Stef POV

Amy took a step back and crossed her arms on her chest. Her look screamed – tread carefully. I saw her jaw clench, before she asked in an obviously forced calm voice "What are you implying?"

This was my one chance to take it back, leave and never mention it again. I was well aware, that coming over here, saying it so bluntly could impact our friendship in a big way. Honestly, it already felt like it had changed.

The look Amy was giving was similar to the one she gives looking at the worst criminals we have encountered. And honestly, I could not blame her. If the roles were revered, I would be the same way. Protecting and standing up to my family, even again my closest friends.

Despite what was at stake, I replied "I think Callie stole some of my old pain killers, when she was in the bathroom."

This was too important to ignore. If I was right, Callie has a very serious problem. In worst possible case, she can overdose. If I was wrong about it, then I might have just ruined years long friendship not just between Amy and I, but between our two families.

Amy laughed, shaking her head not believing what was happening "Are you fucking serious right now?"

"The bottle was right by the sink. If Callie saw it, while she was there..."

"Of course, blame my kid!" Amy snapped back, choosing to ignore what I said "None of your kids could have stolen them, because they are saints! They are too fucking perfect-"

"I already asked my kids about it!" I clarified quickly, wanting to make sure that Amy understands – I did not jump straight to the conclusion that Callie was the guilty one. I had talked to everyone at my house. I had discussed it for hours with Lena. I lost nights sleep over this. This was hard on me too.

"And none of them have ever lied to you, right?"

"So you don't think it's suspicious, that the pills goes missing the same day, Callie visited? If it had been one of my kids, they could have taken them any day-"

"I think Callie is an easy target and you decided to exploit it!" Amy retorted cutting me off, her voice raised "It wasn't enough that Callie almost died, you want to kick her, while she's down. Humiliate her!" she shook her head as she looked at me and scoffed "Some friend you are."

"That's right, I am your friend! It s exactly why I am telling you!" I replied, matching the volume of my voice to the one she had spoken "I don't give a damn about the fact that Callie stole from me. It's what she took, that concerns me! I'm worried that Callie might be addicted to the pills and is now searching a way how to keep the high going."

"Now she's an addict too? You are unbelievable!" Amy turned her back to me, running her hands through her hair

"And you're too close to see it!" I said it to the back of Amy's head. Sometimes the people closest can't see what is right in front of them "Maybe you don't want to see it. Not wanting for it to be truth, because she's your little girl...who has already been through hell and back." If Amy hadn't turned her back to me, she would have seen the tears that were in my eyes

Amy still stood with her back turned to me, hands on her hips, head tilted down.

"Oxycotin! That's what Callie was prescribed, right?"

Amy turned to stare back at me. Her jaw still clenched. Hands pulled in fist. Shoulders up and body rigid, tense.

For the first time, silence fell between was. But the air between us was tense. In that moment, just for a brief second, I saw something change in her eyes. Just as fast as it appeared, it disappeared from her eyes.

"That's what she took, Amy!" I said, my voice softer now as I tried to get to Amy to get the seriousness of this

"Leave!" Amy whispered back after a long pause

"I want to talk to her!" I pointed to the house "I want to look her in the eye and ask her-" I said making my way towards the front doors, doing the opposite of what she had asked, that way, further pissing her off.

A hand on my chest, put a stop to it "Don't you fucking dare!"

"I just want to ask-" I tried to get push pass, but Amy won't let me

"You are not-" Amy pushed her hand against my chest, making me move further away from the doors "going to go near my kid. You are not going to step a foot into my house. And if you think, that I am going to allow you to talk to her, after you just came here and accused her, you are dead wrong!"

"I'm not making this up, Amy!"

"Sounds to me, like you are!" Amy said and she raised her arm to point to the street "Now, get the fuck off my property!"

Slowly walking backwards towards my car I called out to her as she went to the front doors "Ask her about it Amy! Just ask her!" Amy disappeared into the house, without replying anything else.

I got in my car and slammed the doors behind me loudly as well, frustrated with how this went down. Out of anger, I slammed my hand at the steering wheel a couple of times. Then covered my face with my palms and leaned my head back into the headrest.

Lena would have handled it better.

The Amy I knew, would have seen it herself.

...maybe I was wrong about all of it.

A knock on the window, startled me. Taking my palms away from my face, I glanced to the passenger side.

Amy POV

After slamming the doors shut behind me, I paced back and forth the hallway, running my hands through my hair "Fuck….fuck...fuck….FUCK!" It was a bit too much for me to handle all at once "FUCK!"

