Nines now fully understood Gavin's frustrations with these sessions. Talking didn't help. Sitting on a comfortable sofa in a warm office being told how understandable his feelings were while Gavin was god knows where, suffering god knows what, didn't help. The worst part was that Dr Marr seemed to understand that. She was giving him her usual thin-lipped, sympathetic smile as she waited for him to explain himself. His eyes narrowed as he looked away, much as Gavin used to do when he didn't want to talk about something.

"I know you had a reason." Of course he did. He never did anything without reason. He was reasonable like that. Perhaps he should have considered the ramifications of his actions a little more, however, his response had been appropriate. Not to Fowler or Dr Marr perhaps, but he certainly got satisfaction, and he was quite sure Hank had been quietly amused as well. "It's not like you to attack your co-workers." Co-worker was a strong word in this instance. He could almost hear Gavin's colourful insults and imagine his laugh if he'd seen him.

"Detective Yates is not my co-worker." Dr Marr gave him a patient smile at that.

"Just because you work in different departments, doesn't mean you aren't co-workers...Why don't you tell me about it?" Of course. This is what they were there for, after all. Nines was no fool. He knew Fowler, and possibly Connor, had been looking for an excuse to get him in here for months. They felt Dr Marr had helped with Gavin, so surely she could help with him, too. The difference was that he was not a human. Why would human therapy help an android? There was nothing wrong with him. He was a machine. He could compartmentalise. "I'd like to hear about it." Was that a confession to wanting gossip or a trick to make him speak? There was little harm in humouring her.

"I heard him talking about Gavin." Heard is probably an understatement. It seemed he'd come to the homicide department specifically to gloat. Not to him, just to anyone who would listen. It was no secret he didn't like Gavin, but to say such things. Dr Marr sat a little straighter as she saw his LED blink red at the memory.

"What did he say?"

"He...suggested that Gavin's disappearance was less than authentic." The words still resounded in his head, fresh as the moment they were recorded. His thirium boiled at the accusations. "He claimed that Gavin had left deliberately to join forces with the Hickory Killer, and that we haven't found him because he doesn't want to be found. It shouldn't have surprised me. It is a well-known fact that he has despised Gavin for many years...I just never expected him to level such accusations in my presence." He certainly wouldn't be doing that again. Upon hearing those words leave his mouth, Nines had stepped across the hall, lifted him by his fat neck, and slammed him against the wall with an iron grasp. He remembered how Yates' glee had faltered, skin paling as he realised exactly what he'd unleashed with those comments.

"You know that isn't true." Certainly, he knew that. It had never crossed his mind that Gavin's disappearance could be anything so nefarious, but for another officer to say it so plainly. It was insulting to Gavin's memory. No, not to his memory. To him. His LED burned at his own misstep. "Did you hurt him?" He would have. If Connor and Miller hadn't been so close and thrown themselves on him, he would have tightened his fingers. Not enough to kill, perhaps, but enough to cause minor damage. The yelling had brought Fowler, who was worldly enough to know more was going on than a simple brawl. After establishing that Yates was unharmed, he firmly suggested he drop the matter and return to his own department, else he'd let Hank handle it himself. The glint in Hank's aged eyes at the offer had been simply predatory, and with Hank came Connor. Considering Nines was his brother, Yates didn't fancy his chances with either of them.

Being the responsible captain, Fowler did issue punishment for Nines' outburst. It was a measured and reasonable response, which unfortunately landed him in Dr Marr's office. Fowler had been somewhat walking on eggshells since their prior confrontation, and he'd barely spoken to Connor at all. With him now distancing himself, there was little they could do to help or monitor his condition. Getting Dr Marr involved was really a last resort. If Nines wouldn't help himself and open up to them, perhaps he'd open up to Dr Marr in a professional setting. They already knew he liked her. They'd always had a respectful and cordial relationship.

"I did not." He forgot he hadn't answered.

"But you wanted to." Nines nodded, unashamed to admit it.

"I wanted to crush his oesophagus and snap his neck." That was a little stronger than what she'd thought, but he was still processing. In a way, he was still coming to terms with his own deviancy. His programming would have held him back before. He was still getting used to living without that safety net. He'd deviated only a short time before Gavin's disappearance, meaning many of the newest emotions he'd experienced had been extremely traumatic. Anger wasn't bad. Grief wasn't bad. There were no bad emotions. Some just needed a little more control and patience than others.

