Title: Something's never changed
Authors: Koralina and LorMats
Summary: After the incident, the explosion really reset their lives, but they end up on the Island, again. Could they get the chance to be happy the second time around?
Chapter main Author: Koralina
Beta Reader and Editor: Eyeon
A/N: So we are writing this fic together, it's a crazy task, but when we thought of this story we had to write it down... We hope you enjoy reading it, at least, half as much we enjoy discussing and writing it.
Of others and survivors
-Where do you think you are going, Blondie?-
-I love you, James.-
-No! Don't do it! -
-I love you so much!-
-Don't you leave me! Don't let go, please.-
-No! No! No! –
-Sawyer, she's gone. It's time to leave. Sawyer!-
-Juliet!-
-Jack! Help me pull him away-
-Don't you leave me!-
Bright light! Flash! Reset!
James looked at the woman laying in front of him. Tall, blond and beautiful. She was so calm and quiet now nothing like the last time he saw her. Now there is no pain, fear, or desperation in her features.
Flashback
James looked at his reflection in the mirror while shaving and whistled his favorite Bob Marley song
Won't you help to sing
These songs of freedom?
'Cause all I ever have
Redemption songs
Redemption songs
Redemption songs
Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery
None but ourselves can free our mind
Woh, have no fear for atomic energy
'Cause none of them-a can-a stop-a the time
How long shall they kill our prophets
While we stand aside and look?
Yes, some say it's just a part of it
We've got to fullfill the book
Another one day here and he couldn't complain. It was his day off. It's not that he didn't like his job, but he enjoyed not seeing his boss. What an unpleasant man. He always politely smiled and talked in a calm low voice, but James knew well enough it was only a mask. Although today there were no bosses in his plans, only his weekly book club meeting. Today they would discuss the book he had chosen. It meant all of them would soon arrive to his house. So James spent the previous evening cleaning his apartment.
Somebody knocked at the door.
-Come in. It's open.-James shouted coming out of his bedroom putting on a T-shirt.
-James? Where are you?-he heard a familiar female voice from the kitchen.
-Behind you- he smiled to the shocked woman who immediately turned to him.
-Don't do it again James Ford.- The woman said with a threatening voice. James smiled and lifted his hands in mock surrender.
-I'll never do it again. I promise. By the way what are you doing here so early?-
-I just thought you might need some help. Most members of our club are looking for something to criticize. – The woman winked at him.
-Oh, yeah.-James chuckled. - All these dishes, whose names I even can't remember. What a misfortune that today I'm in no mood to cook something special. Just sandwiches, beer and juice.-
-It's cruel.- was his guest's answer but then both of them began to laugh.
-I'm glad you came, Amy. I like talking with you. How long since our last meet? – James said looking warmly at the woman.
Amy was the first person who met him when he moved there. She helped him to settle in and became his best friend. He could talk with her about everything. She was like a mother to him.
-Not that I'm the cause of it. I don't remember you being here for two days in a row without sending on a special mission?-
-You know it's not that I wanted it but he always had some work for me and the strange part was that it was as far away as possible.-
Another knock at the door distracted them from the conversation.
-It's time. Let's finish later. - James sighed and went to open the door.
After everybody got comfortable James began.
-Nice to see you here. Firstly I have to tell you about our next meeting. Greta got a task. She can't be here today and probably won't return until next month. So Sara – he turned to a small dark haired woman –Next time is your turn to choose the book.-
Sara nodded silently, accepting his words.
-Today we'll discuss "Of mice and men". Does anybody want to begin?-
-I do-
The voice belonged to the woman sitting just in front of James. He winced. Brigit was a lonely woman in her late forties. She was an engineer. Working with men made her sarcastic. It was hard to be around her and James didn't expect to hear anything good from her.
-Your choice definitely was a huge mistake. One of the characters kills women without any reason. But the most inappropriate part is the other one killing his friend, almost brother, without even a hint of hesitation… It can't be justified. This book teaches people to kill each other. It's disgusting.- She finished pursing her lips.
-Brigit there can be exceptions. Look at the problem from another side.- Harper stated and James looked at her thankfully. Their psychologist and his friend's ex-wife, Harper was his friend. Not as close as Amy or Goodwin, but she was.
-Problem? Which problem do you mean? I don't see one. This book isn't worth time we wasted on it.-
-Oh! And why do you think so?-James hissed. He tried to be calm, but her bitchy attitude eventually got him.
She was about to answer when the whole house began to shake.
-What the Hell? - James muttered to himself rushing out of the house.
Almost all members of their commune were outside looking at the sky. James lifted his eyes and nearly choked. There was a plane in the sky right above them and they could see it breaking into pieces.
-It's a freaking nightmare!- He turned and saw Goodwin.
-You are damn right!-
They were distracted by Ben's shouts.
-Ethan! Goodwin! Did you see where parts of the plane landed? You must be there as soon as possible. Check it! If there are survivors, I want all the information about them you can get.-
The men nodded at Ben and quickly disappeared from view.
-Benjamin!-James went towards his boss.-And what should I do?-Such tasks always were his, so now James was shocked to be left behind.
-I have another task for you. Go to the Flame station! I want you and Mikhail to get information about this flight. When we know who survived, you'll examine their files. -
-By the way sorry for wrecking your book club meeting-
Flashback's end
Waiting for Juliet to wake up, James looked at her file again.
