Yes, yes, I haven't updated in forever. Please don't give up on me.
Present time storyline picks up where we left off in the previous chapter. Flashbacks pick up after Chapter 3.
Chapter 6
Ghosts from the Island
There's the river there's your house and there's the church
And there's us years ago
Deep in your garden where the nettle met the rose
Is where we'd hide ourselves
Yes we were just kids
But you couldn't tell us that
These are the garden rules
That's what you always said
Oh you'll never know how much I love you so
Oh you will never know how much I love you
-The Garden Rules (Snow Patrol)
December 15, 2030
New York Grand Central was the most crowded public space in the Western Hemisphere. It was the last of its kind. It was the last public transportation station that was still connected to every other remaining city on the continent. Anyone, anywhere in North America who wanted to go anywhere had to pass through it. And if that did not make it crowded, there were thousands of people, who were merely passing through, who had to convert it into their temporary home upon hearing the news that their destination had been lost.
Aaron had suggested they go back home before heading off to locate James in order to properly plan their next move and they had all agreed. Making their way through the station with the little baggage they had, they were stopped by an elderly woman who was struggling with her bag. "Excuse me, young man; can you help me with this?" She asked. Aaron smiled and was quick to her assistance. "My husband should be helping me, but he was sprinting to the toilet the moment we stepped off the train," the woman said with a small laugh.
"It's no problem, ma'am," Aaron replied, deciding to keep the old woman company while she waited for her husband. The place was known for random muggings, and an old lady left alone with a lot of bags made an easy target. "Are you coming in to stay in New York or just passing through?" He asked.
The woman smiled at him fondly, impressed at the young man's manners, "we are here to stay for a while, I think," she said.
"First time in New York?" He continued the small talk.
"Oh no, I lived in New York most my life, I just haven't been back in years," she said.
"Oh, ok. Well it's gonna be pretty differ than what you remember, I'm afraid," he said sombrely and she nodded.
She noticed his friends, who had been with, still standing waiting for him. She looked between them and said, "You really don't need to wait with me, Aaron, I'll be fine."
Before he could offer her the polite response, he registered her use of his name. His eyes widened, he had not told her his name, had he? "I'm sorry... How do you know my name?" He asked, bewildered.
The older woman watched him closely for a few moments, smiling as his look of bewilderment spread across his features. He was just as she had imagined, if she had not seen him for so many years. "I know your name because... Because I know you, Aaron," she said calmly.
"I'm sorry but I don't... I don't know you," he said, trying to rack his brain to remember her.
She laughed and shook her head. "Don't worry about it. I am sure you don't member me. Last time I saw you, you were wrapped in a small blue blanket, asleep on your mother's chest... Claire."
She knew him when he was an infant? When he was an infant and his mother was Claire not Kate? That could only mean one thing. "You were on the island?" He asked.
She nodded, "Yes, yes, I was. I'm Rose," she said.
He shook his head again, trying hard to remember whether he had heard the name before. "I'm sorry, but how come I don't know you. We've met all those who were on the island," he said, trying to understand who this woman is.
"My husband and I didn't come back with them the second time around we stayed on the island," Rose explained.
"You were on the island when it sank? How did you survive?" he asked.
"I don't know… I believe you know Desmond," she said.
Aaron nodded. He remembered meeting Desmond for the first time shortly after the first incident and they kept seeing him, along with his wife Penny and son Charlie, until Penny passed away and he disappeared completely.
"Well, just like Desmond, I suppose," she spoke calmly.
"Why didn't you come back…? I mean everyone from island, they kept in touch, especially in the beginning, they've been working together, helping… and after they started, when Desmond… showed up, he also got back together with them for a while," he wondered.
Rose chuckled, "Bernard and I… we're retired," she said.
September 24, 2012
3:20am
"Vincent?" Jack said just before the dog jumped up and down, greeting Jack like an old friend. He patted the dog's head, confused as to how and why the dog found his way to them or how he had survived off the island. He knew it wasn't a trick. It was definitely Vincent.
"Is it really him?" Kate asked, setting Julie down and walking towards Jack and Vincent.
"Yeah, it is," Jack confirmed, "What are you doing here boy?" Jack asked, kneeling down towards him.
"He's here with me," came a voice from the other side of the porch, startling both Jack and Kate. They stepped back quickly, Jack immediately shielding Kate with his body and instinctively checking on Julie in the house. The dark figure walked slowly across the porch, making his way towards the light coming from the inside of the house.
