OK guys! Fosters Monday! Yayy! SO excited for tonight's episode.
Anyhow, here is the last chapter of this episode and probably the last chapter for a little while as I only have 2 written for the next! Thanks so much for the reviews over the last couple of chapters. It really is thrilling to see your views and your excitement. The last chapter is probably one of the hardest I've had to write because it's one that has been done so many time. Glad to see people enjoyed my interpretation.
Thanks to Mea23 and TheTBone as always for all of their help over the last episode and thanks to all of you for reading! Hope you enjoy - and let me know your views! Also taking any requests for Episode 8 (Clean) expansions. At the moment it's a very Kasey-centric episode focussing on her relationship with her parents as I doubt I'll add in much more unless there are more specific requests!
The three heads turned to see Kasey standing sheepishly in the doorway. Her face was wrought with a mixture of emotion. Guilt, fear, anger, sadness.
"Excuse me?" Stef asked as gently as she could but it was saturated with confusion.
"He's 21. I just thought he had a fake ID." Kasey's voice drifted off. She had caught the end of the conversation and the blanks were filling. She hadn't heard the specifics but whatever this was, Liam's behaviour was making a lot more sense and more than anything she knew it was serious.
"Kasey...what are you saying?" Lena probed, seeking any hint of explanation.
"Oh my God..." Callie croaked, her eyes glazing with realisation. "Him?" Stef and Lena shared another look of confusion as Callie hopped up and began to pace.
"That's how? That's how he knew?" She put her palm over get head and her words became mashed and hysterical.
"The instagrams, the messages. All of this time? He's been using you to stalk me?" Her voice was cracking and shaking with every word.
Stef knitted her eyebrows, standing up off the sofa. "Kasey is this true?"
Neither girl was able to hear her.
"He's been...?" Kasey tried to follow, still ignorant of the specifics. "Callie, slow down I.."
"No wonder he knew so much!" a tear flung from her face as she changed direction once again with Kasey striding after her, trying to stop the constant motion.
" I swear, I only realised -"
"Did he hurt you?" She interrupted again, not processing anything other than the blown up interpretations in her head. "Oh my God. I'm gonna be sick." she gulped back tears and pinched her nose, her pacing becoming more furious.
"Callie, he didn't touch me - we just went out a couple of times..."
"Guys, can we just take a -" Lena attempted but quickly was cut off, this time by Callie.
"How could this happen? How could you fall for him? You of all people! You're supposed to be the smart one!" her voice became damning as she lunged forward at a shocked Kasey. Stef and Lena leaped off the couch in preparation and Stef grasped Kasey's shoulders, Lena taking a gentle grasp on Callie's. She reflexively wriggled out, swinging round to Lena but stopped short of an impulsive yell.
"I'm sorry - I just can't..." she sat on the couch, burying her head in her hands. Kasey gawped in stunned silence as Stef nodded to Lena.
"OK. We need to talk." she whispered, steering Kasey towards the door. Lena nodded in silent acknowledgement of the divide and conquer approach.
As Kasey and Stef relocated into the kitchen, Stef pulled out a stool and patted it.
"Sit. Let me understand this." she commanded gently.
"Mom, I swear if I'd have known -"
"Let's not worry about that now. I need to know exactly what happened. From the beginning - and Kasey, it's not gonna be in your interests to hide anything."
"I've got nothing to hide, Mom."
"OK, then. Tell me."
Stef's piercing gaze bounced between Kasey's eyes, stern and comforting at the same time.
"Last weekend I met this guy Craig at Wyatt's party. I guess he heard me shouting for Callie and we got talking and he found out she was staying with us. We stayed in contact and today - well, we met up again."
"The guy who walked you home?"
"Yes." Kasey folded her arms. "Mom he was friendly and nice and it was only today when he started asking so many questions that I picked up that something wasn't right."
"Why were you even out with him tonight? You were supposed to be home hours ago -"
"I didn't mean to stay. I was pissed because Dad, well - " Kasey saw a flicker in Stef's eyes and realised this was not something she wanted to dissect. She quickly tried to cover her tracks. "Look it doesn't matter. The point is I've been talking to him all week. I realised tonight he'd been using a fake name and I bolted and then when I heard Callie saying about her word against his and you asking his age and...well. I guess him asking tons of questions about Callie suddenly made sense."
"Dammit, Kasey." Stef said softly, rubbing her face. She wasn't angry, more just concerned.
Kasey paused and bit down at her bottom lip.
"How bad is it? What he did to her?" she asked, unsure if she wanted to know the answer.
Stef sighed and stroked her palm across Kasey's cheek. She stared at her deeply, thinking for a few moments about the man Callie had just described hurting not just Callie but Kasey too, if he had had the chance.
"It's bad, baby."
