Kahana
Part One

Characters: (Part One) Charlie, Desmond, Sayid, Claire, Hurley, Charlotte, Daniel, Frank, Jack, Locke.
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I own nothing. As usual.
Summary: Charlie gets a spot on the helicopter and goes to the Freighter - the Kahana - along with Desmond, Sayid, and Frank.

Note: I really don’t know how long this will be, considering Desmond and Sayid haven’t left the Freighter yet. But this basically explores the possibility of Charlie being with them during that time.

“I just don’t think you should be alone.”

“I’m not alone.”

“He means you shouldn’t be somewhere without him,” Claire said, looking up from where she was sitting cross-legged on the bed, cooing Aaron and half-listening to Desmond and Charlie as they argued. She gave Desmond a knowing smile. “Right?”

They were all in the bedroom of Charlie and Claire’s house in the barracks. Claire was sitting on top of the blankets as she played with Aaron and Charlie was sitting on the edge of the bed, watching Desmond warily like he didn’t really understand his motives. Desmond was standing in front of them, trying to reason with Charlie.

Desmond, Sayid, Kate, and this new man - Miles - had come to retrieve Charlotte, the young British girl Locke’s group had taken. Sayid and Kate were out doing what they came to do, and Desmond had snuck off hardly noticed to find Charlie. But his intentions weren’t to just say a quick “hello” and be gone again.

Desmond glanced at Claire. “It’s not just that,” Desmond answered. He didn’t want to be taken for a paranoid control freak, but that was probably what he was becoming in both Claire’s and Charlie’s eyes. He doubted that Claire was going to let him run off with Charlie again, but she at least seemed to get him. Even if she didn’t agree with him, she understood why he wanted to be around Charlie. Charlie understood it, too. He just didn’t like it.

“I mean, that’s part of it…” Desmond elaborated with a brief shrug. “But, brother, I just…”

“After everything,” Charlie cut him off. “After I warned you…you wouldn’t even come with us.” He stood up now and studied Desmond carefully. “You didn’t even tell me why.”

Desmond looked down guiltily and then quickly back up. “I guess I can just tell you now then, yeah? It’s because of Penny. I need answers, Charlie. I went because it’s my best chance of finding out what’s going on. But it’s not just that, brother. I needed to be there if you, Claire, and the little one weren’t. Because of the flashes. If we were all running away from rescue together, who would be there to see the helicopter? It had to be me - so I could be there to tell you about it.”

Charlie softened slightly, but he was still frowning as he sat back down on the edge of the bed. He smiled down at Aaron and grabbed his toe, tickling it slightly with his fingertip and then laughing out loud when the baby giggled. When he looked back up, he saw that Desmond was still watching. He frowned.

“Well, you’d better get back, then,” Charlie shrugged. “So you can go see your helicopter…even though according to Charlotte, it probably crashed. I’m not going with you, mate.”

Desmond smiled slightly. “It didn’t crash. We found the pilot. He landed it safely.”

Charlie stared at him in surprise and Claire looked delighted, but it was short lived.

“If you think I’m getting into that helicopter…”

“I don’t expect you to,” Desmond assured her. “The reason I came here is because I’m going.”

Claire looked down and Charlie shook his head urgently. “No way, Des. Are you mad? You don’t even know-”

Desmond nodded. “I’m going. For answers. And Charlie, I think you should come with me.”

Claire froze and glared up at Desmond. “No.”

Desmond frowned and looked back at Charlie, who was staring down at the floor and wringing the blanket nervously in his hands from where he sat. He finally took a deep breath and looked back up at Desmond.

“Why should I go if you’re going?”

“Because I think you’ll need to form your own opinion of the people on the Freighter. Decide for yourself if it’s safe for your girl.” He gestured at Claire, who was still staring at him angrily.

“You’re assuming he comes back alive, you know.”

Desmond found himself rolling his eyes slightly. “I brought him back alive the last time, didn’t I?”

“Barely.”

Desmond winced. After tapping in the code to the jamming system and closing the watertight door on the flood, Desmond was convinced that Charlie was showing early signs of hypothermia. Down in the station, he had sat on the floor, back against the wall, and shivered. At first, Desmond assumed the excitement of it all had taken a toll on him. But when he pulled Charlie to his feet, he could hardly stand. His words were mumbled and his hands were cold and clammy.

