Callie POV

April 9th

It was close to midnight. I was laid down, stretched out on my stomach on the living room couch. Head turned to face the room, not the backrest. My hands were bent and put underneath the pillow my head was on. The room was dark. There was no TV on that would illuminate the room, there was no light on, the moon wasn't shining any light in the room, the street lamp outside our home was off as well for some reason, maybe it was burnt out. The only sounds were made by me, by my breathing and from my slight movement on the couch.

Tomorrow was a big day for me. I was going face Liam. Safe to say, I'm dreading it. The last time I saw him in person was when I was arrested, but that didn't mean that I haven't seen his face since. I see him almost every night, only not in person. Just thinking about being in one room with him, breathing the same air as him, looking at him, smelling the perfume he always used to wear – made me feel anxious and made my chest feel tighter, my hands got sweaty and I felt fidgety.

Albeit I have decided that I'm going with the truth, it didn't mean I was any more prepared for the trial than if I hadn't made the decision. I don't think anything could prepare me for it. It's going to horrible no matter what.

"There you are," I heard Amy's voice coming from the doorway, but I didn't turn to look at her "I got a little worried, when I didn't see you in your bed," Amy continued as I heard her coming closer to the couch

She does that now – checks up on me during night some days. I'm not sure if it's every night, though. Amy started to do that, ever since she found out about my nightmares. For the past few time, whenever I have had nightmares about Liam, Amy has woken me up and stayed with me till I fall asleep again. I'm almost certain, that those nights, that I'm lucky enough and don't have nightmares, she has watched me sleep from the doorway. I had woken up one time, when I heard my bedroom doors creak open. Amy had stayed in the doorway and watched me sleep for a short while.

"Don't feel like sleeping," I answered quietly, without taking my eyes off the coffee table, that I have been staring at in the dark

"Anxious about tomorrow?" Amy made an educated guess as she patted my leg lightly, suggesting that I scoot over a little to give her some room on the couch as well

I rolled on my back, scooted closer to the backrest and clasped my hands on my stomach. Before Amy laid down next to me, she took the blanket that stood behind the pillow on the other end of the couch. As she laid down next to me, her head next to my feet, but her feet next to my head, she draped the blanket over both of us.

"You can say that," I replied staring up to the ceiling "I don't want tomorrow to come,"

"I hate to break it to you, sweets, but it is tomorrow already," Amy broke the news to me in a soft tone. I took a deep breath in and pushed the air out through my nose.

"I know it's not a big consolation, but tomorrow by this time, it will all be over," Amy added as she moved the pillow behind her head. Once she was comfortable, she rested her left hand gently on my leg over the blanket, while she bent her right arm and put her hand behind the pillow.

"That's still 24 hours away," I sighed "It feels like eternity,"

"I'm going to be there, every step of of the way. You know that right?"

"I know," I replied as I gazed to her in the dark

"Try to get some sleep, pumpkin," Amy said with a yawn. Few minutes later, Amy was sound asleep. Me on the other hand - wide awake. Doubt that will change as I couldn't stop thinking about the trail.

Amy POV

When I wake up in the morning, I was surprised to see that Callie wasn't on the couch anymore. The blanket was neatly covering me from my feet up to my shoulders, almost as if Callie had tucked me in it. I sat up lifting the blanket off of me and looked around the room, searching for her.

The air smelled like freshly made coffee. I followed my noise and walked towards the kitchen.

Callie was sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee in front of her. She was swirling it with the spoon. Once the drink was swirled up, she took the spoon out and watched how the drink swirled around the cup. When it settled down, Callie put the spoon back in the drink and swirled it up again.

"How long have you been up?" I announced myself as I walked towards the kitchen table

"Never fell asleep," she answered honestly without taking her eyes off the drink that she had just swirled up. I was worried – not a single hour of sleep. This will probably add to the alreadly emotional day she is about to have.

