Hi folks! Thanks for the reviews. I finally finished this episode last night and I had to split it into one more chapter than I hope for but hope that is OK. I apologise again for having sometimes repeated scenes from the show. There was just too much important stuff in it and it just felt like a gaping hole if left out. I've tried to approach from a different angle if possible. Anyhow, hope you enjoy and would love to know your thoughts!
Kasey's eyes peeled open hearing movement and voices upstairs. She was sure she heard her Mom yelling for Lena and she even thought he heard crying. She winced over to the clock. It was early! Her curiosity winning out over her desire to sleep she rubbed her eyes and hauled herself out of bed.
As she got closer she was sure she could hear more voices than just her Moms.
She got closer and was able to not only identify them audibly but also visually as she saw Ernie Rivera pace the living room. She could see Lena trying to get him to settle and Sonya in tears.
"Kasey..." Stef's voice demanded her attention. She was stood, pouring out several mugs of tea.
"Why are the Riveras here?" Kasey asked with a sleepy haze.
"Can you do me a favour? Go and wake up Jesus, please, love." Her tone was agitated and scared.
"Is everything OK?" Kasey asked, still weighed down by her bed-head.
"Nothing for you to worry about, just send him down please."
She could see when not to push her Mom. Stef rubbed her arm as she departed, making her way up the stairs and to the boys' door. Knocking gently she entered and walked over to the sleeping lump in Jesus' bed.
"Jesus." Kasey rocked him. "Jesus!" She shook him harder until he spluttered out and whipped his spare pillow into her. She ripped it off him and smacked it down onto his back.
"Wake up, doofus." She ordered. "Mom wants you to go downstairs. The Riveras are here."
She said the magic word to bring him out of his coma.
"Here? Now?" He leaped out of bed and grabbed his pants from the floor.
"They seemed super beat up, I dunno what's going on but Mom was pretty freaked out." Before she had finished the sentence he was out of the room and she turned to talk to Jude. She was surprised to see his bed already empty. She checked Jesus' clock. Jude was up at this hour on a Saturday?
She turned to leave just as the small boy came bouncing back into the room.
"You're up early." She mumbled, the weight of the hour dragging down any chance of sounding animated. The grin on Jude's face made it clear he wasn't suffering from the same problem.
"Connor's coming round to work on our project so I had to get ready."
"Hey, has Paul made a move yet?" Kasey quickly snapped to attention, the comment received by sceptical look.
"Right, I forgot. I need a life." She nodded in defeat.
Jude giggled drying his hair further and began to play with it in the mirror.
"Do you think it'll dry like this if I brush it this way?" He asked her, deeply focussed.
Kasey woke up a little more in order to hold back a whimper of how cute he looked.
"Not sure that will work buddy." She replied, placing hands on his shoulders. "But hey, you could always borrow some gel from Jesus or Brandon."
He swung round to look at her without a second thought.
"Will they mind? Can you help me?"
"Even if they did, I'll make them not mind - and of course I will. I've got nothing to do today until my doctor's appointment later."
She walked through into the bathroom to begin to root around for some gel.
The two of them worked away, trying different styles and partings - some less serious than others.
"So you really have no clue if Amber got a note from him or not?"
"No!" Jude laughed for what felt like the tenth time. "I just don't pay attention. Don't do it like that, it was better before." He combed his hair back, now drowning in the gel.
"Well if Paul doesn't make a move he's gonna lose her forever, I don't care if he's 7th grade or 17 - if he doesn't get his crap together - "
"Kasey." Stef cut her off firmly, with a glare as both she and Jude turned.
"What on earth are you talking about?" She asked confused. "And Jude, buddy - you know you're not meant to use the whole jar of that stuff, right?" She looked again at Kasey as Jude looked down at the fast emptying tub.
