Title: Hot Child

Author: Lazuli

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: Lost is owned by that glorious bastard, J.J. Abrams. Love you, sugarplum.

Summary: A mercilessly hot day on the island inspires Shannon Rutherford to "take a day off". Swims, laziness, and hanging around the men of the island seem like a perfect way to pass the time. More importantly, she wants to know why Sayid has been avoiding her…

strums guitar Looooooost, on an iiiiiiiislaaaaaand, something something sooooooomething, all the men are goooooorgeous….I forget the words. Dammit.

Chapter 4

"…Out With Boone"

"Everybody", Charlie announced solemnly, his eyes wide, "must get stoned," and flicked a rock at the back of Boone's head, who turned around and shot him a death glare. Behind Charlie, Shannon laughed heartily.

"It would have been a lot funnier if you'd gotten him in the face," she cracked. Charlie's eyebrows shot up in a mock expression of terror.

"And thus, we'd have the mystery solved," he declared, "Boone must be our mysterious jungle monster. Who else could strike fear into the hearts of men with one slightly furrowed look?"

"Or stalk angrily off like a teenage girl?" his companion added in between giggles.

"Or manage to have those luxorious locks always perfectly placed?" Sawyer bounded up behind them, showing off the dimples in his wide grin. The three snickered as Boone turned around again, his aggravation increasing by leaps and bounds.

"I told you three to shut up if you wanted to come along," he hissed, spit flying from his harsh words. Sawyer made a face.

"Say it don't spray it, Metro," he said. Boone's face turned an ugly shade of red, and he whipped around and started walking off towards the forest. Shannon punched Charlie in the arm.

"See!" she said, "Stalking!" The three hurried after his receding figure. After Shannon had rescued Sawyer from the clutches of Walt, Hurley, and later on, after he discovered Sawyer trying to look up Kate's shirt, a vengeful knife-wielding Jack, the two had crossed paths with Charlie. The smaller man had looked somewhat down after spending time with the sleeping Claire, and Shannon's heart had melted. It was extremely obvious that Charlie cared about Claire and her child more than anyone else on the island, and it was both touching and heartbreaking to watch. Seeing him in the depressed state had struck a hardly-used sympathetic chord within her, and she resolved to cheer him up. Besides, even though she bitched at the both of them, she couldn't deny that she enjoyed their company. Sawyer's charming snarkiness, mixed with Charlie's good-humored sarcasm, put her in a good mood, which was rare. And since she had nothing to do, and the maddeningly hot temperature continued to rise, it was only natural that she said screw it to all her other duties, and hang out with her two new friends. So after spotting Boone, the three had pleaded with him to let them accompany him on a "hunting expedition". For Boone, it meant a chance to show off his new skills. For Shannon, Sawyer, and Charlie, it meant a chance to do something all three found they had a knack for: Ripping Boone a new asshole.

The hunting party was now currently situated on the outskirts of a wide clearing. Boone clutched his knife, eyes forward, scanning the tall grass and trees. Behind him, with one of Locke's knives that he had sworn to protect "with his life", Charlie made exaggerated stabbing motions at Boone's back.

"We have to be quiet," Boone murmured, "steady…like a lion hunting its prey." Shannon almost lost it. Jamming her fist in her mouth, her body shook with silent laughter as she watched her step-brother's unintentionally hilarious attempt at masculinity. Sawyer controlled himself, however, and leaned down next to Boone, pretending to be completely absorbed in every word he said.

"What should we do?" he asked, a note of fear in his voice, glancing back at Shannon and Charlie to wink. Boone didn't even notice.

"Keep focusing," his voice dropped to an almost fevered whisper, "It'll come to you, that's what Locke says. You'll just know what comes next." Keeping up with Sawyer, Charlie crawled forward on his belly, military style, up to Boone's other side.

"I don't know if I can do this," his voice squeaked, "But if I just concentrate, it'll come natural, right? And then we can do it?" Boone looked at him.

"You can. You'll know what comes next." Charlie didn't miss a beat.

"Die," he said. Boone looked confused.

"Die, Die, Die, Pig, Die," Charlie whispered back to him. Boone still looked confused, but when Sawyer broke out in hysterics, he scowled.

"Die, Die, Die, Pig, Die!" Charlie stood up, raising his voice, "Fuck the police!" Boone shot to his feet.

"I knew this was a bad idea," he seethed, glaring at Charlie, then looked at Shannon, "I don't want you hanging around with them." Shannon finally let it loose.

"I'll keep that in mind, Croc Hunter," she snorted. Charlie was still dancing around.

"Cop killer, better you than me!" he rapped loudly, throwing his arms up and down like Jay-Z, "Cop killer, fuck police brutality!" Boone threw them one final look of disgust, then crashed through the underbrush, all his former attempts at being a silent hunter dissipated. Shannon watched him go.

"What a tool," she said, and then looked back at Sawyer and Charlie, who had stopped rapping, but gave her the "West Side" symbol with his hands. Shannon sighed, but was pleased.

