AN- So I wrote this a few weeks ago, I work at ridiculous hour in the morning so I never get to watch the Foster's at night it's just too late when you have to get up as early as I do. So I've watched the first few mins this morning. My opinion of Dani has been changing for the past few weeks.. So this is an AU world in her case :).. You'll see when you read.. :)

To everyone who has reviewed... OH. My. Word.. You all made my day! You have know idea how much that means to me. Or how helpful it is and makes me want to keep writing. (I have the first 4 chapters done.. Still working on more) Thank you again! You guys just ROCK! ENJOY!

The Fosters

Lena rubbed Mariana's arms as the car pulled into the drive way. "We're home sweetheart"

"Mama" She whimpered

"Let's get inside, see your brothers, I bet Jesus is going to knock you over with his bear hug." She whispered as she leaned over Mariana to open the car door.

Stef looked over at Callie who was just sitting in the front seat, eyes locked on the house. "Love, we're home, it's okay. We're safe now"

Callie looked over at Stef and gave her a disbelieving look before letting out a sigh and climbing out of the car.

Stef sighed as she watched her three tired beaten broken girls walk tiredly up the steps to their door. Each forever changed and that broke Stef's heart.

"We'll get inside, see our boys" She said leading them up the stairs as she unlocked the door and led them closing it as soon as Lena the rear of the group was inside. She shut quickly and locked both locks resting her hand on the door for moment. She was home. Her family was home. Her kids were all here. Her wife was here. Tonight she'd tuck her kids into bed. As several local families would have empty beds that would never be slept in again. Her heart slammed into her chest at that thought. The realization she could have been one of those mother's tonight with an empty bed.

"MAMA" Jude's voice was the first voice to greet her ears. She could hear his feet pounding on the stairs as he ran down them as quickly as he could throwing himself into Lena's awaiting arms.

Stef watched Callie closely for moment seeing a look of relief and hurt on her face by Jude's actions.

Jesus and Brandon followed quickly down the stairs, Brandon moving behind Jude to hug his other mother. Jesus running to Mariana, his arms wrapping around her so tightly he lifted her from the ground in his hug. He whispered something into her ear causing Mariana to let out a small sob bury her face in his chest.

Stef pulled Callie into her side and looked around "Where's Dani?" She asked the boys. Dani had been the one that Mike called to come the boys when they had received word that all three of Stef's sons were out of the school and at the church down the block. Knowing the boys were with a safe adult at Stef and Lena's house locked in made it easier for Stef and Mike to focus on their jobs and finding the girls.

"I am right here" Dani said as she entered the foyer "I was in the kitchen, I made a few meals to freeze. There's a chicken bake in the oven. It just needs to be warmed up. I am sure you guys aren't hungry but…"

"No, thank you" Stef held up her hands "I really appreciate it and I am sure none of my kids have eaten anything since breakfast. They need something in their bellies. Thank you again for taking the boys. Was everything…." She paused she couldn't use the words ok. Nothing had been okay about their day.

Dani sensed what she was going to say and nodded "We did the best we could, I kept the TV's off. We just waited for news via phones. The boys worked on setting up this" She said guiding Stef and Callie to the main living room area where all the furniture had been pushed back to set up two king size and one full air mattress all side by side covered with all the houses blankets and pillows.

Stef's free hand went over her heart as she looked at the seen in front of her.

"We figured, maybe tonight we could all be together" Jude explained to Stef as he came up beside his mother and sister wrapping his arms around Callie tightly.

"My babies' Stef said softly as Lena came to stand beside Stef. Tears filling her eyes.

Dani cleared her throat "Do you guys, need anything else?"

Stef shook her head "No, I can handle it from her. I am just going to help my girls clean up and feed my kids."

"You're sure?"

Stef nodded "The doctors gave me something to help the girls sleep tonight, and I think my family just needs to be together."

Dani nodded "Mike?"

"He's okay, he's at the station finishing up some paper work. He…" Stef swallowed some tears she was trying to keep back "He managed to get me the rest week off, so I could be here. Be with my kids with my wife. He also has arranged for a grief counselor to come over tomorrow. He's been great. Can you go be with him? So he's not alone?"

Dani nodded "If you need anything…"

Stef nodded instinctively pulling Callie as close to her body as she could. "We'll call" She assured the young woman.

Brandon walked Dani to the door and said something to her. Most likely he said he was staying with his family. She gave him a hug before slipping out the door.

Stef made sure he locked both locks before turning her attention to her solemn family. She took a deep breath. They needed guidance and direction, they needed someone to be strong.

"Mariana" She turned to her youngest daughter who had let go of her twin and was now back to holding on to her mama for dear life. While Lena swayed back and forth her chin resting on Mariana's head. As she tried desperately to bring comfort to both of them, her eyes locked on Stef begging her to tell them what to do next. "Mariana, my love" Stef said softly "I want you to go upstairs, change into those new pretty fleece pajamas I just got you, and then in my closet on my side top shelf. I stored you're old blanket you were going to get rid of." She said softly thinking of the irony of the situation, when she had been shot the twins had gone through all their old stuff to get rid of things. When she'd come home from the hospital she saw the boxes sitting by the back door ready to be donated. She snatched the old favorite cuddle buddy of her daughter and stored in her closet. Knowing that was a treasure not to throw out. Seeing Mariana's relieved face at the mention of the blanket she knew she made the right choice. "Then come back down here okay?"

