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Post by fearandloathin on Jun 25, 2008 6:54:34 GMT -4
Day 17 [Day]
"I don't know." Zoe replied gravely to Jo that night. "But I am going to find out." Zoe then returned to Charlie's side, and took his hand again. Neither of them slept. They couldn't. When dawn broke, and the sunshine rose, Zoe turned to Charlie, and kissed him softly on his cheek, not saying a word before she stood up, and walked over to her things, and began packing.
She was aware she only had one defence. A knife Locke had handed her when she had gone hunting with him. But she knew this wasn't enough. She crept over to where Jack was sleeping, spotting the Marshall's gun. She beant down, and carefully removed it from where he safely guarded it. It took a lot of effort, and crouching in awkward positions, but she just managed it. She stood up, pausing for a moments rest of victory before heading over to the little pool to fill herself plenty of bottles of fresh water.
"What are you doing?" Came a voice behind her, making her jump, dropping the bottle she was holding that she had just filled, spilling all over the floor.
"Oh, Jo it's just you. You scared me." Zoe breathed with relief.
"I saw you take Jack's gun." Jo told her.
"Oh yeah that...well...I need it if I am going to find Claire." Zoe explained. "Thought I'd save some time then having an argument with him, and trying to stop me."
"Zoe..." Jo started, looking at her with a sympathetic face.
"Look, I am going, no circumstance is going to stop me. I have to do this. For Charlie 'specially. Just look at him!" Zoe interrupted her before she said anything, glancing at Charlie.
"No, I understand." Jo replied. "I was just going to say. I'm coming with you."
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Post by tigerlily on Jun 25, 2008 13:33:46 GMT -4
Day 17
Jo contemplated the situation for a moment. "It's not going to be easy after all the rain we've had, but I think we can pick up the trail again. I just have to do one thing first. I'll meet you at the cave entrance."
Zoe nodded, and headed off. Jo threw some necessities into her backpack, then crept over to Jack. She kissed him very softly on the cheek. He stirred in his sleep and his eyes fluttered open.
"Shhh, Jack. Go back to sleep."
"I love you." he mumbled. Jo froze. She had imagined Jack saying those words to her a million times since his father first introduced them in the lounge of St. Sebastian's so many years ago, but this was the first time he'd ever actually said them to her. Tears welled up in her eyes.
"I love you too, Jack." She kissed him again, this time on his lips, and lingered there, reluctant to leave him.
"Where are you going?" he asked, rubbing his eyes in an attempt to wake up a little more.
"I'm just going to gather some fruit for breakfast." She cringed inwardly. She hated having to lie to Jack, but he would fight her and Zoe and she didn't want to cause a scene. "Go back to sleep. I'll be back soon."
Thankfully, Jack closed his eyes again and slipped back into sleep. "Goodbye," Jo whispered before joining Zoe at the mouth of the cave.
***************************
Jo and Zoe picked up a trail several miles from the cave, but they soon discovered it wasn't Ethan's trail. It led them instead to a clearing in the jungle where they found Locke and Boone digging furiously around a large round metal object.
"Locke!" Jo yelled when she saw him. "What the hell are you doing? I thought you and Boone were looking for Claire!"
Locke walked up to Jo and wiped his forehead with his handkerchief. Zoe examined the strange metal hatch while they talked. "We had to give up," Locke explained. "The rain washed the trail away."
"Or maybe you found a more interesting mission," Jo replied sarcastically, suddenly disgusted by Locke's lack of concern.
"Jo, I need you to keep this a secret from Jack. He can't know. Nobody can know, not yet."
"What is it, John?" Jo asked. He shrugged in response.
"I don't know, but we're getting closer to an answer."
Jo shook her head. "We need your help. We're going to find Claire and we're going to get answers from Ethan."
"You know as much as I do about this island now. You don't need me anymore," John replied.
Jo stared at him in shock. "Are you serious? John, we think Ethan might have murdered Sophie. He might murder Claire, too! This is more important than this hunk of metal!" Jo kicked the hatch and grimaced in pain, immediately regretting her action.
"You don't need me," Locke repeated, and went back to digging alongside Boone. Boone gave Jo a sympathetic look, as if he'd like to go with them but his business at hand was more important. Jo glared back and shook her head again.
"Unbelievable." she mumbled.
