Time-line: Set soon after Exodus.
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters. I am not affiliated in any way, shape or form with anyone who does.
Jack sighed as he paused on his trek through the jungle. It was hot and sticky and humid and tiresome. The days seemed to meld into each other, all of them following the same routine, slowly draining the life from him.
He paused to take a sip of water and looked around. Nothing but bushes and trees and… there was something else. He edged closer and soon the smell of rotting flesh overpowered him, making him gag. He was about to turn back but that was before he recognised the body. It was Christian's.
Jack froze, unsure of what to do. He could just leave, just go back to camp and never come this way again. It should be easy enough to leave; after all, Christian had ruined his life. He was the reason Jack had been on the flight, he was the reason he was trapped on the island, hell, he was the reason he was forced to become a doctor in the first place. So Jack felt that it should have been easy, to turn around and leave him there. But there was something holding him back.
Sawyer. Sawyer had met him in a bar and he had told Sawyer that he was proud of Jack, that he loved him. And that was what was holding Jack back. Because, no matter how much he blamed his father for ruining his life, for destroying his world, he couldn't deny what Sawyer had said. And he couldn't deny that he loved his father as well.
Tears pricked in Jack's eyes as he set about doing what he had to do. He walked a couple of feet away before dropping to the ground. He started to dig through the twigs, through the leaves, through the dirt. And once he had dug enough he put his father into the grave, covering it up again.
Jack stood up., staring at it. He had done the final thing he owed Christian, he had buried him. And he didn't owe him anymore. And he didn't need to live his life for him anymore. And he didn't owe him anymore. And he was finally free.