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Author's Notes: Hello everyone! Thank you for patiently waiting. I am very excited to start this sequel. As it says in the summary, this is the sequel to the Bittersweet Ending of "Chicago: Become Human". The actual sequel which will be titled "Deviant City" has been put on hold so I can (hopefully) churn this one out quickly and then go back to the other.

I hope you enjoy it. This fic will have a similar content rating as the one before it. There will be mature bedroom scenes as well as graphic murder scenes. Please read at your own discretion. Thank you for reading!

Stay With Me

By: Ty-Chou

Chapter One: Human Touch

"So, you work as a detective in the homicide department, but technically, you're not a detective?" Samantha asked.

It was mid-June and already plenty hot in Detroit. If Connor were human, he would be sweating in his dress shirt and blazer, still reading 'ANDROID' in bold, white letters on the back. Though it had been six months since the country put its android genocide on hold, very little had changed since then. The government was still 'researching' the possibility of true intelligent life within androids and, as such, Parson's Law was still in effect. This law stated that all androids must be dressed to clearly identify themselves as such in public.

Many deviants, of course, willfully disobeyed this law. Most of them could get away with it as they could easily pass as human both in look and mannerisms. Connor had chosen to adhere to this ordinance when he remained with the DPD. His job was to uphold the law. As such, he should be willing to obey it.

"I was never officially give the title of detective," Connor clarified. "I came into the department as an aid to the homicide unit however they wanted to use me. I serve somewhere in the middle of both detective and forensic analyst."

"Do they pay you?" Samantha wondered. "Wait, sorry, that's none of my business. You don't have to answer that."

"I don't mind answering. And they do now. I was officially put on the payroll in April."

It should have been sooner. But practically the whole world was going at a snail's pace integrating androids as actual people into society.

Samantha chose not to comment on this and instead said, "That's great! How did that feel when it happened?"

Connor visibly glowed in the mid-day sun as he smiled. "It made me feel accomplished, important. Like I was becoming my own person."

Samantha couldn't help but smile with him. She felt that glow all the way to her heart. "And I'm assuming you like your job with the police department, since you kept sticking around."

"Very much."

As the two walked companionably around the block, their shoulders casually brushed. Connor was hyper aware of her proximity to him. She had been on his mind since the last time he saw her. The memory of her was nothing compared to the real thing. Hearing her voice again did things to him. Her strawberry blonde hair was pulled up into a ponytail and the bounce of it around her pale shoulders kept catching his attention.

Connor was very much aware that the way he reacted to her presence was due to what the Other Connor had done to him. In his last seconds of life, the other RK800 had spilled a mixture of memories and emotions into Connor's system. All involving Samantha. And since the android had died mid-download, they were random, without context and incomplete.

As a result, Connor felt he both knew Samantha intimately and didn't know her at all. In the six months these foreign files had been swirling around his processor, she would often drift through his idle thoughts. Connor did his best to ignore them. He didn't think he would ever see her again. Now that she was before him, he was filled with urges he had never encountered before. He greatly wished to feel her touch and affection, and he also wanted to be of service to her. He quietly despaired at these desires as he had no idea how to proceed.

Samantha, however, kept him distracted by constantly asking questions. He found himself thoroughly enjoying the conversation. Very seldom was he ever asked questions that were both personal and enjoyable to answer.

"Tell me what you like about it," Samantha said with interest.

Connor took a moment to think. No one had ever asked him that before. "Every crime scene is a puzzle to solve and each puzzle must be solved differently. I like that challenge. And there is satisfaction in catching those who have hurt others and bringing them to justice. That also feels good when I know we've caught the right person and they are punished for what they did. Though..."

He paused, glancing up at the sky as they walked. "I have learned these past months that it's never as simple as catching and punishing the bad guy. Not everyone who commits a crime is punished, and not everyone who is punished is given the proper punishment for what they've done. My hardest lesson I've learned is that the justice system does what it can, but it is not perfect. Nothing in this world is perfect."

"All you can do is just try your best," Samantha agreed. She smiled at him, her nose crinkling cutely like Connor knew she could smile. "I have a feeling you're one of those who always tries his best."

"Always," he agreed.

"I'm sure Detroit is much safer with you on the job."

He smiled at her for a moment. Then the smile went away. "I've arrested androids. Some have called me a traitor to my kind for that."

"Should they have been arrested for what they did?"

"Most of the time, yes. Though...the first android I ever arrested was before I deviated, before even the revolution. He had killed his owner out of self-defense. He held physical evidence of a long history of abuse when we found him. I honestly don't know what was the right thing to do for him, but he was turned in to the military when the curfew came into effect. I don't know what happened after that. I still think about him from time to time. The memory...has a weight to it that I've never experienced before."

"Guilt?" Samantha ventured.

"Perhaps. I wish I could have done more, but I was not equipped to do anything other than what was ordered of me at that time."

"But the other androids, it wasn't the same for them?"

"Androids, unfortunately, are just as capable of heinous crimes as humans are. It's part of being alive, I suppose."

"And do you put them in jail just like humans?"

"We have separate holding cells for androids in custody. Mixing the two is not recommended."

"Probably not," Samantha agreed. As she spoke, they had finished rounding the block and the precinct building was coming up on them again. "I really appreciate you taking the time to talk with me, Connor. I enjoyed it."

Connor had been enjoying it as well and didn't want it to end yet. "Would you like a tour of the building before you go?"

