Sporadic homicides kept popping up as the holidays crept closer. It appeared that their suspect has resurfaced. More of the missing anti-android protesters were showing up dead. The cases were rushing in, making Connor suspect that there may be accomplices now. It got to the point where Hank and Jamie would investigate some cases while Connor investigated some on his own. By the time Christmas Eve was around the corner, Hank suspected they would have to work through the holidays.

"What the hell is going on?" Jamie groaned as she ran her fingers through her hair. "If this is the same android, why now? They were inactive for weeks."

"I've had the same thought," Hank murmured. "As far as we know, the perp or perps are only targeting protesters, and they're methodological. We haven't been able to trace anything to any particular android. No fingerprints, no thirium, no nothing."

Connor too has become frustrated by their lack of progress. Whoever this culprit is, they know how to cover their tracks.

Hank checked the time. 9:36pm

"I'm going to check with Fowler if he's going to have us work tomorrow as well. Son of the bitch didn't give me a straight answer last time I asked."

Jamie rested her head on her arms, her eyes watering slightly as she yawned.

"Would you like some coffee?" Connor held up the RECHARGE coffee mug, and she chuckled.

"Maybe in a bit if it's not quitting time yet."

"Do you have any plans for the holidays if you don't have to work?"

Connor's mind drifted to what Hank would most likely do if he had the next two days off. He surmised that he would stay home since Hank does not have any acquaintances that he frequently spends time with unless he counts Gary from ChickenFeed a friend.

Jamie sucked her lips in.

"Not really."

"From what I understand, people would spend time together and engage in different activities with friends and family during holidays and special occasions."

She cocked an eyebrow at him. "Yeah...? So?"

"Do you have people to make plans with?"

Before she could answer, Hank returned.

"Fowler wants to see you, kid."

She looked almost relieved to hear that news. Stretching, she made her way to the Captain's glass office.

"What did the Captain say?" Connor said as his eyes drifted to Jamie. She was sitting across from Fowler, her hands folded in her lap as she listened. Hank closed down his terminal.

"Said all three of us are off the next two days. Apparently he thinks two more days of work won't make a difference with these damn homicides. Can't say I disagree with him."

Jamie's eyebrows furrowed and she leaned forward slightly, her mouth moving. Fowler said a few more words before her jaw clenched. As Fowler continued to talk, she crossed her arms and her chest rose higher before falling. Then her arm gestured out towards the rest of the office, her mouth moving faster. When their conversation concluded, she nodded her head and closed the office door behind her, her knuckles white against the steel handle.

"Hey, kid. Fowler gave us the holiday off," Hank chirped as he shrugged on his coat.

"Great," Jamie said in a biting tone, plunging her belongings into her bag and avoiding Hank's eye.

"What the fuck happened? What's with the attitude?"

"Hank..." Connor tentatively warned. Jamie wrapped her gray scarf around her neck.

"It's nothing you have to worry about. See you guys later."

She almost jogged out of the office and into the slowly descending snow.

Connor stroked Sumo as they watched an older movie called "The Avengers". Hank was in the kitchen preparing Sumo's food. At the sound of the kibble, Sumo bounded off the couch and sat patiently at Hank's side. Hank rewarded him by petting his head and chin before lowering his food bowl. Sumo gave a gruff bark as thanks.

An idea kept churning in Connor's mind for the past hour.

"Hank?"

"Hmm?" He replied as he situated himself on the couch by Connor, propping his feet up and drinking a soda.

"Ms. Clare said she didn't really have any plans this holiday. Maybe you should invite her over."

Hank choked on the bubbly drink and immediately started coughing.

"What the hell?! And when did she become 'Ms. Clare'?"

Connor patted him on the back a few times before being waved off.

"Neither of you had plans for the holiday. I thought it would be...pleasant if you both had company."

"I'm not inviting her over. That'd be too fucking weird."

There was a pause before Connor felt a nudge on his arm.

"Is that what you want?"

Connor's gaze shifted away from Hank's.

"I...I've never experienced holiday customs before. To do that with people I'm familiar with would be...nice."

Hank grunted, taking another sip of his soda.

"Can you cook?"

