"Holiday Season"

Detroit Central Precinct: Bullpen

The forecasted snowfall had arrived right on time and left Detroit an icy, winter wonderland just in time to celebrate the holiday season. Such dense snowfall has made traveling a little cumbersome, but that didn't stop the local Detroiters from going out and celebrating in style. Bright, colorful lights adorned the windows, doorways and gutters of virtually every house, apartment and business in the heart of the city. Thick, green garland draped over doorways, along arches and wrapped around the light poles gave a splash of life to the otherwise dormant flora in the area. Red ribbons, giant ornaments, glowing menorahs, lit candles and festive music truly brought a sense of camaraderie and peace to Detroit. Even as the painful aftermath of the historic peaceful Demonstration and resulting Revolution continued to change the city with each passing day the festive spirit was alive and well.

While Hank set about interrogating the fourth arrested pickpocket during his shift, Connor took the statement of a deviant who had been assaulted in the streets by a drunk human. There was a noted fear in the deviant's eyes that made Connor wince sympathetically as he took in their every word with keen, accurate details. By the time Connor was finished with the interview he had a vivid idea of what had happened and felt sick to his stomach as a result.

"It's a good thing that you've come in to report the incident." Connor confirmed as he not only chronicled the deviant's statement but used the precinct's tablet to document the physical damage that the deviant had sustained to their face, hands and forearms. "The more deviants who come in to speak with the police, the smoother the transition will be when the new rights and laws are fully enacted in the spring."

"You say it'll be smooth, but I'm not so sure." Amir, a masculine 'HK-600', admitted as he eyed the opened fracture running along his right forearm. Based on the way Amir was so hesitant to speak to anyone confirmed that he, like so many other deviants, was still wary of humans and the police department. "I think this will just add another bump to the road to peace."

"I prefer to think of them as obstacles that we'll all overcome together." After he finished with the photographs via tablet Connor slipped on his A.R.I. glasses and gently took Amir's damaged right forearm in his left hand and ran his gloved right hand over the damage. "This won't hurt. I just want to confirm whether or not you'll be able to heal from this damage on your own or if you'll need technical assistance."

"You know, that's the first time a human's ever acknowledged that I can actively feel pain as a deviant."

"I'm sorry that you were ignored in the past." Connor's A.R.I. glasses allowed him to identify the damage and diagnose the proper course of treatment without causing any undue stress to Amir's already stressed person. "The damage can heal on its own, but if you'd like to go to our second floor and stop by the dispensary, Dr. Forrest will be able to assist you and further document the damage to add to your statement."

"Thanks, I appreciate it." Standing up from the chair Amir cradled his sore forearm to his chest and offered Connor a sincerely gracious nod. "Now I understand why Markus speaks to highly of you at the tower."

The compliment wasn't one that the rookie detective had expected to hear. Such kind words left Connor momentarily stunned into silence as Amir heeded the offered advice and made his way to the second floor dispensary to meet with Joel. It was very rare for Connor to believe any kind of compliment, let alone any kind of reassurance that he was respected or trusted by anyone in general.

"Got a new assignment for you, detective." Captain Fowler announced his presence and nearly caused Connor to jump at the sound of his voice speaking just a few inches away from him. The moment Connor turned to lock eyes with him Captain Fowler handed the younger detective a tablet with the details for his new assignment already on the screen. "It's three days until Christmas, and we need a few more gifts picked up for the 'Toys For Tots' charity drop off."

"You're... sending me on an errand?"

"It's an errand everyone in the bullpen shares throughout the month." The seasoned Captain reassured Connor that it wasn't meant to be seen as any kind of insult or grunt work. "You're the last one on the list to pick up the final donations before it's too late to get the gifts delivered. The higher-ups have a special debit card for us to use to buy the gifts since they can get some kind of tax write-off for what should just be a simple good deed. Go figure."

"I see."

"Take this card and go to whichever stores have what's on the list." Handing over the specialized card felt like a rite of passage for all detectives in the bullpen, and it helped showcase how much Captain Fowler trusted his people. "Hell, take Hank with you since he's mastered the art of getting everything done as quickly as possible without missing anything in the process. Maybe he'll share his secret with you."

"When should I return?"

"Only after you get everything on the list, so don't worry about a time limit or any overtime. You're good."

Connor simply accepted the card and his new assignment with a puzzled glance. Being asked to run errands and help people for the sake of charity was something entirely new. In the past, everything Connor had done had been for the betterment of CyberLife strictly from a business standpoint, and such practices never seemed to revolve around charity benefits.

"Be sure to check out the 'Forever Fun' toy store downtown." Tina urged as she saw that it was Connor's turn to go and help out with their charity donations. "I loved going there as a kid, and I still love going there as an adult."

"Is there any point in going to the store when it's already so close to Christmas Day?"

"Sure! You never know what you'll find left on the shelves that'll make some little kid super happy!"

"That does seem logical."

"There's no logic behind spreading a little cheer to the children who need it more than anyone else."

"Only to children?"

"To the children who aren't as lucky as some of us to have families who can afford to give gifts or even be acknowledged by their families need all the love they can get. You know?"

"Yes, actually." The pain of his less than stellar or even memorable childhood always had a knack for showing up at the most inopportune times. As he slipped off his A.R.I. glasses and glove to slip into his pocket, his eyes darkened with the dark emotions associated with such a personal experience. "I do know."

"O-Oh, that's not- First of all, I'm sorry for mentioning a painful topic." Tina was blushing as red as the festive ribbon hanging off the top of her ponytail. "Second, I wasn't even talking about you personally when I said 'you know', it was just a turn of phrase. Third," she motioned to the awkward expression on her face as she asked Connor a truly important question. "how red is my face right now?"

"Fairly red. It's all right, I know you didn't mean anything personal or offensive." Connor admitted as he rose to his feet and gave the young officer some reassurance and then slipped on his coat to keep warm while out in the cold. "I will be sure to stop by that particular store tonight. I'm certain that the Lieutenant will help me find every requested item on the list."

"I wonder if he'll go overboard on the gifts this year?" The sincere wonder in Tina's question made her blush fade as she returned to her desk and turned on her terminal to begin working on her own reports. "I heard he used to go WAY over the top with gift giving, and I'd like to see it for myself."

Before Connor could ask Tina what she meant, he felt a familiar, strong hand pat his shoulder once and knew it was Hank. Despite his discomfort with being touched the rookie detective was no longer afraid of direct contact since he knew Hank wasn't going to physically assault him, and he knew it was the man's way of showing a type of trust and friendly affection toward him. To go from flinching at a raised hand to actually feeling comforted by a palm on his shoulder reminded Connor that he wasn't doomed to remain conditioned by CyberLife's cruel, torturous training after all.