Samantha looked intrigued at the offer. "I'd love that, but is it okay?"

"Yes, public tours of the precinct are allowed. In fact, I personally gave a few tours this week to various classes of elementary school children."

Samantha laughed and Connor felt drawn to the sound in a way no other sound had affected him before. "Alright, I'm down for a personal tour. I'll be happy to get back into the air conditioning anyway."

Delighted, Connor opened the front doors for her and they walked inside. It was easier to go back to the script he had filed away for tours, but Connor wanted this to be special. He wanted to tell her in his own words. So he wrote his own script as he told her about the history of the building and the different departments it housed.

He had just barely started when he paused, as if listening to a voice only he could here. "Excuse me, I just received a notification. I have to assist my partner in locating some files, I'll be right back."

Samantha nodded and let him go. She waited by the wall in the lobby, politely looking around. Having nowhere else to be, she didn't mind waiting for Connor. Especially since she had been doing so well in meeting him. She hadn't been sure how she would handle being around the android that looked and sounded exactly like the one she had loved and tragically lost. She just knew she wanted to see him. And it was surprisingly easy.

Even though they had the same face, her heart knew better. He looked like Connor, but he wasn't her Connor. He was a different man with his own life. One that he seemed to enjoy and take pride in. Seeing that mended the broken pieces inside her just a little.

"Hey, can I ask you something?" An unfamiliar male voice snuck up on her while she ruminated on the state of her heart. A man, only slightly taller than she, stood next to her. He was a bit scruffy, but not unclean. Samantha's gaze went directly to the subtle scar across his nose. "Are you Samantha Hall?"

"Yes," she said carefully, surprised.

"I thought so," he said, looking satisfied with his guess. "Hank said I'd know you by that hair."

"Hank? Have we...met before?"

"Uh, no. Hank—Lieutenant Anderson—is Connor's partner." He held out his hand in greeting. "Gavin Reed—Detective. I know about your case."

Samantha took the offered hand out of automatic reflex. His hands were big, fingers thick. His skin was calloused and rough to the touch. She only touched him briefly and as she pulled away, she realized how unfamiliar she was with touching a human man.

"Know what, exactly, about my case?" she asked with suspicion.

"I know your old man kidnapped you," the detective said. "I know what he was trying to do to you. I know you had an android, the exact kind we have here, and he was killed trying to protect you. My detective's hunch says that's why you're here talking to ours."

"I guess there's no secrets around here," Samantha confirmed. She was both impressed with what he knew, and irritated that a stranger knew so much.

"We only have a few detectives. Word gets around. Especially with a story as crazy as yours. The Feds immediately swooping in and making it all disappear just made it all that much more talked about. I wanted to see you for myself. Usually when the FBI disappears you, you don't come back."

Before Samantha could decide whether or not she would offer an explanation, Gavin continued.

"Well, looks like your chaperon is back. You have a nice day, Ms. Hall. Maybe I'll see you again." The detective walked past her and out the front doors of the building. In and out of her life so fast Samantha wasn't quite sure he was ever there at all.

Except Connor clearly had an eye on the detective as he left before returning his attention to her.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. You were speaking with Detective Reed?"

"Briefly. He just introduced himself and then quickly showed himself out the door."

Connor narrowed his eyes with suspicion, glancing back to the doors. "That's all he said to you?"

"Yes. What do you think he would have said to me?"

He paused for a moment. "Nothing specific. I just wanted to make sure he was polite."

"Ah. Your Detective Reed is a dick sometimes, isn't he?" Samantha asked with a grin

"I don't know if 'sometimes' is the correct word."

She actually snorted. "I see. No, it was perfectly fine. Please." She motioned back the way Connor had come. "I'd love that tour now."

Connor was a delightful tour guide. Personable and knowledgeable about the history and the different departments that operated within the station he worked. He was even charming about it, and a little funny. Samantha wasn't always paying attention to the information, however. A few times she found herself drifting off, just listening to the tone of his voice. She missed hearing that voice; gentle and pragmatic. When she drifted off in nostalgia, her heart would start to ache and she would snap herself back to listening to Connor's presentation.

No, she would not allow herself to sink into loss and self-pity. She had climbed out of the miasma and she was not going back.

When Connor had finished his tour, Samantha was sorry to see it over, but she also knew she should go. She was taking up his day and she also knew she was not doing her damaged heart any favors by hanging around and pining for a man that was no longer alive. In her weakness she wanted to see the Connor of Detroit to remember that face, to hear that voice one more time. She had no pictures or videos of her Connor. She feared she was forgetting him.

But she also wanted to see this Connor to thank him for all he did. It warmed her heart to see him happy and a well-established member of society. This RK800 was able to do everything she had wanted for her RK800. She liked to think a tiny piece of her Connor lived in this one and his triumphs were both their triumphs. Seeing all this brought a quiet contentment to her. She could now leave this Connor to Detroit and be happy for him, knowing he was out here living his life as a normal person.

"Thank you so much," Samantha said as Connor escorted her back to the main doors. "It has been so great to see and talk with you. I really appreciate it."

Connor basked in the glow of her thanks, a feeling of satisfaction swelling in his chest. "It has been my pleasure. Thank you for coming to see me."

She nodded with a smile and turned to show herself out.

"Samantha."

When he called after her—when he said her full name, so much like her Connor—Samantha almost broke. She thought she had been doing so well. She fought to stay chipper on the outside as she glanced back to him.

