Two days passed. On the plus side, no other bodies had dropped. On the downside, they still had no real suspects in mind. Forensics had gotten back to them to confirm that the liver and kidneys had been surgically removed, as Nines suspected. They also hadn't found any drugs besides red ice in Tracey's blood. They did, however, discover how she had been incapacitated. The area at the base of her skull had been crushed, paralysing her completely. Reed didn't even want to think about whether she'd been conscious during the ordeal. It was too much like what had happened to Edward Morgan. Hearing his muffled pleas and whimpers as the Hickory Killer slowly sliced and stabbed his soft tender innards. Unable to move. Unable to speak. Frozen. He closed his eyes as Nines' hand closed over the back of his neck, attuned to his mood as ever.

"Thanks," Reed murmured as he heard the ceramic tap on his desk. Nines was back in his chair by the time he opened his eyes and picked up the steaming mug. As usual, he leaned back in his chair and breathed deeply, savouring the rich scent of Nines' coffee. It was almost a morning ritual at this point, whether at home or at work. That first coffee, those quiet few minutes, were vital to his fucking sanity, especially when he was pissed about a case. Unfortunately, they didn't have infinite time to keep working on cases like Tracey's.

They'd sent alerts to local hospitals about the organs that had been taken, so if random organs suddenly showed up, they'd be able to guess where they'd come from and alert the DPD. The problem was that black market goods like this usually went to private doctors. The types who knew, or at least suspected, where those organs had come from and did the surgeries anyway. People who were easily bought with large amounts of money. There was also a good chance the organs would be shipped off to other states, which meant they'd never track them down.

It was as he was stewing over those details that Connor and Hank arrived, walking a little closer than usual. Hank had an arm looped around Connor's shoulder, and Connor was doing his best not to smile too much, though he was almost beaming. Hank ruffled his hair affectionately as they split off to sit at their own desks. It wasn't unusual to see Connor looking chipper, but he was almost brimming with positivity as he sat down and booted up his terminal. Reed raised a questioning eyebrow at Nines and nodded towards his overly cheerful brother. The small smile on Nines' lips told him he was the only one left out of the loop.

He shrugged and sipped his coffee, deciding to ask Connor about it later if he got the chance. He wasn't curious enough to pounce on him the moment he sat down. There were a few other things he had to do, like responding to yet another email from a new officer asking for help. This one wasn't even homicide related. Since when do drug crimes come to me for help? He looked over the details anyway. Seemed pretty simple. Advice on the key places to look when searching a perp's apartment. It was stuff that got covered at the academy, but more experienced officers always knew the more likely places, along with some that you may not expect. His personal favourite was inside the PC tower. The heat and fans often masked the smell, tricking the dogs as they searched.

"Reed!" Fowler hollered from across the bullpen. He looked up questioningly, still cradling his mug. He was quietly feeling guarded around Fowler right now. It had only been a couple of days since he'd implied he may have ordered Nines to break the law. Fowler was oblivious as he nodded to his office, expression unreadable. Reed looked across at Nines, who hadn't been called to follow. Nines seemed as clueless as he was. Taking a final gulp of coffee, Reed hurried across the bullpen. He missed the way Hank's blue eyes were following him with the smallest of smirks. "Take a seat," Fowler invited as he crossed to sit behind his desk.

"Is this about Yates again? Because if it is I-" Fowler cut him off with a raise of his hand and shook his head. He let out a breath at that, immediately feeling more at ease. If it wasn't related to Stan's case, then it was unlikely that he was in trouble. He hadn't stepped on anyone else's toes recently. His days of android discrimination were behind him, and he'd actually been getting on a lot better with all of his co-workers recently. There was nothing he could think of that would have landed him in trouble. So why am I here? A new case? Something more sensitive?

"You might have heard already, but Sergeant Mires has decided to quit the force to spend more time with his family." Reed's eyebrows raised in surprise at the news. He wasn't exactly close to Mires and didn't work with him often. He was one of two sergeants over in drug crimes, which was weird because that left homicide with just Hank as a superior. The precinct couldn't afford to promote too many people at a time, and it was just the way things had panned out over the years. That didn't mean Reed had never accepted Mires' orders, but they'd generally walked different paths, especially once Reed had taken on android homicides alongside Hank. He was too busy to help in other departments these days.

"I didn't know that...Well, good for him." Reed wasn't sure why that had led to him being called into Fowler's office. Guys left all the time. A change of precinct, career swapping, injuries. For the family men, it was often because their wives complained about their long hours and the danger that came with the job. No one wanted to end up raising their kids alone. Reed could understand that. It was one of the reasons he'd never been the family type. He tried not to think about the fact that he'd been directly responsible for it happening to Sandy. Fuck, he didn't even know where she was these days.

