Athena pulled up to the abandoned house; right up behind the car that had been sat on the street all night. Grabbing the coffees and bag of pastries in her passenger seat, Athena stepped out of the car and walked to the passenger side of the second car; knocking on the window. Romero looked up and quickly unlocked the door. Athena slid into the car and Romero instantly grabbed for the coffee and pastry bag, Athena handing them over easily.
"Anything happen last night?"
Romero took a careful sip of the still hot coffee before answering. "Nothing all night. No teenage girl trying to sneak in. Charlie's been watching the back of the house. How's the kid?"
"Broken arm, malnourished, dehydrated." Athena sighed. "The hospital called in social services. They had to sedate him after he woke from surgery because he started freaking out." She took a sip of her own coffee. "Did you or Charlie find anything in their stuff inside? Anything mentioning a last name?"
"Only a picture," Romero grabbed something off his dash and handed it over. "Looks to be maybe a year or two old but we know what the sister looks like."
Athena took the photo and looked down at it. She instantly recognized the little boy - Evan. He looked smaller, younger; Romero was correct, the photo was probably a couple of years old at this point. But it was definitely a smiling and happy Evan wrapped in the arms of an equally smiling and happy teenage girl they all assumed was the mysterious Maddie. After they had taken Evan to the hospital after his accident with the chair, Romero had returned to the house in hopes to catch Maddie to be able to get her back to Evan; get them both the help they clearly needed.
Athena knew that Evan was more then likely about to be placed into the system and she had preferred if they would be able to keep the siblings together. It always broke her heart when siblings were separated to different foster homes. She knew social workers tried their best to keep family together but it wasn't always for the best or even possible if they had a placement for one child but that family was unable to take in more then one.
It had been how Athena had become a foster mother herself a year ago. She and Romero had worked a case of a murder-suicide; a husband had killed his wife and then himself after learning his wife had been cheating. They had left behind two daughters only aged eleven and eight. Athena had learned they were separated to different foster homes and after spending days with them after the deaths of their parents, Athena had applied to be a foster parent in hopes of putting them back together. She wasn't sure it would work but after two months apart, Athena was able to reunite the sisters.
They stayed with Athena for three weeks before a couple showed up to actually adopt them. She still got letters and cards from the sisters a year later. They hadn't been with her long but Athena loved knowing that they were thriving now with a new family; even becoming big sisters to a little baby boy the couple had conceived and welcomed just last month. Athena had been worried as she knew a lot of couples adopted when they couldn't have their own children and then suddenly would find themselves expecting; and would give up the adopted child in favor of their own biological. She had been happy when she didn't have to worry about that for those girls.
Since then Athena has taken in other kids from cases; and none cases when needed. They were usually only with her a couple of days before a more permanent placement was found; never more then a couple of weeks at best. Instantly knowing what was going to happen to Evan until they learned his full identity; whether they found Maddie or not; Athena had already talked to the social worker before leaving the hospital the night before that she would like to be Evan's foster mother. Allow him to stay somewhere good until they found his family; Maddie or otherwise. The social worker had told her they would have to think about it; but she had worked with Caroline Reed before; she knew it would happen.
"Okay, well. I'm here to relieve you." Athena took her coffee. "Layman should be relieving Charlie now. Jackson and Malik will be here this afternoon to take over if we don't get anything this morning. You and Charlie will be back on tonight then."
Romero nodded as he was chewing one of the donuts Athena had brought him. Athena climbed back out of the car and headed for the house. She wasn't going to sit outside and watch; she was going to wait inside and hope that this girl; Maddie; would return and Athena would be able to help her and Evan.
Around noon Romero returned with lunch for the pair of them; dropping off something for Layman sitting outside the back of the house first. There had still been nothing. Romero returned to work after their lunch. Athena was relieved when Jackson showed up just after five that evening. She had gone home to shower, change and have dinner with her daughter; the babysitter having stayed an hour later then normal to allow Athena to relax for a moment after work.
Just after eleven at night Athena had finally gotten May off to sleep and was getting ready to head to bed herself when her phone started ringing. There had been an incident at the hospital involving Evan and a teenage girl who had snuck into his room and tried to take him. Security was unable to grab the girl but all Evan had done was scream for Maddie and cry as he fought to be settled back into bed once the girl was gone without him. Now that they knew the girl was at the hospital they had stopped watching the house. Charlie went to watch Evan's hospital room instead.
Athena went to sleep knowing first thing she would be going to the hospital to check on the boy and hopefully get more answers. Knowing his sister would sneak into the hospital and try to take the boy away; probably in hopes of making a run for it again; Athena knew the girl was going to stick close. They knew what she looked like now. A missing persons report had gone out that afternoon using the photo Romero had found in the house of the siblings. Athena just hoped maybe someone would spot the girl or recognize the siblings and call with information; either a last name or even a family member.