Quietly sitting in the dark livingroom Connor kept his eyes closed as he cybernetically sent the numerous updates, required signatures, and the final legally required details to the construction crew who were already tearing down the disgusting building that once housed the 'Eden Club'. The crew was now clearing off the plot to begin building the foundation for the new project known as 'Skye Tower'. The project was time consuming, delicate and would require Connor dealing with miles of 'red tape' in order to get the sanctuary built, but he was determined to succeed to honor Skye's memory and everything she fought for, and to protect the innocent runaways of the city.

The amount of work was time consuming and had begun late the previous evening. In order to make sure everything happen on schedule and was authorized by the city Connor focused solely on his task and wasn't going to do anything else until he was finished.

"Connor?" Hank gently put his hand on the deviant's shoulder and shook him lightly under a firm grip as he stood behind the couch. "It's morning."

The brown irises of the kindhearted deviant returned slowly as he opened his eyes and finished his cybernetic meeting. "...Morning?"

"It's almost ten. Have you been here all night?'

"Yes." Connor nodded slowly in response to confirm the question. "It was necessary."

"Sorry. Did I interrupt something important?"

"No. I was merely watching the construction through the visual processors of the deviant foreman working alongside the human foreman of the crew working on the property. Progress has been consistent and smooth."

"You can do that?"

"Only when granted permission from another deviant to remotely access their unique communication line for visual updates, yes."

"Fuck, if I could just tap into someone else's head that'd make interrogations so much damn easier." Turning away from Connor and looking into the kitchen Hank saw Sumo was sitting patiently next to his empty bowls waiting for his breakfast. "You keep doing what you need to do, I'll feed Sumo before he starts trying to eat the furniture or something."

"I doubt even Sumo would be able to accomplish such a feat." Connor replied as Hank walked into the kitchen to tend to the massive dog. "And I have finished my task. I'll take care of him."

"Nah, I got this."

Hank was already filling up the bowl with kibble as Connor stood up from the couch, only to stumble a little on his feet and put his hand on the back of the couch to stabilize himself before he fell entirely. From the kitchen Hank had seen Connor's unusual graceless behavior and knew something was wrong. Dropping the bag of food down on the floor Hank gave his full attention to the suddenly dizzy deviant in the livingroom.

"Are you okay, son?"

"I am... weak."

"Weak? Are ya' sick?" Stepping around Sumo as the massive dog began to greedily eat his offered food Hank returned to the livingroom to check on the suddenly ailing deviant and put his hand to Connor's shoulder in a stabilizing manner. "Talk to me. What's going on?"

"My... Thirium volume is low. I failed to replenish my necessary-" Putting his hand to the side of his head Connor trailed off and leaned heavily against the couch as even Hank's strong grip couldn't hold him upright. "I need Thirium. I believe this would be the equivalent to human's experiencing anemia or perhaps even low blood sugar."

"Sit down before you fall down." Hank urged as he put both of his hands to the deviant's shoulders and gently guided Connor back to the couch cushions so he could in fact lay back down over the soft expanse of the furniture. "I'll get you some Thirium."

Running his hand through his gray locks Hank stepped around Sumo once more as he made his way to the cabinet above the kitchen sink to get Connor the necessary elixir. Having a steady supply of Thirium at the ready had proven itself to be far more beneficial than Hank could've ever imagined.

"How much do ya' need?"

"One moment." Connor replied honestly as he laid down to rest and checked on his Thirium reserve. "...Three pints."

"Whoa... What? That's a lot of Thirium to drink all at once."

"I was foolish and was not taking care of myself." The deviant then confessed as he laid flat on his back and refrained from moving. Keeping his eyes open Connor tucked his arm under his head to prop himself up just enough to watch Hank in the kitchen. "I had been distracted with other responsibilities and failed to take notice of my rapidly declining Thirium volume for the past three weeks."

"Three weeks?" Returning to the livingroom with the three bottles of Thirium in his hands Hank opened one of the bottles and offered it to Connor to drink as soon as he had the strength to reach up and take the offered Thirium for himself. "This is the second time you've done this."

"I am aware." Accepting the needed Thirium in a shaking grip Connor sat upright slowly and carefully drank the Thirium to replace what he lost due to his internal filters reducing the volume through constant cycling and sterilization. "And I am also aware that I must break this pattern before it becomes a terrible habit."

"Did you sleep at all last night?"

"No." Connor admitted as he finished the first bottle of Thirium and placed the now empty container down on the coffee table beside him. "I was too preoccupied with finalizing the blueprints of Skye Tower to properly rest."

"Well, finish off that Thirium then get some sleep. I'll take Sumo for a walk so he doesn't climb all over you while you're lying on the couch."

"I'll just return to my bedroom to rest." Opening the second bottle of Thirium Connor drank down the next pint and with it his strength was beginning to return noticeably. "You don't need to leave the house."

"I want you to stay out here so I can keep an eye on you for a while, kid."

The tone of Hank's voice was all Connor needed to hear to know that the senior detective was feeling particularly protective that day.

"Very well." Opening the third and final bottle of Thirium to replenish his volume Connor agreed to stay in the livingroom. "You still do not need to take Sumo for a walk. I will do that later."

"Sorry, son. I don't trust him to not jump on you while you're asleep." Grabbing his coat from the hook by the front door Hank slipped on his shoes and grabbed Sumo's leash hanging on the second hook under the first. "Come on, Sumo. Let's go for a walk."

The massive dog's ears perked up excitedly and he trotted over to Hank in the livingroom, completely forgetting about his food for the moment. Hank clipped the leash to Sumo's collar and opened the front door allowing a cool breeze to flow through the house as the winter air outside greeted him with its relentless presence.

"Try to get some sleep." Hank urged as he stepped through the opened door with Sumo at his side. "I won't be long."

Setting aside the third and final empty bottle of Thirium on the coffee table Connor laid back and closed his eyes to enter rest mode as the front door softly clicked shut after Hank and Sumo departed. Tucking his arm beneath his head once more and draping his other arm over his abdomen, Connor let out a deep sigh and relaxed as the necessary rest mode initiated within a matter of blissful seconds.

