CHAPTER 9
Jack made his way down to the beach to check on Charlie. The worry of everything that had happened over the past few days was really beginning to get to him – and on top of all that he now he had the added concern for Locke. He had not been convinced by the man's charade back at the caves. Locke may have been making every effort not to show Jack how ill he was actually feeling, but Jack was still a doctor. The tell tail signs of sickness were all still there, and Locke's attempts to avoid looking Jack straight in the eyes gave him the uneasy feeling that things may in fact be much worse than they had initially appeared. He could only hope that Charlie was faring better.
As he stepped out of the canopy of trees and his feet sunk down into the warm sand of the beach Jack noticed Claire standing outside the front of her tent, gently lulling her new baby boy to sleep. She hadn't got around to naming him yet, and with no official documentation to control every aspect of their life on the island there was no need to rush. As Jack drew closer he noticed how exhausted Claire looked, and he hung back for a while watching as she affectionately brushed the stray strands of her son's fine blond hair away from his forehead whilst singing a rendition of 'Catch A Falling Star'. At one point he noticed her stumble and decided he's presence had gone unnoticed quite long enough.
"Hey…" He hailed her in greeting, bending down slightly until he was within Clare's field of vision, which had so far been lovingly fixed upon the tiny infant in her arms.
"Hey!" She smiled, looking up.
"How you coping?" Jack asked.
"Alright." She nodded "He hardly allowed us a wink of sleep all night, but Charlie stayed up with him for most of the time… except when he needed to feed." She elaborated.
Jack laughed.
"Yes." He said. "The only thing a father can't provide for his child… pitty that most of the time a baby cries that's what they want."
"Charlie's not his father!" Claire glared at Jack defensively.
"Yeah… well…" Jack faltered, taken aback by her reaction to his words. "…he's as good as in this place isn't he?"
Claire paused for a moment – thinking – then she smiled. "Yes, yes I suppose he is." She nodded.
Now that Claire was looking at him directly Jack began to notice things about the young woman he hadn't when she had had her back to him – her cheeks were very flushed. He frowned.
"Claire when was the last time you had something to drink?" He asked her, placing his hand to her forehead to check her temperature.
"I haven't had much of a chance this morning," She confessed, "what with this little one, and Charlie, I guess I just forgot…"
"You're very hot." Jack told her. He opened his rucksack and handed Claire one of the many water bottles he transported from the caves to the beach daily. "Here," He said, "drink the lot, you need to take extra care of yourself now Claire, especially with this virus going around, you and your baby are more susceptible to things like that, at least until you're both feeling a little stronger."
Claire smiled and nodded. "Thanks."
"You may want to move your shelter a little further up the beach away from the glare of the sun." He advised her. "You could get Sayid or Michael to help you with that. Being in such close proximity to the heat probably isn't aiding Charlie either… how is he by the way?" He asked – remembering his intended reason for visiting.
"Still a little weak I think." Claire explained. "As I say he sat up with this little one all night so I could get some rest, but he was feeling a little sick when I woke up this morning so I've made him go and lie down."
"Well you certainly seem to have everything under control here." Jack nodded. "When Charlie wakes up just make sure you give him this…" He said handing her a single capsule from a rapidly dwindling pill bottle that he had just presented from the inside of his rucksack. "It's just simple aspirin but it should help, and if he starts vomiting again make sure you send someone to get me straight away."
"I will do." Claire nodded.
"Well, I'll see you around then." Jack said, picking up his backpack and starting to walk away.
"Thanks Jack!" Claire called after him.
Jack just turned to look at her and smiled.
As Jack walked on further up the beach he noticed Michael walking in his direction – he appeared deep in thought. As he approached he wasn't sure Michael had seen him at first, however Michael must have noticed Jack out of the corner of his eye and did a double take before making his way over.
"Hey." Jack greeted Michael with a smile.
"Hey, sorry Jack." Michael apologised. "I was miles away."
"How've you been?" Jack asked.
"What, you mean with this virus going around?" Michael enquired. He smiled at Jack and nodded. "I've been fine."
Jack smiled back. "How's Faith?" He asked.
Michael turned to look at her sitting in the shade of a near-by palm tree, where Jack had not observed her. "She's been a little woozy these past couple of days." He explained.
Jack looked on as Michael took a long hard look at Faith, and he smiled, it was as if Michael couldn't take his eyes off her.
"What?" Michael asked when he finally turned away from Faith to see Jack grinning at him.
"Nothing…" Jack smiled, shaking his head. "It doesn't matter."
