Yiptee frikin' day! Another chappy!

-------------------

After Shannon's little breakdown in the forest she and Claire got to talking. They didn't have much in common but Shannon thought it was nice that someone was actually talking to her, looking her in the eye, no one had really done that since Boone's death. They had tried, but she had pushed them away.

They had been talking for quite a while when they finally reached the caves. They stood for a second, looked around and chose a place to sit.

Leaning her back against a tree Claire asked, "So, what did happen to you and Sayid?"

Shannon stiffened. Why would Claire ask that? She had no place. "Well, he kept on pushing me to talk about Boone's death, and he acted like everything was fine, and it wasn't! Then, I find out I'm just second best. Second best to a woman in a picture!"

Claire noticed that Shannon's breathing was getting labored and scooted over to her and put her arm around Shannon.

"It's okay," Claire said, rubbing circles on her back, "hey, hey, Shan, listen to me."

"Shannooonn," Claire repeated, shoving her slightly.

Shannon looked up, eyes narrowed, "Did you just push me?"

Claire looked around, alerted, "Push, noo, that was more like a nudge."

Shannon's face relaxed into a smile, "Nope, pretty sure that was a push," Shannon said. Then she did something unexpected. She pushed Claire back. Grinning like a cheshire cat she stuck her tongue out at Claire, " Now we're even."

Claire smiled back at her, "I don't think so, you pushed me harder than I pushed you so… SHOVE!"

"SHOVE," people started looking at what all the commotion was about.

"SHOVE," that one rolled Shannon on to her back, but got right back up, not to be defeated.

"SHOVE," Claire would not be outdone!

"SHOVE," now they were both rolling on the floor

"SHO-" Shannon was halfway through a shove when Jack interrupted.

"Could you please just be quiet! I'm trying to get some work done!" Always the stickler.

The crowd looked at each other, then at Claire and Shannon who lay on the ground, suppressing giggles, and went back to their respective duties. All except one.

"Claire?" It was Charlie. The look on Claire's face was priceless, like she got caught with her hand in the cookie jar. Shannon burst out laughing.

"Just… go," Shannon said in between laughs.

Claire got up and sent a withering glare at Shannon, and walked over to Charlie. By now Charlie was very confused. In his point of view Shannon was an insufferable female git. And seeing the beautiful, fragile, Claire with that insufferable female git made him jealous. He wasn't a git, well, at least he didn't think so. Therefore, Claire should be with him instead of Shannon. It was all in the logic.

As Claire made her way over to Charlie baby Aaron started to wake up. Charlie tickled Aaron's little belly with his finger and handed him over to Claire. She smiled.

"Awww, who's a good little boy? You are!" Claire cooed to Aaron, lifting him in the air, "and it's this little good boy's bed time, yes it is!" And with that Claire started to walk away.

Charlie just stood there... No 'Oh thank you Charlie!' or 'I love your band Charlie' not even a 'I'm a lesbian Charlie'. Well isn't that just peachy.

As Claire tucked baby Aaron in she thought of how to thank Charlie. She didn't have anything to give him and he had been watching Aaron so much lately, and he seemed a bit tiffed that she didn't even noticed him… well didn't seem to notice him. She sighed as she made her way back to were his disgruntled figure stood.

"I, uh, thanks Charlie." She said, and with that she stood on her toes and kissed him on the cheek.

He turned red, "Anytime Claire, anytime." They looked each other in the eyes, started leaning in—when they heard Shannon, whistling and stomping her feet.

"Whooo! Go for it Charlie! C'mon Claire! Yeah!"

"Oh shut up you insufferable female git," Charlie replied.. Claire was secretly grateful for Shannon. She thought that she might be making a good friend. She didn't think she could quite handle anything else, she had Aaron to look after, and she had to watch her back, she didn't want to be kidnapped again. And Shannon kind of made Claire forget about everything bad that was happening.

Shannon stopped her yelling and looked at Claire, and Claire gave Charlie a shove.

"You aren't supposed to say things like that out loud!" she scolded.

With that Claire gave Charlie one last glance and walked over to Shannon who promptly started teasing her. That's when Claire shoved Shannon with an impromptu exclamation of,

"SHOVE!"

Charlie sighed and shook his head, so close.

----------------------------

Not as much CC as I would have liked but its been so hectic. As soon as your like 'ahhh a peacful week off' everything goes and decides to break.

Arg. Next chapter up by Sunday, new hp book out on sat. saw a screening of zorro 2 ('bout the only good thing that happened) it was cute. Have a nice week.