Chapter Text
Bathena Backgrounds:
Bobby: Bobby's is kind of the same as the show, he chose to stay with his father then his father died and he still became an alcoholic later on.
Bobby and Marcy got married but divorced when Bobby wouldn't stop drinking and she almost died in the fire and Bobby moved to Pennsylvania where he met Athena.
Athena: Emmett and her were engaged until he was killed and then moved to Pennsylvania afterwards and where she met Bobby.
Bobby and Athena: They met in 1992 when they were 24 started off as friends then started dating in 1995 and got engaged later that year and married in January 1996.
November 11, 1996
Evan sat in the chair beside his sister's hospital bed, his small hands folded in his lap. A police officer stood next to the social worker, her tone soft and gentle.
"Hi, Evan," the officer said kindly. "I'm Officer Athena Nash." She crouched down so she was eye level with him. "Can you tell me what happened tonight?"
Evan looked up at her, eyes wide and tired. He didn't answer.
Two Hours Earlier
Maddie sat on the couch, her eyes fixed on her mother who stood in front of her holding a purse.
"Your father and I are going out," Margaret said quickly. "You'll watch Evan tonight."
"But it's my birthday," Maddie whispered. Her voice shook, but her mother didn't seem to hear it.
"I know, Maddie, but this dinner is important," Margaret replied flatly. "Just stay home and take care of your brother."
Maddie opened her mouth to say more, but her mother raised a hand, ending the talk.
"Take care of Evan," Margaret repeated before walking out the door.
The sound of the car starting filled the silence that followed. Maddie sat there, staring at the fire in the hearth as tears started to run down her cheeks.
A soft thump made her turn. Evan stood in the doorway, his crutches under his arms, one leg wrapped in a cast.
He had broken it a week ago - another one of his ways to get attention. Their parents always rushed to him when he was hurt. Maddie wondered, not for the first time, if maybe that was the only way to be seen in their house.
"Maddie?" Evan asked, his small voice worried. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," she said quickly, wiping her eyes. "You should go get ready for bed."
He didn't believe her. But before he could speak again, she walked upstairs and closed her door.
Evan stood there for a long time. He didn't like when his sister cried. It wasn't fair-it was her birthday, and their parents hadn't even said anything. His small hands tightened on the crutches. He wanted to fix it. He wanted to make her smile.
He limped to the kitchen, dragging a chair from the dining room. Using his good leg, he climbed up onto it to reach the cupboard.
Upstairs, Maddie stood in front of her dresser. A bottle of pills and a half-full bottle of whiskey sat beside the mirror.
She paced the room, tears burning her eyes. Maybe this was the only way they'd notice her again. Maybe they'd care if she wasn't here.
Her hands shook as she opened the pill bottle. She swallowed all of them, forcing them down with a gulp of whiskey. Her throat burned, and she winced at the taste, coughing as she tried to breathe.
Then she heard something crash downstairs.
"Evan?" she called weakly.
Her head spun, her body unsteady as she tried to reach the door. She managed to grab the knob-but then her knees gave out. She hit the floor hard, her head striking the wood.
Downstairs, the kitchen was a mess.
Evan had flour on his face and batter on his hands. Pots and pans lay scattered across the floor. He poured the lumpy cake mix into a small pan and limped to the oven.
The heat stung his fingers, but he pushed the pan inside and closed the door. When he turned, his cast caught on one of the fallen pots. He stumbled, trying to grab the counter, but the towel under his hand slipped.
He fell, hitting his arm against the hot oven door. He screamed as pain shot through him.
Then he saw smoke. The towel he had pulled was now in the oven, catching fire.
"No, no, no!" Evan cried, crawling back. Coughing, he reached for the phone on the wall, his small hands shaking.
"9-1-1, what's your emergency?"
"My kitchen is on fire!" he yelled, coughing.
"Okay, what's your address?"
"I-I don't know!"
"That's alright. What's your name, sweetheart?"
"Evan... Evan Buckley! I'm five!"
"Alright, Evan. Is anyone with you?"
"My sister-(cough)-Maddie! She's upstairs but she won't wake up!"
"Are you hurt?"
"My arm burns and my leg's broken-it's been broken for a week!"
"Okay, Evan. Help is on the way, just stay where you are, okay?"
"Please hurry!"
Fire trucks pulled up minutes later.
"Let's move!" the captain yelled. "Nash! Miller! Inside!"
Bobby Nash and his partner, Gavin Miller, rushed in. The air was heavy with smoke. Gavin spotted a small figure huddled in the corner of the living room.
"Bobby!" he shouted.
"You get the boy!" Bobby said, running up the stairs.
He kicked open doors one by one until he reached the last room. Maddie lay near the door, blood pooling under her head. Pill bottles were scattered on the floor beside her.
Bobby froze for a moment, then his radio crackled.
"Nash, did you find her?"
"Yeah," he said, scooping her into his arms. "I've got her."
Now
Evan sat silent again. Athena watched him carefully.
"Would..." his voice trembled, "would I go to jail?"
Athena blinked, startled. "Why would you think that?"
"Because I started the fire," he whispered. Tears fell down his cheeks. "It's my fault she's hurt. It was her birthday, and she was sad... and I just wanted to make her a cake like she always does for me."
His small shoulders shook as he started to sob.
Athena's eyes softened. She knelt and wrapped her arms around him.
"No, sweetheart," she said quietly. "This isn't your fault." Evan cried into her shoulder while the social worker stood nearby, silent, watching the two of them.
The hospital door opened and Athena looked up seeing the doctor who was treating both siblings. "Excuse me may I speak to you officer?"
Athena nodded looking up at the social worker. "Could you -" she started but Evan clung on to her harder.
"No! Please don't leave me!"
"Evan," Athena said softly.
"Please!"
"It'll be quick," the doctor said softly.
"Evan," Athena said, softer now. "I'll be super fast I promise," she gently lifted his chin.
"Promise?" Evan whispered.
"Promise," Athena nodded.
Evan let go of Athena's waist allowing her to stand and she followed the doctor out of the room. "What is it?"
"When assisting the girl we found multiple old self caused wounds," the doctor started as he reached into the file and pulled out pictures the nurses had taken. "And the boy apparently has a huge file of being in the hospital for numerous broken bones."
Athena took the photos of Maddie out of the doctor's hand, her heart breaking at the sight of the old wounds. "The boy aside from the broken bones also has a few that have not healed properly and apparently has some bruises not self inflicted."
Athena looked up from the photos, her brows furrowing. "Are you telling me he's being abused?"
"It's a possibility," the doctor nodded.