Stef spent the morning in a daze as she kept trying to figure out what exactly she was going to say to this girl; a girl she barely even knew but still felt very strong feelings for. Callie had basically captured Stef's heart in just a few weeks and Stef felt more than just job-related concern for her.

It was finally noon and Stef headed towards the grocery store, preparing to confront Callie. She had an entire speech planned; several actually, depending on Callie's reaction. She was ready to be gentle and supportive just in case Callie was scared but she was also ready to be forceful and authoritative if she became defensive or aggressive. Either way, Stef was determined to get Callie to see things her way and she usually got what she wanted.

But all plans and speeches flew from Stef's mind as she noticed the red fingerprints on the girl's face that she'd obviously tried hard to cover with makeup.

"Stef!" Callie said in surprise as she watched the woman walk up to her. After not seeing her for three days and then not getting through to her the night before she'd basically given up hope on ever seeing her again.

Stef just stood and stared at Callie, blatantly studying her cheek and that made Callie nervously cover it with her hand. She knew it was still red. She'd used a lot of unnecessary makeup on it, covering her other cheek in red blush just to balance it all out. But unlike her coworkers, Stef was a cop and had probably seen several cases of abuse and knew at once what it was.

"What are you doing here?" Callie asked, hoping to just pretend she was fine. If she could remind Stef about her original reason for being here then maybe she'd forget about Callie's face.

"What happened to your face?" Stef asked straightforwardly, staring at Callie straight in the eye, making it hard for the young girl to break contact.

"Um... noth... nothing." Callie stuttered, trying to think up a plausible excuse just in case Stef persisted, which Callie was sure she would be.

"Who hurt you Callie?" Stef questioned forcefully, unwilling to buy Callie's denials and excuses.

"No one Stef, really." Callie answered again though her tone was much more anxious than before.

With no warning Stef grabbed Callie's arm and pulled up the sleeve of the unnecessary sweater she was wearing, exposing the fingerprints and strap marks there as well. Twenty years of experience on the force had told her that abuse marks were usually in several places and often hidden under unnecessary clothing and makeup.

Callie stared down at her wrist as she began breathing heavily, trying hard to hold back her tears. She was too nervous to look anywhere but her own hand for she knew that now several coworkers and customers alike were watching them and probably giving her looks of sympathy that she wasn't ready for.

"Callie." Stef said softly but firmly, unwilling to frighten the girl but still desperate to keep her safe. "Honey, look at me." She encouraged as she gave Callie's had a gentle, reassuring squeeze.

Callie slowly looked up at Stef, her eyes brimming with the tears she was holding in. But Stef needed no words for those pain-filled eyes told Stef enough.

"Come on." Stef said as she began guiding Callie away from the small crowd that had gathered. She led them both outside and around to the back on the way to the dumpsters where they could talk in private. "Are you alright?" Stef began, hoping that Callie didn't need medical attention.

"I'm fine." Callie answered. "It's just a couple of bruises." She shrugged, already having forced herself to get over it.

"Who did it Callie?" Stef questioned again, desperately needing to know the truth. She couldn't bare to think that someone had hurt this child and gotten away with it. "Does it happen often?"

"No one Stef, I'm fine, I promise." Callie replied. "I'm not being abused by my dad or uncle or boyfriend or anything. It was just a one time fight with someone. No big deal." She shrugged casually.

Stef knew that what she was about to say next could possibly alter their relationship but she had to take a chance. She couldn't do anything officially for she had no proof but she needed to let the girl know that she knew the truth - if only so that she could finally admit it.

"Did one of your customers do it?" Stef asked bluntly, crossing her arms in front of her and planting herself firmly in the way of Callie's escape.

"For what, bagging their groceries wrong?" Callie practically laughed at the thought. She couldn't help but laugh at the thought of someone attacking her for mixing the cold products in with the dry ones.

"Not those customers." Stef responded, her face still holding the same firm and unamused expression as before.

It took a moment for Callie to actually register what Stef was saying for she had never expected Stef to say something like that. For one, she'd convinced herself that Stef didn't remember where they had first met because surly she wouldn't have befriended Callie in that case; and second, she hadn't expected her to dig so deep. She saw Callie with bruises and questioned her and Callie had already assured her that she wasn't being abused at home or anything. This was a one-time fight and it was over and it would never happen again.

But once the sentence did sink in to Callie's mind she became terrified and she quickly glanced around for an escape but there was none. Behind her were the dumpsters, to her left was the building, her right had a high chainlink fence and Stef was blocking the only opening straight ahead.

"Callie, what you're doing is dangerous." Stef warned fiercely, feeling utterly helpless that she couldn't officially do anything for Callie. "If one of those men hurt you I can help." She said, eyeing Callie carefully. "All you have to do is make a complaint."

As Stef watched Callie she saw the girl go from fear and nervousness to anger, just as she'd suspected. "There's nothing to complain about." Callie replied in an icy, bitter voice. "Besides, what do you care, I'm not your problem." She spat.

"I know it seems scary Callie." Stef continued. "I promise I will keep you safe. I can help you if you'll just let me." Stef replied, desperation sounding through her words.

"You don't know anything." Callie replied, realizing that Stef didn't have enough information or proof or whatever she needed or else she would have arrested her already. "You can't do anything so just leave me alone." She yelled and walked past the woman and across the parking lot, not caring that she was still wearing her apron or that her small sling bag with twenty bucks, a pack of gum and her apartment key was left behind.