Jack struggled to keep his feet over the uneven terrain. It didn't help that he couldn't see more than an impression of light or dark through the rough weave of the bag over his head. He could hear Sawyer mouthing off behind him. And the occasional sound of Tom breathing behind him.

Kate jumped at the squeal of a steel door opening. She could hear Sawyer behind her but couldn't guess where Jack was. A hand roughly pulled her forward onto a smooth surface. Sawyer stumbled into her disrupting his litany of muffled insults. The whole procession had halted. Kate could still hear the soft sounds of the jungle. She could hear the air moving through the trees, a soft buzzing croak of a far off tree frog.

Finally Tom spoke up. "Should we separate them or leave them together?" Henry glared Tom back into silence. He tapped his fingers against his pants leg and considered what option would get him what he needed.

He had earned the reputation of master genius long ago. The scientific community still argued over the possibility of achieving what he could do. So he was justifiably annoyed that against his better judgement he was being forced to show proof that his proven technique was working. The client didn't seem to care that the disruption could compromise the whole trial. And now every attempt he had made to salvage the project had ended miserably. The most humiliating being his capture by the "survivors". It had opened the door to criticism and someone had gone behind his back to get to the board.

He turned his back on Tom to consider Jack, Kate, and Sawyer. It disturbed him that he even knew them by name. He should be standing there thinking to himself "Gee, interesting note. Subjects unable to see but, Subject 441 and 510 managed to stand close together while Subject 198 has left himself standing apart." Henry frowned with disgust. If they didn't get the results he had promised it was their own fault for meddling with the process. It was the truth, but Henry also knew the reality. Any failure would mar his record and the project's financial backing would suddenly be subject to review. "Let them all to wake up together," Henry muttered. Worse than knowing the subjects' names, he was more uncomfortable that his life's work was now resting on these three personalities. Why couldn't subject 197 been the focus of this review. Look, the subject has discarded the wheelchair and now moves on his own two feet. Irrefutable results. Henry sighed proving that there was a shift in personality and tendency was difficult.

Flashback

The expensive Mercedes slue dangerously through the turn into the oncoming lane. Christian Shepherd cursed and yanked the steering wheel around. The wheels slid across the leaves slicking the asphalt. Christian slammed his fist into the dashboard venting his anger on the closest available target. Suddenly the wheels found purchase and the car jumped back toward the right side of the road. Fortunately, the wealthy neighborhood didn't have any traffic at three in the morning and the vehicle finished its erratic race to well kept Tudor Christian shared with his wife.

Leaving the car skewed across the drive Christian wrestled with the seat belt and flung himself out of the car. Leaving the car door open he stalked to the antique front door cursing as he struggled with his keys. Finally getting the right key in the lock he slammed through the door unconcerned that the metal handle damaged the drywall or the custom paint.

"Marilyn!" he bellowed. He continued to call for his wife as he stalked to their bedroom.

"Christian?" Marilyn stumbled drowsily from their bedroom wrapped in a cream silk robe. "What's going on?" Her brown hair was still mussed from sleep.

"What have you done," Christian hissed.

Marilyn blinked at him in a moment of confusion before frowning, "Come to bed sweetheart, I think you need the sleep." She held out her hand in entreaty.

Christian jerked back. Fumbling to retrieve something from his jacket pocket, Christian asked even louder, "What have you done!" Paper ripped as Christian tore it free to wave it in front of his wife's face.

Marilyn leaned in but all she could make out in the dim light was the Hanso corporation's logo and the smell of liquor. "Please Christian, I really can't handle an episode tonight. I'm too tired to handle anything more, so please just come to bed and we'll sort it out in the morning."

"You signed a contract… We actually have to pay them… We talked about this. I thought I made it plain that this wasn't an option."

Marilyn sighed and disappeared into the dark bedroom. Christian followed her through the bedroom and into the marble bathroom. He watched silently as she fumbled with her prescription bottle. "Our son needs help."

He stepped forward and placed the paper he held on the counter in front of her. "This isn't what he needs. I made my feelings about this perfectly clear."

Marilyn fingered the paper miserably; "This isn't about your feeling of betrayal Christian. It doesn't matter what he's done; he's still our son. This program can help..."

Christian interrupted her, "This isn't about that stunt he pulled at St. Sebastian Hospital. You and I both know he was too soft to be a surgeon. Well the public malpractice suit he opened the hospital up to has ended that career path. He'll never find anyone willing to insure him again. I warned him of the consequences."

