Disclaimer: I make no profit from this. The Lost characters and universe do not belong to me.
A/N: This story started out as an RP on a forum I visit. This is the part that I wrote for the RP. Yes the plot jumps around and yes it is full of drama like a soap opera, but that is why I love it. Credit also goes to my fellow writers; tigerlilly, benlinusisagoodguy, and fearandloathin for their input and genius characters.
Chapter 28
Mel saw Zoe walking across the courtyard carrying her bags with her. She ran out the front door to talk to her.
"Hi Zoe. How are you feeling?" she asked her.
"Humiliated." Zoe huffed.
Mel smiled, "Don't feel so bad Zoe, Ben has done that to me many times. He told me he was sending you to the Hydra."
"Yeah, but I don't want to go. I want to stay here and help."
"You know Ben's not going to allow that. It's too dangerous. He just wants you to be safe. Hey, while you're there would you mind checking in on William? I know Isabel's doing a great job looking after him but another friendly face couldn't hurt. After all, you are his sister."
"Ok, I will. I better get going. I don't want Ben cross with me if I'm late."
"Be safe Zoe and think of it this way. Your baby is Charlie's too. You'll always have a part of him with you."
"Did you get everything set with Sayid?" Ben asked Mel later that night. They had both been running around the village all day and were relaxing on Mel's couch with a bottle of wine.
"Yes, I believe we are prepared. When Dharma comes we will be ready for them. Did you get things squared with Sophie?" Mel asked.
"I wouldn't say everything was settled. I've now found out Richard was in on her little plan as well. I'm not certain I'll ever be able to trust her again. I feel betrayed."
Mel chuckled, "Now you know what it feels like Ben."
Ben didn't laugh, he watched her closely. "I've missed this. I've missed you."
"I'm sure you have Ben."
Ben took her wine glass from her and set it on the table with his own. Then he moved closer and slowly drew his hand up to her cheek. He kissed her softly on the lips and Mel found herself unable to pull away from him. Ben didn't speak as he stood. He reached his hand down and pulled her gently off the couch and led her to the bedroom.
Mel saw the heated exchange between Ben and Richard the next morning. She also had seen what had Ben upset. Richard leaving Sophie's house looking very smug. She knew Ben was jealous. She could have kicked herself for sleeping with him last night. Why did it seem that he was the only one who could control her? Why couldn't she say no to him?
Mel had been following the two Dharma men all morning. Since Ben had made his speech and she and Sayid gave everyone an assignment. She had come across them quite by accident. She had been walking the perimeter of the village when she overheard them. They didn't even realize how close they were to what they were looking for.
Finally she heard one of their radios crackle to life.
"We've found the second island. We're getting ready to take it." a harsh voice sounded through the radio.
Mel's blood froze. How could they have found the Hydra so quickly? William and Isabel were there. And Zoe had made her trip this morning. None of them would be expecting an attack.
Without another thought Mel took off. She ran for the beach where she knew Alex had hidden one of her many boats. She didn't care if getting there on time was a long shot; she had to save her son.
As Mel dug the oars into the water as fast and hard as she could she heard a voice from her own radio.
"Mel?" Ben called.
Mel grabbed the radio and pushed the button, "Ben?"
"Where are you?" he asked concerned.
"I'm nearly to the Hydra. I heard some Dharma men talking. They've found it. They may be attacking it as we speak."
"You shouldn't have run off. We could have put a team together in the village. You can't handle this by yourself."
"I still expect you to put a team together Ben. Get Desmond's boat and get your asses over here. And if you think I'm going to stand by and do nothing while those men kill my son, then you're crazy."
"I can't talk you out of doing this by yourself can I?" Ben's sad voice asked.
"Not a chance. You know me better than that."
"Very well. We will be there very soon."
"Thank you Ben. I can see the island now, I have to go."
"Mel?"
"Yes Ben?"
"Stay alive." he said and in his voice she could hear that he didn't believe she would.
Mel abandoned her boat at the shore and scrambled up the beach. The outside of the Hydra was deserted as she made her way to the entrance. Without hesitation she drew her gun from her waistband and entered through the open door.
She got confirmation Dharma was there when she saw Rob, one of the men stationed to the Hydra, lying dead in the hall. She continued on the path she knew the best, the one to William's room.
When she passed the control room she found it empty. All of the monitors blacked out.
