Eek. Sorry about the time it took to update. I had major inspiration on my Stargate stories. I meant to make this chapter a little better, the description is lacking in places, and frankly I think it swings between sucking and not sucking… but oh well. There was also supposed to be a lot more in here… but it got to be seven pages and the end just seemed like a good place to stop. Review and let me know what you think. -------------Muse.

Episode Two

Misfortune's Ghost

Patience is how I'm living today

I lie before you stressing me out again

My life is twisted, twisted like your own brains

I can't accept that, I can't accept that again

--- Immune "Godsmack"

Gwen woke, her memory of the day before fuzzy around the edges of her conscious. She pulled herself to a sitting position and ran her hands through her hair. As her mind came around to wakefulness the events of yesterday came rushing back like a violent sucker-punch. Tears filled her eyes as she thought of Mark, and his wife, and his kids. What were Jana and the boys going to do now that he was gone? What was Gwen going to do? For the past few years Mark had been her escape from loneliness, her friend that stayed beside her no matter what. Now she had no one. No one on an island full of strangers.

No. That wasn't entirely true. That's when she began to think about the two kind men she had met the night before. Jack, the doctor who had so carefully patched up her mediocre wounds, and Sayid, the quiet Iraqi with the dark, intense eyes and the soft voice. Why was she thinking about him? Could it be because he saved her life, or…

Gwenyth shook her head. She shouldn't be thinking of those kinds of things right now. She had just been through tragic accident, she had been attacked by some kind of saber-toothed cat thing, and she had lost one of her only friends. Trying to figure out her personal feelings for some stranger (as tall, dark, and handsome as he might be) should be bottom of her list of priorities…

…yet she couldn't get the vision of his eyes out of her head.

The logical side of her personality analyzed this. You've just been through multiple traumas so you are trying to grasp onto anything and anyone you can. The other side of her argued vehemently against this. The other side was arcane, supernatural, and it was poking her in the mystical ribs with everything it had. It screamed to her to pay attention to him. And not just him, but to Jack and everyone else.

Something strange is going to happen here. I sense it.

She didn't want these feelings, but they came anyway, bombarding her with vague impressions and leaving her with a stabbing headache. As her head fell in her hands she braced for the gathering pain.

- )( - )( - )( - )( - )( - )( -

Flashback

-- Dream --

She was somewhere hot, somewhere dark. She felt like she was in danger although there was no sign of something that might hurt her. She was lost and stumbling through the pitch black. Everything was calm and silent, but she seemed filled with anxiety. She had the feeling that she was being chased, but there was no pursuer.

Suddenly there was a blinding flash and everything faded into whiteness. But in the light she found no solace. For standing in front of her was a shadow, intangible. It made no move, just stood there. It was a human silhouette, but she could sense there was nothing human about this dark creature. It was a soulless being. Sorrow, hatred, and fear. She was afraid.

"Leave my mind and this place." She said. It always seemed to work before. The wraiths that had so abundantly visited her nightmares as a child would wither and die with this forceful command, but the thing stayed, its shadowy hand reaching out for her, pulling her back into the darkness…

--End Dream --

Gwen woke with a gasp, but immediately threw her hand over her mouth to stifle it. She sighed happily when she realized she was safe, safe on a plane. There were no shadowy figures, or evil beings. Just a bunch of people waiting patiently for the big metal bird to make its trip so they could all leave and go on their merry way.

She always thought it was so funny how people walked right past each other, day after day, and didn't even bother to think about the lives of those around them. Here were hundreds of lives, all brought together by one purpose: to get to L.A. But why? What were their stories? What was going through their minds, their hearts? No one else cared about that sort of thing, but she did. In a way it was her job, in another it was curiosity. Sometimes she wondered what it would be like to be someone else.

To let go of all the things that haunted her…

"Would you like a drink miss?" One of the flight attendants leaned over her.

"No thank you. I'm fine." Gwen nodded politely. The stewardess returned the nod with a smile and went on her way.

When she was fully gone Gwen leaned back against her seat and looked out the window. Below the ocean was passing in a quick pace. The water looked like a blue canvas spattered with white from the clouds and from the waves far below. It would have become relaxing if not for what happened next.

There was a sudden jolt, and she gripped the arm holds. "There's nothing to worry about." She heard someone saying a few rows back. "It's only turbulence. It will pass."

But it didn't - - and right before they fell from the sky she saw the shadow, his form outlined in the cockpit door. It hadn't just been a dream…

- )( - )( - )( - )( - )( - )( -

Present

(Author's Note: Most dialogue in this part, minus Gwen's, belongs to the writers. )

Gwen didn't know what started the fight, but it was quickly forgotten when the argument turned ugly, then physically violent. It was Sayid and that American jackass, she thought she heard him called 'Sawyer.' How quaint. As in Tom? She would have said, if the situation hadn't been so severe. She hated fights, especially stupid ones; and this was a stupid one. She was afraid to try and stop it.

"Hey, guys, come on man!" Michael, another survivor, yelled. He looked uncertain about what to do also. Suddenly Jack, a woman, and a young man came hurtling into view.

"Break it up!" Jack shouted, trying to pull them apart. Michael jumped in to help. "Get off!"

