Authors Note:

Hello everyone! Thank you so much for you reviews, messages, follows and favorites. I started writing this just for me and decided I might as well post it. You have all been so kind. I apologize in advance for any errors; if anyone would like to Beta please let me know. I also apologize for all of the cliff hangers; I'll try to keep them to a minimum. I am going to try and post every… other week but please don't hold me to it…life often interrupts the world of writing and reading. I am finding a third person narrative awkward so please forgive my style change. I am going to give alternating 1st POV as shot and see how it works out. Criticism is of course welcome.

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Lena, I need Lena. "I need to call my wife. She's out of town. She'll have questions." Stef finally gasps out.

"I understand. I'm sorry, but I need to get back. Someone will be back with an update for you shortly." With those parting words Dr. Eisa left the observation room.

"Stef…" Rita begins but is waved off.

"I need to go call my wife." Stef walks quickly away from Rita and hits recent calls on her cell. Soon she hears the ringing of the call connecting.

"Stef?" The sound of her lover's sleep filled and worried voice sends her spiraling off the ledge. The sounds of Stef's weeping was the only reply Lena received.

Lena

It is the dead of night when I hear my phone go off. It's my usual practice to turn the ringer off at night, but away from home and responsible for nearly thirty, seventh graders I have the volume turned high. My eyes are blinded by new blue light intruding into my once silent and dark tent. The ringtone leaves no question as to whom is calling me. Du-nah du-nah nah WONDER WOMAN! "Stef?"

If a middle of the night phone call isn't enough to get me worried the sound of my wife weeping surely is. My wife hardly ever cries openly and never with gut wrenching sobs. There is only one thing that could have created my normally very even tempered wife to such a strong show of emotions… I am fine so it must be one of the kids.

"Stef? Baby what wrong?" My voice is worried, demanding. When I receive no answer beyond her sobs I become down right demanding. I have to break through this spiral of grief. "Stephanie!" I hear shuffling and my heart is pounding with fear of what is coming when a new voice comes through the speaker.

"Lena, this is Rita. Stef is okay, just highly emotional right now." Rita begins.

"Rita?" I question. My panic isn't allowing me to think clearly.

"Lena, I don't know how to tell you this but there was an accident at Girls United. One of the girls overdosed and caught the house on fire. Callie…"

"No, Rita stop! Don't! Don't you dare tell me one of my babies…Callie can't be dead!" My voice is nothing more than a broken sob.

"No! No, Lena listen I'm sorry. Callie is alive. She's alive, but she is hurt." Rita rushes to push the total despair that was taking hold away from me. I felt like my heart had stopped for those few seconds and had only just begun beating again. As the blood began to move though my body once more tears made their way to my eyes. My baby is hurt? Badly enough that Stef is grieving? I am the emotional wreck when it comes to our kids. I cried harder than Jesus when he broke his arm learning to skateboard. Stef had to hold both Brandon's and my hands when he needed stitches after a tree climbing incident. I am in silent shock.

"Lena? Lena? Lena, are you okay?" I hear Rita's voice but can't seem to make a response. Her questioning my wellbeing is enough to bring Stef back however. I hear a bit more white noise and then my wife's voice there.

"Lena, honey, I am sorry. Please sweetheart, talk to me." I can tell Stef has been crying but her voice is coming through strong for me.

"Stef? What happened?" I ask desperate for information.

"There was a fire, and Callie tried to save Rita and Becca. She's still in surgery. I need you to come home. I can't… I can't do this by myself." Stef's pleas are breaking my heart. Stef and Callie have this unique bond. There are times I watch Callie and all I see is Stef. It's amazing she didn't give birth to her. Acquaintances she hasn't seen in a while have actually asked her on multiple occasions how they could forgotten she had twins and only remember Brandon.

"Stef Foster!" I watch my wife's eyes widen dramatically as she turns to face the chatterbox that challenged every skill she had as a young Training officer, Chloe Price.

"Price. How's is going." Stef asked warily.

"Oh you know me always happy for an adventure. I'm really loving the transfer; I am actually dating one of the guys there. I know a lot of people don't think dating the people you work with is a good idea, but I think it can be. I mean who knows you better than Lena right? Who do you trust more? Nobody right? I guess that the whole, "never truly leaving work behind thing" could be a problem, but it hasn't been for Dove and I yet. That's my boyfriend's name, Dove. Isn't it unique? I just love it, but anyways how are you?" Cloe says all of this in one breath. I'm not sure how she managed it to be honest.

Before Stef gets a chance to answer Brandon and Callie walk up wanting to let us know they are going across the street to the music store.

"Wow Brandon you've grown so much! How old are you now"

"Sixteen." He answers with a friendly smile.

She looks at Callie and pauses then turns to Stef her eyes look quickly between the two. I can't quite stop the grin that is staring to creep onto my face. I know she sees it, the uncanny likeness between them. Callie's arms cross as she raises and eyebrow to appraise the woman before her. Stef starts to introduce her. "This is Callie my other sixteen year old"

"I didn't know you had twins. How did I miss that? Not that you are all that expressive. I don't mean closed off. More like you just didn't like the emotional pow-wow thing."

Callie snorts at the comment and sends a smirk at Stef, who in turn gives her a love pat and a "quiet you."

"She is just like you!" Price suddenly squeals. "Oh how sweet a little Stef mini-me! Well, it was great seeing you again, but I've got to dash. The world waits for no one." With a cheerful wave and a bouncy turn the ball of energy that is Chloe Price is gone.

I turn back to my family and can't help but grin at two of my favorite girls, both of them with an identical expression of relief at the exuberant woman's departure. "Stef's mini-me...I like that"

…

Oh my sweet, brave, Callie girl. I don't have any problems imagining her running back into a burning building. Just the thought is enough to make me break down into tears again, but I know I have to keep it together. My wife is going to need me to be the strong one this time. Stef isn't able to compartmentalize well when it comes to Callie. I'm going to have to be strong for her and our other kids. Oh Jude, my sweet buddy. How am I supposed to tell him his sister is hurt, again?

"Stef, Jude and I are on our way. I'll call you when we get to the hospital. I love you." With my wife's "I love you too" ringing in my ears I leave my tent to find my youngest son. His tent is only a few feet away. He and his friend Conner look so peaceful. I hate having to wake him. I hate what I have to tell him even more. Kneeling beside him I gently rub his arm.

"Jude, sweetheart wake up; we need to go."