AN- Wow this one may have gotten away from me. Probably one of my favorite chapters to write. I hope you all enjoy it! Again I can't say thank you enough for the kind reviews, the ideas, for everything! You guys are keeping me going!
Jesus put his game on pause and turned to his sister placing a hand on her back "Brandon" He whispered looking up to the couch where Brandon was still reading quietly. "I think she's having a nightmare"
Brandon peered over his book and noticed the pained expression on her face. "Wow, that's fast, mama just left the room like three minutes ago."
Jesus began to run his hand over Mariana's forehead "It's alright. Mariana you're alright"
"Try waking her" Brandon said leaning forward on the couch "Mariana. Come on wake up Mariana."
Jesus kept rubbing her arm "I hate this" He mumbled I hate seeing her scared. He was about to shake her when there was a loud banging sound that came from the kitchen. Mariana jumped in her sleep and now tears started to spill.
Jesus watched Mariana jump again as they heard glass breaking in the other room and Stef's raised voice.
"This house feels so broken right now" Jesus grumbled to himself "If those punks weren't dead…I'd kill them myself for what they did to my sister's."
"Jesus" Brandon said calmly "That's not helping. I get it, but Mariana doesn't need to hear anything like that."
Mariana flew up and looked around her eyes as big as saucers her hand over her heart.
"Hey it's okay" Jesus said wrapping his arm around her shoulder
Mariana's eyes got wider and she began to cry silent but big tears.
"What's wrong?" Jesus asked as Brandon too climbed down onto the bed sitting next to her. Her lip was trembling and she couldn't bring herself to speak.
"Do you want a mom?" He asked "Please don't cry Mariana" He begged his voice shaking a little at seeing how upset his twin was. "Please, tell me what's wrong. I'll help"
"Maybe I should go get a mom" Brandon said quietly as Mariana's face turned bright red as she looked at her brother. "I had an accident" She whispered to him. "I am fifteen! I am so stupid" She whimpered.
"Oh." Jesus let out a sigh of relief thinking that there was something seriously wrong with his sister. "It's okay. It really is"
"No it's not" She whimpered again "I am too old"
"You were having a nightmare, tell me about it" He said softly
"You aren't disgusted by me?" She asked in a low sob "Or think I am a baby?"
"No" He shook his head "Mariana, what was happening in your dream?"
She buried her face in her hands as she kept crying "I was in a small tight box, and I couldn't see anything but I heard them. The boys they were back and then they killed mama. I heard her scream and then…"
Jesus wrapped his arm around Mariana "It was just a really bad dream. These things happen. Sometimes they are out of the scope of our control. You were terrified in your dream. It happens"
"But I am fifteen" She whimpered again "Jesus, I was so scared"
Brandon quietly slipped out of the room while Jesus brought his sister in for a tight hug.
"No, don't! I am gross!" She cried out. "I am so gross!"
"You aren't gross, and it's okay" He kissed her forehead tenderly something he hadn't done since they were nine. "I'll help clean this up."
"Mariana baby, what's wrong?" Lena asked entering the room after Brandon had come and found her.
Mariana's tears grew harder and heavier at seeing Lena. She buried her face in Jesus's shoulder and started sobbing to the point where she was gasping for air.
"She had an accident" Jesus whispered "I am not touching it" He added knowing how mortified his sister was with the thought it was now touching her brother. I just want to help her."
Lena reached out and touched Jesus's cheek "You're a wonderful brother" She whispered to him before reaching for Mariana's arm. Come on angel"
Mariana let out another sob before she allowed Lena to help pull her from the bed. She did her best to shield Mariana from the boys.
"I'll clean up mama" Jesus whispered while Brandon nodded "And I'll go help Jude with sandwiches"
"Thanks boys" She said softly as she ushered her hysterical teen from the room.
"You can get undressed and put your clothes right in the laundry" Lena spoke in a gentle tone to her daughter as she entered her and Stef's room "And then maybe take a bubble bath, with mom's favorite bubbles. Sounds good huh? I'll bring you a change of clothing."
Stef sat up carefully to not jostle Callie as Lena and a sobbing Mariana came into the room heading towards the bathroom. "Whoa, what's going on? What's wrong?"
Lena pushed Mariana into the bathroom before taking a step back out to look at Stef "How's it going with that one?"
