Disclaimer: I don't own Lost

Thank you so much for the reviews guys! They really motivate me to keep going with this story no matter how long it takes.

Chapter 9: Custody

No matter how strong the drink, James couldn't find any satisfaction in it. He set the half empty bottle of whiskey on the table and leaned against the wall from his place on the floor. His red eyes stared blankly ahead without truly taking in the state of what was once his and Juliet's bedroom.

Upon his arrival to the barracks, he had barely noticed the changes that had occured after living in Dharma's present day. They were rundown, as if the Others hadn't been occuppying the space. James didn't care what had happened to Dharmaville. He only cared about it's connections to Juliet. He had woven in out of the space until he reached their home from long ago, but there was one major difference with it; Ben's room within the home did not exist. It had been transformed into a typical spare room, creating the impression that it had never belonged to a child. He had barely glanced at it before making his way to his favored room. There were no old pictures of Juliet. Clearly one of adult Ben's men had been staying there and cleared them away. There was also the possibility that a few Dharma members had stayed rather than flee onto the sub. If that was the case, they could have disposed of the evidence of their stay, being they were considered traitors. Either way, Ben had never learned that he and Juliet raised him like real parents. The proof was gone. James couldn't help thinking that Juliet would be slightly disppointed.

"Damn," he mumbled. He grabbed the bottle again and drained the last of it. Afterwards, he threw it against the wall where it shattered.

After a moment he reached into his pocket and pulled out a simple gold ring. He had managed to slip it into his pocket when he and Juliet were packing to escape. Even if they had made it to the beach instead of the sub, he would have asked her to truly be his. He turned it in his fingers, and tried to imagine what she would've said if she had lived. Such rings held powerful meanings, but the one he held had never touched the finger he wanted to place it on, therefore it was meaningless. He tossed it in his hand a bit, before flinging it across the room.

FLASH

James never considered himself to be the type of parent who constantly kept up with the whereabouts of his kid. The only reason he did so was because the kid he was taking care of was Benjamin Linus. He'd had twelve years to move past the idea that he would become the hated version he had come to know years ago, but the fact that he was growing up brought such a fear back into his head. It was the kind of thing that made him keep such tight boundaries on the boy. So when Ben didn't show up at home before him, he was angry. James waited in the front room, imagining that the boy was up to some kind of trouble.

It wasn't long before he saw Kate approaching the door with Ben right beside her.

"Where the hell have you been?"

"Sawyer, relax," Kate warned.

"I wanna know damnit." James wouldn't back down, so long as his suspicions were roused.

"I was just a little late coming from school," Ben said, with his head slightly bowed.

"Why?"

"Trying to get some information, in the library." This time the boy looked him square in the eyes. James turned to Kate who was giving him a concerned look.

"So what, you just decided to go fetch him?"

"He asked me too," she answered defensively.

"That'd better be all you're doing," James said to Ben, with a glare.

Having had enough of his interrogation, Ben hurried away to his room.

"Do you have to be so hard on him? Just for being a little late."

"It ain't just about lateness freckles," James told her. "It's breaking house rules. Least he start acting the way he shouldn't."

"Well, I understand that, but if you don't loosen the reins, he going to become that person," Kate warned.

"I don't think so," James growled. As many times as Kate tried to advise him on parenting, he never really appreciated it. There was no going to Claire about it either, so it was up to him to decide how to parent. "Loosening the reins is just the excuse he'll need to put one over on me."

"But-"

"Juliet wanted me to do this, so I'm doing it," he stated as he plopped back down in his chair, leaving Kate standing awkwardly before him.

"Fine, but I don't think it would kill you to be easier on him."

A knock on the door stole both of their attention. A portly man in a work jumpsuit was standing on his porch.

"Come on in Henry," James said. "Kate, this is one of my working buddies."

"Hi."

"How you doing," he greeted with a nod. "Didn't know you were dating James. Bout time too."

"We ain't dating, we're just old friends," he cleared up.

