Getting the child to come with them was harder than Sabine thought it would be.
First, when Zeb pulled up in the Ghost the boy had once again tried to take off, his ankle the only thing that kept him from getting away. He fought against being put in the vehicle, until the man growled at him. Though Hera had been annoyed at Zeb for being so rough with the teen, at least he stopped fighting against them.
Hera took the wheel from the man. While Zeb called shotgun, Sabine sat in the back with the teen.
The boy refused to speak to any of them, let alone even look up at her. His face was turned down to his lap, his dark hair hiding his face from view. His hands trembled as he wiped them on his dirt covered jeans.
Sympathy filled Sabine's heart. She surprised him by taking his hand, squeezing it warmly.
"Don't worry. I promise that we're going to help you."
He looked at her through his greasy bangs. He ducked his head again when she smiled in his direction. She looked out the window. She recognized where they were at.
"Mom, shouldn't we be going to the doctor? Why are we going home?"
Hera looked at her through the rearview mirror.
"We'll talk about it later, 'Bine, alright?" She said, using her nickname for the teen.
The girl sighed before nodding. She leaned back next to the boy, arms crossed.
She hated it when Hera did this to her, keeping her out of the loop. She knew it was ridiculous, but sometimes she couldn't help feeling like the woman didn't trust her.
She shook that thought out of her head. Most likely it was just because Hera didn't want the boy next to her to hear what she was about to say. Of course Hera trusted her.
Right?
Several minutes later they pulled into the drive of their home.
Zeb got out and opened the back door, grabbing the boy's arm and pulling him out. Though clearly still frightened, the child twisted out of his grip before glaring at him. Hera intervened before a fight could develop.
"Come on, let's get you inside." She laid a hand on the teen's arm, gently guiding him toward the front door. Despite his misgivings, he followed her lead and limped into the house.
Kanan was sitting in the living room reading when they entered. He looked up with a smile, setting the book to the side.
"Hey there. I was wondering when…" He stopped short when Hera guided the youth into the room.
"That's the kid I saw yesterday. How'd you…"
"Sabine saw him while we were walking." Hera said as she pushed the boy down onto the couch near her husband.
"He hurt his ankle. I think it's sprained. Check it love, please? Sabine, go get the first aid box."
The girl raced to the bathroom. Finding the first aid kit, she hurried back to the living room, where Kanan was trying to coax the boy into letting him take off his boot. The youth refused, eyeing them with barely veiled anger.
"Come on kid, why won't you let me help?" The boy's lips remained firmly sealed.
"Talkative little thing, isn't he?" The man muttered, taking the kit from Sabine with a nod of gratitude.
"Well while you fix him up, I'm going to check on something." Hera left the room. Curious, Sabine followed.
She found her in the hall, dialing the phone.
"Mom, what're you doing?"
Hera looked up at her and held a finger to her lips.
"Shush. I'm calling the police station to see if there are any missing children reports recently. The kid's gotta belong to someone." She held the phone up to her ear.
"Hello? This is Hera Jarrus, calling to see if anyone had called in a report about a missing boy? Black hair, blue eyes, about twelve to fourteen years old?"
Sabine strained her ears, but could not make out the reply on the other end.
"Yes, I see." Hera picked up a nearby pencil and jotted something down on the notepad by the phone.
"May I have the address please?" The voice spoke again. Once again Hera wrote something down.
"Capitol street? Yes, thank you for your time." Hera hung up.
"There was a report filed last week by a foster parent. The description matches the kid." She held up the 'pad.
"Come on, we need to get him home."
When they reached the living room, they found the kid with his shoe still on- and Kanan's patience starting to rapidly wear thin. He rose to his feet with a groan. His hand massaged the back of his neck.
"I give up. He won't let me anywhere near him, let alone look at his foot."
Zeb snickered behind his hand, clearly enjoying the older man's struggle.
"We'll let his guardian take care of that." Hera sat on the arm of the couch.
"Ezra?"
The boy's head shot up. His shocked face confirmed that was indeed his name.
"Your guardian is worried about you." She touched his shoulder, only to draw back at his flinch.
"Young one, it's time to go home." She stood and held out her hand. He shook his head frantically, shrinking back into his seat. His eyes begged her silently, pleading her not to take him back.
Kanan and Hera glanced at each other. In their experience, when a child was away from home for a long period of time, they would leap at the first they would get to return to the comforts of their life. So what was the problem? Why didn't he want to return home?
Zeb was growing impatient. Grabbing the boy's arm, he pulled Ezra up to his feet and started to drag him toward the door. Ezra fought against him, beating his small fists against the muscular arm. Still the elder of the two refused to let go.
Hera chased after them.
"Zeb, be gentle! Remember, his ankle."
Kanan looked at Sabine and sighed, tossing a arm around her shoulders and giving her a quick side hug.
"Come on, let's get the kid home."