Desmond, of course, had been down in the cold water as well. But he hadn’t spent hours tied to a chair in wet clothes in a cold, concrete station. Desmond knew that Charlie had to be in a warmer place to get rid of the hypothermia, and that place had to be the Island. It nearly killed him to tell Charlie that he had to go back in the water, but Charlie didn’t protest as Desmond helped him with the scuba gear.

Once they were back on the beach, Charlie had pulled on some dry clothes. But, in Desmond’s opinion, he still looked terrible. He lingered behind with Charlie as they walked to meet Jack’s group. His reunion with Claire had brightened up his dull, sick eyes. But he had still been shivering and shaking. Desmond had regrettably left him in that state but now he seemed fine, despite a few sniffs every now and then.

“Well?” Desmond asked, turning back to Charlie and ignoring Claire’s comments for the time being.

Charlie looked back at Claire and sighed. “He’s right, you know,” he told her quietly. “I should go, just to-”

The door swung open and Hurley walked in. “Charlie! I was wondering if…” His voice dwindled once he caught sight of Desmond and he frowned. “You? Did you come with Sayid, Kate, and the neo-Sawyer guy?”

Desmond nodded.

“Oh, dude…if Locke finds you he’s gonna kill you…”

Desmond frowned and shook his head, confused. “Why?”

“Because he’s got Kate, Sayid, and Miles being held as prisoners right now,” Hurley answered.

“So it worked?” Charlie asked. “When you hid in the closet?”

Hurley nodded and Desmond turned to Hurley, surprised. “You tricked your own friends?”

Hurley nodded, his face pinched in a pained expression. “Yeah, but I just…” he paused and looked over Desmond’s shoulder and sighed. Desmond turned around to see Charlie pointing a gun at him.

“Sorry, Des.”

Desmond kept his hands raised slightly as he walked out the front door. Charlie followed behind, gun still poised. Hurley walked alongside him, frowning at Desmond’s back.

“I know you’re not going to shoot me,” Desmond said, looking over his shoulder to glance at Charlie briefly. “Do you even know how to use a gun, brother?”

“Ask Ethan,” Hurley said, raising his eyebrows slightly. “Except you can’t ‘cause he’s dead.”

Charlie came up behind Desmond and grabbed his arm, but not roughly. He lowered his gun and talked to him quietly.

“I wouldn’t shoot you,” Charlie agreed. “In fact, I know that you could kill me with your bare hands right now if you really needed to. But we’re going to see Locke right now and we’re going to make it look like…well, what it looks like. However unbelievable that is.” He smiled slightly. “But I’m going with you on the helicopter, ok? So we’re even?”

Desmond frowned and they paused by the door to the rec room. “How do we get on the helicopter if Locke is holding me and the others captive?”

Charlie shrugged. “Sayid will find a way. No worries.” Charlie pushed open the door and regained hold on Desmond’s arm, pulling him inside after him.

Sayid was sitting on the pool table and Locke was standing before him. Ben was there as well. Locke glanced at the doorway, surprised to see Desmond.

“He was in my room,” Charlie said, handing Desmond over to Locke. Charlie imagined it appeared quite comical, considering Desmond was a good five or six inches taller than him. Locke appeared a bit confused himself, but tied Desmond’s wrists anyway and sat him down in a chair.

Sayid frowned at Charlie critically. “You’re just like Hurley then, aren’t you?”

Charlie didn’t respond, but winked at Sayid quickly and smiled.

Sayid rubbed his sore wrists as he, Desmond, and Charlie walked out of the rec room together. Hurley, who had been lingering outside, raised his eyebrows at them.

“Dude…how did you…?”

“Hurley, where is Charlotte being held?” Sayid asked.

“I can’t-”

“We’re giving Miles to Locke in exchange for Charlotte,” Sayid explained. “It’s all right, Hurley. We made a deal.”

Hurley hesitantly lead Sayid to the house they were keeping Charlotte in, leaving Desmond and Charlie behind.

“You sure that you still want to go through with this?” Desmond asked, following Charlie back to the house he shared with Claire.

“Yeah,” Charlie answered. “I’m sure.”

He opened the door and walked back to the bedroom where Claire was still sitting on the bed with Aaron. She glanced at Desmond and then back to Charlie.

