Connor concluded that Kamski had used him to gather intel as he stepped out into the cold. It was only logical that he did. Now, Kamski knew everything he wanted to know. But the creator of androids would never outright admit it, which only made it that much harder to prove that he had been involved from the beginning. Connor knew this much, but he did not know what motivated his creator's actions. That and more were all so unclear.

"Connor," Chloe called stepping out barefoot into the snow. Not that it bothered either one of them.

Connor had failed to notice that while he was not cold, he could feel it. He felt each snowflake as it rested on his skin, he felt the wind as it caressed his cheeks, and he felt father winter nipping at his fingertips.

"See," Chloe started, noticing Connor's physical reaction to the weather, "he's not all bad."

Connor shook his head. He did not understand why they had such vastly different perspectives. He knew from research that it had to deal with their experiences much as humans had contributed to their developmental differences in how they viewed the world.

"Let's agree to disagree," he replied.

"I reached out to Lieutenant Anderson after you woke up. He should be here soon." Chloe stated, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Isn't it beautiful?"

Connor nodded still fascinated with his new senses. "You don't get jealous watching them from here?"

Chloe jumped to the nearest rock and peered over the lake at Jericho. "I quite enjoy just watching them. They fascinate me." She let out a heavy sigh. "I wish you would stay."

"You know that I don't want that," Connor repeated in a modulated tone.

"I know," she replied, playfully jumping down to land at Connor's feet. "I like having worldly conversations with you. It's like having a big brother." She said, flashing Connor a blinding smile. "Lt. Anderson refused to leave. He sat outside for hours in his car waiting for you to wake up."

Connor smiled at the thought. He already knew how much Hank cared for him, but it warmed him to his core hearing about it.

"I'll admit," Chloe shrugged. "I am a bit jealous."

"I am afraid that I don't understand," Connor watched Chloe's face scrunch up as she twirled in front of him.

"Your connection with Lt. Anderson was so natural as if fate herself willed you both together." Chloe looked up as Hank's car sped up the driveway. "Next time, let's go for a swim."

"Connor!" Hank shouted, rushing from the vehicle before it had even come to a full stop.

Chloe retreated inside giving Connor a parting smile and a lingering wave.

Hank ran to Connor. Neither held back as tears ran down their cheeks. Hank wrapped Connor in his warm embrace and buried his face in Connor's shoulder.

"Sorry, Hank," Connor whispered into Hank's grey hair.

Connor felt every strand brush against his skin. Each string sent ripples across Connor's body; electricity sparked desires in him that he had only envisioned just hours before. He wanted to stay in that moment forever.

Hank had feared the worst, with Connor's clones destroyed he had not known just how much of Connor would remain…Connor. Every time an android shut down, there was a risk of losing fragments of its stored memory. Hank was worried that Connor would not be himself. He should have been comforted by the fact that he was in Kamski's hands, but that only made him worry more and the lack of sleep had not helped.

"Connor-" Hank bellowed softly.

Connor disappeared into Hank's aroma as Hank's body shivered under him. His breathing felt shallow as Connor realized that he was hugging him too tightly. He released Hank, who nearly fell before Connor caught him and walked him to the passenger side of the car.

"I'll drive us home," Connor reassured him as he buckled in Hank. "Sorry."

"Goddammit, Connor," Hank moaned, gripping his chest. "I was fucking worried about you. That fucking prick Kamski would not let me past the foyer."

"Sorry, Hank, I truly am," Connor replied.

Hank sighed before covering his face as it reddened. "Not home. It's another bloody Monday," Hank replied. "To the office." He muttered.

"Any updates?" Connor asked.

"Really?" Hank paused in disbelief. "Here I am worried sick about you and all you care about are case updates?"

"Yes, and no," Connor replied with an innocent smile.

"Well, which is it?" Hank asked, crossing his arms.

"Both," Connor admitted. "And Kairi?"

Hank sighed. "Should have known that's who you were worried about." He grabbed his phone, pulled up a picture of Kairi, and shoved it in Connor's face. "She's fine. Ben and Tina checked on her this morning and snapped this photo."

Connor tapped the phone with his finger and downloaded the image to his memory. It was a good picture of Ben and Tina with Kairi spitting up on Tina's uniform. Connor was a little angry with himself for not having snapped a photo of them together.

"Thank you," Connor said, reaching across the armrest to take Hank's hand.

Hank wanted to berate Connor, but the moment he took his hand. He forgot everything he wanted to say.

"Gavin's at our place," Hank murmured. "He won't stop eating my fucking leftovers."

"I'll restock tonight," he promised.

"So," Hank started. "What happened?"

Connor sat up watching Hank as he ran his free hand over his face. He continued to hold Hank's hand firmly in his grasp.

"I fucked up, Hank," Connor turned with one hand on the stirring wheel. "You saw the footage. I allowed my emotions to get the best of me. You were right. I was not thinking straight yesterday."

"You got that fucking right," Hank interjected, swatting Connor's hand away. "God damn it! Fowler just texted. He needs to meet with us."

"I'll have Gavin meet us," Connor stated.

"And Kamski?" Hank asked.

"He provided me with a few upgrades. That's all." Connor subconsciously glanced down at his crouch.

"How much is that going to set us back?" Hank asked.

Connor liked that Hank used "us" and "our" twice now. It was a strange thing to fixate on but fixate he did.

"Nothing," Connor smirked to Hank's consternation.

"Ok, what's the catch?" Hank asked as Connor pulled onto the highway. "Knowing Kamski, he'll pull the rug from underneath us when we least expect it."

Connor had to agree with Hank on that. It was a favor for a favor. Only Kamski still held all the power. It was not something that Connor wanted to think about, but he knew he would have to keep playing Kamski's little game if he wanted to know more.