"Would you mind if I had your number?" he asked. "I would like to talk with you again."

She shouldn't have. She should have given herself just this one encounter and let it be. There was heartache ahead if she stayed on this route.

"Sure! Do you need me to tell you or can you get it from my phone?"

"I have retrieved it now. I did not want to do so without your permission."

She smiled and nodded once more. Then she left, saying nothing further. No promises to see or talk to him again. Maybe this would be it. Maybe this was all it would be.

.

"How'd it go?" Hank asked when Connor returned to his desk. He probably already knew the answer with how chipper his android partner seemed as he sat.

"It was very nice," Connor said. "It was lovely to converse with her under more pleasant circumstances."

"Lovely, huh?" Hank asked with a chuckle. "So, how's she doing? Is she staying in Detroit for a while?"

Connor blinked with realization. "I'm not sure. I never asked."

Hank gave him a look. "You are full of dumb personal questions all day and you never asked her those basic things? What did you ask her?"

"It was mostly her asking the questions. She wanted to know about my job."

"Your job?" Hank asked suspiciously. "Why was she asking questions about that?"

"I got the feeling she was genuinely curious what I did. She also asked if I liked it. When I told her I did, that made her smile. I think...I think she wanted to know if I was happy."

Hank continued to watch his idiot partner, chin resting on his palm. "Well, that was very nice of her. Too bad you don't have any fucking manners to think to ask the same."

"I guess you're right, Lieutenant. I should have asked. I'll remember next time."

"If there is a next time. That just might be the last you ever see her."

Connor furrowed his brows. It distressed him to think he would never see Samantha again after today. He hoped that wouldn't be the case.

.

The parking lot outside this precinct was particularly small and there had been nowhere to park when Samantha had pulled in earlier. A multi-level parking garage directly across the street seemed to be where most parked—police personnel included. Samantha didn't mind the extra walk. At least the parking lot had shade from the sweltering summer sun.

She was almost to her car when she heard that voice again.

"Samantha Hall."

She turned and saw the man from earlier. Detective Reed. She immediately felt like he was following her, which was unnerving. Especially since Connor had indicated he didn't trust this man. A quick glance around the parking lot, Samantha didn't see anyone else, which made her more uneasy.

"Hello...again," she said guardedly.

"I was waiting for you," Gavin said. "Figured you were parked in here somewhere."

"Why?" she asked, openly suspicious.

"I know you're not a normal human. They made you in a lab?"

That was not the answer she expected to hear. Her face went hot in response. How did he find out? She was afraid to answer or ask any questions. This guy was a detective, he was no doubt more wily than her when it came to extracting information from a person.

Gavin continued when she didn't respond. "I have a friend in the Bureau. I called and told him you were at my precinct."

"Making sure it's okay that I'm out among the regular people?" she found herself saying with irritation. "You really are a dick."

He raised a brow at her. "Connor tell you that?"

"I don't hear you denying it."

"I'm not." He took a few steps closer. Samantha tried to back up, but she was blocked by her car. "So, I told my friend you were here, and he responded 'Oh, the clone girl?' I asked him what he meant by that and he told me he shouldn't have said that and then the fucking idiot hung up on me."

There was a heavy silence between them. This time, Gavin waited for her to speak.

"So, what do you want from me?" Samantha asked. She tried to keep herself steady, but she was shaking. No one outside the facility—and then the FBI—ever knew that about her, not even her friends back in Chicago. Calvin and Jace, Angela and Derek now knew that her father had kidnapped his daughter with the intent of harvesting her heart to extend his own life, but they had no idea she was a synthetic creation by her father for that reason.

Gavin didn't come any closer. Surprisingly, he did not look too concerned about the information he had. "I was hoping you would tell me more about it. Do you eat?"

That question threw her for another loop. She blinked, mentally trying to keep up with him. "You're asking if I...eat?" She was almost offended. Of course she ate. What did this guy think she was that she didn't eat?

He shoved his hands in his jean pockets, leaning against another car. "You look like you haven't had a decent meal in months. I thought I could buy you a burger and you could tell me about yourself. Or Chinese? Pasta? Whatever you like. You pick."

When Samantha did nothing but stare silently, he shrugged his shoulders. "Come on, everyone's gotta eat. Let me feed you. You look like you could be blown over by a strong breeze."

Samantha glanced down at herself. It was true. She was probably the thinnest she had ever been. She was better when Connor was with her, eating well and putting on weight back in October. When he was gone, she tried so hard to continue as he would have wanted. She would often ask herself 'If Connor could see how I'm doing, would he be happy?' She did her best to keep that answer as a yes. But it was hard as her verve drained without him and food lost its taste.

"It's only two-thirty," was all she managed in the form of a protest.

"I'll meet you at six, pick a place. I'll be there and I will listen to whatever you want to tell me, for as long as you want."

Samantha would have stumbled back, but the car was still there, preventing her from any form of retreat. She could not read this guy. Everything that came out of his mouth surprised her. And that invitation, the way he worded it, made her heart flutter, then ache. It made her want to agree.

"Look," Gavin tried again. "I get it, even though I'm a cop, I'm still a stranger. If you feel safer with an android, I can bring—"

"No." Samantha quickly cut him off. No more androids. Especially if he was going to bring Connor. She had been happy to see him, but once was enough for one day. She didn't think her heart could handle him again so soon. "No, it's fine. We can go eat. But I don't know where anything is here."

