A Traitor In Our Midst's
The entire day was spent at the beach, because the beach was where Locke wasn't. Shannon had done as promised and had steered clear of Locke and anything Locke related. She would have stuck to Sayid but he wanted to follow Locke from a distance. She had beseeched him to be careful; as she couldn't bear the guilt of another person she cared about being hurt because of her- at least, that's how she saw it.
Because she couldn't stick close to Sayid; she did the next best thing- or at least, what she was pretty sure was the next best thing; for whenever Charlie and a-recently-rescued-Claire came to the beach, she stuck to them like glue. She even cooed over the little baby boy- whom Claire had named Heaven Lee, as Claire held him nestled against her chest. Claire may not have remembered anyone, but that didn't keep her bubbly, infectious personality from charming them all. She had befriended Claire, because A) there aren't that many women among the survivors and she reckoned that they should probably stick together, and B) when she had first returned she had looked so scared and frightened that it took all the will power and self restraint that she could must not to personally take one of Locke's trusty knives and go after Ethan herself; thankfully some of the men had had the same thought and gone searching for Ethan- unfortunately, they never did find him.
Ever since Claire's return Charlie had started to carry not one, but two knives on him at all times. Thankfully there was one thing that transcended trauma induced amnesia; friendship… and peanut butter. Charlie had to be commended for taking it slow with Claire; not pushing to hard, or asking to much. That and it was inevitable that they were drawn to each other.
Charlie's sense of guilt over not being able to protect her seemed to intensify when the baby had been born, and had only abated when he noticed that the rest of the cave/beach dwellers were becoming more aware of their surroundings, being more careful, and never going anywhere without telling a few people, and never going anywhere alone.
Claire's intuitive disposition must have been working well that day because it wasn't long before the young mother took her aside and asked her what was wrong.
Shannon looked at her oddly. "I- I don't know what you're talk-"
"Bollocks. There is something eating away you, what is it?" She asked softly.
Shannon hesitated. "My brother; Boone." She shook her head, when Claire looked confused. "You don't remember him; but he's been gone for almost a month- and I've been worried about him for a while. But because everyone trusted Locke to tell the truth I haven't done anything about it." She cursed herself inwardly. "I should have done something before now. Why didn't I do anything before now?" She asked herself angrily. "All this time I've been feeling things that I can't explain; hurting for no reason, hearing his voice…" she trailed off as she shook her head.
"I'm just worried about him. Hopefully, soon, I'll know-" She trailed off as Sayid came scrambling out of the jungle, jogging towards her. Her heart sank to the soles of her shoes. The look upon his face was not helping the anxious feeling in her stomach.
"Claire," Sayid smiled at her before his eyes moved to Shannon; he gave her a meaningful look that told her without words, that he needed to speak to her in private.
"Sayid," she greeted, noticing the look he was giving Shannon; sensing that she and Heaven Lee were becoming a bit of a third wheel she leaned in and whispered. "Talk to me later, alright mate?"
"Yeah, sure." She nodded as Claire and baby walked away back to Charlie. "What happened?" She asked in an anxious whisper after Claire was out of ear shot.
"Come with me, you will need to be sitting, I fear." He took her hand and led her farther away from the camp. He led her over to a large boulder, and helped her sit down at the base of it. "You were right."
Shannon felt her stomach bottom out. If it hadn't been for the fact that she were sitting down already, her knees would have given out beneath her. "How- how do you know for sure?" She asked shakily, her arms hugging herself, trying to calm the fears that threatened to run rampant.
He sighed heavily, knowing that there was no other way, but wishing that there were a way to soften the blow. "I followed him into the jungle. He told Jack that he was going on a boar hut, but he didn't." He paused, trying to find the right words to use.
"Where did he go, Sayid?"
He took her hand into his and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "He walked to an area, about a mile or so away the caves near the mountains. There he met with three men, one of whom matched the description of Ethan. They spoke of us, the survivors of the plane crash. They wanted to know when their 'next acquisition' would be arriving."
Shannon paled, she felt as though she were about to throw up, she covered her mouth with her hand as she gasped.
"Locke said that it was too soon after the last acquisition."
Shannon put her head in her hands and let out a sob. "Oh God, Boone." She sobbed.
- -
Russia was watching all three them carefully. Aurora was the angriest of the three, cursing as she took inventory of the inventory. Alex the most anxious; caressing the boys face again and again, whispering reassuringly to him by fire light. The boy slept listlessly, his forehead beaded with sweat; his body twitching, his legs occasionally kicking, his mouth moving as though he were speaking; it was then he remembered the lemon juice and he too cursed under his breath.
Alex looked up startled. He shook his head and gestured calmingly for her to continue what she had been doing. She bit her lip, nodded and returned to caring for the boy, caressing his face and whispering to him. She had cleaned his wounds as best she could with what Aurora was finding as she was finding them. She was doing her best not to be afraid of Aurora's temper and cursing and banging around. But it was difficult. She wasn't used to other women, she was used to angry men that yelled and screamed and railed at her. She was used to the abuse and anger; but she wasn't used to being around women, let alone angry women.
