Keep Bleeding. {Open.}

[claire littleton.]

Claire’s forehead pressed against the cool window as the rain poured down, the soft thunder rolling around high in the sky, and the droplets pounding against the windows as the rythmatic sounds filled her ears. They were actually back to the real world, and only feet away from her, Aaron was sleeping in a brand new complementary crib that Claire only assumed was bought before they arrived at the hotel. Despite the insane amount of media, they’d actually managed to get into the here rather quietly, Kate didn’t come with them though… She’d been taken away by Kevin despite her pleas and protests, despite what everyone had said the damn officer swooped in and took Kate. Claire sensed something more, something much more though, the way he spoke to her, the way he grabbed her… they knew each other, or were connected in one way.

For a moment, she didn’t move, her eyes remained shut, and her breathing calm. Why couldn’t she at least shed the slightest bit of happiness… She needed it, something, anything to cling onto. Instead all that was filling her was sadness, and thoughts that weren’t hardly the type she should be thinking of. Claire paused as she raised her hands up beside her head and pressed them to the cool glass as well. The weather in LA had went from a cool night, to a complete rain storm complete with thunder and lightning. It seemed to match her mood. One would think the first thing any of the Oceanic survivors would do would be call and inform their family members that they –weren’t- deceased like so many believed, followed by a hot shower, and or an endless buffet.

Claire, well Claire wasn’t up for that. Who would she call? Her aunt? That was a subject she didn’t want to touch. It was almost one hundred percent that her aunt Lindsay had pulled the plug on her mother, if she hadn’t died on her own. Or maybe Thomas? Tell him that Aaron was a boy, and she’d decided to keep him, and step up to the motherly plate… Like she needed to. Was born to? He’d been her calling. But what would the point be for that? If anything could upset her more the she was, it would be Thomas. As for the shower, she didn’t have the energy… And the food? She didn’t want it. When they’d gotten to the hotel, Aaron had crashed almost instantly so after a quick change, he’d been put into the crib and put to sleep, if only it came so easily for everyone. With a small sigh Claire pushed off and back from the window watching the lights of LA dull when the rain slid down the window.

“But Dadddddy! Uncle Charlie promised to let me sing with him!” Claire’s head shot around the room, a small voice , a little girls obviously had been whining. Charlie however… Of course, her uncle was named Charlie. Couldn’t be Bob, Leroy, Joe or any other common name. No, it had to be Charlie. Of course, and why wouldn’t it be? Claire’s eyes fluttered shut as she sat on the end of the fluffy bed listening to rain battle with the hall way conversation. “Lovely, Y’know Charlie and Santa had a very rough time, he’s still a little sick. Don’t worry though Darling, you can sing with me, and between you and I, I’m a bit better singer then your uncle Charlie.” Male’s voice. Deeper. Kind… She couldn’t tell, but Liam pace was smirking as he picked up the little girl in his arms. “C’mon Meg, You Allll everybody! You allll everyboddddy!” THAT song? HONESTLY. Angrily Claire pushed herself off the bed, her emotions were high and all coming at her at once. Everything was about Charlie, or reminded her of Charlie. There would be no escaping it.

Before she had another thought, or before she could hear more of their conversation Claire had entered the bathroom and flung on the light switch letting the florescent, blinding white light illuminate the bathroom and filter out into the bedroom cascading over Aaron’s crib where he continued to sleep happily. –WHY- did this have to haunt her? Obviously she didn’t want to forget… No, she’d never forget, but it seemed like signs followed her. Tears seared into her eyes as she bent down letting the cold water shoot out of the tap. Greedily, her hands collected it and brought it to her face pressing over her eyes and washing down. She needed a distraction. She needed something… She needed Him.

[hugoreyes]

The four walls that surrounding him, while elegant and rather stylish, still felt more like a prison then anything else. The colors might have lingered on soothing taupes, rich reds, midnight blacks and another vast array of colors, but Hurley couldn't bring himself to be calmed by them. Not that his thoughts were not completely turmoiled... but for the most part they were.

He was torn in two. On one side, Hurley was glad to be back. There was nothing on the island keeping him there... anymore, and here, things would probably go back to normal. He wouldn't have to worry about being killed or anyone else for that matter, the biggest problem would probably be the reporters once the news grew bigger of them being alive. His family would be eager to see him, he should have been glad. On the other hand, what could he do now? He was already a millionaire, money, when and if they got any, wouldn't have been much of big deal. And what we he do now that he was back? There was no motivation to do much of anything anymore. Most of his will power having being left on the island... right along with the people that had been lost, that didn't make it off the island, two in particular

Sighing, the big man stood up from the bed from where he had sat, staring into space. He wasn't sure how long he'd been sitting there, but the urge to move, to clear his head and attempt to be glad were nagging at him, making him restless. Before he knew it, his feet were moving right out the door and into the hallway, feeling rather suffocated with his thoughts, and he moved passing the other doors in the long corridor that were of other survivors, until he found one in particular.

