A Life Completed (Hard Time Series Book 5)

Thanksgiving Night

LENA POV

Thanksgiving dinner had been really nice for us and it was wonderful how we could all sit around the table together, laughing, and enjoy each other's company. Roxy, had made a wonderful meal with desserts, and it was nice to see her and Stef go back and forth with their usual banter like they use to before things took a dive between them a few years ago. Noah had come home as well and I myself couldn't really believe how much I had missed him along with Frankie, and Mariana. 

It was just really nice having everyone back home as I sat beside Stef during diner the entire time watching her smile at all our kids  for it was the happiest I had seen her in a very long time.  And that alone, her smile, her laugh, the look of admiration she had on her face towards our family, made my heart feel whole once again.

But I knew it was hard for all of us with Callie not being there, even if in some sense it was easier, less stressful and less dramatic. None of us wanted to feel that way about her but right now that was the reality of it and we all knew that.  I was hoping things would change, that Callie would FINALLY see she really needed help and would stay clean, and continue to take her meds. But I had to be realistic and not too optimistic about it. In some sense maybe that was how I protected myself from it all. But in the end I knew the chances right now were very slim.

 As I pull up to the hotel Callie is staying at to switch shifts with Mike, I knew Stef hated that I left after dessert but being that I was Callie's mother as well I felt it was important for me to eat with her for the holiday, especially since her and Stef no longer could be in the same room together.  It was important to both my wife and I no matter how hard it was for her to stay away. 

As I step out my car and head into the hotel I head up the elevator only to see the door to Callie's room slightly open. Wondering what in the hell is wrong I rush over and see a broken lamp on the ground along with a giant paperweight as Mike is on the couch pressing a rag to the back of his head. Callie, however is nowhere in site.

"Mike! What happened!" I drop the food on the table that I have packed for my daughter and take a seat beside Mike worried beyond words.

"Lena, she caught me off guard. Hit me in the back of the head so hard I passed out and woke up and she was gone. I don't even know how long I was out."

"Oh god, are you ok? Come, I will take you to the ER." I grab the rag from his head seeing a good amount of blood which makes me nervous. "Mike, you need to be checked out and probably need stitches so lets get you there. Please."

"Lena, I'm ok. I'm ok. I don't know where Callie went. I should know better to watch my back like that. I just should have known. Christ!"

"Mike, this isn't your fault. It isn't. But come, you need to be looked at especially since you passed out.  We will worry about Callie later." I grab his hand helping him up but before we even get off the couch he falls to the ground.

"MIKE!"

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STEF POV

"Stef, I'm good it's a few stitches and a little concussion." My brother says as we are literally in a heated argument in the hospital as they just finished bandaging up his head and running a few tests to confirm he had a concussion. I was pissed, I was furious not to mention livid for Mike was my brother and I loved the fucking hell out of him despite our rocky past.

"No MIKE! It's not ok! She hit you in the back of the head with a heavy ass fucking paperweight and lamp!!! She knocked you unconscious and you have a concussion! HOW THE FUCK IS THAT OK!!! HUH? Tell me!"

"Babe." Lena whispers to try and calm me but  I'm so pissed I ignore her waiting for my brother to answer and knowing yelling probably isn't the best approach but I can't help it. I'm so damm upset with Callie that I can't even see straight.

"Stef, look, I'm ok. Alright, I'm fine. I don't want you yelling, and screaming and getting upset sis. It's not good for you. Ok, it's just not and the last thing we need is for you to end up in here again." He says in his usual calm manner as Judy sits behind him rubbing his back up and down.

"Mike,..

"Stef. I'm ok baby sis. I'm fine. I wouldn't lie to you."

"I'm not ok with this. I'm not ok that she did this to you. I AM NOT Mike. And what, she runs off knowing she hurt you. What in the fuck...I'm so tired of this shit. I'm so tired of what she's doing to this family! I am SOO FUCKING SICK OF IT!" I run my fingers through my long hair as Jude walks in looking as if he has seen a ghost as we see two other officers walk in behind him.

"We um, we found Callie. She came to the precinct." Jude says looking at all of us rather oddly as I roll my eyes. "She um, she's beat up."

"Went back that fuck face. Of course she's beat up!" I yell as my son clears his throat.

"No, she's claiming you, she's calling you raped her Uncle Mike." It is then I feel the air is sucked out of my lungs as I look at Lena who is white as a ghost and shakes her head and turn my head to look at my bother who shakes his head along with Judy. We knew damm well that wasn't the truth. Fuck no for my brother would not hurt a fly.

"SHE WHAT!" I scream. "SHE'S a fucking liar!! YOUR UNCLE WOULDN"T HURT A FLY!!"

"Ma, I know that but we still need to question...

"WHAT?! JUDE!" I yell at my son as my brother gets up and I see Judy hold his hand as Lena squeezes mine hard. 

"Stef, he's following procedure. That's all baby sis. I'll be ok." As I watch him walk off along with Judy I rub my forehead and take a seat on the bed as Lena sits beside me for the damage Callie was continuing to do to this family was something damm near unforgivable. But little did we know it would only get worse.

"Lena...

"I know baby. I know." She soothes as I rest my head on her shoulder for what felt like hours.