Willing to hear Hank out regarding the unexpected late visit to the brownstone, Connor showed Hank and the little boy, Devon, inside to the study to sit down and talk about the case at hand. Seeing the little boy in person rather than just hearing about him confirmed that Hank was worried that the innocent witness was in immediate danger. The details regarding Hank's current case were as enthralling as they were upsetting for the empathetic deviant since Connor hated the idea of someone being shot dead in cold blood. Connor knew that Hank must've felt desperate if he was willing to talk to him and visit him at the brownstone at the late hour rather than waiting for morning.

Connor listened to the story, at least with the details Hank could share, and watched from the corner of his eye as Devon sat in front of the fireplace with Bruno cuddled up on his lap. There was something about seeing the scared child huddled in front of a warm fire and a dog that made Connor feel compelled to help Devon despite having no personal gain or loss at stake.

"Jack Pillar is the man who... discovered your last partner and late wife was a detective and had her targeted." Connor didn't want to mention Barbara Anderson being shot and killed in any capacity. It was a delicate subject and Connor didn't want to say or do anything that might accidentally make things worse. "And he avoided prison by buying off corrupt cops to 'lose' evidence and even paid a judge to look the other way."

"Yeah." Hank confirmed as he folded his hands together and watched Devon as well. His paternal instincts were as strong as ever. "The coward skipped town for the past decade or so and now he's back and fighting for the right to be the next drug kingpin."

"I can understand that this case can be personal for you, but why bring Devon here?"

"Because this is a safe place that Pillar and his goons would never find or corrupt." Replying honestly Hank made it clear that despite their differences he trusted Connor to remain honest and incorruptible. "This will let Devon stay in Detroit until his parents get back in town, and he won't be in harm's way."

"I have no reason to turn away anyone in need of help, but I do not know anything about childcare." Connor admitted as he tried to be a voice of logic in an illogical time. "I strongly suspect that I can't take care of Devon as he needs it."

"It'll just be for a few hours, maybe a day." Not wanting to back down on the plan Hank did his best to ease Connor's worries. "I'm not askin' ya' to become his foster father or something, just watch over him until we can get him safely back in his parents' custody so they can leave the city for a while. That's it."

"Why are you so convinced that Devon will be safe here with me?"

"Because you're the one detective that I can guaran-damn-tee won't get bought by a criminal or destroy evidence in a crucial case."

The compliment and confidence was odd to say the least. Connor didn't trust Hank and had no desire to seek his assistance in anything, yet Hank was willing to trust him with the life of an innocent child. It felt like a very unbalanced arrangement to say the least.

"Look, I wouldn't be here if I didn't think Devon would be safe." Hank clarified as he rubbed his palm along his bearded chin. "Not to mention the fact that there's nowhere else for Devon to go on such short notice. You're his best chance at remaining safe until his parents can get him out of the city for a while."

"...I will allow Devon to stay here." Admitting defeat Connor decided as he saw how exhausted and scared the little boy was. Devon had his arms wrapped around Bruno's neck and seemed to be fighting off the urge to fall asleep. "But I cannot keep him here for more than one day, Lieutenant."

"That's all the time we need."

"Very well." Rising to his feet Connor nodded as he made his way toward the staircase leading to the second floor. "Please explain everything to Devon while I get the guestroom ready for him. He'll need to sleep soon."

"Thanks for your help." Standing up from the second leather sofa Hank walked over to Devon and knelt down beside the little boy to be eye-level with the scared child for a moment. It always pained Hank to see kids in need of help or frightened by the world around them. "Hey? You're going to stay here with Detective Wolf for the night. You'll have a warm bed all to yourself tonight and I bet he'll let Bruno here stay with you for as long as you like."

Bruno wagged his tail when he heard his name and seemed to enjoy Devon gently petting his back.

"Why do I have to stay here?" Devon asked in a pitiful voice. "I want to go home."

"Your parents are still in France and we don't want you to be home alone after what happened tonight."

"But I don't know Detective Wolf."

"Well, I do. He's an honest guy, very brave, very generous and he's someone who'd give up his own life to save someone else's life. He'll keep you safe until your parents can come and get ya'."

"How long will that be?"

"With any luck you'll only have to stay here for one night. After that, you and your parents are going to leave Detroit for a while so you can keep away from that guy while the police track him down. We don't want you to be afraid to be in your own home town. Okay?"

Devon nodded a little as he continued to nervously pet Bruno's side. "...Okay."

Connor returned to the ground floor and acknowledged Devon sitting on the floor with Hank watching over him. "Devon? If you're ready to go to bed your room is ready for you."

Silently Devon rose to his feet and shook a little from residual fear induced adrenaline still coursing through his veins and the chill in the air catching him when he was outside. Walking over to where Connor was standing Devon looked up at the tall deviant and waited for Connor to make the next move.

"Your room is upstairs. I'll show you where."

