Episode 2: Seeing (Is Believing)

Brittany laid down in the tent as Sayid went to collect some food. She rested her head back feeling tired and still worried about the raft. What had happened, had she really seen Walt or was she just tired. Vincent had come back to them during the night and together they all slowly made their way to the beach. A small breeze filled the tent, 'That was fast.' Brittany said looking up then stopping suddenly. She starred widely at the doorway where there stood Walt dripping wet. 'Walt...' She said quietly. He lifted his finger up to his lips again shushing her. 'Sayid!' she shouted as loud as she could and then Walt walked away disappearing as Sayid ran into the tent.

'Brittany, what's wrong?' Sayid said putting his arms around her.

'Walt.' She said looking blankly at the opening.

*l

The pallid cream walls reflected the harsh light to all corners of the room. The family ate dinner silently. Waiting for their dad to get home, Brittany and her brother fiddled around with their food not knowing what to say. The front door opened and Brittany's dad stepped in, they all looked up at him smiling as he walked to the table taking his usual seat and looking at his family. 'How was your day?' Brittany's mom asked him.

'It was good. I'm hungry now though so Brittany would you like to say grace?' He said looking down the table at her.

'Why would I want to say grace?' she said looking perplexed at him.

'Because that's what we do in this family.' Her dad said looking at her angrily.

Brittany looked so confusedly at her father she had never spoken to her like that before. So she closed her eyes and said 'Grace.'

-l

After dinner Brittany was about to walk into the kitchen when she heard her parents talking. 'Where do you think she got it from?' Her dad said heatedly to her mom.

'I don't know.'

'Well it's not from me. None of my family are that stupid.' Brittany's father's words cut through her heart as she found herself running upstairs tears staining her cheeks laying flat on her bed. She needed someone anyone. She needed Santana. She turned over tears still falling down her cheeks and picked up her phone hurriedly ringing Santana.

*l

'What is this place?' Jack asked looking at the computer with the execute button. He looked up as he heard a flicking and saw a timer counting down. 'What's that for?'

'I said exactly the same thing to the person here before me, he said just saving the world. His words not mine.' She said.

Jack looked at her sceptically, 'Who are you anyway?'

'I could ask you the same thing brother.' She said looking at him.

'I'm Jack.'

'Well Jack, I'm Shayna.' She said smiling slightly at him. 'And all you need to do is watch the video it explains everything.'

'Video?'

'Your box man is setting it up now.' She said pointing to what looked like a living area. Jack walked into it slowly looking around and saw Locke setting up an old movie projector. What he had walked into was definitely a living area, there was a small kitchen a set of bunk-beds and even a small dining area. Kate and Mike had gone back to the beach after Jack had explained to Shayna who they were and how they got there.

'Well Jack are you ready for this?' Locke said starting the film And sitting down on a chair. Jack joined him reluctantly not knowing what to expect.

The tape started with a small flicker. A weird music started to play as a screen said 'Dharma Initiative – Orientation – Station 3 – The Swan'. A man appeared on the tape he was dressed in white standing beyond a white paned window set. 'Welcome, I'm Dr Marvin Candle, and this is the orientation film for Station 3 of the Dharma Initiative. In a moment, you'll be given a simple set of instructions for how you and your partner will fulfil the responsibilities associated with this station. But first, a little history.' The man on the screen continued. 'The Dharma Initiative was created in 1970 and is the brainchild of Gerald and Karen DeGroot, two doctoral candidates at the university of Michigan. Following in the footsteps of visionaries such as BF Skinner imagines a large-scale communal research compound where scientists and free-thinkers from around the globe could pursue research in meteorology, psychology, parapsychology, zoology, electromagnetism and utopian social reclusive Danish industrialist and munitions magnate Alvar Hanso, whose financial backing made their dream of a multi-purpose social science research family a reality. You and your partner are currently located in Station 3, or "The Swan", and will be for the next 540 days. Station 3 was originally constructed as a laboratory where scientists could work to understand the unique electromagnetic fluctuations emanating from this sector of the island. Not long after the experiments began, however, there was ... an incident. Since that time, the following protocol had been observed. Every 108 minutes the button must be pushed. From the moment the alarm sounds, you will have four minutes to enter the code into the microcomputer processor induction into the programme. When the alarm sounds, either you or your partner must input the code. It is highly recommended that you and your partner take alternating shifts. In this manner, you will both stay as fresh and alert to the utmost importance that when the alarm sounds, the code be entered correctly in a timely fashion. Do not attempt to use the computer for anything ... Congratulations! Until your replacements arrive, the future of the project is in your hands. On behalf of the DeGroots, Alvar Hanso, and all of us at the Dharma Initiative, thank you, Namaste, and good luck.' The tape rand to a close then leaving Jack and Locke starring at the screen.

'We're gonna need to watch that again.' Locke said.

-l

Finn opened his eyes they felt very heavy. The light blinded his eyes as he found himself locked in a small pit which had been dug out into the ground. He stood up and realised he was with Sawyer, Jin and Michael. 'GIVE ME MY SON!' Michael yelled up to them.

'Are they up there?'Finn said.

