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Post by tigerlily on Jun 10, 2009 20:28:56 GMT -4
Day 62
Juliet sailed through the doors of the laboratory and straight towards Jo.
"Are you alone?" she asked as she glanced wildly around the laboratory.
"Yes. Chase went outside for a walk. We had a bit of a...disagreement." Jo grimaced and returned to peering into her microscope, but Juliet pulled her away from her work.
"It's important," Juliet persisted. "I've just learned that Zoe is pregnant."
Jo stared back at her, astonished. "How do you know?"
"Carrie."
Jo chewed her lip thoughtfully for a moment. Juliet and Carrie had a close friendship; Jo saw no reason that Carrie might lie to her.
"Did she conceive on the island?" Terror crept into Jo's voice. She knew by now what happened to pregnant women on the island; it had become her job to find out why they always died. As much as she resented the Others for forcibly taking her into their lives, she knew the work that she, Juliet and Chase were doing was incredibly important and could save many lives. It was the one thing that kept her going until she could plot her way to freedom - and back to Jack and the crash survivors.
Juliet shook her head. "No. She conceived before the crash."
Relief flooded Jo's features. "Then she'll be okay. Claire delivered her baby after the crash, and she and Aaron are both perfectly healthy."
Juliet shook her head again, more emphatically this time. "We don't know that. Claire was in the last stages of her pregnancy; she was past the danger point. But Zoe...she's in the very early stages. We don't know if she'll be safe, or not. We've never encountered an off-island pregnancy in this stage before. Zoe is a wild card."
"Oh my God." Jo whispered. She feared for her friend, who had already been through so much. It was time to take action.
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Jo waited until Chase was safely asleep before gathering some food and her few belongings (charity items from the Others, she reminded herself bitterly) in a backpack. She had snooped around enough to learn about Ben's secret communication station, The Flame. It was her sole chance to contact the outside world. She no longer had the luxury of time. She needed to get Zoe, Jack, and all the other survivors safely off this island before Ben could return from the survivor's camp. She had to do it now, before the island killed Zoe. The one missing piece she needed was the code to the sonar fence, but there wasn't enough time now. She would have to find a way around it somehow.
Jo had almost reached the door when the floor betrayed her with a loud creak. In an instant Chase had flown to her side and, to her surprise, held the cold metal barrel of a gun against her back. She froze in terror.
"I wouldn't, Jo." Chase warned, his unfamiliar menacing tone returning.
Jo scoffed. "Two months ago you wanted to marry me, and now you're holding a gun to me? Is it even loaded? I know you, Chase. This is NOT you."
Chase continued to hold the gun against her. "I made a promise to Ben. You will not leave."
Jo whirled around to face him, the gun now pointed uncomfortably at her chest. "Shoot me, Chase," she challenged him. "Go on."
Chase cocked the gun. Jo closed her eyes and thought a silent prayer. Would the man she used to love, and was ready to start a life with, really kill her?
She cowered on the ground as the gunshot rang in her ears.
"Goddammit Jo!" Chase fumed. He had fired into the ceiling directly above her.
Jo slowly stood up and smiled weakly, satisfied that his bluff had been called. He hadn't become such a monster after all, and she could use that to her advantage. That was her last thought before she crumpled to the floor in a dead faint as she realized how close the bullet had come to ending everything.
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Post by benlinusisagoodguy on Jun 11, 2009 4:42:28 GMT -4
Day 59
"She has been with them, we should ask her if she knows him!" Sayid snapped at Jack determind to find out this stranger was an other.
"No..... she's been through to much trauma." Jack replied. Sophie came into the hatch hearing both argue.
"It's ok Jack." as she looked at them both and glanced over to Sayid. "No, i don't know him. I never saw him. I believe what Henry is saying. Now if you don't mind i would like to go in and give him this." She showed them some fruit she has chopped up. "Even if he was one of them. The guy has to eat."
Jack nodded and told her to be careful as he opened the armory door. "I'll be fine" she smiled weakly, as she looked over at Ben as he sat on the little camp bed. She stepped in and looked at jack to say close the door.
"Hi Henry........" she sighed and handed him the bowl of chopped mango. "Whats a matter?" she asked as Ben looked at her confused. "You look like you've seen a ghost?" she asked as she leant back against the wall with a little smug impression on her face.
"Well last time i saw you....."
"Yes we know what happened next" she butted in. "Why are you here?" she asked, "If they find out who you are, there gonna kill you." she said with a desperate tone, realising how she said it. She paused and try not to let her emotions come out.
Henry didn't answer to why he was there but looked at her. "I'm sorry Sophie. For all the pain i have caused you." Before sophie could reply Jack opened the door.
"You ok?" he asked. Sophie nodded and then stepped out the armory. Closing the door behind her.
Day 62
"You have 3 seconds to answer my question. How many of you are there? 1..." Sayd demanded as he pulled out a gun and pointed it to a tied up henry. The day before they had found out this man was not Henry and was really an other.
"He'll kill me!"
"I'll kill you. 2..."
"Sayid!" Ana shouted at him.
"You can't do this! I am not a bad person!" Ben shouted in a desperate plea.
"3." Ana pushes Sayid just as he pulls the trigger so that his shot misses Ben.
Sophie heard the gun shot just outside the hatch, where she was just bringing over some supplies the rest of the surivours had found just a few hours ago. She dropped them on the floor and froze a second before rushing into the hatch. Knowing sayid had done the deed.
"Thank you" Ben said to Ana.
"Shut up" as she gave him a flilthy look and headed out the armory.
"What just happened?" Sophie asked as Ana looked over to Sayid. "He went to shoot him but i pushed the gun out of the way." as she went over to jack where he had sayid to calm him down. Sophie sighed with relief something Sayid noticed already starting to not to trust her too.
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Post by fearandloathin on Jun 11, 2009 10:56:50 GMT -4
Day 62
Zoe sat with Charlie at the caves, not too far from the beach, and not too far from the hatch. Much thoughts had been churning through Zoe's thoughts over the past couple of days, and she felt more awful with each day she faced her fellow companions and lied to them.
"What are you thinking?" Charlie asked, watching Zoe curiously, her eyes glazed.
"Nothing." Zoe lied, and Charlie caught up on it.
"You know you can trust me." Charlie probed. Zoe looked up into his eyes.
"I'm not pregnant." Zoe finally admitted.
"What?" Charlie asked, a little stunned.
"I lied. I just thought of the first thing that came into my head. I thought, if I told Carrie I was pregnant, she wouldn't shoot me. I've worked out they have an interest in pergnant women on the island, you know, after the whole buisness with Claire and everything." Zoe explained. "And I only thought of it really because I was pregnant, just a week before the crash." Charlie didn't say anything for a moment, as he absorbed Zoe's explaination, but it was easy to read on his face that he was trying hard to put aside a dozen questions that was buzzing in his mind, desperate to ask. He swallowed and asked the question in concern of her.
