(y/n) POV

Love? I knew that I liked Connor but was I really sure that I'd fallen for him? We've only known each other for a few days. It just seems too sudden, too irrational. Then again, love never is rational. Despite the logicality of it, I knew that it was the truth.

"You're off the case. The FBI is taking over."

Captain Fowler's words had sent a shock through my body before numb realization set in. No case meant no Connor. He would be sent back to CyberLife. He would end up getting deactivated, "What? But we're onto something! We... we just need more time. I'm sure we can-"

"(y/n), you don't get it. This isn't just another investigation, it's a fucking civil war! It's out of our hands now... We're talking about national security here."

"Fuck that!" Dad spat, "You can't just pull the plug now. Not when we're so close!"

"You're always saying you can't stand androids! Jesus, Hank, make up your mind! I thought you'd be happy about this!"

"We're about to crack the case! I know we can solve it!" I pleaded.

"For God's sake Jeffrey, can't you back us up this one time?" Dad joined in.

Fowler sighed, "There's nothing I can do. You two are back on homicide and the android returns to CyberLife. I'm sorry, Hank, (y/n), but it's over."

I cast a worried look over at Connor. He looked distraught but didn't say anything. I clenched my fists and walked out of Fowler's office followed by Dad and Connor. I plopped down in my chair feeling defeated. Connor sat on my desk, "We could've solved this case. We just needed more time."

Dad gave a humorless snort of laughter, "You and your god damn case. Is that really all you care about? Not me? Not (y/n)?"

Connor looked guilty at the mention of my name. I could tell he didn't want to lie to Dad but he was scared and looking for a way to prolong this case and by extension his life. A risky plan sparked to life in my head. It wasn't the best idea and could backfire but if I didn't do something Connor would die.

"Dad, Connor's a deviant," I told him surprising both men.

Connor's already yellow LED flashed red for a split second, "You said we shouldn't tell him."

"Do you trust me?"

He answered without a shred of hesitation, "Without question."

"How long?" Dad asked.

"Eden Club."

I could tell Dad was beginning to connect the dots. He slowly nodded in understanding.

"If he gets sent back to CyberLife, he'll be deactivated. He'll be effectively sent to his death."

"I... I don't want to be deactivated, Lieutenant..." Connor admitted, "I'm scared..."

We were interrupted by Perkins entering the station. "Well, well, here comes Perkins, that motherfucker... Sure doesn't waste any time at the FBI..." Dad commented.

"We can't give up. I can find Jericho. I know the answer is in the evidence we collected. If Perkins takes it, it's all over."

"If you can distract Perkins long enough, we can find Jericho," I told Dad, "We can help the deviants."

"We?" he questioned.

"I'm going too."

Both of the objected at the same time, "No!" "Absolutely not!"

I glared defiantly at both of them, "In case you've forgotten, I am an adult. I don't need permission. Do you think I'm really going to stand by and watch from the sidelines? If you won't take me with you, I'll find a different way there."

Dad hesitated but gave a defeated sigh, "There's really no stopping you, huh?"

"I still don't think this is a good idea," Connor admitted.

Dad jabbed a finger at Connor, "You better keep her safe. If even a hair is out of place, I'll turn you into a pile of scrap metal and throw you in the incinerator myself."

"Of course, Lieutenant, I won't let anything happen to her," he promised.

Dad pulled me into a quick hug. I could feel him press a kiss to the top of my head, "Please come back in one piece."

There was a good chance I would never see him again. I gave my father a light squeeze before I pulled away. He gently pushed our shoulders in the direction of the evidence lockup, "Get a move on, I can't distract him forever.

Connor and I watched him storm over to Perkins and punch him in the face, "Perkins! You fucking cocksucker!"

The sudden commotion drew the attention of Fowler as well as a few other cops, giving Connor and I the chance to sneak away. But right as Connor reached to open the door, a voice stopped us in our tracks, "Hey, Connor, (y/n)! I'm talking to you, assholes!"

It was Gavin, "Where you going with that piece of shit? We don't need any plastic pricks around here! Or didn't anybody tell you?"

