'' I'm going to go check up on the kids, make sure they're getting ready for bed'' said Stef, once she was changed into her pyjama pants. '' Okay'' smiled Lena as she looked up from the book she was reading. Stef placed a soft kiss on Lena's head before walking out of the bedroom, she heard movements downstairs so she slowly walked down the stairs. '' What are you still working on?'' asked Stef once she saw Mariana standing in the kitchen with a schoolbook in her right hand while holding a glass of juice in her left hand. '' Got this huge math exam tomorrow. Very important'' said Mariana as she sat back down at the table. '' How long have you been studying?'' asked Stef as she went to sit down next to Mariana. '' Got home around 3, studied till dinner, went to shower. Went straight downstairs and studied until now'' shrugged Mariana as she flipped the page. '' That's quite enough studying I think. You need the rest. At some point you won't learn anything anymore and if you're tired, the test will probably go wrong too'' sighed Stef as she pushed a stray of hair out of Mariana's face. '' Okay'' nodded Mariana as she closed her book unsure, '' Let's get you tucked into bed'' smiled Stef as she pushed Mariana towards the stairs. Stef opened the bedroom door pushed Mariana inside a little further. Stef turned to Callie's bed and noticed that she was laying half of the bed. Stef went over her and lifted her feet of the bed to, that's when she noticed the white foam in the corners of Callie's mouth. '' Callie?'' exclaimed Stef, '' Call?'' she repeated. Stef shook Callie roughly, '' Callie? Wake up!'' exclaimed Stef, tears slowly started to drip over her cheeks. ''Please'' she said, as she shook Callie's thin shoulders. Foam was coming out of her mouth, as she lay unconscious on her bedroom floor. '' Lena'' shouted Stef, ''LENA'' she repeated. She heard multiple footsteps walk up the stairs, Lena was the first to enter followed by the rest of the kids. '' Call 911'' shrieked Stef. Lena immediately reached for her phone to call, as Stef stroke Callie's hair. Callie carefully opened her eyes, the bright light was making her head spilt and her throat was as dry as paper. '' Callie! Oh dear god. Stay with me'' whispered Stef, her voice thick from the tears. '' J-J...juu-de'' was all Callie managed to say before passing out again, Stef looked up into Jude's bright watering eyes, and watched as Brandon wrapped his arms around his younger foster brother. '' We're going to adopt you, love. Keep that in mind. Stay with us. You have things to say here for'' whispered Callie in Stef's ear as she stroke Callie's hair. '' The ambulance is co-'' said Lena, but she got cut off by a almost manic Stef '' I don't think she has a pulse'' she shrieked.
Lena had send the kids downstairs to wait for the ambulance as they both fussed over Callie. Stef started pushing on Callie's chest forcefully, Lena started to sing 'staying alive' softly. She knew this was a song to which you could perform heart massage. They could hear loud footsteps on the stairs , and watched as two paramedics entered the room.'' Step aside please'' said one of the paramedics to Stef, whom was still pushing on Callie's chest. Stef hesitantly let go of Callie and watched as the two paramedics immediately started working on her. Stef reached for her wife and held her tightly, both had tears dripping down their cheeks as they watched the paramedics shock their daughter.
'' We have a heartbeat'' was the only thing Stef heard, they watched as they lifted the gurney with Callie on it down the stairs. Stef and Lena followed quickly, Stef turned around '' Lena, take the kids with you to the hospital. I'll go with the ambulance'' she said, as she looked from Lena to her frightened kids. Brandon pushed Jude a little tighter against his leg and brushed through his hair as she forced the tears in his eyes back. Stef ran outside and climbed into the ambulance, she immediately reached for Callie's hand.