Connor slowly walked up the staircase with Devon right behind him. As he reached the top of the stairs Connor showed Devon the bathroom first and then the guestroom right beside it. "You can clean up a little in here. I'm sorry, I don't have any clothes that can fit you."

"...S'okay."

Watching Devon enter the bathroom and shutting the door behind himself made Connor feel like he needed to do more to help the scared child. He didn't know what to do or where to begin, but he knew he needed to do something for Devon's sake.

Hank climbed the stairs as well and looked at Connor essentially standing guard at the bathroom door. The way the deviant's blue L.E.D. was pulsing so slowly was reassuring since it meant he was calm, but Hank still didn't know how to read a deviant's internal emotions just yet. "Need anything before I go?"

Keeping his eyes on the closed door Connor asked a simple question. "...How do I make a scared child feel secure?"

"Uh, that's... That's tough." Admitting that even as an experienced father he didn't have all the answers, Hank sighed and rubbed his hand over the back of his hair slowly. "Keep calm, listen to anything he says, and let him know you'll help him the second he might need it."

"Devon doesn't even have any night clothes he can wear as of the moment. I doubt I can make him feel more supported by being a good listener."

"You'd be surprised. Uh, he didn't eat much at the precinct so he'll be pretty hungry in the morning if his appetite comes back." Informing Connor of the basic human needs Hank gave the deviant a little advice on taking care of Devon for the day. "Not sure if you have any groceries down there, but-"

"I can handle it."

"I know you can. I'm going to head back to the precinct to get more details on the case." Hank wasn't in the mood to sleep and wanted to track down Pillar and make the man suffer for his numerous unanswered crimes. "When Devon's parents arrive I'll bring them her so they can get Devon and leave town as soon as possible."

"Very well. I'll remain here until Devon's ready to go."

"Right. Thanks for your help on this. I know it's short notice and all."

"An innocent life needs help." Turning to face Hank for a moment Connor gave the senior detective a stern look. "And I want to help them."

Hank nodded a little as he prepared to take his leave for the night. "Just call the precinct if you need anything for any reason. Fowler and I are the only ones who know where Devon is, so ask for one of us to keep Devon a secret."

"I doubt that'll be necessary."

"Yeah, sure..." The dismissive response was Hank's cue to leave the deviant alone and back off. "Goodnight, Connor."

"Good night, Lieutenant."

Connor watched as Hank disappeared down the staircase and heard the backdoor open and then shut tight behind he the man as he left the brownstone. He'd double check the locks on both doors before leaving Devon alone to get some sleep to ensure the building remained secure.

The bathroom door opened and Devon gave Connor a confused look. "Detective Wolf? Do you have a toothbrush I can use?"

"I do. And call me 'Connor'." Showing Devon the kit of the basic bathroom amenities that any human might need, Connor let Devon have access to the brand new toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoos and conditioner he had stocked up on and stored under the sink's cabinet for human guests to use. He was glad he bought supplies before they were needed. "Help yourself to anything you might need or want."

"Can... Can I take a shower?" Devon look down at his filthy clothes in disgust and then looked over at the showering hopefully. Dirt, mud and bits of garbage stained Devon's blue hoodie and his blue jeans. "I had to hide behind a dumpster."

"Yes, of course." The request was simple that Connor couldn't even consider saying 'no'. "I can give you clothing that is clean, but it'll be very big on you."

"I don't mind."

"Okay. Go ahead and take your shower, and I'll leave the clean clothes outside the bathroom door for you to take when you're ready."

"...Thanks."

Something about the way Devon sounded so scared yet mature reminded Connor of how deviants reacted when enduring new emotions. Connor knew that the little boy had been forced to grow up by a few years in just the few seconds it took for him to witness his uncle's murder, and he knew that Devon would need to speak with a therapist in order to salvage the remaining few years of his childhood. There was something haunting about seeing a child endure a traumatic experience and need to grow up in order to survive.

As he walked down the staircase for a moment Connor checked the backdoor connected to the kitchen and was pleased to see that Hank turned the lock before leaving to ensure the door itself would lock behind him. It was a sure sign of a protective person never letting their guard down when someone else needed the protection.

"The brownstone is secure. Now, Devon needs some clean clothes."

Pausing beside his refrigerator Connor noted he only had Thirium for Bruno and himself, nothing more. A cybernetic request for a quick grocery delivery first thing in the morning resolved that little problem as Connor focused on his next task; making Devon feel safe.

Returning to the staircase Connor patted the side of his leg and beckoned Bruno over to him.

"Bruno? I have an assignment for you."

The decommissioned K-9 unit rose to his three paws and gave Connor his full attention as he joined the deviant at the base of the staircase.

"I need you to guard Devon until his parents come to claim him. He needs to feel secure and you have experience as a guard dog making you ideal for this assignment in general."

Snuffing a little Bruno's L.E.D. flickered between blue and yellow for a moment before he trotted up the staircase to sit down in front of the closed bathroom door. Taking his assignment seriously Bruno refused to leave the bathroom until Devon had emerged.

