"Wanting"

Abby Grayson's Residence

A gentle spring rain covered Detroit in a chilly drizzle that made the entire city smell of fresh Earth. The rainy morning followed a quiet night as everyone in Detroit tried to go about their usual business after the historic court case from just one week prior ended in a completely unexpected manner. Not only did the world's very first trial revolving around deviant suspect finally take place with legal recognition, but the case was dismissed entirely after new evidence that had been miraculously discovered by F.B.I. Director Norman Jayden came to light. Such an outcome had resulted in mixed feelings throughout all of Detroit. Many people, most of which were humans, thought the trial was a farce to pander to the deviant community or that it was a publicity stunt set up by Markus considering he was a friend to the unmasked vigilante. Other people, including deviants, thought that entire ordeal was orchestrated by the police and the F.B.I. to smooth over the egregious actions taken the night of the Raid and following peaceful Demonstration.

As the city tried to grasp the historic case and its final decision, Connor remained in hiding and tried to grasp what was happening to him now that he was no longer Detroit's mysterious vigilante. The 'Twilight Guardian' could no longer protect the streets, and he knew that eventually crime would escalate since people had no reason to fear being caught in the act and immediately apprehended without bias or hesitation by the vigilante.

Sitting on the edge of the windowsill overlooking the street Connor watched the rain and slowly ran his hand down the back of Rubbish as the bigger kitten curled up for a nice nap on his lap. Having the rescued and loving kitten to keep him company helped Connor to feel less overwhelmed as he watched the city without actually interacting with it while he waited for Abby to return home from her errands downtown. He wanted to go with her in order to keep an eye out for her in a protective manner, but Connor knew that he'd be quickly recognized and only end up being surrounded by cameras and obnoxious questions, and potentially get Abby harassed by mistake

The sight of Abby's little blue car returning to the house reassured Connor that his friend was safe and that he didn't need to worry about her now that she was safely home and able to relax. She was the only person that Connor felt like he could really talk to, and he had a lot he needed to get off his chest even if he didn't realize it just yet. With Rubbish in his arms Connor casually walked out of the guestroom, down the staircase and met Abby in the livingroom just as she returned home with two large paper shopping bags in her hands. Ever polite Connor took the two bags in one hand and carried them into the kitchen on Abby's behalf.

"While I appreciate you having impeccable manners," Abby stated casually as she shrugged off her rain soaked jacket by the front door. "you don't need to treat me like I'm a damsel in distress. I can handle two bags of groceries."

"I'm aware." Connor admitted as he watched Abby hang her umbrella on a hook just outside the front door then remove her wet shoes. "I just wish to be of assistance so that my lingering presence doesn't feel intrusive."

"'Intrusive'? I invited you stay with me, remember?" Entering the kitchen Abby proceeded to unload the two bags and handed Connor a fresh bottle of Thirium. "If you're invited over, then you're never intrusive. Besides, it's nice to have another set of hands cleaning up Rubbish's litter box in the evening."

"It's only fair that I help take care of Rubbish considering I'm the one who brought her to you." The deviant never put the kitten down and continued to hold her in one arm pressed against her chest all while Rubbish happily snuggled against him and purred loudly. The kitten was getting bigger, but it seemed like her blue eyes were going to remain blue in color as her body matured. "I'd like to help you out at the Zeta Facility as well, but I believe my presence would cause noted unrest and unnecessary stress for deviants who are seeking technical attention."

"I think they'd feel twice as safe knowing that their vigilante pal is in the same facility as them keeping the peace."

"That's a very optimistic outlook."

"Cynicism can be pretty corrosive." Abby warned as she put away her other groceries with Connor's unnecessary but fully appreciated assistance. The woman was stocking up on a little bit of everything since the city was really returning to its former glory and had more options available in the shopping districts. "Pretty sure that's why you're doing everything that you can to avoid talking to Lucas or Markus about what happened."

"Honestly, I just don't know what to say to them."

The admission sounded as heavy as Connor's heart felt. Very gently he placed Rubbish down on the floor as he suddenly decided that it'd be best for everyone if he were to go and lock himself in the guestroom for a while to keep out of sight and mind. There was a strange guilt he felt just for being alive.

Moving smoothly Abby reached out and took Connor's hand in her own and kept him from trying to slip out of the kitchen to vanish into the seclusion of the upstairs guestroom to hide away again. She knew he was starting to close himself off and didn't want to see him suffering.

"Connor, can I ask you something?"

"You're my friend," the deviant responded as he slowly interlaced his fingers through Abby's fingers to hold her hand closer. "of course you can ask me anything that you wish."

"Uh-huh, good. So what's really holding you back?" There was no denying that Abby could read Connor like an open book. Even when he tried to look away from her with shame in his gaze Abby refused to let up. "It's like you're trying to punish yourself over something. What's wrong?"

"...You know what's wrong." The deviant whispered as he tried to pull his hand away only to have Abby continue to hold tight. "You were there."

"You were found not guilty. That's a good thing."

"Only because Director Jayden manipulated and fabricated evidence to ensure that I could walk away unscathed. That's a bad thing."

"No, there's more to this than just the black and white definition of what's 'good' and 'bad' in terms of justice." All she needed to do was tighten her grip around Connor's hand to break down the emotional walls he was trying to put up and all around himself. "There's something else on your mind. Tell me. I don't judge, you know that."

"Yes, I do know." Connor was quiet for a minute as he tried to put his thoughts into words and finally found the courage to speak up. "...Aside from knowing that I'm free because someone else decided to risk their career and reputation to help me, I was also offered the chance to either return to the precinct and work as a detective or relocate to Washington D.C. and become an F.B.I. agent."

"And... those are bad things?"

"They can be perceived as such, yes." Opening up at last Connor turned to Abby and sought her opinion on that matter. "If I return to the precinct then I risk losing the trust of anyone who has a case that becomes assigned to me. They may not take kindly to having a confirmed vigilante working on an investigation that pertains directly to their best interest, especially when I was able to escape punishment for my own crimes. And if I go to Washington D.C. I'll have to leave Detroit behind, spend my entire career knowing that everyone who I'd work alongside would see me as a potentially dangerous vigilante, AND I'd be indebted to Director Jayden for giving me said career until he decides the debt had been repaid."

"First of all, you're assuming that everyone who knows of what you did is automatically against you." The sharp technician observed as she tried to help Connor stop emotionally overwhelming himself. "I've been aware of your secret 'night job' for months, and I never once thought of you as a threat."

"You got to know me before you discovered my secret. You knew me as a friend first and the vigilante second."

"And once everyone else gets to know you too they'll see you as I see you." Abby pressed her free palm over Connor's chest and rested her hand atop his heart. "A good person in every way. You're a protector. It's like you were destined to be guardian for the innocent whether you have a mask or not."

