Author's note: Due to my work situation, it is very likely that I won't be able to update this as often as I have. I don't think I want to suddenly start submitting much shorter chapters. Again, thanks for the reviews, especially MyLuckyWhistle, for the reviews that keep me going.

Walt hates the prospect of someone else seeing him tied helplessly to the tree in nothing but a skimpy boarskin loincloth, but has no choice but to be further humiliated. "HEEELLLP!"

Vincent, having romped around enough with Gussie the polar bear, hears his master's voice and comes running up to Walt.

Walt: "Vincent, look what happened to me because you ran off with my clothes. Where are they now? Oh, never mind, can you chew through this rope?"

Vincent doesn't understand, and gets up on his hind legs and licks Walt's face instead.

Walt: "No, Vincent … hey, can you get that knife?"

Vincent follows Walt's eyes, and trots over to the knife. The Labrador bites the knife around the hilt and pulls it from the branch it is lodged in.

Walt: "Good boy! Now, can you cut these ropes?"

Vincent looks confused. Without opposable thumbs, he is not up to the task.

Walt: "That's okay boy, just give me the knife. I can cut myself loose with it." Walt wiggles his fingers behind his back. "C'mon Vincent, please give me the knife."

Vincent takes a couple steps toward Walt, then turns and runs off, disappearing into the jungle to show off the shiny treasure to his love Gussie. Walt can't believe it.

"Vincent, you stupid dog, get back here!" Full of anger, Walt finds the strength to bend the tree and contort himself enough to reach where the knife had been, but after a few seconds, the rope pulls his hands back behind the tree. "Dang it! John, I am so going to get you for this." Having used up his strength, Walt is forced to stand still, and plaintively shout for help from time to time.

Claire and Ethan are searching for Walt, or so Claire thinks. Ethan has surreptitiously taken his pack, which holds a variety of medical equipment and the walkie-talkie.

Ethan: "We should look somewhere where no one else is."

Claire: "Sounds reasonable."

Ethan leads Claire on a circuitous route toward the Staff. The path is not as steep as the direct route he tried to take her on earlier, and Claire does not get suspicious. They go around to the west and then the north, avoiding the caves and the pond by the waterfall.

Hearing Walt's occasional shouts for help, Boone comes by, to Walt's relief.

Boone: "Hey Walt, what happened to you?"

Walt: "That idiot John tied me to this tree, drugged me with some goofy paste to make me hallucinate, and just left me here. There was a knife I could almost reach, but Vincent ran away with it and I can't get loose. Can you please untie me?"

Boone quickly assesses the situation: "Sorry, no can do. John would kick my butt if I interfered with his plan for you."

Walt: "Say what?"

Boone: "John did something like that to me, too. I had some issues, and he straightened me out. He's really in his environment here and knows what he's doing. I was able to reach his knife and cut myself loose, and it would be a disservice to you not to let you have the same opportunity."

Walt: "But … but I don't even have the knife any more. This isn't fair."

Boone: "Maybe you'd better find a way to summon Vincent."

Walt: "Thanks a lot." Walt closes his eyes, concentrates, and yells, "Here, Vincent." Nothing but silence. "That didn't work."

Boone: "Keep trying, I'm sure something will come up. It is good to see you're okay."

Walt: "Okay? I'm tied up to a tree and can't get loose!"

Boone: "But you're not hurt and your mind is fixed now. That's what is important."

Walt: "Well, yes, but … fine, I get the picture. If you're not going to untie me, can you stick around and talk to me until someone comes who will? I hate being tied up all alone."

Boone: "I suppose I can. What do you want to talk about?"

Walt: "I don't know. Do you like dogs?"

Boone: "Dogs are okay. Shannon likes them a lot, though she probably wouldn't admit it. Yours does seem to have behavioral problems."

Walt: "Yeah, didn't exactly come to his master's aid. Maybe I'll let Shannon have him for a few days some time, see if she can do better."

Boone: "Maybe. Quiet, I think someone's coming." Footsteps are heard in the distance. "Got to go. Good luck." Boone walks off.

Walt, sarcastically: "Thanks for all your help." A minute later, "Is someone there? I could use some help."

Kate, Sayid, and Hurley search for Walt in three different places, but are not near him.

Charlie is suffering severe withdrawal symptoms and walking unsteadily through the jungle. He hears cries for helps, and eventually clumsily comes up to Walt. Charlie rubs his eyes, not sure if the nearly nude tied up boy is a hallucination. Charlie decides he has to find out for sure. "Is that really you, Walt?"

Walt: "Yes, it's me."

Charlie: "How did you get like that?"

Walt: "John had this crazy idea to help me. He knocked me out, tied me up, cut me, and put some drug paste on the cut to make me hallucinate. I was supposed to be able to reach a knife and cut myself loose, but Vincent ran away with it. So can you please untie me?"

