DBH: I'll Be Home for Christmas

by WayWardWonderer

It's the first Christmas for the 'RK-900', a.k.a. Lucas, and Connor is eager to celebrate with his brother and Hank. However, a few hiccups along the way prevent Lucas from finding the holiday spirit and becomes convinced he's useless. Only when Connor really needs him after a freak accident does Lucas find the spirit he needs to, not only celebrate, but see how much he's loved.

December 22nd, 2039: The Anderson Residence

It was just three days before Christmas and all of Detroit was covered in a thick layer of flawless white snow and glistening ice crystals. The gentle glow of colored lights illuminated the streets as the lights hung over nearly every doorway and outlined every window of every building in the entire city. A faint aroma of pine, cinnamon, apple and peppermint wafted over Detroit courtesy of the massive Christmas tree set up in the middle of Hart Plaza, the countless homes, apartments and bakeries creating delicious treats for weeks on end, and thousands of scented candles burning brightly among the colorful, welcoming decorations. To anyone wandering the streets the city seemed to be playing the honorary role of Santa's workshop.

Managing to just barely exit the packed mall his purchases clutched tightly in his grip Connor rushed through the parking lot and made his way to the freshly shoveled sidewalk lining the streets. It was easier to walk than to drive or even use autonomous taxis due to the hectic nature of the holidays. Proud of his purchases and of his ability to find something that he believed would be meaningful for his small but loving family, the deviant detective made his way back home eager to get his purchases wrapped up to be placed under the tree later.

It had been over a year since Connor had been taken in by Hank to be a member of his unorthodox family. The duo had celebrated Christmas the year before, and despite the celebration being small and a little awkward, Connor thoroughly enjoyed it. Celebrating the holiday for the first time since Cole's passing had also done wonders for Hank's mental and emotional health. It was only natural that the two detectives would want to celebrate again.

However, the biggest change in the small family's celebratory plans came in the form of a new addition to the family itself. The 'RK-900' that had been designed to be Connor's replacement had been found in stasis mode in the depths of CyberLife Tower - now reclaimed and renamed as New Jericho Tower - and Connor had taken in the freshly deviated android as his little brother during the previous spring. Hank had quickly welcomed Lucas, named by Connor himself, and accepted the second deviant as yet another member of his small but loving family.

The very notion of being able to celebrate Christmas for the first time all over again by including Lucas in his life had filled Connor with a joyous energy that was almost contagious for anyone who got too close to the excited deviant detective.

As he walked up the front walk leading to the warm house Connor admired all of the colorful lights hanging around the windows, the thick garland around the door frame and the little snowflakes clinging to the window glass. It was a simple display of decorations but one that made Connor feel proud of his efforts to celebrate Christmas properly with his brother and his father.

Passing through the front door with his shopping bags in hand, Connor peered inside the livingroom and spotted Sumo laying on his pillow beside the fully decorated tree and was given a happy tail wag in response. Walking over to the large dog Connor rubbed Sumo's chin and pulled a small dog biscuit from his jacket pocket for the large dog to snack on for a while.

"Good boy, Sumo. It's almost Christmas Day, and that means we'll be celebrating as a family again!"

Hank had been in the kitchen working on dinner and had heard Connor return home. The senior detective stepped out of the kitchen and looked at the smiling deviant petting Sumo's ears and talking to the Saint Bernard as if Sumo actually understood him. "It's about time you got home. Stores crazy right now?"

"If you define 'crazy' as hundreds of last-minute shoppers converging in a single location in a frenzied game of 'beat the clock', then yes. The stores are quite crazy."

"Smartass." Hearing Connor showcasing a wit and sense of humor always made Hank grin proudly. "So, did you finally finish your shopping?"

"I believe so." Keeping his bags behind his back Connor made sure Hank couldn't peek inside the bags and guess at his gifts. "Did you finish with your gift?"

"Yeah, fuckin' finally... It'll be delivered to the precinct tomorrow so I don't have to worry about it." The man's eyes were bright as he spoke while he did his best to not give away any clues about what the gifts were going to be. "It's something that I think will be a big hit."

"That's good. I think I finally found the perfect gift to give to Lucas."

"Yeah? What's that?"

"It's going to remain a secret. I want it to remain an assured surprise."

"Whatever you say, son. I just hope he likes the ornament I grabbed the other day." It was hard for Hank to hide his amused smirk as he saw the genuine enthusiasm and excitement just emanating from Connor. "Remember, we have to work on Christmas Day this year, which means we're celebrating the big day on Christmas Eve instead."

"I remember, and I've already let Lucas know to stop by the house on Christmas Eve morning to celebrate with us."

"Are you sure Lucas is up for this?" The sharp detective and protective father figure knew that Lucas was less enthusiastic about human customs and that Lucas was struggling to just fit in with the other deviants. "He might want to just watch the holiday from the sidelines and celebrate next year."

"I wasn't entirely sure about celebrating either, but in the end, I was glad that I let you talk me into it."

"Yeah, but just because it worked out well for you doesn't mean it'll do the same for him."

"Do you think I'm pushing Lucas into an uncomfortable endeavor?" Connor didn't want to ruin the holiday for anyone, especially his own little brother. "I don't want him to feel as if he's being forced to do something he doesn't actually want to do."

"I don't think you're pushing Lucas into doing something he doesn't want to do, but you might be assuming that he's entirely comfortable with holiday celebrations. He wasn't too thrilled with the Fourth of July, Halloween or Thanksgiving."

"True." It wasn't hard to admit that Lucas didn't like being around large groups of people, loud noises or hectic energy. As Connor contemplated Lucas's past experiences his blue L.E.D. flashed to yellow with noted concern before returning to blue. "I'll go to New Jericho tomorrow and speak with him during our break."

"Good idea. I know you want him to know he's a part of the family and is free to do as he sees fit, but you need to remember that Lucas doesn't have nearly as much experience with humanity as you do." Truly a mediator Hank reminded Connor that despite he and Lucas sharing many similarities that they were still two very distinct people with unique perspectives on life. "It's going to take him a little while longer to adjust to these new experiences and feel comfortable enough to join in."

"I've been doing everything I can to help Lucas find his place. Ever since we took him in, I've done my best to be a supportive brother."

"I know you have, and I'm not trying to make ya' feel bad about anything, but I just want you to remember that not everyone is going to be as excited about something as you are, and that's perfectly okay. Look at me." Reminding the deviant of how he used to behave Hank ran his hand over his much shorter haircut to emphasize how much had changed in a year's time. "I never thought I'd celebrate Christmas again after losing Cole. Now I found a reason to celebrate, and I don't want to miss it for anything in the world."

Connor contemplated Hank's words for a moment as he tightened his grip around the handles of his paper shopping bags. Suddenly it felt like his gift for Lucas wasn't as wonderful and meaningful as he had thought it'd be.

"Go put your bags in your room and wrap up your gifts later. You need to learn to relax a little and to stop worrying about getting everything to match someone else's concept or perfection, son. It's not healthy to keep comparing your life and goal to the people around you."

"I'll keep that in mind."

Walking quietly down the hallway Connor entered his bedroom - the room that had once belonged to Cole and had been generously given to him by Hank - and opened the closet door to place the shopping bags inside for safekeeping. As he shrugged off his leather jacket and the gray blazer beneath, Connor looked down at the bags and began to reconsider what he thought was an appropriate gift for Lucas and wondered if he had time to get him something better.

"I need to make sure Lucas has a good first Christmas to ensure he knows he's loved and encourage him to keep celebrating. He deserves to have the chance to experience the best and be a part of something so good and positive."

---

December 22nd, 2039: New Jericho Tower

The freshly fallen now had managed to bury a majority of Belle Isle as the winter night crept over New Jericho Tower. The deviant exclusive sanctuary was glowing with a bright white and blue color that stood out against the inky black sky that surrounded the icy harbor. Seeing the tower was like seeing a beacon of hope breaking through otherwise eternal darkness; a lighthouse leading wayward ships back home from their time at sea. The tower was glowing almost as brightly as the rest of the decorated city and gave the previously cold, apathetic and ominous tower a sense of warmth, compassion and welcoming that any rogue and lost deviant would be drawn toward.

The refurbished and remodeled emergency repair bay had become Lucas's most commonly tread ground. After deviating and learning of the peaceful Revolution that had transpired on that historic November night months before he had been activated, Lucas accepted his new name and decided to take on the role of a technician as a means of aiding his people and proving himself to be more than just a weapon designed to be exploited by CyberLife.

