She couldn't help but feel anxious. She could feel the sense of worry that had been haunting her dreams arise back into her mind, a tightness engulfing her chest and squeezing her lungs. It felt as though she was drowning on dry land. She didn't want to let it show, not even for a second, but it was more evident in her facial expression that she had intended for it to be.

"Stef, I just got a call" a voice hesitated but brought her out of her daze. "You okay? You're looking kind of pale."

"I'm fine," she replied quickly. Her hand was wrapped loosely around a cup of coffee, she had lost count of how many she had already drank, though this cup was turning slowly colder just like many of the others that she had made earlier in the morning. The slight dampness of her hair had caused a wet patch to form on her chest just below her t-shirt, causing the material to cling to her chest, but it didn't make a difference to her. In fact, she barely even noticed it at all.

"It was from the station. Apparently the other driver that was involved in the accident was way over the limit. He tried to tell some sob story about a broken marriage to excuse the fact that he hammered at 12pm but they booked him. DUI," Mike smiled slightly, attempting to rub her harm comforting as he moved closer to her and continued to speak. "He admitted that he drove away after clipping you guys but claimed he didn't see you crash. It won't hold up though so don't worry about it."

"Bastard," Stef replied bluntly, taking another sip of her coffee and letting it sit in her mouth for a second. Mike could help but laugh slightly at the way that she spoke but he quickly nodded in agreement.

"We've got him now." he sighed, bumping his shoulder lightly against hers.

"So, it wasn't just me?" she asked quietly, tearing her eyes away from the window. She wasn't exactly sure how long she had been looking out at Frankie's tree, she had lost track of time completely.

He shook his head swiftly in response and they both stood in silence for a few moments before he opened his mouth to say something again. "We should probably get going, Lena's going to need you there with her sooner rather than later. I think that everyone's pretty much ready. Do you want to take a car? You could always just ask B to take you?"

Stef thought for a second before replying. "I'll drive. If you can take everyone else, I'll take Jude. We have to talk, things didn't go so well the last time we did so I have to clear some stuff up..." she trailed off.

"No worries," he nodded again. "I'll go round them up."

She smiled at him gratefully as he walked away. Things had never been easy for Mike but now more than ever she was just grateful that he was there for her, for the kids. Though the sun was streaming brightly through the window and her exchange with Mike had gone more than well, Stef couldn't stop the feeling of nausea that was slowly growing in her stomach with each passing moment.

"Mom, why can't I come in the car with you?" Mariana asked sheepishly and the blonde turned quickly to face her, ignoring the feeling that was radiating in her abdomen. The teenager's appearance almost shocked her - she was always so well done up regardless of the situation but her hair was thrown up high into a messy pony, her face free of it's usual, though natural looking, makeup. Stef was almost sure that her entire outfit of sweats and an oversized t-shirt belonged to her twin but she didn't want to say anything. She felt bad for leaving her like this. Stef knew that her youngest daughter was craving attention, craving comfort. She needed her mom.

"I'm sorry Love," she replied softly and apologetically though it made no difference. Mariana's shoulder's slumped down in disappointment and she turned her back to her mother, ignoring her completely as she spoke again. "Me and you tonight, Love?"

Stef wasn't surprised that she didn't get a response from her daughter. Letting out a slow, deep breath, she rubbed her forehead, placing her now empty mum in the sink. Ideally she would have liked to refill it again, at least before she was stuck with only the finest watery, diluted drink that the hospital could offer her. Stef almost wished that her wife's nagging was filling her ears at that moment, warnings about caffeine consumption that she could write a novel from. She missed her wife's nagging. She missed her wife all together.

"Ready?" she heard Mike's voice instead as he popped his head around the corner of the wall and into the kitchen. She had wasted time on pointless thought yet again when she should have been getting ready. It dawned on her as she looked at her ex-husband - freshly shaved with a jacket in hand with she was moping around in a pair of socks with her wet hair tangled and framing her pale face.

