Disclaimer: I do not own the Legend of Korra or Avatar the Last Airbender. I only own my own characters and ideas

Chapter One: Found

Lin was sitting at her desk when she heard two of her officer's call for assistance. She continued with her files until she heard more officers call for assistance at the scene and her presence. She sighed as she massaged her temples. She didn't understand why it took so many officers to handle situations lately. She stood and was about to walk out the door when someone almost hit her with it. She tried not to yell at her Assistant Chief Saikhan. She already knew that they had both been requested to show up at a call that was most likely something small. When she and Saikhan got there, they found a young girl attacking the officers. She pinched the bridge of her nose when she parked. The girl couldn't have been more than thirteen and she had already had them call for assistance three times. She watched as a few of her officers cornered the girl which made Lin think their job was done until the girl knocked the officers back using her earthbending. Impressive. Lin thought to herself. She wondered if the girl could metalbend. She tilted her head when she stared at the girl more. She looked scared and like she hadn't eaten in months and if she was eating it, was scraps. She turned to Saikhan who said the initial call was because a girl was caught stealing from a vendor. She looked around to see they were in the food market. Lin approached the vendor that had caught the girl to find out what happened.

"Can you tell me what happened here?"

"The brat over there tried stealing from my stand. When I tried to ask her about it, she wouldn't talk. She just looked at me dumb."

"Give me what she stole. I have money and you can keep the change." Lin told the man as she handed him the money.

She turned to see her officers on the ground again. She really hoped these officers would make it through this one call. She pulled a roasted meat on stick from a bag before she told her officers to back off. The girl stayed against the wall as she stared at everyone. Lin saw the fear in her eyes as she got closer. She started to move more slowly as she reached out for the girl. She held the food out towards her to see if the girl would take it. When the young girl only stared, Lin nodded at her.

"Go ahead. I'm not going to hurt you." Lin told her.

The girl stared at Lin some more before she took a few steps towards her. The girl soon stood in front of Lin and tried to peak in the bag. Lin knew what the girl probably wanted. They have been a huge hit since they hit the shelves. Lin pulled the Varri-cake out and handed it to her. One of the officers took that as a chance to grab her which made her gasp before she used her earth bending to knock Lin into one of the Satomoblies. Lin felt a pop in her shoulder as she hit the vehicle. Lin watched as Saikhan wrapped his cables around the girl before he slammed her to the ground. The girl didn't say anything, but she laid on the ground and let the tears run down her cheeks. Lin put pressure on her shoulder as she stood.

"Saikhan, you idiot. Get off the kid. You've got to be at least one hundred-fifty pounds heavier than her. She is scared. She is coming with me because you idiots don't know how to deal with her. Kid, get in my Satomobile. You and I are going for a ride."

The young girl followed Lin to her Satomobile, jumping in the front seat. The two didn't speak the whole time. She thought Lin was going to throw her in jail. Not only did she attempt to steal, but she also damaged property and attacked officers. Most adults spend years in prison just for one of those crimes. When the pulled up to City Hall she looked over at Lin and thought about how she could make a run for it. Lin opened the door for her and the two made their way inside City Hall. She read the names on the doors of each councilmember. She read the name Councilman Tenzin on the door before Lin opened the door. She saw a tall, thin man with blue arrow tattoos. Lin shut the door behind them before she asked the girl to sit.

"Tenzin, I have a problem and I need a favor to clean it up."

"Hello to you too Lin. How can I help you today?"

"I went to a scene, and I found this kid. I... we can't let her go in the system. We know how broken it is. We have tried to fix it with little to no success. Tenzin, she needs a home. Plus, she doesn't talk. Rather impressive earthbender though."

Tenzin stared at the girl for a bit before he looked over at Lin. The young girl watched as they continued to talk about her as if she wasn't there. They couldn't be serious. She was soon handed a piece of paper and a pen. She didn't really know what they wanted. It was just her. It was just her for years. She picked up the pen and pushed it against the paper. She finally wrote her name and slid the paper towards the two. Tenzin picked up the piece of paper before he handed it to Lin.

"Rai? Your name is Rai. Well Rai, my name is Councilman Tenzin and that is Chief Lin Beifong. Sweetheart, can you tell me anything about yourself?" Tenzin asked but Rai just stared at him. "Lin, I think you'll just have to take her back to your apartment if you don't want her in the system. Pema and I have Jinora and right now that is enough. You have to make the decision on what you want to happen to her."