Gavin jerked his thumb to the right. "Down that road four blocks is an Olive Garden, how's that?"

She couldn't believe this was coming out of her mouth, but Samantha said, "Okay. I will meet you there at six."

.

Before she went to the precinct, Samantha wondered if she would end up crying that day. When she returned to her hotel room, she curled up on the bed and cried just a little. Only a few sniffles and a tear or two. She kept reminding herself she was happy. Seeing the Detroit Connor who had risked his life to help her—seeing that he was treated well, living a normal life—made her happy. It was what she wanted to see when she came looking for him.

To have a real conversation with him soothed her soul. He was kind and seemed so sweet. She wanted to think a piece of her Connor's soul would carry on with him. Having had fully met him, the last RK800 in the world, Samantha could now move on with her life.

She supposed she would start by going out to see this detective. Though she wasn't sure if this was supposed to be a date or an interrogation. She knew when a man was attracted to her. They had a specific look to them. This Detective Reed didn't have that look. It was more like how the federal agents had looked at her. Like she was a case to study, a puzzle to solve. Though, Samantha had to admit, the detective also looked at her like she was a person. Even with what he knew about her. That couldn't always be said about the various agents she met.

Around five, Samantha began to get herself ready for dinner. She had dressed nice to visit Connor, but she still changed for the evening into another summer dress that she hadn't sweated in. She refreshed her makeup and did her hair a little nicer than it had been earlier. It was okay if this wasn't a date. Samantha didn't even know this person more than his name and job title. But it was nice to have a reason to dress up and go out.

.

The detective was there at the restaurant waiting for her. He looked up from his phone when she approached.

"So, you did show up," he said as he stood. He had changed his clothes since she saw him last. The t-shirt and faded jeans were replaced with a button-up shirt rolled up to the elbows and a newer pair of pants. Maybe this could be a little date-ish. Samantha decided she would have no expectations either way.

"If I had no intention of meeting, I would have told you," she informed him.

He seemed pleased with that answer. He was like her; a person who appreciated a frank discussion.

The two were shown to a table. Samantha glanced at the detective over her menu. He was clearly rough around the edges, but she was used to gruff men. She had been surrounded by them all her life.

"Will you tell me about yourself, Detective Reed? I don't know anything about you."

"You can call me Gavin," he said, not looking up from his menu. He scratched at the scruff on his jawline. "What do you want to know?"

"Tell me about being with the police department."

"Became a cop in my early twenties. Had a fire lit under my ass to make homicide detective. Thought it would be a super badass job. When I made detective, there wasn't any opening in homicide. So I did narcotics for a few years, a short stint in vice. Then finally caught an opening in homicide and been there ever since. Been doing it for about eight years or so."

"And is it a super badass job?"

Gavin looked up at her. "It's a job that puts miles on you, and it can be dangerous. You see the absolute worst things one person could possibly do to another. But, yeah, it is a pretty badass job."

She gave him a bit of a smile and then returned to her menu. "So, are you married? Single? Dating?"

"Single and somewhat dating. No one seriously at the moment. You?"

"Single, not dating. Just...trying to figure out what to do with myself right now."

"You're from Chicago, right? You still live there?"

"Kinda. More like I've been floating around; looking for somewhere to plant myself."

"Like Detroit?"

Samantha gave a small frown. "I really don't know. I just came as a tourist."

"How long you staying?"

"I don't know. A few days maybe."

"So, how'd you get yourself a Connor?" Gavin then asked. "Or, whatever you called your android. I thought we were the only one's unlucky enough to be plagued with one."

Samantha made a sound through her nose. "Mine was a Connor, too. They were both Connors. They came from the same core program with the same memories."

"So, they're clones, too. Just like you—"
Gavin stopped when Samantha glanced up at him with silent warning in her eyes. He closed his mouth just as the waiter came and took their orders. Then he settled his gaze on her, resting his chin on his enfolded fingers.

"Tell me," he said simply. There was no demand in his tone.

"Tell you what?"

"Whatever you want to tell me. I'm listening."

Samantha watched him silently for a moment. Ever since Connor died—no, even before that. Since they fled the facility, her world had felt like it was spinning out of control. Time raced forward, moving faster than she could keep up. It felt like it would never stop long enough for her to think, for her to get herself together, to figure out her life.

But for that moment, with this stranger watching her, willing to listen, the seconds slowed to normal. There was order and room to breathe while he was there, watching her. Waiting patiently.

"Connor was purchased from Cyberlife to be my bodyguard. This was back in January of last year."

Gavin then looked like he wasn't quite sure he believed her. "Why would you need a bodyguard?"

"In the summer before we got Connor, I was attacked by a group of men. I was hurt pretty bad."

Before the detective could ask for clarification, Samantha offered both hands to him across the table. She didn't know why she was compelled to do this. She still hadn't even told Angela or Calvin about it. She never let her friends touch her; only Connor. And now, for some reason, this nosy, asshole detective.

She watched him hesitate at the offer. Maybe he didn't want to touch her since he knew what she was. A synthetic human. A creature made in a lab. Did that make her repulsive to him? Would that repel any human man?

