Summary: Boone goes to visit Claire with some water.

Characters: Boone, Claire.

Pairings: Claire/Boone friendship.
Distribution: lost-forum
Disclaimer: Don't own them, don't sue.
Feedback: Completely necessary if you want the next part.

AN: Thanks again to my reviewers, CriesofCapricorn, Saraiyu, Mony19 and addictedtowriting09. Just a warning, this chapter and the next will have some 'more than friends' feelings between Boone and Claire, but this series is not a shipper-y series, its a friendship series and that's how it will be. :)

Boone walked warily across the beach, his feet bumbling awkwardly after one another. Sun had set a little over an hour ago and random fires burnt on the beach around him. His eyes fluttered in exhaustion, but he kept heading towards his destination.

Claire glanced up from her diary and a huge grin formed on her lips. She waved Boone over to her and placed her diary in her bag next to her.

"Hey there stranger," Claire called out to him, watching a smile appear on his face. He plonked down next to her and groaned, rubbing his face.

"I know, we were supposed to go for a walk this afternoon," Boone muttered, his hand moving from his face to his neck, to massage it harshly. Claire chuckled and moved behind him. "What-?"

"I heard about the cave-in," Claire explained as she peeled his hand off his neck and started massaging it for him. "I figured you'd gone to help out." Boone sighed blissfully and fell back into her touch.

"Thanks," he mumbled, closing his eyes briefly. They sat in silence for a few moments, before Boone remembered why he came to see her. "Oh, I brought you back this from the caves." He handed her a backpack. She pulled away from him and opened the backpack curiously. Inside were several bottles of water.

"Oh thank god," she teased, pulling a bottle to her lips for a long drag. Boone shifted in his place to face her and grinned at her.

"So, how're you feeling?" he asked politely, brushing some sand from his top. Claire shrugged and leaned back onto the front of her airline chair.

"Better. Had a bit of a headache earlier, but I slept it off," Claire offered, taking another sip before re-capping the bottle. Silence settled over them like a comfortable blanket and Boone's eyes started to flutter close again, causing Claire's next question to startle him out of his reverie, "so, how's Jack?"

Boone glanced sharply over at his pregnant companion, "he's fine. Charlie saved him."

Claire couldn't help but notice the bitterness in his tone. She nodded noncommittally as she fiddled with her necklace.

"Huh, that's nice," she muttered, a soft pang of hurt in her chest. Charlie seemed to have been avoiding her like the plague since she had left the medical tent a few days ago, which hurt even worse then normal since he'd told her he wasn't afraid of her.

"Still hasn't come round has he?" Boone asked, grabbing the now half empty bottle from Claire's side and taking a large swig. Claire shook her head in disappointment. "Want me to talk to him?" Claire gnawed on her lower lip nervously.

"I don't want to be a burden," Claire mumbled, brushing a loose strand of hair from her eyes. Boone smiled crookedly and brushed his hand over Claire's comfortingly.

"You're not a burden," he whispered. Claire glanced down at their hands, which were now entangled. "Not to me." She could feel his breath on her neck and she twisted to face him again. Their eyes clicked and blue met blue. Claire tilted her face slightly, lost in the moment, and Boone moved slowly towards her -

"Boone!"

Shannon's angry cry broke the moment and Boone pulled back, startled.

"Uh, I should, um-"

"Go?" Claire suggested, feeling her heart pound in her chest. Boone nodded and pulled himself to his feet.

"I'll come by tomorrow and next time I see Charlie I'll be sure to say something to him," Boone rushed out as he backed slowly away from her. Claire nodded numbly and watched Boone hurry to his impatient sister.

Her hand reached up for her untouched lips, and she smiled.

Fin