For the first time in months Connor found himself in the depths of the Zen Garden of his mind as he began to dream. The bright yellow roses that snaked up the trestle in the center of the pond confirmed that it was his garden and not the one that CyberLife had used to control him through Amanda. Walking toward the roses with his head held high Connor saw Lucas kneeling on the bank of the pond with a complacent smile on his face as the late deviant watched the multicolored koi fish swimming about gracefully through the crystal clear water.

"Hello, brother." Lucas greeted warmly as Connor approached him from the other side of the garden. "It's been some time since we last spoke."

"I'm glad you're here." Connor's voice carried genuine enthusiasm as he spoke. "I had been attempting to make contact with you, but so much has happened..."

"Yes, I know." Standing up slowly Lucas looked his older brother in the eyes and then wrapped his arms around him in a tight hug. He had been wanting to support Connor for months, and now he had his chance. "I am sorry for everything that you've gone through and everything you've been feeling."

Connor readily reciprocated the hug and held tightly onto his little brother for support. "Why couldn't I speak to you for so long?"

"Because you didn't need me."

"What?" Releasing the hug slowly Connor gave Lucas a confused stare as his brow furrowed. "Of course I needed you."

"No. You're much stronger than you can ever know, and in that time, you didn't need to retreat into your mind to fall back on me for guidance. You found your own way out of the darkness and back into the light."

"I didn't do it alone, I had Ha-" Connor stopped himself and quickly corrected himself with the correct term of endearment. "Dad. Dad helped me."

"He was with you, but you found your own way. I'm proud of you."

"I have to know." Despite his brother's praise Connor was still feeling lost and sought guidance. "Do you think I'm doing the right thing with the tower and leaving the precinct?"

"Creating the tower, absolutely. But," Lucas gave his older brother a stern but understandable glance. "your role at the precinct is more than just being the world's first android police officer. You're a great detective and you've helped so many deviants in need. You can't leave. Not yet."

"But I do not want to resume my previous routine as if what had happened to Skye never happened. I was on patrol the night of the riot and I still wasn't able to save her." Connor's brown irises were shining with lingering sorrow and his voice carried utter guilt as he spoke. "I couldn't protect the one that I loved when she needed me the most, how can I resume my normal routine without thinking of her every second that I'm on the clock and supposed to be protecting other people?"

"How did Hank... dad, do the same?" Correcting himself in the same manner as Connor had done, Lucas continued with his question. "How did dad do it after Barbara died and left him a widower?"

"He had Cole to motivate him to continue to work and to protect the city on his behalf."

"Who do you have to protect?"

"You know as well as I that I want to keep dad safe, as well the other deviants at the tower. Not to mention Abby is pregnant with her first child and if Gavin, the baby's father, becomes injured..." Trailing off Connor began to rethink his initial decision to resign from the precinct. "Someone should be watching Gavin's back now that he is going to be a father. His safety is imperative."

"Doesn't Gavin have friends at the precinct?"

"He has Tina as his partner and I know that Chris would never allow anything bad to befall him, but... He's been such an abrasive person throughout his entire career that I doubt anyone would be willing to work extra shifts with him or really lookout for him in the field. I fear he may have inadvertently painted a target on his back."

"See? You already know that your time isn't done at the precinct. You're just afraid to go back." Lucas was as logical as he was kind. "You don't have to go if you don't want to and you know this, but you also know that your friends will always come first even if it doesn't seem like they need you to protect them."

"Perhaps." Connor gave Lucas a skeptical glance before looking down at his and Lucas's reflection in the crystal clear surface of the pond water at their sides. A red koi fish and a blue koi fish began circling each other in perfect rhythm just beneath the still surface of the water like the two spirals of the yin and yang symbol for balance. "I can't protect them from everything, I've come to accept this as fact whether I like it or not. And yet I have the urge to change that reality."

"You can still protect them when they need you. Nothing could've been done to save Skye or myself, but that doesn't mean everyone you care about is doomed."

"I've tried to make peace with that fact, but it's difficult." Connor admitted as he took his brother's words to heart. "I'll consider returning to work at the precinct. I promise."

"I know you will. And I know that you're hesitant to resume your work as a detective without Hank as your partner, but you can overcome the change and learn to adapt. After all, that's what you were programmed to do."

"You're right." There was something about hearing the truth from Lucas's own words that made it easier to accept. "Thank you for helping me to remember who I am."

"You're welcome, brother." Smiling proudly at Connor's reaction Lucas seemed to find a sense of peace within his own heart. "There is something I want to show you before you wake up. Come with me."

Lucas put his hand on Connor's shoulder and guided him to a small clearing next to the pond across the bridge. In the middle of the clearing was an alabaster white pedestal with Skye's name engraved with gold letters over top of a silver plaque. The plaque held her full name, 'Skye Anderson' and had been created to honor her memory on Lucas's behalf.

"It isn't much, but I thought this would be a nice way to ensure that you'll never have to worry about forgetting her as you live your life."

"...Skye is here." Connor placed his palm down over the name and held it there for a moment as tears of gratitude formed in his eyes. Dark red and bright pink roses were growing all around the pedestal gloriously as a means of showing how much of Connor's love had blossomed the moment the two deviants had bonded together. "This is wonderful."

"And your memory of her is now a part of my memory. I'll look after her while you're away."

Looking up from the plaque Connor stared at his brother with unspoken appreciation glistening in his soulful brown eyes. "...I know you will."

"You're welcome." Lucas knew that being a rock to lean was crucial for Connor's recovery. "You know what you need to do, but only do it when you're ready to do it."

"You're right." Connor gave his brother a nod of respect as he allowed his rest mode to end. "Thank you for everything, brother. I'll talk to you again soon."

As his rest mode came to a peaceful end Connor's soulful brown eyes opened slowly while emotional tears began to roll down his cheek. Sitting up on the couch he used the back of his arm to wipe away his tears and realized that Hank had long since returned home from his walk with Sumo. The senior detective had been quietly reading in the recliner next to the couch but quickly noticed when the deviant had woken up and was now quietly crying while trying to hide the tears. Sumo had also noticed the deviant's return to the waking world and began to lick at Connor's arm as he became more and more awake. There was support being shown toward Connor both in the waking world and within his own dreams.

"Are you okay, son?"

"I'm fine." Taking a slow breath, Connor swung his legs over the edge of the couch and pressed the heels of his palms over both of his eyes. Sumo wagged his tail and pressed his chin down over Connor's knee affectionately as he sensed Connor was in a better mood. "I was dreaming. I spoke to Lucas."

