Amy POV
May 5th
I glanced to Callie in the passenger seat briefly before I pulled into the driveway. Callie's head was leaned back to the headrest. Her mouth was partly open, but eyes closed. She looked very peacefully, when she slept.
Callie had fallen asleep about halfway back home. We had a few very eventful camping days. The second day we mostly spent by the river. Simply relaxing, sunbathing, swimming, Callie did some songwriting. In the evening, we rented rods and I taught Callie, how to fish. Later that day we cooked the fish that we caught. On the third day, which was today, we went for a long hike. The day had been very hot and the walk was long and hard, so it was probably what had gotten Callie so tiered. After we got back from the hike, we went for one last swim at the river, before we started to slowly pack our stuff to head back home.
Once the car was stopped, I reached over to Callie to gently shake her awake "Wake up baby! We're home," I sang softly to her. Callie's eyes slowly fluttered open. She yawned loudly as she woke and looked around her surroundings trying to tell where we were.
"What time is it?" she asked as she ran her fingertips over her eyes, wiping away the sleep
"Just little over 8PM," I replied as I undid my seat belt. Sitting in the seat, I watched Callie with a smile.
"What?"
"You got a little-" I pointed to my corner of the mouth. Callie's hand quickly went up to her mouth and she wiped the drool away.
"You snore!" that was Callie's response to my giggling. My mouth part and eye grow big as I fake being hurt.
As I reach for the door handle, I retorted "I'm old. What's your excuse?"
"Shut up!" Callie replied, because she probably couldn't think of a better reply. Laughing, I stepped out of the car. Once Callie was out of the car, she turned to walk to the house.
"Hey! Where do you think you are going, young lady?" I asked pressing my hands to the top of the car, the car doors still open
"Home!" Callie called walking backwards for a moment "I really need to pee!"
"Na-ha!" I called walking to the trunk "You have to carry at least your sleeping bag in!"
"But I need to pee!" Callie walked faster to the house. She didn't even look back at me.
When Callie was almost up the front steps I called out "You don't even have the house ke-" I stopped mid sentence, when I saw how Callie opened the house doors without even using a key. Callie was standing frozen on the porch, her right hand still out.
She looked over her shoulder to me and called, slight panic in her voice "You locked it...right?"
"I did!" I replied. As fast as I could grabbed the tire iron from the trunk and slammed the trunk of the car close. If my phone's battery hadn't died previous evening I would have called for back up. Too bad I didn't have my gun with me, I could really use it right about now. But I guess, tire iron will have to do the trick.
"Get back!" I called running up to Callie and the house. Callie stepped back from the front doors and waited for me to get up to her. The young girl looked scared. She had a good reason to be. Someone broke into our home. There was no way of knowing if the burglars are still there.
"Go sit in the car. Lock it!" I whispered to Callie once I was up to her on the porch and handed her the car keys. My left had rested on her shoulders for a brief moment. Slowly and carefully, I walked closer to the front doors. Staying sharp. Listening for any voice or sound that was coming from it.
When I was up to the front doors, I felt Callie up to my back "I'm not staying outside alone!" she whispered to me as she pressed to my back
"Fine," I said and wrapped my left arm around Callie's side, keeping her behind me. With my right, I pushed the front doors open. We both heard footsteps coming from the living room. Callie gripped the back of my shirt and pressed even closer to my back. I gripped the tire iron tighter in my hand, ready to protect myself and my daughter with all that I got. One thing was clear - I would die for the girl. My blood was pumping fast in my veins, heart was beating fast. I was high on adrenaline.
I raised the tire iron up, when I saw a figure coming out of living room "Get the fuck out of my home!" I shouted out before I saw the face of the person
The voice was the first thing that I registered "We're friendly!" then I saw the raised up hands, but only then I saw that it was my dad. Mom was right behind my dad "It's us, Aims!"
I felt Callie significantly ease up behind me. Her body was no longer tense, same as mine.
"The fuck are you doing here?" my voice was still raised and strained for I was still feeling the adrenaline and rush. Callie stepped up next to me, no longer hiding behind me.
"Can you lower the tire iron, please, Aims?" Dad asked nodding to the tire iron that I was still holding up and had a death grip on. My dad was still holding his hands up, for some reason.
