplish it. The other Connor must be destroyed, and you are the key to making it happen.

The elevator descended quickly into the warehouse and Hank's chest constricted painfully as he saw the lone figure walking down the central aisle. Even from this distance, he was unmistakeable.

Shitting fuck, Connor. He really did it, he became a true deviant. I can't let this bastard hurt him.

Hank absently wondered just when he'd started calling Connor 'he' rather than 'it'. He hadn't noticed until now.

As the elevator stopped the android Connor gestured with the gun, and Hank was so tempted to just stand there and take the shot to protect his Connor. Sadly, that wasn't something the android was willing to accept and it shoved him forward harshly, guiding him towards the right place. Hank shouted back at it but there wasn't much else he could do. Every step guided them closer to Connor and Hank wished he could do anything to buy his partner more time. Hank could see him grasping at one of the androids which were immobile along the multitude of rows and columns and tried to slow down, but the copycat was wise to his plan. It gave another forceful shove, and Hank tumbled forward just that bit too far. "Easy, fucking piece of shit!" he snapped, but it was too late. Connor heard him and turned, stopping what he was doing to see the commotion going on to his right.

Hank watched as Connor's eyes widened in recognition and he swore at seeing the flickers of emotion within. Shit, kid, I'm sorry. I fucking screwed up. "Step back, Connor! And I'll spare him," the copycat demanded.

"Sorry, Connor… This bastard's your spitting image," Hank shouted, but he meant it as a genuine apology. His eyes locked with Connor's again and he could see the conflicting feelings plain as day. Now that Connor was a full deviant he could be read just like a human and Hank internally swore. It was no accident that the android was using him as leverage: it somehow knew Connor cared.

The android continued as Connor hesitated. "Your friend's life is in your hands, Connor. Now it's time to decided what matters most. Him…" It didn't miss as Hank and Connor shared a heavy look, "or the revolution."

Hank saw Connor's indecision and knew he had to keep the kid on track: this was so much bigger than them. "Don't listen to him, everything this fucker says is a lie!"

Connor looked apologetic as he spoke back. "I'm sorry, Hank. You never should have gotten mixed up in all this!"

The older man gave a barely perceptible shake of the head. "Forget about me, do what you have to do!" Come on, Connor. I'm ready for death, I can take it, I've been doing this fucking dance with it for longer than I can remember. Don't sacrifice it all for me. Connor wasn't willing to give in that easily though and appealed to the android to see beyond the programming. Don't waste your breath, kid. This bastard ain't you.

The android was rapidly losing patience and it took a step closer to Hank, pressing the gun right to his temple. "Enough talk! It's time to decide who you really are. Are you going to save your partner's life?" Connor and Hank didn't break their gaze as it continued speaking. "Or are you going to sacrifice him?"

Connor didn't hesitate and stepped away from the androids. Shit, no! Connor! "All right, all right! You win…" Hank knew what was coming and swung out to catch the gun as the copycat moved to shoot Connor. No way, you piece of shit! It bought Connor a couple of precious seconds to charge in as the android overpowered Hank, and he could only watch as the pair become locked in a fist fight. Punches and kicks flew at a speed Hank could barely keep up with watching, let alone were he in the middle of it.

Seeing that they were evenly matched, Hank rushed over to the gun which the android had discarded and pointed it at the pair. "Hold it!" he shouted, watching as the pair separated. It was only then that Hank realised he now had a huge problem.

Fuck. Which ones which?

The Connor which moved over to his right was the first to speak. "Thanks, Hank. I don't know how I'd have managed without you. Get rid of him, we've got no time to lose."

Hank's eyes shifted over to the other Connor, and his heart involuntarily jumped. The emotion playing out on his face made him think it was his Connor. "It's me, Hank. I'm the real Connor."

The lieutenant internally swore. He wanted to believe…but he couldn't be sure – and he didn't dare risk shooting his Connor. Hank switched his gun between the two of them a couple more times. "One of you is my partner…The other is a sack of shit. Question is, who is who?" He could see the Connor on his left looking at him pleadingly, as if begging to believe it was him, but Hank just couldn't be sure. Not yet.

