Sorry for the delay folks, I really am crap. I've been ill and stressed because I was ill, which made me more ill. I haven't forgotten about it :-D
Chapter Two : Another Two Weeks
Horace found a three bed house that a family had recently vacated. Juliet got a small single room, Miles and Daniel shared a room and Sawyer and Jin shared a room.
It was cramped but felt like luxury after the rec room and beach. They could finally relax a little and have privacy, not just from each other but from the ever watching Dharma initiative.
Horace found them jobs to keep them busy it varied from day to day. Some days they painted, others they gardened or cleaned, one day they loaded and unloaded trucks.
The first few days they ate in the canteen, until Juliet gained permission to take food from the store. She hadn't returned one afternoon, which caused a little worry to the men. When they got to the house she had cooked spaghetti and laid the table. Jin noticed the smile between Saywer and Juliet again.
Juliet told the boys not to expect her to cook everyday. They all told her they didn't, but they really did.
Juliet found this two weeks easier, she was more comfortable with the men and had some privacy from them. The work was keeping her mind off the itch to get off the island and a few times she even noticed herself having fun.
James started to forget he was waiting for anything. He would remind himself, but as the seconds ticked away he found it less believable that Locke would ever return. As he looked around he saw he had a house, a job, friends, decent food and entertainment. He could stay here for a while.
Miles saw his mother in after they moved into the house. It freaked him out and he steered clear of her, not letting the others know the reason for his strange behaviour. He had to stay, to find out what had happened here that his mother would never repeat. He assumed his father would be here too. He needed to stay until he found out the truth, which could take a while without arousing suspicion.
Jin would wait for Sun forever. He could see the others giving up hope, he needed to cling to the hope that he would see her again. At least he had a bed and decent food while he waited. He tried to pick up more English, Juliet was patient. Sawyer and Miles got him to say stupid or rude things, he could tell by their smiles or laughs when they told him to say it. Most of the time he would repeat it just to make them laugh.
Daniel wasn't coping at all. He no longer needed to be away from all people. He stayed with the group but they left him alone. Juliet was kind. He could tell Sawyer didn't like him, or when Juliet mothered him. Miles avoided him, and Jin couldn't speak English so left him be. He needed to get off this Island.
The group were busy working during the day, they didn't notice the small changes that had come about in the house making it more of a home. They didn't notice they had fallen into a routine or that they were becoming friends.
They didn't notice when the second two week trial was over.
Horace came over one evening and pointed out the two weeks was over, again.
It was Juliet who asked, in a even tone not giving away any emotion, if they now had to leave.
Horace said if they wished he could find more permanent jobs and they could stay a few more months.
Again the group all looked to Sawyer, who looked to Juliet.
With a small smile she told Horace that would be nice, and Horace excused himself.
Jin watched the reactions. They were staying longer. Daniel looked sad. Miles and James looked happy, and then James and Juliet shared that smile again. He spend most of his time watching, but was finding it all hard to follow.