Lena

When we get home I send everyone to the kitchen to eat and get started on their homework while advising them to not make so much noise because Callie might still be sleeping. Jude immediately asks me if he can go see her and I promise him that I'll go see if she's awake and let him know. I go upstairs, heading for the girls' room but I'm stopped when I see Stef sitting in the middle of the hallway. Her knees are drawn up to her chest and her head is buried in her arms. I drop down next to her and put my hands on her shoulders.

"Stef?" I say quietly, "Stef, what's wrong?"

She looks up at me and I'm taken back by the tears swimming in her beautiful blue eyes.

"Baby?" I whisper, tears welling in my eyes just at the sight of the woman I love so much, crying.

Stef shakes her head, "Callie…she, oh God Lena. I can't…"

"Is she okay?" I ask, panic seizing me. Stef would have told me if she had gotten worse from this morning, wouldn't she?

Stef shakes her head again, "Lena, she told me she was raped."

My blood turns to ice at her words and my mouth drops open, "What?"

"Two years ago," Stef answers, wiping her eyes, "By her foster brother. I want to kill him, Lena. I want to fucking kill him."

I don't doubt her words for a minute.

I pull Stef into my arms and bring a hand up to tangle in her hair. I can feel the anger vibrating through her. I can also feel the sadness; the helplessness. Stef rarely if ever gets this upset. She continues to cry, which in turn makes me cry, and we just sit on the floor and hold each other.

"We need to report this to Bill," I tell her gently after some time has passed, "We need to get Callie the justice she deserves."

Stef nods and moves back and for the first time since I've talked to her, I notice a scratch on her neck about the length of a crayon. I gasp and gently prod it with my finger, "Stef, what happened to your neck?"

She brings up her fingers to cover mine, "Callie." My eyes widen, "No!" she says immediately, "It was an accident. She was having a nightmare. She thought I was that man…"

"Poor baby," I murmur. I stand up and help Stef stand up as well, "Is she still sleeping?"

Stef shrugs, "Maybe. I've been out here since I got her back to bed. I couldn't…" She shakes her head, "Let's check." She pushes our bedroom door open and walks inside. I follow. Callie is fast asleep in the middle of our bed. She looks a bit pale, but otherwise alright. As I get closer, I see that there are dry tear tracks on her cheeks.

Stef takes a seat on the bed and Callie must sense it because she rolls over, presses her face into Stef's thigh and lets out a little sigh.

"She doesn't deserve it," Stef whispers, running her hand down Callie's arm, "Any of it. She thought she was going to get in trouble for telling me, Lena. She thought it was her fault." She shakes her head, "This isn't right."

After some time Callie stirs and sits up, rubbing her eyes. She blinks a bit and looks at Stef before her gaze lands on me, "Jude?" she asks in a raspy voice. I smile, because of course that would be her first thought upon waking up.

"Downstairs," I answer, "In the kitchen. Are you feeling better, honey?"

She nods, "Yeah. Can I see Jude?"

"I'll bring him up to you," I say and head out of the room.

Jude

I peek into Stef and Lena's room. Callie is sitting on the bed and smiles as soon as she sees me. Stef and Lena are downstairs. They looked kind've sad and I'm not sure why. They tell me they're okay and so is Callie, but still. I walk over to the bed and climb on top so I can give Callie a hug.

"You're warm," I comment and she laughs.

"Yeah, Baby," she chuckles, "That's what happens when you have a fever. How was school?"

"Okay," I answer, "I missed you." I sit back so I can look at her better. My eyebrows come together as I look at her face.

"You were crying," I point out, "Why? What happened?"

Callie looks down at her hands and takes a deep breath, "I um…I told Stef about Liam."

My eyes widen. To this day, I'm not really sure what happened with the Olmsteads. One day we were fine and the next we were being moved to a new house. Callie wouldn't tell me the details; all she said was that Liam had hurt her and we couldn't stay with them anymore. She made me swear not to say anything to anyone because the consequences would be bad.

