Title: Spread My Wings

Rating: (This Chapter) K+ for mild language (whole story) T for violence, language, and some sexual references

Charachters (in this chapter): Charlie, "Mysterious Girl", Claire, Kate, and Jack.

Disclaimer: I don't own Lost. So there.

Author's note: Hiya there! This is my first real story (the other one uploaded was just a oneshot songfic) so please read and review! Just so you know, though, I am a busy, busy girl, and between school, volleyball, soccer, drama, DI, Ultimate Frisbee, choir, ASB, and my social life, I don't get much freetime. I also happen to be a slow writer (my fingers may type 60 wpm, but my brain types 10 wpm). So please wait at least two weeks before sending me nasty emails telling me to update! Thank you! and now, you maay read my lovely litle story!

Now…the coast is clear, He thought to himself, I can leave without her noticing.

Quietly, casually, he headed towards the trees and the path to the caves, almost holding his breath. He snuck a glance back at her. She was just putting Aaron to sleep. He hurried up a bit. Kate was over there with her. She wouldn't hesitate to ask Kate to watch Aaron for a second if she thought he was keeping something from her

He didn't like keeping secrets from her, but what could he do. He, the man who had basically become a father to her baby, couldn't just go up to her and say, "Hey Claire, I'm a heroin addict," Yeah, that would really put their relationship on solid footing. He knew Claire would be mad if she found out, though. But he was hoping that wouldn't happen.

"Charlie!"

He winced as he heard her voice. He turned to face her as she came walking towards him.

"Charlie, where are you going? I was hoping we could spend some time together, since Kate offered to watch Aaron," She said, smiling playfully at him.

Charlie was very tempted to take up her offer. Her smile, her trusting blue eyes, made him ask himself "Why am I risking my dream woman for some heroin?" But he just couldn't. He was too weak. Instead he gave Claire an apologetic look.

"I'm sorry Claire, I haven't really been feeling well lately," He lied in what he hoped was a convincing tone, "I was just on my way to see Jack about it,"

"Oh," Claire said, looking first disappointed, then worried, "Are you sure you're going to be ok? I'll come with you,"

"No, Claire, I don't think that's such a good idea," Charlie said hurriedly. Then, seeing the hurt in her eyes, he added, "I'm sorry, I just don't want you or the baby getting sick,"

She sighed, "Oh, all right. But as soon as you're feeling better, I want you back here on the beach," She smiled and patted his arm before walking back to Kate and her baby son.

That was way too close, Charlie thought as he headed into the woods, veering off the path to the caves and heading towards the plane. He was still a little tense, fearful that Locke would come leaping out of the bushes at any moment, tackling him to try and rid him of the drugs. He shook the silly idea out of his head. Then he heard something. A rustling in the bushes.

He whirled around, but saw nothing, "Who's there?"

And then he heard it. Faint at first, but steadily growing stronger. Whispering. Coming from all directions. Charlie's chest tightened with fear. And then, almost as suddenly as it started, it just…stopped.

"I'm hearing things," He muttered, "Lack of sleep or something…that must be it,"

But, deep in his heart, he knew that was not true. It was the whispering that Sayid had claimed to hear, the whispering the mad French woman talked about. Maybe those bloody Others he was so determined not to believe in, maybe they actually did exist. He shuddered at the thought, and quickly pushed the idea out of his head. He pressed on towards the plane, mow even tenser than before.

He sighed with relief at reaching the plane without any more incidents. Now all he had to do was get in, get the drugs, get out, and hightail it back before someone realized he was gone.

He slipped inside, shuddering at the sight of Boone's blood spattered across the ground. He grabbed one of the statues. Just then, he felt the hair on the back of his neck stand on end, as the eerie feeling that he was not alone swept over him. He looked around, but saw no one.

You're just being paranoid, Charlie, He told himself, No one followed you.

He quickly raised the statue and brought it down on one of the boxes, shattering the painted ceramic figure. He tipped the drugs out and shoved them into his pocket. He was reaching for another one when he heard a faint female voice.

"Who's there?"

Charlie must have leapt a foot into the air. His head hit the roof of the plane, and he swore. He whirled around, searching for the source of the voice.

