Chapter 9: Solitary
For the next two days Jenn had kept her promise and had taken care of Sawyer's wound. He hadn't said a lot since her stunning confession except a few thank you once in a while and a quick stolen kiss the previous night. They were slowly going back to the flirty, playful relationship they had share since the beginning. So it was quite a surprise for the Southerner when, instead of the blue eyed leggy young woman, Jack came to changed his dressing.
"Ow! Easy Jackass" said Sawyer when the spinal surgeon ripped the bandage without any warning.
"You want it easy, quit moaning. I got to change these bandages."
"Try not takin' my skin off with them. How'd I score the house call, Dr Quinn? Where's Bright Eyes?"
Jack took some alcohol out of his backpack and said. "Scott, or maybe it was Steve, sprained his ankle and cut himself walking barefoot. Jenn asked me to come while she's taking care of it."
"And you agreed What are you tryin' to do? Ease your conscience?"
"My conscience is fine, thanks."
"Of course, what've you got to feel guilty about? I mean, you just let that damn Arab torture me. Stood by and watched. Now you figure you'll patch me up and buy you a ticket into heaven? Only reason you're here..."
"I'm here because my sister asked me to" said Jack, interrupting him. "Because no one else wants anything to do with you."
A sly smirk appeared on Sawyer's face. "She does."
It was enough for Jack. He took his backpack and got up.
"Change you own bandages."
He left and went to joined Jenn who had finished with her patient. She was standing by one of the reactor, alone.
"How did it go with your patient?"
"Pretty well" she answered. "And you?"
"Difficult. Probably the worst patient ever."
"Really? Aren't you a little prejudiced?" "Come on Jenn, it's Sawyer!"
"Yeah, and your beside manners sucks for such a great surgeon."
They both laughed. Jack helped her out her backpack on and frowned when he saw Kate standing alone, bitting her nails.
"You know what she's looking for?"
"Yeah. Him."
Him, Sayid. Ever since the whole torture session, Jenn had refused to even say his name.
"She worries about him. About him not coming back." "
She shouldn't worry. Sayid will come back when he's found what he's looking for, the French transmission."
"He can keep looking for that transmission for ever... What? He nearly killed a man, Jack! You think I'm going to forge the tortured somebody?"
Jack just sighed. His sister was stubborn.
"Hey, how about I invite you down at the caves for lunch?"
"What's on the menu?"
"Boar meat, fresh water and bananas."
"Five stars quality, hum? Why not "
They hadn't yet finished their lunch that the parade of hypochondriacs started. Jack and Jenn's planned lunch date turned into a dinner date that never quite really happened. In the end the young woman decided to stay the night and give her brother a hand.
"Ew! Get him out of there! He's drinking our water" yelled a woman.
Jenn frowned and handed Jack a piece of wet cloth.
"If I had knew the caves were that noisy I would have stayed at the beach."
Jack smiled and applied it on their patient's back rash. He turned to Hurley who was bringing them some roasted boar meat.
"What's going on out there?"
"You know, the usual" sighed the big man. "People yelling at each other over nothing."
"Told you, Jack, that it was quieter at the beach."
"Doc" said the hypochondriac, "what do you think this is, this this rash? It's bad, right? Like some kind of tropical disease?"
"It's hives" answered Jenn and Jack at the same time.
"What's that? Is that like poison ivy?"
"It's a common rash" explained Jack, quickly losing his patience.
"It's sometimes brought on by heat and stress. Just try to relax. It'll clear up."
"Right Okay "
"If it doesn't improve, come by the beach" added Jenn. "I think I've got several tubes of hydrocortisone "
"Thanks Doc... Nurse "
Jenn burst into laugh.
"Try to relax?" said Hurley.
"Your bedside manners really sucks, big bro."
"I have enough on my plate without having to treat hypochondriacs."
"That's like my point, man. We're all fried. I mean, have you taken a look at everybody out there? Everybody's way tense. Dude I'm just saying, it it'd be sweet if we could have... I don't know, something to do."
"We're surviving, Hurley. And that's my main concern, is keeping us alive. Things could be worse."
"Could be worse? Jack, we crashed in the middle of nowhere. There's polar bears in the jungle!" Jenn actually whispered that part. "And there's this thing that uproot trees and..."
