Satine stood gripping Sawyer's arm tightly. She knew what Alex was going to do, she knew how it would end. But what she didn't know was that Jack knew and Jack wasn't ready to let it end this way.
They took longer loading the second raft because of a small leak in the bottom. Everyone who had gathered on the beach was sitting around comfortably, waiting for the launch.
Sitting down, Satine heard Hurley and Charlie talking.
"What's the first thing you're going to do?" Charlie asked happily, watching as the pink along the horizon became orange and the sky lightened to a deep purple.
"I'm going to buy six cheeseburgers," Hurley said, sighing deeply.
"Um, hopefully veggie burgers?" said Libby beside him.
"Okay not even my food nazi can stop me from getting six cheeseburgers when I leave this place. Then I'll start my diet again," he said sweetly to her and she smiled at him.
"Get a room," said Sawyer, sitting down beside Charlie. "How about you, Ozzy? Going to get back in the drug ring again?"
Charlie gave Sawyer a nasty look.
"I'm going to see my brother and my niece. She's probably so big now," he looked sad and Satine put a hand on his arm and he smiled gratefully at her. "And I also want six cheeseburgers."
"Hopefully wherever we land there's a food chain because all forty of us will probably be running there," laughed Libby. "And I can't wait to take a bubble bath."
"How about you?" Charlie looked at Satine. "What are you going to do?"
Satine thought hard. If they were being rescued and they got back, where would she go? Her mother was dead and buried on this island and she had no idea where her father was. She supposed she'd call one of her closest friends, but other than that she didn't know.
"I want a haircut," she said, thinking hard. "And a soda."
"Soda," sighed Hurley.
"Well while you kids are eating cheeseburgers in the bathtub, I'll be at my lawyers," said Sawyer, grinning. "Because I plan to sue Oceanic for every penny they've got."
"I think we all do," laughed Charlie.
"We weren't hurt though," said Hurley curiously.
"Does it matter? We lost two months of our lives here on this damn island. We don't even know what's going on back home," Sawyer shook his head and sighed.
"What if it's really changed?" Satine said quietly.
"What if our families already had funerals and stuff for us? How do we just go back to work and say oh sorry, I was on an island," Libby asked, her eyes looking deep in thought.
"I don't plan to ever work again," Sawyer seemed content in the fact that he was suing.
"How do you know Oceanic isn't bankrupt?" replied Satine with a sneer. "Usually after a bad crash like this, airlines just go belly up."
"Then I'll sue Australia," snapped Sawyer but playfully. "I am getting my moneys worth out of this long ass vacation."
"I don't know about you," said Ana-Lucia as she sat down on the other side of Satine. "But I'm going shopping."
For a moment they all were quiet as she sat there waiting for a response. It wasn't often she was included on conversations but somehow this recent event changed that.
"I can't wait to jump in a cold pool," laughed Libby. "The ocean here is always so darn warm."
"I want to see snow!" Hurley said.
"I want to see my family," Ana said quietly.
"I think we all do," Satine said gently. "I wonder who came to my funeral."
"Isn't it weird how forty of us died, and now we're all coming back?" Libby said, watching as they worked on the raft. "There's going to be a lot of tax returns to fill out."
"I wonder if we'll all fly home the day we get back," Ana said.
"I am not getting on another plane," said Hurley sternly. "I'll walk home if I have to."
"True. I think the only person who wont have to fly is Claire. She's from Australia," Satine inquired.
"I'll be flying to New York," Ana said, looking at the rest of them.
"Hey!" called a voice behind them. All of them turned around and waited for John to sit down. "What are you all chatting about?"
"Nothing," muttered everyone, getting up.
"I need to um…get…yeah," Hurley stammered, hurrying off with Libby beside him.
"Looks like they need help," said Ana, hurrying down the beach.
"Um…I need to pack," said Charlie, hurrying off.
