exercise never did anyone any good...

[1000_cranes]

Charlie was trying to get into the habit of running a mile or so every day after breakfast along the sand, to get herself used to distance again, used to the stretch and pull of her muscles when she ran. She'd forgotten how good it felt to do something that she was just good at...all her life, Charlie had been good at two things: waitressing and

Comments

[red_ponytail]

Bill broke into a jog when he saw the girl fall a short distance ahead of him. It looked like it had fucking hurt, her ankle twisting like that, and he winced involuntarily as he reached her and dropped into a crouch next to her. "That didn't look terribly fun," he said, glancing at her with a wry smile before looking down at her ankle. "You all right, apart from the ankle?"

[1000_cranes]

Charlie looked up at the man who she didn't know, her mouth involuntarily hanging open at the pain in her ankle and this English guy in front of her and godamnit did every man on this island have an accent.

"It hurts," said Charlie, dumbly, feeling stupid. "I don't know what happened. my foot...it must've slipped."

She blushed and tried to stop feeling like she was going to burst into tears.

[red_ponytail]

Now would've been a really brilliant time for Bill to have had his magic. "I think we need to get you to the clinic. Does it feel broken?" It didn't look broken, but Bill wasn't completely sure.

[1000_cranes]

"I can wiggle my toes," said Charlie, and did so, a little painfully, holding her breath. "That means its not broken, right?"

She tried to give him a smile.

[unemain]

There were some things that Fergus could do, one handed or not, and helping those in distress was one of those. So when he saw the girl, hand on ankle, he made it a purpose to divurge his current course and head towards her.

"Hush, m'petite, do not touch it," he said, smiling gently and crouching near her ankle, shaking his head slightly, before looking up at her face. "No tears, eh? It is not worth it, it may hurt, but it is just a wound of the flesh, not one of the heart. Correct?" He cocked his head to the side. "That is all there is, ouais?"

[1000_cranes]

Charlie wasn't sure that she'd ever even met a French person before and now was not the ideal time. She just stared at him and felt her heartbeat sickly in her ankle and tired not to cry.

"It really hurts," she said, dumbly.

[unemain]

"I am certain it does, but this is a good sign, trust me. You want it to hurt, means it is still there," he answered, smiling encouragingly, much the way he smiled at any of the numerous Fraser and Murray children growing up.

"We should get you to a doctor. This is not the sort of place for it."

[1000_cranes]

"It certainly looks like it's still there," said Charlie, still blushing a little. He sure had a pretty smile.

"You're right," said Charlie, with a little nod of her head. "This ain't the place at all."

[great_talent]

Hiro didn't see her fall, but she did hear pained cries as he walked down the beach. He quickened his steps, thinking someone was injured, and went into a full run when he realized who it was.

"Charlie!" he exclaimed, kneeling next to her. "Are you okay?"

[1000_cranes]

Charlie looked up when she heard the familiar voice, eyes full of unshed tears, her fingers still gingerly wrapped around her ankle.

"It's not broken," she said, blurting the words out, not wanting him to worry. "I just slipped."

[great_talent]

That didn't ease his worry much. He could see the pain on her face.

"I carry you to clinic," he said. "Get in checked, just in case. Okay?"

[1000_cranes]

"Oh, it's a long way to carry me, sugar," said Charlie, patting his face and giving him a smile that she hoped was reassuring. "You help me up and help me walk an' we'll get there."

[willbewonderful]

"Charlie," says Duck, soft and urgent as he drops down beside her. He'd thought he recognized the red hair through the trees, but he hadn't expected to find her on the ground. "What happened?"

[1000_cranes]

"Hello, handsome," said Charlie, a little breathless, still probing at her ankle with the tips of her fingers. "I'm okay. I slipped. I think I...I think I busted my goddamn ankle. Goddamn fuck."

She sniffed hard, detirmined not to cry because she'd fallen down.

[willbewonderful]

Duck makes a shushing noise, draping a hand over her ankle. "You move your toes?"

[1000_cranes]

Charlie nodded silently and wiggled her toes, wincing and swallowing hard, a tear brimming down her cheek. Duck was probably one of the only people on the island who it wouldn't be completely humiliating to cry in front of.

"I'm an idiot."

[not_a_tosser]

Outspan sees Charlie fall, and in an instant he's up from the place where he's been sitting in the sand and running towards her. He kneels beside her and puts his hand on her shoulder, his face the picture of concern. "Are ye alrigh'? Is it broken?"

[1000_cranes]

Charlie manages a pained, stretched smile at Outspan, who she likes and sees around a lot. He looks so concerned and she doesn't want him to worry.

"Oh, yes, sugar," she said, slightly breathless, feeling faintly nauseous. "I'm just a damn idiot."

[not_a_tosser]

"Take it easy now," he says, still frowning slightly. "D'you need some water? Or maybe ice? I can run back to the compound an' get it..."

[1000_cranes]

"That's miles, sugar," says Charlie, still wincing. "I ain't havin' you run around miles for me. You reckon you could help me get up there and get a doctor to look at it?"