AN- Just a little something for the weekend. Look for Our Safe Home next week. Thank you all for your support and love!
Callie squirmed in her seat, her legs were tired. Her butt was asleep. Her back was achy.
Lena glanced over at Callie after the tenth time the kid had squirmed. She glanced at the clock they had been driving for nearly five hours now. After they ate breakfast, they just started powering through. Callie had even dozed for a little bit.
"You okay, Cal?"
Callie nodded as she leaned against the door. Watching the scenery. "Yeah, I am good. Just…" She shrugged
"Restless?" Lena asked. "We should probably stop and use the restroom, get gas. Have lunch?"
Callie nodded "Look there are some waterfalls and walking trails at the next exit. Could we maybe stop and get a small sandwich and check out the waterfalls for a bit?"
"Of course" Lena nodded "That's a brilliant idea. Is your camera and phone charged?" She asked "And who have you been text with all morning?"
Callie blushed "I am sorry, am I being rude?"
Lena shook her head at her daughter. Only her daughter would worry about that. "No, honey. You're trapped in a car. It's understandable. You're not ignoring me. We've been talking."
Callie nodded "I sent Daphne a few pictures of funny signs, I've seen. Mariana is texting me too." Callie turned in her seat. "Did you know she's on a ride along with mom?! That's so cool!"
"I know" Lena smiled as she turned off onto the road they needed. "I hope she has fun, for your mother's sake" she winked "But if you ask me, you've got the better end of the deal."
"Oh, without a doubt" Callie nodded " but, a ride along sounds fun."
"I don't know" Lena shrugged "It could be boring too."
Callie shrugged "Maybe, Mariana hasn't texted me in a while, but she was bored earlier. She told me they were going to go get lunch"
"Speaking of lunch, honey there is a Jimmy Johns right there, do you want to stop there for a sandwich?"
Callie shrugged "Yeah, sure. Then we can picnic by the waterfalls."
"Sounds like a great plan, is your camera charged?" She asked
While Callie nodded "Yep, the battery is good, I have brand new memory card, and my phone is charged too. I think I am going to get some awesome shots."
Lena nodded perfect "Do you know how you want your photo journal to look?" She asked "Are you going to make a print copy?"
Callie shrugged "I guess we'll find out more, when I have pictures."
"If you want to print a copy, please let me know" Lena told her as she parked the car "I'd pay to have a copy of it."
Callie blushed "Um sure, but I doubt it will be anything exciting."
Lena shook her head at her daughter but chose to let this one pass. "Alright, tell me what you want and I'll order it while you use the restroom, and then you can wait for it while I use it? So we can get to the waterfalls."
Callie nodded as she stepped out of the car. "It's so much cooler here, then California. I may need a sweatshirt."
"Wait until we get to my parents' house" Lena smirked "I bet you anything we get one or two days of rain. That's Washington for you, my love."
"It'll be a nice change" Callie nodded "I think I can handle that."
"My favorite is to be in the hot tub, while it is raining." She smiled "I hope you get to experience it."
"You really had me at hot tub, and stars. Now you're saying hot tubs and rain" Callie smirked "It all sounds heavenly."
"Your job is so boring" Mariana said to Stef as they entered a convince store. Right after Stef had radioed in telling them she was on her lunch break. Mariana was wanting some gum, and a magazine. So Stef decided to stop at the little convince store, before they walked over to the small little diner next door where she knew they served small but yummy salads. The two had decided small lunch and a big dinner with movies in their jammies at the end of the day.
Stef laughed "Some days"
"They paint it so differently in the movies" Mariana grumbled. "Chasing bad guys, high speed chases, explosions, bombs, hostage situations" Her eyes so big as she rattled off the list of things she'd seen cops do on TV. "Yet, you drive around looking for someone who might be speeding..."
"Do you want me to take you home?" Stef asked "I have about another three hours of patrolling."
