(Untitled)

[friggin_gift]

His body is on the bed. He's covered up to his neck, only his cut face--still with spots of dried blood on it--is exposed.

Comments

[comma_sticks]

Shannon is there, sitting silently with her head down. She's keeping careful control of herself as best she can.

[sendpeanutbtr]

Claire watches Sun leave and then quietly makes her way over to Shannon. She sits close to her but doesn't say anything--what is there one could possibly say to make things better, really?-- instead, she just stares at Boone's body, and waits.

When Shannon needs something, she'll let her know.

[comma_sticks]

Shannon glances over at Claire. Alas, what she needs is for everything to be okay again, and she doesn't think that Claire can provide that,

"I guess someone told you what happened."

Or so she hopes. Because she really doesn't want to have to explain anything.

[sendpeanutbtr]

"Sort of," she nods and places a hand on Shannon's arm.

"Sawyer thinks there might be something we can do."

. . .and if Sawyer's being optimistic about something, surely they can all draw some hope from it.

[comma_sticks]

There is a bare flutter of hope, but it is soon crushed.

"He's dead, Claire. What is there that we can do?"

[sendpeanutbtr]

"I. . .don't know," she says quietly. "But there must be something we can at least try. We owe it to him to try."

[comma_sticks]

"Owe it to him? Why? It was his own fault, wandering around the jungle with that psycho."

Her voice is falsely loud and irate, like she's trying to emphasize the fact that none of this can be blamed on her.

[sendpeanutbtr]

The hand on Shannon's arm squeezes gently. "Fine, then we owe it to ourselves to try."

She doesn't assign any blame, in spite of the fact that she was just saying the same thing to Sawyer.

[comma_sticks]

She'll accept that. Doing something for herself she can understand.

"Try what?"

[sendpeanutbtr]

"I don't. . . know," she sighs. "Something. There must be something. We'll figure it out."

Boone would do it for them, after all.

[comma_sticks]

"God, what is with practically everyone I know having some kind of hopeless saving-people thing?"

Not that the stubborn hope of it isn't comforting.

[sendpeanutbtr]

"We just have a hard time taking no for an answer," she smiles slightly.

[comma_sticks]

"Or maybe you're all just retarded. And pathetic."

"Whatever your dumb reason is, thanks. For helping. Or trying to. Whatever."

It may not seem so, but she is being sincere.

[sendpeanutbtr]

"You're welcome," she smiles again and rubs Shannon's back lightly. "Are you sure you don't need anything? Some water or something?"

[comma_sticks]

She stiffens defensively under the touch, and then relaxes again after a moment.

"I think I need a real drink. Something way stronger than water.

"Or have you got a mirror? I probably look like hell."

Concentrate on the little things.

[sendpeanutbtr]

Claire blinks and then nods. "I can get you a drink and a mirror. Any particular drink?"