RP3 Part Two "One Year Later"

Sayid, Jack and Emma entered the Orchid with their guns ready. A long hallway stretched ahead of them, seemingly deserted. A series of bare fluorescent lightbulbs flickered overhead.

Sayid took the lead, fearless as ever, followed by Emma and Jack behind her. They crept down the hallway and reached a door with a window in it at the far end. Beyond the door they could see what looked like a circular medical laboratory. Branching off the circular main room were a number of smaller observation labs. Three men in lab coats looked into each smaller lab in turn and jotted notes onto a clipboard.

Sayid whispered. "If we only have those three to deal with, we should be fine. We'll catch them by surprise, and herd them into one of the smaller rooms. But be prepared for more to show up."

With that, Sayid burst through the door into the main room and rushed toward the scientists. Jack and Emma followed his lead, all three with their guns pointed towards the strangers.

The three men spun around and dropped their clipboards. Two of them raised their hands in submission, but the third darted towards a red panic button on a far wall. Sayid promptly shot him in the shoulder to prevent him from pushing it. The man fell to the floor, clutching his shoulder.

Jack pointed to an empty lab. "Let's put them in there. It locks from the outside." Jack and Emma burrowed their guns into the backs of the two standing men and herded them inside. Sayid dragged the third one in. They locked the door behind them.

"Wait a moment," Sayid advised. "Make sure there aren't any others coming." He noticed a survellaince camera in the far corner and smashed its lens.

Emma looked around her. Five of the small observation labs appeared to house people, most of them unidentifiable. Jack moved from one to the other, unlocking each one in turn. Emma moved closer to the fourth lab. She gasped. Desmond was inside, unconscious and strapped to a hospital gurney. His bare chest and forehead were covered in EKG wires, hooked up to a whirring machine beside his bed. Emma darted inside and began to remove the straps holding him down. Jack appeared beside her to help. Together, they freed Des from his constraints. Jack slung him over his shoulder.

The other laboratory prisoners, seizing their freedom, had already departed the Orchid and scattered. Only Desmond remained.

"Jack, take Desmond and Emma outside, quickly. I'll follow in a moment. Let's get out of here as quickly as possible in case reinforcements arrive."

They did as they were told. As Emma closed the door to the Orchid behind her, she heard three gunshots in quick succession. She had been hoping that bloodshed wouldn't be necessary, but it didn't matter any more. They had retrieved Desmond. She had accomplished her long-sought goal, and in a few moments she would discover what that meant to everybody involved.

Jack and Sayid carried Desmond deep into the jungle, with Emma following close behind them. They found a secluded spot that was a safe distance from the Orchid station and gently laid Desmond on the ground. Sayid and Jack flopped next to him, exhausted from their efforts.

Desmond began to stir, and his eyes opened. Emma kneeled next to him, holding his hand. "Des, it's me...it's Emma." Desmond's eyes focused on hers.

"How is it possible?" He whispered. Emma could hardly speak. She was so overcome by a rush of emotions from seeing Desmond for the first time in several months, and hearing his beautiful Scottish accent. Jack watched from a few feet away, trying unsuccessfully to hide his jealousy and discomfort over this unusual reunion that threatened to turn romantic at any moment.

"Des, you're safe now. Whatever they did to you in there, it's over. Jack and Sayid helped me rescue you. Don't move, just rest for right now."

Desmond's eyes glittered as he remembered his former feelings for Emma, whom he was sure had disappeared from his life forever. Now she was here beside him. Desmond lifted his arm and caressed her hair softly. "Emma." He sat up. His happiness was transparent. "I've got you back."

Emma glanced at Jack, sensing his discomfort and wishing she knew what to do or say to resolve this awkward situation. Was it really possible to be in love with two men at the same time? Jack had caught her by surprise, but she had fallen deeply in a very short time. But Desmond she had loved for a very long time, even when all seemed hopeless. Even when he was desperate to find Penny, she had loved him. She didn't know what to do anymore.

"Just rest, Desmond." The group sat in silence for a few moments until Sayid broke the spell.

"Jack, we should see what's happening in the Village. I'm worried about what Ben may have done in response to this boat situation."

Jack nodded silently. "You're right. But Emma and Desmond can't be seen there. Ben can't know just yet that we've taken Desmond. He'll find out in time, but we have to stall that moment as long as possible. I'm afraid of what he'll do to them."

He pulled Emma away from Desmond for a moment and spoke very low to her. "Emma, we need to talk about us. I'm not asking you to choose right away. But I want you to know that I've chosen you. I will deal with the fallout with Juliet, don't worry about that. If you still have strong feelings for Desmond, think carefully about them. He deserves to know about us, when the time is right."

"I do need some time to think, Jack. But we need to get him to a safe place first. I built a shelter not far from the village when I was spying on Ben all those months. It's hidden, and safe. Take us there, and leave us. Desmond and I will talk there, and you can join us when you find out what's going on in the village. I promise you, nothing will happen between Desmond and I until I've given you my answer. I never expected to fall in love with you, Jack."

Jack pulled Emma close and hugged her tightly. "I never did, either." They understood each other so completely. Desmond had never really been hers completely, yet she still longed for him. She was confused by her emotions and needed time to think.

And then she remembered what Mel had told her about manipulating Desmond, and she suddenly became very, very angry.

Zoe was losing her energy - and fast. She hadn't had a drink in a few days, sowas severly dehydrated. She managed to catch a glimpse of something that caught her attention. Bodies. Zoe felt the colour drain from her face. She looked back directly ahead, her escorts were now dragging her because her loss of energy had slowed herr down severly. If they knew their friends had been shot, she would be killed there and then.

Moments passed, and Zoe managed to let out a whimper.

