The Apprentice

Missing

Short chapter

***

"Callie!" Natalie gasped.

"Al, you have been there for me every day. And you tried telling me earlier that you needed to talk and I wasn't there. But I'm here now." She assured, grasping the blonde's hand and holding it tightly. "So, whether you step forward or back. We do it together."

"No..." Alana exhaled, turning toward Callie. "You're right. I don't want this." She enveloped her friend in a hug. Callie let out a sigh of relief just a moment too soon. As Alana backed out of the hug, her foot slipped off the edge of the roof and she plummeted towards the net below.

"Al!" Callie didn't even hesitate and leaped after her.

"NO!" Natalie shrieked racing to the edge of the roof and looking down as the girls landed in the net.

"They're okay!" Kelly called up as he helped them to safety. Natalie raced inside and straight down to the E.D.

"They're in room two," Maggie mentioned as Dr. Manning darted toward her. She nodded gratefully and headed into the room, where both girls were sitting on the bed being examined by Will.

"Oh, thank god!" Natalie threw her arms around Callie. "Are you okay?!" She sobbed.

"I'm okay." She smiled in reassurance. "I promise."

"They're both a little shaken up but no obvious injuries. They're not in any pain, so I would say they got incredibly lucky." Dr. Halstead clarified. Natalie nodded as she hugged both girls.

"Don't ever do that to me again!" Dr. Manning scowled as she and Callie headed into the doctor's lounge.

"I'm sorry." Callie sighed, letting a tear slip. "Am I in trouble?"

"No. Of course not..." Natalie hugged her once more. "I was just so scared."

"I just couldn't lose her," Callie explained. Natalie noticed the look in the young girl's eyes.

"You love her, don't you?"

Callie just gave a guilty shrug.

***

"No, I haven't seen her since she left this morning," Maggie spoke over the phone. Days had passed and things were finally back to normal until Callie didn't return home from her shift. "Okay, I'll let you know if anyone hears from her." She abruptly hung up the phone. Many more days passed and still no sign of her.

"Nat, what are you doing here?" Maggie sighed as Natalie headed towards a computer.

"I can't just sit at home waiting for her. The P.D is all over it. I have to get my mind off of it." Natalie took her stethoscope from her pocket and placed it around her shoulders. "Where do you want me?"

"Kid in room three." Maggie sighed, handing her an iPad. She glanced around the E.D before her eyes landed on Monique sneaking out with a set of doctors scrubs.

***

"Callie?" Monique whispered as she headed toward the farthest side of the parking lot.

"Over here!" The brunette called from where she crouched beside a car. Her clothes were torn and covered in dirt and blood. Her eye, her hip, and her neck contained bruises, a multitude of hues, colors that normally should not be on someone's skin. There were garish purple splotches, roughly the size of a fist, while other smaller ones were more of a greyish brown. And they were all over her. And it wasn't just bruising. There were scars too. Lines across her body, like someone or something, had dug their nails into her, tearing her flesh. Someone had clawed away at her, the gashes told the whole story. Monique could hardly bear to look at her.

"Oh my god! What happened?!" The blonde shrieked.

"It's a long story. Cover me!" She ordered as she changed into her scrubs.

"Where have you been? You just disappeared."

"I'd really rather not talk about it," Callie explained.

"Okay." Monique sighed.

***

"Callie?!" Maggie gasped as she hugged the young girl.

"Hey, Maggie."

"April, page Dr. Manning," Maggie called. "What happened? Who did this to you?" Callie noticeably tensed.

"Where do you want me?" She changed the subject.

***