"It wasn't so much what I said, but I was dismissive and unkind with my tone." Sam hung his head. He felt bad about talking to Callie like that, it wasn't her fault he was overtired, stressed and worried.

Spike glanced at Sam. He was looking pretty guilty. He hoped they caught up to Callie before she did anything to the painting. Although he couldn't imagine that Sam had said anything so horrible to her that she'd want to destroy it. Even though they were already going five over the speed limit, he coaxed his car to go a little faster.

Suddenly, Sam saw her on the sidewalk. "Spike! There she is!" He pointed and Spike brought them to an abrupt halt.

There weren't any parking spaces readily available so he said, "go talk to her, I'll find somewhere to park." He pointed with his chin towards Callie who was walking down the street wiping her eyes.

Sam jumped out and ran to Callie, stopping in front of her. "Callie."

Callie jumped and quickly wiped her eyes. She had been in her own world and didn't see or hear Sam coming. She looked at him and then looked down. "Oh. Hey."

"Callie, I'm glad I found you. What did you do with the painting?" Sam looked at her expectantly.

"It's…" She wasn't sure she wanted to tell him about the exhibit after the way he talked to her today. She sniffed.

He tipped his head down and saw that her eyes and cheeks were red. "Oh no. You didn't destroy it did you?"

"What do you care?" She wiped her face with her sleeve, her tone indignant.

Now he felt worse. He'd really hurt her feelings. "Oh Callie." He wasn't sure if he should, but he put a hand on her shoulder. She yanked away and started walking. "Of course I care." He walked after her and caught up. "Please. We need to talk."

She stopped and looked at him. After a moment she looked away and nodded, fresh tears falling. She looked around for a place where they could sit. There really wasn't anywhere she could see.

Sam looked around and saw a bench about 25 feet up the street. He pointed to it and they walked in silence until they reached the bench and sat down. Spike walked up to them and sat down shortly after they did. He was about to say something but Sam put up a finger.

"I'm really sorry about the way I talked to you this morning. I know it's not an excuse, but I was extremely tired." He took a breath but she looked at him with hurt in her eyes.

"You really hurt my feelings." She looked down.

"I know. I was really worried and angry and sad and upset about Jules being so sick and I took it out on you. I'm sorry." He studied her face which had become red and tears had started to form. He waited. Was she still upset about this morning or about something else like the painting.

"Can I go see Jules whenever I want?"

Surprise showed on his face. "What? Of course you can! Is that what you thought?"

She nodded. "I thought maybe I was bothering you and you wanted," she put up her hands and did the air quotes, "adult time."

Spike stifled a laugh.

"Callie, you could never bother me, or Jules." Sam shook his head.

"Or me." Spike added.

She looked at Spike then back at Sam. "I promise I won't be around every second. I just, well I was excited to actually have friends. I wanted to-" she looked away shyly.

Sam smiled warmly and put a hand on her shoulder. "You wanted to what?"

"Make sure you didn't go away." Her eyes filled. "People I love tend to go away."

"Aww honey." Sam pulled her into his chest and let her cry. He pulled back when she calmed and looked her in the eye. "First of all, you can be around as much as you want. Second of all, I'm really glad you think of us as friends.

Thirdly, we, and I mean the whole team, may not be around for ever, but we will be friends for as long as we all shall live. And you know, we may not get along all the time, but we talk, fix it and keep moving forward. Spike and I have had several arguments."

Spike smiled and nodded. "Yup. And I still love this knucklehead." Spike gave Sam a light punch in the arm over the back of the bench.

Sam laughed. Ok, now the tough questions. "So, I have a couple questions."

Callie took a breath and wiped her face. "Ok."

"Where is the painting? Were you crying when we saw you because of me?" He gave her a concerned look.

"At the museum and no." She answered matter-of-factly. She laughed at the confused looks on their faces. "My teacher told the curator of the art museum about my painting and he was very excited. Ms. Avera showed him the picture she took of it on her iPhone and he told her he wanted it for the art show tomorrow celebrating local artist."

Both of their faces dropped in surprise and excitement. Sam pulled her into a hug and patted her back. "Oh my god, I'm so proud of you." He gushed.

"Me too amazing girl." Spike gave her a hug when she turned to look at him. "You should be so proud of yourself!"

She smiled and shrugged humbly.

"What did your mom say? Can she go?" Sam asked excitedly. Wait until he tells everyone!

"Yeah. She has tomorrow off." Callie answered happily. "I was hoping you guys could come. I mean, you don't have to if you don't want to, but-" she stopped when Spike put a hand up.

"We're going." He smiled.

"Hell yeah." Sam exclaimed. "Oops. Sorry." He said when he realized he'd swore.

"Ain't no thang." Callie waved a hand.

Sam and Spike laughed.

Sam realized she hadn't answered his other question and asked again, "so why were you crying?"

"Oh." She hadn't wanted to answer that question. "Well, the curator said we have to dress up.."

"Don't worry about it." Sam looked at Spike and smiled conspiratorially at him. Spike took a second, then his face showed the light bulb coming on.

"But you don't have to buy me something. I have to look in my closet." Callie didn't want them to feel obligated to buy her stuff.

"What time does the show start?"

"1830, but-"

"I'll pick you up at your house at 1700." Sam said with finality.

"Ok." Callie said suspiciously. She looked at Sam. His eyes were still bloodshot and he had big circle under his eyes.

Sam saw her looking at him. He still looked and felt like crap. His stomach growled loudly.

"Whoa." Callie laughed. "When's the last time you fed that thing?"

"Right now." Spike stood and gave Sam a firm look. "You want to join us?"

"Sure." She stood. "I just need to let my mom know." Mom would still be sleeping, she thought. So anything would be better than ramen, again.

They walked the two blocks to her house and waited while she ran in and left a note. While she was gone, Sam grabbed his cell and made a call. "Perfect." He was saying when Callie reappeared. "Ok bye."

"What's perfect?" Callie asked.

Sam looked at her and said, "nothing nosy Nellie." They walked back to Spike's car discussing what they wanted for supper.

Spike and Sam both kept their promise to Greg. They didn't get back to the hospital until 2230. Sam was a little more rested, changed and clean shaven.

There wasn't any change to Jules' condition unfortunately. She was still sedated and on heavy antibiotics to fight the infection. Greg relayed that info to Sam and Spike and they told him about their talk with Callie. Greg smiled when he heard Sam's plan. "Perfect." He nodded.

They stayed while Sam sat with Jules before they left at midnight. It'd be a short night for them to get to workout at 0500, but for Sam it would be another nap he desperately needed.