Charlotte Evans

First Day II Sawyer & Charlotte

Standing within the semi darkness of that cramped closet Sawyer had begun to pant, her lungs heaving painful breaths as her mind tried valiantly to think. The nurse was saying something wasn’t she Sawyer wondered as she closed her eyes. Count to ten…her father’s voice came to her then but rather than calm her as it had once done as a child all Sawyer’s mind could do was cling to the hysteria that was quickly mounting for the memories of her father now only held pain and suffering. She could still see the blood, smell his decaying flesh as it ballooned in the warmth of their tiny cottage, for weeks she had watched that great man wither and now she was forced to relive it every time she shut her eyes.

Her mouth opened as her eyes flew open, her features trapped in a silent scream as that terrible morning replayed itself in her mind. She swayed on her feet as the need to escape ripped through her skin forcing her hands to strike out against the thin wood of her closet door. There was nothing else for the girl to do to get her mind off of what she was seeing so she stood there panting, her hands slamming against anything they landed against within her tomb like hideaway as her voice finally regained itself “G-Go a-a…go away! P-P…Please just go away!”

Charlotte's plan to let Sawyer come out when she was ready had almost instantly collapsed on itself. As soon as she heard the girl start pounding on the closet door she had to intervene. A sedative would have been a smart thing to bring, especially knowing the doctors were unsure of her diagnosis. Naturally that thought hadn't even occurred to Charlotte until now. Still, there was something about using sedation that had always rubbed her the wrong way. She could see why it was necessary in extreme cases, but at the same time she always felt guilty.

She stepped even closer and had to raise her voice to ensure she would be heard over all the noise. "Sawyer, I'm not going anywhere, not until I know you're OK." If Sawyer didn't calm down soon Charlotte would have to call a guard to help her. The girl could hurt herself, or even Charlotte for that matter, if things continued to escalate. "You're safe here; I only want to talk."

#sawyer1

First Day II Sawyer & Charlotte

Taking yet another step back Sawyer swallowed hard, her hands tightening as the door slid open. The blonde appeared unassuming, kind even but the terrified girl had learned the hard way that appearances were never as they seemed and the cups the nurse held only made the girl’s mind spin more. She’d been medicated previously and couldn’t stand the haze the doctors had forced on her. The heaviness and fog that her brain was put under had all been too much too soon. She didn’t speak her wide eyes refusing to look into Charlotte’s as she took yet another step back.

Like a trapped animal she shook, her cage although furnished feeling less and less like a home and more like a death sentence as her heart leapt to her throat. Shaking her head she turned from the nurse, she couldn’t use the window not because it was lock, a fact she didn’t know but because the sun had risen and its terrifying light forced the girl to stagger backwards. Out there was not an option. She needed to get away but to where she thought. Looking about her she rushed towards another door quickly ducking inside before slamming the door shut behind her. A part of Sawyer knew she must look like a child, an unintelligent girl who had just shut herself in a closet but she couldn’t help herself — she was losing control and the fear was only rising.

Oh dear... Charlotte entered the room, setting the pills and water down on the dresser before walking slowly towards the closet. She knew that Sawyer must be completely terrified and while she didn't want to startle the girl, Charlotte couldn't just stand by and let her have a panic attack alone in a closet. She didn't open the door, but instead stood a few feet away from it. If she could Charlotte wanted to let Sawyer come out of her own volition.

"Sawyer..." She called gently. "I'm not going to hurt you. I'm only here to give you your medication, but if you would rather wait until your intake appointment with your doctor you are not required to take this right now." Charlotte fell silent and waited patiently, prepared for this to take quite some time.

#sawyer1

I'm here now | Konstantin & Charlotte

She looked more like the people from the courthouse than anything to him. She had a sophistication he hadn’t seen outside of that setting—and he took an immediate dislike and distrust to her for it. Those people had tried to put him away in a place he would be sure to get hurt, they had no empathy and almost seemed to delight in the idea of his being tortured. These are the memories Charlotte was, unwittingly, bringing up for the youth.