Lin sighed as she told Rai to follow her. She gave Tenzin a small wave, making him smile at her. Rai followed Lin down the hall occasionally glancing at her. When they got outside Rai was told to go sit in the squad car. While sitting in the squad car she listened to all the calls that came across the radio. She started to play with the hole in her pants as she waited. She knew this would be the perfect time for her to run. She reached for the handle when Lin jumped in the vehicle. She jumped as Lin placed a bag on the floor by her feet. The two drove through the city until they pulled up to an apartment building. She turned to Lin to see that she already got out of the Satomobile. She jumped when she heard someone rap on the window. When she looked, she saw Lin standing outside her door, patiently waiting. Rai got out of the Satomobile and followed Lin into the apartment building. The two walked up a few flights of stairs then down the hall a bit. Rai stared at the door with a giant three on it. Lin unlocked the door and gestured for Rai to enter. When she entered the apartment, she saw that the chief was clearly not the neatest person out there. She noticed there were case files across the table and counters, clothes everywhere, and dishes in the sink.

"It's not much but it's my home. I know it's messy. I'm not really good at keeping this place clean. Oh, umm these are for you. My bathroom is one room that is clean. Take a shower and change into those and I'll order some food. Bathroom is back that way to the right. Towels are under the sink."

She stared at Lin for a moment before she looked inside the bag. She noticed there was shoes and a few pairs of clothes inside. She stood there for a bit, slightly scared to move. She soon felt Lin touch her, making her jump back. Lin crouched down a bit, slowly reaching out towards her.

"Rai, I told you I wasn't going to hurt you. I just want to help you. Please let me help you. The streets are no place for a young girl, especially one that doesn't talk."

Rai looked in the bag one more time before she reached in and grabbed some clothes. She placed the bag next to the couch. Lin told her where the bathroom was again. When she got into the bathroom, she opened the cabinet under the sink to grab a washcloth and towel. She stood there for a bit before she started to get undressed. After giving the water time to get to the correct temperature she jumped in and watched the water turn from clear to a dark gray. She started to wash her hair, still not understanding why the chief of police brought her to her home. After washing and drying herself she started to get dressed. She was surprised that Lin was good at getting her size correct. She wore a grey pair of sweatpants and a light green t-shirt. She stared at her clothes and dirty towel on the floor. There was a knock at the door, making her open it to see Lin standing there. She opened the door to show Lin the clothes and towel on the floor, but Lin waved her hand and told her not to worry about it. When Rai entered the dining room, she saw it had been cleaned and the table was now full of food.

"So, umm I don't know what you like to eat so I ordered one of everything from that new restaurant the Four Nations. Yea, I know weird name, but they have some good food."

Rai arched her eyebrow a bit, thinking about how that was the best name the owners could come up with. She slowly made her way to the table with Lin and the two sit down but she didn't touch the food. She wondered what the woman's motives were with her. No one ever fed her or bought her clothes. She had been on the streets for years and now the chief of police brings her to her home. She looked at her plate when Lin started to put octopus fritters, dumplings, rice, and a bun on it. She hesitated but she finally reached for the bun. She took a small bite, still not saying a word. Lin smiled as Rai reached for her chopsticks. Lin thought Rai would want more but she started to play with the chopsticks on the table. Lin looked outside to see the sun had finally gone down. She had lost track of time with everything that had happened that day. Lin went to the closet and grabbed a spare pillow and blanket, but she told Rai to follow her. The two walked straight back and Rai watched as Lin opened a door, reveling a bedroom. The bedroom was slightly cleaner than the rest of the apartment. There were a few more case files and the bed wasn't made. Lin picked up the case files before she gestured for Rai to lay in the bed. Rai arched her eyebrow a bit as she looked at Lin. She wondered if Lin really expected her to sleep there. Lin sighed because she thought she was actually getting somewhere with Rai.

"Look, how about I make you a deal. You sleep here tonight and if you want to leave tomorrow you can. You can sleep in a warm bed or even on the couch if you want. You don't have to talk to me, you just do it. Do we have a deal?"

