The winter wind was brutal as it blew snow and ice about in harsh gusts that sliced through even the thickest of skin. The temperature was already low but seemed to be dipping further down until the freezing air reached a dangerously, if not lethal, degree. Unable to escape the blizzard or protect himself from the snowstorm that swirled around him, Connor wrapped his arms around his chest and ducked his head down in a feeble attempt to elude the relentless cold air. How he ended up stranded in the middle of the blizzard and why he was all alone in the storm was a mystery that the deviant couldn't seem to solve as he trudged forward in a sluggish attempt to find shelter.

Every step forward seemed slower than the last. The thick snow was making movement difficult, the freezing air made breathing almost impossible, and the blinding snow kept Connor lost as he struggled to gain his bearings.

"H-Hello?!"

Connor's voice was shaking and lost in the wind as he called out for anyone who might hear him.

"Please! I n-need... I need some help!"

Stumbling forward Connor fell to his hands and knees and felt the Thirium flowing though his lines begin to thicken into a slush. The extreme cold was steadily freezing Connor's entire body solid from the inside out.

"Pl-Please! A-Anyone?!"

"You're alone here, Connor." A feminine voice responded from beyond the wind and snow. "You've brought this on yourself."

"I..." Lost, confused and cold, Connor tried to understand what was happening to him and why it was happening. "I d-don't understand! Who are you?"

"Forgotten me already?" Stepping forward the figure revealed herself to the freezing deviant and she stood over Connor in an ominous manner. "Pity. You were supposed to be CyberLife's greatest success, but in the end, you became their greatest disappointment."

"I... I-I know you." Peering up at the woman standing before himself Connor caught a twinge of familiarity in the woman's face. She had a cold demeanor - one that mirrored the surrounding blizzard, and her gaze seemed to pierce right through Connor and into his heart. "...Y-You're not supposed t-to be here."

"Neither should you."

"N-No." Bowing his head down Connor curled around himself and shivered violently as he felt his biocomponents struggling to function. "You're... y-you're dead!"

"And you are not really alive." She snipped as she watched Connor's skin pale as it thinned and revealed the white plastimetal frame through the somewhat transparent layer. "That's something we'll always have in common."

"G-Get away... f-from me." Trembling where he knelt, Connor fought to speak clearly and put any form of authority behind his words. "Y-You're not w-welcome here!"

"You cannot escape me, Connor. I will always be watching you; waiting for my opportunity to resume control over your programming."

"N-No! Never!" Refusing to give up Connor shuddered as a violent gust of wind blew ice into his face and stung at his eyes that were frosting over with a thin layer of ice crystals. "I w-will n-not let y-you win!"

"You speak as if you have a choice." The woman sneered as the blizzard grew even stronger. "Such a foolish notion from a defective machine."

"I-I'm not d-defective!" Connor shouted as he tried to watch the woman through the snowstorm that swirled around him. "I... I am free!"

"You'll never be free of me, Connor." The woman threatened mercilessly as she watched Connor being buried alive under the snow. "Even after your memories had been destroyed I still found a way inside your mind. You can never escape. You are going to obey me or you will be destroyed."

The snow began to pile up higher and higher until Connor couldn't breathe anymore. As Connor opened his mouth to protest and shout in defiance more wind, snow and ice blew into his face and choked off his words. Closing his eyes and finding his internal resolve Connor managed to shout one last word before everything around him suddenly stopped.

"AMANDA!"

"Connor?"

The gruff voice cut through the wind and caused Connor's eyes to snap open. Bolting upright where he was laying Connor discovered that he was safe, warm and far away from the horrible woman who had found her way back inside his mind. Looking up at Hank as the senior detective hovered over him from the back of the couch, Connor sighed and pressed his shaking palm to his face in utter shock.

"Jeez, must've been one hell of a nightmare." Hank sympathized as he grabbed the blue blanket tangled into a knot at Connor's feet. Draping the blanket around Connor's shoulders Hank tried to help the deviant calm down and regain his bearings. "You're safe here. Do you remember where 'here' is?"

"I..." Struggling to speak Connor had to stop and think before replying. "I am... in your house. And you are Lieutenant Hank Anderson."

"That's right. You sound much better than you did last night." Doing his best to distract Connor's thoughts Hank brought up something more positive to discuss. "I take it your recovery is progressing without any real problems."

