Reed was paying for his act of kindness when he woke up the next day. His ribs were bruised, his cheek was slightly purple and swollen over the cheekbone, and there were more marks across his arms and shoulders. Those little shits really did a number on me...The marks were still there when he dragged himself into work the day after. He'd spent most of the previous day lounging around his apartment, getting in a few interrupted hours of sleep here and there. He still felt drained as he walked into the bullpen that morning.

"Morning Ga-Jesus! What the fuck happened to you?" Tina demanded as she stopped by his desk. Reed waved it off tiredly as he shrugged out of his jacket. She knew what that meant. Ask me later, I haven't had enough coffee to function yet. He got his first coffee, sat at his desk, did an hour of paperwork, and even managed to blag his way through another therapy session before Connor and Hank appeared for their late afternoon to night shift. It was all normal at first, ignoring each other as usual, and then Reed grabbed his jacket to go for a smoke. He pulled a white stick from the packet with his teeth as he headed towards the stairs, not really thinking as he crossed the room in a tired haze.

"Watch where you're going, dipshit!" he gruffed as he caught Connor's shoulder on his way by. Connor's LED span yellow as he turned to give him his usual polite response, only this time it didn't arrive. His hazel eyes were fixed on the sleeve of his jacket as he rolled his eyes and continued on his way. Connor's LED span red as he changed direction and followed him. Reed didn't notice the light steps on his tail, not even as he stepped out onto the rooftop. He sighed as he lit up and walked over to his usual spot at the cement ledge, turning in surprise as he heard the sharp click of heels. "What's up, Tin Can?" he asked as Connor approached, hazel eyes still staring at his jacket sleeve.

"You've been fighting," Connor observed as he scanned his battered body. The bruises on his cheek were an obvious sign, but he could also sense the way he was favouring his right side and arm, suggesting he was experiencing some level of pain and discomfort. He was also breathing differently. Not as deep as usual. Reed turned away to look out over the streets. They were busy and roaring with afternoon traffic. He huffed a little. It wasn't like he had anything to hide.

"You should see the other guys." His brow furrowed as he noticed Connor's LED spin red. What's his problem? Connor reached out, making Reed flinched as his fingers traced the edge of his jacket. He frowned as Connor raised his fingertips to his lips. The phck? Whatever he analysed clearly wasn't good. His LED cycled red again before whirling yellow. His expression was tight, brow creased as if he wanted to ask something but wasn't looking forward to the answer.

"Detective Reed...This fight it...it involved a PL600 android, correct?" Connor's body coiled like a spring ready to launch. Reed looked surprised at first until he remembered helping the injured android home afterwards. He'd forgotten to wipe the thirium off his jacket. He meant to clean it, but it had slipped his mind that night. Since it went invisible after a few hours, he hadn't noticed earlier that morning as he'd pulled it on either. Wait a minute...

"You think I beat up an android?" he asked in disbelief, watching Connor's hazel eyes shift a little in silent admission. He'd be incredulous about it; only Connor had damned good reason to suspect he was that type of guy. He hadn't done much recently, but he was known for hanging out with the AAL and he didn't make any secret about not liking androids. Hell, he'd pointed a gun at Connor at their first meeting, punched him during their second, and right before the revolution fully kicked off, he'd outright tried to shoot him. "Of course you phcking do," Reed sighed as he puffed on his cigarette.

"Please answer the question, Detective," Connor pressed in an almost interrogatory tone. Reed let out the smallest of chuckles as he flicked ash on the ground. Part of him was spoiling for a fight. He wanted to shrug Connor off. Antagonise him. Make him work for it. Make him fight for it. He'd always had a short fuse, especially when he felt challenged. Connor tensed slightly, reading his mood, but also knowing he was in no fit state for a physical confrontation. Reed knew it, too.

"Calm down, plastic. I wasn't bashing an android." He knew he wouldn't get any satisfaction out of fighting Connor in his current state. The bruises were too fresh. Too tender. Connor's LED switched to yellow as he read the truth of his statement. His pulse and stress levels remained consistent. "I'm a cop, dipshit! You really think I'd risk my badge like that? Please!" Connor couldn't argue with that. He also couldn't help the relief he felt at seeing the truth in his words, though it left him concerned.

"Detective, are you aware that your jacket is..." He looked troubled as he stared at the stained leather.

