Anytime you need a friend:

Chapter 3

The summer was coming to a close. The weather had started to turn a little rainy and a little chilly. It had been two months since Callie had had her adoptive father arrested. Since then, she had been placed in foster care again and had acquired the addresses of team one so she could write. They all missed her. She affected their lives so much in the five days that she'd been with them that they had secretly started searching for her Birth Parents, without telling her.

Spike missed her the most. In one of his letters, he had enclosed his phone number. And they talked every week. She wasn't living too far away from his parents and he had gone over to the foster home and set it up with her foster parents that he would take her Saturdays all day and Wednesdays after school, dropping her off at school on Thursday mornings. Her foster parents were alright with that.

Callie was enrolled in school, and doing really well. She seemed to have a real zest and thirst for her school work. Where at her old school, she was getting D's and F's, at her new school, she was getting straight A's. Spike was extremely proud of her. She also started taking self defense from the team and had gotten herself a babysitting job, watching Wordy's kids One night a week so he and his wife could have date nights where they went out without the kids. Wordy's kids really liked her.

Callie had gotten her hair trimmed, and went out bought some new clothes. She was getting tired of wearing raggy looking clothes and had begged Jules to go with her when she picked out clothes. She had told Jules absolutely no dresses or skirts, but had relented and bought one. She had bought new shoes and with a little help from Jules bought some makeup and other girl things.

One Wednesday, when Spike was scheduled to take her after school, he pulled up in one of the SRU trucks and searched for her. He spotted her coming out of the school doors, and stepped out of the vehicle. She had tear stains on her cheeks, and one of her hands was bleeding fairly badly. Spike grabbed the first aid kit, and had her sit down in the front seat and proceeded to clean her hand up and bandage it. After they were on the road, Spike looked over at Callie.

"We are going to have to go to the hospital and get that checked. You might need stitches. I called your foster parents. They said that I could keep you until Sunday. Is that ok with you?" Callie nodded. Spike looked at her confused. Callie had long gotten past the nodding stage where she just nodded instead of talked. Spike was a tad concerned.

"Do you want to talk about it Callie?" Spike asked taking in that her breathing was slightly erratic. Callie shook her head. He reached a hand over and took her pulse, it was a little rapid. And she seemed a little disturbed. He picked up the phone and dialed Ed.

"Hey Ed. It's Spike. I picked Callie up and I'm going to take her to the hospital. She came out of School with a pretty nasty cut on her hand and she's only nodding, she's not talking to me. Her pulse is a little rapid. but she's not sweating or anything else that would lead me to believe drugs. Just wanted to let you know. Have someone drive my car-" Callie cut him off.

"I am ok Spike. I cut my hand because a friend was fighting with someone and they had a knife pulled on them. I got in the middle because I didn't want my friend hurt. I thought I was doing the right thing. I'm not stupid enough to do drugs Spike. Look at who I hang out with. I hang out with members of SRU. I highly doubt I would have enough time to become an addict before you all heard about it." Spike said something to Ed and hung up.

"Callie honey. I am glad that you wanted to save your friend. However I think you also knew that you shouldn't have jumped in between them. I'm not going to yell at you. I think you feel dumb enough. We are going to go to the Hospital and get your hand stitched up and then head over to the house. after that, we are going over to my parents house and have dinner. And if you were doing drugs I'd have to beat your butt senseless." Callie smiled and nodded.

"I really like your parents Spike. They are really nice to talk to and the intense love that I feel everytime I walk into your house is amazing. Not to mention that your mother seems to think that I am too skinny and therefore need fattening up. Which I'm not and I don't. What's for dinner?" Spike laughed.

"Pasta. Or possibly meatloaf. Whatever my mom felt like making tonight. And what ever my father wanted for dinner. They know you are coming over and staying over. We will set you up in the spare bedroom. It's yours anyway when you come to visit." Callie smiled and snuggled down into the seat.

They got to the hospital and got into the emergency room. Callie needed 17 stitches in order to close the cut in her hand. She got lectured by the doctor as well as by Spike. After they were finished, Spike drove them to SRU headquarters. Callie left her bag in the truck and Spike grabbed it for her, a silent reminder that even though she was visiting, she still had to keep up on her schoolwork. Callie grabbed her bag and stomped into the building.

"Hey Callie. How are you doing? How was school today?" Wordy asked as Callie walked past. She stopped and turned around with a hand on her hip.