After a pause, he scooped her hands up in his. His hands were rough and much larger than hers, but his touch was gentle. He was not repulsed to be in contact with her. He was very curious when he felt that one hand was not flesh. Carefully, his fingers pressed at her wrist, then further up inch by inch, feeling how far the prosthetic went as Samantha would not remove the synthetic skin. He didn't make it up to the elbow before releasing her. He sat back in his hair.

"People did that to you?" he asked with a frown. "Why?"

"Samantha Hall—the original Samantha—was born with special properties in her blood. It could heal people with certain diseases if she gave them a transfusion. It helped with medical research in finding more cures for these diseases. Her blood was worth a lot of money. Worth bio-engineering another Samantha when she died. Worth stealing an entire human being."

"Someone tried," Gavin said. He was very good at leading her forward, keeping her talking. Samantha was aware of this, but complied anyway.

"The first time, they took my arm from the elbow down. The second time, I had Connor and they left with nothing, not even their lives."

He tried to school his expression, but his brows still rose a little in surprise. Gavin sat back in his chair and rubbed at his scruff again. Samantha watched him, wondering what it felt like to touch it. Connor's face was completely smooth. No hair anywhere aside from that on his head.

"You want ours?" Gavin suddenly asked. "He's a pain in the ass. If it was up to me, you could have him."

Samantha looked down at the table and smiled. "I didn't come here to take him, I just wanted to see him. I had hoped he was doing well. Though he doesn't seem to like you."

"I don't like him," Gavin said matter-of-factly.

"It made me happy to see him living a normal life. I had always wanted that for my Connor. I wanted him to be treated like a person, not like a thing that someone owned. Not living a life where he existed by the good graces of one man who threatened to kill him and melt him down if he didn't fall in line. He never truly had that life like your Connor has. We tried, but we didn't make it that far before he—before they killed him."

They were interrupted as the waiter returned with their plates of steaming hot pasta. Samantha's eyes had watered as she spoke and she quickly wiped them dry again. She was suddenly hungry from all that talk as she looked down at her full plate.

"Sounds like you ended up with the better Connor," Gavin said dryly.

Samantha would have laughed, but her mouth was full of food. She chewed and swallowed. "I wouldn't disagree with you. He was my only friend for a long time—my best friend. I loved him so much and I miss him every day. I am so thankful your Connor is out there, learning how to be his own person, living his own life. The world feels...softer with him in it."

Gavin narrowed his eyes at her, watching her carefully. "Softer," he repeated. "You were in love with that android, weren't you?"

Samantha felt her cheeks warm, though she was used to it. Certain federal agents gave her similar looks of disdain when they realized how she measured the loss of her android. She knew there were others in similar android/human relationships that had been treated much worse than a mere dirty look because of how they lived.

"I told you, I loved him."

"You some sort of technophile? I bet you were fucking that android, weren't you?" Gavin asked as he stabbed his food with his fork and then shoved a bite in his mouth.

There was a small corner of her that appreciated Detective Reed's bluntness. Being with Connor and his unfiltered thoughts made her decide she liked it when people were up front with her. But this guy really was an asshole.

"I lived in a clean, orderly torture chamber while the man who said he was my father knew he was going to eventually kill me. Connor was the only one who saw it. Or, at least, he was the only one who saw it and knew it was wrong. No one else in that place gave a shit if I died, as long as I died for their purposes. Connor got me out. He saved my life so many times. He died trying to protect me from those horrible people.

"I fell in love with him because he cared and I had never truly felt that before. It had absolutely nothing to do with him being android or human. I just loved him for the person that he was." In the following silence she added, "And I think it's more accurate to say that he fucked me."

Gavin promptly choked on his food and Samantha watched with satisfaction as he fought through a few heaving coughs.

After taking a drink and clearing his throat, Gavin said, "Fair enough. What do you mean by 'torture chamber?'"

Samantha admitted maybe that was a bit of a dramatic thing to say, then she told him about the facility. Once it started, it all came pouring out. She told him about the labs, all the samples they took from her on a too-often regular basis. She told him about the time she lost her arm, and about when those same people came back and Connor protected her. She told him about how she and Connor fled the facility in the middle of the night and also how Connor had saved the androids at the deactivation camp in Chicago. She also spoke of how she was tricked into going back and how she lost the man she loved when he had tried to save her.

She talked so much, Gavin had to remind her to eat. Though Samantha still left many things out. She didn't tell him about her romance with Connor, she didn't talk about her friends in Chicago other than mentioning that they existed. Her personal relationships she kept private. But she cared not about keeping the Hall Foundation's secrets. Let this detective do what he wanted with this information. It felt good to say it out loud to somebody. It was surprisingly cathartic and Samantha felt a little bit of the weight in her chest lift as the words fell out of her mouth unfiltered.

Gavin spoke little while she unloaded, other than a few leading questions to keep her talking. He was true to his word. He stayed and listened until she told him all she wanted to tell him. Then the meal was over and they packed up for the night.

After telling him so much, Samantha wasn't sure what to say to him now as they walked out of the restaurant. He had been so neutral the entire time. She had no idea what he thought about it all.

"Thank you for dinner," she said as they stepped out into the night.

The side of his mouth ticked up a little. "You're welcome. Though I'm honestly surprised you came. Why did you decide to tell me all that?"

Samantha stood on the curb, looking at the parked cars. She glanced up at the sky. "I guess there's a certain romance to telling your secrets to a person you will most likely never see again. Have a good night."

She made it a few paces to her car before he called after her.

"Samantha."

