"That child was so afraid." Lena still had trouble believing it. "All because he broke some glassware." It was almost a question, she was trying to wrap her mind around it.

"I get the feeling they've been through worse." Stef said miserably.

"I know I brought Callie here and you weren't happy about it and after tonight I have my doubts as well." Lena admitted. "But listening to their conversation just now..." She trailed off, not sure what she wanted to say.

"I know what you mean." Stef said. "But I meant what I said. We're not sending these kids back into that system. There's no one they can trust. You heard her - she's warning her little brother to be careful around me."

Lena knew that the comment had upset Stef. She tried so hard to make things as safe as possible and she took her job very seriously. She remembered the day Stef had come home and told her about the twins. She had spoken so passionately about them that within two days they were applying for a licence to foster. Yesterday Stef had told Lena that they couldn't save them all - but she knew that deep down even Stef would try her best to do just that.

"It's not you." Lena assured her. "You barged into that house tonight and saved them all. She has to know that you're not like the others she's encountered before."

"It wasn't enough." Stef said. "And Brandon being in that house made it less important."

"What do you mean?" Lena asked.

"She'll think I came there only because of Brandon." Stef explained. "She wouldn't believed that I would have gone even if Brandon had been no where near them."

Lena nodded as she understood what Stef meant.

"I can't believe I'm actually saying this but I'm so glad that B followed her there." Stef said causing Lena to raise an eyebrow. "If he hadn't been with her I wouldn't have known where to find her."

"That's true." Lena admitted. "But still, seeing the two of you in that house with guns pointed at you..." Lena trailed off, once again unable to finish her sentence.

"I know Love." Stef hugged Lena, knowing how much her wife hated the reality of her job. "Let's just get some sleep." She said as she flipped off the lights and pulled them both into bed.

The following morning was still tense. Jesus felt extremely guilty about leaving his skateboard lying around and Mariana was still thinking about Ana. Brandon was wondering what his parents would say about his taking off with Callie and the Jacob siblings - well there wasn't anything the Jacob siblings weren't worried about.

Once everyone was sitting down to breakfast Jesus caught everyone's attention when he said "Jude, I'm really sorry that I left my skateboard lying around and that you got hurt because of it."

Jude just stared at him wide-eyed. No one had ever apologised to him before. At least not really meaning it. "It's okay." He said in a soft voice.

"That was very nice of you Jesus." Lena said. She decided to use this as an excuse to show Callie and Jude that they were safe in this house. "We all make mistakes sometimes. The important thing is that we learn from them. Jesus you've learned not to leave that thing lying around right?" She questioned him to show Jude that she wouldn't hurt them just because they made a mistake.

"Definitely." Jesus said.

Normally Lena would have confiscated Jesus' skateboard for a while as punishment but Jude still looked so afraid that she felt it might be best to avoid the whole concept all together. She would have a talk with Jesus later about why he wasn't getting a punishment.

Satisfied, they all went back to general conversation as they ate breakfast and Stef and Lena watched as Callie looked after Jude. They noticed how he never put anything on his own plate. Callie always did it for him. He took big bites and barely chewed them before he swallowed. Callie was much the same although the amount of food she put in her own plate was much less than that of her brother. Stef eyed Lena as they both silently communicated that they needed to have a talk with the siblings.

Lena set about getting the kids lunches packed. She decided to give each kid an extra sandwich hoping that Callie and Jude would have enough to eat. "You guys have to be out the door in ten, Stef and I have a meeting with Bill." There was no reaction of the new-comers, they had been expecting this. The reaction came when Lena made her next statement. "And then I'm going to take Jude with me later to school so I can show him around."

At that comment Jude set down his cutlery and stopped eating as Callie met Lena's gaze with worried eyes.

"He'll be okay. I promise." Lena said gently. "I'm not gonna let them split you two up again okay."

After a moment Callie nodded her agreement but it was clear that she wasn't completely convinced.

Callie reluctantly left for school with the other older kids but not before telling Jude to be good and promising him that she will come back to him no matter what happened. Jude held on to his sister tight until she really had to leave.

Once they were finally gone Jude just stood in the kitchen staring at the women as she put the breakfast things away. He didn't know what to do with his sister gone and he wished he could find a place to hide until she got back.

Stef could sense the boy's discomfort and decided to give him a break. "Jude, sweets," She said kindly, not wanting to scare him. "Why don't you go play in the back yard for a bit. Get some fresh air."

Jude looked at her for a moment before he took the opportunity to run out as fast as he could. Stef knew that he would be glad to have some space away from them.

"I just want to grab him and hug him for the rest of his life." Stef said as she watched him head for the tree.

Lena gave a small, sad laugh. "He'll probably die of fear if you did that."

Their conversation was interrupted by the doorbell indicating that Bill had arrived.

Callie wasn't having the best morning. While the other kids still stared at her like she had come from another planet, her concerns were solely about Jude. She hoped that her assessment of their foster parents was true and that Jude really was safe with them, to at least as safe as he could be. Between each class she walked by Lena's office to see if she had come in yet. Her presence meant nothing to Callie but what it did mean was that Jude was close by.

She went from class to class barely listening to anything that was being said and luckily none of the teachers seemed to mind too much or if they did, they didn't call her on it.

Finally between third and fourth period Callie passed by Lena's office and saw the woman talking to the school security guard. Her heart raced. She had to go see Jude. She had to see for herself that he was okay. She was about to leave when Lena came out of her office and saw her. She was about to say something when the PA system announced that all the high-school students had to wait by their lockers for inspection. Callie's heart sank at the realisation that she wouldn't be able to go find Jude immediately.

Lena knew exactly what the girl was thinking and reassured her that he was fine and that she had walked him to class herself.

Callie followed Lena as they joined the other kids at the lockers and they caught Mariana's gaze. Lena gave her a small smile and Callie was shocked that Lena hadn't noticed the obvious nervousness in the girls face. What was it like, she wondered, to trust someone so much that you never thought the worst.

Finally all the lockers and backpacks were checked and the students were free to leave. They were instructed to head back to class but Callie headed straight down the South corridor to find Jude. She saw him through a window sitting with some work. She tapped lightly on the window to get his attention. She waited as he spoke to the teacher, probably asking for permission to use the bathroom. Jude came out and smiled at her.

"Hey you okay?" She asked and he nodded.

"Learning anything?" She smiled.

"Yeah." Jude said as he smiled back.

"Did you see Bill?" Callie enquired.

"Yeah." Jude said.

"Did he say anything?" Callie asked, desperate to know what was to happen to them."

"Like what?" Jude asked. He had been outside for most of Bill's visit so he didn't know anything.

"Like anything?" Callie prodded.

"He said 'Hi'. Why?" Just asked. Callie had to smile. Her brother was still so young and innocent.

"Just wondering." She smiled. Not wanted to burden him with the worry. "Get back in there, learn something." She instructed as she shoved him to the door.

Callie could now go back to her class. She would now be able to concentrate better. Jude had seemed fine and she couldn't help but relax a little. They were safe with this family, or however long they got to stay - they were safe.