Promise
By Icalynn

PAIRING: Claire/Charlie
RATING: PG-13
SUMMARY: It's a Claire/Charlie POV on the missing scenes from the episode, "All The Best Cowboys Have Daddy Issues".
WARNINGS:  Spoilers for and up to the episode, "All The Best Cowboys Have Daddy Issues".

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The man stands before us; a look in his eyes that I can’t comprehend or rather wished I didn’t. I feel Charlie’s arm tighten around me, attempting to protect me as he promised.

“It’s okay, Claire,” he whispers into my ear. “I’ve got you.” He adds, the soft warmth of his breath against my ear making me feel safer in his arms.

He tugs lightly on me, pulling me back as we attempt to take a few steps back away from the crazy man before us. I wrap my arm around my swollen belly as Ethan continues to approach us.

My heart skips a beat as his eerie grin widens and he motions to something, or someone behind us. We freeze as we hear crunching footsteps and we glance at each other before we dare to look behind us.

Before either of us can respond, Charlie is ripped away from me and I cry out from the loss of his touch and pretense of protection. “Charlie!” I cry out, panicking as harsh arms wrap around me and I’m blindfolded.

For a second I think I’m dreaming again and I try to force myself to wake up. It’s only a nightmare, I’m sleepwalking. I blink my eyes against the blindfold, and struggle against the hands that hold me.

No, luck. This is real. This. Is. Real.

Oh, God.

“Charlie?” I call out, needing to hear his voice, needing to know he’s still beside me.

“I’m here Claire.” I hear him respond softly and I know I’ll be safe as long as he’s still there.

The forest whispers and moans around us as I’m dragged and pulled to places unknown, the leaves and branches whipping past my skin. Every few feet I call out to him and he simply responds. “I’m here, Claire.” His reassurance makes me believe everything will turn out fine as long as we are together. His promises from the other night echoing in my ear, reassuring my rapidly beating heart that we will be ok.

We stop suddenly as angry voices in a foreign tongue escalate around us. The arms around me drop and I falter, trying to find my balance.

“Charlie?” I question once more, suddenly needing to hear his voice. A sob escapeing my lips when he doesn’t reply. “Charlie?” I cry out as the arms wrap around my arms once more and I’m pulled up harshly.

I feel the blindfold being ripped from my face. I gasp as my eyes adjust to the low lighting and I blink up into the darkening sky.

I see Charlie’s feet in front of my eyes and I gasp for air as I stumble back against my captor. “Charlie! Nooo!” I cry as I look up to see him dangling. His hands grabbing at his throat as he tries to breathe. “Charlie!!” I cry as I rip away from the man holding me and I try to grab his feet, to help him, to try to save him. “Noo!”

Arms wrap around me and I scream as they begin to drag me away, my cries dying in my throat as darkness surrounds me and I welcome it. The only thought in my mind as my heart continues to ache is that Charlie’s gone.

Charlie’s dead.

I am lost.

*~*

I take a gasping breath of air, filling my lungs with the air I was deprived of for too long. My lungs sting and burn, my neck and chest ache. I feel empty.

I blink and look up at Jack and Kate. I glance around us I try to catch my breath.

No Claire.

I feel lightheaded as I try to get up and the next thing I know I’m at the blood caves, staring into the fire.

Claire.

Jack pesters me with questions I don’t have the answers to. I stand up and turn to him, my eyes locking onto his. “It’s all your bloody fault.” I growl, my voice dryer and more harsh the normal.

Jack blinks at me as if confused and then looks down at the bloody ground, causing my anger to flare even more.

“You said she was crazy. That she made the bloody thing all up.” I groan. “You were wrong. They wanted her. They wanted her baby.”

“You just said you didn’t remember anything,” Jack protests and I shake my head.

“For bloody sakes, I just came back from the fucking dead!” I growl as he looks down once more. “Sorry if things are a little hazy!”

“Charlie,” he begins as I groan in response.

“No.” I interrupt before he can say anything else. Bloody righteous bastard. “It was because of you that they attempted- no. That they killed me!”

“Charlie,” Kate jumps in, trying to diffuse the situation, the only thing she is bloody good at; protecting him, the bloody bastard.

“No!” I cry. “I would still be with her- she thinks I’m dead. God. What she must be going through.” My voice trembles as I blink back tears.

Claire.

I promised I wouldn’t leave her, I promised she’d be safe. I keep my promises.

I turn around and make my way through the caves. “Charlie!” I hear Jack calling after me. “Where do you think you are going?”

“To find Claire.” I reply as I make my way into the jungle. I don’t know how, but I will find her.

I promise Claire.