Chapter Text
Charlie’s eyes shot open. She felt heavy, unable to move much. From where she lay, she glanced towards the bottom of her bed where her feet barely reached. What happened? Where was she? A few more glimpses around the room revealed she was in a hospital bed, in a room of her own.
She wanted to move, to say something, but she just couldn’t. Thankfully, someone’s shadow caught her attention—Michael was on his feet, rushing to the door to call down the hall. It was a bit muffled, but eventually, she heard him shout, "She’s awake!"
Charlie watched as Michael rushed back to her side. Her father, William, Jesse, Maggie, and Elizabeth followed him in. The last to enter was a panicked-looking Sammy, who pushed through the crowd, all greeting her with worried expressions and smiles. Sammy grabbed her hand and squeezed it tight. Though silent, the tears rolling down his face told Charlie he was happy and relieved. The twins shared a moment of silent smiles.
Henry stepped up beside Sammy and rested a hand on Charlie's forehead. "Hey, sweetie. Can you talk?" he asked. Charlie opened her mouth, but not a single sound came out. Henry stared down at her, and something in his gaze made Charlie shut her mouth immediately. "Well, I'm glad you're awake. I was so worried—we all were." He spoke gently, smiling now.
Another figure appeared in the doorway—it was the doctor. Henry was called out of the room and exited with the doctor, William waving to Charlie before following his best friend into the hall. She couldn’t make out their conversation, but she had no time to try and decipher it as the Afton kids and her brother excitedly greeted her again.
"My goodness, you’re awake! I was super worried!" Elizabeth exclaimed, resting a hand on Charlie's knee. Jesse nodded in agreement, clinging to his Fredbear plush.
"You know, Mike had been guarding you!" Liz said, elbowing her older brother, earning a growl from the teen.
"Shut it, Sammy was here too," Michael retorted, poking the boy beside him. Sammy nodded, squeezing Charlie’s hand again. Jesse reached over and patted their held hands with the Fredbear plush’s stubby paw.
"Fredbear is glad you woke up. I am too. The kids at the diner will be happy to hear you’re okay. Susie and Gabe send well wishes... and Fritz says if you remember who did it, he’d avenge you," Jesse said, earning a scoff from Michael, who placed a hand on his hip.
"That kid can swing a bat, sure, but I don’t think he could do much damage," Michael remarked.
Charlie’s smile widened as the Aftons bickered about Jesse’s friends. She couldn’t help it but to carefully take her hand from her brother and clench her palms together. Elizabeth smacked Michael’s arm, and he grabbed a fistful of her ginger hair. Jesse pushed the plush doll between them.
"STOP! This is NOT a circus!" Jesse reprimanded his siblings, who grumbled and let each other go. They listened to Evan and quickly apologized to Charlie, whose smile couldn’t get any wider—it looked like she would laugh. Sammy wagged a finger at them disapprovingly. Maggie stared at her children with genuine exhaustion; they were always up to something.
"As a reminder, this is the ICU. Keep your voices down," she said, moving past her children to offer a tired smile to Charlie and Sammy. "It's good to see you’re awake. I know it’ll take time to heal, but we’ll always be here for you, sweetheart." Maggie gently ran her hand down Charlie’s cheek, then to Sammy’s head to ruffle his hair. "You two are so important."
Sammy nodded his head, trying to hide his appreciation. Maggie began to guide her children out of the room. "Let's go; she'll need a lot more rest. She’s had enough excitement, I’m sure." Charlie listened as Elizabeth, Jesse, and Michael gave less enthusiastic goodbyes before the door shut.
Sammy stared into his sister’s eyes before he spoke. "I was so scared. I heard you were out in the alley and that you were locked out. We tried to get those bullies away from the doors, but then a fight started and—I mean... The greeter was able to get the door open so the Marionette and Michael could find you. I wanted to go too, but I got knocked over," Sammy admitted, hanging his head. He lifted it right back up, clearing his throat. "But they found you. And I’m so grateful they did... I can’t imagine going on without you." Sammy’s tears flowed again, and Charlie reached over, patting his hand. He could hear her voice in his mind, telling him she was there for him. She wouldn’t leave him.
The door opened, and Henry returned to his children. "Kids, I got some updates. Charlotte, you’ll need to heal up a bit more; it’ll take about four to five weeks until you can properly speak again," he said gently to both children, leaning down to press a kiss to Charlie’s forehead, then to Sammy's. "The doctor suggests we let you sleep more, Charlotte." Charlie nodded, took a few breaths, and shut her eyes. Sammy watched her and took a seat where Michael had sat earlier. Henry passed his son and exited the room. William could be seen with his family, chattering about plans. When Henry approached, William was quick to ask how it went.
"She took it well from what I could tell. She shut her eyes, and Sammy went to sit down. I’m very anxious for her, though," Henry said. William placed a supportive hand on Henry's shoulder, patting him.
"Don’t be anxious; she’ll be just fine. She’s your kid. She’s pretty strong, y’know?" William reassured him. Henry smiled a little at William’s words. Maggie came to his other side, hugging his arm.
"Bill’s right; your kids are both strong and capable. You are strong too, Henry. Be here for her, okay? And if you need us, you know where to find us." She pressed a kiss to his cheek. Henry's hand lifted to touch his face. William said nothing to the act of affection; he knew it was in kindness. William let Henry go as Maggie started talking to Henry about their children, his eyes focusing on Michael and Liz bickering once more. Jesse didn’t even try to dissuade them, just sat against a wall playing with his Fredbear.
William approached the arguing duo first. "What’s this about?" he asked, earning two pairs of colored eyes—green and blue—blinking at him.
"Uh, nothing," Michael muttered, looking away quickly.
"Mikey wants to spend the night, and I’m telling him he can’t because we have church in the morning!" Lizzie quickly spoke up, earning a glare from her older brother.
William sighed and shook his head. "Mick, you can see her after services. Okay?" Michael turned his head and grumbled. William placed a hand on his shoulder, pressing a kiss to his cheek much like Maggie had done to Henry. "I promise, first thing after service, I’ll bring you right over. I know how you care for Charlotte, I do." He tried to assure his son, who looked at him and let his shoulders droop.
"Alright, fine," Michael complied, making William smile. He ruffled Michael’s hair and did the same to Elizabeth's, earning a whine from the redheaded girl.
"My haiiirrr..." she complained.
Back in the hospital room, Charlotte’s eyes may have been shut, but her mind was whirring away. The alley—the stone brick pavement, and the dumpsters. She could see herself in the rain, watching it pour over her and dampen her brunette curls. She adjusted the sleeves of her black and white turtleneck and continued to pound on the back door, shouting to be let in. She didn’t hear the car parking behind her.