"Was pregnant?" Charlie asked cautiously.
"Before the crash, just a week before, I had everything figured out. I had a great job in L.A, a loving fiance. Then, just over a week before I was due to go home, I found out I was pregnant. I hadn't even told my fiance yet. I wanted to wait til I got home, because I was scared, and definatly sure that I wasn't ready to concieve a child of my own yet. But then something terrible happened back home while I was in Australia, resulting in my friends, co-workers and fiance being killed all in one cruel swoop. The stress caused a miscarrage just three days after I found out about my pregnancy. Two days before I got an earlier flight bound for L.A." Zoe explained. Charlie listened to Zoe's story sadly, and held her hand tightly, upon finishing her explaination, he embraced her in a loving hug, almost lost for words to say, not sure on what words would be comforting besides the cliche 'sorry' speil.
After Tom and Danny had given Zoe her instructions, she ran through the jungle in the direction she had left Charlie, and started calling loudly his name. He was obviously close by, because Ana Lucia and Sayid appeared suddenly out of no-where, flagged with their guns cautiously, pointing them in Zoe's direction. Sayid lowered his gun.
"It's ok Ana, she's one of ours." Sayid explained, Ana and Zoe having never had met, as she had not been present at the time of the tail survivors arrival to their beach camp. Charlie then appeared, and smiled with delight as he saw Zoe.
"Change your mind?" He asked pleasently as he walked over to her.
"They let me go." Zoe lied smoothly.
"Really? Why?" Charlie asked, suprised.
"They must think we would be willing to trade. Zoe - for Henry." Sayid replied, and he smiled. "Lucky for us, we won't do such thing." Charlie didn't care really for the explaination, he was just momentarily stunned, and he hugged Zoe tightly.
"Need - to - breathe." Zoe gasped, and Charlie eased his grip.
"Who's Henry?" Zoe asked curiously.
"We caught one of them." Ana explained. "We have him in our custody, we were only out here checking out his story about a balloon."
"Did it check out?" Zoe asked curiously.
"No, but I guess that won't matter now. We can see if you can identify them, as you have had the unforunate experience to have been in their company for so long." Ana Lucia explained. Sayid glanced at her cautiously.
"Right, well there is no more purpose to being out here any longer. Let's head back to the hatch." Sayid said abruptly, and they headed back.
It took the majority of the rest of the day to get back, and dusk was soon approaching. They stumbled into Jack and Sophie on their way back, and explained their last few days events to him, apart from Zoe who promised she would later, all she wanted to do now was get some rest. They entered the hatch together, and the first thing that was requested was for Sophie to see if she could identify Henry as an Other, and when she denied it, Zoe was then asked. Zoe glared at Ben in the face, her heart pounding fast with inconsolable rage and sadness.
"No." She said bluntly. "I've never seen him before. If Sophie hasn't either, then he must be telling the truth."
"Are you sure?" Jack checked before closing the door and locking Ben in the armoury again.
"As sure as polar bears existing on this island." Zoe nodded. She felt a little faint.
"I think we should let Zoe have a lie down." Charlie interrupted, and started talking to Jack, not noticing Sayid watching Zoe in a peculiar mannor, he muttered something to Ana Lucia, and Zoe only just managed to grasp what he was saying.
"I think she knows more then she's letting on. Maybe the Others have a deeper plan then I originally anticipated." He whispered into her ear. Ana nodded but said nothing more, they left the room by themselves, probably to have a safer conversation away from prying ears about their conspiracy theory.
"You can rest in the bunk if you like, if you don't mind the alarm sounding every 108 minutes." Jack offered.
"That would be great." Zoe sighed with relief, and Charlie led her over to the bed.
"I'll be around if you need me." He promised, ignoring Locke's dangerous stare before he walked over to his computer. Zoe noticed too.
"Why did he look at you like that?" Zoe asked inquisitively.
"He thinks I'm back on the drugs again." Charlie muttered bitterly.
"Are you?" Zoe asked sleepily.
"No!" Charlie replied defensively.
"Sorry - I was just checking. Don't worry, I believe you." Zoe smiled warmly. "I'm proud of you." Charlie started to apologise, but Zoe didn't hear. She drifted off to sleep.
"Do you mind if we go back to the hatch?" Zoe asked. I want to see Henry. There were so many of them that it could still be possible that he is one of them. I might be able to trick him into admitting so if he is, if I can get into his cell alone and talk to him." Charlie watched her worridly, and he thought hard about her request.
"Ok." He answered her finally, and they walked together back to the hatch. Upon arrival, Zoe noticed Sophie on the sofa and smiled at her friendily while Charlie walked over to Locke to put forward Zoe's proposal, oblivious to the fact that what Zoe was really upto was a one to one session with Henry as Ben.
Zoe was sat on her hotel bed, hugging a slightly tear stained damp pillow, her make-up run down her face. She had just got off the phone from the L.A police department. They had informed her of the accident that had happened at her work, and the tragedies as a result, inculding the fatality of her fiance.
She had been sat for an hour in silence after her outburst of loss, hurt and grieviance. She was trying to compose herself to call the airport for an earlier flight home so she could get started on funeral arrangements and all the other morbid buisness that came with it.
She slowly picked herself up and dragged herself into the bathroom to clean her face before returing to her bedroom and picking up the phone, dialling the number of the airport, she cancelled her flight and arrange for the next available flight that she could afford.
"...You have just purchased a ticked outbound from Sydney, Australia to L.A central, Oceanic Flight 815, thank you for your custom, we hope you enjoy your flight. Bye." The eletronic voice machine summarised before confirming bank details.
Zoe was now sat in Ben's cell, standing opposite him.
"I suppose you're pleased for once it's the opposite way round?" Ben smiled as Zoe faced him, glaring at him, but not saying anything as she was still deciding what to start with.
"What?" Zoe asked, dazed and confused.
"Me being the one locked up, and you the one making the visits." Ben replied.
"Oh. I suppose..." Zoe trailed off.
"So, why are you here?" Ben asked.
"Danny and Tom sent me to help spring you out of here., but I am supposed to do it with Michael's help, 'cept he isn't here yet." Zoe explained. "Were you not expecting me here then?"
"No. I thought you would be working on your set project." Ben admitted. "I suppose Tom trusts you enough to come back with me then." Zoe glared at him angrily, and touched her neck, on the scar from the incision Juliet had made.
"Don't really have a choice do I?" Zoe sniped quietly, careful not to raise her voice too loud.
"Well, thank you for not dropping me in it, and revealling the whole truth to your companions." Ben thanked her, and sounded genuinely greatful.
"Not like I have a choice, do I? You still have Jo...Walt." Zoe replied. "Besides, Sayid and Ana are looking for any excuse to kill you, and I don't want to be responsible. Even if your people try to do so to me."
"What?" Ben frowned. "Who tried to kill you?"