Kasey nodded. "I could tell he was obsessed with her. Dammit! I knew something was up with him - I knew it!" she punched her fist down on the table top before rubbing her hands down her face.
"Sweetheart, you've been in contact with him, yes? That means you have evidence of your conversations?"
"Well yeah, but what good will it do? He never asked anything about Callie in a text."
"Right now, I'll take anything. I mean this is harassment. I want that bastard put in jail." Stef whispered to the room, closing her eyes.
"Is that even possible? Is what he did...you know...that bad?" Kasey's eyebrows dipped down and Stef studied her for a moment before taking her hand.
"He was once her foster brother. It would appear he abused Callie a couple of years ago in a previous home. Sexually."
Kasey's whole expression morphed to disgust. She gulped a few lost words before finally being able to croak some out. She wasn't sure what she had imagined but it was more along the lines of a stalker - and certainly not when she was so young.
"Her brother?" her voice was broken and hoarse. "When she was like what? 14? That's paedophilia!"
Stef cocked her head to the side and rubbed Kasey's arm.
"That means you can get him though, right? I mean - even if it hadn't been rape that's statutory - Mom, he has to be arrested!" her voice became more panicked, trying to process the information along with her increasing guilt.
"Sh sh sh..." Stef pulled Kasey's head into her chest and wrapped her arms around her.
"I'll do everything I can, but these situations are tricky. And ultimately, we can't do anything unless Callie wants us to. If this goes to court she'll have to testify and -"
"I know. No rape kit, he said, she said. I mean if it went to court proving above reasonable doubt would be - "
"OK, we need to cut down your SVU." Stef tried to lighten the mood. Pulling Kasey's body back out from her embrace. They locked eyes for a moment before Kasey's dropped down guiltily.
"I'm sorry, Mom..." she tapped the table nervously as Stef shook her head.
"Oh love, what's done is done. This Liam or Craig or whatever his name is, he manipulates girls, it's what he does. The important thing for you to do though is to make sure you work this out with Callie. It's all gonna be very tough for her and she'll need all the support she can get. You may need to give her some time to calm down."
"I'll fix it, don't worry."
"And honey this should really be a sign. You've got to be so careful about who you trust, who you spend time with, yes? No more strange men, especially if you have a gut feeling."
"I know - I...I mean I wouldn't usually. I dunno why I did it. I guess I was just mad at Dad not wanting me to see him and then today when..."
Kasey was about to run into her rant again but saw the tiredness in Stef's eyes. She'd had enough to deal with today and wasn't even sure how she would begin to explain that.
"I mean, I just - I guess I was just rebelling and that's wrong too. Nothing good ever comes out of spite."
"That's true." Stef cupped Kasey's chin and kissed her head again. "OK. I may need your phone if we do need evidence. Make sure you don't delete anything and I think it goes without saying you are not to contact him, OK? Right now we need to play things carefully to make sure we don't complicate anything further, yes? I mean it Kase - I know you like to try and- "
"Mom, don't worry, I'll stay out of it, I promise. I don't want to out Callie at any more risk."
"OK." Stef leaned forward and kissed her one last time, rubbing her back.
"Well, I need to make some phone calls. Can you send Lena in here when you go through, please, love?"
Kasey nodded and made her way back to where Callie and Lena sat on the sofa. It sounded like Lena had successfully calmed her back down and they spoke softly about something Kasey couldn't hear.
She shuffled in, hands firmly down in her pockets until Lena caught her eye. Callie immediately looked down.
"Uhm, Mama - Mom wants you to go help her with the calls."
"You're calling them now?" Callie asked perplexed as Lena patted her leg.
"Don't worry, we'll handle it all." she squeezed her knee and stood up before looking at Kasey sternly. "I'll let you two talk." she squeezed Kasey's hand affectionately as she passed.
A moment of silence festered while Kasey tried to find her words. Callie remained still, staring intently at the floor and quickly removed a tear with the back of her hand, wiping it on her leg as swiftly as she could.
"Callie..." Kasey went over to take Lena's seat.
"I am so sorry that I put you in this position."
Callie took in the words and sniffed out a laugh, cutting off Kasey's words.
"No." she said firmly. Kasey cocked her head nervously. No?
"No." she repeated, her voice barely audible. "He doesn't get to do this." Kasey looked around the room hoping for someone to translate. Clear she would have to figure this one out herself, she made the move to ask.
"Do what?" she tried to look in Callie's eyes and finally was rewarded with Callie looking back.
"He doesn't get to take this from me too. He took everything from me. My stable home, my brother's happiness..." another tear escaped as she wrinkled her voice low. "My virginity." Her eyes closed as she thought back.
"He doesn't get to take this from me too, not our relationship. Not this family. No!" she punched her fist down on her thigh, her voice still barely sounding above a harsh whisper. "This is mine and he's not taking it."
