AN- Hey guys! I got a chance to write one more update before I went! Surprise! :) I hope you enjoy! Thank you for all the love and support on this story! You all make writing so much fun! Best Readers EVER! Ta Ta for now! Go out and shine! :)
The Fosters
Callie stayed tight in Lena arms for a good few minutes while Lena just rested her chin on the top of the girls head holding her tightly to her.
Stef allowed the two to have this moment just the two of them as it had been just the two of them who had run down these halls together. The two had been shot at together.
"Hard morning huh?" Lena said softly as she felt the girl nod against her. "Harder then you were thinking it would be."
Again another nod "And you don't feel so good, do you?"
There was a long pause before Callie broke away and looked up at Lena with big eyes. She knew she'd been closed off and down our right cranky that morning, but she'd done her best to convey how awful she felt.
"What?" Lena asked with a laugh "I am your mom, I know these things."
Stef now stepped beside Lena and looked at her daughter. "Time to be really honest" She said seriously "How are you feeling?"
Callie looked to the ground "Not the best, but I am okay."
Stef and Lena exchanged a look.
"I think you should let mom take you home." Lena said softly as she reached out and touched Callie's arm.
Callie's head snapped back up and she stepped back from Lena her eyes wide "No! No I don't want to go home! I want to stay here."
"Sweetheart, I am not liking the idea of you staying here today, when you've been fighting an infection."
"I want to stay" Callie insisted "I want to…" She brought in her lip and bit down as her eyes went to her shoes not being able to voice she wanted to stay with Lena.
Lena nodded "I know slug a bug, I want you here with me too." She said honestly "The thought of sending you home does make me a little sad. "But as your mom, I have to do what's best for you, and I think sending you home with mom is really is what is best for you."
Callie's eyes filled with tears as she shook her head "No, I don't want to! I am fine. What's best for me is to be here with you! With Jude! With Mariana and Jesus and Brandon!"
"You might need the doctor." Lena said grabbing her chin and using her thumbs to wipe away tears.
"No!" Callie gasped louder pulling away "I've got an appointment with you! I want to go with you!"
"Alright" Stef held up hands as her daughter was going into hysterics and there were parents and kids around and their eyes were now focused on Lena and Callie.
"How about, I take you home with me Cal" She said softly "And you just rest for the day and then after school. You'll still go to your doctor appointment with mama."
Lena smiled "That's a pretty good compromise, and I am thankful that. I'd love to have you with me when I go in."
"Why can't I stay here?" Callie asked "I've gone to school when I haven't felt good before. Like almost my whole life. I'll be fine."
Lena nodded "You might be fine, but you might not be fine, and honey by looking at you by your actions this morning I know in my heart you need to be home."
Callie let out a soft sigh knowing she wasn't going to win this battle. "But the doctors this afternoon? I can still go with you?"
"As long as you don't spike a high fever." Lena made sure to put that out there just in case.
Callie rubbed her eyes as she studied Lena Stef. She decided to try one more time as she batted her big brown eyes and her lips formed to a little pout "But I could take it easy here."
Lena shook her head "Don't do that Callie, don't use those big browns against me. It won't work. I am a mom they don't work on me. I want you at home resting today."
"Alright, love, why don't you go get your stuff out of your classroom" Stef pointed "And come right back to me."
"Okay" Callie said softly as she slipped back into her classroom.
"Think she'll come out on her own?" Lena asked
"She better" Stef shook her head "If she wants to see her next birthday." She said with a smirk as Callie came out a few seconds later with her books.
"Let me" Stef smiled and took them as Lena pulled her daughter back into her arms "I love you, get some good sleep. Watch a couple of movies, have Gram make you a grilled cheese sandwich."
"That sounds good yes?" Stef asked with a smile as Callie shrugged.
"I just want to stay with you" She whispered to Lena as she hugged her again.
Lena closed her eyes, this was harder then she thought it would be. "I'll see you soon, you can text me all day long."
Callie sighed and nodded as she rubbed her face, clearly showing Lena and Stef she wasn't feeling well.
"I am going to be fine" Lena assured her "Promise" She held up her pinky "Pinky promise"
Callie used her pinky and hooked it with Lena and nodded "Bye mama"
"See you soon baby" She leaned in and kissed her. "Love you" She then looked to Stef "Thank you, have a good day honey."
Stef winked at her "You too" She said shifting Callie's books in her hand so she could place her hand on Lena's shoulder "Call me anytime."
Lena placed her hand on Stef's hand and nodded "I will. Get her home to the grandparents, and then get to work."
Stef nodded "I'll pick her up, on my way to meet you guys here."
"Sounds good" Lena smiled as she watched Stef shift Callie's book one more time as she wrapped her arm around her daughter's waist and led her down the halls.
Callie looked back once and Lena waved at her before she turned back around and they were both gone.
"You're a really good mother"
Lena turned around to see a parent standing where Callie had just been moments before. "You were really good with her, she looked terrified."
"Hi Ms. Adams" A girl poked out from behind the woman.
"Well hi McKenzie" Lena's eyes lit up as she recognized the girl. She was on crutches but otherwise looked good. "How are you doing sweetheart?"
McKenzie shrugged "It's been a long few days, but my mom and I wanted to thank you for stopping to get me when you found me, and for protecting me when you did and just keeping me calm. I wanted to thank Callie too, but she seemed to be having a rough time. Maybe later."
"Oh sweetheart" Lena said brushing her hand across McKenzie's cheek. "You don't have to thank me. I am so glad I was able to help you."
"They said you tying your sweater to her leg, bought her some more time" The woman said sticking out her hand "I am Julia by the way and you know my daughter."
Lena nodded as she carefully wrapped McKenzie in a side hug "That, I do."
