Author: Gitania
Disclaimer: I own nothing from Lost, and nothing worth suing for! The songs are "Ticket to Ride" by The Beatles, and "Seven Bridges Road" by The Eagles. Classics.
Summary: The story of a man and his guitar. One-shot.
No Strings Attached
"Oh, she's got a ticket to ri-hide,
She's got a ticket to ri-hi-hide,
She got a ticket to ride, but she don't… caaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaare!"
Charlie finished dramatically, strumming the power chord over and over while singing just a little bit off-key – the ending of a true rocker.
Claire clapped wildly, trying not to bounce the baby in her arms too much in the process. A moment of silence passed, and Claire and Charlie looked hopefully at the child. For a split second they were hopeful, but, inevitably, the screaming started again.
"Oh, come ON!" Charlie stood up and kicked at the air angrily, "If you don't like Drive Shaft, and you don't like The Beatles, who the hell DO you like!"
Claire laughed softly looking not at all concerned that her child had been crying continually for an hour, "He's a baby, Charlie. Sometimes they just cry."
"No way," he replied firmly, "You don't just cry for no reason. Music cures all ails – we just have to find the right music."
Locke was looking unimpressed as he sat nearby. Charlie had already been through every song performed by his old band, as well as bits and pieces of every hit The Beatles ever had, and Locke's headache was steadily growing.
"Maybe you should give it a break, Charlie," Locke suggested gently, eyeing the still-howling infant.
"No way, man," Charlie was in real rock-star form, ever hopeful that the music would prevail, "It'll be the next tune, I'm sure of it."
He took his seat next to Claire again, and tried to ignore the disbelieving expression on Locke's face.
"Ummmmm," he strummed his guitar absentmindedly, trying to think of another song he knew, and Claire noticed Locke grimace.
"I know!" Charlie looked victorious, and settled himself to begin another song.
"There are stars in the Southern sky,
Southward as you go…"
Locke put down the knife he was sharpening and held his head in his hands as Charlie did his best to do a one-man version of an Eagles five-part harmony. The sound was excruciating!
"There is moonlight and moss in the trees,
Down the Seven Bridges Road…"
Charlie yelped and dropped his guitar in surprise as he was abruptly cut off. Claire's eyes widened as she looked down at the instrument lying on the floor of the caves. Strings were pointing in all directions, cut down the middle by a knife that had pierced the wood right across the neck, where Charlie's left hand had just been forming chords.
"Wow," Charlie coughed nervously and looked up at Locke.
The older man looked very peaceful and serene – the music had stopped, and, miraculously, the baby was quiet.
Claire smiled down at the baby in her arms who was giggling in Locke's direction. Locke smiled back at the baby, both happy for the end of the noise.
Charlie looked crushed at the sight of his broken guitar. Locke walked silently over to Charlie, and retrieved his knife from the neck of the instrument, turning to leave the caves.
As Locke reached the entrance he heard a strange sound, causing him to turn back. Charlie had picked up the guitar, turned it over, and was now tapping it like a drum in an attempt at percussion.
Locke sighed and smiled at Charlie's persistence. He had to admit it – the boy was resourceful.