"Things can always get worse, Jenn."
"Doctor could you come and take a look "
Jack sighed before going back to his duty.
"He really thinks it could get worse?"
"Hey, don't look at me like that. In Med School we learn that everything can get worse."
"So do you think like him? That it's gonna get worse?"
"I'm an optimist. And I like your idea. People really need to loosen up a bit. Back at the beach, all we do is sit around and work on our tan. Shannon is getting pretty good at it."
"And you? What do you do most of the day?"
"Well, there's a lot to look at down at the beach "
A huge smile spread across Hurley's face.
" 'Sawyer and Jenn, sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!' "
"Shut up Hurley!"
They talked like that for a couples of hours. Hurley telling her about growing up in Santa Monica with his mother Carmen, grandpa Tito and brother Diego and Jenn talking about her grandad Ray, her favorite person in the world, with Jack of course. The big guy soon started to doze off while Jenn stared at the fire camp, almost hypnotized.
"Hi."
Jenn opened her eyes and smiled sleepily at John Locke and his companion who dropped several bags and suitcases at their feet.
"Yo. What's this?"
"They were in the jungle. They must have fallen from the plane" said the bald man.
"What were you doing in the jungle at night?"
"Best time to hunt" answered the man.
"Ethan here has some experience. He spotted some tracks that might be a rabbit or some other rodent."
"Rodent?"
"People are getting tired of boar meat."
"I don't think you've been properly introduced. Jenn this is Ethan. Ethan, Jenn. Jenn is Jack's sister and is staying at the beach normally Unless you're moving here "
"I'm just here for the night John."
Ethan frowned. "You're the beach's nurse, right?"
Jenn was speechless. Hurley quickly took matter into hands, reaching for one of the suitcases.
"Well, we'll take a look at these, right Jenn? See if there's anything useful."
"Yeah "
The two men left and Jenn turned to Hurley, clearly hurt.
"The beach's nurse? Is that how people see me? A nurse?"
"The dude doesn't know you yet. He doesn't know how awesome you are."
"Thanks Hurley."
She opened the closest suitcase and took out an horrible Hawaiian shirt that made them both burst into laugh.
"And people are asking how local scan spot tourists "
"It's not that bad Jenn "
"Come on, Hurley, don't tell me you'd really wear... What?"
Hurley was in awe with something he had found in one of the bag.
"What's... Wow! Are you thinking...?"
"If you're thinking the same as me, yes."
"Golf clubs..."
"You play?"
"You're asking me if I play? Hurley, I was study to become a doctor. Golf lesson were part of Med School curriculum!"
"So... We're building a golf course?"
"I guess we are building a golf course!"
They both smiled like children on Christmas morning.
"Not that I've ever done this before, but how do we build a..."
"I've never done this either Hurley, but we'll do it..."
Hurley and Jenn got on early. The young woman had barely slept, making lists of things they would need, but she had never felt better. They had found the perfect valley, halfway between the beach and the caves. They had quickly realized that building an eighteen holes - or even a nine holes was utopian, so they had settled for a two holes. They spent part of their morning going from the caves t the valley and vice versa. Their comings and goings didn't get unnoticed by Jack.
"Hey Jenn, can you..." started Jack during one of their trip back at the caves.
"Sorry Jack, Hurley and I are pretty busy right now."
"But what are you..."
They left the caves, giggling like school girls. Jenn couldn't wait to see Jack's face once they showed him their project. It was almost mid-day when they got everything ready. They high fived each other before the young woman went down to the caves to get her brother. On the way she ran into Charlie who, intrigued by her cheerfulness, followed her.
"Hey big bro, you got to come and see what Hurley and I did!"
"Jenn, I'm kind of..."
"Come on, you got to see this! It's up in the valley... Come on! you too Michael, come on!"
Jack was barely recognizing his sister. She giggled the whole way and when they finally reached the valley she ran toward Hurley, jumping like a kid at recess.
"Welcome to the first and... hopefully last, Island Open!"
"Tadam!"
Charlie, Michael and Jack were looking at them, not quite sure what to say.
"What?" was all the spinal surgeon managed to say.
