By now, everyone has noticed the commotion and has come running, carrying torches, looking concerned. Eko's among them, so Charlie's all, "Hey, Eko! Tell them about the baptism!" and Eko's all, "This is not the way," which I took to mean, "Dude, I'm the new guy here. Don't drag me down with you."

Locke tells Charlie to give the baby back, and Charlie completely loses his shit on him: "Who the hell are you, John? Aaron's not your responsibility! Where were you when he was born? Where were you when he was taken? You're not his father! You're not his family!" Locke points out that neither is Charlie, who looks like he hadn't really considered that (quick note -- let no one think my dislike of Charlie extends to Dominic Monaghan, who I think rather kicks ass in this series. That's probably why I feel so free to dislike Charlie, because the portrayal is so complete).

Desperate, Charlie turns back to a teary Claire (Emilie de Ravin is likewise terrific) and says that he has to do this: "I'm not going to hurt him," he says. "You're hurting me, Charlie," she cries, and this is what seems to get through to Charlie. Locke steps forward, takes Aaron from Charlie, and gives him back to Claire, who turns away, looking at Charlie with that same mixture of anger and contempt (with a little more fear this time, though). Charlie starts to say he's sorry, but he's greeted with a pummeling by Locke, three hard punches to the face, knocking him off his feet into the waves. Locke looks kind of pissed and walks away. Claire looks like she's glad that happened, and everyone stares for a moment at Charlie and then they all turn their backs and walk away, even Hurley. And like I said in the recaplet, Charlie's hardly the first person to be having problems on the island; I know things seem a little scary with Charlie, you know, kidnapping Aaron, but can't they just handcuff him somewhere like they did Jin until things settle down? Nice that you've managed to wash all of Boone's blood off your hands, Locke.

A bruised and bloody Charlie sits on the beach, staring at the sea. Jack strolls up, and without saying a word, looks at Charlie's face. Charlie obligingly turns his head to make sure Jack gets a good look. "You need stitches," says Jack, and he starts wiping Charlie's cut. "I started the fire, Jack," says Charlie, rather unnecessarily. "I need to know you're never going to do anything like this again. Ever," says Jack, in that patented tough-talk of his. But at least he's talking to Charlie, who babbles on about how he knows what people think, but he didn't use. "I wanted to. I really wanted to. But I didn't." Jack says, "That's not what I asked, Charlie." Well, you probably should have, actually. Don't you think? But Charlie says it won't happen again. Not until sweeps, anyway.