"Fowler told me what's up." Hank confirmed as he readily slipped on his own coat and fished the car keys from his pocket. "I'll drive; you keep track of that list so we don't miss a single gift."

"I believe I can do that."

"Cool. Just remember that it's gonna' be a little bit hectic since it's so close to Christmas Day." The seasoned Lieutenant warned as he and Connor began walking to the door together. Seeing Connor wearing the new leather jacket made Hank feel good since he could truly see Connor making efforts to overcome his past trauma and move toward a far more prosperous future. "Don't take it personally if some idiot shoves ya' out of the way, and don't be afraid to speak up if another idiot starts screaming at the cashier for no good reason."

"Noted."

The moment the two detectives stepped outside of the precinct they felt freshly fallen snowflakes clinging to their hair and clothing. An echoing ambience of cheerful music accompanying a warm glow of lights gave the swiftly darkening evening a sense of warmth and even wonder as Christmas Day neared ever closer.

For Hank, and an impressive majority of the other United States citizens, Christmas had its own routine that they acclimated to in their own personal way. But for Connor, and a tragic amount of other people across the entire world, Christmas was just another day on the calendar that held no special meaning or contained any important, loving, positive memories. The sharp contrast in views on a single day was a stark reminder of how one person's experiences can be entirely unique, and that only through empathy could anyone even begin to try to understand how they felt and why they responded to scenarios in their own private manner.

Downtown Detroit: Shopping Plaza - "Forever Fun" Toy Store

The entire shopping plaza was a mass of people and chaotic energy as everyone scrambled to pick up their last minute items before it was too late to celebrate the holiday properly. Every store was packed full, and the associates were being swarmed with questions while also trying to tend to the front registers and keep the shelves stocked. The sudden lack of android personnel was being felt everywhere, and it was making the humans who had been so adamant in keeping androids out of work realize the errors of their ways a little too late. It was quite strange to see so many stores that had previously relied so heavily on autonomous functionality of androids now struggling to just get transactions processed properly on the registers. In time, those very stores will have no choice but to offer deviants appropriate monetary compensation if they wanted their businesses to continue to function smoothly all year round.

While Connor kept a tight grip on the tablet to ensure that the list wasn't lost, Hank casually walked up and down the colorful toy aisles grabbing everything and anything he knew would make a good gift. The way he didn't even need to double-check the list was impressive. It was clear that Hank was letting his experience as a father and his paternal intuition guide him in making sure all the kids in the city had a merry Christmas of some kind.

"Surprised there are any LEGO sets left." Hank muttered as he placed the two boxes that he had grabbed from the mostly empty shelf at the bottom of his shopping cart to ensure that no one could reach over and grab the items before he could pay. A couple of stray LEGO pieces left laying on the shelf caught his eye and made Hank smirk. "Man, I would've loved this stuff as a kid."

"Playing with a LEGO set?"

"I was talking more about this." Holding up the little LEGO figure Hank let Connor see what he was actually referring to. "When I was a kid, I couldn't get enough of anything to do with the 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'. Having a set of LEGOs with all the turtles would've held my imagination for years. Especially if I had Raphael in the set."

"Oh."

The indifferent remark quickly reminded Hank that Connor likely didn't have any toys of his own while growing up. It was an absolutely sad thought to think of anyone not having something that was uniquely their own to cherish and take care of while growing up.

"I bet I still have the old comics stashed somewhere." Hank continued on casually as he returned the lost figure to the shelf knowing that someone on staff would take care of it later on. "No way the action figures survived the 80's and 90's with the way me and my friends I played with them. Hell, I bet the old VHS tapes are still in storage somewhere just waitin' to be watched for the millionth time."

Connor didn't respond to Hank's attempts to get him to talk about something from his own childhood. Instead, Connor continued to meticulously eye each shelf and pick up only the requested toys to be purchased without commenting on the items slowly filling the cart.

"I wonder which of my toys are considered antiques by today's standards? Maybe if I can find some stuff that isn't in too rough of shape, I can sell them to a collector and make a little cash."

"I don't mind chipping in to help with the bills." The younger detective finally responded as he finally heard something he could relate to. "After all, you're allowing me to reside with you for as long as I need to without charging me any form of rent."

"Don't worry about that. I was just thinking out loud." Hank hated the way Connor was so detached to everything around him. It was like Hank was trying to teach an alien how life on Earth was supposed to be. "Maybe I'll go through my storage locker soon. Couldn't hurt to finally clean that place up and donate some of the stuff I don't want or need anymore."

"That'd be very generous of you as well." Connor continued to speak without any emotion as he picked up a stuffed bear and placed it in the cart. "I'll help you if you'd like some assistance."

"Yeah, thanks." Glancing about the aisle Hank eyed every remaining toy looking for some inspiration and decided to rely on the classic boardgames for a little help in trying to spark some interest in the holiday for Connor to experience for himself. "I'm surprised anyone even still volunteers to play 'Monopoly' anymore. Game takes forever to get through, people get mad at each other, the tiny pieces get lost all the time, people change the rules, no one wants to be the damn shoe..."

"Perhaps people collect board games or have more discipline than the average player."

"Maybe. I'm gonna' toss in a few of these games for the fun of it." The older man decided with an amused grin. "If the higher-ups don't like it, then next year they can get off their asses and do the shopping themselves."

"Will that upset Captain Fowler?"

"If it does, he's never said anything about for the past twenty-eight years I've been on the force doing this thing."

"Twenty-eight years?"

"Yup. Became a detective at twenty-five and haven't looked back." It was then an interesting realization hit Hank and gave him a new appreciation for what Connor was going through. "Damn. I've been a detective longer than you've been alive."

At that confirmation Connor suddenly looked a little pale and he became even quieter than usual. Turning away from Hank the rookie detective decided to resume shopping elsewhere while Hank lingered in the aisle with the board games and constructive toy sets. A strange thought began weighing heavily on Connor's heart and mind in a very distracting manner.

"Damn it. Good job, Hank, you made the kid feel out of place again."

Hank muttered to himself as his attempts to reach Connor continued to fail. It was evident that Connor would need a lot of time and patience to reach considering the years of trauma and the mostly forgotten past that were holding the younger man back from becoming a fully grown individual. Even so, Hank didn't want to spend the next ten or so years trying to help Connor to catch up while watching him flounder over his unintentionally awkward behavior.