"Hi. My day was lousy, I've got a nasty, itchy cut on my hand, and Spike's making me do my homework. How do you think I feel Wordy? Awful!" Wordy's laughed followed her down the hall. She passed Jules and Sam, and passed Greg too. She had short pleasant conversations with each of them. She was just about to where she was going to sit and do homework, when she ran right into Ed.

"Hi Ed. Sorry. I didn't mean to run into you. I've got to get to my homework." She heaved a great sigh, frowned and started to walk off to the desk that the team had put in headquarters for her. Ed reached for her arm.

"This is definitely a backslide. Talk to me Callie. What's up? Clark says hi by the way. He wants to know when you are going to come over again. I think he likes you." Callie's cheeks grew hot and pink and she dropped her eyes to the ground. Ed smirked. Callie dropped her bag and flopped down in the chair that was closest.

"I don't know maybe on Thursday after school. I miss him. I hate the new school that I am in. It's not really all that challenging." Callie set up her stuff at the little desk that the team had set up for her, when she started hanging around Headquarters. Not that the team cared. They liked having her around.

"So what kind of homework you have tonight Callie? And what can I do to help you with it?" Ed pulled up another chair, looked at her assignment book and attempted to help her with her homework.

"I have Math. An English paper to write, I have some Anthropology work to do, as well as some Science stuff to do. I also have to read the next chapter of my Italian book. I'm taking a foreign Language. I decided to pick Italian. It's ok stuff. I can breeze through it pretty quickly. I just need to get motivated to get started. How was the day today Ed?" They talked for a few minutes and then Ed said he had to be in the briefing room.

Callie put her headphones on and furiously started scribbling on some paper, working on her English paper. Ed stood watching her for a moment and then wandered off to find Spike. He found him in with The rest of the team in the briefing room.

"All I am saying is that I think there is something else going on with her. I want to shake her and make her tell me what's going on. And I know that I can't because that would make her feel threatened and shut her down. I am so glad that I'm not a father. How do you do it Ed?" Spike said welcoming Ed. Ed shrugged.

"I have not yet perfected the art of Teenager speak or their mood speak. But I'll let you know when I do though." They continued talking for a little bit before Spike left to go check on Callie, who had been quiet for far too long. Normally they would hear her singing quietly. But tonight, nothing. They were due at Spike's house in a half hour for dinner. He checked the desk and found her stuff scattered about the desk, but no Callie. He wasn't too panicked.

He looked in the briefing rooms, nothing. He looked in the workout room, nothing. He had Jules check the ladies room. Again nothing. He was about to start panicking when he decided to check outside in the yard. Sometimes she liked wandering outside to the training yard, and sit on the benches and think. It was well lit and there was no one out there at night unless they were doing night drills.

Spike saw her sitting there on one of the benches. He approached her quietly. When he got closer, he could hear her crying. He stood there for a moment and then texted Ed to tell him to let the others know that he found her. After he hung up, he continued listening. After a few minutes, he came up next to her and sat down.

"Callie. What's wrong? Hhm? I didn't see you at the desk and came looking for you because we are due at my parent's like right now. Aren't you hungry? I think my mom is making Lasagna tonight with Salad and Garlic bread." Callie nodded.

"I'm tired of feeling like such an alien. I don't belong anywhere anymore. Why can't I know who I birth parents are? I only want to meet them so at least I can say I had parents. I don't even know where to start looking. I at least want to say that I have parents out there somewhere, even if they don't want me or any contact with me. Why can't I Spike?" She wiped her eyes.

"Callie, Why is it so important that you know who your parents right now?" Callie sniffled and wiped her eyes. Spike handed her a hanky.

"There's a school function. Parent career day or something like that. I want someone who means a lot to me. I mean the stanton's are nice, don't get me wrong. But I don't feel it's their place to take part. It's not that I care that other people laugh at me. I just want to have a connection with someone." She sat there crying longer. Spike just held her.

After a few minutes of rocking Callie back and forth, Spike's phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Michaelangelo! My son, You are now very late for dinner. And so is Callie. That child needs to eat. Are you coming home to eat or do I have to package this up and bring it over there to the station?" Spike grinned.

"I don't want you to go through any trouble Mama. We will eat when I get off shift. That will be two Hours." A sound of outrage, followed by admonishing in Italian pierced his ear. Spike winced and pulled the phone away from his ear.

