LOST: Rp4

It had been several hours, now, since Carrie and Richard had had their argument. After storming out of the camp, Carrie had wandered around aimlessly for a while, until her feel brough her to the top of a familiar hill - Kelso's grave. She'd sat there for a long time, way past sunset. She didn't say much, but just say there, her mind full of thoughts about everythin and everyone - mainly Richard and Kelso. René crossed her mind briefly, but she didn't linger for long. Carrie was grateful for her friendship with René. It was the only close relationship she had that wasn't scarred by betrayal or bad decisions.

She thought about Mars. She jsut couldn't wrap her head around her. Her own sister had slept with her boyfriend. Although she could excuse Richard, he hadn't met her yet, but on Mars' personal timeline... it was all too confusing and upsetting.

Carrie's thoughts quickly moved on again, this time to Ben. She couldn't figure out what their relationship was now. She wasn't even sure if she liked him or not. He'd always been hostile with her. He hadn't stopped, he'd tried to kill her. That wasn't the sign of a good relationship - he wanted her dead. Or was that different now? After all, he'd let her walk away unharmed. And Carrie knew Ben well - he wouldn't change his mind, just like that.

Then it hit her like a ton of bricks. Carrie and Ben's attitudes to each toher had changed the moment she kissed him. It was purely to save his life, and yet... that was just it. Carrie had kissed someone she loathed to save his life, despite the fact that only a few minutes beforehand, he'd pointed a gun at her and pulled the trigger, with full intent to send her to her death. Ben had let her walk free, because he respected her decision to save his life via such measures, despite his attempt to kill her, and all the warring they'd had in the past.

Her thoughts swiftly moved onto Lynette, and her whole family she'd left behind. She wished she could have stayed with them, but Carrie knew this was how it was supposed to be. She couldn't havce stayed in Tennessee - her place was here, on the Island. Yet she couldn't have brought Lynette with her - she'd promised Riochard she'd never bring her to the Island, and she agreed - it was far too dangerous. Bringing her own daughter to the Island was like bringing her to her death.

"There you are!" A familiar female voice made Carrie jump from behind. René sat beside her. "I've been looking for you for hours. You okay?"

"Yeah," Carrie murmured, not looking up from Kelso's grave. "It's just... Richard, he gave me some bad news. To put it lightly."

"Mind if I have a nosey?" René enquired.

Carrie rested her cheek in her palm. "It's complicated." She looked up at René for the first time. "What would you say if I told you the Oceanic survivors are 30 years in the past?"

"Did Richard tell you that?"

"Yeah."

"Then I believe you," René shrugged. "We both know Richard. If he told you something like that, it has to be true." There was a pause. "That's not what you two were arguing about, was it?"

Carrie shook her head. "No." She hesitated, trying to think of the best way to explain. "Are you aware my sister is one of the survivors?"

René raised her eyebrows. "Well, I am now. Who is she?"

"Mars McTavish. When they travelled back, she joined us. About two years in, she..." Carrie paused, trying to hold back tears as she thought about it. "She slept with Richard."

René looked shocked. "Oh my God," she murmured, putting her arm around Carrie's shoulder to comfort her in a friendly manner.

"It's not his fault." Tears began to fall down her cheeks. "It was a year before I was born. But Mars... she knew perfectly well. But she still did it..." She hesitated. "I just wanna know why, René. She's my own sister, why would she do that to me?"

"I don't know," René said quietly. She herself seemed shocked and horrified at the news.

"He knew," Carrie said after a few minutes. "All this time, he knew what Mars was going to do. But he never said anything..."

"Of course he didn't." René did her best to comfort her friend. "Think about it, if he'd told you before you left, it would have been before it had happened on Mars' timeline. You would have probably done something about it, you'd have punished Mars for something she hadn't done yet."

There was silence for a while as both women were lost in their thoughts. "Love, eh?" René said finally. "Is it even worth it?"

Carrie looked straight at René. "Yes," she said simply. "There's no pleasure without pain, René. All these rocky moments... they just make the sweet moments that whole lot sweeter."

René considered Carrie for a moment. "Ready to go back?"