"10 minutes, straight ahead." She murmered before she collasped. One of the men rolled their eyes, and Camron tried to wake her up, but it was useless, so he lifted her up and carried her over her shoulder the rest of the way.

Zoe was still unconcious when they arrived at the village. Not many people were outside, but those who were, it didn't take them long to catch Camron and his cohorts attention. They withdrew their weapons and spoke clearly.

"Go and find your spokesperson." Camron barked orders to them. "The sooner we get our people back, the sooner we can leave without harming anyone." He had Zoe on his shoulders, and laid her, sprawled on the ground, motionless.

Emma walked in front with Sayid under the pretext of allowing Jack to walk with Desmond to take a brief medical history. She glanced behind her every so often, watching the two men she loved as they talked. She had to make a choice. She felt she already knew the answer, that she belonged completely to Jack, but that didn't make her longing for Desmond lessen in any way. What would happen when they were left alone together? Would he tell her about Mel? Did he still have feelings for her?

They reached her shelter on the beach, about a mile from the inland village, in a matter of hours. The four of them sat together for a little while, fueling up on water and fruit until Sayid spoke up. "Jack, they're going to wonder where you've been. If there is something going on in the village they'll need you there to balance Ben's decisions. He can't be trusted to run things on his own."

"I know, Sayid." Jack responded. Still, he was reluctant to leave Emma with Desmond. He remembered her promise, but he was still worried about leaving them alone.

Emma put her hand on Jack's arm and spoke gently. "Jack, Sayid is right. You need to go to your people. We'll be fine here." She looked into his eyes and he understood that she would keep her promise. Desmond sat near the water, gazing over the ocean, and remained completely unaware as Jack pulled Emma behind a tree, out of sight of everybody, for one last tender kiss.

Jack finally pulled away. "Okay, Sayid. Let's go. Emma, we'll be back before the day is over. I promise you."

"Goodbye, Jack. I'll see you soon." Jack and Sayid hurried away, and Emma joined Desmond on the beach. They had a lot to talk about, now that they were alone.

Desmond continued to stare straight ahead as Emma settled next to him on the sand. They were silent for a few moments, until Desmond finally turned to her and spoke. "How long have you and Jack been together?"

Emma was speechless. Apart from the stolen kiss behind the tree, which Desmond couldn't have seen from where he sat, she and Jack had been very careful not to betray any indication of their feelings out of respect for Desmond. How could he know?

Desmond answered for her. "Maybe you forget that I can see things that I don't want to see."

Emma finally gathered her wits enough to respond. "You saw us together in your flashes of the future?"

Desmond nodded. "I knew it was going to happen, but I didn't know when. I knew I couldn't prevent it as long as I was captive, and now that I'm free it's too late."

Emma took a deep breath and plunged ahead. "Desmond, I have loved you for as long as I can remember. When you disappeared from me the only thing I lived for was finding you. I finally asked for help, and Jack was there for me..."

"Stop," Desmond held his hand up. "You don't have to."

Emma continued anyway. "I know about Mel, Desmond. I know you fell for her after you joined the Oceanic camp. I have to tell you something..."

Desmond interrupted. "How do you know about Mel?"

"I met her, Des. She told me everything, only it wasn't what you think, it wasn't genuine..."

Desmond looked at Emma, his eyes full of pain. "I'm sorry, Emma. I betrayed you."

Emma shook her head sorrowfully. "And I betrayed you with Jack. Des, I don't know what's going to happen now."

Desmond smiled sweetly. "Maybe we can start over?" he asked hopefully.

"I don't know, Des," she admitted. "I've always felt like I was second place in your heart, because of your devotion to Penny, and that was long before I found out about you and Mel. I just don't know if I can go through that again."

They sat together in silence for a few more moments. Her thoughts turned towards the events in the Village. Surely the boat's inhabitants had made it there by now. Was Jack safe? She wondered if he had talked to Juliet yet, and what would happen when he did.

"Desmond, is it still your dream to leave the island?" Des didn't answer right away. Emma continued. "There may be a chance this can still happen. We need to see what's goingn on in the village. I know a place where we can see everything without being seen ourselves. I have my binoculars with me."

Desmond agreed. "But we need to talk some more, Emma."

"We will, Des. I haven't been looking for you for this long to just let you go. Will you trust me?"

Des nodded. "I trust you."

Emma and Desmond nestled into her old lookout station, lying on their stomachs side by side. She shared her binoculars with him. They watched as Ben and Mel walked away with an angry-looking, unfamiliar man with a gun. Jack knelt beside Zoe, who appeared lifeless on the ground. Emma breathed a small sigh of relief - Juliet was nowhere to be seen. That particular conflict would have to wait for another time. The scene in front of her looked peaceful, for the moment, but she was wary. She and Desmond watched and waited, ready to jump in should anybody need their help.

Desmond fidgeted nervously beside Emma. "Stop, Des!" she whispered. "You're driving me crazy!"

"D'ye think we should check on Mel, maybe make sure she's okay?" Desmond asked.

This was it. This was Emma's biggest fear - that Desmond would have lingering feelings for Mel.

Emma found it difficult to hide her disappointment. "oh how thoughtful of you, Des." she growled sarcastically, then immediately regretted her cattiness and changed her tone. Maybe Desmond was right - maybe Mel and Ben were in very real danger. Still, Emma was reluctant to lose sight of Jack.

"Mel is tough, Des. She'll be fine; she's been through worse, and she always survives. Besides, Ben is with her. He can't know you've escaped, you know that."

"I think we should check on them," Desmond asserted. "and if you won't then I will."

"Don't go, Des!" Emma cried. "Please!"

"I have to," he explained. "I'll find you afterwards, I promise." With that, Desmond handed Emma the binoculars, kissed her quickly on the cheek and ran from her. Once again, she found herself alone.