Summary: Claire finds out about Boone's death.
Characters: Claire, Sawyer, Charlie.
Pairings: Claire/Boone friendship.
Distribution: lost-forum
Disclaimer: Don't own them, don't sue.
Feedback: Completely necessary if you want the next part.
She held her baby to her chest as she wept. It had been an hour since she arrived back at the camp with Kate, Charlie, Jin and her son, an hour since she had found out about his death.
As the crowd started to disperse, Charlie turned to her, an eager grin on his face.
"I'm going to go get some water. Oh, and your probably starving. I'll be right back," Charlie babbled before rushing off down the beach towards Hurley. Claire smiled wryly as she rocked her son and glanced around. She couldn't help but wonder where Boone was. She had foolishly hoped that he would be there for her son's birth, that he would help her, but she hadn't even been able to glance him since he had left her tent, nights before.
"Hey, mamacita!"
Sawyer's call startled her and she turned to face the oddly grim looking Southern.
"Oh, hi Sawyer. Is something wrong?" Claire asked nervously, her smile becoming tense and tight. The look in his eyes worried her to no end and she felt her stomach tie up in nervous knots.
"Look, I just thought you should know because I figured no one would think to inform you," he started, twisting his hands nervously. Claire was now frowning and she shifted her son in her arms.
"Know what?" she asked.
"Um, see, there was an accident yesterday. Metro - I mean, Boone, he was, erm, badly injured. Claire, he died," Sawyer rambled. For a moment, Claire just blinked at him blankly, but the words slowly sunk in and she felt her body go numb.
"He, he died?" she choked out. Sawyer nodded glumly. Claire stepped back once, twice, then ran as fast as she could with her son in her arms to her tent.
She could faintly hear footsteps approaching over her muffled sobs and she looked up bleakly. Charlie's form loomed over her, sympathy etched on his face.
"I just heard. I'm so sorry Claire," he whispered, kneeling next to her and rubbing her shoulder comfortingly.
"Thanks," she croaked out. Charlie lifted her son out of her arms and placed him in his cradle then pulled her to him gingerly. As Claire hit the soft fabric of his shirt, she felt a wave of grief rock her again as she remembered the gentleness of Boone and she let a new wave of sobs overcome her. "Boone, oh god Boone. I loved him, I love him."
Charlie stiffened slightly and glanced down at the girl in his arms. But he simply brushed her hair from her face and pulled her to him tighter.
"And he loved you too," Charlie whispered. And as they rocked in a steady rhythm, Claire mourned for her friend and love while Charlie mourned for her.