"Does this mean we're letting Kamski off the hook?" Hank asked in a serious tone.

"For now," Connor admitted.

~Detroit Police Department~

Connor sat quietly in the corner of the room with his eyes closed as he replayed the footage from the day before on his HUB. He was pensive as chaos existed throughout the department. Androids that had opted to return to their duties and families nationwide were on the fritz.

Even Markus had reported several dozen cases of androids acting out of character. Connor had made note of the apprehension in Markus's voice. Connor tried to ease Markus's woes, but he was only marginally successful.

Then there was the fact RK900 was still on this loose. No one had seen him, but that did not mean anything. In the time that Connor had been in Kamski's care, things had only gotten worse. That alone made Connor more uneasy as Captain Fowler charged into the debriefing room. Chris sat up, while Gavin and Hank slouched unprofessionally at opposite ends of the room.

"Tina, get in here," Fowler ordered.

Tina hurried in carrying Fowler's work phone. She looked at Connor, who still had not moved.

"Tina informed me that the call I received from Commissioner Young might have been a fake. I had her look into it. And well, she was fucking right." Fowler looked at Hank. "So, I'm apologizing for the 24-hour suspension that I placed you all on."

"And?" Hank added.

"What more do you want Hank? I fucking apologized." Fowler defended himself.

"How about a raise?" Hank joked, but Fowler was not in the mood.

"I second that," Gavin chimed.

"If anyone deserves a raise it's the officers that show up to work on time and not hungover." Fowler sneered before glaring at Hank and Gavin.

"Who made the call?" Chris asked, taking notes diligently.

"RK900," Gavin responded.

"Most likely," Tina confirmed. "I was unable to trace the call to its origins."

"No, shit," Gavin exclaimed, propping his feet up on the table in front of him.

"Enough Gavin," Fowler warned. "I want this thing shut down."

"We need more people on this case," Hank shouted.

"We're already spread thinner than fucking wafer paper," Fowler sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I still have the F.B.I and President Warren breathing down my back." Fowler pinched his brows as Hank muttered something unintelligible.

"Put Tina and Chris officially on the case then," Hank responded as veins lined the side of his brow.

"Hank, we have limited mitigations in place as is," Fowler divulged.

Connor stepped forward, "there are several PC200 and PM700 models in Jericho who would like to return to their regular duties."

Everyone looked over to Connor, then back at Fowler. The DPD had lost enough androids to the extermination campsites. What androids they did have left were under strict regulations and not permitted to carry service weapons. Connor was the only exception. Fowler's face underwent several phases before settling on his "what else do we have to lose" face.

"Send me a list of names and serial numbers…" he paused. "And a list of compatible officers." Fowler groaned as he headed for the door. "And Connor, President Warren is waiting on a response from you about speaking in D.C."

"Yes, Captain, I'll prepare a list," Connor replied, avoiding Hank's darkened gaze. "And reply to President Warren now."

Fowler nodded begrudgingly as he returned to his office.

Connor had forgotten to tell Hank about D.C. So, no time like the present, he concluded as Hank walked over to him. Everyone noticed the change in Hank's mood and voluntarily left the room. Everyone but Gavin, however, Tina quickly returned to retrieve him.

Connor watched as Hank approached him.

"What the hell Connor?" Hank asked, crossing his arms.

"Sorry, Hank, it slipped my mind," Connor admitted, tugging at Hank's sleeve. "Markus and I were invited, but I don't want to go without you." Hank pouted. "I've responded with an alternative that would include you. It would be better to have my human companion to help buffer."

Hank had noticed this once before. Connor was not sharing something. It had nothing to do with D.C. and everything to do with Connor's desire to keep Hank shielded from the truth.

"We'll talk later," Hank said as pulled away from Connor and left.

Connor did not stop him. He could see the hardened seriousness on his face. So, he opted for professionalism and privacy over selfishness. So, Connor gave Hank the space he needed. Well, what little space he could, seeing as they were seated across from each other.

Sitting at his desk, Connor compiled a list of androids with Markus' help and paired them with several willing humans from the DPD. Markus, who had been trying to reach Connor repeatedly over the past few hours asked Connor if they could meet. He agreed, extending an invitation for Markus to come over to Hank's house…their house instead.

"Plastic," Gavin called before slamming his hand on Connor's desk.

"Yes, Reed," Connor replied.

"Get out of your head and read the report that the diving team just submitted." Gavin switched Connor's desktop screen over.

Connor reviewed the footage before letting out a defeated sigh. "No sign of him."

"No, but one of the divers picked up android movement fifty kilometers west of the furthest entry point. "Placing them about here." Gavin pointed Connor to a small fenced-off area near an abandoned android campsite.

It was the first real lead they had. Connor smiled.

"Ew," Gavin exclaimed. "Don't fucking do that. You look creepy as hell."

"You're one to talk," Hank interrupted.

"I'll inform the captain," Connor stated, taking a stand as Gavin flicked off Hank. "He just approved Tina and Chris's reassignment."

"Gavin," Tina said, swatting the back of Gavin's head.

Gavin winced in pain as he nearly toppled forward.

"Sorry, Lieutenant," Tina said, apologizing on Gavin's behalf.

Chris walked up behind them chuckling. "If Lt. Hank ever becomes captain, you'll be the first one out of the job."

Connor smiled as his friends gathered around his desk. Remembering how he had not gotten a picture with Kairi; he quickly snapped a photo of the moment. He would have to do that more. Cherishing the natural little moments of peace in life was infinitely better than worrying about calculating how long they all had left.

"Shall we?" Connor asked as Markus's reply came in. His invitation had been accepted.