"Come on, Ice-T," she said, reluctantly following Boone's tattered path, "All this thug-lovin' is making me hungry."

"So, we need to do something incredibly awesome," Hurley said to Claire, while cutting up bits of fruit for her to eat. She tucked her hair behind her ear, then gratefully accepted the piece he offered. Sun knelt down beside her and offered her a cup of tea she had prepared over the campfire she shared with Jin. Claire drank the contents greedily, rubbing one hand over her stomach as she did so. Sun could always be counted on to provide a herb that would cure some mysterious ailment, and with Claire being pregnant, anything that could help ease her discomfort was appreciated.

"Thank you," she murmured, and Sun smiled happily.

"If the baby begins to kick," she spoke in her halting English, "You will come get me?" Claire nodded at once. Sun loved to feel the child kick in Claire's belly, and Claire was always tickled pink by Sun's beautifully tinkling laughter. The Korean woman patted Claire's shoulder one more time, and then set off towards the beach. Hurley watched her go.

"I still can't get over the fact that she can speak English", he wondered aloud. Claire drained the cup of tea, then wiped her mouth with her sleeve.

"Thank God she does," she responded, "Honestly, mate, she's worked wonders for me. If she hadn't been around, I'd be wallowing somewhere like a beached whale." Hurley turned and looked pointedly at her, sprawled out on the floor of the cave. Claire smiled.

"Oh, shut up," she said, picking up a nearby leaf and throwing it at him, "So, you were saying something about fun?"

"It just got me thinking," Hurley said, "I mean, I'm not one for all this moping around crap. Sure, it sucks that we're here, but look at everyone," he waved to the camp, where the heat had bowled people over, and the pool was slowly filling with people.

"We need to do SOMETHING for everyone. No one's up for work right now, not in this weather."

"It's the middle of the day, Hurley," Claire soothed, "It'll get cooler at when night comes." Hurley handed her more cut-up pieces of fruit. He looked dejected, and Claire's heart went out to him. Hurley was a fun-loving person by nature, and never did anything mean or spiteful to anyone. The whole time they had been stuck here, it was Hurley who constantly organized things to boost people's morale, from the golf course, to an inspired karaoke session with Charlie on the guitar, to endlessly providing bad jokes for everyone to groan at, yet secretly love. His attitude had caused Sawyer to dub him, "The Vacation Events Planner," a title, which it seemed, that Hurley had taken on proudly. If Jack was the leader of the group, then Hurley was undoubtedly the heart.

"Alright, I'm interested," she confessed. His eyes lit up, "Tell me what's going on in that head of yours." Hurley smiled broadly.

"A luau."

"A…what?" Kate asked.

"A luau," Jack responded, pulling down palm fronds, "Hurley wants to have a luau. Give people something to do, take their minds off of being lost for awhile" Kate followed him, picking up the palm fronds that escaped his grasp.

"And, what? Are you going to help him?" she asked again.

Jack shrugged lightly. "It's not a half-bad idea. Everyone's nerves are shot. I think it'd be a welcome distraction." Shaking her head, Kate was bemused.

"Always the doctor," she commented wryly. He smiled broadly, a flash of white teeth and All-American good looks, and dropped the palm fronds onto a nearby blanket, indicating she do the same with hers.

"You should come," he said, "Maybe we can do a luau dance or something." Kate tilted her head, pretending to muse on the subject.

"Will I have to wear a grass skirt?" she asked in a teasing tone. Jack's eyes twinkled, and he knew he had her.

"I'll make it myself," he promised, a hand over his heart. His smile captivated her, and she couldn't help returning it.

"Dinner, dancing, and you're buying the dress?" she said, "How can I refuse?"

End Chapter Four

Author's Notes: No Sayid in this one, but I was itching to write other characters, even if it is Jack and Kate, who are still awesome, but not as cool as Sayid. Making this a two-person story was my main objective at first, but then I realized how boring it would have become, and decided to blow that idea out of the water. That being said, I LOVE writing the hijinks of my beloved Unholy Trio, Shannon/Sawyer/Charlie. They're dancing around in my head, begging to be let onto new adventures. After this story is done, I might consider writing a series of stories based on those three crazy kids. Don't mind the Boone torture, I really do love him, but he can be such a doof sometimes. Also, Hurley! Love him. I do indeed. I know it's a bit cliché to make him organize all the Island Events, but he's a fun guy, and I'm willing to let him have a crack at whatever he wants. Stay tuned for the luau scene, which should be in a couple of chapters. It'll be hot, I promise you. No Shayid in this chapter, and there will be a little in the next, but whoo boy, do I have some great stuff planned. Keep reviewing, guys! I'm so delighted with all the great responses I've been getting.

P.S. Don't kill Sayid or Shannon, Abrams. If you think Vaughn getting tortured was bad, wait until you see what I have planned for you, should my demands be forsaken. You'll be BEGGING for death.

P.S.S. I was kidding. I won't really kill you. I love you, baby, You know that. It's just, you make me so angry sometimes. Look, I bought you flowers! Now re-instate David Anders and let Joss Whedon write some episodes.