The second Shannon and Locke struggled onto the beach people began to run towards them. First to reach them was Boone, who had been looking for her.

"Damnit, Shannon! What the hell have you done now?"

Shannon laughed as she hobbled away from Locke and towards a downed tree. She really needed to rest for a minute. "Nothin' much little brother. Just saved Claire and the baby, got slammed by Locke and hunted by a monster."

"You encountered the monster?" Sayid asked as he arrived on the scene. Immediately he spotted the makeshift splint on Shannon's ankle, something Boone hadn't. "What happened?"

Shannon watched as Sayid tenderly touched her swollen ankle. "Locke attacked me."

Sayid turned to look at Locke with a murderous look in his eyes. Locke studiously ignored it, still laughing from his joke. "Well, not really, but he did slam me into a tree to save me from this gigantic polar bear."

"You saw a polar bear?" Jack asked, arriving late as usual. Apparently he and Kate had made up; they were holding hands.

"Yep…ow! Damnit that hurt!" Shannon yelled as Jack removed the splint. He cautiously touched her ankle.

"Tell me if this hurts."

"Ouch!" Shannon yelled as he squeezed her poor ankle from the bottom. Sayid moved behind her so that he could keep her from squirming.

"I don't think it's broken, but it is a little sprained."

"Little my ass." Shannon grumbled. Sayid helped her to stand and with Boone on the other side they made their way to the closest shelter…Sayid's. "When can I walk again?"

"Give it a couple of days. I'm going to head to the caves and see if Sun has anything to help," Jack said as he stood by, watching as Sayid and Boone glared at each other over Shannon's head. "You guys be good."

Shannon settled back against the sand. Maybe being incapacitated wouldn't be so bad. She smiled at Sayid as he fluttered about.

"Want some water?"

"I'll get you water." Boone said as he too fluttered around her.

"Are you cold? I have a shirt if you are."

Boone, not to be outdone, cut in. "She's my sister…I'LL GET HER A SHIRT."

"Jeez, will you both shut up! I have a very bad head ache." Boone pouted, but Sayid merely looked at her calmly. He always looked like that though. Very calm man, that Sayid.

"Well, if you don't need me I'll go talk to Locke. I need to ask him some questions." Boone stormed off, ever the petulant child.

Shannon levered herself up onto her elbows. "I hate him."

Though she'd used a kidding tone, both she and Sayid knew she wasn't kidding. Sayid, usually ignoring this fact, could no longer do that. So he asked the question that had been on his mind for weeks. "Why?"

Shannon looked into the horizon. Within a few hours the sun would go down. "Long story. Very long story."


(Flashback)

He's been different. Ever since that night. Different. Instead of the happy home she'd envisioned for her child, now there was only tense silence and flaring tempers. And Shannon had no idea why it was like this.

She knew it had something to do with that night. She'd finished wallpapering the nursery and Jean Frances had had a "business meeting", whatever the hell that meant. He'd come back late that night, almost one. And he hadn't called like he said he would. Neither of those was like him. Shannon had also caught him looking at her, not the loving way he used to…but the calculating way that she'd seen before. She recognized it as the look she'd got from past boyfriends when they learned whom she was related to by marriage. It was a money-grubbing look.

Shannon shut the door to the nursery. She was all but ready for bed. In her nightgown she paced the upstairs hall. He hadn't come home again. It worried her so when he didn't. She feared he was drinking. Then she had to debate whether to lock him out of the house.

Outside an engine that she hadn't heard coming cut off. Shannon went to the window and looked out just in time to see Jean practically fall out of the car. He rose to his feet and swaying started for the house. He was drunk.

Shannon started for the stairs, deciding that the best thing was to do was make a pot of coffee and to sober him up. Then they'd talk. She'd find out what was wrong.

"Shannon! Maison! Come here!" Jean Frances yelled as he let himself in through the unlocked front door.

Shannon uncertainly looked down on him from the top of the stairs. "I'm here, Jean."

Jean looked slowly up at her and Shannon trembled in fear. His eyes were filled with rage and hatred. He slowly made his way up the stairs and Shannon unconsciously stepped back. She didn't like the way he looked.