"Houston," he finally managed after a few stuttered syllables. Facing the ground meekly and foregoing his polite duty of returning the question; on the basis that he wasn’t aware of that duty. Polite social discourse hadn’t been something he took to well to in the hospital back home. He knew ‘sorry’ but even ‘thank you’ was a stretch for him. It’d been over ten years of professionals trying to hammer those lessons into his head, but he’d never give in like they thought he would. It seemed socialization would never manifest in Konstantin’s personality, he had no great hunger for words, and other people’s feelings were rarely so much as noticed by him.

Clearly that conversation topic had not been a winner. Charlotte felt an embarrassed awkwardness settling over her. She thought of her coworkers who would probably know exactly what to say right now to turn things around. Especially Serenity, who was naturally outgoing and never seemed to have trouble engaging with the patients and getting them to open up to her. It was entirely frustrating, wanting to say the perfect thing but having your mind go completely blank. Anxiety tended to paralyze most of Charlotte's social skills, but she finally managed to speak up.

"Houston, I've never been. Then again I've never been anywhere in the South apart from New Orleans." She admitted with a nervous smile. This was terrible. The poor kid; she should have just left him alone and not bothered him at all. "I'm sorry if I interrupted you... I just thought you might- that speaking with a staff member may be helpful should you have any questions..." Now she was feeling like a complete idiot.

#konstantin1

First Day II Sawyer & Charlotte

Where am I? Everything was off from the moment she had opened her eyes. The room was too cold, the tiles too white and everything else about this new room unknown and uncomfortable as she lay there staring at the ceiling, her thin frame shivering beneath the weight of her blanket. Sawyer didn’t want to be here, she didn’t want the inch the wool around her gave nor the feeling of being trapped and yet she didn’t believe she had the strength to get out. Shifting from the blankets she ignored the strain her body placed on the old beds springs, her mind focusing rather on the coolness of the floor beneath her bare feet and the sound of movement on the other side of the door.

Was it locked? Her heart clenched as she stood there listening, her eyes growing wide with each forced breath while her mind spun out of control. She bounced from reality to memory, her mind running in confusing circles of past and present fear. Who was it? What did they want? What if it’s him? Him! Fear gripped her as the noise grew louder and she couldn’t speak her throat too dry as her entire form began to shake. They were footsteps she was sure of it but what scared her the most was that they seemed to stop just on the other side of that door. Taking a step back her hands balled into two frail fists, her body nearly shutting down as the birds beyond the plate glass of her window finally began to sing.

Charlotte was carefully reading over the file of Sawyer Grey, sipping her second cup of coffee and still trying to shake the sleepiness from her head. Sawyer had just been admitted and Charlotte per usual was set to deliver the girl's first dose of medication and make sure she was settling in well enough. She had made the mistake before of not reading up on the patients before hand, and it was something she had resolved never to neglect again. It looked like the doctors didn't know much about her and had only guessed at PTSD and a few others.

She put the file back in its proper place before grabbing the paper cup containing two pills and another filled with water. It didn't take her long to reach the patient's room and she knocked, waited a moment, and then opened the door. It only took one quick look to see that the poor girl was already terrified.

"Hello Sawyer," Charlotte said, her usually soft voice even more soothing. "I'm Charlotte, I work here as a nurse. May I come in?" She waited patiently, stalled in the entry way.

#sawyer1

I'm here now | Konstantin & Charlotte

The youth examined her for a long minute before commenting. “Nurse?” he nodded his head at her. “You.. don’t … look like a nurse,” his voice was remarkably quiet, and he evidently shied from her gaze even as he spoke. Fidgeting lightly with his hands and pulling his knees closer to his chest for comfort. He was used to nurses being unkempt, in slippers and scrubs; this woman doesn’t fit that image at all.

He’s still not used to being somewhere so elegant and refined. Where he’d come from, even the doctors weren’t always put together. There were less games back home, no one was trying to pretend things were okay—or at least, that’s what he justifies to himself now, when he feels small, and a stranger to this place.

"The dress code here is a little different," she explained. She could understand why that would be surprising, her attire wasn't what one usually associates with being a nurse. When Charlotte had worked in hospitals it was always scrubs, and even though they had been comfortable, she enjoyed being able to dress up a bit more at the manor. True she generally hated most lavish things, but Charlotte had never been able to shake her attraction to nice clothing.

