/I don't own anything you recognize in this story. /

Chapter Nine

Claire paced thoughtfully in her new home by the spring water. She didn't know how she let Charlie persuade her to come out here when she really wanted to stay on the beach just in case help arrived. Claire always said the day she would come here would be the day that the rescue would arrive when she wasn't on the beach.

"Claire, are you alright?" Charlie asked as he came towards her.

Claire smiled brightly at him, hoping this assured the man. "Yeah, I'm fine, why do you ask?"

"You seem a little pale...a little tired," Charlie commented.

Claire silently panicked. Was it that obvious? She had a feeling that the baby was coming today, it was just one of those motherly instincts.

"I'm fine, Charlie. Don't worry about me," Claire stated, bring a false confidence.

Charlie sat down next to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "You're not alright. Is it the baby?"

Claire decided she couldn't keep it to herself much longer and nodded. Charlie's eyes widened in surprise and began to get up, but Claire grabbed his arm. She knew whom he was going to go after and didn't want him to just yet.

"Don't get Jack just yet, Charlie," Claire said. "It's not time just yet."

"But, Claire, what if Jack goes off to do something when it comes and we haven't told him?" Charlie asked.

"No, not yet—" Claire began when Jack appeared in front of them suddenly.

"Tell me what?" Jack asked.

"Well, tell him, Claire," Charlie exclaimed.

Claire looked from one to the other, exasperated. Why did men have to be so difficult? She was grateful that Charlie was concerned, but she was a little irritated sometimes that he tried so hard.

"Is it the baby, Claire?" Jack asked.

Claire sighed and nodded. "Yes, Jack. I've been feeling sick more than usual today and I've been having pains in my stomach. I think it's coming today."

Jack sighed and went over to Claire. Claire sat up a little more, wondering what Jack was going to do now. She was beginning to wonder about doctors sometimes.

"We need to get you to someplace comfortable so you won't stress the baby," Jack told her.

"I think it's best if Charlie and I help you," Jack said.

"No, I don't need help to walk. So where are you going to put me?" Claire asked.

"Follow me," Jack said and turned to leave.

Charlie also began to follow after them, but Claire stopped him.

"I don't want you to come with me, Charlie," Claire stated. "I don't need your help for this."

"But I want to help," Charlie answered.

"Please, Charlie, not for this. Just go and do something with yourself," Claire said sharply.

Charlie watched the two of them leave, confusion and anger welling up inside him. He couldn't believe that Claire just did that to him, and he thought they were hitting it off really well. All he wanted to do was help.

Charlie spun around in anger and stormed off into the jungle. He had enough of everything and everybody. If they wanted to push him off to the side, then that's fine with him, he'll just go out into the woods by himself and take care of himself. It wasn't like he'd never taken care of himself before. He had to take care of himself all his life.

"Charlie, where you going?" Sayid called out as Charlie passed him.

"None of your business, Sayid. I'm leaving, that's all and I don't need anybody's help," Charlie called angrily behind him.

"Charlie, please, wait up," Sayid ran up to him and slowed down as he caught up. "What happened? Was it something to do with Claire?"

Charlie stopped and looked at the Iraqi. "Why should you care whether it has to do with Claire or not?"

"Because you two are always together and she must have said something to you to make you angry," Sayid stated.

Charlie sighed. "Yeah, it was something about Claire, but I don't want to talk about it, ok? She obviously likes Jack better than me if she'd rather be in his company rather than me."

Sayid laughed and Charlie suddenly felt angry. Why was this man laughing? It wasn't anything funny.

"I don't think Claire's in love with Jack, Charlie," Sayid stated. "He's more occupied with Kate and she's more occupied with you. So will you tell me what's going on?"

"OK, I saw her pacing around and she looked a little pale and agitated so I asked what was wrong and she said that she thought the baby was coming and I was going to get Jack and she said not to bring him over and all of a sudden, Jack appears and Jack wants to get Claire to be somewhere comfortable and they leave and Claire wouldn't let me go with her," Charlie burst out.

"She just doesn't want you to see her in pain, is all," Sayid commented.

"What, and I haven't seen enough pain already?" Charlie asked, agitated.

Sayid rolled his eyes. "You know what I'm talking about. Women don't like men hanging around when it comes down to that kind of stuff."

"Then how come she let Jack—" Charlie began.

"Because Jack's a doctor and can help her with the baby. Don't worry about her, she'll be fine in a few hours and she'll be perfectly happy and will have you in her good sides again," Sayid said. "Trust me."

"So she's not—" Charlie wondered.

"No, she's not," Sayid assured him. "She'll want you back as soon as everything's over with."

"I guess I'll just have to trust you, won't I?" Charlie asked.

Sayid smiled and nodded. Inwardly, he wondered about Charlie, but he didn't let himself linger on it because personally, he thought Charlie was a good guy. Charlie was one of those people who tried to help out whenever he could, but didn't seem to get the chance.

"Want to help me look for food?" Sayid asked. "I kind of got appointed to that job today and anyways it'd keep your mind off of things."

Charlie nodded and smiled. "Sure, I'll be happy to. Can we go fishing?"

"Perhaps, if we can't find anything else and if we find some plant food. We can't live off of meat, or we'll all get sick," Sayid said.

Charlie nodded in agreement and the two of them walked off together.