"I'm aware that my role as a protector is... right. I feel fulfilled whenever I'm able to help someone." As he spoke Connor placed his hands over top her hand and held her palm directly over his heart. "However, I now fear that I no longer deserve to be a detective since I broke the law and escaped proper discipline for my actions."

"Well, if you think you have to go to D.C. and be an agent because of Jayden helping you out in court, then you're wrong! Accepting that job just because it was offered to you because you think you owe Jayden a debt would be a form of extortion, which is ALSO against the law. Don't go if you don't feel it's right."

Even with another person's input on the matter Connor still felt entirely lost with his decisions regarding his own future.

"Ah... I see it now." Abby let go of Connor's hand and put her now freed hand to his cheek to make him turn to look her in the eyes. "You're focusing too hard on what you think OTHER PEOPLE want you to do. It's your life, you need to focus on what YOU want to do. It's okay to put yourself first when it's your own damn future on the line."

"For the first time in my life, I have the ability to choose." Connor acknowledged as he gently lowered Abby's palm from his cheek and took a single step backward to get a little distance between himself and the technician. Despite trusting her and coveting her comforting touch, Connor couldn't bear to let anyone be too close to him while he felt so conflicted. "But I don't know how to choose."

"You do know." Abby replied without any hesitation. The way Connor looked to her with a truly searching gaze told her everything that she needed to know about her friend's utter confusion. "You've made some pretty important choices for yourself already, which means you do in fact know how to choose."

Connor subconsciously raised his arms up to wrap around himself in a defensive manner as he listened to Abby's calming voice.

"You chose to side with Markus after you deviated. You chose to get up and keep fighting for yourself people after you had been shot in that church." She recounted slowly as she gauged Connor's body language very carefully. "You chose to brave the CyberLife Tower to free your people. You chose to part ways with the police precinct and fend for yourself. You chose to upgrade your system and use the illegal gear you found for a good reason. You chose to risk yourself to protect innocent people. You chose to come to me for help when you were hurt or sick. You chose to take on Lucas as your little brother... Should I go on and mention everything else, or are you satisfied with just the highlight reel?"

"No, you've made your point vividly clear without needing to add any additional details."

"Good. Connor, it's okay to be afraid of what the future might bring. I know that I was scared when I packed up my life to leave Chicago and move out here."

"You were?"

"Yeah." Sitting down at the small kitchen table, Abby motioned for Connor to join her and quickly had Rubbish jumping up to cuddle on her lap the second she had sat herself down. "I was born and raised in Chicago. I only knew people from Chicago. The only city I was familiar enough with to call home was Chicago. I came out here to chase a possible new career with NO idea if it'd work out even if the Demonstration and Revolution hadn't happened, and I used pretty much all of my savings to get out here to start a new life without a single person to call on for help if things didn't work out for me."

"What were you going to do if your plans didn't unfold as you had anticipated?"

"I don't know. I mean, I would've cried a little, ate some ice cream, and started packing up my things in anticipation of moving again, but other than that... I had no idea what I would've done."

"I'm not sure how anyone could make such an important decision without a back-up plan at the ready."

"What was your back-up plan if your nightly quest to rid the streets of evil hadn't worked out like you thought it would?"

Briefly Connor's eyes lit up then dulled immensely as he looked down at the table and away from Abby's gaze. There hadn't been a back-up plan in the event Connor failed to succeed as a vigilante. All Connor wanted to do was help innocent people regardless of what could've befallen him. That potential fate included death.

"Oh, Connor. You're not the first person to struggle with the concept of suicidal ideation." The technician and former E.M.S. knew a thing or two about people from all walks of like struggling to just get by. Having a mental or emotional struggle only made things all the more complicated. "Don't be ashamed to talk about it. I've had thoughts of ending it all myself after my own problems in the past."

"You?" Lifting his eyes Connor gave Abby his full focus as he managed to return her gaze at last. "You're always so confident and sure of everything. How could someone like you struggle with such destructive and disheartening thoughts?"

"For one, I'm just as much at the mercy of my emotions as anyone else. Second, there are some things beyond our control that end up traumatizing us or reshaping our view on the world regardless of what's experienced before and after that traumatic event. After everything you've been through, I can honestly say that you're one of the absolute strongest people that I've ever met."

"I don't feel strong. I feel... weak." The deviant admitted as he looked to his friend for support all while listening to the rain growing in intensity outside the house. It was as if the natural ambience was helping to keep all of Connor's secrets as he confided his deepest woes to his supportive friend. "At least, I think that's what I'm feeling. Weak."

"That's how I felt when I was at my lowest. Being attacked by someone I thought I could trust really..." Clearing her throat Abby leaned back in her chair and glanced about her own kitchen for a minute before deciding to get a little liquid courage to help her keep talking about her own trauma. "Wine. I always keep a bottle in the fridge just for such an occasion."

"Occasion?" The curious deviant took Rubbish for himself while he watched as Abby retrieved her bottle of wine from its compartment in the back of the refrigerator and pulled down a small glass from the nearby cabinet. Without needing to be asked Connor accepted the bottle from Abby and used the provided corkscrew to open the bottle. "Are you referring to discussing emotional disturbances?"

"All disturbances, actually." The bottle opened with a small 'pop' as the cork was removed and Abby poured herself a small glass of the purple tinted drink to help her push through her own past trauma for her friend's sake. "It's not the smartest decision in the world to use alcohol or any other controlled substance to numb this kind of pain, but it does help make it a little more bearable when you're reopening old wounds."

"My apologies. I don't want you to be in any pain."

"And I can say the same for you." Sighing softly Abby reached into the cabinet for a second glass, poured a small tablespoon of the wine into the glass and took the bottle of fresh Thirium to mix with the wine for Connor's sake. "Don't worry, this will just dilute your Thirium by about two percent. You won't get drunk or become impaired by it."

"Then why should I drink it?"

"So we can share our pain and this nice wine together as a type of bonding experience. There's also the chance the placebo effect of drinking alcohol even with knowing it won't affect you could help you feel more open to talking." The technician slid the glass toward Connor and put the bottle aside for the time being and made sure he kept Rubbish in his arms. "Remember, I'm your friend and your technician. I'd never willingly or purposely do anything that could even potentially harm you."

"I'm not worried about that." Connor picked up the glass by the stem and ran a scan over the contents. The alcohol volume was very minimal and wasn't deemed as anything toxic that his system cautioned him against consuming. "I am worried about us discussing topics that can become very unsettling and could even cause us extreme emotional duress by mistake."

"That's good. If you weren't worried, then that'd mean you lost your empathy. I promise you that I'm okay talking about my own trauma if you're ready to talk about whatever it is that's on your mind." Abby sipped her wine slowly and then pulled her phone from her pocket to put in an order for delivery. "And I assure you, my past trauma is too interesting to NOT want to hear about. It also goes best with cheesecake."

