Cryo Mystic

New Charlie fic!

Tue, 29 May 2007 23:31:19 GMT

Title: Therapy
Rating: PG - PG-13
Summery: Just a little ficlet on what could've happened if Charlie had been saved after all. My first attempt at first person.
Disclaimer: I don't own Lost, although I wish I did because maybe this whole mess could've been averted.

I frantically scribbled ‘not Penny’s boat’ onto my left hand with my worn out sharpie as the control room quickly filled with water. I turned and slammed my hand on the porthole window, hoping Desmond would read it and understand what I was talking about. I was completely under water now, as I saw him register the information and try to get into the room to say me. But then it would be for nothing, if he saved me. I [I]had[/I] to die, or else his vision wouldn’t come true and Claire and Aaron would never be rescued. They’d be stuck on the island forever. Claire would be alone in her tent with out her family and friends from Sydney; Aaron would never get an education, or listen to a DriveSHAFT album.

I slowly drifted down into the depths of the control room, ready to accept my face. My lungs were on fire and about to explode out of my chest, but I ignored it, knowing it would all end soon. As my vision got dimmer and dimmer, memories of my island existence started to float into the forefront of my mind. The first night on the beach with Claire was the first, and I almost felt my facial muscles twist into a smile as I recalled referring to her as a newbie to plane crashes. The second was when she collapsed on the beach from dehydration, and I had volunteered to watch her while the others searched for water. She was worried about people being scared of her because she was ‘the pregnant girl’. I chuckled, she didn’t scare me.

The third was of course when I cured her cravings with a full jar of extra creamy peanut butter. It was my specialty on the island. I masked my withdrawal symptoms the best I could just so she would feel better. I think she really enjoyed it. I sure did.

The memories started to blur together now, as if on fast-forward; my mind knowing it didn’t have much time. I saw us get kidnapped, Claire returning, Aaron being born, getting caught with drugs, when she left me, when she came back to me. I saw everything, on in a fraction of a second; a collage of the best and worst days of my life.

Just as I was about to slip away into oblivion, I feel an arm around my chest, pulling me backwards…

“What then what happened Charlie?” My therapist asked, interrupting my reverie.

“I’m not quite sure, I blacked out, and woke up on the beach with Desmond slamming his fist into my chest, screaming at me to live. Almost like when I was hanged and Jack found me. I opened my eyes, and I also saw Hurley and Sayid around me. It was almost like The Wizard of Oz when Dorothy woke up from her dream. He was there, and he was there, and…[I]she[/I] was there too, holding onto my hand for dear life.” Nice pun there, Charlie boy, I thought to myself.

“Who is she again?” I looked at this ‘therapist’. Did she have the memory of a goldfish or something?

“Claire.” I replied flatly, slightly annoyed.

“Ah, right.” She glanced at her watch, and looked back at me. “What happened after that?”

“Well, the others were right for once, and the ‘bad’ others came to the island wanting to kill us. There was a huge battle, and lots of people died. Thankfully it was more of them than us. Locke was lost in the crossfire, Ben too, but before he died, he told us how to send out our own message on the radio tower to somebody other than the bad others. Sayid was the one who volunteered first.

After the battle…there was an eerie still over the island. The next week or two were strange. We had no one to fight with anymore, no need to defend ourselves from ‘others’ of any kind. We just had to…wait. It was during those few days that Claire told me she loved me for the first time. She confessed how scared she was when she thought I had died, how she realized what she lost. I had never heard somebody say that to me before; not even my own brother. Everything was…perfect that last week. When Penny finally rescued us with her crew I was overjoyed. Desmond’s vision had come true after all, and I wasn’t dead. I realized that we weren’t tied down by fate, as he made it seem.”

My therapist looked down at her watch, and announced that our hour was over for this week; finally. It felt good getting things off my chest and all but this stranger didn’t understand how it was like to be on the island. When we were rescued a bunch of us were recommended to see a therapist every week just to see that we didn’t go crazy on the island. It was quite the opposite with me, at least toward the end. Now Jack on the other hand was a little off his rocker now. I don’t think his mind had actually left the island. It was as if he was trying to be the new Batman because he kept trying to save everything, or person. It was truly sad.