She could ignore the slamming around of objects, but the cursing and the anger that radiated off her body was almost more than she could bear.
"I could kill 'em, ya know 'at? I could juuust keeeel 'em." She drawled as more pots and pans clattered about, causing Alex to tense up again and again.
"Could you calm down, comrade? You are starting to upset Alex with all of your anger. I think she has been through enough for a while, don't you?" Russia suggested softly, causing Alex to turn to him curiously. She didn't speak Russian and didn't understand how Aurora could understand him, yet not speak Russian either.
"Oh," Aurora stopped, looked up at Alex. She noticed how tightly she held herself as she sat next to the cot and grimaced, "sorry about that darlin'." She apologized as she came back over to her and the young boy. "Yer takin' good care of the man cub… kinda wish we knew his name, ya know what I mean?"
Alex nodded. "I could tell you what they called him, but I don't think you would like them very much." She whispered softly, sprinkling water over the clothe that covered his eyes to moisturize it.
Her cheeks turned red, but a silencing glance from Russia had her swallowing her anger. "I reckon you'd be right, sweets." She whispered softly as she reached over and caressed his fevered forehead. "Dern, he's burnin' up." She glanced over her shoulder and had an idea. Her eyes lit up and she jumped to her feet. "I'll be back in 5.9 seconds, yall, don' do nuttin' big wid'out me." She grinned as she backed away from them.
Alex looked at Russia in confusion, Russia shrugged his shared confusion, and she looked away timidly.
I know it's here somewhere, I swan to goodness I sawr it here. She thought to herself angrily as she scoured what she had just recently put back. She searched and searched until she found it. "AH HA!" She exclaimed triumphantly holding the gauze up in her hand as though it were a gold metal. She also found some peroxide as well as a great deal of Neosporin, thankfully. She took the items off the shelf and was ready to take them to Alex, but when she turned around she noticed something she hadn't before. 'A wagon.' She smiled, her brain going a mile a minute. 'We may not need to leave this crap here after all.'
Aurora hurried back over to the group. "Here, yall think this'll help?" She asked as she handed Russia the items; she nearly squealed with delight as his as eyes lit up and nodded. "Now, don't go to hard on him; we dunna need him thankin' we're gonna hurt him to, got it?" Russia nodded as he poured some peroxide on another bit of clean clothing he had managed to snag on their way out and started to clean the wounds on his back.
Alex looked relieved as well, but she also looked unable to convey it; so Aurora put her arm around the younger girls shoulder and pulled her into a haphazard embrace. The young girl with shiny raven black arrow straight hair that went down to her waist crumbled into her, letting out sobs of relief. "You ain't alone no more, dawlin'. We'z her' and we ain't goin's no wheres without yall." She whispered reassuringly, rubbing her back and holding her close. Her and Russia's eyes met and with one look said more than any volume of spoken or written words. Alex and her friend- if necessary- were part of their people now. And God help anyone that tried to hurt one of them.
Russia looked back down and leaned in as he cleaned the wounds. The wounds were numerous and none shallow, he wondered how he had survived as long he had with the blood loss and infections. And he wasn't sure if it were a blessing or a curse that he hadsurvived. He found himself cursing such a negative thought as he padded a rather large gash with the gauze and tape Aurora had given him.
They sat in a companionable silence as he worked on the worst part of his back. Some of the wounds weren't infected; yet were in danger of infection, so he carefully cleaned and bandaged them, the smaller ones, oddly, seemed to be the ones that were turning red and puffy 'probably from sweating so much' he mused morbidly, as he did his best to clean them, and apply some Neosporin, yet leave them uncovered so that they could breathe. He hoped that this would prevent the infection from burrowing deeper under the skin and help promote healing of the wounds.
Just as Russia finished the worst part of the young mans back, he started to stir. Alex pulled away from Aurora sharply, kneeling beside to him, his hand firmly grasped in her own.
His head lulled from side to side, his lips opened as he soundlessly moaned, his brow furrowed, his fingers twitched and flexed.
The first thing that Boone noticed was that he wasn't outside anymore. The second thing he noticed was that his arms weren't twisted around his torso and his hands weren't bound together. The next thing he noticed was that his back didn't feel as oppressive and sore as he had come to gotten used to it being. He also noticed that his blindfold was off; which could mean one of two things: either they were being nice or he was going to get a new, probably worse blind fold. He doubted it were the former, and feared it was the latter. But until then, he would relish the moments when the blindfold wasn't so tight that he could feel his eye balls being pressed back against his skull. The last thing he noticed was that someone was holding his hand, and that someone, probably the same someone holding his hand, was stroking his forehead affectionately.
It took him a few minutes to wade through his muddled, sleep and food deprived mind before he recognized the voice. He could feel his heart swell as he recognized it as the girl that had snuck him food and made it so that he could rest, if only for a few seconds. Relief flooded over him, the burdensome guilt dissipating as her voice filled his ears.
She's okay. She's okay. Was all he could think. She's okay. She's okay.