Charlie: "You said John has a hallucinogenic drug? Where is he?"

Walt: "Yes, he's probably at his hideout by the caves." Walt jerks his head in a direction behind him, as he can't point his arms.

Charlie: "Thanks." Charlie starts staggering toward the caves.

Walt: "Hey! Aren't you going to untie me?"

Charlie: "Normally I would, but when you're in a desperate state like me, the craving for drugs overpowers everything else, preventing you from doing things you normally would. Sorry."

Walt: "Can't you help me at all?"

Charlie: "I can give you advice. Say 'no' to drugs." Charlie walks out of sight.

Walt: "What! Well, if you see someone other than John, please let them know I'm here and need help." Walt sighs, and bangs the back of his head lightly against the tree, since he can't do much else.

Boone is walking toward the caves, when Locke sneaks up from behind.

Locke: "Boone, what just went on back there?"

Boone: "I'm part of a search party looking for Walt. I found him as you left him, according to him. I figured you were treating him like you did me, so I left him."

Locke: "Excellent, you did the right thing. Walt must find his own way."

Boone: "It's going to be hard for him. His dog ran off with the knife."

Locke: "Vincent did? Well, the island must be willing it. We must let it play out."

Boone: "Someone else was coming, so they'll probably let him loose."

Locke: "If that happens, so be it. It would be best if he frees himself unassisted, but come what come may. Now I'll stay here to keep an eye on things, and you can go look for the hatch again."

Boone leaves.

After several minutes, Walt tries, again. "Is anyone out there?"

Shannon makes it through the forest and can't believe her eyes. "Walt! What happened to you?"

Walt is annoyed that a girl found him in his current situation, but then decides that since she has had to parade about in her bikini for more than a week, this might be fair. He takes a deep breath and explains.

Walt: "That's just what Boone said. John had this stupid idea about helping me, and tied me up and drugged me. I was supposed to be able to reach a knife and cut myself loose, but Vincent ran away with it."

Shannon: "You said Boone was here? And left you like that?"

Walt: "Yeah, he said he didn't want to interfere with John's experiment, or whatever you call it. He said John would kick his butt."

Shannon: "That's terrible. John has Boone completely under his control.
That John gets me so upset that one day I could see myself shooting him."

Walt: "I wouldn't blame you. I'd like to do something to him myself."

Shannon: "Well, let's get you untied." Shannon starts on the knots around Walt's wrists, but finds them very tight. She gets a knot around his ankles a little looser, and has to pause for breath. "John certainly makes good knots."

Walt: "Yeah, can't argue with that."

Shannon: "Sorry, I need to rest a minute so I don't aggravate my asthma. How are you holding up?"

Walt: "Apart from feeling like an idiot tied up like this I guess I'm okay. My shoulders are getting sore, though, from my arms being tied behind my back for so long."

Shannon: "I think I can do something about that." And give me good practice for Sayid. Shannon gives Walt a quick shoulder rub.

Walt: "Ahhhhhh. Thanks, that's much better."

Shannon: "You're welcome. Now let me have another go at those knots." Shannon tries again and soon, "Oww!"

Walt, alarmed, "What is it?"

Shannon: "I broke a nail. It hurts."

Walt, rolling his eyes. "Does that mean you can't untie me?"

Shannon: "I'm afraid so. I have to see Jack to fix my nail. Sorry."

Walt sighs: "I can hold out until you send someone else."

Shannon looks at Walt. "You know what; you're just the cutest thing." Shannon musses up Walt's hair. Walt grits his teeth and bears it. "You know, I wish I had a little brother like you instead of a big brother like Boone."

Walt is not about to antagonize Shannon. "It would have been neat having a sister like you. Vincent's been great, but he's been acting strange on this island."

Shannon heads back toward the beach.

Charlie is looking for Locke at the caves. In his near-delirious state, Charlie gets confused, and enters the wrong cave. Not finding Locke, Charlie shouts: "Hey John, you in here?"

The force of Charlie's voice causes the unstable cave entrance to collapse, trapping him inside. He gets pinned to the ground by debris.

Charlie: Bummer!

After several more minutes of futile struggling, Walt gets anxious again. "Help, is anyone out there?"

This time Sawyer finds Walt. Sawyer blinks, not believing his eyes at first. He is simultaneously relieved that Walt is safe, and remembers how Walt laughed at him when Sawyer was tied up after being forced to listen to Charlie's repetitive music.

Sawyer: "So what is this? You trying out for the part of Boy in a Tarzan movie?"