Tentatively Connor took hold of his glass and held the narrow stem between his fingers before he too sipped the wine-laced Thirium. He could only taste the Thirium with a very faint hint of red grapes mixing with the added alcohol. While he couldn't join Abby with her chosen dessert, he could stay with his friend and open up about their mutual past traumas in order to have healed future.

"I'll go first." Clearing her throat Abby decided to show Connor that she was being sincere that she needed to open first. "And, uh, if I start crying don't panic. Crying is a good thing and has been medically proven to help release stress and flood the human brain with dopamine to help us feel better. Maybe it can do the same to your intracranial processor and help you lower your stress levels to far more comfortable levels."

"Maybe." The deviant agreed as he took Abby's words to heart and looked down at Rubbish as she purred loudly and used her front paws to knead affectionately on the side of his forearm. "I suppose there's only one way to know for certain."

Hank Anderson's Residence

Even after a week had passed the trial had been on the two detective's minds and had resulted in Hank really reflecting on everything that happened to himself and to his friends in the past three years. Having Lucas being brought into his life had been an unexpected blessing that made it hard for the man to fall back on his old bad habits, and knowing that Connor - who was the very reason Hank got himself cleaned up to begin with - was still running around in the city and risking his life for the betterment of everyone else kept him from even thinking about stopping by a liquor store or bar after work. Not only did Hank want to escape the pain of his own past, but he wanted to continue to be a good friend and mentor for Lucas as the young deviant continued to learn more about himself and of the changing, growing world around him without losing heart.

Working together Hank and Lucas finished cleaning up a bedroom in the house that hadn't been visited in just over three years, and placed the last piece of new furniture down to make the room feel less dreary and welcoming. The bedroom had been left vacant after Cole lost his life just over three years prior. In time, the space became less of a time capsule of Cole's too short life and more of a tomb to remind Hank of a pain that'd never fully heal. It was time for a change and one that Hank embraced fully.

"You're sure you want your bed right against this wall?" Hank asked as he watched Lucas pick up the laundry basket holding the freshly laundered and neatly folded sheets to actually make the bed. "The light from the window's going to shine right into your eyes every morning."

"Androids are capable of blocking out all unwanted light while we're in rest mode." Lucas replied with a curt grin. "It won't be a problem."

"Androids really are superior to humans."

"We're not superior, just advanced."

"Smartass."

Without being asked Hank helped Lucas to get the brand new mattress covered up and the bed made to ensure the deviant could sleep in total comfort that night for the first time since he had been activated. Hank was glad he finally found the courage to enter Cole's old bedroom and finally start to move on a little bit after losing his only son, but he was also internally scolding himself for making Lucas sleep on the old couch for over five months because he couldn't be bothered to put another person's comfort above his own for just one minute.

"Hear anything from Connor?" The protective man asked as he and Lucas finished smoothing out the quilt over top of the bed, only to have Sumo hop up and make himself comfortable right in the middle of the mattress. Hank just sighed patted Sumo's rump lightly as the massive dog looked up at him and wagged his tail. "This is not for you, ya' big lug."

"Connor is still resting at Dr. Grayson- Abby's home." Lucas confirmed as he sat down on the edge of the bed and ran his hand down Sumo's back. "He isn't ready to talk about what happened."

"Can't say that I blame him." Being inside the old bedroom filled Hank's heart with a sense of warmth and dread in such a confusing, almost nauseating concoction that he could barely keep his thoughts straight. "The good news is, Commissioner Rhodes learned from Connor's example of how to keep the peace in the city without needing to resort to excessive or lethal force. Doubling up on night patrols and drones have kept the crime rate down after dark."

"The improved Kevlar vests for every precinct in the city have been greatly appreciated as well."

"Yeah. Who knew Kamski could do something good for the city like that?"

"Considering his relationship with Detective Reed, it only-"

"Whoa, whoa... What?" Hank's eyes widened for a moment as he gave Lucas a studious and almost concerned glance. "Kamski and Gavin have a relationship?"

"Not in the romantic way if that's what you're wondering."

"That's a relief. Gavin's had some pretty shitty boyfriends AND girlfriends in the past." The man's shoulder slumped quickly, and he let out a deep breath. "Gavin can be a huge prick sometimes, but even he can do better than some smug asshole like Kamski. But if they're not dating, then what relationship are you referring to?"

"Detective Reed and Elijah Kamski are brothers."

"...Brothers?"

"Fraternal twins, in fact."

"They're fuckin' WHAT?" It was as if Hank was passing through a dream and was struggling to make logical sense out of an illogical world. "How in the fuck are they twin brothers?"

It didn't take Lucas too long to relay the events that he had been told by Connor to Hank to get the man up to speed. It seemed however that despite his best efforts to explain things as simply as possible Hank was having a hard time believing anything he was being told. He had known Gavin for almost sixteen years at that point, and he only knew that the man's biological family wasn't the most stable in the city and that Gavin was better off without them in his life.

"Son of a bitch. No wonder he hated androids with such a passion." Hank was unaware of Gavin's lost kid sister until that moment. Such a paint was one that Hank could sympathize with considering how young Kimmy had been when she drowned. "Also explains that special gizmo in Gavin's spine that lets him walk around. How do you know all this anyway?"

"Connor informed me of everything when we spoke six nights ago." It was almost comical with how easily Lucas was able to open up about such private matters. "He seemed distressed to carry the burden of so many secrets and unloaded some of the burden onto me, and I'm happy to ease his stress."

"Yeah, the kid's been through a lot lately. I can't imagine how much of a relief it was to confide in you about something like that. It's good he can trust you."

"And I trust that you won't mention this to anyone else considering the delicate matter regarding Detective Reed's right to privacy."

"You have my word." Sitting down beside Sumo with a small drop Hank rubbed at the side of his neck and peered around Lucas's somewhat decorated bedroom. The young deviant had managed to complete a few paintings that were now adorning the walls and helped give the personal space some unique personality. "What do you think he'll decide to do?"

"You're referring to Connor's future career, aren't you?"

"Yeah. Uh, when I went to talk to Jayden after he got Connor off the hook, he told me that he thought Connor is the ideal candidate for an F.B.I. agent."

"That would require him relocating from Detroit." Lucas lamented as he contemplated what it'd mean for everyone if Connor left the city. "We wouldn't be able to spend time together as brothers any longer."

"You'd still be able to talk, visit each other every few months, and hang out from time to time. Moving away isn't permanently saying 'goodbye', you know."

"Actually, I don't."

"Right. I keep forgetting you're only a few months old." Playfully Hank rustled Lucas's dark hair and gave him a smug grin. "Biggest five-month-old I've ever seen."

"And you're the grayest fifty-three-year-old I've ever met."

"Yeah, yeah..." Hank dropped his hand to his side and nodded in agreement at Lucas's comment. "I walked right into that one."

"Hank, is it selfish to not want Connor to accept the offer and move out to Washington D.C.?"

