So this is kind of definitely short... But hopefully it's okay? Yeah...no.. Okay. Reviewers/favouriters/followers are appreciated... And worshipped. Every day. I will make you a shrine... Or a temple... But not both, that's too much effort :) Seriously though, to my new reviewers, thank you, THANK YOOOOOOU for the new reviews. Like, yay!

NOTE: So I wrote this chapter, and not only was it ridiculously short, but it stunk. Like seriously. It was rubbish... So I used my four hour car journey to Wales to rewrite it... sort of. I'm not sure if this is better, but hopefully it should be... So please review/follow/fave...please? :)

DISCLAIMER: I'm sitting in this random chair, owning nothing... like always...

CHAPTER TEN

"Bill?"

Lena leant against the doorframe, neither inviting her old friend into the house, nor blocking his entrance.

"Bill, what are you doing here?"

The case worker wore a grim expression, his eyes sending her a silent apology.

Lena visibly flinched and she shook her head. "No, no, Bill, you can't!"

Bill sighed, "Lena," he said, "I'm sorry, if it were up to me..." He sighed once more and ran a hand through his receeding hairline.

"But can't you just -"

"No." A sharp voice cut off Lena's plee. Looking past Bill, she noticed a newcomer had arrived, her black one piece suit as crisp and sharp as her tone. "He can't. It's his job." She rose an eyebrow, daring Lena to disagree.

"Elaine." Lena nodded at the woman. "I'd say it's a pleasure to see you again, but it's not." Her usually calm and friendly voice was full of anger and hostility, as she glared daggers at the newcomer.

"Well with all due respect, Ms Foster-Adams, I don't care." Elaine returned the look with equal levels of hatred. "Now if Callie Jacobs could come with us, we can get going." She turned and gestured to the car parked by the pavement, waiting to leave.

"No."

"Excuse me?" Elaine asked incredulously, turning back to face Her.

"I said 'no'." Lena drew herself to her full height, "I'm not giving my daughter to the woman who last time placed her in a house where she was locked in her room."

Elaine glowered at her. "Firstly," she said, "I was not aware that Helen locked the door at the time, and therefore cannot be held responsible for that...incident. Secondly, callie Jacobs is not your daughter - she's Robert's. And considering that, he should be able to live with his daughter - particularly as he's suitable and approved by the CPA." She shot Lena a sarcastic smile,"Now could you please get Callie Jacobs, I don't want to ask again."

She turned and walked back to her car, waiting for Lena to oblige.

...

No. No. I don't... I'm not going with you." Callie shook her head desperately as the man in front of her stood by the door, leaning slightly against the doorframe as he waited for her. "Please."

For his part, Bill tried to look apologetic, but he didn't bother helping her.

"I'm sorry," he said, "but until the Judge decides you're to live with the Fosters... There's nothing that I can do about it, and believe me I've tried." He shrugged and shot her a small smile. She glared at him.

"Try harder."

She wasn't going to make it easy on him, not when it turned out that she'd been yelling at Stef and Lena for no reason, not when they were prepared to fight. She glared at him.

Bill let out a weak chuckle. "Sure, after you've came with me." He put a hand on the small of her back and gently pushed her from the house towards the car, shooting an apologetic look at the two women who stood by the stairs, one of them teary-eyed and the other stone-faced.

"I'll call you when I know more about what's going to happen, but it could be a few days."

A few days?!

Callie stiffened and stopped moving. She turned to talk to her social worker, but kept her eyes fixed on her... foster-moms. Or not... If Robert gets his way...

"What about Jude?"

The three adults shared looks of confusion.

"Honey," Lena said gently, "Jude's adopted. He'll stay with us. He'll be fine." Step nodded her agreement. Callie sighed.

"Yeah, I know that." She rolled her eyes, unable to stop the attitude that was leaking into he voice. "I meant saying goodbye. He's a school right now..." She bit her lip as the adults shared a different look. The sort that only ever meant bad news.

"I can say goodbye, right?" Panic began to rise as no one answered her.

"No." She whispered, before raising her voice. "No." She stamped her foot, fully aware that she was acting like a baby. "I'm not going. I'm not. I need to see Jude first."

Lena shot a sympathetic look. "Callie-" she began.

"NO!" She was yelling now, angry tears in her eyes, and her face slightly flushed. "You can't make me! You can't!"

Her voice broke at the end and she fell to the ground sobbing.

Stef watched the girl, wanting nothing more than to pull he into a tight hug and never let. She knew what her daughter needed to hear, but she couldn't say it. Because she'd be lying. Robert Quinn's letter made it very clear - if he got custodial rights over Callie she'd never see them again. Not Stef, Lena, Brandon or the Twins. Not even her brother.

If Robert got his way, Callie might never get the chance to tell her brother goodbye.