Charlie? Chuck? Are you okay?
The darkness was overwhelming, blocking her ears, but luckily Danny didn't need to open his mouth to talk to her. Her eyes felt glued shut and her body was numb. What happened?
Charlie remembered…that red bathroom…Grady's ghost…and Danny's father with a gun to her head.
When the memories flooded back, so did her senses. She didn't feel carpet against her back, it was a cold and hard surface. She must've been moved. Charlie groaned and tried to wiggle her fingers and toes.
She heard a gasp. "Chuck! You're okay! Open your eyes, I saved you, Chuck!" Taking a breath to brace herself, Charlie cracked open her eyes. Danny had his face about two inches from hers and as much as her head hurt, she couldn't help the smile tugging at her lips.
A throaty chuckle left her mouth. "Hey there, Doc." Another thought came to mind. "Your dad…"
Danny frowned. "He didn't wake up for a while and mummy said he wasn't breathing." Charlie breathed an oh-my-god before Danny continued. Mummy is taking him down to Sidewinder to see the doctor. I hope he gets better, I didn't like him when he was sick."
Danny leaned back as Charlie craned her neck to look down at herself. There was a clunky bandage around her right forearm, and it seemed that finally seeing it triggered the pain. "God, Danny, what happened?" She frowned. "And how did your mum get to Sidewinder, with no Sno-Cat?"
Danny sat back on his heels and fiddled with the hem of her dress as he spoke. "I called Mr Halloran. I told him I was scared and that I wanted him to come help daddy. He brought a Sno-Cat with him." Charlie looked around the room, but couldn't see him. "He went with mummy and daddy, 'just in case,'" Danny said it with hand quotation marks and Charlie smiled again.
She pushed herself up and crossed her legs, facing Danny. She still had so many questions, but she was more worried about how Danny must be feeling. "How about we get ourselves some ice-cream and play with your trucks, Doc?" He considered for a moment, with a comical pondering look on his face, and finally nodded.
Charlie stood slowly and when Danny got up he held out his hand. She smiled and held on to it, not sure who the comfort of it was for, somehow she suspected she needed it as much as Danny. As they pottered down the hallways in their socks, swinging their joint hands between them, Charlie made small talk with him, talking about what he was going to do when summer came back and they went home. She kept a smile on her face, but her heart twisted in her chest thinking about having to leave the family. Danny most of all, of course, but even though things would always be awkward between her and Jack, and she was certain Wendy would never forgive her, she would miss them too. They were more of a family to her than she had ever had with her real father.
They arrived at the kitchen and Danny let go of her hand, bee-lining for the boxes of chocolate ice-cream in the freezer. Charlie joined him with two metal bowls and gave them both a generous amount. As they sat down to eat, Danny had his eyebrows furrowed and his lips screwed up.
"Chucky?"
"Yeah, Doc?"
"I was thinking…that musical that you are doing, maybe we could come see it one day." Charlie agreed, but Danny still had that strange look on his face. "Although it probably won't be very good, I haven't seen you practice for weeks!"
Charlie let out a laugh. She was surprised with how genuinely happy she felt in that moment. "You're too right, Doc, I should really be rehearsing more. You could run some lines with me?"
He scrunched up his face. "Musicals are for girls!"
She laughed again. "I thought you wanted to come see it?"
"That's just because you're in it, though."
"I'm still a girl."
Danny paused, a thick line on chocolate sitting on his upper lip. He tapped his spoon against the table, thinking. "Yeah, but it doesn't count when it's family, Chuck."
Charlie suddenly felt tears prickling her eyes, and had to stare at the light and blink them away. "You know I love you, Danny," she said, although it came out in more of a whisper.
He put his spoon down, and wiped his mouth with his sleeve. His chair scraped back and he hopped down, walking around the table to Charlie. She turned to face him just as he threw his arms around her. "I love you too, Chuck," he whispered into her ear. She squeezed him tighter to her but eventually had to let go.
He went back to his chair, and quietly finished the rest of his ice-cream, now melted. Charlie sat and thought. "Hey, Danny?"
"Yup?"
"Is there a university where you live?"
Oh, yeah! The big kids that live down the road from me go there and they always have loads of friends over to play. I wanna go there when I'm old enough. How come?"
Charlie bit her lip and mulled it over. "Just wondering." Danny shrugged and pushed his bowl away.
