A/N Gah! If any of you have read the teaser paragraph on TvTome, you'll know why I'm frustrated. It seems every chapter I write, the next episode is somewhat like it. I guess it's good, it means I'm staying realistic... but... still...
Sayid had made up his mind. He knew Jack wouldn't approve of his returning to Danielle, so he had lied. But he had every intention of going, and he wasn't going alone. Danielle needed to feel threatened if she was going to say anything. She would only speak if she were backed into a corner like a rat. He knew this. He knew with an odd sort of excitement that she would tell him what she knew about Ethan and the others. He was sure she would crack under pressure. But who should accompany him? He sat lost in thought, wondering how to approach this problem. If he asked the wrong person, they might tell Jack… might tell anyone who would advise him not to visit Danielle. She's dangerous. They'd say. She's insane. She is insane, Sayid knew, but not dangerous. She was too fragile, too weak to do any harm.
"Sawyer." Sayid called, seeing him leaning against the outer layer of rock that formed a cave. He was gazing at a single piece of paper. It seemed to Sayid that he wasn't really reading it, just looking at it, as if he'd read it so many times that it was pointless to actually focus on the words. Sawyer looked up, and ambled over to him, stowing the piece of paper away in his shirt pocket.
Without waiting for Sawyer to say anything, Sayid began. "Are you interested in a mission to Danielle's?"
Sawyer stayed standing, looming over Sayid with a doubtful expression. "Mission to Danielle's?" he repeated.
"The French woman's home." Sayid prompted. Continuing without a response, he said, "I want to get information about Ethan. I know Danielle has that information, but she will not speak unless she must. If she feels threatened by us, she will tell us all we need to know. I need you to accompany me and a couple of others to her home."
"What's in it for me?" Sawyer said immediately.
Sayid had expected this line from Sawyer. "I found two packs of cigarettes yesterday in the sand."
Sawyer frowned. "Those are mine."
Sayid smiled politely. "But they are in my possession."
Sawyer looked like he was trying very hard not to throw a punch. Finally he relaxed. "All right. I've been looking for a little adventure anyway."
He began to walk away.
"Sawyer."
He stopped and looked at Sayid expectantly.
"No mention of this to Jack."
"That's going to cost you extra."
Charlie was getting water from the lake when he heard Sayid talking in a hushed tone to Boone.
"So why do I have to come?" Boone asked.
"Because Danielle wouldn't speak to me alone, she wasn't threatened by one person with one knife. If three or four of us go to her house and scare her enough, she'll tell us all we need to know about Ethan."
Charlie bristled at the name of Ethan. Without hesitation, he came into view of Sayid and Boone. "I'm coming." He told them stoically. Sayid looked mildly surprised. He smiled grimly at Charlie. "Your attendance is welcomed." He said formally.
That night, Claire was in Charlie's arms with her eyes closed. The light of the fire danced on her closed eyelids. She was sleepy and peaceful, yet she was becoming aware that something was wrong. Charlie had been quiet through the afternoon, and he was all tense. He wasn't angry, Claire reflected. He was… brooding, distracted.
"What are you thinking about?" Claire asked softly. "You've been quiet."
"Hm? Nothing. Just tired I guess."
Claire sat up and faced him. "Charlie Pace, what are you thinking about?" she said commandingly.
Charlie quailed under her suddenly alert and challenging look. "All right, all right. Er… Okay. Sayid is going to find out what the French lady knows about Ethan tomorrow. And… I'm going with him."
"Why?'
"Moral support, kind of. It's more of a precaution, really. He says we have to back her into a corner until she cracks or something."
"And you weren't going to tell me?" Claire said, getting angry.
"Yes, I was, I was just looking for the opportune moment." He said carefully.
"The opportune moment." Claire scoffed, her eyes glittering. "That's bull. You were just going to leave, just leave me here without any explanation. Weren't you?"
"No, I wasn't!" Charlie said defensively. "I was going to tell you before I left!"
But Claire wouldn't hear any of it. "That's bull! You're lying to me again! This is lie number two, Charlie, and I'm getting sick of it all." She stood up with difficulty, hands on her stomach, and left.