Walking up the stairs behind Bruno, the deviant detective approved of the dog's behavior and then entered the prepared guest room. He could hear the shower running in the bathroom and was relieved that Devon was doing something to make himself feel better after everything he had endured.

"These are adult sized clothing..." Connor lamented as he opened the closet door. The clean white t-shirt and gray sweatpants would be baggy on Devon but they were soft and would keep the little boy warm. "But it's all I have. Perhaps the oversized clothing will help Devon feel more secure as he sleeps."

Folding up the clothes into a neat bundle Connor left the clothes outside the door on the floor at Bruno's paws. Not wanting to startle the little boy on the other side of the door Connor spoke up in a low voice to let Devon know he was close by.

"Devon? I placed your clothes outside the door for you."

Devon never answered but the water in the shower turned off. It seemed he was ready to go to bed regardless of what he had to wear.

Stepping away from the bathroom door Connor returned to the guestroom to ensure the lone window was locked and heard the bathroom door open and then shut as Devon grabbed the clothes left for him on the floor. He wanted to give Devon some space so he didn't feel overwhelmed but didn't want to walk too far away while acting as the little boy's temporary guardian.

The bathroom door opened again and Devon stepped into the hallway with his baggy clothes hanging off of him. "...Connor?"

"I'm in here." Connor called out to Devon and invited him into the guestroom. "Feel better?"

"...No." Sniffling a little as he spoke Devon was losing the fight to keep his tears back. "I want my mom!"

"She'll be here as soon as she can." Cybernetically Connor asked for Bruno to help Devon feel better. "Why don't you get some sleep? It'll make the time go by faster."

Crying a little as he walked Devon entered the guestroom with Bruno gently nosing at his hand the entire time.

Connor didn't know what to do about a crying child and tried to think of a plan. Remembering how Hank had knelt down beside Devon earlier Connor did the same and made himself eye-level with the little boy. "I... know you're scared, Devon. But you are safe here with me and with Bruno."

Devon couldn't stop crying and Bruno continued to try to cheer Devon up by gently nosing at his hands as Devon covered his eyes with both palms.

"I wish I could say something to make you feel better." Connor was at a near loss of what to do and tried to think of how he could comfort the child. Looking at the way Bruno was using physical contact to be affectionate Connor decided to put his hand on Devon's shoulder. "Tomorrow you'll-"

Devon wrapped his arms around Connor's neck and buried his face against the deviant's chest as he continued to cry. He was terrified and needed to feel secure after seeing his own uncle murdered in cold blood.

"It's... okay." Slowly wrapping his arms around Devon's upper body Connor returned the hug and didn't dare break it until Devon was ready. It was a strange reaction that Connor couldn't explain and he realized he didn't need to. "You will be okay, I promise."

Bruno whimpered as he pressed his chin down on Devon's shoulder and sat beside the little boy just as Connor continued to hug him.

"It's okay to cry, too." Why that particular reply felt so natural to say was also unexplainable. "Cry for as long as you want to, Devon. It'll be okay."

The security footage of Pillar walking into the abandoned building and waiting for Mike Winters to join him was crystal clear and had numerous angles thanks to the cameras that the city had installed on every lamp post effectively recording the crime. The one benefit of Pillar eluding justice for ten years by fleeing from Detroit was the fact that he had no idea that the city had taken extra precautions against gun violence in the streets. With the evidence of Pillar willfully entering the unoccupied building under his own freewill with a gun in his hand, Hank knew he already had a strong case against Pillar. When the footage showed Pillar inviting Mike, who was clearly unarmed, inside the building and then the gunfire starting shortly thereafter before Pillar left the building, and also showed Pillar tucking his gun into coat before stealing Mike's truck, Hank actually had hope he'd finally see Pillar arrested and punished for his crimes.

Only when Hank saw the footage of Devon slipping out of the truck and hiding in the nearby alleyway did he felt his heart ache. The fact that such a young and innocent child had seen something so atrocious gave the Lieutenant all the more motivation to track Pillar down and make sure the charges stuck against the deplorable man to ensure he remained behind bars for the rest of his miserable existence.

"Poor kid." Hank sympathized as he saw the fear in Devon's eyes even through his terminal screen. There was no mistaking that look as anything but raw terror. "I hope his parents take him somewhere nice to escape the city AND to give him better memories than witnessing a murder."

"That kid needs to see a 'shrink'." Gavin mumbled as he walked past Hank's desk to sit down behind his own desk a few steps away. "I never had the chance as a kid and I know I wouldn't have ended up so fucked up if I did..."

"That makes two of us, Reed." Admitting he needed to speak to someone as well gave Hank pause. He actually admitted to having common ground with the abrasive man. "...I lost the two people I loved the most and refused to admit how much it fucked with my head."

"And your liver."

