Part 203: Choices

Sawyer slowly opened his eyes. He was covered in sweat, not to mention covered in a blanket next to a fire. He slowly looked around and saw Jenny reading Watership Down next to him. “It’s about bunnies.” The southern man mentioned.

“Yes, I know,” she smiled, and leaned over to touch his forehead, “It looks like your fever broke.”

“Which doc do I have to thank for that?” he moaned.

“Dr. McKay,” she chuckled.

“McKay?” he pondered, “Where the hell is Jack . . .or the cocheese?”

“They were taken by the Others, Sawyer. Same people that shot you.”

“What?” he said, leaning up, “Then why aren’t we trying to-“

Sawyer then grunted, feeling a jab of pain in his shoulder. Jenny gently touched his chest and slowly forced him back down. “The reason we aren’t doing anything about it right now, is that we don’t know where they are,” she said, “Not to mention, one of us is wounded.”

“It’s nothing, girl. Chicken scratch.”

“You lie well, redneck,” she giggled.

Sawyer looked back to her, smiling. “Have you been watching over me the whole time, slugger?” he asked.

“Someone had to. It kept my mind occupied, waiting for McKay and Sayid to get back,” she leaned back onto her hands, “And some of the stuff you’ve been saying in your fever haze has been interesting.”

“Huh? Like what?”

“Well, it seems you like musical, you were trying to say Bogies at Twelve O’Clock High but you said Boogers at Twelve O’Clock High. You apparently can sing the Batman theme pretty good and you kept asking Seth if he managed to ever sell your horses.”

“Oh, man,” he said, rubbing his eyes.

“Oh, yeah and you admitted you are gay.”

Sawyer’s eyes flung open so fast they could almost make a sound. He lurched up looking at Jenny. The young teenager stared at him and then her mouth slowly curled into a massive grin. The redneck slumped down, grunting. “Very funny,” he muttered.

“Sorry, Sawyer,” she giggled, “I just couldn’t resist.”

“Yeah, well, thanks Bruce Leia. Next time throw salt on my wound, it’ll be less painful,” He turned over on his side, “Let me know when the dynamic duo get back.”

Jenny continued to giggle as she left Sawyer in the wake of her gay joke. Elsewhere in the caves the groups were still huddled together, waiting on some kind of word from McKay and Sayid. Jin held onto his wife as they looked outside to the new downpour. The rain cascaded through the canopy soaking the trees surrounding the caves. Hal continued his watch, hand on his gun. He looked around for anything unusual. Nothing out of the ordinary that he was told to look out for. Nothing but a bird chirping above the cave area.

Seth walked over to his friends. He checked on Shanna, who held a sleeping Flower in her arms. The redhead smiled at her friend and Seth gave a thumbs up. The young future musician then checked on Andre, the other member of Red Faction. The boy was past out next to Yolanda who was also sleeping. In the distance near the water fall, Claire was resting next to the carriage Locke had made for her. Seth then blinked at the missing member of their group.

Where was Charlie?

Seth looked around and began to funnel through the caves, looking for his band-mate. So far he was no where. Seth then walked up to Hal and tapped him on the shoulder. “Yeah, Kid?” he asked.

“Hal, have you seen my friend Charlie?” he asked.

“Yeah, he went out side about five minutes ago,” the cop pointed outside the cave exit.

“Okay, thanks, “ Seth started to go outside.

“What is the urgency?” Hal asked, “He probably just went to use the bathroom.”

“Probably but he shouldn’t stay outside the caves in the rain for two long,” the bookstore worker replied, “Plus he was severely wounded, with a burn mark on his forehead. I want to make sure he is okay.”

“Fine but you two are not back in 15 minutes, I will come looking for you.”

“Thanks, Hal,” Seth replied, disappearing into the downpour.

Hal watched the young man leave his side, turning toward the right and walking into the woods. The cop sighed, as he adjusted his stance and sat down. Then the surfer that he had met a few days came up and sat down next to him. “Dude, when do you think they are coming back?” he asked.

“I don’t know, Ian.” Hal muttered.

“Dude, I told you, call me Dutch.” He chuckled, hitting him on the arm.

“Okay, Dutch, I don’t know. Any other questions?”

“Naw, just . . .everybody is getting worried. First Jack and the others are gone, now McKay and Sayid are gone. They are worried who is next.”

“McKay and Sayid will be back.”

“How do you know?” asked the surfer.

“I just do.” Hal whispered.