'You bet they aren't keeping an eye on us!' Michael shouted again. A woman's head appeared over the top of the pit.

'Who are you?' she said, but they all stayed quiet. 'Who are you?' she said again but they all still ignored her. 'Not in the talking mood now huh? Fine.' She said walking back away from it leaving the guys alone again. Sawyer cradled his arm carefully as Finn tried to find a way to get out of there.

-l

'Where are you going?' Sayid asked her as Brittany held tightly onto Vincent's lead and was walking off into the jungle.

'I'm going to find Walt.'

'Brittany please. He is not here.'

'Why don't you believe me?' She said facing towards him. 'I'm not as worthless as people think.' And she turned away walking into the jungle.

*l

The phone rang only a few times before Santana answered. 'Hello?' she said in a whisper she sounded hurt but Brittany couldn't tell over her own erratic breathing.

'Santana?'

'Brittany? I can't talk right now. I have to go.' Santana said hurriedly as if she was trying to get rid of her.

'Santana I really need to talk.'

'Brittany just go away!' Santana shouted down the end of the phone and hanging up. This pushed Brittany over the edge as she chucked her phone over at the wall just curling up into a ball in the middle of the bed and crying into her knees.

*l

They opened up the top of the pit again and Finn and that looked up carefully. The women looked over the edge pushing someone in, a girl. Her dark hair covered her face as she slowly turned over looking up at the 4 men. Finn's eyes widened as he looking into the face of someone who thought was dead. 'Are you ok?' Michael said helping her sit up. She brushed her hair out of her face her eyes landing on Finn.

'How did they get you?' Michael asked, but she didn't answer her and Finn still staring at each other.

Sawyer looked between them. 'Is someone going to say what the hell is going on?'

'Santana.' Finn said still just staring at her.

Santana looked at the other guys and then spoke to Finn 'We thought no one else survived.'

'We didn't think you did. We've been on a beach the other side of the island for the last 48 days.'

'Is everyone ok, how's Brittany?'

'She's goo...'

'Hold on a minute!' Sawyer said. 'You're meaning to tell me you know her?' he said looking at Finn.

'Yeah she was on the trip with me she was on the tail section of the flight.'

'The tail section?' Michael questioned.

'Hey!' Santana shouted up to the top of the pit. The woman's head appeared again, 'We're letting them out.' She said looking back down at them. 'They were on the plane.' The top of the pit flipped open and they lowered down a rope to pull them all up. As the reached outside they saw two more of them the women who had spoken to them before and a tall black man who looked at them gruffly. 'That's Ana-Lucia and Mr. Eko.' She said pointing to each in turn.

'I'm Finn, that's Michael, Jin and Sawyer.' He said pointing to the guys in turn.

'What happened to your arm?' Ana-Lucia said looking at Sawyer carefully.

'I got shot.' He said matter of factly. They looked around the small enclosure they were in it was surrounded by trees and the only thing in it was the pit which had been dug up. 'We best get moving.'

'Where are we going?' Michael said.

'Back to the others.'

As they slowly made their way through the jungle Finn spoke to Santana, 'How many of you survived?'

'23 of us.' Santana said remembering. 'How about you?'

'40, sadly Puck and Kurt didn't make it.' He said looking down. Santana looked at him then turned away again.

-l

A loud beeping sounded and Shayna ran out of the room. 'It's for you now!' She said leaving Jack and Locke looking perplexed. 'Type into the computer 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42. The beeping will stop and the counter will go back to 108.'

'Wait what?' said Jack following Shayna to the small door at the back of the hatch which opened up onto the island.

'My time is done. I've been doing this for 3 years it's your go now.' She said opening the door and running off into the jungle.

Jack ran back into the computer room and Locke was sat at the computer. 'What do I need to type?' he asked.

'4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42.' Jack said watching the keys and then watching the timer which after Locke pressed execute switched back to 108.

'I guess we're in this together then Jack.'

-l

They walked through the jungle until they stopped outside what looked like a rundown bunker. Ana-Lucia banged on the door and it slowly opened. Will Schuester's face protruded from the gap in the door. 'We have people.' Ana said walking past Will as he opened the door he saw Finn and his eyes widened.

'What you, you survived?' He said looking at him.

'As did you.' Finn said smiling slightly at him walking in behind Santana. She slowly walked over to a corner of the dark bunker type building. Finn looked around seeing Miss Pilsbury and Artie in the opposite corner.

Santana turned around looking at the guys 'Wait here ok?' She said looking at Finn as she walked off and joined the other in a heated discussion.

'What do you think they're talking about?' Michael asked Finn.

'I have no idea.' As they stood there watching the others carefully Finn saw Artie stand up and walk over to the entrance. Finn's mouth fell open in shock at what happened before him.

'OK.' Ana-Lucia said walking back over to them. 'You're going to take us to your people.'

'I thought there were 23 of you?' Finn said looking at them carefully at the 7 of them.

'Your right there was.' Ana-Lucia said looking at him, 'The first night they came and dragged 3 people into the jungle, a week later they came again taking 12 more. So now will you show us to your people.'