Just two aisles over Connor found himself slowly checking off the remaining items on the list and soon had an armful of miscellaneous toys that meant nothing to him in any capacity. He didn't pick up a stuffed animal and feel a strange kinship to toys from his past. The bright colors and sounds of other toys didn't trigger any kind of memories from his youth. The smell of crayons, scented markers or construction paper were completely foreign to him.

"Found a few more things." Hank announced as he reunited with Connor and made sure he could put the extra gifts down in the cart. "I know there are some android models meant to emulate kids, so we should make sure the deviant kids at New Jericho Tower get some gifts too."

"That's... a very good idea." Connor hadn't even thought about the deviant children and felt horrible guilt for forgetting about them. "They should have toys identical to the same ones we're giving to the human children, and we should donate some extra Thirium."

"Consider it already done. And this is exactly why I always buy extra toys every year." The senior detective replied smugly. After the collected toys were neatly arranged in the cart Hank decided it was time to head for the check-out. "If that's everything on the list then we should go and get the extra stuff for the deviants before it gets too late in the day."

"We've managed to locate-" A loud wail from a temperamental child echoed through the store causing Connor to wince while Hank just started chuckling. The small child was screaming, crying and sounded entirely panicked. "What in the world would've caused such an extreme reaction?"

"The same thing that happens about this time every year." All Hank needed to do was direct Connor's attention toward the center of the store where a decorated stage, some red curtains and a gilded chair were set up with only his eyes. "Some kids can handle meeting Santa, some can't, and then others just wet their pants."

Connor followed Hank's line of sight and peered out at the stage where he saw an actor looking the part of the classic depiction of Santa Claus sitting on the chair with a pre-school age boy sitting on his knees screaming his head off. While the actor playing Santa wasn't at all fazed by the outburst the little boy's parents look a little embarrassed and were trying to calm down their son just long enough for the employee dressed as an elf to snap a nice photograph to commemorate the day.

"It's been a while since I've seen someone actually playing the part of Santa in person. Lately, a lot of people just write their e-mails to the North Pole and get the A.I. Santa to respond to their kid's message over a screen so they don't have to go out into the stores in person."

Silently Connor looked away from the display and shook his head at the strange commotion taking place all around him. For reasons he couldn't quite put into words the rookie detective decided that he needed to step outside for a minute to prevent himself from feeling overwhelmed.

"Lieutenant, I need to leave the store for a moment." Connor admitted as he took in a deep breath and tried to not let himself get caught up in the influx of extreme emotions and energy taking place all around him. "I'll be at the nearest Digital Sentience store picking up the supplies for deviants."

"Yeah, all right, kid." Not wanting to rock the boat Hank agreed to handle the check-out process alone while Connor was in another store. "Go get some fresh air."

"Thank you."

Moving hastily Connor tucked the tablet into his coat to keep it safe and walked toward the store's exit without bumping into anyone or drawing any unwanted attention his way. The sound of the screaming child, the ambience of the cheerful music, the bright lights and the hundreds of people gathering together in one place at one time were all proving too much for Connor to handle. Only when the brisk December air brushed against his face was Connor able to take in a deep breath and feel less smothered by the world around him.

As he stepped into the opened, snowy area of the plaza Connor felt any icy sensation below his eyes and rubbed at the uncomfortable sensation with his fingers in an attempt to rid the feeling from his person. Only when he finished wiping at his eyes did Connor realize that he had been crying, and then he understood why Hank was so willing to let him leave the store without any questions.

"Damn it. Why can't I keep my emotions in check anymore?"

Connor quietly swore at himself as made his way along the plaza and into the far less busy Digital Sentience store. It'd be easy enough to purchase extra Thirium and even a few replacement limbs to have donated to New Jericho Tower, but even so Connor worried the generous gesture still wouldn't be enough to get the deviants to fully trust the police or himself as a detective.

It didn't take long for Connor to pick up a large selection of supplies for the deviants and soon after Hank joined him to pay for the supplies with the debit card. The toys were already stored safely inside the Oldsmobile's trunk to ensure no one tried to steal anything, and that meant the deviant supplies would have the entirety of the backseats to keep them safe during their drive back to the precinct.

Only when the two detectives were inside the Oldsmobile again did Hank even try to get Connor to open up and talk to him. The older man didn't want to embarrass or make Connor feel like he was being targeted by asking him a simple question.

"Are you okay?"

"...I won't say that I'm fine." The younger detective admitted as he slipped on his seatbelt and looked away from Hank and out his side window. "I don't want to talk about it."

"Okay, you don't have to. Let's get these android supplies dropped off at New Jericho Tower, then get the toys ready at the precinct. They still need to be wrapped up before being donated."

"Who does the wrapping?"

"Volunteers and mostly Tina." Hank confirmed with a small smirk as he pulled the Oldsmobile onto the street to head out to New Jericho Tower isolated on Belle Isle out in the harbor. "She's the only one who can even come close to writing in any kind of calligraphy with the nametags too. Don't worry, we just need to make sure the gifts get back to the precinct, so you don't have to have any speed training on wrapping gifts."

"That's good. I've never-" Stopping himself quickly Connor sighed and resumed his silent gaze through the side window during the drive back to the precinct. "It doesn't matter. We finished our assignment, that's what's important."

"You're right. Being able to help other people is the most important thing right now."

Hank knew what Connor was going to say, and he swore that he felt a piece of his own heart break. It was incredible how quickly Hank had grown fond of Connor and wanted to help the young detective succeed in his career and his overall life. Every time he learned something new about Connor's past Hank felt a heat of rage well up inside of him since Connor had been so neglected and emotionally stunted, and whenever he heard the undeniable sorrow in Connor's voice Hank wanted to give the kid a hug.

In Hank's eyes that's exactly what Connor was - a kid. A child who had been forced to grow up too fast and was deprived of the wondrous, temporary gift that is a childhood because of forces beyond his control. The fact that Connor couldn't remember his childhood, had no family that he could contact and no means of knowing what had happened thanks to CyberLife essentially locking his life behind digital walls inside massive files only made Connor's very existence all that more tragically enigmatic.

There was no use to be had in lamenting a forgotten past, at least not on that night. Once the holidays died down Hank and Connor would have more time away from the precinct and would be able to resume their search through CyberLife's files to locate Lucas, uncover the truth of Connor's past and finally give the younger the detective his answers that were long overdue.

Detroit Central Precinct: Bullpen

The numerous toys and games that had been purchased had been brought into the precinct and taken to an interview room for safekeeping. They were soon being wrapped up by Tina and a few other volunteers who had the patience to properly cut, tape and wrap up each present to make them all look nice and pretty. There was a lot of laughter echoing out of the interview room's opened door while each toy was reminisced upon with fond memories of yesteryear by the helpful volunteers who were openly enjoying their seasonal assignment. Those who understood what their fellow officers were saying laughed to themselves as they sat at their desks inside the bullpen or converged in the neighboring community breakroom to partake in the festive treats that had been brought in and donated as a sign of good faith for the busy holidays.