"It's about damn time that you two managed to reconnect." Closing his book Hank rose from the recliner and joined Connor on the couch. "Is that why you're crying?"

Looking down at the tears on his palms Connor nodded slowly. "I suppose it is."

"How do you feel? You were out for almost nine hours."

"That long?" Connor noted the time as just after seven in the evening and confirmed the time frame. "I must've been far more tired than I had initially realized."

"Well, staying up all night and being anemic will do that to ya'." Hank could see that the deviant was deeply contemplating something very important and that he needed to talk about it. "What're you thinking about now?"

"Huh?"

"Don't deny it, son. I can see the wheels turning in your mind from way over here. Talk to me."

Nodding a little Connor agreed to speak about what he was considering with his most trusted confidant and stop holding everything inside. "...Once the tower has been finished, I think I will speak to Captain Fowler about returning to the precinct."

"What?" The revelation made Hank's blue eyes light up with renewed hope for his own career. "Are you serious? You want to go back?"

"Yes. It will undoubtedly be a tense and awkward adjustment period after Skye's death, but I also know that I still have work that needs to be finished before I focus entirely on the tower. I can't explain it, but something inside of me is telling me that I need to go back. It's like there's something on the horizon that only I can take care of, maybe even someone special who needs my help."

"Okay. If that's what you want to do, then do it." The senior detective was relieved to know that Connor wasn't going to just walk away from the precinct after all. "I won't stop you and I won't say anything to Fowler. This is all up to you."

"When you returned to the precinct after your own losses," Connor timidly questioned with a sense of dread in his voice. "how long did it take before it felt 'normal' to resume your work again?"

"Honestly, it never felt 'normal; again. It just became routine and a means to a paycheck for me." Hank admitted in a dour tone. Awkwardly he rubbed his palm along the back of his neck as he opened up about his own past discomforts. "I was left pretty numb for a long, long time."

"...I see. Even though I've begun to heal it'll still take some time before I finally resume feeling like myself before I lost Skye."

"That's true. But I'm not that jaded anymore and once I started to feel more like me it felt like it was okay to move on." Reminding the wary deviant of his own personal progress Hank remained honest and sure of himself as he spoke. "I started to care about my work after I had a great partner who was willing to kick my ass back into shape and keep me from giving up on myself."

"Right. Partners."

"Hey, it won't be so bad. I still haven't been reassigned to a new precinct which means we can still work as partners." Joining Connor on the couch he put his hand to Connor's shoulder and shook the deviant once. "And realistically it may take months, or even years, before a new position opens up for me."

"That's somewhat of a relief to know that you will still be watching my back if I do in fact decide to return to the precinct." Connor's confidence was slowly but surely returning as the deviant came to terms with the pain that he had endured and survived over the past few months. "There are still many people we need to protect."

"Just remember this, son. You don't HAVE to return to the precinct if you don't WANT to." Hank stated from painful personal experience. "You don't owe this city anything and it's not selfish to pursue something that will make you happy. Self-care is NEVER selfish."

"...Happy." Connor repeated the hopeful word in a low whisper to himself. "I need to find what makes me happy. And I will. I know I will."

Pushing the construction schedule forward to ensure that the remaining weeks of the cold, brutal winter went by as quickly as possible, Skye Tower was now well underway and with the new building came a new sense of hope. A construction crew of dominantly deviants were happy to work overtime to get the new building completed as quickly as possible, and along with aid of charitable donations the tower would be well stocked with critically needed supplies in record time. With the abundance of required supplies Connor couldn't stop himself from thinking about the deviant refugee camp hidden in the forest on the outskirts of town and how they'd need supplies as well.

It was the very refugee camp that was being led by Lucy and Rupert, of whom had saved him the previous summer after his escape from Chicago. It was the camp where Skye had found him, helped nurse him back to health, and then escorted him back home. He had to help them and repay them for their kindness and to help other deviants in need.

It's something that would make Skye proud and hopefully make Connor happy.

Carrying two large plastimetal boxes in his arms Connor placed the containers of spare blue blood and spare biocomponents out of the garage and over to the autonomous taxi parked in front of the house. Carefully he placed the boxes in the trunk of the taxi before he set out for the camp on the outskirts of the city to donate what he could to the deviants who had helped him the previous summer.

"Are you sure you want to donate this stuff right now?" Hank asked as he carried a large box in his own arms to help Connor pack up the trunk. "You should at least wait until the tower is done and have an accurate inventory before you start doling these things out."

"I'm certain." Connor reassured the senior detective as he took the third box from Hank's arms and placed it in the trunk beside the first two boxes. "The tower is still receiving donations as we speak and as a result, I can afford to donate a portion of the stock to the refugee camp without it harming the overall inventory."

"Is there a reason you're using an autonomous taxi instead of one of our cars?"

"The camp must remain secretive. If a car is seen parked alongside the road, it'll draw suspicion." Slamming the trunk shut Connor made it way to the already opened passenger side door of the taxi to take his leave. "But a taxi will drop me off and drive away without drawing any attention in the process."

"Uh-huh." Walking up to the opposite side of the taxi Hank pulled the door open and peered through the cab to look at Connor. "I'm going with you."

"May I ask why?"

"You're strong but I doubt you can carry three boxes of supplies through the snowy forest without some difficulty. I want to help you and I want to meet this Lucy woman who saved your life."

"Very well." Happy to have the company Connor nodded in agreement as he took his seat inside the taxi and watched as Hank sat down beside him. "It may create a positive reaction among the deviants to know that not all humans are anti-android and that a human officer of the law is willing to help them."

"See?" The doors slammed shut and the taxi pulled away from the house to set about its predetermined route outside of the city. "This is a good idea"

The autonomous taxi exited the city without difficulty and navigated itself through the fairly thin traffic quickly. While Connor maintained cybernetic contact with Markus back at New Jericho Tower to ensure that everything was still calm back in the city, he also let the leader know of his intentions to aid the refugee camp with supplies that he had received for Skye Tower. Of course, the gesture was greatly appreciated and supported by all of those who knew of the kind deviant's charitable contributions and was met with zero resistance. While the conversation was professional and to the point, Connor picked up on something hanging in the air that needed to be addressed later on.