They slowly made their way through the deep jungle heading in the direction they thought lead to their camp. Ana never let them stop for more than 5 minutes at a time incase they were being followed by the others. 'Come on we need to move.' Ana said looking over the group as they had rested for a little while filling up their canteens in a small river bed.

'Ana, Sawyer isn't looking so good.' Emma said looking at him from where Ana stood. 'Can we not have five more minutes?'

Ana looked at her 'No, do you not remember how they came in the night and took us... there were more of us than there are now. So don't think they won't try.' Ana walked over to Sawyer 'Come one we're going.' She said looking down at him.

'Oh sorry for resting.' He said looking back up at her.

'If you slow us down we'll leave you behind.' She said walking to the head of the team again and walking along. Sawyer got up and started walking he only took a few steps until he collapsed.

'Sawyer?' Finn ran over to him lifting him up in his arms. 'We can make a stretcher for him!' he said loudly looking at Ana who was looking at them angrily.

'Fine.' She said, 'Find the wood and get him moving fast.'

-l

Brittany and Vincent had found their way somehow to Boone's grave. Vincent had somehow tracked Walt back to here.

'If you're looking for Walt, why are you here?' Sayid's voice sounded behind Brittany making her turn around.

'You followed me?'

'Of course I did I'm worried about you.'

'Oh so I'm not just some crazy girl who thinks she's seeing things?' Brittany said looking at him. Sayid didn't say anything just starring at Brittany sympathetically. 'I know what I saw!'

'Brittany don't.'

'No Sayid you don't!' she said angrily at him as Vincent gave a tight pull on her hand and ran off into the jungle. 'Vincent.' Brittany turning towards the direction he went 'Are you happy now? I've lost the dog again.' She said to Sayid before turning and running off after Vincent. Sayid chased after her too.

*l

Brittany was in school looking around the dark corridors not even knowing where she was going. 'Brittany are you ok?' Mr Schuester's head had appeared from a door way and Brittany turned around.

'Uh yeah.' She said looking at him.

'You've just passed this room like 3 times in the space of 5 minutes.' He said looking at her sympathetically.

'It's fine I'm fine.' She said turning around and walking slowly away and then her eyes fell on Santana. She suddenly felt hot with anger at how her best friend treated her the night before. She marched up to Santana and was ready to scream in her face when she realised Santana was crying. 'Santana?' Brittany said quietly looking at her. Santana turned around realising it was Brittany and then turned back again to the locker. 'What's wrong?' Brittany said trying to put an arm around Santana.

'Get off me.' Santana said looking away from Brittany.

Brittany looked at Santana feeling upset more than anger now. 'Santana whats...'

'Just leave it Britt.' She said turning around to face her.

'I just wanted to know why you were crying.' Brittany said almost crying herself.

'You won't understand Britt.' She said looking straight at her and then walking off in the other direction leaving Brittany feeling more alone than she had ever felt in her life.

*l

They had gotten a stretcher made as fast as they could and they set off again. As they slowly climbed up a harsh slope they had to figure a way to carry Sawyer up so they spread themselves out. Ana and Emma went to the top to bring him up and the other spread themselves out along the incline Artie at the bottom to hoist him up. As they slowly clambered him up the slope they clambered up too. Once they had all reached they were about to set off when Emma said 'Where's Artie?'

'He was right behind me.' Finn said and they looked over the slope.

'I will go find him.' Mr. Eko spoke in his deep voice.

'No. We can't lose more people.' Ana said looked worried 'If they're near here we need to keep moving.' She shouted as rain started to fall. She looked up into the sky and then around at the others as in the wind there was a low hush of whispers. Ana looked around at the rest of them.

'Oh no.' Emma said looking worried.

'Run!' Ana-Lucia shouted as the rain pelted heavier.

-l

Brittany stopped and crouched to the ground as the rain poured over her and she started to cry. Sayid caught up with her and put his arms around her. 'Everyone thinks I'm so useless that I'm so dumb and can't do anything.'

'Brittany, no one thinks that.'

'Yes they do! And you do otherwise you'd believe me when I say I saw Walt!' Brittany pulled herself out of Sayid's arms looking at him. His face looked perplexed staring behind her. Brittany turned around and saw Walt. 'Walt!'

Walt lifted his index finger up to his lips shushing Brittany and Sayid he then turned around running into the jungle.

'Walt!' Brittany stood up chasing after him. Sayid stuck there confused about what had happened watched the space in front of him. Not until Brittany had run off did he escape is confusion and start to run after her.

'Brittany!' he shouted as he ran through the deep rain in the jungle. He passed over a tree root tripping over its knot falling hard to the floor. As he pushed himself up wincing slightly a gunshot sounded loudly near to him. He looked worriedly clambering to his feet 'Brittany! He shouted again running run the corner where Brittany stumbled slowly towards him collapsing in his arms. Sayid looked down to her stomach was a large gun wound was bleeding viciously. 'Brittany no.' He said looking down at her holding back tears. He looked up at the point realising someone was watching him as he looked up he saw them; Finn, Michael, Jin and Sawyer. And he saw her still pointing the gun at him worriedly. Ana-Lucia lowered the gun looking blankly at Sayid and Brittany.