"What are you doing, Hank?" Hank switched his focus to the Connor on his right. "Give me the gun and I'll take care of him!"

"Don't move!" Hank hissed, partially out of fear and partially out of anger. This was a really bad situation, and he couldn't afford to get this wrong.

The Connor on his left gave him a solution. "Why don't you ask us something, something only the real Connor would know?"

Goddammit that's something my Connor would suggest. Everything was pointing toward the one on his left being his partner, but he wasn't willing to take the chance yet. The idea was definitely not a bad one, though. Hoping to prove his suspicion right, he turned his focus to the other one, looking to trip it up. "Uh, where did we first meet?"

It answered without hesitation. "Jimmy's bar! I checked four other bars before I found you. We went to the scene of a homicide. The victim's name was Carlos Ortiz." Hank could see the other Connor wanting to jump in but didn't, and then muttered something to itself as the one he was interrogating finished its sentence. The answer gave him a slight doubt…

Hank switched over. "What's my dog's name?" Connor knows this without a doubt.

"Sumo. His name is Sumo."

"I knew that too!" Hank shifted his gun to the interjector, but it was a very possible reaction from his Connor.

This is going in fucking circles, I need a better idea. And then it hit him. Wait…

Hank turned back to who he was almost sure was his Connor and looked him dead in the eyes. "My son, what's his name?"

Only my Connor will know this and have cared enough to learn the truth. The truth I've been running from all this time.

Connor's eyes turned sad as he answered him. "Cole. His name was Cole. And he just turned six at the time of the accident…" The pair were locked in an intense gaze as Connor continued speaking. "It wasn't your fault, Lieutenant. A truck skidded on a sheet of ice and your car rolled over. Cole needed emergency surgery but no human was available to do it, so an android had to take care of him. Cole didn't make it…" Hank's face morphed between pain, anger and acceptance as he heard the facts of his son's death spoken aloud to him for the first time where he could truly understand them with a clear head. "That's why you hate androids. You think one of us is responsible for your son's death."

The pair continued to stare at each other, so involved in their own moments of revelation that neither of them noticed the other Connor slowly reach back into its waistband. Hank let some of the stress in his shoulders go as he finally spoke aloud the truth he had been keeping inside all along. "Cole died because a human surgeon was too high on red ice to operate. He was the one who took my son from me. Him and this world, where the only comfort people can find is with a fistful of powder…"

Hank could see the empathy in Connor's eyes, could see the pain he was channelling for his lost son. That's my Connor all right.

They didn't notice what was happening until it was too late.

Reaching for its second, concealed gun, the android quickly drew the weapon and fired straight at Connor's chest. Hank's breath caught as he heard the shot go off and fired his own weapon in blind rage. "No!" A shot was discharged and collided straight into its head. Before it dropped, however, the android turned its weapon on itself and shot straight into its chest. Hank watched in shock as it self-destructed and the carcass then fell to the floor, unmoving.

The older man watched in horror as Connor slumped forward, his right hand weakly clutching over the bullet wound in his chest. He could instantly tell Connor was in a serious condition. "Shit, Connor!" Hank exclaimed as he raced forward, catching Connor in his arms as his partner all but tumbled to the ground. His heart pounded in his chest as he felt Connor trembling in his arms. Fuck, I should have trusted my instincts, I should have shot that bastard sooner! "Connor, son?" he asked softly, begging Connor to answer him.

Connor wheezed, an involuntary response to the wound. "Hank…I-" He stopped speaking as he ran a diagnostic on his systems, the results already confirming his suspicions. The bullet had destroyed his heart…the damage was beyond repair. No doubt just as the android had intended. Connor understood its actions now. None of the androids around them had parts that were compatible with him…save for the one lying on the ground, which had just obliterated its own version of the same bio-component.

He was dying.