"Carrie." Zoe explained. "Dragged me out into the jungle and tried to kill me. Until Charlie saved me."
"What happened to Carrie?" Ben asked with intrigue, as if hopeful for her dimise.
"Charlie shot her, and we waited for someone to find her, and get her home safely." Zoe assured him.
"Oh." Ben trailed off. "Well, you better get back to your people, and keep up your act."
"I will. So long as our promise still stands." Zoe promised.
"Which promise?" Ben asked curiously.
"The one where you don't harm any of my friends. When we leave, you, and no more of your people come back here to kidnap any more of my friends, nor harm them." Zoe reminded him.
"Ah that promise. Well, keep up what you're doing, and the deal still stands." Ben replied, offering a hand to shake. Zoe ignored it and banged on the door to be let out. Adrenaline was pumping through her body, and she could feel bile rising up her throat. She felt weak and suddenly ill. As soon as Locke let her out, her forehead felt sweaty, and she ran to the wash area, and threw up down the toilet. After Locke had locked Ben up again, he came to check on her.
"Is everything all right?" He asked carefully.
"Yeah." Zoe replied as she washed her face in the basin after flushing the toilet. "It's probably just stress."
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Post by tigerlily on Jun 11, 2009 15:19:45 GMT -4
Jo woke up in her bed, her head throbbing where she had hit the floor. She gingerly touched the spot where Chase had placed a bandage to stem the bleeding.
He sat on the edge of his bed, holding his head in his hands and looking miserable. Jo sat up and touched his shoulder, startling him out of his reverie.
"Chase?" she muttered groggily.
He looked at her somberly, his eyes full of painful regret. "I am sorry, Jo. I was following Ben's orders. I would never hurt you."
Jo didn't know what to say. She was no longer scared of him, now that she knew he couldn't hurt her. Was there a chance that he still had feelings for her? If he did, she could use that.
She kept her voice calm and even as she reached for his hand. "I'm not leaving, Chase. I panicked, that's all. I'm not going anywhere. And I understand that you're just trying to keep me safe." She lowered her eyes and blushed hotly. "I trust you, Chase."
"Why would you trust me?" Chase asked, astonished. "I held you at gunpoint!"
"Because I have to," she responded matter of factly. She leaned forward and kissed Chase softly on the lips. "You're all I've got."
Inwardly, she cringed as he kissed her back. She was thinking about Jack and Boone and the other men she had loved. After this incident, Chase no longer numbered among them. But she had to pretend, she had to revive those old feelings she had for him, if only to gain his trust until Jack's arrival. "Please let it be soon," she thought to herself.
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Post by Belle MacFarlane on Jun 11, 2009 15:52:10 GMT -4
There was a hollow echoing sound as Kelso made his was into the Hatch, it now being his shift at the computer. He stepped into the room, where he saw Locke entering the numbers for the last time, before standing up to hand it over to Kelso.
"She's all yours," smiled Locke, before departing.
Kelso sighed and sat down at the computer, watching the clock ticking but not really focusing. He had had much on his mind recently ... only just coming to terms with the face he was likely to be staying on the Island possibly for the rest of his life, Kelso had been thinking about the people he loved, and would probably never see again. His mum, his dad, his best friend Scott, and Carrie ...
Carrie. How he missed her. He hadn't seen her for five years, not since she found a job and was whisked away somewhere. She'd never clearly said where - she probably hadn't been sure herself. Somewhere near Portland, she'd said. Kelso hadn't spoken to Carrie much since ... the odd phone call every couple of months, nothing much. She seemed happy in her new job. Every time, Kelso had wanted to ask her if she'd found a new man, but he couldn't bring up the courage to say it. Their relationship had ended in a rather negative way, to put it lightly ... back then, Kelso had been a pretty hard drinker, and Carrie had had the burden of looking after him. He'd come home drunk every night, or just get drunk at home, and every single night Carrie had had the burden of catching him when he fainted, putting him to bed, and cleaning up his sick. Although he had never really proved it, Kelso had loved her. And she had loved him - well, she must have. Why else would she look after him so?
The pair had been friends since childhood, Kelso always supporting Carrie throughout everything. She'd never been the popular girl in school. The nerdy one, more like. But Kelso knew she wasn't nerdy, just clever. He'd even helped her throughout her mother's abuse. He'd been the one she turned to.
Kelso was snapped out of his thoughts by the sound of Zoe and Sophie entering, both talking about their time with the Others. He didn't really hear them, but his attention was caught when he heard a name mentioned. Carrie.
He looked up immediately when Zoe mentioned Carrie's name. It couldn't be the same Carrie, it couldn't, her name wasn't that rare ... but still, it'd explain the indescribable location, the lack of phone calls, and the fact she never liked to give away too many details ...
No. It couldn't be her. Carrie wouldn't take a job with the Others. There was only one way to find out. "Zoe ..."
Zoe looked away from Sophie, and towards Kelso. "Yeah?"
"That Carrie you just mentioned ... what's she like?"
Zoe frowned. "Why do you want to know?"
"Just tell me. Please. What does she look like? What's her job? Surname? Age?"
Zoe looked puzzled, but answered anyway. "She's sort of got blonde hair down to her shoulders, blue eyes, about the same height as me ..."
Kelso urged her on - the description Zoe had given was exactly like Carrie, who had never changed her hairstyle, not ever.
"She's the psychologist for the Others. Her surname ... I can't remember, I think it was Copeland or something. And I think she's about 26, 27."
Kelso didn't respond, just sat back. Zoe had described Carrie perfectly. There was only one thing that could confirm it was her, and not someone similar. "Is her name short for anything?"
Zoe, again, looked confused as to why he was asking her all this. "Carolyna," she replied. Kelso stared at the wall in shock. "Why are you so interested, Kelso?"
"Because ..." he paused. "I'm in love with her."
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Post by fearandloathin on Jun 13, 2009 11:23:58 GMT -4
Day 63
Zoe was feeling rather edgy. A few days had passed since she had arrived back home, and there was no sign of Michael yet. Where the hell was he? The more this dragged on, the more awful it was, the more lies Zoe had to tell and keep up with. Zoe left the hatch, she was sick of just the thought of being in the same confounds as Ben Linus, let alone the fact she was sure guilt would be obvious on her face if she lingered there much longer.
Zoe sat on the beach, staring out into the sea, picking at some fish Jin had caught for her and Charlie cooked. Charlie was busy fussing over Aaron, Claire's baby. A surge of jeleousy was running through Zoe's veins as she watched from the corner of her eye, she hated the smile on his face when the smile was for her.
Jack sauntered over to her and sat down beside her.
"Hey, how are you feeling?" He asked gently.
"I'm ok, Jack, thanks." Zoe tilted her head to face him, smiling wearily.
"Oh, good." Jack replied quietly. No-one spoke for a moment.
