Disclaimer: I don't own lost. As for the story, I will be updating again soon. Comment please!
A A Battery: sorry I took so long! Hope you like it.
Jack had sent him into the jungle earlier that day to get more water. A task presented only because
Charlie had ben pestering him constantly about Claire. Her condition had grown worse over the night.
She was coughing constantly and her fever ran on high. Jack had been keeping her in quarantine
inside the tent, not wanting any one else to catch what ever she might have. Most of the island stayed
clear of the tent for their own safety. But Charlie had snuck in every chance he got to keep her
company without a symptom analysis. She had once again been trying to inform him of her dream
when Jack intruded. "Charlie, I though I told you to stay clear of hear" He said, towering over them.
"Well, I was just, uhh..." Charlie babbled, nervously. "I don't want to here it" Jack interrupted, before
he could make any sense. Charlie trailed off and went silent, stareing at his shoes. Jack sighed. "Come
out side" He suestested potently. Charlie began to fallow him out. "Wait" Claire piped up, barely
audible. Both stopped dead in their tracks and looked at her. She sat up as best she could, her tangled
hair flowing down over her shoulders. A dark circle around her eyes was the only sign of pigment in
her skin. "I'm not going to get any better lying around all day. And the last thing I want is to be
alone" Clair whispered. "Your not alone, Claire. I just don't want any one else getting sick" Jack tried
to explain, being sympathetic as he could. "And what about you? Your our doctor, if something
happens to you, then what?" She protested. Her voice cracked, and she began coughing. Charlie knelt
down at her side. Jack stared down at her with a look of guilt. He nodded without a word and left.
"Hes right you know" Charlie spoke, after her gagging had died down. "What?" she choked, shooting
him a confused look. "I shouldn't be in here. You need to be resting" he began to explain. "Charlie,
I want you here" She interrupted, placing her hand on his. Charlie looked down at the ground, then
back up at her. "Alright, I'll stay. But on one condition" he agreed. Claire turned to him cheerfully,
awaiting the terms. "You, have to get better" he ordered. "I'll try" She shrugged, a small cough
fallowing. Charlie tilted her chin up to face him. "Promise" he demanded, pushing his forehead agenst hers. "I promise" she agreed. They sealed the deal with a kiss on the lips.
They talked for an hour or so, but it wasn't long before she began to run out of energy. She fell asleep
a little past noon. The day had grown exceedingly hot, and Charlie, no longer able to stand sitting
inside the dank, airless tent, stepped outside. The conditions out doors were little better. The sun was
viciously bright. He wondered along the shore for a few hours, watching every one else go on with
their life. Every one had almost adapted to being there, even himself. The thought scared him. It had
been to long since he hand thought of his home back in LA. It wasn't much rely, not even his. He had
been living on the couch of his buddies apartment. But it was still his home. The first few weeks he had
wanted nothing more then the plop down onto that busted old couch and sleep for days. Now all he
could think about was Claire. For once, he was not thinking about himself. He worried about her, and
the baby, and all the other people that surrounded him. Each had their own past witch was no better
than his, each clearly open to danger. But some how he still managed to feel detached.
Before he knew it night came. Every one slowly pealed off to their tents as the sky went black. It was
the first night in a while when it hadn't rained. The air remained damp and humid into the night. He sat
still, stareing into the fire as he had once before. He had been lost in though before, but now his mind
was blank. Asleep while still being a wake. He was so dazed that he hadn't noticed Claire until she sat
down beside him. He looked over, surprised to see any one awake, exspeicaly her. "Your awake" he
noted, giving her a confused look. "Of choose I am, I've been sleeping all day" she teased. "You
shouldn't be out here" he suggested, glancing back at the tent where Jack slept. "Oh, don't start that"
she exclaimed, rolling her eyes dramatically. "Well when Jack comes out here and bites my head off I'm
blaming you" he fore warned with a grin across his face. "Duly noted" she agreed with a nod of her
head. "Feeling any better?" he questioned hopefully. "A little" she nodded. The fire crackled and s
sparked before them. "Claire," Charlie spoke "what do you want to do when we get off the island?"