"I was just catching up on the 7th grade gossip." She replied innocently to a look of dismay. "I mean.." her look dropped to vague embarrassment. "You did make me hang out with them last week instead of with people my own age so - "
"OK, OK." Stef waved her hand. "Look, I need to talk to you." Despite the softer introduction she still was clearly worried about whatever was going on downstairs.
"OK.." Kasey replied reaching for a towel before Stef grabbed her arm.
"Not...on there, please. Lena will have a fit. That applies to you too, Jude." Stef gave him a pointed look as Kasey turned the tap with her elbow to try and wash off the grease.
Once she was cleaned up Stef pulled her aside to fill her in.
"I don't want you to make a big deal about this, but I can't take you to your appointment later. We have an emergency."
"Are the Riveras putting you in jail?" She joked, her morning with Jude having lightened her mood away from the seriousness she had tuned in to when she first woke up. Stef's face didn't look like it had time for jokes.
"Lexi's run away." Stef replied gravely as Kasey's face dropped.
"Seriously?" she replied, Stef nodding reluctantly. "Jesus or Mariana must know where she'd be?" Kasey asked.
"I really don't think so."
"And you can't track her phone?" she followed up.
"They confiscated it."
Kasey's eyebrows flicked up. "Told you that's punishment is counter-productive." she mumbled as Stef cocked her head.
"So not the time." she scolded, softly, as Kasey flashed up a guilty look.
"OK, well what do you need me to do to help?"
"Nothing, just - Brandon has the car this afternoon, see if he can take you. If not, call your Dad, OK?"
"But -" Kasey's face immediately dropped, Stef cutting her off before she could continue.
"Kasey, please. I've got enough drama to deal with today. Help me out here." her voice was clearly weighed down by the stress, leaving Kasey little room to argue.
"Alright, if Brandon can't take me I'll...call Dad." the last words barely made it out if her mouth.
"Good girl. And thanks for helping with Jude, I appreciate having one less thing to worry about. Just...try and keep comments age appropriate, yes? And maybe keep your head out if 7th grade drama. You were a handful enough when you were in 7th grade I do not need to re-live that." Stef punctuated her point with her eyebrows before turning back towards her room to get out if he pyjamas and throw on something vaguely appropriate for leaving the house.
As Stef left, Jesus returned from his breakfast. He had barely been able to eat anything but had managed to force some toast down while he fretted.
Leaving Jude still tinkering away in the bathroom, Kasey followed him into his room.
"You doing OK?" She asked taking a seat on the edge of his bed as he dived onto it.
"I don't understand why she wouldn't tell me about it? What if she's in danger?" Kasey saw the panic rising in his eyes that he had obviously been trying to keep at bay.
"Don't think like that, OK? Look, Mom's a cop. You think she wouldn't be able to drag one of us back kicking and screaming within minutes if we bolted? She'll find her." Kasey reassured him.
Jesus picked furiously at his bed sheet.
"And what if she doesn't want to be found? They were going to send her away..." his mind was in over-drive.
"No-one who runs away wants to be found, it doesn't mean that they won't be. Besides, if she wants to avoid being sent away then she wants be here. She'll be back. Maybe she just needs some time to cool off, for her parents to cool off."
"You think this'll make them cool off?" He snapped back before rubbing his face and apologising. Kasey didn't mind, she knew he had every right to be nervous.
"I didn't say it was the smartest plan..." she tried to soften him, squeezing his shoulder. "Hey, maybe she's been hanging around with you too much." She teased and was relieved to hear the tiniest hint of a laugh from her little brother. One thing was on Kasey's mind. The look Mariana had in her eyes the night before. It looked as if she was at the edge of her resentment and this was exactly the kind of thing which may snap her out of it completely. If she was bending, then now may be the time to try and reconcile. This would be terrifying Mariana too, and no matter how angry Kasey was with her she didn't like the idea of either of her siblings not having each other for support when their feelings would be so similar in their fears.
Having given Jesus a few moments of peace, she put the motion forward.
"Do you know how Mariana is taking this...?" She asked as Jesus absorbed it and cocked his head up from his pillow.