"Hello Jack," he said.
Jack blinked as he saw the face of a man he thought had been long gone, gasping as he whispered, "Desmond?"
Desmond walked closer towards them, coming more into the light that shone from inside the house, and Jack and Kate could only stare. It had been five years since Desmond had gone down that cave, and even though they wanted to, they could not go back for him as the island collapsed.
He was supposed to be dead.
"What… How… How are you…?" Jack stammered, unable to find the words to express his shock.
Desmond just shook his, apparently just as confused as Jack was.
"Why don't you come in?" Kate finally said, when the two men just stood staring at one another. She pushed the door open and first to dash in was Vincent, running straight to Julie. The little girl greeted the dog like an old friend. "Vincent!" she cried as the dog leapt into her, his larger size almost knocking her to ground.
"What's going on?" Kate asked, when the adults had settled inside, the three of them searching each other for an answer.
Aaron chuckled, "you're retired? From what?" he asked.
Rose laughed gently, "from the madness? Everything that happened when we were there." She tried to explain.
"So, when Desmond… showed up? That's when you came back to?" Aaron asked, completely intrigued now by what this woman had to offer.
"Yes, I believe so. It was just when the incidents started," she said.
"Oh… ok… And where have you been since? If you don't mind me asking," he prodded politely.
"We've been in a few places," she answered vaguely.
"But never New York," Aaron added for her.
"No, not until now," she said.
"Why now?" Aaron asked.
"Because we needed to see you," she said, "you and Jack and Kate's daughter, Julie," she said with a smile as she looked towards the young woman she had waited so long to meet.
"Why?" Aaron asked again.
"Because it's time," she said.
Aaron shook his head, a mixture of frustration and disbelief. Time for what? He wanted to ask, but before he could say it, an old man came to stand by Rose, smiling at her. Her husband, Aaron thought to himself when she smiled back.
"Let's go meet your friends," Bernard said.
"Julie, Clementine, Ji Yeon," Aaron introduced the rest of their group, "this is Rose, and Bernard."
Everyone shook hands politely, with Julie keeping a questioning eye on Aaron, "Why don't we go get some coffee?" Aaron said.
Rose and Bernard retold the young group the story they had learned from Jack, Claire and Hurley about the fate of the Oceanic 815 passengers, with some new information here and there. Aaron noticed that while the old couple did not seem to know as much as his uncle apparently did, they did have a different light upon them when they talked about the island. Where Jack had anger and contempt, they had a sort of longing and admiration for the island.
"We stayed on the island for such a long time; we have a bond with it," Rose explained. "We don't know all its secrets, but we do know about some things, things you learn when you accept the island for what it is and what it can be," Bernard added.
"What kind of things?" Julie asked. She knew that when her father told them the story, he had kept a lot to himself and she was hoping that their new friends would know these things.
"Well, aren't you your parents daughter!" Rose laughed lovingly, taking an immediate liking to the young woman who was a splitting image of her mother.
"We know that the island is not gone. And we know that the island will always have someone to save it, a group of special people who it needs to come together to stop whatever darkness plagues the world," Rose said.
"Us?" Ji Yeon said after a long period of silence.
"Yes, you, the children of 815," Bernard said, "but not only you," he added.
"What do you mean?" Aaron asked.
"Well the island chose you now because you all possess amazing capabilities," Rose said, "but it had also chosen your parents, and their jobs are not done yet. It has to be all of you."
"But why? If you say we have these capabilities, then why do we need them?" Julie argued.
"Because these powers that you have they are not complete without them. The island gave you these powers and your parents are your connection to the island. When you learn what each of you possesses, you will be amazed. You will be able to use them but you will never reach the fullest of your potential until you are all together. That's how it works," Rose said.
"What are these powers?" Clementine asked.
"We don't know," Bernard asked apologetically.
"So what should we do?" Julie asked.
"Find everyone… that's the first thing. Tell them what you're seeking them out for. Something tells me a lot of them would know what you want. They know the truth, all of them, they just refuse it," Rose said.
"What's going on?" Kate asked when the adults had settled inside, the three of them searching each other for an answer.
"I can ask you the same thing," Desmond said.
"Desmond, we thought you were dead. We've thought that for the past five years. When the island went down… How are you here? How did you get off the island?" Jack asked.
