There Is Enough To Go Around

Chapter 7

"Callie baby, can you go wake up Mila? She didn't get much sleep last night, but we need to leave in twenty minutes." Lena asked Callie, as the rest of the family, excluding their house guest, sat at the counter eating breakfast.

"Sure," Callie said, as she took another quick bite of her cereal before heading upstairs. It had been a week a half since Mila had arrived at the Adams-Foster home, and a week since the little one started being watched by Lena's friend Stacy. Even though Lena hated the idea of one of her children under her care being taken care of or raised by someone else, she knew it was necessary due to her work. Lena was very happy that Stacy said she would be happy to watch her all day since Stacy was a stay-at-home mom to her three-year-old boy Henry. Mila seemed to like it so far according to Stacy, although the first couple of days was rough to be separated from her foster mothers, particularly Lena. But one week down, and there seemed to be fewer tantrums, and the little one really seemed to be opening up to not only the mothers but to the rest of the Adams-Foster clan. This is why Lena and Stef gave the kids chances to interact with the toddler, and allow them to not only gain some responsibility but to bond with their new-foster sibling.

"Is she still sick?" Brandon asked.

"Yeah, the poor thing. Thank goodness Stacy doesn't mind a sick toddler in her home." Stef answered.

"Well she does have a toddler, and kids that young do get sick a lot. But they usually seem to bounce back fairly quickly. I am a little worried about Mila. It's been four days, and she still is pretty sick." Lena commented to her wife, as she began to worry for the child.

"Well she has a doctor's appointment for her check-up this morning doesn't she? Probably a good time to ask." Stef said as she attempted to soothe her wife's worries.

When Callie came down the stairs, the family could see the small girl, curled up in Callie's arms, looking more pale than usual.

"Um, I don't think she is feeling well. She feels warm too." Callie finally said as she rested a hand on the girl's forehead, her other arm guarding her protectively. Lena jumped up

quickly, to take the obviously more sick toddler from Callie, but Callie shifted the girl away from Lena.

"Callie, give Mila to me," Lena said softly, as she reached her arms out again to take Mila. But Callie wouldn't reply, her eyes never leaving the girl's face. Lena finally focused her attention on her teenage daughter, as she attempted to try to understand why Callie was suddenly so protective. Before today, Callie wasn't too involved with the new toddler, often not even bothering to talk or play with her like Jude or Mariana, and occasionally Jesus would. But now, Callie was very intent on Mila's form, her eyebrows furrowed in a worried fashion, while her arms cradled her ever so delicately but securely. Was it because of the girl's sudden frailty that she kicked into her protector mode? Sure, the whole family had seen Callie act the same with Jude when they first arrived, but she was much more laid back now.

"Callie, give Mila to Mama. She is going to take care of her. It isn't your job to care for your sick siblings, but thank you for grabbing her for us." Stef said, as she now stood behind Callie, resting her hand on her daughter's shoulder. Callie sighed and slowly and reluctantly, handed Mila over to Lena, before going back to her seat. Lena cradled the little one in her arms, who laid very lethargic. She had thrown up multiple times in the night, but she didn't have a fever. Lena figured it was the flu, but looking and feeling her now, she did seem warm and worse than she was last night. It should have been getting better. Going over to the cabinet, Lena took a thermometer for kids and coasted Mila into lifting her arm to stick the tool under her armpit, to take her temperature. As the family watched anxiously waiting for the results, Lena looked at the number. 102.