"Its okay, it's okay, you don't have to be afraid." He could hear her voice coo into his ear. He wanted so badly to open his eyes, but he could feel a cool cloth over them and worried if it were too soon, or if Ethan and the others were standing over her shoulder, whip in hand, waiting for the moment that he disobeyed.
His stomach churned anxiously, reminding him that his throat was still dry and parched and that the lemon rinds had adhered to the back of his swollen and scratchy membrane.
"You're safe now, I promise," she cooed, as she gently caressed his forehead, her fingertips barely brushing his hair from his brow. "You're safe here," she whispered again as Aurora nodded to Russia.
Russia dimmed the lantern until it cast just the slightest of glow across the occupants of the room and their surroundings. He figured that way the boy wouldn't be startled by their movements, nor would he think that they were attempting to sneak up on him.
With the lantern sufficiently dimmed Aurora touched Alex's elbow and nodded.
Alex smiled, her heart fluttered, and yet a part of her was deeply saddened that something as odd as unblindfolding a young man could bring her such joy. She shook the thought from her head and turned back to the boy, "I'm going to take the cloth off your eyes now, okay?" She warned him gently, but his hand shot out and grabbed hers, squeezing it frantically.
"Sssh, it's okay, I'm not going to let anything else happen to you," she cooed as she slowly peeled the cloth off of his eyes.
As she did that, Russia scooted himself back against the sheds wall so that his presence wasn't quite so looming or intimidating. Aurora, on the other hand, came and knelt next to him on one knee.
He kept his eyes closed tightly as first, but Alex caressed his temple softly, and whispered sweet reassurances into his hear. "Don't you want to see my face? I know that I want to see yours. I want to see your face unbidden by blindfolds. I want to see the color of your eyes."
His eyes opened slowly, his long eye lashes fluttering until he opened them fully, blinked, and opened them again. It was dark, very, very dark, but at least he could make out faces and objects
"Hey, hi, there you are." She greeted him with a full smile. She looked into his eyes and gasped softly. "I knew it." She whispered softly. His brow furrowed in confusion. "You have the prettiest eyes I've ever seen." His face relaxed and he smiled weakly, as he sighed softly.
The soft clearing of the throat caused both to turn their heads a little. "Oh, I'm sorry. How rude of me?" She turned back to the young boy. "This is my friend, her name is Aurora."
"Howdy," she nodded, but made no move to try and shake is hand. Boone was grateful for this as he wasn't sure he had the energy to do so.
"And her other friend is called 'Russia', but we don't really know his name, is sitting over there," she pointed across the room on the other side of him. He turned his head just enough to see where she was motioning and saw a rather large intimidating figure that nodded at him abruptly but didn't speak.
"Don' give no ne'er min' t'Russia… he unnerstan's English aight, we-ell, as aight as we speak it, 'cludin' m'own saylf," she grinned sardonically. "Bu' he don' speak none of it. He ain' bein' rude none, we jus' figgah 'at you don' speak Russian…" she quirked an eyebrow. "Do ya?"
He shook his head to the negative.
"Oh," her shoulders slumped a little. "Bu' no worries, aight? I've picked up 'nough Russian to unnerstan' him." As she spoke she noticed that he was pulling the cloak around himself tighter.
"You cold chil'?" She asked, putting her hand on his arm and frowning. "Chillt t'the bone even." She muttered biting her lip. "If we coult get sum'in warm into his tummy…" she trailed off as he started to shake his head emphatically to the negative. "Sum'in wrongk honey?"
He tried to speak but nothing came out of his chapped, cracked lips. Aurora turned to Alex. "Be a dawl, and get us some water woulja?"
Alex nodded and rushed to over to Russia, who had the canteens. Aurora couldn't understand him or what he meant because he kept on shaking his head 'no'. "Aincha hunry boy?" He nodded but then shook his head no. "You, are confusin the hayl outta me, ya know 'at?"
He wanted to tell her about his throat, and about how he knew that if he ate anything that he would throw it up, as well as all of the lemon rinds and other lemon crap that was stuck to the back of his throat. But he couldn't because he couldn't talk. He didn't want to throw up on her, he didn't want to throw up at all, but he also knew that the only way for it get better was to expel all that crap from his system. And yet, it was not something that he was looking forward too.
Aurora took a step back when Alex came back with the water. She watched as the boy reluctantly, almost with a sense of resignation, pulled his upper body up to take a sip. But he hesitated. Even with just the slightest of glow cast upon his face she could tell that he had turned a sickly shade of green.
"BUCKET!" She turned her head, saw one in the corner and with one hand, flung it through the air. Russia caught it fluidly, jumped to his feet, ran over to Alex and put the bucket in front of the young mans down turned face.
- - -
Sayid and Shannon were preparing to leave after dark. They knew they had to tell someone, but they also were aware that the fewer people that knew the better. But that left the question: who to ask?
They needed someone that they could trust with a secret; but at the same time wouldn't put themselves in harms way, even accidentally. That ruled out Jack and Charlie; people they both cared about immensely, but were to impulsive and head strong to know of their plan and be trusted to stay behind.
They couldn't ask Jin, besides not speaking English, his violent temper wouldn't help.