"It's two holes, for now" explained Hurley. "Three par, and no waiting."
"Hurley... Jenn... You built a golf course?"
"People fly to tropical paradise to whack balls around all the time. We did it too, Jack, remember when Grandad Ray took us to Kauai?"
"All the stuff we got to deal with... Jenn, this is what you've been wasting your time on?"
"Why don't you take that stick out of you butt, Michael... We're all miserable here."
"Yeah, our lives sucks. Everyone's nerves are stretched to the max, dude. I mean, we're lost on an island, running from boars and monsters..."
"Don't forget the polar bears, Hurley..."
"What does she means, polar bears?"
"You didn't know about the polars bears? Jenn, how come Michael doesn't know about the polar bear?"
"I don't know, Charlie, I thought everybody knew about the polar bear." She turned to Michael. "You really didn't..."
"What freaking polar bear?"
Charlie smiled. "There's polar bears on this island, or at least there was a polar bear until he met Sawyer."
Jenn smiled and high fived the rock star.
"Look, what I'm saying is if we're stuck here, then just surviving is not gonna cut it. We need some kind of relief. We need some what that we can..."
"Loosen up a bit?" finished the young woman. "We need to have fun, otherwise we'll end up driving each other crazy. So... Wanna play some golf?"
Charlie was the first to agree. Jack just look at his sister, frowning.
"Come on, Jack! Are you afraid to get beaten by a girl?"
"You and I both know that on a golf course you're not a girl..." He took one of the clubs standing close by and handed it to his sister. "Ladies first."
"Thank you. Oh, and Michael? You can act as Jack's caddy... He's gonna need it."
Michael let out a small laugh before stopping when he saw how serious the doctor was.
"She's joking, right? She's just messing up with us, uh? She's not that good, right?"
"Just watch and you'll understand why I'll need your help."
And he did needed help. From her first swing it was clear that Jenn was a pro: she sent the ball directly on the green! Of the four men Jenn knew that her brother was her biggest competition. Hurley was pretty mediocre - he quickly admitted to being more of a mini-golf amateur, Charlie wasn't that bad - after all golf came from the U.K. while Michael was more of a weekend's player. For the last ten minutes Michael and Jack had been whispering to each other, trying to come up with a strategy while the three others were waiting on the green.
"Come on Jack, we want to be finished before sunset!" yelled Jenn.
Charlie and Hurley were fooling around, acting like two clowns.
"Hey! Heads up over there!"
"Finally! I was gonna fall asleep."
"No chance!" yelled Charlie.
"Don't blow it!"
"You won't get anywhere near Jenn!"
Jack positioned himself, concentrating on his swing, ready to sent the ball on the green.
"Hey! Doc!"
Jenn frowned, trying to see what had caused her brother to stop in mid swing.
"Oh no... Not him again!"
"Who?"
"The imaginary sick guy..."
She sighed loudly and sat down on the ground. It was going to be a long one.
Kate had spent most of the day out in the jungle, collecting wood for the nightly fire camp. She normally did it with Jenn, but the young woman had been up to the caves since the previous day.
"You're never gonna believe this" said Boone, coming toward his sister.
Like most of the time, Shannon was laying on a beach towel, clad in a tiny bikini.
"You finally learned how to tie your shoes?"
"Funny. Someone at the caves built a golf course."
"Are you high?"
"Seriously, a golf course. Apparently Jack and Jenn are playing right now."
"Jack? Is golfing?" asked Kate.
"That's what I hear. And they say that Jenn is seriously kicking his ass. I don't know about you guys, but I'm gonna check this out."
"Wait for me, bonehead."
Kate smiled, dropped the wood she was carrying and followed them.
"Doctor playin' golf. Whoo! Boy howdy, now I've heard everythin'!"
She stopped and stared at the Southerner.
"What's next, cop eatin' a donut?"
"If you want to come you should just say it."
"Think I'll pass on that, Freckles. Not big on crowds. And let's face it, crowd's not too hot on me either."
She sighed and started to leave, but paused before reaching the end of the beach.
"The crowd might not be hot on you, but Jenn sure is."
She quickly rejoined Boon and Shannon. When they finally reached the valley a dozen of castaways was surrounding the players.