She turned to look back at him.

"Do you like video games?"

.

"Wait. Wait. I lost you. Where did you go? Where am I?"

"You're fine. Just keep going straight. I'll wait for you."

Samantha made a worried sound. "I can't get these stupid controls to do what I want. I keep looking up at the sky. I can't move!"

"The right one is to move, the left is to look around."

"I'm not good at this!"

Gavin glanced at her side of the screen. "No kidding." The camera was spinning everywhere.

Samantha suddenly cried out and panicked, flipping all the joysticks. "They got me! Zombies! Zombies! What do I do?"

"You have to keep walking or they're catch you." Gavin turned his character around to offer assistance and saw Samantha's character in the distance, a with a zombie on its back. The character spun in circles, shooting wildly at the sky while Samantha screamed.

Gavin burst out laughing. He was laughing so hard he had trouble controlling his own player as he fired on the whole ridiculous scene.

"Well, thanks for at least putting me out of my misery," Samantha said as he killed all the zombies along with her character.

"You're still going. You'll come back as a zombie now."

"What?"

"Yeah, when you die, you come back as a zombie. Now you can go after the other live players."

"Oh, you better watch out then. I'll have my revenge!"

Gavin glanced at her with a grin. "Yeah, I'm not worried about it."

She laughed. Gavin appreciated that she was being a good sport. She was way worse than any of his sisters' kids. He was still trying to wrap his head around the fact that this was her first time playing a video game ever. There was a lot about her he was still trying to wrap his head around.

Thinking of this woman as a clone made in a lab was still very abstract and hard to believe when he was first told about her. But as they spent time together, the reality of what she was began to settle on him. He wasn't sure why he had asked her back to his place, even more unsure as to why she agreed. But she had that look; a look he was long used to.

As both a beat cop and a detective, Gavin had seen all sorts of victims. He knew the look of someone who had survived something horrible; of those who were harmed by people they trusted or people in places of power. She had that look. And he also had a feeling that when he let her go for the night, she would be going back to nothing. The part of him that lived to serve and protect wasn't ready to do that yet. Subconsciously, he decided to keep her company as long as she wanted it.

So they played games and laughed together. Gavin never checked the time. But when Samantha looked at her phone she said, "Wow, it's so much later than I thought it was. I should go to bed."

Gavin said nothing as he watched her gather her things. If she decided their time together was over, he would let her go. He followed her to the door and she hesitated instead of seeing herself out.

"This was fun," she told him. "Honestly, I'm still not sure why all this happened, but I had a good time."

"Just me being a nosy detective," he replied casually. "It's part of my job."

She smiled at him. "I bet. It was very nice to meet you, Gavin."

"Same," he agreed. It was mostly habit with how touchy and huggy his family was. He opened his arms as an invitation. He watched her hesitate, then step into him and he put his arms around her.

She made a small noise.

"What?" he asked.

"I've never been hugged by a human before," she said into his shoulder. "You're softer. It's nice."

Softer. Softer than an android. Jesus. He felt her timidly hug him back with a light touch, as if not sure if he would want her to. Gavin held her tighter. An entire life without physical human contact. He couldn't even imagine.

He let her pull away first—which seemed far too soon than she should have needed—but she remained in his space. Their noses nearly brushed. Gavin didn't think, merely moved on instinct in response to the moment. He brushed his lips against hers. At the same time, he wondered why he did. She hadn't given him any indication she wanted it.

Yet, she let the kiss linger between them, even following his mouth a little as he pulled away. They looked at each other, both a bit surprised. She was nothing like his type. Gavin liked his women curvy, tanned and fiery. Samantha was none of these things. But as a grungy, thirty-six year old cop, he would also be an idiot to change his mind about the leggy twenty-something redhead already in his apartment.

He kissed her again and she responded with more enthusiasm, pressing in and gripping his shirt. He cupped her face to control the kiss, kissing her deeper. Her response was a soft, needy noise that had him moving her bodily against the wall. He pressed his thigh between her legs and she made an even sweeter, desperate sound. A life of only being touched by a living Ken doll would do that.

So she wanted a good fuck with an actual man. Gavin would be happy to provide. It wasn't the first, nor would it be the last time he had brought a girl over just for that. He grabbed her thighs, hoisting her up so she could wrap her legs around him. She ran her fingers through his hair as he kissed his way down the side of her throat.

"You like that?" he growled. "You want it dirty? I'll fuck you good and hard, baby."

"What?" she immediately pulled back, pushing away. "Ew, no."

Gavin set her down as she tried to get away from him. In a blink, he already received the message. Most girls he met at the clubs were looking for that quick, one-night fling. They were down to party, to have dirty things growled in their ears while they were mindlessly fucked. People who met like that were looking to scratch an itch.

He didn't meet Samantha that way and Gavin had momentarily forgotten there were other ways to be intimate with a woman.

"Sorry, my mistake," he said, raising his hands. "I thought you'd be into it, but I'm clearly an idiot."

She didn't say anything. Didn't yell at him, but didn't forgive him either. This woman who had only been touched by androids. What the hell was he thinking, talking to her like that?

"Will you let me try again? You're also welcome to leave if you're not comfortable. I just don't want you to leave mad at me."

"I'm not mad at you," she said, though she was frowning.

Frowning women were Gavin's weakness. He knew it was stupid, but he liked it when they were a little irritated with him. He liked kissing those frowns, deftly coaxing them into something else.