"Nope. It's normal for people to not want to see a family member or friend move so far away from home. Missing people, even when they're still alive, hurts."

"Even when a person can have an arguably better life by leaving, it's not selfish to want them to stay where they are so it doesn't affect me?"

"Son, emotions are complicated. You can miss someone, hate the idea of someone leaving, and want them to stay without it being selfish." Hank moved his hand to Lucas's shoulder and held tight for a moment as he helped the deviant sort through his feelings. "It just means you care."

"That's reassuring."

"Maybe you should let Connor know that you'd miss him if he does choose to leave." Shrugging his shoulders casually Hank watched the confusion flash over Lucas's face before he clarified why he had suggested such a thing. "If you're this emotionally upset about someone else's decision, then I imagine you telling that person how you're feeling about it could ultimately help them make up their mind."

"That also seems like it'd be emotionally manipulative."

"Only if you're trying to guilt-trip someone into making a personal based on what you want instead of what they want."

"I'm not sure if I could do that." Lucas's posture slumped with disappointment as he contemplated what he'd even say to Connor regarding his own future. It wasn't like Lucas had a lifetime of experience to help guide himself or anyone else when it came to massive personal changes. "I wouldn't want to add to Connor's confusion by mistake."

"It's not a mistake as long as you're honest." The rain outside continued to bombard the house and Hank gave Sumo a small grimace. "Damn. I was hoping for a break in the rain so Sumo could go out without getting into the mud. Guess I'll have to chance it."

Sumo lifted his head at the sound of his name and wagged his tail a little harder.

"Let's get this over with."

"Would you like me to take him out?" The deviant readily volunteered to tend to Sumo since he was very fond of the lovable oaf and could use a momentary distraction while he sorted himself out. "I don't mind the rain."

"It's not the rain I'm worried about, son." Without even needing to call the dog after him Hank managed to step out of the bedroom with Sumo right on his heels to head out into the backyard. "It's the mud and the wet-dog smell that'll inevitably cling to Sumo's fur whether I like it or not."

Lucas remained in his new bedroom and took in the freshly cleaned and organized space with a gracious eye. He hadn't ever complained about wanting personal space or even asked about the spare bedroom, and when Hank decided to offer it to him Lucas wasn't sure what to say beyond a hearty thank you. It was a massive gesture on Hank's part in regard to his personal healing process and how he viewed Lucas as a true friend.

As he peered about the safe space that was his home and his bedroom, Lucas began to wonder if Connor ever had a place to call his own anywhere in Detroit. He only knew that Connor had a hidden location elsewhere in the city that only the leaders of New Jericho knew of. The lack of shared knowledge wasn't a means of keeping Lucas in the dark and Lucas knew it, the continued secrecy was to keep Lucas from worrying if there was an incident reported out at the isolated lighthouse for any reason while Connor was still the vigilante.

It seemed as if the quiet moment put everything into perspective for Lucas and he finally knew what to say to Connor both cybernetically and verbally. The words suddenly came so easily, and Lucas didn't doubt what he was feeling was entirely true and compassionate.

"Wherever you choose to go and whatever you choose to become, I just want you to be happy, brother. I'll support you for as long as you need me."

Belle Isle: Visionary Lodestar Lighthouse

The spring rain continued to drown the city even as afternoon steadily gave way to evening. As means of clearing his mind and organizing his thoughts into a far more opened and calm manner Connor had elected to go on a walk with Abby and show her a part of the city she would never normally see. Having been able to roam Detroit in absolute secrecy with no one to stop him or get in his way allowed Connor to see sights and explore underappreciated locations that far too many people had forgotten about or failed to notice. One such place took the currently confused deviant and his technician friend out to Belle Isle to finally let her see the historic lighthouse that he had used as shelter throughout the winter and early spring. It seemed like a simple enough outing, but it was a major step forward in proving how much Connor trusted Abby and how he had officially put vigilantism behind him.

Together Connor and Abby stood atop the lighthouse balcony and watched the faint orange and red glow of the sun seeping through the heavy dray gray and black rain clouds in the distance. It was oddly beautiful despite their dark and dreary surroundings. Being atop of a dark lighthouse on an isolated isle with storm clouds overhead and encroaching darkness wasn't exactly a charming atmosphere, and yet it held its own majesty that deserved proper recognition.

"I have to hand it to you, Connor." Abby peered out at the setting sun concealed behind the clouds and tightened her grip around the handle of the umbrella keeping her dry. "You were right. Thise place has one hell of a view."

"It truly is nice." Connor agreed as he stood back and watched the sunset further back from the balcony's railing. The deviant's initial fear of heights had faded entirely since he took on his odd quest to protect Detroit in his own style of justice, but he still wanted to keep away from the edge. "I'll miss being able to watch the sunrise and the sunset from this location."

"Too bad you can't just convert this place into a private residence. If anyone deserves to have their own house on a private island, it's you."

"That's an interesting comment. Why do feel that way?"

"You've earned the right to live wherever you feel is the most comfortable for your needs without needing to worry about other people harassing you for what you'd done in the past."

"Regardless of my past, I just want to find a place where I belong."

"You can belong here." Abby stated instantly as she turned to look at Connor with a sense of understanding in her gaze. "I know you don't really feel like you have a place in the world because of how CyberLife used you and how no one at the precinct, except for Hank, appreciated your hard work, but you can find a place to belong right here in Detroit."

"I could also waste my life trying to find a place that doesn't exist because I'm looking in the wrong place."

"That could be your experience if you choose to move out to Washington D.C., too."

"You're right, it could." The rain stopped pouring down on Connor's head as soon as Abby stepped closer and used her umbrella to help shield him from the rain. Just being in closer proximity to his friend helped Connor feel much warmer even without the aid of the umbrella. "I just wish I knew what to do and where to go."

"Need more wine?"

"No." A small smile appeared then disappeared as Connor appreciated her gracious offer. "I just need some more time to think and decide."

"You can have all the time you need." Peering out at the distant sunset again Abby sighed with her own resignation. A faint wisp of white fog escaped her lips as she realized that they'd need to head back to her house soon so that she could get some rest before going to work in the morning. "Let's head back and warm up. I don't want you catching another cold."

"That's a good idea. It'll be much darker by the time we cross the bridge anyway."

"Are you going to show me the secret entrance you used to get on and off the isle without anyone noticing?"

"That'll remain a secret shared between only Markus and myself." Connor confirmed as opened the large door connecting the interior of the lighthouse to the balcony and made sure Abby was able to walk about without slipping. "I'd rather that knowledge remain scarce for the sake of deviant safety."

"Yeah, I get it. I'm just curious."

Enjoying their quiet stroll together Connor walked alongside Abby across the silent isle and then down the length of the bridge to get back to the city. The rain continued to drench Detroit and fill the air with a scent of fresh earth and somewhat murky water courtesy of Lake St. Clair and the Detroit River being stirred up, but it was a pleasant experience that created an air of natural serenity.

