DT Serum, Primary Testing In Progress

"No," he whispered, "but I can't go back.  It's... it's embarrassing.  And why would they take me back?"

"Because they're your parents and love you." Ashton said. He smiled a little. "How about this; if you want, we can arrange a meeting for you with them and maybe you guys can decide what to do then?"

"No pressure?" the kid asked uneasily.
"None at all.  We'll hang back and keep an eye on things, that's all," Lex assured him.
"Okay," he agreed.  "Okay.  I can do that, I guess."
"Meet us at the clock tower in an hour.  We'll get your parents there," Lex promised.

Ashton gave the kid a reassuring smile before he followed Lex. "Calling them?" He asked once out of earshot.

"Don't have their number.  Finding them," Lex told him.

Ashton nodded. "Leads?"

"Loads."  Lex pointed to a flyer hung up on a telephone pole.  Strolling up to it, he grabbed the paper and ripped it down.  "Smart.  They forgot to add their number."  He handed it to Ashton.

Ashton sighed. "Theres an email address though."

"I think we can find them before they get their email," Lex replied, still walking.  He reached another flyer and handed it to Ashton.  "See?"

Ashton took the other flyer and looked it over.

"Same thing.  Same mistake," Lex told him.  He kept going, not even slowing down as the followed the flyers right to a pair of people holding a stack of flyers and begging people to talk to them.  "There they are."

Ashton nodded, seeing it now. "Clever. You talk since they approached you first?"

"Yeah, sure," Lex agreed.  He walked up to the couple and began talking quietly to them.  They agreed eagerly to go the the clock tower, almost crying in joy.

Ashton waited for Lex before he followed them. "Think he'll actually show?"

"Yeah, but he'll need some help coming out of the shadows," Lex said quietly.  "Hit the roofs.  Help him out."

Ashton nodded. He took to the roofs and looked around for the kid.

Lex took the parents to the middle of the square where they'd be clearly seen and waited.

The kid stood in an alleyway, hunched down in a big fluffy coat that had seen better days.  He watched his parents, agony in his expression.  He wanted to go, but something held him back.

Ashton picked up a rock and chucked it at a glass jar down the ally from the kid, shattering the glass. A cat got startled and screeched angrily at the loud noise nearby.

The kid yelped and instinctively bolted forward.  He stumbled out into the courtyard, looking around fearfully.  The woman gasped and ran forward, crying out a name.  She grabbed her son in a hug, pulling him tight against her as she cried.  The kid hesitated, tense, then melted and hugged his mother back.  He blubbered apology after apology, begging to be allowed to come back home.

Ashton smiled faintly at the scene. He couldnt help but feel a little jealous of the kid, but overall he was glad. He would be happier with his family than without.

The father looked at Lex.  "How can we ever repay you?  There is a reward, but it doesn't seem like enough."
Lex shrugged, glancing toward where he figured Ashton would be.  "How about cover our expenses and keep the kid off the streets and we'll call it even."

Ashton was hanging out in the ally the kid had come from. He gave Lex a thumbs up that everything was good on his end.

Lex accepted payment before walking over to Ashton.  "It's going to be dinner soon.  We need to get home."

Ashton nodded in agreement and walked with his friend in silence.

Lex glanced at Ashton.  "Something bugging you?"

(assuming Paul is home from school by now...)
"Dad!" True called, straightening his tie as he rolled into the main room.  "Dad, are you home yet?"
"Yes, he is.  Is it really necessary to yell?" Geena asked calmly.