A timer flashed in his vision and Connor knew the end was coming. Fighting through the sudden fear at knowing he was dying, Connor swallowed hard and gripped on to Hank as tight as he could. "Hank, I need your help. Take me back over there, I need to finish what I started," he spoke with great effort, hissing as Hank helped him stumble over to the android he was working on before. "I need you to hold me upright, Hank, but I need my right arm free." The older man nodded and shifted so that Connor's left arm was resting over his shoulder while Hank kept him up with a tight grip on Connor's right hip. Connor shook his head as he desperately ignored the timer counting down his doom, pouring all his concentration into the connection which would awaken thousands of his people.

Hank watched in great concern as he felt Connor shaking with the effort, toying with demanding he stop until they get Connor fixed. About ten seconds later it was over and they both watched the LED of the android before them flash. "Wake up!" Connor begged before he gasped, his legs finally unable to take his weight any more.

Feeling his partner's strength failing, Hank grabbed a firm hold of him again and guided Connor down to the floor. "Connor!" He shifted them so that Connor was lying across his knees, staring into the face of the android he'd come to care for. Hank cradled him in his arms as he saw Connor struggling to stay awake. "Connor, stay with me! What's happening?"

Connor winced as he felt his systems begin to slowly shut down. "The damage…it's too much, Hank."

The breath froze in Hank's chest. "What? Connor, you can't mean-"

"I'm dying, Hank. The other me…it destroyed the only replacement part that could have saved me. I suppose the small consolation is that it failed…they'll all be awake soon."

Hank shook his head angrily. "No. No, that can't be true. Are you telling me that with these thousands of fucking machines around us, not one of them can save you?!"

Connor smiled sadly up at him. "Yes, Hank. None of them have a compatible heart…I'm-"

"Don't, Connor. Don't…" the older man choked out, unwilling to hear Connor speak about his own death so easily. No. Fucking God, no! This can't be happening again! I've already lost one son, I can't lose another! Hank swallowed back on the bile which was rising up in his throat as he tried to find his voice again. "How long…?"

The android closed his eyes briefly, warring on whether to tell Hank the truth. In the end, he decided he couldn't do it: it was bad enough that one of them was counting down. "Not that long…I'll be gone before they all wake up." Hank's heart felt like it was being stood on as he watched Connor struggle with the various sensations. "Hank…there's something I need to say."

"God, Connor, don't do this."

"I have to Hank…it's going to be the last chance I have." Connor looked at up at Hank and the older man's body went numb at what he was seeing. Connor's eyes were glistening, tears threatening to fall. Oh my god…I didn't know he could do that. "Hank, working with you has been…well, it's been something. I know you don't care for androids much but- I feel privileged in having had the chance to know you, to see the man beneath all the hurt and anger. You always looked out for me, even when you didn't really like me. I'm…really glad I met you, Hank."

Hank swallowed hard on the emotion which was clogging his throat. "Oh Connor…You don't know just what you've done for me, son. You've brought me back from a dark fucking place. I learned so much from you. And this world is going be to so much worse without you in it. God Connor- you can't be dying. I can't be losing you."

Connor let a single tear fall from his left eye. "I'm-I'm scared, Hank. I don't want to die, I don't want to go."

The older man hugged him tightly for a second before pulling back as Connor jolted. "Connor?"

Seeing that he only had seconds left, Connor lifted his left hand weakly and Hank grasped it tightly. Connor could feel the tremble in his grasp and let go of his emotions fully, tears falling unchecked now. Taking a long breath, Connor gave him a faint smile. "Thank you, Hank…for everything. Please, don't give up. Life…is worth fighting for."

Hank drew in a shuddering breath as he watched Connor's face relax and his whole body went cold when he saw Connor's eyes go lifeless. "Connor?" he whispered, realising that the android was no longer grasping his hand. With a small shake of his head Hank let go of it and cupped Connor's face, his hand becoming damp with Connor's tears. "No, Connor, you can't be…Don't go, Connor. I can't-" He choked back on a repressed sob and gathered Connor in tightly, hugging his lifeless body.

This is a nightmare, it has to be.

