Chapter 12 : Alliance

An unsettling stillness crawled its way through the afternoon sighs of wind, as low - hanging clouds clustered together, threatening late showers. The sun gave way to the shadow of impending rain. Two figures rested in the middle of a clearing, surrounded by thick bamboo swaying in the humid breeze. One lay on her side, while the other stood over her looking down. A misty blanket of rain covered them.

"Oh God!" Sayid exclaimed. Dropping to his knees, he cradled her in his arms. He turned her, and leaned in closer to her face. "Sarah? "

He picked her up, propped her against his chest and examined her. She let out a deep moan. "Shhhh...Be still. Relax, " he said gently, water dripping from his hair and onto her face. He grabbed the gun and opened the chamber.

"Sayid?" She opened her eyes, gazing into his face.

"Yes," he answered, "I'm here."

"Sayid? Did I miss? " She asked weakly.

" No, Sarah. No, you did not miss. "

" I don't feel anything. It ... it doesn't hurt. "

There was a pause. "Sayid?"

" Sarah," he answered her, "I ..."

Then he sighed... "I don't know how to ..."

He paused a moment and sighed again... "There's no wound."

"Wha ... what? "She stammered.

He braced her by the shoulders. "Here, sit up." He guided her into a sitting position and then turned to face her. She sat, legs straight out, while he positioned himself cross-legged beside her. He ran his hands over and around the sides of her head, then rested them on her shoulders.

"I don't understand." She said in a daze. "I did miss?"

"I can't explain it." He said. "You fired the gun point blank. You did not miss. "

He rolled open the chamber of the gun and showed it to her. "Look, the chamber is full. All of the bullets are there. All of them. It's as if it were never fired. " He waved his hand over the ground. " There's no blood ... anywhere. "

"But ... I ..." She shook her head. "What?"

She grabbed her head and felt all around the back and sides. She pressed her finger into her temple. Her head was not drenched in blood. He was right; there was no blood anywhere. No gaping hole in her head anywhere. No pain.

" That's all I know. " he continued. " I watched you squeeze the trigger. You fired the gun. It went off. But, somehow, it's as if it didn't happen. "

He closed the chamber. " I don't know what to say. "

She stared at him. She opened her mouth to speak, but could not find any words. She spent a few minutes opening and closing her mouth, until she closed it the final time and stared.

They sat together quietly for some time. The last half hour or so ran through her head like a movie. She was holding the gun on Sayid. She had told him everything. Well, not exactly everything. She had not told him about the other hatch. The screens that showed Locke and Jack, and Henry. She had not said anything about that.

She pictured herself raise the gun. She felt the cold steel against her temple. The deafening sound as the single shot exploded from it. She was falling. It was like a dream. She heard the breath blow out of her on impact. She should not have heard anything. She should not have survived for any length of time after that. She should have died instantly. She saw the jungle around her framed in a white border that became smaller until she faded into unconsciousness.

She had fought with it. Whatever inclination within that drove her to do this. Forced her turn the gun on herself. She was terrified. Terrified of the images in her mind, of what other horrors may lie before her. But she did not want to die. Especially not by her own hand. She had desperately wanted to stop the gun from firing.

Sayid watched her as if he could see her thinking. He placed a warm hand on her arm. "How do you feel?"

She looked up at him and drew a breath. "A little dizzy ... I guess. My ears are ringing.

He opened his pack and offered a drink of water. "That will decrease eventually."

He handed her the open bottle. "Drink slowly. Not too fast. "

She obeyed without question and took small sips, soothing her dry throat. "The ringing is from the gun."

He lowered himself down next to her once more. "Yes."

Her eyes followed him as he lowered himself down near her. He crossed his legs, bringing his own bottle of water up to drink from.

" I wouldn't have fired on you. " She confessed.

The corners of his mouth curled up in a faint smirk. "I know."

She cocked her head at him, squinting her eyes. As if to ask "How would you know that?"

" If you were going to, you would not have wasted your time talking. " He responded. " You would have just done it. "

She handed him the water and he returned it to the pack. "It's getting dark. We should wait until morning to return to the hatch. Can you stand? "

He rose to his feet. " Here. " He reached for her hands. She placed her hands in his and he pulled her up, grabbing an elbow to steady her. She stumbled back an inch or so. "Slowly" He cautioned her.