"Juliet Burk: Born in 1970, had an older sister named Rachel, her parents, Sarah and Christopher divorced when she was 6. At that point she started to study hard to forget her problems. Went to school on Miami where she lived with her sister and mother. She only left her hometown to go to college, then Med school. Her mother died when she was 19, the same year her father remarried. When Juliet was in her first year of her internship Rachel got pregnant, but didn't carry to term. That fact helped Juliet choosing to be an ob/gyn. She was chief resident, and before turning 30 she already was a well known neonatal surgeon with board certifications in both Obstetrics and Gynecology and Maternal and Fetal Medicine. On her 30th Birthday Rachel was pregnant again and Juliet was her doctor. Her pregnancy was difficult, but Juliet managed to save the baby and in her honor the boy was named Julian. There was one thing missing in her life, a man. When she was in school she wasn't popular, she was the nerdy type, so except for a few dates with the president of the science club, at another school, she didn't date anyone. In college there was the Kevin fiasco, a brief relationship with a fellow classmate, and that didn't go anywhere, no much more than sex and shallow conversations. Edmund Burke was an Attending, and she felt flattered when he began to pursue her, trying to impress her, but when she was named Chief Resident, she learned the truth about him and his affairs with most of the nurses. After that she was alone. None of her relationships lasted more than 2 months. On September 2004 she was invited to lecture in Australia."
To James she didn't seem dangerous. He'd prefer talking to her instead of conning, but this was their own choice, not his. These people killed Ethan for trying to help the pregnant girl. He didn't even finish his list. He put aside all his duties to save her life and they killed him. And Goodwin…
Flashback
-James! Don't you mind to walking with me?-
-Of course not-James followed by Benjamin.
-Guess you should know Goodwin decided to stay with those people, in order to help them get used to the life here. He thought they were harmless.-
-I see. - James was alerted-Where are we going?-
-I need you to see something. - Ben pointed to the foot of a hill.
James went in the direction and soon realized what Ben wanted to show him. Goodwin lay in the bushes with a knife in the chest. It was his knife. He always carried it with him. Even in death, - James thought with bitterness.
-Yesterday Goodwin didn't communicate with us, so I sent Brandon to check his situation. Unfortunately we were too late. All Brandon found was his corpse and we don't know what happened here. -
-Why?-James lifted eyes from his friend's body.
-As I've said before we don't have information, but I think they found he wasn't on the flight.-
-No! I asked why you bring me here. You could have just told me he was dead. You didn't even have to do it yourself. Why? - James watched Ben instantly.
-We are here because it's time for you to understand. You think they are still those persons described in the files, but you are wrong. They are savages now and they will kill us long before we can say that we want to help. There is much work for you to do and I don't want to risk it because of your illusions regarding them.-
Flashback's end
There were no illusions now. All of them were hostiles without exceptions. So he was there and got ready himself for the upcoming conversation.
She was drugged with the same ones they used on the sub and he knew the consequences pretty well. At the beginning you are groggy and don't understand where you are. You begin winking to focus. Then you try to stand up but if you do it too fast your head begins spinning and you are forced to lay back down.
Eventually the woman stirred regaining consciousness. He didn't see her face but was sure she tried to orient herself. Of course she moved to stand and immediately lay back, groaning.
-Try to get up slower. I promise, you'll be better in half an hour. It's just a little side effect. - James paused giving her time to regain herself.
The time right after waking up was the best one for getting to know people. There were only two reactions: anger or fear. In both cases it was just defense, but with those who are scared he knew he should talk in a calming and smoothing voice, trying to be friendly, if not he would be serious so they would respect him. Otherwise the subject would be hard to control.
When she sat in her new bed, he came closer to the glass. She looked around with uncertainty and slight fear.
-My name is James.- he began.
-What do you want from me?-
-Nothing special!-he said smiling, a little in attempt to calm her.-All I want is to make sure you are ok. -
-Oh, you want me to believe you care! – She answered angrily. Well this blond wasn't as easy as he thought.-You tasered me, locked me in this room and think I'm fool enough to believe you think about my well-being. -
She needed time to calm, so he changed his tone.
-I only said it because you were asleep for almost twenty-four hours and I thought you'd like to drink or eat something. I'm not a monster and I do care, even if you don't believe me. See you later.-
He left the room. It's enough for the first time. If he was right about her she'd change her mind after a few hours.
Flashback
-He doesn't want to understand me and tries to make Karl's life as hard as possible.- The dark haired girl said almost crying.
-Alex! He is your father. He just worries about you. –
-No he doesn't. You are the one who worries uncle James.- The girl reached out kissing him on the cheek.-He only yells at me because I disgraced HIM. He always thinks only about himself. Why can't he just be happy for me?-
- I'm sure he cares.-James tried to reassure girl but he even didn't believe what he was saying to her. He looked at her, Alex's eyes were full of tears.
-Oh! Come on. Don't do this. Alex!-But she already was crying.-Come here, girl! It will be alright. I'm with you.-He whispered hugging her. –You know you can come to me anytime you want and bring Karl with you. Guess it's time to me to get to know him. What if he isn't worthy of my princess.-
After these words Alex started shaking, but he was aware that now she was laughing.
-No! He's great! I'm sure you'll like him. - She said moving away from him to look him in the eyes.
Flashback's end
Ben was already waiting for him in the screening room.
-First meeting go well.- He said sarcastically.
-It's only a matter of time, Benjamin. Everything is under control.-
-We have no time. Don't forget about two weeks. Don't waste time. I don't want to risk her life. I don't want to know that we are late.-