✓ Skin Deep ↠ Connor | D:BH

Chapter Six: Probability of Survival

Connor didn't leave her side, except to report to Amanda, who is always upset at the delay Aurora's health is causing for the case.

"Don't move, Rory," Hank soothes out to his daughter, brushing her dark copper bangs away from her forehead. Connor stands up, walking over to the girl who has been unconscious for three days.

"I want my mom," she groans out, crying out and turning her head away in pain.

"She's not here, but I am. Your dad is here," Hank says, choking up himself as he gazes down at her with clear love. Connor can't help but feel left out. He has no family and more than likely, he will be deactivated and replaced with a newer prototype. No one will even miss him.

"I'm going to go back to the station and review the files on the deviants." He adjusts his tie before heading towards the door.

"You can stay, Connor. The case will be there when we get back," Hank says to the android.

"I should really-"

"Sit down, Connor," Aurora orders, staring him down, as if daring him to say contrary. Huffing with impatience, he sits down in the chair where Hank had been, as the detective is now perched on the edge of her hospital mattress.

"I'm going to get us some food. Up for a burger, kiddo?"

She nods, watching him cross the room and leave. Sighing, Aurora leans back against the pillows, closing her eyes. When Connor thinks she's asleep again, he's surprised to hear her talk. "Did you get hurt from the Tracis? I saw one really attack you," she says with concern in her voice. He raises an eyebrow, confused by the caring tone.

"No, I'm fine. Even if I was incapacitated, Cyberlife would send a replacement to Hank."

"Is it scary to die as an android?" she asks, sitting up a little.

"We don't die since we are machines. We have been over this."

"And I've decided to agree to disagree about it," she says, looking at him for a long time, as if she's trying to turn him deviant with her doe eyes.

"Your views on deviants will interfere with our case." Connor looks away, his LED blinking red a brief moment before returning back to normal. He needs to focus on the case. She can't get too attached to him. He'll be gone soon.

"When I was blacking out, I wasn't scared."

"Your body was in shock."

"Probably," she says, chuckling at him. "I see the appeal with field work. Really gets the adrenaline going, doesn't it?"

"I wouldn't know."

She quirks up her eyebrow in almost a reflection of his own similar expression, staring at him. "You seem tense, Connor."

"I am not tense. I'm just impatient to start the case."

"Then go," she says blankly, looking away from him. "Sorry you followed Hank's orders to stay here. You can go back to the station. I'll be fine until Hank returns. I don't need someone here anyways."

"You said to stay."

"Now I'm telling you to go." She plays at a loose piece of string on the thin hospital blanket. Her head doesn't look up at his retreating figure.

Connor returns to the hospital to catch up with Hank, only to find him gone and Aurora in a dead sleep. He didn't feel right waking her up when he could find her father on his own. Odds are, she wouldn't know his whereabouts anyways.

His search leads him to the park by Ambassador Bridge. The Lieutenant has a bottle of alcohol in his hands, taking a sip from atop of a park bench. Connor approaches him slowly.