Charlie slowly boarded the ship. Jack was behind him nearly pushing him forward. before the last survivor boarded Jack ran to one of the crew members.
"Look sir but a good friend of mine recently died on the island and we haven't buried her yet. I was hoping we could bring her body just so...you know her family can have a proper funeral," Jack asked.
The crew member agreed and had two other members retrieve her body. Jack brought Charlie below deck so he didn't see. As soon as they put Claire's body out of sight, Jack brought Charlie above deck.
"Well, this is it," he said smiling at Charlie, who didn't smile back.
Jack frowned. He looked out as they departed. Every survivor was on deck watching as the island they had lived on slowly disappeared beyond the horizon. Kate came up beside him.
"Once we get back, what do you think will happen," she asked.
"I guess I will go back to LA," Jack shrugged.
Kate sadly looked out at the sea.
"Take Lilah with you," she said.
"What, aren't you coming with me," Jack asked?
"I guess I'll visit my family in Canada. But then I'll have to go to court," Kate said looking out at the ocean.
Jack looked over at Kate. Her long brown hair was blowing all over her face.
"Don't you think they should let you off. I mean four years on an island is enough torture," Jack laughed.
Kate giggled and looked into Jack's eyes. "I hope," she whispered.
They smiled at each other. Jack looked over at Charlie who was sadly watching the waves zip by. He was about ten feet from Jack and Kate.
"What do you think will become of him," Kate asked.
"He'll have to come back to his senses if he is going to raise Jacob on his own," Jack sighed. "I just hope he doesn't go back to his old habits."
"Old habits," Kate asked raising her eyebrow?
"Drugs," Jack explained.
"He was on drugs," Kate questioned.
Jack nodded. "And after Claire dying he will be craving it when he gets back."
Jack and Kate went back to their rooms on the ship. Not really rooms for there was about four bunks in each room. Jack slept on the bottom of when while Kate slept on the top. They shared the room with Charlie, Boone, Shannon, Sayid, Sawyer, and Hurly.
That night they all sat in the dark talking to one another. Except Charlie of course.
"So dude's do you think we'll be famous," Hurly asked.
"No idea, maybe," Shannon replied.
"How bout you Jackass, are you gonna go back and play doctor," Sawyer said in his southern accent.
"Yeah I guess so. I was thinking of settling in Sydney, what do you think Kate," Jack interrogated?
"Whatever you want to do," Kate giggled.
"You love birds are making me sick," Sawyer complained.
There was an eruption of laughter in the room. Jack gazed over to the bunk beside him where Charlie lay. He wasn't laughing, just laying there almost as if he were dead. Jack's laughter ceased.
"So Charlie what are you going to do when you get back," Jack questioned?
There was only silence.
"Come on shorty, you have to talk that's what voices are for," Sawyer teased, who was on the bunk above him.
"Come on Charlie dude just talk," Hurly moaned.
Charlie put the covers over his head trying to block out all the conversation. Jack felt sorry for that kid, he came to island with nothing and now was leaving with even less.
"Come on Charlie man," Boone said.
"Just leave him be," Sayid said.
"Boy howdy it's a shame that he's not really in there. He used to be such a character," Sawyer said.
"He'll come around to it when he is ready," Jack explained. " So what us everyone looking forward to".
"Food,' Hurley yelled immediately.
The room broke out into more laughter.
"Clean clothes," Shannon sighed almost as if she was in heaven.
"My own bed," Kate laughed.
"My pickup truck and beer of course," Sawyer said.
"Not having to eat boar and bananas for the rest of my life," Sayid said.
The room broke out into another case of laughter.
"A shower," Boone dreamed.
"You know Boone, if I didn't know better I would think you were gay," Sawyer smirked.
"I'm not," Boone said quickly, causing the room to break out in hysterics again.
The conversation began to lessen as each person fell asleep. The last to fall asleep was Sawyer who was laughing himself to sleep.
"I see land," Walt called from the deck.