"I'm relieved you didn't." Her tone was light, but Nines felt the sincerity underneath. He wasn't a fool. Murdering Yates would have many negative ramifications. If he got arrested or deactivated, who would look for Gavin? Certainly not the DPD. Colin had even apologetically let him know that he and Perkins had been called out of state on another case. They were still working on the Hickory Killer case, of course, but they needed something new to go on. Until they got something, they had to focus on other cases. Serial killers didn't take turns.

"I wouldn't be able to find Gavin if I did." She was troubled, but unsurprised by his answer. It wasn't good that he was basing his moral compass on how it would affect Gavin rather than the law and common decency, but it was understandable. Since his arrival, he'd focused solely on his relationship with Gavin. That they'd ended up in a romantic entanglement wasn't surprising at all. She'd suspected from the very start that there was something there, though she'd never dragged a confession out of Gavin.

"Is that your plan?" Nines nodded. He didn't have a clear direction yet, but that's certainly what he wanted to do. The only thing stopping him was caring for Pipsqueak and his work at the DPD. Hank and Connor had asked him to let them handle the case, but they'd garnered no results. Perkins and Colin were working on the case, but new clues were elusive. Gavin's file, and all the details therein, were currently being stored in cold cases. Fowler said people were still actively working on it, but Nines didn't truly believe that. Why would they? Gavin Reed was just another name on a list to them. They didn't know and care for him as those in the homicide division did.

"I am unsure how to proceed at present, but..." He couldn't just sit and do nothing. They were approaching the one year mark. That hopeless point of no return. He couldn't bear the thought of Gavin missing another birthday. October was fast approaching. "If you were a killer..." It was a foolish question. Dr Marr huffed softly, removing her glasses and sitting back in her chair. She looked tired. More tired than he'd seen her. Of course she would be. Dealing with such hardships daily must be tiring.

"If I were a killer, what would I do?" She huffed again, letting out a dry chuckle. "Believe me, I've asked that many times. Honestly, I don't know. It's difficult to think on that level...All people are different. Killers even more so. There are different mental conditions, different mentalities, and different life experiences that can drive people to do all sorts of things. If I knew more about the man behind the mask, I might be able to guess, but...So far, he's been meticulous in his planning. That tells me he's focused, but not like most people. He's high functioning, verging on sociopathic. From his kills, I believe he takes pleasure in them, maybe sexual, maybe not. There's never been anything at the scenes to suggest sexual interest, however it's doubtful his true kill site has ever been found, and I do believe he has one. Killers as careful as this one usually have one set place to perform their kills, especially if they want to take their time. Somewhere only they know about. Somewhere within their control. Many of his victims died at the scene, but were held somewhere else first. That's where he's most comfortable, and it's probably where he's holding Gavin right now." Nines nodded grimly, quietly grateful she was still talking about him in the present tense. He licked his lips as he glanced up, finding her just as thoughtful as she'd sounded earlier.

"Do you believe he's alive?" It was a question he was afraid to ask.

"Absolutely." Nines' chest soared at the news, LED spinning yellow in surprise. He'd thought everyone else had given up, but Dr Marr, it seemed, was an unlikely ally. "Do I think he's in the best mental state? Absolutely not, but he's alive..." A sense of relief washed over him. If Gavin was alive, he could be helped. His mental state could heal. Her words almost made him want to rush out that instant and start looking. She was on his side! Gavin was alive!

"What makes you think so?" He couldn't help asking. Everyone else seemed to think he was done for.

"Why would the Hickory Killer waste his time tormenting him just to kill him? His relationship with Gavin has some almost...romantic undertones. The letters, the gifts, the constant cries for attention. He's even made some significant displays of jealousy. Torturing Edward Morgan for trying to take him. Shooting VB before his trial as punishment for even daring to lay a finger on him...It also wasn't a coincidence that he chose Aaron Hughes as his big comeback victim and stole his voice, or that he built an android with Jack's face. You're lucky he didn't shoot you that night, Nines. If not for his promise to Gavin, he would have." Jealousy was something Nines had considered, however, it didn't match up with his clinical methods. Perhaps such things are not unusual with sociopaths, however...He didn't have enough knowledge of the human psyche to say that definitively.

"Now that he has Gavin, can you guess his intentions?" He'd accept any theory at this point.