She got up to take the bowls over to the sink to clean them, but then thought better of it, opting instead to go play with Danny.

A few hours later, Danny was pushing a truck up the arm of a chair and making 'vroom' noises when he suddenly stood up straight. "Everything okay, Doc?"
He stayed still for a few more moments, but then turned to her and grinned. "Mr Halloran said him and mummy and daddy are coming back here now!"
"That's awesome news, Danny. Did he say how far away he was?" Before Danny could reply, they both turned towards the sound of an engine. Charlie's heart leapt in her chest, but she wasn't sure whether it was happiness or nerves. She ran after Danny up to the giant front doors in the foyer. He was animatedly tugging at the doors but couldn't budge them. She laughed and pushed one open enough to let them both out. Danny squealed and ran outside. Charlie followed, slower, taking in the scene.
Dick had got out of the Sno-Cat to help open the passenger door and was grinning at her. Warmth rose up in Charlie, the feeling of home and comfort at seeing her old friend, but she froze when Wendy got out of the car. Carefully, like a gazelle sneaking around a lion, she scanned Wendy's face for anger or sadness or…anything, really. Wendy smiled and ran to hug Danny, and while he was in her arms, Wendy looked directly at Charlie and nodded. She didn't seem overly angry, but she certainly wasn't back to best friend status. Charlie nodded back.
Dick walked up to her while Danny reunited with his mother. Before she could speak, he enveloped her in a bear hug surprisingly powerful for the scrawny man. Tears of relief overwhelmed her and she hugged back just as hard, the pair swaying back and forth. When they finally broke apart, Dick put his cold hands on her face and searched her face. "You okay, my girl?"
"I'm fine, Dick." Her smile fell a little. "What happened when you arrived? Jack was going to shoot me last I knew."
He sobered up. "Danny's shining is far too powerful for his own good, you know that, it's how he could even contact me in the first place. I think he used it to distract Jack enough for me to knock him over." Dick gently held out her arm. "You're lucky to be alive, girl."
She nodded, and her eyes wandered over to Danny. "I sure am." She suddenly wished she had the shining, just so she could say thank you to Danny a million times right now. As she thought it, he looked up and smiled at her.
No problem. Charlie was so taken off guard, her jaw almost fell to the ground. She looked at Dick, the question clear on her face.
"What," he laughed, "you thought you didn't have even a lil' bit of the shining? Dream on, girl, you always had it. Just wasn't as strong as mine or the boy's."
She nodded slowly. "And Jack?" He looked pensive. "He's better now? What did the doctor say?"
Dick sighed. "Prob'ly best you get it from Wendy, but he'll be fine." She breathed out. "He's hooked up to all sorts of wires and tubes, but the doc says it'll be a quick recovery. Now that this darned hotel has got its bloody mitts of him, anyway. He thinks it's just a bad case of cabin fever. At least he ain't ever coming back to this place. Good thing, too."
Charlie looked over to see Wendy heading towards her. Dick saw and nodded. "I'll give you two some time," he said, and joined Danny who was exploring every inch of the Sno-Cat.
Wendy stood in front of her with an exhausted look on her face. Charlie felt hopeless and guilty. "I can only apologise," she began, but Wendy shook her head.
"I understand." Wendy looked down at the snow as she continued. "Jack woke up and explained. I shouldn't have rushed to conclusions, I'm so sorry, Charlie."
Charlie was gobsmacked. "You aren't the one who should be sorry! I could've told you long ago what was going on, but I was so embarrassed. I wanted to deal with it myself, but clearly I couldn't. I really don't know how I can repay you for the grief I've caused."
Wendy was silent for a moment, looking at the bandage on Charlie's arm. "I think you've paid enough," she whispered. "Let's just clean the slate. I don't want to say goodbye on a bad note like this."
Charlie bit her lip. "Maybe we don't have to say goodbye," she started. Wendy furrowed her eyebrows. "Danny told me there was a university in Boulder. I was thinking I could apply. I'm finishing up my home-schooling this summer."
"Colorado University of Boulder, it's called. You know, Charlie, I think that's a great idea." Wendy smiled at her, and the two fell into a comfortable silence.
Charlie swallowed. "So- what next?"