I wasn't ready to deal with it then and there. It was easier just to snap at her, then to admit it that she might be right. That I had missed it. I wrong to ignore it, when Cooper first mentioned it. But now that Stef, who had only see Callie for few hours during the BBQ brought the subject up as well, I knew I fucked up.

I wasn't angry with Stef. Did not hate her for she said or how she said it. In fact, I was grateful for her. For being brave enough to come here and tell me as soon as she suspected something.

I was angry with myself. Hated myself. But mostly, I felt like I let Callie down and was a bad mother. The worst actually, because I had been spending the most time with her. And she was my daughter. But I missed it completely. Chose to ignore it for I didn't want it to be true.

I kept telling myself that it was all in my head. That she was perfectly fine. After the near death experience she had, I was just being too overprotecting and seeing things that aren't really there. Worrying about something that I should not be worrying about. All the sings, could be explained. The constant mood sings were because of her mild TBI she had suffered. The hand shaking, was connected to the broken bones and from physical therapy. That the fact that she's not sleeping is simply because she's having nightmares. And when she was sleeping too long, it was also because of the nightmares that had kept her awake too long and now was trying to get the much needed sleep. Her eyes were bloodshot because of the lack of sleep. It can all be traced back to one of her injury.

If she truly was over using the pills, she had been described, it can ruin her life. Opioid based medicine are one of the most addictive pain medication. People die of overdose every day. It's very easy to get hooked on, not so easy to get off it. Worst part, is that I know that struggle. That feeling, when you want to take more. When your body craves for it. Likes the relief a little bit too much. The relief you feel, when the pain finally goes away.

"Fuck," said quietly into my palms, that were still covering my face as I simply wasn't yet ready to face the truth

I looked up, when Cooper came down the stairs, but my parents came over from the kitchen, all wondering what happened.

"What's wrong?" My dad asked "What happened?"

"FUCK!" I emphasized again as I pulled my hands in fists as the urge to punch a wall surged through my whole body

"Okay, honey, you will have to say more than that for us to understand what exactly got you so upset," Cooper said walking over to me and placing his hands gently on my shoulders, trying to get me to calm down.

I brushed off his hands, stormed pass all of them. Stopped at my purse, grabbed my wallet and took out some money. Then stormed out to the backyard, where Callie and Beth were still standing by the yoga mats hugging. Was it the same hug I saw or was this a new one?

"Heeeey!" I announced myself, putting a fake smile on my lips as I neared them. Callie pulled out of the hug and quickly brushed some tears away from her eyes. I noticed Beth do the same thing. But they both turned to me and smiled back to me, like it was not a big deal. And it probably wasn't. There was no shame in crying. It was a good outlet. The one thing I did notice and found a bit odd, was that Callie couldn't really look me in the eye.

I clapped my hand "So, change of plans," I snapped my fingers on both hands and then smoothly pointed to both of them "You will go get us a pizza!"

"But I thought grandma was making-" Callie said raising her eyes up to meet mine, confusion written all over her face

"Grandma put too much salt in it and it's no longer edible!" I lied easily. At this point not really feeling bad that I was painting my mom in a bad light about her cooking skill. It was for a greater cause and she will forgive me for it. I hope.

"Here's some money," I reached in my pocket and pulled out some dollar bills I had grabbed from my wallet. For some reason, I handed the money over to Beth, not Callie. It might be my conscience telling me something.

"Get 3 big ones," I instructed Beth, who was looking between the money in her hand and me "No olives, no pineapples, no mushrooms. The rest is up to you two."

I glanced to my daughter and winked at her "Callie knows what to get."

"That I do," Callie replied with a proud smile

"Can I trust you both to do it?" I asked clasping my hands together again as I looked between the two of them

After receiving nods from both of them, I ushered them out of the yard "Okay, off you go. Bring us the goods! Everyone depends on your to save us!"

I walked them over to the garage, so that I could see them get into Beth's car. Once they were both in and Beth started the car, I walked fast paced back to the house, not wanting to waste another second.

"Where did Beth and Callie go?" my mom asked as I made my way into the kitchen

"To get us a pizza," I replied as I walked pass her

"But I just made-" I heard mom follow me to the hallway

I quickly turned to her "If Callie or Beth asks, you added too much salt in that. Put it in fridge for tomorrow or something"

"Why?" Mom asked, looking utterly confused. Maybe not just by my statement, but by the last 5 minutes overall.