The snide remark about Hank's past alcoholism wasn't exactly unwarranted, but it was still rude. Brushing off the insult Hank focused on his investigation in order to pick up on Pillar's trail to get an issued warrant in hand and finally arrest the murderous bastard before he slipped town again.

"Pillar's usual safe houses have all been checked out and he hadn't been in those places for years..." Thinking out loud Hank did his best to narrow down the list of potential hideouts so he could nail Pillar to the wall at last. "I doubt any of his past contacts are still willing to work with him after he killed a cop, but I also doubt many criminals have such high standards and principles."

"Criminals with scruples." The very idea made Gavin roll his eyes with disgust. "Next you're gonna' tell me that androids are alive-"

"Reed. Shut your mouth." Hank barked as he gave the younger detective an aggravated stare from his desk. The way Gavin couldn't let go of his bigotry was starting to eat away at Hank's already thin patience. "The Revolution happened, the laws and rights are in place and you can't whine your way into an alternate reality. So either shut the fuck up or go home, I don't need to babysit you while trying to track down a murderer."

"I you gotta' a problem-"

"What?" Cutting Gavin off before he could even get started Hank challenged the younger man as he slowly got to his feet and reminded Gavin that he was much taller and much broader than the mouthy detective. "You want us to settle this outside? Maybe you can pull your gun on me like you did to Connor. You already know that I have no problem using my own gun when necessary."

Something about Hank's not so subtle threat made Gavin back down and keep quiet. While he continued to flash Hank annoyed glares from his own desk Gavin decided to clock-out and texted Tina to see if she was through with her nightly patrol. He wanted to vent to someone without distracting them from work.

"Yeah." Hank muttered as he watched Gavin tuck his tail between his legs and leave the precinct. "That's what I thought."

Returning to his chair Hank resumed his search for Pillar and used the security cameras to track the stolen red truck to the Winters' home, and then tried to track Pillar after he fled the property on foot. It was clear Pillar hadn't stolen anything from the house and knew for a fact he hadn't actually kidnapped Devon since he knew that Devon was safe at Connor's brownstone in that very moment. The cameras were able to track Pillar for quite some time until the man began avoiding the streets and ducking down in the alleys to avoid being seen by anyone and anything.

"That sneaky son of a bitch can hide, but not for long. I'll drag him out of the shadows and leave him only as a blood stain on the streets."

The following morning was quiet and a little snowy as the first day of the new year fell over Detroit without further incident during the previous night. While Devon was able to eventually cry himself to sleep in Connor's arms Connor remained awake throughout the entire night and well into the morning for the little boy's sake. After carrying Devon over to the bed to sleep comfortably Connor made sure Bruno remained curled up on the foot of the boy's bed and stayed beside him all night long. Even with Bruno watching over him Connor felt compelled to stand guard as well and watched over Devon sleeping from the opened doorway of the guest room.

Connor stayed in the doorway for as long as it was practical and didn't budge until his cybernetic order for fresh groceries arrived via delivery drone. Gathering the purchased items from the drone hovering outside his front door, Connor carried everything into his kitchen and decided to make Devon a breakfast that had a little bit of everything to ensure the little boy would eat something after his traumatic experience.

"I wonder why humans make traditional breakfast options so complicated? I've noticed a majority of humans prefer to do things later in the day, not first thing in the morning."

Making a small stack of pancakes, two fried eggs and two strips of bacon seemed to be an ideal offering for Devon to choose from. The added glass of milk and orange juice would be beneficial as well since Devon hadn't eaten since the previous evening. After placing the meal down on the kitchen table Connor returned to the second floor and checked in on Devon as the little boy continued to sleep in the guestroom.

"He must still be exhausted. I'll let him sleep until he's ready to wake up."

Stepping back from the doorway Connor entered the bathroom and picked up Devon's dirty clothes to wash them for the little boy to wear. It was a simple task and one Connor could complete within ten minutes thanks to his fancy washer and dryer he had bought for the sake of time convenience.

"I doubt there's been on progress on the case since I last saw the Lieutenant." Connor noted as he put Devon's clothes in the washer and measured out the correct level of detergent and softener. "As for Devon's parents, there may have been an update on their current location."

A small sound on the second floor drew Connor's attention elsewhere as he realized Devon was now awake. Not wanting the little boy to panic at waking up to unfamiliar settings had prompted Connor to return to the guestroom to check in on his very first guest.

"Devon?" Showing himself in the opened doorway to the guestroom Connor greeted the little boy in a low voice. He could see Devon sitting upright in the bed with the dark gray quilt wrapped around himself as Bruno remained right at his side. "It's morning. Would you like something to eat?"

"...It really happened." Devon seemed to realize what he had seen was real, not just a terrible nightmare. "Uncle Mike is really gone, huh?"

"I'm sorry, Devon. He is."

"...What about my mom and dad?"

"I'll ask for an update on their current location. Until then, you should get something to eat so you don't feel sick."

"...Okay."