It didn't take long for Connor and Hank to drop off the deviant gifts at New Jericho Tower before returning to the precinct, but it did take them a while longer to leave since Markus insisted that the duo enter the tower and help deliver the supplies and the toys for the other deviants to see. The positive reaction still wasn't enough to lift to Connor's spirits and Markus had picked up on his friend's low mood instantly causing righteous concerns. As a result, Connor found himself writing back and forth to Markus over his private e-mail under the guise of continued work while he did his best to ignore the laughter echoing all around him.

From the breakroom Hank snacked on a slice of pecan pie and filled a small box with little 'pie poppers' of every flavor to try to get Connor to eat something heavier in calories since the younger detective was still adamant about sticking to a very strict diet through CyberLife's nonsensical conditioning. Hank couldn't necessarily fault Connor for taking care of himself by eating right and working out regularly, but he didn't approve of the way Connor deprived himself of the simple pleasures in life like actually eating dessert or having one greasy meal every once in a great while.

"There's some more apple pies stashed beneath the carrot cake bites." Ben whispered as he joined Hank inside the breakroom. The seasoned investigator was a man who also appreciated a properly baked dessert and was happy to share them with his colleagues. "Got enough for you and the kid?"

"These are all for Connor. He doesn't eat enough as it is, so he needs to put on some weight."

"Want me to ask Maria to make something special for him for Christmas?"

"Thanks, but no." Hank confirmed as he carefully packed up the little pies and made sure the box was perfectly sealed to keep them from drying out. "I have no idea what he'd even like since he never eats anything unless I give it to him. Hell, I have no idea if even likes what I give him since he's afraid to avoid his opinion."

"Sounds like a prime case of C.P.T.S.D. in my book."

"You have no idea..."

Connor had finished communicating with Markus and was eager to clock-out for the night to hide away from the world until the chaotic energy of the holidays finally passed by. The strange feeling he had experienced while at the toy store hadn't faded entirely and he couldn't understand why he had started to cry while at the store. There were no memories to explain away his feelings or give him any answers to his current dilemma regarding his confusing reaction.

Needing something to distract himself from the ongoing laughter in the nearby room Connor decided to step outside the precinct's backdoors to get some more fresh air and get some space before returning home. The young detective knew that Hank was going to be asking him some uncomfortable questions once they were back home, and he decided that mentally steeling himself was the way to go since he still struggled to engage in personal conversations even with a person who he could potentially call his friend.

Settling down on the icy cold sidewalk wasn't exactly comfortable, but it did allow him a sense of privacy despite still being on the clock and surrounded by his busy colleagues inside the precinct behind him. Connor wrapped his arms around himself to stave off the chill in the air as he closed his eyes and tried to not let his muddled thoughts overwhelm him or confuse him any further. Being alone was surprisingly comforting, and it was a behavior he had adopted since childhood that had often spared him emotional turmoil whenever he felt like he was being put on the spot for any reason.

Only when the doors behind him slid open and then shut again did Connor dare to look around. A friendly presence settled down beside him and placed a bright red gift bag down on the sidewalk between Connor and his unexpected company.

"So glad you went to the toy store tonight." Tina gushed as she gave Connor a proud smile. She seemed to know how much Connor was struggling with the holidays and tried to show him some patience and understanding despite being a holiday sprite who went overboard during Christmastime. "And I knew that the Lieutenant wouldn't disappoint with getting extra gifts. But hearing that you two went out of your way to help the deviants too was awesome! I can't believe we forgot about supporting the deviants after everything they've been through."

"Markus was very appreciative." The answer didn't sound nearly as optimistic as it should've. Bowing his head down a little Connor sighed softly to himself and stared at the small snowdrifts forming around his shoes with a sense of absolute indifference. "I believe that the deviants were surprised to receive the donations, but I know that the deviant children will appreciate the toys, and the deviant adults will make good use of the Thirium. Healing is a very slow process."

"Do deviants have their own version of Santa Claus?" The question had been on Tina's mind all night long and she just needed to ask someone who might actually have an answer. "Someone like... 'Data Claus', or 'Santa Cache'?"

The attempt at humor was appreciated despite Connor's open lack of reaction. The somber detective rarely ever smiled and never seemed to laugh.

"Sorry. Bad joke." Apologizing sincerely Tina picked up the gift bag and tried to get Connor to take it for himself. "I know you came out here because you want to be alone, so I'll let you be after you open your Christmas gift."

"Gift?" Connor wasn't one to give gifts or receive them. Being given something without any strings attached simply never happened to him in the past. "Why would you give me a gift?"

"Because it's Christmas, because I wanted to, and because I always give gifts to my friends." Tina insisted as she tried again to get Connor to accept and then open the gift before she returned to the interior of the precinct. "Right now's the perfect time since Gavin's still being a big baby and is avoiding any shifts with you since you told him off for being a heartless bully. We don't need him being jealous on top of being a jerk."

"I'm sorry, I know that he's your friend. I didn't mean to uproot your work routine."

"You didn't do anything but tell Gavin to shut up. He's the one who traded his shifts around since he can't admit to being wrong or apologize like an adult." As Tina pushed the gift bag into Connor's hands, she gave him a reassuring grin to let him know that she didn't fault him for insulting Gavin. "He may be my friend, but that doesn't mean I'll put up with him being an asshole. And you're my friend too, so I want you to have this without any guilt."

"But I didn't purchase any gifts for you or anyone else in the precinct."

"That's okay. I give gifts because I want to give them out, not because I'm looking for something in return. Doing something good just because you want a reward is a very hollow and selfish act."

"I'll remember that." Accepting the bag at last Connor held it in his hands and looked away from Tina with a strange sense of discomfort. "And thank you."

"You're welcome. Go ahead, open it up!"

"It's not Christmas Day yet."

"You're allowed to open your gifts early, especially when the person who gave you the gift tells you to do it. So... do it! Open it!"

It seemed Connor wasn't going to get out of accepting the gift and finally appeased his confirmed, new friend by opening the gift bag carefully. The red paper was shiny and vivid, especially against the white snow around Connor's feet and the white tissue paper inside the bag. Unsure of what to expect Connor pulled the tissue paper aside, peered into the bag, and noted something dark blue was sitting on the bottom of the bag. Only after he reached inside and picked up the item did he finally identify it.