Kasey was struggling to keep back her own tears, fighting an overwhelming urge to wrap Callie up in her arms, much like Stef had eventually succumbed to doing. They had become so much closer over the last few weeks and she had really grown invested in her welfare. Callie was never ceasing to amaze Kasey with her strength and character - this was another string to that bow and it both horrified her and fascinated her at the same time.
"How do you do it?" Kasey asked, her voice cracking into a whisper. "How do you cope with something like that?"
Callie squeaked out a desperate laugh before it dropped to a frown as she thought back to the night once again.
"He used to say that he was the only person who understood me. The only one who got me." she wiped another tear. "That he was the only person I could trust, that I could be safe with."
She closed her eyes and shook her head, once again trying to get a grip. She hated crying in front of people and this was the fourth member of the same family in one day.
"When he was with me, just after...you know. He said this now would let us move forward with our relationship. I should feel good now I'd shown him that I appreciated him taking care of me."
Kasey was unable to hide her look of disgust. This was all too real and piercing.
"Foster kids need to survive, Kase. We need to do what it takes to not get lost in this screwed up system. When you're used to expecting the world to collapse beneath you - you learn how to hang on. Sometimes you hang on to the wrong thing."
"You felt you needed him."
She nodded, squeezing out another tear. "I didn't know it would turn so fast. Then everything got thrown in the air." She squeaked. Whatever happened that night, I'd made choices I could never go back from - it's there. On your record. And then you're just back where you started anyway, but with a bunch of extra baggage." She wiped another tear and laughed again, desperately baffled by this system that had dictated her life.
"And you felt guilty because of getting kicked out."
Callie nodded slowly with a sniff. "It was the best house Jude had ever had."
"Wait...is that what Talya read? Did she know you were - ?" Anger began to trickle into Kasey's voice.
"No." Callie cut her off. "I didn't write about it as a rape...like - I guess I never really thought it was. I never thought about it like that." her voice droppedback down.
"Oh Callie." Kasey whimpered shaking her head.
"Don't do that Kasey, please. Please. I don't need pity from you. I can't take that."
She looked at her earnestly in the eyes. Kasey mulled it over for a moment before taking Callie's hand.
"What do you need from me? Really, anything."
Callie took a deep breath and smiled.
"It'd be pretty good if you didn't walk home with any creepy guys you meet at parties." she replied, jaded, as Kasey teared up through a much needed laugh.
"I think I can do that for you." she replied with a smile as Callie nodded.
"It'd also be pretty sweet if you didn't treat me any differently." She raised her eyebrows. "Please Kase, I just want things to be normal."
Kasey nodded slowly. "That I can also do."
Callie took a deep breath and leaned back against the sofa.
Conversely, Kasey leaned forward clasping her hands over her knees and spotting her Moms' discarded glasses of wine.
She picked one up and turned to Callie with a shrug.
"Want some?" She asked with a half-smile as Callie shook her head with a laugh. "That normal enough for you?"
"I think I'll pas - but yes. That'll do." She smiled.
"And for the record..." Kasey added taking a small sip of the wine. "I don't pity you." She swilled the glass staring into the deep red before looking back at Callie. "I admire you."
Callie looked across, unsure of a response that could articulate how that made her feel.
They were interrupted with the return of Stef and Lena.
"Seriously?" Stef scolded gently, removing the glass from Kasey's grasp and flashing her an unimpressed glare.
"Callie, we spoke to Bill. That should get the wheels turning. We can't pretend this won't be difficult, but we are here for you a hundred percent."
"Thank you. For everything." She replied with sincere gratitude.
Both Moms nodded compassionately before Stef tapped a pattern on Kasey's shoulder.
"Well, I think it's about time you girls got some sleep, don't you?"
Kasey heaved herself up and pulled Stef into a hug.
"Night Mom." she whispered.
"Good night baby." Stef kissed her before Kasey moved on to do the same with Lena. Callie reluctantly stood up, watching Stef from the side. They locked eyes for a moment, a silent request transferring between them.
Stef puffed out her lip in a comforting smile and pulled Callie in close, wrapping her in all of the warmth and security that she needed. Although Callie didn't hug her back as strongly she closed her eyes and took in the feeling, savouring every fibre of it. Stef squeezed tighter and tighter until she finally felt the tiniest flicker of reciprocation and a twitch of Callie's hand. She hoped that one day Callie might hold her as tightly back as she was holding her, that she'd one day be comfortable enough to dive in head first. That wasn't today, but that was alright. There was a crack in the wall and that would be enough for now.
Next Chapter Preview: Kasey's blossoming relationship with Jude results in her taking on more than she bargained for:
"Hey!" Kasey ran forward, shoving one of the boys out of the way. He quickly ran off as she lunged, ripping Blake off Jude.
Jude staggered out, a look of terror at seeing Kasey's arrival.
She twisted Blake's arm round as he squealed in pain.