Chapter Text
Gavin has no interest in sounding like some cliché cartoon cat, but he hates Mondays. He spends most weekends chasing a six year old around so by the time Monday rolls back around, he feels like he’s been hit by a semi.
When he gets to work, he practically beelines for the coffee in the breakroom. Behind him, he can hear the tap-tap-tap of dress shoes. No doubt it’s his android partner about to remind him again of the dangers of excessive caffeine consumption
Ugh. Give him a break.
Sure, he’s running late as usual, but Josie’s not a morning person, and it takes a miracle just to get them both out the door and to school on time. Of course, only a few select people in the precinct know about his daughter and Nines isn’t one of them. They have been partners for almost a year now and while they are more civil than they used to be, Gavin has no intention of introducing someone into his daughter’s life just to have them ripped away when Nines inevitably gets tired of his bullshit.
“Detective, I-”
“Nope.” Gavin interrupts, holding a finger up. He pours himself a cup of coffee, completely satisfied by the look of indignation on his partner’s face. He brings the cup to his lips and takes a slow sip, releasing a sigh of relief as the warmth and caffeine spread through his veins. “What’s up, tin can?”
Nines crosses his arms, scowling. “You’re late.”
Gavin scoffs, rolling his eyes and takes another sip of coffee. “So what? I had something to do before coming in. Fucking sue me.”
“If it will get you to work on time, maybe I will.”
“Oh fuck off. I am a few minutes late. Do you want to continue to waste time complaining about how I’m late or actually get work done?”
Nines’ LED flashes red briefly before settling back to blue. “Fine.” He says simply and walks out.
A low whistle blows behind him. “Wow. That was better than watching Too Hot to Handle.”
Gavin turns to Tina, who is sitting at a table, smirking smugly at him. He flips her off and walks towards her table. He leans his elbows on the table, tapping his cup. “Fuck off with that bullshit, T. You need to stop watching reality tv. I think you’re starting to get brain rot.”
“I know tension when I see it, Gav, and I was wondering if I was going to have to file a sexual harassment claim just for witnessing that.”
“You are ridiculous.” Gavin mutters.
His phone dings. He picks up his phone and peeks at the notification.
“State of Michigan hereby summons Gavin Reed in civil lawsuit against plaintiff, RK900, for…”
“Motherfucker!” Gavin hisses, pushing off the table and storming toward his desk. “Did you seriously write up a fake summons to get my attention?”
“Bold of you to assume it was fake. Now that you are done chatting with Officer Chen, get to work. We’ve lost enough time already.”
Gavin grumbles and slumps into his chair without another word. As he settles into his work, the tension in his shoulders gradually starts to fade, and soon he finds himself in a steady rhythm. The momentum carries him for about an hour before he finally gets up and heads outside.
He used to be a chain smoker, but after moving back from Chicago, he made the decision to quit. It’s been a long, difficult road. Gavin wants to be better for Josie, but he also knows his limits. So he keeps a single pack of cigarettes in the glovebox of his car, labeled For Emergencies Only.
He smoked half of them the day Josie and Cole got into that accident. Five more when he had to deal with Hank’s drunk ass. Two during the revolution.
That leaves three.
Three cigarettes Gavin’s pretty sure won’t survive the rest of the year if Nines doesn’t loosen the stick in his ass.
Even though he rarely smokes anymore, Gavin still enjoys the excuse to step outside. The fresh air helps and so does the twitch that appears on Nines’ face whenever he walks out. The plastic prick might be alive but he still doesn’t understand the basic human need to stretch your legs before the walls close in.
They usually are more civilized but sometimes Gavin isn’t in the mood for his smart mouth. He truly thought that Connor’s sass knew no bounds then Nines joined the department. He doesn’t know if he wants to choke him with his hands or dick.
He’s halfway through deciding when the sound of measured footsteps approaches from behind. Too light to be human, too deliberate to be anyone but another android.
“You need fresh air, tin can?” Gavin asks, glancing over at Connor, who just chuckles.
“Nines has smoke coming out of his ears, so I figured there’s only two places you could be. Are you contemplating life’s big questions, or just out here to annoy him?”
Gavin laughs. “How do you know I didn’t come out here for a smoke?”
“For one, you rarely have traces of nicotine on your hands suggesting you quit years ago. Two, I know you like coming up here just to make him mad.” Connor smirks.
“Damn, am I that transparent?”
“Yes.” Connor deadpans. “Anything you need help with?”
“You know how to convince a seven-year-old to wake up when I ask her to so I can be on time for work without Googling it, dipshit?”
Connor raises an eyebrow. “Like father, like daughter?”
“Fuck off,” Gavin says without heat. “I think if I’m late one more time, Nines might actually plot my murder.”
“The easy solution would be to tell him about Josie—but I know you like to do things the hard way.”
“Only way I know how to live, baby.” Gavin winks, then his voice drops a notch. “I don’t want to introduce another person into her life that might not stick around. She doesn’t deserve that.”
He doesn’t say the rest — that she’s already lost enough people for a kid her age.
Connor hums in thought. “We should head back inside, Detective. Before his murder plot moves up the timeline.”
