Summary: A promise in the jungle one early afternoon. Starts after the tea scene.
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.
Claire stared into her small teacup and sighed heavily, stirring its contents with her finger.
"Claire!" Boone's voice echoed through the trees. He'd been calling out for her for the last two minutes, but she couldn't bring herself to call back. "Claire! Are you out here?" The sound of crunching leaves grew louder as he approached. "Claire?"
She finally glanced up to see him looming over her, a disapproving twinkle in his eye.
"What's wrong? Charlie stomped down to the beach fifteen minutes ago. Did you guys have a fight?" Boone questioned, taking a seat beside her.
"It was nothing. I...hesitated and he got upset," Claire explained softly, resting her cup on her other side. Boone nodded mutely and a peaceful silence settled between them.
"Are you okay?" he asked finally, staring her straight in the eye.
"What do you mean?" Claire asked vaguely, shifting uncomfortably in her seat. Boone closed his eyes briefly, as if asking for strength.
"Claire, I found out you'd been attacked from Sawyer. Sawyer! Of all people," Boone snapped. He sighed heavily, seemingly glad to have gotten that off his chest. "God, Claire. I thought you trusted me more then that."
"I do!" she answered quickly. She gnawed on her bottom lip and cast her eyes on her knees. "Boone, I'm so scared. My baby, I'm scared they'll hurt my baby," she admitted quietly. Tears stung in both their eyes and he reached across to rub her palm with his thumb.
"It's alright Claire. I'll protect you, I promise," he assured, taking her weeping form into his embrace. "I'll never let anyone hurt you.