AN: I am so so so so sorry for the delay. I know its been a very long while but it was just one thing after another. i had surgery, my laptop broke and a bunch of other stuff. but here it is.
They had been at it for about 15 minutes already and Callie refused to let the doctor take a blood sample. She was actually not letting her get anywhere near her with the needle. She was almost at a full blown panic attack, but her moms were trying their best to keep her calm.
"Cal this is for your own good. We have to make sure that you're healthy." Stef said while trying to calm her daughter down.
"Can't they do that without taking blood? Is this why I couldn't eat?" Callie was going to try and get out of this. There was no way she was going to let them stick a needle in her. No way!
"Yes. Callie the blood tests are necessary. They will tell us a great deal about your body. And how it's working." The doctor tried reasoning with her.
"You guys didn't say anything about blood tests! No! No needles!" Callie yelled. This was not happening. She was scared of needles and her moms knew this. They had been hiding it from her this whole time. They knew and didn't say anything.
"Love we will be right here with you. You won't be alone. Mama and I will be with you the whole time." Stef said soothingly. She glanced at the heart monitor that was attached to Callie and noticed that her heart rate kept rising. This was not good for her, they needed to calm her down and soon.
"Please mom. No, please." Callie pleaded. She was scared and her mind was taking her back to one of her old foster homes. "I'll even wear the hearing aid, but please no, don't let them… please… mama, please no."
"Oh Callie. I'm so sorry but this is something that has to happen. We need to make sure that you're ok. That you're healthy." Lena leaned forward and hugged her. This was killing her. Callie hasn't acted like this since the first month of them fostering her. She had a panic attack at her physical. Ever since that day they have been really careful with her and doctors, or anything medical really.
At this the doctor looked at the moms. "Can I talk with you outside for a moment?"
"Stef you go, I don't want to leave her alone like this." Lena said from her position on the bed with Callie. The teenager was clinging to her mother and wouldn't let go.
Stef nodded and exited the room after the doctor. "Not to be funny, but, what's up doc?"
"I know of Callie's fear of needles, but we have been poking and prodding her for days now. Why is it a problem now?" The doctor asked concerned. She already knew that Callie had a fear of needles but with everything they have done the last few days she thought the girl was over it.
"She was pretty out of it those times. Right now she's lucid and just woke up. It won't be easy to get a blood sample. She is hungry tho, so we could probably use that." Stef said thinking.
"Well I need to do the blood tests, so anything we can do to help…" The doctor said.
"Ok. I'll talk to Lena and see what we come up with." Stef said thoughtfully. "Just try and follow our lead."
"Ok. Just let us know if there is anything else we can do and I'll try to follow your lead. As much as I can." The doctor said as she and Stef walked back into Callie's room.
When Stef and the doctor entered back into the room, Callie was half asleep again in Lena's arms. Her freak out took a lot out of her.
"Hey Cal. How are you feeling?" Stef asked while she pushed hair out of her daughter's face.
Callie slowly looked at her mother and nodded. "I'm ok, just tired."
"Love, the doctor needs to take some blood." Callie visibly tensed and started to move a little in her mother's arms. "Callie calm down. Look at me sweets. Your ok. We are not going to let anyone hurt you." Callie just looked at Stef with pleading eyes. "Do you trust me? Do you trust us." Stef said and took her wife's hand.
Callie nodded her head.
"Words Callie." Stef said a little forcefully. They knew that she would close up if they didn't make her talk now.
"Yes, I trust you both." Callie said quietly. They had done this many times and she knew the routine. They wouldn't let her go quiet.
"Ok, then you know we aren't going to let anyone hurt you right?" Lena reassured her and squeezed her a little tighter.
"Yes." Callie answered quietly while shaking her head.
"Ok then this is what we are going to do. I'm going to lay down with you and hug you." Stef said this while she switched places with Lena. "Mama is going to hold your hands." Lena sat on the bed and took Callie's hands in hers and gave them a kiss. "And we are both going to be with you during the whole process. But you need to let them draw blood. Can you do that?" Stef asked her daughter.
