A half hour had passed and there was still no sign of Locke. Some of the survivors were gathered outside, some were in the houses nervously watching through the windows. Brent sat with Claire on the steps of her front porch. Aaron was inside sleeping peacefully, unaware of the turmoil that was taking place.
"Do you really think Locke will kill that woman?" asked Claire
"I wouldn't put it past him." replied Brent.
"I just can't see him executing someone like that." she said.
"Open your eyes babe, look what he almost did to Naomi."
"He was so good to me when I was on my own, after I broke up with Charlie the first time," said Claire "He built Aaron a crib."
Brent put his arm around Claire and she leaned her head on his shoulder.
"Forget about him Claire, he's a killer," said Brent "I'll be good to you now, you and Aaron."
"You'll go where I go?" she asked.
"Anywhere." said Brent.
"I think I'm going to leave with Locke," she said "I want to get Aaron away from these freighter people, they're dangerous."
"Then I'll come with you," he said "Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to you."
Claire was quiet after that. She leaned into Brent's chest and let him hold her. More than anything Brent wanted to take away her pain but he knew only time would be able to do that.
There was a definite split between the freighter people and the survivors. Hurley, Sun, Jin, and Sawyer were huddled together talking. They had been ignoring Jack all day. He had a sinking feeling that they were going to leave with John Locke. Kate stood on one side of him, Danielle on the other. Miles was standing with them. He was very quiet, you could tell he was worried about Charlotte. Tacey and Anthony were sitting on a picnic table, watching the jungle for movement. Pandora and Alex were deep in conversation and Daniel was right there at Pandora's side as usual. Karl stood behind Alex with his arms crossed, looking around nervously. Naomi came to stand with Jack, Will following close behind her.
"Will he really kill her?" she asked. Jack looked at the ground then back at Naomi.
"Locke is crazy and ruthless," said Jack "There's no telling."
"He will," said Danielle "He'll do anything to get Ben."
"Is there any point in me asking you to let Ben go again?"
"If it was up to just me I would, but it's not," he said "Please go inside I don't want you to get killed too."
"No way, if I have a chance to help Charlotte, I will."
Jack smiled. Naomi was a true leader, a woman after his own heart.
"At least go stand in the back, ok?"
She nodded and walked away with Will. They stood by one of the houses, Will leaned against the wall.
"Are you scared?" he asked.
"Not scared," said Naomi "I am a little worried he'll try to kill me again, not just me, my entire team." She leaned against the wall next to him. He was growing on her. She wished he wasn't but he was. She kept replaying the moment he had selflessly knocked her out of the way in her head.
"Naomi." said Will. She turned to look at him.
"Yeah?"
"If Locke wants to get anywhere near you, he'll have to kill me, ok?"
Naomi smiled and looked away.
"That's very sweet, Will but I would never let you get hurt protecting me."
He came to stand in front of her and put his hands on either side of her against the house. He didn't pin her but she would have to push him to get away.
"I don't think you heard me right," he said, she looked up at him "Stay close to me, stay behind me, I won't let anything happen to you."
This wasn't the goofy stoner kid she had met her first day on the island. This was someone else. Someone that obviously cared for her very much. She touched his cheek and looked him in the eye.
"I'll stay close to you, Will," she said "I promise."
He dropped his arms and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. He didn't have to say anything and neither did she.
"Do you think he's going to come tonight?" asked Alex.
"He'll be here," said Pandora. Daniel wasn't speaking, he just kept looking at his watch. "Is there any way I can convince you to go inside with Bethany and Dylan?"
"No way." said Alex.
"Come on, Alex I don't want you to get shot." said Karl.
"You go," said Alex "I'll be right behind you."
Karl kissed her and walked off in the direction of the house Bethany and Dylan were sharing.
"It's been forty-five minutes." said Daniel.
As if on cue, there was a rustling in the bushes and a woman with red hair and bright blue eyes walked out into view. Her hands were tied and she was gagged. John Locke was right behind her, holding a gun to her head. He had her kneel down.
"Hello, Jack," he called "Why don't you come chat with me?"
Jack nodded to Danielle and Miles and walked towards John Locke and Charlotte with Kate. The conversation was not going well. John Locke was waving his gun around and Jack had his hands up, trying to talk John down.
"If you aren't going to release Ben, then back up!" yelled Locke, pointing the gun at Charlotte.
"No!" yelled Daniel, he ran towards Locke. Pandora ran after Daniel, she could hear her blood rushing in her ears. What if Locke shot him? Locke fired a warning shot in the air and everyone froze. Pandora grabbed Daniel and spun him around, placing herself between him and Locke. A human shield.
"God damnit Daniel," she whispered "Please, don't get yourself killed."
"I can't let him kill her!"
"All you can do is get yourself shot."
Daniel knew she was right. He didn't try to run forward again.
