Author's Note: Yeah I got more review! I got so happy, even though it is only two more.
Mortica Black Rose: glad that you want to read more of it, here's a few more chapters, I only have time to type it out in the weekend now that I'm back in school, I typed out part 1 in one go as I was on holiday.
October Sky: I'm happy that you think Part one is really good, I hope you will read the rest of the series! By the way, I really like your Sayid central story, any chance of another one?
I finally saw Episode 17 (New Zealand is really behind with the broadcasting) and the Shayid things are so cute (I had to make do with reading scripts and fan fictions to keep up to date. I read Episode 21 the other day and it is so sad…I almost wanted to cry at what happened.
Disclaimer: See first page.
"…so this is how Ethan took Claire." Charlie finished.
Locke immediately reached out a hand to pat the ex-druggie on the back. "It is not your fault Charlie, you did your best."
"But Claire is still gone." Charlie whispered. "Claire is still in danger."
"I will hunt Ethan down, I can follow the tracks…" Locke began, but was immediately interrupted by Jack.
"You are not going alone anywhere, we have already figured out that this island is not safe."
"I appreciate it but son, I am the hunter, you are the doctor, you are needed in both the caves and the beaches." Locke explained patiently. He took out his box of knifes and continued. "And I will not be alone, I can manage with Boone, I have taught him enough about the art of knife throwing."
The clicking sound of the safety made them all turned around sharply. Sawyer was holding the gun from the marshal, while Sayid was filling up the rifle he took from Danielle.
"With all due respect to your knifes I think these two 'trinkets' will be very helpful." Sawyer said easily. "Finder keeper, so Sayid and I will be going too."
"Who else better suited other then the hunter? The ex-soldier." Sayid said very calmly. "I am skilled in tracking and hunting too Locke, and you know it."
"If they are all going then I am too!" Charlie stated, clenching his fists. "I don't care if I have no weapons, I will use my bare hands if I have to."
Sayid knew and recognize a determined face when he sees one. Nodding he walked to Charlie and offered him the rifle. "Fire by pulling the trigger." He explained simply before he went to Locke and stretched out a hand. "I can use a knife well enough."
After a day of hard hiking Locke insisted that they all take a rest. Sayid and Sawyer both saw the logic behind it so they willingly agreed, while Boone never listened contra to his 'mentor's' words. The only one who hesitated was Charlie.
"Ethan is a man too." Locke explained. "He will need to rest like us. Beside, you can't continue tracking him if you are in danger from sleep exhaustion."
"I'll take the first watch then." Sayid stated.
"I'll keep you company." Sawyer offered.
The two men looked at each other and smiled knowingly. Now that they finally put aside their prejudice and hatred, they were willing to learn more from the other. Being best buddies may not be the goal, but ending up with a genuine friendship would be a good thing for the two of them, who found it so difficult to make friends.
"Night like this make me remember my times in the army." Sayid finally broke the silence. He had been sharpening his knife, staring across the fire. "The first few years when I had watches. I guess being deserted on this island and doing the act of basic survival is not so alien to me."
"Unlike everyone you mean? A spinal sergeant, a clothing retail spokesperson, a rock star…" Sawyer laughed in agreement.
"But some are clearly suited for this life." Sayid added darkly, glancing down at the knife. "I do not know why but I do not really trust him. Yet Charlie will willingly stake his life alongside with Boone's to vouch for him."
"I do share a similar distrust but I think we are just those loners who find trusting too hard." Sayid said with great feelings. "After all, I have personal experience with paranoid suspicions too well, when you were pulled out of line at the airport…"
Flashback
Minta was behind him, her hands hanging limply at her side, a reflection of her vacant eyes. He tried to take her hand but she withdrew it, her eyes filled with fear.
"Watch it!" the man behind them yelled when Minta accidentally bumped into him.
Sayid was going to apologize, but then he saw the man. He was an European-American, slightly taller then him with blondish hair and blue eyes. Sayid bite his apology back as the man was staring at them with a haughty contempt, clearly because of their skin colour.
"Mr Daniel." The woman behind the checkout counter halted the first argument between Sayid and the other man: Sawyer. Turning away abruptly Sayid faced the counter once more.
"Due to this part," The woman said gently, keeping her voice very low so the man behind them would not overhear. "You do have to talk with a senior staff. But I really don't think that this would prevent you two from boarding."
Soon enough one of the senior staff arrived, and he just happened to be a rather bulky man. He tapped Sayid on the shoulder briskly and ordered: "This way please, Mr Daniel."
He led Sayid to one of the small offices in the air port. In a very warm manner he poured out two cups of coffee for them. Sayid grasped the hot mug in deep gratitude, while Minta continued to fix her eyes on the ground, ignoring the world.
"The doctor said on this paper that your wife is suffering from mental disorder." The staff said as he took the medical certificate out. "The next bit if just a procedure I have to do, more like a ritual. I just need to ask you two a few questions…"
"She doesn't talk." Sayid interrupted sadly. "She wouldn't talk anymore."
"I am sorry." The man said sincerely. "I am sorry to ask this too, but will she be a danger…"
"A danger? How can she be a danger to anyone? Look at her!" Sayid sobbed, his tears finally spilling. "She just sits there and stares at God know what.
"She had a nervous breakdown." He took a deep breath and tried to continue unaffectedly. "She tried to…to drown herself. Afterwards she just stopped talking to anyone, other then that nothing is wrong with her…"
The staff nodded in sympathy as he turned away to prepare their boarding pass. Sayid thought there would be no more words but much to his surprise, the staff suddenly said: "Three years ago my daughter tried to kill herself when her boyfriend dumped her." He continued as the downcast husband stood beside him to hear the soft whispers. "For the week after we brought her home from the hospital she just shut herself in her room and cried. Eventually she started to communicate very slowly. As long as you continue to love your wife, it will be alright."
Sayid thanked the man as he pocketed the boarding pass with his new hope. On their way out he tried to take her hand again. He would keep on trying, he would show her that he was not the same man he had been and proof his love to her.
She wasn't focusing on him so he gently guided her through the corridors, pushing the trolley with his spare hand. He thought of how they had boarded the plane to Australia, she had been listing out all the dreams she had dreamt of living out.
Sayid sighed as he ended his recollection. Even though things did end up 'alright', he still didn't want to brood on the past pains too much.
"Why did you…" Sawyer asked, remembering his other accusations.
"The hands under the blanket?" Sayid laughed. "It is rather…silly."
"Sayid, I'm sitting here and talking to a man who two weeks ago, shoved bamboos into my hands. The crazy part is that I actually want to be his friend. So try me."
"All of a sudden I loathed the sight of my own hands, I used them to kill, to torture people. Now my wife was trembling whenever I touched her. I just didn't want to see my hands and I wasn't hungry or thirsty either, so I could just keep them under the blanket the whole time."
Far from them Locke was watching the two men in disapproval, this had not been in the part of his plan. He had not wanted the two men to be a speaking terms, therefore he had planted Minta's pot in front of Sawyer's tent. Now it seemed to be much worse: the two were becoming friends.
Author's Note: I have no idea about the airplane security in regard to illness, as I've never been sick when I traveled on an airplane so… But I presume it might be possible for someone to especially treat Minta. This was my version of why Sayid was pulled out of the line, I am disappointed to still not know the real story…I really thought I'd find out in Episode 21.