"I'm going to go to the line - the one we aren't supposed to cross. Going to try and trade Henry for Walt....and Jo." Jack blurted out suddenly. Zoe gave him a significant look, but didn't reply for a while, she could see Jack look at her with anxiety, and she soon realised what he really came over for.
"They are making her work, Jack. They have her working in a lab, I'm not sure what for, but I think it has something to do with pregnancy. She is working with a guy called Chase, and a blonde woman called Juliet. She's not happy, but she the last time I saw, she was unharmed." Zoe reassured Jack. Jack didn't say anything for a moment, he faced downwards towards the sand, but a facial expression of guilt was clear on his face. "It's not your fault Jack. You know that."
"I know...it's just, I wish I at least went with her...or that I had done something to protect her." Jack admitted. They both sat in silence for a while, staring out at the ocean.
"I'm sorry I hurt Kate." Zoe apologised. "She is ok, isn't she? I haven't really had the chance to speak to her really since I've been back."
"She's ok. Very little concousion, and she had a lump on her head for a while, but I think she understands why you did it." Jack reasoned. "Whatever happened to Aisha?"
"I don't know. In the blur of me running back to camp, Jo falling down a cliff and both of us getting captured, Aisha could be anywhere now. We left her with Rousseau. Maybe she has her captive." Zoe explained.
"I'm not interrupting anything, am I?" Charlie asked, standing in front of them both, watching them curiously.
"No Charlie, we were just talking." Jack replied. "I'll leave you two to it then. I have to get back to the hatch anyway." Jack stood up, brushing sand off his jeans before disappearing off into the jungle, in direction of the hatch.
"What did he want?" Charlie asked curiously as he sat in Jack's place.
"He wanted to know about Jo, if she was ok and that, and to tell me that he is going to try and trade our prisoner for her and Walt." Zoe explained.
"Oh." Charlie trailed off.
"I don't think it will work." Zoe admitted.
"Oh? Why not?" Charlie asked, curious again.
"I know what these people are like - probably better then anyone else here. They don't operate that simply. I think if Henry is one of them, he is here for a reason. He got captured on purpose." Zoe theorised.
"Why would he do that?" Charlie asked inquizitively.
"That's what I'm trying to figure out." Zoe sighed.
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Post by Belle MacFarlane on Jun 15, 2009 16:58:33 GMT -4
Carrie looked up from her book and smiled as Richard came back from somewhere or other. "Hey, cowboy," she said, putting her book down and going over to him, before wrapping her arms around his neck. "What's up?"
"Three of the survivors have been captured," Richard replied, wrapping his arms around her waist in turn.
"Really? Where are they?"
"Two of them are at Hydra and the other two are in wooden cages nearby. We caught Jack Shephard, Kate Austen, James Ford and Michael Kelso. Shephard and Kelso are in Hydra, and Austen and Ford are in the cages."
Carrie recognised each name as it came, knowing James Ford to be Sawyer. But then she froze in shock as Richard announced Kelso's name. She frowned. "Who's Michael Kelso?" It couldn't be him, could it? Dear God, she thought, let it be a different Michael Kelso.
"I think he was one of the tail section surviors. He's a web designer. He was born in Conneticut, but apparently he moved to Cardiff in 1984 when he was about 7."
Carrie didn't reply, shocked. It had to be Kelso. What had he been doing on the plane? "... I gotta go," Carrie said quickly. She gave Richard a quick kiss, before leaving the house and heading for the sub, to lead her to Hydra.
A little while later, Carrie arrived at the Hydra cell. She found her way towards the surveillance room. She knocked on the door, and Ben opened it. He didn't seem surprised to see Carrie there. Did he know?
"Hello Carolyna," he said. Ben always used Carrie's full name. It was rather annoying. In turn, she mostly called him Benjamin - to his face anyway. It was only to annoy him.
"Hi Benjamin. Is it true? Is Michael Kelso in the cell?"
"Why don't you see for yourself?" Ben smirked and stood aside to let Carrie in. She approached the monitors and first saw the screen for the cages. Then she looked over at the Hydra cell, only down the corridor, and her question was answered as she saw Jack and Kelso sitting in the cell.
Immediately, Carrie turned around and made her way towards the cell. She didn't want to talk to Kelso, so why was she going? Perhaps, deep down, she knew she did want to talk to him.
She entered the opposite side of the glass. Kelso and Jack both looked up, Kelso not yet recognising Carrie as she was standing in a dark spot.
"Hey!" Jack shouted, banging at her through the glass. "You'd better let us out of here!"
"Or else what?" Carrie encouraged him. She found it entertaining to watch him get angry. Oh no ... she wasn't becoming like Ben, was she?
Upon the sound of her voice, Kelso immediately stood up. He strained to look at her, to see if it was really her. "Carrie?" He said unsurely.
Carrie stepped into the light, her face now fully in vision to both Jack and Kelso.
"Hello, Kelso," she said. "Long time no see."
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Post by fearandloathin on Jun 17, 2009 16:26:45 GMT -4
Day 64 -Night
Zoe was in the food store room, helping sort out food supplies and cleaning products such as shampoo and conditioner. Sophie was there too, after Zoe was insistent she helped her, despite hating being in the hatch with Ben locked up, but she needed to keep an eye on Michael who was irritating her with the look of sulking constantly on his face. At least in the food store room she could keep reasonable minimal contact.
The guilt was building up unbearably though, with all the lies she had to keep from Charlie, and her friends. It was getting too much, and Zoe was feeling rather jittery. Sophie could obviously tell something was up.
“Is everything alright, Zoe?” She asked carefully. Zoe sighed, wanting nothing more than to blurt out everything. She picked up a couple of tins reading the labels, stalling a little while before answering.
“Everything’s fine Soph.” Zoe replied finally.
“Are you sure?” Sophie checked, tones of disbelief in her voice. Zoe looked at the floor, not able to meet her eyes.
“Sophie, if I tell you something, can I trust you to keep it a secret?” Zoe asked seriously.
“Erm...ok, sure, what’s up?” Sophie asked curiously.
“Henry isn’t who he says he is.” Zoe started, and Sophie watched her with something more than just curiosity, but Zoe wasn’t sure of the look in her eyes and what it meant. “His name is Benjamin Linus. As far as I know, he is the leader of the Others. That’s how he acts anyway, and everyone seems to follow his orders. He put a chip in my neck, and is using it to make me do whatever he wants.” Zoe continued bitterly, her hands curled into fists and started shaking. “I have to help spring Ben free, with Michael, and lie to everyone here.” Sophie didn’t respond much, she started at Zoe with a mixture of blankness, and shock, her eyes widened as Zoe spoke, her words rushed and clearly strained, but clearly words she had been bursting desperately to tell someone. Again, Sophie was displaying the right amount of reactions Zoe would have expected, but like just before, there was something more in her eyes, something she was hiding. Zoe managed to hold back narrowing her eyes suspiciously for now, she’d cope with that later. Sophie shifted a little, composing herself for a reply
“That’s awful.” Sophie gasped. “What are you going to do?”