Lena squeezed Mariana's shoulders "Go"

"Mama"

"I am here" Lena whispered into her ear "I am right here"

"Love, it's okay" Stef said moving over to Mariana lifting her chin so their eyes could meet "Mama is here, and I am here. You're okay now." She leaned forward and kissed her forehead leaving her lips lingering for a few moments. "It's okay. Go get changed and get your night night"

Lena nodded "Go on baby, we'll see each other in a few minutes"

Jesus came and wrapped his arm around his twin's shoulder "Come on Mariana, I'll help you get your blanket out of mom's closet." He said wrapping his arms around her and leading her to the stairs.

"Um mom" Jude said stepping forward as he watched Mariana and Jesus head up the stairs. "Mama and Callie, look okay but they have blood on them and you were at the hospital…"

"We're okay Buddy" Callie said quietly as Jude kept his eyes on Stef knowing she wouldn't try and protect him the way Callie did.

"They'll be fine. Callie and mama need a few stiches from where a bullet grazed their arms. It's really okay. We were there longer getting Mariana's migraine checked out and getting medication for that."

Jude nodded satisfied by the answer moved over to Brandon.

"Alright" Stef looked at Lena and Callie "My loves, let's get you two cleaned up hey?" She pushed Lena towards the stairs "Cals, can you come into our bathroom so I can help you?"

"Oh, no" Callie tried to give Stef a smile as eyes traveled to Lena before shaking her head. "No, I don't need help. I am fine."

"Sweets" Stef took a deep breath "I am going to rephrase this, I want you to head upstairs to my bathroom, I don't want you or mama alone right now."

Callie's eyes went back to Lena before looking back at Stef "I am fine Stef" her voice growing louder with irritation "I've lived through worse!"

Mariana was reverting to the scared child she'd been when they brought her home. Callie too was reverting to the child they had brought home with those protective walls. Stef could see it in both girls eyes and she refused to let them retreat too far.

"Stef, honey" Lena tried as her voice cracked Callie's rejection only adding more pain to her afternoon "It's okay She…."

"She is going to do what I've said." The blonde said cutting off her spouse "Now, Callie"

Callie sighed "Can I grab my pj's out of my room?"

Stef shook her head "No, love" She said taking both Lena and her by surprise. "I put a load in the dryer this morning, we'll just grab those ones."

"But"

"Callie" Stef shook her head "Please baby, please not tonight, please don't do this tonight..."

"You don't know anything about tonight!" Callie practically screamed "You don't know what I am feeling! I AM FINE" her voice was growing louder with each word as tears began to roll down her cheeks "You don't know!"

Lena rubbed her forehead as her voice cracked "I can't.. I can't do this right now" She whispered to Stef before she took off running up the stairs.

"Callie, what are you doing?" Jude moved to his sister as he wrapped his arms around her shaking body causing her to lose all resolve her knees buckling as she crashed to the floor taking Jude with her.

Stef watched in shock as the teen crumpled on the ground with her little brother holding her. "Callie, they don't know. It's just bad timing. Callie. You're scaring me" He whispered.

"We don't know what?" Stef asked dropping to her knees in front of her children carefully slipping Callie from Jude's arms taking her into her own as she held her tightly rocking her.

"Nothing" Callie managed to choke out "Jude! Don't say anything!"

"But Callie" Jude's eyes were big "It's not fair to them. They should know!"

"NO!" Callie snapped at him "I mean it Jude! Nothing! Say nothing" She warned before pushing out of Stef's arms and running up the stairs herself.

The Fosters

Flash Back

Time seemed to freeze for Lena as she heard screaming coming from outside her office, with the screams came more gun shots. Her heart was racing.

"Mommy" Mariana's voice pulled her out of her trance. Mariana hadn't called her mommy in years. Both her girls were sitting in the chairs frozen, their eyes locked on her. Needing her to do something. She needed to do something.

"Girls get down on the ground" She said again this time in a more demanding voice as the screams outside her office grew louder and every few seconds the sound of gun firing. She had to get them out of the school, away from the gun fire. She had to find her boys, she had to protect her staff.

"Does mom know to send police over here?" Mariana asked "You told her there was a shooting, what if no one has called the cops. Mommy the cops need to come out here."

Lena's eyes got wide for a second she didn't tell Stef to send help over. She'd just hung up on her.

"She knows" Callie quietly as she sunk to the ground like Lena had asked.

"How do you know?" Mariana asked as she too got on the ground clutching her head.

Callie's phone was in her hand as she showed Mariana a text "It's a group text from Stef. It says help is coming and I love you" Leave it to Stef to send a text as she was rushing out the door.