"I just need to find some shoes and a sweater or something," she smiled softly and reassuringly, pulling her hair back into a tight bun with the hair tie that she had left on her wrist since she had gotten home. The tightness had left a neat red indent around her wrist.

"The kids brought stuff down for you when they were getting ready, they're trying to be as helpful as possible. They made a care package for Callie and everything last night."

"I should have thought of that. She needs clothes and toiletries...Why wasn't I more prepared, I should have thought to do this. I'm her mother," Stef sighed and mentally hit herself though she would have liked to have hit her head hard against the kitchen counter in that moment.

She followed closely behind him as he began to walk, seeing that her children were standing waiting just as he had said before. Brandon and Jesus were standing tall, putting on a strong front. Stef gratefully took the hoodie that they had chosen from her and slipped on a pair of old worn sneakers. Mariana and Jude were sitting together on the couch in silence, slouching with there eyes focused low in an attempt not to make eye contact.

"Okay. Brandon, Jesus, Mariana - you guys come in my car," Jude's head shot up as he heard Mike's words but before he could open his mouth to argue, Stef cut in.

"And Jude's coming with me," Stef spoke firmly, making it clear to him that there was no way around this. She walked forwards to sit next him, wrapping an arm around his shoulders though he tried to shrug it off. It didn't go unnoticed by the others but they thought better than to say anything. "If you don't want to come with me that's totally fine, but it's either that or you don't get to go see Callie at all. Your choice Love."

Jude looked round to her, challenging his mother with his eyes though she didn't let her stern gaze waver for even a second. Sighing loudly, Jude admitted defeat without words - pushing past his siblings and parent to the front door before disappearing from sight. They heard the slam of the car door.

"To be honest, out of everyone Jude wasn't really the one that I expected to be so difficult," Stef said offhandedly though as she was shot various looks from her family she spoke again. "I'm just kidding guys. Brandon, I need to use your car. Kind of hand an accident that's made the other one undriveable so if you don't mind..."

Brandon looked at his mother as she stretched out her hand, completely ignoring her attempt at a joke. He wasn't entirely sure if she was being terribly sarcastic or just overcompensating. "Yeah, sure," he reached into his back pocket after replying and tossed the set of keys over to the blonde.

"Thanks Love," she smile and stood up, following everyone as they began to move outside. Stef came to a halt completely as she heard the quiet click of the door as Mike closed and locked it. She couldn't help but stand and stare at the parked Mini in the drive.

"You okay Foster?" Mike asked quietly so that Stef would be the only one to hear his words.

"Aren't you getting tired of asking me that yet?" she quipped and he shrugged his shoulders in response. If she was being honest, which she wasn't, she was definitely not okay. She was very far from okay but at times like this she just had to bit the bullet. One day she was going to have to get back in the driver's seat and today was as good a day as any. Gripping the handle tightly with her good hand, she hesitated slightly before yanking the door open and sliding down into the seat. Jude's head was turned in the opposite direction, he was adamant that he wasn't going to give her any of his attention - even if that meant staring straight at a bush until they were on their way to the hospital. Stef knew that it was going to be struggle to get him to open back up to her and listen but she had to do it now or things would only get worse.

Turning the key in the ignition, the familiar buzz of the engine filled the car with noise, eating away the silence that had grown between the two Adams-Fosters. It had always been a comforting sound to her. Rationally Stef knew that nothing was going to happen. The likelihood of them having another accident was slim, surely. Everything was going to be perfectly fine as long as she stayed calm and drove carefully, just like she always had. It was silly, Stef thought. She just had to bite the bullet.

Silence had enveloped the car again, filling it for the majority of the ride. They were sticking close to Mike's car while the blonde thought carefully about what to say to her son, about what were the most appropriate words to use.

"I know that you're upset," she started and the younger boy simply scoffed at her words. "Just listen. I know that you are upset, I am upset, we are all extremely upset. Upset doesn't even cover it."