"You are drinking coffee now?" I asked as I sat down opposite her

"It's pretty disgusting," Callie replied briefly glancing up to me. A small laugh escaped from my mouth.

"How can you drink it every morning?"

"It wakes me up. Gives me the boost I need in mornings," I pointed to the drink with my right "Milk helps,"

"Smells nice, though," Callie swirled the drink again

"Have you eaten?" I looked over to the sink to see if there were any dirty dishes

"No, not yet,"

"How about, I make pancakes, while you go take a shower," I suggested "We have to leave before 10 and meet our lawyer before the trail,"

"I'm going to finish my coffee first," Callie answered and lifted the cup up

"I thought you didn't like it," I narrowed my eyes at her as I watched how she drank the java

She shivered after taking a small sip of the drink, her body showing just how much she doesn't like the taste "I don't!"

"Then why are you forcing yourself to drink it?" I raised my eyebrow at her

"I would stop drinking it, but I'm no quitter," I couldn't keep the smile off my face at Callie's remark. I patted her left palm that rested on the table before I stood up and started to make breakfast.

~o~o~o~

The court was set to start in 15 minutes. We met with our lawyer some hour ago. He went over the questions with Callie, that he was going to ask, one more time. After that, he also tried to prepare her for the questions Liam's lawyers could potentiality throw her way. Those were the ones that I was worried about the most.

When we were walking towards the court room, the trial was going to held in, Callie stopped me by touching my elbows softly.

"I'm going to go to bathroom," she said pointing over her shoulder to the bathroom we had just passed

"Sure. I'm going to wait right here," I replied before she walked off. As I waited for her, I walked over to the window and pressed my hands to the window sill, as I looked out the window to the busy street outside.

"Officer Scott?" I heard a woman's voice. It sounded familiar, but I wasn't sure if the woman was talking to me. Just to be sure, I glanced to person, who had spoken. Instantly, at the sight of the woman, I took my hands off the sill and turned to her.

This is going to be incredibly awkward and probably will end up ugly.

"Mrs. Olmsted," I greeted her with a polite smile. She was wearing black skirt, knee length. On top, she had a blouse and a smart jacket over it. Sarah was holding her black purse in front of her, with both of her hands.

"I wasn't expecting to see you here," Sarah Olmsted looked surprised to see me here. That was excepted. I couldn't say the same. I knew she was going to be here.

"I..uh...I have a court thing," I replied pulling on the sleeve of my light gray jacket

"Job?" she asked curious

"No, not exactly," I answered elusively "My daughter has a...thing,"

"Oh, I didn't know you have children," she replied "I'm here because of my son," she opened up to me easily, felt like she saw me as her friend "Do you remember the girl, who went crazy, picked up a bat and attacked our son? Smashed his knee, damaged his car," she continued, trying to get me to remember the case

"Mhmm, I remember," I nodded back, not sure how or when, or if I should break the news to her, that she was now talking about my daughter

"She's crying rape now. Can you believe it? That kid..." she blew out a breath and shook her head, stopping mid sentence "Like she hasn't done enough. Liam is still in physical therapy after what she did to him. He's still in pain. Now she wants to ruin his reputation as well by falsely accusing him!"

"You think she's lying?"

"Of course she is lying!" Mrs. Olmsted snapped back angrily, her face turned a little red "My son is not a rapist! He didn't touch her! She is making it all up, trying to make him look like he's the bad guy. That girl is trying to make my sons life a living hell. It's like she's out to get him," she took few calming breathes and with her right hand she brushed hair hair, that had fallen in front of her shoulder, over her shoulder to her back "That girl is trouble. I regret agreeing to foster her! Worst decision of my life,"

I glanced to the bathroom doors, Callie was probably going to walk out soon "I don't know," I returned my gaze back to Sarah Olmsted "Her anger towards your son seemed real and reasoned,"

Sarah Olmsted shifted in her stance and frowned up her face in confusion "What are you implying?"

