Chapter 2

"This too, Charlie," said Eko, tossing another log on the stack. Charlie had been sawing logs all morning to the length Eko wanted, and yet the pile of logs still to cut never seemed to get any smaller.

"Yeah, sure, no problem," he said, trickles of sweat sliding beneath the collar of his t-shirt. His hand gripping the saw was blistered and stiffening into a claw. He opened and closed it painfully a few times, then scraped the saw across the wood again, muttering under his breath, "No problem at all. I don't mind being crippled."

A shadow fell across the log and Charlie looked up to see Ana-Lucia watching him. "Hey," she said.

"Hi," said Charlie, curious. Whatever she was here for, he hoped it was important. So important that he would have to leave off sawing for the rest of the day.

"Can I talk to you for a sec?" she asked.

"Uh," Charlie glanced over at Eko lashing the cut logs together into a frame. Eko looked up at Ana and paused for a moment, then went back to his work without speaking. "I suppose so," said Charlie. He gratefully dropped the saw and followed as Ana led him further away from the beach. What could she want? They had barely spoken before the hike out to find Henry's balloon, and he had spent most of that trip goading her mercilessly. Still, he had respected her desire to be sure about Henry, to get it right. She'd been the level-headed one on the trek, while Sayid had been driven by his grief and anger over Shannon. In spite of Charlie's loyalty to Sayid, he had begun to feel sense of partnership with Ana, especially after he found the grave. It was thanks to Charlie that Ana's determination paid off. She must see that too. It was flattering that she would come to him for help once again.

She stopped under a cluster of palm trees and turned to face him. Charlie gave her a conspiratorial grin and said, "What's up?"

"I need a gun," said Ana.

Bollocks. So much for teamwork.

"Sorry, can't help you," said Charlie. "As you might recall, I gave my gun to Sayid. I thought you had it now."

"I do," said Ana. "I need another one. For Jack."

"Oh, well, if it's for Jack," said Charlie. "I still can't help you."

Ana studied Charlie's face for a moment, her eyes dark. "C'mon Charlie," she said quietly. "I know you were in on the con with Sawyer. And I bet you know where the guns are."

The breeze off the ocean felt suddenly cold as it ruffled Charlie's hair. He hid his anxiety, keeping his face expressionless as he wondered what she knew about the con. Probably nothing. She was bluffing. Had to be.

"I'd take that bet if I had a place to spend the cash," he said confidently. "Have you seen any Dharma hardware stores on your jaunts out in the jungle? I could use a power saw."

Ana didn't respond, just stared at him with her habitual sullen expression, one hand on her hip.

"Anything else you wanted? No? I'll get back to work then," said Charlie.

"The thing is..." Ana began, but her voice trailed off reluctantly. She looked out at the ocean, her brow knit as if she were struggling with a decision.

"What?" asked Charlie, his curiosity getting the better of his annoyance.

After a long pause, she seemed to make up her mind about something and looked at him again, calm and resolute. "I saw you, man," she said. "Out in the jungle. I was there."

So that's how she knew he was in on the con. She saw him follow Locke when he went to hide the guns. But it was dark that night, she couldn't have gotten a good look at him. She guessed it was him, but it could have been anybody. It would be her word against his, and while his wasn't worth much these days, there would still be room for doubt.

"I don't know what you're talking about," he said coldly. "I was on the beach with everybody else that night. And if you brought me over here just to make accusations, I think we're done." He turned and strode off. He was nearly out of the clearing when Ana spoke again.

"I saw you grab Sun."

Charlie froze, his stomach turning over. His breath caught in his chest. He slowly turned around to face Ana, while her level gaze pierced him. He knew he wouldn't be able to deny what he had done. He couldn't even speak.

"I was out with Jack that day," said Ana. "We were building the army, and we needed people. On the way back to the beach I thought I'd go see Sun, talk to her about Jin maybe joining. We could use him. So I headed for Sun's garden. I was almost there when it started to rain. And then I saw you, dragging Sun with a bag over her head and her hands tied. She was struggling, and you let go and went tearing off through the jungle. Sun ran off the other way with the hood still on. I started to follow her, but by the time I spotted her again Kate and Sawyer were already there, so I left." Ana shrugged. "Three's a crowd."

Charlie found his voice again. It came out in raspy whisper. "Why didn't you tell anyone?"

"Because I don't want to be responsible for what happens to you when Jin finds out," said Ana. "Not if I don't have to."

"And... do you have to now?" asked Charlie.

"That's up to you."

Charlie looked back to where Eko was building his church. The stack of logs was waiting for him. He had work to do, a place there, if he could keep it. Beyond the building site, on the beach, Hurley and Libby were walking in the morning sunshine, their fingers interlaced. Sun faced the ocean with her hand shading her eyes, watching as Jin waded out and threw his net into the water.

What would happen if they found out what Charlie had done? Of course Jin would kill him, that went without saying, but strangely, Charlie found he had trouble caring. All he could think of was the night on the beach after he set the fire, when he tried to baptize Aaron. Locke had hit him, knocked him down. And as he lay in the surf, struggling to rise, everyone in his life had turned away from him, all the people he'd thought were his friends. The images of their faces were burned in his mind, he had replayed that moment so many times in the days since. If there had been anger in their faces he could have understood, but that wasn't what he saw. They had looked at him with disgust. They despised him, even though he had acted with the best intentions. How would they look at him now?

No. It wouldn't happen, he would never let them find out. No matter what he had to do.

Charlie looked back at Ana. She was waiting for an answer.

"I'll take you to the guns," said Charlie.