Author's Note: Here you guys go. (: Things are gonna start picking up soon in the story (I.E, who Callie's parents are ext). I know this wasn't the quickest update but it wasn't super duper late. I'm trying to keep a steady pace between updates. Also this one is longer. I didn't proof-read so any mistakes are my own.
Disclaimer: I own none of the characters you recognize.
Chapter Six
After Callie's nap, Jane and Maura settled down with her for a quiet dinner. Callie still seemed tired which wasn't a surprise to either of the women, as Callie had had a big first day. After Maura gave the little girl a bath and helped her pick out a pair of PJs(They were light blue with sheep all over them), she set Callie on the large guest bed.
Jane entered just as Maura was pushing the covers over the child's body, making sure she was snug.
Callie sighed a looked up at Maura. "I'm not tired," She mumbled through a yawn.
Maura chuckled and sat on the edge of the bed. "Sounds like you are to me."
Callie frowned, playing with the fabric of her comforter. "I'm a'scared." She admitted quietly, not meeting Maura's gaze.
"Of what, sweetheart?" Maura asked gently.
"Bad dweams."
Jane picked this moment to make presence known. "Hey, dimples, why don't I read you one of your new books?"
At this, Callie smiled a little and nodded shyly.
"Anything in particular?" Jane asked, browsing through the new children's books on the lowest shelf of Maura's bookcase. Callie shook her head. "Alright, we'll read one of my favorites." Jane's fingers brushed over the spines of the books before she picked one out.
Making her way toward the bed, she took a seat beside the little girl and let her look at the cover. "The Giving Tree." She glanced up at her girlfriend who smiled and nodded, encouraging her to keep going.
Jane smiled and opened the book to the first page, making it easy for the little girl to see the pictures. Clearing her throat comically, Jane began.
"Once there was a giving tree who loved a little boy. And every day the boy would come to play, swinging from the branches, sleeping in the shade, laughing all the summer's hours away. And so they love, oh, the tree was happy, oh, the tree was glad." Jane's voice was steady and soothing.
Even Maura found her eyes getting heavier with each page. She blinked and looked down to Callie who had been engrossed in the book in the beginning but as Jane finished the last of the book, Callie's breathing had evened out and she was sleeping.
"Oh, the tree was happy, oh, the tree was glad…"
Jane looked down at Callie as she slept. Quietly and carefully, she stood up and closed the book and set it on the shelf. Jane then held out her hand for Maura who was still perched on the side of the bed, studying Callie's soft features. "C'mon, Maur." Jane whispered.
Maura looked to her girlfriend and smiled when the honey blonde took her hand. Jane got the lights and left the door cracked before they headed down the hall to their bedroom.
Yawning, Jane collapsed onto the bed, exhausted from the day's events. Just as Maura was about to sit beside Jane, her cell went off.
Maura frowned and reached for her phone on the nightstand. "This is Dr. Isles,"
"Ms. Carter, hi." Maura said, looking down at Jane as she spoke. Jane sat up straight, uncertainty filling her.
Jane studied Maura's face for any sign of worry but there was none. "Okay. Thank you so much. We'll see you tomorrow morning, then. Have good night." Maura hung up the phone and set it back on the nightstand before she sat beside Jane and fell back into bed.
"Well?" Jane prompted when Maura didn't say anything.
Maura looked up at her girlfriend and smiled softly. "Callie's brother is doing well and the doctors say he can go into foster care. Wendy is bringing him by tomorrow and checking on Callie. Killing two birds with one stone I think is how she put it."
Jane fell back beside Maura and let out a sigh. "Shit." The detective brought a hand up to rub at her face tiredly before letting it run through her hair. "Maur, we aren't prepared for a baby…"
Maura reached out for Jane's hand and gave her a reassuring smile. "We'll be fine, Jane. I'll make some calls and request your mother's help."
Jane's eyes widened at the prospect of her mother coming over to help. "No, ya know what, on second thought, we can totally do this." Jane practically whined at Maura's raised eyebrow. "Maura, she's gonna drive us crazy with grandchildren questions and 'when are you two gonna give me grandbabies, what are you doing with these two?'" She parroted her mother, rolling her eyes.
Laughing, Maura slapped at her girlfriend's shoulder. "Oh, it'll be fine, Jane. You know this is right up her alleyway."
"Alley." Jane corrected.
"Whatever, the point is, these kids need help and we need a little help too. Just until we get them settled." Maura sat up and hovered gently over her girlfriend who was pouting.
Jane finally let out an annoyed huff and rolled her eyes. "Fine…" She grumbled but then smiled when Maura leaned down to kiss her slowly. "Hmmm," The brunette hummed into the kiss, eyes staying closed when Maura pulled back. "If I wasn't so tired…" She trailed off, licking her lips.
Maura chuckled and kissed the corner of Jane's mouth. "I know, love." She said. "Me too."
The two changed into their pajamas and settled in bed, Maura with a novel and Jane snuggled into Maura's side, allowing the ME to absently run her fingers through wild curls in between the turning of pages.
Soon they were both asleep, thankful that Callie seemed to sleep through the night.
However that didn't stop her from waking up at the asscrack of dawn.
Callie poked her head in the master bedroom, noting the two lumps under the blanket. She licked her lips and glanced down the still dark hallway, feeling like she was being watched. She had to make a decision. She knew if she stared at the darkness long enough, the shadowy people would start to appear and come after her, but she also was nervous about waking up Jane and Maura.
They let her sleep in their bed the other night and it was morning this time. Would they be angry? Callie glanced behind her anxiously before she practically raced into the room, little heart beating fast. She had a Sven plushie clutched in her hand. Slowly, she approached Maura's side of the bed, eyes traveling over her sleeping face.