Walt: "No! This was John's idea. He made this boarskin loincloth for me after Vincent ran off with my clothes, but then he knocked me out, tied me up, and drugged me, and said it would solve my issues. Then I was supposed to cut myself loose with a knife, but Vincent ran away with it."

Sawyer: "Old Baldy really tied you up like that? That's quite a weird game you two got there, Short Round."

Walt: "It's not a game. It's just stupid. The old guy is crazy. So Sawyer, can you please untie me?"

Sawyer ponders the situation. The kid needs to learn not to mess with me, and Locke must be around here somewhere. "I don't know. Let's see, you destroyed a pack of my cigarettes, and what was it again that you did to help me when I was tied up? Maybe I shouldn't bother, and just leave you and Cue Ball to your survival training, or whatever you call it."

Walt: "No, don't leave me! Now you're sounding like Boone."

Sawyer scowls. "Don't ever compare me to that pretty boy, Webster."

Walt: "Sorry, it's just that he was too afraid to mess with John. So Sawyer, how about untying me now?"

Sawyer: "I need to think about it." Sawyer thinks for a minute, and comes up with, "So Gazoo, what's in it for me?"

Walt: "What do you mean what's in it for you?"

Sawyer: "Now if you expect a favor from me, Tattoo, you better be prepared to give something in return."

Walt: "A favor? Why wouldn't you just untie me out of the goodness in your heart?"

Sawyer: "Don't you know, there's not a lot of goodness in my heart, Antwone."

Walt: "I can tell; that's just a front you put on. I bet that if it came down to it, you'd take a bullet for me."

Sawyer: "Now hold on right there, Short Stuff. I've got a reputation to maintain. You're getting way ahead of yourself."

Walt loses his patience. "Will you lay off with all the stupid nicknames? You don't want to use them all up in one scene!"

Sawyer laughs. "Don't you worry your little head about me running out of nicknames, Mowgli. And I'd say you're in no position to tell me what to do."

Walt: "Now you're sounding like John."

Sawyer: "And don't compare me to that nut case either, Shorty."

Walt erupts: "And lay off with the short jokes! I'm on the verge of a major growth spurt! Before you know it, I'll be taller than you, and have bigger muscles than you, and a deeper voice than you or anyone around here. And when that happens I'm going to pound you, you … you … hillbilly!" Walt glares at Sawyer and puffs out his chest, to little effect.

Sawyer can't help laugh at Walt's attempt at a biting nickname, throws his hands up and in a mocking tone exclaims: "Ooooo, I'm scared." Sawyer runs away back to the beach.

Walt finds the strength to bend the tree a little, and scrape the rope binding his hands against the trunk, but it isn't close to being enough.

Shannon returns to the beach, but unfortunately forgets about Walt. "Jack, I need medical attention. I broke a nail, and it hurts."

Jack: "You came to the right place. There are still a few painkillers left, and I can bandage your nail in place so it will heal properly."

Shannon: "Thanks."

Jack gives Shannon a pill to swallow, and wraps her finger with a band-aid.

Claire and Ethan have walked a long way, when Claire gets suspicious.

Claire: "Ethan, Walt can't possibly be this far out from our camp. We should head back."

Ethan: "Okay, we'll stop." Ethan takes off his pack, and pulls out a syringe. With his great strength, he holds Claire's arm with his left hand, and jabs her in that arm with the syringe using his right hand.

Claire: "OWWW! What are you doing?"

Ethan: "It's just a little necessary injection."

Claire: "Injection? What for? I'm getting sleepy. Hey, are you kidnapping me?"

Ethan: "You could say that. We need to observe you and your baby."

Claire: "Wait—who's 'we'?"

Ethan: "Oh … some friends and colleagues. I can tell you this because that drug I gave you will make you forget everything that happened in the past hour."

Claire: "You're causing me to get amnesia? That's a rather overused and lame plot device."

Ethan: "Sorry, it's all we got."

Claire collapses into Ethan's arms. He carries her toward the Staff. They get well away from the rest of survivors, with the exception of Jin, who is wandering around lost somewhere between them and the Staff, and being followed by Danielle.

Sawyer returns to the beach. This should be good. "Hey Mike, maybe you want to know, Ol' Johnny Locke and Load got that brat of yours tied to a tree."

Michael: "John Locke did what? Where?"

Sawyer: "Looks like they're playing Tarzan. No sweat, the boy's fine, he's right by the path to the caves."

Shannon: "Oopsie, I forgot, yes, Walt is tied to a tree out there somewhere. But he's holding up fine. I never realized he was so adorable."

Michael: "Thanks for telling me. I have to have a word with John. Sun, you'd better stay here."

Sun: "Now Michael, don't do anything you'll regret."

Michael: "Oh, I'm sure I won't."

Sun is worried, but lets Michael go. When Jack can't hear, "Shannon, there are natural remedies for your nail problem. When Jack's stuff wears off, I can show you."