"This will aid you in your recovery." Lucas explained as he helped his current patient to sit upright on the exam table and handed him a bottle of fresh Thirium. The 'AX-700' had taken a nasty slip on the ice outside and ended up dislocating his shoulder when he hit the frozen ground. "The Thirium will aid your self-healing program and provide additional lubrication to the damaged joint in the process."

"Thanks, now all I need to do is make it back to my private quarters without falling again!"

"There's no ice inside of the tower, I promise."

Casually Lucas walked his patient to the door and watched as the repaired but sore deviant carefully flexed his arm to test his shoulder while drinking the provided Thirium at a slow and steady pace. A faint smile of satisfaction appeared as Lucas felt like he was really making a positive impact with his people and felt like he was finally finding his footing after being brought into a very confusing and actively changing world.

That sense of accomplishment was abruptly taken away as Lucas noticed two other deviants lingering in the area giving him a suspicious side-eye as they spoke together in whispered tones. Lucas's enhanced model allowed him to hear every word being uttered and it only made him resent his very existence and wish he could do something to improve his and Connor's reputations among the deviants after he was being reminded of where he stood among his people.

"He actually thinks we don't know what he is." The first deviant snarked under her breath as she turned away from Lucas as if disgusted by his very presence. "He was designed to hunt us all down and kill us, just like Connor. But he thinks he can fool us by acting like he cares about us and wants to help us."

"I don't who's worse; Connor or Lucas." The second deviant chimed in with a nasty tone. "Connor was supposed to hunt us down but Markus thinks he can be trusted, now there's a second one and no one knows where he came from!"

"Neither of one of them should be here. They're dangerous and we'd be better off without them."

"You're right. Hopefully Markus will listen to reason after we all gather together and vote them out of New Jericho once and for all!"

Such remarks hurt even when they were being indirectly spoken. Lucas couldn't deny that he felt some shame for what his design had originally been for and what he could've done had he been activated and performed as expected. Seeing the way that the other deviants always watching him from the corner of their eye, whispered vitriol about him and Connor, and were so quick to judge without cause, always left a stinging mark somewhere deep inside Lucas's heart. He was being treated like a criminal despite having committed no crimes.

Stepping back inside the emergency repair bay Lucas sought isolation only to notice Simon taking stock inside the room. He could see the same wary, suspicious look in the deviant leader's eyes as the other deviants shown despite Simon claiming to be on Lucas and Connor's side. There was no denying that everyone would remain on guard and not want to be around either Lucas or Connor unless absolutely necessary.

"It's okay." Lucas spoke to Simon as he shrugged off his white lab coat to hang on the hook on the nearby wall. He intentionally kept his right temple out of Simon's sight to hide his yellow glowing L.E.D. from immediate view. "I'll be in my private quarters for the rest of the night to avoid upsetting anyone."

Simon seemed confused by Lucas's comment but didn't dare to question it as he watched the world's only 'RK-900' step back through the door to disappear onto the one of the higher floors of the tower. As far as Simon and the other deviant leaders were concerned, there was no reason to worry about any negative remarks or ill repute with either Lucas or Connor's presences in the tower.

With his head hung low in misplaced shame Lucas departed from the repair bay to hide away in his private quarters where no one would see him and subsequently fear him. The compassionate deviant knew he couldn't fault his people for being afraid of him and questioning his integrity, and yet he recognized the injustice of the situation and of how it was entirely unwarranted.

Lucas made his way to his private quarters through the central elevator and toward the fiftieth floor. That floor was reserved specifically for the four deviant leaders, as well as for Connor and for Lucas. It allowed the sextet to get some distance from their people without being too far away at any given time. However, even with the sense of privacy and isolation the six core deviants never felt as if they were never going to be actually separated from their responsibilities or their people.

Only after Lucas found silent seclusion in his private quarters did the technician let out a hefty sigh as he crossed the room. Peering over at his incomplete painting sitting on the wooden easel next to his large window overlooking the harbor outside left Lucas feeling hollow and unmotivated. The painting was meant to be a gift for Connor for Christmas, and yet Lucas had failed to finish it in a timely manner.

"I'm a fool for even attempting to pretend that I'd be able to mesh with the other deviants. I'm an outsider, a mistrustful interloper, and I have no business trying to have a decent, fulfilling existence. I don't deserve the chance to experience happiness or a sense of belonging. I don't deserve anything that I've been given. No one really needs me, and no one ever will."

---

December 23rd, 2039: The Central Precinct

The snowy world outside the precinct had resulted in numerous officers returning from their patrols covered from head to toe in white, crystalline flakes that floated up and into the air behind them as they marched through the warm bullpen to thaw out. It wasn't uncommon to see numerous officers and detectives who had been chilled by the winter air congregating in the community breakroom to huddle around the coffee pot, but it was a little strange to see them snacking on colorful Christmas cookies and other sugary treats. The smiles on their faces were as warm as the coffee and freshly baked cookies as the trusted friends and colleagues coveted the warm air and atmosphere after enduring such a relentless chill outside their secured precinct.

Hank looked at his half-frozen officers huddling in the community breakroom and already felt himself shivering as he and Connor prepared to head out on their own patrol for the afternoon and evening. The man hated the cold with a justifiable passion and reason, but he didn't want to ruin Christmas for Connor or Lucas by being a crotchety Scrooge so close to the big day at hand.

"I hope it stops snowing in time for Lucas to head over to the house tomorrow morning." Hank stated aloud as he pulled on his thick dark coat and pulled it tight around himself to keep the winter air at bay. Carefully Hank picked up a manilla envelope and slipped it into the top left drawer of his desk for safekeeping - after all, he didn't want the special Christmas gift to get lost or damaged by mistake. "The autonomous cabs don't always run when the snow gets too deep."

"The forecast indicates continued snowfall until eight twenty-three in the morning the day after Christmas." Connor replied as he pulled his leather jacket on overtop of his gray blazer to ensure that he was properly bundled against the cold air. "By then, Detroit will have seen an impressive thirty-six point two inches of snowfall."

"Ah, great... That's gotta' be some kind of record too, right?"

"Correct. The current record stands at twenty-four point five inches of snowfall in 1886. It seems that record will be broken in just three days."

"Great. Just great." Lamenting the impending snowfall left Hank struggling to keep up his facade of not being annoyed by the winter weather. "Well, at least I know Sumo will love it. Big oaf is crazy by thinking running around in a bunch of cold snow is somehow fun."

Connor managed a slightly amused smirk as he and Hank crossed the bullpen and stepped out of the precinct on to the sidewalk. The deviant glanced up at the falling snow and did his best to focus on the natural beauty all around him and ignore his haunting memories of being trapped in the freezing Zen Garden within his own mind.

Casually the two detectives entered the neighboring parking garage to get to the Oldsmobile and begin patrolling the city together. The autonomous snowplows and salt trucks had managed to keep the streets drivable through their own constant patrols, but even so the continuously falling snow had made it difficult to remain on top of keeping the streets cleared and the sidewalks properly void of ice.

It didn't take long for Hank to fall quiet as his patrol alongside Connor took him past Riverside Park causing his precious memories of Cole to flood forward with a cruel vengeance. He'd always miss Cole and would always think about him at least once a day for the rest of his life, but he was trying to not let those memories cloud his every thought and made him forget about Connor and Lucas now being a part of his life and needing him to guide them through their own lives as free people.

"Would you prefer it if I drive?" It took Connor only milliseconds to recognize the stress marked on Hank's face as the man drove about the snowy city and tried to keep his eyes directly on the road ahead and ignore the smiling families walking alongside the sidewalks all around them. "We can stop and get you your lunch and I can drive while you eat."

"Yeah, let's do that." Having the chance to distract himself for a few minutes was too good to pass up. "I'll go find some chow and then we'll switch seats."

"Pick whatever you want, and I'll buy. It'll be my treat."

"That's all right, son. I can-"

"I insist." Connor refused to back down on his offer and wanted Hank to accept it. "Think of it as a Christmas gift."

Hank couldn't hide his smirk of approval and accepted Connor's generous offer. "Okay, thanks, son."

"You're welcome."

It hadn't taken Connor long to discover the wondrous feeling that came from making another person smile and feel better about themselves in some way. Being able to do little things to help other people always made him feel better about himself as well.

Once Hank had located his choice of meal Connor proceeded to join the man inside the small diner to pay for the meal. The bright lights and colorful decorations made the diner look as merry and welcoming as the other decorations scattered about the city and even the house. It was hard to not get in the spirit of the holidays and want to celebrate with loved ones.