"What? Is there that much?" Reed had forgotten how much thirium had gotten on his jacket. It was strange, seeing nothing where Connor could see everything. Connor nodded wordlessly, puppy eyes tracing the stale rivers of blue over the shoulder, side, and back of the faded brown leather. Although it was now invisible and had dried quite a lot, it was still greasy to the touch. "Ah shit! Will dry cleaning be enough?" Reed wondered out loud as he looked at the stained sleeve, unable to see anything. Connor couldn't stop a look of distaste from crossing his features.

"What happened?" Reed shrugged and waved him off like it was no big deal. That didn't surprise Connor. Reed held a low opinion of androids and gave little regard to his own safety. To him, it probably wasn't a big deal. To Connor, it meant that there could be a badly injured android out there somewhere, and Reed may need medical attention. He scanned him subtly, pleased to find no major injuries.

"I came across some kids trying to smash up an android the other night, so I stepped in...It's no big deal. The android didn't want to report it, and the kids cleared off pretty damned quick after." Reed left out the part where he'd almost been shot with his own gun. It wasn't lost on Connor the way he said smash up instead of assault, or that he referred to the android as it. He couldn't deny that it bothered him a little, especially since Reed was one of the leading detectives for android cases.

"The victim must have lost a lot of thirium...Did you leave him alone on the street?" Connor was already looking through police records for any victims found over the past two days. There were no listings, so he searched for local Cyberlife facilities he could contact. It may also be worth calling Jericho to check in and see what they knew. He could almost feel Detective Reed rolling his eyes. All this fuss over a little spilled thirium?

"I helped it to the front door of its apartment block and went home." That surprised Connor somewhat. It wasn't like Reed to help an android. The realisation actually gave him a little hope. If anyone had asked him just after the revolution whether he thought this could ever happen, he would have answered in the negative. In fact, he would have put money on Reed being the person beating the android. It was a step in the right direction and went beyond his usual policing duties. It was an unexpected show of care.

"Detective...the thirium will be difficult to remove if it is allowed to dry completely. You should have it cleaned. As soon as possible, please." Reed frowned, looking at Connor as if for the first time as his hazel eyes were once again drawn to his jacket. It bothers him...Of course it phcking does. He's an android! As far as he's concerned, it's like I'm walking around with blood all over my clothes! Suddenly, he didn't feel so good. It wasn't a sick feeling, but it was an almost dirty and unpleasant sensation. How many other android staff members had passed him that morning without saying a word? How many had stared at it the way Connor was staring right now and wondered?

"Shit, this is my favourite jacket..." Reed murmured as he slipped it off, folding it inside out so that Connor couldn't see the stains. It would also stop it getting on his clothes, though there was no way of knowing if it already had. "I'll head to the place down the street now," he added as he tossed his cigarette. Part of him felt the nagging need to apologise, but he didn't know what for. I'm so sorry I helped an android and came to work with oil stains on my clothes. It seemed like a dumb thing to apologise for, but at the same time, he knew it was different for Connor. As an android, it would bother him.

"Yes, that would be wise...Thank you, Detective." Connor quietly followed him towards the stairs. The gratitude niggled at Reed the whole way to the bottom. What the hell was he thanking him for? For getting his jacket cleaned? Taking it off? For not being an asshole about it? That last one probably holds some weight...Reed headed through the bullpen and off down the street. There was a small dry cleaner within a five-minute walk, and it helped that there was an android working there. He didn't know the model. He rarely bothered to look them up unless they were case related. Although he'd seen her model before, he didn't remember the number. She had the expected pretty face, long brunette hair tied up in bouncing curls, dark brown eyes, not too tall. She looked like she'd be Tina's type if she swung that way for the night.

"I need this jacket cleaned for thirium stains," he murmured as he laid his jacket on the counter, warning the clerk before unfolding it. She wasn't wearing an LED anymore, but he could tell from her face that she was shocked, maybe even a little scared. Reed was quick to flip his police badge out, just to add a slight reassurance that he probably wasn't an android killer. It wasn't necessarily a comfort to many androids, but she at least seemed to relax a little as she took the jacket.

"Understood, Detective, I'll get on it right away. Please return in around two hours. May I take a contact name and number?" Reed gave the details, made a wireless payment from his phone, and was soon back at his desk. He typed away for a while, getting the forensic results back for his most recent case. There was a fingerprint left behind, so definitely human involvement. Running the print didn't bring up anything, so it wasn't someone who'd been arrested before. Reed added it to the system to be flagged if they ever caught the guy and moved on. There wasn't much else he could do with the lack of witnesses and CCTV footage.

