Don't Let Go
Chp. 1
Juliet's head was spinning from all the looks and questions being hurled at her and Jack. The grateful hugs they poured on him when the two of them had finally rowed to shore changing into desperate grabs for answers, answers Jack felt to weary to give. She stared at him, the reluctant hero, thrust back into his leadership role, and wondered if just a tiny bit of him regretted the return back to the beach. She was about to say something to Jack when she noticed Him. The way he stared at her, his cold eyes burrowing into her own, trying to reach into her soul and grab it. She could almost feel his twisting fingers wrenching at it.
"Are you okay?" Jack asked her, "Juliet?"
She managed to take her gaze away from the man to look at Jack, "Yes Jack, I'm fine. Just tired," she reassured him trying to smile.
Kate looked at Juliet sideways, unsure of why Jack trusted her enough to bring her here.
"Why don't we get you settled in then, go to my tent. That is if I still have one," he said looking straight at Locke.
"Of course you do Jack," the hunter spoke up, "It's still there, waiting for your return."
Jack gave a deep sigh and nodded before looping his fingers into Juliet's and heading in the familiar direction. Juliet turned her head to take one last look over her shoulder, at the survivors of flight 815 and found his penetrating glare still on her.
…..
"They hate me," Juliet said as Jack rummaged through his things and laid a couple of blankets down.
"They don't know you, how can they hate you?" Jack asked.
"Oh, they hate me alright," Juliet said sliding off her tennis shoes and sitting down next to Jack where he patted a place for her on the blanket beside him. He pushed a loose strand of her blonde hair behind her ear, the feel of his touch still so new, making her feel hot and nervous at the same time.
"They're just curious," he said.
"Because they see me as an Other."
"Well you're not, you're one of us now, they'll get used to you in time," Jack said.
"The short guy," Juliet began tentatively, "Kind of scruffy looking, who is he?"
Jack starred deeply into her eyes, "You mean you don't know?"
Juliet shook her head, "Should I?"
"I just thought you," Jack started before she interrupted.
"Had a file on everyone?"
"Yeah," he said.
"Only the three of you," she told him.
He thought quietly for a moment, "Does that mean you know," he said then stopped.
"Know what?" she asked.
"Nothing, forget it," he said and started to look for something.
"What do you want to know about her?" Juliet asked staring at the back of Jack's head while he dug around in a backpack.
"Damn! Sawyer must have taken my things," he barked, "Some things never change."
"Everything changes Jack," she said then stopped him by placing a hand on his back, "Jack."
He looked over his shoulder at her, "Yes?"
"What do you want to know about Kate?" she asked tenderly.
He let out a deep, exasperated breath, "Nothing she didn't have the chance to tell me herself."
Juliet wasn't sure if she should let the matter drop but chose to anyway.
"So that guy," she said changing the subject.
"What guy?" Jack asked grateful she didn't push the Kate issue and took his place beside her again.
"The one that was staring me when we landed," she told him.
"Oh, you mean Charlie," Jack said casually.
"Charlie! That's Charlie?" Juliet asked her voice shaking slightly before she regained her composure.
"Yeah why?" he asked.
Juliet shook her head, a cold shiver running down her spine even though her heart was pumping increasingly fast.
"You're shivering," Jack said.
"I'm cold," Juliet whispered.
Jack folder her into his arms, laying her head on his chest. He kissed her forehead while squeezing her tight.
"It is a bit cold for the beach tonight," he said.
"Jack," Juliet whispered against the warmth of his chest, her arms tightly around his waist.
"Yes Juliet?"
"You won't leave me tonight will you?"
"Leave you?" he asked, his forehead scrunched up in confusion.
"I mean," she said and tilted her head up to look at him, "You'll hold me, just for tonight?"
Jack smiled and kissed her lips softly, "I promise Juliet, I won't let go."
Juliet stood on the beach, starring out at the ocean, out at her old life, afraid to turn and face the new. She thought she'd feel free one she made it onto this island but something was scaring her. Jack had told her it would take time but time was something she felt she didn't have, although she didn't know why.