He placed a hand in the small of her back, and one on her shoulder. "Ok now?"

She nodded.

"Good. We need some wood and leaves to start a fire. " He found some that would work within a foot away. He showed them to her. "This is what we're looking for. Pick up the driest ones that you can find. Don't go far. You're not ready for any marathons. "

" I thought Jack was the Dr. " She gave a little chuckle.

He smirked back and repeated not to go too far. He watched her for a bit until he was satisfied that she was all right. Then he ventured into the bamboo a little to find more burning material. She was left standing alone, aware of the evening creeping in ever so swiftly and a disquiet with it. Out of a quick surge of fear, she called his name.

"Sayid?"

He poked his head out. "Yes?"

"Ok." She answered. "I was just making sure you were still there. It's getting dark. I.… never mind.… I was just checking. "

He shook his head, and then disappeared again. She continued searching. When she felt dizzy, she would pause briefly until the feeling passed. The rain had stopped about an hour ago, and now the stars were beginning to pop out one by one. A stunning, bright quarter moon beamed overhead while night birds romanced one another in the distance. She stooped to grab a limb and heard a snap. Something or someone was behind her. She stood up and turned towards the sound.

"I'm still here. I'm ok. " She assured, thinking that Sayid was merely checking up on her. She stepped out from the brush, but Sayid was not there. She was startled nonetheless. A woman with long strands of dark wavy hair blocked her path. Bow drawn in hand, she eyed Sarah nearly daring her to take another step. She had primed one single arrow, and was prepared to release it. The crazy woman had caught up with her.

"I'm certain that you are." The woman observed in her strange accent. "But do not think you will be successful in tricking me again. You will regret it if you attempt it. Just as you will regret the first time. "

Sarah's eyes widened as she froze. As fear spread across her face, her heart pounded. She did not want to die by someone else's hands either.

"Danielle." Sayid had carefully approached and paused just behind the woman. "What are you doing?"

Danielle responded without turning to him. She was not giving Sarah the slightest advantage. She squinted and replied. "This is another one. She is one of them."

He took a step, eying her."Danielle, put down the bow."

If Danielle were anything, it was persistent. "I will not. She is one of them. Do not believe a word she says. She will lie… just like the other one. "

Sarah stood before them, without uttering a single syllable. Brows pointed low, eyes wide and fearful; she took deep breaths trying to remain calm. Sayid shot a glance as if he could read the fear on her face. Danielle spoke as if she knew her. She had already hinted that she might have been the one that put the first bullet to her head. She had mentioned the "other " one. What other one? Might she have known about Henry as well? She anxiously awaited Sayid's response, hoping but fearing the worst.

He moved to the side as if attempting to walk around Danielle, stretching his hand out, palm up he rejected her observations. "No, Danielle, not this one." He denied. "She's innocent. She is just a victim, like us. "

Eyes narrowed, Danielle scowled disapprovingly, cutting her eyes to his and rebuked him. "You do not believe that. You cannot. I saw them together. This one, with the others. Out in the jungle. There were seven of them altogether. She was standing before the six of them. Facing them. She was dressed differently. Gray shorts and a dirty striped shirt. Blue and white. I shot arrows at them and they scattered. "

She glared at Sarah. " However, this one. She ran over one of my wires. She was hit in the back of the head. I went to check if she were still alive. Then I heard the whispers. I left before the rest of them returned. "

Sarah's eyes glazed over. Her heart sank. She had been with the others. It was a revelation of which she never wanted to learn. She lowered her head. Sayid would have no choice but to remit his vow and drag her to the hatch. There he would shut her up in that room and probably tie her as he did Henry. Her face grew hot with emotion as she teared up.

Danielle continued her prosecution. "I found her again today running through the jungle. I caught her, but she escaped. I heard the gun shot earlier and I followed it to her, right here. " She gave Sarah a look of disgust, then nodded to Sayid. " I am glad to see that you are not injured. "

" Nevertheless, if you trust her, you will be very soon. "

Sayid had listened expressionless. He drew one arm across his abdomen, propped his elbow on it and grasped his chin. He lifted his face slightly and lowered it again as he drew a breath. Sarah waited. She listened as if anticipating the axe to drop through her neck.