Wendy looked at Danny having a snowball fight with Dick. She shook her head and shrugged. "While we were in Sidewinder, we arranged to have another Sno-Cat sent up here so we could all go down to Sidewinder. I guess we rent a hotel for a few days, God knows how we'll afford it, and wait for the rest of the off-season to pass." She sighed, and her breath sent a white wisp floating around them. "We need to stay away from this hotel for a while. Forever, hopefully." She eyed Charlie. "You know, I never believed in ghosts, or anything paranormal, until I stayed here. I think there's something else going on here. What do you think?"
Charlie gave her a weary smile. "I think you're a very smart woman, Wendy." Wendy blinked, and nodded. The roar of the Sno-Cat sounded in the distance. It was making its way up the extensive driveway, past the maze and the hedge animals.
As it drove up, Charlie had made up her mind. Stuart Ullman be damned, she was never coming back here. Without even realising it, through these months spent with strangers, she had completely switched families.

EIGHT MONTHS LATER

Charlie couldn't help but drown out the sound of her professor with her own thoughts. She was sat in the most boring class of her degree, which was for early childhood education. It had only been a few weeks but already Charlie had worked out the good from the bad. Although she never initially imagined she'd do early childhood, her life had significantly changed in the past year. While spending the last few months of her home-schooling education in Sidewinder, rather than in the hotel, she had picked up a job at the local kindergarten. She was far happier doing it instead of working as a waitress in her father's hotel, but a part of her was still missing her other family. Truth be told, she missed the Torrance's so much she applied for a degree in early childhood at the Boulder University without really even thinking about it. She called up an old friend from the hotel and told him she quit the musical. She knew there was an understudy prepared, and Charlie just couldn't get excited for it anymore. She somehow got accepted and after a few months of saving and budgeting and planning, she had organised a small flat in a suburb about ten minutes' walk from the university to stay in while she got her feet under her. It was small, but she could call it home. The courses were on the whole great, and she had actually made a few good friends in the short time she had been there. She had even signed up for a university-run musical already.
But none of this mattered right now. Charlie was in a lecture hall wiggling her toes in her shoes and biting her lip. Tonight she was going to dinner with the Torrance's. She hadn't spoken to them much, and hadn't seen them at all, but had called Wendy last week to arrange a catch-up.
Charlie suspected Wendy was still adjusting to what had gone down at the Overlook, and she was slightly nervous to be seeing them again after all this time, but she knew she had to. She missed them too much.
People got up and started moving around Charlie. In a daze, she realised the professor had dismissed them. She picked up her stuff and quickly rushed out into the open air. It was still warm, but the evenings were starting to become sharper as autumn neared. She still had about an hour and a half until she was meeting the Torrance's, so she walked home in no real rush.
While she walked, she thought about Danny. Every now and again, he sent her little updates of what was going on in his life. It brought a smile to her face every time, but yet her heart broke when she would try to reply but to no avail. Her shining, as Dick had said, was there, but it was weak. She desperately wanted to see him again so she could finally have a proper conversation.
She missed Wendy, but really just wanted them to be friends again. Charlie craved the female connection they had, seeing her almost as a mother or a sister. She knew things must be hard for Wendy, and wanted to bring her comfort and support.
Unlocking her door, Charlie mustered up the courage to think about Jack. She had been mentally avoiding the thought of seeing Jack again. She wasn't scared of him, but rather she was scared that she'd only be able to see the man who tried to kill her. Charlie sighed and kicked off her shoes, launching herself onto her couch. The side table was covered in bits of paper: bills, notes from classes, job application forms, and letters. Being a student was absolutely exhausting, and she hadn't even found a proper job yet. For now, Charlie was stuck being a receptionist for a dry-cleaning store that didn't really get very many customers. It paid the bills, but barely, and it certainly wasn't a fulfilling job.
After a quick shower (shaving for the first time in, admittedly, a while) Charlie sat in her underwear in front of her closet. She had let time get away from her, relaxing under the hot spray, but now she only had about ten minutes to get ready and leave. Dress, fancy top and skirt, or nice jeans? Too hot for jeans. Too fancy for a dress shirt. Too windy for a dress. Charlie groaned and closed her eyes, sticking her hands out until she felt fabric. She cracked open one eye. Skirt and top it was.

