Chapter Seven: The Safety of Silence

Callie kept her eyes blissfully shut, wishing that she could answer, but easily justifying that there was nothing to say. Once Stef learned the whole truth, she'd want to kick Callie back to the curb—if she didn't already. My God, had Stef actually caught her attempting to use her body as a means of transaction? Does she think that what happened with Liam was an elaborate hoax now? Of course, Stef could never understand why she had responded the way that she had… Could she? Callie had fought against situations like the one that she was sure she was facing when those headlights first restrained her— and she had lost every battle. Maybe this time, if she initiated a "yes" instead of screaming "NO!"… maybe she could have won a small sense of control, however convoluted.

Callie knew that Stef leaving her behind would be for the best; after all, that's why she had run away in the first place, but she couldn't bring herself to make it happen just yet. She was simply too tired, so she allowed silence to be her shield.

Callie heard a vague tussling in the darkness and then buttons being pressed. Stef's maternal voice filled the small car as she shifted into drive, unable to suppress yet another sidelong peek at her mute companion.

"Lena? I've got her." There was a pregnant pause and then, "Yes, I think so. It's a little hard to tell at the moment…" Another delay made Callie swallow dryly, longing to hear both ends of the conversation but not wanting to at the same time. "Yes, me too… I'm fine, my love. We are going to eventually have to find a place to spend the night though. I'll drive as long as I can… How are my babies?" Callie imagined Stef to be smiling at Lena's response that their children were in fact all right. Callie didn't feel all right, however—far from it. There was bile swirling in her empty stomach, and her throat seemed to be sealing up on her with a fearful quickness.

Stef closed the dialogue with reassurance, "I will tell her…. Yes, I promise. I love you too." There was a snap and then more silence.

Even without opening her eyes, Callie could feel Stef's weight shift and the open gaze now upon her. How long had they been in the car? How long could she get away without speaking? Her voice seemed to have flown the coop, and her wrist burned. She focused on the pain to regulate her breathing, attempting to roll her body towards the window as though she were naturally tossing in her sleep.

She felt Stef's fingers run through her wet and tangled hair, gently. Callie felt the tears arriving in response to the sweet gesture and tried desperately to cease their flight, all while feigning a deep slumber. She was assured that she had succeeded, until Stef's thumb swiped across her cheek and wiped an errant tear away.

"You're OK, my love. You are safe now," Stef's words were barely a whisper, but they cut through Callie like knives.

Chapter Eight: Uncertainty

Callie was not sleeping, and Stef knew it. Even though her brain and body ached with fatigue, Stef's adrenaline was still pumping, and her instincts were on high alert. She honestly didn't know what to do about her eldest child, and although she had convinced Lena that everything was OK, Stef wasn't sure of that truth at all.

The rain was still pounding on the windshield, and Stef cursed herself for not having replaced the wiper blades when Lena had requested it. She continued stealing nervous glances at Callie's still form. It was at least a 30-hour drive to San Diego, and Stef knew that she needed to talk to Callie before they got there. Plus, she had only gotten an hour or two of sleep herself. It was 7 am and the sky remained stubbornly ominous. Maybe it was better if they pulled over now. Lena would understand if the journey home took longer than anticipated.

Chapter Nine: Resolve

They think that they love you, but they don't know you. Not really. Once they do, it will be just another denunciation. That's why you must denounce them before the inevitable occurs. Drive her away, once and for all. Just make sure that they will keep Jude first, no matter what…

Callie knew in her heart that the voice was right, but that wasn't going to make what she had to do any easier. It was going to hurt her as much as it hurt them, probably more. She groaned inwardly, how had she allowed Stef to locate her? Where had she gone wrong? Walking away was supposed to be easy. How dare they complicate her escape!

When Jude came along, Callie had played nicely in the sandbox, for his sake. The Fosters were not truly acquainted with the hatred that she was capable of, the controlled anger that simmered directly under her skin, or the self-loathing that could unfurl itself and strike an innocent passerby on command.

Well, they would find out.

Callie was shocked out of her resolve when the car stopped, and she felt it shift into park. Without thinking, she opened her eyes. They couldn't be in California already.

"Good, you're awake."