Two Steps Back, One Step Ahead//Lost//Daniel&Charlotte//G
Title: Two Steps Back, One Step Ahead
Fandom: LOST
Characters/Pairing: Daniel/Charlotte, also includes Sun/Jin
Rating: G
Warnings: Season 4.
Summary: Daniel tries to make up for what he said back at the beach.
Table/Prompt: Hurt&Comfort/Apology
A/N: Written for mission_insane. Takes place after the beach to when they reach the Dharma medical station. Some lines snagged right from the show, heh.
The trek through the jungle to the Dharma medical station progressed slowly but in steady silence. Sun's husband, Jin, was in the forefront of their little group with his wife trailing just behind him. Charlotte followed closely, seemingly tense and watchful as if she half-expected the trees to leap out and attack them. In this place--this very bizarre island--Daniel couldn't really blame her for thinking thusly. Daniel himself brought up the rear, every now and then casting a glance in one of his companion's direction.
She had not spoken to him since the beach. He wished that he could say that it didn't bother him, but it did. A lot more than he really wanted to admit. Why Charlotte Lewis' opinion mattered to him was beyond the capabilities of even his intelligent, albeit scattered, mind to comprehend. All he knew was how he felt, and he felt bad when he wasn't in her good graces. Or, at the very least, as close as anyone could get into Charlotte's good graces...if such a place existed at all.
What he'd said back at the beach had needed to be said--it wasn't that that inwardly caused him his guilt. But rather, it was the fact that he had said it in the heat of a moment, openly confronting her and humiliating her in front of everyone. Even if his harshly honest words had not hurt her, her pride would have no doubt been wounded in the process.
And so, with that knowledge in his mind, he supposed that it was no surprise that she was giving him the cold shoulder. He couldn't really blame her--or, at the least, he wouldn't blame her. Besides, casting his own fault away would be just as bad as having pointed hers out earlier. He accepted that this problem between them now was caused as much by him as it was by her. The only question left was what to do about it.
Daniel looked up ahead at Sun and Jin as he pondered a solution to his troublesome problem. He noted how the lines in Jin's hard face softened when he looked at his wife, how he gently guided her along the designated path, always careful to point an out-of-place root or bush that could present a danger of tripping her up. Never once had Daniel ever heard him raise his voice to her or lift a hand against her. He was much more than just her husband; he was essentially her protector as well. His love showed clearly through that.
Perhaps, he thought, that was the key. Perhaps a relationship--whether friendly or more so--was more than just a careful balancing act of giving and taking. It was also about protecting that which one cared about. Maybe if he could Charlotte that he understand that he would have a better chance at repairing their delicate friendship...if their relationship could even be called that.
After all, it wasn't like he could make things worse...
Right?
"Hey, Charlotte," he began, awkward as ever.
For a long moment, she didn't look at him or even acknowledge that she'd heard him in any way. Then she began to slow her strides, allowing him to catch up and walk beside her. She looked to have been in thought.
He was careful to keep his voice quiet in hopes that only Charlotte would hear. "About earlier...I just wanted to apologize..."
"Forget about it, Dan," she said in a no-nonsense sort of tone.
He blinked. Well, that was certainly a lot easier than he'd thought it would be. So much for the stereotype of women holding grudges...Daniel was sure he'd never understand them, anyway.
"So you're not mad?" he pressed. He had to know for sure, if only for his own peace of mind.
Charlotte shook her head. "No, 'course not. What made you think I was?"
Suddenly, Daniel felt like he'd just stumbled into a trap. "Uh, I don't know..." His voice trailed off as he tried to come up with an explanation.
Fortunately, he was saved from having to give one by Sun as she announced that they had arrived.
Immediately, Jin and Charlotte set to the task of pushing away vines and foliage that had overgrown over the entrance. Charlotte hefted the heavy door open to reveal a dark passageway into the Earth. She moved to go forward as Jin pulled out his weapon and, immediately, it tripped something inside of Daniel, tickled that revelation he'd had earlier when he'd watched Jin interact with Sun.
Before he knew it, he found himself reaching out to stop Charlotte. She looked at him oddly. No going back now.
"Hey, uh, why don't you let me go first?" he said. "Um, you know, make sure everything's safe...?"
He gave her a smile and she agreed. "Okay." A pause. "Be careful, Dan."
For once, he felt as if he'd done good.
"Absolutely," he said, receiving an appreciative smile from Charlotte.
