So this is being written on my phone so I apologise in advance for any mistooks (jokes) in this... XD

And it's ridiculously short... again...

Also, I RE-EDITED THE PREVIOUS CHAPTER. (The last paragraph in particular). IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT, PARTS OF THIS ONE DON'T REALLY WORK.

As normal, all reviews/follows/faces are appreciated. :)

DISCLAIMER: I own aboutbas much as the man in the moon... Probably less, even.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Unlike the last time that Callie had gone missing, it wasn't long before both women calmed down and were actually able to think straight. Pulling up onto the sidewalk, Stef sighed and laid her head against the wheel, whilst Lena closed her eyes and leant back in the passenger's seat.

"Okay," Stef muttered. "Well I don't think that she was planning on running off - as stupid as Robert can sometimes seem, I doubt that he'd have drop her off with a bag of packed clothes and all her worldly possessions seems doubtful."

"Yeah." Lena agreed, and sighed. "But why wouldn't she tell Robert that she was suspended - Callie isn't that irresponsible."

Stef let out a dry, humourless laugh. "Irresponsible? No." She snorted, "But reckless and impulsive at times." She looked up at her wife and shot her a wry smile. "Well, that's Callie through and through."

Lena shook her head. "No, not as much, not anymore anyway. I mean, that we - you - haves helped with that. She's more likely to think now, before reacting or doing something. I'm sure she has her reasosn for not telling him."

"She did."

Both women jumped at the voice which came from the back of the car.

"What-?" Lena began, craning her neck to see the owner of the voice. Her mouth opened, shocked, when her sheepish looking son got out from under the car blanket in which he'd be hiding. "Jude?"

Stef turned and frowned at him, "What are you doing here bud?" She paused and raised her eyebrows. "And why aren't you wearing a seatbelt?"

The boy shrugged, but put it on at the look Stef gave him.

"Answering with words is a rule that applies to you too, bud."

"Sorry." He muttered, before sighing. "I'm sorry, but Callie is missing. You can punish me later for not wearing a seatbelt or for being here, I won't protest. I'll take any punishment - no video games and TV for a month, weeks of grounding, even you reverting the adoption or getting rid of me - I promise. But please, let me help you find Callie first, please?"

He was begging, he knew it. Still, he watched anxiously as Stef and Lena silently communicated with each other through their eyes.

"Okay." Lena was the one to break the silence that had fallen, "Okay, you can help. But you need to call the home and tell the others that you're here with us so that they don't worry. And you must promise that you'll always wear a seatbelt and never just sneak into a car - that's dangerous in so many different ways."

"Okat." He agreed.

"And," Stef quickly added as an additional thought, "I want you to know that though you will be punished, we would never try to get rid of you. Never - not ever - at all. We love you, Jude, and nothing you do could ever make us do that. You're stuck with us kiddo, got it?"

Jude nodded silently.

"Right," Lena said, "now if you just phone..." She trailed off and grabbed her wife's arm. "Stef, phone! Callie still has her phone - she's still got that tracking app on it, right? We can find her!"

Stef laughed, half from hysteria, half from relief. "Yes, Lena, you are brilliant!" She kissed her partner and hugged her tight. "We can find her, our baby."

Once they'd seperated, Stef turned on her phone and opened up the app. Her wide smile vanished and a frown took its place.

"What?" Lena quizzed her wife, confused. Her confusion grew as her wife didn't reply, but instead silently passed her her phone.

Jude watched as Lena's eyes also widened and concern crossed across her face.

"Moms?" He asked looking frOm one to the other. "Moms,what's wrong?"

They didn't answer him. Lena was sitting stiffly in the passenger seat, frozen with shock, whilst Stef was physically wilting in her chair, defeat and exhaustion coming off of her in waves.

"Stef?" Though this time he directed it at Stef, Lena ended up being the one to answer as she finally found her voice.

"What on earth is she doing at a police station?!"