As You Like It
Chapter Five
I have no time for hate or love
Hey child, you're so full of woe
I have no time for hate or lying
Hey child, you're no child of mine
- No Child Of Mine PJ Harvey
Chapter Five: No Child Of Mine
The ocean waves crashed in front of Jack in a steady rhythm that could drive one crazy, yet at the same time kept everyone sane. He had been fearing that winter would bring in a cold wave, but the ending of December only brought cool breezes and comfortable nights, which was a nice change from the humid nights and daze of the summer.
Mind if I sit down? Locke asked from behind him.
Go ahead, Jack shrugged.
I heard you made a scene at the beach, Locke commented after being silent for a moment.
Where'd you hear that? Jack responded sharply. Haven't heard from you in days.I get around.
Jack let out a snort because he knew even if Locke did get around', he'd be lucky to get anyone to tell him anything. It seemed that those who did know Locke were afraid of him, and those who did know him didn't trust him. Jack himself still wasn't sure what to think or belief.
Something on your mind? Locke asked, catching Jack off guard.
What makes you think that? Jack replied lightly, trying to shift the conversation off topic to avoid a complete response.
You attacked someone for no reason for one, Locke pointed out.
I didn't attack him, Jack said and added under his breath, and I had a reason. Locke acknowledged.
Jack turned towards him.
How'd you know?
He didn't even bother trying to lie. Locke could obviously read right through anything Jack said- just like Kate could.
You two have been close lately, Locke said, I may not be around to see it but I still hear the gossip.I'm glad they're enthused, said Jack.
But Sawyer's not, Locke said.
Well Sawyer's..Sawyer, Jack said, he wouldn't be happy if I paid for an all out wedding for him and Kate in Hawaii.
Locke laughed at the joke.
So how do you feel about that? Locke asked in a tone of a psychologists.
How am I supposed to feel about that? Jack inquired.
Afraid for one thing, Locke began, of commitment, maybe?
Jack shook his head.
he said quickly, even my dad used to joke about me being Mr. Commitment'.Then of a relationship? Locke guessed next.
A little late for that, isn't it? Jack said.
Not necessarily, Locke explained, it could mean a deeper relationship or say- more permanite one.
Jack shook his head, letting out an ironic laughed.
Locke asked curiously.
It's just..you're not the relationship guy, Jack said, you're the hunter..fighter, and whatever else people are calling you these days. Locke mused.
That too, Jack nodded with another laugh.
So who is the relationship' guy? Locke wanted to know.
Thinking about it, Jack released the only one of them who had ever came close to having an intimate relationship was probably..Alex. As crazy as it was, it was true.
And I was young once, Locke continued.
Well I wouldn't exactly call myself young, Jack chuckled.
Locke laughed as well and then stopped abruptly, causing Jack to do the same, and stood up.
There's somewhere I have to be, he said, and without giving any further reasoning, left, leaving Jack to contemplate on what all had just been said.
2001
And that concludes our thesis on the scientific revolution, the professor was saying through the door.
Grumbling was heard as the students stood up, gathered their things, and excited the classroom. Jack stepped out of the way as the students left, and waited until the very last pupil was gone before entering the classroom himself. A wave of nerves rushed through Jack once he stepped into the room, and he had to force himself to look up once the door closed behind him.
I'm sorry but I can't offer any further help until this afternoon, the professor said, gathering up numerous textbooks from her desk and began stuffing papers into her briefcase.
I'm uh- Jack cleared his throat, not in the class.Then why are you here? The teacher asked impatiently.
Long brown hair hung to the floor as she bent over to pick up what looked like test that she had just dropped. The woman was average height and though she clearly wasn't focused on looks, it was obvious that work played a big part in her looks. She looked like the type to be a dedicated teacher, yet at the same time constantly worried about pay and failing students. Jack assumed she taught mostly freshman, judging by the little bit of behavior he saw from her first class.
Because I'm your son, Jack stated carefully.
The professor looked up, so shocked she dropped a pack of ink pens she had been holding.
There must be some mistake, she said, shaking her head as she bent down to pick up the pack, I don't have a son.
A sick feeling settled in Jack's stomach and he swallowed, trying to remain cool and calm.