Callie thought about it for a minute. Then nodded. "You won't leave me?"
"Not a chance. We will be here as long as you need us." Stef kissed her on the head. "After, mama is going to go pick up your brothers and sister at school. They need to get the allergy test done today."
"Their getting it done today? Man they must not be happy with me." Callie stated.
"What? Why?" Lena asked.
"Well it's my fault that they even have to get these tests done in the first place." Callie insisted.
"Oh honey they don't blame you and they said they would do it. They were very scared when you got sick from that sting, and they don't want that to happen to them." Lena stated. She knew her daughter was going to try and blame herself for this. She always did.
"And guess what!" Stef tried to lighten the mood.
"What?" Callie asked softly and lifted her eyes to meet her moms.
After they draw blood, you can have anything you want to eat! You name it and it's yours.
"Anything?" Callie asked, her eyes bright with mischief.
"Anything that's food. Don't tell me you just want ice cream, because I'll say no." At that Callie mocked pouted, making her mama laugh. "But if you want ice cream after you eat, that's different." Lena said smiling.
"Can I have a grilled cheese and tomato soup?" Callie asked smiling.
"If I can't find a place to buy it, I will go home and make it for you." Lena said smiling. She knew Callie had a thing for tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. Specially the ones with swiss and american cheese.
"And ice cream for dessert?" Callie said laughing.
"Oh Bug. Yes, you can have ice cream for dessert." Lena said while Stef was trying to stifle her laugh.
Callie looked at the doctor. Then glanced at the medical tray that was still covered. "Ok I'm ready now. But please don't let me see the needles or anything. It wont go well."
"Callie I have a question for you." The doctor said while starting to prep everything again.
"Yes?" Callie answered but kept her eyes on her mama.
"If you're this afraid of needles how am I going to be sure that you will use the EpiPen if you start having a allergic reaction?" The doctor asked her. She was trying to keep her distracted.
Callie nodded and sighed. "I can't see the needle on it and I'll be too focused on trying to breathe that I don't think I'll hesitate. Plus there's a chance I won't even be able to give myself the shot. But this is different. It's slow and painful. It just takes me back to a bad memory."
"I see. Well, I promise to be as fast and gentle as possible." The doctor stated.
Callie closed her eyes and nodded. "Thanks." When she felt the doctor tie the tourniquet on her arm, she looked at Lena with fear in her eyes. She really didn't want to do this.
Lena, with one hand grabbed her daughter's free hand and with the other she cupped her cheek. "Callie, after this I'll go get your food. Then I have to go to the school for some paper work and to get your siblings for their tests today. Mom is going to stay with you while I do that."
"Ok." It looked like the fact that Lena was talking to her was working, because the doctor was able to insert the needle and start to draw blood. Callie refused to look at the arm the doctor was working with. She kept her eyes on her mama and she focused on her words.
"You're doing great Cal. She's almost done. I'm so proud of you Bug." She kept a hold of her daughter's hand and rubbing her cheek with her thumb. Thus keeping Callie distracted enough that the doctor was able to get everything done with no problems.
"All done Callie. You did great." The doctor said as she finished and started to put a cotton ball in the crook of Callie's elbow and withdrawing the needle. "Can you please put pressure on that? I'll get a band aid."
Callie put her finger on the cotton ball while the doctor opened the band aid and pulled off the strips. She then saw the doctor put the band aid on the cotton ball and pick up all the equipment and the test tubes with the blood. "So are we done?"
"With the needle part of the exam, yes. Now, I get to physically check you to make sure everything is good." The doctor said brightly. This part was going to be a peace of cake compared to the blood taking.
"Ok… can I have something small to eat? A snack or something, I don't feel very good?" Callie asked while looking at both her moms.
"Are you ok? What's wrong Bug?" Lena asked with concern in her eyes.
"Nothing, I'm just hungry and I can feel it starting to hit me hard." Callie said to calm her mother's down. "I just need somthing small to eat for now. Then I can have the food mama is going to bring me."