"Right, right, okay." James could tell he didn't believe him, but he didn't care. "So listen, the guys are setting up poker at Earnie's. Why don't you saddle up the kid with Kate here and join us."

James wasn't so sure he was in the mood for poker, and he rarely left the kid with a babysitter, for the imagined fear of coming home to a dead-sitter.

"I don't know Henry."

"Oh come on, I can watch Ben," Kate offered. "You should get out more."

James smirked and shook his head.

"It has been a while since I wooped your ass. What time?"

FLASH

He didn't know how long he'd been sitting there, slumped against the floor, without any drive. Regardless, he got to his feet and slunk into the kitchen. He hoped it would be better than gazing at the bed in misery, but the kitchen was yet another strong reminder of Juliet. He scratched his head in frustration and kicked a chair aside. He had no idea on what to do now, except head back outside and sit on the porch, as he'd done long ago.

He sat down on the steps and stared out into the accursed jungle. He had no interest in returning to the camp, but he also didn't want to be alone.

"What the hell do I do now Juliet," he grumbled as he bowed his head. He knew what she would tell him if she could, but he just couldn't return to Ben, or the others.

Just then, a rustling sound directed his attention back to the jungle. Several of the trees were swaying and shaking as if something enormous were tumbling through them. James slowly got to his feet, peering hard between the leaves. He laid his hand on his pocket, ready to pull his gun for whatever was coming his way. A minute had gone by and nothing appeared. The ruslte had been replaced by the footfalls of who he assumed to be Kate, ready to reveal that she'd been concerned enough to follow him. He quickly saw how wrong he was as Locke made his appearance.

"Hey James," he greeted.

In reponse, James simply stared back. It wasn't only the presence of the dead man that irked him, it was the fact that he was carrying Ben in his arms. His head was lying on Locke's shoulder and his eyes were closed, which James hoped meant he was only sleeping.

Locked trudged forward, until he was just a couple of feet away from him.

"I see you've found a cozy place to settle in," said Locke with a nod towards the house.

"What the hell are you doing here? What the hell are you doing with Ben?"

"He was all alone, in the jungle. I guess Kate didn't want to take care of him anymore." James cursed under his breath at her recklessness. Then again, he hadn't asked anyone to look after him. "Don't worry, he's just sleeping, for now."

"What the hell do you want?"

"Who says I want anything? Is it so strange that I might want to greet an old friend?"

"Not unless you were Locke, which you sure as hell ain't," James remarked. The false Locke looked taken aback, but he recovered with calmness.

"Alright James, you got me," he said with a pleasant, 'Locke' like smile. He turned as if he was about to just walk away after such a short interchange.

"Not yet I don't," James said as he pulled out his gun and pointed it at the back of his head. "I don't care what the hell is going on, but you're gonna set the boy down and walk away nice and slow."

"You're not going to shoot me James," he said without even turning around.

"What makes you think I won't?"

Locke faced him and gestured to Ben.

"Because I have custody."

James wasn't sure if this was truly a no win situation, or if he actually had a chance. Not knowing what the false Locke was, he wasn't so sure it was wise to take chances, especially with the boy so close. But James didn't dare lower his gun.

"What...do you...want?" he forced himself to ask through gritted teeth. He felt himself starting to shake with a mix of emotions he didn't want to feel.

"Just to talk James," he said simply. "That's all. Come."

Locke turned to lead the way, and James knew no good would come from following him. He had the choice of disregarding the instruction, but there was the case of Ben. He reluctantly lowered the gun. It was almost like deja vu, except in this case he believed Locke might be more dangerous than Sayid. James complied, for the sake of the boy.

Things are getting tense, yeah? Locke, wants to have a little chat with Sawyer, and Ben is apparently his hostage. Obviously this scene echoes the one in the series where Locke did come to see James, but, you must wonder what that means since little Ben's here. Well review, and I'll be sure to start shedding some light on what's to come.