Lin held her hand out, making Rai slowly reach for it. Lin was shocked when Rai grabbed her hand and shook it. Lin gestured to the bed again, and Rai slowly jumped in. She put her head down and covered herself as Lin turned the light off and closed the door a bit. When Lin turned around, she took a deep breath before she walked. She didn't understand how a girl Rai's age could end up on the street. She didn't understand how no one called the police to report her. She knew that if Rai chose to stay that she would have to stay home for a bit until Rai felt comfortable being alone. She grabbed a glass out of the cabinet and opened the cabinet below the sink where she stored her alcohol. She grabbed the whiskey bottle and turned walked to the living room. She looked at all the files she had brought home and hoped that she could finish the paperwork on them. She started but lost track of time. She took a sip out of her glass before she opened the next file. When she opened it, a sketch fell out. When she picked the sketch up, she froze. She stood and took the sketch to the opening of her bedroom. She looked at the sketch, then Rai, then the sketch again. She walked into the living room and called Air Temple Island.

"This is Councilman Tenzin."

"Tenzin, it's me. I need you to come over. I need to show you something."

"Lin? Do you know what time it is? It's three in the morning. The only place I need to be is my bed with my wife. You should also be in bed."

"Tenzin, it's about the kid."

"I already told-"

"She is the girl from the cold case file that has been on my desk for six years. The homicide and missing girl. Witnesses said they saw a little girl and I have the sketch. It's Rai. Rai was the little girl who watched those two men die."

"Are... are you sure? Maybe you are just trying to solve it so bad you want it to be Rai." Lin hung up on him in anger. "Hello? Lin? Did you really just hang up on me?"

Lin couldn't believe that Tenzin thought she would just pick some random girl off the streets to try and solve a cold case. She took another swig of her whiskey before she slammed her glass down. She looked down the hallway to make sure she didn't wake Rai. She read more of the file hoping that she would get some answers. She didn't understand why Rai's case bothered her so much. She had cases involving children before and even cases where violence was involved. She was so lost in thought it startled her when there was a knock on the door. She looked at the clock on the wall which read three forty-five. She wondered who could be at her door this time of the night. She got off the couch and slowly made her way for the door. She checked the peephole to see who had knocked. She shook her head before she unlocked the door to let Tenzin into her apartment. He walked in, clearly exhausted. Before he could ask the obvious question, she pulled the sketch out and shoved it at him. He looked down at the sketch before making a face. The sketch did resemble Rai a bit, but it was six years old. He continued to stare at the sketch before he spoke.

"It does resemble her a bit but Lin as you pointed out this case is six years old. Do you think if and I mean this is a big if Rai is the girl in the sketch, she would remember what happened that day? Do you think she could help with the case? Would you put her through that?"

She grabbed the file, clenching it a bit. She clenched her jaw and narrowed her eyes at him. She knew there was a chance he was right. She hated when he proved her wrong. He chuckled and she hit him with the file. She knew in her gut that Rai was the girl in that sketch. She soon started to argue with Tenzin about how she was right. The two argued about Rai and what would happen. They argued about how they would even approach her. They stopped when they heard a noise come from Lin's bedroom. They both turned to the room to see if Rai would walk out. When she didn't Lin walked to the entrance of her bedroom to see what caused the noise. When she poked her head in to find the bed empty. She pushed the door open and turned the lights on but didn't see Rai. Tenzin rushed to see why Lin was panicking. She didn't see Rai in the bathroom or under the bed. Tenzin tapped on her shoulder and put a finger in front of his lips before he pointed at the closet. Lin noticed her closet door was open a bit. She went and opened the door to see Rai against the back, hugging her knees. She and Tenzin both crouched down with a smile on their face. She stuck her hand out towards Rai, hoping she would take it.

Three months Later

Rai followed Lin to Kwong's Cuisine to meet Tenzin for a work-related meeting and lunch. Rai did notice one thing about the chief. The woman always seemed to be in a rush. She was always so busy too. When they got to the restaurant the two were seated in a booth in the back. Tenzin arrived a few moments later, apologizing for the delay. Lin and Rai exchanged looks before they rolled their eyes at him. Tenzin chuckled and thought in how in just three short months Lin had gotten the young girl to roll her eyes at him already. Lin ordered her usual and ordered Rai the same. Tenzin order one of the few vegetarian options on the menu. Tenzin and Lin started their meeting while Rai played with her fingers. She wondered if Chief Beifong was afraid to leave her alone. She was always brought everywhere for the last three months. She sat up a little bit to see what they were working on, making Lin shake her head. She sighed as she slouched back down in her seat. The waiter soon brought their food, making Rai stare at it for a bit. She already knew she couldn't eat that. She came here one time with her parents before her mother died and she remembered what happened when she ate that meal, and it wasn't good. Lin and Tenzin started to eat and continue their meal. Rai picked up her chopsticks because she didn't want them to think something was wrong. She took a deep breath, but she told herself she had to finally say something.