Carrie took a last look at Kelso's grave. "Yeah," she said, standing up. "Yeah, I am."

René stood up after her. "Hey," she said, noticing Carrie still looked quite down. "You'll be okay. I know you both well. You'll get through it, you always do."

Carrie smiled for the first time since the argument. "Thanks, René," she said geniunely.

"Anytime," René smiled back, before the two began making their way back to camp.

((NB: This post is slightly influenced by Rosé wine.))

Day 4

Carrie was sitting around the campfire, talking to Amelia. They both looked up when they heard Adam exclaim, "holy sh*t!"

"Oh my God," Amelia whispered, indicating something behind Carrie. "Look!"

Carrie whipped around, and almost fell off her seat when she saw Ben and Sun walk into camp ... defiantly lead by the supposedly dead John Locke. She watched in utter shock as Richard greeted him with just as much shock, although he had no idea Locke was supposed to be dead. She stood up and walked forwards a few steps, and frowned as she watched Sun rushing to speak to Richard.

"Were you here in 1977?" Carrie heard Sun ask Richard.

"Excuse me?" Richard frowned.

Sun took out a photo - Carrie presumed it was the one Christian had given her in the Processing Center, which she had removed from its frame, folded up, and carried with her - and showed it to Richard. "These people... Jack Shephard, Kate Austen, Hugo Reyes, Zoe Taylor. They were here with my husband, Jin Kwon. Were you here? Do you remember them? Any of them?"

"Yes, I was here 30 years ago," Richard replied, rather solemnly. "And I do. I remember these people. I remember meeting them very clearly, because... I watched them all die."

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"What's going on?" Carrie rushed up to question Richard as Sun sat by the sea and Locke took the boar over to the campfire.

"John and I have an errand to run," Richard repeated Locke's words.

"So, what, you're just gonna act as if he didn't disappear for 3 years?"

"Don't forget that you disappeared for three years too, Carrie," he replied, looking straight at her. "Nothing's changed in the camp. Except I'm a hell of a lot happier."

Carrie smiled at his last sentence. "That was different, though," she said seriously. "You sent me away, you knew how and why I went. Locke just... disappeared. Rene told me," she explained quickly when Richard gave her a questioning look.

"They were on the plane with you, weren't they?" He asked her.

"Yeah," Carrie agreed, rather absently, looking at Locke, who was now talking to Ben.

"Then surely you knew he was already here? Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't want to," she lied. The truth was, she didn't know. Locke was dead the last time she'd checked.

"Why not?"

"I knew it'd get hectic, Richard," Carrie sighed, looking at him. "I wanted just a few days of normality with you, before it all changed."

Richard smiled, and gently stroked her hair. "Good," he said. "That's exactly what I've always wanted with you. Normality."

"Pfft, never gonna happen on this Island," Carrie scoffed.

"I know," Richard laughed. "Can't be helped. I gotta go speak to John."

"Alright," Carrie smiled.

Richard went over to where Locke was now speaking to Sun. "I'm ready, John," he said.

"You still have that compass I gave you?" Locke asked.

Richard produced his old compass from his pocket. "A little rusty," he said, "but she can still find north."

"Ben!" Locke called over to Ben, who was sitting a short distance away with Rene. "I'd appreciate it if you'd join us!"

"What, John, don't you trust me here with my former people?" Ben called back. "Afraid I'll stage a coup?"

"I'm not afraid of anything you can do anymore, Ben," Locke smirked.

"Well, in that case, I'd love to come," Ben replied, tossing a stone into the ocean.

"Good," Locke agreed, before turning back and speaking to Sun.

Carrie went up to Richard and lightly touched his shoulder. "Be careful," she said.
"Of course," he smiled, before pulling her into a tight embrace and kissing her. She kissed him back, both of them unaware Locke was watching them, seemingly intrigued by their kiss.

"Let's go, then," Locke said, as Carrie and Richard pulled out of their kiss and Ben came over.

Richard created some firetorches for them to see by and handed two of them to Locke and Ben, keeping one for himself. "See you later," he said to Carrie, kissing her on the cheek. "I love you."

"I love you too," she smiled. "Try to come back in one piece."

