Title: Answering a Question with a Question
Author: Shea Pierce
Rating: PG-13 for drug use
Disclaimer: Not mine. If they were I'd write me and Szhismine in so she could have Charlie and I could have Sayid. I suppose I could still do that...Spoilers: "The Moth"A/N: My first Lost fic... I did research for this puppy! Written cuz it irked me to no end over how Charlie seemed to be just fine after his episode. I have set out to explain that.
Summary: Charlie's withdrawal is getting worse... but Mr. Locke has a solution, which might hinder more than help.

Answering a Question with a Question

Charlie curled up into a little ball, leaning against the rock behind a smallish bush. It was twilight and the setting of the sun gave everything an eerie glow. It had been roughly thirty six hours since his last fix and the withdrawl was beginning to peak.

Even though the air was cool, sweat poured down Charlie's face. He could feel his blood rushing through his veins. He knew this would happen sooner or later, the heroin wouldn't last forever and even if it was available on the island, he had no idea how to refine it, a neccessary step before actually using it.

He tried to take deep breaths, but each time he tried his vision started to blur. He let his thoughts drift to his brother, Liam, who, after all, must have had gone through this too. Officially, he was supposed to be mad at him, but unofficially? There was no other human being that Charlie wished more was there with him. Charlie tried to direct his thoughts elsewhere, he didn't need to think about Liam now, he needed to concentrate on... well he wasn't sure what, but it wasn't his brother.

A cool breeze blew through the bush and goosebumps formed on Charlie's arms. He always hated that feeling, his skin getting all tense and shivers ran down his spine. He was cold, but he wasn't, he wanted to sleep, but he didn't want to fall asleep, he was hungry, but doubted he could keep anything down.

He heard voices talking, but he couldn't place them, who was it? What were they saying? Yes, this seemed a good thing to concentrate on. Charlie closed his eyes and concentrated on the voices, but he couldn't place the names. They were too far away to hear what they were saying, he only caught isolated words.

"Charlie." Charlie caught that word. It was pretty close. Not one of the voices he'd been listening to. This one was right there. It sounded like Mr. Locke. He looked up to confirm this and Mr. Locke stood there, looking down at him.

"Mhm," Charlie muttered. Putting sentences together was somewhat of a chore.

"Come with me. I've got something to help you." Mr. Locke offered his hand to Charlie to help him stand up.

Charlie stood up and braced himself against the rock, standing up so quickly had made him dizzy. When he adjusted, Mr. Locke led him through the trees. It was getting harder to see by the minute, the sun was setting quickyly. They walked for awhile when Mr. Locke stopped. Charlie stopped just behind him and watched as Mr. Locke tore a leaf from a plant. He held it up for Charlie to see.

"Do you know what this is?" he asked.

Charlie studied it for a few minutes, then looked up at Mr. Locke, who was smiling in that eerie way that he'd come to associate with Mr. Locke. "A marijauna leaf?"

Mr. Locke nodded. "It should help you with the withdrawl. Just don't get addicted to it." He gave Charlie the leaf and walked back in the direction which they came.

"Wait!" Charlie called after Mr. Locke.

Mr. Locke stopped and turned towards Charlie, still smiling.

Charlie wanted to ask how he knew about this. He opened his mouth to ask, but for some reason stopped. Instead he scampered back towards where Mr. Locke stood.

"I don't want to get lost." Charlie explained and the two walked back together in silence.