"Reed." He worked on autopilot as he picked up the desk phone, having been looking at another case file that had been dropped on his in-tray when it rang. His brow furrowed as he listened to the details, lifting his head and leaning back in his chair. Another android case. A body in a disused apartment block on the edge of town. The officer on the other end didn't sound too good. Must be a phcking mess for the guy to sound that sick. He could always tell when they'd lost their lunch before calling. "Alright. Call out forensics and I'll be there in twenty minutes," Reed replied before ending the call.

He looked at his watch. There was just enough time for him to run across the street and pick up his jacket, which he was assured was now thirium free, before driving to the scene. It was dark when he arrived, and although it wasn't raining, it had been at some point. The streetlights glowed orange as he pulled up to the curb and climbed out, enjoying the early evening breeze as he stepped into the small alley. The main doors out front had been boarded up, so the only entrance was a side door beneath the black fire escape.

"Detective, you might want to brace yourself." The officer at the door was pale. He was also young, likely just a year or two out of the academy, probably not used to the horrors of modern android mutilation. Reed nodded silently as he pulled on his gloves and boot covers to enter the apartment. It was on the second floor. The carpets were ragged, stained, and dusty throughout. Wallpaper was peeling off the walls, crusty and damp. There weren't any real furnishings left in the living area he'd stepped into. Just creaking floorboards covered in filth. It was so old that the lights were buzzing and crackling through lack of use and failing wire. "T-the body is...it's in the bathroom." The officer didn't dare get any closer than the apartment door, and he wouldn't meet Reed's eye as he looked back. Reed shrugged and took a steeling breath before stepping inside the grubby tiled room.

It was a mess. Not just grime and mould, but splatter. Blue splatter. It was splashed on the floor and down the sides of the grimy, freestanding tub. This had been a nice apartment once. Expensive. The bath was a large ceramic tub with decorative bronze tap fittings and clawed feet. The room was also quite spacious, which made the trip to the edge of the tub even longer. He could already see the short black hair of the android lying inside. Something was different though. The android was barely visible, suggesting it was smaller than most. Reed braced himself before stepping closer and almost wished he hadn't. He'd never been so fucking relieved to get a callout.

The small android was losing skin cohesion, the casing beneath flickering between white plastic and pale flesh. Reed licked his lips and clenched his teeth as he took in the sight. He turned on his flashlight in the darkness for a closer look, because it was his damned job. There were puddles of thirium on the floor, which he tried to avoid as he reached the edge and leaned over. He examined the small disjointed wrists that had been zip-tied over the tap. Blue tracks spilled from both silvery eyes, thirium mixing with dried out saline tears. Blue dripped from his once pink lips, left open in a silent cry of anguish. Its chest cavity had been ripped wide open, insides pulled out, but the dark power core was left untouched. The small body was naked, and the creamy, crusting stains between its thighs and pooling in the bottom of the tub didn't escape his attention either.

"Detective Reed..." It was a woman's voice. Reed took a sharp breath as he straightened and turned his back on the small body in the tub. He clenched his teeth and swallowed, looking at the yellow LED of the forensic analyst. Shit, it just had to be her! He didn't say a word as he grabbed her arm and dragged her out, ignoring her small yelp of objection as he marched her back into the apartment to find another analyst, thankfully human. Hearing his co-worker's cries, the taller man stood from where he'd been examining the floorboards.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" he demanded as Reed shoved the female android away from the bathroom. Reed tried to push down the heat rising in his chest as he pointed at the taller man, who'd opened his mouth to yell again.

"You. Bag it up, and get it out of here as soon as possible!" he grunted as he hurried towards the stairs. He kept his expression as level as possible as he passed the young officer in the doorway. "Stay here. No one gets in or out without my say so, got it?" The officer nodded numbly before Reed headed downstairs. He could already hear the swearing from above as he went.

"Fucking asshole! Can't believe he didn't react at all. Is the fucker even human?" From his outrage, Reed assumed he'd found the small body in the tub. He didn't hang around to listen to more. He had to get out. His lungs felt tight. He needed air. Shaking fingers were already pulling out his cigarettes. It's just an android-It's just an android! Just a phcking toaster oven! A bucket of bolts and wires! Phck! He finally reached the door. His hands were shaking so badly he barely managed to light his cigarette. He leaned against the wall with a hand over his eyes, trying not to think about the almost angelic face of the child android staring at him with vacant eyes. It's just another android! It isn't different just because it's a phcking kid model! Get it together, asshole!