Gently, Callie reached out and traced her tiny fingers over Maura's cheek until Maura's eyes fluttered open. She seemed confused at first but once her eyes focused on the little girl looking nervously at her, Maura sat up. "Callie? What's wrong, did you have a bad dream?" She whispered, voice still deep with sleep.
Callie shook her head gently. "The suns up." She stated quietly.
Maura reached over for her phone to check the time. It was 5:45 AM. She mentally groaned. "The sun isn't quite up, yet."
Callie looked sad and scared all at the same time. She glanced at the open door where the shadows were and then back at Maura, too afraid to ask the question she wanted to ask.
But Maura seemed to sense her internal struggle. "Would you like to come snuggle with Jane and I until the sun is fully awake?"
Little shoulders seemed to sag in relief. Callie nodded and climbed up into the bed as Maura scooted back some to allow the little girl some room.
Maura waited for Callie to get settled before she laid back down, smiling when the little girl practically snuggled herself into the curve of Maura's body. Gently, Maura allowed one arm to wrap around the little body and smiled even more when she heard Callie sigh contentedly, warm breath dancing across her neck.
Callie was asleep again within minutes and Maura relaxed, closing her eyes. Just as she was on the brink of sleep she felt Jane's warm body press against her back, playing big spoon to her little spoon. She smiled contently before drifting back to sleep.
Callie managed to sleep for another 3 hours before waking the pair shyly and asking if she could have breakfast.
Now after having finished her cereal, she was sitting in the middle of the floor, wrapped up in a light blue fuzzy blanket, watching Frozen.
Maura had suggested the little girl change from her pajamas but Jane told her it was Saturday and it was an unspoken rule that you stayed in your PJs watching cartoons(or a movie in Callie's case) until at least 11 AM.
Maura had conceded but Jane had to at least get dressed. The social worker was coming with the baby after all.
So Jane showered and dressed casually in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt while in true Maura fashion, wore something not-so-casual, a light blue dress.
It wasn't long before there was a knock on the door and an unusually anxious Maura answering it. "Ms. Carter, it's lovely to see you again." Maura said politely.
Jane came up behind her girlfriend and smiled. "Hey, Wendy. How are you?"
Wendy smiled and picked up the baby carrier that held the sleeping infant. "I'm well, how have been? I know it's only been a few days." The social worker said as she stepped inside.
"It's very clear that Callie was abused, however she's doing well considering." Maura answered, her eyes drifting down toward the sleeping baby boy.
Wendy seemed to remember the reason for her visit. "Ah, yes. I suppose you'd like to meet this little guy now that he isn't screaming." She set his carrier on the kitchen table and stepped back.
The little boy was dressed in the cliché blue onesie that hospitals give out, his tiny fists curled above his head as he slept. "He's healthy and doing well." Wendy said as Jane and Maura moved to get a closer look.
"What's his name?" Jane asked as she gently ran her index finger over a lightly colored pink cheek.
"Oh, he doesn't have one." Wendy said a little sadly.
Both Jane and Maura looked up to Wendy with a frown. "What?"
"Well, he's been in the hospital since you found him so no one has named him. Right now he's just Baby John Doe." The social worker explained. "But you are welcome to name him, of course. We still haven't figured out who their parents are… or were, or if they have any relatives. Once we figure that out, maybe we can get a last name for him." She offered, smiling sadly.
Jane and Maura looked at each other before looking back at the tiny little baby.
An awkward silence fell over them until it was broken by a small giggle from the den. A few moments later, little feet could be heard against the hard wood floor and suddenly Callie appeared, still wrapped up in her blanket and holding Sven. "Jane, are yous gonna come back and—" She stopped mid-step as she caught sight of Wendy.
Immediately Callie's entire demeanor changed and her face went white. Jane's eyes widened and she quickly knelt down to Callie's level. "Ms. Wendy was just dropping off your brother." She explained gently. "Come here, dimples."
Callie warily looked between Jane and Wendy before looking up at Maura who nodded reassuringly. Slowly, the little girl stepped into Jane's arms and allowed the detective to lift her up. Jane turned and pointed down to the sleeping baby. "See? He's all better." Callie nodded slowly and then reached out for Maura.
Maura frowned sadly and held out her arms for Jane to transfer Callie over. As soon as the little girl was perched onto her hip, she felt tiny arms wrap around her neck and a face burrow into her clavicle as best as it could. "You're not going anywhere, Callie. It's okay." Maura whispered.
Wendy gave a sympathetic look and sighed. "I don't want to cause anymore distress. Is there anything else you guys need?" Jane shook her head at the woman. "Okay, well I'll let you know if anything pops up on blood relatives. Call me if you need anything." And with that, Wendy turned to leave.
Callie's body didn't relax until she heard the door close. She picked her head up and looked down at the sleeping baby. "Brover looks better." She whispered quietly.
"Yes, he does." Jane said with a nod. "But he doesn't have a name. Think you could help us name him?"
Callie looked thoughtful as she played with a strand of Maura's hair. "I fink so." She nodded.
Maura smiled and set the little girl down. "Lovebug, why don't you go finish your movie and think about names while Jane and I get your brother settled."
"Okay." Callie said simply, though she still looked on edge as she slowly walked back into the den, blue blanket flowing behind her like a cape.
Jane sighed. "I guess we should call Ma before the little guy wakes up."
Maura nodded. "I'll make a list of needed supplies."
"Here we go…" Jane said, taking a steadying breath as she reached into her back pocket for her cell.
It was going to be a long day.