Chapter Twenty-Six

Locke's Destiny

There were shouts and cries of joy all around the camp as the group returned. Despite the fact that their raft had sunk, the survivors were all grateful that Walt was alright and he was safely returned to camp.

Jarod noticed that Sun had come running through the jungle as fast as she possibly could and straight into her husband's arms. Jarod gave a small smile and looked around. John Locke was still no where to be seen. Jarod's hand went instinctively to his head. It still hurt.

Jarod felt groggy and when he opened his eyes he saw a blood stained Miss Parker sitting next to him. "Jarod," she asked quietly. There was fear in her voice as though she really hadn't expected him to wake up.

"Hey," Jarod whispered. His chest hurt. He couldn't believe that Cox had shot him. "Where's Mr. Cox?"

Parker was on her feet. Her clothes were still covered in Jarod's blood but her hands were clean. She pushed back some of the hair from his forehead, "Don't worry on it."

But Jarod was worried about it. She had killed Mr. Cox, he knew by the expression on her face. She had killed someone who had been higher up on the Centre power train then she was. It would mean trouble for her.

Jarod slowly started to slip away from the rest of the survivors when he heard Jin ask, in Korean of course, "Where are you going?"

Jarod turned around and replied (in Korean), "I'm going to try and find that silver case from our own plane wreckage."

"Want some company," Jin asked.

Jarod shook his head, "Thanks, but this one thing I need to do on my own."

The hike through the jungle to their side of the beach was shorter than Jarod remembered. Perhaps because this time he wasn't being prodded along like cattle. He studied the beach for a moment, spotting where his own little campfire had been. He reached down into the bush and fished out the silver case.

He fiddled with it. He would need a code. He knew exactly where to find it, too. Jarod hurried through the jungle and down the hatch where one of the survivors (Jarod didn't know his name) was busy guarding Lyle.

Jarod told him to go enjoy the festivities (if you could call them that) over at the caves with the rest of the survivors. "Will you untie me now," Lyle demanded.

Jarod held up the silver case, "Only if you give me the code to case."

Lyle stared at it, "I don't know," he said, "I was talking to Mr. Raines on the phone to get the information I needed to bypass the security systems on this island as well as the code for that case. I don't know what it is or what's in it."

Jarod studied Lyle for a moment. Lyle wouldn't dare lie to him. Jarod heard footsteps behind him and whirled around, Locke was standing there, pale faced. Jarod, despite the fact that he loathed Lyle, quickly united him.

Lyle flexed out his wrists and tried to get feeling back into them. Lyle and Jarod both took up a defensive stance as they waited for Locke to come closer. He did. He stumbled a few more feet and collapsed.

"Jesus," Lyle swore.

Jarod stared at Locke and it took him a few minutes to figure out what was wrong. "He can't walk anymore."

Lyle bent down and poked both of Locke's legs with his fingers, "Right on the mark, Golden Boy."

Jarod turned him over. Locke was white as a sheet. "There's no way we're going to get him up the ladder."

Lyle looked down the hallway, "Well this baby should come fully equipped."

Jarod hoisted Locke above his shoulders and Lyle searched the rooms for a medical type of room. They finally found one, seven turns later. Jarod laid Locke down on the bed and said, "I can't believe how large this place is."

Lyle shrugged, "I think that this lab runs completely underneath the island."

"Parker says you brought us here on purpose," Jarod accused.

"Following orders," Lyle said.

"Who's?"

"Mr. Raines," Lyle said, with a slight bitterness in his voice. Jarod couldn't understand why Lyle was being so cooperative. As though he was reading his mind, Lyle said, "because I don't want you to blow my head off."

"I want to know about you and Kate," Jarod said.

Lyle was about to answer when Locke gave a moan, "Must open."

"What's he talking about," Lyle asked Jarod.

"How would I know," Jarod asked in turn.

They watched Locke writhe for a few moments. They didn't know what to do. Locke's thoughts were on that door and his own pain…

"I'm sorry John, but there's nothing left we can do."

"I want my legs back," Locke demanded. He was trapped in a hospital room. He had been part of a car crash, involving three cars. He had lost his ability to walk. One of the other men had died, and the woman who had had a broken back was now all better and healed. "It's not fair."

"Life isn't fair, John," Dr. Winters said, "We've done our best. You're paralyzed from the waist down and there really isn't anything else we can do."

John picked up the book sitting next to him on the bed and threw it against the wall. If that woman had been in such a damn hurry this wouldn't have happened…

"It's not fair," Locke muttered.

Locke stared around his apartment. He felt empty and sad. His girlfriend had left him, his parents hated him, his life was empty. He couldn't even walk any longer. The one thing he had once found solace in (his books), he know only found emptiness.

Jarod poked at Locke's right leg, "I think he's paralyzed."

Lyle stared at Jarod and then poked at Locke's left leg with one of his forefingers. "You don't just all of a sudden become paralyzed."

Jarod shrugged and then picked up a needle. He examined it carefully through its wrapped and then took it out of the wrapper. It was sterilized. "What are you doing?" Lyle asked.

Jarod gently stuck in needle into the lower part of Locke's leg. No reaction. "I think he has no feeling in his legs."

Jarod stuck the needle into the upper part of Locke's leg. Still no reaction. Lyle took it from Jarod and tried the left leg. Nothing.

Lyle then poked Locke in the wrist. "OUCH!" Locke yelled, coming out of his unconscious state for a only a few seconds. He passed out again and Jarod and Lyle stared at Locke. They didn't know what to make of him. "Now what?" Lyle asked.

Jarod shrugged. He really didn't have an answer. He wanted to understand what was going on with Locke but at the same time he wasn't sure how to go about understanding him.

Locke continued to mutter in his unconscious state. Jarod wanted to go find Jack to ask from help (something Jarod rarely did as a professional) or to explore the hatch a bit further. As much as Lyle had helped over the last few days, Jarod still didn't trust him.

At that moment, above Lyle, Jarod, and Locke's heads, Sayid, Jack, Kate, and Parker were marching through the jungle. Parker was cussing and swearing every step of the way. The damn bugs were driving her crazy.

Kate was laughing at Parker, "Not much of an outdoors person are you?"

Parker scowled at Kate, "No, I believe in civilization." Parker quit walking, "I want some answers."

Kate stopped. She wasn't one to come clean about anything, especially about her past. She stared at Parker. She didn't like her and she didn't trust her. "So do I."

"Wait a second," Jack said.

"Sayid, Jack, go ahead," Kate said, "Miss Parker and I need to have a little talk."

Jack and Sayid both exchanged thoughtful glances. Jack was half inclined to ask for the guns back but he decided not to anger the women further. Jack and Sayid scuffled off.

Below them Sayid was still busy moaning and groaning. Jarod was shaking his head. He didn't know what to do. He knew he was going to have to leave Lyle and go get some help. Something had to be done with Locke.

"I'm going to see if I can't find some help, somewhere," Jarod said.

Lyle nodded, "I'll stay here."

Jarod turned and left the room. Lyle bent down, "Is this your destiny," he hissed into Locke's ear. He got no response, not that he expected any. Finally he said what he had been waiting to say. "If you know what's best for you, you'll go ahead and die now."