"And that's no way to speak to your parents. We raised you better than that!" Mom used the moment to scold me "You wouldn't want Callie to use that kind of language,"
I lowered the tire iron down as I watched how my mom walked up to Callie and hugged her, squeezing the life out of her. Callie looked a bit stunned at first as she glanced to me, but second later she accepted it and hugged her grandmother back.
"Hi, Aims!" Dad walked up to me, kissed my cheek and pulled me in a tight embrace
"What are you doing here?" I asked again, more politely this time, when my mom was hugging me, but dad walked over to hug Callie
Mom pulled out of the hug to look at me "Came to visit you and Callie, silly," she kissed both of my cheeks and pulled me in aanother hug
"On Sunday evening?" I inquired still in hug "You should have warned us!"
"We were here Sunday morning," Dad explained finally letting go of Callie, but left his right hand on her shoulder, keeping her close to his side "But you two weren't here. So we waited! And waited. And waited. And waited some more,"
"We tried calling you. Your phone was off!" mom chipped in "How many times have I told you to never turn off your phone in case we need to reach you!"
"My phone died...I forgot to take a charger with me," I answered taking the tire iron in my left hand
"With you – where?" Mom questioned looking from me to Callie, then back to me
"We went camping," I said finally setting the tire iron down by the ground against the wall
"Camping?" Dad repeated my last word
"It was a spontaneous decision," I explained the same time Callie blurt out "We're both got suspended!" My eyes snapped to Callie, a teeny-tiny bit upset that she blurt it out that way. Callie looked way too innocent, like the suspension was no big deal. Both of my parents were taken a back, they looked at each other in surprise, then to me and Callie, waiting for an explanation.
"You got suspend from work?" Dad raised his eyebrows up
"What? You didn't tell me it was a secret," Callie shrugged her shoulders after I kept staring at her
"Didn't you have to pee 30 seconds ago?" I squinted my eyes at her
"Oh, right! I have to pee!," Callie said before disappearing upstairs, leaving me alone with my parents. I chuckled awkwardly, feeling like a teenager in trouble, even though I'm an adult. Both of my parents eyes were on me.
"It's not a big deal. Once my suspension will pass, it's like nothing ever happened," I tried to assure my parents that everything was okay
"What happened?" Mom asked taking one step closer to me
I sighed deeply before I recalled the event that took place on Friday during my lunchtime.
"And Lena is sitting next to me - her hands over her eyes, she's peaking through her fingers afraid to look. Cringing at every contact," Stef said chuckling as she walked around the car to get to the sidewalk, where I stood waiting for her "It turned out, that Jesus was actually winning!"
I laughed back "Wresting is one sport that I will never understand," I replied as we walked towards the shop to buy some lunch
"It's still a mystery to me, even though we have been to all of Jesus wrestling matches," Stef answered as I held the doors open to her
"Does Jesus understand it?" I asked as we walked through the isles, looking for quick snacks "Because if he doesn't, then he's screwed!" I laughed as we both grabbed pre-made sandwiches from the freezer
"Oh, he understand them!" Stef confirmed we walked towards the cash register and the coffee machine that stood next to the cash register "He was trying to teach them to all of us one time, but...you know, I'm dumb as a rock, so everything he said went into one ear, but out through other-"
I blocked everything that Stef was saying, when I saw the one person, who I hate the most in this World standing in the line with a Whiskey bottle in his hand. He had slightly gray hair, a small beer stomach. Wearing only flip flops, shorts and a San Antonio Spurs basketball jersey.
I handed the pre-made sandwich to Stef to hold and keeping my eyes on him, I marched over to him "What the hell are you doing out?" My blood was boiling in rage
The man stepped backwards, once he recognized me. Fear spread across his eyes. I felt how the other people in line and the sales clerk started to pay closer attention to us.
"I asked you, what the hell are you out!?" I demanded an answered stepping closer to him, when he didn't give me one
"Bail...I'm out on bail!" He replied in a slightly stuttering manner
"Bail?" I repeated in disbelief. I took a small step back, trying to process the news. This wasn't right. He shouldn't be free. Harrison Walton - the man, who drove the pick up truck that killed my husband and son, was standing right in front of me. Free! With a Whiskey bottle in his hand. He should be in jail, waiting for his trail.
