Hi all, thanks for the reviews and the reads! Here is the next chapter. As requested by mcgirl6541 I put in the Lena/Mike phonecall. I hope you all enjoy. Thanks again to Mea23 and TheTBone for your help.

The next morning had a mixed air around it. Stef and Lena had filled in the kids on the new situation the night before. There was a hint of frustration from Mariana about having Callie in their room. Kasey had volunteered to sleep down on a camp bed in the basement for a little while as an alternative to Callie being shoved down there. Neither Stef or Lena were comfortable about making her feel isolated. In time there would be some renovation to form another room out of one of the closets if it was deemed necessary, but Kasey was less attached to the contents of her bedroom than Mariana, plus there were fewer steps to the basement - and less windows to climb through from Stef's point of view.

Jesus was less resentful of the changes going on but his mind was elsewhere. He was back on his pills after the trouble he had got in the day before, but from experience he knew that going back on after a couple days of withdrawals would not be an easy ride. He was distracted by the kiss he had shared with Lexi as well - it was something he hadn't intended but it had felt so perfect he couldn't get it off his mind.

Brandon was still frustrated with being grounded, despite his making up with Mike, but the more permanent addition of Callie and Jude had made him excited somehow. He wasn't sure what it was about Callie, but he couldn't stop thinking about her. She intrigued him and he was looking forward to the opportunity to get to know her better. A couple of times he had even found himself looking across at her before shaking the look away.

Lena sat at her desk and checked through another form, trying to stop blurring it as her eyes drifted in and out of focus. Realising her concentration wasn't in a mood to play, she succumbed to the easier option of staring out of the window. The phone rang and she answered it on the first ring, another distraction proving too tempting to resist seizing immediately.

"Lena Adams." she responded. In her speed, she hadn't even registered it was her cell that had rung.

"Lena, hi. You sound very formal - is this a bad time?"

She blinked and rubbed her forehead. "Mike. Sorry, I go into auto-pilot at work." She gave a nervous laugh before suddenly realising the strangeness of this call. Her mind immediately flicked to the worst. "Is everything OK with Stef?" She asked, unable to hide her concern.

"She's fine. We're on a break and I thought I'd use it to call you. I wanted to apologise for what I said last night."

Lena became more alert than she had been all morning. Mike was calling to apologise to her? Stef must have been giving him hell. She hadn't realised how long the silence she had left had been but he was trying various angles of remorse, mistaking her lack of response for anger rather than shock.

"I had absolutely no right to shoot you down like that and I fully respect you as a mother to my children. I handled it completely wrong." He lingered at the end causing her to realise he would be waiting for acknowledgement.

"Thank you, Mike. That means...well, it's big of you to say. I imagine Stef has been on your case..." she rubbed her forehead with her thumb, revisiting her phrasing and hoping it was reasonable.

"A little but don't think that is why I'm saying this. I mean it - I was upset and I took it out on you. I know we may have very different styles but that doesn't give me the right to shoot yours down, not when you've raised my kids."

Lena detected a quiver in his voice. Her qualifications may be in children but that didn't mean she didn't also have insight in adults. She could tell regret when she heard it and she couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt.

"Mike, I don't want you to feel ousted by me. We all love those kids and we were in the wrong not to have included you. You're trying to be involved with them and we should be doing what we can to make that easy for you - not harder. They love you very much, you know." There was a brief silence on the other end of the phone as Mike gulped down the words.

"We're all on the same page then." was what he finally ended it with. "Anyway, I just wanted you to know that I was sorry and that I hope you didn't take what I said out of anger to heart." Lena paused and took a breath. Looking back on it really made it seem a lot less offensive than it had the night before.

"I appreciate that - and for what it's worth, I'm sure the same applies to what Brandon said to you." Lena added, still sensing the sadness in Mike's voice.

"I know. Well, I better go or I'll be getting an earful from your partner. See you soon, Lena. Have a good day." They bid their goodbyes and Lena hung up, placing the phone down and sitting back in her chair. She knew this would not be the end of the teething problems but to hear an apology from Mike was a welcome and unexpected weight off her mind. She heaved a sigh of relief and turned back to her form, at least there was one ugly chapter in her mind she could close for now.