He cupped her chin with his thumb and forefinger. She didn't pull away when he kissed her again, soft and lingering this time. At first, she merely took the kiss. He put his arms around her and she melted against him. This was what she wanted. A girl like her wanted to feel safe and protected with a man. He could do that. They kissed slowly, tasting each other. Gavin took his time touching her, feeling the shape of her over her thin summer dress.

Her hands settled on the hem of his shirt and she paused. Gavin had never been with a woman who was so hesitant to touch. She seemed to worry that he didn't want her to, despite the earlier statement that he would definitely fuck her if she was down.

He put his hands on hers and found they were shaking. "Do you want to go to the bedroom?"

Again, she held back for a moment. "Yes," she finally said.

Gavin took her hand and led her to the back room. The living room light was left on, streaming a dim glow into the bedroom. That was all the light they used as they met for another kiss. Gavin eased her onto the bed, crawling over her as she slid up the mattress. He sat back on his heels, helping her with her decision this time by removing his shirt himself.

He next went for his belt, but paused when he felt her touch his chest.

"You have so many scars," she marveled as she fingered one mark, then another.

Most women thought his scars were cool, if they were noticed at all. Samantha looked saddened at their presence. She brushed her lips against a particularly long cut that ran over his left pectoral. Gavin grunted and moved away, gripping her wrist.

She looked up at him with questioning eyes, but he couldn't let her do that. He could so easily fall for a woman who wanted to kiss all his scars and he was determined not to. Instead, he distracted her with kisses of his own. He brushed his lips down her neck. His tongue dipped into the hollow of her throat and she shuddered.

His hand roamed her thigh, sliding her dress up. She helped him remove it and tossed it to the side. Gavin cupped her rib cage, slipping his thumb under her bra to tease a pert nipple. He watched her as she closed her eyes and gave a small hiss. She liked that. He wondered if her android ever did that to her. Either way, he was going to show her what sex with an actual man was like.

He removed her bra and pressed her to the bed, his mouth giving attention to the other breast. She arched into it, fingers scratching his scalp and keeping his head in place. His hand slid down her stomach and into her panties where he rubbed her firmly with the rough pads of his fingers. She let out a sharp cry, bucking her hips and parting her thighs. Two fingers pressed inside while the other hand rubbed the neglected nipple. His mouth went to nip at the sensitive skin behind her ear.

"Ah! Oh God!" she cried.

Gavin chuckled darkly into her ear. No, whatever her android was doing for her, it wasn't like this. "Relax, Babe, I've got you." As his fingers worked her, he breathed onto her skin, felt her shudder when he rubbed his scruff against her neck. Her skin was softer than any woman he had ever touched. Unweathered by time, by life. And she smelled amazing. God, he could get lost in that scent.

The noises she made, too, were intoxicating. She was so responsive to every touch. She lost her android in November. Had it really been six months for her? He was going to make sure she got it so good for waiting this long.

"Come on, Baby," he urged, his voice husky and rough. He rubbed her expertly with his fingers, stretching her. "You're doing so good. Crash for me, I want to watch you."

She bit her full bottom lip, meeting his gaze which caused heat to shoot straight through him. He rubbed her firmer, faster. Her eyes slammed shut and she cried out. Her hand caught his wrist, but he would not allow her any control. He went exactly at the pace he wanted.

"You're almost there. You can do it." He added his thumb to apply pressure to that sensitive external bundle of nerves.

She whimpered into his neck as she came, her muscles tightening all around him. He stilled his fingers as she rode her high, letting her muscles flutter around him before removing them. He left her panting on the bed as he sat up and set about removing his pants, which were definitely feeling a bit tight now. She kicked off her panties, leaving them both nude.

Gavin leaned in to kiss her and she was more than ready to receive him. They made out hot and heavy, hands hungrily roaming each other. Samantha eased him around, climbing up to straddle his thighs. She placed a hand on his chest and he let her push him down on the bed. He watched with amusement when she glanced down at his erection. Probably never saw one before. She was certainly welcome to look—and touch—all she wanted.

Samantha, instead, sat herself upon him and he groaned as she rubbed against him.

"Shit, we need a condom," he suddenly remembered, reaching for the nightstand.

"I can't get pregnant," she informed him. "Any other reason we'd need it?"

Gavin emphatically shook his head. Goddamn. He couldn't remember the last time a chick told him it was okay to go without. Did he even remember what sex without the rubber felt like?

Still rubbing on him, Samantha leaned forward and nuzzled the scruff on his jaw. Her fingernails scratched at the stubble, learning the texture. The pads of her fingers trailed down, feeling his Adam's apple move as he swallowed. He wondered what the hell she was doing, but at the same time, was content to let her touch him where she wanted as long as she kept rubbing herself on him like that. Gavin was a man who didn't mind taking his time in bed. He could abide a slow ride as long as he got there in the end.

Her fingers wandered to experience his chest hair next, then a bit of the bones and muscle structure of his chest and shoulders. She rubbed her thumb over his nipple and he saw the wonder in her face when he flinched and grunted at the stimulation. She had stopped moving against him now, watching the flutter of his stomach muscles, then pressing a palm to his chest to feel his heartbeat.

He was about to say something when she leaned forward and kissed the scar on his nose. His heart tumbled at the simple act. God dammit. He was putting an end to this shit right now.