"I will be over there in one hour Michaelangelo with your dinner. Make sure that you and Callie are hungry. No snacks, you understand? Good bye!" Spike heard the dial tone, sighed, hung up the phone and turned to Callie.

"Are you ready to eat? Because my mom will be here in about an hour to bring us food."Callie nodded and smiled. They stayed on the bench for a few more minutes, just talking. They hadn't caught up like that in a while.

"Callie, Does this career day thing HAVE to be a parent? Can it be another family member or even a friend? Because I don't want you to have be left out of the fun. What goes on? Is it just introducing the person, giving a short speech and leaving?" Callie snorted.

"I don't HAVE to participate in it, but I'd really like to. It doesn't have to be a parent. I guess I just wanted it to be so badly because I want to know that I have a blood relative out there you know? I don't know. No, It's that but there's like a small lunch afterwards." Spike nodded, a plan forming in his mind.

"Are you ready to go get some food? Mama likes to make sure we all eat. If I know her, she will sit and watch us like hawks to make sure that we eat. The rest of the team as well. She's Italian, she likes taking care of people." Callie noddedand hopped off the bench and took Spike's hand, pulling him along.

When they got there, Spike's mother was already there, dishing out Lasagna on paper plates for the rest of the team and handing them out. The rest of the team was waiting in apprehension for the great smelling food. Spike went to his mother and hugged her.

"Mama! I said you didn't have to bring the food here! Did anyone help you with bringing it in here? How was the drive over here?" His mother gave him a look. Spike threw up his hands quickly in surrender. Greg laughed.

"Looks like she resents you thinking that she can't do anything Spike. Better watch, She's going to get you." Spike laughed and nodded in reply.

"I know you aren't old and feeble yet. But that is a LOT of food you brought. Lasagna, Salad, Garlic bread. I just wanted to make sure someone helped you to bring it in from the car." He smiled and took the offered plate from his mother, passed it to Callie and sat down with his own plate.

"Edward and Kevin helped me. Very nice boys. Their mama's would be so proud of the gentlemen they've become." Spike laughed at Ed and wordy's cheeks getting pink and nodded.

"I'm sure their mothers are very proud Mama. Callie and I will be home in about two hours. Is that ok Mama?" His mother nodded and sat next to Callie, who leaned into her for a hug. After a few more minutes of conversation, Spike's mother announced that he was heading home. Spike walked his mother out and promised to bring the dishes back with him and Callie.

After his mother had gone home, they sat around the table and ate. Callie was shoveling the food down like there was no tomorrow. Everyone watched in amusement. Spike was flabbergasted. After a few minutes, He stopped Callie.

"Callie. I didn't know you liked Lasagna so much." Callie laughed and nodded.

"Yeah I do. I actually know very little about my birth parents, But I know that they were Italian, Like your family is. I love Italian food. Not too crazy about wine though." Ed started coughing and got up from the table. He said that he would be right back and moved out of the room.

Spike nodded and sighed. "I really hope that you are able to find your birthday parents Callie. I really do. Everyone deserves to be happy and to be loved. And to have connections." At this, the rest of the team looked confused. Spike shook his head at them, meaning that he would tell them later.

After the shift was over, Spike and Callie left headquarters to go back to Spike's parent's house. Ed had been doing some research on one of the computers and after Everyone else but Greg had left, he snagged Greg and pulled him into the Briefing room.

"Ed. What's going on? You've been pretty scarce since Dinner. Didn't even say bye to Spike and Callie. What's wrong?" Ed was holding a file in his hands. Greg made a grab for the file only to have Ed snatch it away.

"Greg. I was doing some checking into Callie's background and trying to trace her parents. I didn't want to discuse the progress I had made in front of Callie. I didn't want to get her hopes up and then find out that the information isn't correct." Greg nodded

"So what have you found out Ed? We've all been working on it off and on, but no one's really gotten anywhere with it. And I assume that you have." Ed nodded and pushed the folder across the table to greg, keeping his hand on it for the moment.

"This contains a copy of the Orginal Birth Certificate for Callie. I finally tracked it down. It lists her Mother's name and Father's name. So far I'm the only one who has looked at it Greg." Greg grabbed the folder from Ed.

"What are you saying Ed?" Ed rolled his eyes.

"I'm saying. If this information is correct Greg. I think I know who Callie's birth parents are."