I exited the psychologist’s office, and saw Claire sitting in the car out front waiting for me, smiling. I gave her a lopsided grin back and got in the passenger side. I reached back to the back where Aaron sat in his car seat, and touched his foot lightly.

“Hey Turniphead,” He giggled in response as I turned back to Claire.

“You ok?” She asked leaving the parking lot.

“Well, I’m still sane, so that’s a good sign.” I joked.

She laughed, oh how I loved that laugh. “Anything else?”

“Well, we talked about ‘it’ today.” We generally didn’t like to say that I nearly died out loud. It was something we didn’t need to talk about.

Claire went silent, “Oh…how was it?”

“I didn’t tell her much, just summarized it all. I don’t think she would’ve fully understood either way.” My second ‘death’ had been an objective we’d been leading up to in therapy. Next week she’ll probably want to talk about how I felt about it.

“Not a lot of people would Charlie…” She made a left turn and changed the subject, “Anyway, I noticed today that we were fresh out of peanut butter today while I was making lunch for Aaron.” She deliberately kept her eyes on the road. “The jars’ completely empty.”

I turned to her, smiling, “That’s what you think Claire…”

Sat, 09 Sep 2006 19:57:09 GMT

Moonlight Sonata

Mon, 07 Aug 2006 19:35:47 GMT

Title: Moonlight Sonata
Rating: PG-13, M for later chapters.
Summery: A Harry Potter fanfic based in the Maurauders time, dealing mostly with Remus and all of his endevers through his last year in school. My best story yet.
Disclaimer: Only JK Rowling owns these characters. A mere mortal such as myself does not.

The classroom was buzzing with the low jabbering of the seventh year students. The four Gryffindor’s made it into the classroom just as the bell rang. They took their seats unfortunately in the bottom row, knowing full well no one else wanted to sit in the front, for fear of Flitwicks sudden charms. A hush came over the room as the small Professor entered the room from his office.

“Well isn’t this a surprise! The four of you are on time.” Flitwick sent a pointed glance at them. “Now today we’re going to…” By that time most of the class had zoned out already. Monday’s in Flitwicks class usually meant a lot of lecturing and writing notes. Which basically meant you didn’t have to pay that much attention.

On the other side of the room, a certain Slytherin was scribbling vigorously in his old ratty Potion’s book. Remus’ brow furrowed as he unconsciously watched. Why was Severus writing in his Potion’s book when it was Charm’s class?
Severus caught Remus’ eye, and sent him a glare of all glares. He hated the Marauders, but James and Sirius specifically. They incessantly picked on him ever since first year. Well, Remus had always tried to stop it, because his ethical side would never shut up, but James and Sirius never seemed to care.

Quickly the class ended, leaving the afternoon free for the Marauders. They originally wanted to go outside and enjoy it, but the sounds of thunder and heavy rain made that decision for them. They would have to be cooped up in the common room with nothing to do but homework. Joy. They trudged quietly back to the common room, where most of the house was.

Once they entered the warmth of the common room, Remus immediately sat on the squishiest couch by the fire and started homework. Better to do it now instead of later, he reminded himself. He looked over at his friends who were enjoying themselves in a game of exploding snap.

After he finished his paper from Potions, he looked up from his parchment at his friends.

“So, about Hogsmeade,” he began casually.

“Don’t worry Moony, we’re going.” Sirius answered before he could finish his train of thought.

Remus looked at him curiously and continued his homework. Well, that settles everything, he thought contently to himself.

For Remus the week zoomed on by before he could even think about what he was going to do at Hogsmeade. For the other Marauders it was a sluggish pace from Monday to Saturday.

The Marauders were already at the courtyard where all the Hogsmeade students were to meet before walking down to the village. They stood huddled together with a few other Gryffindors in the brisk October air. Sirius and James were already in a conversation with one of the other Quidditch players but Remus was searching the crowd for Octavia. He saw a flash of red hair and zeroed in on it. It was Lily talking to Octavia and a few other Ravenclaws.

But he turned to his right after smelling cheap perfume.

“James darling, how are you?” said Bellatrix Lestrange, a whorish Slytherin who had been after James for a number of years. She was Sirius’ cousin, along with her equally whorish sister Narcissa.

