Amy POV

I was standing near the nurses station. Waiting. My back against the wall.

The phone vibrated in my hands and the notification light shone, as a new text from Cooper appeared.

-Picked up your parents.

Next time the phone buzzed, which was only few seconds later, a picture was sent over to me. Cooper had taken a quick selfie, with my parents smiling behind him.

"Here you go!" a voice startled me. I nearly dropped the phone. Looking to the side, I saw the nurse I had spoken to earlier, smiling at me. I hadn't noticed her coming up as I was too busy staring the picture Cooper had sent over.

My parents looked too happy in that photo.

When I had called them, I could not bring myself to tell them the whole truth over the phone. I had lacked the courage to do it. These kind of news are better to be delivered in person. I had not lied to them. All I had said, was that Callie had gotten hurt on the job, which, technically, was not a lie. Honestly, that was the best I could do, considering, I was barely holding on as it was at that point. If I was forced to talk about it over the phone, explain in detail, what had happened and how bad it was, I would have been a sobbing mess. My parents did not need to hear a sobbing mess over the phone. The fact that they could not do anything to help me, would be too hard on them. And for me, as I would want that damn hug from my parents.

It was actually silently hoping, that Cooper would explain to them what had happened during the car ride to hospital. Not that I would ever tell or ask him to do it. It was my responsibility. They were my parents. Callie was my daughter. This was my family. I should be the one doing it. They would want to hear it from me. But if Cooper would do it, it would be spared the ordeal of reliving it, while explaining it.

"Thank you!" I said to the nurse as I slid the phone in my pocket. The nurse left, leaving me the wheelchair. I walked around it, grabbed the handles and made my way back to Callie's room.

When I walked in the room, I found her staring blankly out of the window. I could tell her mind was somewhere else.

In her left palm, she was holding the squishy ball, Cooper had gotten her, so that she could slowly start to exercise her left arm. All she had to do was squeeze the ball now and then.

Now that she was zoned out, staring out of the window, she was holding the ball loosely in her palm. It could slip out of her palm any second now. But then, as if her brain had received a notification, she squeezed the ball tighter in her palm, then let it go, squeezed it again and let go again. All while keeping her eyes on the tall tree or whatever it was that she saw observing through the window.

The first time I called her name, she did not react. It was like she had not heard me. Fear, that she might have lost her hearing again, flashed in my mind. My heart picked up a pace. Second time, I had called her a bit louder than before. Thankfully, she reacted to me.

"Why the chair?" Callie asked, watching me push the chair over to the bed side

"I have a surprise for you! Multiple surprises actually," I beamed at her, before going over to help her get out of the bed and into the chair.

By doing this, I hoped I would spare Callie of the terrible feeling of being trapped inside these four walls, that I had felt, when I was in her shoes.

"Callie, please!" I stared intensely to my daughter, who stood at the end of my hospital bed. This must be the first time I was begging for something with her. I was asking her to break the rules, instead of trying to get her to follow them, like I usually do.

As I was watching her, I realized that, in a way, I was forcing her to act like the adult in this relationship, be the rational one, thinking of the consequences, before going through or agreeing to do it. Which I know, was not good. No kid should ever have that burden on his or her shoulders. Given the circumstances, I hope she can forgive me for this later. It was only this one time.

I needed this, desperately. There was no other way.

Seconds passed, our eye contact remained. More intense than ever before. In a way, it felt like we were in a battle of wills. First to look away, loses.

She sighed, closed her eyes and dipped her head. I thought it was a sign she might be actually considering what I had asked her. My arguments were not that well thought through, so I must look too desperate and miserable for her to say no to me.

"If you won't help me, I'm going to do it anyway. But I would much rather have you by my side, when I do," I added as I briefly glanced down to the blanket I was covered with. Slowly, as if teasing her, I reached for the corner of the blanket.

"Ugh..fine. I will help you!" Callie threw her arms up giving up, seeing as I was already on the move "But-"

"Yay!" I cheered, with a big grin

"Mom, no! Just wait!" Callie pointed to me, as I tossed the blanket off of my legs. She hurried to my side, when I did not listen to her "Let me get a wheelchair for you!"

"No," I shook my head, trying to get my leg over the bed side "I hate those things. I will walk on my own!"

