Unknown

Title: Unknown
Rating: Pg-13 (may go up)
Pairing: Jack / Charlie
Summary: Charlie gives into temptation. Can Jack pull him back for the edge of breakdown? Jack / Charlie Slash.

Chapter: One
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters in this story, nor do I own any rights to the television show "Lost". They were created by JJ Abrams and Damon Lindelof and they belong to them, Touchstone, and ABC.

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Charlie sat at the entrance to the cave and shivered. He'd never felt this cold before. His legs pulled tight against him, and his arms wrapped around them, he did his best to conserve what heat was in his bones and stop shivering.

Deep down Charlie regretted that he was here, hiding from everyone. But the call was to strong. Charlie couldn't resist much longer. He looked down at the plastic bag in his hand. Locke's words echoed in his head, telling him he was a moth, and something about choice.

Charlie ignored him. Slowly, but surely, he spread the powder out with practised ease. Closing his eyes, he quickly inhaled and allowed the drugs to spread through his body. A smile appeared on his face as it entered his blood stream.

Taking in what was left on his hand, Charlie closed up the back. His shivering stopped, and he felt heat creeping through his body. Feeling much better Charlie climbed back down the tree, and walked towards the camp.

It took him about half and hour to realise he was lost. Looking around Charlie noticed none of the trees look familiar, "But then, how does a tree look familiar?" He questioned himself.

In the distance Charlie could hear the faint rumble of the sea. He chose to keep going. Eventually he would reach the beach; he just hoped it would be the right one.

Charlie pulled himself the final stretch to the beach. He felt relief flood his body as he recognised the camp. This didn't last long as he felt the urge for the drug return. Shaking it off he walked towards the camp, straight in Jack.

"Oh … oops. Sorry Jack." Charlie almost stuttered, not looking him in the face.

Jack looked at Charlie, a little disappointed and hurt that Charlie avoided his eye. "You okay?"

"Fine" Charlie muttered as he pushed past Jack.

Jack watched him go, not noticing Kate approach. She grabbed his arm, "You coming?"

"Yeah…yeah" Jack muttered distractedly as he glanced in Charlie's direction once more, and then turned to leave for the caves with Kate and Locke.

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Charlie continued on, resisting the temptation to turn back to look at Jack, just to check he'd moved on of course.

"Charlie," called Claire, "where you been?" She rushed over to him, dragging him into a hug.

"Just walking"

"Interesting?" She groaned slightly.

"Claire? You ok? What was that?" Charlie face paled slightly as he pulled her close, his right arm wrapped tight around her waist.

"Just the baby. Been kicking a lot recently." She pushed his arm off. "I'm fine Charlie. Come on we'll sit down."

She brought him to her tent and they sat. For almost an hour they talked, but as the hour past Charlie's craving intensified. Eventually it came to dinner time and Charlie brought Claire out so she could talk with Shannon and Kate.

Making some crappy excuse about needing to go to the caves, Charlie wandered off. Once he felt he was far enough from the beach, he wandered of the path, to a clearing on the right. Sitting down on a tree branch, he pulled out his bag.

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About 3 hours after Charlie left the beach, Jack returned from the caves, looking for him. He walked straight to where Claire sat with Shannon and Kate. "Hey! You know where Charlie is?"

They looked up at him. Claire pulled herself to her feet, "You mean he's not at the caves?"

"Not that I saw. Did he say he would be?"

"Yeah," She replied, "said he needed water or something."

"Oh," Jack looked uneasy, "Maybe I just missed him."

"That's not very like you." Kate said. She pulled him of to the side, "You need him for something?"

"Just wanted to check on something."

"Drugs?"

"The thought hadn't crossed my mind, but now that you mention it…" Jack trailed off.

"He wouldn't!" They turned to Claire. "I trust him!" Tears already filled her eyes. Shannon put her arms around her.

Kate moved forward and looked to Jack, "Go find him. Make sure he's ok." Kate looked at Claire. "And he will be!"

Jack nodded in agreement and walked off towards the caves. As he traced the path he walked slowly, looking to the left and right. About 10 minutes into the path he thought he saw movement to the right. Jack held his torch out so he could see the entrance to a clearing.