"She's out" Stef said stroking Callie's hair "And I am guessing with her time in foster care she's used to noise. She hasn't flinched. Now what's wrong with my other baby girl?"
"Just a second" Lena held up her hand as she slipped into the bathroom to start filling the tub.
She looked to Mariana who was just standing there with her arms wrapped around herself big tears rolling down her cheeks. "Oh sweetheart" Her heart broke for her daughter.
"I can't believe I did that mama" She whimpered "I am such a freak! I didn't even see anything like you and Callie did! I shouldn't be such a freak about this. I am such a big stupid freak!"
"Hey now" Stef called entering the bathroom not being able to take not knowing what was going on with her younger daughter "Don't talk about my little girl like that please. She's not a freak."
"I am too" Mariana continued to sob as she rocked back and forth from foot to foot.
"Oh honey" Stef moved forward and wrapped Marina into her arms while Lena poured bubbles into the bubble bath.
"Come on Mariana, why don't you get undressed and into the tub" Lena said softly "Put your clothing in the washer, alright sweetheart? Mom and I will give you a little bit of privacy"
Mariana nodded and stepped out of Stef's hug while Lena motioned for her to follow her out of the bathroom for a moment.
Lena shut the bathroom door behind her but Stef shook her head "No, Love open it. She'll freak if she feels she can't get to us"
"Good point" Lena said opening the door before she headed over to the bed where Callie was sleeping. Her finger still curled around her nose. Lena bent down and kissed the top of her head before turning back to Stef who was still waiting for answers.
"What happened?" She asked in a hushed whisper so not to wake Callie or let Mariana hear them talking about her.
"She had a nightmare, more like terror and she had an accident." Lena chewed her lip "And now she's falling apart. She's so mad at herself."
"She's embarrassed yeah?" Stef asked tilting her head to the side "I would be too. I was. Do you remember when I was shot?"
"How could I forget that Stef" Lena grumbled "Worst day of my life!"
"Shh love" Stef grabbed Lena's hands and held them in her own "Sorry, I didn't mean it like that. I meant do you remember that first night home? When I was still so sore and couldn't move well? I woke up in the middle of the night and had to go?"
"I remember you being too stubborn to wake me up to take you" Lena grumbled which made Stef roll her eyes and drop Lena's hands "Anyways, if you remember correctly I had a partial accident and I about died! It's something that happens more then we hear of. Especially to victims of major trauma or major injuries or pregnant women. Don't even get me started on my last month of pregnancy with B. It's just more common than people will ever admit. It's a pride thing."
Lena sighed "She's just so broken right now Stef. They both are" She said looking to Callie "My girls, my beautiful girls." She held up her hands shook off the tears that were starting to form "I need to go get Mariana something clean to put back on."
Stef nodded as she knew Lena needed space to gather her emotions. "Alright, I am going to go check on her."
"Thank you" She said quickly before making a quick retreat from the room. Stef blew a piece of blonde hair from her face before she made her way into the bathroom. She went to the tub and dropped to her knees beside. "My Miss Thing"
Mariana was sitting in the tub with bubbles filled to the top covering every inch of her expect for where her knees poked out which had become a resting place for her chin.
"Hey look at me" Stef said resting her hands on the side of the tub. "Please look at me baby"
"I am such a big dumb baby, mom" Mariana sniffed as she tried to hold back more tears "Here I am freaking out like an idiot and I didn't even see anyone die like mama and Callie did"
Stef reached out and grabbed Mariana's knee's using them to turn her body a little bit so they were looking at each other. "Now stop right there Mariana" She shook her head "You may not, and I will not let you go down this road. You absolutely may not compare how you are grieving to mama and Callie."
"But they got shot, and saw people die" Mariana sobbed "I was just some big baby…"
Stef quickly cut her off by bringing her fingers to Mariana's lips and tapping them ever so gently. "Stop" She said in a little bit more stern voice which caught the girl by surprise.