Except you do, Jack finally said.
Jack crossed over the room and sat down at one of the desk, and looked up at the professor, waiting for her to respond. Finally the woman took her eyes off Jack and sat the book she had been holding down, inching her hand towards the phone.
she said, sighing, I don't know who you are or what you want from me, but if you don't leave this room in thirty seconds, I'm calling the cops.
Shrugging, Jack just slumped back in the seat a little. Seeing his rebellion, the teacher reached for the phone.
Christian Shepherd, Jack muttered to the ground, just before her hand fell on the receiver.
She looked up.
What did you say? She asked quietly.
You went out with him in high school, Jack went on, remembering what all Sarah had found on the internet, it all went fine except for senior year, when the two of you got drunk and he got you pregnant.
The professor stood staring, stunned by this information.
How- how do you know all that?She said slowly.
The internet works wonders, Jack replied, and stood up.
The room went silent as the two stood, caught in an awkward silence. Jack finally decided that he wasn't going to get anywhere with this. He sighed, hating that all of this was nothing. It took a lot for him to come down here, at the very least time off of work, so the turn down didn't suit to well with him. But just as he turned to walk out, the woman spoke up.
I didn't want to take that drink, she began softly, but one thing led to the next, and nine months later I was lying in bed with a crying baby who wouldn't shut up.
She smiled a little at the memory, though Jack didn't see what was so amusing.
For a while everything was perfect, she continued, and I thought we could really pull it off..the parent thing. at this point, she began shaking as she talked, but then..it just got worse.
Concluding that she wasn't going to go any further with the story, Jack cleared his throat, and spoke up.
But..you are my mother?
Though he already knew the answer, Jack was surprised to find that part of himself was hoping that that answer would be negated.
she replied flatly before Jack could finish his thoughts.
Jack nodded. And so here he was, talking to the woman he had always wondered about, though never really considered the idea of her really being there. Jessica Segan. His mother. Suddenly Jack wasn't so sure he could go through with the reunion. Maybe he was afraid of being let down, or hurt, but he didn't really know. He turned and finished his walk to the door, though was stopped once more by his mother.
Your father.. Jessica searched her memory, trying to think of the name, Christian? Are you two close?
Though not sure how true his response was, Jack answered quickly to prevent any other long pauses.
he lied, I work with him, actually. Jessica said simply, and a little sadly, like she was thinking that she was surely being left out of something good, well..take care then.
Jack nodded, not mentioning that that was a phrase he didn't here very much. This bit of information made him wonder if his mother had maybe moved somewhere else before resigning in LA.
And Jack? She asked just as he was turning the doorknob.
Jack stopped. Jessica smiled.
It was nice to meet you.
Jack nodded again and was almost out the door before thinking of something else to ask.
How'd you know my name? He asked curiously.
Jessica pointed.
Your jacket.
Looking down, Jack noticed his id tag was still on his jacket.
he said, chuckling.
And don't forget, Jessica added, I named you.
Why hadn't he thought of that?
It was my brother's name, she explained, he died a few months before you were born.
Jack nodded once again. He didn't really know what to say to that, so instead, he just offered his mother a small smile and threw open the door, leaving.
At the Beach- 2004
Hey, have you seen Walt? Michael asked, approaching Sawyer.
replied Sawyer, never taking his eyes off the object he was holding in his hands.
Michael raised an eyebrow when he saw the object Sawyer was holding was a toy airplane.
Isn't that Kate's? Sawyer answered quickly and simply.
The thing you almost killed Jack for? Michael went on.
Sawyer said, the topic not seeming to bother him at all.
Does she know you have it?
Michael nodded and looked around, trying to find a topic to change to. He could never quite figure out Sawyer. The only thing he could know for sure was that Sawyer must've had some passed and whatever happened, it was definitely, or had definitely, effected his future.
Man, you must have the skin of steal, Michael commented.
Sawyer shrugged.
Sawyer fingered the plane, just like Kate would do for hours on out.
Did you want something? Sawyer asked a few moments later, impatiently.
Michael stared at him, incredulous.
You didn't listen to a word Alex was saying on the raft, did you? Michael said.
All that about friendship? Sawyer snorted. I didn't know that you did.