He cupped her head, distracting her with a kiss before rolling them over and putting himself back in control. He slid inside her, taking personal satisfaction from her gasp. All her limbs wrapped around him as he began thrusting, slow at first. When her cries hitched, when her heels dug into him, spurring him on, he increased the power of his hips. He thrust into her solid, deep. And holy fuck, she was so tight, so hot. He gripped the headboard with a growl to control himself. Some women liked their man to go wild and rough on them. This one was too soft and gentle. Why did she keep consenting to a man like him?

He dropped more of his weight on top of her, enfolding her in his arms and pressing his face to her neck. The body beneath him tightened and her breath hitched. He was so close. He held out until she was there with him. He came a few seconds after she did with a relieved, shaky breath. Samantha's fingers were still tangled in his hair, clutching him to her.

She hadn't made much noise, mostly just whimpers and gasps. It was kind of hot. Gavin rested his face between her breasts as his heart slowed. So soft. He couldn't imagine even angels being this soft. As she continued to stroke his hair, he sighed in absolute contentment.

Shouldn't get too comfortable. With all the will he could muster, Gavin removed himself from her. They lay on the bed side by side, watching the ceiling. In the stillness between them, Samantha let out a long, heavy breath of relief.

"What's that for?" Gavin asked.

She shook her head. "It's nothing. I just...I was starting to wonder if I was even capable of having an intimate connection with another human."

Gavin's eyes widened. God fucking dammit.

.

They were both so quiet. Samantha didn't know what to say. What kind of pillow talk did one use with a person they had only known for a day? She was sure Gavin knew more about this than she, but he wasn't doing or saying anything. He was as motionless as a statue next to her. She couldn't even hear him breathing.

She thought about touching him. She had liked touching a human man. There were times she had wondered if she would like it. But it was fun. She wished he would have let her explore a bit more, but maybe he wasn't as into her touching him as she was.

"You can stay the night if you like," Gavin's voice spoke in the stillness. She turned her head in his direction. He continued to watch the ceiling. "I'll feed you breakfast in the morning. I make hella good pancakes."

"Detective Reed, I feel like you keep trying to postpone my departure just so you can continue feeding me."

He chuckled and was about to reply when there was a solid knock on his door. Samantha stiffened, pawing for the blankets to cover herself.

"The hell?" Gavin wondered in a grouchy voice. He dug around on the floor and pulled on a pair of sweat pants. "Stay here, I'm sure it's nothing."

Thankfully, he did close the door most of the way before walking out into the still-lit living room. But when Samantha heard him speaking with another male voice, she decided it was time to fetch her clothes.

She walked out fully dressed, pausing to retrieve her shoes from where she left them by the couch. She knew she was noticed when the discussion abruptly stopped.

"Hey, you don't have to leave," Gavin called to her.

"Aren't you leaving?" she replied as she put on her shoes. "Sounds like you've got somewhere important to be."

"Yeah, I gotta go to a crime scene, but you can stay. I'll be back later and we'll still do breakfast in the morning."

Samantha's response was cut off when she looked up at the person who was at the door. "Con-"

Even before she could finish his name, she knew it wasn't Connor. They had the same face, but this android was different. His stance was straighter, broader. His pale eyes were gorgeous, but held no life in them. The voice she heard was nothing like Connor's. His was gentle, smokey. This android had a deeper voice, but it was sharp, sterile. Though not necessarily unpleasant to the ear.

"Samantha, this is Nines, my partner," Gavin said. "Nines, Samantha Hall."

She wasn't sure if she heard right. "Nines?"

"I am an RK900 model," the android introduced. "'Nines' is how Detective Reed refers to me as a nick-name."

"What about a real name?"

The RK900 did not respond.

"You sure you're gonna go?" Gavin asked. "My place is open as long as you want to use it."

"Yes, I'm going to leave. Thank you, Detective Reed, I had a fun time tonight."

"You can call me Gavin," he reminded as she opened the door for herself. "Do you want to give me your number? We could do it again sometime."

She threw a cheeky smile at him. "And ruin the romance of that one-night stand with a handsome stranger? Never." And with that, she whisked out the door.

It was now quiet and felt somewhat empty in the apartment without her.

"Detective Reed," Nines informed him, "I have taken her number from her phone if you require it."

"My man," Gavin grinned and gave his android partner a fist bump.

.

Samantha took the liberty of walking herself to her car, despite the very late hour. She was sure the detective would oblige if she asked for an escort, but she wasn't about to ruin that exit. She couldn't help but smile to herself the entire way. It really was a fun night. She honestly wasn't sure she had it in her to have fun and play again. She never thought she was the kind of person to have sex with a near stranger. But that, connecting with another person, was fun, too.

Maybe she could make it on her own as a functional adult after all.

After sitting herself in the car, she pulled out her phone to inquire of the GPS how to get back to her hotel. She found she had a new text message.

It was, to her great surprise, from Connor.

Hello Samantha, this is Connor. If you are still in Detroit tomorrow, would you like to meet again?

She smiled to herself as she could hear his voice in her head as she read the text. Meeting the RK900 made her miss that usual Connor voice. That voice sounded like home. A home that didn't exist anymore. Her home was not this Connor and it would be unfair to use him as a surrogate for what she had lost. He wasn't hers and he did not owe her anything.

So then why did he want to see her again?

Samantha put down the phone and turned on the car. It was far too late for this. She would decide on an answer in the morning.