“So you’ve got it all settled, then?” Claire asked, standing up. “Desmond’s going back, and-”

“Well, I’m going with him,” Charlie said, guilt edging his voice. “I think he’s right. I should go and make sure it’s safe.”

“But that’s what he’s going for!” Claire exclaimed, her pale cheeks flushing slightly. “You can’t keep going on these bloody suicide missions, Charlie! Especially with Desmond!”

Desmond frowned and glanced down at the floor. Charlie sighed and took Claire’s hand.

“It’s hardly a suicide mission, Claire. As far as we know, these people aren’t necessarily bad. We’re just going to check it out.” He paused. “You know, Locke said Kate’s staying. You should room with her for now. For safety. Until I get back.”

Claire didn’t say anything else. But Charlie kissed her lightly and picked up Aaron, kissing his cheek and handing him over to Claire.

“I’ll see you two soon,” he promised, heading for the door with Desmond.

“Yeah,” Claire responded quietly. “See you.”

Charlie closed the door behind them and they walked out to the living room and through the front door where Sayid, Hurley, and Charlotte were waiting out in the front lawn. Desmond frowned at the back of Charlie’s head and rested a hand on his shoulder.

“Sorry.”

Charlie shrugged and came to a stop next to Sayid and the others.

“What about Miles?” Charlotte demanded. “You’re just going to leave him here!”

Sayid nodded. “I’m sorry. But it was the only way to get through to Locke. I’d imagine your crew didn’t like him too much, anyhow.”

Hurley laughed slightly. “I’m telling you guys…he’s the Sawyer of the Freighters…”

Charlie glanced at Charlotte and then at Sayid. “She’s probably right. Maybe we shouldn’t leave him with Locke…”

“You haven’t met Miles, Charlie,” Desmond said. “He’s not exactly the most pleasant person to be around.”

Hurley nodded in agreement.

Charlotte sighed, but she got over the situation rather quickly and nodded at Sayid. “Ok. Which way to the helicopter, then?”

“I’ll lead you there,” Sayid said. He turned to Charlie and Hurley. “Goodbye. I hope to see the two of you soon.”

Hurley nodded slightly. “Sorry I lied to you, dude.”

Charlie looked from Desmond to Sayid. “Actually, Sayid…I’m going with you.”

Sayid raised his eyebrows. “To the beach camp?”

“No, on the helicopter.”

Sayid winced. “Charlie, I-”

Charlie shook his head dismissively. “Look, before you say anything else…it’s completely logical…Des is going to find out about Penny. You’re going to check it out, right? I’m the one who found out about who they were in the first place. Warned you guys. So why can’t I go?”

“You’re acting like we’re a bunch of monsters,” Charlotte snapped.

Charlie shrugged slightly. “With all due respect, love, we have no idea who you are.”

Charlotte frowned. “Well, I can assure you that we’re not-”

“Stop,” Sayid ordered. He sighed and nodded at Charlie. “I suppose that’s fair, then. And I’ll try to help you convince Jack and the others as much as I can, but I doubt they’ll be willing to allow it.”

Desmond walked ahead a few feet with Sayid and Charlie stayed behind with Charlotte. The ground was moist and muddy from a recent rainfall, and the air was humid as usual. Charlie wiped sweat off of his forehead with the back of his hand and took off his jacket, relieved when he felt the cooler air on his arms.

“What part of England are you from?”

“Manchester,” Charlie answered, looking over at Charlotte. She was young and about his height, he figured. She had stringy red hair, but it also had a bit of a wave to it. It was probably naturally wavy - or maybe even curly - when she took care of it. He couldn’t determine where she was from like he had been able to do with Naomi, though.

“What about you?” he asked.

“Essex.”

Charlie nodded. “So, is your boat full with Brits, then?” he joked. “First Naomi, now you. Are the other three…?”

“No,” Charlotte answered. “Dan’s from Massachusetts. Frank is from the Bronx. I don’t know much about Miles - we didn’t exactly talk. Regina‘s a Brit. You might meet her when you go on board.”

“You coming with us?” Charlie asked, stepping over a fallen tree carefully and glancing back over at her.

“I’m afraid not,” Charlotte answered. “I’ve still got work to do here.”

“Oh yeah? What kind of work?”

Sayid looked over his shoulder at them and frowned. “Is everything all right?”