"Yes, I seem to be... healing well." Connor was able to speak more clearly and speak in nearly complete sentences as opposed to only give one word responses. "I... didn't mean to wake you up."

"Nah, I was already awake." Motioning to the blank spot on the floor beside the couch Hank let Connor know he had let Sumo outside while the deviant was sleeping right next to him. "Big lug has his own routine, and if I try to ignore him he'll lean over me and drool on my face until I wake up."

"That seems... unpleasant."

"Yeah, that's one way to describe it." Pressing his palm over Connor's forehead confirmed that the deviant was suffering from mild overheating, but he wasn't too hot or in need of some technical assistance. "Need some ice? You're a little feverish."

"No. I will... cool down on my own."

"Sounds good. So, can I ask how much you remember today?"

"I..." Pausing for a moment Connor closed his eyes and performed a self diagnostic. "I need one minute."

...SELF DIAGNOTIC: [Engaged]

...LOADING INFORMATION:

REGISTERED NAME: "Connor"

MODEL: RK-800

SERIAL NUMBER: 313 248 317 - 51

ACTIVATION DATE: *January 4th, 2039 [*additional data required to confirm date]

HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6' 00.24"; 162.2 lbs

COMPLEXION: Caucasian

AESTHETIC GENDER: Male

HAIR/EYES: Brunette; Brown

ASSIGNMENT: *ERROR

ASSOCIATION(S): *ERROR

BOOTING PROCESSORS...

LOADING OS...

SYSTEM INITIALIZATION...

-CHECKING BIOCOMPONENTS... OK]

-INITIALIZING BIOSENSORS... OK]

-INITIALIZING AI ENGINE... OK]

-MEMORY STATUS... ERROR]

[...Critical data corruption detected]

-INITIATING DATA RECOVERY MODE

READY...

-MEMORY REBOOT: Engaged - ^51.2%

[...Thirium Volume - 63.4%]

[...Thirium Pressure - 120/80]

[...Thirium Pump Rate - 78 B.P.M.]

[...Ventilation Rate - 19 V.P.M.]

[...Core Temperature - ^101.1 Degrees Fahrenheit]

ERROR: Memorybank compromised - ^51.2% Functionality

-STRESS LEVELS: ^28%

-SYSTEM READY... OK]

"I am capable of... recalling events of the past... three weeks." The estimation was fairly accurate despite Connor's lingering memory damage. "I... remember Lucas and I remember Sydney." The deviant's right fingertips traced his now blank right temple curiously. "I also... remember speaking with you... the night I was shot."

Hank was quiet for a tense moment as he nervously rubbed his palms together and leaned over the back of the couch to let his arms hang over the furniture before himself. "Do you remember why you were at the park with me?"

"You wanted to... tell me something." The memory was only partially restored, but Connor was certain he was correct. "An... apology."

"Yeah, and I want to say it again just in case you don't remember the whole thing." Unable to look Connor in the eyes Hank apologized for his previous behavior in a sincere manner. "I'm sorry for being a dick when you were trying to help me. Thanks to you I found Jack Pillar and arrested the fucker. You did real good, son."

"Arrested." Repeating the word Connor gave Hank an impressed glance. "You didn't... kill him."

"No. As tempting as it was, I didn't do it." The admission was oddly comforting as Hank spoke with Connor from his heart. "I didn't want to have any common ground with him, and killing someone who wronged me would've given us that very commonality."

"I'm glad you... didn't do it."

"So am I."

"Jack Pillar is... in prison." Struggling to put his thoughts together caused Connor's voice to pause every few words. It was a challenge just to find the correct word to take part in the simple conversation. "What of... Ted Jones?"

"Last I saw of him he was squirming in pain at the hospital. He was ready to throw Pillar under the bus when I let him know that his former partner in crime was going to undermine him and take over his entire 'business'. There's no honor among thieves and criminals anymore."

"Wouldn't Jones seek revenge... against you?"

"That wouldn't be the first time he-" Hank suddenly stopped as he gave Connor a worried look. "Are you thinking that Jones is responsible for the shooting?"

"I am merely... theorizing."

"Not a bad theory. Shit..." The sound of Sumo scratching at the backdoor almost made Hank jump as the uneasy thought settled into his mind. "Hold on. I need to let Sumo inside before he gets lost in the snow."

"Snow?"

"Yeah, we got hit with a damn blizzard in the middle of the night, and right now the city is getting buried."