She was quiet for a moment while she tried to think of something else to say, something that would hopefully engage him in conversation. This was definitely not something that came easily. Finally Charlotte asked, "Where are you from?" It was unoriginal, but it would do.

#konstantin1

andersondaily

#charlotte

I'm here now | Konstantin & Charlotte

"Sit," he agrees with a nod. The floor isn’t terribly comfortable, but it beat standing around. Most adults don’t appreciate his propensity to sitting on the floor, but he’s glad this one isn’t about to condemn him for it. He’s not in the mood to be scolded.

"Something wrong?" he asks, almost casually, if it weren’t for the way he struggles with the beginning of the question. She looks important. Clean. In his mind there aren’t too many more options besides ‘doctor’ and ‘patient’. And he’s unclear on why she’s talking to him; people usually only do that when he’s being disruptive somehow. But he can’t discern what it is that she wants from him.

Charlotte sat carefully, folding her legs beneath her and placing her hands in her lap. It might not have looked entirely conventional, but if it meant Konstantin was more at ease then Charlotte didn't mind sitting on the floor of the library. As a nurse it was her job to make sure the patients were comfortable.

"No, nothing is wrong." She made sure to keep her voice clear and even, not rushing her words. "I thought you may have questions, or want to talk. I'm on break right now so I have time." It occurred to her she hadn't told Konstantin what it was she did at St. Louis Manor. "I'm a nurse."

#konstantin1

Breakdowns | Zak+Charlotte|

Zak’s body shook violently as the panic attack took it’s victim. He sobbed into the pillow before shocking himself and turning towards Charlotte, wanting to be near the woman. This was the first time Zak had ever broken down like this. His adrenalin was racing that he didn’t feel the stitches in his right arm rip open in his attempt to get closer to the woman. It wasn’t until he felt the warmth of the blood running down his arm that he looked over and panicked even more. Yes, the serial killer was panicking in the sight of his own blood. He pulled back against the restraints and tried to pull his arm free.

"Charlotte…..Charlotte…"

He whimpered her name as he looked between his arm and her face with utmost terror on his face.

Fuck, he'd ripped open the stitches. Charlotte was quick to act. She grabbed a nearby towel, and then was back by his side, pressing firmly on the wound, her other hand going to his shoulder to help keep his thrashing arm still.

"Zak, it's alright... I'm right here. The bleeding is under control." He was definitely having a panic attack now and if Charlotte couldn't get him to calm down soon she knew she'd have to call Allex back into the room. She sat on the edge of the bed by his torso, gently squeezing his shoulder. "Try to take a deep breath..."

trevor-lloyd

The Hangover | Trevor & Charlotte

trevor-lloyd

Trevor noticed Charlotte. Who wouldn’t, if you could feel looked, she would be poking him in the forehead. When she actually stopped to talk to him, his quirked and eyebrow. Trying to analyze why she decided to stop. Their last conversation didn’t go over so well, he was pretty sure he had traumatized her. Sliding a hand down the front of his shirt, and then tucking it into his pocket, “I’m alright. Promise.” He gave a painfully awkward smile. He was trying to be as professionally polite as possible, something he didn’t take quite as seriously at Stonebridge.

"I got roughed up by a couple of kids on a cash hunt. Joke is on them my wallet was tapped." He try to change the topic as quickly as possible. He was comfortable with lying, he wasn’t so comfortable at elaborating his lies. "How have you been? You didn’t see you at the bar on my way out, but I was in kind of a hurry anyway. I hope you had a good time, even if that wasn’t really your scene.”

He hated that look of pity in her eyes. It reminded him of his school teachers, when he would come if after a few sick days. He was certainly worse of then than he was now. “Don’t worry about me. I’m a big boy, trust me I’m a lot harder to take down than this.” He motioned toward the bruises on his face.

She tried to wipe the concerned look off her face when he made it clear he didn't want her fussing about what happened to him. Charlotte would hate it herself if their roles were reversed. "I'm sorry," she was apologizing more for her behavior than offering sympathy for his injuries. "If you ever feel like getting some of those cuts looked at you're always welcome to stop by the infirmary."