There was something more that Markus had to tell Connor about, and it brought a sense of security to the cautious deviant. It was a nice change of pace to focus on something far less bleak than Connor's raw heartache.

"Markus informs me that the program that Kamski had created has been put in a protective modem that can only be accessed by him." Keeping Hank apprised of everything happening with the two towers made Connor himself feel grounded. He turned to look at the senior detective directly while he spoke. "And Chloe has shown no sign of waning loyalty from the tower back toward Kamski either."

"That's good." Hank admitted as he took the affairs happening at the tower as seriously as Connor. "Do you think Chloe's really been freed or do you still think she could be a traitor?"

"In light of everything that has happened," Connor gazed out the window somberly as the trees along the road began to thicken. "I refuse to take any chances. As far as I'm concerned, she cannot be trusted."

Hank wanted to make a comment about Connor sounding a little paranoid or judgemental but decided to wait and see how he handled things later on. He trusted the deviant's sense of judgement entirely, but he also knew Conor was a master at holding grudges.

"This is our stop." Connor needlessly stated as the taxi gently pulled to the side of the road and stopped. "The refugee camp is two point four miles directly east of here. We'll have to traverse on foot from this point onward."

"Shit. That's a long hike."

"If you wish to stay here-"

"Fuck no. I'm not letting you wander into two and half miles of forest alone. I can handle it."

"I can navigate quite well on my own."

"Yeah, that I know. But what I don't know is if there's any out-of-season hunters stalking through the forest right now."

"Hunters?" The comment was unexpected and made Connor's brow arch slightly in confusion. "Do you expect violence?"

"No. But I don't feel comfortable letting you in there alone if there's armed humans looking for deer in the area while out of season."

"Very well." Opening the side door of the taxi Connor stepped out of the vehicle and cybernetically unlocked the trunk. "We should move quickly then."

With their boxes in their arms the two detectives discreetly slipped into the dense tree line of the snowy forest and followed the very thin hunting trail leading from the road to the secretive camp hidden away in the heart of the forest. The snowy ground made the long journey somewhat difficult to navigate through the thick dead underbrush, but Connor was able to see the underlying pathway perfectly thanks to his superior android vision. Moving slowly to ensure that Hank could keep pace with him as he walked, Connor clearly had no difficulty in carrying two of the boxes in his arms while Hank carried the third just a pace behind him. The boxes were fairly heavy, but manageable with just two people.

Connor led the way to the camp with Hank right behind him. While Connor kept his focus on the hunting trail Hank kept an ear out for potential hunters in the area.

"We're nearly there." The deviant stated calmly as he perfectly traced the trail through his internal G.P.S. to reach the camp. "Do you need to rest?"

"I'm fine, kid." The man grunted a little as he readjusted the heavy box in his arms to keep the weight from straining his shoulders. "Keep going."

Continuing the trek Connor was able to cybernetically connect to the deviants in the camp and inform them of their arrival as to keep the wary refugees from accidentally panicking at the sight of two people coming out the forest with boxes in their arms. Echo, the blue haired 'Traci' that had escaped from the 'Eden Club' just prior to the Revolution, responded to Connor with surprising gratitude and directed him to their main supply cabin next to the largest cabin where the wounded deviants were kept to be later treated for their injuries.

"We're approximately point two miles from the camp."

"Good. My arms are killin' me."

"Should I carry the third box?"

"I still got it." Awkwardly adjusting the cumbersome box in his arms to a slightly more comfortable position Hank continued to follow after Connor without missing a single step. "I'm old, not an invalid."

"Sorry. I didn't mean-"

"I know, kid. Let's just keep going."

Connor suddenly stopped short and turned his head in the direction of a sound that he had heard but Hank had not. Staring out into the woods as far as his visual processors would allow Connor resumed cybernetic contact with the camp while holding his position. Stopping just behind the deviant Hank glanced about the area curiously.

"What's wrong?"

"I fear that you were correct in your suspicion that there are hunters in the forest."

"How do you know?"

"I heard a gunshot in the distance, six point three miles north-west of our current location. Winchester model, point two four three caliber bullet." Keeping his eyes transfixed in the direction of the distinct sound Connor received a confirmation from the camp. "The deviants at the refugee camp confirm the sound and approximate location to our own."

"Fuck. We better get out of the trees and into the camp. You never know what trigger-happy lunatic is going to take a shot at one of us by accident."

"I agree." Another gunshot that only Connor could hear resonated through the dense trees from a six-mile distance. "I suspect that the hunters may have a negative reaction upon discovering two officers in the forest while they are attempting their illegal activity."

"Right." The duo resumed walking in an eastern direction to reach their destination as quickly as possible. "How much further to the camp?"

"Less than-" The sound of metal crashing and a loud yell of pain stole Connor's voice as he lowered himself to the ground in a controlled motion. "GAH!"

"Connor?!" Hank quickly set his box down on the snowy forest floor and put his hand to the pained deviant's shoulder as he knelt down beside him to investigate Connor's sudden complaint. "What the hell just happened?"

"U-Unknown." Fighting the urge to drop the boxes and fighting the urge to scream again, Connor managed to set aside the boxes in his arms and remain in relative control of himself. "I... I need help." Wrapping his hands protectively around his right leg just above the ankle Connor closed his eyes and ran a self-diagnostic. "My leg."

Looking down at the affected limb Hank could see the dark blue blood seeping into the white snow all around the deviant as it stained his hands and was absorbed quickly by the denim fabric of Connor's blue jeans. Brushing aside the surrounding snow carefully with his hands Hank made contact with the cold rusted steel of a long forgotten, barbaric animal trap that had clamped down tight around Connor's lower leg.

"Son of a bitch." Fully exposing the trap Hank swore again and eyed the metal contraption diligently before even attempting to free Connor's snared, damaged leg. "I haven't seen one of these kinds of traps in years."

"T-Trap?"

"For animals. It looks like a classic 'leg-hold' trap."

"Why would a h-hunter use a trap like this?" Connor asked between his gritted teeth as he tried to breathe through the searing pain in his leg. The jagged metal teeth of the trap were embedded in his leg and weren't going to let go without a fight. "It's malicious."

"It's a cruel way to make the animal easy prey, and fur collectors use this to make sure the pelt isn't ruined when the animal is killed."

