Pushed

Chapter 7

Through the night Lena woke up to check on Callie. Although Callie didn't seem to wake up at all she kept moving further and further towards Stef's side of the bed, possibly trying to get closer to her, forgetting that she wasn't there. Lena woke up for the fifth time and glanced at the clock. It was past four and Stef should have been back by now. Her shift was to have ended at three. But her side of the bed was still only occupied by Callie, although it seemed to be completely occupied by Callie and Lena figured she may have gone to sleep on the sofa. She quietly got out of bed and went in search of her wife. As she passed Mariana's door she noticed that it was open, so she peaked inside and sure enough found Stef, asleep on Callie's bed. Lena smiled to herself as she headed back to bed. She would sleep through till morning now. Although she kept telling herself that she woke up to check on Callie, the truth was she always found it hard to sleep when Stef had the night shift. It was just after five when Callie woke up with a start. "Where's Stef?" She asked, shaking Lena. "Honey, she's fine." Lena told her, trying to get her to lie down again. "She's asleep in your bed." "Oh." Callie said. "Honey, go back to sleep." Lena patted the bed. "We still have over an hour before everyone wakes up. Usually mom sleeps in when she works the night shift but I'm sure she'll wake up with the kids today." "Okay." Callie said as she got back into bed. But she tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. "Oh go wake her." Lena finally laughed after about ten minutes. Callie was out of bed in an instant and Lena contemplated following her but she had a feeling that Callie wouldn't go anywhere besides to Stef. The two had formed a bond and Lena was so thrilled for it. She herself felt that bond with Jude. Callie tiptoed into her room and found Stef on her bed. She wanted to wake her and crawl into bed with her but she looked so fast asleep that Callie didn't want to wake her. Instead she headed back to Lena and crawled in beside her. Lena instantly turned and wrapped herself around Callie and Callie snuggled closer. Soon the two of them were asleep again. The alarm rang what seemed like only minutes after they finally fell asleep but when Lena turned to hit it off she saw that it was in fact six-thirty. She kissed Callie and got up to wake the rest of the kids. "You stay here." Lena said. "I'll send mom in." Lena went first to wake Mariana and send her for a shower. Then she gently kissed Stef awake. "Hey." Stef said as she kissed Lena back. "Haven't woken up like that in a while." Lena laughed. "Speaking of which, someones in our bed waiting for you." Stef laughed. "Something I never expected my wife to say." Lena gave her one more kiss before headed to wake the boys. Stef crawled into her own bed on Lena's side since Callie was still cuddled with her pillow. "Hey baby, sleep well?" Stef asked as she got comfortable. "Umhum." Callie smiled, nodding her head. She was glad that Stef was back. Stef pulled her close, kissed her and was soon fast asleep. Callie tough was now wide awake. She tried to lie still to allow Stef to sleep but soon she found that she was fidgeting too much. She carefully pulled Stef's arm off herself and climbed out of bed and headed downstairs to Lena. "Hey baby, what are you doing up?" Lena asked, looking up from the bacon and sausages she was frying. "I couldn't sleep." Callie said as she sat down. "Didn't want to wake Stef." "Wanna help me by starting on the batter for the pancakes?" Lena asked. "Fine" Callie grumbled as she dug out a bowl and got the ingredients. Soon all the kids were downstairs and Lena was putting a pile of fresh pancakes in the center of the table along with the bacon and sausages. "This is my favorite." Jude said as he took two of everything. "Pancakes? Really?" Mariana asked. "I prefer waffles." "I love eggs." Brandon added. "Frosted flakes." Jesus laughed, knowing his mom would give him an ugly stare, and he wasn't wrong. They waited for Callie to add her two cents in but when she remained silent Lena piped up "Callie likes french toast right?" Callie nodded slightly. Was she imagining it or was everything revolving around food lately. "Well mom and I prefer whole grain bread and muesli." Lena said, stating the healthiest breakfast food she could think of. "Who's mom?" Brandon teased, knowing that his own mom would pick pancakes and waffles over healthy food any day. "Yours." Lena said. "If she knows what's good for her." The next ten minutes continued in laughter and teasing until it was time for the kids to leave for school. "Have a good day kids." Lena called as they headed out. It was now quarter to eight and they had just over two hours before Stef and Callie had to leave for Callie's appointment. Lena had to go to the school for some meetings again but she stayed home until it was time for all of them to leave. She didn't want to go shower just yet because she didn't want to disturb Stef so after cleaning up the kitchen she turned to Callie. "How about we crash on the sofa and see what plays on early morning TV." Lena said as she guided them into the living room. Lena flipped through channels not really paying attention to anything. She was wondering what got Callie's mood down again. She seemed to be swinging from one emotion to the next every few minutes and Lena was finding it hard to keep up. "What can I make you for breakfast when mom wakes up?" Lena asked her cautiously. "Nothing." Callie mumbled. "I'm not hungry." Lena didn't respond. She didn't want to get into an argument until it was time for breakfast. They stayed on the couch watching The Nanny reruns until nine and then Lena got up to shower. "Why don't you go wake mom while I shower." She suggested as the two headed upstairs. Stef could tell that Callie was in a bad mood from the moment she woke up. "What's wrong baby?" Stef asked as she reached for Callie but watched the girl pull away. "Nothing." Callie mumbled. That's all she seemed to say lately. "Come on." Stef coaxed. "You were all smiles earlier." Callie shrugged. She didn't want to talk about what was bothering her. She should have realized that Stef would figure it out though. No matter how many times it happened Callie always forgot that Stef always knew what she was thinking. "The doctor?" Stef asked gently. Knowing her answer was right even before asking it. Callie looked away. "Baby you know she's only trying to help us yes?" Stef asked as she reached for Callie one more time and grabbed her before she could move out of the way. Callie