The supply tram that ran alongside the length of the drive had been made operational again by New Jericho to ensure their people readily had supplies at their disposal year-round without needing to steal or rely solely on donations. The way the large trolley car quickly yet silently glided down the concrete track reminded Connor of how advanced everything in Detroit had become long before he had even been activated. Such reminders only strengthened his belief that the city wouldn't suffer if he did choose to leave Detroit and take part in a new venture.

A newly elected deviant mayor who couldn't be bribed or corrupted, a small division of detectives dedicated to processing deviant cases and a positive connection between the police and Elijah Kamski all supported Connor's belief that the city was in good hands without him needing to be directly involved in anything.

"Want to keep walking or hail a cab?" Abby asked as she leaned against Connor's side in an effort to keep a little warmer. "I'm about done with the rain."

"I'll hail a... One moment." Connor closed his eyes and focused on the deviant cybernetic distress channel as he picked up on someone asking for help. Opening his eyes again Connor looked at a nearby alleyway and homed-in on the source of the call for help. "Someone needs our assistance."

"What's going on?"

"Someone's injured and cannot move. Wait here, I'll make sure it's safe for you to assist."

Abby stood back on the sidewalk with her umbrella overhead and watched as Connor jogged across the street and began exploring a nearby alleyway. It didn't take long for Connor to locate the deviant in need of help and begin assessing her condition to the best of his ability. Luckily the deviant hadn't suffered any life-threatening damage, she just had an issue with her leg that left her momentarily immobilized.

"Connor?" Calling out to her friend Abby craned her neck and waited for any sign of his return from the alleyway. "What's going on?"

"Broken leg." Connor replied as he carried a familiar blue-haired deviant out of the alleyway in his arms and toward the bridge leading out to New Jericho Tower. "The limb is somewhat stable but will need either a complete replacement or full welding in order to heal without complication."

"Let me take a look. Hi, by the way." Abby managed to smile at the blue-haired deviant as Connor carried her over to the sidewalk and helped her to sit down while keeping her damaged leg fully extended for a proper examination. "I'm Dr. Abby Grayson, but you can call me 'Abby'."

"...Echo." The shaken, pained deviant responded as she watched Abby slowly roll up the torn fabric of her pantleg to check on her leg fully. "Do you know what you're doing?"

"I'm the lead technician at the Zeta Facility, so I sure hope I do!"

Echo looked up at Connor as he knelt down behind her and took hold of Abby's umbrella to shield both Abby and Echo from the rain while Abby carefully examined the broken leg despite not having any equipment. As soon as Connor gave her a silent but sincere nod Echo relaxed a little and trusted that Abby could keep her leg from getting worse than it already was.

"I don't have a splint or anything to try to make a splint," Abby admitted as she held Echo's broken leg steady and lined up the break to allow it to heal properly. "but I can make sure the break doesn't worsen. What happened?"

"I was... using the alleys to get through the city without anyone seeing me." Echo admitted as she again looked up at Connor then looked at Abby as the technician kept her broken leg entirely motionless. "I slipped when I was walking down a set of wet, uneven concrete steps. I tried to get to New Jericho for help."

"You're almost there so don't worry. We'll help you get the rest of the way to the tower."

Connor glanced up at the bridge and nodded at the concrete track that supported the supply tram. "I've informed Simon of Echo's situation. He'll be traveling down the drive with emergency supplies so that we can get Echo taken inside the tower for proper treatment."

"Good move." Abby approved of Connor's decision and then gave Echo a visual onceover to ensure she wasn't injured anywhere else after her fall. "Echo, when you fell did you hit your head at all? It'd be hard for me to see if you were bleeding thanks to the rain and your hair color."

"No, I managed-" The deviant's cinnamon brown eyes suddenly widened as she reached up and clutched at Connor's arm in desperate fear. "Shit, he's coming!"

"Who's coming?" Instinctively Connor performed a scan over the area and picked up on the cybernetic signatures of several deviants in the area as well as the biometric signatures of just as many humans. There was no way for him to properly distinguish one biometric signature from another unless he personally knew the humans that he was actively scanning. "Echo, who are you afraid of?"

"The owner of the 'Eden Club'." Tears formed in her eyes as Echo told Abby and Connor of the person she was trying to avoid. "Floyd Mills. He doesn't want any of the former 'Tracis' to talk about what we went through, and he's been trying to bribe me to keep my silence. I told him to fuck off, but he keeps following me any time I go to the city for supplies. That's why I was using the alleys to sneak around."

"Don't worry. Markus will make sure the deviant lawsuit against the club doesn't get thrown out and that all of the witnesses will be safe when you're ready to take the stand." Connor stood up slowly and put himself between Echo, Abby and the approaching man fearlessly. He knew that the North and Skye were going to make sure everyone victimized by the club had their day in court and that the crimes wouldn't be ignored. "If he doesn't leave you alone then I'll contact the police and have him arrested right here, right now."

Abby took back her umbrella to hold over herself and Echo while they watched Connor taking a stand to protect them from the disgusting man. The technician had seen more than her fair share of deviants who had been sexually violated and abused in the past, and she was just as sickened by the people who openly frequented the now defunct club.

"Floyd Mills." Connor instantly recognized the man as Floyd approached Echo and then jumped in surprise as soon as he heard his name being spoken. "Leave the area right now, otherwise I'll have you arrested for harassment."

"Harassment?" Scoffing at the comment the deplorable man looked past Connor to look at Echo as she cowered on the sidewalk and refrained from looking him in the eyes out of fear. He didn't even acknowledge Abby trying to shield Echo from his line of sight. "Since when is just talking harassment?"

"Since it's been made abundantly clear that you're NOT to be anywhere near deviants who've repeatedly told you to leave them alone. You have five seconds to comply before I contact the police and have you arrested."

"You can't arrest me just for talking to someone."

"Actually, I can, and I WILL." Holding his ground Connor refused to let Floyd near either Echo or Abby to protect them from possible harm. "Take one step closer, and I will act to defend myself and my friends. You approaching us despite us telling you to back off is threatening and is legally classified as assault."

"You can't be-"

"I'm VERY serious." Connor held up his palm to halt Floyd without actually touching him. "Five. Four. Three..."

"I just want to talk to-"

"Two." Without breaking his pacing Connor continued with the countdown and began cybernetically contacting the police to ask for their presence and to arrest Floyd for continued harassment and assault toward Echo. "One. The police are now en route."

"Look, I know you're that one android who was with the cops that night that whore behind you-"

"Enough." Stepping forward Connor tried to intimidate Floyd into leaving the area and to keep him away from Echo. "You have no reason to speak to her, but you have every reason to speak to the police. I strongly suggest that you close your mouth and keep it closed until you've been informed of your rights."

