Truth

Disclaimer: I own none of these characters, just what I have typed up here for everyone to read and enjoy.

Notes: Sorry this chapter took longer than usual to come out. As those who read my note know, Friday was my birthday so it was a busy day and I had no opportunity to write during the day and was in no condition to write that night. Then Saturday was party prep day for my sister's graduation party which was on Sunday. So, finally today I had some writing time and was able to finish the story up. Thank you to those who helped me out with the dating foster sibling research… I ended up not going down that road in this story though. I wasn't sure of anything and couldn't find any concrete proof anywhere so I didn't really feel comfortable approaching it in Truth.

Sadly, this is the last chapter of the story. Thank you to all who have read and all who have reviewed. Maybe, there will be another story from me in the Fosters category, only time will tell!

Enjoy!

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It was almost 9pm before Callie was settled into a room. She was completely exhausted, they had been at the hospital for about five hours and she had been scanned, poked, prodded, and photographed. Even now she was being stuck with a needle for a new IV set with painkillers.

Stef and Lena came into her room with Dr. Stevens' right behind them. Callie hoped someone would tell her what was going on and when she could get out of there.

"Well Callie, how are you feeling?" Dr. Stevens asked.

"Fine," Callie answered, her voice soft but not hurting anymore since they started her on pain medication and had sprayed her throat with something to numb it.

"I'm sure you are tired, and as soon as we finish here with one last blood test you can get some sleep," Dr. Stevens' explained.

"Do you think you could explain what kind of injuries Callie has?" Lena asked, coming over to one side of Callie's bed and sitting on the edge. She held onto her hand as Dr. Stevens drew blood.

"Callie's CT scan showed both a bruised spleen and a bruised liver. We also checked for bruising around her ribs and thankfully nothing is broken. As for her throat, we also checked the CT for injures to the larynx. There wasn't anything that stood out from the CT but knowing how much pain the injury has caused her so far, we will be starting her on steroids to reduce the swelling and will continue to monitor it. If everything continues to stay how it currently is, and Callie promises to take it easy, she could be released as early as Thursday," Dr. Stevens explained.

"Thursday?" Callie exclaimed, pushing her raspy voice in her anger and shock.

"I'm sorry Callie but the damage that was done to your internal organs is concerning and your blood work hasn't been completely consistent which may indicate internal bleeding. Hopefully everything will stable out, but we can't release you until we are sure that you are alright," she said, trying to sound sympathetic but knowing that her tone of voice wasn't going to make the news any better.

"It's okay Callie. One of us will stay with you each night and Thursday will come before you know it," Lena said, leaning in and kissing the top of her head. She was so happy that Callie's injuries were not life threatening and tears gathered in her eyes in relief.

"And think of all the school you'll miss," Stef joked from her position next to Lena, Callie smiled and Lena rolled her eyes at the comment.

"One of you are more than welcome to stay the night with Callie but visiting hours end at 10 so the rest of the family will have to leave by then," Dr. Stevens said, "Goodnight Callie, I will be back in the morning to check up on you. The night nurse, Jenny, will be around if you need anything."

"Thank you for everything," Stef said, standing and shaking her hand. She walked out with the doctor to go and tell the family what was going on and to let them know that they had an hour to say goodnight to Callie.

"I'm going to stay here tonight with you, alright?" Lena offered, not wanting Callie to be alone after she had been assaulted by her rapist.

"You don't have to," Callie mumbled. She hated the idea that she was putting them out by having one of them babysit her like she was a child. She had survived much worse without anyone there to comfort her; she didn't need anyone to start now.

"You are right, I don't have to," Lena said, feeling sorry for Callie because she was so ready to put others in front of herself, "I want to."

Callie just smiled up at her and let out a breath she had been holding. Although Callie knew Liam was in custody, she couldn't help but wonder if he was walking through the door every time it opened. She was pulled from that thought by the door opening suddenly, startling her and causing her to jump slightly.

"Callie!" Jude exclaimed, bursting through the door and to her side. Stef, Brandon, Jesus, Mariana, and Mike came in after him in a much calmer manner. Jude had been so worried and anxious while waiting in the other room for news about her, especially because he knew Liam was involved, as soon as he was told they could visit he took off as fast as he could.

"Hey baby!" Callie said, trying to sound normal and act fine. The adults in the room could tell that she was putting on a brave front but her reaction helped set Jude at ease. Jude smiled at Callie, his eyes filled with unshed tears. "Hey now, what's wrong?" Callie asked, she hated to see Jude cry, ever. She reached over and wiped an escaped tear.

