Author Here: Thanks for the kind words. Oh, and for not commenting on the inevitable typos. I really gotta get a new laptop, especially one with a working w key.

Chapter Two

Coming Clean

Jackson ran through the jungle trails as fast as his long legs would carry him. He was distantly aware of the gathering storm clouds in the distance as he topped the short rise to the clearing the camp was in. he heaved a sigh of relief as he saw Lex wandering around with his hands in his pockets , his head down, but walking as though the hole world had turned against him.

That poor kid, Jackson thought with a pang of deeply rooted sympathy and affection for the ten year old, I feel so damn guilty about him putting himself in the line of fire like this, to protect me. I have to get this over with now. I can't justify having a little kid trying to protect me. And then he ran up to Lex and grabbed his arm, just in time to keep Taylor from seeing him.

The boys gasped in surprise as Jackson rushed to clamp a hand over his mouth and firmly pulled him away from the others. When they had gotten a couple of dozen yards away, he dropped to a knee and looked up at the dark eyed boy, letting it all out in a rush.

" Lex, I appreciate what you're trying to do, but it's over. I can't let you get hurt trying to help me. Go get the tapes from wherever you hid them at and meet up with me at the plane, ok?" His chest was tight with fear at the though of what he had to do, but at least this additional burden was about to be lifted.

Lex protested, " But Jackson, without any proof , it's just Eric's word against yours! They would believe you; they trust you, just like I do!" His tiny face scrunched up like he was fighting back the urge to cry. " e can still do this." He pulled his cap off of his head and rang it between his hands as he pleaded.

Jackson fought back a tear or two himself as he gave Lex a quick hug. "Lex, if I don't do this, then I don't deserve any of your trust. And I can't be blackmailed this way by Eric. That would make it worth doing all by itself. Now, go get the tapes and hurry. I'll get the others don there to meet us. Just dodge Eric if you can." He had a grim smile on his face and a gleam I his eye, " He'll be pissed when his little scheme comes apart and you're an easier target than me. Now, get moving." He gently shoved the black haired boy, who took off running into the densest part of the jungle. Jackson had a one sided smile on his face for a moment before the bleak look from before came back.

Man, I wish all my friends had been that loyal to me. Well, I better gather everyone up and get this over with. He went off in search of the others.

Fifteen minutes later, Jackson and Lex were standing side by side in front of 29DWN, the crashed Dehavilland Heron that had brought them here over a week ago. The sky was slowly growing overcast, the winds had picked up and had the waves white capped out past the reef that covered this side of the island. The air had gotten cool and that suited Jackson's mood perfectly as he saw Eric straggling up behind Mel, Taylor, Daley and Nathan. His mood as still disturbed by the knot of fear in his stomach however, as he face the five of them, the camcorder in his hand.

" What's this all about Jackson?" red headed Daley Marin, Lex's stepsister asked, concern giving her freckled face a unattractive look. She had been concerned about Lex's part in the events and it had made her slightly short tempered. " Why do you have the camera out?"

" Yeah, if the tapes are gone, isn't the camera sort of, well, useless?" Taylor asked in obvious confusion. " Unless someone found the tapes?" she added hopefully. She had made the comment earlier that her tape was going to be her ticket to stardom when or if they were rescued.

" Lex had the tapes hidden earlier. He's brought them back and would like to apologize to all of you. He was doing it to try to protect me, "' Jackson said simply, from here he stood with his hands no protectively on Lex's shoulders."

" You little creep!" Taylor spat in instant anger taking a fast step towards Lex, " I ought to ," she screeched to a halt as Daley stepped in front of her.

The sturdily built young woman gave Taylor a quelling look, " You touch my brother and I'll beat your ass from one end of this island to the other." Taylor took several steps back, muttering under her breath. Daley ignored the mumbling as she turned back to Lex and asked as levelly as she could, " What are you trying to protect Jackson from Lex?" She stood there, her arms crossed, giving Jackson a decidedly unfriendly look as she awaited a reply."

Lex explained. " I was walking in the edge of the jungle yesterday when I heard voices, two of them. And I could tell one of them was a recording from the way it sounded. I looked around and I saw Eric sitting by a tree, watching a tape. And I could tell from the voice that it wasn't his. It was Jackson's."

Eric protested vehemently, " You little sneak! You were spying on me?!" he exclaimed in feigned outrage. He didn't have a chance to continue as Daley shut him down swiftly.

