Author's Note: *slips in* hi... I know it's been a while, but I'm not going to explain why I haven't been here because it's so much it'll just take up time. This chapter is dedicated to Mira and those who have nicely let me know that I need to get back to this. So here ya go. c:
Disclaimer: I own no one except Callie & her brother and Dr. Caroline Winters (:
Chapter Two
The ride to the hospital had been uneventful. Callie had clung to Maura the whole way there and despite her coaxing; she was unable to get anything out of her. When they arrived, the baby was taken up to the NICU and Callie was admitted to a room in PEDs. She needed to be examined but the little girl had yet to allow anyone to take her away from Maura's arms. Any time a nurse tried to touch her, she would hug the ME tighter and cry out.
Finally, the nurse sighed after many attempts at trying to coax and sooth the young girl. "Well, I've gotten as much verbal information as I can from you. I suppose I'll just let Dr. Winters handle it, then. She'll be with you in a moment." The woman said with a sad smile as she hung the chart on a hook on the door before she left.
Jane looked on helplessly at Maura who was jiggling slightly and rubbing Callie's back. "I'm gonna go talk to the cop who came in and call a friend of mine in Social Services." She said quietly. "Call me if you need me?" She kissed her girlfriend on the cheek and slipped out the door. Maura nodded and continued talking quietly to the little girl.
A few moments later, a gentle knock sounded before a young woman entered. She looked no older than 30, maybe a little younger but she was smiling and exuded a sense of calmness. She was tall and brunette with calm brown eyes and a set of dimples to go with her friendly smile. "Hi, my name is Dr. Winters." She said as she turned to pick up Callie's chart and go over it.
Maura tried her best to offer a smile as she introduced herself. "I'm Dr. Maura Isles, nice to meet you."
As Dr. Winter's eyes scanned Callie's chart, her smile dropped and a frown marred her pretty face. She quickly schooled her features however and put her smile back on as she looked at Callie still clinging to Maura like a lifeline. She approached Maura and looked the older woman in the eye, silently asking for approval to try and coax the little girl to open up. Maura gave a subtle nod.
"Callie," Dr. Winters started, moving behind Maura so she could try and look the little girl in the eye. "Can I talk to you? Please? I promise I won't hurt you. Do you like Dora The Explorer?" She asked, hoping to get some sort of response from the little girl.
Callie slowly removed her head from the crook of Maura's neck and looked up at Dr. Winters for the first time. Her eyes studied the doctor for a moment, taking in her white coat and the bright pink stethoscope hanging around her neck. Her right pocket held her name in blue cursive with a cute baby elephant sewn near it. Her stethoscope held a funny monkey near the end. Finally Callie nodded.
That had Dr. Winters smiling softly. "How about lollipops? I have lollipops and Dora The Explorer stickers in my pockets." She patted the her lab coat pocket and held the little girl's eye contact as Maura continued to rub her back. "I just need to make sure you're okay." She reasoned softly.
Dr. Winters watched as Callie whispered something in Maura's ear, her little arms reluctantly releasing Maura's neck as she finally leaned back.
A small smile appeared on Maura's face as she nodded. "Of course, Callie. I'm not going anywhere, and I promise I won't let anything happen to you." She said sincerely as she gently set the little girl on the bed.
Callie allowed the action but reached out for Maura's hand. Maura gently took the child's hand and held it throughout every procedure.
After almost an hour and numerous tests, Callie was dehydrated and malnourished and what was even more disturbing were some of the bruises that littered her pale little body.
Callie sat looking small in the hospital bed, a banana bag putting fluids back into her and looking a little more cleaned up but still greasy. Maura was sitting in a chair next to the bed, her fingers brushing gently against the little girl's arm as she rested her eyes.
Jane entered the hospital room quietly and took a moment to watch her girlfriend before she walked up behind her. "Hey," she started quietly, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder. "How's the kid?" She asked quietly.
Maura offered Jane a sad smile and spoke softly. "Exhausted and scared and-" She sighed as she thought back to the bruises she had noticed. "She was abused, Jane… She may have to stay here for a night or two while they get her electrolytes up and catalogue her injuries. Did you talk to the cops?"