"How about mad?"

"Mad?" she questioned though he only nodded in response, his gaze still firmly fixed out the window.

Jude thought for a moment and before Stef could speak again he turned to face her for the first time during their journey. "I'm pretty mad. I'm pretty mad that you could have killed my sister. I'm pretty mad that you could have killed yourself. I'm pretty mad that this is just another reason for Callie's adoption to be delayed - if you even want it to happen anymore. I'm trying hard not to be mad at you, I really am, but every time I look at you I can only think of Callie and how she's lying in the hospital bed."

"Jude..."

"No, you're a cop. You should be one of the best drivers on the road but you looked away for a second," he took a deep breath. "It only ever takes a second for us."

Before she spoke again, Stef decided to pull over momentarily in order to give the younger boy her full attention. "I know it is my fault. I know that. I looked away to help Callie for a second and a drunk driver swerved into the side of the car and we rolled and we rolled down into the forest. I know that I shouldn't have looked away, but it isn't just my fault. Maybe things would be different if that guy hadn't been drinking so early in morning, maybe it wouldn't have but right now we both have to be strong and put it all behind us. Your sister needs us. Both of us. So can you stop being mad at me for a little while because I don't think I can get through today if that's all you're gonna give me. I know fine well that this is my fault."

Stef turned back towards the steering wheel and pulled away from the sidewalk. It wasn't silent for long, Jude placing his hand over the blonde's when it was by her side. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay Love."

"You didn't say anything about a drunk driver before."

"I didn't know about it before," Stef replied.


Callie couldn't help but stare up at the ceiling. It was too much effort to do anything else, it was too much effort to do anything at all. Her brown hair had been surrounding her head like a halo ever since she had woken up and it had been annoying her since then but she hadn't said anything. She didn't want to give Lena an excuse to start up another conversation which would ultimately end in them talking about the surgery and the fact that she may never walk again, though Lena avoided those precise words. So instead she chose to count the small dots that littered the tiles of the ceiling. She had lost count more times that she cared to admit and it was driving her crazy but she didn't want to talk anymore. She was done talking. Callie knew that the older woman would try and push her to talk again though. She just wanted a minute alone with her thoughts and Callie knew that there was only so many times that Lena could read the same trashy celebrity magazine over and over again before she would admit defeat and go get coffee or stretch her legs or something.

"Hey honey, I'm just going to jump downstairs before everyone gets here. Is that okay?" Lena said suddenly, almost seeking her approval.

"Yeah sure whatever," Callie replied, moving her head down slightly in an attempt to look at the older woman at the bottom of her bed. Her voice was still raspy, it almost didn't sound like her at all. "You don't have to ask."

"I know, I just...nevermind," she smiled, rubbing Callie's leg comfortingly though she quickly stopped when she realised what she had done. "Sorry Love, are you sure that you're okay with visitors?"

"I'm totally fine," the teenager assured her, ignoring what had just happened.

"I think I'm just going to stay for a bit," Lena spoke again, rubbing her hands together slightly before pushing a loose curl back from her eyes. Sitting down again, she moved the worn out magazine over. Only God could know how long it had been in the hospital, it was well and truly on it's road out. Lena grasped her daughter's hand in her own and brought it to her lips, giving the back of it a light kiss. "The doctor sounded optimistic."

"Yeah I guess," if Callie had the strength to shrug she would have, instead resorting to biting her lip and rolling her eyes slightly.

"You had a little feeling, things can only get better."

"Or things could stay exactly the way that they are," Callie interjected. "Either way, I've faced worse. I'm fine."

"You don't always have to be fine, Cal," Lena replied softly but before she could speak again they both heard a light knock at the door of the room. Clearing her throat slightly before calling, she never let go of the younger girl's hand. "Come in."