"Seriously?" he asked, confused that Kasey of all people was suggesting it.
"Just, you know...you both care about Lexi, whatever has happened recently. Maybe this is a chance to try and well, I dunno...make amends. Two of your trying to find her is better than one."
Jesus looked at her baffled for a few moments but soon enough his face relaxed into a serious pondering of the idea. "Maybe you're right." He sighed.
Kasey gave him a small smile as Jude returned to the room, proudly displaying his now perfected style.
"Looking good." Kasey smiled as Jesus looked over.
"Got enough hairgel there?" He asked. He couldn't avoid commenting, despite all of the distractions.
"Don't worry, you've still got plently left." The young boy replied, innocence dripping from his words as much as the gel was soaked into his hair.
Jesus threw a look at Kasey who smirked back. "Don't look at me like that, I gave him Brandon's." She smiled as Jesus shook his head before resting it back. After a moment more of reflection, he sprung up off his bed, swinging his legs over to the floor in one swift maneuvre.
"I'm gonna go see if Mariana has any ideas." He replied before heading to his sister's room.
Callie swilled her orange juice around her glass. So much had happened over the last few days. She couldn't believe it had been a week since she had seen Liam again. It had been a couple of days since he had contacted her again. It had been a night since he threatened her in person and more importantly, a night since she had done something she had never imagined she would. She had let somebody in. She had told Brandon about Liam. She may not have had a choice, Liam had forced her hand once again by putting her in a situation where she was powerless to do otherwise. This time however, she was almost glad he had. Now Brandon knew she was being forced to make the decisions that had been plaguing her for the last week, and more importantly she felt comfort in the fact she was no longer facing this alone.
But she really was being faced with some important decisions. The ones she could no longer run from.
"What about Sarah?" he had asked. She couldn't take much longer to answer. She couldn't avoid this either.
"Honestly..." she finally croaked out. "I have no idea."
"Callie..."
"I know." she cut him off. "I can't let this happen to her."
"Can you talk to her?" he asked warmly. Callie had always felt a serene comfort in Brandon's company. His patience in listening. He had scared her before with his straight talking honesty. She had been intimidated by what weakness that could expose in her, but right now she needed it. It was a confidence and security that she couldn't do this without.
"She'll be under his spell right now." Callie shrugged. "Liam gets inside your head, I can't see a warning being able to replace that. Foster kids like Sarah don't exactly like being told how they should feel. You don't just trust advice - too many ignorant people try to give it."
Callie's voice grew weary as she rubbed her face. Brandon's support may be giving her new direction, but it didn't change the facts.
"Well, you may not be able to change her mind - but you say that Liam has got inside it, right?"
"Uh-huh?" She looked at him nervously.
"Well haven't you been inside her head too?"
Callie creased her forehead in confusion. Where was he going with this?
"I mean, you keep saying you don't want the same thing to happen to her...that means that at some stage you knew what it was like to think the way she is, but you also know how to get out of that. You have the other side of it. If anyone should be able to convince her it should be you."
Callie drunk in the words. He was right.
"Will you come with me? To group?" she said the words before she could even think them over. She wasn't even sure why she'd said them. Something had come over her that she felt like she needed him there. Realising the impracticability she quickly shook her head.
"Sorry, that's stupid. Of course you can't."
"I can take you and wait for you. Then you know I'm right outside."
"Didn't you have stuff to do this afternoon?" she asked, unable to immediately dismiss his suggestion, much as she felt she should.
Brandon's lips folded out into a deep and warming smile.
"Just errands. I can work around it. You've done enough of this alone, Callie. You don't need to be alone anymore. Not while you're here." for a moment his mind slipped. He wasn't sure where it went but he felt a deep pull on his heart. He shook it away and cleared his throat. "I may need to drag you with me to the music store though first." he quickly changed the subject.
"That's fine." she nodded with gratitude before finishing her glass. They were interrupted by Kasey's appearance.
