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Chapter 10: Can't Deal With Confrontation
" So it's done?"
" That's what I just said, right?" I said irritably, adjusting my cell phone against my ear. I leaned casually against the wall of the Sydney airport near gate 23. I was waiting to board my flight -- Oceanic Flight 815 to Los Angeles. " Relax, Jake. Cops won't know it was me, disposed of the weapon --"
" Is he dead?" asked Jake swiftly.
I sighed and watched as a bald man rolled past me in his wheel chair.
" Riley?" he pressed.
" Yeah." I said finally. " Yeah. I shot him."
" Did you get the money?"
" Yes," I pressed my hand against the bulge in my hoodie. A part of my mind couldn't believe I was about to smuggle fifty million dollars back to the states. " I'll call you when I get into LA...we'll make the exchange, then I walk away. That was the deal."
I hung up and walked over to Gate 23.
Sawyer and I didn't speak for the rest of the day. When we got back to the Barracks, I went back to my house. A few minutes later, there was a knock at the door. When I opened it, I found Phil standing on the front porch.
" Hey Phil," I said wearily. " What's up?"
" Hey Riley," he replied. Was it my imagination or did he look nervous? It wasn't like I was into him or anything. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Sawyer stalking across the lawn, glancing at us every now and again. " Uh it's your turn to watch the monitors...Mr. Lafleur said he wanted to show you what goes on there himself --"
" Nahh, he's busy," I said, " but hey, you show me whatever i gotta do down there and I should be fine."
A smile appeared on his face.
" Okay then. Let's go."
I followed him across the lawn and into one of the main buildings. We went down some steps and came into a room where I saw six monitors on the wall. Phil explained that they were hooked into cameras that monitored different parts of the barracks or other parts on the island. A closed door caught my attention.
" What's in there?" I inquired.
Phil sighed.
" Jim tell you 'bout that hostile we caught yesterday?" he asked.
I shook my head.
" No, Jin did. He's in there?"
He nodded.
" Yeah. He won't give you any trouble though, he's locked up."
I sat down in the chair that had been placed in front of the monitors.
" Well thanks. I think I got a pretty good handle on things for now."
" You're welcome. Call me on the walkie if you need anything."
" Will do," I said. Once he was gone, I swiped the keys from the wall and unlocked the door. in the room I found Sayid sitting on a cot behind bars.
" Riley?" he said, shock appearing on his face. " What are you--"
" Jin told me he found you in the jungle and Sawyer confirmed it," I said, " Are you okay?"
" I'll live," he replied. " Look, Riley, what's going on? Sawyer won't tell me anything -- maybe you have some answers?"
I shrugged.
" Sorry, I'm kinda just rolling with whatever Sawyer says. If I had answers, I'd tell you, honest."
" Riley!" I heard Sawyer's voice echoing down the corridor. Damn. I looked back at Sayid and shrugged helplessly.
" Sorry man, I've gotta go, I might come back later if I get the chance."
He nodded silently and I went back into the monitor room, making sure I locked the door to Sayid's cell. Then I positioned myself in front of the monitors, putting on an attitude of indifference when I heard Sawyer storm into the room.
" Riles we gotta talk," he snapped.
" Go away, James, I don't answer to you. Even when I'm on the clock."
He surprised me by grabbing my arm and pulling me up out of the chair.
" No, we need to talk and we need to talk now." he snapped.
" You got something to say, you better say it now, Sawyer," I hissed, " I'm not in the mood to deal with you right now."
" You tell me the truth about last night," he snarled, " and don't you dare say that again 'cause I know you're coverin' for whoever did this." he touched my face briefly and I jerked my head away from him.
" Did it ever occur to you that I might be protecting us?!" I spat, " that I'm covering for you and your girlfriend and everybody else because what happened could blow everything?!"
" I'm not talking about everybody else, I'm talking about you! Just give me a name and I'll go after the bastard!"
" I'm not telling you a damn thing!"
" Well you seem to have a lot to get off your chest," he spat. " So out with it."
" Remember that nine foot pole I mentioned? It does exist. And it will get shoved up your ass if you continue your interrogation." I paused. " By the way...your confrontation skills could really use some work."
Sawyer snorted. I saw a pleading look overcome his face.
" I want to help you," he whispered. " Really, Snake. I can't stand not knowing who hurt you."
" Well I guess diappointment will be your only friend for now, 'cause I'm not talkin'."
I turned around in the chair and focused my attention on the monitors. I felt Sawyer gently touch my shoulder.
" Look, just...don't deal with this on your own." he said quietly, " If you don't wanna talk to me, talk to --"
" 'Bye James." I said.
Man, that sucked. I thought.
I found myself trapped once again in one of my nightmares. I heard Jake's heavy breathing behind me and tried to spur myself to run faster but it didn't help much. Before I knew it, I was cornered. Slowly I turned around to face him.
" Did you really think you could outrun me, baby?" he breathed.
" No! You're dead -- You can't do this!" I screamed. " Get away!"
" Bad dreams, Carlen?"
I jumped and looked around, panic still coursing through my veins. Sleep had not come easily to me tonight: I was too scared that I might get hurt while sleeping. Then I saw the cause of my distress: Steve was standing by the bedroom window, looking out in the direction of Sawyer and Juliet's house.
" Not sleeping well, hmm?" he said. " Well, guess we'll have to see what I can do to help ya with that, right?"
" Try anything and I'll scream," I warned him, " I'm serious, Steve. Get out now." My hand slid back under my pillow and gripped the handle of the gun I'd decided to keep with me just in case Steve came back.
" Yeah, right, like I'm really gonna do that," he said, rolling his eyes at me.
" Steve, OUT!" I said angrily. Suddenly I was off the bed, pointing the gun directly at him. " NOW!"
He grabbed the wrist of the hand that was holding the gun.
" You really wanna do that?" he said menacingly, " Or do you want a repeat of last night?"
I tried to pull the trigger but he pulled my hand off the gun before I could even move my index finger.
" Boy, you are stupid, huh," he said casually, laying his hand on the side of my face. I jerked my head away and he slapped me. " Don't do that again. Remember, he's gonna suffer if you refuse me."
" I'm not gonna let you hurt him, Steve," I snarled and wrenched my wrist out of his grip.
He grabbed me by my shoulders and slammed me against the wall.
" He wouldn't believe you anyway," he taunted, " So keep your mouth shut."
Sawyer leaned against the living room wall, staring out the opposite window. His eyes flicked toward the bedroom and noted Juliet standing in the doorway.
" Are you coming to bed?" she asked sleepily.
He didn't answer and resumed staring at whatever it was he'd been staring at.
" What's wrong?" said Juliet as she walked over to the window and peeked outside. " James?"
" Don't matter," he muttered, more to himself than to her, " If she really --"
" Is it Riley?" she asked swiftly.
He didn't answer.
" James, I don't --"
" Don't start," he snapped angrily, " Just leave it alone. I told you --"
Suddenly his voice trailed off abruptly. His eyes widened and he cursed violently before grabbing his rifle and darting over to the window.
" James!" cried Juliet, grabbing his arm.
but at that moment they both heard the source of Sawyer's distress: a scream followed by the sound of a scuffle. Both turned with wide eyes to look over at the house on the other side of Kate's.
It was Riley's house.
And I'm off to work on the next chapter! Hahaha hope y'all enjoyed this and please review! NO FLAMES!!!