Callie groaned. The sound of a loud knock at the door reached her ears and shook her from her sleep, forcing her squinting eyes to tackle the light of her room. Ever since the accident she had struggled to get a decent sleep and it didn't feel like it was coming any time soon. She had expected it, given all that had happened, but Callie knew that sleep was the only thing she would get to enjoy in this hospital - without it the building was hell on earth. It didn't even matter that she was doped up on pain medication half the time, nothing helped her restlessness. There was a little button by her hand that she was allowed to press whenever she needed some relief but the teenager was pretty sure that she had more than maxed it out by now.

The brunette tried to close her eyes again with the hope that maybe the nose was nothing more than just a figment of her imagination or a creation by her tired mind, and that it would go away just as quickly as it had come. Of course, she was mistaken.

"Um, Callie?"

Her eyes shot open immediately. If it had been anyone else's voice she would have been grateful that she wasn't going crazy but instead a small sense of panic began to rise in her chest. It lingered as she licked her lips, her brain searching for the right words to say.

"Sophia?" Callie asked quietly, her voice coming out as barely more than a whisper. She could hardly even move her head to look to the door. Even now, her neck was as stiff as the day she had been brought in. Any hope of seeing her sister before she came into view was lost so instead the older girl listened intently, hoping that she would only hear one set of footsteps walking towards her bed.

"You don't have anything to worry about. My dad - our dad - didn't come with me," Sophia replied. Her voice was no louder than Callie's own had been. As the younger girl came into view, Callie couldn't deny that fact that she looked far better than she had the last time that they had seen each other. Sophia seemed mature. Not that she hadn't been mature before - she just looked somewhat less likely to be walking out in front of oncoming traffic. "I know what he did and I'm really sorry. Not that it makes a difference. He just really cares about you."

"You shouldn't be here," Callie replied without hesitation, ignoring the last part of what her sister had said. Callie couldn't help but let images of the previous day flood her mind; images of what Robert had said to her family. If he really cared about her then he wouldn't have acted the way that he did. "Who even brought you here?"

"My mom is waiting downstairs for me," Sophia said with a small smile, hoping that it would help the older girl shed some of the hostility she was radiating. It faded quickly when Callie didn't return it. "I just had to see you. I couldn't sleep knowing what happened. I mean, I knew you were okay because you were here but still, I couldn't help but worry."

"Well, you've seen me now so you can leave. Go back to your own life and make sure your father doesn't cross the line into mine's," Callie snapped. She had to stop herself from raising her voice when the blonde woman next to her caught her eye. She didn't want to wake Stef up and cause any more drama.

"I know. You're totally right. I'm sorry," the younger girl shook her head as she spoke, turning back to the door that she had walked through moments earlier. "I'll go."

Callie hesitated. In the few seconds between Sophia walking away from her bed, her head hanging low, and reaching for the handle of the door, Callie couldn't help but let a nagging sense of guilt engulf her when she thought about leaving things the way that they were. She knew that her sister's words would replay over and over in her head and she wouldn't forgive herself for not giving her a chance. Callie groaned and opened her mouth to speak again.

"Stop. It's fine. You came all this way for me, you should stay. I shouldn't have been such a bitch."

"Okay," Sophia's looked back to Callie, smiling slightly though she was unsure if the older girl was being genuine. Callie could tell though that despite it, Sophia was still stopping herself from letting it grow into a full blown grin.

Callie took a deep breath. "So, how are you doing?"

"I'm doing a lot better I guess. I'm in therapy right now which kind of sucks but it helps," Sophia nodded. "I guess I have you to thank for it all though."

"You don't have to thank me for anything," Callie shook her head as much as her neck would allow it, wincing slightly at the movement. Maybe Sophia was right. If she hadn't have told Robert and Jill then she might have tried something stupid again. Maybe Sophia would be the one lying in the hospital bed instead of her.

A few moments passed between them. Sophia looked down to the floor, playing with the buttons on her denim jacket before her head shot up again. "So, I think that my mom and dad are going to get a divorce."

"Oh."

"Yeah," she replied. "My dad was having an affair or something and I guess with everything that had happened with me and you coming into the picture, they were already under some stress. I mean, it's not your fault at all. I'm not trying to blame you or anything Callie."

