traumatized minds, luke hemmings

ouch.

Theo took Charlotte back to the hospital after Charlie had to fight the urge to kiss him.

He was talking about his family as they drove back to the hospital — and while Charlotte was listening, she was also watching the way his hand flexed as he drove.

He drove with one hand at a point and Charlotte almost threw up.

"I'll see you soon, okay?" Theo said as they stood inside Luke's office. Theo was helping her set down her bag, and settle in again.

Charlotte nodded. "Have a safe drive home."

Theo didn't respond. Instead, he pulled Charlotte into a gentle hug. His arms gently wrapped around her body and she quickly put her head against his shoulder.

He stroked her hair gently. "He'll be okay, alright?"

"I know." Charlotte muffled into his shoulder. "I'm just scared."

"I know, sweetheart."

Theo left after their hug, and Charlie smiled softly as he waved as he walked away. After he was gone, she found herself walking aimlessly to Luke's hospital room. She hadn't really been able to stomach looking at him with all the machines hooked into him — but she felt like she needed too.

She grabbed her book and sat in the chair next to Luke's bed.

Charlotte brought her knees to her chest gently, propped her head up and started reading in her head.

"You should read to him."

Charlotte's head turned to the door, to see Ashton standing in scrubs. He had his hair in a small bun, and he looked exhausted.

"Can he hear me?" Charlotte asked, taking a glance at Luke.

"Chances are he can." Ashton leaned against the wall behind her. "Speaking to him will help."

"What do you think he's thinking?" Charlotte asked softly after a moment, staring at Luke's face. His eyelashes.

Ashton hesitated. Of course, he had an idea of what Luke was thinking right now but he probably shouldn't say it. Instead, he put a hand on Charlotte's shoulder. "I've gotta go run some rounds, check on patients."

Charlotte met Ashton's eyes, and nodded.

"Remember," He took a hand away. "Talk to him."

Ashton left and once again, she was left with silence. She bit her lip and began talking to Luke about the book she was reading.

2 hours later, Charlotte found herself at the window. She leaned against the wall, watching the people below walk and the cars on the highway.

She leaned forward, adjusting her body before leaning back — and accidentally bumping her head against the wall.

"Ouch!" Charlotte hissed, grabbing the back of her head. "What the hell?"

"Are you okay?"

Charlotte's head snapped up instantly, her eyes moving to Luke before she noticed the body at the door. She exhaled.

"You scared me, Calum." She said, "What's up?"

"A big car crash just came in, and I should probably let you know that me, Michael and Ashton are gonna be working on it. We can't come in and check on you. I put some money on your card, so if you're hungry, you can buy something. Will you be okay?"

Charlotte nodded with a warm smile on her face. "I'll be fine."

Calum frowned slightly. "Are you sure you're okay?"

Charlotte studied Calum's face. She swallowed. Breathed. "Yeah."

Calum walked across the room, and sat next to Charlotte. He leaned his head against the wall. "You can tell me anything, honey. You know that right?"

Charlotte nodded quickly. "I know."

Calum gently got up and kissed Charlie's temple. "I love you. One of us will check on you when we can, alright?"

The rest of the day was quite boring. She read to Luke, talked to him, told him everything that had happened lately. Gave him updates no one else was giving him.

She had accidentally fallen asleep as well. The sounds of busy nurses and doctors walking by Luke's room. Sounds of people talking.

Around 10 pm, she felt a harsh hand fly to her wrist and she instantly woke up.

"What the f—"

"Who are you, and why are you inside a patient's room?" Someone hissed. "You need to leave. Before I call the authorities."

Charlotte's eyes flew up to a man. A man in nurse scrubs, with glasses and a mean look to his face. Charlotte tried to yank her wrist away from the man.

"What the hell are you talking about? This is my dad's room— let go of me, you're hurting me," She snapped, feeling the man's grip on her wrist tighten.

"Dr. Luke Hemmings is your dad?" The guy scoffed. "Yeah right."

"I'm fucking serious, let go of me," Charlotte panicked.

The doctor was yanking on her like she was a rag doll. His fingers pressed into her skin, making indents. It hurt a lot.

"Stop resisting me," The guy hissed, trying to pull Charlie away from the window sill. "You'll be going to jail. You cannot sit inside a patient's room, and sleep just because you have nowhere to go."

"Let go of me!" She shouted a bit louder, the guy seriously yanking her across the room and making her stumble over her feet.

After a moment of the guy making her stumble, she felt someone's arm fly around her waist and pull her away.

She almost panicked until she turned around.

And saw a wide awake Luke Hemmings.

"You better let go of my daughter before I hurt you in ways you could never imagine."