James groaned and turned around at the dark haired Slytherin, “What do you want Bellatrix?”

“Oh, call me Bella, everybody else does.” She giggled softly. James was the only person outside of Slytherin that she could actually stand. Well, besides Sirius of course, but they didn’t like mentioning that they were related so they stayed away from each other.

He rolled his eyes, “What do you want?”

“I was wondering if you could go to the tea house with me? Just you and me…and then maybe after we get back from Hogsmeade we can find a much, quieter, place.” She looked at him suggestively, and put her hand on his chest.

The thought of him and ‘Bella’ finding a quiet place almost made James’ face turn green. He quietly removed her hand from him, “Bellatrix,” he refused to call her by her nickname, “I would rather eat owl dung than find a quiet place with you.”

Her face contorted with anger and annoyance. No one turned down Bella. No one. She turned on her heal and stalked off to her sister and her sisters boy friend Lucius. It was no secret that the platinum blonde couple was promised to each other for marriage immediately after they left school.

James sighed with relief and ran his hand through his messy black hair.

“Don’t worry Prongs she’ll find the next good shag and forget all about you.” Sirius said reassuringly.

“That’s what you said last time she came on to me,” He swiveled his head over to Padfoot.

“Well, I was wrong, but you really rejected her this time. I’d say she’s given up.” Sirius nodded to convince himself of this.

“Yeah. Ok.” James replied dryly.

Octavia and Lily strolled on over to the Marauders.

“Wow Potter you can’t keep them off of you.” Lily said sarcastically. Octavia remained silent, and glanced at the blushing Remus for a brief second.

“Why do you care Evans? Jealous?” He spat back.

Lily laughed loudly, “Why would I be jealous of you? You’re all messy hair and no substance. I’m missing out on so much.” She rolled her eyes, “Honestly you’d be better off if you didn’t try to impress girls by the fact that you need a comb. Because to some girls, it’s not impressive at all.”

Prof. McGonagall stepped out of the thick oak doors and made an announcement, “Now Mr. Filch and I will escort you all to Hogsmeade and I want you all on your best behavior. And please do not try to get into the Shrieking Shack, it is strictly out of bounds and those caught will serve a week of detention with me.”

Remus dipped his head knowing what really went on in the Shrieking Shack. Octavia noticed his reaction, but shrugged it off.

The students were led down into the village and they sprawled out into their separate ways. Lily and Octavia headed directly to the sweets shop and began buying several candies to satisfy their sweet tooth’s. James dragged the boys to the Quidditch shop and bought his cleaning supplies. When they were finished he saw that the girls were almost finished at Honeydukes. The Marauders made their way over to them with James leading.

“Lily, would you fancy going to the tea shop with me?” Everybody looked at James as if he’d lost his mind, especially Lily.

“What the bloody…” James swooped down and whispered something into her ear. She arched an eyebrow. “Umm…Sure.”

James gave Sirius a look before walking away with Lily.

“Wormtail, I believe that Honeydukes has just set out one of their newest pastries. You should probably go check them out since you love them so much.” Peter nodded and went straight for the sweets shop. “I haven’t been to Zonkos yet, I’ll see you later Remus, Octavia.” He gave her a nod before leaving the two of them alone.

Octavia was the first to speak, “Umm…That was strange…”

“Yeah it was.” He scratched the back of his head nervously. Why did his friends do this to him?

“It almost seemed planned…” Octavia was very intuitive, being a Ravenclaw and all. “I wonder if Lily is having fun with James?”

“You owe me big time Potter!” Lily hissed across the table at the teashop.

“Relax I’m not doing this for me, I’m doing it for Moony. He obviously fancies Octavia and I figured it would be a good way to break the ice.” James reasoned in a calm voice. The scene of Lily Evans and James Potter sitting at a table alone in a teashop was silly in itself, and if anyone were going to look like an idiot, it would be Lily according to James.

Lily sat back in her chair still fuming, “How do you figure?”

“He’s been muttering about this girl in his Ancient Runes class for weeks and how smart and pretty she is. Well the other day when you two were talking at the Ravenclaw table Remus let’s it slip that Octavia was in his Ancient Runes class. I thought it would be nice for them to get to know each other with out any distractions. Like us.” He explained his master plan very thoroughly.