Finally she came to her son's room. The door was slightly ajar and she heard a male voice inside. She pushed open the door with her shoe and was terrified at what she saw.
Isabel lay sprawled on the floor next to William's crib. She had been shot while trying to protect him. The man whose voice she heard stood above the crib. His hands held a gun trained on the innocent child sleeping inside.
Mel aimed her gun at his back, "Get away from my son."
The man froze and slowly turned around. When she saw his smiling face her anger grew.
"I should have killed you when I had the chance." she said to the man. He was the prisoner who she had talked to in the village.
"Yes you should have. I was given orders to kill everyone here. Everyone. And I intend to follow them."
"You know what I never understood?" Mel asked.
"What?" he asked with a smirk.
"Why the bad guys always waste time explaining their evil plot and the hero always listens. I'm not that kind of hero." Mel pulled the trigger hitting him between his eyes. The man fell to the floor, dead.
Mel ran to the crib and picked up William, who remarkably had slept through the whole ordeal. "Come on love, let's get out of here."
As Mel raced down the hallways she heard voices from the common room. She hid behind a wall as they moved into the hallway. Peeking around the wall she recognized Hurley's hair.
She took a step from her hiding place, "Zoe?" she asked.
As one, Zoe, Hurley, Alex and Karl spun on her and pointed their guns.
"Don't shoot!" she yelled.
Recognition came across their faces.
"Mel?" Zoe said coming forward. "Hey William." she said to William who had woken up moments ago. "Ben said you would beat him here."
"Good, that means he's on his way. We need to make it to the beach to meet the boat. There are too many of them here to hunt them all down. We're going to have to take care of them a different way."
"Dudes, let's go before one of them finds us." Hurley said.
Mel smiled, "Okay Hurley. Alex? You know this place better than anyone. Can you and Karl take us the quickest way to the beach?"
"Yes. But we'll have to move fast. There's a good possibility we'll run into some of them."
"That's what the guns are for. Let's go."
The group followed Alex and Karl through the twisting tunnels and halls of the Hydra.
"Mel?" Zoe asked as they fell to the back of the group.
"What's up Zoe?" she asked hoisting William to her other hip, keeping her gun drawn.
"When you said we would have to take care of the Dharma men a different way, what did you mean?"
Mel took a deep breath, "If it comes to it, I'm going to blow up the Hydra."
In what felt like a lifetime later they had reached the edge of the jungle. The beach was in sight but they were pinned down by Dharma men and their guns.
Zoe turned to Mel, "Go, get William out of here."
"I'm not leaving." Mel cried.
"You have to! Go, we'll cover you!"
"Okay." Mel nodded to Zoe. "I want you right behind us though."
Zoe agreed and Mel signaled Alex. They took off towards the beach while Zoe, Hurley, and Karl covered them.
When Mel reached the beach she was overjoyed to see Ben and the others pulling up in the small boat that would take them to Desmond's.
"Ben!" she yelled as she ran to him.
"Mel, is William alright?" he asked meeting her.
Mel pushed William into Ben's arms, "He's safe but we have to leave now. There are too many of them to fight."
Just then Zoe, Hurley, and Karl burst from the tree line. Mel could hear the men weren't far behind them.
"Everyone, get in the boat, now!" Mel yelled above the chaos.
For once Ben didn't argue with her. He took William and ran to the boat as the others followed. Mel saw two men break out of the trees and aim their way. She shot them both without hesitation than jumped into the boat.
"Get us as far away as you can!" she ordered Sayid who was steering the boat.
The small boat moved quickly from the shore as Mel, Zoe, and Alex continued to shoot as long as they were in range of the men on the beach. When they were far enough out Mel turned to Zoe.
"Thank you Zoe. You very well may be the reason William is alive."
"You're welcome. He's my little brother. I've got to look out for him." Zoe smiled.
Mel judged the distance between them and the island before pulling a small remote control out of her pocket. They were almost to Desmond's boat when she figured they were far enough away. She regretted what she was about to do but they couldn't afford letting Dharma reach their own boat and coming after them.
Mel turned to Ben and kissed him lightly, "Thank you for coming for William, and for me."
"How could you think I wouldn't?" Ben asked.
Mel looked away, "I'm sorry Ben."
"For what?" he said, puzzled.
"For this." Mel answered and pushed the button to trigger the explosion.
Ben wasn't the only one watching in horror as the Hydra went up in flames.