Desmond shook his head. "I don't know. Last thing I do remember is going down that cave, with you and that… thing lowering me. I went to the light and then… nothing. When I woke up again, I expected to be in that cave, but instead I was in the middle of the North African desert, with that dog there licking my face and the year was 2012. That was three days ago."
Jack and Kate listened to him retell his story and disbelief."Where had you been all those years?" Jack asked.
"I don't know. I thought on the island, until I watched the news. I walked to the nearest village and the whole place was abandoned, gather in coffee shops and homes glued to the TV screens. I figured I should come see you before I tried to find my wife and son," he said.
"What happened on the island, Jack?" Desmond asked.
Jack shook his, anger rising as he allowed the memories from that day to resurface. Kate watched him closely. She knew what talking about the island did to him. She put a gentle hand on his thigh and squeezed softly, letting him that she was there with him.
"When you turned the light off, it made Locke mortal again," Jack explained, "and we killed him. But the island… it was falling apart, collapsing around us… we had to get off of it. Desmond, I swear to you, if you could have gone back…" Jack said apologetically but Desmond smiled at him and shook his head.
"You couldn't have," he said, "pulling the plug… it is what caused the island to fall apart," Desmond said, stating a face more than asking a question.
Jack and Kate nodded in agreement. "And what happened two days ago?" Desmond asked.
"Well, we know where some of them are, but there's a lot that have gone missing," Julie said, "and a lot that have passed away," she added quietly.
"I know, sweetie," Rose spoke softly, "but you are going to have to do this first if anything is going to work.
"Where do we start? Who do we look for first?" Aaron asked.
"Well, I assume you know where Jack, Claire and Hugo are, right?" she asked and Aaron nodded, "well, then, you go find Desmond Hume. That should be easy…" she said.
"No one has seen him in years, not since his wife passed away," Julie said.
"Is Vincent still with him?" Bernard asked.
"Last we heard, yes," Aaron confirmed.
"Well, then that is all you need," Bernard said.
The youngsters shook their heads, not exactly understanding.
"You are not the only ones with talents," Bernard said, "Vincent is a… he is a special dog… he too is connected to the island and so he is connected to you. He can find you, that's what he does. You just need to connect with him. Julie, needs to connect with him," Bernard explained.
"Just connect with him?" Julie asked, "how?"
"You will figure it out, dear," Rose said, getting up from her seat, "we need to get going. Good luck to you. We will be seeing you again, but for now, please do not let anyone else know that you saw us."
"Why?" Clementine asked.
"They are not ready, for any of this, until they find it in their hearts, until they have faith again… it has to come from them, you cannot force them to believe again."
"And what happened two days ago?" Desmond asked.
"Happened because we let the island sink," Jack said morosely.
"The end of the world is our fault," Desmond mumbled.
"It's not your fault, Desmond," Jack said.
"I pulled the plug, Jack, with my two bare hands. I did this," Desmond said, dropping his face in his palms.
"No, I made you pull that plug," Jack argued, the cloud of guilt burdening both men, "and I was the one who didn't go back to put it back in place."
Desmond chuckled in contempt, "you didn't make me do anything, Jack. I pulled the plug because I was so sure it was the right thing to do, because I thought it was the doorway to this other place… apparently I was so wrong, about everything," he said.
"Scotland," Julie said suddenly.
"What?" Ji Yeon, asked, looking up from her journal.
"They are in Scotland, Desmond and Vincent," Julie explained.
They'd decided not to go back to the house, instead staying at a hotel in the city while they figured out their next move. Rose and Bernard had been quite cryptic in their message, but if it meant they could take these powers for a test drive, they were ready.
Julie was not sure what to do at first. "Connect with a dog" was not something one hears very often. The others were not sure what to do either so they each went back to doing their day job. Aaron got back in contact with his team in Africa, Clementine with her leads to finding her father and Ji Yeon to her research.
Julie tried to think back to her first encounter with Vincent. She had been five years old, shortly after the first incident when Desmond and Vincent came to them. She had never thought about it, but now, with Rose and Bernard's explanation, she was starting to think that Vincent had found her specifically, led Desmond back home through her. She thought, that if she held on to that thought, maybe he could connect to her again.
She had spent the afternoon trying to remember every time they saw the Humes after that, trying to keep Vincent's image in her head and that was when it happened. She could not explain what it was or how it happened, but she somehow saw Vincent, running around and in the background she saw a sign.