Callie gave me a look. It was almost as if she was challenging me. But at the same time, laughing at me - ha, really, wanna see you try!

"With your help, of course," I added quieter at the end, hating to admit that I needed help with such a trivial and simple action as walking.

"You can barely stand," She reasoned back. I heard the worry in her voice, but still, Callie helped me scoot closer to the bed side.

"That's why I have you," I winked at her

"Please, please let me get that wheelchair for you. I don't want you to hurt yourself more than you already are hurt. You have been here for far too long already. I want you back home...with me!" Callie said putting her hands on my shoulders, stopping me, before I could push myself up on my feet

I thought for a while, seeing that my daughter was not going to let me win that easily. I tried to go for a compromises "How about, I walk there, but you can get a wheelchair for me to get back?"

It was Callie's turn to think about the new deal. She sighed, before saying "Deal!"

The walk from my room to the small garden behind the hospital, felt like the longest and most hardest walk I have ever taken. I wanted to compare it to climbing the mountain Everest, despite the fact that have never made that kind of trip up a mountain. I had been limping painfully slow, breathing hard, leaning on Callie far too much. Even Callie started to look tired from supporting me.

The trip took out all of the energy that I had in the morning, but, damn, it was worth it.

I had been cramped up in that small hospital room for days. Having a window in the room, that out looked the garden, felt like torture. Seeing the birds fly by, seeing how the wind moved the leaves in the trees, seeing how the Sun moved up in the sky as the days went by. The worst part was witnessing two times, that the people, who had been in the room, right across mine, had died. Two Code Blue's - two deaths. That reminded me - often people, who are brought to hospitals, do not leave alive. I was not that far from dying myself.

Now, being able to breath in the fresh air and being outside – I felt my energy levels raising up again. And that was happening, from me simply sitting on a bench and doing nothing. I felt alive again. My life is not over. I survived.

Callie being by my side, was like a cherry on top of the day.

Hearing her footsteps approaching, I turned to my left. A smile spread across my lips, seeing Callie carrying my requested items.

"If you get constipation because of this..." Callie slumped down next to me on the bench and ripped open the corner of the gummy bear pack "Do not blame me. I will not help you with it."

"Yeah, yeah!" I reached for one of the gummy bear that was now in Callie's palm. I tossed the candy in my mouth and savoir the taste of the candy.

"Thank you. I needed this," I said, bumping my healthy leg knee to Callie's. She glanced to me, as if assessing me and taking in my appearance and overall mood.

A moment later, she blossomed out in a smile and lightly bumped my knee back "Anything for you, mom!"

That day, that moment, when Callie helped be get out of the hospital was the best and most memorable from my hospital stay. I hoped, that by getting Callie out of her room, will cheer her up as well. And maybe, just maybe, will make her stay at the hospital a bit easier and manageable. I didn't want her to feel as if she's suffocating and slowly dying inside, while spending each and every minute of the day in that small, bleak room, constantly probed and poked by doctors.

Once I had pushed her to the hospital garden, I helped Callie transfer out of the wheelchair to the bench, so that we could sit side by side. Callie leaned her head to my shoulder as I wrapped my arm around her.

"This is nice," Callie said a while later "Thank you for making this happen."

I kissed her temple "Anything for you, kiddo."

A while later, I left Callie to sit in the small garden area in the back of the hospital, for 2 minutes as I hurried to get an ice cream for me.

It was melting quickly in my hands now as I was waking back to her. I licked off, what was starting to drip down. Damn heat! Picking up my pace, I reached Callie in few short seconds.

Callie was staring out in the distance, when I approached her. Probably looking at nothing in particular, yet at the same time, taking in every smallest detail there was and savouring every moment she had out her, before I needed to get her back to her room.

Sitting down next to her, I handed over one of the ice cream "Eat fast. It's melting quickly."

"Should have asked for gummy bears," Callie said between licking all around the waffle

I smiled at her and reached out, tucking a stray of hair, the wind blew into her face, behind her ear.

It was some 2 minutes later, when I was the Adams Foster gang approaching in the far distance. That was the second surprise - Adams Foster clan coming over for a visit. Now that she had somewhat gotten her strength back, had her hearing and didn't look like someone, who had just gotten blown up, I figured she was up for some guests.

"I have another surprise for you."

