AHHH sorry this took forever. I've been sick, along with pretty much everyone else in my family FOREVER. GAH! But now I'm feeling better, so here 'tis. And thanks to candyclouds for her idea about Claire singing that song!
Jack just blinked. Kate began to giggle.
"You were!" she cried shrilly, correctly reading the look on Jack's face.
"Sophomore year. My dad thought it would be a good idea," Jack said, blushing.
"Told you so," Sawyer said, crossing his arms on his chest and looking thoroughly pleased with himself. "Now, what else…you lost it to a hooker at fifteen?"
"Ok, ok, that's enough, I think," Sayid said, sensing a fight. There was always one brewing when Jack and Sawyer were around. One of them was bound to kill the other some day.
"Ooo, so Al Jazeera wants a go, too?"
"No, really," Sayid said, wishing now he hadn't interfered. Jack, remembering some previous altercations between Sawyer and Sayid all too well, decided to intervene.
"Get off the stage, Psychic Sawyer. Let me have a go," Jack said, walking up onto the stage. Reluctantly, Sawyer slumped off, returning to his seat. Hurley got up onto the stage with Jack.
"Alright, next we have Jack, who will be…" Hurley said, looking at Jack expectantly. Jack just smiled and shrugged. "K, so we have Jack performing a triple bypass on a guava!" Hurley said, not sure of what else to say.
Jack walked to the center of the stage, smiling and shaking his head. The things he'll do in the name of peace… With a sigh, Jack leaned over, put his two hands onto the stage, and proceeded to lift himself up into a stunning handstand. The whole audience looked surprised, all but Sawyer, who just rolled his eyes. Jack then got back on his feet, and walked to the edge of the stage. Getting a bit of a running start, he performed a stunning cartwheel. Getting back into the handstand, he walked laps around the stage on his hands. Everyone began clapping as Jack got off of the stage.
"I didn't know you could do that!" Kate said, looking impressed. Jack just blushed and smiled. Hurley climbed back up onto the stage.
"Dude, that was…wow. Right, so who's next?"
"Claire, you do something," Charlie whispered.
"What? I don't have any talents, Charlie. Besides, what an act to follow…"
"Come on, please? For me?" Charlie said, doing his best to look angelic and needy.
"Alright, alright!" she said, standing and walking up to the stage. Hurley saw her and smiled, grabbing her hand to help her up.
"I'd like to sing a song," Claire said quietly, cheeks already turning red. Hurley, sensing her nervousness, just nodded and got off of the stage. Claire sat cross-legged near the edge of the stage, allowing her long hair to cover her face. She softly began singing, voice a bit shaky. As her voice reverberated over the soft white sands to the crowds ears, she stroked her swollen belly.
"Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket, never let it fade away. Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket, save it for a rainy day." Claire paused, took a deep breath, and with a reassuring look from Charlie, continued.
"For love may come and tap you on the shoulder some starless night. Just in case you feel you want to hold her, you'll have a pocketful of starlight." Charlie began to slowly strum his bass while Claire's voice grew stronger.
"For when your troubles start multiplyin' and they just might, it's easy to forget them without tryin' with just a pocketful of starlight," Claire finished, standing hurriedly and rushing off the stage. Charlie followed her into a small clump of trees.
"Claire, what's the matter? That was beautiful," Charlie whispered, taking her into an embrace. Tears were streaming down her cheeks.
"I can't…can't have my baby on this island," she wept, holding her stomach and trying to disentangle herself from Charlie's arms.
"You…you mayn't have to, love. Who knows when someone might come?" Charlie said, trying to reassure her but unable to keep the doubt out of his voice. Claire only sobbed harder. "And…we've got Jack! He's a doctor, that's lucky, right?"
"You…you don't understand…if something goes wrong, there's nothing…"
"I'm here, Claire. I won't leave you, and I won't let anything happen to you. I'm going to protect you."
"I don't need you to protect me, Charlie!" Claire cried, turning her back to him. She took some deep breaths, then turned back around. "I'm sorry, Charlie. I appreciate everything you've done, really. But…this is something that…that I need to try to deal with on my own. I mean, aside from the birthing and all. But I'd like to just, be alone, for now, if I could." Charlie nodded, going back to the logs, leaving Claire feeling mightily guilty.
So next time I have to find some way to work Sun and Jin in here. Oh, and in case some of you didn't here…next time on Lost apparently someone, one of the major characters, is going to die. I have a terrible feeling that Sawyer is going to kill Jack. I know that most people think they'd never kill Jack, but the producers say it's someone we'd never expect. I sort of think Kate would be the only justifiable death. But I dunno…if it's Charlie I think I'll die.