"Listen to me sweets" Stef said seriously "You can't compare yourself to mama and Callie. You can't." She took a deep breath as she reached out ran her thumb over her daughter's cheek. "You mother did what she thought was best for you yesterday. What she thought would be your best chance. Now I am not saying if I were in her shoes I wouldn't do the exact same thing. You were hidden away and no body knew you were there. Which was great! That's probably what I would have done too. Now with that comes the fact that Mariana, small dark places such as the bench you were in are scary. Not being able to move, not being able to see. That's terrifying in its self" She took a deep breath "Yes, mama and Callie saw some horrible things yesterday that they have to process through. However that doesn't mean what you lived through wasn't scary either. Honey you couldn't see, you couldn't move! You must have felt so trapped and scared and you heard things that you might not know how to process because you didn't see it. So please please please don't compare how you're grieving and handling this to your mother and sister. It looks different for all of you" She leaned forward the best she could with a tub between them and kissed her daughter. "I am so proud of you, you handled yesterday like a trooper. You're one of my heroes in life angel. You are! You're a lot stronger then you give yourself credit for."
Mariana sniffed as she went to rub her face only successfully smearing bubbles across her face.
"Oh, let me" Stef grabbed a washcloth from the side of the tub and used it to wipe away the bubbles easily "There you go, my beautiful girl"
"Thanks" Mariana said with one more sniff as she was finally regaining composure "You really don't think having an accident is horrible?"
"No" Stef shook her head "Here, turn around" She gestured "Let me wash your back. Like I used to when you were little"
Marina turned in the tub and relaxed a little as she felt Stef rub the warm cloth up and down her back. "It wasn't stupid?"
"Mariana, you had a nightmare that was outside of your control. Your body reacted, outside of your control. It happens. It happened to me after I was shot?"
"It did? Really?"
"Mmmhmm" Stef nodded as she continued to drag the cloth around her back. "Baby, it was most likely a one time thing. I don't really see it happening again. It doesn't make you a bed wetter or a freak or a baby."
Lena re-entered the bathroom carrying the sheets and blankets Jesus had stripped from the bed and a fresh jogging lounge wear type outfit for Marina.
"How's it going in here?" She asked putting the fresh clothing on the counter before turning to put the blankets in the washer.
"I think we're feeling a little bit better now huh my love?" Stef asked leaning forward again to kiss her daughter's cheek, not caring she was now getting her shirt wet.
Mariana nodded "A little bit."
Lena moved to the tub and knelt down next to Stef. "Mariana, if you want to talk."
"I know" She nodded "I don't."
Stef handed the cloth to Lean "Don't bottle it up in side loves" She said speaking to both of them "It's okay talk, and I am here for you both."
Lena cleared her throat and gave Stef a glare. "No, Lena don't" She held up her finger "Don't give me that look. I am going to remind you guys all of you, even myself over and over again that talking is a good thing."
"Right" Lena mumbled as she turned her focus back to Mariana. "How's the water? Warm enough?"
"Yes mama" She said softly "Thank you"
Stef stood but bent down and kissed the top of Lena's head. "I am going to go see what the boys are up to. While you're up here can you keep an ear out for Callie?"
Lena nodded "Sure, I am going to wake her in about twenty minutes when Mariana and I head down for lunch. She needs to eat something and I want her to sleep tonight"
"Good plan" Stef agreed "I'll be right down stairs if you ladies need anything. Love you both" She said blowing them a kiss before she left the room.
Once out of the room she let out a heavy sigh. Her heart was breaking for her family. Just breaking.
The Fosters
FB
"It was nice of them to find us a private room that holds all four of us yeah?" Stef asked as she was laying back on one of the beds with Mariana curled up in her arms. Her head buried in Stef's shoulder area using Stef's hair as shield from the light that was on. Her eyes shut tightly and her fist clenching whatever little fabric she could grab a hold of from Stef's uniform.
While Lena and Callie sat side by side on the other bed. Callie legs cris crossed under her. Her elbows propped on her legs while her chin rested in her hands while she stared a spot on the floor.
Lena sat with her long legs dangling over the bed and she'd ever so often bring up her hand to run it up and down Callie's back. Bringing herself more comfort by this then Callie.
"Hello ladies" A elderly doctor with gray hair big glasses and blue bow tie on his lap coat entered the room with three charts in hands "I am sorry about the wait it's a bit busy today"
"You think?" Callie mumbled as she watched a nurse trail in after the doctor. "A school shooting would make a hospital fill up."
"Callie!" Lena hissed patting the girls back a little harder then she normal would have. "Don't be rude."
"What?" Callie mumbled "It's true and I have a chunk out of my arm to prove."