"All right, let's get back to the car." Hank nodded at Connor as he held up his take-out bag and gave the deviant a gracious nod. "It's been a while since I've had some of Mrs. Chen's kung-pow chicken, and I want to eat it before it gets cold."

"Of course." Recognizing the name instantly, Connor made sure to leave behind a generous tip. Being able to help Tina's mother as she continued to run the Piquant Diner was a small thing that the deviant detective knew would go a long way. "The car's heater will ensure your meal doesn't cool off before you can finish it."

"Careful, if you get too cheery you might give Tina a run for her money this year."

Such a notion caused Connor's blue L.E.D. to cycle into yellow for a heartbeat as he accompanied Hank outside the diner and into the Oldsmobile parked just down the street. "You're speaking as if holiday celebrations are competitive."

"To some people, they can be."

"Are you such a person?"

"Nope." Hank opened the passenger side door of the Oldsmobile and sat down with a cheesy grin on his face. "Me and Barb liked to decorate and bake this time of the year, but that was to make Cole happy and make the neighborhood look festive. But we never went overboard. Haven't really decorated since... Well, after I lost them, I just didn't feel like celebrating anything anymore."

"Interesting." Sitting down behind the steering wheel Connor placed the key in the ignition and turned over the engine to ensure the heater would activate and keep both Hank and his lunch warm. "Perhaps I should suggest decorating the tower to give New Jericho a sense of festivity and inclusiveness. I know it's not the same as decorating for a family, but it does seem like it'd be something beneficial."

"Good idea."

"I'll pass the idea over to Lucas this evening after we clock-out. I'll use an autonomous cab to meet him at the tower while you drive home to avoid the snowfall."

"Yeah?" The idea of going straight home and getting out of the snow was too tempting of an offer for Hank to pass up. As he twirled his chopsticks in the middle of his flavored noodles in his take-out container Hank contemplated the pros and cons of the suggestion and decided to accept it. "Yeah, okay. Hell, you might as well bring Lucas home with you tonight so we can celebrate Christmas first thing in the morning."

"You won't mind if he stays the night?"

"Nope. He's your brother, son." Taking a nice big bite of his lunch Hank felt an odd sense of comfort wash over him as the notion of eating good, hot food on an icy cold day always left him feeling more at ease. "Family is family, and he's always welcome in our home at any time. Besides, I got him a gift too!"

"Thank you, Hank." Such a positive and loving statement gave Connor absolute hope for his future as a deviant and as a brother. "I'll be sure to let Lucas know that as well so he can join us at the house more often."

---

December 23rd, 2039: New Jericho Tower

The sight of the falling snow and the setting sun through his large window gave Lucas a strange feeling of being microscopic in an ever-expanding world around him. It was the first time since he had been awoken and deviated that he had seen any snow, and the compassionate technician found snow and winter in general to be very pretty. He didn't have the negative experiences with the snow, ice and cold as Hank and Connor had, and as a result he again felt like the odd one out since he didn't view wintertime as a time for dismay or unease. It seemed as if Lucas would always be an outlier in every aspect of his life and experiences, and there wasn't anything that he could do to change such a reality.

Stepping away from the window Lucas looked over at his unfinished painting and couldn't bring himself to even attempt to finish it. The image was that of the Zen Garden from within Connor's mind, but it had been altered to remove any traces of Amanda by eliminating the red roses and replacing them with orange strelitzia flowers growing along the white trestle. Lucas had also included a special doorway that would allow Hank and Sumo to theoretically join Connor as if the garden was a tangible location and not just a part of his mind palace.

"Connor is looking forward to spending Christmas with Hank and myself, but I don't think I can meet his expectations. It's not fair to him that I'm unable to properly comprehend the holiday or fit in with such celebratory traditions."

Needing some fresh air Lucas took his usual white blazer from its place within the small closet at the far side of his room, then slipped it on over his arms and shoulders. It wasn't much, but the garment did help him keep a layer between his body and the cold winter air. Once he was properly dressed Lucas made his way to the door of his private quarters and stepped out into the corridor to take his leave of the tower. It didn't take long for Lucas to feel all eyes on him and hear the whispers as he did his best to get to the single elevator without directly encountering another deviant during his trek.

It hurt to feel like an intruder in what was supposed to be his own home. It hurt even more knowing that there was no one he could speak to about his feelings or find a way to solving the problem without removing himself from the equation. Needing some space and quiet Lucas entered the elevator and pressed the button to take him to the ground floor to step outside for a minute or two. Just seconds before the doors slid shut Markus suddenly jogged forward and joined Lucas inside the elevator to join him during their trip to the ground floor.

"Never thought I'd get enough time from the tower to see Carl this close to Christmas." Markus announced his plans as he casually pulled his own jacket on to layer up and brace against the cold air awaiting him outside. There had never been any form of animosity shown toward Lucas from Markus, and in return Markus didn't anticipate any such negative behavior toward Lucas from anyone else. "Are you going to do anything with Connor to celebrate?"

"...No, actually." Lucas hated the very idea of brushing off Connor's plans for the holiday, but he didn't want to ruin them either. "We're unable to get together this year."

"That's a shame. I'm sure you'll find a way to spend time together again soon."

"It'll be another year before Christmas arrives." The deviant technician lamented as the elevator reached the ground floor and the doors parted swiftly. "I don't think he'll be too fond of waiting for so much time to pass."

"Honestly, I don't think Connor truly cares about what day it is." Insightful as ever Markus let Lucas know of his own observations before he went on his way outside the front doors to get to the autonomous taxi that he had hailed and was now idling outside waiting for him. "I think he just wants to spend time with you in general."

Lucas sluggishly trailed Markus out of the elevator car and watched as the deviant leader made his way toward the tower's exit to be on his way. He hadn't even considered that Connor would just want to have some time to be with him as brothers and not just to celebrate the holiday. The very concept of anyone wanting to spend time with him was seemingly beyond Lucas's scope of understanding and acceptance.

The headlights of the autonomous taxi carrying Markus shone through the glass doors as the vehicle turned around to head down the drive, and the lights illuminated Lucas's entire being while casting a massive black shadow of his shape behind him on the closed elevator doors. As he stood quietly in the middle of the lobby Lucas felt everyone staring at him again and he promptly marched forward to exit the tower and step out into the cold, snowy air to get away from the harsh, judgmental gazes. The leering felt like a burning wave across Lucas's entire body.

"No one wants to spend time with me. No one even wants me around or needs me. I know it."

Another pair of headlights shone over Lucas as a second autonomous cab made its way down the drive to idle in front of New Jericho Tower with only the sound of crunching snow beneath the tires to accompany its arrival. The door of the vehicle slid open and allowed Connor to step out of the taxi and into the ankle-deep snow to greet Lucas in person. Almost immediately Connor noticed that Lucas seemed glum and approached his little brother with a wary step.

"Lucas, is something wrong?" Wrapping his arms around his chest Connor did his best to keep himself warm while standing in such deep snow. "You seem to be distracted if not upset by something."

"I apologize if I seem melancholy tonight, brother." Locking eyes with Connor was one of the hardest things that Lucas had to do since he was still struggling to understand emotions and motivations in a deviant world. "I don't want to ruin your evening or plans."

"What're you talking about?" Instinctively Connor began pressing Lucas for some answers without asking too many questions. "Has something happened? Are you feeling well?"

"I'm... undamaged." Replying as honestly as he could Lucas refrained from revealing his true emotional state despite his yellow L.E.D. betraying his true emotions on that cold winter evening. "I'm just unable to celebrate Christmas with you, and I'm sorry if I've disappointed you."

"You'll never disappoint me. You're my brother." Keeping a smile on his face Connor managed to hide his hurt in learning that Lucas wouldn't be able to join him for Christmas after all. "I just want you to be happy and for you to do whatever you feel is right."

"What if I don't know what's right or what makes me happy?"

"Then I'll help you find those answers if you just ask me. I wasn't entirely sure what to do or how to do it when I initially deviated, but I was lucky and had Hank to help me whenever I began to struggle."

"Thank you, but this is something that I need to figure out for myself and handle this on my own." Lucas flinched at his own words since he knew he was just lying to Connor to spare his brother's feelings. He loathed the idea of trying to figure himself out by himself, but he couldn't bring himself to burden Connor with his personal issues. "Please understand that I just need some space for now."

"I understand." Lightly Connor put his hand to Lucas's arm and gave his distressed little brother a look of confidence. "Take your time, and when you're ready to celebrate then we'll celebrate. It doesn't matter what day of the year it is or why you want to celebrate, we'll still celebrate together."