Callie couldn't help but let out a happy sigh when she saw the faces of her family. One by one they slid through the half opened door. Jude rushed forwards, throwing his arms over her body though he quickly let go when she let out a grown. Wincing painfully and screwing her eyes shut as it subsided, the younger boy couldn't help but half shout as many apologies at his sister as he could manage. Lena couldn't help but gasp at the sight.

"Callie are you okay?" she said quickly, leaning over her face to look at her while Jude still apologized profusely.

"I'm fine, stop fussing," Callie let out a small laugh as she caught her breath again and Lena's worried hovering face disappeared from her line of sight. "Just maybe go easy on the bear hugs next time Bud."

The corner of Jude's mouth twitched upwards slightly at her words.

"We're all really happy that you're okay," Mariana spoke suddenly, her watery eyes threatening to spill over. "Please just don't scare me like that okay, I've just gotten used to having a sister I don't want to lose her."

"Well, I think you're stuck with me for a little while yet," Mariana almost laughed at her words in relief, taking a seat on the edge of her bed.

"Can we trust you when your driver's license comes in? I mean if I'm stealing rides places then y'know..." Jesus joked and Callie let out another laugh, but Brandon slapped his chest with the back of his hand after he spoke.

"Dude..." he replied frowning.

"What?" Jesus raised his hands innocently, smiling at his sister in the bed.

"Stop, don't make me laugh. It hurts," the teenager smirked before her youngest brother spoke again.

"We brought you some stuff from home in case you're gonna be here for a while," Jude trailed off, pulling his backpack off his shoulder and balancing it on the side of her bed as he sifted through the contents. "Some of your favourite books..."

"I put in some comfortable clothes, those hospital gowns are not flattering on anyone," Mariana shook her head seriously.

"You can borrow my iPod for as long as you want it, I know I would need some decent music to get me through being in here," Brandon said quietly, his back was still pressed firmly against the wall with his arms folded tightly across his chest.

"And when you get sick of all the boring stuff then don't worry, I stuck some good stuff on there," Jesus smirked and the older boy looked at him questioningly though he never said anything in response.

"Thanks guys, seriously. God knows I'm going to need to pass the time anyway I can in here," Callie smiled again before the realisation hit her. "Wait, where's Stef?"

Nobody spoke, looking at each other as they attempted to come up with a suitable answer.

"Yeah, where is she?" Lena pressed, standing up from her seat.

Mike uncrossed his own arms and rubbed his chin before he spoke. "She just needed a minute before she came up, maybe I should go get her?"

"No, it's fine," Lena shook her head before looking to Callie for approval just as she had before. "I'll go and see if she's okay, if you guys are okay staying here?"

Callie decided to wait until the brunette had left the room completely before she spoke again. "What's up?"

"What do you mean?" Mariana asked confused.

"With Stef, why didn't she come up with you guys?"

"She just wanted a minute," Mike replied calmly, sitting in the now vacant seat that her mother had occupied moments earlier.

"Seriously?" Callie pushed, looking at her little brother for the answers that she knew he would give her.

He hesitated before speaking, Mike willing him with his eyes not to say anything though he simply ignored the older man. "She...she felt guilty about what happened. I kind of gave her a hard time but I apologized and we spoke and I figured that everything was okay but I guess she just needed a minute," Jude replied, mimicking Mike's words from before.

"Guilty?" Callie furrowed her eyebrows, her confusion evident as thoughts filled her already full mind. "But..."

"It's just shock, it'll get easier for her." Mike said in an attempt to comfort the younger girl.

"It wasn't her fault, I would never blame her for this. She know that I would never blame her for this right?" Callie's words were beginning to get faster and faster the more that she spoke. "Right?"

"Right?"

"I would never-"

"She knows that."

"We just have to give her time."

"She just needs a minute."

Longest chapter yet. It was kind of a boring one but don't worry things are going to get a little more exciting soon. You know the drill, please review and tell me what you think and what you want to see - I depend on you.