"Has it ever crossed your mind, that maybe your son is the one, who is lying? That Callie is the victim and maybe your son is in fact a rapist,"

"Excuse me?!" She blurt out in raised voice, clearly offended by my accusation. Her posture changed to more defensive one "How dare you accuse my son like that!"

"How dare you accuse my daughter of being a liar!" I shot right back at her without missing a beat

It took Sarah a second to wrap her head around the news "Your daughter?" she asked in disbelief "You're fostering her?"

"I am," I nodded back as I clenched my hands in front of me "Might I say, it was one of the best decision I ever made!"

"How can you of all people, her arresting officer, take her in after you saw, what she did to my son! Callie is a danger to the society!" Sarah barked back, the people, who walked pass, looked to us "She attacked my son intentionally!"

"In self defense," I replied calmly as I slid my hands in my light gray suit pants pockets "She did, what she had to do, to protect herself from your son!"

"My son- " Sarah took a step closer to me "-is the victim here!" she pointed her index finger down to the ground

"Hardly," I retorted staring right back at her eyes. I wasn't even a little bit intimidated by her.

"Liam is innocent!"

"Keep telling yourself that," My calm reply and my collected composure, seemed to anger the woman even more then any kind of insult or accusation would

I glanced out the window I stood next to "You know, ever since Callie told me, what Liam did to her, I kept wondering..."

I turned my gaze back to the woman in front of her and tilted my head a little to the right side "Did you never saw, that Liam was being too friendly with her? You never found it odd, how your 19 year old son, spent too much time with your 14 year old foster kid?" I studied her features closely for a moment, when I saw how her look changed slightly. Maybe, just maybe, she had noticed it, but never acted on it.

"You never saw him touch her inappropriately? His look never lingered on to Callie for a second too long?" I continued to speak in calm and collected manner, in slightly hushed voice "Did you not notice the change in Callie's behavior?" Sarah shifted nervously in her stance, she glanced sideways away from me and swallowed nervously "Callie didn't seem fidgety to you in the last two weeks? Afraid to be touched? Afraid to be left in one room with your son?" I tilted my head to the other side as I studied her features "Or did you ignore all of that, because Liam was your son, but Callie was only a foster kid, who you never truly cared for to begin with?"

Sarah looked right back at me and we entered a little stand of stare down, where neither one was saying anything, just staring right at each other. There was clearly tension between us.

The doors of the bathroom opened, causing both of us to look at that direction. Callie stopped walking abruptly, when she saw me with her former foster mother Sarah Olmsted standing next to each other. The bathroom doors closed slowly by themselves, when Callie's hand slipped off the door handle. Callie's eyes darted between me and her former foster mother, who was looking back at the girl, certainly not happy to see her.

I took a step backwards and walked up to Callie, wrapping my arm protectively around her shoulder and pulling her close to my side.

"We will see you in the court," I told her before Callie and I walked away

~o~o~o~

After the trail ended, Callie and I left quickly, so she didn't have to see Liam any longer. What I wanted to avoid was Liam saying some nasty comment to Callie as we would all be leave the court room. We lost, but that wasn't anything surprising. Even thought we knew, how it was going to end, before it started, didn't make it any less easier. Especially for Callie, who hasn't said a word since she was questioned up on the stand.

We were now sitting my car. Callie was looking down to her hands on her lap. I was sitting behind the steering wheel, staring out the windshield, watching how Liam limped after his parents to their car.

"Do you want to go home?" I asked as I watched how they drove away. Not hearing an answer from Callie, I glanced to her.

"Callie?" I asked reaching over to her and running my fingers softly over the hair that went around her ear. She shrugged back, without looking up to me.

"I know a place, I think you are going to like," I told her quietly "Do you want to go check it out?" Another shoulder shrug and no verbal response, no gaze my direction. I sighed sadly as I took my hand back.

After studying Callie's sad features for couple of more seconds, I decided to take her to the place anyway. Thinking back to this day, the first thing that she will remember will be the trail, Liam and how we lost. But I wanted to give her something else to remember this day by. I wanted this day to end on a more happier note. Shine a little light on it.

