Family Reunion
Rating: PG-13 for Drug Use and Language
Disclaimer: I own none of the characters or anything, just the plot.
Summary: "If you're not in this band, then what the bloody hell use are you?" What if Charlie wasn't the only Pace member on that fateful flight?
A/n: Sorry about the wait. The play has officially taken over my life, and any time not spent at school or doing homework... is spent sleeping. I think I'm spreading myself waaaaay too thin. I am at school for like 75 of my waking hours if not more. I apologize once again, and hope to get this show on the road!
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"Seeing Clear" (Part II)
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"We have to talk, come on..."
I could recognize that voice from anywhere. Locke. He began to slowly help me up.
"Jack said... Jack said I should stay here," I said. Sure I wanted to leave the musty caves, but if Jack came back and I wasn't there, he'd be really angry.
"Well, this is more important," he said. Hell, I couldn't fight with that. Anything that could get me out of the caves for even a moment would be wondrous.
Sighing, I gave in. I used him to get up. "But not too far, all right?"
"Yes, yes," he said, before heading out of the caves. I didn't how long it had been since I had used my leg muscles. But they weren't used to moving at all.
We walked in silence for a while. After walking a few steps, I found that I could walk fine without Locke's help. I really didn't like walking so far into the forest, and really wanted to know where we were going.
Then Locke just stopped. "Charlie, is there something you want to talk about?" he asked.
I looked at him. Yeah, I only saw my brother (who wasn't on the plane) before falling to my... whatever you want to call it. "Nope..." I said simply, not quite ready to tell anyone quite yet. They'd think I was bloody crazy.
Locked pulled a knife out of his pocket and began fiddling with it. I began to become really uncomfortable. What was he going to do? My eyes darted back and for the between the knife and Locke's eyes. His were focused on me.
Without any notice, he threw it at me. Or at least I think he was trying to throw it at me. Before I had the chance to react, it went whizzing past my ear. It landed in the tree behind me. I exhaled. Had I really been that afraid that I was holding my breath?
"What the bloody hell was that for?" I spat angrily. He laughed. Why was he laughing?
"You have a lot to learn Charlie," he said with a sly smile. Without any other word, he sat down on a fallen tree log. Why did Locke have to be so confusing?
I continued standing. "What is that supposed to mean?"
He just continued to smile as he patted the empty area next to him. "Sit down Charlie."
I was a bit apprehensive at first, but after reassuring myself that Locke wasn't some crazy man, I sat down next to him. I gave him a 'go on' look.
He sighed, but the smile didn't fade. "I really am proud of you Charlie," he said, putting a hand on my shoulder. I had a feeling that he had something else to say. But not knowing what to do, I said.
"Uh... thank you..."
He chuckled. "Charlie did I ever tell you about my family?" he asked, his smile fading when he said family, as if the thought brought back bad memories. Where was this heading? I shook my head.
"My family was amazing," he smiled. "I had a great family. A beautiful wife named Sindy and our boy, Adam." He paused, I just listened.
"Charlie, what drug were you on when you came to this island?"
That was random. I didn't answer right away. It was none of his bloody business. "Heroine," I said, not being able to stop myself.
"Ah," he said as a far away look in his eyes and a distant sound in his voice. "You and Adam weren't as similar as I thought..." There was silence. "But I saved you."
What!? My mind began racing. So many ideas ran though my mind, none of which were probably true, I knew that.
"I never really told anyone the full story, but..." was Locke really opening up? He never seemed to like being vulnerable. It was so un-Locke-like. "Remember the wheelchair was found by the wreckage?"
I nodded, urging him to go on. "That was mine."
Bloody hell, his story was getting odder and odder by the second. "Y-y-yours?"
He nodded. "About six years ago, my boy was getting ready to graduate. Top of his class, great grades. He was the star of basketball team and was the best hunter that I had ever seen." He chuckled hollowly. "But he had one problem. Someone, I still don't know who, got him hooked on cocaine. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get him to get off of it. He knew what would happen to him, but he continued to use it. Said it was a way to get rid of the stress."
He paused. The story must have been hard to tell, because his voice was forced. I had never known that Locke even had a family, let alone a son. "What happened to him?"
"Sindy and I were driving to the school for his graduation," he took a deep breath. "Adam had gone out with his friends like any high school student would. We were so close when a car crossed over the line and hit us, head on. I blacked out immediately."
Holy shit. No wonder he felt like he had to get it out. I know I would have to get it out as well.
"All I remember was that when I finally woke up in the hospital, they told me that my wife was dead. They told me my son was dead. Then they told me that I'll never walk again. So much bad news in the course of a few moments."
I bit my lower lip. That was a tragically depressing story. "But you're walking just fine now," I said, my voice cracking slightly.
He laughed. "The plane crash. I don't know what happened, but I could walk again. First time I had been happy in six years. I didn't care that I had almost died, or that we were on some island in the middle of nowhere. I could walk, I was free. Being immobile kept me replaying the last moments I had had with my wife and son. It had me so down and depressed, no one knew if I would ever come out of it."
"Oh," I said. Cue awkwardness. "But what happened to you son?" I mentally hit myself. That was a wonderful thing to ask. I was stupid.
"The car that crossed over the line... that was him. I never asked for the full details, but he was partying with his friends before hand, had some drinks, obviously had cocaine in his system, and couldn't control the vehicle he was driving."
I didn't know what to do. Should I hug the man, but that would be even more awkward. "I'm so sorry Locke."
He smiled weakly. "You reminded me of him a lot. That is why I chose to help you. That is why I didn't just leave you alone for when the de-tox hit. I hoped I wasn't setting myself up for failure again. And thanks you, I wasn't. That is why I'm so proud of you Charlie,"
I didn't really know where he was coming from, but I reminded him of his son, that was why he was so attached to me. That was why he took me with him hunting. He wanted me to be his dead son.
Silence hit like a brick. We sat in silence for a few minutes, both of us in our own worlds. Suddenly, I heard rustling.
I got up to go, before looking at Locke. "Just go Charlie," he said.
I didn't move at first, but after a look from Locke, I turned to leave. But before I left, I pulled the knife out of the tree and tossed it at the ground at Locke's feet.
He laughed and picked it up. "Thanks Charlie, now just get out of here."
I nodded, and began to run in the other direction. The rustling was getting louder. I wasn't Adam or anyone else, just Chalie, past drug addict, replacement son to Locke, happy.
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orange-tide – Yayness!!
Christina B – I am more of a flute player, but I play trumpet if I am in the mood to...
Kristin – it is getting so close to our first performance!!
Harper's Pixie – Ever read A Midsummer Night's Dream?
frodosam4ever – okie dokey!
Szhismine – Why is it so hard to get a bloody guitar? Haha. What is up with Liam? I can't really tell you, or I would ruin the plot!
Cerrita – awww... thanks. Everyone feels so bad for good ol' Charlie!
LOST – I'm working on it.
AA Battery – Hey! Are you calling me slow!? Haha! I have the fall play, and I come home exhausted. What do I do? I sleep. Haha!