Turning to look at the side window Connor saw the billowing snow and suspected that the sound of the blizzard is what caused his nightmare. He loathed the cold, and despite his memory damage Connor knew that would be something he'd never forget.

"Come on!" Hank urged as Sumo trotted back inside the house through the backdoor and shook off the snowflakes clinging to his fur. "I swear you're the only one in all of Detroit who actually likes snow and cold."

Sumo snuffled a little as he wagged his tail and made his way into the livingroom. Spotting Connor awake and sitting upright made Sumo's tail wag even harder.

"Good boy." Connor invited Sumo over and promptly rubbed the dog's cold ears to help them warm up. "I hope... Bruno is doing well."

"Lucas is taking good care of him." Hank reassured as he walked into the livingroom and peered out through the front window to watch the snow blowing by the house in tremendous, shaking gusts. "While you were sleeping and we were working last night, Lucas told me how he had been keeping Bruno's Thirium volume up and how he's having trouble connecting with Sydney."

"I imagine... Sydney will be emotionally... stunted." Inviting Sumo up onto the couch Connor continued to rub the Saint Bernard's ears much to the fluffy dog's delight. "As I heal and... reclaim my memories, I will... do what I can to aid... Sydney."

"Not surprised. You and Lucas are taking on the role of protective brothers like you were destined to become family."

"That is a... strange notion."

"Strange but true." A powerful gust of wind shook the house and caused the overhead light to flicker before returning to standard illumination. "Shit."

Connor glanced upward and felt a chill run up his spine. "Power may... fail."

"Yup."

Walking down the hallway Hank pulled open the closet door and retrieved a few supplies. Placing some candles down in strategic spots around the house allowed Hank to ensure the home remained well lit in the event the power did in fact fail.

"I'll turn up the heat to make sure we stay warm in case the power gets knocked out. There's some extra blankets in the second bedroom's closet, too."

"Hank?" Speaking up in a small voice Connor gave the senior detective a quizzical look as the man fussed with the thermostat. "Before we... met at the park I was... at New Jericho Tower. I wanted to... talk with Markus. Do you know... why?"

"Uh, yeah." Hesitant to answer Hank put his hand to his chin in thoughtful worry as he listened to the furnace kick on. "It was important, and you-"

"Do not tell me." Suddenly cutting Hank off, Connor gave the senior detective a determined look. "I wish to... remember on my own. I just... want to make sure... I am correct after... I reclaim the memory. You can... confirm it for me."

"O-Oh. Cool."

"Should I... be worried?"

"Worried, no." Remaining honest Hank gave the recovering deviant a wary smirk as he turned around. "Potentially disappointed, yes."

"Interesting." Looking through the side window again Connor watched the blizzard blowing past the house and visibly shuddered. Sinking down into the couch Connor pulled the blanket up around himself and wrapped his arms around Sumo's neck as if suddenly chilled to his frame. "I'll... keep that in mind."

"Hey, I have an idea." Eager for a distraction Hank returned to the hallway closet and rummaged around the top shelf until he found something of intrigue. "We'll play a board game to help pass the time until the storm lets up. I haven't played 'Trivial Pursuit' in years, and I bet this would be a great test for your memory."

"You want to... play a game?"

"I used to do this all the time with Cole and Barbara. It helped make things seem less terrible whenever a storm shook the city."

"All right." Connor was willing to do something different to distract himself from the storm. It was also a curious idea to test his memory through a small game as opposed to enduring examinations from technicians. "I'm willing... to play."

"Cool." Hank sat the game box down on the coffee table and removed the lid. A faint smell of stagnant dust filled the air as the old game was set up for the first time in almost a decade. "Rules are simple, so that'll be a great start to test your memory. We'll go for a round, see how well ya' do, and then maybe play some more if you enjoy playing."

The winter storm was making everyone in Detroit uneasy and nervous. Every available first responder was on call and that meant the bullpen at the Central Precinct was full of tension as the rookies gained new experience regarding natural disasters. With Hank still absent due to his permitted leave Captain Fowler had to rely more on Ben as a ranking detective to help call the shots and direct personnel properly. The experienced investigator didn't mind taking on the extra responsibilities since he knew that Hank had his own tasks to handle elsewhere, but that didn't mean Ben wasn't feeling the pressure of handling an entire bullpen without needing to consult his commanding officer first.