"They said if she was left any longer or if you hadn't tied your sweater around the wound putting pressure on it she would have bled out. You and your daughter saved my daughter's life. Thank you."
Lena closed her eyes at the thought and shook her head "I am just so sorry this happened."
"It's not your fault" Julia shook her head "Don't let anyone tell you it is, you can't control what someone else does."
McKenzie nodded "That's what my mom always says. We are responsible for our own actions"
Lena smiled "Your mom is a brilliant woman, and you sweet girl I am just so glad to see you up right and with all your color back"
"It's nice to see you looking normal too" She smiled "Not covered in blood. Um speaking of.. Is Callie alright?"
Lena sighed "She will be, her arm is having a bad reaction to the gun shot. So she's fighting an infection. As hard as she tried to make it this morning, she's just not feeling good."
Julie nodded "Understandable, and battling some demons?" She asked biting her lip "We are?" She said in a whisper."
"Oh yes" Lena nodded "My family knows about that. My girls especially are taking this hard." She looked at McKenzie "Don't let anyone tell you how to feel. If you need me at all today come find me. Even if you just need to talk. I'll be here."
McKenzie nodded and then looked to her mother "I should get to class."
"I'll be here when the bell rings" She said leaning forward kissing her daughter on the forehead. "I love you pumpkin"
McKenzie groaned and turned red "Mom!" She then huffed as she shook her head at Lena "Can you believe her?"
"I can" She smirked poking McKenzie's side "I am a mom."
McKenzie rolled her eyes and then smiled "Bye mom, see you around Ms, Adams"
Lena and Julie watched as McKenzie walked into her classroom before Julie turned to Lena "How are you handling everything?" She asked with a slight shake in her voice "She's emotional and angry and.."
"Yeah, that's the theme song in our house too" Lena said softly tilting her head to the side "And since I was front in center in all of this I've had my emotions. My wife has really been the glue for us. For us it's a lot of reassurance, and talking, physical contact, hugging, snuggling on the couch." Lena looked up "Does that sound bad? Snuggling. I don't have any other words, but our kids especially my girls are so clingy. They need the touch constant hugs and kisses and..."
"No" Julia held up her hands "No, that doesn't sound bad at all. Kenzie has been really clingy too, but then really angry the next minute and my husband is out of town on business and it's just me and my ten month and McKenzie it's so hard to find a balance."
Lena's purse was on her side so she dug around and found the business card of the counselor she was seeing with her girls. "We like her, it's helped especially with my daughter Mariana, with Callie we need structure and tough at moments as she's more angry, you're not a bad parent if you lay down laws and enforce rules and consequences when their emotions are out of control. It's hard. I get it. Seeing my girls melting down and not knowing what to do with their emotions, but they have to know that some things are just not okay. They have to let things out in a health manner."
Julie let out a sigh "Really? That's okay? She was screaming at me the other night throwing things and I didn't know what to do. I felt like if I raised my voice or sent her to a different room or took away her phone that I would be the worst parent ever. I mean she just lived through being shot. Seeing her friends die. She saw you and Callie get shot. I don't even know what's going through her mind, but she destroyed a room in my house."
Lena couldn't hold back anymore she brought this woman in for a hug and held her tight for a moment rubbing her back "I am in the same boat" She whispered "It's hard, but laying down the laws and following the routines does not make you a bad mom. Just make sure after you let her know how loved she is."
Julie wiped at her eyes and nodded before looking at the card. "I am going to go call right now, thank you. For saving my daughter, and for reassuring me. I hope your little one you sent home feels better soon. Tough stuff."
"Little one' Lena repeated softly "They do seem so much littler now, don't they?"
"Oh yes" She shook her head "Last week at this time, I sent my teenager to school, who looked too big for words, this week. I am sending my baby to school all over again. I want to pick her up and hold her in my arms. She's my baby."
"I understand that one." Lena smiled as she peered in the door window and spotted Brandon, her heart slammed against her chest. She wanted nothing more than to run inside that class room and pull him out and hold onto him and all of the other kids. It was hard leaving him there.
"Well, have a good day" Julie said looking at the card again "And if McKenzie needs me she can call."
"She'll be able to have her phone on all day, feel free to check in with her too."
Julie nodded and patted Lena's shoulder "You're an amazing Vice Principal Lena. These kids are lucky to have someone who wants what is best for them.."
Lena wrapped her arms around herself and watched Julie walk away. She then peeked in on Brandon and McKenzie one more time before she headed to her closet office to get ready for the all school assembly. It was going to be a long day and there were hundreds of children counting on her. Including four of her own in the building.
The Fosters
FB
A year ago on the first day of school Callie was walking in holding her mother's hand. Her mother had bought her new clothes, brushed her hair out, made sure to pull it back into perfect braids. She'd written her name in all her things. Stuck an I love you note in four different places in Callie's bag. She checked out the classroom met the teachers.
Now Callie stood in front of a new school, wearing jeans with a hole in the knee, shoes too tight for her feet. Her hair was limp. No new school supplies, no love notes. No hand to hold. No one introducing her teacher or classmates. No one offering her a ride home after school. In fact she didn't even know what bus to take. She'd have to ask her teacher.
Now she was on her own entering a school all by herself. Kids rushed by her laughing and showing off new shoes.
Callie's lip quivered but she refused to cry. She was tough! She could do this. She made her way up the stairs to the school. She knew if she got to the office they could tell her which classroom she belonged in.
She watched a few mothers take pictures of best friends reunited. She watched other's hold the hands of their child and listened as the child talked full speed. Her stomach feeling heavy. She wondered if she would ever have a hand to hold on the first day of school again.
She knew next year when Jude started kindergarten that she would hold his hand. He would never knew what it felt like to walk into school on his own. She'd never allow it.
She set her chin held head high and walked into the school. After all she was tough.