“We’re fantastic,” Charlie answered cheerily. “Just talking.”

Sayid nodded. “Charlotte? Why don’t you come walk up here?” He turned to Desmond. “You stay back with Charlie.”

Charlotte rolled her eyes and smiled at Charlie coyly. “Oh, so now the suspicion starts, yeah?”

Charlie laughed. “Well, it was bound to happen.”

Charlotte walked up next to Sayid and Desmond slowed down to stay behind with Charlie. “You find anything out about her?”

Charlie shook his head. “She’s from Essex. Uh, there’s another British girl on board. Regina. Some guy named Dan is from Massachusetts and Frank is from the Bronx.”

Desmond nodded. “Daniel Faraday - he’s a scientist of some sort. Frank’s the helicopter pilot.”

They walked in silence for awhile. Charlie figured that Sayid would be questioning Charlotte by now, but they were quiet as well. Any moment now, Charlie expected them to come up on the helicopter. But the hike seemed endless and he had already ran out of water. Desmond eventually let him drink some of his own.

“Thanks,” Charlie said, taking a sip and handing it back to them. He hesitated slightly and waited until Sayid and Charlotte were out of earshot. “That was good, you know.”

Desmond laughed slightly. “The water?”

“No,” Charlie said, waving his hand dismissively. “I meant back at the barracks. When you were talking to me with Claire right there - listening. And you didn’t worry her too much. And you didn’t tell her.”

Desmond shook his head, confused. “Didn’t tell her what? What’re you talking about?”

“About the flashes,” Charlie said quietly.

Desmond stopped where he was, as did Charlie. “You thought I came to you because of another flash!”

“…You mean you didn’t?”

“No!” Desmond exclaimed. “The flashes are over, Charlie! I haven’t had one since we left for the Looking Glass! I wanted you to come because I thought you would want to! Not so you could die!”

Charlie frowned and turned away, following after Sayid and Charlotte. “Well, sorry!” he whispered harshly. “It’s not everyday you invite me along for an event that doesn’t result in my death for the well-being of others.”

Desmond sighed and followed after him. “You’re never going to let me live any of this down, are you?”

“Actually, no,” Charlie answered, quieting as they caught up with the other two. “Nearly tricking someone into their own death so you can see your girlfriend deserves unlimited reminders.”

Desmond grimaced and rested his hand on Charlie’s shoulder gently. Charlie stopped and turned back around. “You know I’m sorry about that, yeah?”

“Yeah,” Charlie nodded, managing a smile. “I know.”

An hour or so later, they broke through the treeline and came upon the helicopter. Charlie found himself getting excited, and then had to quickly remind himself that Charlotte and her friends could really be dangerous. After all, he had trusted Ethan and talked to him and thought he was one of them - on their side. But he had been wrong. And he might be wrong about Charlotte, too.

Right when they approached the helicopter, a thin man with dark hair and a tie walked up and wrapped his arm around Charlotte’s shoulders, asking her if she was all right and leading her away from everyone else. A larger man with gray hair and a beard walked up to Sayid and they discussed Miles and the available space on the helicopter. Jack approached Desmond and Charlie.

“Where’s Kate?” Jack asked. “And, Charlie, what’re you doing here?”

“Kate decided to stay,” Charlie answered, shrugging. “I don’t know why. And, well, I’m going with Des and Sayid to the Freighter.”

Jack froze and turned to Desmond, frowning. “Are you aware of this? Does Sayid know?”

“It was actually my idea,” Desmond nodded. “And Sayid’s perfectly all right with it.”

Jack glanced back at Charlie. “That’s not such a good idea. You shouldn’t go, Charlie. It’s not safe…”

“You let me go to the Looking Glass,” Charlie pointed out. “How is this any different? And since when do you tell me what to do?”

Jack frowned and shook his head. “You almost died, Charlie. It was a mistake on my part, and I’ll admit to that.”

“Don’t you think he deserves to go?” Desmond put in helpfully. “After what he did? Besides, he’s right, you can’t just tell him what to do.”

Jack sighed and nodded, defeated. “All right. Just be careful, ok?”

“Of course,” Charlie nodded.