“What can I do?” Zoe shouted a little louder then she expected, and she hit a row of tinned food in rage, and they crashed to the floor, clattering across the floor, disguising the sound of the gun shot that just sounded in the other room of Ana Lucia’s demise. “I have no choice. They have Jo, and they can come after me whenever they want. They could come here and harm everyone if they wanted too. I can’t let that happen. I have to go bac-” Zoe was cut off mid sentence though at the sound of a deadly gun shot, and the yell of a female voice. Sophie and Zoe exchanged brief curious looks, both hearts skipping a beat before vacating the food store room and into the living area, where Michael was shaking, Ana Lucia dead on the sofa, Libby on the floor motionless, clutching a couple of blankets. Sophie stared at Michael with shock while Zoe’s mind tried to think quickly. Michael was staring at them both now, jittery. Zoe put her hand out slowly and calmly.
“Wait, Michael. I’m on your side. I have to help you set Ben free. Why don’t you give the gun to me?” Zoe started, her voice quivering from straining to speak calmly, aware of Sophie just behind her, frozen on the spot in shock.
“I – I – I didn’t mean t-to k-kill her.” Michael stuttered.
“It’s ok, Michael. They’ll understand.” Zoe lied smoothly, surprised at how calm she was managing to remain. Give the gun to me, and we’ll let Ben out.” Michael ignored her, and went to open the door. Zoe followed cautiously as Ben stood up, staring at Michael nervously as Michael raised the gun. Zoe got ready to pounce if he aimed it at Ben, but to her great surprise, he turned the gun on himself and shot himself in the shoulder. Zoe acted quickly.
“Ben – hurry.” She ordered. “I’m sure it won’t be long until more are down here. They would have either heard the gun shots or be on their way to change shifts to enter the numbers.” Ben didn’t hesitate, and hopped over Michael’s motionless body as he groaned in pain. Sophie was still stood there in shock, and Ben looked over at her immediately, his face soft as he looked at her.
“Sophie. Come with me.” He offered her, with kindness in her voice. Zoe glared at him suspiciously. Why did he speak to her like that?
“W-what?” Sophie hesitated, slightly dumbfounded.
“Come with me. Back to the village.” Ben repeated.
“I don’t know if that’s such a good idea Ben. The last time that happened, you-“ Sophie began, mixed tones of anxiousness and bravery in her voice.
“It will be different this time. I promise.” Ben promised in convincing tones, needless to say, Zoe didn’t believe it, besides she was too concerned that these two seemed to know each other. Zoe gave Sophie a significant look. They all remained silent for a moment, no-one speaking, and Zoe wasn’t having any of it. If they didn’t move soon, they would all be caught.
“Look, Sophie, if you’re coming, we have to go now!” Zoe said to her with high urgency in her voice, but Sophie was still hesitant, watching Ben’s pleadful eyes. Zoe shook her head, guild weeping over her immediately as she picked up Michael’s gun, walked over to Sophie quickly, and wacked her over the head, knocking her unconscious. Ben looked at Zoe with shock, a look of disbelief wept over his face.
“Is she coming or not?” Zoe asked impatiently, but Ben didn’t answer, he walked over to Sophie and hoisted her gingerly into his arms, and began navigating his way out of the hatch, followed closely by Zoe, and they both started to sprint as soon as they were out of the hatch, careful not to leave any obvious tracks along the way back to the village.
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Post by Belle MacFarlane on Jun 17, 2009 16:53:52 GMT -4
POST DELETED.
(Not physically deleted 'cos then Zoe would have double posted.) |
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Post by fearandloathin on Jun 18, 2009 10:13:55 GMT -4
Day 65
Zoe ran with Ben through the jungle, Ben struggling slightly with his injured shoulder to support Sophie, so reluctantly as it was another favour for Ben, Zoe helped support Sophie. She hardly spoke to Ben as they slowed down, sure of themselves that no-one was following them and their tracks were well covered. Zoe had the gun she stole from Michael - Sawyer's gun, tucked in the back on her jeans just in case it was needed. She had decided to herself to keep it for good, she never knew when Carrie might decide to go on a random rampage of vengeance on her again.
Ben and Zoe had been trekking through the jungle for several hours now, and it was still pitch black, although the sky was beginning to become a mix of shades of purples, reds and oranges, still tinted with black-navy tinges which could only been seen through the tree tops. Ben and Zoe remained silent with each other, both concentrating with getting back to the village, Zoe too furious too talk, and Ben too exhausted from his last week of torture and being poorly looked after. Zoe had disapproved of how her friends had treated Ben, as much as she wanted him to suffer for how he treated her, she would never stoop to Sayid's level of torturing the poor man for information, besides, during the time Ben and the Others had kept her locked up, ignoring how humiliating and savage it made her feel, they had always had the respect not to hurt her. Zoe was a little confused by Sayid's actions too, after all, the time he had lashed out at Sawyer, he had sworn in clear hearing distance for those around him that he was ashamed, and vowed never to do it again, something obviously changed. Zoe pondered whether it was the death of Shannon that had made him act in such a violent manner.
Zoe's thoughts were so consumed that she had not noticed the sky brighten much as they walked through the jungle, and she was only lurched back into reality from her thoughts when something in her stomach suddenly was screaming pain throughout her body, making Zoe coil on the floor, screaming in pain. Ben watched her in slight panic, and laid Sophie down for a moment.
"What's wrong?" He asked, remaining calm, but expressions of panic and concern were clear on his face. The pain was too unbearably blinding white hot for Zoe to answer, she just continued to scream, clutching her stomach, curled up on the ground, her teeth gritted and eyes shut tight, trying to console the pain, wishing for it to go away. Ben now started to panic for the possibility of the plane crash survivors finding them, Zoe's screams would surely lead them the way, and as he thought this, the trees and bushes ahead started to sway and rustle increasingly, and the sound of several footsteps approached. Five men entered the clearing. Relief spread across Ben's face. They were familiar people. His people, among them, Danny, Tom, Richard. Richard glanced from Sophie who was still motionless on the ground, a fairly substantially significant bruise and bump had formed on her head now, to Ben, who was crouched by Zoe's side. Richard gave Ben a strange look, which Ben understood to be a mixture of anger and disappointment, and perhaps a hint of understanding.
"What's going on?" Richard asked, equally as calmly as Ben had been, his not as smooth, more tones of highly strung could be detected.
"We need to get Zoe to either Juliet, Jo or Chase." Ben explained. "I don't know what's wrong, she suddenly collapsed in pain. Please take her to them Richard. Danny, Tom? I'll follow with Sophie, I want her checked over too, she got hit pretty hard on the head, she is probably concussed quite significantly." Richard suppressed a heavy sigh, and scooped Zoe into his arms, although this was made difficult by Zoe kicking out, remaining still was out of the question, the pain was too intolerable, so Tom helped, and Ben lead the way, protectively carrying Sophie in his arms again, and they made quick pace back to the village.
