Disclaimer: I don't own LOST. Obviously.
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Chapter Six: All The Time in the WorldKate bit her lip as she scanned the horizon, looking for any sign of her boys. She caught sight of Charlie standing outside his hut and walked over to him with a smile.
"Hey Charlie. You seen the boys?"
He shook his head. "I was just going to ask you the same thing. Josh told me they were going to go to the waterfall. That was about three hours ago." He shrugged, "My guess is that they're off getting into more trouble."
Kate smiled and nodded, trying to let go of the anxiety. " I wouldn't be surprised. Jack told me that they were causing problems yesterday."
Charlie shook his head, "I heard. Walt came to talk to me. I told him that I would have a little talk with them when they got home."
"I don't get it. I don't know what I can do to get them to listen."
" Ha. I'm not really that surprised that we got a bunch of troublemakers on our hands. Consider the source. They've got a bunch of thieving, drug abusing, murderous parents. They didn't stand a chance."
Kate laughed at Charlie's sarcastic tone, " I guess it's true. I shouldn't have been all that surprised. Having Sawyer's kids and all."
Charlie smiled, "Hunter. That kids looks more like Sawyer everyday."
"Acts like him too."
" Yes he does. So then, where did James get that quiet, reflective personality of his?"
"Not a clue." Kate shrugged and smiled sadly, " I guess a lot of it has to do with losing his dad so young." She was quiet for a moment. "But he still managed to get that sarcastic sense of humor."
Charlie nodded, " It's weird you know. How personality seems to be partially born into a person. Like Adam. Claire always said that he reminded her a little bit of his father. Just hope he doesn't knock someone up and then leave her pregnant and alone."
Kate smiled at the protectiveness that still resonated in Charlie's voice, " What about Jake and Josh? Where did they get their personalities?"
"Actually, Josh always reminded me of my brother Liam. The way he's always getting into trouble. Looking for some way to be the center of attention. And Jake…" Charlie smiled, "I guess Jake reminds me a lot of myself. The way he follows Josh around. So ready to earn his approval. I spent a lot of my life following my brother around, going along with his every scheme. Bloody idiot."
Kate laughed, " They're all good kids though. They're better off than I was when I was that age."
"That's true. You ever wonder though how they would all be different if we weren't on this island?"
Kate nodded and started to walk away, "Yeah, they'd probably be non existent. I'll see you later. I'm going to go look around some more."
Charlie smiled. Kate was right. As much as they cursed the island it had brought them all together. Without it he wouldn't have Adam, Josh or Hunter. And he never would have met Claire.
"Remember this always. Because it might be one of the most important things that you'll ever hear. Are you listening? Okay, here it is… Never do drugs. Just say no. Be strong. Just say no. Are you listening to me? Yeah, I didn't think so."
Charlie smiled down at the infant he cradled in his arms. Adam giggled and threw his tiny fit into the air to grab onto Charlie's finger.
"That's right Adam, be strong." He shifted and held the child closer, marveling at how tiny and helpless he felt in his arms. For the first time, looking down at that perfect skin and feeling those tiny fingers grasp his, he felt that he really could be a father.
"Charlie?"
He looked up and smiled at Claire who had just woken up."
"Good morning." He smiled. Adam and I were just having a little morning chat."
Claire gave him a strange look and reached out for her baby. "What are you doing?"
Charlie gently placed Adam in Claire's arms, " I heard Adam was awake so I thought I would pick him up before he started crying and woke you up."
Claire murmured something to Adam and then looked up, "I'm his mother Charlie. You don't have to worry about it."
"I was just trying to help."
"Well, you don't need to. Adam and I are just fine by ourselves."
"Claire. You can't do this alone. Not on the island."
Taking a deep breath, Claire nodded, " I realize that. But you have to realize something too." She looked into his confused eyes, "You're not his father. Stop trying to act like it." She stood up with Adam and walked out of the caves.
Charlie watched her go, her words stinging in his heart. Maybe he wasn't ready for this after all.
Later that night
It was cold. The kind of cold that shoots straight to your bones and chills the soul. Even the fire seemed to be radiating with cold air, each spark a prick of ice. He shivered and wrapped his sweatshirt tighter around his body, balling his hands up in fists to stop the familiar shake. It was nights like this that brought back that old yearning. For a quick fix. Anything to stop the pain. Keep out the cold.