Michael had Walt to worry about. And Sawyer… Sawyer was more use to them protecting the others- and they both knew he would, even if it were reluctantly- than out in the wild with a person that he couldn't stand.
That left…Hurley.
They were reluctant to ask him, but knew that Hurley was a trust worthy guy… they just worried that he might faint when he heard what they were about to tell him.
They approached him while he was going through more pieces of luggage that some people had found in the jungle.
"Hey dudes, 'sup?" He threw over his shoulder as she rummaged through a suitcase.
"Hurley," Sayid looked around to ensure that they were alone. "I have a favor to ask of you."
Hurley stopped and turned to them slowly. "Uh oh. Is this as serious as the expression on your face, Sayid? Cause, dude, if I have to carry around a knife, a little warnin' would be nice."
Sayid looked down at his feet, flustered. "Am I so transparent, my friend?"
Hurley chuckled and shrugged. "Naw, I'm the fat guy, I try to be as inconspicuous, innocuous, and as invisible as humanly possible-- not easy mind you, but I try. I watch people. And you, Sayid, have this way about ya; whenever you ask a favor of someone… I can see it a mile away." He paused. "Granted, it doesn't happen a lot, but it happens."
"He's right you know." Shannon added, feeling suddenly self conscious, or was it Boone again- she couldn't tell. She felt awkward and naked suddenly, as though to many people were watching her and judging her. It couldn't have been because of Sayid and Hurley, they were two of the least likely to ogle her. As she touched her palm to her forehead the feeling of lightheadedness swept over her, the blood rushed from her head, and her legs began like jell-o.
The next thing she knew Sayid and Hurley were both catching her before she fell and easing her to the ground.
"Woah, dude. What the heck was that?" Hurley asked softly.
Shannon looked at Sayid slowly. "Boone," she whispered breathlessly.
"Say wha?"
They both looked at Hurley. "Ahhhh, man. Why me? Whhhy me!" He demanded softly, as not to attract the attention of the rest of the group.
"Because, Hurley, you are the only objective one of the group. Shannon and I were going to leave without telling anyone; but it occurred to us that that would only tip off those whom we least want to know what we are doing. This way, telling you, having you lie for our absence; we can insure that we are not being followed and that our fellow survivors are protected."
"So-- exactly what I am getting myself into."
"First we must ask you one thing."
"Shoot, man."
Shannon gripped his hand as he asked. "How much do you trust Locke?"
Hurley looked away for a second, it looked to Sayid as though he were about to betray something.
"What is it, Hurley. You must tell me." He beseeched urgently.
"Well, lately," he made a distasteful expression with his face before glancing around as Sayid had done earlier. "He's been acting kind of… weird, even by Locke standards, just plain weird."
"Like?" Sayid prodded
"Like, trying to lure Claire out into the jungle to talk without Hevie. Like trying to convince Charlie to go 'hunting' with him, even though Charlie was dead dog sick with food poisoning. Like trying to get Walt to hate his dad; ya know those two have bonded over the whole 'OMGWTFPOLARBEARALMOSTATEME' thing, and Locke's not happy about that."
Sayid scratched his beard, rethinking all of the preconceived notions he had had of Hurley five minutes earlier.
"Granted, the time he tried to take Claire out I made a fuss about Hevie needing his momma. Jack intervened for Charlie after I shoved him into their conversation and with Walt all I had to do was get Mike's attention and show him who Walt was with… But ever since then…" he winced sharply, and then rolled his eyes at the shocked expressions on Shannon and Sayid's faces.
"Come ON guys. I'm FAT! Not BLIND!"
They both shook their heads sharply, apologizing to him under their breath. "So what is it that you want me to do, exactly?"
"Don't trust him, and whatever you do, do not, under any circumstance tell him why we REALLY went out into the jungle."
Hurley bit his lip thoughtfully. "You're going after Boone aren't you?"
Both fell silent. He had his answer.
"Consider it done."
They looked up sharply.
"Anything else?" He queried curiously.
"If you could keep an eye on Charlie, Claire, Walt… basically anyone that is young and perhaps impressionable."
Hurley nodded. "Got it. But what do I say if Jack asks about you two?"
"Tell him…"
"Tell him that I lost it and needed to get away from everyone for a few days and Sayid wouldn't let me go alone." Shannon interjected quickly, drawing stares from both men. "WHAT? Don't you think they'll believe it?"
Both shrugged in agreement.
"Anything else… going once, going twice…"
"Could you look after our stuff for us?" She asked hurriedly. "I… I put mine and Boone's things together; because that's the only way I could keep Sawyer from snagging them. I could bring them up here…if you don't mind."
He shrugged. "Might as well. Sayid, I'll do the same thing for you."
He nodded gratefully. "Thank you, I really do appreciate this."
"Think nothing of it… oh wait… I have something you might need." He pushed himself up and hustled across his little cubby before hustling back to them with something in his arms. "I figure; if you're lookin' for… you know…" he coughed not wanting to say the name incase John was around. "That he's been out there for a while and could probably use some… stuff…" he muttered as he handed Sayid a backpack.