Sayid's voice cut through the stiffness in the air. "Danielle. I believe what you saw. I believe that you are sincere. "

Sarah listened to him as her heart dropped heavier. It was far worse to know she had lost Sayid's newly gained trust than to learn she had been with the others. She could not really blame Danielle. Her testimony merely confirmed what Sarah had feared most. If she was not with the survivors of the crash, then she had to be one of the others. If so, then Sayid would be justified in holding her captive, and killing her if need be. Given what little she knew of the atrocities the others had committed. Trembling in the shadows, what she heard next nearly left her breathless as well.

Sayid stepped forwards, sliding between Sarah and Danielle and responded earnestly. "But Danielle. Sarah is not one of them. You may have seen her with them. "

"I did see her with them." She stammered impatiently.

"Alright. You saw her. You saw six of them as well. And she was facing the other six ... Am I correct? "

Danielle's expression mirrored Sarah's in that she was obviously taken back with Sayid's protective stance towards her. She was slow in her response.

Sayid positioned himself with Sarah safely behind him, with arms folded."I understand and am grateful for your help. I am sorry…But this time, you are wrong. Sarah is not one of them. "

Danielle lifted her chin in a disapproving gesture as he added. "And I won't allow you to harm her."

Danielle shot him a look and grunted. "Fine. But you will wish you had listened to me, after she has wreaked havoc on your people. After she has infiltrated your camp and gained your trust. That is their way. You will see that I was telling the truth. By then you will have lost too many of your people. If that is what you want, then so be it. " Danielle took her bow and arrows, turned and stepped into the tall bamboo until they could no longer see her.

Sayid's defense had left Sarah dumbfounded. Slow, warm tears made their way down her face. Sayid turned to her. "Are you all right? "

She nodded, unable to speak. He grasped her shoulder and guided her out of the brush. The warmth of a stoked fire glowed a path from the cold night air. Though small, it welcomed them with the promise of warmth and light. They lowered themselves before it and sat quietly.

Sarah shivered, her tears glistening in the firelight. He lowered his face and studied her. "Why are you crying?"

She turned her face away from him, ashamed of her own sobs. He said nothing, but placed a soft hand on her shoulder. She had spent so many days alone in the jungle, fending for herself. Her fear and confusion had been met with brutality. She had no one to lean on, to confide in.

After weeks of bearing through the scrutiny and critical eyes, he had finally stood up for her. He believed her. It was as though someone had released the plug that held all the pressure swelling and building inside. She could not control it. Her body trembled with deep sobs. He flicked his eyes over her and then pulled her to him. She sank into his arms. They sat together as he held her and she cried. She could not remember the last time she was held. If she had ever been held, or comforted. When he released her, she was wiping her face with her palms. He kept a gentle grasp on her shoulder as she sat straight.

"I ... I didn't think you were going to do that." She whispered low, unable to meet his gentle gaze.

He responded in curiosity. "Do what?"

"She saw me with them. " She choked on her words. " With the others. "

" Yes. " he responded. " And…? "

" I thought you would believe her, drag me back and lock me up again. That you would think I was one of them. " She said. "But you didn't leave me when you thought I was dead. And you didn't believe her when she said I was one of them. " She managed to look up at him. "You believe me."

"You're still here."

"I do believe you." He confirmed. "I meant it when I said I believed you. I made a promise. I' m not going to leave. "

He scanned her face, and then sighed. " You need rest. Get some sleep, we will return in the morning. Jack can look at you. Make sure that you are all right. "

She was very tired. She yawned and laid her head in his lap, enjoying the crackling fire that warmed her face. He fished a light jacket from his pack and spread it over her shoulders. She lay for a few minutes, with his lap under her cheek, growing calmer under the gentle weight of his arm, and feeling protected.

Tiny sparks flicked out of the fire and ever so often, a single flame would shoot higher than the others, sending up smoky puff clouds into the moonlit sky. She lie still until her eyes were heavy with sleep and then closed them drifting off to the in and out rhythm of his breath.