General POV
Callie began to wash off the last table as the final customer left. Daphne and Callie were in the final minutes of a long shift and Callie was dying to get home to Lena's famous Chicken Alfredo that everyone absolutely loved, she just hoped that Jesus wouldn't eat it all before she finally got there.
Walking back to the counter, where Daphne was counting the tips she heard her phone go off. It was a text from Stef
*I can be there in 5 minutes if you change your mind. I really don't mind picking you up. XOXO*
Callie thought back to earlier that day when Stef lectured her for a good half hour before her shift about how Callie needed to start letting Stef do motherly things. She was the mother and Callie was the child. She said that she was there to help Callie and asking for help doesn't make anyone think any less of her. Callie really wished she could ask Stef and Lena for help but she just couldn't. Every time she was about to ask something she couldn't build up the courage to follow through, yes she did love Stef and Lena but something was holding her back for letting them totally take over. She texted Stef back saying it was only a 20 minute walk and she would be careful.
Callie began to gather her up things up, and just as she was about to walk out she got a reply from Stef.
*Be Safe Bug! I'll make sure to wrestle some dinner away from Jesus, I know how much you love it. XOXO*
Callie smiled, she loved how much Stef knew about all her children. Callie waved goodbye to Daphne and started out the door and down the block.
The sun had only set about an hour ago but the sky was jet black. Callie pulled her sweatshirt closer to her body as a gust of cold wind came by, sending chills up her spine. She looked up to the dusty sky and wondered if the California climate would finally let lose and bring down some rain, and just as she was about to check the weather app on her phone, there was a drop that landed right on the screen. Callie looked up and cursed herself for not checking the weather sooner. She continued to walk at a faster pace hoping to get home before she was truly soaked.
Callie ducked into the ally hoping to make the walk a little shorter and more dry. Her phone went off again just as she was about to enter the ally. She squinted in hopes to read the damp screen better.
*I'm going to get you again. Remember, strange things happen in strange places.*
Callie was confused, the number it was sent from was an out of area number. Who would be following her? She looked around her but all she heard was cars going by in hopes to get home to their families just like she was. Who could it be? It couldn't be Liam, could it? There was no way that someone would know what way she was going to go home. She thought maybe it was a joke that Wyatt was playing on her.
"Wyatt I swear to god. You better come out right now! This is not funny! I'll kick your ass and you know it!" She called out, it hopes for it to be Wyatt but also in hopes that if it wasn't Wyatt it would scare whoever it was. Callie began to regret her decision to walk. She looked back into the ally, but she it was to dark and rainy to see anyone. She decided to skip the short cut and just keep walking down the street that was at least semi-lit by the street lamps.
It had only been a couple of minutes since the text and she had convinced herself that it was just a wrong number texting her and it was ironic that she was about to enter the ally. She laughed in her head thinking how could she be such a wimp. Callie had started to calm down, but was a little on edge. Every noise she heard she increased her pace. She was only 10 minutes away from home when she heard footsteps behind her. She turned around and no one was there. She turned back around and was almost practically jogging home. The footstep had got closer and Callie refused to turn around. Just as she was about to turn the corner she felt hands grab her arms and rip her backwards. Callie let out scream. The person forced her up against a building and growled at her, "You whore! I know you wanted it!" Callie automatically knew who it was, the voice would forever be drilled into her head. Callie began to plead after the initial shock left her
"Liam let me go! It is over. Just let me go!" Callie twisted and turned trying to get out of his tight grasps. Her arms felt on fire from being held against the wall so hard. Liam moved his body closer to hers, pinning Callie's whole body to the wall. Liam's face was inches from Callie's. Callie turned her face to the side in hopes to move farther away. Callie tried to fight him away with her hands but he had just tighten his grip and snarled back at her action.
"Hold still! I know you want this! You have always wanted this! Your dyke of a moms aren't going to save you!"
Callie's eyes bugged out of her head when he motioned Stef and Lena. No one was going to mess with her family. Callie managed to get her leg free and as soon as she did she made a connection with Liam's groin. As soon as he let go of Callie's arms to grab himself, she ran. She ran as fast as she could because for some reason all she could think about was how much she wanted her moms.
Callie had only got about 20 yards before she heard Liam trailing her again. Callie turned her head in hopes of seeing how far away he was, and as soon as she did she felt a fist collide with her eye. She stumbled forward, but regained some of her balance and tried to run but something was holding her back. It was Liam, pulling her to him then throwing her to the ground with what sounded like a deathly thud. Liam knelt down and put one knee on Callie chest and put his hands on her shoulders. Callie knew she had to escape again because who knows what he was going to do know that she had made him angry. Liam kept yelling at Callie, calling her a whore. Telling her that no one will ever love her. Callie did not say a word back at him, just started right at him, it hopes of making him angrier so that he would hopefully make a mistake and she could escape. Liam just yelled louder,
"Your moms don't love you, they just feel bad for you. They will never love you. They are just a bunch of dykes wanting to get money from the state for your sorry ass."
Callie continued to not say a thing, even though she wanted to go right back at him for talking about her mothers like that.
Liam hoped for a reaction out of Callie, but when he got none, he rose his hand and far above Callie's head and made contact with her temple.