“Octavia did mention Remus once or twice.” Lily said still unsure of James.

“See maybe she likes him as well. Maybe they’ll begin dating, then walking in on them snogging, then a white wedding, then maybe a few kids or,”

“Quit while you’re ahead Potter. She may very well fancy him but it’s probably pretty awkward standing there alone with somebody you don’t know.” Lily explained.

“Well that’s the point Evans. They’ll get to know each other.” He said slowly so she’d get it this time.

“I never pictured you as a matchmaker Potter.” Lily said with her tone softening.

James smirked, “I’m more than just messy hair and a pretty face.” Ha. Touché.

Meanwhile, back with Moony and Miss Reede, the awkwardness was so thick in the air you could cut it with a knife. Remus gulped, and decided to start a topic of conversation. A big step for him.

“You’re in my Ancient Runes class right?” He had heard Sirius say once that if you play ignorant it makes things easier.

Octavia nodded, “Yeah I sit in the back.”

“Why do you sit all the way back there?” Remus asked curiously.

“I find that I can concentrate better back there. I don’t have to worry about disturbing people behind me when I stretch in my seat or worry about being in someone’s way.” She explained.

“But surely you can’t see as good from back there. Especially with Ancient Runes.” He replied in disbelief.

“Well I sit in an aisle seat so I can lean to my left or right to see better. You should try it sometime.” She suggested.

Remus shook his head. “I’m not too keen on change.”

“Really? Change can be good. Doing the same routine everyday will make life dull and boring. Eventually you get this feeling of having no reason to live because it’s so dull.” She said.

Remus thought for a minute. He liked his routine. It never failed him, unlike most of the adults who had given up on him and his lycanthropic condition. “Yes but routine reassures you that everything is ok and everything’s normal.”

“Reassures you? Or blinds you from what’s really happening out there?”

Her words floored him.

She continued, “You get so caught up with what’s supposed to happen that you forget about the things that you strive for and want.”

“Wow…I never thought about it that way.”

“There are bad changes, and good changes. You have to stop focusing on the bad and think about the good.”

She spoke to him as if she knew him, and his hate for change. The worst change of his life was when he was a little boy and a rogue werewolf by a lake bit him near his house. He had been playing with a toy boat and never saw it coming. He shuddered at the intense memory.

“Are you alright?” She lightly touched his arm. His eyes had lost focus for a moment, thinking about something that disturbed him, guessing by his shudder.

“I’m fine. Just remembering a ‘bad change’.”

“Hey let’s go to the Shrieking Shack,” shouted a third year that was running down the street.

His friend who was with him yelled back, “yeah I heard it was haunted buy his horrific monster!” The two bolted down to the end of the street where the shack stood just up the hill.

Remus cast his eyes to the ground. He was in fact a horrific, snarling monster that went to the Shrieking Shack every month under the full moon he despised. Octavia didn’t deserve a bloke like him. She needed a bloke that was stable and didn’t have the emotional baggage.

“You would think that they would get tired of that rumor after a while. I honestly don’t think it’s true.” The Ravenclaw said as she watched the third year boys run down the street.

“You’d be surprised at what’s true and what’s not.” Moony said vaguely.

Octavia looked at him strangely not knowing what to make of it. He was staring off into space, not making a sound or moving a muscle. What was this ‘bad change’, she wondered. He definitely didn’t want to talk about it she gathered and glanced around her thinking of a new subject.

“There’s a Yule Ball coming up this winter.” She blurted out clumsily.

He blinked a few times to get out of his daze, “I’m sure you’ve got many offers.”

“Only one.”

Remus looked at her surprised, “only one? May I ask who it is?”

Octavia answered sheepishly, “Adrian Lovegood.” Remus looked away defeated. Adrian was in Ravenclaw with Octavia and in her year. He obviously would have spent more time with her than Remus did. “He asked me last Tuesday.”

“Did you say yes?” He said a little to quickly.