"Look, I'm sorry. I'm really sorry," He tried to apologize
"You are sorry?" I stepped closer, glaring at him
"I really am,"
"Amy, come on! Lets go!" Stef was pulling me by my left elbow, trying to get me to walk away. I pulled my arm away from Stef's grip.
"Well, sorry doesn't bring my husband and son back, does it?" I shouted at him as I lost it. All the pain and anger I felt, I shouted it out.
"It was an accident," the man blurt out
"You were drunk! You ran a red light and drove right into my husbands car!" I snatched the Whiskey bottle out of his hand "And now you are here!" I said with venom in my voice as I looked down at the Whiskey bottle I had taken from him "Buying booze!" I placed the bottle on the counter loudly "Are you going to kill some more innocent people?"
"Amy!" Stef tried to get me out before I do something that I regret. She must have seen the anger in my eyes.
"I'm sorry!" Harrison repeated again, but it just got me more upset and more angry than I have ever been
I wasn't thinking. My emotions got the best of me. Seeing him out, walking around freely, buying more booze, living his life – made me furious. All the pain I had felt that night, came back and just flushed over me.
I realized what I had done, only when his body hit the floor and Stef grabbed a hold of me to make sure I don't charge at him again.
"Go!" Stef ordered me as she pushed me towards the exit
~o~o~o~
I was standing in Captain Robert's office, with my supervisor Fred Donovan and my captain. My right hand knuckles were slightly bruised, barely visible. No bones were fractured from the punch. The slight pain didn't bother me at all.
"-the event was witnessed by multiple people. You were in your uniform," My supervisor said to me "It not only looks bad on you, but the whole police department. This kind of action is inexcusable! You are lucky that the guy isn't pressing charges against you!"
My supervisor and Captain shared a look, before they delivered the verdict "You are suspended for two weeks without pay," Supervisor Donovan stated "Please, give us your badge and gun. You will receive them back, when you are back on duty,"
"Yes, sir," I obeyed the order and reached for my gun and badge. Once I placed the items on the table, I took a step back, returned to my previous position, standing two steps away from the desk.
"Is that all sir?" I asked just wanting to get far away from. No, actually, the only thing I wanted was to forget that I ever saw the guy in the first place. It still makes me angry. I was having a good day until I ran into him. He ruined my day. Maybe even my whole week. I had forgotten about him. Out of sight, out of mind. He only brought back painful memories.
"The guy is a scum," my supervisor said as he walked around the desk "We all know that. We know what he did. He will get what's coming to him. But you will only get yourself into trouble if you try to take things into your own hands!"
"He shouldn't be out!" I replied looking at my supervisor and captain "He killed my family! He doesn't deserve to walk around freely, buying more booze, while he waits for trail. He's place is in jail! That's where he belongs!" I shouted out in anger, right before my hone rang
I looked down to my belt, where my phone was, but then averted my eyes back on Captain. I was reaching to turn it off, knowing that right now wasn't the best moment to take a call.
"Go ahead take it," Captain Roberts said. I pulled out my phone and looked at the screen. Callie's school that was calling.
I filled my parents in on what happened with Callie and said "I needed to get away. Clear my head. So, I decided to go camping. I know I screwed it up with Callie. I was so angry...I wasn't thinking," I said looking down to the ground, feeling ashamed about my decisions that day
"I already said it's okay," I heard Callie say from the staircase. Mom and dad both turned to look at the girl. Neither one of us had noticed or heard her coming back downstairs.
"It doesn't change the fact how I made you feel Callie!" I sucked in my lower lip and shook my head, thinking about how much I had scared Callie
"You already apologized," Callie said walking up "Multiple times! I forgave you the first time you apologized,"
"I feel like a bad parent," I admitted averting my eyes down to the floor
"You had a really bad day," Mom told me, when she placed her palms on my cheeks, looking to my eyes she continued "Running into Harrison Walton, brought back some real bad memories and stirred up some anger you were holding in for months. Your emotions were already running high even before you got the call from Callie's school. The anger came out the wrong time and the wrong way," Moms thumb caressed my cheeks few more times, soothing me, before she took her hands back
"You learn from your mistakes and do everything you can to not to repeat them again," Dad placed his hand on my shoulder and offered me a small smile "And teach your kids, so they don't repeat them," Dad winked at Callie, who stood on my other side
"Too late for that," Callie smirked at Harold, her cheeks turning slightly pink. She then took a step closer to me "FYI - you aren't a bad parent!" Callie hugged me from the side, laying her head on my shoulder
I turned my head and placed a kiss on the top of her head "Thank you, baby," I whispered to her
"FYI?" Mom screwed her face up and glanced to my dad, who seemed to be as clueless as her
"They are old!" Callie said snickering and turned to walk out to get our stuff from trunk. I giggled at my parents clueless faces before I followed Callie out of the house.
