Eva grabs the phone and answers it before the first ring even has a chance to stop. The boredom is killing her. She's even thought a bit about calling Tom and having him come and pick her up. At least at the estate there are things she could do, here she doesn't even have a television to watch. That is one of the things that is on her to get list. Along with several others. But with her likely losing her job, it might be a long time until she finds the money to get extras like the television.

"Eva? Is that you?" the female voice asks when Eva answers the phone.

"Yes, of course it is," Eva replies politely although she's rolling her eyes. The director of the abuse center should know her voice by now. She knows the director's voice.

"Listen, honey, we got a case in. The mother was beaten nearly to death in front of her two children. The police brought her here from the hospital. The woman is in the clinic we have here, but the children are terrified and need someone that can help calm them.

"It was one of the children that called the cops. He probably saved not just their mother but their lives as well.

"Can you come and help out when you get off work?" Eva can hear the undertones of panic in the woman's voice. The volunteers are usually pretty good at calming the children down, but some of them need that something more. Something that Eva seems to have. Children always respond positively to her.

"Of course, I'd love to help. I'll be down there as soon as I can get there."

Eva knows that the director won't expect her for hours yet. "It shouldn't take me more than ten or fifteen minutes to walk down there."

Now the woman's voice is shocked, "No need to leave work, Eva."

"I don't have work today. I'll be there shortly."

It's only as Eva is going out the door that she remembers that she has a watch dog sitting outside. She knows that the man is for her protection, but she is fully capable to taking care of herself. She resorts to her Shadow persona and leaves without her guard even noticing her. She breathes a relieved sigh as she hurries down the street to the abuse center, it's only about a mile away so it really won't take her long to get there.

It should be safe enough as long as she leaves with it still being light out.

The director greets her at the door and Eva can see the poorly hidden relief the woman has at her coming.

The first thing Eva does is cajole the children away from the clinic doors.

"Your mother will get better faster if she gets some sleep. Come, you must be hungry about now. I'll make you some lunch."

So it went. After lunch Eva took them to where the toys were stored and let them pick out a toy from those that she donated not so long ago after her date at the amusement park. The director had tears of joy at receiving ten thousand dollars worth of gift cards in hundred dollar donations. It was only Eva telling her that the donor wouldn't donate further if his name was discovered did the director stop pestering Eva to know the name.

The children all find a toy and hold to it tightly. The boys are only five and three years old and it breaks Eva's heart to see them so emotionally bruised. Slowly the boys come to trust her enough to tell her what happened. They are quick to say that the man that beat their mother up wasn't their father. He is just their mother's boyfriend.

Eva found out that their father and mother got divorced and they haven't heard from their father since. 

That makes Eva angry. They are still his children. If he no longer wants anything to do with them he shouldn't have become a father in the first place. If it's the mother not letting him have any time with them, then the mother needs to be talked to. Unless there is valid reason for her to block the contact, the children should be allowed to at least talk to their father.

But Eva is the first to admit, there are very valid reasons some parents should be blocked from ever seeing their children.

The day comes to a close and the night intake volunteer comes on and tells her that she'll take over and get the kids dinner and off to bed. Also, she tells the children that their mother is awake and now in their room that they will be staying in and is asking for them.

As soon as the children heard that they raced off to their temporary room.

"I'll call you a taxi, Eva." The volunteer says smiling warmly at Eva how she calmed the children down and even got them to talk about the experience.

Eva smiles brightly at the volunteer, "No, thanks Becca. It's just a short walk, and besides the taxi's aren't likely to come down here at this time of night. You know that."

Becca sighs, "Yeah, I know. It's just not safe for you to be walking alone at this time of night. This isn't the safest location in the city."

Eva can't help but give a loud guffaw at that. "Oh, I am well aware of that, Becca. I'll be fine, I survived living on the streets for five years. I'm sure that I'll survive walking to my home just a mile away. Have a good night." Eva gives Becca a small wave as she grabs her bag and goes out the door.

At that time Becca gives Eva a worried look while biting her lip but is called away by the children needing her help. With one last look at the door Becca turns away and heads up to where the children are with their mother. She hopes that this family at least will find healing and a new beginning.

The police haven't found the man responsible for beating the mother up. Until they do the family will be staying there at the center. Another volunteer will be taking them shopping to pick up some clothes in the morning.

As Becca enters the room where the family is all thoughts of Eva are pushed to the back of her mind. The children are demanding her attention and their mother is in too bad of shape to be of much help.