Okay, since everyone and their mother has written a 'walk' fic, I decided I'd take a whack at it.
Title: Comfort
Rating: PG - Just angsty sweetness
Summary: The short happenings after the walk that Charlie and Claire take in the end of "Outlaws."
x-posted to
charlie_claire,
i_heart_lost,
ficinabottle and
lost_fanfic.
Comfort
Claire tried to hide the smile that was playing on her lips, but she couldn’t help it. Whenever she was with Charlie, he made her smile, her helped her laugh - he made her feel safe, so why not smile?
They had casually taken a walk down the beach as she had suggested earlier. He seemed more light hearted now, more apt to smile at her or tease her and make her blush. She liked this Charlie... no, she liked Charlie. Period.
It was strange... how she felt like she knew him so well, and yet, she didn’t. It made her at ease, nervous and agitated all at the same time. She always felt comfortable with Charlie, and she had believed him when he said that they were friends because of the way her heart reacted.
But she wanted to remember... Oh, how she wanted to remember! Why he looked at her so intently, why he cared for her so openly and honestly. And she wanted to trust him. There was no reason not to. He was so obviously preoccupied with her safety and comfort. And she wanted to remember him - her friend, Charlie.
Or maybe more than a friend... she had read her diary many times over since the night Charlie had returned it to her. There were so many clues to her past, yet nothing struck a nerve, caused a memory. Even her written words of Charlie, they all seemed on the edge of saying something more, but she still couldn’t remember. And that was what upset her.
Her dreams. She cherished her dreams. She almost awaited the night time now. The previous night she had more than a dream - it was a memory. She woke so delightedly that morning with a memory finally filling her mind. And it was of Charlie. She remembered . . .
“What’re you thinkin’ about?”
Charlie’s sultry voice shook Claire from her thoughts. She had become mesmerized by the setting sun, by the swirling pinks and purples, the moon fighting the sun for its turn to rule the heavens.
A soft smile graced her lips as she blinked and looked down. “I was just thinking about the dream I had last night.”
“Oh, yeah.” he said. “You were going to tell me about that, weren’t you?” he said, suddenly attentive and interested.
She flipped her wispy blond hair from her face and looked up into his stormy grey eyes. “It was nothing really, it was kind of like a freeze frame in my mind. I just remembered you, in the jungle, holding my hand. Something was happening...” her voice trailed off, her eyes glazing over trying to remember. “Something serious or painful...”
Charlie smiled and Claire’s heart skipped a beat as his eyes locked with hers. “You were having contractions.”
Then she laughed. “Yeah, that would be pretty painful.”
“And I guess that would be a semi useful memory to have. It was right after that when we were attacked by Ethan. Did you remember anything about that?”
Claire shook her head. “Nope. I just remembered having this feeling of safety and comfort, nothing whatsoever of a need to be afraid. Holding your hand made everything all right.” Then she smiled sheepishly.
“I try to help where I can.” Charlie said with a proud smirk.
“You often make me feel like that, Charlie.” she said without hesitation. “Protected, safe... I feel like nothing can happen when you’re here.”
Then she looked up and looked into his eyes. It made her heart skip a beat.
Charlie looked away to Claire’s dismay. He eyed the sunset for a moment, then sighed and looked down. “I told you something once, Claire. In that memory you had, I promised you that I wouldn’t let anything happen to you.” Charlie took a deep breath and continued. “And then Ethan came.”
“Charlie, you’ve saved me." she told him reassuringly. "You made sure he would never hurt anyone ever again. And I can’t ever repay the comfort you’ve offered me.”
Charlie shook his head with a soft laugh. “You’re too kind, Claire.”
“Maybe so, but I’m also not a liar.” she said.
“So I guess we’re good for each other.” he said, looking up at her with a smile, relief covering his face. “Good comfort-giving friends.”
She smiled back at him and a real soothing comfort filled her heart. Companionship, solace and a warm feeling overwhelmed her. Turning back to the sunrise, Claire scooted closer in the sand towards Charlie and leaned her head on her shoulder, a content smile on her lips.
Running her fingers through the sand, she found his hand. She linked her fingers with his and squeezed it reassuringly.
She wanted that comforting feeling to last as long as it could. For both of them.
Fin