"No promises," he said, before leaving with Locke and Ben.

Post-Ajira Day 1

Jo left Jack's side and hurried home, glancing around to make sure nobody had seen him kiss her. She was furious. Again and again, Jack had crushed her, and left her in turmoil. She was done with him this time, why didn't he get the message? Why did he keep pulling her back? Why did she let him? Why had he even returned to the island?

Back at home, she found Chase getting ready for bed. Without realizing what she was doing, she pushed him against the bedroom wall roughly and kissed him. It was easier than talking.

"Whoa, wait a minute!" Chase pushed her shoulders an arm's length away from him. "What's gotten into you?" he asked suspiciously.

"Nothing. I just came from Juliet's. She helped me realize...I mean, I already knew, really..." she hesitated, unsure of what she really wanted to say.

"Say it," he prompted her, his eyes locked on hers.

She breathed deeply, and took the plunge. "You're the one that I want, Chase. It's always been you."

Chase searched her eyes. He saw the pain, the turmoil, the strength of her love. He didn't recognize that it was all for Jack, and she didn't want him to.

He broke into a wide grin and kissed her happily, lifting her off her feet. "It's about time you figured it out," he replied. They kept kissing until they fell on the bed, then hungrily pulled each other's clothes off. Chase reached for the bedside lamp and flicked it off, plunging them into darkness.

Post-Ajira Day 2

Jo woke up to find that Chase had already gone to the clinic, but left a perfect red rose on the pillow beside her. She grinned dizzily, then laughed out loud when she realized that Sawyer loved to surprise Juliet with roses when he was feeling romantic. Obviously, Sawyer and Chase had shared stories. Jo didn't mind. She felt like she and Chase really might be able to have a clean start, despite Jack's return. She felt like an enormous weight had been lifted.

Her morning at the library was uneventful. Little Ben stopped by to pick out a few books, but Jo kept to herself as she always did. On her lunch break she made her way over to visit Juliet at the motor pool where Jo found her chatting with Kate.

"I'm sorry to interrupt," Jo called out as she sidled up to Juliet and nodded curtly at Kate. "I was wondering if you'd seen Zoe."

"Dr. Candle brought her to the veterinary clinic this morning, she's probably still there," Juliet replied.

"Great, thanks!" Jo responded brightly.

"You're in a much better mood today," Juliet observed with a raised eyebrow and a sly smile.

"Things are good," Jo replied cryptically, flashing a smile back at her friend. Kate observed them both, feeling completely left out of the conversation.

Just then, a blue Dharma van pulled up and Saywer and his security team piled out. They had Sayid with them. His eyes were glazed and his hands were tied together. Jo tried hard not to look shocked. She met Sayid's gaze as they walked by.

"There'll be a meeting tonight," Sawyer growled at Jo as he and Sayid walked by. "You're gonna want to be there."

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Jo and Chase got to the meeting early and waited for Sawyer to show up. Amy asked her to hold Ethan for her while she prepared his bottle. Jo reluctantly took the baby into her arms and gazed at him. She couldn't believe this adorable, happy baby would one day turn into a psychotic killer. Suddenly she felt very sick, and swayed a little. Chase noticed and pulled a chair up, pushing her into the seat very gently.

"I'm fine, I'm fine," she insisted, but the nauseous feeling lingered. Amy returned to the living room with the warm bottle and took Ethan out of her hands. Jo felt unabashed relief. Then Sawyer showed up, and the small group began a vicious debate about Sayid.

The Dharma folks, led by Radzinsky, were eager to execute their prisoner. "Horace, you've got to call for a vote," he whined. "Either we make a decision, or I call Ann Arbor...and they make it for us."

Horace conceded. "Okay. Let's put it to a vote. All in favor of Radzinsky's solution, raise your hand."

Everybody raised their hand except Jo, Chase and Sawyer.

"LaFleur? Chase?" Radzinsky prompted them. Jo glared at him in disgust.

"I would really like to say it's unanimous," Horace prodded.

Jo and Sawyer exchanged solemn glances, and Sawyer reluctantly raised his hand. Radzinsky crossed his arms smugly.