“No, but I didn’t say no either. I told him I’d think about it. He’s a nice boy, but I’m not sure what he wants. I think he wants to date him afterwards. He’s fancied me for ages and I’ve just kind of ignored it until now. I guess it’s because it’s nice to have someone fancy you. You know?” She turned to Remus, but he was walking away towards Sirius who just walked out of Zonkos.

“Moony why’d you leave her?”

“I just want to get back to the castle.”

Sirius sighed, “Ok. Let me got get Prongs.” Sirius walked over to the teashop across the street and came out with James in toe. Lily didn’t look pleased when Sirius started talking and saw Octavia standing in the street trying to find her. The red head stormed down the street and headed back to the castle with the blonde.

When they Marauders got back to the Gryffindor common room, Remus slung himself into the nearest over stuffed chair.

“What the hell happened?” James asked sitting next to him on the couch.

“She’s already been asked to the ball. By Adrian Lovegood no less.” Remus said, wounded.

“Adrian? That oddball? She didn’t say yes did she?” James was mighty curious on this possible suitor. Adrian had been notorious at telling stories about creatures that didn’t exist for attention. And apparently girls liked it. He was always scribbling stuff down on parchment during meals. No one ever knew what he was writing.

“No, she said she’d think about it.” Moony mumbled.

James chuckled, “Why Remus don’t give up now! You need to sweep her off her feet and make her realize that Lovegood is just a stupid wanker who isn’t worth her time. You need to make her aware they you are worth her time.”

“How am I supposed to do that?”

Sirius joined them and sat in front of Remus, “Well, I’ve seen some people compete in class, trying to see who can answer the most questions.” Remus nodded. “I’ve never done it myself, my dashing good looks usually do all the work.” He added as an after thought.

“Well she’s in my Ancient Runes class and she answers loads of questions each day.” Remus was getting hopeful with their propositions.

“Do you answer any, Remus?”

“Well no, only unless I’m called.”

“This is your chance at showing her how smart you are! She probably knows you’re intelligent. I mean you take Ancient Runes, and only smart people take that class.” Sirius concluded. James gave him a mock insulted look.

“Thanks…I think.”

“I think you should rest up for Monday. It’s going to be a big day for young Moony.”

Moonlight Sonata

Mon, 07 Aug 2006 19:29:35 GMT

And The Bottom Drops Out

Tue, 01 Aug 2006 11:28:36 GMT

Title: And The Bottom Drops Out
Rating: PG
Status: Completed
Summary: Chana fic for the Chana Challenge
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: I wish I did, but God's cruel like that so I don't own it.

The baby brother of Liam sat on the beach absently plucking away at his guitar. It was something he did often on days like this; when storms brewed off shore and activity in the camp was little to none. At first all he played was random chords and notes but soon took on a pretty little melody he had written many days before, during a time when things in his life had finally began to look up; a time when the chaos in his life had finally started to settle and peace was beginning to fill his heart. Sadly that time was over, and the sunshine in his life was now covered by dark deceptive clouds; much like the ones that were billowing toward the shore at this very moment at an alarming speed.

His thoughts were interrupted however when he heard sand crunch behind him. He was too lost in his own world to realize that he had an audience of one. He stopped playing, and turned to his left to see the other so-called criminal of the camp sitting next to him.

“Did you write that yourself Charlie?” The rock god nodded, “It’s beautiful.”

“I wrote it for Claire, a few weeks back. It was going to be on my album I was going to make when we were rescued. I figured it would be a hidden track that was purely instrumental. Just for her.” Charlie confessed, the words tumbling out of his mouth before he could catch them. He laughed to himself at the subtle irony, “All the things I did for her are apparently hidden in her subconscious, beneath her hate. So I guess it doesn’t really matter now does it Ana-Lucia?”

Ana flinched at his mention of Claire, she had seen him suffer after the whole baby snatching situation, and wanted to reach out to him, but he wasn’t letting anybody in. She knew what it was like to be ostracized by the group of survivors on this hypocritical beach, and thought she had some sort of common ground with Charlie, no matter how annoying he was most of the time. A low rumble echoed from off shore signaling that the storm wasn’t going to be a happy one.
“You shouldn’t dwell on it all the time Charlie, if and when she’s ready she’ll come back to you.” He shouldn’t be in this funk, she thought. He was supposed to be happy, sarcastic and annoying Charlie, not depressed and sulky.

