October 11th 2022…

Hearing a knock at the door, 4 year old Leah climbed off of the couch and walked to it before she stood up on her tiptoes and managed to pull on the doorknob with her tiny hands before she pulled it open and almost fell backwards, 20 year old Gavin catching the small child from falling.

The recently graduated academy recruit was completely surprised to see that she had managed to open the door as was 37 year old Hank when he ran back into the living room.

"Leah, you okay, kiddo?!" Hank asked.

"She's okay, Lieutenant." Gavin responded.

"Call me Hank. And I've got to get the doorknob out of her reach." Hank replied before he checked Leah over for any injuries and was relieved to see that she was unharmed. "Be careful next time, Babydoll." He responded as he held Leah.

"I will, Daddy." Leah replied before Hank placed her on the couch and she watched Tv as Hank turned to Gavin.

"I'm a bit surprised, I didn't realize you have a daughter." Gavin responded quietly.

"She's actually my niece… she doesn't remember her parents and I couldn't let her go into the system." Hank whispered, Gavin turning startled.

"She's lucky to have you in her life. She's a sweet kid." Gavin spoke quietly before he walked to Leah and crouched down to her, showing his badge to her. "If you need help and Lieutenant Anderson is on a call, kiddo, remember to ask Captain Fowler for Officer Reed. Okay?" He responded gently.

"I will but Uncle Jeffrey needs to calm down, he yells too much." Leah replied before Hank muffled a snicker.

"Don't let him hear that, Babydoll." Hank responded before the three decided to get some fresh air.

At Riverside Park, Gavin climbed up the ladder leading to the slide as he held Leah close to him and placed her on his lap before they slid down the slide and Gavin smiled as Leah laughed happily.

"Will you always be my friend, Gavin?" Leah asked once they were sitting under the tree.

"Always, Red." Gavin responded before they hugged.

He was glad that the little girl felt safe around him…

Present time...

"Yeah, I know you've been trying to reach me but I've been in meetings throughout the… wait, what?! How'd that happen?!"

Having heard that, Gavin stood up and put his phone in his jacket pocket before he walked into Fowler's office, Fowler motioning for him to wait.

Gavin did and Fowler put his phone on speaker.

"Gavin's in the office, Hank, go ahead." Fowler explained.

"Well, the injury happened when Leah and Connor jumped onto the 4pm train. Leah jarred her left ankle and sprained it."

Gavin rushed out of the office without a word, grabbing his car keys as Nines followed him to his patrol car.

At the ER, Leah stirred around as Gavin walked into the room and Gavin turned to Connor and Nines as Leah opened her eyes, Leah seeing the Ace medical bandage wrapped around her left ankle and two clips holding it in place.

"Can you two give us a bit to talk?" Gavin asked, Leah and Connor looking at each other before she looked at Nines.

"It's okay." Leah responded.

Connor and Nines walked into the hallway, Gavin getting Leah to look at him.

"I'm glad you're okay, Red. But you scared the hell out of me." Gavin responded before they hugged.

Leah held onto him as Gavin lightly rubbed his right hand up and down her back before they let go.

"You know, if you're scared for my safety, just say so. It's part of the job, putting our lives on the line." Leah responded, Gavin kissing her forehead.

"I still see you as that kid who was either sliding down the slide or climbing trees despite me and Hank yelling at you to stop doing that. Then Cole started climbing trees when he was 4." Gavin replied, Leah smiling sadly at that memory.

"I climbed up there to get him from that tree branch... only for both of us to fall and get hurt." Leah responded, absentmindedly guarding her left side and Gavin knew that the surgery scar where her spleen used to be still bothered her.

But he also knew that something else was on her mind.

"Tell me, Red." Gavin replied as Leah lowered her right arm.

"I have no idea where Markus is and the two cops that responded to the break in call last night have been acting like they have something to hide. I know you have no use for Markus but…" Leah explained.

"He's your friend and I hate seeing you sad. I'll find out what happened, I promise." Gavin responded before they hugged again.

After signing her discharge papers and getting dressed, Leah was helped into a wheelchair by Connor and Hank as the elevator across the hallway dinged.

The doors opened and Leo kept himself upright by keeping his right hand against the wall as he was still going through withdrawals… and he saw Leah and narrowed his eyes at her.

Leo tried to storm over to her but was stopped by Gavin.

"Walk away, leave her alone!" Gavin spoke in a low, threatening tone.

"Get out of my way!" Leo retorted.

"Or what?! I've beaten your ass before and I'll do it again!" Gavin responded angrily.

Leo saw Nines walk over and Gavin turned to him.

"Nines, this… patient escaped his room, can you escort him back?" Gavin replied calmly.

"Of course, Detective Reed." Nines responded before he turned to Leo and guided him to the elevator with more force than intended as Hank rested his right hand on Leah's left shoulder.

"You're safe, Babydoll. He won't hurt you again." Hank spoke softly.

When Nines returned, the five left and on the drive back, Leah felt Connor's right hand on her left shoulder... she rested her left hand on his right hand, their fingers interlocking.

When the train reached Ferndale, Markus saw the doors open and thought back to last night.

"Carl, no... No, please, I don't want to leave you… Please, I can't... I don't want to leave you…"

"GET OUT! NOW! GO! MARKUS!"

"Don't fucking move!"

"There's a place where we can be free! Find Jericho! FIND JERICHO!"

"I'm begging you, please! End it… I don't wanna live anymore. Make it quick."

Markus placed his right hand to where the thirium pump regulator was… he was still in disbelief that he had killed that android and had stolen the regulator from her.

He got off of the train and looked for the graffiti before he pieced it together and reached the human only escalator.

No one glanced at him as he reached the station exit and walked to the sidewalk, hearing children play.

He needed to find the shelter that was implanted into his mind.