"Regardless of their reasons," giving Hank an empathetic stare Connor made a logical comment on the practice at hand. "that's sadistic."

"Yeah, I know. That's why these traps were outlawed about ten years ago." Locating the dual release triggers on either side of the trap Hank knelt down in front of Connor and placed his hands down firmly to release the locks. "Okay, as long as this thing isn't too rusty, I think I can get it open and get you free."

"Will it hurt?"

"I can't imagine it'd hurt any more than leaving the damn thing on your leg."

"All right... Okay." Connor braced himself and prepared for the impending pain. "If you can open it, then do it."

"On the count of three. Ready?"

Slowly Connor nodded and closed his eyes before he took in a deep breath the hold.

"One, two-"

Without saying the final number Hank pressed down as hard as he could and forced the trap to release its hold on Connor's leg. As soon as the trap was opened Connor let out another yelp of pain as the sharp teeth retracted from his damaged limb. Hank held his weight in place and urged Connor to move away from the trap quickly.

"You're free! Get your leg back."

Connor fell backward slightly in the snow and held tightly on to his bleeding leg with both hands as Hank let the old trap snap shut again to ensure no one, animal, man or deviant, accidentally got caught again.

"Y-You didn't say 'three'." Connor muttered bitterly as he held pressure to the dozen unique puncture wounds that encircled his leg. "I was... waiting for 'three'."

"Yeah, sorry. It's supposed to hurt less if you're not expecting it."

"It didn't work."

"Sorry." Shifting his focus from the trap and to Connor's wounds Hank urged the deviant to move his hands aside. "Let me take a look, kid."

"It appears worse than it is." Connor slowly retracted his hands from the bleeding wound long enough to roll up the pant leg of his jeans to expose the unexpected injury fully. "It didn't sever any main Thirium lines."

"But it's still bleeding pretty badly. Can you walk?"

"I can try."

"Lean on me." Pulling Connor's arm around his shoulders Hank stood up slowly and let Connor shift most of his weight against him as he too stood up in the snow and away from the now closed trap. "We'll get you patched up and come back for this stuff later, okay?"

"Hank," Connor ran a scan over the trap and found very trace amounts of Strychnine, a paralytic poison, on the sharpened points of the trap. "there was poison laced on the trap." Quickly he contacted Echo at the camp and updated her of the situation at hand. "I've already informed the other deviants of my unfortunate damage."

"Poison? After all this time?"

"...It seems the trap itself isn't as old as it appears."

"Fuck. Is it lethal for androids?"

"Unknown."

"Damn it. I get the feeling that we're about to find out." Pulling Connor along at his side Hank proceeded to resume their trek down the trail toward the refugee camp to seek some help. Keeping his eye on Connor as he moved the senior detective was suddenly on edge and wary of every sound and movement in the surrounding forest. "Good thing we're bringing emergency supplies to the camp."

"It's unfortunate, however, that they may be wasted on me due to a hunter's crime."

"That's usually how it goes, son." People suffering from the consequences of another person's actions were all too common. "Someone else gets hurt because of what one jackass did."

"The camp is not far from us." Connor limped along at Hank's side as his leg continued to bleed Thirium all over the freshly tread snow behind them. ".We need to... to find- Find... Lucy."

"Connor?"

It didn't take long for the deviant to begin showing signs of lethargy as his self-healing program registered the foreign toxin now circulating through his system and was fighting to isolate it before it could cause any real harm to his biocomponents. As the self-healing program initiated into overdrive Connor's core temperature began to rise in response to the maxed-out power flowing through the program and the Thirium filter biocomponent.

"Don't quit on me, kid." Hank encouraged determinedly as he all but carried the nearly unconscious deviant at his side. "We're almost there."

"...Lucy."

"What about her?"

"Sh-She can help... me."

"Okay, I'll take you to find Lucy." That seemed simple enough for Hank to handle. "You just need to stay awake until we reach the camp, that's all I ask."

"I'll... try."

Walking slowly but with purpose Hank managed to break through the tree line surrounding the camp and was immediately greeted by Echo, as well as two other deviants, who were awaiting their arrival. One look at Connor confirmed the distress call the wounded deviant had sent out after discovering the poison on the trap and were ready to help him.

"We need to get him into the largest cabin." Echo instructed as she took Connor's limp arm and pulled it around her shoulders to mirror Hank's efforts. "You two," she addressed the two male deviants who had accompanied her to the tree line with a stern voice. "go find the supplies that they were delivering. We need to get that blue blood over to our wounded before they shut down."

"Right!"

The two deviants replied in chorus as they disappeared into the trees and traced the detective's footsteps, as well as the trail of blood that Connor had left upon being damaged.

"Lucy can help him." Echo reassured Hank without him having to say a word to her. "She was a social worker with medical training before she became the healer of Jericho and of our camp."

"Does she know anything about this poison and how it affects androids?" Hank asked as he watched Connor's glazed over brown irises becoming duller with each passing second. "He's already really out of it."

"She'll help him." Was the firm and singular answer that Echo gave as she pushed open the door to the largest cabin and showed Hank inside. "Trust Lucy."

As the two worked together to carry Connor inside the safety of the cabin Hank unzipped Connor's leather jacket with one hand and carefully slipped it from his shoulders and off his arms while Echo located an unoccupied bed against the far wall. The unlikely team worked in tandem to lay Connor down as gently as possible before examining his injury.

"Lucy is tending to more of our wounded," Echo stated calmly as she watched Hank hovering protectively over Connor. "but she will still help him."

Hank checked on the wound to Connor's lower leg and outwardly grimaced at the painful looking injury that was still bleeding. The artificial skin around the damage site had completely receded and the dents in the plastimetal limb were immediately visible.

"Is there anything around here I can use to get his leg cleaned up?"

"There are towels, sterilized android bandages, and incrassation compound in the cabinet above the bed. I'll go find Lucy."

"Thanks."

Connor's eyes were beginning to close, and Hank didn't like the way he fell so quiet so quickly. Putting his right hand down on Connor's chest Hank held his palm in place and waited for Connor's brown irises to make their brief return through half-lidded eyes.

"Hey, you're at the camp. You'll be okay."

Nodding very subtly to acknowledge what Hank had said to him Connor let his eyes fall shut again and his head lolled limply to the side against the pillow. Lifting his hand from Connor's chest Hank opened up the designated cabinet and found the supplies he needed.