'' 16 year old female, found unconscious in her room. Without a heartbeat for 12 minutes'' said the paramedic , Stef followed the running paramedics, '' You can't go further than this Miss, you need to sit down. The doctor will come to you when we know more'' sighed the nurse as she stopped a frightened looking Stef. '' Please, my baby'' whispered Stef, as the nurse pushed her back in the chair. Stef saw Lena and the kids enter the hospital, and hurriedly walked over to them, while also keeping a close eye on the doors they just pushed Callie through. Lena wrapped her arms around Stef and held her tight. '' They will come to us when they know more about her'' said Stef, as she turned to face the kids. '' Will she be okay?'' asked a pale and frightened looking Jude, Brandon almost seemed surprised to hear his voice again. Stef slowly knelt down and placed her hands on Jude's shoulders. '' The doctors will figure out what is wrong with her and will help her. She will be fine'' smiled Stef, as she caressed Jude's cheek, which felt rough because of the dried tears. '' It was weird to see you help her'' whispered Jude as he looked into Stef's eyes. Stef raised her eyebrow in surprise '' What do you mean sweets?'' she asked. '' Other foster homes would just let her lay there, or kick her another time '' said Jude, a sad smile formed on his face. Stef wrapped her arms tightly around the young boy and stroke his brown hair.
''Family of Callie Jacob?'' asked the doctor whom came walking up to the anxious looking family.
'' Yes'' exclaimed Stef & Lena in unison. '' Could you follow me for a sec'' he sighed, Stef and Lena exchanged glances before following the doctor to the corner of the waiting area, away from the kids. '' We drew some blood from her, and we found traces of vicodin, and a lot of weird substances. Consistent with cheap street drugs'' he said. Lena clasped her hand in front of her mouth and looked over to Stef. '' We don't think there is any organ damage, we will have to see if she has any brain damage once she wakes up. But beside the drugs she seems fine'' he added. '' What happens now?'' asked Lena, whom was the first to find her voice again. '' Well it is mandatory to have a psychiatrist evaluate her because we have to rule this as an overdose. We usually go from there'' said the doctor. '' Okay, can we see her'' asked Lena worried. '' Yes, but one at a time'' he said, Stef and Lena looked at each other '' I'll go, you tell the kids'' said Stef, it almost sounded like she was pleading. Lena nodded, she placed a soft kiss on Stef's head before walking back over to her kids.
Stef didn't know what to feel as she followed the doctor to Callie's room. Was she supposed to feel mad? Or worried or both. The doctor stopped at Callie's room and turned to face Stef again. '' There is something else'' he said, '' She has a lot of injuries that weren't healed properly, but we found two injuries that she has, that have to be very painful. Which could be why she was taking the vicodin. Her leg and wrist should actually require surgery it would relieve some of her pain, possibly even all'' said the doctor. '' So she has been in a lot of pain for how long?'' asked Stef, as it felt like all the blood had drained out of her face. '' I can't pin point it exactly but I'd say about a year'' he said. Stef merely nodded before turning to look over to the bed. Callie looked so fragile with tubes in her nose, And IV's everywhere around her. Stef slowly made her way over to the hospital bed and caressed Callie's cold hand. She sat down next to the bed, and held Callie's hand properly. '' Oh Callie, my sweet, sweet Callie'' sighed Stef, as she made circles with her thumb on Callie's hand. ''You could've come to us If you were in pain, drugs is not a solution'' she added. Stef moved the chair a little closer to the bed so that she could see Callie's face clearly. It only now dawned on her how pale, and tired Callie looked. She softly stroke Callie's head and placed a kiss on her forehead. She was about to leave the room to get Lena when she saw Callie's eyes flutter open. '' S-stef'' Callie's voice sounded groggy and distant and not at all like she usually sounded. '' S-s-s-stef...'' she repeated. This time more pleading. '' Oh my baby'' exclaimed Stef as she hurried over to Callie's side. '' You're okay. I love you'' exclaimed Stef as she stroke her head. Callie had hot tears dripping down her cheeks as Stef held her tightly against her chest. '' Why didn't you tell us you were in pain'' whispered Stef as she softly combed her hand through Callie's hair. '' I d-didn't want t-t-o bother you'' was all Callie managed to say. '' Oh sweets, we're your moms. We are here to care for you and love you '' sighed Stef. '' If you're going to send me away, please keep Jude.'' Whispered Callie, as tears rolled over her pale cheeks. '' Callie, my love. I just said I love you and that I'm your mom, I am not going to send you away'' she replied as she placed her hand on Callie's cheek, wiping away the tears as they fell. '' I'm sorry I lied to you'' choked Callie out. '' We are not happy about the drugs, but you're health is so much more important right now'' sighed Stef. Callie merely nodded her head and snuggled up a little closer to Stef.