The group of Others were only ten minutes or so now from the village, and in their quick haste, they made is back in seven minutes, Zoe's piercing screams still slicing through the air. Richard jogged with her into the lab where Jo, Chase and Juliet were all located, their faces of shock and concern already visible, they had already heard the screams moments before Ben and Richard first appeared on the village grounds.
"What have you done to her?" Jo demanded immediately.
"We haven't done anything." Richard replied calmly and smoothly. "But she is in a considerable amount of pain, I suggest you have a good look over her before you start bombarding us with questions." Ben entered seconds into the lab after Richard, Sophie still clutched in his arms, Richard gave Ben a disapproving glance before he glided out the lab back to his house, he was sure Carrie would have stared out the window at the sounds of Zoe's screams ringing through the jungle, and needed to assure her everything was alright as well as having a space to look away from Ben's facial expressions as he dealt with his disapproval of realising his misbehaviour to Jacob's orders.
Juliet got to work quickly, ordering Chase to restrain Zoe while she got a needle ready, pumped with painkillers to inject into her skin, through her thickest vein in her arm, while Jo fretted, trying to remain calm, but talked to Zoe, assuring her loudly, trying to be clear over the screams that everything was going to be alright, they were going to figure out what was wrong, and they were going to fix it.
Zoe felt something jabbed into her arm, but the prick was still nothing compared to the pain in her stomach, however, the painkiller spread quickly, and the pain, still there, still strong, was becoming more tolerable to control, to keep control over the screaming. Now that she stopped struggling in the pain, Chase went to lookover Sophie, Ben not leving her side, throwing occasionaly curious glances towards Zoe, again, with unexpected concern in his eyes.
"What happened, Zoe? What started the pain?" Jo asked urgently.
"I don't know." Zoe wept, her eyes streaming in anguish. "It just suddenly happened, something in my stomach, like something is pushing against something. It's hard to explain, the pain hurt too much to figure out how it felt." Zoe's eyes closed as the sedatives in the painkillers took effect and she slipped into unconsciousness.
"We better do a scan." Juliet suggested, and Jo nodded in agreement, Juliet and Jo swapping significant glances, they knew it must have something to do with the baby, after all, Zoe would be three months pregnant now, Juliet knew this was around the time the trouble started all too well, or course, it was unknown to them that she wasn't three months pregnant at all. Far from it. Jo spread the gel over Zoe's stomach and Juliet took control of the equipment, watching the screen of the scanner machine, and both Jo and Juliet gasped. Yes, there was something there, not a three month developing baby in the womb though, a one week old foetus. The horror sank in quickly. She hadn't conceived off island, it was on island, and only recent. Jo became increasingly agitated and full of worry as she looked at Zoe, unconscious, and unknowing of just how much trouble she was in.
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Post by Belle MacFarlane on Jun 18, 2009 14:02:48 GMT -4
Day 65, as Zoe said. It's Thanksgiving, don't you know.
Carrie jumped slightly as she heard someone screaming in the distance. She froze for a minute, listening intently. The screams were getting closer. Quickly, she rushed to the window and looked out. On the opposite side of the village, Carrie saw Danny, Tom and Richard emerge from the jungle, closely followed by Ben. Richard and Ben were both holding figures in their arms, who on closer inspection, Carrie identified to be Zoe and Sophie. There was a pang in her stomach as she saw Richard holding Zoe's squirming figure. Carrie knew neither had ever felt anything for each other, but still, there was something about them being so close, even if it was for a different reason - Carrie had realised by now that it was Zoe who was screaming - that she just didn't like.
As Carrie thought about this, the group had already rushed into Jo, Chase and Juliet's lab. Immediately, she figured Zoe must have been in pain from the pregnancy. Damn, Carrie thought, I hope I don't get pregnant.
After a few moments of consideration, Carrie turned back to her cooking. It was Thanksgiving, and this year Carrie had promised to try and cook the dinner herself. Richard had always done it before, Carrie not knowing the first thing about the American tradition. She thought, for a moment, about going over to the lab to see what was going on, but she didn't. She wasn't quite ready to face Zoe yet. Carrie was unsure as to whether Zoe would be angry or regretful, and she was sure she felt the same.
Carrie finally managed to get the turkey, mashed potato, pumpkin pie, carrots and cranberry sauce onto the table, before Richard came in. She hadn't noticed him come in, as she had her back to the door, until he came up behind her.
"I don't smell burning," he joked.
"Oh my God, Richard, you frightened the life out of me then!" Carrie laughed. "Do you expect me to burn my cooking then?"
Richard didn't reply, only laughed.
"What's up with Zoe and Sophie, anyway? I saw you bringing them in," Carrie asked casually as they both sat down at the table.
"Zoe's having a baby attack. And Sophie, I think Ben said she got hit over the head," Richard replied.
Carrie tutted and shook her head mockingly. "When will she learn?" They both laughed, then Carrie said, "is she gonna be okay though? Zoe?"
Richard hesitated for a moment. "I hope so," he said. "You said she conceived off-Island, but she got pregnant right before she arrived. She's something new."
"Oh, come on," Carrie looked at Richard. "You've been here for God knows how long! You've told me about things you've seen, things I could never even imagine ... and now you're telling me you've never seen a pregnant woman who conceived a week before she came to the Island?"
"Well, I have," Richard explained. "But it was only about 30 years ago when pregnant women started dying. And in that time, apart from the Oceanic survivors and the French science team, only you and Juliet have come to the Island. So Zoe, Claire and Rousseau are the only women to arrive pregnant on the Island during that time."
"DHARMA was already there, right? 30 years ago?"
"Yeah, it was kind of because of them that the whole issue started. They dug deep into a pocket of energy with one of their stations, which really didn't help."
"I have a feeling if I ask you anymore you'll start saying something science-y, and I really don't know anything about that," Carrie said. "Besides, the undercooked food's getting cold."
"I thought you said you were gonna burn it?"
"Either burn it or underdo it. I can never get it right."
Richard leant forwards and cut a bit of the turkey off. Using his fork, he put it in his mouth and ate it. "I think you got it just right," he smiled.
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Post by tigerlily on Jun 18, 2009 21:11:23 GMT -4
Day 65
Jo paced around the room, agitated. Her blood was boiling. Chase reached out for her arm. "Hey, she'll be okay," he reassured her in a soft voice.
Jo shook his hand off angrily. "No she won't! She's going to die just like Monica did last week, and like Sabine before her. They all die!"
Jo pulled her rubber gloves off and flung them across the room. Chase pulled her to him roughly and held her close. "We won't let her."
