Stella filled a glass of water, lost in thought when a gentle hand on her shoulder pulled her out of it. Stella closed her eyes.
"Hey," came his husky yet gentle voice, he squeezed her shoulder and she could feel him hovering behind her, "You okay?"
Stella leaned into the lieutenant, giving him the okay to wrap his strong arm across her chest, pulling her in closer as the scruff of his beard pressed against the side of her face. The glass in her hand shook ever so slightly and he reached around and took it from her as she turned into him burying her face in the crook of his neck. His arms closed around her and they stayed like that for a beat before she pulled back. She retrieved the glass of water from his hand and cupped his face with the other one.
"Honestly?" She shook her head ever so slightly, " I don't know." She swallowed the lump in her throat and Kelly could tell it was taking all she had for the normally fierce firefighter to hold it together.
"Whatever you need," Kelly told her as he watched Stella run a hand over her head, unsure really of what it was that she needed as a million thoughts swirled in her mind. "I'm here for you.
Stella let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding, and took him in, somehow, him saying that, him standing his ground when she needed him made everything a little bit better, "Thank you."
"You should take her home and get her settled, then, maybe we can grab dinner when I'm done shift." Kelly suggested.
"There's still two more hours left of shift," Kidd responded in a detached tone that scared the shit out of Kelly as her gaze fell towards the hall.
Kelly forced a smile for her, "The chief will understand."
"Okay," Stella nodded, but she looked worried, "Okay."
"Hey, were going to figure this out okay." Kelly told her, and in that moment, she thought she might love him.
***
Stella returned to her bunk where Dawson and Brett were sitting with Maya. "Hey," Stella called softly as she approached, "brought you some water." She offered the glass to Maya who accepted it with a small 'thank you.'
Stella shoved her hands deep into her CFD jacket, "We're gonna head out," she told her friends, "Chief cleared it. Thanks for helpin out, I really appreciate it."
Gabby and Sylvie stood, "Course," Gabby told her as she looked at her friend with concern.
"It was nice meeting you Maya," Sylvie offered the teen.
"Maya," Stella chastised gently when the teen failed to speak up, "Sylvie's talking to ya, come on."
"Oh it's okay-" Sylvie began.
The young girl tore her gaze from her water and swallowed the lump in her throat and forced a smile, looking carefully between Sylvie and Gabby, "You too. Thank you."
"If you need anything you just give us a call or come by okay?" Gabby told the teen who nodded before she looked eyes with her friend, "Both of you."
We're here if you need us," Sylvie added looking between the pair.
Stella nodded, "Thanks you guys."
***
Stella pushed open the front door while balancing a bag of groceries on one hip, "Here it is," she said as she walked in and set the bag on the counter, "Home sweet home."
Maya nodded as she looked around taking in the new space.
"You can stay in my room, I'll make up the bed. That sound okay to you?"
"Where will you sleep?" Maya asked quietly as she peaked out the window to the streets below.
"I'll stay on the couch." Stella replied without a second thought, "You hungry?" Maya nodded shyly. "Okay, so why don't you go get changed, I can get you some fresh clothes."
"Okay," Maya replied, her voice was barely above a whisper as she followed her sister into the bedroom.
Stella rummaged through some boxes, "Still movin' in," she explained as she pulled out a pair of yoga pants and a t-shirt from one of the nearby boxes and handed them to her sister.
Maya fiddles with the seam of the shirt, anxiety washing over her as she eyed the short sleeves carefully, "Do you um, have anything warmer?"
Stella frowned, taking in the younger girl, but gave in after a beat, "Sure," she replied, returning to the box to retrieve a long sleeved shirt.
"Thanks," Maya replied taking the shirt from her sister, her anxiety giving way ever so slightly.
"There are lots of blankets too if you get cold," Stella forced a reassuring smile for her sister, even though she very much doubted that the teens biggest concern was staying warm. After a beat she placed the clothes on the bed, "Get changed," she instructed gently, "I'll whip us up something to eat."
Stella began rummaging through the freezer, tossing a few mini pizzas, samosas, and cheese sticks on a platter absentmindedly. She wasn't really hungry but Maya was so thin it scared her.
After a few minutes, the teen emerged from the room, and Stella looked up from the platter. Her shirt was a bit big on Maya but watch as the girl still pulled uncomfortably at the sleeves. Stella cold see the black and purple bruises that were starting to show around her collar bone and her stomach did a somersault.
Maya could feel Stella's eyes on her and she pulled her hair around so it fell over her chest but she wasn't quick enough as the older woman began to close the space between them. Maya instinctively took a step back and Stella slowed her walk, raising her hands defensively, "Maya," she tried to stop the quiver in her voice but couldn't, "I'm not gonna hurt you. I would never hurt you."
Maya shook her head and snaked her arms around her small frame, taking another step back as she fixed her gaze on the floor.
"Come on now," Stella attempted another step forward, "I need to take a look at those bruises. I need to make sure you're not hurt."
Maya's breathing became labored as she fought the instinct to run but instead she squinted her eyes closed a moment before looking up at her sister and nodding, "Okay," she whispered.
"Okay," Stella breathed in relief as she quickly closed the gap between them. She gentle brushed Maya's curls behind her shoulder as she inspected her collar bone, "It doesn't look broken," she concluded after a minute before tilting Maya's chin up to force her to look her in the eye. "Maya are there more bruises?"
The teenager started to cry and Stella frowned, "Come on," she said guiding her back to the bedroom and sitting them both down on the end of the bed, "I need to take a look." Stella told Maya seriously. "Can you let me see?"
Maya looked away from her sister as the tears cascaded down her cheeks as she struggled to remove the shirt. Pain cracked through her ribs but Stella waited for her to do it herself. Once she finally removed the shirt, Stella could see the full extent of the damage, the young girls torso was lined with black and blue bruises and a few angry red scars. Stella covered her mouth with her hand as she stood and turned away, and tried not to be sick.
It wasn't until she could hear Maya start to cry that she turned around and realized what she had done, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," Stella sank back down onto the bed and wrapped her arms around Maya, cupping her face as she held her tight.