Author's Note: Woah already at chapter 10, and I still have a lot of ideas so this fic will have at least 20 chapters, probably even more.
I want to say thanks, yet again, for all the positive reviews. I love reading them and they make me so incredibly happy :)
All mistakes are still mine.

CHAPTER 10

Neal tried his best to remember the way he had walked the last time he had ended up in this neighbourhood. He kept looking behind him, feeling really paranoid that Satchmo had alerted Peter and he would follow him, and everytime he heard a car he hid behind the closest object.
Finally he managed to reach the main road and Neal felt happy, knowing he had successfully escaped. Now he wouldn't have to go back to one of those horrible foster homes.
Neal watched all the cars go by, waiting for a taxi to show up. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he spotted a yellow car and he waved his hands to catch the driver's attention, just like he had seen adults do.
The taxi didn't stop though, it just went right by him and so did the next taxi and the next.
Neal was about to give up when finally a taxi slowed down and he opened the door and sat down in the backseat. A middle aged man, with black hair and big brown eyes, looked back at him and gave him a concerned look.
"Are you running away from home?"
He asked, and well technically he was, he was running away just not from home. Of course he couldn't tell the driver that, then his escape had been for nothing.
"My daddy had to go to the hospital, and he told me to go to nana's house"
The lie slipped easily off his tongue and he even faked a sniffle to appear upset, hoping to gain some sympathy from the man.
Neal knew that it could be dangerous going alone in a taxi but he hoped that the man was as nice as he looked. Neal had no other option, seeing as he couldn't read a map and that he was terrified of bumping into some shady person wandering the streets at night.
"Where does your nana live?"
He asked, his voice soft and kind. The man seemed experienced with kids and something about him made Neal feel that he was probably a father himself.
He told him the address before he retrieved the stolen money from his pocket.
"Is this enough?"
He asked when the man grabbed the money and counted it. Neal could read from his facial expression that it wasn't but luckily the man just smiled and nodded.
"Yes it is"
He lied before he put the money away.
"Buckle up, kiddo"
Neal put the seatbelt on and the taxi driver started to drive.
"My name is Ben, what's your name?"
Neal wracked his brain for a name, if he used his own then maybe they could track him, and he didn't want that.
"Nick"
He finally answered.

Neal had to bite his tongue to prevent him from gasping at the nice and probably very expensive house.
"This is it right?"
Ben asked and Neal nodded before thanking him and getting out of the car.
The taxi didn't leave as Neal walked to the front door, no it looked like Ben wanted to stay and make sure that Neal was gonna be taken care of.
Neal took a deep breath before he knocked on the front door. He was nervous, he had no idea who to expect when the door opened, the only thing he knew about this June was that Mozzie trusted her and that he was gonna be safe here. Mozzie had promised he would be safe here.
Despite that he still started to doubt his choice to run here. He flinched as a sudden bark could be heard, it sounded like a small dog. Then seconds later the door opened and a woman looked down at him. Before he could open his mouth the woman put her arms around him in a hug, Neal was confused until he realized that the woman was discreetly watching the taxi. She ushered him inside and she waited for the to taxi leave before she addressed him.
"Welcome Neal"

Neal thanked June as she put a cup of hot chocolate in his tiny hands. He couldn't even remember the last time he drank hot chocolate. He carefully sipped his drink while petting the small dog that had decided that Neal's lap was the best sleeping spot.
"Where did Mozzie go?"
He asked, his voice quiet and uncertain. Neal had hoped for Mozzie to be here but there was no sign of the man anywhere.
"Mozzie didn't tell you?"
June asked and Neal shook his head. She put down her coffee cup and Neal put his cup down too, carefully as to not disturb the dog.
"I'm sorry Neal but Mozzie had to leave"
It felt as if someone punched him in the stomach. Mozzie left him, just like everyone else he ever cared about had. Neal had really believed that Mozzie was different, that they could be friends and perhaps one day even become partners in crime. Mozzie had promised to make him a pickpocket master and he had promised to teach Neal how to read, but apparently it was all just empty promises and Mozzie was not the kind person Neal thought he was.
Neal didn't know if he was going to feel angry or sad and eventually the emotions got too much for him and tears escaped his eyes. Not even Mozzie wanted him.
He felt a soft hand on his shoulder and he pulled away from June's gentle touch.
"Neal let me explain"
Neal didn't answer her, what could she possibly say that would make him feel better about being abandoned?
"Mozzie placed a tracking device in a bag and gave it to Keller, then he called in an anonymous tip about the painting he stole, that's how the FBI found you"
When the boy remained quiet the woman sighed and tried to find the best way to explain the situation to a six year old.
"You see Neal, Mozzie told the police about Keller. There's something called honor among thieves, it simply means that criminals don't get other criminals caught."
She paused to make sure that Neal understood before continuing.
"Mozzie broke that rule and Keller is not happy about that"
"But the FBI caught Keller, I heard them say that"
"Keller is not working alone, he is controlled by someone else. The FBI got all the stolen things back so the person controlling Keller didn't get it, so whoever he or she is one thing is sure they will be mad. Mozzie had to leave because there are bad men looking for him and they want to hurt him"
It took a couple of seconds for Neal to really understand what June had explained. Mozzie didn't want to abandon him, he did it because he had to. Mozzie had actually risked his life for Neal.
Once he realized that Mozzie risked his life just to make sure Neal was safe he let out a sob. He was sad because Mozzie was gone but he was also overwhelmed by the idea of someone sacrificing so much for him.
June reached out for him again and this time Neal didn't pull away, She ran a comforting hand through his hair as the pug started to lick Neal's hand in an attempt to calm the tiny human down.

June smiled as she draped a blanket over the now sleeping boy. He had dried tear tracks on his cheeks and he was clutching Bugsy close to his body like a teddy. The dog didn't seem to mind, he was sleeping just as tight as the young boy.
She turned off all the lights except for a lamp near the couch, just to make sure that if Neal woke up, he wouldn't wake up in complete darkness.
She turned around in the doorframe and observed the kid, and she wondered how anyone could ever mistreat that wonderful, innocent child.