"They are in Scotland, Desmond and Vincent," Julie repeated, "I am sure of it."
"Let's go then," Clementine said.
Getting there was not as easy it they thought it would be. Desmond Hume was indeed in Scotland, but that did not mean it was easy to find him. Ever since his wife died and his son left, he had become more and more isolated. When they finally got to him, they had been walking for days because no car could get to where he had chosen to love; a small cottage on top of a hill in he middle of nowhere.
Vincent came out running towards them, greeting them like old friends, while Desmond stood at the fence of his gated property.
"You made it," he just said, his face remaining expressionless.
"How did you know…" Aaron started to ask when the older man chuckled, bitterly.
"I've been expecting you for some time, I thought you would never come, I was starting to worry I could actually hide away from you," he said.
"So you know why we're here?" Julie asked excitedly.
"Yes, I know… You want to save the world…" He said, rolling his eyes at the words.
Julie did not miss his rolling eyes but she did not know what to make of it exactly. She had not seen him in years, not since he was a child. She knew from her parents that after his wife passed away, he more or less disappeared, pulling away from his friends until they lost touch with him. His son, Charlie, on the other hand had blamed his father for his mother's death, and as soon as he was old enough he left.
"Will you come back with us?" Aaron asked.
"Sure… why not," Desmond said with a shrug.
"You will? Does that mean you're on board?" Julie asked.
"On board? You mean on this mission to save the world?" he asked sarcastically, throwing his head back in laughter, "no… I just want front row tickets to the end of the world."
The three of them sat quietly for a long time, no one sure of what to say to ease what the rest was going through.
"If you want, we decided to do something, to help the best we could… humanitarian work, medical aid…"Kate said, thinking maybe Desmond too would be interested in being involved.
"I think I just want to see my wife and son now," Desmond said, "you don't happen to know where they might be, do you?"
"I actually do. We still keep in touch with Penny. I have her number," Kate replied.
They decided Desmond should stay with them for a few days to rest. Kate had called Penny but did not tell her that her husband was alive. Instead she just invited her and Charlie over. In a shocking move, a few years earlier, Penny had decided to move to the US, to start fresh with her son, and had visited with the Shephards a few times since.
Penny and Charlie arrived two days later; completely oblivious to the reason their friends had invited them. They had talked the day of the incident, discussed what the group had decided to do, and Penny had agreed to take part with the rest of the group, to help in any way that she could.
"Penny! Charlie!" Kate called from their front porch as the two approached the house, "so glad you could make it!"
"Thanks for the invitation," Penny said, hugging her friend, "I'm glad you called." Beside her, seven year old Charlie Hume stood quietly. Charlie was a quiet little boy, not out of shyness or mild mannerism, but in a constant state of quiet mischief. He was a handful, to say the least.
"We've missed you guys," Kate said smiling softly at Charlie, "I am so glad you could make it." Kate walked with Penny to the front door. Kate put her hand to the doorknob and took a deep breath.
"Penny, I need to tell you something," she finally admitted. This was way harder than she thought as she watched the other woman eye suspiciously. "There's another reason why I called you, something I couldn't say on the phone."
Penny's brow furrowed, "what is it Kate? You're scaring me," she said.
Kate just nodded and proceeded to open the front door to her house, quickly stepping to the side, letting Penny walk inside to come face to face with her husband, the man shed assumed dead for the past five years.
Penny stood frozen in her place, her car keys falling from her hand onto the floor with a loud clank. Tears welled in her eyes and her mouth went dry. A few feet in front of her, Desmond stood anxiously, not sure how to approach the woman before him, his own tears had quickly sprung to his eyes. Before him stood his wife, the woman he had to lose and find again and again, more times than he could have ever imagined, next to her his son, Charlie, the little boy he last saw as a two year old, now eyes him curiously as a grown seven year old.
Jack watched solemnly through the kitchen window into the backyard where they had left their friends to have their tragic reunion. He could not believe it. Desmond had been with them a few days but he still could not wrap his mind around it. He could still barely believe what was happening in the world, how it was their fault. People coming back from the dead was another enigma he was not sure he could handle. He could feel Kate walk up behind him, and he knew he needed to turn away, let Desmond and Penny have their privacy. He turned around just as Kate came to her spot, close enough for him to immediately wrap her in his arms. She rested her cheek on his chest and hugged him back, her arms around his waist.
