Okay guys, super short chapter until tomorrow. I'm getting my hair done, which is a freaking long process, so I'll be able to write a lot. I have a LOT planned for this, so don't worry-more to come!
Thanks to everyone for the super reviews! Magali and David, you guys are always so great for the sweet words.
Thanks to Dr. Giggles, love that you like something that isn't your normal thing! I was super worried with my first fanfic, but this is super fun to write!
Disclaimer: Note, for my entire life, I will never own Lost. Nor do I own the music I suggest. Or anything else. I'm a starving grad student. Give it up.
Music: Suggested for this is Gin Wigmore's "hallelujah" Just a fun side note!
Chapter 7
Locke stepped into the bright sunshine and wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. The large black man who had entered carrying Sawyer's unconscious body was still inside, helping Jack and Kate revive the poor man. He squinted and blinked, eyes not used to such light after so many hours in the dim hatch. The sunshine momentarily dazed and blinded him.
As his eyes adjusted to the light, he saw another familiar face, Michael, along with three completely new peopleāa tall blonde woman with kind eyes, an older man who's eyes were tired and worried, and an olive-skinned woman who hung behind them, shifting slightly back and forth, looking briefly at him then back out to the jungle surrounding them, arms folded and a gun looped in the back of her pants. Michael smiled briefly and walked forward, grabbing Locke's hand and slapping him on the back.
Locke rubbed his bald head contemplatively, the cocked a humorous eye at him. "Weren't you supposed to be getting a boat by now?" He was grinning. He knew that the island wouldn't let them leave that easily. It had too many plans for all of them.
Michael's face lost all humor. "Someone attacked the raft. They stole Walt."
Locke blinked, face suddenly blank. "Then we'll have to get him back." That was all there was to it. "Who are your friends?"
Michael rolled his eyes. "I'm not sure if they're exactly friends, but this is Libby, Bernard, and Ana Lucia. Jin's here too, although he went to go find Sun, I think."
Locke nodded. "Nice to meet all of you. Where'd you come from?" Bernard looked to Libby.
Libby smiled, "We are the survivors of the tail. There's another man who survived, Mr. Eko."
Locke nodded again. "We've met, briefly. He's inside, helping Jack fix all the gunshot wounds. I take it that happened in the kidnapping?" He quirked an eyebrow at Michael, who again looked grim.
Michael sighed, glaring at Ana Lucia, who was frozen staring at something very far away out into the jungle. She looked like she was about to jump out of her skin. "Sawyer was shot by the Others. Ana Lucia tried to kill Shannon."
With that, Ana Lucia jumped back into motion, reaching for the gun behind her and waving it in the air, pointing it at the sky, at the group, at the trees. Her face was that of a wild animal caught in a cage. "Hold on right now. She isn't dead. Not yet. And before any of you start to blame me, let's see you try to keep this group alive for forty days with God knows what attacking us at all sides on this island!"
The group held their hands out. Libby took a step forward, "No one is blaming you, we all know it was an accident."
Ana Lucia froze, brain ticking. After a few seconds, she said "I want some ammo. Half of what you got. And I'll need a pack - a big one - a blanket, some medicine, clothes - jeans and socks - you getting all this?"
Michael paused, frowning. "Yeah, I got it. But Ana, no one is going to go after you."
Ana Lucia barked a laugh out. "Yeah right. The minute her heart stops beating I am going to have one angry fucker coming after me. I need as much distance as I can-"
"Hold on, Ana, is it? My name's John Locke." Locke interrupted.
"So what, John? I don't really have time for introductions. I have to get away before that girl's heart stops beating."
"That's just it, Ana. Jack got to her in time. He's already stitched up the wound and cauterized it. There's a definite chance she'll make it." He saw her eyes start to hesitate. "Sayid is tough, but he's logical. He will understand that it was an accident."
Ana looked like she was about to cry, her gun hand shaking.
Libby barely whispered out a coaxing, "Go apologize. It will be okay."
It seemed like an hour passed, but it was only a few seconds. Slowly, Ana dropped her gun into the mud, crumpling to the ground. She didn't shed a single tear, but she didn't meet anyone's eye.
"Shannon's really okay?" Michael asked.
"Yeah, I think she's gonna be fine," Locke answered calmly.
As she slowly rose, Ana refused to look at anything but the forest floor. She slowly took small steps to the hatch door, everyone holding their breath.
As soon as she laid her hand on the knob, a rustling was heard in the trees. Everyone, including Ana, turned to see a large, older black woman charging through the leaves like a bat out of hell.
"Bernard! Bernard!" It sounded like the shriek of baby birds.
"Rose!" Bernard's face broke out in a smile up to his eyes. He charged toward the woman. They met at the edge of the forest, and he swept her up into his arms, crying freely. The entire group watching stared, Libby crying along with them. Even Locke and Michael felt their eyes prick with tears. After a second, the group looked away, clearly wanting to give the couple a moment of privacy. The moment seemed too intimate, even if the couple was just gazing into each other's eyes.
Ana saw this as a sign of hope, that there was still good. She took a deep breath, then pushed the hatch open.
