Ho Ho Hurley

Hurley plays Santa Claus on the island. This fic is written for Athena Alexandria as part of the Lost Secret Santa Fic Exchange. Since a time setting wasn't stipulated I thought I would opt for the first of two ideas I had for this scenario. I think I might do the other one as a DYOJS or something.

Now I too couldn't help myself so I've decided to split this fic up intro three parts.

This fic is set approximately around an "alternate" season 3 time.

(Earlier that day)

"HEY!! THAT'S MINE!!" a random voice shouted out and guesses weren't even needed for the acclaimed culprit.

"Don't see your name on it Clyde." The man responded in his usual Southern twanged accent while ripping away the half full carton of cigarettes.

"Yeah, well yours is not on it either so why don't you just…."

"Hey!!" a third person decided to intervene with the sole intention to resolve the problem just like a leader was meant to, but it seemed easier said than done.

"Stay outta this Freckles. This ain't got nothin to do with ya." The Southerner warned her before resuming with the original argument he had been lugged into.

What started out as a ridiculous argument over a carton of cigarettes slowly grew into a full blown debate over other shortages such as food of which both Charlie and Hurley had to keep a silent mouth over because if everyone had to know the sheer truth of it all it would only make things worse.

"Why don't we just sort this out like civilized people." Hurley still tried to reason with both men and much to the Southerner's annoyance it appeared that his "Freckles" seemed more than sure to back the him up on that one.

"Well I don't think "civilized" really figures in a situation or place like this Lardo." Sawyer shot back earning an expected glare from practically everyone including Kate. However the look on her face was one more of disgust, not just towards him but herself as well for having believed all this time that he was a changed man.

"Besides, we can always learn to rely on people to still get it for us right Freckles." He finished while issuing the brunette beside Hurley a dimpled smirk, and when he achieved the result he predicted he walked off towards his own tent along with the carton of cigarettes.

She immediately wanted to explain her actions in return, but couldn't find the right words for some reason and it was all they needed to start the interrogation.

"Is that true? Have you been sneaking supplies for him?" Charlie asked in an accusing manner and Kate continued to remain silent in the face of the surfacing truth. Still it failed to stop her from at least trying..

"Charlie it's not….."

"It's not what Kate?" Charlie responded in a harsh and clearly uncalled for tone, but Kate was expecting it to a certain extent. Although at the same time his harshness fuelled her determination to convince not just him but everyone else that there was some sort of reason behind her actions.

"It's just not what you think it is. He's just…." She vowed to explain feeling a tad ridiculous for having to defend herself against a man she had only known for a few months. Though within that time she had managed to find something pretty extraordinary in these people, and even though it truly scared her at times, it comforted her as well to know that there were some people in the world who still wanted to be her friend regardless of her past.

"Like you." Charlie attempted to finish the sentence for her and as much as he felt like a jerk for saying it, he knew something like this had to be stated to hopefully make her see the error of her ways.

Once that was set straight the crowd of survivors slowly descended into their respective tents, leaving her hurt, humiliated, alone and wanting Jack more than ever.

Things had eventually calmed down from that point onward, but the atmosphere around camp had still changed considerably. In the sense where people were finding any little excuse to start an argument and unfortunately there was no real form of authority caring enough to deal with it this time.

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4 8 15 16 23 42

Click.

No job was seriously as boring as this. Even his job at the chicken place was far better. That was until it became victim to a freakish meteor accident.

He wondered what he would be doing if he were back home. He guessed that he'd probably still be searching for a way to get rid of his new found cursed wealth. That and Christmas.

He still couldn't believe that they were already in December and fast approaching the holiday season, according to one of the still working watches he had found and assumed was showing the right date.

They had all been fairly tense of late. So much so that they had all forgotten what the real world would now be celebrating along with their loved ones. Resorting to the warming traditional of starting off with a quaint family dinner and then extending the Christmas Eve celebration by cracking party crackers and singing Christmas carols around the piano well into the night.

He knew the odds of achieving such a recreation with the people he now considered were the closest thing to family would be fairly unlikely due to the fair share of traumas they had all experienced over the three and half months of their stay here. Still, he was equally convinced that a celebration such as the strong significance of this one would surely brighten up their spirits and make them forget about their troubles for one night at least.

"Where the hell would I get a piano?" He thought to remind himself and immediately smirked at the thought of trying to vaguely construct the next best thing to it.

"Hurley?" he suddenly heard his name being called out for what he assumed to be the second or third time judging by the current volume of their tone. Though what concerned him more was the depressive expression possessing their features.

"You okay?" the person then proceeded to ask him and he had to rein himself in from chuckling at the mere irony of the situation.

"Yeah, I was just thinking about some stuff." Hurley revealed, opting to be brief and discrete cause he wanted what he currently had in mind to be a surprise. Weirdly enough all the brunette did was offer a barely audible nod.

"Well Locke's headed back to the beach so I'll be taking the next shift now."

"I thought Charlie was meant to be doing it after me." He decided to correct the person across and immediately wished that he hadn't cause the watery look he received in return was filled with nothing but pain and disappointment. Much to his surprise she then proceeded to walk away, knowing that she was no longer trusted or welcome, but within minutes Hurley bolted to stop her from moving any further, and thankfully she didn't put up much of a fight in return.

His first instinct was to causally enquire as to what or more precisely who had caused this, judging by what happened this morning. So that's exactly what he did.

"You okay Kate?" he asked knowing that he should have been angry with her as well, but he knew that he could never find the heart to do so, especially with her.

"I'm fine." Kate answered in a half hearted manner clearly showing that she wasn't in the mood for a pep talk, but still it was all suggestive enough to prove his assumptions right of believing otherwise.

Something had to be done about it.

So with that in mind he dropped the subject, offering the mentally distracted brunette a quick "See ya later" and then proposing to get a head start on something that was bound to even put a smile on Sawyer's face.

(Meanwhile - The other side of the Island)

After waiting for God knows how long he was finally graced with the presence of a man he hoped would still grant the freedom he shook on. However he still braced himself for the possiblity that he was about to be played for, but he was pleasantly relieved when he was then released from his cell and uncuffed merely suggesting the obvious.

"You're free to go Jack."

Thank God.

Next Chapter: Hurley's plan and an unexpected surprise.