"Mike! Where is she!" Lena was running into the emergency room. "She's in intensive care, they won't let me see her." Lena was trying to stay composed, Mike spoke again, "They told us to sit." Lena shook her head, "That's not gonna happen." She muttered. Jesus and Mariana took a seat in the corner.
Taylor was pacing around the kitchen when she heard the front door open, they had been gone for three hours. "Stef!? Lena!?" she ran out only to find Brandon. "Oh hi. I thought you guys would be having dinner." Brandon smiled. Taylor shook her head, "Uh. That ended quickly and awkwardly, how did your night out with your ex go?" Brandon smiled, "Good. Where's everyone?" Taylor paused, "Uh. Jesus went out to see his birthmom, Stef and Lena went after him." Brandon stopped, he wasn't shocked he knew Mariana had been talking with her birthmom. The front door began to open again, both Taylor's and Brandon's hopes falling when Callie walked in. "Oh hi. Something wrong?" Callie asked seeing both her foster siblings faces. "They left three hours ago. I thought that you two must have been them." Brandon looked hard at Taylor, "Three hours ago? Should we worry?" Callie could already see that the two were worrying already. "I'm sure they just wanted to talk to the twins without everyone else around." Callie smiled at the two and put an arm around Taylor, "Let's go sit in the kitchen and wait for everyone to get home alright?" Taylor nodded, and leaned in close to Callie, Brandon stood staring at the door, three hours? The three kids had finally settled down in the living room when there was knock on the door. Brandon jumped up to answer it Callie and Taylor followed close behind but lingered back a few steps. "Brandon Foster?" The officer standing at the door asked. Brandon nodded, "Yes sir." The officer worked with Stef and Mike and Brandon recognized him. "Your fathers been trying to contact you." Brandon fumbled with his phone, "Oh I turned it off while I was at the concert." The officer nodded, "Your mother, Stef, she's been shot. If you would come with us we'll take you to the hospital. Brandon went rigid, "What?" The officer repeated it trying to calm Brandon down. "Stef?" Taylor whispered to Callie, "Stef got shot. Oh god. Brandon and the twins are gonna fall apart. And Lena." Callie nodded, "Brandon come on. We should go. Your moms and the twins are gonna need you." Brandon just nodded and walked out to the squad car.
"Brandon." Lena looked like she was about to burst into tears any minute when the three kids walked in. Lena stood up to hug the boy. She then quickly said hello to Callie and Taylor. A doctor came out, "Mr. Foster." She looked at Mike, "Your wife..." Mike stopped her "uh. Ex wife." Lena jumped in, "I'm her domestic partner." The doctor nodded, "Alright well she is in critical condition right now, we can only let the significant other in right now, we're going to bring her into surgery soon and try to remove the bullet fragments. But, there are a few things that could happened." Lena nodded, "Like paralysis?" The doctor nodded, "That's a possibility. We'll take you back to see her now." The doctor said looking to Lena. Lena looked back at Brandon, "Go." He said. It was killing him not to be able to see his mom but he knew that Lena needed to see her.
"This is your fault! After all we've done for you! We took you in when that women abounded you two and now my mom's in there fighting for her life!" Brandon was spitting words at the twins who were still sitting huddled in the corner. Jesus jumped up "Hey she's our mom too!" Brandon turned to continue his attack now towards Mariana, "And you! You started this all!" Jesus jumped to his sisters defense, "Hey! Stop she feels bad enough!" Brandon shook his head angrily, "She should feel bad." Taylor was frozen in her place, she didn't know who side to take but the only other time she had ever seen Brandon this angry was the night he yelled at her. Callie jumped in trying to save the situation from a larger fight, "Brandon stop! Go walk off." Brandon pulled away and stalked off down the hall.
Several minutes later Lena returned to the waiting room and Brandon had walked back in. "You guys can come in and see mom real quick alright?" The twins both stood and Brandon walked over to Lena. Callie stayed seated, she didn't want to see Stef like this, Taylor tried to stand but her legs wouldn't seem to work. Callie helped her up, "Go see her. You know you can't stay out here." She whispered to Taylor. Taylor walked over to the rest of the family, she quickly slipped her hand into Marianas and squeezed it, then let go and began to follow everyone else in, Lena stopped them, "Wait. Uh... Mom has some tubes hooked up to her, it looks scary but it's just too help her breath. Alright?" All the kids nodded.
"Hey Stef, we're all here. Brandon, the twins and Taylor." Lena sat down next to the bed and took Stef's hand. Brandon was frozen in his spot and couldn't take another step towards his mother, he had never seen her looking so helpless. Mariana and Jesus both whispered how sorry they were and how much they loved Stef. Taylor sat next to Lena, "Remember when you said that the family couldn't survive without me? You're our rock, our anchor, our mom." Taylor choked on the word mom, "Please Stef, come back. Fight it. Remember life is a ride filled with up and downs but its worth holding onto the ride?" Taylor had whispered the whole speech so quietly that Lena wasn't even sure if she had heard it.