Once Callie had fallen asleep, Stef walked out of the room and over to Lena and the kids, whom were all asleep. '' Lena'' whispered Stef, Lena looked up and walked over to Stef. '' What's wrong?'' she asked, worry immediately noticeable in her voice. '' it turns out she was in pain'' started Stef, she had to control her breathing in order not to cry before continuing. '' What do you mean?'' asked Lena as she furrowed her eyebrows. '' She has two fractures from a year ago which hadn't been healed right. The doctor even suggested that surgery could relieve her of said pain'' sighed Stef, '' So that's why she was taking it?'' asked Lena, as she felt a few tears drip over her pale cheeks. '' Possibly, she is afraid that we are going to send her away. I think we need to tell all the kids, including Jude that we're adopting them . It might give her some security'' suggested Stef, '' I'll go tell Callie'' nodded Lena, after they both were quiet for a while. '' Uhh..'' started Stef, '' I might've told her already 2 days ago, she was panicking and telling that she couldn't confide in me because than she'd get attached and I just blurted it out'' sighed Stef, she looked into Lena's eyes to see if she would get mad. '' Okay'' she merely said, '' Let's go tell Jude, and the rest'' she added. Stef nodded and wrapped her left arm over Lena's shoulder as they walked towards the kids.
'' We have quite a few things to say'' said Lena, as she looked from Stef to the kids. '' Callie's going to be fine. '' she added. '' But what was wrong with her?'' asked Mariana worried. '' It turns out that she has two fractures which hadn't healed right, the pain made her turn to drugs, which is why she is here now'' said Stef, Lena turned her head and looked at her with raised eyebrows. '' They deserve the truth'' said Stef before continuing. '' Now over to something else'' she said. '' I wished We were to say this under best circumstances but I think we all need this light at the end of the tunnel. '' she continued. '' But... we're adopting Callie and Jude'' smiled Stef, the first time a smile had formed on her face. '' Really'' exclaimed Jude, his sad, teary eyes suddenly went wide. '' Really'' nodded Lena, as the young boy wrapped his arms around Lena. '' You okay with all this?'' she asked as she looked at the other kids. '' Of course, There's enough to go around'' smiled Brandon, Mariana and Jesus nodded in agreement. '' Finally a big sister'' she said dramatically. Before Stef could say anything else, Jude's arms were wrapped tightly around her neck. Stef almost fell backwards at the force. She stroke Jude's hair and smiled, he let go of her after a while. '' I'm going to head back to Callie, okay?'' said Stef to her wife. Lena nodded her head and watched as Stef walked back towards the door.
'' Sweets, you sleeping?'' asked Stef as she entered Callie's room. ''No'' came a soft reply from under the buddle of blankets. Stef made her way over to the chair next to the bed and sat down. '' The doctor told you about my fractures didn't he?'' said Callie, as she moved a few blankets away so that she could see Stef's worried looking face. '' Yes, but only about the two. Like I told you 20 minutes ago, you really should've said something'' sighed Stef. Callie merely nodded her head, '' He didn't tell you about the rest yet?'' whispered Callie. '' No, he wanted to talk to me, but I haven't seen him yet'' said Stef, as she reached for Callie's hand. '' It was in my second to last foster home. He had often kicked me, or beaten me'' said Callie, Stef squeezed Callie's hand a little tighter as she continued talking. '' But one night he pushed me down the stairs, and I'm sure it was from then'' she added, her voice thick from tears. '' Has this happened more often?'' asked Stef, as she softly started to stroke Callie's head. '' In every foster home I've ever been in. They all do it for the pay check'' sighed Callie. Stef wanted to hit something, or someone but she needed to stay calm in order for her to help Callie. Stef slowly stood up and moved Callie a little more to the side of the bed, she then climbed in the bed herself and wrapped her arms around a surprised looking Callie. '' We just told Jude and the rest you both are getting adopted. Couldn't be more excited. You can be happy about this, my sweet, sweet daughter'' whispered Stef. Callie snuggled up a little closer to Stef, she knew it was going to be a while before she would be okay, but for now this was good progress.
SOOOOO... long chapter. I'm not sure I like it just yet. But I have a question for you all. What would you like to see happen? Who would you like to see interact more? Would you want Callie to relapse? Just tell me what you would like to see happen ! (No brallie, sorry )