A/N: I forgot to put a disclaimer in my first chapter. I don't own anything/one except Miri. She came from the gray, gooey crevices of my own brain.

It felt good for Charlie to be out and about, doing useful things. Even though the sun beat down on him mercilessly as he helped Kate forage for any fruit they could find, he took pride in knowing he was doing something productive. There had been plenty of times when he had done things counterproductive to his own well being. He had been a heroin addict. He probably didn't even remember half the shit he did while high. But now he had a fresh start, a new way of life, even though one with a rather bleak long term outlook.

"Charlie!" Kate called, "C'mere and help me reach this!"

"OK, cuz I'm real good at being able to reach for things that are high up," he quipped good naturedly, trudging over, "All the women swoon for the guys who can always reach that top shelf, who can get the lid off the pickle jar, the sweater off that stupid rack in the store hooked to the wall four inches below the ceiling. Yes, if you ever have a task for a particularly tall person, I'm definitely the one to call."

"Cute, Charlie," she grinned, "But actually, I only need you to catch the fruit when I drop it down to you."

"Ah, grabbing and holding. Yet another of my myriad talents." He positioned himself below Kate, who was already up among the limbs of the tree. "Heads up!" she yelled, dropping something gold-green colored and vaguely ovoid. Charlie, preoccupied with the "innocent" bee buzzing around him, didn't even notice. A second later, it hit him square on top of the head. "BLOODY HELL!"

Kate laughed. "Really nice, Charlie. Truly, I'm very impressed."

"Ha ha. You planned this all along, didn't you."

"No…I think you just screwed up…"

Four Years Earlier

"You were amazing, Charlie!" Miri said, hugging him tightly, even though he was all sweaty and gross from the concert he had just given with Driveshaft.

"Thanks, Miri," Charlie replied through a rather strained grin.

"You too, Liam," Miri tried to hug her oldest brother too. He got angry and pushed her into the wall. "Don't touch me, Meredith," Liam hissed before striding away. Immediately Charlie rushed to help Miri up. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine," the young woman looked shaken, but she wasn't about to let Liam wreck her visit with her other brother.

They ducked into Charlie's dressing room. Film canisters with little baggies of heroin were scattered about on the vanity. "God, I'm so glad to see my little sister!" Charlie enthused.

"I wanted to surprise you!" Miri replied, regaining her bounce.

"I'm sorry about Liam," Charlie apologized, "He's been weird."

"Don't apologize for him."

Miri was talking to him, but Charlie wasn't listening. His eyes kept flicking over her shoulder to the vanity where the heroin was plainly visible. He smiled his strained smiled again.

"Hey, where's the loo?" Miri wondered, looking around.

Charlie quickly pointed to the appropriate door, "Right there." As soon as she pulled it shut behind her, he frantically raced over and gathered up all the film canisters and stuffed them in a freestanding cabinet. Carefully but quickly he arranged the bags of chips in it to hide the drugs, then slammed the little door shut.

A moment later Miri emerged from the bathroom. "Want a drink?" Charlie asked, "I'll run down the hall and get whatever you'd like."

"Whatever you're having." She shrugged. Miri had grown up into a moderately conservative woman. She wore a modest but attractive outfit, with her hair tumbling around her shoulders in curls and glittery eye shadow. A sign of her piety, however, was the tiny gold cross dangling around her neck on a fine chain. Charlie had given it to her as a Confirmation gift.

While Charlie was out, a roadie brought in a guitar in its case. "Is there any snack food around here?" Miri asked him.

"There should be some in that cupboard."

"Thanks," Miri grinned at the roadie as he left. She opened the cabinet and triumphantly lifted out a bag of chips, and a film canister rolled onto the floor. Curiously she picked it up and opened it. A baggie fell into her palm.

Just then, Charlie walked in. His eyes widened when he saw what she held. "Oh Charlie," She whispered, "this is heroin."

On The Island

Cheeks turning red, Charlie wiped gooey pulp off his shirt as he and Kate walked back to camp. "You've got a lot in your hair," Kate observed amusedly.

"Gee, thanks," he wiped at it futilely, "How long 'till we get back to camp? I don't want this shit to dry on me."

"A while."