What he really wanted to do was go off on Sawyer all together, yell at him that he wasn't the only one with problems and to just get over it..or something like that, but a bird called overhead, turning Michael's attention to the jungle. There walked out Alex, arms wrapped around her chest, looking down. Walt trailed behind her, but when he noticed his father on the beach, he began running towards him, and to Michael's surprise, threw his arms around him in a hug. Sawyer raised an eyebrow at the abrupt reunion, and Michael was just as confused.
he greeted nonetheless.
When he finally managed to pull away, Michael noticed that Walt wasn't wearing his usual smile, one he had even managed to keep after all the trauma on the raft. Then, surprising Michael once more, Walt stood partially behind him, watching as Alex began to walk forward, almost mechanically.
What's going on? Michael asked as she came closer.
Alex didn't respond nor look up as she continued to walk towards the ocean.
Michael called, grabbing her by the arm before she walked by him, keep going and you'll go straight into the water. What's up?
When Alex looked up, Michael nearly stumbled back in surprise. Her appearance wasn't what he had expected. Alex's face was pale and streaked with tears, and eyes bloodshot as though she had been drinking. She was shaking, and Michael couldn't be sure if she was struggling to talk or just plain using control. A trail of blood completed her new look, leaking from her forehead down past her ear.
he said, sit down.
Alex let him sit her down, and Walt joined them, though reluctant to let go of his father.
On the Other Side OF the Beach
Charlie glanced around nervously from where he stood under the beach. Sayid had built a small shelter some weeks into their island stay, complete with a small infirmary, though most of the medical supplies stayed with Jack in the caves. Taking a deep breath, Charlie stepped into the tarp covered shelter. After nearly a half an hour of arguing, Shannon had finally agreed to let Charlie being the one to do the snooping after Charlie reminded her that she might have better luck talking to Sayid later.
So now there Charlie was, amongst a few suitcases piled on the sand. Putting himself in Sayid's shoes, Charlie carefully pulled out the bottom-most suitcase, figuring if it were him, and he had something to hide, he wouldn't leave it in the open or in one of the first places someone would look. Unlocking the suitcase, Charlie threw the top back, and found some kind of light jacket laying inside. He thought better of it, and took the jacket out. Sure enough, there were a few scattered sheets of paper, along with a burnt envelope with Sayid's name on the back. Looking around once again to make sure no one was nearby, Charlie hurried to open the envelope, only to find inside am equally as burnt photograph of a young girl with some kind of foreign writing on the back. Knowing this would do him no good(most likely this would only help him if he were a detective looking into Sayid's past), Charlie put the photo back in the envelope and lay it inside, and dug deeper into the suitcase.
Next Charlie took out a sheet of paper, wrinkled from being erased multiple times. Flipping it over Charlie found some kind of layout. His eyes narrowed as he read the labels of what looked like mountains and boxes: beach, caves, jungle It was a map of the island. But that wasn't all the map contained. Also labeled somewhere on the far side of the page was one word: hatch.
What are you doing?
Charlie shivered when he heard Sayid's voice. It was icy and slick, and Charlie felt that part of the punch was coming even before Sayid threw it. As Charlie doubled over in pain, Sayid grabbed the map back, shoving it into the suitcase and placed the jacket back on top. He then restacked the suitcases and jerked Charlie back up.
Tell no one, he spat in Charlie's face.
Nodding, Charlie feared another punch, but was thankful when he was only thrown back.
Author's Note: In order to prevent making this story shorter than I want it to be, I had to end it there. Kind of a small-mini cliffhanger. I have to warn you, things are a bit rough right now so I might not update for a while..again..sorry about the long wait. I never really had time to write. But thanks two those of you who are still reviewing! You guys rock!
Coming up next on, As You Like It:
Now the surprising romance happens, the sickness pieces itself together, and alliances are more important now than ever for certain castaways.
And as for a hint for my big finale ending, aka, my next and last fic of this series? It'll be rated at least T..or the equivalent of R..for scary images, violence, and death. It's not a happy fic..few happy moments at all. I have my main ending planned, and two alternates I may post as well. As for the main ending, as of now, the last word of the series is none'.
Thanks again!
Until next time..
+ October Sky