Lucas was truly appreciative of Connor's empathetic nature and just gave him a gracious nod as he dreaded returning to the tower and being watched by mistrustful eyes every time he breathed. "When I'm ready to celebrate I'll contact you."

"All right, you take yourself and keep in touch." Lowering his hand Connor walked back to the idling cab and ducked down to climb back inside of the vehicle before he turned to look at Lucas one last time over his shoulder. "By the way, Hank wants you to know that you're welcome to spend time at the house anytime you wish for any reason you wish."

"That is... very kind of him. I'll remember that."

A text message from Hank popped into Connor's mind and prompted the deviant to make a quick stop before returning to the house for the night. "He's also requested that I return to the precinct and collect something from his desk that he had forgotten to take after clocking-out. If you need me for anything-"

"I'm aware." Attentive as ever Lucas already knew what Connor was going to say and was grateful for so much support. "Take care of yourself and let Hank know that I'll try to stop by the house soon."

"I will. Have a good night, Lucas." Settling into the back of the warm cab Connor lowered the window beside him to call out to Lucas as the cab automatically turned around to take Connor back to the city down the drive. "Feel better soon."

With utter despondence in his gaze Lucas watched as his brother went on his way without even the slightest hint of irritation behind his voice. To have Connor being so openminded, patient and understanding of Lucas's emotional plight only made Lucas feel worse about turning down the Christmas celebration.

"I'll speak to you again soon, brother. And when I do I hope I'll finally be able to put my current feelings into words so that you and Hank can assist me."

---

December 23rd, 2039: The Central Precinct

The snow was becoming thicker and the city's attempts to keep the streets cleared were becoming surprisingly futile. The snowplows and salt trucks were barely able to keep the streets clear for longer than ten minutes at a time as the snow continued to fall over the city in thick white sheets. Ice had begun to freeze along the corners and intersections of many streets, and the sidewalks were beginning to glisten with the thickening ice at a steady pace as the warming sun had set entirely and gave way to a cloudy winter's night. As the weather continued to worsen autonomous vehicles all over Detroit began to power down due to the inclement weather to avoid any traffic accidents that'd result from the dangerous road conditions.

Having bailed from his own stopped cab just two blocks from the precinct had left Connor covered in snow and feeling chilled to his plastimetal frames as he entered the precinct. Shivering slightly Connor brushed the fresh snow from his hair and shoulders as he approached Hank's desk and opened the top right drawer to locate the item that Hank had requested for Connor to bring home.

"What're you doing here, 'Tinman'?" Gavin asked as he walked over to his desk with a mug of hot tea in one hand and a small tray of sugar-free rock candy in the other hand. Those particular treats were courtesy of Tina's respect for Gavin's dietary needs. "You were supposed to get outta' here hours ago."

"I was asked to bring an important item home by Hank." As he checked through the desk Connor finally located the item of interest and tucked it into his jacket to keep it safe from the snow outside. The sealed manilla envelope was secured and ready to return to Hank's possession. "I have what I need, and now I'll be returning home for the night."

"You're lucky." Sipping his tea Gavin gave Connor an annoyed glance as he settled behind his desk and tried to enjoy his snack. "Thanks to the streets gettin' blocked by snow and ice, the night patrol has to go everywhere on foot tonight!"

"That is very unfortunate. Do you wish to trade shifts with me?"

"So you can work tonight and get Christmas Day off instead? No way, nice try!"

"I wasn't attempting-"

"Whatever. Just get outta' here." Gavin dismissed the deviant with a cocky wave of his hand as he popped a piece of the cinnamon rock candy into his mouth. The intense flavor made him squint for a moment before he adjusted to the concentrated heat and flavor on his tongue. "You're gonna' have a long walk home in that cold shit, and I don't want the Lieutenant complaining about dealing with a 'robo-cicle' all Christmas long."

Unfamiliar with such a term Connor just went on his way and kept the envelope protected under his jacket. As curious as the deviant could be Connor respected Hank's right to privacy twice as much. He had no desire to peek inside the envelope or read the documents without Hank's express permission.

Returning to the wintery world outside the precinct, Connor cybernetically sent Hank a text to let him know that he was on his way back home with the envelope.

'I retrieved the envelope as you requested. Do you need me to bring anything else home?'

There was a brief pause before Hank responded to the request with a simple answer through his phone. 'No. I just need you and Lucas to get here.'

'Unfortunately, Lucas won't be joining us tomorrow morning.' It was a disappointing response but one that was honest all the same. 'I'll explain after I get home.'

'All right, just be careful. The roads are shit right now!'

'I will be okay, see you at home soon.'

Connor prepared for his long walk home and zipped up his jacket to ensure that the envelope was protected for the snow and ice, and to ensure he remained warm as he began his trek through the thick snow toward the house. The crisp snow and ice flakes crunched under Connor's shoes in a perfect metronomic rhythm as he walked along the sidewalk and admired the brightly lit decorations illuminating the frosty city.

Staring up at the lights and thinking about Lucas had effectively distracted Connor for a moment as he walked through the deepening snow all around him. The deviant was worried about Lucas but didn't know what was wrong, or how he could possibly encourage his little brother to at least attempt to celebrate Christmas and have some fun. He was still relatively inexperienced with such holiday festivities and wasn't sure how to go about inviting Lucas to leave his comfort zone and do something new.

"Perhaps I could go back to the tower tomorrow with Hank, and we'll meet with Lucas in his private quarters. That should allow him to feel more secure while we celebrate together."

Such a thought was overwhelmingly distracting as Connor continued on his way home in the dark and the thick snow all over the city.

"I should also be able to perfect the gift I plan on giving him. As long as I can make Lucas feel like he belongs I'm sure he'll-"

With no warning Connor suddenly lost his footing as he stepped on a patch of slick black ice hidden beneath a blanket of previously undisturbed snow. The deviant slipped and fell backward with no means of catching himself or breaking his fall before his body hit the frozen sidewalk. The disturbing 'crack' of the back of Connor's head smashing down onto the sidewalk without any cushion or mercy echoed through the streets almost like a gunshot.

Connor's vision momentarily went black as his ears began to ring loudly. The blackness of his vision faded allowing color to bleed back into the world around him just in time for bright red warning text to appear before his eyes.

...SELF-DIAGNOSTIC: ENGAGED]

[...Thirium Volume - 97%]

[...Thirium Pressure - 120/80]

[...Thirium Pump Rate - 66 B.P.M.]

[...Ventilation Rate - 08 V.P.M.]

[...Core Temperature - 98.3 Degrees Fahrenheit]

WARNING:

-STRESS LEVEL: ^18%

-DAMAGE TO DORSAL CRANIAL PLATING: 97.8% Structural Integrity]

[...Seek Immediate Technical Assistance]

Staring up at the black sky above as pure white snowflakes fell down all around him, Connor dismissed the warning and tried to make the ringing sound echoing through his ears grow silent. The colorful Christmas lights began to blur and focus in tandem with Connor's heartbeat and left the deviant feeling rather confused and unable to regain his bearings.

"-nor? Connor?"

Hearing his name being called through the ringing sound caused Connor to blink his eyes twice as he tilted his head up and saw Chris running his way. It seemed the patrolling officer had seen Connor's graceless slip and fall, and he was now on his way to aid the down deviant.

"Hey, man, you good?" Chris knelt in the snow at Connor's side and put his hand to the deviant's shoulder as the deviant managed to slowly sit upright on his own. The young officer saw the dazed look in Connor's eyes and the dark blue Thirium that had collected in the snow where Connor's head had been. "That was a really nasty fall."

"...I..." Connor's voice was sluggish and slurred as he tried to respond to Chris's very simple question. Slowly his L.E.D. flickered between yellow and red to confirm his damaged system. "...I am... functional."

"You're also bleeding." Lightly Chris checked over the blue blood smeared over Connor's now madded and damp hair. "I'll get you back to the precinct so you can get patched up. Wait, no. You banged your head on the icy ground, I'm going to take you to a facility instead. You might be concussed or something."

"That... That won't be necezary."

The slurring didn't escape Chris's attention and made the young officer worry for Connor's health. "You're speaking in an unusual manner, your L.E.D. is red, and you have a bleeding head wound. I may not be a technician, but I think it's very necessary for you to go to a facility."

"No." Speaking more clearly Connor carefully got his feet beneath himself and stood upright on a patch of the sidewalk void of the treacherous ice. "I am... suffering from a mild... error in my speech recognition... program."