Marylin turned to face Christian. "Our son committed professional suicide in a drastic attempt to get ours, no, your attention. We obviously underestimated the emotional devastation Sarah did in leaving him. Depression is a very serious emotional problem and our son isn't strong enough to deal with this on his own. You said to give him time, well I did and now he's gone, to who knows where." Marylin's voice dropped to a frightened whisper, "I'm afraid of what he'll do next if we don't get him help." She pushed the paper back towards Christian. "Can you really be upset? I'm entrusting my son to a program, in part, run by the one man I trust and hold above all other men, you, his father."

Christian hissed angrily and slammed his fists into the counter. "Stop being a psychologist for one moment and listen to what I'm saying without looking for an underlying message. Jack's gone! He's living his own life, a doctor without borders or something like that. He's better off; we're better off." Christian picked the paper up off the white marble and sagged against the counter. It had been a year since his son showed him what it was to stand up for what was right. A year to dwell on the example Jack had set. Tonight he had finally decided to do something about it. He had walked into Karen DeGroot's office and threatened to go public with what he knew of the clinical trials. Her answer had been a smug look and this copy of an enrollment form signed by his wife. He couldn't blame Marylin, he had kept his wife and son sheltered from the research he did for the Hanso corporation. He could never admit it was the source of his alcoholism. His mind drifted and his favorite excuse came to mind, that's why the Red Socks… He dropped his head to his hands. He was a bastard. He could only guess what they would do to his son but if this was really fate, he had been cast the role of a monster.

Marilyn watched in alarm as her husband retrieved the enrollment paper and seemed to wilt before her. "You have no idea what you have done," He whispered. She reached for him but he brushed her off and bolted for the door. "Christian?" Marilyn chased after him. Leaving the front door open Christian walked back to his car deaf to his wife's pleas. Desperate Marylin scurried in front of the car. "Where are you going?"

"There's no going back now," He shouted over the rev of the car's engine. With that the car shot back in reverse down the driveway.

Kate opened her eyes slowly. The dim light of the room registered first. She blinked once then noticed the set of green eyes staring back at her. Sawyer grinned, "Mornin freckles." Kate wrinkled her nose but couldn't help a quick smile in return. Sawyer lay on his side facing her. Testing the rope tying her wrists. Kate curled forward and quickly worked her arms past her rear end and around her legs so that they were in front of her. Sawyer watched with interest. "My, my flexible as a gymnast." He commented giving her a suggestive look. Kate rolled her eyes but the compliment made her blush.

"Roll over and I'll untie you," Kate said pushing herself up from the cement flooring. "What ever you say sweet cheeks," Sawyer said rolling over. Working on the knots Kate spotted Jack lying a few feet away. "Jack?" Kate called softly to his back but there was no response. "Guess the doc's a heavy sleeper," Sawyer grunted. Kate frowned but finished uniting Sawyer.

Sawyer rubbed his freed wrists and slowly stood. Kate held her wrists out to him expectantly. Sawyer chuckled, "Sorry, you want something from me, you know what it costs."

Kate sighed, "Stop playing around, we don't have time."

Sawyer cocked an eyebrow and looked around the strangely mirrored walls. "Looks to me like we got nothing but time."

Kate glanced at her reflection and quickly looked away disturbed that someone could be watching them at that moment. Giving up on Sawyer she moved to Jack's side. "Jack?" She touched his shoulder but there was no response. Stepping around him she crouched to untie his wrists. "Wake up Jack," it bothered her to see Jack out like this. It didn't seem natural. Although, Kate glanced at the mirrored walls again, the natural order of things seemed to have stepped out for the moment.

"Let the man sleep," Sawyer said stepping up to her and grabbing for her tied wrists. "You're going to owe me," he commented as he worked the knots free.

Flashback

Cassidy pretended to check her reflection in her compact. She dabbed at her lipstick and angled the mirror so she could study the man seated alone four booths behind her. Flipping it closed she slipped it back into her oversized purse. "This will work," she assured herself for the umpteenth time. Nervously she fingered the corner of a manila envelope she clutched in her lap. Leaving a few dollars on the counter for her cup of coffee, Cassidy quickly slid off her chair and walked toward the man she had spent 6 months of her life hunting down. Cassidy smiled nervously as she slid into the booth opposite the man she had identified as Gordy.