About fifteen minutes later, Charlie stood outside the door of the Torrance house. She had rang the doorbell, and could hear movement inside. There was a series of quick footsteps and then a good ten seconds of someone fiddling with the lock on the door, and then Danny threw open the door, running in a flurry to give Charlie a hug.
"Chuuuuck!" He cried, and clung onto her. She laughed, and saw Wendy round the corner.
There was a moment of hesitation, and then Wendy smiled and joined in the hug. A huge sigh of relief left Charlie's mouth and she wrapped her arm around Wendy. "Boy, I've missed you guys!" Wendy laughed as Danny grabbed Charlie's hand and pulled her into the warm hallway, announcing he was going to show her his room. Wendy called out that dinner was in ten minutes and went back into the kitchen.
Danny's room was filled with a great big mess of toys on the floor, books on the shelves, and stickers on the walls. He methodically showed Charlie every single toy he owned and all the books he had read while she sat and watched and laughed. All her feelings of doubt left her. Watching Danny leap and bound around her made Charlie question why she was ever nervous in the first place. Even though she had never been here before, it felt like home.
After a few minutes, Wendy called out for dinner. Before Charlie and Danny could reply, a booming voice called out from down the hall in a joking tone. Loud footsteps echoed into Danny's room, and adrenaline rushed into Charlie's system once again.
"I'll pick up the vagabonds on my way, should I?" He called out as he stepped into the doorway.
Jack Torrance. Charlie observed him for the first time in almost a year. He looked…well, she supposed. Obviously the mad look of insanity had left his eyes, replaced by the characteristic cheekiness she knew when she first met him. His hair was a little shorter, yet it still stuck up at every angle. He had stubble, but it looked taken care of. His clothes were the same as always, but with less creases and smudges. He looked so familiar but somehow like a completely different man.
She returned the grin on his face with her own, and got up to say hi. The hug that greeted her was the one she was most surprised by.
Back in Sidewinder (which seemed an eternity ago), when she had visited him in hospital, he had apologised and they had made peace, but for some reason she was convinced that things would still be uncomfortable between them. She was pleasantly surprised, and very much relieved.
The three of them walked out to the dining room, where the table was set and a beautiful roast meal on each of their plates. Charlie thanked Wendy and took a seat beside Danny. Jack sat at the head of the table, with Danny on his left and Wendy on his right.
For a while they talked about school and university and what they had been up to, and it truly felt like old times. Charlie talked about how Dick had retired and was spending his time in Florida. Wendy talked about how with the insurance money her and Jack were planning on renovating the house. "We'll have matching paint and better plumbing and a bigger TV and it'll be wonderful," she exclaimed. Danny talked about how he was making more friends now that he was taking soccer. But Jack's news surprised Charlie most of all.
"I'm going back to teaching," he said, casually leaning back in his chair. "I think writing a play is a bit of a dead end for me, so the high school is giving me a job for a trial run. It's a new start for us all, I think."
"I'm really happy for you," Charlie said, and she really meant it. "I'm so glad you are more or less back to normal after what happened."
Jack looked pensive. "I don't want to bring the mood down, but I've gotta apologise to you again, Charlie. I feel terrible, I really do."
She smiled. "Don't worry about it at all. Actually," she said, pulling up her sleeve, "you wouldn't guess the coolest scar I got. Look, Danny, do you see the smiley face?"
Danny's face lit up. "I see it, Chuck! Oh gosh, that's so cool!" She laughed, and the conversation turned light again.
As she listened to her makeshift family share stories and jokes, Charlie smiled to herself. It seemed that they were finally all happy again. She looked up, and saw the TV resting on the kitchen bench, now on mute, was showing a picture of the hotel. 'HISTORIC HOTEL BURNS TO THE GROUND IN FREAK ACCIDENT', the tagline read. Video clips of the blazing fire, fire trucks surrounding the alight hotel showed, with several testimonials of Mr. Watson, a fireman, and even her father himself. A small smile graced Charlie's face and she turned her attention back to the conversation, totally content.

THE END

Thank you so much to everyone who ever followed or reviewed or favorited! This chapter was a really long time coming, because it was so damn difficult to make my mind up as to what would happen. Hopefully you like my ending, I am very satisfied with it myself. Please let me know your final thoughts, I'd be so happy to hear them! (I'm also open to any suggestions as to which fandom I should write for next, although I'm feeling partial to writing a Hannibal fanfic)