Author's Note: Okay guys, almost at the end! Thank you to those who reviewed. It always makes my day. Starophie, it sounds like we like the same things about Callie! sbz, thanks for your kind words about the story. I had been hoping more people would like it, but I guess that's not to be.

I cradle Jude's head against my chest, trying to make him believe that everything's okay, it's over, as the male cop takes Frank out of the house.

"Callie," someone says quietly. I jump and wrap my arms more tightly around Jude, but it's just Stef, and she has the saddest look in her eyes.

"Is this your brother?" She asks me.

I nod, but I don't let go. I know what's coming next. Bill will be here soon. If the cops don't come and take me first. And I'm not about to let Jude go until they literally pry him out of my arms. Not after this.

Stef crouches down a little and looks at Jude.

"What's your name?"

Jude looks at me, and I nod.

"Jude," he whispers, his voice small and stuffy from crying.

"Jude, where do you keep your clothes and things?"

Jude looks at me, his eyes wide. He knows what's coming next, too.

Wordlessly, I point to his bedroom. Jude hugs me so tightly my bruised ribs start to complain. I ignore them, and hug him more tightly too. I don't know how much time we have left.

Stef disappears into the other room and after a couple minutes comes out with Jude's backpack and a bag that probably contains both of our clothes, because it's too full just for Jude's. I'm surprised Frank didn't use mine to wash his car or something.

I guess it's because he didn't have one to wash.

Frank's in handcuffs. I saw him. And even if they let him go, he can't ever hurt Jude again. He probably won't get any foster kids placed with him again either. He wasn't supposed to have a gun in the house, much less pull it out with Jude around. I wonder how he'll pay for his beer without the government checks.

Stef is gesturing for us to follow her. I don't have much choice. We have to go some time, and I'm surprised she hasn't pulled her own gun on me yet for bringing her son into this situation.

Brandon. I can't believe I forgot.

"Um, Stef?"

She turns around and raises an eyebrow.

"Is Brandon okay?" Her lips clench a little before she sighs.

"He's fine, Callie. He's outside. Come on."

Reluctantly I step back from Jude, but keep my arm around him as we walk outside. Of all the ways I imagined tonight playing out, this definitely was not on the list. Three cops are pushing Frank into the back of a police car, weird sounds coming out of their walkie-talkies. Frank is glaring at me, and instinctively I place my hand on the back of Jude's head. He's twelve, but he looks so small clutching the straps of his little backpack. I can hear Brandon talking to Lena as Stef and I help Jude get situated in the middle of the back seat of their car. Brandon keeps saying he tried to do the right thing. He apologizes about the scholarship, and Lena stops him.

"That guy had a gun," she tells him.

So Lena was here the whole time. That must have been awful for her. Watching Stef, and the male cop who apparently is Brandon's father, storming into a house where her son was being held at gunpoint. She doesn't even seem to care about the scholarship. And I bet she could have used the money, too.

"Callie." Stef closes the car door, leaving Jude inside, and beckons me towards the front of the car. My heart is breaking at the thought of where she'll send me.

"I would like you to understand how this, tonight, could have ended very, very badly." She says it quietly, not yelling, but I can't even look at her. I do understand. I probably understand better than she does. But I don't know how to explain that. I don't know how to explain the kind of danger Jude was in, or my desperation to get him out. I don't know how to explain that I didn't even know if I would find him dead or alive when I got to the house. I certainly can't explain why I didn't call her, not if I don't want her looking in the system. Although I guess that that doesn't matter now. No one in their right mind would keep me after this.