Juliet sighed and turned to meet the day when she did she came face to face with Charlie.
"Oh my goodness," she gasped and gave a nervous chuckle, "I almost came crashing into you."
"Lost in yourself I suppose," Charlie said.
"I guess so," Juliet said.
"Didn't see me coming," he told her, his tone dark and low.
Juliet laughed again, "No," she answered, "If you'll excuse me I need to find Jack."
"He's with Kate," Charlie said as she quickly began walking away from him. She stopped in her tracks but didn't turn around.
"And Claire, he's checking on the baby. You best not disturb him."
Juliet felt that cold shudder run down her spine again, her throat closing in on her. She looked frantically down the beach for someone, anyone she could turn to, and seeing him not that far, headed straight for him.
…..
"Hey," she called out as soon as she was close enough for him to hear her.
He took a long drag of his cigarette and letting it out slowly turned and looked up at her.
"Well hello there Barbie," Sawyer said a smile across his face as he squinted the sun away from his eyes.
Juliet's grin widened genuinely. She couldn't help but like him even though she knew she probably shouldn't. But at this time, Juliet was grateful for his presence as Charlie walked past them.
"May I sit beside you?" she asked him.
"Sure thing Bonnie, I ain't own the place," he explained, "Yet."
Juliet sat down next to the Southerner, he offered her the smoke but she turned him down politely, "No thanks."
Sawyer shrugged his shoulders and went back to starring out in front of him. Juliet followed his eyes and found what he was so intently looking at. Jack, Kate and Claire were huddled together around Aaron. She couldn't hear what was being said but knew they were laughing, a big smile across Jack's face. Juliet looked to the ground, pulling a few strands of grass and wrapping them around her finger. Kate was holding the baby while Jack was saying something to Claire.
"Are you thinking oh her James?" Juliet asked starring at Sawyer's profile.
"Why should I be thinking of Kate?" Sawyer snapped before flicking his cigarette out in front of him. It fell into the sand and they both watched the glowing embers die down and fade to black.
"I didn't mean Kate," Juliet said and took another look at the baby.
"Am I supposed to know watcha talking about Goldie?"
"Clementine," Juliet said wiping the smirk of his face, "Are you thinking about her?"
Sawyer's eyes grew into slits and his face became somber.
"I don't know any Clementine," he said ending the conversation abruptly.
Juliet let it go and they sat there in silence, the tension tight between them.
"So," Sawyer finally spoke up, "You and Jackass, you two an item now?"
Juliet looked at him, a slight tint of red forming across her cheek.
"Yeah," Sawyer said, "So when did that happen?"
"I want to make a deal," Jack stood up in the make shift court room.
"What deal Jack?" Ben asked, "She's already been found guilty and the sentence is death."
"I'll stay," he said, "I'll stay and do and be whatever you want."
"Really?" Ben said.
Jack nodded. Juliet sat in her wooden chair, the tears coming to her eyes. She tried to make contact with Jack but he wouldn't look at her, his focus completely on Ben.
"Even then," Ben said, "She'd still be shunned. She killed one of us Jack. No one would want anything to do with her."
"I could make that change, couldn't I?" Jack asked a note of urgency in his voice.
"There is one way, maybe," Ben said slyly.
Juliet sat listening quietly as if they were talking about someone else, a stranger, and not herself. She was detached, almost curious.
"Yes Ben? Well, what is it?" Jack asked frustrated, "What do you want now?"
"You could marry her," Ben told him, a devilish grin on his face.
"Marry her?" Jack asked.
"Yes Jack, give her your name, make her respectable again."
Jack ran his hand over his head then across the stubble on his face. Juliet's eyes were wide with anticipation.
"Well, Jack," Ben asked, "What's it going to be?"
"I don't," Juliet said and hung her head low, letting her hair fall over her face.
"Oh come on, something happened between you two," Sawyer pressed on.
"He saved me," Juliet said.
"He saved you?" Sawyer asked.
"After I killed Picket," Juliet replied.
