traumatized minds, luke hemmings

lottie.

"I know you did not wake up because Lottie was crying."

Charlotte laid next to Luke. Her face in his chest like he would fall asleep again. His arm around her while using the other one to talk.

"I'm telling you," Luke insisted. "I heard her shouting and nearly crying and it's like my whole system rebutted."

"You're serious?" Calum said, looking at Luke's vitals and records. His eyes wide. Alert.

"As a coma." Luke humored.

Calum threw Luke a glare before Luke made an awkward smile, giving Charlotte a small head kiss. Calum kept glancing down at Luke's chart.

"So," Calum pinched the bridge of his nose. "You were in your mind. Then what?"

"I became aware of Charlotte's voice, like I had been before, but now it was louder," Luke said. "I heard her in pain. I heard her say 'let go of me' and I forced myself. My system woke up without any effort."

"Fuck me, Luke," Calum ran a hand through his hair. "Let me make sure everything's working right. Sit up."

Charlotte gently got off the bed, standing next to Luke's bed as he sat up. He gently rubbed his thumb over her hand as Calum got his vitals again — making sure everything was fine. Working.

"Your mom is here." Calum mumbled.

Luke's eyes widened, glancing at Charlotte. "She's here?"

"Yes." Calum nodded. "The second Ashton told her, they bought plane tickets."

"They?" Luke raised an eyebrow. "Who's they?"

"Um..." Ashton scratched the back of his neck, glancing at Charlotte, before he said. "Your mom, your dad, and your two brothers."

Luke instantly pinched the bridge of his nose. He sat up a bit more and said. "Where are they?"

"Hotel," Calum said. "They left to eat dinner and things like that. Do you want me to call them?"

Luke shook his head, taking a sip of water. "I want some freakin' food, please. I'm starving."

Calum approached Luke and began making sure he was in working condition. He checked his vitals, blood, things like that. All while holding Charlotte's hand.

"I'll be back in 10 minutes with In-N-out." Calum said, grabbing his hoodie and throwing it on.

After Calum left, Luke let out a large breath. A long relieved one. "Come 'ere, Lottie." He said in between grunts, his back sort.

Charlotte crawled to the edge of the hospital bed and sat up, brushing her hair out of the way before exhaling — finally looking at Luke.

"I'm sorry." He said after a moment. "I'm sorry for being a dick. I never should've treated you like that. You don't deserve that at all."

"I'm sorry too," Charlotte pulled her knees to her chest.

"There's nothing you should be sorry about." Luke frowned, taking her hand in his. "I never should've been a bitch. I never should've had a girl in my room like that with you in the house. I never should've started going out each Saturday. I never ever should've said you weren't my daughter."

"Luke—"

"I'm so fucking sorry." Luke interrupted her. "You are my daughter. Blood or not, you will always be my daughter. My child." He inhaled. "I know you'd been stressed about school, too, and I still was acting awful."

Charlotte's bottom lip quivered and she nodded gently. "I forgive you, Luke."

Luke opened his arms gently and Charlotte gave him a very, very big hug. She pressed her cheek against his shoulder.

"I love you," Luke mumbled.

"I love you too, dad."