Callie went to sit in the breakfast nook, she didn't know what else to do - she wanted to be out of sight but she didn't want to go back upstairs either because she wanted to know what was happening. She knew that once Mariana told the boys what had happened they'd be mad at her too and probably no one would come to tell her what was going on so she just decided to sit and watch.
Lena was too worried to really deal with Callie so she just left her alone. She knew that she should get her to eat something but she didn't really have it in her and so she began to prepare what to say to the children when they got downstairs, but first she turned her attention back to Mike who was just hanging up the phone.
"She's not in any hospital in San Diego or the surrounding cities." Mike said, hanging up the call. "Only three woman came in with no I.D. but none of them matched Stef. Only one was blond but she had short hair and blue eyes, the other two were dark haired women."
"What happens if she's brought in later?" Lena asked. "Will you have to call them all again?"
"They have to report any Jane Doe's to the police so they'll look out of her and call the precinct if they match the description." Mike explained. "But I'll call again in a few hours just to make sure."
"God, where could she be?" Lena asked, more to herself than to Mike, knowing that even he didn't have that answer.
"How angry was she?" Mike asked. It wasn't like Stef to just disappear like this but he still hoped that it was just anger keeping her away and nothing else.
"I don't think I've ever seen her more angry." Lena admitted. "And she was so stressed out and worried about Callie that I think it just got too much for her." She said, not really caring that Callie could hear every word.
"I'm hoping she really did just need a day to herself and nothing happened to her but this isn't like her - she never just disappears." Mike voiced his thoughts.
Mariana returned with the boys and all four of them looked worried.
"I'm going to drive around and see if I can spot her car." Mike said, deciding to give Lena a little while alone with her children. "Call me if you hear anything or if you need anything."
"Thanks Mike." Lena said gratefully.
"I'll pick up some lunch too." Mike offered. "Don't worry about cooking."
Lena smiled gratefully though she wondered if cooking would actually help take her mind of her missing wife. Though she knew that she really wasn't thinking straight and would probably burn their meal.
"Where's mom?" Brandon asked as he watched his dad leave.
"We're not sure guys." Lena answered. "We're trying to find out."
"Why would she just leave?" Jesus asked. He knew that they were having a hard time with Callie but it wasn't like their mom to just disappear.
"She was angry." Lena answered. "She needed some time to cool off."
The moment she said the words all eyes turned to Callie to glare at her. They knew that she was the reason that Stef was angry and missing though none of them said a word.
"Mom was angry with me." Lena said, drawing her children's attention back. "I upset her." It was her lack of support that got Stef so angry to begin with so it wasn't fair to lay all the blame on Callie and besides she wasn't sure when Callie would start acting out again and become defiant and she didn't want to rock the boat.
"Can we go help look for her?" Jesus asked, feeling agitated just standing there doing nothing.
"I don't think you guys should be out." Lena said, knowing that her children were worried and not thinking straight.
"We'll be fine mom." Mariana added. "We'll stay together and just walk around and see if we can find her."
Lena thought about it for a moment but she could see the desperation on her children's faces. "Alright." She finally said, but stay together and call me and answer when I call you."
"We will mom." Jesus said, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek and bolting up the stairs to get changed, followed by his older brother and twin.
"You going with them baby?" Lena asked when she noticed that Jude hadn't left the kitchen yet.
"I thought maybe I could stay here with you." Jude asked timidly, he hoped that he could convince his sister to stop causing trouble by staying with her but he didn't want to say that out loud.
"Of course you can." Lena said, giving him a quick hug. "Go on up and get changed and I'll make you some breakfast."
"I can just have some cereal." Jude offered. "You don't need to make anything fancy."
"Cereal it is." Lena said, pulling the options down off the fridge. "Tell your brothers and sister they need to eat before they leave too please."
"Okay." Came Jude's voice as he disappeared up the stairs himself.
With no other children downstairs, Lena turned her attention to the one still left with her. She could see the fear in Callie's eyes even though Callie tried to look indifferent. The moment Callie noticed Lena watching her she became engrossed in her phone, avoiding eye-contact as much as possible.
Lena sighed, wondering what to do. Should she go to the girl and try to talk to her or just leave her alone since she was just sitting and not doing anything she wasn't supposed to. She decided to just leave Callie for a while longer, at least until the other kids were out of the house. She didn't want to make things worse.
Instead, Lena busied herself getting bowls and spoons for everyone and taking the milk out of the fridge so that her other four children ate. She also pulled out Jesus' pill and set it on the table, she didn't want him to forget it in his haste to leave.
The kids all came down and were stuffing their faces as fast as they could with cereal. Lena had put out a bowl for Callie as well but she didn't say anything to the girl - just left the bowl and spoon in her usual place, hoping that Callie would come on her own to eat.
She should have knowing that that was just wishful thinking for Callie never moved an inch from her place in the corner nor did she say a word.
Just as the kids were taking their bowls to the sink the phone began to ring and the whole kitchen went still as they all watched Lena grab the phone and answer it.
"Hello." They heard her say and all hoped to see her face fill with relief but instead in filled with despair. "Hello Captain, no we haven't heard from her yet." She said, indicating that it was not Stef.
The kids listened to her part of the conversation, gathering that even the police were looking out for their mom but hadn't had any luck so far.
"Mike's driving around and the kids are going to look around as well." Lena said into the phone. "Yes that would definitely help, thank you."
Lena hung up and turned to her children. "The captain is sending two officers to drive around with you." Lena said and the relief was evident in her voice. She was obviously not too happy with sending her children out alone at this time and this offer was a compromise she could live with. Mom's old partner Vasquez and his new partner Morris are stopping by and then you're all going together.
All three kids knew not to argue with their mom and they themselves felt a little more relaxed knowing that others were out looking for her as well.
It was just before lunch and the kids still hadn't gotten back but they called Lena constantly and texted her to tell them where they were at all times. Officer Vasquez had bought them all hotdogs and insisted that they eat even though the kids just wanted to look around for their mom.
They had checked the beach, the hiking trails, the parks, anywhere they thought their mom might go to just clear her mind but they hadn't seen her or her car anywhere. Jesus even suggested checking their local pool since Stef enjoyed swimming but they all knew that if Stef did go for a swim it would have been in the ocean, not a pool. But they checked anyways just like they checked the mall and the skate park and the pier, all places they knew Stef wouldn't really go even to just clear her mind.
Back home Lena hadn't left the kitchen and neither had the other two kids. Jude was angry with Callie and while he didn't want her to be in any major trouble he still wished she hadn't caused all this chaos. He had filled her bowl with cereal and milk and taken it to her but he hadn't said a word as he put it down beside her and walked back to Lena. Neither Callie nor Lena said anything either as they looked at the bowl, untouched, even two hours later.
Mike came in the door around lunch time with a couple of pizzas and a salad for Lena. He knew that part of his job was to make sure she ate and took care of herself. The last thing anyone needed was for her to stress herself out so much that she makes herself sick or puts herself or the baby in danger.
"I'm going to pick Sharon up from the airport at two." Mike said as she pulled Lena to a chair and sat her down with the salad. "You need to eat." He instructed firmly, when she looked like she was about to protest.
"Thanks Mike." Lena said, picking up her fork and taking a bite of her grilled chicken Caesar salad.
"Don't worry about it Lena." Mike said kindly. He was just as worried about Stef as she was and he hoped that she was okay and came home soon so that he could kill her himself the first chance he got.
He instantly regretted his thoughts when his phone rang and he answered to Mercy Hospital calling to say that a blonde woman with green eyes had been brought in with no I.D.