Chris didn't believe the lie whatsoever but without any way of proving that Connor was lying Chris knew that he needed to respect Connor's words. "Then at the very least come back with me to the precinct and wait for the autonomous cabs to get back online. I don't want you walking home alone with a head injury."

"I'll be fine." Connor pressed his palm to the back of his head hissed at the tender wound under his touch. He knew he needed to see a technician, but Connor didn't want anyone to worry about him or accidentally ruin the holidays. "My brother is a technician. He can... take care of me."

The reduced slurring and pausing in Connor's words did seem to confirm that Connor's injury wasn't as severe as Chris had expected. However, Chris wasn't about to just accept Connor's word at face value and decided that he'd have to file a report back at the precinct to confirm the incident.

"Okay, Connor." Giving the deviant's shoulder two firm pats Chris dusted the snow off the back of Connor's jacket and trusted the deviant to find his way home. "You just go home for the night and make sure Hank knows you banged your head while you talk to your brother. You don't want him to worry about you."

"Yes... Of course. Goodnight, Chris."

Connor took a shaking step forward and did his best to not touch the back of his head again. The last thing that he wanted to do was make his damage worse or get his palms covered in his own blood by mistake. With his focus on getting home, getting the envelope delivered and taking care of Lucas's gift, Connor was less concerned with his head injury and more concerned with his family and friends.

After all, no one wanted to ruin Christmas!

---

December 23rd, 2039: The Anderson Residence

The small but loving house was thoroughly decorated, warm and smelled of fresh coffee as Hank finished putting a few gifts under the Christmas tree. It had been years since Hank found himself actually looking forward to Christmas, and the senior detective was ready to have a nice holiday celebration with his new family. While Hank would never fully get over the loss of his wife Barbara and his only son Cole after tragedy cruelly stole them away from him far too soon, he was finally able to stop letting his pain prevent him from living. With two deviant androids in need of guidance and support now in his life Hank felt as if his role as a father could continue on even if he and Cole were separated far too soon.

Hank stopped to rub Sumo's ears and made sure the large dog wouldn't get into the tree by mistake as the Saint Bernard laid on his pillow just a few feet away from the large tree. The last thing Hank wanted to do was clean up a bunch of broken ornaments or untangle lights from Sumo's thick fur.

"Starting to look like old times, huh, boy?"

Sumo wagged his tail and put his paw on Hank's knee as he leaned into the man's strong hands while they rubbed his ears softly.

"Can't believe it took an android of all people coming into my life to remind me how to live. Now there's two of 'em!"

Glancing about the livingroom Hank admired how perfectly Connor had hung up the lights in the windows, strung garland over the mantle above the fireplace, and how perfectly balanced the tree looked with how Connor placed every ornament on the branches with meticulous calculation. The livingroom looked more like a display for a photo opportunity compared to the livingroom of an average family in Detroit, but that detail just made Hank laugh at how detail oriented and patient androids were in comparison to their human brethren.

"It looks like it's just going to be you, me and Connor tomorrow. Not sure when Lucas is going to show up again, but when he does, we'll be sure to welcome him with open arms and remind him that he's family too."

The large Saint Bernard continued to happily wag his tail as he rose to his four paws and plodded into the kitchen in search of some food.

"Just wait until I get dinner started tomorrow. It's been a while since you had a slice of slow roasted holiday ham, and I don't care if Connor argues against you eating the occasional helping of human dinner. It's not gonna' hurt ya' to have a special treat every once in a while."

Standing upright from his crouched position beside Sumo's pillow, Hank stretched out his stiff back and proceeded to walk over to the front window to peer out at the winter wonderland outside the house. The snow was really beginning to pile up and Hank knew it wouldn't be long until the snow would be deep enough to reach his shins.

"Man, I hope Connor can get here soon. The kid may be able to walk fast, but even he- Oh. He's here!"

Hank stepped away from the window and proceeded to open the front door to greet Connor just as the deviant made his way up the walkway. Instantly Hank knew something was off with the deviant since Connor's L.E.D. was yellow in color while sporadically flickering in red before returning to yellow. There was also a notable glaze over Connor's eyes that he could see even from the distance that was unusual for anyone to exhibit.

"You look half-frozen." Hank reached out and put his hand on Connor's chilled shoulder as the deviant mindlessly walked through the opened front door and into the warm house to thaw out. "I take it the damn cabs are out of order right now."

"...Yes." Replying with a noted delay, Connor fumbled with the zipper on his jacket and handed Hank the reclaimed envelope that had been concealed under the garment to keep it safe. "I had to... To..."

"Had to, what?" After taking the envelope for himself Hank pressed Connor to finish his sentence. "Walk home?"

"Yes, that's it." Connor responded almost too quickly as he finished taking off his leather jacket and nearly missed hanging it on the hook beside the front door. "I had to walk home tonight."

"Must've been some walk." Placing the envelope down on the nearby bookcase Hank watched Connor with a keen eye and couldn't help but notice that the deviant was being very careful of his posture even while removing his shoes to dry off. It was as if he was trying to keep a secret or two. "Did the cold freeze your processors or something?"

"Extreme temperatures can... affect certain- Certain..." Connor was quiet for a moment as he fumbled for his words and finally found the word that he had been searching for. "Functions! The cold is affecting certain functions."

"I'll say. Sit down and warm up." Worried about Connor's behavior for the time being, Hank decided to hover close by the deviant while Connor thawed out. "I'd hate for you to get sick or something."

Connor stared at the couch for a moment as if he wasn't sure what he was looking at then slowly shuffled over to the furniture. Sitting down slowly Connor winced as the motion was enough to make his head ache and remind him that he had taken a horrible fall on the sidewalk and bashed his head on the frozen ground. It was only a matter of time before he'd have to tell Hank about his little slip, but Connor just didn't want to ruin the holidays by making Hank worry.

Hank wasn't sure what to do with Connor acting in an unusual manner and decided to call Lucas to ask the deviant for a little assistance. Just as he reached for his phone in his pocket the phone began to ring with an incoming call from the precinct and caught Hank off guard.

"It's Chris." The Lieutenant noted as he took the phone down the hallway to talk more privately in his bedroom. "I wonder what's up."

Entering his bedroom Hank answered the call and pressed the phone to his ear. It didn't take long for Hank to figure out the reason for the call and now knew that for sure something was wrong with Connor.

'Sorry for calling so late, Lieutenant.' Chris stated respectfully as he addressed his commanding officer over the line. 'I just wanted to make sure Connor got back to your house.'

"Yeah, he showed up about two minutes ago." Such a phone call was unusual and that sent up a red flag in Hank's mind. "Something going on?"

'Uh... Well, I think it'd be best for him to tell you what happened, but I will say that I did witness him have a nasty encounter with some ice tonight.'

"Shit. Did he hit his head?"

'From what I've seen, yeah. But he said he was going to have his brother check him over which is why I didn't take him to a facility.'

"Damn kid's too stubborn sometimes. Thanks for the call, Chris. I'll take care of him."

'Want me to file my report on the incident?'

"Go ahead and do it, we don't want Fowler getting the idea that his officers are hiding injuries from him."

'Consider it done.'

"Right. Thanks again, and Merry Christmas."

'Merry Christmas, Lieutenant.'

Hank ended the call and prepared to send a text to Lucas as he walked back down the hallway and into the livingroom. The man saw Connor laying over the length of the couch with a pillow beneath his aching head and a grimace fixed on his face despite being seemingly asleep. The deviant's head was slightly lolled to the right and keeping his L.E.D. concealed. Mindful of the headache that Connor had been trying to deny as he crossed the room, Hank put his hand on Connor's shoulder again to try and rouse him from his sleep.

"Connor? Son?"

When Connor didn't respond Hank shook Connor's shoulder a little harder and called his name again.

"Connor, wake up. I know you hit your head, so I need you to wake up and look at me."

Despite Hank's deep voice calling to him just a few inches away Connor remained deep asleep.

"Come on, you know that you need to wake up."

Lightly Hank moved his palm toward Connor's right and gently turned the deviant's head so that he could see the L.E.D. once more. The color was a static red and glaringly bright. The crimson illumination was enough to make Hank's heart skip a beat as took notice of the dark blue smear of blue blood staining the previously light blue pillow beneath Connor's head.

"Oh, shit..."

Keeping calm Hank remembered his phone in his opposite hand and that Connor was going to inform Lucas of his head injury before he had blacked-out. Despite his shaking hand the Lieutenant was able to locate Lucas's contact information in his phone and call the deviant technician over at New Jericho Tower and let him know that in some way, somehow, he needed to get over to the house to take care of his brother.

