They had been walking for about ten minutes when they had made their way from businesses and into a quiet neighborhood that seemed slightly run down. It wasn't bad; but it wasn't one of the newer and better neighborhoods around Los Angeles. A few houses were decorated for the coming holiday; blow up Santa's and plastic reindeer littered lawns; icicle lights lined roofs. Athena continued following the boy as he held her hand; she could hear Romero in their squad car following behind them. She was just glad that Evan either didn't seem to hear the tires on the pavement; or just trusted her enough to trust her partner as well. Either way she knew eventually Romero would be calling in their location once they reached their destination.

It wasn't long before Evan was stopping in front of a house at the end of the lane; a corner house that Athena feels has never seen better days. The remains of a wooden fence littered the overgrown and browning grass yard; windows of the two story house were smashed; some half boarded up. The front door; as they approached the porch; was sitting off its bottom hinge. Evan released her hand and began to push the door open to reveal an open front hall; stairs to the second floor in a pile of rubble in the middle of the room.

Athena followed the boy to the left into what would have been the living room. There was a rotting couch and chair with coffee table pushed into the wall of windows at the front of the room. The open floor had a pile of old pillows and blankets to make up a sort of birds nest of fluff. The only light admitting into the room came from the broken windows. Athena watched as Evan stepped into the middle of the nest and sat down; crossing his legs. Slowly, she kneeled down on her knees at the edge of the blankets in front of the boy.

"This is where you've been living?"

The boy nodded as he finally bit into the apple he had been cradling to his chest since Athena handed it over to him in the alleyway. Athena looked around again; there were two duffle bags and a backpack sitting in the corner of the room near a desk. Athena could see some clothes peaking out from one of the duffle bags. She turned her attention back to the boy.

"How long have you been living here?"

Evan shrugged. "I don't know."

Athena frowned. "Evan, how old are you?"

"Eight and a half." Evan looked up at her. "How old are you?"

Athena smiled and covered a laugh with a cough; but she doesn't answer that question. "Is there a usual time that Maddie comes home?"

Another shrug from the boy as he looks out the window. "It's usually... dark."

Athena looked down at her watch and sighed; so they had a few hours before the sun was going to start setting. Looking around once again, she stood and walked over to the window. The squad car was parked outside; just across the street and Romero was leaning against the hood; his arms crossed watching the house. Athena turned back to the boy who was finishing up the apple.

"Evan, I'll be right back okay?" She took a step towards him. "I just need to go and talk with my partner for a minute, okay?"

"Okay." Evan sighed as he stood and headed out of the living room through an open doorway.

Athena craned her neck to peer around the door frame; seeing what would have been a dining room and then a kitchen. After a quick second Athena headed back outside. Once she was on the porch, Romero pushed away from the car and crossed the street to meet her in the lawn.

"This is where the kid's been staying?" Romero was looking up at the house.

"Seems like it, but he's not sure for how long." Athena placed her hands on her hips. "I think he's been with an older sister. Maddie. Says she's at work and should be home by dark."

"I called it in. Social services have been called." Romero commented. "There has only been one missing persons report for a boy named Evan but it wasn't him, this kid's not old enough."

"He only looked like he is five or six but he told me he's eight and a half."

Romero shook his head. "Still too young. This missing persons report said that kid's fourteen. Plus it was for out of state. Arizona."

"I'm trying to get more information out of him."

"Back in the alleyway," Romero finally looked at her. "I heard him say something about an evil man?"

Athena nodded. "Not sure but I think he's been abused by an uncle. Maddie may have taken him away from the situation."

"Which means she may have been abused as well."

Athena sighed. "Okay, I can wait with him but that kid needs something more to eat then just an apple. We're only here because the kid got hungry. Says he's not suppose to leave without Maddie with him."

"Surprised a kid that young tried stealing an apple of all things." Romero shook his head. "I'll go run through a McDonald's or something. Kids like nuggets right?"

Athena snorted. "It's all May wants to eat and she's only three."

Romero nodded and shrugged as he turned to head back to the car. "Yeah okay. Nuggets and juice. I'll be back."

Athena waited until he was pulling away before the returned inside the house. Even though they were living in LA it was still December and still slightly more chilly then it usually was. She hated thinking about any homeless having to deal with the weather on a normal basses but knowing it's children; that affected her more. Sure they had shelter, if this condemned house could be called that. It was falling apart around them; one wrong step and the kid could get hurt. Then where would they be?

"Evan?" Athena called out as she didn't see the boy back in his nest of blankets.

Just as she stepped into the living room there was the sound of something falling over; a thump; and then a scream. Athena ran for the room that Evan had disappeared into and through to the kitchen. She found a chair tipped over and the boy laying on his back; holding his right arm to his chest and rocking back and forth. Athena crouched down next to him and instantly saw the blood on the kid's shirt and arm; and the bone of his arm sticking out.

She reached for her radio at her shoulder. "Romero turn around. The kid's just broken his arm trying to climb onto a chair."

"Copy that." Romero's voice floated back.

"Evan?" Athena turned her attention back to the boy. "Evan I'm going to lift you up, okay. We need to get you to the hospital."

"No!" The boy cried as Athena shifted her arms under his head and knees to lift him into her arms. "I want Maddie!"

"I know sweetie." Athena shushed him as she carried him through the house. "We'll find her for you. I promise."

When she exited the house Romero was already back and had the door open for her to carefully slip into the passenger seat; Evan on her lap. It wasn't long before they were back on the road and heading for the hospital. Evan was still crying and repeating that he wanted Maddie. Romero had radioed into dispatch that they were heading to the ER with the child. All Athena could do was hold the boy and whisper to him; try to calm him.