"And good for you." Fowler was almost amused as Reed gave him another confused frown. He almost sighed that he'd have to spell it out. "Mires' retirement has left the position of Sergeant open, and I'd like you to fill it...I've been having various officers assist me with your assessment. Seeing how well you cope in a mentoring capacity, how willing you are to help others, testing your leadership skills...I know the timing isn't ideal, what with the Hickory Killer coming back, but that just makes you all the more suited. You passed every assessment I laid out, even under the added stress of your personal life." A dumbstruck expression crossed Reed's face. He couldn't believe it. Not only was he not in trouble, but he was being promoted? Of all the detectives in the precinct, he was the one chosen to advance? He knew he was good at his job, but he hadn't imagined it happening so soon. Not when, barely a year ago, he'd almost put a bullet in Connor's head. Phck, has it really been that long already?

"You're...promoting me?" He didn't want to get his hopes up without clear confirmation. He couldn't believe it, though that did explain all the extra emails he'd gotten recently. It seemed going out of his way meant being willing to help all the younger officers, including those in different departments. It still didn't feel real. Barely two days ago, it seemed like Fowler was ready to give him a disciplinary or dismiss him for getting involved in Yates' case. Now he was being promoted?

"I'm promoting you. Congratulations, Sergeant Reed. You can hand in your old badge at the end of your shift and we'll get it updated so it'll be ready for tomorrow, if you accept, of course." The smallest of smiles played across Fowler's lips as Reed shot to his feet and started to pace. He was stunned. Shocked. He'd never imagined it happening in a million years, especially out of the blue like this. Now that he knew it was real, he had this ball of excited energy swirling in his stomach. He wasn't sure whether he wanted to yell, punch the air, or run a lap around the precinct, but he was giddy.

"Yes Sir, thank you, I...I don't know what to say." He ran a hand through his messy brunette locks, chest skipping with jitters and gave the strands a short tug to make sure he wasn't dreaming. Fowler chuckled as he got to his feet and reached out to share a firm handshake that left Reed feeling almost tearful. Phcking nope! Keep your shit together, Reed! He was not about to bawl like a pageant queen. "What-uh, what training do I need to do? And the extra duties, I don't know-" He cut off, excitement lacing his giddy tone.

"Hank will talk to you about all that later. For now, just...enjoy the moment," Fowler advised with a small chuckle, still holding Reed's hand since he hadn't pulled back yet. He seemed to remember himself and released Fowler's hand, thanking him again before returning to the bullpen. It was like he was walking on a fucking cloud. He still couldn't believe it. Nines almost looked worried as he got to his feet, LED spinning yellow as he assessed his tumultuous emotional state. It was almost like he'd suffered a shock of some sort. Reed dropped into his chair and rolled closer to his terminal, seeming almost numb as he leaned over the keyboard and rested his elbows on the desk.

"Gavin, are you alright?" Nines asked quietly as he appeared at his elbow, keeping their conversation private. Reed opened and closed his mouth a few times, struggling to get the words out. He suddenly didn't know what to say, settled on nodding to at least put Nines at ease. He coughed and took a breath as Nines patiently waited for an explanation. Sitting back in his chair, Reed decided the easiest way was to just come out and say it.

"I just got promoted." His voice sounded somewhat hollow as the words came out. His emotions were suddenly all over the place. He grinned, leaning on his desk and hiding it with his hand. Saying it out loud suddenly made it feel a lot more real. "I just got promoted!" A chuckle bubbled its way up his throat and into his hand. He was so fucking giddy, and he hated that it was right in the middle of the bullpen where everyone could see. Nines' face lit up as much as it ever did, and that just made him feel even better about it.

"Congratulations, Gavin. I must admit, I did wonder when it might occur." It melted Reed's heart a little that he'd said when and not if. Nines had faith in him all along, even though he'd had little faith in himself. Sure, he'd thought a promotion might happen somewhere down the line, maybe in five to ten years. He thanked him sheepishly before finally getting his grin under control. He looked around casually, green eyes searching hopefully. Nines' lips quirked as he noticed. "Tina is in the breakroom getting a coffee if you were looking for her."

Reed was on his feet in an instant, thanking him before trying to casually saunter over. It was hard. Really hard. He wanted to just run in and yell it at her. He could barely contain the buzz running through his veins. As he reached the doorway, he saw her standing by the machine waiting for her coffee to pour as she tugged her hat off with a sigh and scratched her hear. Her hair was pinned tightly in place and often made her itch after a few hours on patrol. She looked sapped, and didn't even notice he'd appeared, which gave him the rare opportunity to sneak up and jab her sides. She instantly yelped and Reed got a hard swat to his chest in retaliation as he laughed.

"Gavin Alexander Reed! You fuck!" She was smiling as she turned back to the machine. It was unusual for him to be playful like that these days. It was the sort of thing he used to do all the time, and Jack would be there leaning in the doorway watching with his arms folded and a grin on his face. "You're in a good mood...Did the Terminator finally give you a good robo-dicking?" Her brown eyes shot side as he spluttered out a rather unconvincing objection. She knew when he was lying, and her expression of smug glee told him he'd been rumbled.