Flashback:
"Please let me do it Stef!" Taylor was begging Stef to let her go and allow her to kill herself. "No. Never. This family, the twins Brandon, Lena couldn't survive without you. I couldn't survive without you." Taylor sobbed, "Life sucks, its a complete downhill what's the point?" Stef sighed, "Life is a ride filled with ups and downs, you hit a rough spot but its worth hanging on to the ride, I promise." Taylor hugged Stef tighter, "I hope an up comes soon, like meeting this family." She whispered snuggling into Stef shoulder.
Current time:
"Mariana, Jesus, Brandon is in charge alright? You guys are going home listen to him. Now go and take Taylor and get into the car." Jesus and Mariana knew now was not a time to even try and protest. "Brandon I need you to take them home alright? Everyone needs to get some sleep. And when you come back in the morning bring some clothes alright?" Brandon nodded numbly, "Uh sure." He took another few minutes to sit with Lena next to his mom.
"Callie, she looked so sick. She's not gonna..." Taylor didn't even dare whisper it. "I couldn't live without them. I mean, Stef was trying to help me not get put into the system after someone reported the bruise, and she kept me from killing myself. And... Stef can't die." Callie sat there trying to make sure no one hear Taylor but let the girl cry anyways. "Stef's gonna fight. She loves everyone in the house." Callie didn't want to promise anything to Taylor.
Brandon hadn't spoken to the twins the whole ride home or once they were back at the house. The twins went to the living room, Brandon rushed up the stairs to his moms room. Callie followed after him and Taylor disappeared into the backyard.
"What are you doing?" Callie's voice made Brandon jump. He had been staring into his moms closet not sure what it was he was supposed to do. "Uh Lena asked me to bring some clothes when we go back in the morning. I don't know what I'm doing." Brandon admitted. Callie gently pushed him to the side and began to go through all of the clothes, "Remember what you told me? How you're moms asked if Jesus and Mariana could come live with you. You said yes because you figured there was enough to go around? Well you don't know what it's like not to have enough. You don't know what its like not to be wanted." Brandon was getting angry, "So I don't have a right to be angry!?" He snapped. Callie shook her head, "It means you don't know what it's like to wonder why. Why the people that brought you into this world, the people who were supposed to love you more than anything else in this world...didn't. So don't be a jackass." Brandon stood frozen for a minute as Callie walked off.
"What are you doing Mariana?" Jesus asked seeing his sister shifting through a box of old junk. Mariana shrugged, "Moms been asking us to go through this junk for years." Jesus nodded and sat next to his younger sister, he felt horrible and he knew his sister blamed herself even more than he blamed himself. "Hey look!" Mariana exclaimed tearing Jesus from his thoughts, "Moms gave this to us on our adoption day!" She looked down at the poem and began to recite it, "We didn't give you the gift of life, but in our hearts we know the love we feel is real and deep, as if it had been so. For us to have each other, it's like a dream come true. No, we didn't give you the gift of life, life gave us the gift of you." The two twins just sat there smiling at the letter. It was one of the best things the two had ever received from anyone.
"Please tell me you weren't about to hang another rope around the tree." Callie said jokingly. Taylor spun around, she had been standing in the spot where Stef had pulled her away. "No, just trying to think. Got distracted I guess. Did you talk to Brandon?" Callie nodded, "Taylor you can cry, you're still a kid and your mom was shot." Taylor shook her head, "Stef," She began putting strain on the name instead of mom, "Would need me to be strong for the twins, Brandon and Lena. Callie, can you drive?" Callie looked puzzled, "No, I can walk you where ever you wanted to go though. Why?" Taylor walked over to Callie, "I'm not gonna sleep tonight, I'm gonna go back and sit in the waiting room in case anything happens." Callie shook her head, "I don't think you should go." Taylor sighed, "I have to. I won't be able to stand still here." Callie shook her head no, "You need to be here." Taylor sighed, "I'll just make things worse, I'll stay here." Callie nodded, "Stef will be there in the morning."
"Stef I'm trying so hard. I'm trying so hard to forgive them but I just can't." Lena whispered, she was clutching to Stef's hand. A tear rolled down Lenas face.
Flashback :
Stef noticed the two kids sitting on the bench as she walked to her desk, "What are they in for?" She asked her partner. "Armed robbery." He joked, Stef chuckled, "No, but really." Her partner shrugged, "Foster parents dropped them off, said they couldn' take care of them anymore." Stef sighed, grabbing a few pieces of candy from her desk she walked over to the kids. "Hi, I'm Stef. What's your names?" She smiled at the two kids. The boy answered, "I'm Jesus and this is my sister Mariana." Stef smiled, "Well I know you probably don't like candy but I brought these over anyways. The boy smiled and took one thankfully, then looked to his sister and handed her one.