Stopping a foot in front of it, he hesitated a long moment before he brought his hand up. Would she be awake? Because well... if she wasn't he didn't want to disturb her, or Aaron for that matter. Claire had been through a lot, as much as he had been through on the island. Which was probably the reason he felt so compelled to land there instead of someone else's room. Not that he wanted to upset her with talking about Charlie... he wouldn't bring it up unless she did...

Waiting another moment, trying to stifle the urge to turn around and go back into his room, he gently rapped his large knuckles on the door, trying to attempt at being quite. "Claire.... hey, uh... you awake?" he called lowly, through the door, waiting a moment for a response.

[claire littleton.]

The cooling feel of the water had vanished as she found herself curled in a heap at the bottom of the bathroom door, the incredibly clean floor pressing against her body. The tap was still running into the sick, but fading into the scene like background noise. Water, it usually soothed people, but it wasn’t helping her at all, nothing was. Claire shut her eyes blocking the blinding light out of them, what she wanted was to feel something whole. Something that didn’t leave her numb, lonely, cold or emotionless. She wanted out of this black hole, she wanted to see what she had before. Everything she wanted right now however, wouldn’t happen. As much as she could hope, and wish , and count on all the falling stars, nothing would give her what she desired. It was impossible.

With a deep breath, she sobbed quietly with he knees pulled up to her chin and her arms wrapped around them. Claire never liked being looked at as the weak one, the small one, the broken one. When she was pregnant, she’d gotten all the stares, she was the pregnant one, and that alone was it’s own classification. Everyone treated her different, she was breakable and a time bomb of responsibility. Who was it though to look past that? Who was it that treated her like no other? Charlie was the one. Now however, she found herself worlds away from the island, and yet, that and Charlie was all she could think about. It clung to her like a dull fog, static shock. Anything. It was unescapable.

Claire’s thoughts seemed to get interrupted yet again. The problem with hotel sinks was the fact they couldn’t drain as fast as they filled, even if the pipes were clean as could be, they always some how managed to be incredibly slow, and that was now the reason the water was spilling over the edge of the while marble counter and onto the floor. It took a moment to register as she felt the liquid come down on her right shoulder and leg, even some of her hair, but as she looked up, it became clear that she’d left the sink on and actually forgotten about it despite how the sound of running water filled the air. She didn’t say anything as she stood up since there was nothing to say. She didn’t care that the floor was now soaked, or that the counter matched. She didn’t care that the hair dryer was plugged in and soaked. None of it mattered.

With out another thought Claire reached over and shut it off , watching the water that still spilled over the side and soaked everything on the counter. The sickening splatter that it made upon contact with the floor went almost unheard as Claire’s attention went to the sudden light knocking. It was probably a good time for some one to come as her gaze left the hair dryer and water mess. Claire rubbed her eyes as she grabbed the door handle exiting and letting the light spill out into the room once more. uh… you awake? Unfortunatly, she was. She would be for a while as sleep had left her, yet the exhaustion was present on her face. “Yes.” She croaked not bothering to clean up or wipe her eyes. It was Hurley and no doubt, he’d come for a reason, no doubt he wondered if she’d be like this or not.

With one last deep breath Claire headed for the door and grabbed the knob, unlatching the bolted lock. “Hey Hurley.” She said looking up at the larger man, a smile attempting to form on her face. “I see you couldn’t sleep as well…” Lowering her head she backed away from the door letting him into the room.

[hugoreyes]

Before Hurley heard her reply, he almost turned around and went back to his room. That last thing he wanted was to wake her up and well... That went out the window as she heard her voice lowly on the other side. Exhaling a big gulp of air he waited patiently, hearing the floor creak on the other side with footsteps before the door opened. "Hey," he mumbled some, before he took in the sight of her.

Claire looked as bad as he felt, she'd been crying, something of which he'd had none left to share anymore, it seemed. "Yeah... Can't sleep. It feels kinda just... weird..." Not just because they were in a new place or because they were no longer on the island, it was because they were finally off and he wasn't sure where to go after it was now going to behind him.

Glancing into her room, he glanced around searching for Aaron when he saw that she didn't have the munchkin in her arms like she usually did. "I didn't disturb you... or Aaron, did I? I mean.. 'Cause... I can go..." Though he wouldn't turn away the invitation. He was actually she wouldn't because he really didn't want to stay by himself. Claire was like a little sister to him, someone he knew he could talk to and vise versa, someone who's presence alone made him feel better even if they weren't talking. Because really... She was the only person he had now... Well... her and Aaron.