"Looks like I win, Han Solo." Lena said, sweeping up the various supplies that had been put in the betting pool, all the while secretly proud of nicknaming the king of nicknames. And Sawyer's facial expression was hilarious, although Lena didn't know if it was the fact that she won or the fact that she called him by a nickname that made him both shocked and slightly angry.
"Oh come on!" Sawyer exclaimed. "Royal flush? Really?" Lena, Sawyer, Kate, and Hurley were all on the beach, playing poker. So far, Lena was doing pretty good. And Sawyer… not so much.
The day before had brought very exciting news: Sun was pregnant. Jin had been running around the camp, yelling the good news happily in broken-up English. It was one of the happier moments of the island, and it made Lena feel really good.
It was amazing, as well, how upon first arriving to the island, Jin had been sort of an asshole, even to Sun. But he had become a very sweet, caring man. So, at least something good had come out of the crash.
"Well, you all seem to have some good cards." A voice said after they had started the next round. "Although I wouldn't play that, Hurley." Lena looked up to see none other than Jack, standing over their little poker circle.
"Oh, you think because you watch poker on TV you can tussle with the big boys?" Sawyer said playfully. Jack just rolled his eyes and started to walk away, calling out something about getting back to the hatch. "Oh, the hatch, that's your excuse? Come on, Doc."
"I guess I could play a few rounds." Jack said, putting down his backpack and taking a seat. Lena raised her eyebrows. The game was sure to get interesting.
…
"I'm out." Lena sighed, folding her cards down on the sand. Although, she, Kate, and Hurley weren't really playing to win anymore. That was just Sawyer and Jack.
"You got me." Hurley added, flinging his cards down dramatically. Kate smirked and put down her cards as well, leaving the two guys as the only ones in.
"Well, I guess that's it." Jack said, showing his cards. It was a good hand, probably better than whatever Sawyer had. "I've got it all, and it wouldn't really be fair for you to go pick more mangoes, Sawyer."
"Oh, you want to play real stakes?" Sawyer asked. "You name 'em, doc. And I want that fruit back."
"You two are acting like children." Lena remarked. Kate could barely hold in her laughter.
"Come on." Kate said. "Let's leave these boys to their sandbox." Lena laughed as she, Kate, and Hurley gladly walked away from the game, and they ended up going in separate directions once they reached the main camp.
Lena briefly wondered where Sayid was, but she figured he was either at the hatch, getting supplies, or just walking in the jungle. It was nothing to worry about, she told herself, although she didn't remember seeing him yesterday, either.
Why do I care so much?
And Lena couldn't answer that question.
…
Lena's sister was in a tough spot.
Again.
Lena ended up on a plane to Miami, ready to help out Marie in any way that she could. Whether it was about money, or housing, or she just needed Lena to beat somebody up.
Marie hadn't told her the extent of the situation. So she was completely shocked when she arrived on Marie's doorstep and saw her sister covered in bruises.
"Oh my god." Lena whispered. "What the hell happened!" Something about her words seemed to pierce Marie, because she broke down and started to cry.
"I-it was h-him!" She sobbed. "I t-told him to go away b-b-but he won't leave me alone."
"Who?" Lena asked. "Who did this to you?" Marie started to compose herself, and Lena waited impatiently as she calmed down.
"His name is Bates." Marie explained. "We were dating, but he started to h-hit me…. I told him to leave, but he wouldn't, Lena, he won't go."
"Tell me where he lives." Lena demanded. "I'll kick his ass." Marie, through her tears, smiled at Lena gratefully. But never, not once, was there a 'thank you.'
…
"A man. In the hatch. One of the Others."
Jack nodded, and Lena gaped at him in disbelief. Just a few minutes ago, Jack had come up to her and had given her that insane news. She thought he was going to tell her that he beat Sawyer in the poker game, which Lena already knew about. But no, instead, she got that.
"And you didn't want to tell anyone?!" Lena exclaimed.
"We didn't want to cause a panic." Jack countered. "And a good amount of people know, now including you."
"Alright." Lena said. "Why did you decide to tell me now?"
"Because now, we know for sure that he's one of the Others." Jack explained. "Sayid, Ana Lucia, and Charlie went to find his balloon - long story - and Sayid dug up a grave and found the real Henry Gale."
That was a lot of information to process. They had finally managed to capture one of the Others, they finally had an advantage of sorts. And Sayid had dug up a grave? Well, it seemed that it was a good thing that he did.
"Is there anything else I should know?" Lena asked in a slightly annoyed tone of voice.
"Yeah, actually." Jack replied. "We just found a parachute full of food."
…
In the back of her mind, Lena knew they should probably conserve the food.
But in that moment, she didn't care whatsoever. There was so much of it, too. All DHARMA brand, but still real food. Enough to last them a while, even if they didn't take the time to save it.
Finally, Lena had found what she had been hoping was in there. The official name on the box was 'DHARMA Initiative Chocolate Cream Cookies but they were just Oreos.
Besides that, though, she had managed to get microwavable mac-and-cheese, which she figured she could make in the hatch. There was also a weirdly large box of crackers, and some cereal.
But, even the food couldn't distract her from the pressing matter at hand, that being the man in the hatch. Questions swam throughout Lena's mind, questions to which she had no answers.
Who was he? Where did he come from? What did he want?