Frank and Sayid were still talking, so Charlie wandered over to Charlotte while Desmond and Jack were still half arguing, half talking about Charlie’s place on the helicopter. Charlotte was talking to the man with the tie, who was waving his hands around as he tried to explain something to her.

“See, Regina sent it to me, and thirty one minutes-” he stopped when he saw Charlie walking up to them.

Charlotte nodded. “All right, Dan. Why don’t you write it down in your notebook so you don’t forget and we’ll go over it together soon, all right?”

Dan nodded, but didn’t move. He awkwardly stuck his hand out in Charlie’s direction. “I’m Daniel Faraday.”

Charlie nodded slightly and shook his hand. “Charlie.”

Dan raised his eyebrows slightly at his accent. “You’re British.”

“Uh, yes?”

“I was a professor at Queen’s College - Oxford. 1996.”

Charlie smiled and nodded. “Well, that’s a bit out of my league but that’s, uh, pretty impressive, mate.” He pointed at Daniel’s tie. “You can take that off, you know.”

Daniel looked down at his shirt and touched his tie self-consciously, and then nodded slightly.

Charlie smiled and nodded at Charlotte. “It was nice meeting you earlier, Charlotte.” He waved at Dan. “You too.”

Frank, Desmond, and Sayid were all gathered by the helicopter now, waiting for him. Frank raised an eyebrow at Charlie critically and glanced back at Sayid. “That’s him?”

“…What?” Charlie asked, offended. “You don’t think I should come either?”

“Hey,” Frank said, holding his hands up defensively. “I just expected someone…different. But if your friends are ok with you coming along, then, hell…that’s fine with me.”

Desmond climbed into the co-pilot’s seat, pulling on a headset and adjusting it. Sayid followed after, sitting behind Desmond with his back against the seat. Charlie followed him and sat down next to him. Out of the side window, he could see Daniel whispering something to Frank. Frank merely nodded and climbed into the pilot’s seat. And they took off.

Seeing the Island from the sky was mind blowing. But that image and memory was lost when Charlie turned around to look outside and saw that they were headed for a large storm cloud. The blue sky had darkened and it was storming and raining, jolting and shaking them from within the helicopter. Frank was making no move to fly them around the storm.

“Should we be trying to avoid that?” Sayid asked nervously, joining Charlie to look. “Frank? We need to go around this.”

“Faraday told me to stay on this bearing,” Frank explained. “I don’t know what he meant by it, but he’s probably right. I don’t want to mess anything up. Just sit tight - there’s going to be turbulence.”

Charlie hesitantly lowered himself down against the back of the seat, wincing as the helicopter jolted him. A few minutes passed of only mild turbulence, but then it started to get worse. Charlie looked around urgently for something to cling to, and Sayid held onto the back of Desmond’s seat.

“Have you lost the bearing!” Sayid yelled to Frank over all the commotion.

“Briefly!” Frank answered. “But we’re back on it now, and the storm is passing. I’m seeing daylight up ahead, so we-”

There was suddenly a rattling sound. At first Charlie assumed it was something from the helicopter - perhaps it was falling apart or something equally unfortunate. But then he noticed that Sayid was staring at Desmond. Sitting up, Charlie saw that his friend was clumsily trying to take off his seat belt. His face was creased with fear and worry as his hands trembled against the buckle.

“Des?” Charlie moved over next to him. “Desmond, what’re you doing!” He moved to grab his hands to stop him, but Desmond yelled something unintelligible at him and swung his hand backwards, knocking Charlie in the nose.

Charlie gasped slightly and pulled away, holding his nose with one hand. When he pulled it away, blood was dotting his fingers.

Sayid gently pushed Charlie out of the way and took his place next to Desmond. Frank was yelling about keeping Desmond away from the controls and Desmond was yelling back at Sayid, asking him how he knew his name and what he was doing on the helicopter. Charlie could tell Sayid was having a difficult time restraining Desmond, and he was about to move over again to attempt to help. But suddenly Desmond relaxed and stopped thrashing. He was clutching Penny’s photograph in one hand.

Sayid carefully pulled away from Desmond, keeping an eye on him. Then he turned to Charlie and pulled his hand away from his nose, examining his injury.

“I think he was going to try to jump out of the helicopter,” Sayid explained, sounding haunted.

Charlie’s eyes widened. “What! Why! What’s wrong with him!”

“Charlie, he doesn’t know where he is.”