Hi everyone! Sorry for the delay, it's been crazy around these parts. I'm deeply sorry for such a delay in updating. I will do my best to keep the last chapter from taking so long to post. Yes, I've got one chapter after this one. I hope everyone enjoys this story as much as I've enjoyed writing it. As always, I don't own anything. Please review and thank you guys so much for all the continued love and patience. Enjoy! :)
STEF'S POV
It takes almost thirty minutes for them to get her stable again. They had to shock her and honestly, I don't remember how many times. I haven't even stopped to realize that I am now in the hospital, waiting for them to give her a room so that I can go back and see her.
Lena is supposed to bring everyone up here once we know something but oh how I wish she was here now. She always knows how to comfort me when I'm stressed. The touch of her hand is something that I can't even describe.
A woman in scrubs walks toward me and I know the look on her face. I'm still in uniform and I doubt she realizes I'm one of her moms. It's not uncommon to ride to the hospital with an overdose victim. I shake my head. Overdose victim. My Callie.
"Are you here for Ms. Jacobs?"
I nod.
"She's stable, but it's going to be touch and go for a little while."
"Okay?" I ask.
"We pumped her stomach. The tox screen shows her blood alcohol level at almost point one-six and we're seeing traces of both Ecstasy and LSD. Commonly it's laced for a higher effect. But it seems her body has a very low tolerance to drugs of any kind, and throwing the alcohol on top of it...she's in for a long road. The next few hours will tell us a lot."
Blinking back tears that are threatening to fall, my voice is husky as it makes it's way out. "When..." and I clear my throat. "When can I see my daughter?"
Her face is stunned as she realizes that I'm not just another cop. Apology instantly flows into her eyes but she can see I just want to know if I can see my little girl. She hesitates.
"Come on back. Technically I'm not supposed to do this, but I can use you being a cop as a reason." and she shrugs. I don't want her to get into trouble, but just to see my baby...I follow.
She starts walking faster and stops before getting to the door. "She's hooked up to a machine, and wires right now, so don't be alarmed when you see her. She's still not breathing on her own and we're having a hard time maintaining her body temperature at the moment. She is still having some issues with hypothermia, which is due to the overdose, so don't be surprised if you see us change out her blankets every fifteen to thirty minutes."
I nod my head but I'm not prepared for how it looks. It's not terrible, but she's right. I see the breathing machine and wires she's talking about to monitor brain activity. There's an IV with saline, and something to try and counter the reaction to the drugs. She looks so...frail. Long gone is the girl who showed up in our care some months ago, ready to take on the world. Her skin is so pale and she's so thin, she looks almost see through.
My baby. I must have whispered it because the nurse squeezes my hand. "I'll bring you a chair." I nod but it's blind. I can't see anything except her beautiful face, pale and set. Not thinking at all, I step up beside her and take her fragile, somehow suddenly so small, hand in mine. I swallow. "Don't you quit on me, Callie."
CALLIE'S POV
I hear Stef again. She sounds so sad. She keeps telling me not to quit on her and Lena, but I'm beginning to wonder, if I should quit, and make it easier on them. How much have they sacrificed for me already? How many countless dollars have they spent on court costs, adoption fees, investigations...the list goes on and on. Not to mention the tuition that they've paid into Anchor Beach; which I just found out today, is going to go to waste because my new place isn't "zoned" and I'm too far for anyone to justify continuing to drive me any longer.
Apparently my grades have slipped enough that they can't see any benefit to the commute as I am, quote, no longer showing any reason to further my schooling in an institute that is obviously not doing me any good, un-quote. It's no longer worth the 'added expenditure'. Added expenditure. I'm not even worth it to some losers who don't even care, why on Earth would I think I was worth anything to anyone else?
Besides, don't they see, it's not about me, or furthering my education? That's the only place I have to see my family. My brother. My moms. My lifelines. And they're taking that away too. Another tick in my chart of things that are my fault that are going to hurt the people who mean most to me. What must my mom think of me when she's looking down on me? How much disappointment does she hold for me? How much more can I let her down? How much more can I let my moms down?
I'm so sorry, Stef. You don't deserve this. You deserve so much better. So sorry.
STEF'S POV
Oh, Callie. What have you done? You need to stay with me.
Her vitals are starting to dwindle. As the minutes turn into hours, brain activity remains constant, but she's not getting any better. The doctors and nurses keep telling me to just hang in there, but that's hard for me to do when she's simply giving up.
It kills me that no matter what I do, I can't make her fight. I can't make her stay. It's like she's completely retreated within herself, and she's not coming out. I've talked to her about Jude, about school, I've pleaded with her to stay with me, but nothing seems to be helping. She's not receptive to any of it and I'm at a loss.
Lena called me earlier and asked me about bringing the kids up, but as much as I miss them, right now, I know it's probably not the best idea. I'm lost in thought as the door creaks open slowly. I turn and it's my beautiful wife. I see in her face that she's not expecting to see what she does.
I see it as her eyes instantly fill with tears and her hand goes to her mouth. I nod my head and close my eyes. We have to be strong for each other. Which means it's time for me to put on my brave face. She needs me as much as Callie does, and it's not going to do any of us any good if we both break down. I clear my throat. "Come on." and I stand and move as she sits down.
I hear her voice shake as she breathes in and searches for the words to say. We both know there's nothing we can say, but neither of us will accept defeat in any way. So much has happened, she's come so far. Finally I hear her voice break.
"How did this happen? How did we let this happen?" and she bends over the rail of the hospital bed, kissing our daughter on the forehead. "Callie, baby? Mama's here. Hang in there for us, okay? We love you."
Nothing changed. As much as I wanted it to, as much as I willed it to, nothing changed. We sat there together for another hour, neither of us saying anything, both of us holding our breath every moment.
Sitting up straight, Lena cleared her throat. "I dare someone to come in here and say something about us being here."
My heart fell out. I never even thought about that, but she was right. Damn if anyone would say anything. This was our daughter. Not the state's. Not some other foster parent's. Ours. And she was going to stay ours.
A nurse popped in and smiled. "How's our girl?"
Our girl. Not yours. I smile, but it's half hearted. "No change." Lena seems to notice my irritation as she reaches out and grabs my hand, bringing me back to the point at hand. I watch as the woman checks the vital signs, makes notes, and walks away. I start pacing, for the umpteenth time.
Lena is talking to Callie about staying, but nothing is changing. It's been twelve hours. Twelve excruciating hours. The sun has long since risen and both of us have had call after call. Mostly people checking in.
I have a sneaky suspicion that Brandon has brought everyone up here and they're waiting in the waiting room. I hear a familiar sound as I looked at my wife. Smiling lovingly, I tell her, "Go get something to eat. I'll sit with her."
Standing up and stretching, she nodded. She'd been here a few hours and the chair was hardly comfortable. "I'll call the kids and see how they're holding up." and she then turned back toward our eldest girl. Leaning in she kissed her once more. "I'll be right back, baby. I love you." and before stepping out, she asked me if I wanted anything.
Shaking my head, I sit back down. I want my daughter back in my arms. I want her eyes to open. I want her to come back home with us, as an Adams-Foster. I want my family back together as a whole.
"Don't you dare quit on me, Callie. I'm not going to let you go that easily, and if you think I will, just test me."