"Buckle up, please," I told her as I pulled my seat belt over. Callie complied quietly, but afterward returned to her previous stage.

~o~o~o~

It took us about hour, due to the traffic and the distance we had to travel, to get to the place I wanted to take Callie. When I slowed down the car, to pull up in the small parking lot, Callie finally tilted her head up and looked out the side window. She looked conufsed. Callie studied the surroudings for couple of seconds.

"Where are we?" she asked not recognize the place

I smiled at her as I stopped the engine and pulled the key out. I opened my seat belt and got out of the car without saying anything to her.

Once Callie had gotten out of the car and closed the doors, I spoke up "It's this way," I pointed to a small walking trail that lead up the hill, which was behind me

"Come," I held my right hand out for her, when I reached the back of the car

"Where are you taking me?" Callie asked, when she put her hand in mine

"You'll see!"

After some 3 minute hike up the trail, we stopped at a beautiful spot. Callie's mouth parted a little in awe and her eyes grew bigger, when she saw look on the city we had from here.

There was a clearing, that out looked the city from above beautifully. We were some half kilometer (0.3 miles) above the city on a small hill. From here we could see part of the city that was closest to the ocean side and we had a clear view of the ocean. There was a big, branchy tree up front. I pulled on Callie's hand softly before I started to walk towards the tree and the two swings that hang from it's branches.

I let go of her hand and walked to the swing on the right. It was pretty high off from the ground. My feet didn't reach the ground, when I was sat down. I glanced to my left to see how Callie.

She walked up to the swing slowly. Once by the swing, she looked up to see how secure the swing looked. I guess, it looked safe enough, because she walked around it the next moment. Getting up on the swing required some struggle, but she did it despite how high it was. When she was sitting on it, she gripped the rope with both of her hands tightly as she took in the view.

We enjoyed the view for few minutes, sitting in silence while hanging out on the swings.

"I know today was hard. Seeing Liam again, being up on that stand and questioned like that, reliving what he did to you," Callie's head dipped down, her hands slid down the ropes a little. She swung the swing a little.

"I am sorry, that Liam walked. But I want you to know, I'm proud that you stayed honest and told the truth, even if it was hard. You are very brave and strong!"

I noticed how her chin started to quivered a little and her eyes glistered because of the tears in them after my last sentecne.

"Hey!" I whispered as I jumped off the swing

Callie instantly let go of the ropes she was holding and rasied her hands up to her face, trying to hide the fact that she was crying. Once I was up to the swing, it was still swinging just a little, so I steadied the swing softly by reaching for one of the ropes, stopping it from going backwards, but other hand putting around Callie on her back, making sure she doesn't fall off.

I heard Callie sniff out and her breath hitching, when I stopped the swing.

It was happening. Callie was finally crying about it, having a small breakdown. It had me worried, back when she told me about her rape, that she didn't cry, not even a little. I talked about it with her therapist, before Callie's first session and she had told me, that the breakdown will most likely happen. But there was no prediction when it could happen – before or after trial, at night or during daytime, while she's at school or at home. Because of the fact that she went right to Juvie after leaving the Olmsted, her therapist was quite certain that she hasn't dealt with the rape at all, before coming to live with me. You could describe it as ticking time bomb, only you don't see the timer.

I put my arms around her and pulled her close to me. Once Callie's head pressed against my chest, she took her hands away from her face and wrapped them around my back.

"I was raped," Callie sobbed out

When she disloced it to me, when we talked about it afterwards, in the trail - Callie hadn't used the term rape. She had associated, what happened to her as sex, saying – Liam forced me to have sex with him. This was the first time, she used the term herself. I believe it was a big step necessary for her healing.

I kissed the top of her head as I kept running my hand up and down her back, trying my best to sooth her.

AN: You can see pictures of the place Amy took Callie, by googling - swing on the La Jolla Tree - or like I did it - secret swing San Diego :D