A/N: Thanks to everyone for the reviews/follows/favorites so far. You all rock.

I just finished a short Stef/Callie thing that will eventually see the light of day, which makes me feel good, which means you get an update. Enjoy.


Chapter 2 - "Lost"

Lena

I step inside my house, grateful to be out of the driving rain. It's after four o'clock. I had to stay late after the school day ended to catch up on paperwork. I need to get dinner started. The first person I see is Jesus. He's playing video games in front of the TV.

"Hey, Mama," he greets me, but doesn't take his eyes off the screen.

"Hey." I smile.

"That rain is crazy."

"I know. My hair is about to turn into a giant ball of frizz," I tell him, laughing. "Is Callie upstairs? I need to talk to her."

"I thought she was with you."

I frown. His response surprises me. "What do you mean?" I ask, stepping down into the living room.

"She didn't walk home with us."

At that, I'd be lying if a jolt of panic did not startle me.

"When did you last see her?"

"In the hall after sixth period. Why?"

I don't answer him. Instead, I call for everyone to meet me downstairs. When I ask them all if they know where Callie is, they give similar answers as Jesus: they thought she was with me or Wyatt. None of them saw her leave the school. They text her phone with no response. I call and it goes straight to her voicemail.

I give Wyatt a try and he's no help, either.

Finally, I check the 'Find My Phone' app and tap Callie's name. Stef and I both have the security code to see everyone's location. A box pops up.

The device registered to this user is not connected. Click here to refresh the page.

Either her phone is dead, or she turned it off. I look at the last known location. It's the school.

I sigh and I know that I'm down to my last option. I have to tell my wife that our daughter is missing.

I force the kids go upstairs while I make this phone call. Stef picks up after three rings.

"Hey, love." She sounds happy to hear my voice.

"Hey. Listen, you don't happen to know where Callie is, do you?"

"No." That one word is drawn out. "Why?"

"She didn't walk home with the others after school."

Her questions come rapidly and more worry creeps into her voice with each one. "She's not with Wyatt?"

"No. He last saw her after seventh period; they have Economics together."

"Did you call her?"

"Yes. It goes straight to voicemail. She's not answering texts, either."

"Did you check her location?"

"The last one was the school, right after the final bell."

"Okay. I'm coming home. Stay put."

She ends the call before I can respond.

Stef is at the front door in record time. She goes upstairs to grill the kids, but she doesn't get any more information out of them than I did. I watch her as she paces the living room floor, calling any number she can think of. Daphne has not heard from Callie and Kiara doesn't have a cell phone. Rita, Michelle, or any of the Girls United residents have not seen nor talked to her today. They promise to let us know if Callie does show up there or tries to contact them.

Her boss at the burger stand hasn't seen her and neither have her co-workers.

Stef sinks down on the couch, her head in her hands. "Where is she?" I hear her whisper.

I wish I knew.

We both look up at the sound of footsteps on the stairs. It's Mariana.

"Moms? I forgot that Tia is in the same French class as Callie and I asked her if she knew anything. All she said was that Callie booked it out of there as soon as the bell rang, like she was in a hurry. That's all."

"Thank you, Mariana," Stef exhales. "If she thinks of anything else..."

"I know. I told her to tell me."

If this were any other situation, our youngest daughter would be asking when dinner would be ready.

It was safe to assume that none of us felt like eating.

I felt paralyzed. What if Callie wasn't just avoiding our attempts at communication? What if something had happened to her?

My baby. Out there on the streets of San Diego or somewhere else. Alone.

The thoughts alone were too much.

[][][][][][]

Brandon

Jude, Jesus, and I are all together in our sisters' room, waiting for Mariana to come back. Jesus looks worried, but Jude is pale, like he's about to hurl.

I know we're all thinking the same thing: maybe Callie ran away.

But, I find fault in that idea. Things have been great for us. Callie's and Jude's adoption was official two months ago. They aren't in the system anymore. Callie's not on probation or any lists that involve the state.

She's seemed happy with us.

Right now, I'm trying to step up and be the big brother. I put on a brave face and drape my arm around Jude. "Moms will find her. I'm sure she's okay," I hear myself say, but even I have trouble believing my own words.

My little brother's nervous stomach gets the best of him. He bolts to the adjoining bathroom and heaves into the toilet. Jesus and I follow him. I sink down beside him and place a reassuring hand on his back while Jesus prepares water for Jude to rinse his mouth out with. He finishes, flushes, and swishes the awful taste away, slumping back against the tub. I sit next to him and Jesus does the same. Jude moves to rest his head on my shoulder.

"Moms will find her, Jude. I promise."

Words are all I have to give him. I know they're not enough.

Nothing will be until we know Callie is safe.

[][][][][][]

Stef

I can't stand this. The silence. Idleness.

I can't sit here and do nothing, will my phone to ring.

I have to do something.

I stand up from the couch, going to the coat rack for my jacket and an umbrella.

"Stef? Where are you going?" Lena asks me.

"I have to go look for her. I can't just sit here." The words tumble out of my mouth in a harsher tone than I mean to use.

If Lena is hurt, she doesn't let it show. "Okay. Just be careful."

"I will. I love you," I tell her sincerely.

"I love you, too," she echoes and watches me leave.

I jog out to my SUV and turn the engine, my tires hitting the wet pavement. I drive. I drive, looking out at everything possible to catch even the slightest glimpse of my missing daughter.

Missing.

I can't help but feel déjà vu wash over me. We've been through this before with her.

This time feels different, though.

Callie's been fine. She follows the rules, does well in school, not much of an attitude.

Something else is at play, here. I feel it in my bones.

I go to Anchor Beach and park, heading quickly to the playground and athletic fields, scanning the equipment and bleachers.

They're deserted. Empty.

I get back in my car, racking my brain to think of other places Callie would go.

The movie theater. The drop-in center.

The Cinemark is where I stop next. I show the staff a recent photo of Callie, but they don't recognize her. I thank them for their time.

Rafael has not seen or heard from Callie and neither has anyone else who is there. More promises to contact us.

Another dead end.

I drop by the burger stand and Girls United just in case, but I get the same responses.

Dejected, I drive home. Lena's hopeful face meets me at the door, but I have nothing good to offer her, certainly not our daughter.

She holds me while I let the tears fall.


A/N: Let me know what you all think! Throw some predictions my way!