"Do you know? Je ne sais pas? Why does he do dis?"

Shannon put out her hands in a placating gesture. He was drunk, never a good sign. "Who?"

Jean looked away, then back. Her response had made him even more upset. "Boone!" Jean spat. "He affres! He wants me to…quitter sa maison! Leave you! He offers money! MONEY!" Jean screams. Shannon begins to get a very bad feeling in her stomach.

"Did you take it?" She asks, fearing his answer.

"YES! He threatens to make me…paria! You believe dat! Make me unwanted!" Jean walks away, running his hand through his hair. "He buys you from me! Like a…catin."

Jean looks pensive then begins to walk toward Shannon with a vaguely threatening look on his face. Shannon backs up until she touches the wall and window behind her.

"That is it…you are a whore! Bought and bartered by your brother!" Jean reached out and shook Shannon by the shoulders.

Shannon began to really fear him. "JEAN! Stop this!"

He does not hear her; he's lost in his swirling thoughts that are covered with the fuzziness of alcohol. But one thought is clear, and that is that no whore will carry his child.

Jean pushes Shannon away from him…and out the window. She plummets two stories and onto the hard concrete ground. Jean looks down unseeing. He turns and enters the bathroom. Inside the counter is littered with Shannon's things; her perfume, the baby name book she'd been reading, her toothbrush, all orderly set on the small counter. Reaching out Jean grasps the small straight razor he uses to shave in the morning. Trembling he uses it to cut his wrists. Inside he screams. His love, Shannon lays still outside. Even as he sinks to the floor, her blood flows onto the ground, and the life inside of her dies.

(End Flashback)


Before Shannon can even begin to tell Sayid the story of her lost love and baby, Claire waddles over, clearly upset.

"Oh, Shannon! I'm so sorry! If I hadn't asked you to help me…"

"No, Claire!" Shannon interjects. "I'm fine. Really. Just a little hurt ankle. Are you okay?" Shannon asked, sparing only a glance for Sayid, who realizing that he'd been thwarted was settling down to study his maps.

"Oh! I'm fine. I got to the cave and started yelling for people so they were looking for you and here you are! I'm glad you're okay," Claire said. She rubbed her hands over her protruding stomach.

"Claire, why don't you go get some rest? You're looking a little pale." Shannon worried over Claire, which wasn't necessary as Charlie was running up behind her at that very moment.

"Shannon, glad to see you're alright, Claire you good?" Charlie rushed out as he stopped and caught his breath, barely sparing a glance for Shannon.

"Yeah, I'm a little tired though." Charlie and Claire walked away, his arm supporting the very pregnant Aussie.

"We were all worried, Shannon."

Shannon smiled as Sayid over her shoulder. "Don't know why. I'm perfectly capable of caring for myself." Sayid raised his eyebrow and gestured towards her ankle. "That was an exception."

Sayid smiled and looked back to his maps. "Are you going to tell me your story?"

Shannon looked away. Within seconds the large smile that covered her face was gone. She had decided not a week ago that she would start over on this island. That she would leave bad memories behind. First she had to let go of this hate inside. And to do that she had to tell someone, someone who would understand the things she'd done.

"Sayid, did you know I was married?"

He looked to her. "No."

"Yeah, when I was eighteen." Shannon was no longer on the island with him. She was in her memories. She was remembering the love for Jean she felt, the wonder of being with him, and she was remembering the pain that love had brought her. "I loved him. He loved me. It wasn't enough…"


Next Chapter: Comfort

Thanks to my reviewers! I love you all! And just so you know, my motivation for all the flashbacks comes from a Papa Roach song entitled "Sometimes". Great SONG…GREAT! Totally sad though. And so you aren't in the dark, French dictionary below.

French Dictionary

Ma petite – my little one

Très magnifique – very magnificent

Chère - beloved

Amore - love

Maison - home

Je ne sais pas – I don't know

Affres - torments

quitter sa maison – leave my home

paria - pariah/outcast

catin - whore