"Hey Callie" Stef clicked her tongue against her teeth "Enough love"
"I am sorry, Callie" The doctor said pulling up a wheeling stool and taking a seat on it as he slid up in front of her and extended his hand "I wish I was meeting you on better terms. I know you've had a rough day. I am Dr. Hopper."
Lena poked Callie in the ribs as she let out a sigh.
"I am Callie" She mumbled "And I am sorry, I know it's been a rough day for you too. I am sure seeing a bunch of kids and teachers shot up isn't exactly great either"
Stef groaned "Cool it Miss" She glared
"It's okay" The doctor held up his hands "She's upset, rightfully so. She's had an awful day and her arm hurts I am sure and she wants to go home."
Stef nodded "Understandable, but no matter what the circumstances are , my wife and I strive to teach our children to treat everyone around them with great respect. The way my daughter is talking to you and others in this room is not acceptable. I am really sorry for her behavior and she really does know better." She cleared her throat "Callie"
Callie nodded as she looked up and gave the doctor an embarrassed smile "Yeah, she's right. I do know better. I am sorry Dr. Hopper it's not your fault. I am tired and not looking forward to needles they make me jumpy like really jumpy but it's no excuse to talk to you like that. I am sorry."
Lena and Stef exchanged glances each taking a mental note of this. They'd never really had dealt with Callie and a Doctor before.
"I understand" Dr. Hopper smiled "I am going to stitch you and your mom up and then get your sister feeling better okay? So you guys can get out of here quickly. Now do you want to watch me stitch up mom first? Then you know exactly how it looks?"
Callie looked back at her lap "I've had many stitches in my life. I know how it works." She mumbled "I don't need to watch. Thank you though"
"Do you want to go first?" He asked "Get it done with?"
Callie nodded "Please"
"Good girl" He smiled "I'll make this is painless as possible"
"Right" She mumbled as she bit down on her lip.
"Alright" He smiled "Well a nurse is going to clean up your arm and give you a shot to numb it up. While she's doing that I am going to walk over to where your sister is and look her over okay?"
Callie nodded "Okay"
Dr. Hopper looked to Lena "As soon as she's done prepping Callie, she's going to prep you so you're ready to go too. I promise I'll make this go as quick as I can."
"Thank you" Lena smiled as she pried her eyes off of Callie for a moment to acknowledge the doctor.
He nodded and stood up going over to Stef and Mariana.
Callie watched as the nurse peeled away the bandage the EMT's had put on her. She watched as she cleaned the wound and she even watched as the nurse got the shot ready to numb her arm. However when the nurse approached her to give her a shot she quickly started scrambling to the side "No. No. No. I don't want that. I don't. Lena, I don't want that"
Lena's eyes got wide in surprise as her sixteen year old practically climbed in her lap then and over to get to the other side of her to hide behind her. "Stef" She said looking up to Stef who was already untangling herself from Mariana to come help Lena out. "I'll be right back Miss Thing" She whispered to Mariana as she settled her on the bed.
"Callie" Lena spoke softly "Sweetheart, your arm has to be stitched up" she said with a slight wince as Callie's nails dug into her arm. She wish now more than ever she still had her cardigan on.
"No" Callie's breathing was becoming more labored and Lena could feel her starting to shake beside her. Callie could handle being in a shooting, walking by dead bodies even seeing someone shot and killed but a needle she couldn't take. That was very interesting to Lena. She wished she had Callie's records with her right now so she could re-read her medical ones.
The nurse patted Callie's knee "Sweetheart, I promise I'll be quick and gentle."
"No" Callie shook her head "No! I've heard that before. No. Lena please" She begged her big brown eyes locking with Lena's as they filled with tears. Begging Lena to save her.
"Oh Sweetheart"
"May I?" Stef asked as she looked to the nurse who knew that Stef needed to get in front of her to get to her daughter. She nodded and quickly moved out of the way. "Just one moment and she'll be ready. Yeah?"
The nurse nodded again "Sure"
"I am sorry" Stef mouthed if either her or Lena had any idea Callie would react this way to needles they would have handled the situation different. "I need your help Lena." She directed as she came to the edge of the bed.
Lena nodded and found some strength to manage to pull Callie up into her arms long enough for Stef to slide in next to them. "Come to me my love" She whispered as she pulled the girl onto her lap.
