The Old Man Who Lived In A Shoe
John has never wanted children -- except perhaps with Helen -- but she never said she wanted children, and he didn't want to presume. Maybe if -- when -- he gets back they can talk it over, but he would never presume to assume she would want children at all. He's never given it much consideration himself. It would be nice to have someone to mold and teach, but he has that now with young Walt. Of course Walt's biological father should be molding and shaping him -- but Michael seems much more interested in that young Korean girl than his son, which really is a shame.
Walt's a good kid. Smart. He has a lot of potential, and if Michael can't see that, well, John Locke has never been one to let a good thing go to waste. There are things a boy of Walt's age should know how to do, even if they're stranded on an island -- especially since they're stranded on this island -- and if Michael won't teach Walt, then John will.
Yes, Walt is a keeper.
John went from having no children to having at least five, possibly ten or fifteen. He's hasn't completely decided which ones he's definitely keeping and which ones he's going to let nature have her way with just yet; but he's not interested in being the father of forty-five children. He'd never remember all their names and some of them -- well, a father shouldn't think his children are stupid or insipid, and some of the survivors definitely are. Of course, John's not interested in being their leader or the one to wipe their runny noses -- Jack can do that; Kate can assist, and John will hunt.
He will make certain that his children are fed.
Jack is a keeper; not just because he's a doctor and a born leader, but because he has guts. He doesn't have much common sense, but children aren't born with everything. They have to be taught; that will be John's responsibility.
He will also keep Kate and Sayid -- and Hurley. John's not quite certain why he thinks Hurley is a keeper; he doesn't seem to actively contribute anything. Hurley's neither a soldier or a hunter, but he's a gatherer -- everyone needs gatherers; they're part of the food chain. Plus, Hurley keeps people entertained, and everything can't be serious all the time.
Children need amusement, and Hurley provides that; so John will keep Hurley.
He'll make certain he's safe.
John doesn't have a lot of use for Sawyer. Sawyer's loud and obnoxious, and John doesn't find him agreeable in the slightest; Sawyer doesn't seem to be in possession of any great talent besides creating dissention. He's a shit stirrer. And yet, John is completely fascinated with Sawyer, with his sharp points and his vulgar tongue. He's intrigued by the lengths that Sawyer goes to to keep himself outside of the circles that have been created.
Sawyer is a non-conformist and a rogue. He's crass and unkempt, and he very well might be John's favorite, simply because of his uncomplicated nature. Whatever Sawyer is pretending to be doesn't fool John in the slightest, so John will sit and watch and observe and be quietly amused by the way Sawyer lashes out. He will moderately tolerate Sawyer until he needs to be reined in and then John will do what has to be done.
Or he will let Sayid do it.
It's clear that Sawyer and Sayid have a connection that neither is willing to acknowlege or completely sever. They are not light and dark, but opposite sides of the same coin, and since they have each other, John is content to let them be. They will look after each other; he does not worry about them the way he worries about the others.
Every family has the black sheep; the one that everyone claims came from the orphanage, and for John that is Charlie. He wasn't certain he was going to keep Charlie when he first came upon him, but he saw something deep underneath all the junk and the eyeliner that he thought worth having a look at -- and Charlie has proved himself to be useful and necessary. He could stand to talk less and perhaps be more coherent when he does, but every family has the child that never shuts up as well, and for John's family that is Charlie.
So when Charlie and Claire are kidnapped, John goes to retrieve his son.
John is not certain what to make of Boone and Shannon. He finds Shannon grating and annoying. She's not a gatherer like Sun nor is she a warrior like Kate; she's just Shannon. She doesn't seem to be good for much apart from aesthetic appeal -- and yet, he finds her entertaining. He finds her honesty refreshing, but as a daughter, she's a nightmare. Without Boone, John can't imagine what she would be like, and as for Boone -- well, he's certainly full of surprises. John never thought he would have a wedding planner for a son; but Boone is what he is, and now he's John's son, and John will do what he can to mold him properly.
Boone's not made to hunt or fight or be an alpha male, but he wants to be. Boone wants -- well, John has eyes and he can see the way Boone looks at Jack - but more than that Boone wants respect. He doesn't crave attention, but he does want recognition. He doesn't necessarily have the know-how or the means, but he tries, and to John that means something.
It's a start.
Boone is the scrappy member of the family; he's the underdog -- and John loves underdogs. He used to be one in that wheelchair. So he will do what he can to make Boone into a better, stronger, fitter model of who he wants to be.
Of who he can be.
John knows that this might be frowned upon by outsiders, but other people don't matter here -- only family and not family.
After all, evolution has provided him with a chance to be father, and he's never been one to let a little thing like blood, or polar bears, get in the way of responsibility.