Chapter 7 – Down One

Juliet was pleasantly surprised when Daniel made it home for dinner one evening. She jumped out of her seat to grab his tin foil covered plate and place it across the table from herself. She looked up to see him hovering.

'Did you not want any?' She asked him, continuing to eat her own to try and get him to relax.

'I'm leaving' He blurted out.

She dropped her fork and looked at him 'what?' she replied calmly.

'I'm going to ann arbour to do research. Horace asked me. I want to go. I want to fix it. I need to fix it' He rushed out, looking more and more agitated.

Juliet jumped up from her chair for the second time. She approached him with her arms up, so she wouldn't startle him. 'Hey hey Daniel, it's OK' She soothed.

'When are you leaving?' She smiled.

'Next week' He still avoided eye contact.

'OK. As long as your sure, now sit down and have dinner'

Daniel sat and ate his meal, Juliet sat and worried. She was not telling James about this until Daniel was on the sub.

It was a hard week for Juliet, she felt bad for not telling the others about Daniel so avoided spending too much time with them.

She was in the bath on the day Daniel was leaving when she heard the front door open and James shout.

'I'm in the bath!' She replied. She listened to his loud stomps down the hallway. She tutted as she realised he hadn't taken his boots off, then squealed as he opened the door. 'James I'm in the bath!'

'Hell woman I can't see nothing' James leant against the door frame looking pleased woth himself. 'It's up to you if you wanna show me'

'Get out now!' Juliet was not amused.

'No, You have been avoiding me. You can't avoid me now'

'I can if I want to James' she smirked back. Her smiled dropped as he kicked her towel and clothes away from her.

'Go on then, I could do with a show' He was grinning now.

'Grow up James' She replied calmly.

'So whats up? Are you just PMS? Cause I was starting to wonder if you were packing your suitcase' His grin had dropped and been replaced with concern.

'I am fine James. Just fine. I would be so much better if I had some privacy and could finish my nice bath'

'I'm not stopping you' The smirk was back.

'Get out! I will come see you later!' She raised her voice and threw the sponge at him.

He dodged to the side 'I'll be on your sofa waiting. Clothing is optional' He added as he shut the door.

She took her time getting herself out of the bath and dry. Hoping he would be gone. When she walked into the living room he was sat reading the book he kept at her house.

'Oh man, I said clothing was optional' He smiled and slapped his leg. She sat on the opposite end of the sofa and faced him. She knew she had to brake this to him gently. Daniel would be getting on the sub now so it was safe. 'Damn Blondie what's so serious?' His smile dropped slightly.

'Daniel is on the sub, he is going to do some work off the island' She spoke calmly and kept eye contact.

'He what now!' She could see his blood pressure rising and moved closer. She placed a hand on his knee to calm him.

'James, Daniel will be fine. He will be safer off the Island and might start to get over what happened' James stared at her. 'He thinks he might be able to sort that we are stuck here. He might be able to get us home. Don't you want to go home? See Kate again?

The word Kate snapped him out of it. 'What and watch her shack up with the doc? I'm not second place to anyone any more' He stood to leave 'You can have more than one reason to jump off a helicopter'

'Where are you going?' She asked in a quiet voice as he got to her front door.

He turned and smiled 'To get my stuff'

'What? Why?'

He looked at her like she was stupid 'Coz I need my stuff if I'm gonna live here with you'

He left before she could answer.

When James told Miles he didn't know what to think. He was relieved that they no longer had to watch out for Daniel, but worried he would cause them problems from the other end. He didn't want to stay here forever, so if he found a way back that would be fine.

Miles was amused when Sawyer took his things to live with Juliet. When he asked what Juliet thought about it he got the reply 'Can't leave a woman living on her own'. To be honest he wouldn't turn down living with the hot blonde. She was fun and cooked and cleaned. He only wished he had thought of it.

Jin thought it was good for Daniel to leave. The small Charlotte running around must have been hard. He was glad someone had started to try and figure out how to get them home. The hope of seeing Sun again rekindled in his chest. Sawyer going to live with Juliet was strange. Jin thought maybe he didn't trust her and wanted to keep an eye on her.

James laughed and laughed when he saw a lock on the bathroom door on his first visit after moving in. That woman works fast.