"I did. And I talked to my friend in Social Services. She's taking on the case personally as a favor to me…" Jane said, knowing full well that Maura would want to keep tabs on the children. Maura gave her a grateful smile. "She's coming in a little later to talk to us and the kid—says she has the perfect emergency foster parents and-"
Callie suddenly sat up as if she had been listening in on the whole conversation and for all Jane knew, she might have. "No!" She cried, cutting the detective off and wrapping tiny fingers around Maura's arm. "No, I stay with doctor Mauwa!" The child was on the verge of a tantrum and with everything she had been through and the lack of sleep, Jane and Maura knew that they had to act quickly lest Callie get all worked up.
Maura looked at Jane wide-eyed, conflicted, a myriad of silent questions passing between them. "Jane, can't we just-"
"Maura it takes paperwork and background checks and weeks, possibly months to become foster parents…" Jane interrupted, brown eyes looking apologetic.
Callie's grip tightened and she started to tremble. "No, no, no!" She repeated the word over and over like a mantra.
Maura's chest constricted painfully as she glanced down at the little girl and used her free hand to try and pry little fingers from their vice grip on her arm. "Jane, I promised her I would protect her and I intend to keep that promise. I'll call my lawyer and pull strings. I'll do whatever it takes. She's been through enough, moving her away from the only thing she seems to feel safe around can cause more damage to her psyche."
Before Maura could continue to rant on and spew out facts, Jane placed her hand gently on Maura's shoulder. "Okay, alright." She sighed, wondering if this had more to do with Maura already growing attached to the child. It wasn't that Jane didn't feel terrible for the little girl, of course she did—but she wasn't sure how well they would handle this. "Pull your strings and I'll—I'll pull some of my own." Jane watched as Maura let out an audible sigh of relief before smiling softly up at her.
"Thank you, Jane." Maura said, closing her eyes as Jane leaned down to press a light kiss to her girlfriend's forehead.
"I just hope we can handle this…" Jane gave Maura a gentle squeeze on her shoulder and turned to leave the room and do some string pulling of her own.
Maura watched Jane go before she turned her attention back to Callie who had tears in her eyes. "It's okay, you're coming home with Jane and I when you're better." Callie's grip finally loosened and she rubbed her eyes tiredly.
"My brover too?" The little girl asked after a moment.
Oh… Maura had almost forgotten about the tiny infant in the NICU. She visibly swallowed, knowing she had really dug herself a hole. She couldn't take the little girl and not take her brother. After a moment, Maura finally nodded. "Yes, your brother too. Now close your eyes and get some sleep, okay?"
Callie looked uncertain. What if Maura left her while she slept? She bit her lip and looked up at the doctor. "No leaving?" She finally asked.
Again Maura felt her heart constrict in her chest and emotion clog in her throat. "I promise, I'm not going anywhere." She assured, moving one hand to brush her fingertips across the tiny child's forehead. "I'll be here when you wake up." And she would. Maura didn't plan on leaving until Callie was coming home with them.
She watched as heavy lids finally closed and soon enough, Callie's breathing evened out. Another sigh escaped Maura's lips as she watched the little girl, so small and fragile. She could only wonder what Callie had gone through.
She also realized that soon, she and Jane would be taking care of this little person and her brother… The thought of it already made her anxious. She wasn't really maternal but something about this little girl kept her from really thinking logically. Maura knew Jane had only really agreed because they weren't able to fully discuss it with Callie in the room and probably to placate Maura. Still if Jane wasn't sure they could handle this than she wouldn't have agreed, right?
Perhaps Jane didn't possess the ability to say no to those sad little eyes as much as Maura. Either way, they were in for a lot. Maura took one last look at the little girl before she stood up and walked toward her purse to get her phone. She needed to start preparing and talk to her lawyer.
Re-taking her seat, phone in hand, she began to type up an email, pausing to think what she was getting her and Jane into.
They could do this, couldn't they?