But she told Stef.

"What does that mean?" I ask nervously, "Do we have to leave?"

Callie shrugged, "I don't know, Jude. I might have to go to a group home―"

"No!"

Callie puts her hand on my shoulder, "Listen to me," she says, "It's going to be okay. I'll make sure you're safe, okay? I'll make sure Stef and Lena keep you here, where you're safe."

"But―"

She shakes her head, "I'll be fine wherever I end up. I can take care of myself."

"We can't be separated," I tell her, "We're a package deal. I'll go with you, I don't care."

She smiles and pulls me in for another hug. I feel her kiss my head, "I love you, Jude. More than anything. Let me talk to Stef first, okay?"

I nod and just let her hug me for a bit. There's a knock on the door and I see Stef holding a bottle of water and a thermometer. She doesn't look so sad anymore, but she doesn't look completely happy either.

"Hey, Jude," she says, "You should get started on your homework, buddy."

I look at Callie and she gives me a little nod, so I climb off the bed. Before I leave the room, I give her a look so that she remembers to talk to Stef and then leave for the kitchen.

Callie

"I just want to check your temperature again and see how you're doing," Stef explains as she turns the thermometer on. She holds my hair back and sticks it in my ear. There's a beep and she takes it out, "100.1, you're on the mend!" She puts the thermometer on her nightstand, "How are you doing?"

I shrug, "Okay. I um, I actually have a question for you. Well, it's more of a favor."

"Sure," Stef says, taking a seat next to me, "Anything."

"Will you make sure Jude is safe?" I ask, "Until you can find something permanent for him?"

Stef's eyebrows knit together, "Of course, Honey. We'll make sure both of you are safe―"

"No," I stop her, shaking my head, "I mean after I leave."

"I don't follow," Stef says slowly, and I can hear the confusion in her voice, "Why would you leave?"

"You know," I answer, "Because of Liam."

Stef takes a deep breath, "Do you…do you want to leave?"

I immediately shake my head, "No," I say, "Of course not. I just…you're probably going to tell Bill or someone and I'll get sent to a group home―"

"Hold on a minute," Stef interrupts and she takes one of my hands, "You're not going anywhere, Callie. You're staying right here and so is Jude."

I sigh at her naivety, "No, Stef. You don't get it: it's going to be marked in my file that I'm 'sexually volatile' and I'll be moved somewhere. That's how it goes."

"Callie…"

"Stef―"

"Listen to me, Love."

I stop arguing because she called me something she hasn't called me before.

Love.

It might have been an accident. Stef and Lena use a lot of pet names; they probably just come out automatically by now.

"You're not going anywhere," Stef repeats, squeezing my hand, "No matter what happens. I know it's scary and you haven't had the best luck with the system so far, but I promise you I will do everything in my power to make sure you stay with us. Jude, too. I know you've been failed in the past and I'm asking a lot of you right now, but I promise you I won't go down without a fight. I need you to take a chance on me."

I study her face for a long time. I give her the opportunity to take back what she's said; to tell me that she simply can't do that. But she doesn't. She just stares at me, eyes never leaving my face as she waits for me to answer her. She's so honest and kind and just overall amazing. Her eyes give me strength and her voice keeps me safe.

I reach over to wrap my arms around Stef and she wraps her arms around me as well. I rest my head on her shoulder and she starts stroking my hair and God this is what I've needed ever since my mom died. I needed someone to fight for me and take care of me and say that I mattered even just a little bit.

In this particular moment, I want nothing else in the world but for Stef to love me, because I love her.

"Okay," I finally whisper into her hair, "Okay."

Sorry I haven't updated in a while. Tis the season for graduation parties! They just won't stop. I leave for college August 24th and I feel like I have absolutely nothing for my dorm. I'm past panic and have entered the 'accepting my failure' stage.

Last night's episode was good! That Devonee girl or however you spell it pissed me the fuck off. I'm happy she left on her broomstick.

Thank you for all the support! :)

Please review!

-Liv