"Hey guys. Crazy stuff, huh?"
Brandon and Callie exchanged a nervous look. Had Kasey been eavesdropping? No, not even Kasey would be as bold as to approach it like that if she had. She clocked the confused looks and realised gossip maybe didn't spread as fast in the house if she wasn't spreading it.
"Lexi...running away."
"Seriously?" Callie asked.
"You didn't notice the two crying parents in our living room?"
Callie looked at Brandon. They'd been somewhat distracted with their own issues this morning, but at least this meant Kasey definitely didn't know.
"We haven't been through there." Brandon replied.
"Well Moms are helping them look. Why I'm through here actually, B. Mom said you have the car this afternoon - any chance you can give me a ride to and from the doctors?" Kasey asked, resting her weight on his shoulder.
Brandon looked across at Callie, nervous as to how this could play out with his commitment.
"Kase...I...well, I was gonna take Callie to group and stuff. What time?"
"Appointment is at 3, think I'll be out by half past."
He turned to look at Callie. He could read in her eyes that she could really do with as few people being involved with this as possible.
"Uhm...I can take you but picking you up may be an issue. I got a bunch of stuff to do so you'll be waiting forever. Do you have an alternative?" He asked. Callie was going to reassure him it wasn't necessary but he reassured her silently in return that it was.
"I guess I can call Dad." Kasey grumbled. She was coming round the the idea that leaving it where they had would have to be faced at some point anyway. At least in this case the ball was in her court and she really didn't need any more lectures from Stef on the matter.
"Sorry..." Callie replied. It was met with a smile.
"It's OK. A ride there will be good enough. I guess it makes sense seeing as the place is right by Dad's." She pushed off Brandon's shoulder and swooped away. "By the way, if you're going shopping you may wanna get some more hair gel." She shouted back.
Brandon rolled his eyes. He didn't know and he didn't want to know.
Kasey rescued her phone and decided to get her talk with Mike over with. He hadn't even attempted to try and talk to her since their fight the other night and she had no idea how to interpret that. Was he letting her cool off or was he needing time to cool off himself? Either way there was only one way to find out. She bit the bullet and dialled, alleviating her nerves by also biting her thumbnail.
It rang out once so she tried again. The third try the phone was finally picked up.
"Hello?" A croaky voice answered.
"Dad? It's Kasey." Her tone was non committal and emotionless. She had so many emotions still that it was easier to pick none at all.
"Kasey? Are you OK?" His words were almost undecipherable, being forced through as if he was still asleep when saying them.
"I'm fine but Mom told me to call you...I have a doctor's appointment and need a ride. Can you get me at half 3?"
The voice on the other end became slightly more engaged but only just.
"Half 3? You need me to pick you up?"
Kasey paused, wondering how hard the request had been for him to be taking this long to process it. Had she not been so short-tempered with him she maybe would have been less scathing but right now she didn't have the patience for having to repeat herself.
"Yes. Can you come or not?"
"Uhm...I have work...but yeah. Before." The reply didn't make things much clearer and Kasey's nail was taking the brunt of it.
"So does that mean you can or you can't?"
"Right, right. I'll see you there." The sleepy drone cut off before she could confirm - she narrated her feelings about this with a huff and an eye-roll. She knew it was early but it was still mid-morning, and she was pretty sure her Dad hadn't been on a late shift. She threw the phone down and longed for the days before he started driving her crazy.
Next Chapter Preview: Callie opens up to Brandon and Kasey's relationship with Mike takes a further turn south after a discovery in his car.
Seeing this wasn't helping anything she sighed in defeat and collected herself.
She tried to think about what her Mom would say. He was working really hard, he was trying. He had been sleeping and there was miscommunication. There was no crime in that.
With another deep breath, she leaned over to fish out the keys. As she did, a flicker of light caught the edge of something that looked glaringly out of place and the sight of it caused a knot in her stomach.