“You know, I don’t really care anymore. She can stay with Locke, hate me and think that I’m using all she wants, but I know the truth. I haven’t touched the stuff since I threw it into the fire. God knows I wanted too though…” He blurted it all out just like before, turning his attention back to his beloved guitar.

Ana took notice of a gun in the back of his pants. Where was he getting them? She’d save that question for another time. But now was time to change the subject, she didn’t like talking about Claire, Locke and the stupid heroin.

“Do you always carry a gun with you or is today a special day?” Even the ex-cop was capable of snark every now and then. Lightning illuminated the dark mass of clouds in the sky; they were now almost covering the beach, the sun had long since said farewell.

“Oh I always have one with me. It’s kind of like my security blanket, except my initials aren’t embroidered in the corner and there aren’t any drool stains, or the orange juice stain that somehow put up residence on the middle. Told Mum it was Liam’s fault.” he snarked back rambling, but trailed off in the memory. Ana-Lucia rolled her eyes. God he was random.

“Sure.”

“What’s it to you anyway? You’re not exactly in charge of the gun stash around here.” He said fiercely.

“And you are?”

“Not exactly. Anyway, don’t you have Jack to complain to or something?” He snapped standing up and slinging his guitar over his shoulder. Thunder crackled in the sky, almost above their heads.

“No, last time I checked Jack was trying to flirt with Kate. I didn’t want to interrupt the teen drama.” She stood up defensively, her ego taking a blow.

Charlie laughed softly, “Oh yes, the doctor and the fugitive, a star crossed romance they are.” There was an oh-so subtle hint of sarcasm slipped somewhere in that sentence. He needed to get to his poor excuse of a tent before the storm broke, but she just wouldn’t shut up. Women. “Any who, I’m sure Locke would love for you to do button duty, so if you excuse me, I’m going to get under shelter before that,” he pointed to the black sky, “unleashes it’s fury on me.”

“Do always have to act like an ass towards everybody you know?” She asked before he could turn away. He was annoying the hell out of her right now, but she couldn’t leave. Part of her still wanted that connection between the two of them, even if she had to fight him to get it.

“Hmm, well today’s Tuesday right? Yeah that’s usually my day of being a total arse. I’ve put it on my calendar the whole month.” He spat back making another attempt to walk away. His demons had almost been stirred up today, and he wasn’t having anymore of that: especially from her. What did she ever do for him?

God, why was he being this way? Oh, yeah that’s right, he’s Charlie, Ana thought sharply in her mind. She looked toward the ground for a moment, and saw him begin to walk away. All no he wasn’t. The humidity in the air had thickened in the last few minutes, only reminding her more than ever that the storm was about to break loose. She took a step closer to him, and gave him a hard look, not knowing if she should or not.

He stopped in his tracks, as he once again heard sand crunched behind him. He turned around to see Ana still standing there, but a step closer. Why? He stared right back at her. What happened next he would never be able to explain, their lips met in a flurry of emotion and competitiveness. It had come completely out of left field, but Charlie wasn’t complaining; for once. As if on cue for dramatic effect, the bottom dropped out of the clouds and rain began to pour heavily from the sky.

When they pulled apart for air, Charlie cheekily smiled back at Ana, as if a new person, “I knew you couldn’t resist the manly powers of Charlie Pace.”

Ana frowned, she did all that for nothing but an ego boost for Mr. Rock god himself. She sighed and turned on her heal to get out of the rain. But he reached for her arm, and kept her from moving.

“Ok I guess that was a bit much.” He apologized.

“Damn right.” She shot back.

“Sorry…” He looked around at the sheets of rain that were pounding the beach. “How’s about we get in out of this rain huh?” He suggested in that tone that only Charlie could pull off.

Ana arched an eyebrow, “Sure.”

He sprinted down the beach with Ana at his heals; he had to get his precious guitar out of the rain after all.

Bent

Thu, 06 Jul 2006 03:41:20 GMT

A/N: My first ever Lost fic. For the best ship that whose life was cut too short: Chana.

