Fosters AU. Callie Jacobs has been a ward of the state ever since her family was in a car accident when she was 10. Due to that accident her mother and younger brother were killed and her father was arrested. Now at 16 she's being released from juvie. Will her new placement be her last? Will her new foster family care enough to help her move past her traumatic past that continues to haunt her? Kind of focuses on Callie and Stef's relationship (because I just love the mother/daughter connection they have with each other). **Deals with sensitive topics such as self harm and suicidal ideation**

...

I follow the guard as we walk down one of the hallways of the San Diego Juvenile Detention Facility. We walk through a door and suddenly we're outside. The cut on my lip has dried up and began to clot. I bet bruises are already starting to take shape and color on my face and body. My right side hurts like hell, but I've been through worse. It's all from the beating I took earlier this morning.

Two guards drag the girls off of me while another helps me up. He escorts me to the infirmary where I'm examined by the attending doctor. After I was declared to have no serious injuries I was escorted to another room where a guard sitting behind a desk tells me to take a seat, and he begins the long procedure of processing me out. My blue duffel bag is returned to me. It contained all my possessions that follow me to every new foster home. It stuffed with mostly clothes. As soon as it was handed to me I rapidly unzip the zipper and dig through the bag. Once I found what I was looking for I calm down and zip the duffel back up. I carefully examined the item I removed from the bag. My mom's necklace dangles in front of me. Looking at the coin-like charm I remember what my mom looked like wearing it the night she died. I undo the clasp and put the necklace on. I wasn't allowed to wear it when I was locked up for obvious reasons. I feel a little more peaceful now that I'm wearing it again.

I stand outside feeling the sun on my face. Looking around I see a man with a clipboard and papers walking up to me. Where's Bill? I pull the sleeves of my jacket down to my palms. "Callie. Callie hi I'm David I work with Bill at Child Protective Services." The man greets and introduces himself.

"Uh where's Bill, why isn't Bill here?" I ask the man.

"Uh he had an emergency with another one of his cases." He answers. "Come on." He says and I follow him. We join a woman who is standing outside the fence. "Callie, this is Lena. Lena, Callie" David says as he introduces us. The woman looks and smiles at me nervously. A quick moment of silence passes then David opens his mouth again. "I guess I could take her to one of the group homes." He says. Oh god please no. No group home. My eyes become moist just thinking about it. Group homes are the worst. Still having that nervous look on her face, Lena looks at me again, her eyes full of compassion; she sighs.

"It's just for a few weeks right?" she glances at David then back to me. "Okay." She says. A bit of relief floods through my body, only a bit though. Who knows what this new home will be like? Lena and I continue to look at each other. She gives me a friendly pity-filled smile. I stare at her, mentally building up my protective walls. David and Lena go through some paperwork while I just lean against the fence. When the paperwork is done David walks over to me.

"Okay Callie, so you'll be staying with Lena and her family for a few weeks while Bill searches for a more permanent foster home. Be respectful and make sure you're on your best behavior." He tells me. As he waits for my answer I just stare at the ground. "Okay." He says giving up. He ushers me over to Lena. "If you have any problems you can just call Bill. That goes for both of you." He says to Lena and I.

"Alright David. Thank you." Lena says.

"Good luck Callie." David says to me. Pick up my bag that I placed on the ground when I was introduced to Lena. I walk over to my new foster mom.

"Bye David." Lena politely says. I follow her to her car and I get in the passenger seat. I buckle my seatbelt and Lena starts the car. She backs up from her parking spot and drives out of the lot. After a few minutes of driving Lena speaks, interrupting the much appreciated silence. "So right now the kids are still at school. They won't be home for about another hour." She informs me. I nod my head, silently telling her I heard what she said. After about fifteen minutes of more silence the car pulls into a simple looking house. "So this is it." Lena says as she turns off the engine. We get out and I follow her up the walkway and into the house. "So the living room's right there and then there's the dining room, the kitchen's back there." She says. She hangs up her scarf and places her purse somewhere. I walk into the living room and I sit down on the couch. Lena follows me and sits herself down in one of the chairs. "So Callie, do you want to tell me a little about yourself? Maybe I can get to know you better?" Lena asks. What is this an interview? Why does she even care? I stare at her, not voicing a response. "Okay, I get it. You're not ready to share yet." She rises from the chair. "How about you just watch some T.V.," she says grabbing a remote turning the television on, and then placing it on the couch next to me. "I'll just be in the kitchen if you need me." she says walking out of the room. I look at the screen for a few minutes and then doze off.