Jesus jogged over to his locker in a dash. Lexi consuming his mind had caused him to leave his books for final period in his locker. He had flirted with her earlier about the kiss and the excitement of seeing her again buzzed through his body. Although he knew he'd be late, a dappy grin filled his face as he remembered his encounter , however he wasn't the only person who had it on his mind.

"Now I know what you wanted. You were after her yourself..." Vico emerged from behind him. Jesus bit back his lip and opened his locker, trying to keep calm. Vico slammed it closed.

"You trying to steal her?" he asked.

"She's not yours to steal from. She's her own person and clearly she got bored of you, so back off." Jesus tried to walk past him but he had him blocked in. By this point the hallway had cleared.

With no people around, Vico got close. "You wanna finish what we started yesterday?"

"Just back off man, I don't wanna fight you." Jesus replied calmly.

"She doesn't put out you know..." he whispered to him as Jesus took a deep breath. "Maybe I'll just go for your sister instead."

It was too much for Jesus who lunged forward and Vico smiled, the bait taken he shoved him back before Jesus took a swing for him and he crashed him into a trash can.

"What's going on round there?" they heard a voice and Jesus ran towards the door Vico in another direction. Jesus' heart raved, adrenaline pumping. His head buzzed. He hated the first day back on his pills. Searching for air he ran out of the school. He was so furious his head was beating hot. He heard a yell behind him. He turned to see Kasey moving as fast as she could and trying to stay close to the wall.

"Where the hell are you going?" she asked through an angry whisper. His head spun round, he wasn't even sure.

"My head just...I lost control."

"The security guard's after you, I think he saw me leaving. Did you just have another fight? What's going on?"

"It's being back on the pills I just..." Jesus barely registered he was talking aloud but Kasey's face flooded with confusion.

"You were off them? What's going on?"

He looked around anxiously and sighed. He'd already said too much.

"I went off them briefly, I lost a bunch a couple nights ago and wanted to make sure they'd last." he tried out the excuse Mariana had given him, although failed to relay it perfectly as it mixed with the truth.

Kasey's mind immediately flashed to Callie looking over the bottle that day in the kitchen. Then the drug search, the comment about the stash...

"It was her - wasn't it!"

Jesus nodded, his mind immediately flipping to Mariana. He knew nothing ever got by Kasey.

"She needed it..."

"I know you're out here!" a voice yelled.

"Ugh! Mom's gonna freak if I get done for fighting again."

Kasey looked at him and back.

"For God's sake. Just stay here till I'm in." she sighed. She at least had a free. She could swing it.

"Kasey - don't...!" Jesus tried to grab her but she was off. Even with crutches, when she was determined, she could move.

"Is there a problem?" she asked the chubby guard who panted slightly to catch his breath.

"You didn't hear me yellin'? You're busted kid, don't try and pretend you're not doin' anything wrong!"

"I've got a free - I just wanted some air."

"Yeah, yeah - save it for your Mom."

He put a hand on her back and guided her back in.

Jesus peeked round the door before sneaking back in. He took a deep breath. He was a lot calmer. He felt bad for Kasey but he knew she'd figure her way out of trouble. She now knew about the pills however - he would no doubt be facing an interrogation later.

Kasey took a seat outside Lena's office. Next to her was Kelsey, biting her thumbnail.

"You look nervous." she commented as she turned to look at her.

"I'm in pretty deep. Your Mom's talking to the Principal. She busted me for snorting your brother's pills in the bathroom."

Kasey whipped her head towards her.

"Jesus' pills? Did Callie give them to you?" she asked, horrified, without even thinking.

"Why would you..." Kelsey stuttered slightly as the idea glossed over her eyes. "I mean...you knew she had them?" Kasey was too distracted with the confirmation to notice Kelsey was seizing an opportunity to keep Mariana out of trouble.

Kasey shook her head. "I can't believe her!" she said aloud.

"They're pretty bitchin' pills. You should have seen how fast I wrote my paper for History. It's like you're flying over the rainbow, girl. You never been tempted?" Kelsey smiled to herself, remembering the high.

Kasey still ignored her, trying to figure things out.