"A scarf." The long, blue garment was made of incredibly soft material and had been crocheted by hand. "I appreciate this. I hate the cold."

"You and everyone else in Michigan this time of year. My mom crochets in her free time, and when she found out I had a new coworker and someone I consider to be a friend, she decided that she needed to make you this scarf and practically demanded that I give it to you."

"Your mother made this? For me?"

"Yup! She didn't know what your favorite color was, so she just found the prettiest shade of obsidian blue in the store and rolled with it. Is the color okay?"

"Yes, it's fine. I honestly don't have any color preferences, but regardless of the color, knowing that someone put so much time, effort, energy and talent into making something just for me is..." For the first time that Connor could remember he had been given a gift that was meant exclusively for him. Being given his coat by Hank had been a great gift in itself, but anyone could just buy a coat; only a select few could make a garment and make it entirely unique. "I'm flattered."

"Mama will be happy to hear that." Gingerly Tina took the scarf from Connor's hands and draped it around his shoulders and neck. She pretended to not notice that Connor flinched slightly when her hands get too close to his face, and promptly wrapped the scarf around his neck in a manner that would keep him warm without being too tight. "She picked a good color. It looks good on you."

"Thank you. Tell your mother that I appreciate her gift, and I respect her talent."

"You sound like you're judging auditions or something. But I'll let her know, it'll make her feel awesome." Wanting to break the tension in the air Tina decided to turn their discussion toward something more festive. "Next year we should try to do a big Christmas celebration with the deviants. I know there's a lot of people - adults and kids alike - who would want to ask Santa for something special after everything we went through over the past couple of years."

The mentioning of Santa made Connor tense up unexpectedly and turn away from Tina where he sat. There was something upsetting about that one particular figure that had put Connor in a very melancholy mood, and he could only sit and ponder as to what would cause such a reaction.

Tina saw the strange reaction and was compelled to know what was bothering her friend. As much as she respected Connor's right to privacy and to keep certain aspects of his life entirely unspoken, Tina needed to understand what had upset Connor so much. The conflict of interest that came from being a friend and a detective always made it a little difficult to be a shoulder to cry on when things got tough for her coworkers.

"You said you grew up in foster care. That means the holidays are really weird for you, huh?" When Connor didn't respond Tina knew she hit the nail on the head and gently pushed the matter further. "And I bet you never had the chance to really celebrate anything when you were a kid. That's why you feel so out of place and like you don't deserve gifts as an adult."

"...Something like that." Lightly Connor rubbed his thumb under his eyes to make sure he wasn't shedding any further tears as he decided to finally talk about what was bothering him and get it off his chest. "Everyone around me knows how to behave and what to expect during Christmas. I don't know anything about it beyond disappointment and a sense of hopelessness."

The backdoor of the precinct slid open again as Hank quietly stepped outside and inadvertently overheard what Connor was saying. When he saw Tina sitting beside him and could see the rookie detective wrapped up in a new scarf Hank decided to step back into the doorway to give the duo some space while continuing to listen to what was being discussed. It was hard to walk away entirely since the man needed to know what was going through his young friend's mind to ensure that Connor had a proper chance to become his own person while feeling entirely comfortable in his own skin at last.

"What did you do during the holidays as a kid?" Tina asked in a whisper to make sure Connor knew it was safe to talk and that she wasn't going to gossip about him behind his back. "There had to have been something for you at the foster care facility."

"I don't have many memories of my childhood left intact. I've repressed so many of them that I only have the faintest sense of memories, but there's one memory that has come back to the surface recently." Connor's hand went for the coin in his jean pocket, and he began to fidget with it just out of Tina's line of sight. It was one of the few ways that Connor could channel his nervous tic and anxiety. "The thing is, the memory is so insignificant in hindsight that I can't understand why I can't stop thinking about it."

"It probably means more to you than you realize, or it's more important than you think it is. Want to talk about it?"

"No, actually. However, I know that if I want to recover from my past trauma then I need to face it." The coin stopped dancing between Connor's fingers just long enough for the rookie detective to note the shiny surface of the quarter and take in a deep, steadying breath. "...This evening, while I was at the toy store with the Lieutenant, I witnessed a small child becoming frightened by their encounter with the store's personal Santa Claus. The way the child screamed and cried reopened an old wound that I hadn't thought about for so long that I had tried to convince myself it wasn't real; it was a dream. I guess I still am."

"Did... Are you remembering when someone hurt you?"

"Not in a physical sense, no." Connor looked away from Tina again entirely unaware of Hank listening nearby with eager anxiety of his own. Despite convincing himself that he was entirely alone in the world Connor had two people right beside him who wanted only to help him. "When I was young - six or seven years old seems right - I remember that I had written a letter to Santa. The other kids at the foster care facility had the chance to write e-mails to Santa in the facility's small computer room, but I wanted to write the letter in my own hand. I guess I figured if I wrote a letter that stood out from all of the other letters being written to Santa that maybe he'd notice it and pay attention to me for once."

At that confession Hank felt like someone just kicked him in the stomach. He had seen firsthand how children who were ignored and neglected while growing up struggled to find confidence, self-esteem or a sense of worth once they grew up. Connor and Lucas growing up surrounded by hundreds of other kids who needed just as much attention as they did, with only a few dozen adult employees to take care of all of them, practically guaranteed that the brothers would age-out of the foster care program without any sense of true identity or a purpose.

"I remember that the other kids asked Santa for toys and games since we didn't have much to play with, but I didn't do that. I asked Santa to..."

Trailing off for a heartbeat Connor internally reminded himself that it was okay to talk and that he deserved to tell his story to anyone who was willing to listen.

"It's foolish, I know, but I remember that I had asked Santa to please find a family that would take care of my brother and myself, or maybe even have a pet to keep us company, but most of all we just wanted to have a room to ourselves. Sharing a large community room with other kids always felt uncomfortable for us."

"That's not foolish. That's sweet." Tina insisted as she listened to Connor's sad tale. It was like she was finally able to see and understand Connor for who he had been as a child and could now understand why he was so socially stunted as an adult. "What happened after you wrote to Santa that year?"

"I was the only one who didn't get a reply letter from Santa that year. It turns out, it was never delivered because the caretakers at the facility didn't want to pay for a stamp or humor me, so my letter was just thrown away. That's when I realized for the first time in my life that you could ask for help from even a person who claims to love everyone in the world and seems to have the power to do anything they wanted in the world, and you can still be forgotten. That's when I stopped believing in Santa Claus. That's when I stopped believing that anyone would ever be able to care about me. That's when I stopped believing that someday I'd finally have a family."