"Are you sure honey." At Callie's nod she decided to get her something small in the hospital cafeteria. "How about, while you guys get started, I'll head down to the cafeteria and get you something small so you can hold off for the soup mama is going to bring you."
Callie nodded. She was hungry and at this point she would eat anything. Even hospital cafeteria food.
Stef kissed Callie on the temple and had her sit up so she could get out of the hospital bed. She kissed her on the forehead, gave her a small hug then she did the same to her wife. "Do you want anything?" She asked Lena.
"No, I'm good thank you. Just get something for you." Lena said giving Callie's hands a squeeze.
"Ok then. I'll be right back loves." Stef said then left the room.
Callie looked at her mama and noticed that she was staring at her. "Mama? Is something wrong?"
"Hum? Oh um no nothing's wrong. I'm just so proud of you. You handled that needle like a trooper." Lena said.
Callie looked at her lap in embarrassment. "Yeah if you call crying like a baby and having a panic attack being a trooper, then sure."
"Oh honey. You have a phobia. Those are not easy to conquer." Lena said firmly. "People have been known to die because of their phobias. But you didn't let fear keep it's hold on you. You trusted us to take care of you. To protect you. And that's a big deal. Because for you, trust is love. And that just tells me how much you love us."
"Of course I love you! Have you ever doubt it? I love you more than you can possibly imagine. You guys give me the strength to conquer all my fears. The support I need to keep going no matter what." Callie said firmly.
"Then why didn't you tell us about Kylie? We could have helped you before it got so out of hand." Lena said calmly. She needed to find out exactly what had happened. "Did something happen that made you not trust us with this?"
Callie just looked at her lap. How could she tell her mama that it was her that she was protecting? That Kaylie had threaten to get her mama fired?
"Cal? Can you please look at me please?" Lena asked softly. When Callie didn't raise her eyes to her, she lifted her daughter's face by the chin until she could see her eyes. "There that's much better. I love being able to see your big beautiful eyes." Callie blushed but didn't smile. "Can you tell me why?"
Callie looked at her mother. What was she going to do? What was she going to tell her?
"Ok Callie. Let's start with the exam." The doctor said putting on her stethoscope. And just like that, the conversation was over. Lena moved away from the bed and gave the doctor space so she could examine the teen.
Lena took this opportunity to call the school and have them pull up Kaylie's file and the work that she had turned in in the last few months. "Callie, are you ok here? I need to check in at work and make sure they remember to let your siblings out of class on time so I don't have to go hunting for them."
"I'm ok mama. Besides, mom should be on her way back by now, right?" Callie said looking at Lena. she was glad this conversation was over.
"Yeah she probably is. I'll just be out in the hall. If you need anything just call me." Lena said looking out the hall to see if Stef was on her way yet. She didn't see her.
"I'm fine mama. Really. It's ok." Callie reassured her.
Lena gave her a look and a raised eyebrow. "Are you sure?"
Callie looked down and blushed. "Yes. I know I freaked out earlier but that was the needle." Then Callie looked at the doctor. "We are done with the needles right?"
The doctor nodded smiling. "Yes we are done with the needles."
"See mama I'm fine and like I said, mom should be here any minute, but if by any chance I need you, I promise I'll call for you." Callie said quietly.
Lena smiled. She knew Callie probably wouldn't call her, but she needed to talk to Monty and her secretary. When she goes to pick up the other kids, she's going to talk to Callie's teacher and see if he can help. "Ok honey, like I said I'll be right outside in the hallway." Lena walked out of her daughter's room and called her secretary.
"Anchor Beach Charter School, this is Angela how may I help you?"
"Angie? It's Lena."
"Lena! Hi! Hows are you all doing? Hows Callie?"
"We are all fine, and she's doing better. They are doing a physical right now so I was able to step out for a few minutes."
"Oh ok what can I do for you?"
"Well first I wanted to remind you that I'm picking up the kids early today. They all have a doctors appointment."
"Oh yes I have it written down right here. I already sent the message to all the corresponding teachers, and they have instructions to send the kids to your office."
