A/N- Thank you for reading, I appreciate you! This whole chapter is Stef POV because the chapter got too long and had to split it. Remember this story ends where the next episode begins, I have most of it worked out but need to type it up. I also have an outline written for a possible sequel. If you get the chance please leave a review, i love to know what you're thinking. Enjoy!
As always- I don't own The Fosters all i own is this cup of pumpkin flavoured coffee.
Stef POV
The child to my side is quickly back to sleep, her breathing slow and even. On the verge of being considered shallow. Lens is off putting together food in the kitchen. I'm quite worried about the girl. I'm really hoping its just a blood sugar issue, I don't remember the last time she ate.
I want to see if she'll respond and find out what exactly is going on, the cop in me wants to investigate, so I gently shake her shoulder. "Callie, love, I need you to wake up for me." She groans and slowly opens her eyes, then Slam them shut at the light. They flutter open again, adjusting to the room, and looks towards me. It's not quite at me as her eyes are still glossy and unfocused.
"How are you feeling?" I ask, knowing full well it can't be that great. All I get in response is a grunt. "No, sweets. Words, remember? You're not alone but I can't help if I don't know what's going on. You have to use your words." She looks intently at me, trying to process what I just told her. Her mouth opens and she slurs "dizzy tired." "Okay baby, when did you start feeling this tired? You seemed okay yesterday." I ask while running my fingers through her hair. I keep my voice calm, happy that she's not fighting me right now.
"Just wanted sleep." She barely slurs out as her head lulls back onto my shoulder. I grasp her chin and try to keep the panic out of my voice. "What does that mean? What did you do?". She just looks at me for a moment before looking anywhere but my eyes. "Sleep. Pills. Sleep." Shit. Wait, we don't have any sleeping pills. So what the heck did she take? She must have gotten it in the bathroom this morning, the only time she was out of my sight. We only have minimal medications left in there anyway. We're going to have a long long talk about this later.
"What did you take?" She just shrugs her shoulders in response. I respond sternly. "No Honey. This is very important. What did they look like?" The slurring of her words is making it hard to understand but I make out 'white' 'small' and 'circle'. I wrack my brain to figure out what we have with that description. Then it clicks. Crap. "How many? How many did you take Callie?" She sing songs "twwwwooooo" holding out the word like a small child would. Okay, so maybe it's not too bad?
I remember at the academy there was someone who had an accidental overdose where he just forgot he took a medication and took another dosage, causing his body to react similarly. I know Lena probably wants to be responsible and take her to the hospital but I just want to fix this, now. If we take her in too they can take her and her brother away. We had helped the kid at the academy there too so he wouldn't get in trouble, we called someones friend, a doctor I think, and he told us how to flush out his system. It's worth a shot.
"Lena!" I yell out, my voice cracking at the end. She comes rushing in "Yes, love, whats wrong?" She asks, alarmed by my voice. "I need a few glasses of watered down juice. Right now please." Her face scrunches in confusion, I would smile at how cute she looks doing this if I wasn't so concerned about my daughter. "Okay?" She half asks. "Our dear Callie here took some of our medications to help her sleep, it seems she took one too many and is having a bit of a strong reaction. I want to see if we can flush it out of her. Orange juice would be perfect." Lena nods and goes to turn away, stopping and looking back for a moment "We're going to talk about this later." She states before heading back to the kitchen. "I know love" I call after her "But, right now, we need to fix this."
Moments later she returns with a pile of toast and eggs that she had finished right before I called her in. As well the tray had coffee for us and half a dozen glasses filled to the top with juice. I release a small chuckle as I comment "We only need half of those at the most." She looks at me "What? If it would work I'd make her drink the whole bathtub full." I can tell she is trying to be calm but clearly worried about the chance that this won't work. Even more so at the fact this kid overdosed, even unintentionally.
I am too, to be honest. If we take her to the hospital for this there's a chance that she could be taken before we even tell her we want her. All foster homes are supposed to have medications locked up, and we usually do. It was one simple mistake we forgot to close the lock. One mistake that could cost an innocent girl so much. We could also loose our license to foster and both these wonderful kids. I can't think that right now. I need to try and fix this. I need to fix my family.
"Love. Come on, I need you to sit back up for me." I encourage as I maneuver our bodies so that she's at least sitting up straighter. Although, most of her weight is still leaning against me. "I know you want to sleep, but I need you to drink this first." I pass her a glass. Even with two hands its slipping so I rest my palm against the bottom of the glass, helping her to raise the juice to her lips. She drinks what could barely constitute a sip. Her hands try to bring the glass back down but I hold it in place. "Sorry, I know you don't want to, but you have to drink more. This whole glass at least." She turns her head to look up at me, tears start escaping her eyes, tracking down her cheeks. Her eyes are pleading and my heart is breaking.
"It's okay. I'll let you sleep once you finish this. It's very, very important." I say as soothingly as I can. She takes one more sip and tries to move the glass again. Closing her eyes in the process. "Baby, one more warning. I'm going to be honest, like we all have to be with each other, yes?" She gives a subtle nod and opens her eyes to look at me again. "If you don't drink this, I'm going to take you to the hospital right now. I know that I don't want that to happen. I don't think you do either."
As we lift the glass back to her mouth she chokes with the speed she attempts to down the glass in. One and a half glasses later I can tell we won't get anymore into her. But, I think what we did get into her should be enough to see if this will work. But now we wait. I hate waiting.
SPECIAL A/N- I DO NOT ENCOURAGE HOME TREATMENT OF OD. I AM A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL AND UNDERSTAND SITUATIONS AND HOW SOME CAN BE HANDLED DIFFERENTLY DEPENDING ON THE MEDICATION AND ROUTE. STEF IS STUPID AND WORRIED AND MAKING POOR DECISIONS IN CARING FOR CALLIE AT HOME. IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW OD'S GET THEM PROFESSIONAL HELP IMMEDIATELY.