~I run to you~

2

"I feel so bad, I don't know what to do. I don't know how to help Callie." Stef was at the table sitting across from Lena. Both were sipping a cup of coffee.

"What's she afraid of?" Lena asked. She was concerned, so was I. It hurt me so much to see Callie so hurt and scared.

"Liam." I spoke quietly. Even though the kids were upstairs I didn't want to chance any of them over hearing his name. They all know who he is and what he had done.

"Oh no." Lena mumbled, "Is he back? Or foowing her? Has he done anything?" She started throwing out a million questions.

"Whoa whoa, Lena, love please slow down." I laughed.

"Stef this isn't a joke! He hurt Callie once and she's suddenly terrified, something's not right." Lena snapped. I hated when she would get an attitude.

"I know Lena. But at this point all we can do is be there for her and see if she says anything or comes to us." I said.

Lena looked down at her coffee, "The only person in this house she'll come to is you, Stef." She sighed.

"We're a lot alike. I think she sees that and it makes it easier for her to open up to me." I explained to her.

"I know. But I wish she'd open up to me too." Lena took a sip of her coffee.

"She will Lena, give it time. She will." I reached across the table and laid my hand on top of hers, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

I saw Lena look up and turned around to see Callie walk into the kitchen. She looked upset.

"Hey Callie." I smiled. She looked at me blankly. "Is everything okay Love?" I asked.

Callie scratched the back of her head, dishevling her curly hair "Yeah, um, I just wanted some water I guess." She walked to the cabinet and took a glass, making her way to the sink.

I looked at Lena, she raised her eyebrows in suspicion.

"Something's wrong." I mouthed to her. She nodded in agreement.

I watched Callie drink her water and place the glass in the sink. She turned around and looked at me, like she wanted to talk. Whatever it was she didn't want to discuss it with both of us.

She smiled weakly, "I think I'm gunna sleep on the couch tonight, if that's okay?" She pointed towards the living room.

"I'm gunna go brush my teeth. I have AWFUL coffee breath," Lena said as she put her mug in the sink, "goodnight Callie." She smiled as she walked by her, heading up the stairs.

"Is everything okay?" I asked, spinning the stool to face her.

"Mhm." She smiled, and nodded.

"Why would you want to sleep on the couch?"

"Oh you know, just to switch it up a bit. And plus, Marianna snores real bad some nights."

"Okay, I'll help you with the blankets then." I got up and followed her upstairs to her and Marianna's room. Marianna was sound asleep. We quietly grabbed her blankets and pillows and went back downstairs.

I made the couch up for her to sleep on, and turned to face her, "Callie what's going on? Talk to me, please." I pleaded.

"I just..." She started, then paused.

"You just what?"

"I don't know." She choked.

I pushed the blanket over on the couch and sat down, motioning for her to sit with me. She sat down next me and I turned to face her.

"Callie you can talk to me. You don't have to be afraid, you're safe." I told her.

"I...the other day...I..." She stopped and I noticed her eyes begin to water.

"I saw Liam." She finally choked out.

"And... He.. Came up to me, and he started threatening me, and he said he know's where I live and what window leads into my room and how he can see in... And I'm afraid." Her voice was catching, I could tell she was trying to not cry.

I put my arm around her and pulled her agains't me. I heard her crying softly.

"Callie, did he hurt you?" I asked, instantly going into protective mode.

"No, but he said he was going to if he found me again." She cried.

I held her tighter, and reached across for the blanket. I pulled it over us and gently adjusted my body at a more comfortable angle. Callie clinged to me the whole time. I wrapped my arm around her again, and she did the same, clinging to me tightly.

"I won't let him hurt you Callie, not in this house." She scrunched into a ball, still clinging to me.

"Can you stay here tonight?" She sniffled.

"I'm not going anywhere love." I gave her a reassuring squeeze, and she took a deep breath of reflief.

After a while she finally fell asleep. I stayed awake most of the night, she woke up quite a few times panicing. She'd have bad nightmares. Each time she did I'd hold her closer and she'd fall back asleep. I wish I could kill Liam for doing what he did to her.