~Connor~

Hank and Reed had made it a total of 3 minutes and 27 seconds in each other's company without telling the other to shut the fuck up. In the past hour alone, Connor had heard the word fuck and its many variations used a total of 227 times. Tina, Chris, and Connor thought it best to separate them, but they still had their lungs.

"Anything?" Chris shouted from the other side of the barrier.

"Nothing yet," Tina replied, nudging Connor to watch Reed, who was smoking outside the site. "He was worried about the two of you," Tina whispered.

"Reed? I highly doubt that." Connor said glibly.

"Why else do you think he offered to stay at the Lieutenant's house?" Tina added with a grin. "You know they used to be partners before Hank lost his son. The Lieutenant was like a father figure to him."

"Yes, I am aware," Connor replied softly. "But a father figure."

If that were the case, it would explain Reed's initial feelings towards Connor, but now that he had seen him kiss Hank. It seemed less likely that he still felt that way. There was something deeper going on here, but this was not the time to pry. Connor looked between the two men acknowledging how similar they were and how different.

"Reed does not know how to approach others, especially when they're suffering," Tina reminisced. "I don't know what Gavin said to Hank in the past, but it wasn't well thought through." She gestured.

"Is there anything I can do?" Connor asked, matching Tina's stride as they walked along the towering gate.

"Not really, they need time to reconcile," Tina's phone rang. "They're just too alike, you know? I gotta take this call."

It bothered Connor that in the time he had spent with Reed, he had not learned much about him. Tina was probably the only one who knew the real Reed, so he trusted her when she said they needed to reconcile. Connor wanted to be instrumental in making sure that happened. Mainly, he found it strange that Hank and Reed with so many similarities in personality and their love of self-destruction; thought surely their love of profanity would bring them together.

"Connor! Reed! Get over here!" Hank shouted.

"Yes," Connor answered, rushing to Hank's side.

"There's a CCTV across the street, can you access it?" Hank inquired.

Connor looked across the street. The camera was privately owned by the once-popular bakery. The bakery had since been relocated across town and the camera had been disabled. Reed and Tina joined them.

"Unfortunately, it's been disabled for quite some time," Connor informed them.

"How about that one?" Reed pointed to another CCTV further down the street just in view of where he had been standing earlier.

"Certainly," Connor replied, squinting as he hacked the camera.

Connor held up his hands and displayed the camera's images for everyone to see.

"What's the time stamp?" Chris asked.

"0900," Reed replied.

Connor pinpointed the footage. As it played, there was not much that they could make out. The camera belonged to a pawnshop. Only a small portion of the campsite was even visible in the footage.

"There," Connor said, zooming into the background as he replayed it for his less optimal companions.

In the background of the footage, a figure could be seen leaping over the fence.

"Is that it?" Reed complained.

"Yes," Connor confirmed, clipping the footage, and sending to their devices.

"What could it be doing?" Tina asked as everyone looked around.

"I don't know," Connor hesitated to admit. "This site is scheduled for demolition."

"Why the hell not?" Hank asked.

"Looks like someone removed it from the list," Connor replied, showing Hank a list of campsites that were scheduled to be demolished by the military.

"Those this plastic prick set this up as well," Reed said, flicking his cigarette into the nearby pit that contained a few dozen deactivated androids.

"Reed!" Connor reacted, displeased by his lack of respect.

"Show some respect," Chris said.

"Reed, seriously! Calm the fuck down." Hank chastised. "We're all on edge."

Reed clicked his teeth before storming off from the others. Connor jumped down into the pit to retrieve the cigarette bud.

"What if the RK900 model has been hiding out here too?" Chris asked.

"What the hell for?" Hank watched Connor closely as he climbed back up the hole.

"There's not much around here now," Chris said gesturing to the surrounding area. "With the military gone, the DPD has been able to patrol this area as frequently."

"Makes sense," Hank replied. "So, a sting operation?"

"I doubt it would come back here," Connor informed them.

"Why?" Tina asked.

"It's probably watching us now," Reed said sarcastically.

Everyone went silent at the thought that Reed could be right. Connor performed a deep scan of the area. This time his scan reached beyond his initial range. He picked up nothing suspicious. He quickly shook his head, easing everyone's mind.

"What's next then?" Tina asked.

Reed shrugged just as Connor was about to speak when Hank's phone rang. It was Fowler.

"Here," Hank said, handing the phone over to Connor.

"Yes, captain."

"I just saw the footage recovered from the drone during yesterday's incident. I never thought I'd have to reprimand an android but look at the times. Disobeying a direct order from your superior will result in suspension from the force. And as if that was not bad enough, you destroyed crime scene evidence." Fowler sighed. "I'll admit that you've had a positive influence on Hank but let's not see the vice versa of that." Fowler sighed again. "And Connor…"

"Yessir," he replied.

"Be more careful," Fowler said before hanging up.

"Did you just get scolded by the captain?" Chris asked.

Connor nodded with a little bit of excitement flushing his cheeks.

"It's official, your DPD family now," Tina added.

"No shit," Hank smiled, patting Connor on the back. "You'll get tired of it soon enough."

Reed clicked his teeth again before getting into his car. Connor tried to locate anything that looked disturbed but too much time had passed. He was not able to reconstruct anything in the error, except for a few androids sneaking and attempting to salvage parts.

Connor noted the model numbers of the androids that were inspected. They were looking for 200 and 300 biocomponent parts, which 2nd and 3rd-year models that wear considered outdated by today's standards. Connor needed to find out why. \

"Connor?" Hank shoved him. "What is it?"

"Something I need to look into," Connor admitted.

"I'll go check on Reed," Tina said as Chris' radio went off.

Radio: 10-14 sighted. 10-17 in progress.

"Looks like Markus came through," Hank commented.

"Lt. they're requesting assistance," Tina stated.

"Go on, we'll finish up here," Hank replied, shooing Tina and Chris away to go assist.

Hank and Connor walked over to Reed, who was blasting alternative rock over his car stereo. Connor knocked on the glass as Reed rolled his eyes.

"What is it?" He growled.

"Head over to Hank's…please," Connor said pleasantly.

Reed just groaned as his engine revved to life. Hank and Connor followed him out. It was midafternoon and the snow fall hadn't let up. Despite Christmas being right around the corner, the city of Detroit lacked the joy that the holidays would typically bring.

"Hank, I hope you don't mind but I invited Markus over," Connor stated with a wink.

"Why!?" Hank exclaimed.

"To be…" he paused, trying to choose his words carefully. "…friendly."

"Uh-huh," Hank replied, perplexed more so than ever by Connor's behavior.

Not that this was new. Hank had always been a little concerned by how naturally Connor came off at times. On the other hand, there were times he came off downright robotic. It only hurt Hank's head to think about in depth. Not to mention, he had told himself that he would not fixate on the things he could not control. He had chosen to make things with Connor work, because he could not imagine without him.

It still took him aback, whenever he looked over his shoulder to see Connor. Though they had not had time to discuss their relationship, Hank had already made up his mind ten times over. He knew that no matter how hard he tried not to have feelings for Connor the more feelings he developed as a result.

Reed was already inside as they pulled into the driveway. A police drone circled the house above and there were patrol car two blocks over. With RK900 badly damaged, it meant that Hank and Reed could get some much-needed rest. Though their day was far from over.