Sayid and Shannon looked inside, Shannon gasped audibly. "Hurley, you didn't have too…"
He shrugged. "What can I say, big guy's got priorities… granted, I don't know how great it tastes, but it's like chicken broth, the real stuff, not the store made crap. It's healthier too, you know, no preservatives and all that junk. And the medical stuff is…" he looked around sheepishly. "In case I hurt myself…I'm klutzy."
Shannon impulsively embraced him, giving him a kiss on the cheek and hugging him again. "Woah, there." He laughed.
"Thank you so much," she sniffled emotionally.
"Hey man, I'm just looking out for my peeps, ya know?" He whispered as he pulled away.
"Yeah, I know." She nodded as she pulled herself away and composed herself, walking a little bit away from them.
Both watched her closely as she ventured near the mouth of the cave.
"She's gonna be a mess if you don't find him."
Sayid nodded. "Agreed."
"When are guys gonna leave?"
"Tonight, after dark, hopefully no one will notice we are gone until morning." After a second, he quickly added. "If we do not return within a week-"
"Ah, man… you guys GOTTA come back."
He shook his head. "Not without her brother we don't."
- -
Aurora and Russia put the second bucket of bile outside the door cautiously. "Why did you not just throw it out?" Russia asked carefully.
"Cuz, Igots a plan." She explained with a glint in eye that sent a shiver down Russia's spine.
"I do not think I like these plans of yours. Not at all, comrade, not at all."
Aurora smirked at him as she pat his arm and closed the door behind them. "You ain't gotta like 'em Rushky, you just gotta put up with them." She muttered the last part under her breath as she led him to the supplies she had mentioned earlier.
He shook his head in amusement as she showed him all the supplies that they had hidden away. He could sense her anger about the things that they had kept hidden from them; he could also feel his own anger growing. She had a right to angry; they needed some of these things.
"Look 'at 'is!" She exclaimed quietly, trying to keep her voice down. "Mouth wash, friggen tooth paste, TOOTH PASTE, hell, look 'at 'is," she threw something at Russia and he caught it against his chest. "Look 'at it." He held it at a distance and looked at the label. "Know how we lost track of what the year was?" He nodded absently. "Look at the bottom. I guess we know what year it is now."
"2004 filled, refill 2005." He muttered. "Almost a decade… we've been here almost a decade, young Rory." He couldn't believe it; they had been stranded for almost an entire decade. "Look comrade. S. Rutherford. I wonder if they are a companion of our little friend, yes?"
She shrugged. "That is if S. Rutherford survived."
He nodded in sad agreement as she continued to show him everything. Lastly she showed him the wagon/cart.
"TadaI!" She grinned, as she swept her arm across grandly in front of his eyes towards the cart.
It was ragged, but not poorly made. What impressed him the most was the tall back and numerous deep drawers.
"We can put all this junk on here, and me and you or me and Alex can pull it."
"What about the boy?" He asked softly. "Where will he be?"
"Either we have to carry him, or we have to jimmy-rig something for him to lie in. Cause there is one thing that is fer sure; and that's that that youngin' ain't up to walkin' anywher' fer any period of time."
He nodded as he checked the security of the wagon and the contents of the wagon itself. The wagon was built very well, he was impressed. The contents of the wagon left a lot to be desired, but there was nothing that he would throw away, everything there could be used eventually, and it would be. They never let anything go to waste; they had learned their lesson a long, long time ago.
Aurora excused herself to check on the boy and Alex. She was surprised to see that the young lad was asleep on the cot with Alex perched beside him as his ever present protector. She approached them quietly, just not silently; she saw no need to startle them.
Alex turned and smiled a greeting with a finger held to her lips. "He finally fell asleep I see."
Alex shook her head. "More like sleep fell him." She chortled.
"Ah, I see," she sighed as she sat down in front of her younger friend. "Were you able to get anything out of him… a name… how he got here…"
"Yeah, his name is Boone."
"Boone? Boone! As in Daniel Boon. As in 'I live in the Boon docks'?" She snorted softly. "Poor kid, I bet elementary school was hell."
"Elementary school? What's that?"
Aurora's eyes widened for a second. "I… It's… I'll have to explain it to you later…" she shook her head. "I don't know how to explain it quite yet."
"Oh, okay."
"What else did ya learn?"
"His name is Boone Carlyle. He's from the US. He was on the plane with his little sister. The last thing he remembers before coming here was being hit from behind by someone he trusted…but he was reluctant to name him." She paused thoughtfully. "I hope you don't mind that I didn't press him; he was very tired and--"
"Alex, honey, dawlin, he needs all the rest he can git, no harm done."
"But I did get him to eat some of that porridge; I'll have to thank your friend Russia for it."
"She's welcome." He muttered as he walked around the cot to grab some supplies on the other side of the shed and walked back to the wagon without further comment.
Both girls jumped a little, but relaxed when they realized that it was just Russia. Alex stayed quiet until Russia left again just as quickly as he had appeared.
"How does he do that?"
"You mean sneak up on ya wif outcha knowin' it or understand what we're sayin' but not be able t'speak it."
"Both."