Hank couldn't take listening to another word. Hearing such heartache pushed him to his own emotional limits and the man needed to retreat back to the precinct for the time being to stay strong for Connor's sake while they endured the holidays together.

"Then, just tonight, I began to wonder if I had asked anyone else - someone who didn't work at the foster care facility or CyberLife - for help then maybe our childhoods wouldn't have been lost. Maybe if I had gone to the police to report the neglect we suffered as kids, things could've been different. Of course, I didn't realize that I was being neglected or abused by the people who were supposed to be taking care of us until I aged-out and became an adult. It's a pathetic story, I know." Connor admitted as he slipped his coin back into his pocket and tried to maintain a brave face. "I'm sorry if I ruined your attempts to cheer me up."

"Oh... Connor." Tina couldn't stop herself from throwing her arms around Connor and giving him a massive, uninvited hug. She didn't dare to let him push her away or shrug out of her grip. "That's the saddest thing I've ever heard! A little boy just asking Santa for a family for Christmas and having his letter just thrown away... Please don't give up on believing that you'll have a family! We all have one, including you, I promise!"

"It's all right." Too stunned to move Connor just let Tina hug him while he tried to convince her that he didn't need to be comforted. "I'm making peace with what I've been through. It isn't easy, but I'm making progress."

"That doesn't mean you should act like it doesn't still hurt. That's the type of trauma that breaks a heart and then stomps on the pieces." It took her a few minutes, but Tina finally broke the hug and revealed sympathetic tears in her own eyes. "I didn't even know you have a brother."

"I'm not sure if I still do."

"You mean he's- Connor, you're like a little puppy that was abandoned on the side of the road!"

"I still haven't given up on trying to find my brother." The rookie detective confirmed as he let Tina know a little bit more about his unusual world. "Even if he's no longer alive, I will still find him, and I'll learn where he had gone and hopefully why he had left me behind in Detroit."

"Well, if you need another person to help with your search, just ask."

"Thanks, but this is something I need to do myself. And with the Lieutenant's assistance of course."

"That's good. You shouldn't have to be going through something so heartbreaking by yourself." Tina wiped away her tears and cleared her voice to resume acting as if she hadn't just heard one of the saddest stories in her entire life. Knowing that her colleague was carrying around such a heavy emotional burden made it easier for Tina to understand why Connor was so emotionally withdrawn. "I'll also keep this a secret between us. I know you wouldn't want everyone knowing something so personal, especially during this time of year."

"I appreciate that as well."

"Okay, yeah." After recomposing herself Tina decided it was time to focus on something hopefully less cynical and keep her Christmas spirit from burning out. "I'm going to go back inside and help Chris finish with the rest of the gift wrapping, you just sit out here and do whatever you need to do to feel better."

"I will." Lightly Connor ran his fingertips along the soft fabric of the scarf wrapped around his neck and sat upright as he too recomposed himself. "Thank you again for the scarf. I can honestly say that this is the nicest gift I've ever been given."

"You're so very, very welcome."

Being alone with his thoughts and his new scarf helped give Connor a new perspective on what his life had once been, what it had become, and what it could still become as long as he didn't give up on himself. It wasn't easy to pick oneself up from the ground after it feels like the entire world kept pushing you down, but it wasn't impossible. Fortunately, Connor was as stubborn as he was resilient, and he wasn't going to give up now that he was finally making progress on his personal quest to be reunited with his brother and find information on the rest of his lost family.

Hank Anderson's Residence

Three days had passed and there was finally enough time for the busy first responders across the country to celebrate the holidays with their own friends and family even if they couldn't celebrate on the officially recognized date. The snow had finally stopped falling, the streets were cleared of ice, the wind had silenced itself, and the entire city felt much cheerier than it had for the first time in over six weeks. Serenity and quiet were an absolute blessing to those who had reluctantly endured the hardships and the chaos of a large city full of hundreds of thousands of people with conflicting yet equal points of view. Having a day without hearing sirens going off in all directions or receiving emergency calls that were ringing the phones off the hook was always a good day regardless of the date on the calendar.

A sudden ray of sunlight shining through the livingroom window awoke Connor prompting the young detective to sit upright on the couch and rub the fatigue from his eyes. It wasn't often that he managed to sleep so soundly during the night, and whenever he was startled awake he always felt embarrassed about letting his guard down. A few good morning nuzzles from Sumo reminded Connor that he was safe, and that he had no reason to worry about anyone bothering him as he slept.

"Sorry, kid." Hank apologized when he saw the way Connor reacted to being awoken on that quiet morning. Now that the curtains were open Hank could see Connor in the natural morning light in full clarity. "I didn't want to wake you up, but this is our only day off for another couple of weeks. You need to be able to enjoy it."

"I do enjoy my days off." Connor stated almost tersely as Sumo continued to press his nose into his palms seeking some attention. "I also enjoy it when I'm actually able to sleep through the night considering my recurring insomnia."

"Fair enough."

Connor sensed something was amiss by the way Hank was acting. After checking the time on his phone and noting that it was an earlier hour than when Hank normally awoke on his days off, Connor knew that the older man was up to something. It wasn't a malicious behavior, that much was certain, but it was curious and unusual all the same.

"May I ask why you're awake so early? You've been acting very tense since we left the toy store after collecting the gifts for charity." Sharp as ever Connor decided to gently broach the subject all while Hank casually made his way toward the hallway without breaking eye contact with his younger friend. "Is something wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong, kid. I've just had a lot on my mind as of late." Hank spoke with such a kind tone that one might've thought the Lieutenant was speaking with a frightened child rather than his own partner. "I just want to make sure we're not gonna' have any issues going forward while you're living here. That's all."

"Are... you asking me to move out?"

"What? No!" That very question immediately shifted Hank's tone from kind to panicked. "I told you once before that this house is your home for as long as you need a place to stay. There's no catch to worry about, and there are no 'ifs', 'ands' or 'buts' about it. Got it?"

"Yes, I understand."

"Cool. With that settled, I need you to come and open your Christmas gift so I can stop thinking about it."

"Another gift? You already gifted me a leather jacket out of necessity." Connor almost sounded defensive as he swung his legs over the edge of the couch to stand up and wrap himself up in the soft, blue blanket. The A.R.I. glasses were sitting nearby on the coffee table and the moment Connor put them over his eyes the world around him instantly became visually clear. "What else could I need?"

"Oh, I don't know... Your own personal space, WITHOUT moving out." Coyly Hank nodded in the direction of the one door in the house that had been left shut for the past three years. It seemed as if the man had been working to overcome his own past trauma alongside Connor without saying a word about it. "After that, who knows?"

