Title: Something's never changed

Authors: Koralina and LorMats

Summary: After the incident, the explosion really reset their lives, but they end up on the Island, again. Could they get the chance to be happy the second time around?

Chapter main Author: LorMats

Beta Reader and Editor: Eyeon

A/N: Thanks for all reviews. We are happy you like our story. Feel free to tell what moments you'd like to read about.

Story of two times

Juliet was left alone in the room. She examined her surroundings. The room was large. On one side there was a table and a chair. On the other side there was her "bed" if it could be called that. There were also two doors. She started walking around. Juliet came to the nearest door and pulled on it. It was locked. She tried to switch on the communicator which was located near the door. Not a sound, the thing was completely dead. She went to the other door but accidentally bumped into something: Glass! She was partitioned off from the other part of the room. That's why the room seemed so strangely large. She threw her fist into the glass. Nothing. She stepped back and kicked the glass with her leg. Not a scratch. She walked along the glass continuing to hit it. At the end of the wall her fists hurt but the glass was just as before. Juliet melted to the floor and started crying.

Flashback

Juliet opened her eyes. Someone was shouting for a doctor. She tried to move and her head ached. It took another five minutes for her to remember everything and realize what happened. She looked at the sky with an exasperated look. Someone kept shouting. Juliet ran toward the sound and saw a man kneeling near a pregnant girl. The girl was obviously in shock.

- I'm Juliet, I'm an ob/gyn, you don't need to be afraid, everything is gonna be fine sweetie - She didn't even believe what she was saying, but she had to calm her.-You just need to be quiet. Breathe in. Breathe out. - The girl began breathing rhythmically and Juliet turned to the man.
- Hi. Are you the father?-
-What? Oh, no. I just heard her. I'm Charlie -
- Ok Charlie -she smiled at him. - help me move her to a safer place - they were too near the plane. They helped her under a tree and at that moment the plane's wing fell on to the spot where they had been standing.
- Wow. We were just in time.- Charlie murmured.
- How are you feeling now?- Juliet turned her attention to the girl.
- I'm okay. Thank you.- she smiled shyly - By the way I'm Claire.-

They looked at the beach, it was chaotic. So many people seemed to be hurt and in need of a doctor. Claire was feeling better; it was only stress after the plane crash.

-Charlie. Can I ask you to stay with her?- He nodded and she went down to the beach.
A lot of people were running, everyone trying to get away from the plane. Juliet tried to help them and after a few hours of running around, she was exhausted but satisfied. She sat alone looking at the sea, laughing at herself remembering Rachel telling "you're gonna have a great adventure". She was having an adventure all right; she didn't know if she would describe it as a great one. The fact that the plane she was on had crashed on an island a few hours before was starting to sink in.
She was lost in thought, looking at the ocean, when a man approached her.
- Is this seat taken?- He asked before sitting down.-I'm Jack-
- Juliet- She smiled back at the stranger. She saw him at the beach helping people and pulling some badly hurt people away from the plane.
- You're a doctor, right? - His question took her by surprise, but then she remembered that he also could see her helping people.
- Yes, neonatal, and ob/gyn surgeon - she answered.
- You were at the lecture in Australia? -
- So, you're a doctor too -
- What gave me away? - He asked smiling.
- Knowing that there was a lecture in Australia? And I watched you the whole afternoon running around helping people. - She blushed, did she just said to this stranger that she was watching him?
- You did your share of running around too - She smiled and was quiet as he continued talking -
- Look, tomorrow I'll go with Kate, the brunette over there- he pointed to a woman staying beside a group of people by a bonfire someone had made - we are going to look for water and something to eat. I was thinking if you could stay here and look after the rest of the survivors, in case something happens -
- Yes of course -
- Kate found some extra blankets in case-he paused- Well, it's getting chilly, you can join us if you want -
- Thank you,I'll be right there in a few minutes, I was just thinking -
He nodded, giving her an "I understand you" look.

End of flashback

Juliet was done crying, when she heard a noise from the communicator. There was a male voice. It was hard to say anything more because of the static. She rushed to the communicator and pressed the button

-Jack, Jack!- she yelled in desperate hope, but there was no answer.

The communicator was again dead. She walked toward the metal object that she called her bed, and jumped to sit onto it. She put her hands on her face, and passed a hand through her hair. She recalled how she ended up here. They rushed through the jungle because Michael asked for help rescuing Walt, and Jack asked her to join the group. She didn't know then that Michael was eagerly interested in her joining them, because he had a list, he had a deal with the Others. Libby, Kate, Juliet, Hurley and Jack, they all had to be there, or the deal would be off.
She didn't want to go, she preferred to stay at the beach, but she went anyway. Claire already had the baby and both of them were alright in spite of all the stress.