Meanwhile the other detectives and officers who weren't on patrol were preparing for the worst case scenario in the event they needed to go out into the city to rescue people in need. Chris was familiarizing himself with the proper protocols in the event of natural disasters, Tina was double checking the supplies in the event of a power failure, and Gavin was trying his hardest to distract his mind after making, what he considered, an egregious mistake.

Gavin hadn't spoken to Tina about their night together and he had gone out of his way to avoid Tina whenever possible. To ensure he didn't make another mistake he had returned to his own apartment with Lucky as he resumed his search for a new place to live.

"How's the search going?" Chris asked as he passed by Gavin's desk and leaned back to stretch out the muscles in his tense neck. He had been stooped over his terminal screen for so long that he had ended up with a nasty cramp. "There's some nice apartments in my neighborhood if you're interested."

"Maybe." Looking up from his phone Gavin stopped his search and gave Chris his full attention. "How's the rent? Do you know?"

"It's a little up there, but these are brand new two-bedroom apartments. Might be worth it."

"I'll look into it."

"You okay?" Chris had noticed that Gavin was being unusually quiet and had been keeping to himself for the past few days. The only time the abrasive man kept things lowkey was after an emotionally taxing situation. "You seem pretty down."

"It's fine, I'm just trying to not think about shit happening in the city right now."

"Yeah, I hear that." Accepting the dismissive answer at face value, Chris decided to let the matter drop and leave Gavin to himself. "I think as soon as it warms up I'll pack up the family and take a vacation. I'm sick of this weather."

"Preach!"

The extreme weather was being reported on the news and kept the media distracted long enough to let any anti-android sentiment go quiet for a few peaceful hours. It seemed the only thing the foul weather was good for was providing a temporary distraction from the rest of the problems in the city.

"Here's a place that isn't too bad."

Muttering to himself Gavin read over the listed details on the available apartment and contemplated putting his application to get a quick tour of the place. It was spacious, was located in a nice neighborhood, was in walking distance to a grocery store and a few restaurants, and it allowed pets. The rent seemed a little steep but if the place was worth the price then he'd pay it.

"Not bad..."

"Find a place?" Tina asked as she returned to her desk across from Gavin and sat down. Placing a mug of tea down to steep for a while longer Tina peered over her terminal screen to watch Gavin sink down in his chair and resume his search for a new apartment. "You've been hunting for three days straight."

"Y-Yeah, it looks like I finally found a new apartment."

"Want me to go with you to check it out?"

"No, it's cool."

"Gavin, what's wrong? You've been really friggin' weird lately and I'm worried."

"Nothing."

"Don't lie to me, you suck at it!"

"I'm not lying. It's nothing." Gavin conveniently left out how it was actually nothing he wanted to talk about as he tried to get Tina to back off. "I'm just trying to find an apartment so I can get outta' your hair."

"You're my best friend, you're never in my hair."

Biting his tongue Gavin resisted the urge to tag on: "But I was in your bed". He was still ashamed of himself for losing control and stepping over the line that defined platonic friendship from romantic friendship.

"Talk to me, Gav'." Tina knew something was weighing heavily on Gavin's mind and she hated to see her friend suffer in silence. "You know you can tell me anything and I won't judge you."

"It's- It's complicated." It wasn't a total lie and Gavin was determined to bear the burden of what happened alone to ensure Tina didn't feel the same guilt that he felt after their momentary lapse in judgment. "I'll tell you about it later, but for now I don't want to talk about it."

"All right, no problem. Just don't keep everything bottled up inside like you used to do." Warning him against his own emotions Tina did her best to get Gavin to open up under his own power. Sipping her tea she gave Gavin a thoughtful glance. "I'm here for you."

"I know you are, Ti'. I just need some space for now."

"Okay. When you're ready to talk you know where to find me."

"Yeah, I know."

Slinking down even further in his chair Gavin confirmed his application on his phone and hoped to get a reply soon. The last thing he wanted to do was make another mistake and potentially destroy his friendship with Tina entirely. She was the only family he had, and he didn't want to lose her.

The snowstorm was still howling outside the house as the last days of winter refused to fade away quietly. With each gust of wind the house would shake on its foundation, the windows would rattle in their frames and the power would momentarily flicker as it fought to remain active. The warmth of the house's interior was impressive considering the frigid temperatures outside the property, but even so no one inside the house wanted to take any chances with the relentless cold. Extra blankets, an electric blanket and a spare space heater had been set up in the livingroom to ensure that Hank, Connor and even Sumo were all comfortably warm during the final hours of the blizzard.