Horace turned to Jo and Chase. "Is it unanimous?"

Sawyer subtly nodded behind Horace's back, indicating that they should surrender. They were cornered, and had no other choice. Jo and Chase raised their hands and unhappily voted for Sayid's execution.

Post-Ajira Day 3

Juliet burst into Jo's house in a mad panic, catching Jo completely off guard.

"Jo, I need you in the clinic. It's Ben."

Jo gasped. Terror slowly washed over her as she registered Juliet's urgency. "What happened?"

"He's been shot, he's losing blood. Chase is already there with Zoe. We need you right now!"

Jo sped to the clinic behind Juliet. Chase stood on the far side of the room, dressed in surgical scrubs, arguing with Roger and trying to keep him from interfering. Zoe stood by Ben's side, checking his pulse. She glanced up when Jo arrived.

"His pulse is extremely weak," Zoe informed her, "and fading rapidly."

Jo nodded and took a detour towards the sink to wash up. "Keep applying pressure on the wound. We have to prep him for surgery."

Zoe hesitated slightly, unnerved by the situation. "I don't really belong here, Jo. I'm a vet, remember? I don't operate on people. I can't save him!"

Jo shook her head in sharp disagreement. "No, you're wrong. Ben needs you, and we need you. Like it or not, you're part of the team, okay?" Jo smiled at Zoe, realizing how happy she was to have her friend back in her life.

Zoe smiled back and took a deep breath. "Okay."

Chase finally succeeded in pushing Roger out the door and promptly reappeared at Ben's bedside. Together, Jo, Chase, Zoe and Juliet prepared for the delicate operation.

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"We need more gauze here," Jo directed Zoe. "If we can't stop the hemorrhaging we're going to have to pack the entire tract."

Zoe complied. "I'm on it."

"I'll be back," Jo declared, then stepped outside the operation room for some fresh air. She pulled her mask down and held her hands to her head in frustration. This wasn't working.

"Tell me what's wrong," Chase commanded her as he followed her into the main clinic.

Jo sighed, and vented her fears. "This is bigger than us. We can't fix it. Someone needs to get in there who can find the damage that bullet did. He needs a real surgeon, Chase. None of us are qualified for this kind of operation. We're gonna need Jack," Jo realized.

"Jack has already declined." Kate informed them from the clinic's doorway, startling them. "You need blood, I'm a universal donor. I can help."

Jo nodded to Kate gratefully. "Thank you. Hang around, we'll pull him out of surgery and prepare for a transfusion."

Chase resumed the conversation. "Talk to Jack. He'll listen to you."

Jo scoffed. "Why the hell would he listen to me?"

"Because you're the reason he came back," Kate answered for Chase.

Jo shook her head. "No I'm not."

Juliet popped her head outside the operating theatre. "Dammit, what are you doing out here?!" she yelled. She pushed Jo towards the door and grasped Chase's arm to pull him back into the operating room. "Zoe is in there by herself, she needs us. Jo, you have to try to talk to Jack, because if you don't Ben is going to die on that table."

Jo realized Juliet was right. She glanced at Chase, and he nodded his approval. Without a word, Jo ran from the clinic and headed to Jack's house. She burst through the door and ran past Miles and Hurley in the living room.

"Hey, Jo! What's going on?" Miles shouted after her. Jo ignored him and searched every room for Jack. She didn't see him, but noticed the bathroom door was closed. She slammed her weight into it and it opened easily. The shower was running. Jo waited patiently in the steamy room, her arms crossed against her chest defensively, until Jack turned it off and stepped out of the shower. He grabbed a towel and wrapped it around his waist nonchalantly. He appeared utterly unsurprised to see Jo standing there. Jo was likewise unfazed by his naked body. She had seen it all before, and at this moment she wasn't exactly feeling the love for him.

"I need you," Jo declared. "Ben needs you."

"I'm sorry," he tried to explain. "I can't help you."

"You're willing to let him die?" she fumed. "Jack, he's my brother!"

"I just can't do it, knowing who he is. I'm sorry."

"He's not that person yet, he's just a boy!" Jo yelled at him. She was stunned by his lack of concern for a twelve-year old who was rapidly bleeding to death. She had never seen this Jack before - and in that moment she hated him.

