Chapter One

A/N: Just a random idea I had about Brooke adopting another young girl after Sam leaves. I don't know, let me know if you like the idea.

"Um, who are you?" Brooke Davis stared at the young girl lying on the floor of her office. The girl jumped up. Her natural instincts told her to run, but Brooke was blocking the only exit. Brooke raised an eyebrow, waiting for her answer.

"I didn't take anything." The girl explained picking up the ragged blanket she had been using and shoving it into a book bag.

"That's not what I asked." The girl reminded Brooke of Sam. She was younger, but had the same defiant attitude and tough exterior. Also like Sam, Brooke figured there was a reason this girl wasn't sleeping in a bed.

"Can you just leave me alone?" Brooke laughed at the girl's question, and the attitude that came with it.

"So, let me get this right," Brooke took a step closer, "you break into MY store, and I'm supposed to leave you alone?"

"I didn't break in." She said seriously. Brooke raised her eyebrows questioning the statement. "I didn't. I came in while the store was open and hid out in the bathroom."

Brooke laughed, "As if that makes this any better. I'm calling the cops." She went to the phone on the desk. In reality, she wasn't going to call the cops, at least not until she had the full story, but she was getting sick of getting the run around.

"Wait," she didn't know if Brooke was serious, but she couldn't take the chance of getting the police involved, "Sam sent me."

Her eyes told Brooke she wasn't lieing. "Sam? My Sam?" Brooke clarified. The younger girl nodded. "Who are you?"

"My name's Callie." The girl was uneasy talking about herself, but at the moment she had no other choice. "I was in a foster home with Sam awhile back, and we've kept in touch." She explained. Brooke nodded her understanding, but waited for the girl to continue. "She told me about you."

At that Callie stopped talking. She was trying to gage Brooke's thoughts toward her revelation. "What about me?" Brooke's voice was kinder than it had been.

Callie shrugged, "That you're a good foster mom." Brooke couldn't help but smile. "I was just in the neighborhood, and I needed a place to crash." She finished zipping up her bag, and headed towards the door, but Brooke didn't move to let her pass.

"Why are you really here?"

Callie wasn't use to answering to adults, let alone divulging her secrets to them, but for some reason she felt that she could trust Brooke Davis. Maybe it was because of what Sam had told her, or maybe it was the kindness in Brooke's voice. She pulled her hair away from her neck, revealing a faint bruise in the shape of a handprint.

Brooke gasped, "Let me guess, a foster dad?" Callie nodded, tears filling her eyes.

"Look, I don't want you to like adopt me." She explained quietly, "I just needed a place to crash, and I figured after what Sam said this would do for a night. It won't happen again."

Brooke sighed; she knew she couldn't just let this girl walk out. "Why don't you come back to my house?" Brooke noticed the apprehension on the girl's face. "You can shower, get something to eat, and we can figure out what to do next." Brooke's voice made sure the girl knew it wasn't a suggestion.

"So what are we going to do?" Julian asked, unsure of what Brooke wanted. Callie was currently showering, and the two of them were sitting at the table.

"I don't know." Brooke stared at the bathroom door, hoping the answer would appear before her, "I mean, I don't know anything about this girl other than her name is Callie and she's 13."

"Did you know anything about Sam?" Julian pointed out. But Brooke wasn't able to answer. Callie appeared before them. She was dressed in one of Sam's old outfits. It was too big on the younger girl, but they got the job done. "I'm going to start lunch." Julian announced as he left the two to talk.

"Thanks," Callie said sitting down to face Brooke.

"No problem," Brooke smiled, "we need to talk."

At those words Callie's demeanor changed. "Look, I can be out the door in five minutes, and we can just forget that we ever met."

Brooke shook her head, "You're 13. I cannot let you just leave." Brooke put her hand on Callie's, "If you want to stay here then you are more than welcome to." Callie looked toward Julian who confirmed Brooke's words with a nod.

"So, what is it going to be?" Brooke asked bringing the young girl's attention back to her.