She snorted softly. "Vurry, vurry curfully, honey. Vurry, vurry, curfully." She muttered under her breath as she watched him walk across the shack, pick up a few random items, walk back over to where they were sitting, smile weakly, put the items down, make a small fire in what for all intents and purposes looked to be a portable barbeque pit, sit it on top a few boxes and scoot it closer to them, and leave without so much as saying a word. "Curfully indeed," she muttered as they both warmed her themselves. "Curfully indeed."
- -
"There is only one shot at this, and it has to be done perfectly."
Both sighed. "Duh Sayid, we've been over this over and OVER and OVER again. Can we just get it OVER with now?" Shannon sighed.
"I just want to make sure that everything goes off without a hitch."
"Dude, it's just stopped raining. If you don't leave now, it'll start again and then--"
He sighed heavily, hanging his head a little. "I just want to go over it one more time, please. It would rest my conscious knowing that no one is going to go worrying about us."
Both Hurley and Shannon sighed dramatically, but good naturedly. They understood his worries, but that didn't mean that their nerves weren't already shot. They saw no need to further their own anxiety with his, but they understood, as much as one could in such a situation.
"We are going to leave. Hopefully," Sayid crossed his fingers and looked heavenward, "they won't notice that we are gone until the morning. At which point you will tell anyone that asks that Shannon needed to get away from everyone for a day or two and that I insisted upon escorting her and that we had asked you to watch our things."
"And if anyone asks, I don't know which direction you went; only that you have plenty of supplies, water, and a couple of knives for protection." Hurley added with a smile. "See, I was paying attention."
Shannon tried to hide a chuckle behind her hand but failed miserably.
Sayid just shook his head and closed his eyes.
"We should get going." Shannon mentioned as she grabbed her backpack. She turned and gave Hurley a hug and another kiss on the cheek. She knew it flustered him, and for that reason alone, she liked to do it. Not out of meanness, just because- well she kind of knew that he wasn't the type to get kissed a lot, and well, a little flustering never hurt no one :D.
"Agreed," Sayid nodded as he pulled his heavy backpack onto his shoulder. He turned to Hurley and smiled, his hand outstretched. "I won't be as forward as Shannon," they both chuckled as they shook hands.
"Ah, what the hell." Hurley gave him a quick, impulsive hug, which caught Sayid off guard at first, but he returned the hug, patting his back before pulling away.
"Goodbye, my friend. And do not worry, Shannon and I shall be back."
Hurley nodded, but he couldn't bring himself to watch as they walked away. "Yeah," he muttered to himself as they rounded the corner and disappeared into the jungle, "but how long can I keep Locke off your asses?"
With a sharp shake of his curls he quietly returned to the caves.
In the distance a wolf howled. That lone wolf howl was followed by another.
Hurley stopped, his heart clenching in his chest. "What have they walked into?" He whispered ominously. "God, just keep them safe, please God, just keep them safe." He prayed as he hurried into the caves.
- -
Russia had just finished packing the wagon. She hadn't really expected him to do it by himself; but he didn't seem to mind and in all truthfulness, she had to be honest with herself, he probably did a better job by himself than with her lame attempt at assistance. It was times like these that made Aurora wonder about Russia, his past, who he had been before that fateful day so long ago. She also wondered if he wondered about it too. If he ever thought back to before the crash, if he ever tried to remember what the crash itself had permanently dislodged from his memory.
Weird thing; trauma, sometimes it affects you in very specific ways. Sometimes it steals your voice for no other reason than you've been traumatized. Sometimes it steals your sight because of the things you've seen that you never wanted or expected to see. Sometimes it steals your hearing because of the things you've heard that you never wanted to hear. For Russia it stole a very selective part of his memory; mainly any memory of what had happened before the crash itself. He didn't know his name, didn't know what occupation he had held, didn't know why he was on the plane didn't speak English… but yet he could understand it perfectly-- for the most part. Every once and a while someone would say something that would cause him to give them all a look of complete vexation, his brow furrowed, his eyes filled with confusion, his mouth dropping open slightly and they would stop and explain it to him until he understood.
At first some of them had even thought he had been faking it, but as time passed they realized that he really couldn't speak English. Some had panicked a little and some had even ostracized him; leaving him to his own devices, breaking off from the group that welcomed him in their midst's, into their own little splinter cell of sorts. She winced at the memory, it hadn't been long before most of that group had died, and the few that had survived had begged for clemency, forgiveness, and help.
Judge not, lest you be judged, y'herr? She had said before turning on her heal, and whistling for the rest of the group to help them.
She shook her head sadly. It hadn't taken long for her to get the basics of Russian down. And Russia; they had 'named' him that and he answered to it without objection or complaint, was an eager teacher, who had been ecstatic to have someone to interest in the language he spoke.
She snuck a peak out the shelters one and only door and was relieved to see that it had stopped raining. We can leave soon. Th'soonah th'better, 's'all I gotta say. She thought as she turned her back to the door and began to close it. She stopped short as a howl pierced the air. The howl was long and was soon joined by another. She turned and peaked out the door once more.
She heard a gasp behind her. "What was that?" Whispered Alex.