Charlie ran his hands over his face wondering if he was completely daft for even coming out to the beach. He just needed to suck up his wounded pride and go back to the caves. In from the cold. But he knew he wouldn't do that.
"Charlie?"
He looked up. Apparently she would do it for him.
"Claire."
"What are you doing out here?" She pulled her blanket tighter around her body and joined him at the fire.
" Just thinking."
"It's freezing. You should go back to the caves."
Charlie saw the shiver run through her body and fought back the urge to bring her closer to him. " I'm fine. Go on back. "He looked around, "Where's Adam?" Then he shook his head, "Sorry, I guess it's none of my business."
Claire let out a breath and smiled, "It's okay Charlie. I'm the one that should be sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you."
" No. You had every right to. Adam is your child. Besides, it's better anyway. I'm probably not fit to be around a child."
"Why would you say that? You're amazing with Adam. You helped deliver him for gods sake."
He shook his head, " Claire. I'm no good. I can't help anyone. I can't even help myself. I'm a frickin heroin addict."
Claire's eyes widened for a second and he laughed, " I told you that once. I guess you don't remember."
"Charlie…"
"No it's okay. I mean I brought it on myself. That's what I was doing when the plane started going down you know. In the bathroom getting a fix. I couldn't even make it through a plane flight. That's how pathetic I am."
"You are not pathetic." She grabbed his hand and forced him to look her in the eyes, " When was your last fix?"
"About four months ago. But it's lack of option. Who knows what I'd do if presented with the choice. Just now before you came over here I was thinking about how much I need it. How it would make everything so much better."
"Charlie. That doesn't matter. What matters is that you've made it this far. You know you can survive without it. And you have a lot of people around here that would be willing to help you out. Including me."
He smiled, "Yeah?"
"Yeah. Charlie, I didn't snap at you about Adam because I think you're unfit to take care of him. Of all the people on this island, you're the one that I trust the most. I know you would protect Adam. I know you would protect me."
"And how do you know that?"
"Because you've done it before."
They smiled at each other, the memories moving between them. Then Claire blushed and stared down at her hands, "Charlie."
"I know Claire."
She smiled and looked back up, " There are a lot of thing I need to work through in my own head. I need time."
" Well, time is all we've got here. You're in the right place."
" But I would also love the help."
Charlie smiled widely, "I think we can scrounge up some of that around here too." He stood up and offered her his hand, "Let's head back to the caves. Only a bloody idiot would sit out here in this cold."
Claire laughed and stood up, keeping her hand in his for a moment longer than necessary, "Thank you Charlie. For everything."
He reached over and adjusted her blanket, "Anytime luv. That's what friends are for."
She nodded, "Don't you forget it."
It was getting darker. The sunlight was almost gone and Charlie suddenly felt a chill run through his veins. Something was wrong. He walked quickly down the beach where Kate stood with Shannon and Sayid.
"Any sign of them?"
Kate shook her head, "None. They've never disappeared like this before. They're always back before dark. Something's wrong."
Sayid ran his hands through his hair, "We can't panic. There has to be a logical explanation."
"Stop being so calm. That's our daughter out there."
"Look guys, I'm sure they're all together. They know those woods. They know how to handle themselves. Sayid's right. We can't worry yet. I'm sure they're going to come out of those trees perfectly fine any minute."
Kate put her hands on her hips, "And then I'm going to kill them."
They saw Jack making his way towards him and they watched his face eagerly for information. He held out his hands, " No news. I talked to everyone I could find. Hurley said he saw the boys at the waterfall earlier. But that was four hours ago."
"Oh my God." Shannon crouched down to the ground with her hand on her forehead. Her breath was coming in short gasps and Sayid bent down to rub her back,
" Calm down Shannon. I am sure that she is fine." His words were flat, as if he couldn't believe them himself.
Charlie stared wordlessly at Kate and Jack. He could see it in their eyes. Something was wrong. He opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by a crashing groaning sound that echoed down the beach.
Everyone turned immediately towards the trees, which swayed unnaturally in the distance. They waited and then heard it again. The deep roaring rumble filled the air and went straight through the core of their souls.
"Oh my God. It's back."
Dedicated to the Memory of Boone Carlisle
Rest in Peace
( if that's even possible in the world of LOST )
Author's Note:What did you guys think about thelast episode? I cried. I didn't think I was going to but I did.
Sorry for such a short update. I hope it helped to explain some of your questions. Don't worry; the next chapters will be a little more exciting. Please read and review. I'll update soon!