"Di-I-what? No! Absolutely not...Alright, it's complicated, but that's not it!" He hoped his actual news would brush the Nines issue aside for now. Tina gave him a look that told him she was listening. "I-uh...Fowler just promoted me." That stupid grin came back as Tina shrieked and threw her arms around him. She was so light that her feet left the floor when he straightened up. He put her down and went to fix his own coffee, though he knew it wouldn't be as good as when Nines made it. He probably shouldn't, considering he'd had one just before heading in to see Fowler, but fuck it. It was a celebration, and it was decaf anyway.

"About fucking time, Gav! You so deserve it!" Tina's praise meant a lot to him. He knew she was totally biased, a lot like Nines, but part of him agreed. He'd worked hard, and he was damned good at his job. Fuck yeah, he deserved the promotion, and he was so ready for it! Even if he still had some issues he hadn't worked through. Even if the Hickory Killer was stalking him. Even if he wasn't confident all the time. He'd worked his ass off to get where he was, and he was going to do his best in his new role, too. "So...Sergeant Asshole, your rank finally matches your mug. I knew you'd grow into it." Gavin cradled his mug a little closer at that.

"Thanks, T...means a lot." He couldn't help it as he hid a smile behind the hot ceramic. Tina was barely containing her own smirk as they took over their usual table. Barely a minute later, Connor appeared in the doorway. A rarity since he rarely ate or drank during his shift. He smiled in greeting as he crossed to the coffee machine, apparently on a mission to get Hank a coffee. He reached up into the cupboard and plucked the old DPD mug down, checking it over before he started the cycle.

"You both seem to be in a good mood," he greeted over his shoulder as he searched for a couple of sugar sachets. Hank took his coffee black, but he liked it a little sweet. Tina gave Reed an expectant look, knowing he must be dying to share the news around. Desperate as he was, he didn't want everyone to know he was desperate.

"You first, Tin Can. You were lit up like a phcking Christmas tree this morning! Something good happen?" He was still curious to know what Connor and Hank had been so pleased about earlier. Connor seemed a little bashful as he turned around, leaving the coffee machine to grind through its cycle into the waiting mug. He stepped a little closer to the table, as if hesitant about their voices carrying too far. It surprised Reed that he was such a private person. He'd generally considered Connor to be pretty open about his personal life. Ahh, is it a girlfriend or something?

"It's nothing really...Hank and I picked up the completed papers from the agency this morning. I've officially adopted Niles." Connor smiled widely as Tina let out a congratulatory squeal and Reed pulled him into a tight hug and slapped his back. It was about fucking time that happened! He'd heard from Nines that he'd filled in the papers, but he hadn't realised they'd been sent off yet. Connor returned the embrace gratefully, noting the warmth of Reed's softer body. Hank gave the best hugs, but Reed's were a pretty good contender for second place.

"Phck, that's great! About time, too. Oh shit! That reminds me, I was supposed to call that guy about your conversion!" He felt slightly bad. It had been a month, and he hadn't gotten around to it yet. In my defence, it's been a shitty ass month. Connor opened his mouth to insist it wasn't necessary, but Reed was already looking through his phone to see if he could trace the guy. He remembered his name was Mr Stokes, and he'd had his own small, odd jobs business. He remembered him being a builder by trade, but he'd done all sorts of work on his grandparents' house. "Don't even think about objecting, Tin Can! You've been waiting for over a month!" he added as he found what he was looking for.

"Alright then. If you can get in touch with him, then I'd appreciate a meeting. Thank you." He knew Stokes wouldn't take advantage of Connor. He'd never been the type. Reed had clear memories of running around the house, fetching tools and learning quite a lot from the older man. He'd probably been in his thirties back then, so that would put him in his late fifties or early sixties now. Phck, it doesn't feel that long ago..."But what was your news?" Connor was still curious about what had them looking so elated prior to his arrival.

"Oh, right! I just got promoted. From tomorrow, I'll be a Sergeant." Reed hoped that he hadn't come off sounding too pleased with himself. Despite his cocky attitude, he'd never been one for outright bragging. It was Connor's turn to initiate the hug this time, the gentle voice in his ear telling him how proud he was. That meant a lot coming from Connor. Connor had seen and experienced him at his absolute worst and was largely responsible for pulling him back from the edge. He owed a lot to both Connor and Hank. This promotion almost feels like a group effort. I wouldn't have gotten here without these guys...Nines, Connor, Hank, Tina, Fowler, and Dr Marr had all played their parts in getting him back on track these past few months.

"Sergeant Reed, we have another case." Nines interrupted, smirking at the way Reed preened upon hearing his new rank used in casual conversation. Connor and Tina didn't say anything or make it weird either, though Tina was giving him a distinctly smug look. Reed quickly assured Connor he'd get onto Stokes and set up a date with him to look over the conversion before he headed out with Nines. "It's at the Eden Club. Possibly another client being too heavy-handed," Nines reported as they walked out to the parking lot.

"Sounds about right." Reed had never been a fan of the Eden Club, or what it stood for. He regretted ever having set foot in the place. On the job and off it. The clubs were probably a little less creepy these days, but he still hated the whole idea. "Let's get this over with, Terminator," he sighed as he let Nines take the driver's seat.

"Alright, Sergeant Rump Steak." Nines smirked as Reed huffed and climbed in beside him.