Mariana shook her head "No, I don't mind. I'll just read some magazines while you drive away, giving speeding tickets out." SHe shrugged "It would be the same as siting at the house alone. This way I get to spend time with you."
"Alright, get your magazines, gum and whatever other little treat you want, while I go grab a coffee"
"Here?" Mariana asked crinkling her nose. "Gross. I bet drinking coffee here is like drinking tar"
"Keeps my insides glued together." Stef smirked
"You're so nasty" Mariana shook her head as she left her mother muttering in disgust as she headed for the candy isle to find gum and maybe chocolate.
Stef let out a chuckle "Crazy kid" She called to her before she headed over to the coffee area. She'd just put the plastic lid on her hot coffee when she head a gasp, followed by a scream from the front of the store.
She left her coffee on the counter and quickly ran up to the front of the store. She came to a halt when she got to the counter to see a man behind the counter with a knife pressed into the cashiers back.
The poor girl was young, probably only two or three years older than Brandon and Callie. She had silent tears streaming down her face, as her hands shook while she tried to open the cash register.
The man with the knife looked up and saw Stef standing there. "You called the cops?" He asked slamming the knife closer to her back.
"Nn-noo" She squeaked out. "She was already here when you came in, she was getting coffee. I didn't call I swear."
Stef held up her hands. "I am on a lunch break" She said calmly to the guy as she took a step closer to the counter. Wondering how he could have missed the patrol car parked out front. "I was just here to get a cup of coffee. I am not on duty, I am not a threat."
"Don't come any close" He warned as he grabbed the young girl and pulled her in front of him. Placing the knife to her neck.
She let out a whimper "Please don't hurt me!" She begged "I have a brand new baby at home. My baby he needs me!"
"You think you're the only one with a kid" He snarled digging the knife in closer to her throat, causing her to gag slightly. "I've got a kid out in my car. She needs diapers, and she's hungry. She deserves to be fed!"
Stef watched as the girl trembling in front of her. She could see the knife had already cut into the skin causing her to bleed slightly. Things could go bad very quickly. Her eyes scanned the store. There were only two other people and her daughter. Which she was thankful for. Lower numbers was easier for crowd control. Mariana stood frozen in front of the isle of candy watching the exchange. An elderly lady kept inching her way closer and closer to her teen. Stef wasn't sure if she wanted to comfort the teen, or if she needed comfort.
There was also a business man, who reminded Stef of Robert. Who had only come in, because he couldn't get the machine outside to take his card for pumping gas.
The man gave Stef a look, which basically told her he would support her however he could.
"Open the register" The man demanded of woman. "Empty it. Now"
Her hands shook as she had to override the system to get it to open.
Stef took a small step closer. "Your daughter, is here?" She asked him calmly "Out in the car? I bet she's missing you" She said softly.
"She's missing her mother, who left her" He snapped "She's missing food, and clean clothes!"
"Your poor baby" Stef said softly "I see you care very much about her wellbeing. You're trying to provide for her."
"You don't know what I am feeling" He yelled as he watched the cashier get the drawer open.
"From what you're saying, I see you're trying to help your daughter out. Something bad happened, and you're desperate to provide for her needs." Stef watched as he made slight eye connection with her for a second.
"I know that feeling" Stef said softly "I have five of my own babies, one of which is standing in this store with me. There is nothing I wouldn't do for my children. To protect them, to meet their basic needs." She glanced behind her at her daughter. "There is nothing I wouldn't do for my daughter right this second." She looked back to the man with the knife, "I am a mother, before I am a cop." She looked at him "And right this very minute, I think I am feeling as scared for my child as you are for yours. We don't know what is going to happen." She looked at him.
"This isn't the way to help your daughter" The elderly woman said that had now pulled Mariana into her arms and was holding her tightly. "We can help your daughter" She added "A run a foundation that helps parents in crises. We get funding for hot meals, clothing, we have a shelter. We even have some staff that watches children so the parent can work, or go to school."