...

I'm startled awake by the sound of front door opening then slamming shut. Two teenagers, one boy and one girl, walk right passed me and head straight for the kitchen. I get up and quietly follow them. "Hey mama." The girl says.

"Hey how was school?" Lena asks. I hide behind the wall for a little while, just listening.

"The usual." The girl answers.

"What's for dinner?" the boy asks.

"Lasagna."

"Nice, I'm starving." The boy comments.

"Can you guys help? Jesus can you set the table? Mariana can you put together a salad?"

"Sure." The girl answers.

"Okay." The boy says. I hear shuffling and noise. I walk into the line of sight. I enter the kitchen and sit at the table. "Who are you?" the boy asks me.

"Guys this is Callie. Callie's in the foster system and she's going to be staying with us for a few weeks; Callie these are two of my children Mariana and Jesus." Lena says. The boy continues to gather plates and other silverware. The girl is mixing a salad with two wooden spoons. She gives me a blank pouty-like look. "So Mariana and Jesus were in the foster program too." Lena says breaking the silence. "They came to us about eight years ago, and we formally adopted them five years ago."

"Foster system sucks." the boy comments.

"Jesus…"

"He's right it kinda does." The girl agrees.

"Okay."

"What happened to your face? Get in a fight?" Jesus asks me.

"Uh… Callie's kind of had a rough day so how about we cool it with the third degree." Lena tells Jesus.

"Is there… where's the bathroom?" I ask.

"Yeah, it's right through there. You'll see it." Lena answers as she shows me the direction of the room. I get up and slowly head in that path. I find the bathroom and enter it, closing the door behind me. After doing what I needed to do I wash my hands. After I dry them I look at my reflection in the mirror. I look like crap. I feel like crap. Tears swell up in my eyes. I grab the sides of the sink and I lean my head down crying. After a few minutes I pull myself together. I run my hands quick under the faucet and wipe the tears under my eyes with water. I then walk out of the bathroom and back into the kitchen, noticing a new face in the room. "Are you kidding me? That's like a five thousand dollar scholarship, isn't it?" Lena asks the guy who apparently came in when I was in the bathroom.

"When is it?" the girl, Mariana asks. I have no idea what they're talking about and in all honesty I don't care.

"It's tomorrow and we're all going so homework right after school, please?" Lena answers, directing the end of her comment to Jesus. I sit down back in the seat I was in earlier. The new face looks at me.

"Who's this?" he asks, looking at me.

"Oh this is Callie. She's going to be staying with us for a little while." Lena answers.

"Oh, okay, staying with us." He comments. "Um nice to meet you." He says to me as he places some food on my plate.

"What about him?" I ask Lena.

"What?" Lena asks.

"How'd you get him? 99-cent store? I mean they have everything there."

"Um, Brandon is my partner Stefanie's biological son from her previous marriage." She clarifies. So the boy's name is Brandon. The door opens and I turn around to see a woman dressed in a police uniform walk in. A cop lives here? That's just wonderful.

"Hey honey." The cop says putting her bag on the counter.

"Hi." Lena says.

"It smells great. Lasagna. Delicious, thank you." The cop comments heading to the fridge, Lena meets her there. "How are you honey?" she asks.

"Good. How are you?" they peck each other on the lips quickly then the cop opens the refrigerator door.

"Hi babies!" the blonde officer says. Jesus looks at me.

"What? Nobody told you our mom's a cop?" he asks carelessly.

"See this is why no boys ever want to come over." Mariana adds.

"As it should be." The cop says opening a can of soda.

"So your dykes." I state. Everyone looks at me.

"They prefer the term "people" but yeah," Jesus speaks. "They're gay."

"And he's the real son." I say pointing to Brandon. The cop chuckles awkwardly interrupting the silence that came with my comment.

"And who's this?" she asks turning her head to look at Lena.

"Uh, love this is Callie. She will be staying with us for a few weeks." Lena says to the cop.

"Uh huh okay. Uh can I talk to you outside for a minute?" the cop asks Lena.

"Yeah." The two of them head to the back door. "Kids we'll be right back, just eat your dinner." She tells us. The two adults go outside and I'm left alone with these other kids while awkwardness fills the room. Well, my new foster family is something. A biracial lesbian couple, one of them being a cop, with two Latino adopted kids and once biological son. That's a new one.