"So you saw Callie with the pills, huh?" Kelsey probed again, looking for this to be watertight.

Kasey looked at her and shrugged. "I saw her snooping around them, yeah. I can't believe she actually was dealing them though, that's just messed up! And that Jesus knew? I'm gonna kill him for not saying something." She crossed her arms angrily.

"Well I ain't complainin'" Kelsey added as Kasey pulled a face at her apparent lack of care.

Both snapped to attention as Lena's door opened. Lena clocked Kasey with a sigh before looking to the other girl.

"Kelsey - get in. Your parents have been called." without protest she made her way into the office.

"You seem busy, I can come back..." Kasey asked, shuffling in her seat.

"What are you here for?" Lena snapped.

"Nothing major - just sorta went outside the school a little during my free. It's not like I could have gone far...I was just -"

Lena raised her palm.

"Save it. I'll deal with you later. You're on study?" she asked as Kasey nodded.

"Then don't move." she closed the door leaving Kasey's mouth flapping shut. She rested her head against the wall and waited. Jesus really owed her for this.

A little while later the door opened and Kelsey and Principal Sanchez emerged before she was briskly escorted down the hall.

Lena grabbed her bag and turned to lock the door.

"Come on, we're going home." she ordered. Kasey could sense the anger in her voice.

She hopped up. "Home? I'm not getting suspended for taking a walk outside, surely?"

Lena licked her bottom lip and got her phone out.

"No. You're getting your ride home and can go to your room. Your Mom and I have something we have to sort out."

Kasey knew she must be talking about Callie but she wouldn't be stupid enough to give up information - she didn't know what was known and didn't want to get anyone into trouble if they weren't yet.

Lena strode out barely saying a word. She was stewing. If what Kelsey had told her was true she had no idea what they were going to do. They couldn't keep Callie now, surely? But what about poor Jude? She shook her head and returned her attention to finding Stef's number. Kasey was keeping quiet, in the hubbub of it all she may get away with her misdemeanour after all. She too was slightly more concerned about Callie.

Lena put the phone to her ear as Kasey looked up.

"Hey Stef, it's me. Can you come home? Something important has come up that we have to deal with." she paused to listen.

"I know...but you'll want to be home for this...and..."she put her hand over the phone. "Kasey go wait in the car." she freed the mouthpiece to hand her the keys. Kasey lingered momentarily but quickly decided pushing Lena was not a good move right now.

Lena turned away and began to whisper.

"I caught Kelsey with drugs in the bathroom at school. It turns out they were Jesus' pills. I know - but no, it's not him...this is where it gets even worse...she says that it was Callie who sold them to her." she nodded with a sigh as Stef exploded on the other and of the phone. "I know...well that's why we need to...well we have to talk to her...OK...good. I'll see you there..." she hung up and looked down at the screen for a moment before making her way to the car.

Kasey was obediently sat there in silence, keeping her head down.

"You're eerily quiet." Lena commented, eyeing her up and down. "do you know what happened?"

Kasey looked at her from the side with a shrug.

"None of my business." she responded. Lena looked at her again but let it lie. Kasey admitting something was none of her business meant that she was hiding something, but whatever more she heard she wanted it to come from Callie.

She tried to distract herself from her anguish by focussing back on a silent Kasey.

"So you tried to sneak off during study?" she asked. Kasey was vaguely shocked she had spared her some of her thought.

"I was just feeling a bit...locked up..." she pretended.

"Well, the way you've been at school recently you can have 2 days detention. How's that for locked up?" Lena ordered, clearly not wanting to think much more about it in her list of priorities. Kasey simply nodded, no matter how disproportionate it seemed. Now was not the time.

They arrived back to the house a few minutes behind Stef who had used the time in between to change.

"Well this is a nightmare." Stef whispered to Lena who agreed with an eyebrow raise. "I see you managed to hitch a ride...you're getting way too much time off school." she commented to her daughter.

Kasey remained silent hoping Lena would be distracted enough not to bring up the reality. She wasn't.

"She was sat outside my office anyway. Brought in by the security guard for leaving the building during school hours."

Stef turned to her with a reprimanding glare.

"I wasn't gonna leave school grounds...I was on a free." Kasey protested. "It's not nearly as bad as it sounds..."

