Chapter 15

"I don't understand the reason for this right now! You honestly come to the hospital while I'm trying to make sure my family is ok and question me! Like I...I don't get it". Stef was pacing back and forth in the waiting room. After the shooting at the school of course the Feds show up to question why she had to fire her gun. It was routine but highly inconvenient.

Stef couldn't stop replaying the scene of shots being fired and Lena and Mariana covered with blood and on the ground.

"Foster, we get that. It's unfortunate what your family has gone through today but we have to finish up these questions before we can let you go. A person died today and we can't take that lightly."

"Ok but it was a clean shot. A defensive shot at that. One that I had the go ahead for".

"What was the need for two shots?"

"He had a gun, inside a school let me remind you. The first shot he was about to kill someone and he wasn't backing down. I thought that first shot would have been enough to stop him. But then he fired his weapon and shot someone. With what was at stake, not shooting again would have been lethal. He was clearly still capable of hurting others so I fired again."

"At stake as in your girlfriend and your daughter. Both of whom, the targets of this whole thing."

"As in two civilians who happen to be connected to me. A woman and a child I might add. And one of which was shot as well and you are keeping me from checking on them."

"You see the problem is you didn't just shoot to stop him. Foster, you shot him in the head. It was personal, we all know there's no recovering from that shot".

Stef stopped walking and looked both of them in the face. "I was doing my job. And my next job is making sure that my family is ok"

…..

Lena was finally out of surgery and awake. She was just in a bit of pain. When Mason fell, she knew that his muscles would pull the trigger. And she knew that the gun would be just level with Mariana so she tried to shield her the best she could. Resulting in the bullet shooting right into her thigh. Luckily the bullet missed her artery but the fragments did spread shredding her muscle in that area. The surgeons were able to remove each fragment but walking is going to be difficult for her and she is going to need a bit of physical therapy.

Mariana also had to see a doctor just to make sure that she wasn't shot or hurt in anyway. But right after that Mariana and Mike were right there waiting for Lena to come back. Since that moment Mariana hasn't even thought of leaving Lena's bed. Lena tried talking to her, but she wouldn't say anything besides a couple simple yes and nos. She just laid there cuddling close quietly shedding tears watching the hospital tv.

Lena instantly knew that now more than ever they needed to bring Mariana to see a therapist. She has been through so much in her short life, and she just wanted her to be able to be herself.

Interrupting her thoughts, Stef came walking through the door; relief written all over her face. Seeing them both for the first time since they were taken away in the ambulance Stef wanted to cry but she knew she had to be strong.

She ran over and hugged both of her girls happy that they are alive and that everything would be ok.

"Where were you", Lena asked feeling more relaxed and safer than she realized.

"Feds… they just had questions about the shooting. But everything is going to be fine, love. No need to worry".

"Is he…"

"Yes". Stef said quietly.

Lena didn't want to say anything more. She knew that this way her first kill and she couldn't tell how she was feeling. She saw Stef looked to her wrapped up leg.

"The shot wasn't that bad. Maybe it was the adrenaline or something but it didn't hurt too much. The doctors said that it didn't hit and artery or anything major. I'll just have crutches or a cane. But it's nothing physical therapy wont fix".

"I am so sorry Lena. I was supposed to protect you. Both of you. I was supposed to make sure that he never did anything to you guys ever a again".

"But you did. You have always been there for us. You locked the school down. You came running to find us. He was going to kill me and you stopped that from happening. And as he was going down, he was going to keep shooting and he could have gotten our daughter, but you stopped that too".

Tears ran down Lena's face as Stef was there to kiss each one of them away, failing to hold back her own.

Stef looks over and notices how quiet Mariana is. "How are you doing Miss Thang?" Mariana shrugs her shoulders and leans on Lena a little more. "Come on, honey. Where's that voice of yours?"

Mariana gave a small smile and sat up a bit. "I'll be alright, Mom. Just a long day".