" Shut up and let Lex talk." she commanded. To Eric's dismay, all of the others, even Taylor, seemed willing to back her up . " Keep going ."

Lex resumed. " I walked over and I didn't really mean to, but I kept listening once I realized what Jackson was saying. It was wrong of me to do it; it made me just as bad as Eric."

Who promptly ranted: " Yeah, well, I don't regret snooping around, not considering what I found out about our mystery man. And you know what, I'd do it again considering what I know now! And any of you would if you knew what was on his tape. And we elected him leader!." He laughed in derision at the entire group.

" I took the tapes thinking if everyone's was gone, then no one person cold be single out. That was wrong and I'm sorry. I'll take whatever punishment you guys decide on." The boy scuffed his feet on the white sands as Jackson spoke up.

" Before you guys decide on punishments, I'd like to say something." He nervously swallowed and looked at them. " I haven't been honest about who I am and what I am with you guys. For that, I'm sorry. I abused your trust in me by not showing that same trust to you people. What I want all of you to do is watch my tape and listen. I'll be over on the dune there, " he pointed to where he frequently fished in the mornings, a small rise about two hundred yards off, " and when you're done, if you need more explanations, I'll give them. And I'll take whatever punishment Lex gets, because I'm as guilty as he is, at least." with that said, he pulled his hood up on his black hoodie and strode off.

A half hour later he as sitting there, his head down and drowsing to the crashing waves when Mel's hesitant voice roused him. " Jackson, we would like you to come back over and answer a few questions for us." She had no emotion in her voice and she wouldn't meet his eyes before she turned and left. He felt his stomach do cartwheels as he got up and went to , at least temporarily, rejoin the group.

They were in a semicircle facing him as he walked up. Fortunately, it was Nathan, not Daley, who was apparently serving as the questioner for the group. " Is it all true, what's on the tape Jackson?" he asked ith surprising kindness in his musical voice."

" Yeah, it's all true." he confessed .

" You're gay?" Mel asked, a sob plain in her voice. Naturally, of his two secrets, that one would effect her the most. " Jackson, why didn't you tell me! You made me look like a complete idiot, chasing you around like that." Her emotions were plain on her face.

It was Taylor who spoke next, " Mel's right. I mean, look at how many gay people live in LA, it's not that big of a deal."

" It is in the part I come from Taylor!" Jackson snapped back, " Where I come from, that's one of the quickest ways of being singled out and where I roll, the last thing you want to be is singled out! I was one of all of five white guys at my old school. It was hard enough being accepted there without everyone knowing I'm gay on top of it all."

Nathan finally spoke again: " Dude, believe it or not, I do get it. I still, in the 21st century, have some idiots on both sides of my family who don't like it because my mom is Italian and my dad is African American. But man, you should have told us. And especially about the rest, the stabbing."

Jackson hung his head, " I hate with all my heart that Big J got hurt trying to defend me. He nearly died. But I heard from him just before we left LAX. At least I know he's alive. I'm just afraid it'll keep me away from my mom even longer. I should have trusted you guys enough to have opened up, but I've been alone so long, I don't know here I belong." he lifted a shaking hand up to the sky, catching a droplet of drizzle in it. Moisture from his eyes fell as well as his walls came down as he turned his tear stained face toward the others, " Where do I go now, now that my lying has cost me all of you?"

Mel hesitated for a split second, then flung her arms around him, " You don't have to go anywhere, you're right here, with us." She jabbed him right over his heart with a finger, " But you have to let us in there too. You have to trust us if we're going to keep trusting you. No more lies, ok?" She brushed the tears off of his face.

Nathan put a hand on Jackson's shoulders and added:" It's true. We need you just like you need us. And my dad is the County DA. I promise, when we get home, I'll ask him to help. As for the other deal, don't ask me on a date and I won't have to hurt your feelings." He gave a grin to Jackson. Who grinned back.

Daley spoke up: " We need each other, apparently more than we realized. E decided that since you were trying to keep chaos down and that Lex's intentions were good, that your punishment should be decided by you. But as for Eric, you get cleanup detail for the next week by yourself." She gave a stern look to the young man to her left.

Eric had been standing there quietly but at that, he exploded into a rage.

" I get punished because Junior here stole the tapes and the lying fag gets to make his own punishment. Fuck all of you!" And it that, he stomped off towards the camp, a rumble of thunder giving him a almost comical exit.

Jackson was pale as a ghost as he whispered, " It's already starting. He hates me just because I'm gay."

The raindrops began to fall on the group as they slowly alked back toards the camp.