Fifteen-and-a-half-year-old Dani McHale is a young homeless girl with a two-year-old daughter, Sam. Dani and Sam have been homeless for a year now and it's the middle of winter in New York City. Using her winter coat as a blanket, Dani wraps it around Sam mostly as they sit in the alleyway with other homeless people.
The homeless people are standing by a burn barrel with fire, to stay warm. Dani would love to go by there to get warm, but she would never leave Sam alone or go near there.
"Mama?" Sam whispers looking up at Dani in the dark.
"Yes, honey?" Dani asks.
"Cold. Hungry."
"I know, sweetie." Dani sighs sadly wishing she could help. Pulling Sam onto her lap, Dani ignores how cold she is and slips her coat onto Sam. Zipping it up and putting the hood up, Dani holds Sam close. Suddenly remembering about the little money she has in her coat pocket, Dani gets Sam to stand up before getting up. Picking Sam up to head toward the bakery.
Walking into the bakery when they reach it from down the road, Dani pulls out the money after setting Sam on her feet.
"Excuse me?" Dani speaks softly.
"We are closed." The lady states from the other side of the bakery washing the floors.
"But," Dani starts to only be met with a beautiful pair of brown eyes.
"I said we are closed." The lady glares.
"Mama, hungry." Sam whimpers.
"Please, can we have something to eat?" Dani begs with tears filling her brown eyes.
"Fine." The lady sighs. Walking behind the counter, Dani places the money on the counter. A dollar, "Kid, you don't have enough for the cheapest thing we have." The lady frowns.
"Sorry." Dani whispers looking down, "Thanks anyway." Starting to leave, Dani leaves behind the dollar.
"Wait," The lady speaks quickly pulling out a muffin. Hurrying over to Dani and Sam, the lady hands Dani the muffin, "Don't tell anyone I did this, okay?" Nodding, the lady hands Dani the dollar back.
"Thank you." Dani sniffles picking Sam up.
"Have a seat." Pulling down the two chairs, the lady gets Dani and Sam to sit down and eat, "Do you two have names? Where are your parents?"
"None of your business." Dani snaps.
"Wow, you sound like me on a bad day, which is today." The lady nods with a smirk, "I have to say Kid, you are on the right track to getting yourself into danger."
"Go away and let us eat in peace."
"Fine." As the lady gets back to work silently, Dani and Sam eat their muffin. Getting up once they are finished, Sam asks for a drink. Nodding, Dani looks to the lady.
"Excuse me?" Dani whispers nervously.
"Being polite now are you?" The lady turns to Dani.
"I'm sorry." Dani frown deepens, "May we have a drink please?"
"Water or milk?" The lady moves toward the fridge behind the counter. Not hearing a reply, the lady grabs one of each. Bringing them over to Dani and Sam, the lady puts them on the table.
"Thank you." Dani stutters shivering from the open door of someone entering.
"Babe, you done?" Another woman asks the lady. The other lady, who just walked in, is someone Dani has seen on posters from when she was little. Rachel Berry.
"Just finishing up, Hun." The lady speaks to Rachel. As Rachel closes the door, Dani and Sam share their drinks before getting up.
"Thank you." Dani speaks to the lady.
"No problem, Kid." The lady smiles.
"May we use the washroom?"
"Sure. Follow me." Following the lady nervously, Dani and Sam disappear inside.
Once they leave the bakery, Dani carries Sam holding her close.
"Sleepy." Sam whispers closing her eyes.
"I know. We can go to sleep soon." Dani speaks softly in return. Arriving to the alleyway, it's deserted. Sitting down out of the light of the streetlights, Dani holds Sam to her. Putting up the hood of her sweater, Dani makes sure Sam is comfortable in her lap before falling into a light sleep.
Hearing voices, Dani awakes to find people walking up and down the sidewalk. Gang members to be exact. Getting up with Sam in her arms, Dani makes sure Sam is still asleep before taking off in a run.
Feeling the cold wind on her face, Sam groans opening her tired eyes.
"Mama?" Sam whispers.
"I'm here." Dani hisses. Arriving to the subway station, Dani carefully hurries down the steps. Noticing that the place is empty, Dani sits down against the wall gasping for air.
"Mama, what's wrong?"
