1
It's been a full week since Charlie had last spoken to Claire. A full week since she had ordered him away from her and Aaron, just because he had neglected to mention the heroin hidden in the Mary statuettes. Really, Charlie couldn't see why she was so pissed about it. For one, he had no intention of taking the drug. It had just been for safety…to know that it was there…you know, for just in case. Not that just in case would ever happen. Hell, he didn't really know why he had kept it…or any of the others. He just knew that he had. That it made him feel more settled. More in control. Now that control had been ripped from him. Claire kicked him out and was refusing to speak to him.
Sighing, Charlie sat and attempted to play his guitar, feeling alone and dejected. It was times like this that made him want to take a hit. It wasn't like it mattered anymore. His whole reason for staying clean had been Claire and Aaron. The little family they had made…but now that was all over. Claire had made it clear that she wanted nothing to do with him. Charlie had no choice but to oblige. Sighing, he got to his feet, the remainder of his withdrawal symptoms causing his hand to tremble a few times, his need still there, but not as great as ever. It was just all the fucking emotions that kept washing over him that was the problem. Painful emotions of guilt, regret, anger, and sadness. Emotions that he really didn't want to deal with. Only one thing could make them go away…only one thing could make him feel right with the world again. The drugs. Mother Mary. She was calling to him now…enticing him to come and partake of the sweet relief she had to offer. Well, Charlie was never one to argue with a lady, he wasn't about to now. Taking a look around at his surroundings, to make sure no one was watching him, Charlie got to his feet and headed for the stash of Mary Statuettes. His mind only on one thing and one thing only. Getting a good fix to make this never-ending ache in his heart to go away.
Silence blanked the forest as Charlie approached. His ears were opened for any following footsteps, but his eyes remained straight ahead, his attention only on the drug. Once he had the drug, everything will be ok. Claire will forgive him and take him back and they'll raise Aaron together. The cute little family that they were meant to be.
Finally he reached the spot. This was it. This was where he needed to be. Back with the one lady that had never deserted him, no matter how many times he had attempted to desert her. Heroin. The one thing that was there for Charlie. No matter what.
"Well! Look at who we have here!" A boisterous voice declared just as Charlie knelt down to uncover the hidden statuettes.
Charlie straightened up just to come face to face with a gray haired man with a long beard. He looked friendly enough…at first glance…but there was something about him. Something that made alarm bells goes off in Charlie's head. This wasn't just any man. This man…he was like Ethan. Friendly, yet dangerous. His heartbeat quickened as a flurry of footsteps shifted against the ground. His eyes widened when he turned and saw that men that looked as if they've been on the island for a while surrounded him.
"Why, hello Charlie! Wasn't expecting to find you back here!" The leader…what had Sawyer called him? Mr. Friendly? "I take it you're looking for this!" Mr. Friendly held up the statuette, faded, yet beautiful.
"W-what do you want?" Charlie stammered, looking for a way to escape, yet finding nothing. He was trapped and who knew what was to happen to him now.
"What do you think? We're here for the good people. Along. But we'll settle."
Charlie frowned and was about to ask what that was supposed to mean, when something hard slammed into the back of his head. His last thought was as he fell to the ground and darkness took him was that someone should warn Jack.
Claire sighed. It had been a long week. She had worked at keeping herself busy, so she wouldn't think of him. Charlie. She shook her head as the name again popped into her head for the thousandth time that day. Charlie Pace. Former bassist, friend, and drug addict. Gah! How could he? How could he not tell her, and not only that, but bring the stuff around her and the baby. That was what really made her mad. He had brought drugs around Aaron, without a thought of the consequences. Well, she simply wasn't going to stand for that. Not now, not ever. Maybe once he learned his lesson…maybe he can come back.
Sighing, she looked over to the rock, where he normally sat, playing his guitar. His eyes usually blue, yet sad over what he had lost. It was the little moments, where she could just look at him unawares that kept her calm, that kept her from taking off after him, begging him to return. As long as she could still look at him…she was fine. It didn't matter that she was alone at the moment, because somehow she knew that he would always care about her and Aaron. As long as Charlie Pace was around and preferably nearby, there was always someone that she could turn to. So that's why she was disturbed to look at that rock to find only Charlie's guitar leaning against it, but no Charlie. She pushed down the worry, refusing to panic. So Charlie wasn't at the rock today. So what? That didn't mean anything. He was probably hanging out with Hurley, or helping Jin fish. Perhaps he was with Jack, helping bandage up someone's leg or something. Maybe he was out with Mr. Eko again, exploring the surrounding jungle. One thing she was sure of, or at least she kept telling herself was that Charlie would return. He wouldn't be gone long. He'll come retrieve his guitar, perhaps play it a little before nightfall, before heading back to the camp he had made down by Sawyer's set up. Charlie was gone for the moment. But he'll be back soon, and then she could go back to just watching him as he stared off at the ocean, unaware of his audience.
That day, life went on in the camp. Jack cared for patients. Kate flirted with Sawyer. Jin and Sun were again in their tent. Hurley and Libby were making their way down to the beach. Ana Lucia was chopping wood. Locke was in the hatch, pressing his button. And Claire…well, she waited for Charlie as she cared for Aaron, who smiled and cooed. As she waited, she came to a conclusion. She wasn't mad anymore. She wanted Charlie back. She wanted him to come home and she was going to tell him as soon as he came back with Mr. Eko. Which was a good plan…all except Mr. Eko came back…and still there was no Charlie. His guitar remained where it was, all throughout the night, and the next day. And the next day. The third day, Jack called the camp together. Charlie was officially declared missing and Claire found herself collapsing into Locke's arms, Aaron held tightly to her chest as someone's heartbroken wail filled the camp. It wasn't until she was back in her tent that she realized the wailing woman was her.