Resolutions

By: GirlofthePirates

Disclaimer: Don't own Lost. Never will.

Author's Note: So this is my first FanFiction. I'm not going to pretend this story will even remotely measure up to the masterpiece that is Lost, but I still hope you enjoy.

Chapter 1

Charlie made his way grumpily along the beach, not bothering to stop and shake the sand from his long-kept and well-worn hoodie. He had just been stretched out under his favorite fruit tree, soaking in the sun of an afternoon of well accomplished nothingness.

His absolute favorite thing to do.

Twenty-nine days had gone by since they crashed on the island of paradise, or, better put, the Rock of Insanity. Almost a month, and yet still no word of rescue or of where in the bloody hell they were. The survivors of Oceanic flight 815 were getting more and more agitated with each sunrise and sunset, waiting for a rescue that some had decided was never coming.

Among these former-passengers were Jack, Locke, and everyone's favorite people-person, Sawyer. Others kept a hope that rescue was still on the way; Shannon, Claire, and Sayid.

Claire. One of the few pleasant and approachable people on the island that Charlie had come to know and like. Despite the fact that she had been pregnant (just recently giving birth to a baby boy) and because of this at firstbeing shunned by her fellow islanders, Charlie found her to be refreshingly normal.

Also, there was the slightly less approachable but still freindly Kate, who loved Charlie's band 'Driveshaft' (well, technically, it was her best friend Beth) but still, it was closer than anyone else had gotten to recognizing the former-base player's rock group.

Of course, too, there was Jack, the doctor in charge who seemed to know what he was doing. In any case, Charlie had come to a certain level of accepting the way things were, as crazy as that sounded.

Making his way towards the camp area, he saw Claire sitting near the shore, busily writing something. Ah, yes. Her diary. It still somewhat puzzled Charlie that Claire should keep a journal now, because really, what the bloody hell could possibly be worth writing?

"Hello there," he strolled up to her and plopped down on the sand."Must be lovely, just you and your thoughts, in front of a peaceful blue sea--writing the happenings of a well spent day..."

"Charlie!" Claire swatted him playfully."You make it sound like sitting on the beach writing isn't a good passtime," she laughed.

"Oh no. Who wouldn't simply love avoiding all contact with the island misfits and reflect upon the events of the day?" he grinned wickedly.

"Hey now, no one said they were misfits," she giggled.

"Hey, dude." Hurley came up to them and nodded at Charlie."Uh, Claire? Doc says he needs a minute." He tilted his head to indicate Jack, who was under a nearby tent, going through his pack.

"Oh, okay.Thanks, Hurley." Claire clumsily rose to her feet, brushing sand from her herself and made her way towards the tent.

"What's going on?" Charlie asked Hurley.

"Don't know, dude.Doctor stuff, I guess. See ya." Hurley strolled off.

"Yeah, see ya." Charlie gazed thoughtfully at Claire's retreating form.

"Hey, Charlie!"Kate's call interupted his thoughts.Charlie turned, to see Kate making her way up the beach, a pack slung over one shoulder.He turned back towards the direction Claire had been going to see her just disappear behind the tent flap.

"What's going on?" Kate asked as she approached, taking a drink from her water bottle.

"Hm? Oh, I don't know," he answered, slightly annoyed.

She gave him a questioning glance as she put her water bottle away. "You okay?"

"Yea. Just peachy." He dug in his pocket and pulled out a stick of gum, the wrapper slightly torn. Kate drew her eybrows together.

"You sure?" she pressed. "Because you seem a little"--

"Kate, I'm fine, okay? Just a little tense right now."

She gave him a look, the you-know-you-want-to-talk-so-just-spit-it-out look.

He glanced at her, then sighed."I'm worried about Claire.She's been distant lately, and I can't tell what's going on like I usually do. It must be the baby, but she hasn't said anything. I mean, she'd tell me if it was about the baby, wouldn't she? I mean, you can' bloody well keep something like that a secret, can you?" Realization dawned on his face."Oh my God, that's it! She doesn't want to tell me because she's afraid of how I'll react"--

"Charlie!" Kate laughedout loud, placing a hand on his shoulder to steady him. "Calm down. The baby is fine. I'm sure she's just a littletired, that's all."

"Right. Right. A little tired.Okay." He inhaled deeply, then turned back to Kate. "So, what were you doing atthe beach? I thought you and Jack were staying at the caves."

"We were, its just Jack had to come back down, get some supplies, check on things, just the usual."

"Oh. Right." Charlie cleared his throat.

"You know," Kate got the tone in her voice thatsaid-okay, you should listen really closely to what I'm about to say-"Sayid found some more batteries in the wreckage this morning. He told me he was going to try to fix the tranceiver again, and if it works, he's going to try to get another signal. But he needs about four people for the signal to workthis time, to make sure nothing goes wrong." She stopped talking and looked at Charlie, voice lowered."He told me to ask if you would help this time."

Charlie looked at her, a shadow darkening his eyes."Why me?" he asked quietly.

"Locke betrayed his trust.Jack has completely given up hope of anyone finding us.And Sawyer--well, I think we all knowthat wouldn't work. You're the only one he hasn't asked that he feels can be dependable." She paused dramatically before she asked, "Will you help?"

Charlie gazed steadily at the ground. "Why not? I'd love to."

Kate smiled triumphantly, and turned to go.

"Hey, Kate?" She looked back at him, the sun sinking slowly behind her.

"I won't tell Jack."