"The wolves."
"The ones that chased the Others away?"
"Uh huh."
"Why are they howling?" She whispered with trepidation.
"I think it's our all clear sign from 'em. I don' think they'd howl like 'at if we were in danger; they'd probably be here to protect us." Gotta love wolves that adopt people as their cubs. She thought with a morbid snort.
"C'mon chil', we gotta tayl Russia." She closed the door and walked back over to Russia and Boone. Russia had cleaned house; no, literally, he had cleaned out the entire storage area of everything they might ever need, including the cot that Boone had been sleeping on. The cot had been neatly arranged in the back where the shelves were slanted forward just far enough for the cot itself to fit with some added padding for bumps and such, as well as enough room for Alex, Aurora or himself to sit next to the cot if they weren't pushing the behemoth wagon.
At the moment Boone was sleeping on a pile of thickly laid blankets. His head was on Russia's lap, his fingers caressing his temple, brushing his shaggy hair out of his face as he hummed to him with his deep baritone voice. She knew he wouldn't admit it, but she could see that he was deeply affected by the young man. She wasn't sure why or how, but it was as if this young man was touching something inside Russia, something from his past. She knew that it could turn into a volatile situation if it stirred memories that were deeply repressed, but for the moment she was going to put those fears and worries aside and concentrate on getting them on the trail back to camp.
She'd worry about the rest as it happened.
"Russia," she whispered quietly as they strode across the small room. "The rain has stopped and we heard the wolves howling."
He looked up curiously. "The wolves were howling?"
"Yeah, I think that be our cue to get he hayl outta dodge, ya know what I mean?"
He nodded, carefully laid Boone's head down on the makeshift pillow, rose to his feet, crouched down, put his arms underneath the mounds of covers and carefully hefted the pile and young man into his arms with a small grunt. "I will put the boy on the cot. Would you mind opening the doors?"
"Yeah, sure, not a problem." She bit her lip as she followed him back over to the cart and opened the massive doors while he carefully set Boone upon the cot and covered him with a blanket.
She walked back over to him as Alex came around the back and watched him.
Russia smiled at Alex before turning to Aurora. "Would you tell her for me, that I would like it if she would sit next to his cot back here so that he isn't afraid when he wakes up or has a nightmare?"
"Yeah," she turned to Alex and explained. "He wants you to sit back here beside him in case he wakes up, he won't to be afraid or freak out."
Alex's brow furrowed in confusion. "What help will I be to him?"
"Besides the fact that you are his friend, brought us out here to help him, are the first person that he's spoken too, and probalby the one and only friendly face that he has had to touch, feel, or hear the entire time he's been here?" She rattled off incredulously. "Oh, I don't know. I'm just thinkin' that when he wakes up; the first thing is NOT going to want to see is the face of a complete stranger."
"Oh," her cheeks turned red, she looked down bashfully.
"Hey, hey now," Aurora whispered softly, tilting her head back up with index finger crooked underneath her chin. "No need to be bashful darlin. Yer probably the only tangible thing that's kept him going fer however longk he's been her'. You just make yo own self all nice and comfortable right her' next to the boy and me and Russia will worry about the rest. "
"Ms. Aurora." She whispered timidly as she settled next to Boone.
"Ya'z gotta stop callin' me 'at. I keep on 'xpectin' my Ma' to be standin' o'er my shoulder." She admonished playfully.
"Oh, sorry."
"No problem, I'z jus' kiddin' wicha anyhoo." She smiled. "What were you gonna say doll face?"
"Well, I..." she bit her lip, her eyes darting around the darkened room anxiously.
"C'mon girlly, you kin say any ol' thang to 'Rora, I'm a nice folk... fer the most part."
"Well, it's just... my things... everything they let me keep is back at the castle... and since you and Mr. Russia are being so nice and taking me, us, away from here... I just..." she started fiddling with the cloak over Boone and turned her face toward her young companion as tears filled her eyes. "I don't have many things in this world, and I don't own any of them, they were given to me because..." she let out a little sob, but tried to compose herself before Aurora could see her tears as she knew that to show weakness was to anger the men that staked their claim on her. Granted, Aurora and Russia were nothing like them, but she didn't know how they felt about emotions and weakness and that scared her all the more. "I just don't won't to be a burden to you and your friends. You've all be so nice to me in the past... and... and.."
"Hey, hey there, ssssh," Aurora pulled the young fragile slip of a girl with her long black arrow straight hair and fragile frame into her arms and hugged her closely. "Don't say that... it's not the truth... you ain't a burden... and the stuff you've got back 'ere, no matter what they say or how they like to lord it over you, it's yours, and I tells you what; I'm gonna go over 'ere, while they are gone and I'm gonna get-cher stuff so that they kayn't try an' co-herce ya to come back an' get it an' kee ya 'ere, alright?"
"Y-you don't h-have too," she sniffled haltingly against her shoulder.
"Ah, sure I do, besides, I wanna leave 'em one last partin' gift 'fore I get the dickens outta 'ere. You've just given me an excuse to do it." She chuckled as she pulled away, her thumb brushing away her tears. "See, you'z jus' helpin' me out, 'ats all."