Stef rubbed her temples with her fingers. "Just go be somewhere else that is not in my eyeline." she advised as Kasey quickly departed. Lena and Stef wandered into the kitchen.

"Are you sure? Absolutely sure?" Stef asked her partner as Lena shrugged.

"According to Kelsey. The pill warning did arrive just as Callie did...and ...oh God - Kasey said the kids were gossiping about it too."

"What? When?" Stef replied, shocked.

"After the locker search. She said there'd been murmurs. I just scolded her for suggesting it but..." she began to pace.

"Look we don't know anything for sure yet..." Stef reasoned.

"But what are we going to do? We can't stand for this...3 days and..." Stef approached her panicking partner and put her hands on her arms, steadying her motion.

"Let's hear her side before we worry about that."

Kasey sat on the other side of the wall. She knew she had been in trouble for this just a day before but she had to know what was going on. Whatever this was it involved Jesus - it was what had caused his outburst yesterday and today.

"You caught her in the act?" Stef asked as their conversation continued.

"I heard her in the bathroom. I heard her snorting it. I can't believe after all this that the drugs came from our house!"

"When was she last even in our house?" Stef thought back.

"She was doing that history paper with Mariana last week." Lena recalled.

"So it was at school then? Well at least it wasn't on our watch..." Stef commented without thought before seeing Lena's glare. "Well...my watch..." that didn't help. "I mean...look you can't be watching them all at school Lena." Stef quickly began to pace towards the window, busying herself looking out to avoid facing a response.

Kasey's attention wandered back to the chat she had with Kelsey. That history paper last week...Callie wasn't there last week...her thought train cut off as the door clicked open and 3 nervous kids entered in. Kasey ducked away slightly, only half focussing on the exchange taking place. She had to figure this out. If Kelsey had been on the pills the week before then Callie couldn't have been the one selling them. But she saw her with them, why else would she be fiddling with them? She could hear that her Moms were now interrogating Callie. She peered round. She looked hurt. Oh God - it was her who had said Callie's name to Kelsey - was this her doing?

She heard Callie leave and her Moms voices dropped.

"If not Callie then who?" she asked herself, just as the only other person she knew was involved came in.

He saw Kasey listening over. Moms were clearly discussing something serious - it must be about what happened with Mike. At least it would distract them from any trouble he may or may not be in regarding the close call this afternoon. He nervously tried to pass her without her noticing but he felt a harsh tug on his hoody and was pulled to face her.

He looked at his older sister, anxiously. She must be mad at him for earlier.

"I'm really sorry about before..." he immediately responded.

"I don't care about that." she spat. " I wanna know about these pills. What the hell is going on?" she asked with authority. She wasn't messing around. Jesus stuttered.

"What do you mean? I told you, I ran out so I went off them a few days but I'm back on now."

"A few days?" Kasey probed further. "So it's got nothing to do with Callie?" she added, concerned.

Jesus squinted at her. "What would it have to do with Callie?" he replied, genuinely confused.

Kasey's voice went high and panicked. "Because right now Moms think she sold Kelsey your pills!" Jesus looked at her with fear.

"Why would they think that?" he looked up towards where Mariana would be and across to where his Moms were sat before snapping back realising he could give it away. Luckily Kasey was too busy panicking with guilt to notice.

"Kelsey said it was her - we were talking, you'd just said...oh God!" she put her hand to her forehead. "They're gonna kill me - and you! If not Callie who had your pills?!" she asked prodding his chest with anger.

"Not Callie - look...I'm sorry, I just...I'll fix it."

Kasey looked towards the direction of her Moms and back at Jesus.

"I just need to check something upstairs..." he said before he was gone. He couldn't believe this. It was one thing to be dragging him into this, but Callie? That was completely out of line. She had more at stake than all of them and she was facing a further knock. He had to sort this out - whatever the cost. He made his way to Mariana's room.

Next Chapter: The guilty parties try and make things right.

Kasey shook her head. "No - I don't know what happened just that he was skipping them to hide the fact he ran out."

Stef nodded. "So why the guilt?"

Kasey looked round to her. She hadn't verbalised it but she wasn't surprised Stef had identified it.