"I should ask you the same thing. And where are you?" He asked, trying to sound more confident than he actually was. Just because the girl sounded weak didn't mean she actually was.

"The cockpit," The voice replied weakly.

Nervously, Charlie edged his way towards the cockpit, almost afraid of what he would find. As he looked inside, his fear subsided a bit. The voice belonged to a girl who looked about 14. She stared at him, obviously trying to look confident, but failing miserably. Her dirty blond hair was dirty and tangled. Her pale, freckled face was streaked with dirt, tears, and blood. Her navy blue windbreaker was covered in blood, and her jeans were dirty and torn as well. Her thin, almost emaciated figure told Charlie she had not eaten well in a long time. She was wearing a pair of dirty leather gloves, which was odd, but the only somewhat formidable part of her was her eyes, large, yellow, and almost catlike.

"Who the bloody hell are you?" Charlie asked, feeling his confidence returning, bit by bit.

"Yeah, like I'd tell you that. I'd never reveal that kind of thing to a complete stranger," She spat, suddenly fierce.

"Would you be more inclined to trust me if I told you who I am?" Charlie replied as patiently as he could. This girl obviously had some trust issues.

The girl's face softened, and it looked for a moment like she was deep in thought (about what, Charlie could only guess). Finally, she opened her mouth to speak.

"Alright, then," She decided, "Let's hear it"

And so, Charlie launched into the story of the crash, and how they had survived for so long, they had made many attempts to get off the island, how they had heard about the Others. He told her everything, about the hatch, about the raft, about the Tailies. Her expression remained unchanging, except for looking a nauseous when he told her Boone had died in that very plane.

"So will you tell me who you are now?" Charlie asked her.

"Will you take me back to this camp of yours?" The girl pleaded, her ferocity dropped completely, simply looking like the frail, weak young girl that she was, "if you help me, I might trust you enough to tell you who I am,"

How could he say no to this girl? She looked so pale, helpless, even though she tried so hard to be fierce, "Of course you can. Come on, I don't want to be gone for too long. There are…dangerous things on this island,"

"Don't I know it," She muttered darkly, getting to her feet with great difficulty. She walked over to him, looking like each step caused her much pain, "Where to now?"

"Just follow me," Charlie said. Then, seeing her face screwed up in pain, he added, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," She breathed, "I just got attacked by a wild boar a couple of days ago,"

"You should have Jack, our doctor, take a look at it when we get back to the camp,"

Her yellow eyes widened in fear, "No!" She cried. Then, calming down a bit, she added, "No, I'm fine, I just…erm…have a couple scratches and bruises, that's all,"

Charlie said nothing, just staring at her. He knew there was something she needed to hide, but what? For a while they just walked in silence, Charlie having to slow down every so often, to let her catch up. As they pressed on, Charlie noticed the girl growing weaker and weaker, her breath coming in ragged gasps.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Charlie asked worriedly.

"I'm…fine," She gasped, sounding as if even talking caused her pain and spent her energy.

"No, you aren't," Charlie insisted, "You need to see Jack,"

"No!" She hissed angrily. She began to back away, trying to run, "You can't-I can't…" She stumbled, and fell against a tree. She slumped to the ground, her eyes closed, her breathing shallow.

Charlie swore under his breath, "Uhhh…Girl?" He called, rushing up to her, not sure what to call her. She didn't wake up. She was breathing, but it was very shallow. The would was probably infected or something. Should he run to get help, or should he try and carry her the short distance to the caves?

He decided to carry her. She was pretty small, and it was only a short distance. AS he picked her up, he was shocked at how light she was. He hurriedly carried her back to the caves.

Ignoring the stares from the other survivors, Charlie went straight to Kate.

"Where's Jack?" He panted.

"Over in his 'Doctor's office', going through the meds they brought back from the tail," Kate replied, "Charlie, what-?"

"I'll explain later," Charlie interrupted her. He rushed over to Jack.

"What the…" Jack began when he saw the girl in Charlie's arms.

"I found her in the jungle. She's injured. I think she may be one of the Others,"