He stared back at her warily. The woman across from him wore a green top as specified so he stayed where he was. "Mia?" Cassidy confirmed with a nod. Gordy shoved his half-eaten turkey club to the side. "You the one offering money to find a guy named Sawyer?"

Cassidy leaned forward resting her elbow against the sticky table, "Yes, but I was hoping you might be open to something a little more involved. See, you and I have something in common, he screwed both of us over $600,000."

Gordy shifted uneasily in his seat. He knew what the woman was talking about. It was the last time he had seen Sawyer before his partner had split. In fact, Gordy squinted at the woman, she did look familiar. But despite losing out on his half of the 600,000 he really didn't wish his old partner any harm. To be honest he wished the lanky blond southerner was still around. The guy had liked to talk cold but when things really turned serious the guy had pulled Gordy's ass out of the fryer. A quality Gordy hadn't found to be true with his current set of companions. "Look lady, you got taken. Live and learn, right? It's just money and from what I heard you enjoyed yourself so call it even and let it go."

Cassidy shook her head vehemently no. "I thought that too until I found out that he left you too. See that's the difference, it would have been business as usual if it had been just another con, right? Think about how many years you two were partners. No, this was different. The feelings were real and that's what scared him off."

Gordy slumped back into the bench seat and stared out the window at the crowded parking lot. The woman made sense. He had wondered why Sawyer had left and figured it had been about the money. But he and Sawyer had gotten along for a long time and not once had a broad or the money rattled his partner's cage. Gordy didn't hold any ill will against the guy but life had turned harsh since losing out on his half of the 600,000. Gordy didn't have the looks to pull off the more lucrative cons. People tended to take one look at him and hide their valuables before answering the door. "It doesn't sound like revenge is what you are getting at," Gordy hedged.

Cassidy slid the manila envelope she had been carrying across the table to Gordy. "Whether he can ever openly return my feelings for him or not I just want to help him. It was never about the money, he made life interesting, he made me feel alive. But now I'm sure he's the one that needs help, not me. I met with the Hanso corporation, they have a program starting up next month that could help him confront those issues. But I need your help getting him to Australia."

Gordy frowned and slide towards the outside of the booth; "I don't know where he is. Sorry."

Cassidy dug a wad of bills from her purse and slapped them onto the table in front of him. "Please?" she begged, "I'll pay you well if that's what it takes."

Gordy squinted back at her, "I thought you only had the 600,000."

"That was the money from my husband. I have plenty more from my daddy that you haven't taken yet." Slowly Gordy's hand came up over the table and the money disappeared. After all, he thought to himself, Sawyer owed him. What did he care if Sawyer had to deal with a few awkward moments confronting an ex lover.

Sawyer sat leaning against the mirrored wall. Kate sighed and slid down the wall to sit beside him. Both of them watched Jack pace. "God dam energizer bunny's maken me dizzy," Sawyer complained. "Liked him better as sleepen beauty." Kate shrugged in response. Her stomach growled loud enough to catch Sawyer's stream of conciousness. Sawyer chuckled and watched her blush from beneath his lashes. Kate ignored Sawyer by watching Jack. Leaning in Sawyer asked, "Think St. Jack's finally gone off his rocker? Hear'n voices and what not?"

Jack suddenly stopped, both hands on his hips he glanced at Sawyer before staring up at the ceiling. "Your voice seems to be the only one constantly running through my head at the moment," he answered Sawyer.

"What are you looking for?" Kate asked looking at the spot Jack seemed to be studying.

Jack shrugged, "Nothing. Just thinking."

Kate realized she had seen him pace in the cave when he had been trying to work out a solution for Shanon's missing asthma inhaler. It had just seemed more normal in the caves, surrounded by the small supply of bandages and medicine the survivors had compiled.

"Look, there's nothing to do, so you may as well relax."

"What? Are you going to suggest another game of I never?" Kate asked.

Sawyer looked Kate in the eye. "Well I never said I love you to anyone."

Kate looked warily at Sawyer before glancing at Jack. Jack had gone back to pacing and didn't seem to be paying them any attention. "I never…"

"Uh uh," Sawyer interupted. "Don't lie on the very first question sweetheart. Doc had to have heard you say it sometime."

"What?" Kate said scrambling to her feet.

A buzzing noise interrupted the conversation and froze all three of them in place. A section of mirror slid back to reveal Tom and four of the others all armed with the tranquilizer guns.