Reach for me, Connor

Sober Up

Nov. 6th

Hank walked into his living room, groaning at the lights Connor had turned on. Since he was squinting he didn't realize that someone was on the floor until his toes slammed into something and someone grunted.

"Jesus Christ, Connor!" He shouted at the android," Why are you laying under my dog?"

Connor raised his eyebrows as he looked up at Hank. Sumo looked completely unbothered by the intruder he was laying on.

"It seemed to be what he wanted of me so I did it." Connor said with a small shrug,"If I lay still he doesn't lick me. He has been messing my hair up when I don't let him lay this way."

"Seems reasonable." Hank scoffed.

"Really?" Connor asked, perking up a bit.

"No! Push him off, get up." Hank commanded.

"Yes, Lieutenant." Connor said. For a moment Hank thought he sounded defeated or disappointed.

"Now what is this case you were telling me about." Hank asked, rubbing his eyes and trying to get the nausea under control. He wanted to lay down in his bed, warm under the covers. He was still drunk but not the good kind. He was too aware of everything around him. Too aware to shut out the rambling rookie cop next to him, but not aware enough to remember that wasn't just some handsome rookie human. At least for a while Hank was drunk enough to pretend there wasn't an android next to him.

When the moment of drunken ignorance faded and the LED indicator came into view on Connor's far temple, a sickness swirled in Hank's belly and grief tried to rear up and take him over.

A hand on his shoulder jarred him out of the darkness clouding all his thoughts.

"Lieutenant? Can you hear me?" Connor asked, his voice always seemed on the edge of cracking.

"I hear ya." Hank grunted angrily.

"Are you still ill?" Connor asked, a hand on Hanks back. He was lightly rubbing his back making Hank frown. He had never done that before.

"I'm fine. Let's get goin." Hank stood back up and continued to walk. Connor's hand stayed on his back for a few paces, rubbing under Hank's shoulder blades until he seemed stable again.

Hank's frown deepened when he realized that he missed the hand there as soon as it was gone. He hated himself for it. That wasn't a man next to him, wasn't a person next to him, but he didn't believe that. He never did, and that was the problem.

"Kid. Stop talking." Hank grunted, wincing as his car door squealed open.

"You asked for a debrief, Lieutenant." Connor said in his strange monotone. There was a slight edge to his voice that Hank could almost mistake for disappointment.

"You're giving a lot of information I didn't ask for in the middle of what I did ask for." Hank muttered, flopping into the seat and slamming the door. Connor stood outside the car for a moment, frowning.

"Lieutenant?" He asked, leaning down to the window. Hank sighed loudly and rolled the window down.

"What, Connor?" He said, leaning across the seat to look up. The sun hit Connor's eyes reflecting like honey in his irises.

"Don't be obvious, Hank. Tell me if you recognize the car at the end of the road. It has passed your house multiple times." Connor said, glancing down the road.

"What?" Hank turned his head slightly as he sat back up, trying to make it look like he was just sitting back up and not investigating the strange vehicle. He didn't recognize them. He did realize, a little two late, that they were turned around and heading back this way,"Connor, run!"