Connor watched as Devon climbed out of the bed and quickly wrapped his arms around Bruno's neck as the loyal dog joined him on the floor. Letting Devon head downstairs first Connor watched the little boy carefully to ensure he hadn't caught a cold while out in the chilly air the previous night and made sure he didn't trip and fall thanks to the oversize clothes he was still wearing.

"I wasn't sure what you'd like." Connor admitted as he made sure Devon found his way into the kitchen. The alluring smell of the freshly cooked breakfast made it easy for the little boy to find the right room. "I made pancakes, eggs and bacon. Is that acceptable?"

"I love pancakes!" Devon perked up a little as he climbed onto the chair and looked at the small stack of pancakes waiting for him. There was also a new bottle of maple syrup and strawberry jam beside the plate so Devon could have a topping of his choice. "I haven't had any sense Angela left."

"Angela?" Eager to get Devon focused on something other than the recent murder Connor indulged on the subject as he sat down in the second chair across from his guest. Connor noticed Bruno sit down beside Devon and keep his chin on the little boy's lap affectionately. "Who is Angela?"

"She was the caretaker at my house." Devon answered as he poured a hefty amount of the sticky, sweet syrup over his pancakes. Based on his reactions it was clear that Devon was very hungry and eager to have something to eat. "Dad fired her before the Revolution."

"Revolution." That time frame was a key detail. "She was an android?"

"Uh-huh." Taking a bite of his first pancake Devon practically inhaled the warm food and spoke to Connor around his bites. "I liked her a lot. So did mom."

"Why did your dad fire her?"

"She became alive."

"She deviated."

"That's what mom said. Mom didn't mind it since Angela didn't say or do anything that was bad, but dad didn't want her around anymore. I don't know where she went after that."

"I'm certain Angela is safe." Doing his best Connor tried to ease Devon's worries. "You liked her, does that mean you spent time with her?"

"Yeah. She used to make me pancakes before school and she always made them in different shapes. I never figured out how she did that."

The way Devon seemed to be more impressed with Angela than afraid of her made Connor smirk a little where he sat. "Did you do anything else together?"

"Yeah. She'd help with my homework, play games with me, take me to the dog park; dad says we can't have a dog because he's allergic, and she even let me sneak snacks at night when dad wasn't looking."

"Is your dad strict?" The way Devon spoke about his father drew Connor's full attention. "He seems to be rather authoritative."

Devon finished off his pancakes and gave Connor a strange look. "...What does that mean?"

"It means he likes to enforce rules. Is that correct? Does your father have a lot of rules?"

"Yeah, but mom says it's because he's worried about me."

"I can understand that. It must be stressful being a parent."

Devon didn't have an answer to that. Focusing on his eggs next Devon quickly devoured his breakfast and chased it with the orange juice beside his plate.

"You were fairly hungry. Do you want more?"

"I... I can have more?"

"Yes. If you're hungry you can eat." The way Devon seemed shocked by the offer and the way Devon mentioned sneaking snacks made Connor's blue L.E.D. flicker to yellow for a beat before returning to blue. "I presume your father has strict dietary needs for you as well."

"Dad says I need to stay in shape since I'm on the basketball, football and baseball teams at my school. I can't have candy and he makes me eat everything on my plate even if I don't like it."

"Interesting..." Walking over to the stove Connor proceeded to use rest of the unused batter to create another stack of pancakes for Devon to eat. "How do you feel about playing so many sports?"

"I like football but not the other ones. Baseball is too boring and basketball is too, uh, I don't know... Everyone on the team is just really mean."

"It sounds like the basketball team is competitive and you'd just like the play the game, not compete with your teammates."

"Yeah. All my friends are on the football team, too."

"Then maybe you should just focus on football instead."

"That's what mom and Angela said..."

Connor now picked up on Devon's father having some control issues and was probably not thrilled with Angela siding with his wife with what Devon wanted. "I think you should let your father know that you only want to play football. And if he doesn't listen then let your baseball and basketball coaches know so they don't try to put you in games you don't want to play."

"I'll try." Devon watched as Connor made the fresh pancakes and wondered why the deviant detective was helping him. It was also strange that Connor was able to give him such sound advice. "How come you're being so nice to me?"

"Because you need help and I want to help people." Connor explained simply as he flipped the first perfect pancake and caught in the hot pan. "Is it unusual for people to be nice to you?"

"No. My dad says that androids don't really want to help us humans and that it's just a trick."

"I'm sorry, but your father is incorrect." Sliding the pancake onto Devon's syrup stained plate Connor set about making a second pancake just in case Devon still wanted more. "Not all deviants want to harm humans, just as not all humans want to harm deviants."

"And you're a detective." Devon noted as he used his fork to cut into the side of the pancake and begin eating. "How come you know how to cook?"

"Deviants can do anything we want. We aren't limited by our programming anymore and as such we're free to do as we wish."

"Oh."

"Is it really that surprising to you?"

"Kinda'. You're a good cook."

The comment made Connor smirk again as he placed the second pancake down on the plate and then reclaimed his seat across from Devon. "Thank you."