"No" Callie sensed what was coming "No. Stef please don't make me. Please"
"I am sorry" Stef whispered into her ears "I'd be a really bad mom if I didn't let the doctor fix up your arm.
"I don't care" Callie argued as she tried to get up only to have Stef wrap her up in a tight bear hug and hold onto her with all the strength she had. Lena moved forward and grabbed both of Callie's hands she brought them up to her lips and kissed her finger tips before just holding on tightly.
Stef looked to the nurse "Can you please? Now?"
Callie struggled for a moment trying to get out Stef's arms but when she realized she wasn't strong enough that her cop mother was stronger she quit fighting.
Stef continued to hold her tightly and whispered softly into Callie's ears as the nurse came over and began to give Callie the shots "I know this is going to sting a little bit sweetie pie" She said softly "You focus on your mom's big hug alright?"
Callie didn't say anything as she closed her eyes tightly.
Stef felt warm tears hit her hands Lena noticed this as well and reached out and wiped the tears away with her thumb.
"All done" The nurse smiled as she pulled away from Callie "We're going to let that sit for just a moment. Then the doctor will stitch you up."
Callie opened her eyes in shock "You're done with the shot?"
"Yes sweetheart" She smiled as she patted Callie's leg "I promised I'd be as gentle as I could be."
"You okay now sweetheart?" Lena asked as she let go of Callie's hands "Take a deep breath for me please" She could see that Callie was still struggling to regain composure. Which to Callie was everything. The kid was a rock. Very little did you see this side of her.
"Well Miss Callie you've got the best seat in the house" Dr. Hopper smiled as he wheeled his stool in front of Stef "Since you've got such a great seat I am going to stitch you up really quickly okay?"
Callie bit down on her lip as she pushed herself all the way back against Stef and closed her eyes tightly as her breathing began to grow harder again "I don't like needles Stef. I don't like them."
"I know love" Stef kissed the top of her head "I can see that, but I am here and mama's here."
"I am going to be so quick" The doctor assured her.
"They've hurt me" Callie mumbled
Lena tilted her head to the side "What was that?"
Stef watched as the doctor took a hold of Callie's arm gently in his arm to get a better look at the wound before he set work.
"One of my first foster families they liked needles"
Lena felt chills roll down her spine just when she thought the day couldn't any more disturbing it did.
Even Dr. Hopper paused for a moment after Callie's words registered in his brain.
"What do you mean they liked needles Cal?" Stef asked as she rested her chin on the top of her head wrapping the girl in her arms even tighter as if that would protect her from this cruel world.
"They liked needles" She repeated "Punishments, experiments, methods of control. They used them for everything."
Lena closed her eyes for a moment before reopening them "Sweetie, I promise you're safe now and the needles the doctor is using is for a good reason and it will be done soon okay? You're brave. You're so brave"
Stef and Lena glances clearly saying they'd have to talk to her more about this soon.
"I know" She mumbled as she tried to focus on her breathing "I know I am being a wimp."
"Nope" Stef said loudly to capture Callie's attention "You are not being a wimp. You've developed a phobia to needles. After you were mistreated with them. You're not a wimp."
"And I am done" The doctor smiled "I went quick princess" He said softly as he finished bandaging her arm. "You did great, and I'll give your mom's care instructions." He patted his knee before scooting in front of Lena to take care of her arm.
The nurse handed Stef a tissue which she handed to Callie who used it to wipe her face while Stef kept her bear hug on the girl and her chin rested on her head but she began to rock her softly while she watched the doctor stitch up Lena.
After a few minutes Callie had gained enough composure and crawled her way off of Stef's lap "I am sorry, I didn't mean to be a brat" She said in a quiet voice before she did a bed switch and went and sat with Mariana.
"Do you have a counselor?" The doctor asked without taking his eyes off of his work. "If you don't I can recommend you one."
"We haven't thought that far ahead yet" Stef said honestly "We've been fight or flight mode the last few hours. Just flying to get us here."
"Understandable" Dr. Hopper said casting a glance at Stef "I am sorry."
Stef smiled and nodded "Thanks, I am just thankful my family okay, and thankful they are such a group of strong individuals. As hard it was today for my family, I couldn't anymore proud of them.
"We learned to be strong from you" Lena whispered to Stef "You're what I focused on today. Being strong like you and getting the girls to you. We really did learn to be strong from you."