The man in the suit nodded "If you drop that knife, I'll even help set up a fund for your daughter. You're going to be no good to her if you're in prison for life. Little girls need their daddies." He said seriously. "She already lost her mommy, don't make her lose her daddy too."
"It's too late" The man shook his head "A cop has already seen me!"
"We can get you help" Stef promised "We can get both you and your daughter help. As long as you drop your knife." She said seriously "You're in way less trouble now, then you'd be in more trouble if you hurt that young woman you're holding and rob this place."
Stef glanced back at her daughter "Please, think of all the children involved right now. You're little girl could lose her daddy, that young lady has a baby that needs her, and my daughter is standing here witnessing this unfold. Be the great father you want to be and drop the knife, for these children, for your little girl."
"Please" The man in the suit said clearing his voice "Let us help you, help your daughter. Drop the knife."
The man with the knife looked between all the adults. His eyes finally landing on Mariana. "You look like the only kid in here. Is this cop your mom?"
Mariana glanced at Stef before turning back to the man with wide eyes. She managed a little nod. "Yes Sir, she's my mom"
The man with the knife practically let out a laugh. "I am holding a knife to someone's throat and you, call me sir?"
Mariana nodded again "My mom taught me to always show respect" She said softly her voice cracking. "Please, don't hurt her." She whispered.
"Your mom, is she fair?" He asked "Is she the good kind?"
Mariana nodded without hesitation "Yes, sir. She's the good kind, not even because of the uniform she puts on each day, but because she's mom." She bit down on her lip "If she says there is ways to help you, she means it."
The man looked to Mariana one more time before he dropped the knife and then dropped to his knees as loud sobs racked his body. "My little girl needs the world, and I've got nothing." He sobbed into his hands.
Stef hit her radio and called for backup to the station, while moving to the cashier while the older lady moved Mariana back away and instructed her stand back. She then headed for the door.
"Ma'am, I need you to stay" Stef called.
"I am not leaving" She promised "Its hot outside, I am going to make sure his daughter is okay. Cars get hot."
The man let out another sob. "I left the car running. I promise! I left the car running. I'd never hurt my baby."
Stef nodded to the older woman before she went to the cashier, while the man in the suit knelt next to the sobbing man that once held the knife. He was talking to him, but Stef couldn't heart what he was saying over the sobbing of the woman.
"You're okay" She tried pulling her into a hug "You're okay now. Help is coming."
"Mariana, baby" Stef called "You okay honey?" She asked while she kept the shaking woman in her arms.
Mariana nodded "Yes, I am okay" She assured "Sweets can you help me find a first aid kit?" She asked while they heard sirens in the distance.
Mariana nodded and did what she was told, while the elderly lady came back into the store now carrying a fussing toddler on her hip.
"Don't cry Mia" The man sniffed as he sat up "Don't cry, baby everything is going to be fine."
"Mia, that's a pretty name" The elderly lady told the child "How about we find you a nice cold popsicle while we wait."
The toddlers eyes lit up and she nodded quickly unware of everything that had just happened in this store.
"Here mom" Mariana said coming up to Stef with a travel first aid kit she'd found.
Stef nodded "Thank you, baby" She winked at her. She then turned to the cashier "Let's clean up your neck, huh?" She asked "It's just a little scratch. You're going to be just fine"
"Thank you" The woman nodded "You all saved me" She whispered.
"Mariana, while we wait, why don't you go, over there" She pointed to where the elderly woman had the toddler eating a cold treat. "Stay with them? Please" She asked "At some point someone will need to ask you some questions, and when we are all done, we'll go home, yes my love?"
Mariana nodded before she went and did what she was told.
Stef watched her go, her heart beating so fast inside her chest, at what could have been a horrible situation. Something her daughter could have witnessed. She didn't have time to focus on how her lunch break had turned so badly. Right now she had to keep everyone in the store, still calm until her fellow coworkers showed up. Then she and her daughter we going home. She was officially done with work for the day. Being with her kid at home was a much better plan.