"I'm just glad you're okay," he replied, sniffling.

Callie went to reach down to pull him towards her but as soon as she twisted to get to him, her body seized in pain forcing a groan of discomfort out of her mouth that she tried to hide behind clenched teeth. Brandon, seeing what she wanted to do but knowing she couldn't, stepped forward and helped to lift Jude onto the bed in a way that didn't jostle the bed and kept Callie from hurting further.

As soon as he was situated next to his sister the tears broke free and Jude cried quietly into Callie's side. Callie just held him to her and spoke soothing words into his ear. Stef went up to that side of the bed and began to rub his back as well. She knew how worried he had been and was honestly surprised he held himself together as well as he did.

Mike watched the scene with a faraway look in his eyes. Sometimes it was hard for him to witness Stef's family when they interacted like this, it made him think about all the things he didn't have. Brandon was nearby, watching the scene sadly, Mike threw an arm around his shoulder and pulled him to his side.

"They'll be okay Brandon, they have your moms to take care of them," He said softly to him.

"And the rest of us," Brandon replied, knowing it would take a family to help heal the hearts of both Callie and Jude.

As the last hour of visiting hours came to a close Mariana was feeling anxious. She really wanted a moment alone with Callie to talk to her about what had happened between her and Liam. She had a pretty good idea but was hoping it wasn't true. The only way she'd know for sure, though, would be to talk to Callie.

Mike was gathering a sleeping Jude in his arms and Brandon was saying goodnight to Callie and telling her to call him if she needed anything. Jesus pulled her towards the door where Stef was waiting so she could drive them home for the night.

"Do you think, maybe, I could talk with Callie for a minute," Mariana said, finally finding the courage to do so. Stef, Lena, and Brandon all paused when she said this. They knew that she had questions in the waiting room that no one was willing to answer. They hoped that she wasn't going to try and delve into Callie's past right now; she had been through enough for one day.

"Um…sure, if Callie's up to it," Lena said, wanting to give Callie the final say in whether or not it was okay. She wondered if Mariana was going to try and have this talk with everyone else in the room or if she would expect them to clear out. Either way she wasn't sure how comfortable she was with subjecting Callie to anything stressful at the moment.

"Alone?" Mariana asked again. She saw Jesus giving her a strange look from next to her but she couldn't look at him, she was afraid he would be able to tell what she was thinking if she did.

"Callie?" Lena asked, looking down at her, she looked confused and unsure but she also had a strength in her eyes that Lena admired. Eventually Callie agreed with a short nod. "Alright, just keep it brief. It's been a long day and visiting hours end in 8 minutes."

"I'll be quick, promise," Mariana said.

Slowly, one by one, they filed out of the room until it was just her and Mariana left. .

"Well?" Callie questioned, wondering why Mariana wanted to talk to her alone to badly.

"Um…well, I just wanted to talk to you about what you said earlier, you know, to Liam…when you were protecting me from him," Mariana said softly, not sure how to approach the topic now that she had the opportunity.

"Mariana…" Callie trailed off, not sure if she wanted to get into everything again with her.

"You don't have to tell me anything, if you don't feel comfortable…it's just," she paused. "I guess, I also wanted to thank you. You stopped him from getting to me, but because of that you got even more hurt," Mariana continued.

Callie sighed; she could tell that Mariana wanted answers. In a way she had saved her from Liam by distracting him enough for her to get up. Who knows how bad it could have been if she hadn't interrupted his first kicking assault on her body.

"I knew what he was capable of doing, and I couldn't let that happen to you," she finally replied.

"Why? He had already hurt you, and yet you stayed and fought him instead of running after I had distracted him," she was visibly confused.

"I would never do that. Liam and I…we kinda have a past. He's not a nice guy, and I knew that he would have hurt you just because you had interrupted him, he might have even done worse," Callie commented, shocked that Mariana even considered Callie running away and leaving her alone with Liam.

"He really hurt you didn't he," Mariana said, coming over to the bed and sitting on the very edge. She had attempted to change the subject because she could tell that the topic was making Callie very uncomfortable.

"It's not the first time," Callie offered up. Seeing Mariana look at her with a questioning gaze she took as deep a breath as her bruised ribs and chest would allow and slowly released it. "Liam was my foster brother a year or two ago. While Jude and I stayed there I guess you could say we got really close because he used to spend a lot of time with me and buy me things and teach me things."

"Callie…" Mariana trailed off, putting the conversation that she had overheard between Callie and Liam earlier together with what Callie was sharing with her right now. She didn't like the answer she was getting.

