Given this new predicament, Charlie Pace was not in the mood for anything at the moment. He sat alone on a rock with his hoodie pulled up around his head again. Christ, it was hot with the long sleeves; not better by any stance was the hot sun bearing down upon him like the fires of hell. But he wasn't taking any chances. Feelings flooded his body; scared, embarrassed, white hot anger. Why didn't I listen to Jack? Why the hell did I climb a tree? He sat with his knees up and arms on them, almost in a ball; pondering this, hoping no one would recognize him. Especially Sawyer. If we cross paths again before this is over, I'm going to kill him… No one was in the caves at this moment except for himself. Jack was at the beach, trying to talk Sawyer into taking some antibiotics for his foot. Everyone else…who really cares? He heard a noise from somewhere. Charlie looked up to see Sun, standing in front of him, that cautious, almost scared look on her face she usually had. In her hands was something wrapped in cloth, no bigger than a common teddy bear. "Excuse me…" she said quietly. Charlie ducked his head back down into his arms. "What?" his muffled voice said. Sun stepped forward more, and unwrapped the thing in her hands. An odd-looking purple and orange flower rested in her palms. So beautiful, yet so dangerous looking. Charlie lifted his head just enough that his eyes and the purple-ish area around them could be seen. "What the hell is that?" he asked her.

"This flower…it might help."

"Thanks but no thanks…errm…Korean lady. I'm just going to wait this one out."

Sun stared in shock for a few seconds, then haltingly walked away, dejected. Charlie balled himself up again and prayed this day would be over soon.

A few moments later, Claire walked up, holding her diary. "What was that all about?" she asked. "I just saw that nice Korean woman…she looked terribly upset." Charlie, still in his little shell, shrugged to the best of his ability; just making him look like his whole body spazzed for a second, as if he was trying to jump in this position. "Charlie, darling," Claire said. "Come on out of there. Pouting like this won't help you. C'mon…you're acting like a child." She put her hand on his shoulder; he turned away. Claire sighed. "Fine. Stay...purple or whatever it is like that forever. And you can just wait it out sitting like that." She turned to walk away. "Wait…" Charlie said, lifting his head, to reveal his purple face, his eyes like that of a kicked puppy. Claire smiled. "I have the perfect thing for you," she said. "But it's on the beach. So if you want it, you have to go there to get it." Charlie smiled, and for the first time in about an hour, stood up…and almost immediately fell over. Claire gasped. "OMIOGSH! Are you ok?" she asked, helping him to his feet. Charlie looked up and laughed.

"My leg's asleep."

So off to the beach they trotted; Charlie trying to ignore the awed stares of anyone along the way, Claire whispering things in his ear to boost his confidence.

"They just don't know…"

"This will go away soon, don't worry."

"Keep walking, you look great."

They arrived at the beach; things almost immediately turned sour when someone stepped right in their path; Sawyer.

"Well, well, well…if it ain't the CRAY-O-LA kid," he remarked with that nasty grin, pronouncing, tasting, loving every torturous syllable.

Charlie bit his lip. "Sod off, Sawyer. Not in the mood. I'm trying to have a good time."

"Ok," Sawyer replied. "Just tryin' to help."

"Then move out of the way," Charlie said darkly. He moved to the side, but Sawyer mirrored his step. "Please…" Charlie pleaded quietly, not once meeting Sawyer's eyes. He moved again. So did Sawyer.

"What is your PROBLEM, mate!" He couldn't take it anymore. He stabbed Sawyer's wounded foot with his own; Sawyer howled in pain and hopped around on his good foot, much like Charlie 4 days earlier. Charlie laughed and stuck his tongue out.

"Why you little-" Sawyer swung at Charlie. Soon they were both rolling around, kicking sand up every which way, throwing punches and random profanities. Claire tried to pull them apart, but after too close of a call near her tummy, she backed away and screamed for help. Hurley, who was nearby, called Locke and together they broke up the scuffle. Locke had Charlie by one ear and the collar of his shirt, who was still swinging, despite the fact that Hurley had Sawyer in a wrestling-style move with his arms pinned above his head, several feet away.

"LEMME AT 'EM!" Sawyer yelled. Hurley was straining to keep the screaming southerner contained. "Cool down!" Lock shouted. "Now who started this? You're grown men…you should be ashamed. This is not the time or place for this nonsense." Both men stared at each other in hatred silence. "Well?" Locke said again. More irreparable silence. "I'm going to let you both go," Locke said firmly. "But no more fighting." He released Charlie first, then gave the signal for Sawyer's release. Both were let go, Sawyer muttering swear words under his breath and heading back to his tent, Charlie storming down to the water, passing Claire. She jogged to keep up with him. Throwing off his shirt halfway there, and treading into the water, Charlie disappeared underneath. Claire walked into the water as well, as Charlie popped back up. He looked at the many people littered along the beach staring at his purple-ness. Claire looked at him with a playful smile.

"Whaaaat?" Charlie said, with a suspicious grin. She put her hand on her head and dunked him under. He popped up, gasping, with an even bigger smile on his face. He splashed Claire, she splashed him back. Before long, the two were dunking and splashing each other quite competitevely, getting laughs from people on the beach.

"So.." Charlie gasped at a brief moment's peace. "What was this perfect thing you had for me, eh?"

Claire smiled. "This-" and kissed him full on the lips. Charlie froze stiff, then nearly fell competely limp, making a queer little humming noise. When Claire finally backed away, Charlie was still frozen in his position, lips puckered in a goofy smile and eyes distant, one half-closed. Claire splashed water right in his face, and the water war continued until the sun began to set.

Finally, they decided to head back to the caves, still soaking wet and laughing; sometimes even breaking out into the chorus from "We're of to see the Wizard." Charlie looked back behind them at Sawyer, staring at them gravely from inside his tent.

"I've got an idea," Charlie said to Claire, looking away from Sawyer.

"Oh yeah? What's that?"

"You'll see…" he said with a mischievous tone. Together they walked back to the caves, arriving just as it got dark.

"I told you," said Claire, "Today wasn't bad at all."

Charlie sighed. "No…today was great." He hugged her. They sat down and talked by the nightly fire in the middle of the caves all night. Jack found them hours later asleep; Claire's head on Charlie's shoulder, Charlie's head on Claire's. He was snoring slightly, a little growl on the inhale, a little nasal whistle on the exhale. Jack chuckled, and wrapped a blanket around their shoulders and went to bed.