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Post by fearandloathin on Jun 25, 2008 14:07:26 GMT -4
Day 17
Zoe was mildly intrigued at the strange metal looking door, but felt anger towards Locke and Boone for their lack of concern towards Sophie and Claire. She didn't say a word to either of them and they left, continuing along, trying to pick up any sign of a trail, but failing miserably. Zoe didn't care. She pressed on anyway.
"Do you really think Ethan would kill Claire?" Zoe asked Jo.
"It doesn't bare thinking about." Jo answered her.
"I've been thinking...yes, he tried to kill Charlie." Zoe flinched at just the thought of it. "He might have killed Sophie. But...Claire was different. All he wanted was her. She said someone was attacking her - attacking her baby. With a needle. Who attacks people with needles with a purpose to harm? Especially a baby. What if Ethan has different intentions?"
"Like what kind of intentions?" Jo asked curiously.
"I don't know." Zoe replied hopelessly. "So many questions are racing through my mind. Maybe -- SON OF A BITCH!"
Zoe yelped out in pain, smacking at her arm, and something sprang off into one of the bushes in a quick blue blur as she had managed to brush it away swiftly.
"Are you okay?" Jo asked worridly.
"I think so - I got stung - or bitten by something." Zoe muttered, she could still feel where it had bitten/stung her, whichever, it was throbbing painfully. She twisted her arm to examine it. She could see two small puncture wounds, slightly swollen already, and inflamed, but apart from it being a bit painful, that was it.
Jo walked closer over to her and examined it.
"It looks like you've been bitten by something." She informed her, examining it, now in doctor mode. "By what, I haven't a clue. It looks like it must be some kind of insect. How are yo feeling?"
"I'm fine. Let's go." Zoe replied determindly, and they continued walking for a few minutes before she suddenly tripped over, loosing all feeling in her legs.
"Zoe?" Jo asked concerned, crouching down beside her. "What's wrong."
"Nothing - I'll be fine - just fell over." Zoe muttered, and tied to get up, but couldn't. She couldn't feel her toes, her legs her thighs. Panic started to wash over her. "I can't feel anyhting!"
"It's okay." Jo remained calm. "I'll help." Jo placed her arms over Zoe's, and heped heave her to her feet, but it was no use, Zoe couldn't stand.
"What's happening to me?" Zoe asked, the colour draining from her face. The numbness was spreading, and now she couldn't feel anything from the neck down, and she sank back, laying flat on the floor. Jo helped her lean against a tree.
"I think we better get you back to camp. Back to the caves. Okay?" Jo suggested, but Zoe did't respond. She looked at Jo, full of fear in her eyes. "Zoe?"
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Post by benlinusisagoodguy on Jun 26, 2008 5:58:14 GMT -4
Day 17
Sophie watched as Ben was talking to a few people in the village. He noticed her sitting on her porch steps. He excused himself from the other people and headed towards her.
"Hey!" he smiled standing infront of her. Sophie smiled back. "How are you?" he asked.
"Good." She smiled. A blonde woman came up from behind them.
"Sorry to interupt." she stood.
Ben turned around and a big smile formed on his face. "Juliet?" Sophie noticed the way he looked at her,
"Just letting you know. I'm now on my way to the staff to meet Ethan."
"Good. I'll be there shortly." he smiled watching her walk off. Looking back at Sophie. "Care to take a walk?" he asked.
"Sure!" Sophie smiled getting up
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Post by tigerlily on Jun 27, 2008 9:33:45 GMT -4
Jo found some aloe and stripped it, placing it over Zoe's bite so at the very least the wound would heal. Dealing with the poisonous effects, however, was beyond her - tropical spider bites was something she had never before dealt with in her medical training. Zoe's body was stiffening at an alarming rate.
Jo flung an arm around Zoe and struggled to drag her back the way they had come, but she simply didn't have the strength to continue. She panicked. She couldn't leave Zoe here in the jungle in her paralyzed state, and the caves were many miles away. Nobody would hear if she called for help. Jo gently laid Zoe against a tree while she debated what to do next.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of nearby voices. Jo crept cautiously towards them, and gasped when she saw Ethan and Claire sitting on a log only a few yards away. Claire seemed dazed - clearly, she had been drugged. Jo crept closer to hear what Ethan was saying to her, but accidentally snapped a twig very loudly. Ethan looked up in alarm and saw Jo staring at him, her face white with fear. Before she could turn and run she felt a dart sting her neck. She fell to the ground, her body in spasms, and then she too felt paralysis creep up her body, only a few feet from where Zoe already lay completely incapacitated.