"How about we let Mama take a nap. We can go pick her up something better than this hospital food and get some clothes and things she might like from home".

Mariana worriedly looked to Lena. "Are you going to be ok Mama? If you are too afraid I can stay".

"Go with you mom baby. I know that you are safe now; I have nothing to be afraid of. I'm just going to sleep".

Mariana gave her a tight hug before jumping down from the bed and running over to grab Stef's hand.

…..

The sun and warm air were doing them both good. When they got home they showered and changed clothes. They got Lena some of her things seeing she may be in there for another day.

They were driving down blasting music with the windows down. Even if Stef could only lift her spirits for just a couple hours it would be worth it.

But still with all of the events of the day there was still something on Stef's mind.

They stopped at a burger place. They knew Lena wouldn't approve of the unhealthy food but today seemed like an exception. Stef orders loads of food and a couple of shakes. Mariana ran over to a little boy sitting by himself at one of the corner tables. Stef just assumed that it was someone from her school so brushed it off.

She looked down at the cashier's name tag, "Daphne, is Callie here today?" The young African American girl looked at Stef a bit confused and defensively. "No. She's on vacation".

"Do you know when her vacation will be over?" Stef asked.

"No. I don't. But your food will be up in a few minutes".

"Thank you", Stef said dropping it knowing that the young girl was obviously protecting Callie.

She walked over to the table seeing Mariana and the little boy talking. It seems as though she was helping him with his homework. But once she approached the table he stopped talking and looked up nervously.

"Hi, I'm Stef. I'm Mariana's mom. What's your name?"

The little boy looked from Mariana and back to Stef". Mariana just laughed. "She adopted me. Her and my other mom".

"You have two?" He whispered to Mariana surprised.

"Yeah! Pretty cool right".

Stef just smiled at her daughter and how proud she was to have two moms. Jude softly smiled, "Yeah. I'm Jude".

"Well Jude, my young friend, it's nice to meet you".

Suddenly, none other than Callie comes rushing over with fries and a shake for Jude. "Jude are you alright?"

Jude nods his head knowing that he wasn't supposed to be talking to strangers. So he just takes his shake and begins sucking it down.

Seeing them together it is clear to Stef that they are brother and sister. Then she begins to look a little closer at the both of them and notices even more. She can see that Callie now has fresh scratches and a couple of sores ready to turn into bruises. Then she looked to Jude and saw that he doesn't have any marks on his body. But his clothes are tattered and slightly oversized. They both look extremely exhausted.

"Hey can I talk to you for a second?" Stef says bringing Callie off to the side. Reluctant and with her guard up Callie follows her.

"Is everything ok at home with you two".

"Yes. Why wouldn't it be?"

"Well for starters it looks like you have been in a fight the past couple of times that I have seen you.

"I got into it a couple times at school is all".

"I thought you told me that you graduated already".

Stuck, Callie wasn't sure what else to say. "You can tell me if you need help. I am willing to help you. Here I can give you my number".

But realizing that she already changed out of her uniform she doesn't have any of her cards with her. Luckily Jude walks over and hands her his notebook. It was in that small gesture that Stef knew what the little boy was trying to say. They needed help. She wrote down her name, phone number, and address inside of the book.

"No matter what time of day or night, you can contact me". Stef was determined to help these kids. But right now she had to get back to Lena.

Once Stef and Mariana pulled away Callie quickly began to question Jude about what they said to him and what he said in reply. She asked if he told them anything about them. But he just shook his head looking straight at his stuff.

"But we should talk to her, Callie. She seems nice. Maybe she could help".

"No, Jude, she's a cop. I've seen her in here before. If she finds out then all she is going to do is call social services and they are probably going to have us moved to an even worse house again. Or worse we could be separated. I have this under control".

"No you don't Callie. You still have two more years until you turn 18. Do you really think that you can keep this up for that long? Remember, Bill said just because you turn 18 it doesn't mean that I can go with you. At least not right away. Callie, I'm scared".