A/N: Hey, before you read, just a few technical things. It was brought to my attention that there is a story like this on the site. DISCLAIMER: I was not aware that there was a story like this. I have not read it. All the ideas are from the top of my head and a bit of brainstorming to make sure I have my story-lines straight. Any similarities to any other stories on the site are coincidence and not intentional. I do not own the Fosters, ABC Family owns it. If I owned the Fosters it would not be as amazing and awesome as it is. Okay, that done, hope you enjoy.


Chapter Seven

"Are you gonna answer me or what?" Brandon could smell the stale beer on Dave's breath.

Brandon tapped Cara on the hand. "Cara, Jude… stay in the kitchen." He didn't glance back to see Jude guide his sister backwards. He kept his eyes on the gun in Dave's hand. "Dave…I...I'll pay for it, just let me get them out of here. Please."

"Shut up! Just shut up!" Dave's eyes flared as the gun clicked.

Brandon glanced over at Callie who was looking from him to Dave, quite literally staring down the barrel of a gun. Her eyes landed on Jude who was kneeling on the floor beside Cara. When she looked at Brandon next, her eyes were filled with something unidentifiable.

"DROP THE GUN! Get down on the ground now!" The door was broken down and the next moments were a blur. As Stef and a man Brandon didn't recognize dealt with Dave, Callie and Brandon ran to their siblings.

"Jude, are you okay? Oh my god!" Callie pulled him into a hug. "Oh my god!"

Cara and Brandon looked at each other, Cara's eyes welling with tears. "You're a bigger idiot than I thought…" She gave a quavering sigh blinking hard as Brandon put a hand on her shoulder.


Stef tossed her cuffs to Mike as she caught sight of the kids...including Jude in the dirty kitchen. Jude was with them… in a house where someone had held them at gunpoint. Brandon had brought them there, both Callie and Jude. Stef felt an intense pain bubbling in her chest. She wanted to yell, to tell him exactly what she thought, but then she saw the girl. She raised her face, obviously feeling eyes on her, and it was tear stained. She was maybe a year older than Jude at the most, but her face held years of pain that made her look so much older. Brandon gripped her hand as his green eyes met Stef's, a plea and a dare wrapped up in that one gaze, as defiant as it was fear stricken.

She walked over to the group, her voice gruff with emotion. "Come on, let's get out of here."

Once they were outside Stef looked at the van. "Get in the car you two." Stef nodded to Callie and Jude pushing them in the direction of the van as Lena got out.

"Are you okay?" Jude turned around walking over to Brandon and the girl.

Brandon looked at Stef then smiled at Jude. It was stiff, but Jude didn't seem to notice or maybe he just understood why. "We're fine Kid."

Stef cleared her throat. "Go with Jude sweetie. Brandon and I are going to get your stuff."

The girl looked at Brandon who nodded. "I'll be right back. Promise."

Stef waited until Jude and the girl were far enough out of earshot before she spoke. "Do you know how dangerous this was?"

He glanced up nodding. "I'm sorry."

Stef sighed rubbing her temple. "I'm just trying to make sure you understand how serious this was."

"I do." Brandon glanced down then back up. "If you want to send me back to juvie, just… just promise me Cara will be safe."

The look he gave Stef was one of resignation. He knew the drill, and the fact that he expected such a response gave Stef pause. Had she just, not fifteen minutes ago, been thinking about doing just that.? At that moment all of the angry words, all of the malice, dissipated replaced by a desperate relief that every one of these children were in one piece.

"Brandon," Stef turned the boy to face her. "Look at me."

The gentleness in the woman's tone startled him into compliance. He lifted his eyes to her.

"You're important. Okay? You matter." Stef said. "You matter."


Callie sat in her mom's van, trying hard to avoid her dad's gaze through the open door.

"That was a really stupid move Callie. What the hell were you thinking... ?"

Callie sighed. " I know it was, but I couldn't let him go on his own. He would've gotten himself killed! And we had to help Cara."

Mike smiled softly. "As stupid as it was…" Mike looked to see Jude and Cara approaching them followed by Stef and Brandon holding a backpack and a duffel. "You did a good thing. But I'm going to kill you if you're Mom doesn't first."

Callie bit her lip nodding as she held out a hand. "Understood."

Mike kissed her hand rubbing it gently before moving away to allow Brandon in.

"Hey…" Brandon ducked in as Callie scooted closer to Jude who was getting in on the other side. "Thanks… you didn't have to. I mean you could have blown the whistle."

Callie rolled her eyes, feeling a bit of attitude creeping into her voice. "We both know I couldn't have. And you're welcome."

Brandon smiled turning as Cara ducked into the car beside him. She dug through her backpack pulling out a scraggly brown toy dog, hugging it close as she leaned against Brandon's shoulder.

"Hey…" Callie leaned over looking at the toy dog. "My sister used to have a pup like that. What's it's name?"

"Her name's Lovey…" Cara's voice was strained as she stroked the toy behind the ears.

"You have a better taste in name's than Mari." Callie laughed. "Her's was just Pup."

This coaxed a laugh, a split second laugh that vanished as quickly as it had started. Callie sighed. She couldn't imagine being afraid to laugh.

" Hi Cara…" Jude looked over as Callie leaned back to let him reach a hand over. "I'm Jude."

A small smile broke through. "You were the one on the phone. Thank you… for talking to me."

Jude and Callie looked at each other, both feeling suddenly overwhelmed by the scope of the situation. The fact that an act as simple as a ten minute phone conversation had saved this girl was a lot to process for the twelve year old and his older sister.

"Alright gang, buckle up!" Stef shouted. "Home we go."

Callie saw Cara look sleepily over to Brandon, exhaustion slurring her words, but not dulling the smallest bit of hope. "We goin' home with them?"

Brandon ran a hand through her hair glancing at Callie. "We're gonna be safe Baby Girl."


A/N: Alright, so what would be the pilot is pretty much wrapped up at this point. Next chapter: we see what Stef, Lena and Mike do about Callie and Jude having been involved, learn more about Cara, Cara meets the twins and well you tell me. There's a poll on my profile involving what Callie and Jude should do with Mike. Options are batting cages, bowling, arcade, dinner and a board game, or going out for ice cream. Tell me in a review, the poll itself or both. Feedback and suggestions always always welcome. Also, who should Cara room with, Callie or Mariana? Let me know what you think?