"We just had to leave, sweetie." Dani explains.
"Bad people again?"
"Yes." Dani nods. Cuddling into Dani's cold body, Sam doesn't care. She wants Dani, "Go to sleep, honey." Falling asleep, Sam presses right up against her mom to try and keep them both warm. Falling asleep herself, Dani stays alert.
The next couple of hours are peaceful, until the early risers have to catch the subway train to get to their destinations.
Not liking how pale her mom is when Sam awakes, Sam shakes Dani awake. Opening her tired, weak eyes, Dani looks at her daughter.
"Mama sick." Sam whimpers scared.
"I'm okay." Dani reassures her. Sam and Dani have been living on the streets for months; this is their first winter on the streets.
"Mama, coat. Hot." Removing her coat off of Sam, Sam takes it and wraps it around Dani's shoulders, "You wear." Smiling, Dani slips it on the rest of the way. Because Dani is all skin and bone, the coat is baggy on her. Zipping it up, Sam gets up and helps Dani up even though Dani doesn't need it. Walking up the steps to the streets, Dani holds Sam's hand tightly.
Arriving to the homeless shelter an hour later, Dani and Sam sit down outside waiting for the shelter to open. Everyone who works there knows Dani and helped her to raise Sam the best they could without getting Children's Services involved.
Once the doors are open, Sam and Dani walk in slowly taking in the warmth and sweet smell of food.
"Welcome back ladies." The male owner greets smiling sadly, "Sit down and I will send someone out to give you your food, blankets and clothes." Greeting the other people, Dani and Sam sit in the corner next to the door for a quick getaway.
As people pile in, the owner closes the doors once the regulars are in along with a few new people.
"Everyone, as a treat, I got my workers to come in from my diner to serve you and to hand things out." He smiles, "Bring out the food please staff." At the back table with Dani and Sam, they are the last ones served. Keeping their heads down, two plates slip in front of them. Suddenly the person serving them stops leaving hearing Dani's nasty cough. Turning to face Dani, the person lets out a gasp. Looking up, Dani's eyes widen seeing Rachel Berry.
"You," Rachel stutters. Scared, Dani quickly gets up and picks Sam up, "Wait!" But it's too late; Dani and Sam are out of the door.
"Who were those two?" Thirty-two-year-old Rachel Berry asks her boss, Gunther.
"My two regular children." Gunther sighs sadly, "They never speak. I know nothing about them."
"Did you hear her cough? It's really nasty."
"It's winter, Rachel. They are homeless, it's normal that they would get sick." Sighing, Rachel nods and walks away. Outside, Rachel dials her fiancée's phone number.
"Hello?" Rachel hears her tired voice.
"Santana, I need a favour from you." Rachel speaks gently.
"Hun, what is it?" Santana Lopez asks more awake.
"You know the two children from last night?"
"At the bakery?"
"Yes."
"What about them?"
"If they swing by to get food or to get out of the cold, could you keep them there as long as you can and give me a call?"
"What's wrong, Rach?"
"They're homeless, Babe. They were at Gunther's homeless shelter a little while ago."
"Did they get food?"
"They ran off before they got the chance." Rachel frowns, "I scared the older one from recognizing her. She's ill, and needs medicine."
"Rach, it's not your fault. I bet they are terrified of the world."
"I know. Thank you, San."
"Listen, there are too many kids on the streets now, do you want to bring them to Children's Services?"
"I don't know, San. I really don't." Rachel frown deepens.
With Santana two weeks later, she is working the night shift as there is a blizzard outside. She and Rachel are in the bakery relaxing and talking until the shift ends.
"Well, it's eight; you can close the bakery now." Rachel grins pecking Santana's lips.
"Thank gosh." Santana sighs in relief. Closing down the bakery and locking it up, Santana and Rachel walk hand-in-hand to their apartment they share a few blocks away, ten minutes away from the bakery.
Walking by an alley near the bakery, they see tiny figures in the dark. Seeing the people surrounding the burn barrel, Santana and Rachel search the group looking for any sign of the two girls they are looking for.
"I don't see them." Rachel whispers to Santana.
"They could be anywhere." Santana frowns.
"LET ME GO YOU MOTHERFUCKER!" Hearing a familiar voice, Santana turns around and runs into the alleyway.