He didn't notice as all the androids surrounding him came to life, Connor's last act giving them freedom. All he could think of was the body lying in his arms of the person he'd come to love like a son…and he'd not even had the courage to tell Connor as he lay dying. Minutes passed in slow motion for Hank as he sat there cradling the empty shell, unable to bring himself to move. He kept thinking that it may just be a drunken nightmare, one that he would wake up from with enough time.

Maybe he can be uploaded to another body? Maybe he's not gone- He angrily closed his eyes, refusing to let tears fall.

Who am I fucking kidding. Connor's dead. The kid died because I screwed up. Why didn't I just fucking shoot?

He pulled back and looked at Connor's face, heart pounding painfully at the vacant expression. The dimmed LED made him feel even sicker as he closed his eyes, unable to take staring into them any longer. After more time than Hank could care to count, he sat back and gathered Connor's body into his arms.

There's something I've got to do.


Hank didn't need to do much searching to find the rest of the deviants, the androids which Connor had freed leading him right there. He followed some distance behind the army which wandered to the camp in the heart of Detroit, watching as they all stared at the world in wonder. He guessed many of them had never even set foot outside of CyberLife before. It took about an hour of walking, but not once did he think of stopping. The weight in his arms become nothing more than an awareness as he continued his march, determined to do this one last thing for the being which had sacrificed himself for the freedom of his people.

As he knew they were getting near the camp Hank split away, approaching the plaza from a different angle. He momentarily stopped as he came to a new group of androids, but they simply stared at him as they saw Connor's lifeless body in his arms. Maybe realising that he was not a threat they stepped aside and let him pass, opening a path toward the one he was seeking.

Just outside the camp, Markus was looking at the vast army of androids which had marched to them all but lost, and he closed his eyes with a long sigh. He knew there was only one reason why they came without Connor in their numbers. As he stood in thought, Josh realised someone was approaching from their right. He turned to watch as they came closer and Josh called out to their leader softly. "Markus."

Markus turned at the calling of his name and his eyes fell upon the defeated figure of Hank, striding towards him with Connor cradled in his arms. He walked towards him, making sure not to approach too quickly as Hank came to a stop a few metres away from the rest of the deviants. They all watched as Markus approached, some with sad expressions as their leader went to the human which had brought back one of their own. Markus waited patiently as he saw Hank war within himself on what to say – he didn't know that the detective was actually trying to swallow down on the lump of emotion which was in his throat. "I couldn't just leave him there," Hank spoke shortly as he locked eyes with Markus. "He…All of these androids are free because of what he did. Connor deserves to be among his people."

With an understanding nod Markus stepped closer, holding out his arms to take Hank's burden. It took the man a few seconds to find the strength to let Connor go, the action making his death seem more final all of a sudden. Markus took him with ease, but Hank was glad to see that he still seemed to hold him carefully. The leader looked down sadly to Connor's lifeless face, wishing that it hadn't been this way. "Thank you, Lieutenant. Rest assured that Connor will never be forgotten, nor will his actions be meaningless. On this day, when we have won our freedom, he will be remembered: as will your actions here. It speaks volumes that a human brought back the body of a dead android to his people."

Hank fought back the emotions which were swirling in his mind. "I just- I wasn't going to leave him to rot in that place. I couldn't do that to him."

Understanding eyes looked over Hank's fidgeting form and Markus recognised the look in his face. Carl had once given him the same look, back when he was alive.

Unable to stand it any more Hank turned and walked away quickly, not daring to look back. It was over, his task was done. He had a date with several bottles of whisky and his revolver.

Please, don't give up. Life…is worth fighting for.

The echoes of Connor's last words played in Hank's mind as he abruptly stopped. Ah shit, Connor. You fucking knew, didn't you. You knew all along what I had been doing.

He stared up at the falling snow and finally let the tears which he had been fighting back fall.

How can life be worth fighting for when I've lost all I love twice now?


Wow…I was crying as I wrote that, so I apologise to anyone I gave the same problem. I can't see this story being more than 5 chapters, but I hope to update it frequently. I've never written anything this sad before, so please let me know what you all thought.

*Smooch*