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Post by fearandloathin on Jun 27, 2008 10:15:01 GMT -4
Zoe had never been frightened in her entire life. She watched helplessly as Jo tried to help her, she yearned to talk, but her mouth wouldn't let her, to move, her body aching horribly. She had never been in a worse situation.
She had some hope when Jo tried to lift her up, to take her somewhere, but she knew she was too heavy, and didn't blame Emma for helping her lean against a tree for a moment.
Then she heard it. Voices. Jo seemed to hear them too, and went out of her eye sight, to what she could only assume, investigate.
But the events that unfolded later only tore her into more panic. A snap of a twig, and then a thud of someone's body falling nearby, but as she was positioned, she couldn't see who it was.
Then she heard footsteps approaching, and to her horror, Ethan came into eye sight. If she could have done, she probably would have screamed out as his body stood over her in a dominant, cruel and taunting fashion, only fueling a fear and desperation to such a high level that she passed out completly,
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Post by tigerlily on Jun 28, 2008 18:44:57 GMT -4
Day 17 (Night)
Jo opened her eyes slowly and found herself slumped in the corner of what looked like a locker room, handcuffed to a bench. A bare lightbulb hanging from the ceiling created ominous shadows all around her. Her head ached and her throat felt thick and dry. A large man with untamed grey hair and a friendly face leaned casually against a row of lockers, watching her intently.
"Now that's a good girl. I thought you'd never wake up." He placed a bottle of water within her reach on the bench. "My name's Tom." He offered his hand, then pulled it back when Jo declined to shake it. She glared fiercely at him instead.
"Where's Zoe?" Jo croaked, her voice rough and scratchy from the drugs.
"She's in the hands of our top doctor. He's seen the effects of the Medusa spider before, so he knows what to do. She'll be fine." Tom moved closer to Jo and crouched down so he was level with her. "You know, you and your friend really shouldn't have come after Claire. Now that you know where we are, we can't let you go back to your people."
"So you're going to kill me, like Ethan tried to kill Charlie?" Jo asked coolly, trying her hardest to push her fear aside and stay calm.
"You can push that thought right out of your mind." Tom replied. "We can always use more doctors on our side of the island, so you'll be coming with us as soon as you get your strength back. I think you might enjoy working with Dr. Chase; the ladies seem to really love him."
Jo's head was suddenly spinning. She closed her eyes and fought a wave of nausea. "What did you say?" she whispered, and opened her eyes to meet Tom's.
"Dr. Robert Chase." Tom grinned cheekily. "You might even know him. He used to work at your hospital."
Jo nodded weakly. "I'd like to see him, please."
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Post by fearandloathin on Jun 29, 2008 18:20:01 GMT -4
[Zoe] Zoe woke up slowly and wearily. Her eyes yearned to open wide, bright and alert, but was still to drowsy. She became aware of her surroundings. She was somewhere well medically fitted. She had an oxygen mask on, and could hear a series of beeps nearby on what she could only assume was a heartbeat monitor. "Jo?" Zoe managed to whisper sleepily, but she didn't answer her call. "Just relax Miss Taylor. You've been through a very stressful ordeal, and you need your rest." Came a reply, but she didn't know who from, although, for some reason, she swore she could recognise the voice. Then the man came into view, and she recognised him instantly. She had only met him weeks ago. --------------------------------------------------------------- Zoe shook her head, muttering loudly, more to herself then anyone else in the room.
"No. NO! We are not loosing this one!" She shouted loudly, as she tried to resussitate her paient on the table.
"Doctor Taylor. I'm sorry...but I think we have to accept. He's gone." Her assistant told her gently.
"No! I won't give up!" She replied stubbornly, and tried one last time.
Beep, beep, beep Came the sound on the heart rate montior after enduring one long deathly tone for the last three minutes. Tears streaked instantly down Zoe's face.
"I don't believe it." Zoe whispered. "I did it! I saved him!"
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Zoe walked into the waiting room, and spotted who she was looking for.
"Mr and Mrs Heartly?" She called. A worried, young couple came scuttling over to her quickly, worried expressions transfixed on their faces as she gave no indication to how the surgery had gone.
"It was touch and go. But we did it. The surgery was successful." She explained to them professionally, resisting the urge to smile will relief and happieness for the Heartly's.
"Oh, thank goodness! Thank you so much. We owe you so much!" They answered her. "Can we see him?"