"I cannot imagine what they must feel like," she said, feeling him tighten his embrace.
"I know," he agreed.
A short distance away from them, Julie and Charlie sat in the living room, nibbling at the snacks Kate had set out for them as they watched cartoons.
"What are those?" Charlie said.
"What?" Julie asked, looking towards him, over the large dog that sat between them.
"Those," he said again, reaching over and poking her cheek.
"Ouch," she said, "why did you do that?"
"What are those? The spots on your face?" Charlie asked again.
"Those are my freckles. Don't poke them," she said, shooing his hand away.
"They look funny," he teased.
"No they do not," Julie argued back, "you talk funny," she retorted, sticking her tongue out at him, peeking over her shoulder to make sure her mom had not seen her.
December 17, 2030
The trip back to New York was a strange one. They were not sure how to act around Desmond, or why he had come back with them in the first place. But they knew they had to get him, Rose and Bernard were clear about that. They kept their distance from him and he kept quiet. He did not pack much either; a small bag with essentials and copy of Our Mutual Friend, which he carried all the time but never seemed to read.
Aaron had called his mother and told her they were coming back home, and her relief had been more than evident. They had only been gone a week, and even though he had been off on more dangerous missions, this one kept her more worried than the others. Somehow, the idea of their children being involved with the island scared her more than anything.
"What is this place?" Desmond asked as they drove up to the house.
"It's where we live," Julie said.
"It's a mansion," Desmond retorted.
"Well, we live in part of it. The rest is the foundation's headquarters," Aaron explained.
Desmond just scoffed from his place in the back seat and looked back out the window.
"Mom? Uncle Hurley? Uncle Jack? We're home," Aaron called as the group made their way upstairs.
Desmond stood alone in the shadow of the hallway as the family reunited warmly, Ji Yeon and Clementine as well, being how close they were. Jack, Claire and Hurley embraced them and made sure they were ok. The kids explained to them what they had been up to, an abridged version, making sure to keep out that they met Rose and Bernard. Before they could explain that they had someone else with us, Vincent came bursting into the room.
"VINCENT!" Hurley cried in excitement as the dog leapt into his arms.
"How… How did you find him?" Jack asked, "where was he?"
"He was with me," came Desmond's voice as he walked into the room.
"Desmond?" Claire asked, moving past her son to make sure it was truly him.
For the first time since they met him in Scotland, Desmond actually smiled. He approached Claire and embraced his old friend lovingly and then moved over to Hurley. He turned from Hurley and came face to face with Jack.
"Desmond," Jack said, extending his hand.
"Jack," Desmond replied, looked down at the extended hand and then back up towards Jack, "it's been while," he added, before his closed fist connected with Jack's jaw, sending the other man back and onto he couch behind him.
"What was that about?" Julie asked as she carefully tended to her father's swollen face.
Jack had gotten up from his stumble and just nodded towards Desmond as the rest stood dumbfounded at what had just happened. They were not sure what to expect from Jack, but he had just gotten up and left the room silently. Julie had quickly followed her father out and into his office.
"Desmond blames me for Penny's death," Jack said, wincing at the pain that was starting to spread to the rest of his face.
"Was it your fault?" Julie asked.
Jack dropped his head slightly, "in a way… yes," he said sadly.
"Dad…" Julie said softly.
"She died in one of the incidents," he said.
"But that doesn't make it…" Julie argued.
"In a way, it is… I don't blame him that he does," he said, "I blame myself too," he added quietly. I am responsible for Penny's death… for Kate's death… he thought to himself.
They sat quietly for a moment as Julie continued to treat her father.
"Julie… I know that you feel that you need to do this… but… I just don't want you to get hurt…" he said, the lump in his throat growing, "I cannot lose you too."
Julie put her tools aside and sat back down next to him, resting her head against his shoulder, letting him hold her like he had all those times when she was younger, like the night her mother died.
"I know you're scared, dad, I am too. But I have to do this, in my heart, I know it's the right thing to do. It just feels right," she said, and her choice of words did not get lost on Jack, she was their daughter after all, "you and mom, you always taught me that the right thing had to be done no matter what the price was. I'm just doing what I know you would have done."
Ok, here it is. I cannot apologize enough for this delay. And I know you are tired of my excuses. Once again I promise it won't be this long next time.
Please drop me a review, let me know you're still interested in this.
Thanks!
Next time: Everybody Trusts Hugo