John said alone beside Satine as Sawyer stood and gave Satine a nod before walking down the beach. Satine looked at John and gave a small smile.
"I guess I wasn't invited," he said sadly, looking out to sea.
They sat there in silence for a moment and Satine suddenly felt like she had nothing against John, as though the guilt was now pushed off to Alex.
"Do you believe we're rescued?" she asked him quietly.
"No," John said, sighing deeply. "I believe this is the worst thing to happen to us."
"Why?" she asked.
"Because someone will die," he looked down at her with sad eyes. "And there is nothing worse."
Jack felt himself shaking as he watched them finally put the raft in the water and cheer as it floated. It had been punctuated by some rocks and now was finally mended. The two bearded men and Sayid, having gotten off the ship to help repair the raft, came out of the water triumphantly and waited for their last passengers and cargo.
Jin helped carry down the carton of fruit. They were being sent with extra food in case the journey took longer than expected. Sayid placed the food in the raft and then turned around scanning the beach for Alex.
She arrived beside him and he jumped in surprise. Jack moved down the shore to her side and looked at her with firm eyes as though pleading with her to tell him she was joking. As the sky grew lighter he could see the ship better and what horrible condition it was in. Aboard he could see Kate and Michael on board. Kate was standing on the deck looking at Jack but it was still dark and he couldn't see her expression.
"Safe trip," Jack said, giving Alex a hug. She hugged him tightly and he tried to keep the sadness off his face. He couldn't argue with her, couldn't plead with her to change her mind. He was the only person who knew about it.
Alex let Sayid help her into the raft where she sat quietly, very still. Jack noticed one of the bearded men sat close beside her as though watching her. Walt was next into the boat, climbing awkwardly in and sitting down carefully. Finally the two bearded men and Sayid got in.
"We'll bring a rescue boat as soon as we can!" said the bearded man as they began paddling away towards the tugboat. "See you soon!"
All the survivors waved and Jack felt a mounting terror. What if she didn't do as she said and they threw the bomb onto the beach? Many would die, possibly more than even in the explosion. He didn't want to imagine Kate being on board and being terrified as they arrived on the other side of the island, realizing it was all a hoax. He wished she was back with him, standing beside him. Jack couldn't imagine not seeing her face again.
Satine stood stiffly beside Sawyer who watched the raft go with anticipation. He felt jittery but also excited that this was it, they were finally going home. He looked down at Satine and wished she looked more optimistic.
Breaking away from Sawyer Satine moved down towards Jack. She came up beside him just as the raft reached the tugboat. Jack looked down at Satine and immediately knew that he wasn't the only one who knew.
Alex allowed them to help her aboard and then she moved to Kate and Michael. Walt went to his father who sat him down on the seats on the deck. Sayid was up front trying to help them bring up the anchor. Kate stood on the deck staring back at the shore, back at the tiny specks dotting the beach in the very dim light of the early morning. She could see Jack, she knew it was him and could feel him watching her. She wished he knew how terrified she really was.
The boat looked worse up close. The boards on the deck were loose and some were completely gone leaving gaping holes into the cabin below. They had stored the food in the main compartment where the navigation was. The man who had been controlling the light looked exactly like the other two, beards and all.
Alex disappeared from view below deck and reappeared moments later, her disappearance unnoticed by the men on the boat. Kate saw Alex walking towards her and from the look on her face immediately knew something was wrong. She looked very solemn as she moved to stand beside Kate who felt her trembling.
"When I say go, jump off," Alex said barely moving her lips. She said it loud enough so Michael and Walt could hear. Michael stared with wide eyes at Alex. "I had the explosive they were planning to use on the beach in my pocket. When I say go you have to jump off."
Kate didn't respond but only looked down at Michael and Walt. Michael held Walt so tightly to him Kate was surprised Walt didn't cry out. But Walt was being solemn and silent, the way he'd been ever since he returned.
"Sayid," Kate breathed.
"He'll be okay," Satine whispered.