Sawyer nodded his head, "I see. Yup, that's Jack alright, can't let go of his hero complex."
Juliet looked at Sawyer, her head tilted in thought.
"So that's when it happened huh?" Sawyer asked.
"When what happened?"
"You know," Sawyer said and gave her a wink.
"Join hands," the Judge told Jack and Juliet as they stood in front of the Others in an outdoor garden. Juliet wore a simple white dress with some daisies in her hair. Jack was still in the same clothes he was brought in, Tom at his side, Amelia on hers. Jack shifted nervously then took her shaking hands in his.
"Don't let go," the woman presiding over the ceremony told them. Juliet held on tighter.
The ceremony itself only lasted a few minutes before a small party was thrown by Ben in honour of the couple. Jack was glum and Juliet nervously shy before they headed back to her house. They didn't speak about the why's, choosing to push it down into their secret places. The places they kept their feelings well hidden.
"It's late," she said.
"Yeah," Jack replied.
"I, um, only have one bedroom," she explained.
Jack nodded, "I'll sleep on the couch, I mean," he said and laughed, "It's got to be better than the Hydra floor."
Juliet let out a nervous giggle, "No, no Jack you should have the bed," she said.
"The couch is fine Juliet."
"But you deserve it. After all you did for me," she said and their eyes locked. Jack could see her gratitude, but he could see something more than that too, starring back at him.
"Why don't we share," he proposed.
"What?" Juliet asked her voice rising and her face reddening.
"The bed, we are married after all."
"Oh," she said her fingers wrapping tightly around the bow at her waist, cutting the circulation off.
"Oh, um, okay, sure," she said stumbling over the words.
"Go on Blondie, spill," Sawyer urged.
"There's really nothing to tell," she said.
"He's that bad huh?" Sawyer said with a laugh.
"No!" Juliet quickly replied.
"I thought you said there was nothing to tell," he chimed in.
"There isn't," Juliet said.
"Then how do you know Jack ain't a flop in the sack?"
Juliet pulled the sheets down on her queen sized bed. She always thought it was too big and lonely. Too much space as she lay in her corner.
"I'll get you another pillow," Juliet said and tried to walk past him, her body brushing slightly against his as she reached for the closet door.
Jack's hand wrapped around her bicep before sliding down to her wrist.
"Jack?" she asked, "Did you want…"
Before she could finish his mouth was on hers, kissing her passionately, his hunger feeding her own. She moaned as his tongue parted her lips and his hands pressed into the small of her back. He was already hard; she could feel his cock through the thin fabric of her cotton dress.
"Jack," she sighed as he lifted her skirt, his fingers greedy for her flesh.
"Jack," she said her head swimming with pleasure and confusion.
"Tell me you want this," he said as his mouth ran across her swan like neck, down to her collar bone.
"Tell me you want me to make you my wife," he panted a she pulled the straps down her shoulders, pushing her dress and panties to the floor. They bunched at her ankles and she kicked free of them.
Juliet tore at Jack's clothes, throwing his shirt across the room.
"I want this Jack," she cried and let out a deep moan as he touched her wet slit, sinking his fingers into her pussy.
"Oh God," Juliet screamed as he probed her, his mouth sucking and licking the rest of her body as he pushed her to the bed. Jack laid her on the bed before taking of his jeans. His cock hard and pulsing as he got between her legs, pushing them wide apart before plunging inside her.
Juliet screamed with her first orgasm as he thrust completely into her.
"Jack," she cried clutching at his shoulders.
"I just do, that's all," she said looking across the beach at Jack still playing with the baby. He finally saw her and smiled, waving her to him.
"Was it after you shot Pickett? Was it after you watched Kate and me sail away?"
"Why do you want to know anyway James?" she asked him.
"Enquiring minds," Sawyer said and flashed her his famous dimples.
Juliet sighed, "It was our wedding night."
"You're what?" Sawyer asked in shock.
Juliet stood up and took a few steps towards Jack. Sawyer leapt to his feet, Hey wait a sec, did you say your wedding night?"
Juliet turned to look at him, "That's right, Jack is my husband."