Seth walked around in the pouring rain. He rubbed the water out of his eyes but it didn’t do much good. He was getting more and more worried about Charlie. Why was he out in this weather at this particular moment knowing the threat of what just happened to the others? Then he finally spotted his friend. Charlie was sitting under a tree; the kind that had the giant leaves. The water only partly touched him. Seth took a step closer and was shocked; confused by what Charlie had in his hands. It was one of those Virgin Mary statues they found in the Beechcraft. Seth knew for a fact it contained drugs. “Charlie?” he called, “Why do you have that?”

The young man looked up to his friend. He could see he was crying severely. The musician looked at his friend, trying to talk but the words weren’t coming out. With quivering lips he finally said, “I’m a drug addict, Seth.”

“You . .what?” the bookstore worker was shocked.

“I’m a sodding junkie!” he grunted.

“For real?”

Charlie didn’t reply. He just stroked the statue with one of his hands. Seth walked a little closer and finally kneeled down next to him. “You couldn’t have had it this whole time.” He mentioned, “You couldn’t have.”

“I had it for the first few weeks.” He wept, “I went through some withdrawals. It was Locke who convinced me to give it up. I never thought I would ever go back to it, but here she is . . .the bloody Mary herself offering me another chance.”

“Chance at what, Charlie?” Seth raised an eyebrow, “I can already tell you that path doesn’t lead anywhere.”

“I know,” he choked.

“Charlie, have you . .taken any from that?”

“No,” he whispered.

“Let me tell you what happens if you,” Seth looked at him, “If you take that drug, then Turboshaft is no more cause I don’t want to be partnered with a junkie.”

“I know.” Charlie whispered.

“And also, everything you have built between you and Claire will come tumbling down. You will lose her and probably lose Aaron as well.”

“I know,” he said.

“Eventually the graving will get to be too much. You are the only junkie on this island and from what I’ve seen, you got a life-time supply back there. You would probably OD eventually and die of a heart attack.”

“I know,” he repeated.

“And knowing all that . . . .you still want to take that stuff?”

Charlie leaned his head back, his tears becoming more evident. He covered his eyes with his hand and wept. “YES!” he grunted.

Seth looked at him in despair. He had no idea the toll that stuff had taken on Charlie’s soul. Charlie then stood up. He walked a few more feet, staring at the statue of the Virgin Mary. He rubbed her face gently with his thumb. “You like this, don’t you, Mary?” he hissed, “Bloody tormenting me . . .well, DAMN YOU and the drug smugglers you rode in on!”

Charlie then twisted and slammed the statue into the nearest tree, smashing it into a million pieces. The drugs slumped out of the statue and landed on the wet ground. The musician then proceeded to stomp onto them, cracking open the bags and spilling the contents into the wet ground. After another couple of stomps, he stopped; leaning against a tree and catching his breath. Seth walked over to the pile of torn drugs, and opened the rest of the bags, spilling them out into the mud. They started to slowly dissolve into the rain water. Seth stood up and looked at his friend; patting him on the arm. “Good job, Charlie “ he told him.

“Hardest . .thing . .I’ve ever . .had to do . .in my life,” he panted.

“Well, I think you past the test,”

“Thank you, Seth,” he coughed, “You are a good friend.”

“You too, dude,” he said, hugging him.

As they parted, Charlie gathered some rain in his hand and wiped his eyes. “Do I look like I’ve been crying?” he asked, “I don’t want Claire to see me crying.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Seth assured him, “Besides, she is asleep.”

“Why would you be crying?” asked Sayid.

Seth and Charlie turned around abruptly to see Sayid, McKay and Micheal approaching in the rain soaked jungle. The musician collected himself. Seth was waiting for him to say something but then his friend lurched forward and embraced Sayid. The Iraqi was thrown back but the immediate show of affection. “I was so worried about you guys,” Charlie told him, “ First Jack and Kate now you guys. I was so worried I was bloody crying my eyes out.”

“Thank you for your concern, Charlie,” Sayid patted him on the back, and then shoved him back, “ But as you can see, we are fine.”

“Any luck, McKay?” Seth asked.

“More questions and little answers.” He said, letting the rain cover his face, “We got to tell the others. C’mon.”

Micheal had his head hung low; Seth knew he was still upset about Walt and they hadn’t found him yet. But if he knew his Australian friend he knew he would have to think of a plan.

Seth put his arm around Charlie as they followed their friends into the cave.