Disclaimer: I own nothing but my original character.

Author's note: I'm so mad! I had half of this typed up then the document manager got all weird and I couldn't edit it so I had to start over! grrrrrr.

Author's note #2: Spoilers from Namaste -- which totally kicked ass!!! -- in this chapter.


Chapter 8: From Bad to Worse

" Hey...Riley, right?"

I stopped in my tracks and looked back toward the hammock. A bassinet was situated next to it. I smiled and walked over to her.

" Yeah," I smiled. " Who are you?"

" Amy Goodspeed," she replied, " Horace's wife."

My eyes fell on the sleeping baby boy in the bassinet.

" He's adorable," I said, my eyes locked on the infant. I couldn't get my own dead baby out of my head -- I doubted I ever would.

Amy smiled.

" Thanks. Do you want to hold him?" she asked.

I inhaled sharply.

" Sure." I carefully lifted him up into my arms, cradling him to my chest.I saw Juliet watching me, but pretended not to notice. " Have you and Horace picked out a name yet?"

" Yeah, we're gonna name him Ethan." I would have been disturbed by this bit of news if I hadn't felt the waterworks coming on. Great. Why the hell was I so emotional all of a sudden? " Are you okay?"

" Sorry," I said as I placed the baby in her arms and backed away. " Um, I've gotta go."

And then I ran.


" I'm surprised you showed up, Danny. Sydney's probably crawling with his people."

" Yeah, well I still showed up, didn't I? Lawrence I got it covered."

" You got the money?"

" Yup," said Danny, his voice low.

I snorted, watching them over the top of my menu.

" We'll make the exchange in my room," Danny was saying, and I had to strain to hear him. " Suite 823 on the eighth floor. Midnight."

I watched them get up and leave the bar. Ten minutes later, I left to go up to my own room. Looked like Plan B would go into effect tonight after Danny and Lawrence made the exchange.

I sat cross-legged in the grass, a short distance from the pylons, lost in thought. A hand touched my shoulder and I flinched.

" Riley are you insane?" inquired Jin.

" No," I said softly, " Relax, I just needed some time to myself."

He was quiet for a moment.

" You can't go off by yourself, especially unarmed," he said. I rolled my eyes. " Radzinsky and I --"

" Who the hell is Radzinsky?" I inquired.

" He works at the Flame. We found a hostile in the perimeter today."

" That so?" I said, not even bothering to hide how disinterested I was.

" It's Sayid." he replied.

My jaw dropped.

" What?!"

" He was wondering around in the jungle in handcuffs. We took him back."

" Does Sawyer --"

" Yeah, he knows." he replied. " Jack, Kate and Hurley all got moved into their houses. They got a spare one too, if you wanna move out of Sawyer and Juliet's house."

I sighed.

" You passin' on the message from Sawyer?"

He nodded and extended his hand to me. I grabbed it and he pulled me to my feet.


I felt nauseous and lightheaded as I approached the door of suite 823. Breathe, Riley, come on. You can do this, I thought, giving myself a light mental shake as I knocked on the door. It was well after midnight and Lawrence had left mere minutes ago. I had to act fast. The door opened and a sleepy looking Danny stood in the doorway.

" C-Can I help you?" he asked, failing to stifle a yawn as he stared at me.

" Um, yes, my name is Grace Norton, I work for Mittelos Bioscience?" I said, hoping he would buy my act, " Um I'm sorry to be bothering you so late, sir, but Mr. Alpert is very upset. Can I come in?"

Danny's face registered Alpert's name. I could see he was shocked.

" Yeah, um...come on in...Grace." he said. He stepped back and I went inside, smiling slightly as I heard the door shut behind me.

When I got back to Sawyer and Juliet's house later, I could hear them arguing in the bedroom. I slunk into the bathroom where I found some clothes that Juliet had laid out for me. I didn't change, just tucked them under my arm and waited for them to finish their argument so I could leave. A few minutes later, Sawyer emerged, looking pissed.

" I told you, just leave it alone, Jules!" he shouted over his shoulder. Then his eyes fell on me. " You're back."

" Not for long," I said coldly, " I got your message via Jin. I'm moving tonight."

Juliet emerged from the bedroom and stared at me.

" Are you sure?" she asked.

" Yeah," I replied. " I just wanted to wait til I could tell you both. But before I go --" my eyes flicked back to Sawyer. " What's going to happen to Sayid?"

" I don't know." he said. " but he's safe."

There was a knock on the door. When I opened the door to leave, Jack was standing on the porch.

" Hey," he said quietly.

" Hey," I murmured back as I passed him.

I fingered the key in my hand nervously as I approached the house Phil had directed me to when Jin and I returned. Kate caught my eye from the neighboring house as I stepped on the porch and I nodded at her before going inside. The house was nice enough -- living room, kitchen, one bedroom, one bathroom. I suddenly felt incredibly lonely. Just then, there was a knock on the door.

" Who is it?" I hollered irritably.

No answer. I groaned and went to answer it. My jaw dropped in horror.

" Hey Riley. You miss me?" said Steve.


Muahhahahaha yes it's a cliffhanger! Review and No flames!