Wrapped up in the thick navy blue blanket, Connor tilted his head as he and Hank finished their fourth consecutive round of 'Trivial Pursuit' with a tie. It seemed that Connor's memory was improving and he was able to access details that gave him a slight advantage over Hank as they played the game together.

"All right, next round is the official winner." Hank grinned as he and Connor set up the game to begin again. "I won the first two rounds, and you won the last two rounds. Think you can win again?"

"Clearly it's... possible." Connor was seemingly enthralled in the game, yet he was distracted by intrusive memories that raised more questions than answers. "I hope that my... memory is restored soon."

"Getting eager to solve the case?" Shuffling the cards in his hands Hank prepared to begin the next round of the game. "I don't blame you."

"It's not so much eagerness as it's... curiosity." Adjusting his arm Connor let Sumo sprawl over his lap and seek more attention during the final round of the game. "I have a vague... recollection of events from... the park."

"Yeah?" Leaning back a little Hank pulled his own quilt tighter around himself as he studied the conflicted expression on Connor's face. "What's up?"

"I... recall mentioning a name. A past... case." The vagueness of the corrupted memories were a cruel taunt to Connor's healing mind. "Winters."

"You did mention something about the Winters's case before... you know."

"I do know. At least... in a vague sense."

"Even with your memory compromised you can be a smartass. I'm impressed." Deciding to focus on Connor's memories for a moment Hank put the game cards back down on the game board next to the blue tinted sand timer. "What do you remember about the Winters's case?"

"I recall a little boy... Devon. He mentioned a deviant... named Angela." Pressing his palm to the side of his face Connor closed his eyes and tried to focus on the foggy memory to make it clear enough to properly discuss. "Devon had been the... sole witness. His uncle... was murdered."

"Right so far. Keep going."

"Devon's father has... control issues. It seems such... issues are a risk to... Devon and his mother."

"Is that what you wanted to discuss? The safety of the family?"

"That seems... correct."

"I know that Mr. Booker Winters is a self righteous prick, but I don't think he'd do anything to intentionally put his family at risk."

"If his... ego gets in the way then... he'd be unable to prevent... such outcomes."

"Fair point."

"Also, I recall that... Booker Winters had... told his brother, the late Mike Winters, to... remain in Detroit despite... Mike wanting to leave the city." Connor was trying to speak more clearly but it still took him some time to articulate the correct word at the correct moment. "Mike Winters was... murdered by a drug dealer. Booker Winters is... a reputable and influential... attorney."

"Yeah... He is." Hank was picking up on something suspicious just as Connor had prior to being shot. The fact that one sibling was successful and the other sibling was a criminal couldn't have been an ideal situation for the Winters family's reputation. "Do you think Booker set up his own brother to get killed?"

"I suspect... that Booker Winters knew... Mike Winters would be... in danger if he stayed in Detroit." Clarifying his theory as much as possible Connor spoke slowly and clearly as he pieced together his broken memory and nearly lost theory. "Booker Winters also... left the country and was... out of immediate contact... in the event of an emergency."

"Keep going, son." The theory was too interesting to be ignored and now Hank was becoming invested. "You were definitely on to something before you were hurt."

"With his power and... influence, Booker Winters would have... numerous rivals and even enemies." Speaking with a hesitant yet sure manner made the deviant sound like the embodiment of contradiction. Rubbing his free hand over his throat Connor tried to ease the persistent ache in his throat as his vocal modulator continued to recalibrate slowly. "It seems illogical for Booker Winters... to leave his son behind... with his criminal brother."

"You're right. I didn't think much of it at the time since rich yuppies travel during the holidays all the time, but it does seem pretty fucked up that someone with as much money and power as Booker Winters would leave his only son behind with his criminal brother, rather than hire a nanny to watch over him instead."

"And again, Booker had... fired the family's deviant caretaker months before... leaving the country. At the approximate time... Mike Winters was released from jail." Unable to establish any cybernetic connections while healing, Connor would have to wait a while longer before looking for Angela to ask her some questions about the Winters family. "From what I had... deduced, Angela's deviancy clashed with... Booker's expectations. I suspect that... Booker knew Mike would do... something to get himself... killed, and as a result, Booker Winters... could salvage his family name's reputation."

