A week later, things were back to normal in the camp. If you could call the island normal. Claire and Charlie had spent time getting reacquainted, and it was as if Claire hadn't left the camp at all. Sawyer was back to being his usual self, and Boone and Locke were spending more time in the woods than at the caves.
Shannon walked over to Claire, who was cradling little Aiden in her arms. They had christened him the day after Claire gave birth, and Claire named him after her favorite uncle. Shannon smiled and sat down next to her. Claire, who had forgotten the old Shannon, but was becoming rather good friends with the new one, smiled. "Hey." She said, quiet so that she would not wake the baby.
Shannon smiled too. "I just came to see how you were doing. Anything you need?" She asked.
Claire shook her head. "Charlie is going to eat with me. He's really nice, isn't he?"
Shannon nodded. "He's a good guy. He'd make a good father." She said with a sly smile.
"Be quiet!" Claire said, reaching over to hit her new friend. "What about you? I've seen those looks of longing that you seem to point in his direction every now and then." Claire said, looking over to Sayid.
Shannon shrugged. "We're just friends!" She said, but her voice was lower, and she couldn't draw her eyes away from the man. A gust of wind blew through the camp, and the sun disappeared behind a puffy white cloud. Shannon stood up, and stretched her arms above her head. She pulled down he shorts, and shook her head, letting her short blonde hair hang wild on her shoulders. "I'll come check on you later?" She said to Claire, and she made her way over to Sayid, who was busy looking at maps. She sat down beside him and smiled.
Sayid pushed the maps away from him. He leaned his head on the palm of his hand and looked at Shannon. "Hello." He said simply.
Shannon smiled. "Hello." She returned. The awkward silence that followed made both of them shift uncomfortably in their seats. Shannon opened her mouth to say something, and then closed it. She had nothing to say.
Sayid sighed and took her hand. "Let us go for a walk." He said, standing up, and pulling her to her feet.
Shannon laughed. "Now?" She sighed. "Where shall we walk?"
"The woods." He said. "Don't worry, I won't let anything harm you."
"Because I really need a man to help me." She scoffed.
Sayid smiled sweetly, and started to walk towards the woods. Shannon couldn't help but notice that he hadn't let go of her hand. The air tasted salty, and the sun was making Shannon sweat. Normally, Shannon would have complained, but she liked the feeling of the air against her skin, and she had never noticed just how tall the trees were. She had never heard the bird chirping quite like this, and she smiled wider when Sayid presented her with a bright pink flowers. She set it in her hair and the two continued walking.
"Where are we going?" Shannon asked curiously.
Sayid gave a cryptic smile. "Are we not allowed to just walk? Simply enjoy the company of each other?" He asked.
Shannon stopped, causing Sayid to stop along side her.
"What's wrong?" He asked, reaching up to put his hands on her shoulders.
Shannon took her hands in hers and looked at them. They were strong, like the man that stood before her. She reached up to touch his face. She noticed how he closed his eyes when her skin met his own.
"Shannon…" He started, his voice gravelly.
Shannon ran a hand through his hair, bringing him close to her. She could feel his breath and their eyes hadn't left each others. Sayid was the one who closed the space between them. The kiss was gentle. It wasn't fueled by passion or lust. Sayid could feel Shannon smiling through the kiss, and for a moment the two were on cloud 9. A rustle from the trees caused the two to break apart.
Shannon groaned when the figures of Boone and Locke emerged from the trees.
Boone had an all knowing smirk on his face, and Locke's was impassive. Boone stepped closed to the pair, surveying then with those eyes of him. The calm before the storm.
"Having fun?" He asked Shannon.
Shannon looked at the ground. Sayid arm was snaked around her waist, and he stared at Boone defiantly.
"You can't tell her what to do." He said. "She can talk with me if she likes."
Boone laughed. "And she can kiss you." He smirked. "She's good at that."
Shannon looked at Boone. "Boone…don't…" She said.
Boone ignored her, and continued to stare at Sayid. "Did she not tell you?" He heaved a dry laugh. "Did my sister here not tell you what we had before we came on this fucking island? Did she tell you that we slept together." He smiled as Sayid's arm left Shannon's waist. "Did she tell you how she was drunk, and she knew I was too. She came over to my hotel room, and she told me she loved me. Did she tell you that?"
Sayid turned to Shannon, who's eyes were filled with tears. "What does he mean?" No answer came from the woman. "Shannon…What does he mean."
Shannon raised her head ever so slowly, until her gaze met Sayid's. "It was a mistake. It never should have happened. But it did." She said.
Sayid's face turned dark. He had never imagined this. He knew Shannon had had a troubled past, but this was her step brother. He turned to Boone and Locke, and silently stalked off into the jungle. Shannon cried out, but the man did not turn back. Shannon walked over to Boone and slapped him across the face. It made a resounding crack. She was not finished with him. She threw herself on him, knocking him to the ground. He didn't fight her. She raised a hand to hit him again, but Locke caught it. She whipped her head around. "Don't you dare touch me!" She screamed, fighting to get out of the older mans grip. It was steadfast, and after a few seconds of fighting, she collapsed to the ground. The two men looked at the girl, who stood up, brushed her clothes off as if nothing had happened, turned around, and walked off the path.
Boone turned to Locke. He had a different look in his eyes now. It was fear. "I didn't know…I didn't know it would hurt her so bad."
Locke put a hand on the younger mans shoulder. "Deep down, I think you did."