"Not too bad, big bro..."
"Yeah, sure... I just put the ball twenty feet away from your!"
"That's what I said, not too bad" she laughed.
"This thing have a ladies tee?" asked Kate.
"There's no such thing as a ladies tee, Kate. You play like the big boys and you beat the crap out of them."
"Don't listen to her, Kate. Jenn's the Tiger Wood of our country club."
"Country club?"
"Yeah... Rich kids, spending our weekends and summers there. I was never into horses so I stucked with Jack and our grandad and learned how to play golf from the best."
"And ultimately the apprentice beat the master..."
"What can I say, I'm the best!"
"Jenn, come here, please!"
"Coming Charlie! If you'll excuse me..."
Kate smiled at Jack. "I almost didn't recognize you. You're smiling."
"I have to watch that."
"So, how'd you come up with this?"
"It wasn't me. It was all Hurley and Jenn. I've been going crazy trying to make everyone fell safe. I haven't been sleeping 'cause I want everyone to feel safe. And all it took for them to feel safe was for my little sister and her accomplice to build a golf course. Look at her" he smiled. "I haven't seen her this happy since..."
"Since her accident? Yeah, she kind of told me about it."
"Aw, crap. Do-over" said Hurley, ditching his swing.
"It's a mulligan" said Charlie. "A gentleman's sport. You got to get the words right."
"Gentleman's sport, Charlie? Lady's sport too."
"Gentleman, lady, it's a bloody noble sport, Jenn. And you clearly are the queen of it."
He did an hilarious curtsy.
"Thank you, my oh-so-humble subject."
She laughed her crystal laugh that brought a huge smile to her brother's face.
"Watch out for the smile" teased Kate.
"Can you all stop talking long enough so I ca swing" moaned Hurley.
"Come on Hurley, we can all see that Jenn's going to win."
"Thank you very much, Boone."
Finally, Hurley touched the ball... Sending it only 6 feet away.
"Hey Michael, it's your turn."
"Coming!"
Michael took the club Hurley handed him. In the end it came down to Jack and Jenn. The young woman was 2 points ahead of her brother. The last hole proved to be quite treacherous as Charlie quickly learned it. He was kneeling on the ground, studying his ball.
"Come on Charlie..."
"Guys please, I've never made par on a course before."
"We can see that!"
Charlie sent Jenn a death glare before hitting the ball... and sending it way past the hole.
"Oh, no!"
"You totally missed it dude."
"Bollocks!"
"Okay, Jenn, it's your turn. You sink this, you get the blazer."
"Way to put the pressure on her, Michael."
"As if pressure could get to her, Kate" groaned Charlie, handing the putter to the young woman.
Jenn just smiled and got in position. Suddenly it was extremely quiet.
"Five bucks says she miss it."
"Thanks for the lack of confidence, Hurley."
"She's not gonna miss it, she's a bloody female Tiger Wood!"
"Make it ten and you're on" announced Boone.
"I don't have any cash, but I'll put my dinner as collateral against the nurse" said Mr Hypochondriac.
"Mate, don't call her a nurse. I mean it, she's not a nurse and she's carrying a golf club."
"Thank you for being my knight in shinning armor, Charlie."
"You're gonna miss it..."
"Don't underestimate it, Jenn."
"I can't believe it, my own brother!"
"Okay people, quiet please!"
"Yeah, listen to Charlie and shut it for a while."
She took a deep breath, got ready...
"I got two tubes of sunscreen and a flashlight says Bright Eyes sinks it."
The all turned to the new comer. Jenn smiled at sawyer and the blond man winked back. The rest of the castaways just stared at him, unsure what to do. The silence was so heavy it became uncomfortable.
"I'll take that action" finally said Kate.
"Yeah, me too" quickly added Boone.
"But you just bet on her, dumbass. You're not gonna change..."
"We need the sunscreen, princess."
"So, Bright Eyes, you gonna sinks that ball in the hole?"
"If you keep quiet for more than two seconds, handsome, yes."
She got in position, for the third time, and softly hit the ball, sending it right in the hole.
TBC
Author Note: REVIEWS REVIEWS REVIEWS Please, I live for reviews, lol. Hope you like it. Luv, Lara K.