"Why did you come back here?" Jo asked suddenly. Her voice wavered as she fought back tears.

Jack recognized her anguished expression and immediately softened. He moved closer to her. "I came back here to save you."

Jo placed her hand on his bare chest to keep him from stepping any closer. "We didn't need saving. We've been fine for three years. You came back here for you. At least grant me the courtesy of telling me why."

Jack hesitated. He clearly knew, but didn't want to say. Jo waited for his answer. "I came back...because I was supposed to."

"You shouldn't have," Jo glared at him. "You and Sayid, you're the reason he's dying." She turned her back on him and left the room. She returned to the clinic to find Ben's hospital bed empty, and Chase and Juliet cleaning up their instruments.

"Where is Ben?!" Jo exclaimed, utterly confused.

"He's gone," Chase replied simply.

Jo sat down on the bed in shock. "Gone where?" she whispered. Her heart pounded. She feared for the lost little boy.

"Zoe, Kate and Sawyer brought him to the Others," he answered matter-of-factly. "It was Zoe's idea. They're going to save him."

Day 1 - Post Aljirah

It was late evening, and Zoe was sat crossed legged on her perfectly prepared bed in her jammies, staring teary eyed at the photo contained in a photo frame she had retrieved from the bag she had kept with her on the plane. Charlie Jr slept soundly in his crib by her bed, forever good for sleeping through the night, something that Zoe as a single mum was greatful for.

She set the picutre to one side, on her bedside table, and placed the photo to face her for every morning she woke, the first thing she saw was that of her true love, Charlie Hieronymus Pace. In some ways, Zoe was happy that his death still effected her so, and that her pregnancy hadn't made her more drawn her increasingly more so toward him, that her love for him was genuine. If only he had felt the same. As she sank back onto her bed, she contemplated her time on the island during the time shifts, how she longed to find Charlie during the time shifts when there was a double of herself, and warn Charlie about what was to happen to him, to tell him that he was to have a son or daughter to stop himself from making one of the hugest mistakes in his and her life. But she knew it wouldn't work. As she thought about her time during the time shifts, she gasped as she came to a sudden revelation. She was responsible for herself arriving to the island.

As John and Zoe walked swiftly into the camp where the Others resided, Charlotte and Miles somewhere in their confinement, Zoe immediately recognised the man that had killed one of his own people while under the imprisonment of them. Jones was the name she remembered he was referred too. His face was a face she felt immediately compelled to punch. That was even putting the side the fact that he had tried to chop Juliet's hand off. Jones reacted immediately to John and Zoe's intrusion. Zoe placed a hand on John's shoulder.

"John, if you don't mind, I'd like a quick word before you and Richard have a heart to heart." Zoe requested. John looked at her deeply in her eyes, searching for answers. There was a brief pause as Jones approached them, cocking his gun and aiming it threateningly at them, shouting orders to stop and get on the ground, but they bothed ignored them.

"Okay." John agreed. "But I'll call for him, I'm more likely to be heard over compared to this Jack-Ass." Zoe nodded and smiled in agreement. They both continued through to the camp, ignoring Jones's attempt at being authorative. John ignored him most by shouting for Richard.

"That's enough!" Richard demmanded as he appeared from one of the tents, mainly aiming his statement at Jones.

"My name is John Locke...and this is Zoe Taylor." John replied.

"Is that supposed to mean something to me?" Richard asked cooly, and preplexed.

"Jacob sent us." John replied. Richard regarded them both for a moment then spoke.

"Put the gun down, Widmore." Richard ordered. The man whom Zoe knew by the name of Jones lowered his gun reluctantly and begrundgingly. Zoe stared. No. Widmore. That can't be Charles Widmore, could it? As if John was thinking the same thing, he responded to Richard's order.

"Your name is Widmore? Charles Widmore?" John asked.

"What's it to you?" Widmore responded coldly. Zoe couldn't repress a shocked gasp. Widmore stared at her in confusion but Richard ushered herself and John away to the privacy of his own tent.

