𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗟𝗜𝗘, greys anatomy

1-800-799-7233.

chapter 8.
1-800-799-7233.

☆★☆★→ ←☆★☆★

Charlotte stands alone in the elevator of grey sloan memorial, waiting for it to reach the hospitals third floor. she grips a bag of vending machine chex mix in one hand, a gatorade in the other. the doors ding open, and she exits the lift just as a man steps out from the shadows, blocking her path. "hey, lottie. how are you? you sure grew up!"

charlottes blood runs cold. she freezes, suddenly feeling like she wasn't able to breathe and as though the world was spinning a million miles an hour.

"how's your aunt doing?" the man in front of her, paul stadler, asks.

charlotte simply remains frozen. she couldn't believe he had found her. what was he doing here? was he there for her? to take her back?

"oh, so sorry. this is my fiance, jenny." paul reaches behind him and reveals a young woman standing to his side. "lottie, you look great! i'm so glad to see it looks like you've gotten the help you needed. oh, how is your aunt doing nowadays?"

arizona robbin's approaches the three. charlotte is glued to her spot, eyes glossing over. how was this happening?

"oh my gosh, are you paul stadler? i'm such a big fan of your work." arizona gushes. she references a specific one of his research papers, to which he uses as a branch to speak about the real reason he is at grey sloan.

"actually, jo wilson would know; she was a student of mine while i was writing it. is she here, by the way?"

charlotte snapped back into focus at his mention of the woman she had been staying with the last year.

"she is, i'll let her know you asked for her. so nice to meet you!" arizona finishes, walking away.

"hey, do you know jo, lottie?" paul looks down at the terrified child in front of him.

charlotte is still rendered unable to bring herself to speak.

"well, i guess her real name is brooke. you remember me telling you two about her; my wife that took off before i met your aunt. she goes by jo wilson now. familiar?"

charlottes mouth is suddenly painstakingly dry.

"you know, i was hoping we could go somewhere to talk, just the two of us. i'd love to catch up."

just as charlottes about to pass out or throw up, maybe even both, webber calls out for her. "hey, charlie, karevs been looking for you."

charlotte takes this as her chance and speed walks past the man who was the cause of so many of her nightmares and much of her suffering. she couldn't believe this was happening. what were the chances? the man had not only found his past-step-daughter, but also his estranged ex wife all at once. charlotte couldn't help but feel guilty; perhaps paul had been looking for her, to get revenge for what she had done to him the last time they saw each other. and in his search, charlotte had accidentally led him right to jo.

☆★☆★→ ←☆★☆★

Charlotte finds alex wheeling a patients gurney with amelia as he argues with jo simultaneously. "there you are kid. haven't seen you in a while, just wanted to know where you were. hey, stay with jo for a bit okay? shepherd and i are headed into surgery and i'm not sure how long it'll take. mere's in surgery too, and pierce is with avery."