My dad, who had stood in the open front doors, turned around and said "Is that Stef, Cooper is talking to by the black SUV? And where did Callie and Beth drove of to so fast?"

"Will explain later," I said as I made a quick turn to head up the stairs

I heard my father mutter as I ascended the stairs "What the hell is going on?"

"Where are you running off to?" Mom called from downstairs

"I got something I got to do!" I shouted back as I stepped into Callie's room

"Duke! Get off Callie's bed!" I said to our family pet, who had been comfortably sleeping there, not worried at all what was happening downstairs. He lifted his head up and gave a little bark "Off, now!" I said in much sterner voice and stared at the dog

Like a sulking teenagers, he slowly got up and jumped down the bed, only to lay down right by the end of it.

"Thank you," I talked to Duke before I looked around the room. By the first glance, everything seemed in place. Nothing was out place. It seemed normal. But now that I was actually starting to listen to my gut feeling and my intuition, I knew Callie has been hiding something from me in here.

It won't be too high or low. Because of her injuries, it has to be some place easy to reach. I walked pass the dresser, because I knew that would be too risky as Linda or I put her clothes away. She wouldn't risk that. The nightstand seemed to be the obvious choice. Easy to reach for her, she could have stashed it at the end of the drawer, behind whatever she keeps in there.

I walked over to it and looked inside the top drawer. Night creams, hand lotion, a book, 4 months old Cosmopolitan, bunch of guitar picks, guitar toner, pencil and a music notebook, phone charger (but no phone because that was too damaged for repair).

"Nah, she wouldn't hide it here." I said to myself as I closed it and turned towards the desk.

Her closed laptop stood in the middle of it. Unused for the last 3 months. Every week I clean the dust off of it. The drawers were still full of old school materials and the books she had bought for university. There were tenths of notebooks that were being kept mostly for sentimental reasons, as we all know, once you graduate, you don't actually ever open those notebooks up ever again. She has't cleaned it out yet.

I pulled open the first drawer to find if full of all sort of junk (not literal trash, just…things). Tons of pencils and pens, deck of cards, 5 different nail polishes that looked dried out, one of Duke's toys, headphones, old magazine, the small box she stores her guitar picks in and yellow sticky notes. That was all that I saw. There might be more stuff hidden underneath and at the very depth of the drawer.

Sighing, I closed it, but then something hit me.

All (at least a big bunch of it) guitar picks were at the top drawer of her nightstand. If Callie was being organized about one thing, it was her guitar picks. She often lost them, so I had gotten her the box to keep them all in one place. And she had done it all through her teenage phase. Callie used to tease B about it, how often he lost his guitar picks, while she still had all of hers.

I opened the drawer back again. The small box now stared back at me, taunting me. And I got a bad feeling about it.

"Please, be empty," I thought to myself as I reached for it. The box was not empty. Feeling like the ground beneath my feet become unsteady and was about to open up and swallow me down, I slumped down in the chair beside the desk as I looked at the content of the box.

"Fuck."

Don't know how much time had passed. It felt as if the whole world around me just crashed and burned. Felt numb at the moment. Didn't really feel anything, no anger or sadness. That might change soon. I felt like I was on a roller coaster of emotions.

I came down the stairs, holding the box in my hand and walked into the living room to find my parents, Cooper and Stef. Talking. Stef stood the moment I stepped in the room. She rubbed her hands to her jeans and licked her lips "I know you are angry with me right now, but ,please, hear us out."

Cooper looked over to Stef, worry flashed on his face, before he looked back to me. He stood up and walked to stand next to Stef "Amy, I think Stef might be right to be concerned about Callie-"

"Yeah," I said, not needing to hear another speech about it, how I should open my eyes and see what was right in front of me. Already felt shitty enough about it. There was no need to pour more salt into the wound.

"Wait? You...think I was right?" Stef looked shocked. After all, not long ago, I was screaming back at her, telling her she was wrong.

I tossed the box over to Stef. It hit her chest before she caught it in her hands. She looked down it and then back to me, before tentatively opening the box.

"Happy?" I asked Stef, once she saw what was inside "I also counted the pills in the bottle. She's been overusing for at least 2, if not 3 weeks."

Cooper walked over and looked inside too "Shit," I heard him mutter afterwards

"No, I'm not happy Amy! I never wanted for this to happen!" Stef closed the box and handed it off to Cooper for safe keeping "I wanted to be wrong."

