This was written by Bella.

Athena Carter has been a police officer for the past seven years. She's seen a lot in those years. A lot of theft; breaking and entering; robberies; etc. But in those seven years she has never seen a thief so young as the one currently fighting with a corner shop manager. The man had this kid's arm in a vice like grip and he was yelling at him; an apple in his other hand and holding it away from the child.

Athena could tell this child was no older then six or seven years old; with dirty blond hair - which she couldn't really tell if it was his natural color or if it was actual dirt shading it. He was wearing torn up jeans; holey shoes and a t-shirt that looked to be two or three sizes too large for his small frame. A frame that she could tell was much smaller then it probably should be for any healthy child his age.

"Hey!" Athena's partner, Rick Romero, called out as they approached the store manager and child.

The manager turned his head towards them and in that moment of distraction the child kicked out at the man; hitting him hard enough in the shin and causing the manager to lose his grip on the kid's arm. Athena wasn't quick enough to grab the child herself as he turned and took off down the alleyway. Athena looked to her partner who nodded; so she followed the child while he dealt with the angry manager.

Athena had reached the end of the alleyway where it shifted to turn left or right. Looking both ways all she could see was the piling garbage bags and dumpsters that littered the area from the surrounding buildings and businesses. As she was about to head left she heard something shift to her right. Slowly she took the few steps around a dumpster and looked down. Trying to make himself small against the wall; behind a smaller trash can; was the boy.

Carefully and slowly Athena knelt down in front of the boy; pushing the can out of her way so she was directly in front of him. She didn't want to scare him more then he clearly already was; but getting an even closer look Athena knew this boy was homeless; it was clear as the sky was blue; this boy had been living it rough on the streets for some time now. Her heart broke as she heard him whimper as he stared up at her; wide eyes bright with unshed tears. She was shocked by just how blue the boy's eyes were.

"It's okay, sweetheart." Athena worked to keep her voice steady; even; and calm. "I'm not going to hurt you. I'm a police officer, it's my job to help." She rested her arms over her thighs and clasped her hands together in front of her. "My name's Athena, what's yours?"

The boy regarded her as he looked around; most likely looking for a way out to run again. That was the last thing Athena wanted; and she really didn't like the idea of grabbing the boy to stop him. She could already see a bruise forming on his arm where the store manager held him from escaping just moments ago. If the boy bruised that easily; Athena didn't want to be the cause of another one if she could help it.

"Evan."

Athena blinked; almost thinking she had imagined it; but no. The boy was looking at her again; almost relaxing just a bit as he hugged his knees to his chest. His voice was soft; just a whisper but she had heard him. She quickly smiled at the boy - Evan.

"Okay Evan. That's a really nice name." She shifted on her feet; her leg was starting to cramp a bit in her crouched position but she wasn't ready to move just yet. "Do you have a last name?"

The response was quicker this time; a shake of the boy's head.

"You don't have a last name?" Athena frowned; had this boy lived his whole life on the streets? "Why not?"

Evan's mouth opened and closed a few times like he was trying to decide if he really could trust her. Then finally; he answered; his voice a little stronger. "Maddie says... Maddie says we're not 'spose to tell people or they'll... they'll take us back to him." He leaned forward a bit and his voice became a whisper again. "He's evil."

Okay, so that was not what she expected the answer to be. And now who was Maddie? A parent? A sister? Just another homeless child that had taken on the responsibility of taking care of this child? Athena was more confused now then she had been a few minutes ago but she knew she needed to keep the kid talking; get as much information as she could.

Movement out of the corner of her eye had Evan cowering back; pressing into the wall. Athena turned her head and looked up at her partner. He didn't say anything as he looked between the kid and her before holding out his hand with the apple. Athena sighed as she took the apple with a nod. She waited until Romero stepped away and out of sight before turning back to the boy.

She held the apple out to him. "I believe this is yours."

Evan hesitated for just a moment before he lunged for the apple in her hand; grabbing it and cradling it to his chest as his legs dropped to straighten in front of him. He held the apple with both hands like he expected it to be taken from him again. Athena wanted to cry; clearly something horrible had happened to this child to react like this.

"Evan, can you tell me who the evil man is?"

The boy was looking around again. Clearly he wanted out of the alleyway but Athena needed to gain his trust. She wanted him out of the alleyway just as bad but until she knew she would be able to keep him at her side to the hospital; she had to keep him talking. She needed as much information as possible to know how to help this little boy; and by extension whoever Maddie was.

"I just want to help, Evan."

Finally Evan nodded in agreement. "Our uncle Peter. He... he gets angry."

Great.

Evan's eyes widened again as he stared at her. "Please don't make me go back!"

Athena shook her head. "It's okay, baby. I'm going to do everything I can to keep that from happening." She wasn't sure what exactly that was yet but she knew she would figure it out.

Evan frowned as he looked down at the apple in his hands and whispered. "Maddie's going to be mad at me."

"Why do you say that?"

"Not 'spose to leave the house without her."

Okay, that's a little more information that she needed. So they were homeless but clearly were staying in some sort of shelter. Athena could work with that. If Maddie was back there she could get both children out and to the hospital. If what the boy looked like; because Athena had already accessed that Evan was a few years older then what he actually looked; she wasn't holding out much hope for Maddie to look any better.

"Did you sneak out when she was sleeping? I use to do that when I was younger and my parents were asleep."

Evan shook his head. "She's... she's at work."

Work? Okay, so Maddie had to be a teenager right? At least fourteen or fifteen to get some sort of work. Or she was over eighteen and had taken her little brother from a bad situation?

"But we ran out of food." Evan continued; unshed tears in his eyes again. "And I was hungry."

Athena nodded. "Okay. Maybe I should get you home before she returns. That way she won't be mad." She held out her hand in hopes that the boy trusted her enough at this point.

Evan only hesitated for a second before he slowly reached out and took Athena's hand; holding it in almost a death grip as they both stood. Evan stepped around the dumpster and started walking down the alleyway; passing Athena's partner as he did. Athena followed; nodding to her partner. Romero nodded back and turned to run back to their squad car and follow; as well as call it in.