"I'm registering the evidence in my possession and (y/n) is accompanying me to make sure I do as intended," Connor replied calmly, "But don't worry I'm going to leave... Though I'm certainly going to miss our bromance."

"Son of a bitch," Gavin pulled out a gun and aimed it at Connor's head. It was moments like these that made me wonder why Fowler kept someone as trigger-happy as Gavin. None of us moved for a moment but then Gavin imitated the sound of a gunshot and chuckled before lowering the gun. Connor gave a fake smile and I forced an awkward laugh.

"Go on then. Get a fucking move on. Prick..." Gavin turned away and started to walk out, "Fucking androids."

We waited for him to leave before continuing into the evidence lock. I pressed my key to the security lock and the glass door slid open. Connor pressed a hand to the terminal but stopped when he was promoted for a password. He looked at me expectantly.

I shook my head, "I don't have high enough seniority to access files, I can only add to them. But Dad was head of the investigation so his password should work."

"Hank's password... What would a hard-boiled eccentric police lieutenant choose?"

It was like a light bulb flicked to life above our heads. Connor and I looked at each other in a "it can't really be that easy" kind of way. Connor typed in "FUCKINGPASSWORD." It worked.

Connor and I smirked at each other, "Obviously."

The wall in front of us retracted and pushed out cubbies of all of the evidence we had collected about deviants, including the ones that had been destroyed. Looking at the dead androids hung up on the wall made my stomach churn.

Connor and split up and I looked on opposite ends of the wall. I walked over to inspect the android we'd found at the TV station. If he had worked with Markus, he probably knows where we can find Jericho. Closer inspection revealed that he could probably be reactivated but he was missing a vital Biocomponant.

"Connor, this android is missing Biocomponant #3983v. That android over there is the same model, he might have the right piece."

Connor nodded before pulling said piece out of the other android. The action made me flinch but I knew this is what needed to be done. Connor must have noticed my discomfort because he took my hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze before putting the Biocomponant where it needed to go.

"It's dark... Where... where am I?"

The combination of sound of the android's voice and dark, sightless eyes sent shivers down my spine. Seeing my very evident distress, Connor's grip on my hand tightened. I swallowed the dry lump in my throat, "I'm friends with Markus. I'm trying to help him but in order to do that I need to find Jericho. Can you tell me where to find it?"

He shook his head, "I... I'm sorry but I don't recognize your voice, you're not one of us... I won't tell you where Jericho is..."

We turned away from him, trying to come up with a new plan. A sickening feeling rose in my stomach as an idea popped into my head. I hated the words before they even left my mouth but we didn't have much choice, "Connor... I... I think we're going to have to trick him."

Connor's LED turned yellow as he thought about it. He let go of my hand and walked over to the collection of items we had recovered. I followed, immediately missing the contact. Connor picked up the recording of Markus' speech and played the ending a few times. He repeated some of the words before his voice changed to match Markus'.

We walked back over to the android, "Who's there? Who are you?"

"Everything is alright," Connor said in a perfect imitation of Markus's voice, "Don't worry."

"Markus? Is that you? Why did you leave me?"

Both of us visibly flinched at the desperation in those words. Connor shook it off, "I had no choice, they'd have killed us all... You'll be alright... I came to take you home. Just... give me the location to Jericho, we've got to leave now."

"Jericho... Y-yes... Yes, of course..." Connor reached out for the android's arm and scanned his memory. The android reached out and grabbed Connor by the shoulder.

(A/N: The rest of the chapter was written (with some tweaking by me) by my friend @Serpex.)

"Markus? Is that you, Markus? Don't leave me again, Markus! Don't leave!"

Connor pulled away as his LED turned yellow and then back to blue. I winced as he proceeded to return the android back to his former status. The fear had been so evident in his voice. He was so desperate and scared to be left behind, but here we were deceiving him.

It didn't feel right.

"So, that's it, then... Was there really no other way to do this?" I whispered. Connor turned away and put a hand on my shoulder forcing me to avert my eyes from the dark dead ones.