Connor rubbed his hands together. "I can upload any information or skill necessary from the Internet."

"That works. If she's coming over, I better start cleaning."

Connor smiled but Hank was already off the couch before Connor could thank him. His LED blinked as he sent a text message to Jamie.

This is Connor. Would you like to come over to Hank's house tomorrow evening?

Ummm what for?

To celebrate Christmas.

No reply.

After helping Hank clean the house, Connor took inventory of all the food items in the kitchen. Even with the help of the Internet, there wasn't much that Connor could make even for two people. The following morning, he received a message from Jamie.

How about you two come to my place? I always buy too much food. Here's my address...

Connor relayed the message to Hank and he instantly looked relieved as he started putting away the instant noodles and canned food Connor had laid out on the table the night before back into his cabinets.

The drive to Jamie's house was calm as there were not a lot of cars on the roads. Hank kept asking Connor if they were heading in the right direction as the houses they passed kept getting bigger and more beautiful. Sumo's nose was glued to the window, watching the scenery pass by. They stopped in the driveway of a two-story modern looking home. Hank had to hold Sumo's leash tighter as the big Saint Bernard sniffed eagerly at the door. The doorbell seemed to echo within the house. Then a voice called out. The door opened and Jamie stood wearing a black off-shoulder sweater and matching leggings. Both Connor and Hank's eyes shot up to the scarlet Santa hat.

"Hey guys!" She beamed, her wavy brown hair cascading over her shoulders. Connor remembered the night of the arena. "Is this Sumo? May I pet him?"

"Yeah," Hank croaked, looking taken aback by her warm greeting.

She knelt down, rubbing Sumo's floppy face rigorously as he tried to lick hers. When she was done, he panting excitedly.

"You're so handsome," she coed before standing back up. "I'm sorry, please come in."

Sumo stopped in his tracks just inside the door, leaving Hank to awkwardly straddle the threshold while he sniffed the nearby shoes, all of them women's size 6.

Her house was spacious in a similar way to a loft apartment in which there were few walls to divide the space and everything could be captured in a single photograph. Simply, the house was open without feeling empty. One side of the house was almost made entire of glass, similar to Kamski's estate but less ominous. Warm and cool tones balanced each other out from the mid-tone wood accents and rich purple, blues, and reds of some of her furniture to the glass wall that faced the lake and the metal stairs leading up to her partially visible bedroom. The kitchen had white marble counter tops, chocolate colored cabinets and silver appliances. The living room felt intimate without feeling cramped with its overstuffed cushions and comfortable moving space between furniture pieces.

"This is one hell of a place you have here," Hank mused as he continued to survey the house before gravitating to the towers of books that lined the opposite wall of the floor-to-ceiling windows alongside her numerous bookshelves. Jamie's barefeet padded softly on the wooden floor towards the kitchen.

"You can say I inherited this place from a family member. There's no way I could afford even renting this place otherwise."

Hank picked a book from the shelf and fanned out the yellowing pages, inhaling deeply. Jamie chuckled from the kitchen as she started bring ingredients out of the fridge and onto the counter.

"I thought I was the last one who still had real books," mused Hank.

"Most of those aren't mine. You can say I inherited them too. I have a few of my own books and journals mixed in there as well. If you're interested in having some, let me know!"

Sumo finally tugged free from Hank's grasp and started meandering around the house, smelling every surface he could. Connor ran a finger along the top of the sofa that faced the large flat screen TV and entertainment center.

"I hope you guys don't mind waiting a bit longer. Some of these dishes need to be finished at the last minute like steaming the vegetables."

"Not a problem," Hank sighed with ease as he settled himself onto a window cushion with one of her books. "Thank you for inviting us."

Jamie smiled demurely before turning back to her stove. "You're welcome. You should be thanking Connor. If he didn't text me first, I wouldn't have had the guts to invite you over." 

With that, she winked at Connor. He smiled back. 

"I hope we didn't inconvenience you," he said politely. 

"Not at all! Like I said, I always make too much food. That's why I bring leftovers to work or else it'll go bad. After tonight, feel free to take some home with you, Hank."

Hank grumbled in acknowledgment before turning another page.