"I know," Callie said and reached a hand out towards her. "I'm sorry, for you, but the way Robert acted towards my family yesterday...he's your dad. Not my dad."

"I know," Callie said as the younger girl rambled on, reaching a hand out towards her. "I'm sorry that this is happening to you but I'm not sorry about your dad. The way he acted towards my family yesterday isn't the sort of thing you forgive easily."

Sophia frowned. "But you're my family. You're my sister."

"I'll always be your sister Sophia. Always," "Just not in the way that you want me to be."

"I'll always be your sister Sophia, always," Callie offered her a smile as she spoke. "Just not in the way that you want me to be. We're never going to have that perfect life together with the perfect home and family, but what we do have together is great."

"I know," Sophia mumbled.

Before Callie could say anything else, the sound of movement caused both girls' eyes to flicker to the other side of the bed - meeting Stef's confused glare as she sat up.

"Sophia, wh-" Stef said, wiping sleep from her eyes are they darted around the room in search of any trace of Robert. "You shouldn't be here."

"It's okay," Callie assured her but the older woman shook her head.

"I don't think that this is appropriate. Sorry, Sophia but -"

"I'm just going," she cut her off, letting go of Callie's hand. "I have an appointment soon anyway. Bye Cal."

"I'll call you," Callie replied and watched as her younger sister walked out of the room before turning to the blonde. "It's not her fault. You didn't have to speak to her like that."

Lena was beginning to wish that she'd let Brandon clean the rest of the mess up before they had went to bed. Somehow there was still glitter everywhere and regardless of the fact that she had gone for a shower, not to mention how she had avoided the area like the plague, Lena felt like it was all over her. It was worse than leftover sand in your shoes after coming home from the beach - even when you're sure it's all gone, it comes back to haunt you.

The one thing that she was grateful for, however, was how keen her kids were to help out. She felt bad taking advantage but it was only the little things and doing those things ended up turning into a family bonding experience of sorts. Watching the twins and Brandon fuss over making breakfast for everyone while her hands were wrapped around a piping hot mug of tea was fast becoming one of her favourite pass times.

"Why can't I do it?" Jesus whined as Mariana pulled the carton of eggs away from her brother's reach.

"Dude, we can barely trust you not to burn the toast," Brandon smirked as he grabbed a few plates from the shelf.

"Crap," Jesus mumbled, half-running back over to the toaster as Lena tutted at his language. Some things would never change.

The sound of a knock at the door was the only thing that brought the family out of their bizarre rhythm.

"I'll get it," Brandon replied quickly, hopping up the stairs and out of the kitchen before anyone else could react. The weren't expecting anyone. Especially not at this time. Especially not Lou.

"Hey," she said, smiling. It wasn't often that Brandon got to see that smile these days and ordinarily it would have cheered him up, just not today.

"Hey," he replied. She waited for a second, expecting him to continue or invite her in but instead he paused awkwardly. "What's up?"

"I just thought I would come round and see how you are," Lou nodded.

"Oh, yeah, I'm fine I guess," he said. "All things considered."

"Yeah, I figured. I would have called but it made more sense to come around. We have some shows coming up so -"

Brandon's smile turned quickly into a frown. "You're kidding right?"

Lou frowned back. "Kidding about what?"

"My sister and my mom almost died a few days ago and you come to my house asking about gigs."

"I know that, Brandon, but there are other members in this band too. You're whole life shouldn't get put on hold for -"

"For what? For Callie who may well be paralysed? For my family who are trying not to fall apart?" he shook his head. "Funny how Mat isn't here with you, knocking on my door."

"I just -"

"Save it, Lou. I have to go. Have a nice day," Brandon said, closing the door. He didn't care if it was rude and he didn't care if Lou was left standing there confused and hurt. It didn't matter.

"What was that all about, B?" Lena's voice called from the kitchen and the teenager began to walk back towards it.

"Nothing, just had to remind someone that family comes first," he replied. "We should probably get on with breakfast so we can get to the hospital early."

As you can probably tell - I'm not Lou's hugest fan. I actually really don't like her at all, woops. In case anyone is confused about the timeline of this story we're way back in season 2. I guess that's my fault for being so inconsistent about the uploads but regardless, I hope you guys enjoyed it anyway. Let me know what you think in the reviews. Catch you on the flip side :)