Current time:
Mariana and Jesus were still sifting through junk in the living room when Brandon came down. "I'm sorry I'm an ass." Brandon apologized. Jesus looked quickly to Mariana and then replied, "I'm sorry you're an ass too." The three laughed, Brandon began to speak again, "Look you're my brother. And you're my sister. And our moms are our moms." The apology was cut short when there was a knock on the door. "Who is it?" Brandon questioned. A small voice came from outside the door, "It's Jude!" Brandon opened the door, Callie took a step forward, "What are you doing?" Jude stepped in, "I couldn't sleep so I walked home. I heard what happened to Stef, I just wanted to be with everyone." Callie pulled him into a hug, "Don't ever do that again okay?"
The family went and sat in the living room. Taylor slipped out at one point, she pulled out her cell phone. "Abby, I'm so sorry it's late. I...I need you." Taylors voice trembled. A voice came through the other line, "What happened? Are you alright are you with your parents or Jesus?" Taylor began to cry into the phone, "Abby, Stef...Stef got shot. I think she's going to die." Abby's voice went tight, "I'm coming over alright? I'll text Jesus and be right there." Taylor choked, "No, don't text Jesus just come over. I need you."
Taylor joined her foster siblings in the living room and curled up next to Mariana. "Jesus, Abby's on her way." Everyone else in the room gave Taylor a look but Jesus just nodded. Taylor faced the wall until there was a knock on the back door. "I got it." She whispered. Taylor left the room and everyone began to talk at once until Jesus explained everything, "Abby's the girl that you all saw at the park. Just let her cope alright? We're all scared about mom. And don't say anything to moms when she's ready she'll tell them."
The nurses tried to get Lena to leave and get some sleep but she refused to leave Stef's side. Lena rested her head on her and Stef's hand which she hadn't stopped gripping but couldn't sleep. She was so worried, Stef and the kids were everything to her. If god forbid something happened to Stef how could Lena handle all of the children, the house, how could Lena handle living without Stef. "I love you Stef." She whispered.
Flashback:
Stef was leaning against Lena's car. Lena sighed exasperated, "I'm not doing this. I'm not. I'm not getting involved with a married woman. Women like you, you're just passing through but this is where I live Stef." Stef cut her off, "I told Mike, I told my dad, I told all of my friends...well most of my friends. I told them I'm gay, I even used the word lesbian." Lena gave Stef the "did you really just say that?" look. "I told them I found a woman I couldn't live without. I belong with you Lena." Stef had tears in her eyes and just stood staring at Lena. "How does it feel?" Lena smiled, "You had me at lesbian." Stef reached for Lena's hands and then pulled her into a kiss.
Current time:
Lena closed her eyes and rested her head next to Stef's, there hands interlocked like they did every night, every night before and they would for many more nights, Lena wouldn't let her go.
"Abby." Taylor opened the door and had tears in her eyes. Abby smiled weakly, "Tay, are you alright." Taylor shook her head no and fell into Abby. "They don't know who you are. So if they give you a strange look ignore them, they should be too caught up in this mess. I just needed someone Abby." Taylor whispered. Abby nodded slipping her hand into Taylor's, "Why don't you go sit with everyone alright? And explain to me what happened?" Taylor nodded, "Thank you, I'm sorry it's the middle of the night." Abby just nodded, "Taylor, your foster mom, just got shot, your other foster mom is most likely hysterical, your siblings must be crying, and you, you're hurting." It wasn't until Abby told Taylor she had been hurting that Taylor finally let it settle in.
"Hi!" Jude managed as much joyful cheer into the greeting as he could, which wasn't much considering the circumstances. His eyes quickly flash to the two girls hands intertwined and he smiled at Taylor quickly. "This is Abby." Taylor explained and then sat down. Jesus nodded to Abby, Brandon tried a quick half-hearted version of don't hurt my little sister, Mariana just smiled weakly and Callie said a quick hello. Brandon was the first to speak, "We should all get some sleep, we're gonna go back in the morning." Everyone muttered their agreements and took to their spots on the floor. "Abby, thanks for coming. I need someone." Taylor whispered. Abby just smiled, "I'll always be here. Stef is gonna be alright." Abby put her arms around Taylors shoulders and the two girls fell asleep just like that. Brandon kept tossing and turning not being able to doze off, the twins sleeping in very uncomfortable looking positions took the couch. Callie and Jude were next to each other neither being able to sleep, Jude spoke, "Stef's not gonna die like mom right?" Callie turned over, "Stef's gonna be okay buddy." Jude smiled slightly, "Good night Callie." Brandon switched sides once more, this must have been horrible for those two, first their mom and now their foster mom, only this time was going to have a better income.
Author note:
Hey everyone, Sorry this chapter is so long I try to stay away from that but I needed to find a perfect spot to end the chapter. The next chapter will be the second day in the hospital, leave your reviews on whatever you think. And as always Thanks!