"Another?" she asked and took a small bite out of the ice cream. Not sure if she asked because she didn't hear it quite well or if she was curious what I had planned for her.

"Yeah," I grinned at her, before reaching for the ice cream in her hand "Let me hold that for a second."

"Wait-" Callie wanted to get another bite or lick out of it "-you just gave it to me."

The Adams Foster clan were almost up to us. Normally, she would have noticed them coming up. They were quite loud. Duke was barking as well, but Jude was keeping him tightly on his leash, not letting him take off.

It was probably a mix of all, why she hadn't noticed them yet. I was distracting her with the ice cream. Her hearing, while back, was still not to 100%, and she could not concentrate on too many things at the same time. Right now, her eyes and mind was on the ice cream.

"You will get it back..or I will buy you a new one, if this one melts. Trust me, you will need your hand."

"What? Why?" Callie frowned, letting her right arm drop down to her lap, when she gave up getting her ice cream back

"Look who's here to see you!" I nodded in the Adams Foster direction.

Jude was now having extra hard time, keeping Duke off from running towards Callie. His tail was wiggling back and forth in super speed. It looking like it could knock someone off their feet. Duke was letting out a noise that mixture of barking and whimpering out of joy of seeing Callie. Dogs truly are people's best friends.

The force he was using to get to Callie faster, was making the collar dig harder in his throat, resulting in almost him chocking himself.

I had talked to the nurse about letting Duke come see Callie. There had been a form I needed to sign, the doctors had to give the green light as well. I had tasked Jude and the rest of the kids to take Duke to a vet and get him groomed. It was a lot of trouble for simply getting the permission of her own dog seeing her. But seeing how happy both Duke and Callie were in seeing each other, I realized it was worth the trouble.

Jesus was the one who ran up and helped keep Duke from jumping up on Callie, while I was finishing off both of the ice cream. I will just buy Callie a new one afterwards.

"Duke!" Callie gasped in seeing him, she reached out to pet him, once the boys had managed to stop him from jumping on her.

The Adams Foster all stood in a half circle as they watched and waited till those two were done reconnecting. I couldn't help but to notice, how Stef had turned her head towards Lena's shoulder, as if trying to hide the fact that she tear up at the sight of Callie. Mariana, for instance, had no shame what so ever in letting her tears fall down as she smiled happily seeing Callie.

Brandon had crouched down to Frankie and was explain to her something in a whisper. He had waited afterwards, Frankie looked him him, then to Callie and only when she had returned her gaze to to her older brother, she gave a nod back as if telling him she understood.

Callie squinted her eyes, shielding from the Sun, as she looked up to her baby brother, who stood tall by her side and was looking down to her. Then she scanned the rest of the Adams Foster clan

"Do I look that bad?" she managed a lopsided smile at the end, trying to ease the tension around. It was clear, even to Callie, that they were wary around her. Not knowing what to say, how to act, what to do. These moments always are awkward. Seeing your friends and family walking on eggshells around you, is not the nicest feeling.

Stef stepped forward first and crouched down by the side, that wasn't occupied by Duke "No, you look beautiful, love!" she placed her palm over Callie's carefully, clearly scared to cause her pain. Callie had a lot of bandages. The amount was scary actually. Knowing what they hide, was even worse.

"We're so glad you are going to be okay."

Callie tilted her head to one side as she kept gazing to Stef "Why do you look so..." she raised her burnt arm up to Stef. Callie's fingertips barely touched Stef's cheek "...as if you done something bad?"

Stef dropped her head, in shame, before replying "Because I couldn't help you," she took a sharp breath through her teeth as if fighting back a sob.

I knew she felt guilty of not being able to stay with us. As our friend, she wanted to be with us. As a cop, she had a duty. Knowing that I had dropped the cop part, she had needed to step it up. No matter how hard it was to leave us. Just imagining the same situation with roles reversed – I felt how the decision was tearing me apart. Heart wants to stay there, head is telling me to do my job. Almost an impossible decision to make. By choosing to do one, you will be haunted the other.

It took Callie a while to speak. To find the right words to say, to formulate what she had wanted to say. Stef was giving her the time needed, not rushing her, patiently waiting for her.

"There was nothing you could have done, my mom was not doing already."

The words were said slowly. I could tell she was concentrating really hard not to mess it.