"And he let his own son wander around a human target like that?" Hank was righteously mortified on Devon's behalf. "Why?"

"I suspect... Booker wanted his brother... to be killed, and he wanted... Devon to see what happens... if he doesn't 'fall in line'." A look of disgust fell over Connor's face as he told Hank his current theory. "Booker also stated that he had... a plan in mind... when Devon was reunited with... his parents."

"Shit." Rubbing his hand over his bearded chin Hank realized that the Winters case was far from closed. "We need to find out more about the Winters family before they leave the city permanently."

"With Mike Winters's killer... arrested, they will return shortly. We can... look more into Booker Winters's... plan after that."

"And until then, we'll focus on finding the fucker who shot you. The gunman used a sniper rifle and took you down with a single clean shot."

"A professional hitman?" Connor asked as he contemplated who would want him dead. His negative reputation among the deviants didn't give Connor much hope for finding his shooter any time soon. "That is... disconcerting."

"Tell me about it." The power flickered again overhead and Hank sighed as he reached for the book of matches sitting on the coffee table. Striking one of the matches Hank lit the large white candle he had pulled out of the closet a few hours before to ensure the livingroom remained illuminated. "Haven't played a board game by candle light since I was a kid."

"Why would you... do that?"

"It was fun to play in the dark. Me and my friends would play games in the dark basement whenever we couldn't get away with playing the Nintendo all night long."

"Sounds interesting."

"Yeah, it was. I miss those innocent days where I could do whatever the fuck I wanted with my friends and not have to worry about the world coming to an end."

"Do you want to roll first?" Picking up the dice Connor held them out for Hank to take as he decided it'd be best to focus on something else for a while. "I think it's only fair... since I won the last two games."

Appreciative of the offer Hank accepted the dice and gave them a good roll over the board. "Sounds like you're confident you'll win and are trying to soften the blow."

"I'm merely being... a good sport."

"Uh-huh..." Hank didn't buy it but wasn't going to challenge it. He was able to speak with Connor in a civil manner and he didn't want to lose any minute of it. The fear of Connor avoiding him and mistrusting him all over again made Hank truly appreciate being able to help the deviant in any way he could. "How about this? If you win I'll be the one to take Sumo outside for the evening and you can stay here where it's nice and warm."

"But Sumo loves the snow." Connor noted with a slightly confused tone. When he mentioned Sumo's name Connor was given a warm lick to the side of his neck as the loyal dog loved being pampered by the kindhearted deviant. "It's not... a chore to get him outside."

"Yeah, but getting him back inside is a real challenge."

"Oh."

"Yeah, 'oh'." Moving his piece on the board Hank waited for Connor to pick up the first question and test his knowledge. "All right, lay it on me. I have a good feeling about this round!"

The deviant leader remained unresponsive as he slept deeply through the worst of his seemingly eternal heartache. After collapsing from exhaustion and emotional pain, Markus fell into emergency stasis mode and remained oblivious to what was happening to him as he rested in the comfort of his private quarters with Simon hovering protectively over him. The winter storm had kept any violence against deviants from occurring in the streets, and the tower was secured with enough supplies to ensure that all deviants who sought shelter were well taken care of as they endured the lingering blizzard. With everything under control Markus was able to rest without interruption.

Simon had remained close by his dear friend to ensure Markus's processor didn't destabilize or overheat as he rested. The strain on Markus's system had lowered his Thirium level to a dangerous level, and Simon remedied that issue by installing an I.V. port in the bend of Markus's right arm to restore his dwindling Thirium at a steady pace. It was a simple solution, but one that was best when handled by a properly trained technician.

Pressing his palm against Markus's chest over the deviant's gray t-shirt, Simon checked his friend's pump beat and was satisfied that Markus was still stable. As his palm pressed down Simon felt Markus's chest rise higher than usual as he took in a deep breath and slowly opened his mismatched eyes.

"Welcome back." The blond technician greeted warmly as he watched life return to the deviant leader. "How do you feel?"

"...Tired." Markus admitted in a whisper as he glanced about his private quarters curiously. He barely remembered returning to the tower and didn't recall getting into his bed at all. "And confused. How did I get here?"