Charlotte left it at that, deciding to answer his prior inquiry. It was a little mortifying to remember how awkward and out of place she had felt at the bar, and how painfully obvious her discomfort had probably been. "I still can't believe I went," she shook her head, smiling in self-aware embarrassment. Charlotte considered her next answer for a moment.

"Things have been... fine." She couldn't think of anything else to say. All anyone talked to her about lately was Jackson and she would prefer to never have to think about the man ever again. "Apart from..." she gestured to Trevor's injuries, "How have things been for you?"

#trevor2

Breakdowns | Zak+Charlotte|

Once that first tear fell, Zak couldn’t hold back the others. He just did his best to keep his head turned away from hers. His breathing started getting heavy and his chest raked with the silent sobs.

"Some…sometimes I wonder why they didn’t just kill me. Then I remember it’s because I hold secrets the government wants. Sometimes I wonder why I can’t make a single friend…then I remember it’s because no one has bothered to break my walls. How hard is it to have just one single person who gives a rats ass? If Shadow hadn’t alerted the nurse and Allex, I wouldn’t be here. I would be out of everyone’s hair, just another body to lay in the ground. I get that you want to do your job and you want to help…but I’m not worth helping, Charlotte…I’m not worth your time."

He was turned away from her, but she could tell he had started crying. Charlotte didn't know what to do. She moved closer, but paused with her hand outstretched, rethinking her initial intention of touching his shoulder. It was always impossible for her to tell if people wanted to be comforted or not when they were upset.

When he kept talking she started becoming concerned he was going to work himself into a full-blown panic attack. He was still recovering and Charlotte didn't want him to rip open his stitches- or worse. Not giving herself time to second guess her actions again she placed a hand on his upper arm, keeping the touch light but comforting.

"I'm not going anywhere."

gilliandersob-deactivated201507

Gillian Anderson at the Great Expectations Emmy Press Junket

#charlotte

Breakdowns | Zak+Charlotte|

"A bit."

It wasn’t a total lie but Zak wasn’t about to tell her the truth. He didn’t want her here if she wasn’t comfortable. His eyes closed and he felt a tear run down his cheek. Was he so bad that no one wanted to be his friend or have anything to do with him? It was a thought that plagued him and was partly why he attempted suicide. It’s not like anyone would have missed him.

"You’re not relaxed, your not comfortable. Just…leave. I’m sure Allex won’t mind sitting in here with me. Why would you even accept the position if you didn’t want to be around me? I know…I’m a killer, a dick, you think that I think I’m above everyone. Here’s something that will shock you, I’m. Not. Jackson."

Venom dripped off his tongue at the man’s name. Zak didn’t have a personal vendetta against the man but he knew that Jackson was the reason Charlotte was worse than she was when Zak first met her.

She flinched a little with his last statement. All of it had startled her, but his tone at the very end had been frightening. Even so she took a step towards him. "I could have easily asked another nurse to cover for me, but I didn't. My job is to help you, to care about your well-being both physically and mentally- and I do."

Charlotte didn't touch on the fact that he had brought Jackson back into the conversation. She wanted to avoid talking about him if at all possible. "I've always had issues with anxiety. I'm sorry if I'm making you feel as though you're doing something wrong, because you're not." She hoped he could tell she was sincere in what she was saying.

He had been extremely polite to her, even though he had a lot of healing to do, both of the mind and body. She was supposed to be making things better, not worse.

trevor-lloyd

The Hangover | Trevor & Charlotte

He was sore from head to toe. Thankful that John was there to backup his story about being mugged. He was already warned about showing up to work with cuts and bruises. These wounds were from a whole different kind of battle. Fighting with ghosts from his past and the demons within. He never would have thought that he would be relieved to have a piece of his past walking the halls with him, but without John, Trevor might now have survived this time. He had become completely unhinged and was finally starting to show the some signs. He was still hearing whispers and catching figures darting out of his view. They were toying with him. Trying to convince him to give in to the madness completely.