"Well, you were not!" I threw my arms up "So congratulation. You are a better mother than I am!"

"Amy-" Stef spoke up, a lot softer

"Save the goddamn speech...I don't want to fucking hear it right now," I fell down into the armchair that was behind me, leaned down, pressing my elbows to my knees and buried my face in my palms "I need to think."

I heard the four of them starting to discuss possible action plan. But at the moment, as I thought of my own action plan in my head, I made their voices fade out. This situation right now, felt very similar to the time, when everyone had gathered here after Markus and Aaron death. Aaron's parents and my family were all discussing the accident itself, what should be done next, how to move forward, what will happen to Callie. Everyone but me, had something to say. They almost went to each others necks. While I had sat quietly, processing it all in my head.

Minutes passed.

I chose to not take part into their little discussion, until I heard my moms voice "What do you think, Amy?"

Now that I had some time to think things through, I understood what needed to be done. I knew the approach I needed to take to tackle this.

Callie didn't need to be publicly called out in front of everyone here. It needed a much gentle approach. One that always has worked with her. I need to return back to the basics. To the way we started. When it was just me and her in this house. No one else.

Beth and Callie should be back soon, so I needed to get everyone out of the house "I need you all to leave," I said with my face still buried in my hands

Footsteps were heard, then someone sat on the armrest and a hand was placed on my back "Amy," It was my dad "You ca—we can't ignore this! This is serious!"

I rose up to my feet "I will deal with it," I elaborated as I tried to reassure them, that I will not just ignore it "Right now, I need to be alone. Thank you for opening my eyes, for watching out for Callie, for having her back. I appreciate it, I do-" I placed my hand on my chest "But I need to do this alone! So, please, leave."

Linda looked to Harold "We'll be at the apartment."

"I'll call you," I said before giving a quick kiss to mom and dad

"I guess..." Cooper said slapping his hands to his thighs as he got up "I'll go for a very long walk with Duke and then probably wait out with your parents." He went to the hallway to get the leash and then came back to me

"We'll talk after, okay?" I whispered to Cooper after we shared a kiss. This whole thing has made our relationship a little bit rocky. I was the one doing the rocking, actually. It was all me. All my fault. Cooper has been patient and very understanding with me.

"Promise?"

"I promise."

"Okay. I love you."

"Love you too," I kissed him one more time, before he left along with my parents. Once Cooper was out in the hallway, I heard him call out for Duke. Just few seconds later, I heard the dog, run down the stairs. Not long after that, I saw through the living room window, how all four of them, walked away.

Then it was just the two of us. Now that there was no one else here, it felt a lot more private and I no longer could look Stef in the eye, knowing that Callie had stole from them. They had welcomed us in their home, opening the doors for us, treated us like family and Callie exploited that trust. Callie broke that trust, without even blinking an eye. She may not feel bad or ashamed or guilty about it, because the drug is playing with her mind, but I sure as hell do. I feel all of it, for the both of us and more. In addition to all of that, our fight was still very fresh in my memory. I did not handle it well.

"I'm not sure what to say," I stuttered, staring down to my feet "I honestly don't know what she was thinking. There's no excuse for what she did..."

"You don't have to say or explain anything," Stef stated "Talk to your daughter. Help her get through this. I'm not mad at Callie or you for that matter. All I want, is for Callie to be healthy."

I kept nodding my head as Stef spoke.

"Amy," Stef spoke up again "Amy, you can look at me."

I turned my left cheek to her instead.

"Look at me," I heard footsteps coming close to me

"I can't," I said in a whisper, feeling tears whelming up

"It's not your fault."

"Yes, it is," I disagreed, shaking my head as I looked down to my shoes "I'm her mom, I should have seen it. I should have known something was wrong. But I ignored it...ignored the warning signs and now-"

"Now-" Stef put her hands on my upper arms "You're going to help her!" The certainty in her voice and her faith in me, made me finally look up to her "What was it that you often say to each other-"

"Through thick and thin," Stef and I said it the same time and smiled afterwards

"Thank you for the pep talk," I said quietly as I tentatively, hugged her "And I am sorry, for everything."

"Water under the bridge," Stef patted my back "You are a good mother, Amy. Don't ever doubt that." She whispered in my ear, before pulling out of the hug

With that, Stef left and I was alone in the big house. I sat back down on the armchair and waited for Beth and Callie return, so I can finally have the much overdue talk with my daughter.