Disclaimer – I don't own it. Never will. Unfortunately.
Summary – Jacket story. Will Jack ever get back to his fair Juliet? And will she give up on him, finally, after three and a half years? Rated M for language and sex.
Hope you like it Xx
Juliet sat, staring out at the ocean. It had been at three and a half years since Jack and the others had left the island, so why was she keeping her hopes alive? He wasn't coming back for her, he had made that abundantly clear when he had chosen to go off into the jungle with Kate, and had not returned. She remembered his empty promise. We'll leave this island together. Instead, he was probably married to Kate, starting a family, while she wasted away on the island, drinking rum, lamenting about how she was back at square one – no longer close to seeing Rachel and Julian, no closer to him. So if she hated him so much, why did she still love him? Why did she feel guilty after sex with Sawyer? It had been comforting, this sort of relationship with Sawyer, comforting for both of them – they were each other's second choice, used to fill the gaps in their hearts. Sex had become more frequent over time, it was a miracle she hadn't become pregnant. But she didn't care – if she did get pregnant, what would it matter? What could she possibly have to live for? He wasn't coming back, not for her.
Jack sat, staring out at the ocean. He was drinking vodka from a small metal flask, thinking about how he had left her, stranded on that island. Drinking helped him to momentarily forget how he had betrayed her, how she could be dead on that island, him not knowing it despite having caused it.
"Jack. You really need to ease up on the alcohol. You won't be able to think straight if you keep drinking this much".
Jack turned to his left to see Benjamin Linus sitting down beside him. It had been six months since they had met in the funeral parlour and taken Jeremy Bentham's body, and started their plans to return to the island. So far they had located Hurley, and Sayid, but Kate and Sun were still refusing to go back. Sun said she had her own plans. Kate was adamant that Aaron would not return. Then there was Desmond. Jack hadn't seen him since they paddled away from Penny's boat. But Jack had a feeling that Sayid knew where he was. Ben had been on the hunt for Penny, and Jack knew that nothing good could come of that, so they all told Ben that they had no idea who she was. They had only briefly heard her name in passing, from Desmond, who was still on the island. Again, they had to lie, and slowly the lies became poison in their lives, destroying each one of them slowly. But Jack knew, that if they were ever going to go back to the island, they had to find Desmond. And that would mean trouble.
"It helps ease the pain, Ben, surely you of all people know about pain."
"Have you managed to talk to Kate yet, Jack?"
"No, and I don't want to. She has made herself very clear".
"But Jack, I thought she was the love of your life?"
"Yeah Ben, so did I. Guess I was wrong, I guess I loved…"
Jack trailed off, hoping to cover his tracks. Ben would never let him go back to the island if he knew it was for Juliet. As far as Ben was concerned, Juliet would always belong to him.
"I guess I loved the chase, that's all".
Good work, Shepard, he thought not thinly veiled at all!
"Look, lets just get to work, huh? Once we get all of them together, how are we going to go back? By plane, again? Or are we going to have to swim this time?"
"Neither Jack. Once you have everyone, you will have to get on a boat, and sail. That's it. Just put the boat in the water, and the island will do the rest. But for now, lets just work on bringing everyone together, shall we? Call me when you have talked to Kate".
With that, Ben walked to his car and drove off. Jack however, continued to stare at the ocean, filled with hope that he would see Juliet again. Thousands of miles away, Juliet smiled, staring out at the ocean, filled with a fleeting sense of happiness that she could not explain.
Coming soon: Sex with Sawyer! Kate and Jack showdown! Sayid finds Desmond!! All this and more…stay tuned! Xx
