Homecoming
Chapter Eight

Charlie coughed as he felt himself fall through a wall of dirt. He stumbled onto outside ground, coughing.

Looking up, Charlie saw that he was not alone, but Jack was there as well, just as confused as he was.

Charlie acknowledged. What are you doing out here?Could asked the same to you, Jack said.

I don't know what happened, Charlie said truthfully, I was just running and then I ran into this wall and somehow ended up out here. He stopped. Wait, why are you out here?Found some sort of door, Jack explained, pushed it open, and ended up out here. Then it disappeared.

Charlie looked down to the ground where Jack was looking. Sure enough, nothing but earth.

What the hell- Charlie couldn't finish his thought.

He looked around at the overgrown jungle around them.

What the hell is this place? He wondered.

I don't know, Jack said, reading his thought, but what ever it is, it isn't good. Did you here that gunshot a few minutes ago? Charlie nodded, heard Kate too- Jack cut in, thinking he imagined it.

Yeah, heard her scream, Charlie said as if it were nothing, said something like Looking for us?

The two turned to see Sawyer approaching them from behind some trees that hid the invisible bunker. Claire and Kate were with him. Rushing forward, Charlie helped Sawyer lower Claire to the ground, and Jack checked on Kate.

Are you okay? He asked her, concerned.

Stupid question. There was a gash on her forehead, but it had momentarily stopped bleeding, and her left ankle was wrapped hastily in some kind of clothing.

I'm fine, she said, lying anyway.

Jack looked her in the eye, but when he knew he wasn't going to get the truth out of her, he knelt down beside Claire.

Has she woken up? He asked Sawyer, who Jack noticed, was also bleeding in what looked like a result from a fight.

Fluttered her little eyes but nothing else, Sawyer lied.

What was the use of getting all uptight about a single word that was said five minutes ago?

Charlie, on the other hand, was looking at Claire in worry, fear.

Is she going to be okay? He asked Jack, though knowing there was know way Jack could know.

Jack saw the look of worry in Charlie's eyes, and knew he couldn't tell him the whole truth, that it looked like it might be a while before Claire was fully recovered.

She should wake up in the next few days, he said, looks like she was drugged with something. We need to get her back to the caves.

He looked up at Kate, who's face was shouting pain all over it from standing on her ankle, but she wasn't about to admit it.

Are you sure you'll be fine? He asked her seriously.

I'll be fine, Kate lied, really wanting to keep moving.

Ethan won't stay knocked out forever, Charlie reminded him, assuming the gunshot was toward Ethan.

By the way, Jack said, turning to Sawyer, who shot Ethan? Who saved Claire?

Sawyer looked at Kate and smiled.

She did.

......

Boone felt himself slowly come back to consciousness. The first thing he observed was that it was night, the second that wasn't near the caves. He was lying beside a fire, out in the woods, and Locke was beside him. Locke noticed as Boone tried to sit up.

Take it easy, Locke ordered, no rush.

Boone did, and found it easier to sit up. Locke was sitting on some log, twirling some kind of small stick in his fingers that he was using to ignite the fire.

Where are we? He asked, confused.

Why hadn't Locke taken him back to the caves, where the medical aids were? What was he trying to pull?

Out in the jungle, Locke explained, probably a mile from where we found you, which is probably seven miles west from the caves.Why didn't you just take me back? Boone asked, beginning to wonder if Locke was trying to kill him.

Figured you needed to clear your mind, Locke shrugged, get out in the open a bit.

Boone nodded, beginning to understand. Locke was really wanting to find out what was happening between him and Shannon.

You know what the funny thing about this is? Boone said a few minutes later.

Jack left me in charge.

Boone stared into the fire, and then laughed a little to himself. He threw a small stick into the fire, sending the flames up a foot, thinking about how ironic that was.

......

Author's Notes: Yes! I finished it! Don't worry! I no longer believe in the radiation theory! You'll see where this s going, don't worry! Thanks for all who read and reviewed, and I hope you'll all be back for my next story, Outlaws, a Sawyer-centric fic. It might be out tomorrow, might be out Tuesday. I don't have a set plot yet, but I can give you a mini plot:

In Outlaws'
(spoilers for my story, and possible ep. spoilers)

.Sawyer will find out who the prisoner is
.Jack's dad and Sawyer share a flashback that changes everything
.I'm gonna give Sawyer his real name(hehe.. the possibilities!)
.(I think) Sayid will find out a little on Shannon's past.

I'm trying to think of more. I'm not exactly sure the order I want my main plot to go in, so I'm still thinking about it. Sayid will found out some about Shannon's past, just where, I don't know.

Well there you have it, Homecoming! Until next time..

October Sky