The phone call came at one thirty, the sudden harsh ringing jerking him out of another night of restless sleep.

"This is Constable Donald Wilson from Toronto PD, 53rd Division, Is that Dr Mercer?" The caller's tone was official but not grave and the seed of hope that that had emerged when the phone rang started to blossom.

"You've found him."

"Found who sir?... We've picked up a street kid on potential burglary charges," the officer continued without waiting for a response, "he won't give us his name and is asking for you."

Relief flooded through Ray, it was Toby, of that he was certain. "I'll be there in half an hour," he replied ending the phone call as quickly as possible. Ray dressed hurriedly, forcing himself not to start to worry, after all he couldn't do anything till he got there. Despite his efforts a nagging doubt began to surface, while it wasn't really a surprise that the police or someone would ring him eventually, it was concerning he was getting the call now, and it sounded as thought it was before the social services.

He made it in twenty minutes, with the streets being quiet, and the lights kind to him, but it was another thirty before he was actually allowed to see for himself that it was Toby. Wilson, the Officer in charge wasn't letting on much, but his reaction, and the scramble to get someone from social services out, when Ray had informed him that Toby Logan was not only runaway from the care system but also only 15 years old, made Ray suspect that Toby had tricked them into believing he was much older.

The result was that Ray was made to wait for social services to find and send a case worker willing to deal with the runaway. At least being listed on Toby's files as his psychologist provided him with a bit of leeway and he stood quietly behind the one way glass in the observation room as they brought the teen up from the cells.

He was cuffed when they brought him in and Ray wondered briefly what he'd done to deserve that honour, especially now they knew he was a juvenile. Apart from the cuffs and being pretty filthy, Toby didn't look anything like as bad as Ray had expected. Sure he looked tired, thinner, and his hair was greasy and even wilder than usual, but considering he'd taken off over 3 months ago he looked basically well, and more importantly together. That, the together part, was the bit that Ray had been most worried about.

Letting out a soft breath Ray tried to clear away the worry and think clearly. 'Hello Toby?'

Toby jumped, his startled reaction immediate, blue eyes swinging round to stare intently at the one way glass, a slight hint of a smile breaking out on the serious face. After a moment the dark head tilted slightly and the bright eyes started to lose focus. Ray schooled his thoughts as quickly as he could when he recognised the signs, Toby had been blocking, which was good, it meant he'd managed to keep control of his gift to some extent while on the streets. Now though he was open and 'listening' intently.

'It's been a long time Toby; did my number slip your mind these last few months?' Ray thought pointedly.

Toby's lips quirked again, and he looked down rubbing at the mark the cuffs left on his wrists. After a moment he hooked a foot round a nearby chair, pulling it to him and sitting casually conveying to Ray a complete indifference to the situation. Frustrated, Ray stood quietly; watching him closely wondering what was going on in that head.

After a few minutes Toby's head jerked round towards the door, his relaxed expression shifting to one of annoyance. Moments later the door opened and Officer Wilson strode in accompanied by Emily Simms, one of Toby's least favourite case workers.

'Easy Toby, you're in enough trouble.' Ray warned mentally, trying not to let his annoyance seep into his thoughts, Wilson had promised Ray that he would be able to speak to Toby as soon as possible and before any official questioning took place. It seemed Miss Simms had managed to persuade the police to do otherwise.

Despite Toby's initial resistance, some actually quite sensitive probing by Wilson, aided by Ray's mental encouragement finally persuaded the teenage to talk, and the story as to how Toby came to be breaking into a community arts centre in the middle of the night began to emerge.

It started with a girl, of course. Chantelle, and no Toby protested, he didn't know a last name or age. A fact that Ray thought was unlikely considering Toby's abilities. Although the telepath must have heard Rays doubts he insisted to the police that all he knew was she was a runaway, and from Arizona. Apparently she appeared on the scene about a month ago and hooked up with and dated a gang member 'Puggsy'. He expected Wilson and Simms had made the same leap as him, substituting the word pimp for boyfriend. Toby was being cagey but Ray could work out how Toby stumbled on the real nature of the relationship. After that it was clear what had happened, Toby was pretty impulsive and had a tendency to act recklessly when it came to things he read through the gift. The rules of the street ensured that after helping, or encouraging Chantelle to get out, the pissed off gang member would want Toby to find away to recoup lost earnings.

And that was how 15 year old Toby Logan found himself doing a little late night B&E. It was dumb luck for Toby that one of the volunteers, who had stopped by on his way back after a night out to finish up some paperwork, had noticed the damage and called the police.

With his age and cooperation taken into account, and Wilson implying that nothing had actually been stolen, it looked like Toby would be facing a judge for criminal damage charges. The remaining question was what to do with him in the immediate future. In the end, for once Emily and he agreed on the best course of action. The circumstances meant Toby would have to be put into an intake centre for the short term, most likely Breyat. If they took him there at this time of night there was little chance of a meal, a wash, or even much of a change of clothes, and as they both knew well, if the other kids were woken by the newcomer then there was no chance of sleep either. With Ray he could have a half decent sleep and the chance of looking presentable before a Judge in the morning. Maybe Ray's pointed "and at least you know he'll still be there tomorrow," was a bit harsh, but she'd dismissed his worries about Toby's growing 'dissatisfaction' with his time fostered at the Bensons and two weeks later Toby was gone.

Toby was beginning to look shaky as they left the police station and head to the car. he'd held it together for the interview but now Ray could see the cracks appearing. "How are you doing?" he prodded gently knowing Toby would understand what he was asking.

"Okay" came the quiet reply, then at Ray's, look and probably his disbelieving thoughts Toby continued "better now I'm out of there, Cops should learn to think quieter."

Ray nodded smiling slightly at the humour. It was clear that Toby was lying and heading for a serious crash but the best thing for Ray to do was get him home, fed, and rested. "So you want to pick up take out on the way back?" he asked.

He noticed as Toby glanced slyly at him as they reached the car, "Chinese would be good but I'm a bit broke right now," he said "you're going to have to pay...for the food and for that."

Ray looked over to the side of the windscreen where Toby was pointing, taking in the large, bright yellow parking notice. 'Who the hell gave out tickets at 2:00am' furious, Ray swore mentally and then swore again when he remembered the company he was in.

Toby was grinning at him, eyes shining with amusement, "Sorry Ray," he said but he didn't really sound it.