Chapter Thirteen:

Television and Bravery

Hurley remained crouched behind the wall closest to the door. Great, the one place that I choose to hide from that thing and I have a more likely chance of becoming Kibbles and Bits. Great going Hurley.

He watched, as everyone remained somewhat quiet. He could hear the faint whispers of the others in the cave that couldn't remain quiet. They were scared. They had good reason to be, too. Hurley usually would make a situation more bearable by telling a joke. He had run out of them. He couldn't believe that he was in this situation, hiding from monsters and killing boars. A situation that he'd most likely see in movies or TV. Hurley could remember Charlie asking him for peanut butter. What he would do for something resembling home. Gah, how he missed burritos and Twinkies. He tried to convince himself that he didn't need any of those things. He recalled telling Locke what he had wished the hatch had concealed. Twinkies and a television. Huh, how things turn out. He had after all came down three notches on his belt.

He thought about the mysterious hatch that they had found. He couldn't get it out of his head. Maybe they would find something in it that would help protect everyone from what was out in the jungle. Only time would tell, thought Hurley.

He noticed that he sat alone. He was always alone. Unless someone needed him he sat by himself on the beach. Before Jin went on the raft he would share responsibilities of getting the fish. He'd miss Jin. Even though the language barrier was a little complicated some how they understood each other. He wondered if Jin was alive after all this time. He hoped for Sun's case, that he was.

Sun sat with Michael trying to keep him company while waiting for something, anything to happen dealing with the monster. She wished that the monster would just hurry up already. What are you waiting for? Get to it. She felt so empty after Michael had announced that Jin and Walt had not returned to camp. She felt sorry for Michael, but couldn't get Jin out of her head. Where was he? Was Abigail right? Is Jin dead? She had no idea what the future hold for her. She wasn't alone though. Both her and Michael were feeling the pain of a lost loved one.

She couldn't help but relieve the memories of her and Jin first meeting. She was at a local restaurant with a few of her girl friends. When she spotted a young Jin. She fell for him instantly she remembered. Love at first sight. But she knew that her father would never approve of them being together. Mainly because Jin didn't have money, all he had was the job of a waiter. When she first actually spoke to Jin he explained to her that he had no family. That both his parents passed away a year ago and he had to take on many responsibilities. She felt sorry for him. She'd never had the experience of losing someone she loved. Nor did she want to. She was feeling it now.

Two years before the flight Jin asked for her hand in marriage. She was delighted. But she knew that her father would never allow the two to be together. But unbeknownst to her, he had already asked her father if it was all right to wed her. She wanted to elope, start their life in America. But Jin wouldn't allow it to go that way. He'd rather have permission from her father. The only twist was, that he had to work for her father. After they wed things started to change. Jin started coming home late and with blood on his clothing. He wouldn't explain his actions and where he got the blood. She no longer knew who he was. This temporary job for her father wasn't working out. He was no longer the man she loved.

A few days before the flight she wanted to leave her husband. She even learned how to speak English fluently. She knew that Jin would be devastated if she would leave him. She wanted to get away from the man she use to love. The man that no longer was with her. He was different.

She stood in the airport and looked out the doors to see a black car waiting for her. She wanted to escape so many times. But when Jin pulled out her favorite flower, she couldn't help but fold. Maybe he wants to be with me after all. Maybe we can work things out?

Michael and Sun exchanged looks as they sat there quietly. He let down the one person on the island that he promised. His son Walt. How could he have been so stupid? He should've done something, anything to prevent those people from taking his son. The incident played over an over in his mind. What was he supposed to do? How could he have changed it? In replays he'd be heroic and beat the men or talked them into negotiating their survival. All ended with reality. No Walt and he wasn't so heroic after all. Walt's dog's collar was firmly in the grips of Shannon's hand. She had offered for Michael to take him but he told her that if Walt trusted you enough to leave his dog with her, he wouldn't take it.

He also had replays of the day he first heard that he was having a son. He loved the idea of having someone to protect, to take care of. He would name his son after his father. Walt's mother took him away after she got a job proposal as an attorney. She told Michael that she was leaving. And that she was taking Walt with her. How devastating. After that weekend he'd never see his son again. But he sent him a letter everyday that he was gone. The time where he got struck by the taxi sent her running back to his aid. He told her that he wanted Walt for himself. She reminded him that he was out of a job and had no money, nor a wife. She wanted the man she met, Brian to take care of him. To get custody of Walt.

This didn't take well for him. How'd she expect me to do that? Just give him up like that? Brian this Brian that. I'm over it. He remembered that after her death Brian was the one who confronted Michael. He wanted to give up the rights and custody. He no longer wanted to be in Walt's life. Not to mention he was only doing it for her. He warned Michael of his son being different. He couldn't explain it but he figured Michael knew what he meant.

He flew to Sydney to pick up his son. Reluctantly Walt agreed. He had never known about his father. The nanny gave Michael a small box. Somehow he knew exactly what was in it. The letters. He tucked them behind is back and entered the room to greet Walt. He was playing with his dog. The conversation was mutual. But Walt still didn't seem to trust him. He had no idea who the man was standing in front of him. While Michael knew exactly who he was.

"I don't know why we're sitting here like ducks. I bet she knows exactly what's out there and how we can kill it. She's just lying." Michael said snapping out of his memories.

Sun comely pointed out. "Yes. I know she does seem like someone that would do that. She seems very evil. An unwilling. I do believe she knows more than she's telling. But we don't have time to interrogate."

"Jin was brave." He said taking her hand into his own trying to comfort her.

She looked up at him. "They told me." She forced a smile. "He was always a strong man."

"Don't give up hope. He's alive somewhere. And so is Walt. We'll find them. I promise."

"Everyone says that, Michael. But nothing ever happens." She forced herself to speak through her nerves that were clearly clogging her throat. "He was brave."