"Do you know anything about my mom and dad?"

"Give me one moment..." Closing his eyes Connor cybernetically checked in with the Central Precinct and was able to confirm through his connections with Hank's secured terminal that Devon's parents had managed to catch a flight back to the United States and that they were on a flight back to Detroit from New York at that very moment. "Your parents are currently on their way back to the city. They'll be here in approximately one hour, sixteen minutes."

"And then what'll happen to me?"

"Your parents will take you back to the precinct so they can speak with the cops regarding what happened and then you'll leave the city for a while to get away from the incident." Wanting to answer delicately Connor tried to break things down a little for the fourth grader to understand easier. "You will essentially be taking a vacation together while the case is being investigated."

"And then what?"

"Well, your parents will decide where they will want to go or what they'll do until it's time for the man who attacked your uncle is brought to court. It may take only a few weeks to happen, or much longer than that. It's difficult to be more precise."

"That's stupid. I shouldn't have to go anywhere, I don't want to go because of what some other idiot did!"

"And I agree with you entirely." The washer 'dinged' as the clothes stopped spinning and were ready to be dried. "I washed your clothes for you. Once they're dry you can change back into them and you won't have to deal with the baggy clothing I have given you."

"I don't mind." Finishing off his big breakfast Devon looked down at Bruno and pet the dog's ears again. He was full and wanted another distraction. "Where'd you get Bruno? He's a good dog."

"Yes he is." Agreeing entirely Connor set the timer on the dryer and gave Devon his full attention again. "Bruno used to be a police dog, but when his former partner... retired," again Connor spoke delicately to not upset Devon. "he went to work as a guard dog. The man who bought him as a guard didn't treat him well so I took him in and now he's my partner when I investigate cases."

"Sounds cool! I wish I had a dog..."

"I'm certain you'll have a dog of your own some day." Speaking optimistically Connor did his best to keep Devon's spirits up while they waited for his parents to come and claim him from the brownstone. Even Bruno chipped in by pressing his nose against Devon's chest while he wagged his tail happily. "There are a lot of dogs just waiting for someone like you to find and adopt them."

Fueled only by stagnant coffee and the relentless drive to spill Pillar's icy blood in the streets, Hank proceeded to make his way into Captain Fowler's office the moment that Mr. and Mrs. Winters had arrived to not only claim Devon, but to identify Mike's body. The way Mrs. Winters broke down and wept for the loss of her brother-in-law made Hank's stone facade crack for only a moment, but the way Mr. Winters remained cold and indifferent gave Hank the urge to punch him in the face and scream at him to admit the loss of his brother was hurting him. It was so strange to see the contrasting emotional reactions being shown by two different people over the same person.

After Captain Fowler informed the couple of the incident at hand, how Devon was a witness and that Devon had been taken to a secretive location to ensure that their son was as safe as possible, Hank was charged with leading the couple to the safe house to finally reunite with Devon. It was a slow drive as Hank navigated his Oldsmobile through the snowy streets with the Winters' high class Mercedes right behind him. It felt so wrong to see a fancy vehicle following his own older car as if Hank were a canary leading the miners into the depths holding invaluable treasures.

Parking the Oldsmobile behind the brownstone Hank waited for the Winters's to join him at the backdoor before he knocked on the locked door. The door slowly opened as Connor acknowledged his presence and allowed the three people access to the secured building.

"Lieutenant." Connor greeted with indifference as he let the three humans inside his brownstone. Noting the younger couple behind Hank with a keen eye Connor was able to confirm that he was looking at Devon's mother and father based on their matching physical attributes that had been passed on through their son genetically. "Devon is in the study."

Mrs. JoAnne Winters had a youthful complexion, light brown eyes, long raven black hair pulled back into perfect braids that ran down the length of her back and had her make-up applied in the most flattering of manner. Wearing a dark red blouse, black dress slacks and low dark red heels gave the professional woman the appearance of one who was calm and composed even under pressure. Despite her flawless aesthetic Connor could see that she had been recently crying and could see in her eyes that she was worried for her son's safety.

Mr. Booker Winters was more terse in demeanor and appearance. The man was wearing a tailored business suit, immaculately polished shoes that shined even in the dim lighting of the kitchen, was sporting a flawless hair cut and had a focused gaze in his dark brown eyes. Standing tall with an athletic build it was clear that Mr. Winters was aware of how appearances can create a drastic impact regarding first impressions, and his stoic expression masked any and all emotions he was experiencing in that moment.

"Devon?" Mrs. Winters called out as she followed after Connor into the study. Seeing her son sitting on the floor in front of the fireplace in his now clean clothes with Bruno on his lap made her frightened heart calm at last. "Devon!"

"Mom!" Devon shot to his feet and ran into his mother's outstretched arms to get the hug he had been pining for since the previous night. The little boy finally felt secure without needing Bruno to sprawl over his lap. "Mom, I want to go home!"