"It's difficult to say, especially with someone so methodical. Until now, his aim has been Gavin. In a way, he'd been courting him." The analogy made Nines' thirium heat. "Now that he has him, he'll need to do something else for amusement. The game of cat and mouse had ended." Nines couldn't help wondering who the mouse was in this scenario. He'd always felt it was Gavin hunting the Hickory Killer, but now it seemed very much like it was the other way around. The Hickory Killer had played with him like he was a toy, the way a cat might let an insect flap its wings before cruelly swiping it from the air.

"But if he's not being chased by him, and he hasn't killed him, what is he doing?"

"Nothing good..." He couldn't agree more. Nines straightened in his seat, brows furrowing as a call came through. Colin? Raising his hand, he pointed to his LED, which began blinking as he answered. Dr Marr, ever perceptive, remained quiet as he answered.

What is it? It wasn't like Colin to contact him on a workday, especially not when he was out of town on an unrelated case. He couldn't help the way his stomach swirled with anticipation. There was only one thing he could think of that would spur such a call. Did you find something? Is it Gavin? He was impatient as Colin gathered himself.

Not exactly, but I believe it may be connected. We're still in Denver on an unrelated matter, but we received word earlier that Kitty Dawson was reported missing last night. Nines' brow furrowed, but it didn't take him long to look up the relevant file. His LED blinked red as he put her together with Jack Dawson and the picture on Gavin's desk. There's a chance it's an unrelated disappearance. However, with what we know about the Hickory Killer and his relationship with Gavin, along with the fact that his android shares Jack's appearance, it's highly likely the two are connected. Nines could already feel it. They were definitely connected.

Thank you for telling me. His thirium pump thudded. Colin and Perkins were all the way over in Denver. It would take them hours to return, even if they could drop everything in an instant and go. What if precious time was lost? What if clues were overlooked?

Don't worry, the remainder of our team are already on top of the investigation, and Hank and Connor are assisting with evidence analysis until I return. He might have wondered why Connor hadn't mentioned it if not for the fact they hadn't spoken since the cold case incident. The sting of not being told right away was still fresh.

What do you know so far? Colin was reluctant to answer. Telling him the when and where may spark him to become actively involved, and he'd promised to let them handle it. Unfortunately, it was a promise he was finding difficult to keep. This was the first clue they'd had in months, and it may not even be connected. Please...Nines could almost feel Colin wincing on the other end. He was too soft and caring.

She disappeared on Saturday night from the Plaza movie theatre. She and her friends caught a late screening of Terminated. They split up to use the bathroom and went to their usual meeting place in the foyer near the popcorn stands, but Kitty never showed up. She was definitely with them at the end of the movie, and she definitely went into the third floor bathrooms, however, what happened next is a mystery. When she didn't arrive, they called her mother, who showed up and had staff check the building. When it was confirmed she was nowhere to be found, the local police were called, and an investigation was opened. That was something. Since she'd gone missing so suddenly, and from a crowded place, they'd likely believed it was an abduction right away. In many areas, you had to wait twenty-four hours for missing persons cases to be taken seriously. After looking into her case a little more closely, the investigating officers realised there was a possibility it was linked to the Hickory Killer, so they called us. It put Nines' mind at ease somewhat to know the humans handling that case were so perceptive. It almost restored his faith in humanity.

Thank you for telling me.

I'm sure Connor will let you know if he finds anything...You will...talk to him, won't you? So, Connor had told him about their altercation. I understand your feelings, but I believe he acted with the best intentions. Connor did many things with the best intentions. He is our brother...Nines almost sighed, silvery eyes raising to the ceiling. Dr Marr's lips twitched, almost as if she could see what he was thinking.

He is. With that said, he and Colin ended their call and Nines returned his attention to Dr Marr with a small apology. "Connor will be returning soon with details on a case that may be related to the Hickory Killer." It was almost like Dr Marr knew. She didn't seem at all surprised, though perhaps she'd expected something to happen eventually, or perhaps something in his expression had given it away. He was a little more emotive now that he'd deviated, much as he tried to remain stoic these days.

"That's good news...I'll schedule another appointment for next week and we'll continue from there." Nines nodded politely, having expected nothing less. Fowler wouldn't be satisfied with only one session. Much like Gavin, he intended to keep him here permanently, either until Gavin was found or until he settled down.