Dickory

Floorboards

"Reed," he greeted boredly as he picked up his desk phone, quietly surprised to get two calls in one day. He was even more surprised to hear Connor's polite but seemingly hesitant voice greeting him on the other end. "The phck are you calling me for? Nines is right here," Reed said as he looked across at his partner, who was currently interfacing with his terminal. Did Nines send him through to voicemail or something? Can they do that? I mean...they have a phone in their heads, so it would make sense...

"No, I didn't want Nines. I actually wanted to speak to you," Connor replied, sounding a little uncertain. Reed couldn't imagine why Connor would need him over his brother. There was little he knew that Nines wouldn't be able to answer better and faster. "I know it may be inconvenient, but I need your help with a...home improvement project." Nines tilted his head curiously from his seat. Reed smirked and tapped his foot beneath the table in reproach. How many times do I have to tell you about listening in on private calls?

"Oh yeah? What makes you think I know jack shit about that?" he retorted as he slouched in his chair, holding back a small chuckle as Nines looked up with an almost innocent expression on his face. Don't pretend you aren't listening in, Terminator, I can tell! He seemed to understand Reed's thoughts from his amused green eyes. His lips thinned a little as he if knew he'd been caught, and he relented in dropping his silvery gaze to his terminal. Reed sat back, spinning his chair lazily from left to right as he listened.

"I happened to have a conversation on the matter with Tina a few days ago. Upon explaining my project to her, she suggested I ask for your expertise. Apparently you did something similar for her mother some time ago and your work was exemplary," Connor praised on the other end of the phone. Reed's eyes found Tina across the room. She was leaning on Collin's desk for a change, likely waiting for the older man to finish up some sort of report before they could head out on the road again. Reed thought back. That was a good few years ago now. Jack had helped him with it. They'd spent three days up on the Chens' attic, laying a solid floor so they could put stuff up there. Connor's putting a floor down at Hank's place?

"I helped lay a floor in the attic. Is that what you're doing?" He wasn't sure why Connor would need him for that. He was an android. The second most advanced model ever created. He should be able to work out how to lay a few planks. Even if he didn't know, surely he could download a program for it from somewhere. There were construction models. He knew there were. Hulking great behemoths that stood about seven feet tall and almost as wide as two humans. He was sort of glad they were so rare. Creepy fuckers. Even with his new found tolerance.

"Yes. It's my intention to convert the attic into a combined bedroom and office space for my own use," Connor replied enthusiastically, which Reed knew would then leave his old room free to be converted into Niles' new bedroom. "I understand the general method, however, I would appreciate a more...experienced presence." Reed's lips quirked a little at that. He'd never known Connor to be intimidated by a task before. I guess this is a task he was never designed for though...He freaked out about parenthood, too. He was quietly pleased he seemed to have gotten over that minor setback over the past few weeks.

"Alright, Tin Can, I guess I can spare you a few hours. You want me to come over straight after work?" he asked, huffing as Connor voiced his enthusiastic agreement. He could picture the relieved grin on his face and the spark in his hazel eyes. They agreed to meet at four fifteen, as soon as Reed's shift ended and he'd driven across town. He hadn't asked if Nines could come, but he never considered leaving him behind. They seemed to come as a set these days. At three fifty-five, Reed started shutting down his terminal and packing up the few items on his desk. He put the cold case files in his out tray, pushing down the disappointment of not being able to help, and went to clock himself and Nines out.