"I... I can't eat this."

Lin and Tenzin both coughed as they choked on the food that was in their mouths. Tenzin swallowed the food in his mouth while Lin spit the little bit in her napkin. They looked at each other, then Rai, then each other again. Rai could see she had clearly shocked them. She had been with the chief for three months and this was the first she spoke.

"She talks," Lin finally said.

"She talks," Tenzin chuckled.

"Yes, I talk. I still can't eat this. I'm allergic to it. The spices on it to be exact. I get covered in these rashes and it gets extremely hard to breathe. It happened when I was younger." Rai smiled.

"She even smiles," Lin sounded shocked.

"She has a pretty smile too,"

Rai pushed back against the table, looking down at it. It was too much for her. She just wanted them to know she was allergic to the meal. They were making a big deal out of the fact she smiles and talks. She felt someone touch her arm, but she pulled away. She started to play with her hair, still avoiding eye contact with anyone. Lin ordered Rai the same meal without the seasonings, but she still didn't touch her food. Tenzin and Lin continued their meeting, occasionally glancing at Rai. When they were done the two parties separated and went on their way. Lin wondered if giving Rai her space would help her open up a bit. She did make the girl follow her everywhere since she found her. The two walked back to the apartment when Lin turned to Rai. She hoped what she was making the right call.

"Would you like to stay here? Do you think you'd be okay if I left you here alone? Would you still be here if I left you alone? I'd be gone for maybe half an hour."

Rai perked up a bit before she grabbed a book. Lin laughed before she locked the door and left. Rai locked the chain on the door before she sat on the couch. Lin started to walk down the hall, hoping that everything would be okay at her apartment. She exited the building and made her way towards headquarters. She thought maybe she could get some work done without someone staring at her. She was two blocks away from headquarters when she was attacked. She knew that whoever attacked her had guts. She went to stand but was thrown against the wall by a water whip. She smacked her head against the building. She was finally able to stand and sent her cables at some triad members. She knew that she couldn't let them win. She couldn't let them get to her apartment. She couldn't let them get Rai. She grabbed one of them with her cables but one of the earthbenders started to pull chunks of earth from a nearby statue. They hit Lin, burying her in the debris. She used her earthbending to get out and sent her cables at the earthbender. She knocked him back but could still tell she was outnumbered. She slammed her hand on the ground, sending a few of the triads in the air. Lin didn't understand how she could have a full-on brawl with a group of triads and none of her officers show up. She flung her cables and hit the triads, knocking them to the ground. She didn't know how she was going to get all the members that attacked her to Headquarters. Lin was trying to use part of her armor to make cuffs to arrest the triads but one of the earthbenders caught her off guard. She was sent into a building by a chunk of earth. At the apartment Rai was enjoying her book when she heard the doorknob move. She looked up but the door didn't open. She arched her eyebrow a bit as she stood. She saw the doorknob move more quickly. She sprinted towards the table, grabbing Lin's spare cables. She used them to pull the couch and coffee table in front of the door. She ran towards Lin's room as someone began to bang against the door. She slammed the door shut and grabbed the phone. She sat against the bedroom door as she asked the operator to put her call to Lin's office. The phone only rang but Rai didn't have that kind of time. She hung up and asked the operator if they could place her call to Tenzin's office. She started to breathe heavily as she thought about how much longer the door would hold.

"This is Councilman Ten-"

"Someone is trying to break into the apartment! I'm by myself."

Rai heard another bang before she heard a smashing sound. She tried not to scream. She covered her mouth as she started to cry. She heard multiple voices, and someone toss the couch. The started to call out as if they were looking for someone. She wondered if they knew she was here. There was no way.

"Rai, is someone in the apartment now? Does it sound like more than one person?"