"If you're sure..."
"Ah ah ah, no more of this self defacin' stuff, aight? You just let me and Russia worry about the big picture and all the skeery stuff. You worry about keepin' this boy here layin' down and calm. We'll do the rest." She assured her, pulling away and helping her settle back in.
"Okay, I can do that." She smiled softly, her bright green eyes seemingly illuminated by the soft light of the fire behind them.
"Good, now, you just sit 'ere while I tayl Russia." She waved her friend good-bye before walking around to Russia; who was dousing the fire and looking the place over for anything else that had gotten by him that they could steal.
"Hey, Russia, listen, this is going to annoy the dickens outta you, and I readily admit that it ain't the bestest plan I've ever had, but, all things considering, I think it could be worse."
"What now young comrade." He asked with a knowing smirk.
"Well, there's this lil thang, ya see, I wanna burn this here shack"
If he would have been eating or drinking something he would have choked at how nonchalantly she mentioned arson.
"Oh wait, there's more."
"MORE?Should I be worried?"
She winced a little, "We-e-e-ell, if you were to be worried about me axin' you to take off without me so that I can ransack the mansion, get Alex's thangs and vandalize it befo' I catch up with yall, then..." he shot her a patronizing look. "Ah, come ON Russia. You know you wanna do it, and believe me, if it t'weren't fer the fact that you're built like a steamboat, and I'm built like a dinghy, I'd more than HAPPILY give you the go ahead to do exactly what I'm about to do, but you're waaaay nicer than me, and I wouldn't get this here barge to budge by my lone self."
He shook his head slowly, not believing that he was about to allow the one person that understood a word that came out of his mouth to leave his sight and possibly put herself in danger. "Okay, but on one condition."
"Ruh roh, what's the condition?" She asked warily.
He couldn't help but smirk. "Keep your ears and eyes open, stay alert. If attacked; do NOT take pity on them and..." He looked around cautiously. "Do a little damage for Russia. Those bastards deserve it, yah?"
"Oh Russia, you big ol' loveable lug you," she squealed, jumping up into his arms, giving him a hug, and kissing both of his cheeks. "If it t'weren't for the whole I love you like a father thing, I'd kiss you right now." She snickered as she rested her forehead against his.
Russia snickered, before letting her down. "Go, and be swift. It shouldn't be hard to find us, but I am not going by our normal route. I am going to stick by the stream that goes through the forest. I figure if we follow the stream that it won't take us but one night to get back to camp, instead of the two or three days it took us to get here through the forest."
"Gotcha," she called out as he bent his knees, grabbed the handles of the wagon and lifted them up to his sides. "And be careful out 'ere, and rest too, ya hear!" She called out as he strode out of the doors. Alex waved as they left, she waved back as she said a little prayer for them. We need all the haylp we kin get big guy.
She turned, looked at the empty shell of a shack and snorted, a smirk creasing her lips as she bent over to collect the buckets of lemony bile that Boone had inadvertently supplied her. "This is gonna be too much fun." She chuckled darkly before heaving the contents first bucket against the wall, and the second against the another wall. Around the corner she found the small container of gasoline that she had hidden from Russian, not out of meanness- maybe a little derisiveness, but not cruelty, she just wanted to get back at Ethan and his pals, that's all.
She took the container and generously doused the walls, the wooden plank floors, some brush that she had brought in from the outside and basically anything else she could burn. She shook the can to her left and her right as she backed up to the exit. When she was satisfied that all the gas was gone she threw the container down onto the floor in the middle of the room, reached into her pocket and got out a pack of matches.
"I shouldn't be having this much fun," she thought morbidly, as she lit the first match, watched it burn, and then threw it into the room. "Have fun now, y'hear?" She snickered as she closed the doors and high tailed it away. It was a good thing that she ran too, because no sooner did she close the double doors and seal them shut the gasoline ignited and a fire engulfed the shack.
"Momma always sait that I was a fire starter... who knew she was right." She snorted as the crackling of wood filled her ears. She looked over her shoulder and snorted. "How right she was," she muttered as the shack exploded. "Ooopsy, I must have gone a wittle over board. My bad."
With a shake of her head she turned back around and jogged back up to the castle. She thanked whatever god or God was watching out over her that night as the moon was bright, illuminating her path to her destination. "One down, one to go." She muttered sarcastically as she popped her knuckles. "Sometimes, I think I have too much fun... Nah. You can never have to much fun, she laughed heartily as she kicked in the front doors. "Never have to much fun... especially at the expense of a bunch of mo-rons."
tbc
I couldn't figure out how to end it, sorry about that. The next chapter will have more Shannon, Sayid and some of the others. I promise.
I also want to thank Monica and Rockstarhobbit for reviewing my story. It makes me feel more better about the squicky stuff I write (lol). Just think of Reviews as food for my writing muse, it makes my muse work harder to please it's people :D
Please review. Compliments, constructive criticisms and praise are greatly appreciated. And yeah, I didn't have a beta reader could you TELL?
note that's what I have people calling Heaven Lee.