Feeling more confident than before, he descended into the station.
Fandom: LOST
Characters/Pairing: Daniel/Charlotte, also includes Sun/Jin
Rating: G
Warnings: Season 4.
Summary: Daniel tries to make up for what he said back at the beach.
Table/Prompt: Hurt&Comfort/Apology
A/N: Written for mission_insane. Takes place after the beach to when they reach the Dharma medical station. Some lines snagged right from the show, heh.
The trek through the jungle to the Dharma medical station progressed slowly but in steady silence. Sun's husband, Jin, was in the forefront of their little group with his wife trailing just behind him. Charlotte followed closely, seemingly tense and watchful as if she half-expected the trees to leap out and attack them. In this place--this very bizarre island--Daniel couldn't really blame her for thinking thusly. Daniel himself brought up the rear, every now and then casting a glance in one of his companion's direction.
She had not spoken to him since the beach. He wished that he could say that it didn't bother him, but it did. A lot more than he really wanted to admit. Why Charlotte Lewis' opinion mattered to him was beyond the capabilities of even his intelligent, albeit scattered, mind to comprehend. All he knew was how he felt, and he felt bad when he wasn't in her good graces. Or, at the very least, as close as anyone could get into Charlotte's good graces...if such a place existed at all.
What he'd said back at the beach had needed to be said--it wasn't that that inwardly caused him his guilt. But rather, it was the fact that he had said it in the heat of a moment, openly confronting her and humiliating her in front of everyone. Even if his harshly honest words had not hurt her, her pride would have no doubt been wounded in the process.
And so, with that knowledge in his mind, he supposed that it was no surprise that she was giving him the cold shoulder. He couldn't really blame her--or, at the least, he wouldn't blame her. Besides, casting his own fault away would be just as bad as having pointed hers out earlier. He accepted that this problem between them now was caused as much by him as it was by her. The only question left was what to do about it.
Daniel looked up ahead at Sun and Jin as he pondered a solution to his troublesome problem. He noted how the lines in Jin's hard face softened when he looked at his wife, how he gently guided her along the designated path, always careful to point an out-of-place root or bush that could present a danger of tripping her up. Never once had Daniel ever heard him raise his voice to her or lift a hand against her. He was much more than just her husband; he was essentially her protector as well. His love showed clearly through that.
Perhaps, he thought, that was the key. Perhaps a relationship--whether friendly or more so--was more than just a careful balancing act of giving and taking. It was also about protecting that which one cared about. Maybe if he could Charlotte that he understand that he would have a better chance at repairing their delicate friendship...if their relationship could even be called that.
After all, it wasn't like he could make things worse...
Right?
"Hey, Charlotte," he began, awkward as ever.
For a long moment, she didn't look at him or even acknowledge that she'd heard him in any way. Then she began to slow her strides, allowing him to catch up and walk beside her. She looked to have been in thought.
He was careful to keep his voice quiet in hopes that only Charlotte would hear. "About earlier...I just wanted to apologize..."
"Forget about it, Dan," she said in a no-nonsense sort of tone.
He blinked. Well, that was certainly a lot easier than he'd thought it would be. So much for the stereotype of women holding grudges...Daniel was sure he'd never understand them, anyway.
"So you're not mad?" he pressed. He had to know for sure, if only for his own peace of mind.
Charlotte shook her head. "No, 'course not. What made you think I was?"
Suddenly, Daniel felt like he'd just stumbled into a trap. "Uh, I don't know..." His voice trailed off as he tried to come up with an explanation.
Fortunately, he was saved from having to give one by Sun as she announced that they had arrived.
Immediately, Jin and Charlotte set to the task of pushing away vines and foliage that had overgrown over the entrance. Charlotte hefted the heavy door open to reveal a dark passageway into the Earth. She moved to go forward as Jin pulled out his weapon and, immediately, it tripped something inside of Daniel, tickled that revelation he'd had earlier when he'd watched Jin interact with Sun.
Before he knew it, he found himself reaching out to stop Charlotte. She looked at him oddly. No going back now.
"Hey, uh, why don't you let me go first?" he said. "Um, you know, make sure everything's safe...?"
He gave her a smile and she agreed. "Okay." A pause. "Be careful, Dan."
For once, he felt as if he'd done good.
"Absolutely," he said, receiving an appreciative smile from Charlotte.
Feeling more confident than before, he descended into the station.