Floyd was about to say something again when two drones appeared overhead and began recording the confrontation. Suddenly realizing that he wasn't going to be able to get to speak to Echo in an attempt to threaten, intimidate or bribe her, Floyd turned his attention toward Connor with absolute frustration. Out of desperation Floyd quickly pulled a knife from his back pocket and concealed within his palm as he tried one last time to speak to Echo.

"Let me talk to her and I'll go." The lie was as transparent as the raindrops falling all around the group gathered on the sidewalk. "That's all I want to do. Talk."

Connor knew better than to believe anything that anyone who deemed deviants as a threat or as personal properly at face value. The keen-eyed deviant had taken notice of the weapon and was ready to respond appropriately to disarm the man and keep his friends safe. Unwilling to risk either Echo or Abby being attacked with the knife Connor held his ground and began preconstructing his numerous options to disarm Floyd before he did anything he couldn't undo.

"Turn around and walk away." Connor urged in a lowered voice to keep either Echo or Abby from hearing what he was saying. "This is your only chance. Don't do anything foolish."

"You already called the cops on me." Floyd lamented as he stepped forward only to have Connor stop him by just planting his strong palm against his shoulder. "It's too late for that."

Moving without thinking Floyd sunk the knife deep into the middle of Connor's abdomen and caused the deviant to gasp in pain as he responded to the assault by grabbing onto Floyd's wrist and bending the joint back until the fragile bones snapped. The sharp pain caused Floyd to shout and back off quickly while Connor clutched at the knife stabbed into his abdomen and fell to his knees. Echo and Abby both jumped at the pained shouts from Floyd but didn't dare to try to flee. As soon as they saw their friend incapacitated and bleeding, they both sprang into action to help

Echo shouted for help from New Jericho Tower while also sending out another cybernetic distress call, and Abby ran up to where Connor was kneeling to check on her wounded friend. Neither cared what happened to Floyd considering he had brought the confrontation on by himself just because he couldn't take 'no' for an answer and leave Echo alone.

"Shit... Connor." Abby dropped her umbrella to the side and knelt beside Connor as she saw the dark blue blood soaking through his black t-shirt and staining the rain puddles all around Connor a disconcerting shade of blue. She didn't even try to stop Floyd as the deplorable man turned to run. "Lower your hands, let me see."

Connor couldn't speak. He was in too much pain and too stunned to say a word. Instead, he raised his head in an awkward, stuttering manner as he watched Floyd cradling his broken wrist to his chest and running away from the scene of the crime with one of the police drones following after him. Cybernetically, he informed the police of where the man was fleeing and requested for patrol to chase after Floyd and make sure that he didn't try to escape from the city.

"H-He was going to hurt... Echo." Connor finally managed to speak as Abby pried his Thirium soaked hands away from his damaged abdomen. "Knew... he h-had a knife. Forgot that I w-wasn't wearing body armor."

"Just remember in the future to avoid anyone with a knife regardless of your attire, and you'll be fine." The technician urged as she carefully lifted up Connor's shirt to get a view of his wound without disturbing the knife in the process. The blade was fully embedded in Connor's torso all the way up to the hilt. "Oh, shit... It's in your Thirium pump regulator."

"I-I've... noticed."

Abby reached for Connor's left forearm only to remember that the small screen he had implanted in the limb had been destroyed and that she could no longer view his vitals in real-time. Responding as she would to any other situation, she pressed her fingertips to the side of Connor's neck and was grateful his system upgrades included more accurate human pulse points for her to utilize.

"Thready pulse." Abby confirmed as she then pressed her opposite palm to the center of Connor's chest. She could feel his Thirium pump hammering at an irregular beat and pace that didn't match the pulse point along the side of his neck. "Arrhythmia. The damage to your regulator is causing your pump to beat irregularly."

"I-" Connor let out a shuddering gasp as he began to collapse forward where he was kneeling. Had Abby not reacted as quickly as she had then Connor would've crumpled into a limp heap along the sidewalk. "C-Can't... breathe."

"Try to take it easy. I have you."

Moving on autopilot Abby put her hands to Connor's shoulders and gently guided him down to lay on his back along the sidewalk while they waited for help from the tower to arrive. The only thing Abby could do was monitor Connor's erratic pump rate as the deviant bled out and began slipping into unconsciousness.

"Connor, stay with me." Abby urged as she rubbed her knuckles along the center of his chest where his sternum would've been located had he been human. "I need you to keep awake."

Echo had managed to awkwardly move along the sidewalk and rest on her hip next to Connor and hold the dropped umbrella up and over her protector. Being too damaged to walk, let alone stand, left Echo unable to do anything beyond moral support.

Connor's eyes slipped shut and his body went limp with a single deep exhalation causing his chest to stop moving entirely.

"Connor?" Responding quickly Abby pressed her ear down against Connor's chest but failed to hear a heartbeat. "Shit! His regulator is completely offline."

"What can we do?"

"Only this until we can get some more help."

Abby placed one hand over top the other, interlaced her fingers and began compressing Connor's chest under her combined fists in a rapid, steady rhythm. Every compression caused his heart to momentarily contract and then relax after she released the pressure. The artificial heartbeat was better than no heartbeat.

"Come on." Echo whispered as she leaned down closer to Connor's face in search of any signs of life within the deviant. "Your people still need you."

The sound of rushing footsteps put both Echo and Abby on guard as they glanced about the area worriedly. Only when they saw Simon and Josh hurrying their way did either of them even attempt to let out a sigh of relief.

"Echo has a broken leg and Connor was stabbed." Abby got right to the point and watched as Simon knelt beside the downed deviant detective and pulled up his rain and Thirium drenched t-shirt to look at his damaged abdomen. "The knife destroyed his Thirium pump regulator. It'll need a total replacement."

"We have spares in the tower." Simon replied quickly as he assessed the damage and agreed with Abby's diagnosis. "Josh, get Echo on the tram and make room for us to lay Connor down so we can continue compressions. The longer he's without a proper heartbeat, the worse his chances are at a proper recovery."

"I'm on it."

Josh knelt down long enough to carefully scoop up Echo and hold her in his arms to carry her to safety. Despite the seriousness of the situation Josh was able to remain entirely calm and composed. Walking with smooth, even steps Josh was able to carry Echo to the supply tram idling at the end of the bridge and place her down on a cushioned bench secured to the interior sides of the tram for her to rest on. Once Echo was properly situated Josh began moving aside large metal storage crates and made room for Connor to lay on the floor while he was being transported to New Jericho Tower for treatment.

"Let me take over." Simon urged as he promptly began compressing Connor's rest right alongside Abby's hands. The moment her hands retreated Simon resumed the compressions without missing a beat or breaking the rhythm. "Where are the police?"

"My guess is they're chasing the asshole who did this." Using her eyes Abby directed Simon's attention to the remaining drone watching their efforts to keep Connor from shutting down. "He was trying to harass Echo, but Connor stopped him."