"He's in recovery, and will need plenty of rest. But yes, you can see him. He'll still be unconcious from the anthesia." Zoe replied. "Follow me." Zoe led them through another door, different from the one she had emerged from, taking them into a room full of cages that were full of cats, miowing loudly.
They walked down the corridor of the room and through another, where there were larger caged off areas - kennels. They stopped at kennel number four, where a large alsation was dozing heavily, a cast on his front right poor, tailess and bandages on his left ear.
"I'll leave you two alone with him." Zoe explained, and unlocked the cage door for them before retreating back to the waiting room, heading back to her office. However, upon walking through the visitng room, there was a man, tall, dark haired and eyes and fairly good looking.
"Hello." Zoe beamed brightly. "How can I help you?"
"Hello. I'm looking for Doctor Taylor?" He enquired.
"You're looking at her." Zoe informed him. "And you are?"
"Richard. Richard Alpert. It's a pleasure finally putting a face to the name!" He smiled broadly, offering a hand to shake, which Zoe took, and shook firmly
----------------------------------------------------------------- "H - h - how?" Zoe spluttered, coughing dryly. "Am I in a hospital? Are we... are we rescued?" She added optomistically. "No. You're still on the island that your plane crashed on." Richard assured her as if that were a good thing. "But don't worry, you're in safe hands." "Jo...Claire..." Zoe started. "They are safe too. Don't worry about them. They are fine, and far from harmed." "What are you doing here?" Zoe asked in disbelief. |
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Post by tigerlily on Jun 30, 2008 10:28:28 GMT -4
Day 18
Chase entered the locker room and sat down cross legged in front of Jo.
"Unbelievable. The one woman in the world I try to escape from actually follows me to this island." he smiled at her fondly. Jo blushed hotly when she heard his familiar Aussie accent. It was comforting to see someone from home, and she immediately realized she still loved Chase very much.
"How is it possible you're here?" Jo asked, touching his arm to make sure he was not a hallucination. "Are these the people that recruited you? How did Tom know who I was?"
"You always were full of questions," Chase replied. "These people know everything about everybody on this island."
"But who are they?" Jo persisted. Chase looked around nervously, as if he knew they were being watched, then shrugged his shoulders.
"I'm still trying to figure that out." he replied.
Jo lowered her voice. "Why are you here, Chase?"
"Research," was all he said in reply.
"On Claire?"
Chase nodded. "Strange things happen to pregnant women on this island. They already had a fertility expert, but wanted someone with my - well, our - success rate at solving medical mysteries. I actually live and work elsewhere - I just came to this medical station to help Ethan out."
Jo frowned upon hearing Ethan's name. She wondered when she would actually encounter him again, and what she would do to him if given the chance. "And Zoe? Is she okay?"
"The poison is leaving her system. She'll be fine."
"You always were the brilliant one that swooped in to solve the cases I couldn't solve." Jo replied. "I'm not surprised they recruited you instead of me."
Chase smiled again, then leaned forward and brushed Jo's cheek tenderly. "Maybe this island is giving us a second chance together." He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her very gently, then sat back. His happiness at finding her here was palpable. Jo's heart beat rapidly, and she found herself sharing his happiness. For a few moments, she even forgot that she had left Jack behind in the caves until his face flashed through her mind. She spoke softly so as not to alarm Chase.
"You should probably know that Jack is also on the island."
Chase's smile disappeared instantly, and he crossed his arms across his chest defensively. "So even in this place we can't quite get our act together without Jack's interference."
Jo ignored his barbed response and pointed to her hand that was still chained to the locker room bench. "Can you do something about this?"
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Post by fearandloathin on Jun 30, 2008 11:37:07 GMT -4
Day 18
"This is the special place I touched on when I offered you that job." Richard explained. "'Cept, you clearly still needed convincing when you went off to Austrlia for your break."
Zoe removed her oxygen mask, able to breathe perfectly normal by herself now, although she felt one arm was handcuffed to the bed.
"Yeah, well, it's gunna take a HELL alot more convicing now. I would never sign oup for kidnapping." She muttered bitterly.
"That was just a precaution. To make sure you didn't panic and run...you still need to stay here for a while for observation." Richard explained calmly, taking out a key from his pocket and unhandcuffing her. "To make sure the poison is completly out of your system."
"What was it? What paralysed me?" Zoe asked.