Jack almost moved on, but for the faint sound he heard, almost like crying. Deciding he couldn't just leave it, Jack moved off the path towards the clearing.

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Charlie stopped. He wasn't sure how much he had taken, just knew it was too much. His vision blurred and he let his head fall forwards.

After about an hour Charlie began to cry. It seemed to hit him then what had happened. He had stopped. Stuck on island in the middle of nowhere, when addiction was his only constant, he'd stopped.

He looked scornfully at the bag in his hand, and flung it away. Tears flooded his face as he finally broke down, feeling the walls that held his emotions in check breaking, he let himself go.

It was not long before he felt something. Hands on his shoulders. A voice calling his name. The voice was familiar, but in his drug induced state, Charlie could not place it. He pulled his head up and looked straight into Jack's eyes. His face paled as he knew he was caught, tears of shame ran down his face and he mumbled, wordless.

Jack looked at Charlie with pity. He sat down and put his arm around him. No words were spoken for a time as Charlie cried into Jack's shoulder. Eventually his tears subsided, and Jack spoke, "What happened Charlie?"

Charlie remained silent, his face buried in Jack's shoulder.

"Come on man. I can't help you if you don't tell me what is wrong."

Again Jack received no answer. He looked round the clearing, unsure what to do. Obviously Charlie wasn't moving, but the darkness closing in suggested that they should move to the beach or the caves. "Charlie." Jack whispered, "We should go to shelter. It's getting dark."

"You go." Charlie pushed Jack of him, "I'd rather stay here."

"Charlie, I'm not leaving you. Not when you're acting like this."

Charlie moved away from Jack, "Go. I can take care of myself."

"I said I wasn't leaving you, and I meant it."

Charlie just nodded.

Jack sighed; this wasn't going to be easy. "Will you at least tell me what's up?"

"Nothing, Jack…. I'm Fine."

"You're not" Jack replied bluntly.

Charlie was silent.

"Ok, if you're not going to talk I'll make fire."

Charlie stayed where he was, watching Jack build the fire. For once he didn't offer to help, and Jack didn't ask. Eventually the fire was built and Jack pulled a blanket out of his backpack. Sitting on it he looked to Charlie, and gestured for him to come over.

For a second Charlie looked hesitant, but reconsidered as it was already bitterly cold. He sat on the blanket, beside Jack. There was a long silence, neither knowing what to say.

Jack broke the silence, "Do you want anything? Claire said you hadn't eaten."

Charlie shook his head, "No." He stopped, looked at Jack, "Do you have any water?"

Jack handed him a bottle silently. Charlie took a sip and returned it to Jack. Jack was tempted to tell him to drink more, but resisted by instead suggesting the get some sleep.

Charlie rolled onto his side. Jack sighed, noticing Charlie was shivering. "It might be warmer underneath." He suggested.

"I'm fine." Charlie answered.

"You're shivering," Jack answered bluntly. He pulled the blanket out from under Charlie and placed it over him.

"What about you?"

"I'm good. Got another one." Jack pulled out a blanket, grinned at Charlie and lay down to sleep, facing Charlie.

Charlie pretend to be ok with this as he turned over and quickly fell asleep, but Jack's proximity caused feelings to emerge in him that he just couldn't deal with. He closed his eye and tried to block them out.

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Charlie jolted awake. It was dark, and the fire had burned down. He looked round, Jack was asleep. Charlie's body was covered in a thin layer of sweat, his skin was pale and his headaches had returned.

Checking on Jack once more, he moved away from the fire. Once out of sight, he pulled out another bag which was one of the many he carried. In the faint light of the moonlight he once again spread the powder on his hand and inhaled deeply.

His eyes fell closed as he enjoyed the feeling that spread through his body. The joy. The relief. The peace.

Charlie finished what was in his hand, and lay back against a tree, eyes still closed.

"Had enough?"

Charlie jumped up, eyes wide when he heard Jack's voice.

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So that is Chapter One. I hope you like it! Please review, and I will try to update asap!