"No good deed goes unpunished, kid." Ever astute Hank set about aiding Connor to the best of his ability until Lucy could be located. "I just wish you could catch a damn break."

Sitting on the edge of the bed Hank used a clean towel to wipe away as much of the excess blood from the wound as possible without causing the deviant any further pain, then poured the orange tinted powered incrassation compound onto the damage to clean it and stop the bleeding. The sickly discoloration of the orange powder mixing with the blue tinted blood that turned a disconcerting tea color and by all account didn't look like the healthier alternative to just letting the wound bleed.

"Man, I think the liquid form of this orange shit is better."

"That is true." A feminine voice that held a slight mechanical reverb responded from the opened doorway to Hank's comment. "In the wintertime liquid incrassation compound freezes before it can be used, which means for the time being powder is better."

"Oh, I-" Hank turned his head to look at the voice, but he wasn't expecting to see such a battered looking deviant; let alone one that was still functioning, standing in the opened door with a gentle smile on her face. The sudden drop in his voice and the widening of his eyes betrayed his attempts to sound unaffected by Lucy's physical condition while he remained polite upon meeting her. "I... didn't think of that."

"It is all right." Lucy replied gently as she walked over to the bed to look down at Connor's unconscious face. "You are not the first human to find my presence unsettling."

"It's not unsettling, just unexpected." Wrapping the gauze around Connor's leg Hank cleared his throat nervously before addressing Lucy again. "I'm sorry if I offended you by my reaction. My name is Captain Hank Anderson, by the way."

"No apologies are necessary, Captain."

"Hank." There was no need for such formalities considering the situation. "Please just call me 'Hank'."

"Hank it is." With a delicate touch Lucy pressed her fingertips to Connor's right temple and gave Hank a reassuring glance through her perpetually black eyes. The lack of an L.E.D. made Lucy smirk a little as it meant Connor had fully accepted his deviancy and she was proud of him. "He will live, but he will also be very ill for the next few hours as his system struggles to rid the poison from his lines."

"That poison isn't going to kill him? That's a relief."

"The poison is harmful but not lethal. However, the strain on his system could prove otherwise."

"Should've known it was too good to be true."

"Try not to worry. As his core temperature rises, we will treat it as you would a fever and it will keep him stable."

"Yeah, I've done that more times than I can count."

"Then you know he is strong." Smiling kindly at Hank with a warm and curious demeanor Lucy took the remaining items from Hank's hands and returned them to the cabinet on the wall. Extending her own hand palm up, Lucy had a simple request from Hank. "Let me see your hand."

"My hand?" Holding up his own hand he looked at his palm for a moment and flexed his fingers once curiously. "What for?"

"I wish to know you better."

"Are you like one of those fortune tellers at the carnival? Those 'Zoltar' machines were pretty accurate sometimes."

"Nothing quite so primitive." Keeping her smile on her face Lucy assured him otherwise. "I have seen many humans and many deviants struggling with their pasts and with their futures, and as such I have gained a new sight into beating hearts. I wish to know where you have been so I can see where you are going."

"Thanks, but I don't think you want to know my past. Besides," Hank looked over at Connor's face as the unconscious deviant began to breathe deeper and faster as his core temperature began to steadily rise. "as far as I know, you just looked into his memories and are going to go from there. I don't believe in magic tricks. Again, no offense intended, just being honest."

"This is no trick. Please, let me see your hand. It will let me see what is inside your heart."

Skeptical of Lucy's claim but willing to cooperate with the kind and patient woman Hank slowly offered her his right hand.

"All right, have a look. Remember, I did try to warn ya'..."

With a warm and gentle grip Lucy wrapped both of her hands around Hank's rough, calloused hand and closed her eyes. She was silent for only a moment before a single oil stained tear ran down her cheek from her permanently blackened eye.

"You have suffered so much loss; your oldest friend has become distant and your family has been lost to tragedy." As she spoke Hank felt his hand trying to tighten into a fist beneath her touch. "Despite all your losses you have still given so much to the world around you and you have taken in a son who so desperately needed a father. You've overcome tragedy and found a new life worth living."

"How..." Hank slowly pulled his hand back and stared at Lucy with awe shining in his blue eyes. "How do you know all of that?"

"Man or machine, all hearts beat the same." Lucy answered with wisdom that was seemingly beyond deviant comprehension. "I can feel that you still harbor a compassionate soul; you're a born guardian and a protector. And I can sense that you truly care for Connor as a father would his own son as you are kindred spirits."

"Yeah? Guess that's better than being labeled as an old, bitter alcoholic."

Connor suddenly raised a feverish hand and managed to grab Hank's wrist in a desperate grip. "...H-Hank?"

"Right here, son." Turning his focus back to Connor beside him Hank gave his sick son his full attention. "I'm right here beside you."

"M-My leg hurts."

"I know. Just try to take it easy and we'll get you patched up." Hank nodded in Lucy's direction despite Connor's eyes remaining shut. Reaching his hand up to Connor's forehead Hank could feel that the deviant was reaching a high core temperature and would need to rest before he even tried to help him get back out to the road to go back to the city. "Lucy is right here. She said you're going to be fine in a few hours if you rest, then we can go back home."

"Did I h-hurt your back?"

"No, kid." Laughing a little at Connor's almost painfully empathetic nature Hank retracted his hand and patted Connor's knee above his damaged leg. "My back is okay. Just get some sleep and let your leg heal."

Connor's hand slowly went lax until it limply fell away from Hank's arm as he fell into an emergency activated rest mode to kickstart his self-healing program.

As the deviant fell into the bliss of slumber Hank looked to Lucy with lingering fear in his eyes and asked for her assistance.

"I don't like the idea of taking him out into the snow, but if that's the only way to keep him cool I'll do it."

"It won't be necessary." Lucy walked over to a small refrigerated compartment that was built into the wall at the far end of the cabin and pulled open the door. Retrieving a bottle of the same bright green liquid that had been dubbed 'android medicine' and a refreezable ice pack, she handed the items to Hank to use to keep Connor stable. "Help him to drink the coolant."

"Great, his favorite." Hank lamented as he placed the ice pack down gently on Connor's forehead. Slipping his hand under the deviant's head he gently lifted Connor up and called his name. "Connor? I need you to wake up for a minute."