"So!" said one of the men, coming back towards them. "Everything okay?"
"Yep," Kate gave him a false smile and he nodded. "Alrighty then. Food is inside. We'll be getting going in a second we're having a bit of engine trouble."
Alex knew her only chance of making sure Sayid knew was to shout to him. She was hoping Jack's shouts would be loud enough. She had told him to shout in case of this, in case one of them was trapped.
The sun was up more now and the people on the beach were in clear view. Jack could see the boat very clearly and he saw Kate's terrified face and knew Alex had probably told her. But Sayid hadn't moved from his place helping them bring up the anchor, and Jack knew he'd die if he didn't jump. Sawyer and Michael had told him the power of that homemade explosive they'd used on the raft and knew this one would be no different.
Jack stared with all his might at Alex, waiting for a signal, any kind of movement.
Alex and Kate stared in horror as one of the men disappeared below deck. Alex knew he was heading to get the explosive, that they would be throwing it at the beach with all their might. She was shocked to find him come up with not only one, but four different explosives.
She had found this one lying on the floor but it must have been knocked loose. Her breath escaped her and she felt Kate being to shake.
They seemed to ignore them as they moved towards the front of the boat. Sayid was distracted, bending over the side adjusting the line. One of them approached him from behind and Kate saw something silver flash.
"SAYID!" Kate screamed.
Sayid turned in time to catch the man as he whipped the short blade from his pocket.
"Jump!" Alex shouted.
Jack had seen Alex shout, had heard it echo across the water. Gathering all the strength he had, Jack bellowed.
"SAYID! JUMP OFF!" he screamed.
Sayid heard but was too busy keeping the short blade from cutting him as the bearded man fought him, trying desperately to stab him. The two other men were fumbling with the bombs as Kate, Michael, and Walt hesitated.
"JUMP! KATE, JUMP!" Jack shouted. Everyone on the beach was staring in horror.
Michael seized Walt and threw himself and his son over the side. They splashed into the water and surfaced. Sawyer and Jin flew into the water, diving into the dark waves towards them.
But Kate had paused, her eyes wide as Sayid lost the struggle and the blade pierced his side.
"Sayid!" she screamed, racing forward.
"Kate!" Alex shouted, pulling the explosive from her pocket.
A man intercepted Kate from reaching Sayid who was doubled over, the knife still in his back as he stumbled to the side and fell overboard, splashing into the pitch dark water.
"KATE!" Jack felt his heart jump into his throat as he saw her struggling with one of them men who would not let go of her. Two of them had seen what Alex was holding and had frozen but the man who had wielded the light was struggling with Kate who was trying to get away.
Sawyer was helping Michael up the shore as Jin was still swimming ashore with Sayid who was still conscious. Jack felt his blood pounding, his heart racing as his mind flew. Not Kate, please let her get off. She can't die, she can't leave me, he pleaded. It can't happen this way, he can't lose her.
Ripping the gun from his belt he pointed it at the ship. The shot wasn't definite, he could hit her and kill her. But he had gotten his hands around her throat.
"NO!" Jack aimed and shot.
As the shot went off, Alex pulled the spark plug on the explosive and threw it as hard as she could towards them.
The boat exploded with a force that knocked anyone on the shore backwards, each of the five explosives causing an enormous bang that shot waves of flames up into the air one at a time. A fireball bigger than the boat itself rose from the structure into the night sky, twisting gracefully until it evaporated and enormous chunks of flaming boat came falling down, splashing into the water and crashing onto the sand.
Jack climbed to his feet, his eyes wide as the fire reflected in them, what was left of the bottom of the boat beginning to sink and sizzle. Chunks of floating debris were everywhere, flames still licking the night sky as the smell of burnt wood and gasoline permeating the air. Everyone else was getting up too, staring in shock as the last bit of the bottom of the boat sank beneath the waves.
"KATE!" Jack shouted, scanning the water.
But all was still.
