"What do you think that was?" Kate asked Jack, handing him a cup of water. It was dark now, and they were sitting around a bonfire inside the caves; what was supposed to have been the castaways' happy day ruined. He looked at her.
"I really don't know…I could barely see as it was. I just know whatever it is, it has him now. I just hope he's alive…I really do." he sighed and took a sip. "How's Claire holding up?" Jack asked Kate. "She's fine…mostly. Still a little shaken and sad, but she's been ok." They glanced over at Claire, who sat on the other side of the fire with Charlie Jr., rocking him to sleep. Her eyes were deep and expressionless as she gazed longingly into the smoldering blaze in front of her. She stroked her baby's head and kissed him gently as he finally closed his eyes and was launched into slumber; safe and warm in his mummy's arms. Jack sighed and looked back at Kate.
"We'll find him." Kate sat herself beside Jack with her own bottle of water. She took a sip and sighed. "Mind if I join you?" a new voice said. They both looked up to see Claire, her hands folded in front of her. Jack gestured to the empty spot next to him and nodded; Claire sat down. Without ever breaking her gaze from the fire again, she started to whisper, "I know he's ok." Jack looked at her quizzically. She smiled. "Charlie's a fighter. He might be a skinny little thing, but I'm sure he could hold his own." Jack grinned. "Probably so. Hey, where's Ch-" he stopped himself before he uttered the word "Charlie."
"Uhh…Peanut?" he said, quickly recovering.
Claire wistfully blew air from her mouth. "That kindly woman Rose is watching him. And it's ok…you can say 'Charlie.' It hurts that he's gone, but that doesn't mean he never existed. And not even saying the word doesn't make it better." She finally looked up and stared Jack in the eyes. He nodded solemnly. Kate finally found her voice again. "You haven't touched any food all night, sweetheart." She said, holding a mango out to Claire, who held her hands up in protest. "I fed Junior already." Kate shook her head. "I mean you, Claire. Charlie wouldn't want you to starve yourself. And besides- you know Jack is gonna get on your case about it," she said with a playful punch to the doctor's arm. He smiled and nodded as Kate offered the mango again. This time Claire grabbed it and took a big, juicy bite. Kate smiled. "See?" Claire grinned and opened her mouth, showing the half-chewed food. "Schee?" she mumbled, trying not to spray the mush onto her friends, making them both chuckle a little. She closed her mouth and swallowed as her baby's cry erupted from a nearby part of the cave. Claire sighed in exasperation and got up, still munching on her mango.
"Thanks…" Jack said, putting his arm around his knees. Kate looked at him strangely.
"For what?"
"For making Claire feel better. This is a dark time for her."
Kate scoffed. "This out of how many? I feel so bad for her. She's what- 23, and already been through a plane crash, two false labors, a kidnapping, memory loss, giving birth in the middle of the jungle with no anesthetic or medicines, and now her boyfriend is missing."
"We're going to get him back," Jack said darkly. "At all costs."