"This is not the phone call I was hoping to make to Lucas so close to Christmas, but it needs to be done. Hang on for us, son. We'll get you patched up in no time!"

---

December 23rd, 2039: New Jericho Tower

The snowfall had made it impossible for Lucas to spend time outside the tower despite his desires to be alone and get some space between himself and other people for a few precious hours. Retreating to his private quarters for the remainder of the day, if not wintertime itself, Lucas found himself sitting at the easel with the unfinished painting before him just begging to be completed. The taunting image of the warm, sunny garden filled with brilliant orange flowers was a stark contrast to the black night filled with cold snow and ice that fell heavily from the clouds above the tower. It was hard to find the motivation to continue his work and finish the painted image as Lucas's own self-perception for usefulness and even talent had been greatly admonished by the leers and unfounded accusations of being corrupt or deceitful by his peers.

Sitting before the image with his hands neatly folded atop his lap, Lucas stared at the garden and began to wonder if his expectations of himself and of the holidays had been set far too high for his own liking and ability. A part of the compassionate deviant technician knew that his sudden lack of self-confidence stemmed from rumors and gossip as opposed to anything he had actually done or had failed to do, but even so it was hard to hold his head high when so many people were trying to crush him under the smothering weight of doubt.

As Lucas lifted his hand and hovered it over the paintbrushes sitting on a nearby table, an incoming call from Hank entered his mind and made Lucas pause. At first, he wanted to ignore the call and listen to the voicemail later, but something told Lucas to answer the call and respond immediately. There was just something about getting a phone call from Hank that made Lucas sit up and pay full attention.

"Hello, Lieutenant." Lucas was far more formal with Hank than Connor was, and always addressed him by his rank and title. "How may I help you?"

'You need to get to the house right now,' Hank stated with a firm calmness that rivaled any weathered stone. 'it's an emergency.'

"Emergency? I don't see how being unable to celebrate-"

'It's not about Christmas, it's about Connor.' The man got right to the heart of the matter behind his phone call. 'He's hurt his head and now he can't wake up.'

Lucas immediately shot to his feet as his L.E.D. flashed to red with righteous worry. "What do you mean he- No, that can wait." The deviant technician marched over to the closet at the side of his quarters to grab his white blazer and his emergency technician's satchel. "I'm coming right over, do not move his head or his neck."

'He's in good hands, but your hands will be better. Just get here A.S.A.P. son!'

"I'm on my way."

Securing his satchel over his shoulder Lucas peered out at the snow covering Detroit and making it incredibly difficult to navigate the streets and sidewalks. His brother was injured and needed his help, and there wasn't enough snow in the history of the Earth's very existence to keep him away.

"Don't worry, brother. I'll be there to help you as soon as possible."

---

December 23rd, 2039: The Anderson Residence

The previously warm and calm house now felt unnervingly tense as Hank did his best to listen to Lucas's simple instructions and not move Connor around. The experienced first responder and father knew what to do in the event of a serious head injury, but that didn't make it any easier to process. Personally knowing the victim of the head injury was only making Hank feel even worse since he wanted to do everything in his power to help. Using a ginger touch and very controlled motions, Hank managed to press a damp washcloth to the back of Connor's head to help clean up the blue blood and hopefully give the unconscious deviant some reprieve from his painful head injury.

Connor hadn't moved since he had been found unresponsive on the couch. The deviant was entirely limp and his L.E.D. hadn't changed from its solitary red color. By all account Connor was comatose and wouldn't be able to awaken or respond to any verbal commands until the damage to his head had been mended.

"Connor, I need you to talk to me."

Hank hadn't given up on waking up Connor by himself. The determined man wasn't one to count anyone out when things got tough, and he wasn't about to start doing so with Connor or with Lucas.

"Lucas is going to get here soon and get you patched up. Until then, I need you to wake up and talk to me."

The washcloth sandwiched between Hank's palm and the back of Connor's head was already soaked through with blue blood and warm to the touch. The amount of blood that Connor had lost was enough to make any doctor flinch with worry.

"Shit, I'm going to get you a new washcloth. I hope you don't wake up with a migraine after this."

Mentally Hank reminded himself that Connor was strong and that all head injuries bleed excessively, and to not make the situation seem worse than it truly was. Fear and panic never helped anyone, especially during an emergency situation. As the man rinsed out the dirty washcloth under the warm tap in the bathroom sink, Hank took in a deep breath and located a fresh washcloth to soak in the cool water afterward to press to the back of Connor's head again. It was a simple thing, but a comforting thing that'd give Hank something to do and hopefully help Connor feel a modicum of pain relief.

Just as Hank wrung out the clean washcloth and turned off the water, the front door of the house was opened, and the sound of quick footsteps echoed throughout the livingroom. It was clear Lucas had arrived and was immediately tending to Connor's current condition.

"Great timing..."

The sight awaiting Hank in the livingroom was like something out of a nightmare. He could see Lucas covered in snow and physically shivering as he knelt on the floor beside the couch with his satchel already opened and sitting on the coffee table beside him. Snow was falling off of Lucas's hair and clothing as he moved about quickly and proceeded to check Connor's vital signs before he even began assessing the damage to the back of Connor's bloodied head.

"He hasn't moved or said anything since I found him." Hank confirmed as he watched Lucas unbutton Connor's dress shirt to expose the deviant's unnervingly motionless chest. Seeing how androids had their vitals sign monitored in the same way as humans just reminded Hank of how alive the two deviant brothers truly were. "When he showed up, he seemed dazed. Glassy eyes, delayed speech and couldn't readily remember what word he wanted to say."

"And he's been unconscious for how long?" Lucas asked as he secured the two wireless leads to Connor's chest and synched them with his tablet designed to function as a Thirial activity monitor. "I know you can't give me an exact number, but any accurate estimation can prove to be beneficial."

"Chris called me just after seven." Double-checking his phone Hank noted the time of the call and relayed the info over to Lucas to use. "Yeah, he called at eight past seven, and I talked to him for less than a minute. After that, I came back out here and found Connor like that."

"Then that means he's been unconscious for approximately thirty-two minutes." Moving quickly Lucas used the tablet to actively monitor Connor's vital signs while he gingerly turned his brother's head to face the back of the couch so that he could visually assess the damage to the back of Connor's head. "That means I have twenty-eight minutes to begin the report procedure before his system becomes locked in emergency stasis mode."

"Whoa, hold on..." Hank leaned over the back of the couch and put his hand on Connor's shoulder as he watched Lucas carefully cleaning up the drying and still damp blue blood to examine the damage beneath Connor's artificial skin. "He's been out that long, and I called you just a few seconds after I found him, so that means you managed to get from Belle Isle and out here in less than forty minutes! How'd you do that?"

"I ran."

"You... ran?" Peering at the window again Hank noted that the snow had gotten even deeper since Connor had come home. How Lucas managed to run nearly five miles in shin-deep snow and ice without falling or becoming hypothermic was incredible to say the least. "Holy shit..."

"The occipital plating on the back of his cranium has suffered four fractures." Lucas spoke to Hank as he worked on assessing and repairing the damage to Connor's head before doing anything else. Using his fingertips Lucas pressed down on Connor's red L.E.D. and manually deactivated the artificial skin and hair from over the damage to get a clearer view. "One of the fractures caused a piece of the frame to bend inward and loosen several Thirium lines and is physically touching the back of his intracranial processor. That direct contact is causing a short circuit in his processor, hence Connor's confusion and current prolonged state of unconsciousness."

"That sounds too much like a fractured skull with an intracranial hemorrhage and bone fragments floating around the brain itself resulting in a coma." Hank noticed the impressed look that Lucas shot him while continuing to stabilize the loose lines inside of Connor's head. "I've been a detective for a long time, kid. I've seen way too many head injuries from falls, car accidents, assaults and murder attempts to not know a thing or two about diagnoses with this kind of mess."

"You're not too inaccurate with your comparison of Connor's damage to that of a human's injuries."

"First time I hate the idea of being right. What can you do for him?"

"I can repair this damage, but it'll take several hours and require an exceptionally delicate touch due to my limitations of handling this procedure outside of a properly stocked repair bay."

"What do you need?"

"As of the moment, towels, a bowl and any extra Thirium you have available."

"You got it all."

Sumo keened from his pillow by the tree as he picked on the stress in the air. The large dog loved both deviants and knew something was wrong with Connor.