"We will soon, baby..." Holding Devon tight Mrs. Winters knelt on the floor and breathed a sigh of relief knowing her son was alive and well. She gently pressed her palms to Devon's face to look him right in the eyes as she spoke. "We just have to do a few more things and then everything will be okay again."

Connor admired the open emotions Mrs. Winters showed to her son while he felt disdain toward Mr. Winters for being so cold. Unsure of what to say or think the deviant detective returned to the kitchen to speak with Hank and Mr. Winters regarding their next moves.

"You three need to get outta' town." Hank warned as he spoke in a near whisper to keep Devon from hearing them speak about the seriousness of the situation at hand. "You need to take Devon somewhere far away from Detroit to keep him safe AND to make sure this moment doesn't permanently traumatize him."

"I'll take care of my family, Lieutenant." Mr. Winters replied in a business-like tone of voice. "I have a plan in mind."

The response made Connor inwardly grimace on Devon's behalf. It was clear that his father did indeed have control issues.

"I appreciate you looking out for my son," Mr. Winters continued as he looked only to Hank and never acknowledge Connor's presence. "but I can take it from here."

"Yeah, sure." The disrespectful tone wasn't sitting well with Hank but he knew better to mention it. "The moment we have Pillar in custody we'll contact you."

"Hopefully that won't take too much time to accomplish. We have our lives to live, after all."

Connor had picked up on the rude behavior as well and didn't appreciate hearing it. "I assure you that the police will succeed in finding Jack Pillar. All you need to do is be patient."

"I don't recall asking for your 'opinion'." Snapping at Connor as the deviant spoke back to him Mr. Winters made it clear he didn't like anyone trying to telling what to do and he clearly didn't care for androids. "I suggest you keep quiet like you're supposed to do."

"Hey!" Having had enough Hank finally spoke up and got right in Mr. Winters's face. "Detective Wolf kept your son safe while you were on the other side of the fuckin' planet and couldn't be reached in the event of an emergency. You're standing under his roof and are in his home right now. The very least you could do is thank him for what he did, not to mention show just an ounce of respect."

"Thank it? Respect it?! A machine for doing-"

"If you want to leave this place with all your teeth in your mouth I strongly suggest you stop talking right now." The threat wasn't idle and Hank's growling voice made it clear he wasn't going to tolerate the bigotry happening right in front of him. There was no need to be so blatantly rude. "Connor's alive and has the same rights as you and me. Deal with it."

"Now you listen to me, you're a public servant and you-"

From the doorway Mrs. Winters called out to her husband in a demanding manner. "Booker, stop." With Devon's hand in her own Mrs. Winters was clearly being protective and didn't approve of her husband's attitude. "Lieutenant Anderson is NOT a servant for working with the people, he's courageous and deserves your respect for what he chooses to do with his life. And Detective Wolf not only took care of our son, he went out of his way to make sure Devon felt safe after what happened to Mike. You need to thank both of them right now so we can get Devon out of the city."

"JoAnne, I won't thank a machine for obeying orders."

"I obey no one." Connor responded rather sharply as he gave Mr. Winters a rather annoyed glance. "I was asked to help a child in need and I agreed. I did not have to do or obey anyone or anything."

"That's what I call faulty programming."

Devon hated that his father was insulting his new friend and found his voice at long last. "He's not faulty! And neither was Angela!"

"Devon." Turning to face his son Mr. Winters was clearly ready to discipline his son for speaking up against him. "Do not interrupt-"

"If you didn't send Angela away then Uncle Mike wouldn't have had to stay with me while you went to Paris! Angela could've stayed and Uncle Mike wouldn't have been-"

"DEVON." Raising his voice Mr. Winters looked like he was ready to strike his son for talking back. "Enough!"

"No! It's your fault!" Fed up with his father's controlling behavior Devon shouted back and let hot tears fall from his face. "Everything always has to be your way even when no one else likes it! Uncle Mike didn't want to stay in Detroit either, but you made him do it! If he had left he'd still be alive! It's your fault! You're to blame for everything bad that happens all the time! It always has been!"

Connor knelt down a little so he was eye-level with Devon and gave the little boy a calming stare. "Devon, what happened to your uncle wasn't yours or your father's fault. It was another man who attacked your uncle and there was no way your father could've ever known that what happened to him would happen at all. It's okay to be angry, but please don't be angry with your father. He didn't want any of this to happen."

Mr. Winters continued to glare at Connor but say anything. The fact that Connor was remaining polite and respectful was somehow irritating to the self important and arrogant man.

Using his sleeve Devon wiped away his tears and nodded a little as he calmed down and listened that what Connor had to say. "...I'll try."

Mrs. Winters wrapped her arm around her son's shoulders and pulled him up against her side for a hug. "Come on, Devon. We'll go and get you some clothes, toys and something to eat before we head out of the city. Thank Lieutenant Anderson and Mr. Wolf for their help."