Curiosity pulled Connor toward the hallway with Sumo following right at his heels. As he approached Hank still standing in the hallway Connor suddenly noticed that the perpetually closed door suddenly had a big red bow on its surface as if it had been decorated just for the holiday.

"What's going on?" The unusually festive sight left Connor seeking answers to questions he wasn't sure if he had any right to ask. "I don't understand."

Silently Hank patted Connor's shoulder once before quietly opening the door with a soft 'creak' to reveal the bedroom on the other side. What should've been an empty, barren room had brand new furnishings to welcome any occupant into the private environment. A queen-sized bed with freshly laundered sheets, a thick chocolate brown quilt, and two large pillows was resting against the wall ready for the night. A small nightstand was set up beside the bed with a simple desk lamp atop of it to give a welcoming feeling. In the far corner was another curious object wrapped in paper, but the shape of the paper as it wrapped the object indicated that the concealed object beneath was tall, wide and had a smooth, round surface and was surely another piece of furniture and yet another gift.

"For way too long, I let the pain of personal loss corrode my soul." The older man finally stated as he entered the bedroom and waited for Connor to join him. "I got lost in a bottle of booze, entirely ready to let myself drown in my own misery with no way to come back. Then you came along and reminded me that even if I don't have my own son to care for and help grow up into a good person anymore, there are other people in this world who can still use my help."

Connor glanced about the bedroom and felt a painful sense of intrusion wash over him. It wasn't a room that belonged to him, it was a room being given to him because the room's rightful, previous occupant had passed away at a tragically young age all because of a senseless accident and a selfish doctor's decision to get high on illegal drugs. Had Cole survived the accident then he'd still have the room, and Connor would continue to crash on the couch in the livingroom.

"You can stay with me for as long as you want to, kid. And this room," Hank crossed the floor and put his palm down on the foot of the bed. The small gesture was enough to entice Sumo to enter the room as well and jump up onto the bed to lay down and wag his tail happily. "is now YOUR room. You can do whatever you want while you're here. Change the color of the walls or the floor. Put up whatever you want to personal this space. Buy your own furniture, change the lights to your preference, and you can spend as much time as you want in here for whatever reason you have without any judgment from me."

"...I can't do that." As Connor admitted that he felt uncomfortable he tightened his fingers along the blanket hem as it remained wrapped around his body. "This isn't my house, and this isn't really my bedroom. We both know who this bedroom truly belongs to."

"Connor, it's taken me years to accept that Cole's gone and that there was nothing I could've done to prevent what happened to him. I don't want his bedroom to become a hollow monument to the life he never had the chance to live. I want to honor his memory by resuming my life as the person he knew before that horrible night changed me for the worse."

"I still don't understand how allowing me to use his bedroom is honoring his memory."

"First of all, I'm not letting you 'use' this bedroom, I'm giving it to you. Second, Cole always wanted a brother while he was growing up." Hank replied softly as he knew any mentioning of siblings would remind Connor of his personal mission to find his own missing brother. "I know that Cole would've loved to have met you, and he would've taken you on as his honorary big brother."

"How can you be so sure of that?"

"Because I know Cole better than anyone else in this world, and that's a rare gift that I won't share with anyone else for any reason. Just know that Cole would want someone who needed a warm bed to sleep in at night to have his bedroom. You being here isn't going to erase the memories I shared with Cole when he was younger. If anything, it's going to honor his memory because neither of us are going to let this room become a hollow reminder of a person who's no longer with us. I want this bedroom to be given to someone who never had their own bedroom growing up so they can finally have something to call their own."

A crushing weight of humility fell over both men as Connor stood in the opened doorway while Hank waited for the younger detective to finally join him. The way Hank was trying to give him something that he never had as a childhood without needing to ask or even briefly mention it was too coincidental in Connor's mind to be anything but suspicious.

"...What did Officer Chen tell you?"

"Not a damn thing." Hank swore as he held up his hands in an almost submissive manner to show that he wasn't trying to be antagonistic. "I accidentally overheard you talking to her the other night out back behind the precinct. I wanted to bring you something to eat when I saw you step outside since I knew you were having a rough day. I promise that I wasn't eavesdropping on purpose, it just happened."

Standing his ground Connor remained in the doorway and remained cautiously skeptical of Hank's claims.

"Talk to me." The older man insisted as he watched dullness fall over Connor's eyes. "What's on your mind?"

"You're giving me something that I had always wanted when I was a child." The response sounded as dark as Connor's gaze as he tried to mentally process what was happening and why it was happening. "You see it as giving me a gift, which it is. And yet I see it as a form of pity. You're giving me something because you feel sorry for me, not because you-"

Hank didn't give the younger man the chance to continue with his dour thought as his strong arms wrapping around Connor's shoulders suddenly silenced him. The hug was all it took to quiet Connor's misconception and reassure him that Hank didn't pity him in the slightest.

"Let's get something straightened out." Hank insisted as he held the hug and waited for Connor to try to relax and not feel as if he was being put on the spot, gossiped about, or pitied by anyone behind his back. "Any time I give ANYONE a gift, it's because I want to do it. There are no laws or regulations that demand that anyone has to give anyone else a gift regardless of the situation. I'm giving you this because you deserve to have at least one thing to your name beyond your clothes and that damn coin you always keep in your pocket. I did this because I WANTED to do it; there's no catch and this isn't a form of manipulation."

"I don't doubt that you're telling the truth about giving me this bedroom."

"Then what's the problem? You can tell me; I won't be mad."

"It's just that- No, there's no 'just' about this." Hesitant for a minute Connor sighed to himself and managed to look Hank in the eyes as the older man backed off and finally broke the hug that had kept him from overthinking the entire situation. "This gift that you're giving me is the first gift I've been given that was something I actually wanted. And I don't know how to react or feel about this."

"Ah, kid..." Without thinking Hank wrapped his palm around the back of Connor's head in the same way he used to do for Cole whenever his late son had been upset by something. It was only when Hank realized that Connor didn't flinch away at his hand that he noticed that he was slowly but surely earning Connor's trust. "You just feel whatever it is you need to feel. Don't worry about some kind of etiquette or rules when it comes to your emotions."

"Feeling as if this gift isn't truly for me, or that it can be taken away at any time, is acceptable?"

"Acceptable but false. This is your bedroom for as long as you're living with me, and there's no time limit on how long that'll be. Besides," casually Hank walked over to the corner of the room with the still wrapped gift and waved Connor over. "I know you wouldn't want to leave this behind."

"I wouldn't?" At last Connor stepped into the bedroom and joined Hank in the corner. The sight of the bright blue wrapping paper covering the unknown object beneath was too curious to be ignored even as the freshly vacuumed carpet beneath his socked feet felt entirely foreign. "What is it?"