"Latrodectus regina." Richard explained. "It's a poisonous spider. One bite can cause paralysis up to 8 hours, and even a doctor wouldn't be able to detect a heartbeat. Luckily, we suspected what the symptoms were. You would probably be six feet under if you were taken back to camp. In more ways then one, Jo saved your life by being spotted by Ethan."
Zoe went quiet, pensively thinking about all that had happened.
"Why did Ethan kidnap Claire?" She asked suddenly.
"To save her life." Richard replied unhelpfully. "We aren't bad people, Zoe, as much as it seems now."
"Reall, so hanging Charlie - trying to kill him, isn't an evil act?" She asked sarcastically, pure bitterness in her voice. Richard sighed.
"That...that was a mistake. It was never meant to happen." Richard tried to explain.
"Well it did!" Zoe retorted crossly. "Look, I don't care about bloody 'observation', I'm leaving."
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Post by benlinusisagoodguy on Jul 1, 2008 5:45:31 GMT -4
Day 17 night
"So what happened to you. When i..."
Sophie interupted. "I ran away. Started a new life. I tried to forget everything that happened but there was just one thing that stuck in my mind."
"Oh?" Ben asked as they strolled along a hill side.
"You...." she blushed. Ben stopped as he looked up to the stars. A smile formed on his face. "And you? What did you do?"
"I came back here we just recruited juliet at that time. So i had to return for her."
"Are you two a couple?" Sophie questioned, being curious.
"No.... why do you ask?"
"Just the way you look at her. I assumed....."
"You assumed wrong. Sophie you have to know i never stopped thinking about you."
Just then his walkie cut through. Disturbing them.
"Ben! We have a situation at the staff."
Pulling out his walkie he gave sophie a look as if he was sorry for the disturbance.
"What?" he replied.
"Two of them from the beach found the staff. They were looking for Claire."
Ben face was not amused. "Ok i'll be over soon!" Switching of the walkie an placing it back in his pocket. "I'm sorry Sophie."
"It's ok, leader stuff" she smiled. Making Ben chuckle.
"Lets get you back to the village."
"Can't i come?" she asked.
"Its not a good idea. They think your dead!"
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Post by fearandloathin on Jul 1, 2008 16:32:30 GMT -4
Day 18 Night"That's not a very good idea Zoe." Richard tried to persuade her. "It's dark out there - and the jungle is at its most dangerous at night." "I don't care." Zoe remarked stubbornly. "It makes me sick be anywhere near your people." "They aren't my people." Richard replied calmly. "Whatever. Like I said. I'm leaving." Zoe ripped off the wires that had been stuck on her to monitor her heart rate, got up and went over to the door - execept, when she tried to open it, it was locked. She turned back to Richard. "Unlock it!" She demmanded quietly. "No." Richard replied simply. "LET ME GO!" Zoe shouted. --------------------------------------------------------------- Zoe led Richard into her office and offered him a seat.
"So, how can I help you?" She asked briskly.
"You are a very talented Vet, Doctor Taylor, and it hasn't gone un-noticed." Richard explained. "You've been approached many times for job offers else where - better facilities, location, higher pay. Yet you've always turned them down. Why?"
"It's not home." Zoe replied simply. "I have friends here. They depend on me."
"So...there is no way that would make you change your mind? If you were given the oppertunity to work in a special facility, treating extrodinary animals that are different, that require a higher level of care - the care that only you could live up to? Good pay, all that you need provided for you, holiday and sick pay?" Richard asked.
"Nope." Zoe replied. "Well...unless there was nothing to keep me staying here..."
Richard gave her a strange significant look that made her frown. There was something about it that she didn't like.
"Okay, well, I know you have a busy schedual for today. Can I drop back tomorrow, so I can at least show you the greater details of this unmissable oppertunity?" He asked hopefully.
"I suppose it won't hurt to look." Zoe admitted. "Okay, fine, come around at 8.15 tomorrow night. My surgery closes at 8 tomorrow."
"I'll see you then." Richard smiled, and left her office, the vetinary centre without another word. --------------------------------------------------------------- "Just...calm down." Richard continued calmly. "If you would give us a chance to explain why we did everything we did..." "What, and give you more oppertunities to spin lies for me?" She snapped, and picked up a bottle of liquid that she had no idea what was inside it, and threw it at Richard, who dodged it just in time, and it smashed on the wall behind him.