"Get off, bitch!" Sawyer screamed.

"It's over!" Sayid.

"Come on!" Sawyer.

"That's it!" Jack and Michael managed to finally wrestle them apart.

"I'm sick of this madness." Sayid cried. Gwen was inclined to agree, but she kept quiet. She liked to stay on the sidelines until things calmed down a bit.

"Want more of me, boy!?' Sawyer spat.

"Tell everyone what you told me! Tell them that I crashed the plane. Go on! Tell them I'm the one- -" Sayid was cut off by a short remark by Sawyer.

"If the shoe fits, buddy!"

"What is going on!?" Jack demanded.

Sayid muttered something in Arabic. (Author's Note: I know what he said, in case you're wondering… it was a swear.)

"What's going on?" Jack repeated.

Michael sighed and held out a pair of handcuffs. "Look, my kid found these in the jungle."

"And this guy was sitting in the back row of business class, the whole flight. Never got up! Hands folded under a blanket." Sawyer said.

"Oh!" Sayid said, as if that explained everything. Gwen rolled her eyes. She couldn't believe this shit.

"And for some reason, just pointing this out, the guy who sat next to him didn't make it."

"Thank you so much for observing my behavior." Sayid replied.

Gwen wanted to strangle everybody.

"Don't think I didn't see them pull you out of line before we boarded - -"

That's when Sayid jumped at Sawyer again, and frankly Gwen would have been happy to see him shut Sawyer up, but once again Jack and Michael stopped them.

"Bring it!" Sawyer screamed.

"Stop!" The woman with Jack screamed.

"Yeah, really!" Gwen jumped in finally. "Stop being such children! This is no time to be arguing!"

"Yeah, muffin!?" Sawyer spat. She couldn't help but notice the way his eyes went over her. Such a whore, he had been watching all the women like that…

"Don't call me muffin." She flinched, then added, "unless of course you would like to become Miss Sawyer." He scoffed. "Don't think I won't do it."

The woman (who Gwen later learned as being 'Kate') decided to stop this before it went any further. She quickly changed the subject. "We found the transceiver, but it's not working. Can anybody help?"

"Yes, I might be able to." Sayid said.

Sawyer's mouth dropped open. "Oh great! Perfect! Let's trust this guy!"

"Hey. We're in this together, man. Let's treat each other with a little respect." Another man put in. Thus far, Gwen had come to like him, although she didn't know his name. He seemed to be a pretty nice guy.

"Shut up, Lardo."

"Give it a break!" Jack said.

"Whatever you say, Doc. You're the hero." Sawyer huffed. Gwen wished she could get a very large stick and beat him over the head with it. It was that promising visual that kept her from opening her mouth again.

- )( - )( - )( - )( - )( - )( -

Gwen wanted to talk to Sayid, but he was talking to the one man, who she found by listening in that his name was Hurley. Unfortunately, he quickly found himself in an awkward moment when he learned Sayid had been part of the Republican Guard. Gwen took this moment to save both of them and step in. "Hi." She smiled, making her presence known.

"Oh, hello." Sayid returned. "How are you doing today? Jack said your foot was badly torn."

"Oh, I'm fine, considering." She laughed nervously. "And as far as I can tell I can walk on it, my foot, but he says not to, Jack, I mean. I guess he knows best, cos he's the doctor and all. And I guess it gives me a reason to be lazy, no?" She said jokingly. Oh, man. You're lame. She berated herself mentally. Duh! You're a writer, you should be able to talk!

Hurley quickly bowed out, leaving them alone.

"I do not recall you ever saying your name." Sayid pointed out as Gwen took a seat beside him to watch what he was doing with the transceiver.

"You're right." She said thoughtfully, "I didn't, did I. My name's Gwenyth Dolan."

He nodded. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Dolan."

No, Gwen thought, the pleasure is all mine. "So, I guess you're going to try to fix transceiver?"

"Yes. Perhaps then we will have a chance of getting off this island."

"Oh, I hope so." Gwen shivered. "I keep getting this feeling that our bad luck isn't over. You know, like something else is coming at us. You probably just think I'm a nut." She sighed.

"No. Not at all." He looked up from his work. "I've been feeling uneasy myself since we've been here."

She bit her lip. Probably not in the same way as me, though. She glanced out at the ocean and for a moment swore she caught a glimpse of a darkness on the shore. Then it was gone.

"Speaking of…" He said after a moment. "Why aren't you? Around me."

"What do you mean?" Gwen inquired innocently. Although she had a feeling she knew what he was talking about.

"What Sawyer said." He replied, then added, "and I know you heard what I said to Hurley."

"Oh, that. Doesn't matter to me." Gwen shrugged. "I think holding political boundaries as stereotypes is childish - -" She wanted to leave it at that, "oh, and by the way sorry about that comment earlier. I mostly meant Sawyer."

"Mostly?" Sayid smiled lightly.

"Well, come on, admit it. You could have ignored it and walked it away." She said.

He sighed. "I just get tired of it sometimes. Everyone looking at me like I'm a criminal."

"I don't think you're a criminal." Gwen said, laying a reluctant hand over his.

"You don't… do you?" He shook his head, and they both smiled.

tbc....

Next Chapter: Communications Issues.