*dramatic voice* Previously on Lost: Ben did not kill John in 5x07. You can read the previous little fic "Fair Game" which is an alternate ending to "The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham" if you like.

Ben. Where is Ben? That was the first thing going through John's mind as he woke up. He opened his eyes and above him he saw the sky, framed by trees and darkened by clouds. He rubbed his eyes and tried to lift himself up. His head hurt – a lot, and as he managed to lift his body off the ground he realised that his clothes were soaking wet. It must have been raining just minutes ago. He didn't need to check twice to know, he was back on the island. How he got out of the plane was beyond him but John was way past needing answers to what, why and how the island can do what it does. The only thing that mattered was that the plan worked, like Ben's plans always tend to do. But something was different about this place, something John couldn't wrap his head around.

After a few minutes he realised that he'd only been thinking what he should be shouting so he took a deep breath and did shout. "Ben?"

"Ben?" he tried again but there was no response. It made his head hurt more and his throat sore.

When he felt strong enough to walk, he decided to go uphill in the hopes of reaching a point from which he could determine where exactly he was. Every now and again he stopped walking and shouted Ben's name, and then the names of Sun, Kate, Hurley and the others who came back with him. No one answered ever.

Long after the night got hold of the island, John was still walking when he heard a cracking noise from behind him. He instinctively reached for where he would usually wear a knife - there was none.

"Hello?" a familiar voice shouted but John couldn't quite make out whose it was. It definitely wasn't Ben's.

"Who is this?" John shouted back.

From behind a ridge a flickering light appeared that blinded John. He covered his eyes and squinted, trying to look through his fingers to see who was pointing the torch light at him.

"Son of a bitch!" the man said, lowered the torch and came closer. "So, here you are!"

John looked up and let out a sigh of relief. "James! You are okay, I-"

"Yeah, let me stop you right there, Johnny. You can't keep walking through the jungle and shouting Ben's name like a lunatic! The boy was already packing his bits and pieces because he thought some higher power was calling for him or whatever."

John stared at Sawyer with a confused expression. "The boy?" It was only then when John realised Sawyer was wearing a Dharma jumpsuit and it made him understand even less.

"Look. It's a bit complicated. I need you to shut the fuck up and stay as far away from Dharmaville as possible, understand?"

"No, James, actually I do not. Do you know where Ben is, then please bring me to him!?"

"No. No, no, no, John. Ben is 12 years old and his father is raging mad because there's some creeper in the jungle shouting his son's name, so you better stop looking for the little gremlin. I already have enough trouble with the rest of you guys."

John didn't know what to think or say. Nothing made sense and yet he was amazed that this place could still surprise him.

"Are you saying that the time jumps didn't stop?"

"Oh, they did stop, John. Just in the wrong year. It's '77 and if you didn't already guess from my new wardrobe: I'm working for Dharma."

John rubbed his eyes and tried to process what he'd just heard. "So Ben…. He's just a kid?"

"Yeah…. Sweet boy, bit weird. Asshole dad, which explains a lot to be honest." Sawyer said with a frown. "Listen, John! Jack, Kate, Hurley… they're all with me at Dharmaville. All but Sun. Was she with you?"

"No, I…. I woke up in the jungle by myself. James!" John's expression turned from concern to seriousness. "We need to find a way back to our time."

"That's a great idea, Jean-Luc. I wonder why we didn't think about this before?"

But there must be a way, John thought. There's always a way. Ben, his Ben, would know what to do but where was he? Was he somewhere in 1977, too? Or was he in 2007? Or… The next thought intimidated John but it was a possibility he had to take into account, too. What if Ben didn't make it back to the island at all?

"I need to see him!" John whispered, more to himself than to Sawyer.

"What? Are you…? Did you not hear me when I said he's an annoying prepubescent 12 year old? With surprisingly clean skin, I give him that, but… What's your obsession with him anyway?"

John took a deep breath. "You don't understand. I need to tell him. He needs to know."

"Know what?"

"He needs to know I'm going to find him!" John shouted and failed fighting the tears.

"Oh for fuck's sake, Locke. That's creepy even for you!"

John pulled himself together, told himself that irrational decisions wouldn't help him find a solution anyway. He needed to stay calm to focus. "You're right." he said. "It's probably best if I don't talk to him. But we need to find a way back. This is not where we're supposed to be, James!"

"Is it not?" Sawyer mumbled and walked back to his truck. He came back with a blanket and a dry shirt and the promise to bring some food and fresh clothes as soon as possible. "Don't get us all killed, John!" was his way of saying goodnight. John nodded, absent-minded, accepting the fact that he had to sleep though he would rather do something, anything. But eventually night took its toll on him and he fell asleep.