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Post by tigerlily on Jul 2, 2008 11:26:45 GMT -4
Day 18 (Night)
"He can't do anything for you, Joanna. He hasn't got the key." Tom's booming voice startled Jo. He rounded the corner of lockers and dangled the handcuff key before her face teasingly, then motioned to Chase to leave the room with him.
"Ben is here," Tom said. "He'd like to speak to our girl alone."
Chase shot an anxious glance towards Jo. "Ben is a good guy - you're in the best hands."
Jo made a face. "If Ben is such a good guy, why do you suddenly look very worried?"
Chase didn't answer, but merely followed Tom out of the dingy locker room. She was joined a few minutes later by a man with spiky hair and wide eyes. He sat on the bench by Jo and offered her his hand. She shook it warily, deciding on the spot that cooperating with her captors could only help her get back to Jack that much sooner.
"Hello Joanna. I'm Ben Linus." Ben had a calm, gentlemanly demeanor that Jo instantly found comforting. She managed a weak smile in return.
"Perhaps you could tell where my friends are, Ben? I'd like to see Zoe and Claire."
"I'm afraid that's not possible, not just yet."
"Who are you, Ben? Are you their leader?" Jo asked. She had enough of playing around; she demanded answers. "Why are you keeping me here?"
"Dr. Chase wasn't kidding when he warned me you'd be full of questions." Ben smiled warmly. "You won't be here for much longer. Once Clarie no longer needs our medical services here, you will accompany Dr. Chase back to where we live and work. We could certainly use another talented doctor."
Jo glared at Ben. "Claire didn't ask for your medical services. She was kidnapped by your people. And what about the tail section survivors? Did you kidnap them, too?"
Ben leaned closer to Jo. His expression darkened very slightly, and he became more serious. "I would recommend you not talk about things you know nothing about. In the meantime, I'd like you to tell me everything you know about the people on this list."
Ben held up a crumpled piece of paper for Jo to examine. Six names were scribbled on the list: Locke, Kate, Jack, Sawyer, Hurley and Michael. Joanna only cared about one name on the list.
"Why do you want to know about Jack?" she asked, feeling a stab of fear in her heart.
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Post by fearandloathin on Jul 7, 2008 19:37:18 GMT -4
Zoe sat impaiently in her hospital bed, her wrists were hurting from where she had been handcuffed to the bed again. She sighed, as she sat in the dark, she had been locked in, and all apparatus she could use as a weapon were removed.
When she had flung out at Richard, throwing things at him, Danny and Tom had arrived just in time, restraining her, and forcing her over to the bed, immediately handcuffing her to it, and left abruptly without another word. Of course, she didn't know their names.
It was then a middle height, mousey haired man, wearing glassing, dressed relatively smartly then came into the room. He had no expression on his face, and he knew to keep his distance from her. He moved a chair that had leaned against the side of a wall at a safe distance across the floor and opposite the bed Zoe had been restrained too.
"You may leave now Richard." Ben informed him. Richard gave Zoe a significant look and then left the room promptly.Zoe watched him leave, glaring at him angrily, and when he was out of sight, turned to face Ben, opening her mouth to say something, but Ben held up his hand, motioning not to speak.
"If you continue to behave so savagely, then we are going to be forced to treat you like the animal you are acting." Ben informed her. "You are recovering from a very intoxicating and dangerous poison. What we have done is for your own benifit. We could have left you out there. For dead. But we didn't we brought you in here and made you better. Causing a scene and acting like a child isn't a very polite way to show your appreciation now, is it?" Ben continued rather authoritly.
Zoe sat there, glaring at him, and said nothing.
"And neither is sulking about it..." Ben continued.
"I wouldn't have even trecked through the jungle if it wasn't for you." Zoe said quietly. "I was looking for Claire. THe young pregnant girl Ethan kidnapped. I wasn't going to just sit back and let i happen was I?"
"No, I suppose not." Ben agreed. "But rest assured she is in good hands-"
"What, like Charlie was?" Zoe interrupted sarcastically in a cold tone. Ben looked up at the ceiling, and sighed heavily. Was that guilt? He then looked back at her.
"What Ethan did...was never meant to happen. I would never agreed to what he did. They were the actions of a desperate man, trying to do what I had instructed, but that was made difficult when Mr Sheppard and your friend decided to come after him. I'm sorry, Ethan should never have hurt Charlie. He's my responsibility, and I have already had a very grave discussion with him about the matter." Ben tried to explain.
"Well that's not good enough!" Zoe spat. "You should have seen what the poor boy has been through. The trauma he suffered and is still suffering!"