Cooperatively Connor's glassy brown irises returned as his eyelids slowly opened into slits. "...Hank?"

"Yup. Still me." Showing him the bottle in his hands Hank begrudgingly held it toward Connor's lips. "And you gotta' drink this."

"...M-Medicine?" The bright green tint of the liquid was recognizable even with his blurry vision. "Out here?"

"Yup. Come on."

With surprising compliance Connor took a dose of the medicine from the bottle in Hank's hand but had to fight his instinct to spit the foul tasting liquid from his mouth with a righteous disgust.

"That's good." As Hank lowered Connor back down to rest Connor's hand rested over top his own upper abdomen as an uncomfortable pain settled in the pit of his stomach. "Guess this stuff isn't the new formula that Abby worked on, huh?"

"N-No." Connor confirmed with a breathy sigh. "It's very... unpleasant."

Lucy's fingertips again pressed down against Connor's right temple, and she closed her eyes as she checked on his condition.

"Your system has isolated the poison, but it'll take time to have it filtered from your Thirium properly. You will suffer from overheating while you rest, but you will be safe with us for as long as you need."

Nodding with understanding Connor let his eyes close once more as he drifted off back into his crucial rest mode. "...Thank you."

Hank stayed on the edge of the bed and watched as the deviant fell into a steady breathing rhythm as he slept and slowly began his recovery process.

With great interest Lucy studied Hank's face for a moment before speaking once more. "You are worried for him."

"The poor kid's been through a lot." Hank replied softly as he stayed vigil over the sick deviant that he took in as his second son. "I know he can handle it, I just wish he didn't have to. And this," staring at the thick bandages wrapped around Connor's shin and calf that were already beginning to turn pale blue from the blood beneath, Hank shook his head sympathetically. "this was just such a dumb accident. He was so focused on making sure those hunters weren't near us or the camp that he didn't watch his footing."

Lucy put her hand on Hank's shoulder as she briefly rested her other hand atop Connor's hand still resting on his stomach. Closing her eyes Lucy looked into Connor's heart and gave the paternally motivated detective another kind smile.

"He has endured such heartache and loss, but he still has so much love left to give. And he cares about you, Hank." There was genuine adoration in Lucy's words as she reassured Hank that everything would be all right. "He sees you as his father and is grateful for your guidance, but he is also worried that he is somehow disappointing you."

"Disappointing me?" That revelation made Hank turned quickly to face Lucy as if ready to accuse her of deception. "How?"

"As much as he embraces you as his father, he is still afraid that his presence in your life is an intrusion. He does not want to replace the son you have lost and does not want to be seen as replacement or as a stray taken off the street."

"Cole can never be replaced, and neither can Connor." Hank stated firmly without the slightest hesitation in his voice. "They're both my sons, so was Lucas. There is no replacing the sons that I lost, and I feel the same way about Connor. If I lost him too then... I don't even want to think about it."

"He feels the same. In time he will find a way to pass along your guidance to another in need and you will find your peace."

"I'm all for a good prediction, but I also know to take anything these days with a grain of salt."

"I understand." Gently Lucy pressed her palm to Connor's forehead and brushed back the rogue lock of hair that always hung down in his face, only to have it fall back and resume its normal unusual place just over his left eye. "Stay as long as you need. You are both welcome here, always."

"By the way," Hank stated in a low voice as Lucy stepped away from the bed slowly. "thank you for saving his life last summer. I'm grateful you took care of him until he was able to get back home to me. I wish I could've said it earlier."

"You're welcome. Let him rest." Lucy turned around to exit the cabin, but not before giving Hank one last thoughtful glance over her shoulder. "And then you do the same for yourself."

Protectively Hank kept a close eye on Connor as the deviant's system worked to isolate and cleanse the poison from his Thirium. Fortunately, the offered medicine kept his core temperature from rising to a dangerously high degree, but Connor was still suffering the throes of a relatively severe fever. Lucy had since disappeared from sight as she tended to the other wounded deviants in the camp, but Echo would stop by from time to time to check in on Connor and provide additional ice packs to the feverish deviant. The blue-haired 'Traci' seemed less threatened by Connor's presence than before, but she was still being cautious around the deviant.

Every so often Connor would mutter something incoherent or sing a little tune as he endured the fever that was overwhelming his mind. Hank would keep speaking to Connor in a low voice to ensure that the ill deviant felt safe and constantly adjust the ice pack to keep the deviant as cool as possible.

Softly knocking on the door Echo stepped inside and gave the two detectives a timid smile as she checked on Connor once again.

"Hi. I just wanted to see how he was doing."

"He's still hanging in there." Hank confirmed with a slight grin on his face in response to her kind smile. The distinct blue colored hair, though cut short and neatly kept under a darker blue beanie, gave away Echo's identity. "You, uh, you were the one we chased at the club all that time ago, aren't you?"

"Yes, back then I was known as 'Echo', and many still call me as such, but I like the name 'Amy' and I'm hoping to make it stick. Thank you for letting us go on that horrible night all time ago."

"'Us'? So you and, uh..."

"Ripple. She's more fond of the name 'Suki'."

"Ripple or Suki..." Remembering the second deviant at the club that escaped with Echo was still fresh in Hank's mind. "You're both okay out here?"

"It's a lot better out here than in that damn club."

"Without a doubt. Do you know what's going on with the club?"

"Yeah, Connor told us when he contacted the camp to let us know about the supplies." There was a faint twinge of approval on Echo's lips as she confirmed the question in a positive manner. "We're grateful for the donations and relieved to know that Hell on Earth will never see the light of day again."

"I'm glad he could help."

"You helped us, too. Don't count yourself out." Echo gave Hank a small nod of approval as she made it clear that she wasn't holding anything against Hank despite their past encounter. "You're not bad for a human."

Connor's eyelids began to flutter as the deviant regained consciousness slowly. As his head lolled from side to side against the pillow Connor let out a weary sigh and fought to focus his blurry vision on Hank's face as the senior detective stayed at his side. "...Hank?"

"Still here, son. How do you feel?" Pressing his palm over Connor's forehead under the partially melted ice pack that he was glad to feel that his fever had already broken, and Connor was back to a normal healthy core temperature again. "You're not hot anymore, so that's a good sign. You were asleep for about three hours."