"So we have a little under three months to figure out how to change what Juliet has tried to understand for three years?" Jo said sarcastically and rubbed her head in frustration, something she had picked up from spending too much time with Jack. "We can't save her, Chase!"
Jo fled from the lab leaving Zoe, still unconscious on the table, for Juliet to look after. She marched to Ben's house and stormed inside without knocking.
Ben was clearly caught by surprise. He had changed into the strange, ragged brown costume Jo sometimes saw the Others wearing and was just about to sit down at his desk when Jo stormed in. Tom stood in the kitchen doorway with his arms crossed, waiting for Ben to get settled before catching him up on what had happened in the village in his absence.
Jo flew towards Ben, grabbed him by the neck and pushed him savagely against the wall. He groaned slightly, his body still bruised and tender from Sayid's beatings.
"Hey, hey!" Tom pulled Jo off Ben and held her arms behind her back. Ben merely gave her that calm, creepy smile that fed her rage even more.
Jo spoke in an even tone that belied the venom she felt towards Ben. "This is how it's going to be, Ben. Once Jack and I do this surgery for you, you are going to let us leave this island, and we're taking Zoe with us. You've had your fun, we'll give you what you want, and then we're gone. Understood?"
Ben rubbed his neck where Jo had grabbed him. "I'm afraid you don't give the orders around here, Jo. I have a plan for you and Zoe, and it doesn't involve leaving the island."
"I don't care if you keep me here until the end of time, but Zoe's pregnant, and I don't know how or when but she conceived after the crash. She's going to die, Ben!"
The blood drained from Ben's face and his eyes became impossibly wide as he absorbed Jo's words. He sat down at his desk and pulled out his reading glasses. He motioned to Tom to release Jo's arms and she slammed her hands on Ben's desk to keep from falling over.
"Then I suppose that changes things," Ben said somberly, and met her gaze. "But for right now we go ahead as planned. Oh, and Tom? Make sure Jo is comfortable in her Hydra cell - she'll be arriving a few days earlier than scheduled."
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Post by fearandloathin on Jun 19, 2009 13:39:43 GMT -4
Day 65 - Night
Zoe awoke, her vision slightly blurred, and she felt dazed and slightly confused, forgetting where she was for a moment and why. Upon looking at her surroundings, she identified the lab Jo was forced to work in. She was surrounded by monitors, and could hear a steady beep of her heart being monitored on one of the vital equipment. Zoe looked down at her arm, where a series of clear tubes were wrapped round her, a needle with tape over it stuck in her arm, she also had some kind of tube contraption over her face and nose. Zoe went to rip them off, but a cool, feminine hand stopped her.
"Don't do that." A firm, but concerned and caring voice told her polietly. Zoe looked up, and the Juliet woman, whom Zoe was vaguley familiar with looked over her.
"What happened?" Zoe croaked, her voice dry.
"You need a drink." Juliet muttered more to herself then Zoe, and she disappeared from Zoe's eyeline.
"Jo?" Zoe called out, her voice hoarse.
"Shh." Juliet returned with a plastic cup filled with cool water. "Relax, take it easy, you've been through a lot of stress."
"Where's Jo?" Zoe asked, ignoring the cup of water that Juliet presented to her lips.
"She's not here right now." Juliet replied, and motioned for Zoe to drink, Zoe gave in and took in a small gulp, Juliet holding the cup steadily. Once Juliet was satisfied Zoe had drank enough, she took the cup away
"When will Jo be back?" Zoe asked weakly. Juliet frowned a little.
"I don't know." She answered truthfully. "But she's fine, I promise. You just need to relax.
"Is Sophie ok?" Zoe continued to ask questioned, worried about her, and guilty for being the one to strike her over the head.
"She appears to be fine. Dr Chase has looked her over, but we won't really know until she has woken up." Juliet answered smoothly and calmly. "But you need to stop worrying about other people for a change, and take care of yourself for once. I have important news for you."
Zoe frowned this time. "What news?" She mumbled grogily.
"You're pregnant." Juliet answered her.
"What?!" Zoe choaked. "But - that's impossible!"
"Nothing on this island is impossible." Juliet replied matter-of-factly, but in a way as if she was repeating someone else's words. "It's not just the pregnancy though, there are more complications. Zoe's face went paler then usual, which was rare, her skin so naturally pale anyway, no matter how much sun touched her skin.
"What complications?" Zoe asked, nervous now.
"There are three complications. You maybe showing early signs of pre-eclampsia, which I can't be sure for certain yet, but if you do, it is very serious, and you need immediate treatment for that let alone for your womb infection, and not only that, I am suspect that you also havespira-bifida, which if the case, is very serious, and you need immediate treatment, or your baby is at risk of miscarriage, or still birth. You are also at risk of loosing your ability to walk. After a few more scans and blood tests I can be sure, and we can decide what the best cause of action is then." Juliet explained calmly. Zoe's face went paler, whiter then white.
"What does all that mean?" She asked quietly, in shock and disbelief.
"Pre-eclampsia is an infection in your liver, kidneys and womb, which if ignored, can lead to full on eclampsia. We can give you an injection for that, which will half the chances of it developing into eclamsia, and once your baby has grown more we will have to deliever early - we are talking a month pre-mature delievery latest." Juliet began to explain. "For the spina-bifida, you will need spinal surgery to remove a cyst that has grown on your spinal sac - that is if it is spina-bifida."
"Oh god." Zoe whispered, feeling nauseous, faint, her breath short.
"Relax." Juliet told her smoothly. "We aren't giving up without a fight. I'm not going to let anything happen to you if I can help it. Besides, you know a spinal surgeon on this island don't you? Lucky for you, he is close by. We can get you the treatment you need."
"I - I don't understand how this could happen." Zoe started to wail, tears streaming down her tears as the truth began to sink in. "I can't be pregnant, the doctors said after my miscarrage that I couldn't have any more children!" Juliet tried to comfort her, holding her hand to try and calm her down, stressing was certainly not going to help Zoe's condition.
"This island is special, Zoe. Whatever was wrong before, the island has healed you." Juliet tried to explain, wondering of this was the case, why Zoe had contracted these possible fatal infections, but at the same time, wondering if it had anything to do with the problems with pregnancy on the island.
"Miscarriage?" Juliet questioned.
"About a week before the crash." Zoe managed to stifle through her tears.
"That explains why you show signs of being a week pregnant rather then three months." Juliet spoke more to herself then Zoe.
"A week?" Zoe gasped for air, her face still streaming with tears, her tounge catching the salty taste, and she grimaced, not only physically, but at the emotional realisation that it was Charlie's baby, and the probabilty that he would never find out.
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Post by tigerlily on Jun 19, 2009 14:20:01 GMT -4
Day 65-NIGHT
Jo woke up in a damp, cheerless room on a cheap portable cot, her body aching and her stomach nauseous. Jo groaned as she recognized the now-familiar physical effects of the sedative. The room was the mirror image of the cell where Zoe had been held captive, and to which Jack would soon be transported.