"Before we talk about buisness, Zoe wants a word with you." John explained as they sat down civily.

"Ok, sure." Richard responded. "So, Zoe, what is it you wanted to talk about?" Richard asked.

"Well, without seeming so self obsessed when I ask of this request, it's about me." Zoe responded.

"Right...."

"I'm only on this island because of the many rejections I presented to you when you tried to employ me to join your people." Zoe explained. "I would never have got the plane, Oceanic 815 in September, 2004, unless it were for you badgering me for the last sixteen months previously. I'm afraid of myself and my friends being around during these time shifts will have an effect on the future. Richard, I ask of you, with of up most importance, that you make sure you still take on this task. No matter what it takes, make sure that I get on that plane. Please Richard, I know you don't have a clue to who I am now, but this," Zoe explained, as she rubbed her pregnant belly. "this has to happen. It can't change. It's the singlest, most important part of my life, and if my tampering of being here could change that - well, I just can't take that risk. So, Richard, even if future you, Jacob or Ben do not actually request me to be here, will you please make this happen?"

Richard studied Zoe for a moment as he obsorbed what she had told him and considered it.

"I don't know why I feel so compelled to help you Zoe, but ok, I will do everything in my power to make sure you get on flight 815. September 2004 you say? Hmm." Richard went quiet as he was pensive.

"What?" Zoe asked.

"We usually don't ask of people to come here at your age. It normally starts at a very young age." Richard explained. "I would have thought I would have thought I would have kept my eye on you as you were growing up."

"I will be born May 27th 1981 if that helps." Zoe told him.

Zoe's hand ran down her face in disbelief. How did she not realise on the time what life she had set up for herself? Of course, she understood why. Meeting Charlie had to happen. He would have been on that plane regardless of whether she was or not. He was also going to die too. Zoe smiled at the memory of how she had obtained her photos of Charlie, during her visitation after she originally got off the island with Locke, after the birth of Charlie Jr, she had made an effort to fly to Sydney to meet Liam, Charlie's brother.

Zoe's mind then drifted to Sawyer. She hadn't had much of a chance to talk to him since she got back. They had both been busy. Plus, there was a certain reluctance in her. Afterall, it had been three years to Sawyer since he had last seen her. The last memory Zoe had of him was their farewell kiss, and although she always knew she had every intention of returning,, she couldn't guarntee she'd make it back to him, and she knew he knew th same thing. She guessed he had probably moved on from her, just as quickly as he had moved on from Kate to her as he realised he was more then likely to realise he would never see her again. Zoe sighed. She couldn't blame him really, he would expect the same thing of her too. These facts didn't change how crap she would feel at the sight of seeing him with another woman.

As the night drifted on to the earlier hours of the morning, Zoe's eyes drooped, and she fell asleep upon her bed soundly, the reaccuring dream of the same dreams she had been having off island returning to her. The next morning, she would be greatful these dreams were no longer those of the meancing and frightening dreams of Ethan she had experienced from the rest of her time on the island after her many run ins with him before Charlie had taken care of him for her and Claire. She was pleased to be rid of them, and to never have to face anything that resembled or related to him again. Well, at least, that's what she assumed anyway.

Day 2 - Post Aljirah

Zoe awoke to someone banging on her door. She got up drowsily, noticing the time being 6.30am and groaned to herself as she quickly shoved some clothes on and headed down the corridor to the open plan living area and opened the front door. An oriental man waited for her and greeted her. Zoe recognised him from registration. Dr Candle.

"Morning Zoe. I trust you are ready for work this morning?" He greeted friendly.

"Of course." Zoe lied smoothly. "When do we start?"

"In an hour. Give you a chance to find your feet, get ready and drop your baby round at our little cresh that my darling wife helps organise." Dr Candle explained. "I'd like you to meet me at that dharma van over there at twenty five past seven, ok?"

"Sure." Zoe forced a smile, and Dr Candle left, Zoe watched as he left her eyeline of sight before closing the door and inhaling a deep breath before retreating to her shower in aid to help wake her up.

Day 5
(NB: Everything after "What lies in the shadow of the statue?" is influenced by rosé wine.)

