Chapter 10- A man's Son and Handcuffs
Ben looked up as Pryce, Richard, and Diane joined him, Colleen, and Alex. "My son is all right?" Ben asked, his concern for his boy spiking. Ben had always loved his family. He loved them now, even though his children had no idea he still existed and was watching over them.
"He had a close run-in with the monster. I never saw anyone run so fast. Not even some of the kids who live among us. Not even you at that age. But your son can take care of himself. Ethan's right though. Except for the dark eyebrows he gets from the Goodspeeds, he looks like you did at that age," Richard said.
"Please tell me he's okay," Ben said.
"He's fine. He's coming back to the beach with Shepard, Charlie Pace and Kate Austin," Diane said to Ben's great relief as a woman, two men, and a boy came into Ben's line of vision.
"Is that my boy?" Ben asked, watching the dark-haired boy fiddling with what looked to be a walkie-talkie.
"That's him. See, he looks just like you and his uncle Ethan," Diane said softly.
"Anything?" One of the men asked with a heavy Irish brogue. Benjamin turned to look at him, a slightly perturbed look on his face.
"You keep asking if there's anything, Charlie," Benjamin said, putting the transceiver to his ear.
"Pardon me for appearing desperate, but before the pilot was ripped from the cockpit, he did say that no one's gonna find us unless we get the transceiver working. So... is there anything?" Charlie asked.
"No. This technology is beyond me. I can try to get Hope to work on it since she knows how to survive in the middle of no where and can fix almost everything," Benjamin said with a sigh as he clipped the transceiver to his belt.
"Okay," Charlie said.
"What were you doing in the bathroom?" Kate Austin asked, changing the subject.
"Don't answer that, Charlie. Nobody really needs that information. It's the same kind of information that Hope tried to tell me when she read some book about the Donner Party and she told everyone that the party resorted to being cannibals at the dinner table. I didn't want to know that. And not when I was eating," Benjamin said, rolling his eyes.
"I don't mind. Thought you could tell. I was getting sick. Puking. My one tangible contribution to the trek," Charlie said sarcastically.
"No, I'm glad you came, Charlie," Kate said with a smile.
"Every trek needs a coward," Charlie said.
"You're not a coward," Kate said as she walked forward to join Shepard and Benjamin.
"No. He just gave more information than we really wanna know. Hope was sick on the plane before we crashed, but I don't wanna know about her throwing up her corndogs," Benjamin said, his voice drifting away.
Hope went back to the beach. Now that the rain had stopped, the sun had warmed things considerably. Shannon was laying on a blanket, in a bathing suit, sunbathing, with Claire in a airline chair next to her. "So, I guess you're not waiting for the rescue plane?" Hope asked.
"I can get a tan while I wait," Shannon said.
"Oh, okay. I almost feel bad that I can't tan," Hope said, flopping down on the warm sand.
"Why not?" Claire asked.
"Most people who are redheads can't. I don't tan. I burn, peel, and look like an overcooked lobster. This sun is gonna do murder to my skin if we don't get rescued," Hope said, sifting sand through her fingers as Boone came up.
"Hey. We're going through some clothes. Sorting them. I see you found your bag. Oh, and, Hope. I found yours and Ben-Ben's. Come on, you wanna give us a hand?" Boone asked Shannon.
"Not really. You're wasting your time. They're coming," Shannon said with her eyes closed and Boone walked away
"Is that your boyfriend?" Claire asked. Shannon looked at her.
"My brother, Boone. God's gift to humanity," Shannon snarked. Claire snickered as she removed the shirt she had put on over her black maternity dress.
"I used to have a stomach," Claire said, touching her swollen belly.
Shannon raised up and turned to look at Claire. "Do you know what it is?" Shannon asked.
"Not yet. I haven't felt the baby move since yesterday," Claire said.
"Maybe Dad should check you out. That can't be good. Now I'm gonna go get my bag from Boone. I've been wearing these clothes for over 24 hours and this is starting to feel really gross," Hope said getting up.
After changing into a pair of khaki shorts and a plum-colored turtleneck tank top, Hope went back to Walt, who was at the edge of the jungle. "Found him yet?" Hope asked.
"Not yet. Wherever he is, he can't hear me," Walt said. Hope then heard Michael calling.
"Sounds like your dad is calling," Hope said as she and Walt moved into the stand of the trees.
"Let's look a little-" Walt started to say and stared in shock at a pair of handcuffs.
"Where did these come from?" Hope mused, picking them up.
"Hey! What did I tell you after everything that's happened?" Michael asked, running to them.
"I thought Vincent would be around," Walt said.
"I told you to stay on the beach," Michael warned.
"I thought since there's the beach, that this would be okay," Walt said, indicating the ocean, which Hope could see through the trees, but apparently Michael was a control freak and slightly jerkish.
"Don't do that. You listen to me, I mean what I say. Dou you understand? What is this?" Michael asked, looking at the handcuffs in Hope's hands.
"We just found them," Hope explained as he took them. Michael looked around nervously.
"Come here," Michael said, putting his hand on Walt's shoulder. He then led them back to the beach.