"A lot of deviants have been reporting harassment from humans as of late. I think Markus's efforts to hold previously abusive accountable for their actions spooked a lot of people."

Josh returned to the sidewalk with a gyroscopically stable trolley in his grip. The trolley was designed to hover slightly above the ground thanks to powerful magnets keeping the metal tool slightly aloft, which also made it much easier to push around thanks to the lack of wheels getting caught or turned around by anything that could potentially be in its trajectory path.

"Help me get Connor up and on the trolley." Josh requested as he took hold of Connor's shoulders while Abby took hold of his legs. It was awkward but entirely possible for Simon to keep compressing Connor's chest by keeping one hand on top of his chest and putting his other hand along the middle of his back to create a firm surface to compress downward against. "North and Skye have the emergency repair bay ready for Connor."

The compressions continued after Connor was placed on the trolley and taken to the supply tram and never lost their rhythm as Simon continued to force Connor's heart to beat while the tram traveled down the track and to the tower out on the isle. Everyone was silent as they watched Simon performing chest compressions on Connor to keep the deviant from shutting down entirely. All Abby could do was use the emergency supplies on the tram to support Echo's broken leg while making a mental note to ask Markus to improve emergency first aid response by having emergency supplies stocked on every corner of the city in the near future.

The tram reached the rear entrance of the tower and entered the structure through the large, metal door after it slid open automatically. Being inside the massive storage room of the tower was a little overwhelming to the humble occupants of the tram as they continued to fight for Connor's life.

"Over here!" North shouted as she met her friends inside the storage room with a gurney in her grip. As soon as she rolled the supportive device over to the tram North watched as her friends gently picked Connor up and laid him over the gurney for transport to the emergency repair bay. "I contacted Lucas to let him know what's happening. He'll be here soon."

Skye entered the space next with a wheelchair and helped Echo to slide out of the tram's side door and into the chair to be taken care of as well. "You guys help Connor. Me and North can take care of Echo."

Simon and Josh nodded in appreciation while Abby used a sharp pair of scissors to cut away and completely remove the ruined t-shirt from Connor's person. The way everyone was banding together to take care of Connor really spoke volumes of how much the former vigilante was respected and admired among his people.

"Attach the wireless leads to his chest." Abby nearly ordered as she fell immediately into lead technician mode and fought to keep Connor alive. She wasn't the type to give up on any of her patients in general, but when it came to a friend, she seemed to take their damage as a personal insult. "If there's any sign of a rogue beat we need to know."

"The regulator has been destroyed." Simon needlessly reminded the determined woman as he continued with the compressions by standing on the edge of the gurney's railings to continue chest compressions while Abby and Josh swiftly wheeled Connor out of the storage room and to the heart of the tower to access the elevator. "There's no way for his pump to beat on its own."

"Even if the regulator is destroyed, we need to keep track of every potential beat to determine if the Thirium pump received any type of structural damage from the regulator suddenly going offline." The four leads were placed along Connor's chest one at a time courtesy of Josh's skilled hands and soon the synched Thirial activity monitor showed an array of unusual numbers on its display. "Core temperature is a little low. Thirium volume down to eighty-eight percent. We'll take care of that after his regulator is replaced."

"The replacement regulator is ready." Josh could only offer supportive measures as the gurney was loaded into the elevator to reach the emergency repair bay. "Lucy is waiting for us in the repair bay and has confirmed that the regulator is entirely functional."

"Let's just hope it's compatible with Connor's prototyping." Abby whispered as she tried to not assume the worst. All of the upgrades that Connor had given to his already unique design would make compatibility issues all the more complicated. "Otherwise, we'll have to repair his current regulator."

"What if it can't be repaired?"

"Then we'll have to reverse engineer a proper replacement instead."

The gurney was wheeled directly into the emergency repair bay where everything was already set-up to handle Connor's very critical condition. Working together Simon and Josh lifted Connor up from the gurney to place down on the exam table and Simon immediately resumed compressions all while Abby set about checking through the technical equipment at her disposal. Having Lucy monitoring Connor's condition through her unique insight actually helped Abby to calm down enough to take in a let out a deep breath to steady her hands.

Lucy closed her eyes and placed her palm down gingerly over Connor's forehead. It took her only a few precious seconds to connect to his mind and relay what he was experiencing while he was unable to speak for himself.

"How's he doing, Lucy?" Abby asked as she held and internal viewing screen over the knife still stabbed into Connor's abdomen to see how long the knife's blade was and how deeply it was embedded in the Thirium pump regulator before even trying to remove it. "He was conscious until the regulator failed."

"He is still with us." Lucy confirmed in a comforting voice. "He is resting, but his trust in your ability to save him is still very strong."

"Glad he has faith in me considering he has a knife stuck in his gut." It didn't take Abby long to estimate how far in the knife had gone and how she could safely extract it from Connor's body. "Okay, as soon as I have the damaged regulator removed, we'll have to insert the new one right away. The sooner his system adapts to the regulator, the better."

"It's right here." Josh carefully lifted the replacement biocomponent from its metal storage case and brought it over to the exam table. "Ready."

"Okay, let's do this."

There was no need to remove the knife considering there was no way to save the current regulator. Using the knife's handle to her advantage, Abby used her gloved hand to slowly twist the biocomponent to loosen it from its coupling then lifted it up and out of Connor's abdomen in a single smooth motion. Lost Thirium seeped out of the opening left behind and quickly ran down Connor's sides to pool on the exam table all around his body.

"Old regulator is out." Abby confirmed as she set it aside to have it taken by the police later on. Accepting the new regulator from Josh's hands she carefully inserted the new regulator into the opened port, twisted it into place and watched it lock up and begin glowing a faint red color. "New regulator is in."

The door to the emergency repair slid open as Lucas practically sprinted into the room to check on his brother. The sight of Connor enduring chest compressions while the red glowing regulator resided among a smear of Connor's own blue blood left the deviant feeling absolutely sickened.

"What happened?" Lucas demanded as he quickly picked up Connor's hand and connected to his system. The recorded memories of Connor's encounter with Floyd Mills and protecting his friends immediately enraged Lucas. "There's now an A.P.B. out for Mills's arrest. He won't be able to hide for long."

Hank finally entered the room as well after being left behind at the elevator by Lucas. The older man was just as worried about Connor as Lucas was, but his training and experience as a detective allowed him to remain far calmer than Lucas. The young deviant's raw emotions were sometimes too much to be contained.

"Abby?" Looking to the technician for some answers Hank addressed her in a level tone. "What happened? Why are you here and not at the Zeta Facility?"

"Long story short, some asshole tried to threaten another deviant, Connor told him to fuck off and got stabbed for his efforts." She was able to paint a vivid picture with just her words in a very short timeframe. "I'm okay, the other deviant is okay, and the police are already looking for the asshole."

"Cool, cool... But why are you here in the tower?"

"This all happened just outside the bridge. Connor and I were enjoying a walk in the rain when everything happened."

