"I knew I should have brought that umbrella," Charlie whined. "The sun is…shining." Locke turned around with that all-knowing childish grin on his face once more. "Charlie my boy…" he said. "The sun is…always shining, last I checked. Especially around here." Charlie pursed his lips with a smile in his eyes and said nothing. Locke once again decided to go through the jungle in search of anything useful from the crash. Who knows: something could have gotten thrown out that way. Besides, every day was an adventure out there and there was really nothing to do otherwise. Claire wasn't in the best of moods that morning, so Charlie decided to take a walk with Locke. After the first couple of miles, he realized they wouldn't be back until sundown.
"Gaah…bugs…" Charlie mumbled, swatting around his head. Locke chuckled to himself.
"If you weren't so attractive, they wouldn't bother you." Charlie stopped in his tracks.
"Look, John, you're a nice guy and all, but I don't swing that way." They continued walking.
"Charlie, I meant if you wouldn't sweat as much, they bugs wouldn't be called by your scent. Just remain calm, stop complaining, and think about something pleasant."
Charlie nodded. "Right," he said. He took a few deep breaths, seemed to center himself for a second, then started to walk. "Calm." Locke winked and they continued on their trek. About 10 minutes later, he started again. "Oh BUGGER-" Charlie said, hopping around precariously on one foot, holding the other. Locke spun around. "Those shoes of yours are not meant for such walks," he said, pointing at them. "The soles are soft and thin." Charlie apparently could not keep his balance any longer, he tipped over onto his bottom, his back hitting a tree. "Oww…" he said, rubbing his head tenderly. He looked up at Locke, who was staring at something else, quite intently. "Wha-" Charlie began, but Locke quickly and silently held up one hand, never breaking his gaze. Charlie got up and stood by Locke. A strange sort of nest sat in the top of the small tree, and was now violently shaking.
"More bees?" Charlie said quietly with a gulp.
Locke shook his head. "No…that's not a bees' nest. Just don't….move."
uddenly, the strange thing broke open, and swarming black mass piled out of it, flying high into the sky, looming over the two men. "On the count of three," Locke said, "Run for shelter." Charlie nodded. "One…two…THREE!" The two split ways, Locke diving into a nearby pond, while Charlie scaled a tree like a monkey. Locke's head crested from the water, and looked around. Over the monstrous buzzing, Charlie's voice could be heard. "Ow..OW OW OW! STOP IT- OW!" The vegetation on a nearby tree could be seen shaking as violently as the insect's nest. Suddenly, Charlie came crashing down from inside the foliage, his neck and face spotted with red marks. "Charlie!" Locke hissed. Charlie turned his head to see Locke's sticking out of the water just so slightly. He motioned for Charlie to come into the water. Looking back up into the tree, Charlie could see the strange insects already noticing he was no longer in the tree. He crawled over into the water and waited with Locke. Within 5 minutes, the swarm had moved on to another part of the jungle, leaving it safe for the two to move on. Locke got out of the pond, then helped Charlie, who laid on the ground.
"You ok?" Locke said, offering Charlie his hand.
Charlie got up, dusted himself off and sighed. "Yeah…bloody fantastic." As he felt his face and neck, his expression went from exhausted to just plain pissed, probably feeling the many welts that covered that area. He lifted his shirt to reveal a few on his chest and stomach as well.
"Did you get a good look at those bugs?" Locke said. Charlie shook his head, putting his shirt back down.
"No."
Locke sighed and looked at the sky. "What do you say we head back to camp early, and let Jack have a look at you?"
Reluctantly, Charlie agreed, and they headed back towards the safety of the caves, Charlie itching and scratching most of the way. As they returned to the caves, Jack was busy putting a band-aid on Walt's knee. He gently tapped it, as Walt smiled, got up and ran out to the beach. Jack still had a smile on his face when he got up and turned around to see Charlie and Locke standing behind him. It quickly diminished.
"Charlie…what happened to you?" he said incredulously, staring the ex-rocker up and down with dinner-plate eyes. Charlie gave a sheepish half-smile and shrugged. "Bugs," he replied. Jack quickly ushered him to a nearby rock that was more commonly used for a medical table by Jack. "Let's have a look at you," Jack sighed, holding a torch near Charlie. Locke remained in the background. "You're not going to make me wear one of those little paper gowns that shows your bum, are you?" Charlie said. Jack smiled and shook his head. "Not today…tilt your head." Charlie did so, as Jack closely inspected the unusual bites on the broad side of Charlie's neck. They were small and red, with three tiny pricks in each. After about 5 minutes, Jack turned away and crouched down to his medicine cabinet, what you could call a medicine cabinet given the situation. A few bottles of various medicines and prescriptions salvaged from the crash, as well as band-aids, gauze and some mineral water. Charlie sat up. "Well?" he said, rubbing his neck. Jack spun around and stood up to Charlie, holding a bottle of clear liquid.
"Alcohol. This will sting, but it'll help prevent infection, most itching, and swelling." He handed Charlie a large piece of old cloth. "Squeeze this."
Charlie stuck his bottom lip out. "Give me a teddy bear as well, why don't you? Read me a story while you're at it…"
Jack gave him another "you're an idiot" look, and grabbing Charlie's head gently and turning it like he was a disobedient child, splashed a little of the clear liquid onto his neck. Charlie hissed in pain, terribly fighting the urge to run away screaming. It burned like all hell, but he kept himself composed…mostly. Jack applied the alcohol to every bitten spot on Charlie's body. Good thing Charlie had that rag, for he most likely would have ended up hitting Jack in the face. Even at this point- he would probably have preferred to have been tortured. Writhing, hissing and gritting his teeth, Charlie bore through the agonizing process of having his wounds cleaned. Finally, Jack turned to toss the piece of cloth he'd been using to apply the alcohol. Charlie darted up from the "table," and exhaled a mighty breath. "Finally," he gasped. Jack chuckled. "Would you like a lollipop, little one?" Charlie stuck his tongue out mockingly.
"Charlie, I think you just had a bad encounter with some very pissed off jungle mosquitoes, is all. What you did to get them that pissed off is beyond me. Justno more jungle treks for a few days, get some rest, and forGod's sake, DON'T SCRATCH!"
Charlie thengave a sarcastic smile and saluteand limped out of Jack's part of the cave over to his own. It was time to play guitar.