Flashback:

Juliet was reading a book, in the front, of her tent when Hurley approached her.
- Juliet have you seen Jack?-
- I think he was at the cave with Kate and John, why?
- Ethan isn't on the plane manifest-
- What? Let's go -
She started running, with Hurley following, towards the cave, when they arrived and explained the situation to Jack, they heard someone shouting and then silence

- Dude this can't be good - Hurley told Juliet who was looking at Jack. They ran toward the place where they thought the scream came from. When they arrived, Charlie was lying unconscious on the ground and Claire had been kidnapped. The following days were difficult; Juliet went on a search party with Jack, Kate, Charlie and Locke and came back empty handed. On the third day they gave up. All except Charlie. He was too upset that he couldn't protect her and was eager to find her at any cost. Locke agreed to continue to help him during his search.
One night she was talking with Jack and they were interrupted by the sound of a gun shot. They ran into the jungle and found Charlie with a gun in his hands, Locke hugging a crying Claire, and Ethan lying in a pool of blood. Jack approached Ethan, and looked at Juliet shaking his head. They buried him near the caves.

End of flashback

She recalled feeling really bad after Ethan's death, but after a few days, their life become normal again, as normal as life can be while being a survivor of a plane crash on a deserted island. The normalcy was interrupted by the arrival of the tailies and the news of another kidnapping. And then Michael returned.

Flashback
- Juliet he needs us-
- I get it Jack, I really get it, his son was kidnapped after trying to escape, but these people, the Others don't want us here, what would happen when we arrived? They shot Jin, they destroyed the raft . . . - She passed her hand trough her head and exhaled deeply, she looked exhausted -
- Juliet, I know you prefer to stay here, in case anything happens, but Claire is okay, Aaron is okay, and the rest of the people are okay too, they don't need you right now, I need you - Juliet blushed, never before a man had told her that he needed her.
- I can't think of anyone besides Kate and you, that I want by my side in this trip through the jungle She felt a hitch in her stomach and nodded. She'll do it for him.
End of flashback

The thing was, she didn't know that Michael has asked Jack to bring her. So she went with them to look for Walt, but they were ambushed in the middle of the jungle and the "Others" put bags over their heads. She didn't know how she got to a dock, or who was there when they dismissed Hurley and Libby and then sedated her, Jack and Kate.
Juliet washed away her tears, Michael had betrayed them, and he had a deal with the Others, that part was clear. He was free to return to the mainland with Walt. And the small price of his freedom was the lack of it for her, Jack and Kate.
Why her? She wasn't special or anything like that, she wasn't one of the leaders of the group, as Jack and Kate were, she simply helped when she was needed and tried to calm the group when some crisis arose. She wasn't Jack, or Kate, or even Locke.
But SHE was here, alone, and she couldn't stop worrying about what was happenning with her friends.
Where were they? This island was too strange. They found a hatch where a man pushing a button every 108 minutes, They found a polar bear for god's sake, and now she was being held hostage in a room that looked like an aquarium.

James appeared in front of her, on the other side of the glass.
- I thought I'd give you something to eat, but I need you to sit with your back to the wall - he said looking at her expectantly.

Juliet did what she was told to do but she wasn't going to obey him. This concession could give her a chance at freedom. So when he opened the door, and set the plate on the table, she quickly jumped on his back trying to reach to his carotid artery, but in a matter of seconds, she was on her back and he was pressing his body against her. What was she thinking? Trying to ambush a man, who was probably 3 times stronger than she was?
- Easy there Blondie - His face was awkwardly close to hers, and she felt a shiver run up and down her spine. - What were you trying to do? -
Juliet felt stupid and looked at him narrowing her eyes - Get off me -
- Only if you promised you'll be a good girl - He was smirking, and felt her relax beneath him. He got up, and she sat with her back to the wall, looking defiant.

- Where are my friends?-
- They are ok -
- Where are they? -
- Look, I'm not a bad guy, even if you want to think that and - He thought for a second and smirked showing those huge and beautiful dimples he had - act like that.- He made a pause - I don't want to hurt you, or your friends, but you have to stop asking questions I can't answer now - James sat beside her, and she looked at him with wide eyes.
He offered the sandwich, but she didn't take it and just looked at him. He sighed.
- Look Blondie we can do this the easy way, or the hard way -
Again this Blondie thing, when had she heard someone call her that? There was something about this man that made her feel comfortable and uncomfortable at the same time.
- The hard way would be you hitting me, or - she asked roughly and he interrupted her

- Stop there lady, we're not savages, we are trying to help you and - He stopped talking, realizing what he nearly admitted to her
- And what? - she insisted.
- When the time comes, you're gonna know everything you need to know, for now, enjoy your meal - He answered leaving her alone again