“Alright, whatever. Let’s go, dipshit.”
“Your love for me knows no bounds, Reed.”
Gavin snorts and claps him on the shoulder as he passes. “Yeah, don’t get used to it.”
When he gets back to his desk, Nines is glaring at him. “So nice of you to join us, Detective.”
Gavin gives a mock bow. “Anything for you, Barbie.”
Nines narrows his eyes at him and Gavin strongly considers that the android just might be calculating the most satisfying way to murder him. Gavin doesn’t know whether that scares him or turns him on. He decides to stuff it down in a mental folder called Do Not Touch and move on.
“We have a case. Let’s go, Detective.” Nines says and stalks out of the room without another word.
“How you manage to get under his skin is truly a wonder to see. Not even Sixty manages that.” Connor notes, his mouth clearly fighting a smile.
“It’s a work of art that I have mastered over the years.” Gavin gives Connor a wink and follows his partner out the door.
Nines is already waiting by his car once he catches up, arms crossed and posture as stiff as always.
“What do we have?” The detective asks getting into his car with Nines following.
“A body was found in an alley on Nash. We are to head over there and investigate.”
Gavin hums. “Are there any witnesses?”
“None were reported but Officers Parrish and Miller are on scene. They will have more information.”
Soon, they arrive on scene and Gavin walks up to Chris. “Chris! My favorite patrol officer!” He claps him on the shoulder with a grin.
Chris rolls his eyes fondly. “Tina is your favorite patrol officer and you know it.”
The detective shrugs. “She brings me my favorite coffee from Beanery. She knows the way to my heart. So what do you know so far?”
“39 year old female found dead. Possible red ice overdos-“
Everything blurs as Chris’s words slip into static. Gavin’s chest tightens, air thinning, ears pounding with the rush of blood. It’s been years since he last heard from Callie, but every case that even half fits her description claws him open all over again.
What if it’s her?
What if she came back to Chicago like he did and didn’t make it out this time? How the hell does he explain to Josie that her mother isn’t just gone—she’s gone forever? How does he face her parents? Does he have to be the one to knock on their door?
“-eed! Are you even listening?”
Gavin jerks back, swallowing hard. He forces a weak chuckle. “Just thinking about when I can get out of here. What were you saying?”
“Maybe if you were paying attention the first time you could’ve gotten the details.” Nines retorts to which Gavin just glares at him.
“Fuck off. Go do your little robot shit and I’ll get what I need from Chris.”
Nines’ LED briefly cycles through red to blue and he walks away without another word.
Chris clears his throat. “Are you okay, Reed?”
Gavin waves him off and nods. “Don’t worry about me. Just tell me again.”
Chris hesitates but nods, relenting. “39 year old female. It’s a possible overdose but we need homicide here to rule out any sort of foul play before we can officially rule it as such.”
Gavin nods. “Uh, right. I’ll go check it out.”
He can’t bear to look at the victim until he knows for sure it isn’t Callie. They may have had their problem but as Josie’s mom, he loved her. He can’t see her like that.
The detective walks over to his partner, heart beating out of his chest. “Tincan, you get a name?”
Nines raises his eyebrow, “Am I doing all of the work here, detective?”
Gavin scoffs, “Could you stop being a smartass for two seconds? We have a job to do here.”
“Indeed we do. So why don’t you do actual detective work and investigate the scene?”
“Because it might be my wife!” Gavin snaps. His voice cracks sharper than he means it to. “I can’t look at her like this. Just—tell me the fucking name, toaster.”
Nines studies him for a beat before his tone shifts, level but careful. “Marley Simmons.”
The tension drains so fast Gavin nearly staggers. Relief crashes into guilt, leaving him raw and shaky. He drags both hands down his face. “Fuck…”
Nines’ brows draw faintly together. “Is it…”
He huffs out a hollow laugh. “No. Not her.”
Nines tilts his head, LED steady. “Do you want me to handle the body?”
Gavin shakes his head quickly. “No. I’m good. Just… needed a name first.” His voice is rough, but he forces his shoulders back, grounding himself. “So? What’s your little voodoo scan say?”
“Accidental overdose,” Nines replies evenly. “No defensive wounds, no evidence of staging. High concentration of red ice in her system. Likely she injected alone and collapsed where she was found.”
Gavin exhales slowly. Not Callie. Not murder. Just another person the drug chewed up and spit out. Somehow, that doesn’t feel much lighter.
Chris approaches again. “We’ll get the coroner to confirm, but it looks pretty cut and dry.”
“Yeah.” Gavin rubs at the back of his neck, eyes flicking anywhere but the sheet over the body. “Cut and dry.”
“I’ll stick around for the coroner. You two can head back to the station.” Chris offers with a kind smile on his face.
Gavin nods, claps Chris on the shoulder once more and walks away without another word.
The detective slides into the passenger seat, the door thudding shut behind him. His hands are still trembling, though he hides them against his thighs. It wasn’t Callie. Not this time. But one day it might be. And then he’ll have to explain to Josie why her mom’s never coming back.
He shuts his eyes and lets out a long breath. For now, at least, he gets to keep putting that conversation off.