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Jo had sensed that something was a little off in the village in the days before Ben’s return from captivity. A number of Others were missing – “On assignment,” Chase told her with his customary vagueness. Nobody told Jo anything. She was fairly sure she had glimpsed Walt being shuffled through the village to another location. She hadn’t had a chance to talk to him and see if he was all right, and this weighed heavily on her mind. She took comfort in the knowledge that the Others cherished the few children amongst them, the ones from the tail section that Cindy Chandler took care of. Hopefully, they were giving Walt the same level of attention.
Until she lost her temper with Ben, Jo had managed to live and work quietly with the Others. She consumed herself with her research and, to all the others in the village, maintained the appearance of domestic bliss with Chase. Between the two of them, she tried hard to keep their relationship as a mere flirtation, telling him she needed to move slowly to process all the recent changes in her life. She tried hard to push thoughts of Jack out of her mind, but rarely succeeded. And now, her good behavior had all been for nothing. “It’s your own fault,” she scolded herself. “You blew it.”
The last thing she remembered was Juliet’s sympathetic face peering over her as she injected the sedative into Jo’s arm.
“It’s only temporary. Ben will bring you back here after the surgery, and you’ll have your freedom again,” Juliet had whispered reassuringly. “I’ll be with you soon, and Chase is going with you now. You’re going to be okay.”
Jo nodded in response, grateful for Juliet’s friendship. Her circumstances left a lot to be desired, but one thought made Jo’s heart pound heavily: Jack would soon be with her. She smiled groggily at Juliet, then closed her eyes and slept.
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Jo sat up wearily. Her eyes took a moment to focus on Chase leaning against a table several feet away, watching her wake up. She stood up and shuffled toward him.
“Don’t!” Chase warned, and stepped forward. He placed his hands on the glass wall that separated them. Jo stopped short in surprise.
“I’m so sorry, Jo. This is not my choice.” His blue eyes gazed intently into hers. Jo knew he was sincere.
“I know,” she responded wistfully. “I’ll be all right.” She would reserve her anger for Ben when she finally saw him again.
“Ben values you. He’ll get over this. In the meantime, I’m here with you. Anything you need, it’s yours.” Chase smiled.
Jo gazed at back at her former fiancé with straightforward determination. “I’d like to see Jack now.”
Chase flashed her an unmistakeably wounded look before taking a step backwards and walking stiffly towards the door. “Jack isn’t here yet,” he muttered as he slammed the door behind him, leaving her alone in the darkness.
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Post by Belle MacFarlane on Jun 19, 2009 14:45:13 GMT -4
Kelso's eyes widened in shock as, for the first time in five years, he saw Carrie standing right in front of him. "Carrie ..." he whispered, more to himself than to her. Then, more clearly and to her, he said, "what are you doing here?"
"I might ask you the same thing," Carrie stated confidently, walking forwards towards the glass barrier. "What on earth were you doing on a plane from Sydney to LA?"
"I was on holiday in Sydney, but then Mom called from LA and asked me to come over. Dad had a stroke," a hint of pain crossed Kelso's face as he spoke of his dad's pain. Before Carrie could say any of the cheesy 'sorry' stuff, Kelso continued, "but why are you here? You're not one of the Others, are you?"
Carrie bit her lip. Kelso's stomach flipped slightly as she did so, as he loved the way she did that. "'Fraid so," she said. "Remember that job I got five years ago? Turned out it was a job with this lot."
Kelso put his hand on the glass, as if he was trying to touch her. "I know you'd never become like them, Carrie," he said.
Carrie laughed slightly. "You think you know us, Kelso? You think you know what we're like, what we stand for?"
"I know you abduct children," Kelso challenged her. He wondered why she had been so challenging. He'd expected her to tell him not to worry, she'd never change.
"Well, 'abduct' is a big word. We took them so that they'd have a better life with us, Kelso. Surely you agree? Living here, with us, where we have running water, electricity, food supply, houses, is better than living on the beach, trying to get pure water out of sea water?"
Kelso didn't reply. Carrie broke the silence, by asking, "are you still drinking?"
"No." Kelso looked straight at her, speaking completely honestly. "I quit not long after you left. I couldn't stand the thought of it happening again, and not having you there to support me. Besides, I knew I owed you that much. After everything I put you through, Carrie, it was all I could do to apologize." A pause. Then, "what about you? Are you still smoking?"
"No, I quit. Richard's never liked the idea of me smoking," Carrie stopped as she realised she'd mentioned Richard. She wasn't really sure how Kelso would react, knowing Carrie was with another man.
"Who's Richard?" Kelso asked. Carrie bit her lip again, wondering if she should tell him or not. She decided to. After all, she should be able to tell her ex she had a new man.
"He's my boyfriend," she said. "We've been together for five years now."
Kelso was silent. Carrie could see he was hurt. Could he really still love her, after all this time? "Does he love you, Carrie?"
"Yes," Carrie replied immediately, 100% sure about her answer. "He does. He loves me, Kelso, he loves me a whole lot. Much more than you ever did."
"Carrie, I have always loved you. I could never love anyone more than I love you."
"Oh, Kelso," Carrie sighed, "please don't make this more difficult than it has to be."
"Please," Kelso almost begged. "Tell me you still love me, just a little bit."
"Kelso, you were my childhood sweetheart. I'll always love you." Kelso looked much happier at this. Carrie continued, "but in a different way to how I love Richard. You're like a little brother or a pet goldfish ... I'd cry if someone flushed you down the toilet, but I wouldn't want to be with you."
Kelso chuckled slightly at Carrie's joke. She hadn't changed that much while on the Island - she could still make a joke, even in the most serious of situations. Even when Kelso had been taken to hospital to have his stomach pumped, the night Carrie gave up on him, she'd managed to make a joke then.
"I'm sorry, Kelso," Carrie said. "I'm sorry for breaking up with you. I know, now, that I shouldn't have left you, at least not at that point. I was so focused on my Psychology course that I barely had time to help you when you needed me most. I had a choice, that night, between my course and my friend. In a way, I was choosing between you and Mum. Whether to help you, or to make her happy. And stupidly, Kelso, I chose her. I should have chosen you. I'm so sorry." While she had been speaking, Carrie had put her hand on the glass too, right opposite Kelso's.
"So you mean, if you'd made a different choice ... we might still be together?"
"I don't know, Kelso," Carrie replied honestly. "Richard said once that it was my destiny to come here. And sometimes, I think he's right. If I hadn't become a psychologist, I might have been on that plane with you. And things would have been different, in some ways, but whatever's meant to be is meant to be. And you and me, Kelso, are not meant to be."
Tears were welling up in Kelso's eyes. "I love you," he said.
"I know," Carrie said, her eyes starting to brim with tears too. "And I'm sorry." With this, she turned around and left the cell - one of the hardest things she had ever had to do.
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