"Damn. Can't even have a quiet afternoon anymore."

"The regulator isn't recalibrating to Connor's system." Abby lamented as she watched the replacement biocomponent continuing to glow in a red color while the attached monitor confirmed there was no attempt by Connor's heart to beat on its own. "This isn't going to work."

Simon never stopped the compressions as he gave Abby a despondent look. "There aren't any other regulators in the tower."

"Then we'll repair Connor's damaged regulator and return it to his body."

Lucas quickly scanned the damaged biocomponent and openly winced at what his readings confirmed. "Not possible. The regulator has sustained permanent, irreparable damage."

"Okay... Then we'll reverse engineer a replacement." Abby's tone was almost snippy as she refused to just stand back and watch her friend die. "What we have right now just won't work."

"The damage to the regulator is too extensive to properly- Oh, no." Lucas's green eyes widened with fear as he looked at the red biocomponent as a gush of blue blood erupted from around the new regulator. The Thirium lines beneath had ruptured and caused the monitor to screech in protest. "Shit, he needs to have internal repairs before we even try to replace the regulator."

"It won't matter how many times we repair the lines if he doesn't get a compatible regulator." There was a controlled panic in Abby's voice as she removed the useless regulator from the coupling and began mending the damaged Thirium lines within. The amount of blood loss was absolutely disconcerting. "Unless we can get a biocomponent to properly adapt to his system, he's done."

"There are no regulators compatible with his design already in existence." Lightly Connor put down Connor's hand but kept his palm wrapped around the cold appendage protectively. "What can we do to replace something that doesn't exist?"

Hank had a flash of eureka in his gaze as he stepped up and put his hand on Lucas's shoulder. "There is one biocomponent that can work for Connor. It's at the precinct right now."

"...You're referring to the regulator of his Connor's doppelganger." The solution seemed too good to be true as Lucas quickly figured out what Hank was suggesting. It was a crude solution, but viable all the same. "How do we get it here?"

"With a phone call to Joel." The Lieutenant confirmed as he pulled his phone from his pocket. "You guys keep Connor stable; I'll tell Joel what's up and get him out here with the regulator Connor needs to live."

The deviants hovering over Connor flurried into motion to keep the dying deviant stable through external Thirium lines, monitors, chest compressions and delicate work being performed on the ruptured Thirium lines within Connor's abdomen. It was an impressive display of teamwork as everyone did their part to keep Connor functional and active during his hour of need.

"Hold on, brother." Lucas whispered as he tightened his grip around Connor's hand to make sure the dying deviant knew he wasn't alone. "We're not going to give up on you, so you can't give up either. We need you to hang on."

Belle Isle: New Jericho Tower

Hours passed by slowly after Connor was admitted to the tower for emergency treatment. The rain continued to pour over the city and created a dour atmosphere over the darkened city blanketed by nightfall and a faint fog. The emergency repair bay was entirely silent save for the gentle, rhythmic 'beeping' of the Thirial activity monitor recording Connor's returned heartbeat and the echoing thrum of the raindrops pelting the tower from all sides. The occasional footstep would interrupt the consistent ambience as Abby, Simon and now Joel all took turns checking on Connor's recovery process as the replacement regulator glowed a much healthier and stable shade of blue in his healing torso. The regulator had been readily accepted and only took a minute to recalibrate and prompt Connor's heart into beating on its own again.

Hank had made sure to let Captain Fowler know of the incident and urged the man to put the assault against Connor at the top of the priority list. Since Connor was assaulted by a man who was repeatedly harassing other deviants, and there was a case being built against humans who had previous abused androids in the past, there was no denying that Mills was going to spend a lengthy amount of time in prison for his unacceptable behavior.

Pacing the room slowly Hank watched as Lucas stood vigil beside Connor and admired the two deviants for having such a strong brotherly bond. He was proud of the way both of the deviants had evolved so much since deviancy and was relieved that they had each other to rely on.

"He's going to be okay." Abby whispered as she approached Hank now wearing clean, dry scrubs in favor of her rain-soaked clothes. The hot shower and dry clothing immediately helped her feel better after she finished replacing Connor's regulator. "If he won't stay here for observation for the night, then I'll make sure he stays down and rests for two days back at my place."

"No duct tape this time?"

"Surprisingly, no. Go figure him having access to a kitten who adores him would be enough to get him to sit still for a while."

"Lucas is the same way with Sumo." There was no denying that anyone who could get along so well animals was someone with a big heart. "Humans don't deserve animal companionship, but deviants certainly do."

"Connor?" Lucas suddenly spoke up and pulled Hank and Abby's attention back to the healing deviant. "Can you hear me?"

"...Lucas." Slowly Connor's soulful brown eyes opened, and he looked over up at his little brother hovering protectively above him. "Good to see you."

"The feeling's mutual." A relieved grin appeared as Abby used her audioscope to listen to Connor's chest to ensure his heartbeat was stable. "We know what happened to you today. We're all glad that you, Abby and Echo are going to be okay."

Connor lifted his head and glanced about the recovery room curiously. He immediately recognized the faces all around him and a few more after Joel returned to the room with Simon, Josh and Lucy with him. They were all genuinely happy to see him awake and alert again. Such a response was one that made Connor feel like he was actually wanted and that he wasn't making any mistakes when it came to who he associated with.

"Try to hold still." Lucas urged as he put his hand to Connor's shoulder to keep him down for a minute longer. "You needed your Thirium pump regulator replaced after it had been damaged."

"I presumed as much." Letting out a small sigh Connor pressed his palm over the biocomponent that was still exposed in his torso. His artificial skin had been momentarily deactivated to make the repair process much easier. "How is Echo?"

"Her left leg was salvaged and had been welded back together by Simon and Joel while you were resting." Lucas explained while Abby finished giving Connor a quick examination to ensure he wasn't going to suffer any complications. "She's also going to take the stand against Mills when the trial commences in a few weeks."

"That's good to hear. And thank you, all of you, for helping me." Peering past Lucas's shoulder Connor saw Hank standing back and addressed the man in a low voice. "Lieutenant, I'm glad you're here, too."

"I'm glad you're still here." Hank admitted as he approached the exam table and stood beside Lucas. The man couldn't deny that he was genuinely worried that Connor wasn't going to make it when he saw Connor being given C.P.R. and how much blood he was losing. "And just call me 'Hank', we're way past rank right now."

"I'll remember to do that. For now, can I ask a favor from you?"

"Sure, kid. What is it?"

"Can you arrange for me to have a meeting to speak with Captain Fowler?" The request was something that was both humble and a little complicated when one considered the busy schedule of the average police Captain. "I've made my decision about my next career opportunity, and I wish to discuss it with him as soon as I can. I wish to do it in private."

"Sure, no problem." An amused grin appeared on Hank's face as he happily obliged the deviant's one favor. "Consider it already done."

-next chapter-