𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗟𝗜𝗘, greys anatomy

snowblind.

ch 17. snowblind.

Charlotte wasn't stupid. alex hadn't been home or even in contact for nearly two weeks after supposedly visiting his 'mother'. she knew something was up, but was even more convinced of the fact when she arrived back at the loft after school to hear jo frantically calling her missing husband.

"jo?" charlotte announces her presence as soon as the doctor hung up her phone.

"oh hey, charlie." jo tried to hide the fact she had just been crying, turning around to face the teen after wiping at her eyes. "how was school?"

"uh, fine." charlotte sits her backpack down on the nearby bench. "still nothing from alex?"

"no, but he's probably just busy with his mom." the doctor sighs, making her way over to the couch and taking a seat.

"yeah, if you believe that." charlotte scoffs, joining jo. "i think he left."

jo snaps her head up, looking at the teen. "what? no, why would you say that?"

"he took all his shit and he's not responding to either of us." charlotte shrugs. "he's said he's not ready to be a dad, maybe he just got overwhelmed with me being here. i get it, it's more than he signed up for. call him again and tell him i left, he'll come back." the teen rises and heads toward the dresser containing her clothing.

"what? no, charlie." jo follows closely behind the girl. "you're not going anywhere. whatever the reason, you're not it. i promise."

charlotte makes solemn eye contact. "it's fine, jo. i've been here three years. i'm not a little kid anymore, i can take care of myself now."

"you're fourteen. you are still a kid." jo sighs, leaning against the island. "i lived in my car when i was sixteen, and i don't want that for you, and neither would alex. i know that." she lays a hand on the girls arm, stopping her.

for years, charlotte had become used to being forced to leave a home as soon as it began to feel like a home. jo and alex's loft had been the longest time she had ever stayed in one place; even when living at her aunts it had never been safe to stay at there for long periods of time, so charlotte had often chosen to stay out on the streets. so while she definitely did not want to leave, charlie would understand if she ended up needing to. the very last thing the teen wanted was for alex and jo to break up because of her.

"charlie. this isn't because of you." jo reassures, noticed the young girls slightly elevated breathing. "breathe. let's sit down."

still not entirely convinced, charlotte nods and closes the drawer, allowing the older woman to slowly lead her over to the bed.

Jo sits alone at the kitchen island later that night, nursing a glass of red wine. charlotte is long-since fast asleep in the surgeons bed, her empty bag on the floor beside her.

a knock sounds and jo rushes to the door, visibly disappointed when she sees who is, or rather, who isn't on the other side.

link enters the loft, "misery loves company so..." he holds up a pastry bag, "i brought donuts. and despair."

jo stays rooted by the door, unmoving, while link heads to the kitchen and sets his bag of donuts down on the counter. "jo?"

the surgeon slowly turns around, "i thought you were him."

"i'm sorry." link shrugs off his jacket.

"charlie was right." jo looks around the quiet loft. "he left me."

"no, he didn't."

"i think he did," jo says tearfully, "i think he woke up one day and felt the need to escape his life, and me. i called his mom. he wasnt there, he'd never been there." she takes a breath, "he left me. and i can't—i can't breathe." jo struggles to catch her breath, holding a hand over her mouth in an attempt not to disturb the sleeping teenager with her cries.

link rushes across the apartment to his friend, embracing jo as she continues to sob.