"Yes, please hurry. I'm really scared. It sounds like they are looking for someone. They are getting closer."

Rai clenched the phone as the footsteps got closer to where she was hiding. She closed her eyes and hoped they would turn around. Someone started to bang on the bedroom door, making Rai cover her mouth. She tried to suppress any screams. She cried in the phone as the banging got harder. She heard Tenzin yell for someone to call headquarters to get officers to the apartment. She knew it was only a matter of time before someone got in the room.

"Rai, I'm here. Help is on the way. Hang in there. I know you're probably scared but you're being really brave."

The next bang knocked her to the ground. She looked up at the men who had broken into the apartment in fear. One of the men reached for her but she used her cables, cutting his neck and face. One of the other triad members picked her up by the neck and threw her across the room. She heard her name being yelled through the phone. She looked down at the broken furniture before she sent her cables at two of the triad members. They moved, giving her an opening. She went to jump between three men. She suddenly felt a burn right under her right breast stretching back to part of her back. She landed on her shoulder and screamed. She didn't know which hurt worse. The waterbender started to freeze thin shards before the shards were thrown at her. She sent her cables at the waterbender, throwing him against the wall. She was grabbed and slammed against the kitchen table before she was thrown into the living room. She stayed on the ground but left her eyes open.

"Republic City Police! Nobody move! Assistant Chief Saikhan, we have three triad members in here and a girl on the ground. I think it's the girl Councilman Tenzin called about," an officer informed Saikhan.

Saikhan walked in to see the mess the four caused in Lin apartment. He sighed before he turned and found Rai on the ground. She was still alive and that was important. He turned to the officers that were waiting for instructions. He didn't even understand why those three members of the Triple Threat were even out of jail.

"I want someone to get this young lady to a healer and I need two of you to get those three idiots into a prison cell. When Chief Beifong finds out about all this she is going to lose it."

"Umm... sir isn't she-"

"Yes, I know but she still has to know about these idiots being out and the young girl that has been living with her. Oh, and the biggest one, her apartment."

The officer nodded as he rushed out of the apartment. A few officers came to the apartment to take pictures. Rai had been taken to the hospital, while the three Triad members were taken to headquarters for interrogation. Saikhan walked back to Lin's room to see the door busted off the hinges. He saw the busted furniture and sighed. He instructed an officer to take pictures in the room. Tenzin finally arrived at the apartment but froze at the entrance. It was a mess. He finally gained the strength to take a step in. As he got further in, he stepped on Lin's smashed kitchen table. He noticed the hole in the wall, making him turn to see the couch thrown across the room. He didn't see Rai anywhere. He soon heard Saikhan's voice, making him walk in the direction of the voice. He stopped and covered his mouth when he saw Lin's room. He saw a small trace of blood on the wall and on the floor. It smelled as if someone had been burned. There was smashed furniture. There was still no sight of Rai. He wondered if they were too late.

"She is on her way to the hospital. She took a bit of a beating. She should be okay. The chief is there so I guess when the healers are done with her, she can go straight over to the chief." Saikhan informed Tenzin.

"Wait, Lin's in the hospital too? What happened?"

"Same as here. The triads attacked her. The chief is in rough shape though. I just don't understand why they would come here after attacking the chief."

Tenzin noticed a picture of Rai laying on the ground. Lin must have convinced her that she needed a new picture for the file. He bent down, picking it up with a smile. It dawned on him for a moment that Lin had taken Rai everywhere since she brought her home three months ago. He thought someone had to see them but maybe the wrong person saw Rai with Lin. He turned the photo towards Saikhan before he spoke.

"Her. She and Lin have gotten attached to each other. If they want to hurt Lin, they have to hurt Rai. Think about it, if they hospitalized Lin and took Rai what would happen? They would torture her which would torture Lin." Tenzin stood, shoving the photo at Saikhan before he started to walk away. "All of that if we were too late."

"Councilman Tenzin, where are you going? I need your statement"

"I'm going to the hospital. You can get it there. Also, contact my mother and sister and ask for their help."

(Author's Note: So, I hope you like the first chapter of this fic. I always wanted to show the softer caring version of Lin with a child. I wanted her to still show she balanced both equally. Reviews are always appreciated. Once again thank you for reading. I hope you continue to read.