Disclaimer: I do not own Lost or any of it's characters (obviously or this story wouldn't have happened! stupid Shoone killers!)
Author's Note: Okay, I know you all want to know what's going on with Boone, but I'm afraid you have to wait, my good people. I promise all will be revealed, but only when I am ready and not before.
Oh, and thanks again to Faran1078, your knowledge and wisdom of the world of Lost are priceless! (and your AU 'Hers' totally rocks! I will take this opportunity to proclaim my utter reliance on it for a world where Shoone lives on in (near) perfect happiness!)
Thankyou, also, to msmith4815 for continually pestering me to update this thing when I start to slack off :P
And thanks to everyone who continues to review every chapter. Your words of encouragement mean so much to me!
Right, now that all the sappiness is out of my system, ON WITH THE STORY!
Her heart began to race and she hurried after the lone figure, knowing without a doubt who it was. She pushed through the jungle, ignoring the branches that snagged at her hair and clothes.
Shannon suddenly had an idea. She began moving more quietly towards her target. When she was right behind him, she made to slip her hands over his eyes and perform a much more adult version of "Guess who?" but as her hands were coming up, the other person spun around and grabbed her, pulling her into a passionate kiss.
Shannon felt her legs give out and was glad that the one kissing her had his strong arms wrapped firmly about her waist.
When he finally pulled away, Shannon was left gulping the humid air. Her head was spinning and her legs felt like warm jell-o.
"I missed you." Boone muttered, his face barely an inch from hers, eyes closed.
"Then why do you keep leaving?" Shannon replied before she could get her brain working again. Subtlety was never one of her strong points.
Boone's eyes slowly opened and he gave her a very strange look. Then he was walking away again, leaving her with her hands suspended in mid air where they had previously rested on his shoulders. She let them fall to her sides and scowled at Boone's swiftly retreating back.
"Boone?" she cried indignantly. No one walked away from her, especially not Boone.
But he kept on walking, seemingly oblivious to her presence.
"Boone, I asked you a question damn it."
Still he continued walking.
"Hey!"
At the same moment she shouted, a loud rumble echoed from the sky.
Rain started to fall, thick, heavy, monsoon-type rain. Damn this fucking island. Shannon stomped through the increasingly soft ground, trying to keep up with the unbelievable pace Boone was setting.
"Why the hell won't you tell me where you keep going?" She demanded furiously, shouting over the loud splashing of water hitting leaves.
"Because I don't know," Boone shouted back, finally turning to face her. His face was livid, the familiar red flush in his cheeks more pronounced than ever. "I don't know where I go, I don't even remember leaving. All I know is that every now and then I find myself wandering back into the camp without any fucking clue as to how or why I left it in the first place."
Shannon was stunned. She hadn't expected that.
Boone's expression softened suddenly and he pulled her into a tight hug.
"I'm sorry." He muttered into her soaked hair. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to shout at you. It's just really hard not knowing what's going on."
"It's okay." She whispered back, not sure if he could hear her over the loud rainfall.
They stood together for a long time, becoming thoroughly drenched. Finally Shannon pulled back slightly, peering intently at Boone's rain-soaked face, still flushed from his frustration and the bitter cold rain that was beating down on them.
"Let's go back to camp." She said.
The rain continued for the next two days, and the survivors were forced to remain at the base of the cliff, hiding in gaps where the rock split into small caves and crevices. Many people became frustrated with the lack of space, as it was nearly impossible to move around without stepping on something or someone.
Shannon didn't mind though. She spent most of the time with Boone, resting her head in his lap as he leaned against the cliff-face, absent-mindedly stroking her hair. They talked about what could be causing Boone to wander off all the time, which he had not done since it began raining. Although neither of them really had any idea, they kept on talking about it, hoping that something would suddenly click into place and all would be revealed. Of course, it didn't.
The second sunless morning found Shannon in her usual sleeping position, curled against Boone, her head buried in the crook of his neck, their arms wrapped around each other.
This time it was Boone who woke first, looking down at the wonderful being in his arms. I wish I could tell her what was going on. He thought to himself angrily. Shannon deserved to know, he owed it to her. But that required his knowing what was happening in the first place, which he still didn't.
Boone wanted to scream. He wanted to just yell and yell until all the frustration that had built up inside of him his entire life poured out of him and he was left empty. That's what he wanted to be, empty. It was too hard feeling things, thinking about all the possibilities and consequences. He didn't want to feel any more. He didn't want to wonder why they were in this god-forsaken place, how he could be alive after being without-a-doubt, positively, confirmed, six-feet-under dead. Too many questions he didn't have answers for.
Moving Shannon off him, Boone got up and walked out into the rain. No one tried to stop him. He didn't think they even saw him. Somewhere in the back of his mind it occurred to him that this was probably another one of those moments where he disappeared without warning but he couldn't bring himself to care. He didn't want them to stop him. He didn't want them to notice he was leaving again because, honestly, he was hoping that this time he wouldn't return.