"He's gonna' be all right, boy." Hank promised as he set about gathering the necessary supplies for Lucas. "He just bumped his head and thought he could walk off a concussion."

---

Four hours had passed by the time Lucas finished repairing the damage to Connor's head and intracranial processor. In that time the snow had continued to fall and was quickly reaching a record-breaking depth, the wind began to blow, and the outside temperature dropped nearly fifteen degrees. The glow of the lights from the Christmas tree, the lights along the windows and the lights from the neighbors' houses from the across the streets provided the only sense of color and warmth on the dark yet white and very cold winter night. Had the wind been still and the snow stopped falling, then it'd seem time had frozen and left the city in a perpetual state of limbo trapped in an icy wasteland.

Exhausted and worried, Lucas had seated himself in the recliner next to the couch and kept his green eyes on Connor's every little movement. The skilled technician had successfully repaired the damage and had managed to prevent Connor's system from entering prolonged stasis mode. After repairing the dented frame plating, resecuring the delicate circuitry that gave electrical energy to the intracranial processor, resecuring the loosened Thirium lines and then mending all of the fractures back into a single plating as it had previously been, Lucas determined that his work was done and that Connor was stable.

Using intent focus Lucas took in his brother's vital signs as he opened a line in Connor's arm to replenish Connor's depleted Thirium volume directly. After the blue blood had been successfully transfused Lucas closed up the line and watched Connor's vital signs steadily improve on the attached Thirial activity monitor. All that was left to do was to wait for Connor to awaken and test his functions.

Connor himself was laying on his back over the couch under a thick blue blanket with Sumo curled up on his legs. The white bandages around his head allowed Lucas to more easily check on the healing damage to the plastimetal frames without needing to constantly deactivate and reactivate Connor's artificial skin. The resting deviant's L.E.D. was no longer locked into a static red color and was now pulsing in a steady yellow rhythm in tandem with his heartbeat.

As for Hank, the man found himself anxiously pacing about the livingroom with a mug of coffee in his hands. He kept looking out the window to watch the snow fall and becoming deeper and deeper with each passing minute while keeping his questions to himself. He wanted to know what was happening and what they needed to do to help Connor, but he also knew that until there was some change in Connor's condition there was no point is getting worked up.

Pressing his face into his palms Lucas sighed through his fingers and tried to not make the situation feel all the more upsetting as he broke the heavy silence filling the livingroom on that snowy night. "I'm sorry."

"Sorry?" Turning from the window Hank sipped at his coffee and looked at Lucas's back as the deviant apparently felt the need to confess a sin. "For what?"

"If I had just agreed to come right to the house and celebrate Christmas, then Connor wouldn't have gotten hurt."

"Wrong. If I had remembered to bring that envelope home with me tonight, then Connor wouldn't have gone back to the precinct on my behalf and end up slipping on the ice. Damn autonomous cabs are down all over the city." Walking over to the recliner Hank put his hand on Lucas's upper arm to give the deviant some positive support. "The cabs going offline is why he was out there on foot tonight. Hell, he even volunteered to take a cab so I could drive right home after work since he knows that I hate the snow."

"No, it's not your fault, Lieutenant." Lucas refused to let Hank blame himself any more than Hank was letting Lucas take the blame. "You're not the one who-"

"Nope, we're not gonna' play the 'blame-game' to pass the time." Needing to improve the mood Hank motioned for Lucas to accompany him over to the tree and picked up a small box from the fireplace mantle. "Instead, you're going to add your ornament to this tree and make it officially fully decorated."

That was something Lucas wasn't quite sure what to think about as he finally tore his eyes away from Connor's sleeping form. "My ornament?"

"Yup." Opening the box Hank pulled out a small, fiberglass ornament in the shape of a rectangular canvas sitting atop an easel. The name 'Lucas' was written over the canvas to give it some personalization and personality. "I got Connor his own ornament last year and promised that he'd be able to hang it on the tree this year."

Lucas accepted the ornament with a ginger touch and looked over the tree until he saw the custom ornament gifted to Connor. The second ornament was a small, fiberglass green guitar with the name 'Connor' written down the neck of the instrument.

"Cheesy, I know, but Barb and I loved the idea of getting one new ornament each Christmas that wasn't a part of a uniform, generic set that matched our own personalities and interests. See that one?" Hank motioned to the little glass ornament shaped like a purple cookbook hanging just beneath the star atop the tree. "We loved to cook together, so we got an ornament to celebrate it. And that one..."

Lucas's eyes trailed over to a fuzzy ornament that resembled a brown and white Saint Bernard as Hank pointed him in the right direction.

"We grabbed that one after I brought Sumo home as a pup. And here's Cole's first..." Trailing off for a moment Hank cupped the oval ornament made of porcelain and painted in sky blue with Cole's name printed in gold, within his palm with a loving caress. "It was his first Christmas."

The sight of the photo frame with Cole's baby picture inside of it was enough to make Lucas's heart break. He knew that there was going to be exactly five Christmas ornaments unique to Cole himself since he never got to celebrate a sixth Christmas with his father. The way the ornaments for Barbara and Cole were all perfectly maintained and kept safe even after so many years only solidified Hank's love and devotion to his family.

"And now," Hank spoke up again and pulled Lucas back into reality. "you and Connor get to keep the tradition alive. I was going to give that to you tomorrow as a gift, but since you're already here..."

"It's beautiful." The small ornament in his hands made Lucas smile a little as his distressed yellow L.E.D. returned to blue for the first time in nearly two days. "I appreciate this."

"Do you like it?"

"I do. I've found painting to be very enjoyable, and I'm glad that my hobby and interest isn't seen as foolish or a waste of time."

"If you're doing something that you love then it's never foolish or time wasted. Go on." Motioning to the tree again Hank stepped back and gave Lucas all the room he needed to hang his new ornament on a branch. "Put it wherever you like."

Hesitantly Lucas eyed the tree and tried to find an ideal location for the ornament. He didn't want to crowd the way Connor had spaced out the ornaments by mistake but ultimately chose to hang it on a branch right next to Connor's guitar ornament to ensure that he was still close to his brother.

"Does that look okay?"

"Looks great." Hank approved of the placement and gave Lucas a coy grin. "You'll have to wait for your really special gift after Connor wakes up though."

"My special gift?"

"You'll see..."

Lucas let out a small sigh as he looked at the neatly wrapped gifts under the tree and lamented his failure to finish his painting in time to give to Connor. "I hope Connor doesn't mind needing to wait a while longer for my gift to him to be finished. It'll be another day or two."

"Jeez, you sound like Connor." Chuckling a little Hank made his way into the kitchen to top off his coffee and check the time. It was almost midnight and soon it'd be Christmas Eve. "He was worried about getting you the perfect gift too."

Hearing Connor worrying about anything gave Lucas skeptical pause. "...He was?"

"Yup. Guess that's something you two share as brothers; worrying too damn much!"

Glancing back at Connor on the couch Lucas sighed and tried to make a mental note to stop being so worried all the time. "I'll work on that."

"Nah, it's a good trait. It means you care." The wise detective explained as he walked back into the kitchen and sipped his coffee. "It's when you stop worrying that the real problems happen. Indifference and apathy are the two most toxic poisons destroying the world right now."

"At this point, I'd take indifference over hatred."

In Hank's mind Lucas just let something very personal slip by mistake. "People at the tower giving you problems?"

Bowing his head for a moment Lucas knelt on the floor again to check on Connor's healing wounds beneath the bandages. "...Not directly."

"Lucas, look at me." Continuing his role as a supportive mentor Hank gave the young deviant invaluable advice as Lucas peered up at him. "You need to stop giving a fuck about what strangers think about you. If you do good things, or at least try to do good things, and don't actively go out of your way to hurt anyone for any reason, then you're a good person no matter what anyone else says or what any rumors might say."

"You make it seem so easy to stop feeling as if your very existence is a crime."

"Because it isn't. Being spiteful, hateful and just plain malicious without cause should be crimes, but unfortunately, they aren't. You just need to remind yourself that you didn't do anything wrong and don't deserve to feel like you're not allowed to live a life because of how and why you were created." Sitting down on the coffee table Hank gave Connor a somber glance as he continued to try and give Lucas some supportive advice. "I've had to remind Connor of that fact too many times to count."

"Perhaps one of us will be able to accept that as truth without the need of constant reminders."

"Is that why you didn't want to celebrate Christmas? You feel like you don't deserve to have happy moments or friends or family?"