Callie POV
May 6th
Amy drove to buy groceries, leaving me alone with her parents. Before coming home, she will stop at school and get my homework. I was sitting in my room at the desk, doing the homework that I had. It wasn't much. An essay in English, few problems about the subject we covered in the last chemistry class and had to read couple of paragraphs in biology and history to keep up with the material. I was done with English, Chemistry and Biology and as of right now was reading the last paragraph in History and making last notes.
When I pressed my pen to the paper putting a big, fat dot once I finished the sentence, I heard a knock on the doors "How's it going?" Looking over my shoulder I saw both – Harold and Linda – standing in the doorway
"Normal," I replied casually throwing the pen on my book
"Have you done your homework?" Linda asked, still standing in the doorway
I closed the book "Just finished," I said turning in my chair to better see them "What's up?" Amy's parents looked at one another, probably, debating who should do the speaking
"We just wanted to talk to you for a bit," Linda spoke up once they both looked back at me "Can we come in?"
"Sure," I nodded back. They came inside my room and walked up to my bed. Linda sat on the corner of it, while Harold remained standing up. His left hand was placed on Linda's shoulder.
"We...well," Linda looked up to Harold, who then started to rub Linda's shoulder "Yesterday, when you and Amy returned from the camping trip. We were in the living room, looking through the window. And we..." Linda once again glanced up to her husband, smiles spread across both of their lips "We saw...heard Amy laugh, when you two got out of the car," Linda placed her right hand over her husbands that was on her shoulder "And it just...it's something we were scared that we wouldn't hear for a long time, after Aaron and Markus died,"
Harold looked down to Linda as she added "She was in a such a dark place. It scared us, because we didn't know how to help her,"
"But you, Callie, you did help her!" Linda gazed to me, the widest smile spread her lips and happy tears lingering in the corner of her eyes "We don't know how you did it, but you brought her out of the dark place,"
"Can we ask," Harold asked gingerly "What the two of you, where laughing about?"
"I told her to shut up," I said with a straight face
Harold gave out a laugh, Linda looked amused and confused at the same time "You told her to shut up?" Harold questioned back with an amused look on his face "That's it?"
I nodded my head back, looking between them. My hands pressed together between my knees.
"Was yesterday the first time...she laughed?" Linda asked, scooting a bit closer to the edge of the bed
"No," I replied and started to think back to the first time I heard Amy laugh since the car crash "She showed me the movie Peter Pan few weeks back. After the movie, she was pretending to eat my hand like the Tick-Tock Crocodile ate Captain Hooks hand. After that we were joking around and just...having fun. Being silly. Laughing together,"
Linda placed her right hand over her chest, over her heart, and looked up to Harold, who looked as touched as Linda. A tear fell down Linda's cheek, when she looked back at me.
Harold came over to me first. He asked me to stand up, so he could pull me in his tight embrace. Linda joined, hugging me from my other side.
"I didn't do anything," I said while being squished between them, feeling like I don't deserve any kind of recognition or gratitude for bringing Amy out of the dark place she had been after her families death. We were just living our lives.
"You brought our Amy back – our little girl back," Linda whispered "Thank you," Harold kissed my temple
We were interrupted by a doorbell. Harold pulled out of the embrace first "Are you expecting someone?"
"It's probably either my PO or the CPS wanting to speak with us about my suspension," I said as Linda let go of me and started to wipe away the tears on her cheeks
"Let us," Harold placed his hand on my shoulder, stopping me from going downstairs. I watched how Harold walked out of room. Linda traced her hand over my arm as she followed Harold downstairs. I hurried after them.
AN: Sorry about the mistakes. Didn't have time to edit properly.