"That's great. Um, I will be arriving a bit earlier than I had told you about tho. "
"Is everything ok? Do you need me to pull the rest of your kids earlier?"
"Oh no. No everything is fine. I just need to check in with one of Callie's teachers. And I also need a favor from you."
"Sure what do you need."
"I need the student file of Kylie Sanders pulled and I need to contact every teacher of every class that she shares with Callie. I would also like all the work she has turned in since her grades started to come up."
"Is there a problem?"
"According to Callie, Kylie has been bullying her into doing all of her school work."
"Callie said that? Oh Dear! Why would Kylie do such a thing? And her mom is on the school board!"
"I don't know all the details. But I want to talk to their teachers and find out what's going on."
"Yes, of course I'll get right on that. Like around what time do you plan on stopping by? So I can make sure to get all the papers ready and notify the teachers."
"Um... around two I think. The kids have their appointment at 3:30 so we have to be out of there by 3pm."
"Ok that's no problem. I can have all the info ready for you when you get here. I can't believe the students here are resorting to bullying to pass a class."
"I know. I couldn't believe it when she told me. I thought for sure that if something like this would happen that my kids would come to me. Or at least a teacher they trust."
"Some kids think that they can handle everything on their own, or they are embarrassed about the bullying to talk about it."
"Yes I know but I thought we had gotten past that with Callie. She's been doing so much better and her grades are still excellent, even with the extra workload."
"Really? So even doing her work and Kylie's she still has good grades? That's impressive."
"Yes it is." Lena then saw her wife coming down the hall with a paper bag. Stef pointed to the room and silently asked if everything was ok. "Hold on Angie." Lena put down the phone and covered the speaker. "Leslie is doing the physical. I'm just making sure the others will be waiting in my office when I go pick then up. She's a lot calmer now though. But she's really hungry."
Stef nodded her head and entered the room. Lena went back to her phone call with the secretary. "Sorry about that Angie. "
"It's ok. Don't worry about it. I'm going to let you get back to Callie. Don't worry I'll have the kids ready and all the paperwork you requested on your desk by the time you get here."
"Thank you so much Angie. I will see you in a little bit. Bye"
"Bye"
Lena ended the call and made her way back into Callie's room. "Hey how is everything going in here?"
"We are just about done here." Leslie said while picking up all of her tools. Callie was in her bed eating her snack that Stef had gotten for her. "Everything looks good. The medicine seems to be working, her rash is starting to go down. She still has a bit of a fever and her blood pressure is still a bit on the high side, but that could just be the anxiety."
Lena nodded and walked over to her daughters bedside. She looked like she was calmer and when she looked at Callie she did notice that the rash did look a bit better. She wasn't sure if it was the snack or if the meds were finally starting to make her look like she was feeling better. She was just sitting there snacking and talking to her mom. " Hey honey, how are you feeling?" Lena asked as she made her way to Callie's bed. She reached out and tucked some hair behind the girls ear.
I feel better. Not as tired or hot. And the itch has calmed down. Plus mom got me a doughnut from the cafeteria!
"Stef! Realy, a doughnut? What if it made her sick or something? We don't know if she's allergic to anything they use here to cook! Plus, I was about to say that I'm going to go so I can get her lunch and bring back the kids for their appointments."
"It's ok mama. I've eaten doughnuts before. Plus she did just get me a sugar covered one. Nothing fancy." Callie said chuckling while she ate her doughnut.
"Yeah mama, let the sick kid eat her doughnut!" Stef retorted. She was trying to hold her laughter. She knew that right at this moment there was nothing she wouldn't give their daughter.
"Fine, but you better finish the soup and sandwich i'm going to bring you later. The whole thing! And try and rest while I'm gone, please." Lena said bending down to kiss Callie's cheek.
"I Promise. I'll eat everything you bring me including the ice cream!" Callie said with a little glint in her eye.
Lena looked at her wide eyed. She was hoping that with the physical and the doughnut she had forgotten about the ice cream. She just smiled and said her goodbyes, not sure if it was a good idea leaving Callie and Stef alone in the hospital.