Lucas's silence told Hank everything he needed to hear as the deviant technician removed the leads from Connor's chest and then replaced the blanket over him. There was no need to continue to monitor his brother's vital signs since Connor was stable and his vital signs had improved and fully stabilized.

"Well, you're wrong. You are allowed to have all those things, and so does Connor. That's why he wanted to celebrate with you, son. So do I."

"...Thank you for saying so."

"And I need you to believe it. If not for your own sake, then for Connor."

"You're right. And I'll do everything I can to stop letting other people's negative comments affect me."

"Good man."

With a proper reboot finally underway Connor suddenly took in a deep breath as his yellow L.E.D. flickered to blue and his eyelids began to flutter. As Connor began to rouse from his emergency rest mode both Lucas and Hank spoke to him while Sumo rose to his paws and wagged his tail excitedly. Slowly Connor managed to reboot his system and regain his bearings as the familiarity of the house, his brother, his mentor and even his dog all came into view.

"...Lucas." Sitting upright slowly Connor spoke his brother's name and was quickly wrapped up in Lucas's arms. He was grateful for the hug and leaned into it as he steadied himself and felt a sense of warmth spread through his heart and his self-diagnostic confirmed his repaired fractures. "You're here."

"I am here, I'm right here."

"I knew you'd be here." The recovering deviant admitted as he ignored his headache and focused on his little brother. His pain would fade, but his adoration for his little brother would remain forever. "I know you'll always be around when I need you to be here for me, no matter what happens."

"I'm so sorry for not wanting to celebrate the holidays." Lucas slowly released the hug and gave Connor a heartfelt apology as he heard his brother tell him something he never thought he'd hear. Lucas knew he was truly wanted, and that Connor needed him in his life. "Now I understand what it means to celebrate and how important it is to be here for family and friends."

"It's okay, you don't need to apologize." Feeling much better Connor managed a weak smile and reassured Lucas that he hadn't done anything wrong as he rebuttoned his shirt and then curiously examined the bandages wrapped around his head with his fingertips. "You're here now, and we're all together. That's all that matters."

Hank was proud of such a sweet comment and couldn't agree more. "Damn right. And you woke up just in time, son."

Looking past Lucas's shoulder Connor noticed Hank walking around the couch to get to the bookcase against the wall. "I did?"

"Yup. It's Christmas Eve, which means for us first responders who gotta' work tomorrow, it's our Christmas Day."

"But I haven't finished with-"

"Enough of that! You and Lucas can exchange your perfect gifts on New Year's or something." Picking up the envelope Hank held it up and prepared to present the gift to the two brothers. "Just tell Lucas what you wanted to give him, and Lucas, you do the same for Connor."

"Won't it-"

"Nope. It's the thought that counts, not actually handing the gifts over on a specific date." Pushing Sumo aside Hank sat down on the edge of the couch and gave Connor a knowing look. "Tell him what you have planned."

Sheepishly Connor gave Lucas a worried glance as he told his brother about his impending gift. "Lucas, I wanted to give you a wooden anniversary clock to commemorate our first Christmas together as brothers. I purchased the clock and had it custom designed with you in mind, but I fear that isn't going to be suitable enough as a gift."

"That's... an incredibly thoughtful gift." Lucas's L.E.D. was flashing in a rapid blue as the very notion of being given such a special gift from his brother made his heart feel suddenly warmer. "I already know I'll love it without even seeing it. As for your gift," holding up his hand Lucas showed Connor a holographic projection of the unfinished painting back at the tower. "I had planned on giving you this painting, but I don't believe that it's up to the quality that you deserve."

"You painted that yourself. That means it'll be of the highest quality possible, and I'd be proud to hang it on the wall."

Hank just sighed as he put the envelope down on the coffee table and shook both Connor and Lucas's shoulders. "Man, you two sound like you should be in after-school special or one of those campy Christmas movies. Anyway, now that we got that cleared up and you both know you're going to like your gifts when you two finally get around to exchanging them, I want to give you MY big gift before we open up the rest of the presents."

Neither deviant knew what to expect as Hank picked up the manilla envelope and popped open its flap. There was glimmer of hope in Hank's eyes as the man pulled out two legal documents and presented them to Connor and Lucas to read over for themselves.

"Feel free to say 'no' to this," preparing for a possibly negative reaction, Hank braced himself and let the brothers know it was entirely their choice. "but if you two are willing we can sign those tonight and get them filed before the start of the new year."

"Hank..." Connor eyed the document in his hands and gave the Lieutenant a teary-eyed glance as his and Lucas's L.E.D. pulsed in a rapid, shocked yellow. "You... You really want to adopt us?"

"Is that really so hard to believe?"

"N-No, no! It's just... unexpected."

"Yeah, well, I figured that since you've finally been given the same rights and protections as humans that it's only fitting that you two get official recognition as my family to avoid and legal conflicts in the event something happens to me." Clearing his throat a little Hank tried to keep his emotions from getting the better of him after seeing how emotional the deviant brothers had become. "I mean, we ARE family regardless of what any paperwork may or may not say, but I just figured it'd be simpler if there was irrefutable proof that you're both my sons."

Connor fell silent while Lucas managed to find his voice. "You really see me as your son? Even though we-"

"We don't need to have a history with me like I have with Connor for me to see you as my son." Hank immediately knew what Lucas was going to ask and headed the deviant off to prevent any further doubts or confidence issues from developing. "All I need to know is that you're a good person, care about your brother and will undoubtedly make me proud to call you my son. So, what do you two say?"

Rubbing his thumb under his eye Connor removed an emotional tear as he gave Hank a soft nod. "Do you have a pen?"

"Actually," reaching into the envelope again Hank presented the deviants with two brand new black ink pens. "I've got two."

Proudly Connor accepted one of the pens while Lucas took the second for himself. The deviant brothers read over the details of the adoption certificate and the other legal documents to make sure nothing was overlooked before they proudly signed their names, their full names, for the first time in their lives.

"The name 'Connor Anderson' does sound good." Connor admitted as he glanced over at Lucas's document for a moment. "But where did the middle names of 'Henry' and 'Caleb' come from?"

"I figured giving you, the older brother, my name as your middle name that it'd shut up any nay-sayers about the validity of you being my son." Hank replied quickly and without any sign of hesitation. "And Barb and I wanted to have more kids anyway and we decided that if we had another son that we'd name him 'Caleb'. So, you're 'Connor Henry' to be named after me, and Lucas is 'Lucas Caleb' to bring mine and Barb's wishes for a bigger family into being. You two are the sons we were hoping to meet someday, no doubt about it."

Lucas realized Markus had been right as he now felt like he truly did have a family and that he had somewhere where he'd belong and be needed at long last. It was different to be needed beyond just patching up a damaged deviant every now and then, compared to being needed simply because his family felt like he was important to their happiness. After he signed his new name Lucas felt a crushing weight lift from his heart and made him feel as if it was okay for him to just be himself without any consequences.

"Does-" Speaking up timidly Lucas looked up at Hank with owlish eyes full of relief and happiness as he looked to Hank with a hopeful wonder. "Does that mean we can call you... 'dad'?"

Hank was stunned into humbling silence as he hadn't even considered what it'd feel like to have someone call him by that very special name again. Taking in a deep breath Hank reached out and put his hand on Lucas's upper arm as he gave the shy deviant a warm smile before answering with genuine pride.

"As long as I get to call you two 'son', you two can call me 'dad'."

Connor managed to get to his feet with Lucas's help and give Hank a hug while Lucas joined him immediately to embrace their loving mentor and guardian. The two brothers, now sons, gave their adoptive father a hug that solidified their family into a single unit of love, support and trust.

"Merry Christmas, sons." Hank proudly stated as he held the two deviants in a strong embrace for as long as he could. He never thought that he'd feel such a sense of peace in his lifetime after enduring so much tragedy, but now he knew that he'd always have a family to protect for as long as he could draw breath. "We're finally the family that we were always meant to be; come Hell, high water, snow or black ice!"

Laughing a little Connor returned the sentiment as he admitted that his little slip and fall wasn't going to be forgotten anytime soon. "That's good to hear. Especially with this record-breaking winter just getting started, right, dad?"

Feeling at peace after enduring three years of Hell, Hank responded to that endearing title and tightened his hug around his two new sons. "That's damn right."

Lucas managed a weak chuckle as he turned to look at the winter wonderland outside through the front window then tightened his hug as well. "And by the way things look, I won't be able to leave the house anytime soon. It's a good thing I'm already home where I belong. I'm home!"

-End of Story-