Thanks for the feedback as always! I had been in 2 minds about whether Lena would be violent but I figured after her threatening Ana in Vigil all bets were off when it was a family attack. Anyhow, I wrote the exchange in here between Lena and Jesus inspired by a review of RL13436. It was pointed out in earlier chapters about how it was surprising Lena had not done more to protect Jesus earlier on. I was inclined to agree so wanted to put some acknowledgement in of that. Hopefully this ties all of that up (as well as the slightly out of character slap). Also thanks to who inspired the little Brandon/Callie heart to heart here. Sorry it's not also got anyone slapping Michelle but I have an inkling something along those lines maybe on the horizon in the next "episode"...
By the way, forgot to celebrate yesterday but: Season 2 pickup! Yippedydoodaaday! I have dreamed up (with some inspiration from my pal TheTBone) a little Jesus/Jude/Kasey/Evan/Moms mini-fic to celebrate which I will hopefully write in the next few weeks (Though I can't decide whether to post during the angst chapters of Black Widow as an antidote or wait until the story is over so I don't confuse people with the timeframes).
Anyhow, on with the show! Penultimate chapter of this "episode"
"Well look who it is - the hero of the hour!" Lena beamed at Callie who was sitting with Kasey and Stef in the kitchen. She had managed to compose herself on the way home. She was still buzzing with adrenaline and anger but had placed it aside with the thoughts of returning to her family.
"I saved you some dinner, babe." Stef said kissing her wife and dishing out some leftovers. "We'd have waited but I got tired of confiscating chips off Evan and Jesus."
Lena laughed a little. "Thank you. Just glad today is over. How's Brandon?" she had noticed him being very quiet but hadn't understood why as when she had told Michelle that afternoon she had seemed fine about it.
"Not sure, he was quite quiet I guess but most people were as Jesus wouldn't stop talking." Stef explained.
"What? You think he'll have a problem with it? I thought we established he hated Porter too?" Kasey commented.
"I know, love, but it still puts him in a difficult position." Stef said putting her hand on Kasey's back.
"Michelle seemed as happy as the rest of us - first thing we've ever agreed on." she remarked as Stef rubbed her back gently.
"Maybe I'll go talk to him." Callie offered. "check he's OK with it all. I am partly responsible after all."
"Hey you did a good thing. If anyone is responsible, it's Porter." Lena's voice dropped slightly and Stef picked up the vibe that she may not be as cool as she was letting on.
"I know. I'll still go talk to him though. Oh, by the way, we were gonna read through the play and test Jude later if anyone wants to join? The more the merrier!" She smiled looking at Lena before looking off.
"Hey, why didn't she look at me?" Stef moaned pretending to be offended.
"Maybe they don't want to be outdone by your dazzling talent for interpreting Shakespearean dialogue." Kasey quipped without even looking up. Stef rolled her eyes to Lena and her lack response or even acknowledgement worried her even more.
Stef coughed loudly trying to get Kasey's attention away from her magazine.
Kasey looked up oblivious as Stef tried to hint with her eyes that she may want some alone time with Lena.
"Kasey you uh...got any homework or something?"
"Nope, finished." she said returning her eyes back down.
Stef lifted the magazine off her and poked her gently on the back with it.
"You tidied your room?"
Kasey looked at her slightly confused. "No but..." she noticed Lena lost in her food and her Mom's eyebrows in overdrive.
"I guess I could be not here stopping you from having the secret conversation you don't want me to hear..." she smiled gathering her things.
"All I ask." Stef smiled pulling her head into a kiss and patting her away.
She slipped herself into the stool next to Lena.
"You know I thought you'd be doing cartwheels. Everything OK?"
Lena looked up and bit her lip slightly.
"Yeah it's fine. I mean it's great. I really am thrilled." she forced a smile as Stef pushed back some of her hair.
"Lena, I'm your wife and a cop. I think I can tell when you're hiding something."
Lena inhaled deeply through her nose.
"Porter was waiting for me after school."
Stef's eyes immediately flared with rage, her defenses up. "Did he hurt you?" she responded, her voice ringing with under-laced anger.
"No, no. We just had words. Well...except that I slapped him."
Stef gawped and failed to hold back a small laugh. Lena threw her a look as she began to defend herself.
"It's not funny Stef!"
"I know babe I'm sorry - I just...I wish I could have. You shouldn't feel bad Lena - he no doubt provoked you. Cornering you like that. You must have been scared too."
"But all of this preaching we've been doing to Jesus about controlling yourself..."
"I know - I understand. But look, what's done is done. I mean it is done, right? He's not going to be using it against you?" Stef asked slightly concerned.
"I doubt it. I could call him up him for a string if things if he did, and it wouldn't help him get a decent position. We could hang him out to dry."
"Well then. Just take a deep breath and move on. Jesus is OK now - and besides, Porter approached you. You weren't in an environment were you were meant to be setting an example. Unless you want me to ground you? I can think of some things to teach you a lesson..." Stef joked flirtatiously hoping it would cheer her up.
It worked as Lena smiled. "How about we go read some Shakespeare with Jude like Callie suggested?"
Stef's expression dropped. "Hey, I didn't hit anyone - why do I have to be punished?" she moaned mockingly as Lena laughed and dragged her up.
Lena bobbed her head into the room where the play was about to take place. "So is this where the party's at huh?" Jude beamed carefully organising various copies of scripts that Lesley had lent him.
