"You're off the force."

Fowler's words came out with a thick drawl as he sat at his desk. He didn't even bother to look at Connor, who stood a few inches from the desk, hands clasped behind his back. Hank had warned him this might have happened, that there was a high chance that Connor would be taken from the team, but now that he was hearing it for himself, and it was really happening, it hit Connor in a way he never imagined it would. It felt like he was chasing those deviants on that motorway again, as if he had been struck down by something heavy and impenetrable, something he wouldn't recover from.. after all, wasn't being a detective his purpose?

The detective android tilted his head a little, trying to catch Fowler's attention as if this were all some elaborate ruse, but Fowler simply caught his eye with a raised eyebrow, giving a look that said 'why are you still here?' The gesture caught Connor off guard a little, as if it were the final nail in the coffin, and he stepped back, as if pushed by some non-tangible force.

"I-" He began, stumbling over his own words in an attempt to get a second chance. It was clear from the way that Fowler still looked at him that he didn't have an ounce of respect for the android, but he was going to try anyway. "Captain, please- I can prove myself to you."

"Look, there's nothing I can do." Fowler's tone was as straight forward as ever, not an infliction of emotion in his voice,

"At least you don't have to go back to Cyberlife for deactivation, hm?"

---

115 Michigan drive

A squat little house with two wide windows guarding either side. The rain was coming down heavy now, and Connor looked up, squinting through polished brown eyes at the grey puffs of clouds that covered the sky. If only he'd brought an umbrella. Approaching the door, the air felt colder all of a sudden, producing a chill that ran down the android's spine in a jolt of electricity that chilled him to his bio components- it was enough to make him shiver all over.

Strolling up the path to the door, Connor adjusted his tie, taking note of the unkempt lawn, complete with retained traces of Hank's size ten shoe and Sumo's paw prints. The reminder made him smile a little, even if he would potentially have to sober Hank up right now, at least there would be a dog to provide some comfort; his favorite dog at that. The puddles that formed on the uneven patches of concrete under Connor's shoes were fun to step in, he liked the sound of splashing, like a little blip that scratched his brain in just the right way. Perhaps he just enjoyed all rain-related noises, he thought.

Reaching the doorbell, he extended a raindrop covered pointed finger and rang it for a few seconds, hoping it would wake up Hank if he were passed out; although that had never worked before. To his surprise, the door swung open, revealing a Hank that was only disgruntled a normal amount.

"Whaddya want?" The lieutenant looked Connor up and down, seemingly unimpressed, but somewhat happy to see a familiar face.

"I have to talk to you, lieutenant." Connor nodded towards him, and took the door handle in his own hand, pushing the door open and stepping into the house, leaving an annoyed Hank to close it behind him. The two promptly made it to the kitchen, lit by a grungy white light that occasionally flickered, an uncomfortable place to be if alone. Sumo jumped to his feet at the sound of Connor's voice, and ran to sit by his feet, pushing into his hand as he scratched the muddied coat of chocolate and egg-white with gentle fingers.

"This'd better be interesting, I was about to head to Jimmy's." Hank grumbled, sitting down at the dining table and picking up a half-full glass of scotch that sat on the varnished wood. He emptied its contents in one quick movement, knocking his head back, and placed the glass back down with a clink, wiping his hand on his sleeve. He sat there, still for a moment, watching as Connor petted Sumo with a certain fondness in his eyes, and cleared his throat, catching the android's attention. "Did'ya just come here to pet my dog or what?"

Connor simply looked up, his eyes meeting with Hanks for a moment before glancing away, struggling to find the words. He hadn't even accepted it himself yet; telling Hank would be even more difficult.

"Captain Fowler has said they're taking me off the force." The android crouched down as he spoke, kneeling on the cold wooden floor beside Sumo, his eyes fixed on the clueless creature, "He said there's nothing he can do." Connor continued to keep his attention on the dog, feeling its long, wiry tufts of fur between his fingers. The action calmed him a little, his stress levels reducing as he looked into Sumo's beady eyes with a solemn stare.

Although he couldn't see Hank, he could imagine his reaction perfectly. Mouth ajar, eyes a little wider with that soft look he had become accustomed to, fingers lingering on the rim of the glass sat on the table before him. The silence that followed Connor's words confirmed this, and he turned his head to look at the lieutenant, frowning. He had opened his mouth to say something, but was unsure of what to say as comfort.

"What are you gonna do now?" Hank's words caught Connor off guard, sure, he'd thought of what he might do now that he wasn't in the DPD anymore; perhaps he could travel, find a new passion... but something told him that might all be stunted by him being an android. Connor shook his head, standing up and walking over to the dining room table, placing two splayed hands upon it to hold his weight as he leaned, Sumo still wagging his tail at his feet.

"I don't know.." Connor's voice was soft, his head hanging a little. "I don't know how to do anything else.." He looked up again, his eyes meeting Hanks, an almost pleading look washing over his features, fingers lightly drumming on the table.

"I'm sorry kid." The only words the lieutenant could muster left his mouth tinged with sympathy, a tone Connor wasn't exactly used to but appreciated with a subtle nod of the head. The two stayed there for a moment, drinking in the silence, occasionally interrupted by the sound of Sumo scratching his coat or grooming himself with long strokes of the tongue. The android sighed, taking his hands off the table and standing with his arms by his side, defeated; he hoped Hank could provide some form of solution or comfort, but he didn't feel much better than when he'd first came in. The weight of having to figure out who he was now that he wasn't in the DPD anymore was much heavier than he could ever expect, like his whole identity had been torn away from him with the blink of an eye. Hank's mouth twitched downwards a little, his face creasing as he scrunched it up in misunderstanding.

"Fowler said he had no say in it?" The older man asked, watching as Connor nodded in response, "The bastard's lyin'... you want me to break his face in?"

Connor shook his head, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"Something tells me that would only add more files to your disciplinary folder, lieutenant." 

---

The house was completely pitch black, and Connor could hear Hank's snores from several rooms over. The sound didn't irritate him though, it was nice to have a sound other than the complete silence he was used to at the police station, even if that sound was the rattled breaths of an older man. Since Connor was unable to recharge at the precinct (since he didn't work there anymore) Hank had told him he could crash on his couch for a while. The android refused at first, saying he technically did not always need sleep, and that he had several hundred hours of battery life, but Hank dismissed him with a wave of the hand, resorting to telling him rather than asking him. 

Hank's sofa was comfortable, Connor thought to himself. He liked the way that it sunk under his weight, and the feeling of the soft fabric on the back of his neck that reminded him of Sumo's coat of fur. The Saint Bernard was huddled next to him at that moment, his head lolling lazily on the androids chest, tongue hanging out of it's mouth as though it had fallen asleep mid-pant. Connor threaded his fingers through Sumo's tufts of fur, smiling gently as he drifted off into sleep. 

Perhaps being taken off the force would not be too bad.