"Open it up and see for yourself."

Connor gave Hank a wary glance for only a second longer before he reached out with one hand to tear down the paper and reveal the concealed object beneath. The pristine, crystal clear surface of the aquarium glass was matched only by the equally clear water behind it. Numerous green plants blossomed from the gravel and sand at the bottom of the aquarium. Stones of various shapes and sizes helped to create a natural appearing environment with hundreds of tiny bubbles rising up to the surface to ensure the water was in proper motion at all times. The small powerful but silent filter at the top of the glass created a gentle waterfall effect that ensured the water was being filtered to keep the aquarium's lone occupant happy and healthy.

Swimming about the tall, half-moon shaped aquarium was a single neon green betta fish with massive fins wafting gently behind it as it swam. The small-bodied fish with its big fins looked even tinier as it explored the sixty-gallon aquarium without needing to worry about a predator or a rival ambushing it as it lived its life in peace.

"I figured this would give you a true sense of home." Hank explained as he helped Connor to remove the remaining paper to reveal the wooden stand beneath the aquarium itself. Casually he opened the small door at the front of the stand and pulled a canister of fish flakes out of storage. "This is your own bedroom that you can decorate and furnish as you see fit, and now you have a pet of your own so you don't spoil Sumo rotten."

"Pet?" Connor sounded absolutely perplexed by the simple concept as he watched Hank sprinkle some of the fish food into the water for the betta to eat. "This is my fish?"

"Yup. Feel free to add as many fish as you can comfortably get in there." Putting the food back where it belonged, Hank stepped back and watched as Connor admired the green fish now nibbling at the flakes floating on the surface of the water. "I picked that little guy since seeing bettas confined in those little cups on the store shelves is too damn sad. It's just too bad you can't have more than one betta in a tank without them fighting."

Almost fascinated by what was happening Connor didn't acknowledge Hank. Instead, he focused on the little fish and felt a strange sense of comfort in watching it swimming about the water while gracefully weaving through the flora blossoming all around it. Just as Connor had found a safe place to call home after being isolated from the rest of the world, the fish had been given the same chance by the same man.

"You don't have to worry about getting this place feeling like your own any time soon." The senior detective confirmed as he rubbed Sumo's ears and noticed that Connor seemed to be slowly relaxing where he stood. "Go at your own pace, buy what you want and when you want it, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

"And... thank you for not dismissing me." As he turned to face Hank standing behind him Connor saw the genuine surprise in the older man's eyes. It was clear that they both had a long journey of personal healing to endure, but now they knew they wouldn't be on their journeys alone. "It may not seem like it, but I truly am grateful that you see me as a person, and not one of the heartless agents trained by CyberLife."

"You were never heartless, kid."

"How can you be so certain of that? You barely know me."

"I'm certain because anyone without a heart wouldn't have a change of heart the way you did. Not only did you realize that the deviants were alive and had every right to live a free life as us humans, but you risked your life to help their cause. A person without a heart would've willingly looked the other way as the deviants were gunned down in the streets, or worse, picked up a gun and pulled the trigger. You never did any of those things."

It was as if a crushing weight had been lifted from Connor's heart simply by hearing Hank confirm that he wasn't a monster. Being seen as a person rather than a tool or a soldier was one thing, but being seen as a good person who wouldn't hurt another living creature was like being given the positive affirmation that he had been seeking all his life.

"I'm gonna' go make us a big breakfast since we can finally celebrate Christmas in our own way. You should start moving your clothes out of the hall closet and into here so you can make this place really feel like your own room."

"I'll be sure to do that." Connor confirmed as he looked away from the aquarium and watched Hank stepping through the doorway. "But can I do that after breakfast?"

"Sure." Hank's deep voice shouted back a little to ensure that Connor could hear him from the hallway. "Like I said a minute ago, go at your own pace."

"And can I try to cook today?" The younger man sounded almost like a child as he met Hank in the hallway and caught his ear with the simple question. "You said that you'd teach me to cook some time, and I think I'd like to start learning now."

"Yeah, absolutely." A proud smirk appeared for a heartbeat as Hank felt relief hit him like a ton of bricks. He hadn't crossed any boundaries, and Connor was beginning to feel comfortable in his own skin and around his new friend. "We'll start simple with some bacon and eggs, then work our way up to pancakes or waffles, and add some fruit on the side to balance everything out."

"That seems like an excessive amount of food for just two people."

"Not on Christmas or Thanksgiving it isn't. Next year I'll be sure to stock up on a little bit of everything so you can experience the holidays in style!"

Connor wasn't quite sure what to make of such a promise, but he felt as if he could trust Hank with his word. Just as the two detectives entered the kitchen two firm knocks on the front door distracted them and elicited a single bark from Sumo as the large dog remained content on Connor's bed down the hallway. Neither man had been expecting company, and having anyone stopping by the house in general was rare.

"Who could that be?" Hank wondered aloud as he begrudgingly made his way to the front door to peer through the window beside it. "It better not be Fowler."

Silently Connor stood in the kitchen and watched as Hank checked through the front window before opening the door. Based on the way Hank momentarily tensed up and his brow arched Connor knew that the guest was someone entirely unexpected.

"What the hell?" After unlocking the door Hank pulled it open slowly and peered out at the guest standing on the snowy front porch. "Uh, can I help you? Or are you here to see Connor?"

"Both of you, actually." Markus confirmed as he looked past Hank and saw Connor standing in the distance. The moment he spotted his friend Markus's grip tightened around something being protectively clutched in his hand at his side. "Can I come in?"

"Yeah, get in here." Hank quickly stepped aside and closed the door after Markus made his way into the livingroom. Turning his focus on Markus standing behind him Hank tried to figure out what was so important as to have the leader of the deviants himself to travel out of the tower to his modest home on a cold, snowy morning during the holidays. "What's going on?"

"We've had a breakthrough back at the tower." The deviant leader explained as he stood behind the couch and gave Connor an eager yet confident smile as the rookie detective joined in on the conversation. "We managed to unlock one of CyberLife's files pertaining to their secret projects and found one labeled 'Project Light'."

"What is 'Project Light'? That doesn't sound familiar to me." Connor asked as Markus held up his hand and revealed a thumb drive in his possession. "What's contained in the file?"

"Answers, my friend. The project revolves around a former CyberLife employee named Lucas Zale." Handing over the drive Markus watched as Connor's eyes lit up and the color drained from his face out of sheer surprise. "With this newly uncovered information we can finally figure out what happened to Lucas, and we can finally find him and reunite him with you."

-next chapter-