"Yeah…" Callie whispered, biting her bottom lip.

"Earlier…he…um, Liam…he said that he had sex with you…it wasn't with your consent was it…" Mariana said, struggling to get the words out. She wasn't sure if it was going to upset Callie more to hear her say or to say it herself.

Callie sniffled. "No, it wasn't. Liam raped me. And eventually we got caught together and Jude and I were removed from the house," she explained.

"I'm so sorry Callie," Mariana said, she was crying at the thought of what had happened to Callie. She reached over and grabbed one of Callie's hands. "I wish Jesus had beaten him up a little more now," she said, trying to lighten the mood.

"You and me both," Callie said with a watery smile.

"You know, if you ever want to talk…I'm here for you. You're practically like my big sister anyway," Mariana said, trying to judge Callie's reaction to the last part of her statement.

"Thanks. Really, Mariana. Thank you," Callie said, squeezing her hand in reassurance.

Callie felt completely overwhelmed. Not because of what had happened with Liam that day, or her injures. She felt overwhelmed because of all the love that she felt from the Fosters' family. Even though they weren't all related, and she and Jude were just some foster kids that lived with them, they accepted her and protected her.

She was pulled from her musings by the door opening. Both Callie and Mariana turned away for a moment to wipe their eyes before looking over at who had opened the door, it was Jesus.

"Mari, mom is saying that we have to leave now…" he started but paused when he noticed they had both been crying. "Are you guys okay?" he asked.

"Yeah, we're great," Callie answered with her classic head nod.

Mariana slid off the bed and leaned down to hug Callie gently, being mindful of her injures. "Text me if you are bored tonight, anytime. Promise me?" she asked.

"Sure thing," Callie replied, gratefully of her offered distraction. She watched as Jesus herded Mariana out of the door, he went to follow her but then paused and turned back into the room, shutting the door behind him softly. "Forget something?" Callie asked, looking around for a phone or jacket he could have been coming back for.

"Just wanted to thank you. Mariana said that you took care of her today, that you protected her. Thank you so much for looking after my sister," he said sincerely, meeting Callie's confused eyes with his own passionate ones.

"Of course," she said, shocked by how thankful everyone was that she protected Mariana. It was something she did on instinct; she didn't do it in order to be thanked.

"It's just that…she's my sister, my blood. I don't know what I would do if…" he trailed off, too overwhelmed by the thought of something bad happening to Mariana.

"Trust me; I know where you are coming from. If anyone hurt Jude…" she also couldn't even finish the thought.

"Don't you even worry about him right now, just focus on getting better. I promise you that I will protect him until you're back in fighting shape okay?" he asked.

"Sure, thanks," she replied with a smile, glad Jude had someone like Jesus looking out for him.

"I mean what I said. Get better Callie," he said, he slowly approached the bed and, as soon as he knew Callie wouldn't react negatively to what he planned to do, he kissed her on the forehead. "Adiós hermana."

And with that Jesus backed out of the room, leaving Callie alone for the first time all day. With a deep sigh Callie laid back into the hospital pillow and reflected on the day's events. When she closed her eyes she was afraid she would see Liam's angry face, or the look that he had in his eyes as he tried to choke her, or how he looked the first night he raped her. She was surprised when the visions that came to her were of Jesus and Brandon protecting her, of Mariana holding her and shielding her from Liam's view, of Mike's kind eyes in the police station conference room, of Lena and Stef kneeling by her in Lena's office and fussing over her, or of Jude curled up with her on her stretcher. For the first time since her mom died, Callie was remembering what it was like to be part of a family. Where all the members loved and cared for one another and where they would do anything to protect each other. It didn't have to be just her and Jude against the world, at least for now.

Callie laid there content, and that was the view that Lena got when she came back into the room a few minutes later.

"Are you okay Callie?" She asked, not used to seeing the young girl so relaxed and worry free.

"I am, I really am," Callie replied, smiling a true and genuine smile for the first time in 8 years.

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So that's the end. Of course it could have gone on forever, just as I hope the show does, but it's the end of this story-line at least. Maybe inspiration will strike again, maybe after tonight's episode. I don't know just yet. I'm glad that everyone likes my story and very thankful for all of the reviews and suggestions and helpful hints I have received throughout the story!

I also hope that everyone will be watching tonight, as we find out who got shot and the repercussions. I think I'm 100% sure on who it was but the aftermath is something I am awaiting. I also am excited to see how they end the season. I hope it's open ended and that we get another season of this fascinating show!

Take care!