The group had been walking all day. Carrie's legs were set on automatic, she could barely feel them anymore. She kept her head down to keep the sun out of her eyes, and just tried to focus on keeping with the group.

"We're nearly there," Richard told her. "You okay?"

"Yeah," she nodded. "Just a bit worn-out, that's all."

"See that forestry at the end of the beach?" Richard indicated what he was pointing out to her. "The other side of it, that's where we need to be. Five minutes."

Five minutes later, they did indeed arrive at the forestry Richard had pointed out. As they walked through it, Carrie spared a glance for Ben. He had his head down, looking rather meek. "Hey," she said, making him look up at her. "Things could be worse."

"Could they?" Ben asked, rather deadpan, obviously not believing a word of it. "How?"

"We could all be dead," Carrie shrugged. "Killed by an insane psychopath in the most gruesome and painful ways possible. Better this than have your head cut in half and your brains pulled out, then have someone's name written on the sand in your own blood."

Ben smiled - only slightly, innoticably perhaps, but Carrie still saw it. "Ridiculous," he muttered, shaking his head.

"Made you smile, though," she replied. They looked at each other, before they were interrupted by Locke speaking to Richard.

"What is it?" He asked, making Ben, Carrie and Sun look up. "Why are we stopping?"

"You'll see," Richard replied, not even glancing at Locke. There was a pause, before Richard walked forwards, out onto another beach, one Carrie had never been to before. She looked on in shock as they stepped out onto the beach, and saw a gigantic foot, carved out of stone. It looked like it had once been part of a larger statue, but the rest had disappeared. They stopped just as they reached the opening onto the beach, everyone looking up at the awesome statue. Carrie glanced at Ben again. He looked nervous.

"Well, it's a wonderful foot, Richard," Locke said conversationally, "but what does it have to do with Jacob?"

Richard paused. "It's where he lives," he replied, nonchalent. He glanced at Locke, before proceeding to lead the group onto the beach. Carrie followed him first, quickly followed by Locke, then the rest of the group.

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Nightfall. Carrie stood in conversation with Dave again, when Richard came over and handed her a jumper. "You looked cold," he explained when she looked at him.

"Thanks," she smiled, pulling the jumper on. Richard kissed her forehead affectionately, before picking up a torch and going over to light it from another, then pushing it in the sand. Carrie and Dave looked on he went over to Locke. They spoke briefly, and although Carrie couldn't hear what they were saying, she could tell there was alot of tension.

As Richard turned away from Locke, Carrie sighed and went to sit down by Ben. "What do you think happened to the statue?" She asked.

"I don't know, it was like that when I got here," Ben replied, deadpan.

"Expect me to believe you?" Carrie smirked.

"Not really," Ben said, just as deadpan as before.

"Alright, Ben, let's go," Locke said. Carrie and Ben looked up to see Locke watching Ben, and Richard climbing the rocks up to the statue, holding a firetorch in one hand. Carrie watched as Ben stood up and meekly followed Locke. Even in this tense scenario, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of lust in her stomach as Richard lunged up the rocks.

He turned around and frowned as he saw Ben following Locke. "What are you doing?" He asked.

"John wants me to join him," Ben told Richard, rather matter-of-factly.

"You can't bring him in," Richard said to Locke, sounding rather annoyed.

"Why not?" Locke asked daringly.

"Because only our leader can request an audience with Jacob," Richard replied, sounding agitated and raising his voice, "and there can only be one leader on the Island at a time, John!"

"I'm beginning to think you just make these rules up as you go along, Richard," Locke challenged him. "Ben is coming in with me, and if that's a problem? I'm sure Jacob and I can work it out."

Richard looked from Locke to Ben, before deciding to give in. He made his way towards the statue, before handing the firetorch to Locke. Richard ran his hand along the stone, seeming to look for the right spot. Once he had, he began pushing against the stone, forcing it backwards. Once he'd pushed it back far enough, Richard turned around and took the firetorch back from Locke. "Tell him I said hello," he said, before leaving them to it.

As Locke began pushing the stone back further, Carrie kept her attention on Richard, who climbed down the rocks and put his firetorch back in the ground.