Everyone Clapped and cheered as the land came into better view. Hugs were shared everywhere. When they reached the docks there were tons of media reporters and yelling people. Jack could make out his mother from the deck. He had never in his life been this happy to see her. When he stepped onto firm ground he felt like he was going to double over in happiness.
"Jack," his mother ran up and hugged him.
'Mom what are you doing in Sydney," Jack asked.
"We got word that the survivors from your flight were being brought home," his mother wept onto his shoulder.
"Its great to see you mom," Jack said hugging her. "I'd like you to meet my wife, Kate, and our daughter, Lilah".
"Jack you have a family," his mother exclaimed.
Jack nodded and Kate introduced herself.
"KATE," came a yell from her left.
She saw her mother, father, and two brothers, Damian and Joshua.
"O my god, you guys are here,' she exclaimed.
They shared hugs and kisses and Kate introduced them to Jack and Lilah.
All the families and survivors stayed at a near by Holiday Inn. Jack and Kate were in room 377 beside room 378 where Charlie stayed. Jack knocked on his door. Just as he expected there was no answer. He opened it anyway. Charlie laid sprawled on the bed, Jacob beside him. Jacob was asleep, yet Charlie lay awake staring at the ceiling.
"Hey buddy you want to go down to the bar. Were all going to celebrate,' Jack asked. "Rose will watch Jacob she's in room 354".
"What is there to celebrate," Charlie said faintly.
Jack walked into the room and sat on the bed beside Charlie. "That we were rescued. Come on live a little Charlie," Jack laughed.
"No thanks,' Charlie said turning away from Jack.
"Suit yourself," Jack sighed as he got up and closed the door behind him.
Jack and the others sat laughing in the bar. Half of them were drunk and half of them sat there laughing at those who were drunk. They all made a toast.
"To a new start," Jack said.
"To a new start," they all agreed and clashing glasses were heard all over.
Out of the corner of Jack's eye he watched as Charlie made his way to the other side of the bar. Jack smiled. Maybe he was coming around?
Everyone called it a night and made there way upstairs. Jack walked over to Charlie.
"Are you coming upstairs," he asked?
Charlie shook his head," Not Yet".
Jack nodded and retreated upstairs.
Jack awoke with a start when he heard a loud banging noise coming from the room beside him and the screaming of a young child. He knew immediately that it was Charlie.
He jumped out of bed and flung his door open. A small group of people including Sayid and Sawyer were gathered around Charlie's door.
"What's going on,' Jack asked.
"We don't know. Maybe he's beating the kid," Sawyer shrugged.
"Well, did you look inside," Jack asked.
"The door is locked,' Sayid explained.
Jack put his hand in the knob of the door. It was locked. He knocked.
"Charlie open up," Jack yelled through the door.
The banging only grew louder.
"Charlie open up the god damn door," he yelled frustrated.
One on the workers in the hotel approached them. "Sir what is going on," the worker asked.
"Hold on," Sayid said, quieting the worker.
Jack began to kick the door trying to open it.
"Excuse me sir but any damage that is done you are going to have to pay for," The worker yelled, irritated.
The door bursted open. Jack flicked on the light and peered inside. Jacob was on the bed screaming. Charlie sat on the floor banging his head agaisnt the wall, clearly drunk.
"Charlie stop that," Jack yelled pulling him away from the wall.
Charlie had a large bump that was covered in blood on his head. Jack brought Charlie to his feet.
"Charlie," Jack asked?
"He's drunk," Sawyer concluded.
Charlie just collapsed over into Jack's arms.
"Sir what is going on here," the worker questioned?
"Someone get me some water," Jack asked.
Sayid went off to find water as Jack lowered Charlie to the ground.
"Jesus Christ Charlie," Jack whispered under his breathe, "how am I ever going to have you live on your own if your going to be like this."
Jack dabbed some of the blood off of Charlie's head. Jack sighed knowing this was going to be a long night.
PLEASE RR