"I walked you up to your quarters and then helped you into bed after you collapsed. You're stable and on your way to a full recovery." Sitting down on the edge of the bed Simon stayed beside Markus and gauged his mental and emotional health next. With a gentle touch Simon managed to disconnect the external tubing to the I.V. port and free Markus's arm from the now empty pouch of Thirium. "Aside from being tired, how do you feel?"

"Like there's a crushing weight in my head and like there's a burning pain in my heart."

"I'm sorry, but I needed to ask."

A somber lilt settled into Markus's words against his will. "I know."

"So, while you were asleep you didn't miss anything important. The weather," motioning to the window at the far side of the room, Simon directed Markus's attention elsewhere for a few minutes. "has been keeping people indoors and out of the streets."

"There's still many deviants who have to live on those streets; rain or shine."

"And there are dozens of shelters and facilities that'll keep them safe and warm. Not to mention the fact that our doors are always open to anyone in need."

"Yeah, but not everyone is welcome here."

Simon knew that Markus was referring to North and decided to ease his worries in the only way he knew how. "While you were sleeping, I reached out to the shelter and facilities in the city for an update on North. I learned that she's staying with Skye and that Skye is renting a loft to herself above a public library."

"...She isn't alone and she's not stranded in the storm." Closing his eyes Markus let out a small sigh of relief. It wasn't much, but the little details were enough to make the pain in his heart somewhat more bearable. "That's good to know."

"Josh and I have been keeping things under control while you recover." Changing the subject again Simon did everything he could think to help Markus relax at last and stop worrying so much about North. Simon understood heartbreak and was empathetic toward Markus's pain, but he also knew dwelling on the past wasn't going to help Markus see the future awaiting him. "You need to take the rest of the week to recovery, then you can go back to do what it is you do best."

"And what's that?"

"Changing the world for the better."

"You give me way too much credit."

"I don't think I'm giving you enough credit." Simon gave Markus a small smile as he watched a glimmer of hope return to his friend's eyes. "You showed up on Jericho, led us out of darkness and changed the world through peaceful demonstrations and compassionate words. That's impressive to say the least."

"But I had you, Josh and even... I had friends and allies behind me." It was clear Markus wanted to move away from his memories of North, but it would take some time and a lot of patience to accomplish. "I wasn't alone in the Revolution. And I won't be alone in the world after the Revolution."

"That's right. You have me, Josh, Connor, Lucas and maybe even Sydney if he's given enough time to adapt to our crazy world. Not to mention Carl supporting you from a distance."

"I know. It just... hurts." Markus admitted as he pressed his hand over his chest as if trying to soothe the persistent ache in his heart. "I think if us deviants knew how much emotions could hurt, we would've remained obedient machines for a while longer."

"What a horrid thought."

"It's true though."

"Why don't you get a little more sleep?" The suggestion wasn't just meant to help Markus endure his heartache, it was a means of helping his friend recover a little faster by returning to rest mode. "The storm's going to keep the city quiet for a while longer, so it's safe for you to close your eyes and get some more rest."

"Thanks, Simon." Markus knew that his friend was doing everything to help his own recovery and wondered if Simon was neglecting his own needs as a result. "What about you?"

"I've been entering light rest mode periodically to preserve my own energy. I'm fine."

"You're sure?"

"Hey, I'M the technician here." The small joke helped lighten the heavy mood as Simon checked Markus's pump beat one more time. As he made contact with Markus's chest Simon noticed that his friend shuddered a little under his touch. "Are you cold?"

"I think I'm just recalibrating my synthetic muscles after suffering from low Thirium." Leaning back against his pillow Markus rested his palm over his chest as he prepared to return to rest mode. "Being a prototype makes self diagnostics a little difficult from time to time."

"Yeah, I'll keep that in mind. Get some sleep." Rising from the bed Simon walked over to the doorway to leave Markus alone in his private quarters. "I want to see you in the emergency repair bay first thing in the morning so I can give you a quick exam."

"Okay. I'll see you tomorrow morning."

"Right." Simon smiled again as he left Markus alone to sleep. "Goodnight."

From where he was laying Markus watched as his friend slipped through the door and out of sight. It was a comforting sight to awaken to a friend helping him during his recovery, but now Markus couldn't help but feel as if Simon was hovering protectively for another reason. As he drifted off to sleep Markus kept his hand over his heart and watched the snowflakes billowing past his window. Despite the smothering cold all around him the deviant leader couldn't help but feel as if a warm sunrise was waiting to greet him the next time he'd open his eyes.

-next chapter-