Her arguing with Ben went on for a while, and in the end, she was simply just to exhauseted to go on any further. She was developing a very niggling headache, and her lungs ached.
"Look, you need your rest. So, I'm going to go. When you have had a sufficient amount of time to recover, I will come back and we can have another chat." Ben told her calmly.
"No! I want to go home!" Zoe demmanded stubbornly, wincing from her headache as she had spoken loudly.
"You are in no state to go anywhere." Ben replied firmly. "Get some rest." He then stood up and left the room, turning out the lights as he left. Zoe was punged into darkness, and she heard the door lock.
So there Zoe was still. Locked up, in darkness. She hadn't slept. How could she? Not knowing where Jo or Claire were, and how they were really doing. Sure, she had been told. But just because she had, didn't mean she believed them. How could she trust them? After everything they had put her through.
Then there was Charlie to worry about back at the caves. How was he coping? And had anyone noticed yet back at camp that she and Jo had been missing without sight or sound to anybody for days?
And then there was Ethan...he was out there, somewhere, nearby. Everytime she heard footsteps walk past her door, her heart would suddenly beat faster. She feared that man. He was part of the reason she couldn't sleep. Everytime she closed her eyes, he haunted her in her dreams.
Still nameless to her, Tom had been in to provide her with food, but she ignored him, ignored what he brought to her, and when Richard had come to visit to try and encourage her, she ignored him too. She didn't even bother with the furious stares anymore. She just avoided eye contact, staring straight ahead, in her own little world, her mind being her only escape when Ethan didn't haunt them. She was lost, and hopeless.
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Post by tigerlily on Jul 11, 2008 10:22:05 GMT -4
Day 23
Chase carried a lunch tray over to Jo and sat on the bench where she remained handcuffed. "You have to eat, Jo. This protest has to stop," he said gently, pushing the tray towards her.
Jo scowled in reply. "This relationship isn't working for me, Chase." she responded sarcastically. "Every day you come in and sit with me, and we just talk in circles. I never get answers. What happened to you? What kind of power do these people have over you? You're definitely not the same man I almost married."
"I've told you," he continued patiently. "We're here to monitor Claire, and make sure she and her baby are healthy. That's all."
"And kidnapping was the only means to do that? It doesn't make sense. Jack and I were perfectly capable of delivering Claire's baby without the help of these people." She picked up a carrot stick and munched on it, still scowling at him. "Now tell my why Ben is so interested in Jack and the other survivors."
Chase leaned forward and pushed Jo's messy hair out of her eye with unconcealed tenderness. "Ben keeps his plans to himself. I don't know what he wants. But if you wait until our work is done here, then I'll take you to a place where you'll live much more comfortably, and your questions will be answered. We have houses with running water and refrigerators - every comfort you lacked when you camped out with the other survivors. Just be patient; we won't be here for much longer."
Chase folded his arms across his chest, covering up the Dharma logo on his lab coat. He suddenly looked serious. "Now, I'd like you to answer my question. Who gave you those bruises on your neck?"
Jo's face darkened and she rubbed her neck where the bruises had faded to an unsightly yellow and brown mess. "That would be the work of your colleague Ethan," she stated matter-of-factly.
Chase's horror was obvious. "Ethan did that to you?" he immediately stood up, and stormed towards the door, slamming it behind him. A few moments later, Jo heard voices shouting and the thunder of medical equipment crashing into walls.
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Chase returned to the locker room with cuts on his face, and one eye was already bruised and swelling.
He knelt down by Jo so his face was only inches away from hers. "Ethan is not to be trusted," he growled. "He is a liar."
"It took you this long to realize that?" Jo asked incredulously, but she immediately regretted her sarcasm. Chase was hurt, and it made her even angrier about the whole situation. Her feelings toward him had changed, but she still cared for him. She now hated Ethan more than ever.
Chase spoke in a very low voice so that she could barely hear him. She leaned toward him even more; they were now so close their lips nearly touched.
"I will get you out of this place. If getting back to Jack is really what you want, I will make that happen."
Jo remained guarded. She didn't allow herself to believe his words. "I won't leave without Claire and Zoe."
"I know someone who can help Claire escape. She'll be okay. As for Zoe...they watch her very closely. It may be tricky. But trust me, Jo. When the moment is right, I will get you and your friends out of here."
Jo searched his eyes and knew that he was telling the truth. He was willing to let her go.
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