He questioned thoughtfully. "I don't know. I mean, at first, I just wanted to go back home. But now
I don't think I can" she explained. "I mean now I have you and Ben and, things just wouldn't fell right.
Maybe I could travel or something" she shrugged, looking up at the sky. Her hands tucked in her lap,
knees up, hair flowing down over her shoulders. "Why, what will you do?" she questioned, turning to
him. "Uhh... get laid" he answered honestly, with a shrug. Claire broke into laughter. "I know, guy
answer," he added casually , "I know what you mean though, I don't think I could ever just go back
to living on someone's couch in LA. I might just have to do something with my life." she laughed again.
"You lived on a couch?" she asked, out raged. "yeah" he admitted with out shame. She laughed again,
laying her head on his shoulder. "Its so strange how people can complain and whine about all the
problems in their life, and then they're stranded on an island and they just..adapt. And life seems fine"
She mused thoughtfully, stareing out into the ocean. "Are you talking about any people in particular?"
He joked. "Well, us of chorse. Life here just seems so peaceful" she elaborated. "Two peaceful! I mean,
were being chased by a gigantic monster on an island in the middle of no where and here we are having
a decent conversation!" she continued excitedly, sitting back up. Her hands waved violently as she
spoke. "Its insane!" she finished with a short laugh. "I don't know. I just think it's a little strange" she
added, plopping her head back down on his shoulder. "Yeah" Charlie replied softly, stareing out into
the distance. The black waves rolled onto shore, and blended with the sky. The fire cackled and sparked.
There was no moon. The two sat quietly in thought. In the silence, a shriek pierced the ears, waking the
entire island. Charlie and Claire jumped to their feet at the sound. People popped out of their tents, eye
directed towards the dark jungle. Another scream came. Closer and louder the second round. Slowly,
they grouped together, orbiting closer to the edge of the woods. "Who is that?" Jack questioned softy.
Another scream over throwing his words. "Who's out there?!" he demanded, turning to his people.
Every one exchanged glances, no one appeared to be missing. After a moment, they looked back to Jack,
confused. Another shriek captured their full attention. All eye darted back to the woods, including J
Jack's, who spun around when the sound was heard. The sound seemed so close that who ever it
belonged to should emerge from the depths of the woods at any moment. But instead, there was nothing
but blackness. The only movement was the leaves moving in the wind, even that gave the illusion of a
person. They stood entirely still with a cat like awareness, cringing at each shrill, high pitched wail.
"Some one should go in there" Jack suggested huskily, sweat beading down his forehead. He didn't look
back to speak, but kept his gaze upon the swaying blackness as if in a trance. "What? Jack, no" Kate
protested, stomping up beside him. "We can't just let who ever's in there-" he began to explain. "You'll
be killed" She interrupted despretly, already knowing she'd lost. Jack's face fell into a determined
frown. "I'm going" he confirmed, pulling off his over shirt. He threw it to the ground and stormed into
the woods. Kate crossed her arms angrily, took a deep breath, shaking her head. They watched as jacks
running form dispread in the darkness. Another scream, then another. They grew loud and continuous.
Quick shirks that sound on beats. The voice was clearly female, loud and shrill. Kate headed off after,
him. Soon Sayid fallowed, whispering some name as he dispread into the trees. then Sawyer after him.
Boone moved from the circle, but was quickly pulled back. "Boone, no!" Shannon plead, keeping a firm
grip with both hands around his arm. "Let go" he demanded, looking her head in the eye. He pulled his
arm away and pushed through the trees. "Boone!" she called, standing at the head of the crowd hopeless.
The group watched as the jungle remained unchanged. Listening to the rustle of leaves, the crack of
waves, faint thunder and the blood curtailing screams, sounding repeatedly from the phantom of the
island. Vulnerable and afraid. Despretly waiting for their heros to return.