John Locke was making a speech. He was talking about destiny and how the island was speaking to him. He said all of the people from the freighter had to die for them to be safe.
"Anyone who wants to live, should come with me." he said.
People started drifting to stand behind him. Sun, Jin, Hurley. Brent and Claire came with Aaron. When Sawyer switched sides Kate thought her heart might break. He crossed his arms and stood by Locke, staring Kate down.
"What are you doing, Sawyer?" she said.
"You made your choice," he snapped "Now I'm making mine."
Everyone was distracted by the dramatic triangle, including Locke. Giving Charlotte the opportunity to spring to her feet and run like hell. She didn't get far of course. Locke fired two shots into her back, then swung his gun around and pointed it at Daniel since he was the closest person from the freighter. Pandora knocked Daniel out of the way and Jack grabbed Locke's arm simultaneously. The bullet shot uselessly into the sky. Jack wrenched the gun away from Locke and pointed it at his head.
"Go!" yelled Jack "Before I change my mind about blowing your brains out!"
Locke muttered one last remark about how they were all going to die before he left with his group. Jack gave the gun to Kate and asked her to get his medical supplies. She took off like a shot. Then he ran over to Charlotte with Daniel in hot pursuit. She had landed face-down in the grass. Jack knelt down to examine her bullet wounds and was extremely surprised to find there was no blood. Daniel knelt by Jack.
"Is she dead?" he asked. Jack shook his head. He turned Charlotte over very carefully so she was laying on her back. Daniel scooted behind her and cradled her head with his hands. Naomi, Anthony, and Miles had reached them by then.
"Everybody, just give her some room, ok?" said Jack. They all took a step back. "Charlotte, Charlotte, can you hear me?" Jack called to her. Charlotte moaned.
"Charlotte, it's Daniel can you hear me?" he said softly. Her eyes fluttered open and she looked around at all of them.
"He bloody shot me." she said. Naomi settled on the ground next to Charlotte and unzipped her jacket. She was wearing a bulletproof vest.
"That's why you ran," said Naomi "So he wouldn't shoot you at point blank."
"Aye." said Charlotte. Daniel swiped the hair out of her face and offered her a bottle of water that Anthony had handed him.
Somehow, it seemed like they were going to make it through the day without anybody dying.
It was getting late. It was probably about ten o'clock. The drama of the day had died down and now everyone was just talking about it. Pandora was sitting on the front porch of the house she shared with Alex, Karl, Bethany, and Dylan. She could hear them inside, talking and laughing but she couldn't bring herself to join them. She was heartbroken. Daniel hadn't left Charlotte's side. It was like she didn't exist. She was beyond trying to tell herself that she didn't care about him, she knew that she did. She kept hoping that if she sat outside long enough he would see her and come talk to her. There was also a meeting going on in the rec room. The meeting ended and the doors opened. Pandora had always thought of the A-team as Jack, Kate, Sawyer, Hurley, Locke and so on. She loved how it had shifted. Now it was Jack, Kate, Naomi, Danielle, and even sometimes Tacey. She liked that the majority was female. Jack, Kate, and Naomi stood outside talking. Tacey walked off in the direction of the beach, probably going to meet Miles or Anthony or both of them. Pandora realized Danielle was walking towards her. She didn't quite know what to make of Danielle. She was tough and a little crazy but she loved Alex fiercely after knowing her for only a few days. Danielle came up on the porch and stood next to Pandora.
"Hello, Pandora," she said "Alex is here?"
"Yeah, she's inside."
"I'm glad Alex has you," she said suddenly, out of nowhere "I can tell you are a warrior."
"I'm glad Alex has a parent that isn't evil." said Pandora. Danielle flashed one of her rare smiles.
"You are a good girl, Pandora," replied Danielle "Don't let this island corrupt you."
She turned and went inside, probably to say goodnight to Alex like she did every night. Pandora stood up and stretched and walked down the steps. She was ready for this night to be over. She stopped and talked to Jack and Kate for a moment. Naomi thanked her for not letting Daniel get shot. Will walked up to them and Naomi left with him. Pandora continued on her way. She was thinking of going to the beach when she heard someone call her name. It was Daniel. Before she even knew what was going on he caught her in a hug and spun her around. His arms stayed around her when they stopped, it was like they were two magnets.
"You saved my life today, twice," he said "What did I do to deserve a guardian angel?"
She looked down, then back up into his eyes.
"I just didn't want you to get killed, ok?"
Daniel shook his head and cupped her cheek with his hand.
"You were ready to take that bullet for me today."
Pandora opened her mouth to protest but Daniel shushed her. "It's ok, Pandora."
He kissed her cheek and let her go, smiling back at her as he walked away.
What just happened? She thought to herself. When she got back in the house Dylan pointed out that she was blushing and they teased her mercilessly. At least nobody died today.
