SUMMARY: KENDALL HAS BEEN RELEASED FROM PRISON, MOVED TO MINNESOTA, AND FORCED TO LIVE WITH A FAMILY HE DOESN'T KNOW, BUT WHEN JAMES COMES ALONG WILL HE SHOW KENDALL HE STILL HAS INNOCENCE LEFT? RATED T FOR SWEARING, AND MAYBE M IN LATER CHAPTER KAMES. MENTIONS OF WITHOUT A TRACE 7X23. IT'S A CONTINUATION AFTER SHAY (KENDALL) GETS OUT OF PRISON

AN: OK! SO THIS IS MY SECOND BTR STORY I'VE POSTED, IT'S NOT REALLY A CROSSOVER, BUT THE PROLOGUE (WHICH IS THIS CHAPTER) DOES HAVE MENTIONS OF WITHOUT A TRACE SEASON 7 EPISODE 23. BUT AFTER THE PROLOGUE ONLY DETECTIVE MALONE WILL BE SHOWING UP FROM TIME TO TIME. (AKA LIKE ONE MORE CHAPTER, MAYBE TWO, HAVEN'T DECIDED YET) ANYWAY, THIS WILL BE KAMES, EVEN THOUGH JAMES WON'T COME IN UNTIL THE NEXT CHAPTER.

DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN BTR, NOR DO I OWN WITHOUT A TRACE, THE ONLY THING I OWN IS THE COMPUTER WHICH THIS IS BEING TYPED ON... (SO PLEASE DON'T SUE)

AN2: THIS IS SLASH! BOYXBOY, MAN ON MAN TWO GUYS GOING AT IT! IF YOU DON'T LIKE PLEASE DON'T READ YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED AND I WILL LAUGH AT YOUR FLAMES! NOW WITH THAT OFF MY CHEST, WITHOUT FURTHER TO DO HERE IS THE PROLOGUE FOR TRACES OF INNOCENCE.

Prologue

Kendall looked through the Chain link fence, only three more days until he was on the other side, a free man. He had to remember to thank detective Malone, he really had helped him... it was just to bad Hanna couldn't have forgiven him as well. Taking one last look he walked towards the guard.

"Three more days Phil, you excited to be rid of me?" The guard laughed as he took the teen's arm.

"You're a good kid Kendall, you just hit a bump in the road, Detective Malone is a great guy. When you get out he'll be waiting for you." Kendall looked at the guard confused. "I know because he helped me when I was your age, he even got my record sealed and helped me get my job here. He keeps tabs on kids like us... he's got a big heart," Kendall smiled before entering his cell.

When Charlie's parents found out Shay(Kendall) was partly blame, they immediately dropped all charges. They realized that it was a mistake and forgave him. Detective Malone saw that he was a confused fifteen-year-old and helped him get his sentence reduced to four years instead of ten. He was getting out in two plus six months parol for excellent behavior. The only part of the deal he didn't like was the total isolation he had to endure for two years. Malone insisted it was for his own good but he still hated it. Instead of making him the 'man' he was supposed to become he turned into the silent brooding teen, one who never would forgive the detective for what he did. Sighing he laid down on his bed and fell asleep.. only two more days to go.

The Next Day

Kendall walked through the empty hall to get his tray. As usual the cafe had been cleared, and he was to eat alone, in silence. Grabbing what appeared to be spaghetti he slowly ate his meal. The guards understood how hard it must be for the boy. They all knew his trial, and they all knew that not even he deserved solitary confinement, yet they couldn't help someone who had already withdrawn to his own mind.

The Day of Freedom

Kendall walked out and stared at the bright sun. It felt great to be free... he couldn't hep but feel sorry for Mac, but after all he was the one who hit Charlie. Kendall searched in an unfruitful effort to find anyone he knew, but when his eyes met detective Malone's he couldn't help but frown. Walking up to him he watched surprised as Detective Malone held out his hand. Not shaking it Kendall held his head up defiantly.

"So Phil wasn't lying, you are here to check up on me... Well you've seen me... do I look crazy to you? I'm not... even though you put me in solitary for two fucking years!" Detective Malone smiled as he walked towards the driver's side door.

"Hello to you too Shay, get in I'm your ride." Kendall groaned as he reluctantly slid into the passenger seat.

"My Name's Kendall now," the teen muttered. When the detective didn't respond he simply looked out the window and reveled in the feeling of being free. As the car grew silent, Detective Malone sighed as he drove towards JFK Airport. After about an hour of silence Malone decided to tell him where he was going.

"Kendall, I know you're seventeen and almost an adult, but a family has been kind enough to take you in for the next year, they live in Minnesota, and it will be a great experience for you. I think you'll thrive outside large cities. The husband is a parol officer, and will make sure you stay out of trouble. It's a chance for you to start new." Kendall rolled his eyes and stuck his headphones in his ears, Phil was a great guy, he not only bought Kendall an MP3 player for his birthday, he also added his music to it for the ride to where ever the hell he was going.

Seven hours later, Kendall found himself staring at a white picket fence that led to an even whiter house, the house itself wasn't too big, it looked comfortable to fit 3 or 4 people.

"Well this is it, Shay, Roseville Minnesota. School starts next month and you'll be attending Irondale High School, you'll be entering your senior year. Now, the Knights will help you get your clothes, and supplies together, I'm trusting you Shay, don't make me regret going through all the hassle of making sure you weren't tainted by prison." Kendall laughed.

"Didn't get tainted by prison? You put me in fucking SOLITARY! I didn't get to interact with ANYONE besides Phil for TWO YEARS!" Malone nodded.

"Exactly, you didn't have to worry about getting into fights with the other inmates, you didn't have to worry about getting stabbed or raped in the middle of the night, because I made sure that you'd keep your soft heart. You can pretend to hide it Shay, but we all know you're not a criminal. You were just in the wrong place at the wrong time, with the wrong people. That's all, so don't blow it, Phil wanted me to tell you he doesn't want to see you again; and he means that with his heart." Kendall nodded at walked up to the front door where he waited for Detective Malone to follow. When he didn't Kendall looked back confused. "This is where our journey together ends. You have to do this by yourself Shay, don't worry, I'll come around when I can, goodbye Kendall, have a great life." Kendall watched as the detective slid back into his car and before he left, Malone shouted a "Happy birthday" and drove off, trusting that Kendall would do the right thing. Taking a deep breath, the seventeen-year-old knocked quietly and waited for his new 'family' to answer.

AN: I HOPE YOU LIKED IT, THIS IS REALLY SCARY FOR ME BECAUSE I'VE NEVER REALLY WRITTEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS, SO PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK!