Rain started to pour as the day came to a close and the sky was a dark shade of blue. A taxi drove down a street that ran through a line of houses parallel to one another. It decelerated as it came to a stop in front of a single story house.

It notified its occupants that they have arrived at their destination. The android stepped out first then the young woman. She rushed to the small roofing that sheltered the front door. Connor followed in slow strides as the rain did not bother him in the slightest. Erika nodded in his direction and rang the doorbell of the lieutenant's house. A small whimper came from the other side of the door as Erika pressed the doorbell once more. She proceeded to knock, but no one answered. Connor took his turn and rang the doorbell, knocked on the door, and even shouted to grab the attention of the homeowner.

With the lack of responses, Connor went around to check for another way to enter.

"Connor", Erika called the android but was ignored as he continued to search the side of the house. She decided to wait for him to return and seconds later she jumped at the sound of glass being broken. She rushed to her coat pocket to grab a spare key and frantically attempted to unlock the front door. The keys fumbled in her hands and she dropped them at her first attempt--she heard a bark come from inside and tried to rush. She opened the front door in haste and found Connor lifting up an intoxicated Hank.

"Gosh, he was drinking", she let out a sigh of relief that it was not something worse than a drunk old man. She entered the house to not only be greeted by a dry environment, but by slobbery kisses from a certain saint Bernard.

"It's nice to see you too Sumo", she hugged the furry animal and got up from beneath the great amount of weight the dig possessed. She made her way to the bathroom and entered to see Hank screaming from being awakened by his drunken state with the shock of being doused in cold water. Now alert the lieutenant tool in his surroundings and the unexpected company in his home.

"The fuck are you doing here?", he looked at Connor then at Erika who walked in after his awakening," and why are you here, Erika?"

"Connor asked me to since he couldn't find you", she answered the old man.

"A case has been recently reported, I checked Jimmy's bar to see if you were there then went to Erika to see where else you could have been since she was only ten minutes away"

"I must be the only cop to be assaulted by his own fucking android", he said as he tried to set himself up from the divot in the tub.

"Language", Erika chimed in a joke at the lieutenant. He let out a chuckle at the reference and looked at the two standing before him.

"I've been assigned this case and I cannot investigate without you", Connor stated as his voice became stern with every word he spoke.

"I'll go wait outside", Erika said and exited the bathroom to leave the two partners to argue things out. She saw Sumo laying down by the fireplace and took a seat next to him on the floor. She had her own conversation with the furry giant.

"Sumo, how are things? Must be lonely without him, without Cole", she mentioned Hank's son, a boy that was her little brother in every way. She thought of the times they would have when she babysat him or when the three of them went out for some burgers at a local diner. A single tear rolled down her cheek at the memory of the young boy. She stroked Sumo's soft fur as her tears dripped onto his coat. With each stroke, she brushed away the teardrops and sobered up for her old man. She looked up and saw Connor exit the bathroom and into the living room where she was. He made his way to her and kneeled to her level.

He looked at the calm giant and stretched out his hand to pet it on its back. A smile formed on Erika's lips at how gentle Connor was around dogs and she wondered what other types of animals he could do well around. Although, Erika's thought processes was cut short when the android retreated his hand and reached out for her hand. She nodded and took the help. In one swift movement, he pulled her up and on her feet.

"Hmm, so did Hank agree to go?", she asked the android detective as she made her way to the kitchen to see the damage Hank had made. She saw the hard whiskey bottles scattered on the table. One of the many bottles was located on the floor where she assumed Hank passed out and noticed a revolver beside it.

''Russian roulette,,

She shook her head in disappointment and clenched her hand into a frustrated fist. Now worked up she walked away with a heave in her chest and took a seat at the kitchen table.

"Dammit Hank, I could have lost you today and I wouldn't have known about it!", She yelled in hopes that the lieutenant heard her. Silence followed and she tapped her foot in annoyance. Connor observed her behavior and looked at the source that caused it.

He analyzed the revolver and saw that the last bullet would have killed his partner and immediately knew what made Erika frustrated. Connor made his way around Erika and looked at the table to see a flipped over object he lifted it to see a portrait of a young boy, no older than six and had a resemblance to Hank.

He scanned the image and discovered it was Hank's son, he turned to Erika with the picture in his hand. She let out a huff and looked at the item in Connor's hand--her eyes looked up at him as she knew this was a fragile topic to discuss at a time like this, so she gave him a simple answer.

"Hank's son...he died two weeks before my disappearance", she said and looked away as she felt awful for her actions back then. She was selfish and left without a word--during a time Hank needed her most. In her mind, she beat herself up for it and looked off to the side with red eyes.

After the confirmation, Connor went to look around on his own to discover anything else about the grumpy cop. The woman and the android had their backs turned when the lieutenant walked out in a hippy styled top beneath his usual coat. Erika and Connor turned around to see the old man semi-sober standing in the small hall.

"Be a good dog Sumo, watch after Erika we won't be long", he said and turned towards the door. Erika stomped her foot down and grasped the attention of the old man. She walked up to him with red eyes from the worry and frustration and pointed a disappointed finger at him. The woman aimed to say something, but fell apart at the thought and backed away. When she decided to speak she did so by staring at the floor and ignored eye contact with the old man.

"You had to play that stupid game, you could have died and I wouldn't have even known until it showed up on the news", a fist began to form once again as her frustration began to bottle up," and you would have left me and mom--people that care about you, over something we could help you with!"

She stepped closer to the man so that he can hear her clearly. Her anger made the room feel hot as she continued to throw daggers at Hank.

"And I know I'm probably at fault, I left when you needed me, but...you don't think I'm hurting as well?", she spat as hot tears began to glow. She ran up to the old man and slapped him hard across the face. He knew he deserved that for his action was idiotic and irrational, so he stood his ground and took in every word.

"We've both been living through hell for the past three damn years, and the best we could do is help each other because Hank-", she paused then looked up at the lieutenant," I can't lose another parent and you can't lose another kid"

Hank crossed his arms and let out a sigh. He looked at Connor then back at Erika. She had a lot on her plate and being babied was not going to help. He turned to the door and yelled at the two.

"Well are you two coming or you just gonna mope about it", He waited specifically for Erika's reply. She let out a breath-filled huff and smiled--for the father and daughter figures could not stay mad at each other for long. Erika walked out the door with a triumphant walk and entered the old vehicle. Connor followed the two out with astonished eyes at what just took place. He was last to enter the car and got in the driver's seat and drove off to the night's case.

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I'm on a roll! Hope you like it and comment for it fuels my motivation to write!! Here's a dancing Connor to celebrate.