He was relieved to be back in the real world. Where he was as solid as brick and everyone avoided eye contact. This was still a fresh start. He didn’t have the reputation here that he had a Stonebridge. Here he was just another guard, and he didn’t want to fuck that up this time. He needed to remember his goal and not let his instincts guide him.

He could do good this time.

Maybe if he could change the world would stop beating him down.

#Charlotte needs some new threads #so I figured why not respond with her too #lol #trevor2

Charlotte hadn't intended to stare. She had been walking back from delivering medication to the patients in ISO when she passed by Trevor. The sight of him, completely battered and bruised, startled her and she found herself unable to look away. Once he made eye-contact and it was clear she had been staring at him she averted her gaze.

Instead of just walking by and pretending nothing had happened Charlotte felt she owed it to him to at least see how he was feeling. Her brow was knitted in concern as she approached. She almost asked what happened, but that seemed to personal. "Are you... I'm sorry, but are you alright?"

She immediately regretted her question. Obviously something had happened to him and he probably didn't want to discuss it with random, nosey coworkers. They had only spoken once, and it was a brief conversation in a bar of all places. Charlotte wasn't going to make any presumptions about what happened, but he had been at that bar to fight, and she knew that was a possible explanation for his current state.

She noticed that some of the marks on his face looked like they should be stitched up. If he hadn't sought medical treatment it must be for a reason. She was further confused and wished even more that she had just kept walking and not said anything at all.

I'm here now | Konstantin & Charlotte

Suddenly, when her words shorten dramatically, he can understand her; and it only makes his previous failure sting more.

"Name is Kon-shan-tene.” He tried to impress her with his answer; he had been answering that question for a while back home. But the word came out nearly unintelligibly and garbled, and his confidence wavered as he checked her features for any positive recognition.

After a moment wherein he’s undecided whether to repeat himself or move on; he chooses the latter, and gestures to his mouth and then to the room with mild frustration. Trying to convey that he’s having a hard time, the youth turns his palm towards his countenance and closes his fist as if to say his lips were locked. The last motion was accompanied by a low internal sound of irritation before he dropped his hands to his knees again and looked at his own feet fixatedly.

#Konstantin is so cute and I just want to give him a hug #konstantin1

Konstantin; it may not have been clear but Charlotte had a vague memory of shelving his file earlier in the day, and she was able to discern what he was saying. "Konstantin? You've only just arrived here then. " She watched him try to communicate that he was having difficulty talking, understandably appearing frustrated with his efforts. Charlotte nodded to indicate she understood. All she wanted was make the poor boy feel at ease, but that would require her to do most of the talking, something she'd never been great at.

"I only started working here a few weeks ago," she confided with a smile. "I still find myself asking for directions and getting lost... Thankfully there's almost always someone around who can assist you if you need it." Charlotte paused for a few moments before asking. "Would you mind if I sat next to you?"

She didn't want to continue towering over him and hoped that sitting down at his level might help things.

Breakdowns | Zak+Charlotte|

"I heard. Jackson stabbed himself in the hand and blamed it on me. It would have gotten me in ISO if I hadn’t convinced the guards otherwise."

Zak smiled softly and flexed his hand, flinching slightly.

"Just…if you’re still not feeling yourself…you should be at home."

He looked away from her and had the urge to roll over and hide under the blankets but the restraints prevented him from doing that. Maybe it was the meds, maybe it was just the fact he was still having this mental breakdown. Zak didn’t want her to feel like shit but…Zak didn’t want someone to feel forced to be uncomfortable.

She was startled by what Zak said about Jackson. At this point she really shouldn't be, but it surprised her nonetheless. Charlotte had severely underestimated Jackson's manipulative abilities. She flushed a little, feeling foolish. There was a time when she had felt sympathy for Jackson, and he had probably been silently laughing at how gullible she was the whole time.

Charlotte's hesitant and forced smile actually turned genuine, if not in a self-deprecating way. "Maybe I should have taken some time off, but the distraction work provides is... more favorable."

He looked away from her and she frowned a little. This was such an odd situation. Wanting to put a serial killer at ease and feeling bad for making her discomfort with him known. "Are you... tired?" Maybe he was done talking with her.