remained silent as she struggled to get free. "I love you baby." Stef said as she held onto Callie and felt the girl finally relax. "I don't want to go." Callie finally admitted. "I know." Stef said. "Don't make me." Callie begged. "Sweetheart, I have to." Stef explained. "I wouldn't be a good mom if I didn't." Callie opened her mouth to give her usual argument at the term 'moms' but Stef cut her off. "Think before you say anything." Stef warned. Callie quickly closed her mouth again. She already lost that argument once, she didn't need to lose it again. Lena came out a few minutes later. "Who's next?" She asked, oblivious to the conversion. "Me." Callie jumped up and rushed into the bathroom before either of them could stop her. "What?" Lena asked, turning to Stef. "She doesn't want to go." Stef explained. "Right." Lena understood. She began to dry her hair with a towel. "I wish I could go with you." "I know love." Stef said. "But you've already taken so many days off already." "Um." Lena said. "How was she last night?" Stef asked. "She slept through the night." Lena told her. "And you?" Stef asked with a knowing look. "I woke up a few times." Lena admitted. "To check on Callie." She smiled. "Right." Stef laughed as she pulled Lena closer and kissed her. "I miss this." She said, not parting their lips to say the words. "Me too." Lena said as she deepened the kiss. Stef groaned. "We have to get that girl better." She said as she lay back and pulled Lena on top of her. They had a few minutes before they would have to stop again. Callie was silent through the ride to the doctors and while they waited for their turn and Stef knew that the silence would continue even once they went in. She had refused to eat any breakfast and that only seemed to worsen her mood. "Do you want me to come in with you?" Stef asked Callie. She wasn't sure if Callie would respond but did receive a nod in reply. "Alright." Stef said and smiled at her. She could see Callie's eyes filled with sadness and fear and she wrapped an arm around her and pulled her into her side. Callie curled into a ball and tried to disappear into Stef. "It's going to be fine love." Stef whispered to her as she stroked her hair. "No one's going to hurt you." Soon they heard the receptionist call Callie's name. "You can go right in honey." She said kindly. Stef pulled Callie up and they walked into Sarah's office. "Nice to see you again Callie." Sarah said. "How are you feeling today?" Callie didn't reply and Stef sighed, knowing it was going to be a long hour. "Callie's eating has gotten worse." Stef said and the doctor turned her attention to the adults. "Worse?" She asked. "Yes." Stef explained. "She now basically refuses to eat. She has barely half a meal in a whole day and once I caught her trying to force herself to throw up." Stef felt Callie stiffen beside her. She wished she didn't have to do this in front of her but she wanted Callie to know just how worried they were. "Just once?" Sarah asked. "Yes, we've watched her like a hawk since then." Stef said. "I see." Sarah said looking concerned and writing something down. "What about sleeping? Last time you said she wasn't doing much of that either." "She's been sleeping through the night for the last three nights now." Stef said. "But I think it's because she's too weak and tired to stay awake." "I see." Sarah said. "She god dizzy two days ago and we've had to force her to eat sometimes but it's still nowhere near enough." Stef added. "Has she taken any of the pills?" Sarah asked, referring to the sleeping pills she had prescribed. "Not yet." Stef said. "She hasn't needed it." "Well that's good." Sarah encouraged before turning her attention back to Callie. "Callie can you tell me why you don't want to eat?" Sarah asked, knowing that Callie wouldn't answer. But she still wanted Callie to feel like she was included. When Callie didn't answer she turned her attention back to Stef. "Well if she doesn't increase her appetite or gets light headed again we may need to get her into a hospital to be administered the supplements intravenously." She said slowly, knowing it would frighten the girl." "No!" Callie said her first word at the doctors. "Honey, I'm sorry, I'm not trying to scare you or threaten you but you need to eat." Sarah said. She was glad that at least Callie had said something though she didn't make a big deal about it. "I don't want to." Callie said looking at Stef as tears filled her eyes. Stef wrapped her arms around Callie. "I'll be there with you." She said softly as thought the plan was already laid out. "We aren't there yet." Sarah said. "But Callie only you can keep that from happening." Callie looked back at the doctor miserably. "You need to eat at least three meals a day." Sarah continued. "Whatever you like, but healthy. And you can't try to throw it up. It can be just a little but it has to be something." Callie nodded. She'd try anything to avoid being sent away. "How about we set up a plan so that you know what to expect." Sarah said as she flipped the page on her notepad opening up to a new one. "We'll set up a time for you to eat and that way you know when it's coming and you can tell your mom's what you'd like beforehand. Callie looked miserable as Sarah brought her chair closer to Callie so they could look at the page together. "How about you have something for breakfast at nine am. Whatever you like. Eggs, toast, anything. But whatever it is it needs to be a whole one and you need to finish it. What do you like?" Callie didn't answer so Stef did it for her. "French toast's her favorite. Pancakes too." "Alright." Sarah said with a smile. "Well one french toast or a pancake will do just fine. Add a glass of milk or juice to that though." "That's the only thing she seems to have with no fuss." Stef said. "Good." Sarah said. "Let her have it throughout the day then." "What about lunch." Sarah turned to Callie. "Around two. Tell your moms what you like. I advise eating something light and cool to start with. It helps. Maybe a salad or a cold sandwich, same thing for dinner at seven." Callie nodded miserably. "Honey, I know this is hard but I can see that your mom wants to help you. If you just talk to them honestly I promise you that most of your problems will just disappear." Sarah said kindly. "Can you tell me why you don't want to eat?" Callie looked at Stef with an almost guilty look in her eyes. "I can ask your mom to wait outside if you'd like." Sarah suggested. "It might be easier." Callie slowly nodded and Stef gave her a squeeze before leaving the room. The moment the door closed Callie began to cry.