Shannon: "Thanks, it's been a weird day. What do you think Michael will do?"

Sun: "I'm not sure. I hope a big fight doesn't break out."

Michael strides forcefully toward the caves. "Walt! John! Where are you?"

Walt: "Over here!"

Locke hears anger in Michael's voice, and decides he should get there to tell his side of the story. Have to face Michael some time; may as well get it over with. "Coming!"

Michael barely stifles a laugh at the sight of Walt trussed up nearly naked. "What is going on here?" Michael demands.

Walt explains: "John went crazy! He tied me up and drugged me."

Michael: "What happened to your clothes?"

Walt: "I was taking a bath in the river and Vincent was guarding them, but instead he ran off with them. It was weird, like someone trained him to run off with people's clothes."

Michael remembers getting Vincent to run off with Sun's clothes, and can't help but chortle: "That's some dog you got there."

Walt, indignant: "Don't laugh at me! Then John came by with a boar he killed, and made me this loincloth out of its skin. I said there was enough material to make a lot more than this, like a shirt and real shorts, and then he knocked me out. I woke up like this. This is so humiliating, and I can't stand it!"

Michael, finding this hard to believe. "John, is this true?"

Locke arrives and takes a deep breath. "Yes, but there's more to it. It took a fair amount of effort to cut that boarskin right and sterilize it. Sterilizing larger pieces would have taken a lot more time, and I wanted to get him decent as quickly as possible. Walt was quite ungrateful. I then asked if he wanted to be treated like an adult, and he said yes, so I administered the same treatment that straightened out Boone. I applied this paste to a cut, and Walt must have hallucinated, realized what his hang-ups were, and woke up with a clear mind. Did you Walt?"

Walt: "Yes, I understand now. If I want to be treated like a grown-up, I have to accept things that happen to them. All the grown-ups here get tied up in some form sooner or later, so it had to be my turn some time. But I sure didn't need to be tied to this tree for six hours!"

Michael: "What? I'm going to be tied up at some point in the future?"

Walt smirked. "Yes. You're going to be tied to a post, a lot like me now. You are so going to deserve it."

Michael: "John, is this really going to happen?"

Locke: "If we all choose a certain path, that all will happen. But I'm not sure the future is set in stone. We shall have to see."

Walt: "Since that's over with, can you untie me now?" Walt realizes it might have been a bad idea to smirk at Michael.

Michael: "So John, how was this test supposed to turn out?"

Locke: "In the process Walt should have found the strength to reach a knife I stuck in that branch there, but … it's missing. Walt, what happened to that?"

Walt: "Vincent came when I called, pulled it out, and then ran away with it."

Michael once again barely avoids laughing, and then composes himself. "That dog of yours is really a winner." Michael walks around the tree, and examines the knots binding Walt's hands, and then the vine tied around Walt's lower legs. "These are very good knots. They would hold up in the construction work I did in the real world." Michael faces Locke, and with a serious face makes his judgment. "So you really tied up my son? Left him tied to a tree in nothing but that dinky boarskin loincloth?"

Locke, bracing himself: "Yes I did."

Michael: "You know what I'm going to do to you?"

Locke, nervous. "No, Michael, I don't know."

Michael: "I'm going to shake your hand!" Michael shakes Locke's hand enthusiastically.

Locke, stunned: "Okay … why?"

Walt: "WHAT!"

Michael: "You know, John, I've been wanting to do something like that to him almost from the minute I got custody of him, but didn't have the guts."

Locke, relieved: "That's quite all right, Michael. Civilization has rules that sometimes get you in trouble for doing the right thing. But on this island, the rules are much more sensible."

Michael puts his hand on Locke's shoulder in a friendly gesture: "Glad you see it my way. How about we grab a beer?"

Locke: "That sounds great. We haven't found beer yet, but it's the thought that counts. Let's go."

Walt: "Hey, what about me?"

Locke: "You're too young for beer, but here." Locke holds a bottle of water to Walt's mouth, and Walt drinks. "That will keep you going long enough." Locke starts walking away with Michael.

Michael: "I am still responsible for Walt. Will he be okay out here?"

Locke: "Mike, your boy is special. Nothing on this island is going to harm him."

Michael: "That's good enough for me."

It is not good enough for Walt: "Hey, I still can't get loose! Untie me! You can't leave me like this!"

Michael and Locke in unison: "Don't tell us what we can't do."

Michael and Locke leave Walt, and head for the beach. Walt's anger soars, and a large black bird suddenly swoops by, poops on Walt's head, and croaks a word that sounds like "Hurley." The bird loses a feather that floats to the ground, landing near Walt's feet. Walt growls. I don't feel all that special today.