"Richard," Carrie grabbed his attention as he stood up. "Are you sure this is a good idea? Letting Locke just go sauntering in to see Jacob? Ben-"

"Ben was different," Richard interrupted. "Jacob never... chose him, exactly. He allowed him to be the leader, but he didn't ask me to visit him as a child. Ben came to me."

Carrie looked at him incredulously. "You're not making any sense, Richard," she said. "I want to know what's going on. I have a right to know-"

"No you don't," Richard interrupted her again, shortly this time. "This is something much bigger than you-"

"I don't just mean it as your girlfriend, Richard." It was Carrie's turn to interrupt him now. "I mean it as one of your people, one of our people. Each one of us has a right to know who we're following and why!"

"Who are you following, Carolyna?" Richard asked.

"I'm with you," she replied certainly. "I will always be on your side, Richard, through everything."

"I hope you mean that," he said, taking her hand in his. "Because I have a feeling things are only gonna get worse."

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Not too long later, Carrie sat on a rock with Rene, watching the tide come in and out. Richard came over and took his water out of his bag. "Water?" He offered it to them both, sitting down on Carrie's other side.

"We got any booze?" She asked him in all seriousness.

"No," Richard laughed, taking a swig from the water, "sure wish we did."

Carrie's eyes widened in shock as she saw, in the distance, the unmistakable forms of Illana and Bram from the plane, carrying a box, accompanied by Lapidus. She grabbed Richard's arm to bring his attention to them, but he'd already seen them. As the rest of the group pointed their guns suspisciously at them, Richard stood up and walked towards them, as they slowly approached. Carrie and Rene glanced at each other, before following Richard.

"Don't shoot," Illana said determindely, holding up her gun in a way that showed them she wasn't going to use it against them. "It's okay. It's alright." She smoothly relaxed her grip on her gun and then put it down gently on the floor. "Which one of you is Ricardus?"

Surprise and confusion ran through Carrie's body like electricity as Richard slowly walked towards Illana. He'd told her so much about himself, but she'd never heard anything about him having another name. She felt confused - if Ricardus was his birth name, that would mean that for 8 years she'd been calling him by a name that wasn't even his. It hit her suddenly that when Jacob spoke to her, he spoke about Richard as Ricardus. It must be true, she reasoned.

"It's Richard, actually," he corrected Illana. With her psychological training, Carrie easily picked up the sense that Richard's name was Ricardus, he just didn't want to acknowledge it.

"What lies in the shadow of the statue?" Illana asked confidently. Carrie realised, then, that Illana must be somehow connected to Jacob, as she recalled him telling her the answer to that question. Then she remembered, Jacob had told her the answer incase Illana asked her it, and he'd mentioned her by name. Which made Carrie wonder who exactly this woman was. And what was in that box?

"Ille qui nos omnes servabit," Richard replied.

Illana smiled, seemingly satisfied with Richard's answer. "Richard," she said. "I'm Illana. I have something you need to see." She glanced back at her group. "Open it up."

The rest of the Others cocked their guns, albeit Carrie, as she knew more than them. She knew Illana was somehow connected to Jacob.

"It's okay, it's okay," Richard said quickly. "Let them."

Carrie watched curiously as Illana's group began opening up the box. She glanced at Richard. She couldn't read his face. The box was pushed onto its side, and whatever was inside it toppled out. Richard walked around it to look. Carrie followed him out of morbid curiousity, and audibly gasped and clutched Richard's arm out of shock as the seemingly dead body of John Locke lay on the floor, dressed in a suit - the kind one would be buried in.

Richard looked up at Illana, apparently just as confused as Carrie. "Where did you find him?" He asked.

"In the cargo hold of the plane we came here on," Illana said matter-of-factly, as Richard looked back down at Locke's corpse. "In a coffin."

Finally, Carrie managed to form words and get them out of her mouth. "But if that's Locke," she questioned aloud, "who's in there?"

Illana, Carrie and Richard all looked to and from each other, the statue and Locke's corpse. Carrie kept a firm grip on Richard's arm. Whatever was going on, whoever was in the statue, she knew things were going to get messy. And it might just tear apart everything she had.