"Thank you." Devon stated sincerely as he looked up at Connor as the deviant stood upright before him and gave him a sad look. "I liked the pancakes and playing with Bruno."

"You're welcome, Devon." Connor acknowledged the little boy with a small smile. "Try to have some fun after you leave the city, you deserve it."

Mr. Winters looked increasingly aggravated as his wife and son treated Connor like a person and paid his personal expectations no mind. "It's time to go. We have another flight to catch in three hours and we need to get packed at the house. That is, IF the cops are done tearing apart what's left of it."

"Yeah, they're done." Hank snarked in an equally aggravated manner. "Go get your stuff and keep a low profile for a while. Start by keeping quiet."

"Let's go." Mr. Winters instructed his family as he opened the backdoor to the brownstone. "The sooner we're out of here, the better."

The door slammed loudly as Mr. Winters practically dragged his family outside. The sad look in Devon's eyes was almost haunting as the two detectives could only stand back and watch as the little boy was reunited with his parents in a less than civil moment. As much as Hank wanted to knock Mr. Winters down a few pegs and Connor wanted to find Angela on Devon and Mrs. Winters's behalves, neither detective budged from where they stood in the kitchen.

"What an asshole." Hank muttered as he crossed his arms over his chest. Looking over at Connor beside him Hank could see the same disgusted reaction in the deviant's deep and soulful brown eyes. "He had no reason to be such a prick to you."

"He's very stressed out." Needlessly defending the arrogant man Connor lowered his hand lightly pet Bruno's ears as the loyal dog joined him in the kitchen after hearing the door slam. "And people can't just stop believing something about someone else because other people tell them to do so."

"He still didn't need to be so rude."

"No, he did not."

"Since he didn't say it, I will. Thanks for watching over Devon."

"I don't require or expect any thanks."

"Too bad, you're getting it."

Giving Hank a rather terse stare in return, Connor asked the senior detective a simple question. "Have you made any progress on tracking down Jack Pillar?"

"Not yet." Admitting that progress was slow was enough to make Hank's tense shoulders slump with self disappointment. "But I will find him. If that bastard hurts anyone else I won't hesitate to pull the trigger the moment he's in my line of sight."

The fact that Hank's response to violence was his own violence made Connor's eyes darken with a sense of dread. "That is... unfortunate."

"I need to get back to the precinct and pick up Pillar's trail." Without even noticing Connor's reaction Hank began walking toward the backdoor to take his leave of the brownstone as well. As expected the Winters's were long gone and were undoubtedly eager to get to the airport. "If you need any help with one of your own cases just let me know. I owe ya'."

"No you don't. You don't owe me anything."

"Well, I wanna' help anyway. See ya' around, Connor."

"...Right."

Watching as Hank exited the brownstone through the backdoor Connor sighed and locked the departing door behind the man. A small grumble from Bruno prompted Connor to turn around and face the decommissioned K-9 unit as Bruno joined him by the backdoor.

"The Lieutenant is under a lot of stress, too. I'm certain he didn't notice what he said about wanting to take another person's life."

Disagreeing on a cybernetic link Bruno tilted his head curiously as he looked at Connor.

"Yes, I'm aware he has a history of using violence to get his way; the memory of him pointing his gun at my own face is still very vivid."

Not wanting to dwell on the past any longer Connor pet Bruno's ears again before walking into his study. With no clients seeking his services or advice in any deviant related cases, Connor now had free time to do anything and everything he wished without the worry of a schedule or needing to venture out into the cold streets of Detroit.

Lucas hadn't contacted Connor from New Jericho Tower regarding his or Sydney's conditions, Markus wasn't trying to contact him and there were no emergencies taking place in any of the deviant exclusive sanctuaries, shelters or facilities. By all account Connor didn't have any obligation to assist anyone for any reason in that moment.

"I know that Hank wants to track down Jack Pillar himself..."

Connor admitted as he activated his digital display board on the wall through a cybernetic link. Bringing up all the collected information on Jack Pillar to review for himself - a majority of the data being unofficially uploaded from Hank's own terminal at the precinct, Connor stared at the smug man's old mugshot and felt an odd compulsion to locate the violent and reprehensible man as well. The man was a threat and needed to dealt with as soon as possible.

"But it couldn't do any harm to aid him from a distance. Correct?"

Bruno wagged his tail as he sat down at the display board to overlook the information as well. It seemed the decommissioned K-9 unit was eager to help track down a known murderer and find a way to bring all of his victim's justice.

"Right. We'll start by weeding out contacts that we can confirm are either no longer associated with Pillar or have died in the past decade since Pillar's initial arrest."

The plan was simple yet effective. It'd just take a while to sort through such a questionable list since he would have to delve through ten years of Pillar's horrendous life of crime.

"After that, we'll locate the people who were enemies against Pillar and see if any of them are willing to point us in his direction in exchange for them getting a temporary pass on their own crimes. Right now finding Jack Pillar is the priority.."

-next chapter-