Title: Bent
Rating: PG
Pairing: Chana
Summary: Missing moment from the Balloon trek
Warnings: None.
Status of fic: Completed
Author's Notes/Disclaimer: This is just a re post seeing as it was unfortunately deleted after the server move. And no, I don't own any of them.

The small fire in the middle of the jungle snapped, instantly waking a fallen god from slumber. Mosquitoes tried to bite at his nose; he swatted them away and turned over trying to get back to sleep. He was always a light sleeper, maybe it was because he was afraid he’d miss something or his mind just wouldn’t stop going a million miles an hour, he was never sure. He tossed and turned again, desperately trying to find a comfortable position on the lumpy jungle floor.

“You couldn’t sleep either?” A female voice called softly from the other side of the fire.

It was then Charlie finally remembered where he was: on the jungle trek with Ana-Lucia and Sayid. He had brought a gun along with out their knowledge, but like most as his plans, he was found out. He gave the gun to Sayid, but not with out messing with Ana first: a fake out with the gun. It was easy, it was original, and it was mean. But hey, he had a lot of penned up anger, and who better to take it out on than the one other person the whole camp didn’t seem to like.

“Evidently not.” He sat up answering her question. She was sitting on a log looking into the fire, fiddling with a stick. Charlie’s eyes shifted over to Sayid’s sleeping form, he must’ve gone to sleep sometime after he did. Disgruntled, Charlie stood up and stretched his legs. His eyes gazed upwards to the sky, which was blocked by the canopy of the jungle.

“I heard some people talking on the beach the other day, they said you killed one of them a few weeks back.” Ana said momentarily looking up from the fire.

Charlie stopped dead in his tracks, automatically remembering the day he shot Ethan. He had done it out of vengeance for what he had done to him and Claire…That bastard deserved to die, and Charlie’s mind would never change as long as he lived. Ghostly scars of the noose that had been around his neck were still there, reminding him of that day. His memories were still fuzzy, but he had enough to know that he had gotten in the way so ‘they’ hanged him and left him for dead. And all he wanted to do was protect Claire, but that was worthless now.

“Yeah…I did.” He said quietly turning around to face her. “I shot him, six times.” He made sure she heard the last bit, so she’d know that he actually was capable of handling a weapon. The fallen rock god circled the fire and stood just a few feet away from her.

It took her a few moments to answer, almost shocked that what she had heard was true, “Back on the other side of the island, the others had sent in a plant to infiltrate our camp. His name was Goodwin. I found him out pretty quickly, but I didn’t tell the other survivors. One day, we were up on a hill and I called him on his lies, and he attacked me. Out of self defense, I killed him.” Her gaze was once again one the fire.

Charlie was shocked, he had known that she killed Shannon, but this was completely new to him. “Ethan was a plant too.” He added as he came and sat next to her. “He had lied about who he was, and kidnapped Claire and I. Unfortunately I got in the way so they hanged me and left me for dead.” He grazed his scars with the tips of his fingers, “If Kate and Jack hadn’t found me when they did, I wouldn’t be sitting here right now; although, with the events of this past week, that scenario doesn’t sound so bad.”

“I guess we’re in the same boat then.” He looked at her curiously, “I mean, not liked by most people. I killed one of your people, and you tried to drown one.”

Charlie’s eyes flashed angrily, “I wasn’t going to drown him! I was just trying to get him baptized. No one would listen to me because I’m just a junkie; a bloody worthless junkie who’s automatically using because he had some weird dreams.”

Ana sighed, “but you could’ve drowned him Charlie, at least in their eyes.”

“Oh and I suppose you’ve never done anything out of utter desperation before have you?” He shot back.

Ana froze, remembering when she killed the man who killed her unborn child, “Yes, and I believe you Charlie, it’s just you have to see it through their eyes, no matter how hypocritical they are.”

“Well as long as we understand each other.” Charlie agreed. He felt his eyes grow heavy again; he needed to go back to sleep. He yawned as he stood up and walked around the fire to his sleeping spot. As he sank down onto the hard jungle floor he looked across the clearing and over at Ana. He sighed, “Ana?”

“Yeah Charlie?”

“Sorry about the gun earlier.” He apologized.

The ex-cop nodded understanding, “It’s ok Charlie.”