Okay, I know I said that Losing My Religion was going to get another chapter but I was wrong. I was listening to the song "Swans" by Unkle Bob (the song in the latest Grey's Anatomy episode, during the scene when Denny and Izzy sense each other) and this popped into my head.

Season 3 Episode "I Do": Do we really know what Kate was offered to convince Jack to do the surgery?

This is a little something that I envisioned (being the Jater that I am lol) occurring before Kate is brought into Jack (picture an interrogation room).I'm not too keen on the title I picked but I think it works. I want to make this a two-shot, maybe a three-shot but I'm not sure, so bare with me please :-) (All episodes included so you are forewarned)

The song that begins towards the end is "Swans" by Unkle Bob

Disclaimer: Don't own Lost, its characters or the song Swans

As always please read and review. It really helps me to know what I'm doing right and wrong.

Hope you Enjoy!!!!

Fortitude

Part 1

All we really need to survive is one person who truly loves us

-Penny, (Live Together, Die Alone)

"No" She knew she was in no position to make demands, but that did not stop the words from escaping her lips. She was firm and she heard it in her voice, a conviction rooted deep within.

"Kate," she sighed, as if talking to an uncooperative child. There was no expression on her face; it was plain and unreadable to Kate's disadvantage. "I don't mean to sound blunt, but you really don't have that much of a choice."

There's always a choice.

His words echoed within her, shaking what ever stability she thought she had. There was nobody else in the room besides them but she had a feeling that she was being watched. Her senses were keen to notice this type of change in the atmosphere. Yes, they're watching.

"Why can't you tell him." It wasn't a question, but there was an unspoken curiosity in her tone.

"We've tried." The blonde woman attempted to make eye contact, but no; Kate wasn't going to give in. "But he won't listen to us."

"That's probably because you people have taken us prisoner," She was surprised to see the slightest flinch from the woman. Her words were registering on a level Kate didn't anticipate. "And besides, Jack doesn't like to be told what to do."

Okay, maybe sarcasm wasn't the best way to go, but the words escaped before she had time to process them, anger the fuel igniting these unnecessary flames. And neither do I.

"You're right, he doesn't." She was turning the tables. "But do you want to be responsible for the death of the man you love….again."

Tom….

"How did you-," Kate looked incredulously at the woman before her, the tears in her eyes making the woman's blonde Lockes blend with her bare expression.

"We know a lot more than you think." She walked behind Kate's chair, circling the room. "About Tom, Wayne….and Kevin."

This isn't happening. She was beginning to lose herself, the conviction in her voice being replaced with defeat and disbelief. There was no explanation for why they knew the things that they did. The only person on the island who knew about her past was Jack. But even he didn't understand the half of it, let alone specific names. The woman continued to circle the room, like a vulture about to strike at its prey.

"Who are you people?" She asked her voice cracking with emotion. "Why did you take us? What do you want from us?"

This isn't happening….

"We're not monsters, Kate." She placed her hands on the table between them, her eyes seeking Kate's. "But you have something that we need."

Why is this happening….

"And we'll do just about anything to get it." Her words appeared just as she had intended them to, but Kate could see beyond her tough exterior.

"You need Jack because Ben needs the surgery." Kate said, finally getting a hold of her emotions. "I get that. What I don't get is why bring me and Sawyer."

The blonde woman looked at her as if she asked the world's stupidest question.

"Because we need Jack to do the surgery." Kate opened her mouth to speak, but Juliet continued. "And Jack needs you to do the surgery….just like you need him to even be in this room right now….just like you need Sawyer to remind you of the consequences….just like he needs you to do the same."

Kate looked away from her, but she could still feel her eyes on her.

I don't need anybody….

"Strength, Kate." Juliet said, acting as if she revealed the world's greatest mystery.

No, not strength….Weakness.

"I won't do it," Kate said, the emotion in her voice obvious, but she didn't care.

"Fine," Juliet said. "But like I said, do you really want to be responsible for the death of the man you love, Kate."

The initial shock of the parallel between then and now was gone, and the words were finally registering.

"No!" Kate said, her voice now urgent and raw with something she couldn't describe. "You wouldn't kill Jack. You need him to do the surgery. You said-"

"I wasn't talking about Jack, Kate." Juliet said, finding this not that surprising.

"Sawyer…." Kate said.

Just like you need Sawyer to remind you of the consequences

"You're bluffing." Kate said, having played this game before.

"You could think whatever you want Kate," The humane characteristics of her voice were now gone. "But that won't change the truth. Ben needs the surgery. And Jack said if he doesn't have it done very soon, he's going to die. Soon isn't a few months, Kate, its a few weeks. I'm a doctor too; I've seen the films-"

"Then why don't you do it!" Kate interrupted, matching Juliet's anger with her own.

"Because I'm not a surgeon!" Juliet yelled.

"Then get one! You guys have hatches and walkie-talkies, and interrogation rooms!" She slammed her tied hands on the desk in front of her. "I'm sure you could-"

"It's not….its not like that." Juliet sighed, obviously aggravated.

Kate looked away from the woman to the other side of the small square room, where there was a door. She didn't know if it was locked, or who was on the other side, waiting for her to slip up, but for a split second Kate considered taking the chance.

"You want to go," Juliet said, "Go. The door's unlocked."

"Go!" she repeated.

Like you need him to even be in this room right now

She caught Juliet's eye and noticed the raw emotion expressed. This woman wasn't a monster, she had just been with them for too long.

"But just remember, if you go." She continued. "And Ben dies, nobody will hesitate to kill Sawyer….and then Jack."

She wasn't bluffing, Kate was sure of that. The conviction in her voice matched her own when she had first been told of the situation.

She willed the fear that enveloped her entire being, her sense and sensibility, to leave, to go back to wherever it came from; but it didn't comply. It wanted her, in every which way; it wanted to go deep within her and shatter the one thing that kept her from falling apart. A demand she couldn't deny.

Fear's an odd thing.

So Kate did the only thing she knew how to do.

But only for five seconds…that's all I was going to give it.

1

By my side

you'll never be

2

By my side

you'll never be

3

cause I'm fake at the seams

4

I'm lost in my dreams

5

And I want you to know

That I can't let you go

"Okay," Kate wasn't going to look at the blonde woman before her, whose name she still did not know. No, she wasn't going let her see what he did; what he does to her.

"I'll do it."

Please Review! Hope you enjoyed.