Callie's vision fluttered for a second before the black spots started to creep in the sides of it. She was so tempted to let the sleep that was coming on rapidly take over. But she heard someone yelling but it was hard to hear due the content thudding of the blood in her ears and the rain. The voice sounded familiar though, she looked up and Liam was looking for where the shouting had come from. The voice got closer and she could finally make out what it was saying.
"Callie! Callie!"
Callie couldn't focus very well until she finally understood who the voice belonged to. It was Stef. Callie began to fight, she wanted her mom now more then ever. Liam's knee began to push harder into her chest, making Callie gasp of air. He looked up at Stef, who was running with speed towards them and realized he had to leave before he got caught. He leaned his head down next to Callie's, grabbed her hair and whispered in her ear
"I'll come back for you and you know it. Once a slut, always a slut."
He grabbed on to Callie's hair a little tighter before slapping his hand straight across her cheek. He got up and ran in the opposite direction in which Stef was still running towards Callie.
Liam had ducked into an ally incase the women came after him.
Callie began to try and sit up in hopes to see her mom, but she couldn't. Her chest and head hurt to much, she just rolled on the ground and began to groan from the pressure of her chest. She began to cry, sobs racking her bruised body. Stef finally arrived at Callie's torn up body.
Stef POV
I stopped and looked at her. She had a gash that was till bleeding above her eye that most likely needs stitches. Her face and arms are littered with bruised, and there is a shoe mark on her shirt right along her chest. My heart breaks. I would have chased after that monster if Callie wasn't trembling from the pain. She lied there shaking from her sobs, she was holding her chest trying to fill her lungs with the desperate air that it most needed.
I pulled her bloody and bruised head into my hands in hopes for her to make eye contact with me so I can try to get her to calm down before she passes out.
"Callie, baby mamas here. Mamas here. I need you to look at me a take a deep breathe for me."
She looked up at me with the biggest tears running down her face and shook her head and whispered
"Mama….I ..can't."
By heart broke in that very second, she had called me mom but it was the agonizing pain she was in that it was truly made my heart ache.
"Baby girl I know it hurts but I need you to breathe for mama. Can you do that for me. Take a deep breathe for me Callie. I know you can do it." I pleaded.
Callie's eyes got bigger and more tears came but she slowly gasped for air.
"There it is baby, good job! In and out. There you go. You are doing wonderful."
I took off my only semi wet jacket and rapped in around the girls shoulders as I continued to encourage her to breathe. I wish I still had the umbrella that Lena told me to take to Callie when it started to rain. I had accidentally dropped when I began to run towards the commotion.
Callie began to rock back and forth trying to continue to breathe. I sat down, hoping the physical contact will at least get her to settle down before it escalated any further.
I crawled behind her and pulled her back to my chest and wrapped my arms around her waist.
She is still crying hysterically.
"Callie baby I am right here no one is going to hurt you anymore." I kissed the back of her head three times. "I know your in pain but I need you take more of those deep breathes I asked you to do for me." I whispered in her ear.
She nodded her head and managed to take two shallow breathes.
"Good job sweetheart! You are doing so good for me! You keep taking those deep breathes and I'm going to stay right here and call mama."
I made sure she took a couple more breathes before I took my phone out and called Lena. She answered in the second ring.
"Hey babe. You get Callie?"
I took a deep breathe before telling her.
"Lena I need you to come pick us up. I was walking to get her and I saw some guy beating her up… It's not good Lena."
I heard her gasp into the phone and automatically knew her inner Mama Tiger was out and ready to pounce.
"What! Is she okay! I'm coming. Where are you?"
"We are on the corner of Sycamore and Church. Lena we are going to have to take her to the hospital. Bring her blanket off her bed, and some warm clothing for her. She is drenched. And Lena please hurry."
"I'll be there real soon babe. Tell Callie I love her."
I let out a relieved sigh knowing she was coming for us.
"Lena, please be careful."
"I will. Hang tight babies"
With that I hung up and looked back at Callie. She was still trying to rock her self trying to find a soothing rhythm. I tightened my grip around her, and began to rock us at a steady pace. I hear her mumbling something but I'm not sure what it is.
" Shh…Shhh…Hold on babe. Mamas coming for us and she loves you so much.."
She continued to mumble.
"What was that sweetheart?"
The mumbling got louder and I could only understand bits and pieces of it. Something about, some guy named Liam. I wasn't really sure.
"Shh babe it's okay. You are going to be okay. Just hold on a little bit longer. Do it for me baby girl."
Her mumbling stopped, and she took a deep breathe. I was so relieved that she could breathe again without being asked to do so. I saw Lena's headlights coming down the street and got out from behind Callie and knelt down next to her keeping my hand on her back so she doesn't fall over and with the other hand I waved Lena down.
The black GMC came to a halt on the side of the road right next to us and Lena jumped out with umbrella in hand.
"Look at that Callie girl, Mamas here."
She ran over to us a put the umbrella over the three of us. Her and I made eye contact I knew exactly what she was thinking. Who did this? I just shook my head, because I really didn't know who could do such a cruel thing to me sweet Callie girl. Lena finally looked down at Callie and I could see her heart break just like my had when I saw Callie only a couple minutes ago. In that moment we both knew that Callie was our baby girl and nothing could change that.