Lena and her partner came back in the house two minutes later and we all ate in silence. When the other kids were finished they were excused and they went upstairs. Not knowing what to do I stay sitting. Lena begins cleaning up and the cop sits down near me holding a coffee mug filled with tea or coffee or something. "So uh Callie, I'm Stef." She introduces herself to me. I stare at her. "Uh I'm just gonna tell you some of the house rules." She says. "First off we treat everyone who lives under this roof with respect." She says referring to my unwelcomed comment earlier. "The curfew on school night is seven. You must ask permission from Lena or myself before leaving the house. Also, you'll go to school while you're staying here. Lena is the Vice Principal of Anchor Beach Charter School, all the kids go there…"

"Where do I sleep?" I interrupt her.

"Excuse me?" Stef asks, giving me a chance to apologize, which I don't take.

"It's not my first time in a foster home." I explain. "Where do I sleep?" I repeat my question. Lena comes over, placing a hand on Stef's shoulder.

"Let me show you." Lena says. I get up and follow her. We make our way to the living room. Lena runs upstairs for a moment and comes back down with a bunch of stuff. I plop myself back on the couch as Lena starts fluffing the couch cushions. "One pillow or two?" she asks. I turn my head to the side and stare at her. "Okay, I'll leave them both." She says. "I left some towels for you in the bathroom and do you have a toothbrush?" she asks. I look up at her.

"No, I don't have a toothbrush. How would I have gotten a toothbrush?" I ask her. She sighs.

"Okay." She sits down next to me. "Callie, we're on your side. You can take it down a notch, okay?" I turn my head away.

"Yeah." I sigh.

"David told me Bill thought you'd do better in a foster home with no male authority figures. Do you know why Bill would think that?" she asks. I look at her; her eyes seem kind, trustworthy. I guess it would hurt telling her something, I mean she won't quit until I give her something. I'll just keep it vague.

"Look… when I went into juvie…"I start to tell her, but I'm interrupted by Stef walking into the room.

"Hey, here is your bag and I brought you some clothes to sleep in just in case you don't have any." She turns and leaves the room. "Good night." Given Stef's interruption I take it as I sign I shouldn't share anything to Lena.

"You were saying?" Lena asks a few seconds later.

"You have that toothbrush?" I ask her. She gets up and leaves the room, then comes back a minute later with an unopened toothbrush package. She hands it to me.

"So uh, if you need anything just let me or Stef know." She tells me. "Good night." She exits the room, leaving me alone. I get up and pick up the clothes Stef brought me. Carrying the clothes and the toothbrush I walk upstairs and find my way to the main bathroom. After checking if anyone is in it I lock all the doors that lead to the room. I draw myself a bath. I strip my clothes off and place myself in the warm water. I wrap my arms around my legs and rest my chin on my knees. I feel scared and empty inside. I know Liam is not too far from here. At least in juvie there was no way I could run into him. I think back to my last foster home. How abusive my former foster dad was. I look down at my upper legs, looking at the scars from the cuts I inflicted on myself. I knew better than to cut on my wrists, or anywhere people might take notice. Whenever I took a beating that didn't leave me completely motionless I would cut. No one noticed. I hid it well. Even if the did notice I doubt they would care. If anyone found out I would probably be sent to a group home. I wash myself and wash my hair. When I'm done I stand up and get out of the tub. I dry myself and put the clothes on. Not looking at myself in the mirror I brush my teeth and then head back downstairs. I hear shuffling in the kitchen and out of curiosity I walk into the kitchen. I see Mariana going through something. She seems pretty startled when she turns around and sees me standing in the doorway.

"I needed some water." she says then scurries away. When she's gone I walk over to where she was standing and I reach up and look through the basket she was rummaging through. I come across a bottle of prescription ADD pills for Jesus Foster. What's Mariana doing taking her brother's pills? Whatever, it's none of my business. I walk back to the living room and sit on the couch. I lie down and curl up, covering myself with the sheet. I rest my head on the pillows and close my eyes. It's funny how at night all of our demons pop back into our heads. Everything that haunts us, all our mistakes, all the bad memories, all the pain comes back when you're trying to fall asleep. Makes you wonder whether it's really worth it, being on this earth. Having to endure everyday with the bad secrets and pain. It's not fair. I breathe slowly and it calms my body down, and eventually I drift off to sleep.