"I feel... tired." Connor confirmed as he sat upright slowly and lightly pushed Hank's hand back as he balanced on his elbows. "And like a damn fool."

"Shit happens, kid."

"I should've scanned the trail for-"

"Connor." Hank stopped the deviant before he had the chance to blame himself over a silly accident. "I didn't see it either. It's not your fault."

"...Thanks." Looking down at his bandaged leg Connor pressed his hand down against the wounds and flinched a little as the injury itself was still sensitive to any and all applied pressure. "It'll be difficult, but I know that I can walk back to the road whenever you're ready to leave."

"Just relax a minute, will ya'? You're not on a time limit or anything."

"I just want to get back to the city."

Echo walked over to the bed and gave Connor an odd look. "Do you ever take a minute for yourself?"

"I... I like to keep my mind preoccupied." The humble deviant admitted with slight embarrassment to his voice as he struggled to look Echo in the eyes. "I apologize if I seem impatient or rude."

"It's just a little weird, that's all."

Hank put his hand to Connor's shoulder again and shook one. "You know, she's right. You need to learn to take a few minutes for yourself every once in a while."

"I will attempt to do so in the future." Swinging his legs slowly over the edge of the bed Connor tested his weight carefully on his wounded leg and found that his leg was still too sore to bear the full weight of his body just yet. "I... need some help."

"No problem." Hank stood up and let Connor lean against him again. Once Connor was balanced Hank wrapped his arm around the deviant's shoulders to help maintain his balance. "Are you sure you want to go back to the city already?"

"Yes. I just want to go home right now."

"You really do hate the cold, don't you?"

"...Yes." Nodding at Echo in a humble manner Connor proceeded to thank her for her help. "I appreciate you coming to my aid again. If you require anything further from Skye Tower, just contact me."

"I'll remember that. So will Ripple, Lucy and everyone else."

Letting Hank guided him through the cabin's door as Echo stepped aside to give the two detectives enough space to walk through, Connor winced inwardly at the steady throbbing ache in his leg. "I know you h-hate the cold as well."

"Yeah? Well, seeing you bandaged up and sore is worse than a little snow, kid." Hank had to readjust his posture as Connor's weight, though nowhere near as heavy as one might expect for someone of his height and build, managed to pull enough on his back to form a tight knot. Passing through the doorway Hank stepped out of the cabin and made sure to say goodbye to Echo as well. "Hey, thanks for all of your help. If you need anything from either of us, just ask."

"Thank you." Smiling again Echo watched as the two detectives awkwardly returned to the snowy tree line that encircled the camp. Ripple soon joined her at the cabin and the two deviants exchanged a small kiss of affection. "We'll remember both of you. Take care."

By the time the two detectives made it back to the road on the other side of the forest they were both exhausted from their trek and ready to go home. Connor was barely able to stand on his injured leg due to the persistent pain, and Hank was having difficulty supporting the deviant's weight with his sore back, but neither wanted to stop for the sake of the other. Fortunately, Connor was able to cybernetically hail an autonomous taxi that arrived relatively quickly giving the duo the chance to escape from the cold and get a little rest as they finally returned to the city together. Their mission was a success, Connor was going to make a full recovery, and Connor knew he had done something that'd make Skye proud of him and happy.

"Fuck." Hank grumbled as he sat down in the seat of the warm taxi and took the pressure off his back. It was a gracious reprieve for his sore body and he didn't even try to hide it. "Next time we visit the camp let's go in the spring or summer when it's warmer."

"I believe that is acceptable." Pulling his injured leg up onto the seat with a controlled motion Connor checked the bandages keeping his wounds clean and noted that the bandages would need to be changed once he returned home. "Thank you for going to the camp with me. I'm glad the deviants were able to see that not all humans are violent toward androids."

"It's no problem, son." Crossing his arms over his chest Hank leaned back into the seat and breathed deeply to relax his sore muscles. "I'm proud of you."

"Proud of me? For what?"

"For being generous." The senior detective explained casually. "And for being so kind to the deviants in need."

Connor felt a faint smirk appear on his face, but it didn't stay long. "I guess I had a good example."

"I'd like to same credit for this, but it was all you." Laughing a little at the compliment Hank closed his eyes and tried to ignore his protesting back for as long as possible. "I hope I've been a good influence on you. It's not easy letting go of bad habits or long-standing grudges."

"I'm familiar with both concepts, and I had been familiar with the two concepts before I met you."

"Just don't start drinking or smoking, okay?"

"Tobacco has been outlawed in the United States for-"

"It was a joke, kid."

"Oh, right." Sarcasm was still just a little out his grasp, but he was getting better at understanding it. "Of course."

"How's your leg?"

"Sore." Scanning over his leg Connor didn't detect any of the Strychnine in the damage site and knew he was in the clear. "The poison has been isolated and the overall bleeding has ceased."

"You still have to expel that poison, right?"

"Yes." At that question Connor pressed his hand over his stomach. "It won't be pleasant, but it is necessary."

"Well, when it's over all you have to do is drink what you lose, and you'll be back to normal." Sensing a tension in the air Hank realized that he could actually feel Connor thinking and it was putting him on edge as they two detectives readily returned to the city. The deviant's intense train of thought was palpable and hard to ignore and needed to be addressed. "Still thinking about that tower of yours?"

"Correct. And I am trying to think of a way to continue to benefit the refugee camp without becoming too intrusive or accidentally exposing the sanctuary in the process."

"Relax, kid. You just keep focusing on the tower and making sure your leg heals up. After Skye Tower has been finished," Hank slowly opened his eyes and glanced over at Connor with a firm stare in his intense blue eyes. "then you can keep on donating what supplies you can afford to spare over to the camp, okay?"

"...Okay. I'll do my best."

"One thing at a time, one day at a time." The ever patient senior detective reminded him casually with an entirely paternal voice. "Otherwise, you'll overwhelm yourself."

"You're right." Connor's hand absentmindedly reached into his jean pocket and located the quarter, his nervous tic, and began to dance the coin over his knuckles. The coin's return was a sure sign that he was already beginning to feel stressed although he wasn't going to admit it any time soon thanks to his stubborn demeanor telling him to keep it to himself. "Thank you, dad."

"No problem, son." Hank reassuringly grabbed Connor's shoulder and held tight. "I'm always ready to help you with anything that comes your way."

-next chapter-