"Santana!" Rachel gasps rushing after her.
Watching in shock as Santana shoves the guy away and steps in front of the girl and the tiny girl.
"Leave them the hell alone." Santana glares darkly at the man.
"She freaking stole my money!" The man growls furiously.
"No I didn't." The little girl snaps holding the other girl close to her.
"Back off." Santana crosses her arms, "Leave the Kid alone."
"What are you going to do if I don't?"
"Go all Lima Heights on your ass." Looking at Santana confused, the man scoffs and walks away, "Kid, get up." Santana orders turning to the two girls.
"Get away from us." The oldest glares.
"What? No thank you for helping you?"
"Thanks." The tall blonde speaks before going into a coughing fit. Watching in horror, Santana and Rachel sees the oldest cough up blood.
"Rachel, take the little kid, I got this Kid." Nodding, Rachel picks up the littlest girl, and Santana lifts the Kid into her arms.
"LET ME GO!" The Kid screams before coughing again.
"We are trying to help." Santana sighs hurrying with Rachel next to her. Knowing the Kid in her arms is terrified, Santana repeats herself, saying they are there to help and that's all.
Arriving to the hospital, Rachel rushes over to the front desk and tells them it is an emergency. Looking at the Kid in her arms, Santana notices she is so pale that it looks like her skin is covered in snow. Hearing the Kid cough, the Kid sits up in her arms slightly and coughs hysterically.
As they sit down on the chairs to wait for a nurse to come get the Kid, Santana feels the Kid's forehead, ice cold. Getting furious with the wait, Santana carries the Kid over to the front desk and gets the nurse to take the Kid's temperature.
"Fuck." The nurse whispers looking up from the temperature number to Santana, "I'm calling the doctor right away. Take her to the emergency room and lay her on the bed. Stay with her."
Nodding, Santana mentions Rachel to come before hurrying down the hall to the emergency room. At the emergency room, Santana places the Kid on the bed but the Kid whimpers and tries to get off the bed. Holding the Kid down, Santana whispers calming words but they don't help.
"Kid, just relax. You're okay." Santana whispers worried for the Kid and her sister, "Your sister is right here."
Hearing the Kid's teeth chatter, Santana knows it's from the room temperature.
"Are you cold, Kid?" Watching her nod, Santana removes her warm coat and wraps it around her, "Can you take off your shoes?" Santana wonders why the Kid has shoes on and not boots.
Watching the Kid take off her shoes, Santana gently gets the Kid to lie down. Immediately the Kid threshes and sits up breathing heavily.
"Relax." Rachel speaks making the Kid look at her. Seeing the Kid's glare, Rachel wonders what it is for. Seeing her fiancée's confused look, Santana sighs.
"Kid, your sister is okay." Santana nods at Rachel, "Could she see her sister for herself, Hun?" Nodding, Rachel shows to the Kid that the little girl is okay and just sleeping peacefully.
When the doctor arrives, he looks over the Kid's chart and sighs.
"Another one?" The doctor mutters looking to the Kid who looks at him in fear, "Look, Kid, you're very sick and close to dying if you spend the next few days on the streets. Do you have anywhere to go, like your parents?" If the Kid could pale more, she has. Rachel and Santana look to each other knowing they have to do something, but what? Seeing the Kid tremble, Santana watches her get up onto her wobbly feet.
The Kid reaches out for the little girl but Rachel and Santana stop her.
"You are not taking your sister back out into the cold, Kid." The doctor speaks strictly, "She is going to Children's Services just like you are."
"NO!" The Kid screams waking the little girl.
"Mama?" The little girl whimpers starting the fight Rachel while looking for the Kid, "Mama!"
Stepping into the little girl's sight, she relaxes seeing the Kid.
"Mama." The little one reaches out to the Kid, and the Kid nervously takes her into her arms. Holding the little one close, Santana walks over to the doctor with Rachel, all three of them talking and keeping an eye on the Kid.
"We can't let that Kid and her daughter or sister, whatever she is, to be separated or on the streets." Santana states to Rachel.
"I know, but what can we do?" Rachel asks.
"Could you take care of them until we find them a family?" The doctor wonders knowing it's a huge step and risk to take.
"Only temporarily." Rachel agrees. Nodding, Santana agrees.