Temperature: Part 2

I apologize for the long wait you all have endured for this part 2. I am anticipating one more part (maybe more, I don't control when inspiration takes over) and I'll try to get that one out by the end of the week. As always, I'm open to all kinds of story suggestions (this story was a suggestion from an awesome guest) and I always am in need of prompts!

In this chapter, there is some Jude/Callie bonding, which should be fun for those of you who think they're adorable. Anyway, I'm rambling. I'll let you read the chapter. Thanks for reading! -A.J.

Lena rifled through Stef's backpack until she located the medical box. From inside: She retrieved a few instant cold packs, the thermometer, and a few dry rags. She handed the thermometer to Stef, who set it down by her side and invited Callie into her lap. Callie, who was craving attention and coddling obliged, and went to join her mother against the far wall of the tent. Once Callie was settled against her, Stef inserted the tip of the thermometer into Callie's ear, brushing a few strands of hair out of its way.

"101.2. Poor baby, you must really feel lousy." Lena hypothesized, observing the little numbers on the thermometer.

"Oh, my sweet, why didn't you say anything before?" Stef asked, her voice dripping in concern. Callie mumbled somberly in response, but no words were discernable.

"A little louder, love." Stef said gently.

"I didn't want to ruin your vacation." She said quietly.

A melancholy look spread onto Lena's features. She leaned forward and laid her hands on her daughter's shoulders.

"Sweetheart, your health is way more important to us. We can go camping any weekend." Lena said, glancing at Stef who shared her heartbroken expression.

"But… Jesus came home… and Jude's been talking about this all week… you guys even got Mariana excited… and with your jobs… you needed a break… not to have to worry about me…" She punctuated her last sentence fragment with venom.

Stef smiled. "Callie, my love, we will always worry about you. You are our daughter and when you don't feel so good, we love taking care of you." Stef brushed Callie's hair back and felt her forehead again.

"Now, I don't know about the rest of our brood, but why don't I take the Prius and drive Ms. Callie home? We can take back some things you guys won't need and then I'll help are sweet daughter recover. How's that?" Stef piped up.

"Sounds good. But for now, let's try to get that fever down. Lay down in the middle, Callie." Lena said, organizing the medical supplies.

"First up, we should get her some fever reducer." Lena spoke again, grabbing 2 Aspirins from a pill bottle in Stef's backpack.

"Here, baby." Stef said, handing Callie a bottle of water they'd pumped earlier that day.

Callie downed the pills and leaned back into the air mattress as her mothers began activating the cold packs and saturating the cloths in cool water. They wrapped the cold packs in the damp towels and placed them on Callie's forehead and under her neck. Callie shivered and shifted so she was closer to Stef, who opened her arms and cuddled her sick daughter.

"I wondered why you were so quiet. It's good to have my daughter back." She said, kissing Callie's fevered brow.

And so the mothers and their daughter sunk into their pillows and switched off the lanterns and closed their eyes, eager to get Callie home.

When the sun came up the next morning, Callie's fever had risen to 102.4, which alarmed the moms and they knew that Callie needed to get home. Stef, Lena, Mariana, and Jesus loaded Callie's things into the Prius as well as some things the rest of them wouldn't need for the remaining 2 days. Callie was moved from the hot tent to a chair in the shade with a large bottle of water and orders from Stef to drink the whole thing. Jude apprehensively approached his sister as she gulped down another portion of water.

"Hey, Callie. Are you okay?" Jude asked.

"Yeah. I'm fine, buddy." She croaked.

Jude wore a concerned expression. "Callie, why didn't you tell them? They're our moms."

"It doesn't matter. It's stupid. Just forget it." Callie said, diverting her eyes to the dirt.

"It isn't stupid, Callie. Come on, just tell me." He persisted.

"I… I didn't want to ruin this for you, Jude. You've been so excited for this trip. I didn't want to be a burden for Moms." She almost whispered, hesitating on every word.

"Callie… we're safe now. We have a family, even if you haven't been adopted yet. As for me, I'm fine. Really. I don't want to go anywhere if I know you will be suffering. I owe you that." Jude smiled. Callie smiled back.

"I love you, Jude. Have fun while I'm gone, okay?" Callie asked as Stef walked up to the pair of siblings.

"Hey, you. No more talking! I know your throat is hurting right now and it isn't going to get better if you are blabbing away all day." Stef said, laying a hand on her daughter's warm forehead. She wrapped her arm around Jude. "Now, come on Callie. It's time we got out of here." She kissed Jude's head and was engulfed in a hug from Lena and the rest of the kids before she took Callie by her fevered hand and sat her in the front seat of the Prius.

"Let's get you home, Cal." Stef said cheerfully, backing the car out of the gravel driveway.

They sped through the nearly empty highway, a rare treat for Southern California. They rode while Stef told Callie the story of her first date with Lena, pop music quietly humming from the speakers. The drive was quicker than expected, and they drove past signs welcoming them back to Long Beach. Stef pulled into a Jamba Juice drive through and ordered her daughter a strawberry and banana smoothie, which Callie took gratefully. They drove up to their home and Stef sighed. She picked up her and Callie's duffel bags and marched Callie into the house.

"Pajamas. Now, Cal." Stef called from her position at the bottom of the stairs. As Callie approached the top of the staircase, she swayed, gripping the handrail and shutting her eyes tightly. Stef dashed up the stairs and steadied her daughter's movements, holding Callie's waist and shoulders close to her.

"You okay, baby?" She asked, kissing Callie's temple. Callie nodded, loosening her grip on the handrail and continuing her way up the stairs, closely followed by Stef.