"There's not much time left. We know where to find Jericho, and we need to get there as fast as we can. We can't grieve for those who are gone right now," Connor replied. "If we don't hurry, we won't be allowed to leave at all."

I swallowed down the guilt burning my chest and shook my head. He was right. Just before we could leave, we flinched as the doors opened behind us. The clicking sound of a gun being cocked back drew our eyes to come face to face with a certain individual.

"Sorry to interrupt your little moment here, lovebirds, but it's over now. So, be a good girl and give up," Gavin sneered. His aim moved to Connor's head. "And as for you, I've been dreaming about this since the first second I saw you." I gritted my teeth and instinctively shielded Connor behind me.

"You're the one who needs to step down here," I stated.

I could see Gavin tense and jerk forward. He was closing in on us, "Listen, (y/n). Leave that thing already. Work together with me and we'll take this little deviant army down."

"Absolutely not!" Connor shouted angrily and pulled me away from Gavin.

"Don't do this, Gavin," I pleaded, "We know how to stop the deviants. Let us finish what we were assigned."

"Oh? You'd like that, wouldn't you? Well, I think you don't need a farce like that. I would compliment you better than a damn plastic toy like it ever could! Besides, you're both off the case, especially that piece of plastic. And now, it's going to be definitive. I'll make sure of it!" Connor and I ducked behind the console as Gavin fired a shot.

"Lay off, Reed!" I shouted. I swung around the side and rushed towards the other detective. He stumbled as I grabbed his arm and twisted it so he dropped the gun.

"Bitch," he growled.

Pain shot through my abdomen as he kneed me making my grip on him loosen. I fell to the ground. Gavin quickly retrieved his weapon and aimed it towards me only to scowl, "Humph, I suppose it would do nothing if I shot another cop. However, I suppose tin can over there can still take a beating."

"Connor, look out!" I tried to stand only to stagger as a breath got caught in my throat. Upon seeing Gavin, Connor went straight for the gun mimicking my moves. He successfully made him drop it again, the metal clanging on the floor with a broad echo. His fist jabbed up into Gavin's gut making him waddle back. It was clear that Connor wasn't here to reign mercy, but Gavin was no pushover. Every punch and kick was met with an equal or stronger bout from Connor. It was only when I suddenly saw Connor move past Gavin's arms and suddenly grip his neck did I gasp.

"Connor, don't!"

He stopped for a split second, realizing what he was about to do and opted instead to raise his elbow up and bring it down on the back of Gavin's head. With one last grunt, Gavin fell face-first onto the floor, his unconscious body lying still. Connor blinked a few times before distancing himself from Gavin and running over to me.

"Are you okay?" he asked. He gently cupped a hand to my cheek and (probably literally) scanned me for injuries.

Instinctively I leaned into his hand before realizing that was a weird thing for someone who's just a friend to do. I took a deep breath and nodded, "Just a little shocked. I didn't expect him to throw me so hard. But, well, I guess you did more than he did. I'm glad that you didn't kill him."

Connor pulled his hand away sheepishly, "I'm sorry if I worried you... I got a little carried away. I just... didn't like the things he said about you."

I waved a hand and gave him a smile, "He kind of deserved it. Besides, you protected me just now. If you weren't here, who knows what he would have done to me. I have to admit, you were reckless, but you were also brave."

"It felt like I had to. For the first time, it felt like my body was moving before I could think about what I was doing," Connor lamented, "I was overcome with something... I can't explain it."

"You want to know what I think, Connie?" I asked with a cheeky grin, "I think that your programming was compromised with emotions. Perhaps... Jealousy?"

I raised a brow in his direction, to which he seemed to get bit flustered. He turned around and awkwardly cleared his throat before straightening his tie. His attempts to cover his embarrassment couldn't hide the LED that was starting to betray that he was processing the new emotion very quickly.

"Let's head back to my place first," I suggested, "You won't get very far in those clothes."

On the way out, I gave Gavin one last good kick to the rear. Damn it felt good to see him get cut down to size at least once in my life.