"Ohhh no, no-no-no, phck the hell off!" Reed grumbled in the best asshole voice he could muster. Hank's rickety old banger had just rolled up, and they were already stepping out. The dynamic duo. Hank and Connor. What are they even doing here? He was the one who'd accepted the callout. He took the few quick steps it took to grab Hank's shirt and roughly shoved him back. "Get the phck away from my crime scene, old man!" He sounded angry. Far angrier than he should.

"What the fuck is wrong with you? This is our turf!" Hank snapped back as he tried to push him aside. Connor watched in mild confusion as Reed gripped Hank's shirt like his life depended on it and forced him away from the door. Hank caught his wrists and tried to shake him off while Reed planted his feet and held him at bay. He was determined to keep him out at all costs.

"I took the call! It's my phcking case! I don't want your grimy hands all over my crime scene!" Connor's LED span yellow as he noted the lie. Reed wasn't being possessive of the scene. There was something else. His vitals were all over the place. You wouldn't know it by looking at his face, but something was very wrong. He almost seemed to be going into shock. Hank and Reed argued back and forth a few more times until Connor finally stepped in as Reed yelled. "Hank, you can't go in there!" Hank and Connor both shared a small look. Gavin's voice had cracked.

"Okay...okay, Detective...Hank will stay here with you, and I'll go. I don't have fingerprints, and I can't destroy evidence...Would that be alright?" Connor's victim protocols kicked in, making his voice sound soft and soothing. He held his hands up, showing he was unarmed and peaceful. Gavin took a shaky breath and stumbled back, looking at the ground. He was finding it hard to keep it together. Connor wasn't sure if he was about to scream or cry, but something was going to happen. Gavin tightened his jaw as he looked at Connor and nodded stiffly, dropping his gaze instantly. "Alright then...Lieutenant?"

"Sure, go ahead," Hank murmured as Connor walked into the block and headed for the disused staircase. Gavin took out another cigarette, keeping his eyes fixed on the ground as he smoked, which gave Hank plenty of time to get a read on him. He wasn't Connor. He didn't have those fancy scanners and all that jazz, but he did have experience. Gavin had been shaken by something. That's a fucking first. If Gavin was unsettled, did he really want to know what was up there? He was shivering like he was cold. It was almost summer. The night was quite warm. "You doing alright?" Hank checked as he leaned on the bonnet of his car, staying a few feet away from the alley.

"Why wouldn't I be? It's just another piece of plastic!" He sounded more like he was trying to convince himself than Hank. His tone gave him away. Gavin Reed was having a crisis. Gavin Reed was doing his best to remain impartial and aloof. He'd thought he might break, but he hadn't expected it to happen like this. He'd expected a gradual softening towards the androids at the precinct, towards Connor, and the steady acceptance of androids being alive. How long has he been trying to stay on the other side of the fence, and what the fuck just forced him over it?

Hank looked up as he heard steady steps. Connor's eyes were dull and unfocused as he walked towards them, his LED spinning red. Hank pushed himself up worriedly and Gavin immediately blocked his way with a hand on his shoulder to stop him from getting near the door. He hadn't noticed Connor coming out. Hank didn't know what to say. Connor looked stunned. Haunted. Like he'd never seen anything so horrifyingly cruel. He was surprised when the first thing he did was gently grip Gavin's shoulder.

"Thank you, Gavin," he murmured in the softest tone Hank had ever heard. He hadn't even heard that voice when he came out of stasis after what Hank called a nightmare. Connor insisted it wasn't the same, but Hank knew night terrors when he saw them. Pre-constructions going out of control, performing acts that never happened and never could. Gavin looked down with a small nod. "Can you drive?"

"Don't phcking worry about me, Tin Can. It's just another case," Gavin insisted with a defensive sniff as he stepped back and pulled out a third cigarette. Connor's LED remained red as he looked at Hank and shook his head slightly. Gavin may not realise it, but his vitals were so unstable it would be worse than drink-driving if he got behind the wheel of a car right now. Hank nodded his agreement and squeezed Connor's shoulder. Gavin was angry, shocked, and clearly struggling with a minor internal crisis. Of course he couldn't fucking drive.

"Connor, drive him back to the station. You two have both seen the scene, so start working on the case file before I get back. I'll wait out here for forensics to finish up and see them off." Hank deliberately framed it to seem more like he needed Gavin to get work done than that he was worried about his mental state. Gavin didn't like the idea of being stuck with Connor, but he didn't know how long he could go without the tight, fiery feeling in his chest clawing its way out. He didn't know what would happen when it did.

"Yes, Lieutenant," Connor agreed obediently, holding his hand out to Gavin. Gavin's jaw tightened as he pulled out his keys and slapped them into Connor's waiting hand.