"We're just waiting on Callie." he said. Kasey and Evan were huddled together on Jude's bed and Jesus lay on his own looking happier than he had done in days.
"Well if you're not ready yet I'll just bob downstairs and go sort something..." Stef disappeared down the stairs, her voice trailing before Lena could stop her.
"She'll be back!" Kasey laughed. "She can't bear to miss out on a group activity, even if it is Shakespeare." she teased.
Lena rolled her eyes and looked across at Jesus.
"Hey while you are waiting, Jesus, can I have a word in my bedroom?" He snapped his head over and swung round.
"Uh-oh, someone's in trouble." Kasey teased as Evan pinched her arm.
"Yes, you will be at some point tonight no doubt, young lady." Lena remarked jokingly before guiding a smirking Jesus out with her hand.
She followed him into her bedroom and they both sat down on the bed.
"I owe you an apology." She said taking a deep breath.
"You do? For what?" he smiled in confusion.
"For not taking you seriously enough when Porter was bullying you. I realised today just how bad he can be and I should have done more."
"There was nothing more you could do Mom, your hands were tied."
"That's no excuse Jesus. I also wanted you to know how proud I am that you managed to do something I couldn't."
He now raised his eyebrows in confusion waiting for her to elaborate.
"You never hit Porter."
He gawped through a laugh. "You did what?"
"OK, don't get too excited. He said some things that were really not OK about you and Stef and everyone else and I lost it. I guess just hearing all those things he said to you - to Callie, then hearing the way he...I guess it just got to me deeper than I thought it would. I'm not proud of it and I'm not condoning my behaviour - far from it - but I just wanted you to know that I understand a little more what he had been putting you through and I'm sorry."
"That's OK, Mom. Really. In fact..." He smiled and licked his bottom lip bearing his teeth. "I think you slapping Porter kinda is the best thing you could do to make it up to me."
"Ha." Lena couldn't help but laugh but swatted Jesus slightly on the knee before squeezing it.
"Yes, well...let's just keep this between us, shall we?" she warned with a raised eyebrow.
"But listen, I just want you to know how proud I am of you. And - I think if anything this proves that you have a lot more self control than you, and we, give you credit for. I hope you remember that. Not to mention how well you controlled yourself when you were with Callie. You've got a lot of strength in you and you have to remember that. Whatever people may throw at you. You're bigger than it - you've proved that."
Jesus lifted the corner of his mouth in a smile and nodded but didn't have any words to say. He was feeling a strong sense of pride.
"Now come on, let's get back." Lena patted his arm as he stood up and began to massage his shoulders guiding him out.
"Yep, I need to tell Kasey how you beat up Porter in a school yard brawl." Lena paused and looked slightly terrified before she noticed the smirk growing across his face. She squeezed his shoulders and mimed throttling him shaking her head. She was glad to have her son back.
"Hey - can I come in?" Callie poked her head around Brandon's door.
He was lying on his bed staring up at the ceiling with an open but discarded math book next to him.
"Oh hey - sure! Grab a seat." He shuffled up to make room for her and gave her half a smile.
"I just wanted to check that everything was OK, you know, with Michelle. I don't want to get you two into trouble." Callie said scootching her legs up into her arms
Brandon smiled. "I'm not going to put his interests ahead of Jesus and you. He can't talk to you like that."
"I know that, but it doesn't mean it can be easy for you. Is Michelle OK? I mean I know she suggested it but it doesn't mean it won't be hard for her now we've gone through with it."
Brandon frowned. "That's the thing, I don't know. She got really upset yesterday but swears it's got nothing to do with it. I just don't understand her. It was all going so well and I was comforting her but then she just flipped out and ran off."
Callie took a deep breath.
"Well, you know Brandon she has to live with him. Jesus can go home at the end of the day. She'll have built walls living in that house. It may be that she didn't like you to see her so vulnerable. She so catty and feisty. Maybe she's just embarrassed."
He nodded gently. He hadn't really thought of that.
"Look I don't know much about Porter or Michelle but I know what it's like to suddenly be in a safe place after not having one for so long. I mean I was hardly easy to crack when I first came here." she nudged him as he nudged her back with a small smile. They had been through a lot together and at the end of it all Brandon had still worked through to Callie's core more than anyone else in the family. He had been the first person she felt safe around and she knew how intimidating that could be. She knew better than anyone what Michelle could have felt.
"I love you, you know, sis. I'm glad you did let me in." He said nustling his head against hers as they shared the tender moment. There was nothing more between them now than sibling fondness, but without the rivalry that he had with Kasey. They had grown with their initial feelings and realised how much deeper it ran. In many ways their bond was stronger than if it had ended differently after that kiss. Callie rubbed his arm before getting up. "Fancy some Shakespeare?"
Brandon smiled. "I may pop in in a little while" he replied gently, clearly happier than when she had entered. She nodded and headed over to Jude's room.
I was in two minds about including this kind of Callie/Brandon as I know people are quite polarised but as I've almost completely avoided it I had to acknowledge it one way or another. Clearly this has never been a Ballie fic, nor will it be so I hope people are happy with this exchange. Maybe it's best of both worlds?
Chapter 34 Preview: The kids tease Stef during the play rehearsal, Brandon gets a visitor and Jesus has an unwelcome run-in
"Hey, I know the perfect part for Mom - that is if Evan doesn't mind..." Kasey looked up at him with a hint in her eyes. He looked back at her blankly.
"With all of her superior acting experience that is..." she hinted further as Evan caught her drift.