Lena ran over to the window and began to pull on it. If she could get the window open she could slip Mariana and Callie out. Getting them out was her number one priority. She pulled as hard as she could on the window but it wouldn't budge.

"Callie, come help" She called quietly to the teen. Time was not their friend right now they needed to move quick.

Callie got up to help Lena both of them on the window as hard as they could. It never once budging. Lena let out a helpless frustrated her cry as the palm of her hand hit the window and slid down to the sill. Her babies were in this room, she needed to get them out. She slammed her hand on it knowing she it was double pane glass, there was no way she could break it. Her stomach was filling with dread. Her eyes scanned the room landing on a bench that had storage in it. She quickly ran to it pulling off the decorative pillows and random books. She opened it up and peered inside. It was deep enough and long enough to hold one of her girls. She could hide one of her girls in here until she figured out how to safely get them out of the building and away from the shooters. The bench was out of the way out of sight really. She knew it would work to keep one of the girls safe. Her eyes traveled to both the girls "Mariana baby" She spoke softly she knew hiding Mariana in a bench wasn't her favorite plan, but she also knew that when she tried to get Callie out of there if she saw something Callie would be less traumatized then Mariana. "Come here"

Mariana's eyes got big but after another round of gun fire could be herd she quickly crawled her way to her mother. Lena put in a pillow and looked at Mariana. "Angel, I need you to get in here."

"Mommy" She whimpered

"I need to know you are safe, the police will stop the shooters soon, in the mean time you need to be out of sight. Please baby climb in here."

Mariana hesitated for a brief moment before doing what she was asked. Lena grabbed her coat and tucked it around Mariana's shoulders and then took her own cell phone made sure it was on complete silence and tucked it in with her. "Don't open this no matter what you hear." Lena warned "Don't open it until I come back for you."

"Mama"

"I know" Lena brushed her hair away from her eyes and leaned in and gave her a butterfly kiss like she used to when Mariana was small. "My heart, I love you. I'll be back for you soon. Be my big brave girl. Okay?"

Mariana nodded "Yes mama, I can do it!"

"I know you can sweetheart" Lena wiped a tear away from Mariana's face before closing the bench and placing the pillows and books back on making it look like it had before. She wiped quickly at her tears then looked at Callie. "I need to get you out of here" She whispered "And figure out how to stop what's going on."

"You can't stop what's going on" Callie shook her head as they herd more commotion outside Lena's door. "The minute you go into plain view whoever has the gun will shoot you! You have to get out of here too!"

"Let me get you out first" Lena said crawling to the door. Her hands shaking as she unlocked it slowly pulling it open so she could take a peek into the hall. Elissa Thompson's English class was two doors down. She had her window open that morning, because the heater was stuck on in her class room blowing consistent warm air onto the kids. She had been trying to keep it cooler. If Lena could get herself and Callie over there safely she could get Callie out. Then she could asset the damage, see if there was anyone that needed her. The screaming had seemed to quiet down and there hadn't been any shots fired in a few minutes. No movement was happening outside of her door. She pushed the door open further and scanned the halls before motioning for Callie to follow her. Once Callie was behind her she grabbed her hand and held onto it tightly "Don't let go of my hand unless I tell you to run. If I tell you to run you run" She whispered "Don't hesitate, don't look back you go" She instructed Callie as they made their way out into the open hallway. It was now eerie quiet and Lena now understood what the smell of death meant. They made it a few feet from Lena's office when they saw Mrs. Hines a sectary in the middle of the hall way.

"Is she?" Callie whispered as her and Lena moved over to the body kneeling down. Lena's hands shook as she checked for a pulse. After finding none she pulled her hand back quickly nodding to her daughter. Callie winced and used her free hand to cover her mouth.

Lena's eyes darted around the hall. She needed to get Callie out of the main hallway now. She prayed the west wing of the school had been evacuated when the first shot was fired. All her boys had classes in that wing during this time of the day. She felt Callie gripping her hand tightly as they quietly backed away from the body and continued to creep down the hallway trying to make as little noise as possible. She squeezed her daughter's hand letting her know she was there. Lena pointed to the end of the hall where Mrs. Thompson's English class was. Letting Callie know that's where they were headed.

Callie shook her head pulling Lena's hand making her stop. She pulled her as close to her as she could "This area of the building hasn't been evacuated yet, whoever is shooting was just here."

Lena nodded trying to grasp what Callie was going to say.

"The doors are going to be locked from the outside. Even if you knock they won't open the doors Lena."

Lena cast a glance back to her office, her keys were in her coat pocket in with Mariana. She couldn't go back and get them. She couldn't risk it. She'd have to get Callie out down the next hallway at the emergency exit door. Now it was a farther. Now she had her child out in the open. Maybe they should have just stayed hunkered down in her office. Maybe.

Callie squeezed Lena's hand again "Someone's coming" She whispered as she pulled Lena with her into a space where broken locker had been removed the day before. If someone glanced down the hallway they wouldn't see them. The two stood there silently hand in hand with baited breath.