Stef pursed her lips together, as she thought about it. She briefly glanced to me, asking me with her eyes, what did I think about it. There was no question in my mind, my daughter was right. It's not like she could have done anything.

I gave a small nod back.

Stef looked back at Callie, her eyes soft "You are right! But still...I'm sorry, I wasn't there."

It went on from there on. One by one the Adams Fosters had greeted her, given her extra gentle and careful hug, or a soft touch on shoulder, or a tender kiss on forehead.

Smiles all around.

No more tears.

The conversation flowed smoothly like it always had.

Laughter followed.

Cooper arrived with my parents some 20 minutes after the Adams Fosters showed up. That was the third surprise.

Everyone avoided the heavy topics for now, because everyone wanted to see Callie smile. No one wanted to force those horrific memories back to her. There will be time and place for those talks, later. Not today.

Today was about making happy memories. Showing Callie that there are bunch of people, who are there for her. She's not alone.

Some while later, I found myself standing a bit further away from Callie, watching her from the distance. At the moment she was surrounded by the rest of her family and friends. Brandon was showing a video of him preforming one of the pieces, he had written. Callie was more listening to B piano play, than actually watching. After living in silence for days, hearing this piece of art or any artist work, was probably ten times as powerful. Her eyes were closed and she was listening carefully, taking in every note.

Music always has connected those two. There have been one or two night calls between them, when B had needed an honest opinion or new ideas for his piece. Callie had always helped him. Music healed. It lifts people up. Brandon's music was healing her right in front of our eyes. I could see it in her relaxed features.

My mom walked up to stand next to me. I shifted nervously, knowing what was about to happen.

"Mom, I'm fine." I said, crossing my arms on my chest, while keeping my eyes on my daughter

"I didn't ask," she said back quietly and quickly

"Well, I could tell that's what you thinking."

"Mm-hmm." At least she didn't deny it "I figured that would be your answer, so I thought..." she gestured with her hands "why bother asking, if you're going to keep lying."

I cracked my neck and had to force myself not to look at my mother. Of course, she saw right through that – i'm fine – bullshit.

"Why didn't you tell us how bad it was, when you called? We would have come sooner."

I looked down to my shoes "I couldn't."

I heard her shift and move. Then I saw her shoes, pointing at mine. Still, I could not force myself to look into her eyes. She rested her hands on my upper arms.

"Cooper said you witnessed it all."

I bit my lip and shifted my weight to my other leg.

"That you stayed with her for as long as you could."

I tried to clear my throat of the knot that was starting to form. I did not succeed.

"You didn't speak for 24 hours."

I closed my eyes and shook my head, as I recalled how horrific the first day was. My fingers dig deeper into my own skin as I was doing my best to hold it together.

I sucked in a breath and chocked out "I'm fine. Callie's the one hurt."

Mom placed her warm palm on the side of my neck, her thumb softly stroking my cheek "That's like the tenth time I heard you say iy. Your dad and I only arrived, maybe, half an hour back."

"Because I'm not fine!" I snapped, raising my head up to meet my mothers eyes "I thought she was dead. Do you know, how that feels?"

"I do!" Mom replied after a longer pause.

I let her words sink in. That pause, was enough for me to realize, that it was exactly how my mother had felt, when I was shot. This is, what I had put my family through.

I swallowed a lump in my throat and quickly, with one fast hand movement, wiped away the tear that fell down my cheek "I thought I lost another child!"

"I know, honey!" mom breathed out "I know!" she pulled me closer. Once my face was hidden in the nook of her neck and shoulder, I uncrossed my arms and wrapped them around my mom.

The funny thing is, I knew this was going to happen from the second, I saw my parents walking towards us. My mom has that affect on me. I can pretend all I want, with everyone else, put on a tough face, act as if I am in control of my emotions, not break in front of others. But my parents...they just know me too well. They have this way of looking at me, but it's more than a look. A way of getting under my skin and getting me to admit, what I was trying so hard to hide from everyone else. The most frustrating thing, is that mom doesn't even have to have a big, great speech prepared. There is no secret lesson hidden in her words. No quote that sum's up perfectly what I feel.

In the end, it all comes down to only one thing.

She's my mom.

As frustrating it sometimes is, in moments like these, I hope that I have the same affect on Callie, as my mom has on me.