Author's Note:
Hey! This is chapter two of Fires. In a moment, I will let you read the actual story, but before I do, I would like to thank my chapter one reviewers.

Esmarelda Gamgee

Jillybean

Charlie'sPunkDrugAngel

Evermore

orange-tide

Read and enjoy!

Fires

Chapter Two: Secrets Revealed

Charlie slowed to a walk about halfway to the caves. He could hear someone – something approaching. What if it's a polar bear, or something? he thought, taking a few steps backward. Whatever it was, it was drawing closer. It came around the bend up ahead and…

It was only Locke. Charlie sighed in relief.

"Hey," the big hunter said cheerily. His eyes traveled to Charlie's hand. "What have you got there, Charlie?"

"Yeah, um…" he struggled to come up with an excuse. How could he have forgotten about the drugs? He subconsciously moved his hand behind his back to conceal his prize. "It's, uh, just something Jack gave me to help with the withdrawal."

"Oh." Locke smiled. "I'm really proud of you, Charlie. It took a lot of strength to do what you did."

Charlie grinned nervously. "Yeah, whatever… I gotta go now. See ya later!" He took off past Locke and continued down the path. Locke stared after him for a moment.

Charlie's acting strange, he thought. I'll have to ask Jack what he gave him. Maybe that will explain something.

-

Jack looked over toward the door of the caves. He noticed Charlie had just returned, and was shoving something – it looked like a small bag - into his pocket. Jack stood and went over to where he was standing.

"Hey, Charlie," Jack said in greeting. "Where've you been?"

"I, uh, just went for a little walk." Charlie mentally cursed his voice for the slight tremble that had crept into it. If Locke hadn't come so close to discovering his secret… Charlie moved to walk past Jack, but he was stopped by a hand placed on his chest.

"You okay, man?"

"Yeah, Jack, I'm fine," he assured the doctor before continuing on his way.

-

Charlie sat in a corner of the caves, away from everyone else. He felt hyper – he always did after taking the drug – it gave him more energy. He was rather pleased with himself for having the guts to get high again, especially with Jack and Locke around. He knew it was probably the dumbest thing he could have done, but, he thought, what the hell?

He shoved the bag back in his pocket as he heard Claire approaching his corner. She plopped down on the ground next to him.

"You seem better today," she commented.

"Yeah, well…" Charlie struggled to stop the shaking in his hands. That would be a dead giveaway that he was high, if she noticed.

"Charlie… are you…" She paused. "If I'm wrong, I'm sorry, but… are you taking drugs?"

Charlie froze. What was he supposed to say? He couldn't lie to her! "I uh…" How could he tell her? He looked down at his feet. "I… was."

"Oh." She looked at him. "Was that why you were sick for a while… I mean, the withdrawal and everything?"

He nodded his head. He couldn't tell her about the drugs he had now. He couldn't tell anyone about those. He looked up as he heard another person coming toward him.

"What are you guys talking about?" Shannon pried. "You're just sitting over here, being all mysterious and quiet."

"For a reason," Charlie said, trying to keep his temper down.

"Well, it doesn't make sense. It's not like either of you have any big secrets or anything." Charlie and Claire exchanged a glance. "Or do you?" Shannon's eyes grew wide and she sat on Charlie's other side. "Do tell."

"Bugger off!" Charlie exclaimed. "It's none of your business, Shannon!" Shannon stood up quickly, an offended look on her face.

"Fine," she said grumpily, turning on her heal and marching away.

Locke watched as the sun crept into the morning sky. He wanted to talk to Jack, but he was still asleep and had remained that way for the past hour. He didn't want to wake him. Locke heard something moving behind him and turned his head.

Jack sat up groggily and saw Locke moving toward him. He managed a half smile as the older man knelt beside him.

"I wanted to talk to you," he began looking over his shoulder, as if to make sure no one was watching. "I noticed Charlie's been acting kind of strange lately. He said you gave him something for the withdrawal?" he asked, looking for confirmation.

"No," Jack replied, squinting his eyes at the sun shining in on him. "I didn't give him anything. He had a bag of something, though. I figured you gave it to him."

"I didn't give him anything. You don't think he could have found drugs somewhere, do you?"

"I dunno. I guess it's possible. You never know what you might come across on a tropical island. I better talk to him about it." Locke nodded his head in agreement before rising and walking toward the entrance of the caves.

"Where're you going?"

"We're almost out of boar." Jack watched as the hunter disappeared from view.

-

Jack watched as the other survivors drifted off toward their beds. The evening sky was growing darker as he walked over to where Charlie was sitting. Charlie noticed Jack's presence and quickly shoved something into his pocket.

"What was that?" Jack asked, motioning toward Charlie's pocket.

"Nothing," Charlie said, seemingly distracted by one trembling hand that he held in front of him.

"You're high, aren't you?" Charlie glared at Jack, letting his hand fall down by his side. "I can't believe it Charlie! You found more drugs, and now you're high!"

"I'm not high!" Charlie protested.

"Yeah, well what's in your pocket, then? Show me, Charlie."

"No."

"I knew it. I can't believe you!"

"I can't believe you! You just come up here and accuse me of taking drugs again. Where would I have gotten them, Jack?"

"I don't know, but they're in your pocket and I want you to give them to me." After a short pause, Charlie reached into his pocket and withdrew the small bag. Jack reached out to take them, but Charlie pulled his hand away suddenly.

"Charlie…" Jack warned, but Charlie tightened his fist. "Damn it, just give me the drugs!" Jack reached forward and snatched them away.

He was surprised when Charlie didn't object. Instead, he just stared over Jack's shoulder. The doctor turned around to see pretty much the entire camp staring at the two of them.

Jack pocketed the bag and cleared his throat slightly. "You, uh, can, uh, go back to your business," he said, his eyes wide. As the others slowly went back to their previous affairs, he turned to face Charlie again. The younger man stared at him heatedly for a moment, then turned and stalked off in the opposite direction.

-

Jack picked up a bucket and filled it with water to douse the fires. He wasn't exactly sure what he was supposed to do now. Charlie was obviously angry at him, but it wasn't entirely his fault. If Charlie had just given him the drugs, he never would have yelled like that. He wanted to slap himself, but resisted and dumped the water on the fires that had been left burning.

Jack rolled onto his back and opened his eyes. It wasn't morning yet, though a faint light was flickering across the ground. Inhaling through his nose, he recognized the all too familiar smell of smoke.

-

I know you want to push that review button! Thanks again for reading. Chapter three will be up soon!

- Setszuki