Part V. New Life
"Everything fell apart after that, and so did I," Shannon raged bitterly. "I married that French guy – the one I told you about with the little boy. He said it would be easier to bring me to France if we got married. His daughter, Sophie, liked me at least… I think. Anyway, he wore a nice suit and had nice manners – at first – and made me think he was a nice guy. A real Prince Charming. But he was really a liar, a jerk and a cheat," she spat out.
"He used to really hurt me…." Shannon sucked in her breath hard, determined not to shed one tear for over the pain Philippe had caused. He had relished seeing her broken, the manipulating, power-crazed bastard. "But I couldn't leave because I couldn't let anyone see me that way and feel sorry for me…. That and I didn't have anywhere to go.
"The bad part is, he ruined my life. The good part is," she smiled sardonically, "I learned from the best scumbag out there. I needed a way out….
So I asked Boone to help me. I knew he would come for me… he always did," she admitted quietly. "It wasn't the last time either. Only the first time, he got to be a hero and rescue the damsel like he wanted. All the other times, it was – I duped him. I was just…desperate and using good people, using Boone – not just for money like everyone thought, but to prove something – that I could still do something, feel something! When he found out and got sick of it, he called me on it. He was mad and I was madder, so I – I slept with him."
Her tone suddenly became more forceful. "I don't want that to happen again, and I don't want to be that again! I don't want you to leave me, and I don't want to leave either!"
Unsure of how to continue and unable to discern his reaction from the sudden silence that stretched between them, she quickly glanced up.
"Shannon, I meant everything I said to you," he said softly, touching her cheek. She looked closely at him, scrutinizing his face for any sign of disgust. She saw only compassion, and something much deeper. He had called it love before, and she finally believed him.
"I love you, Sayid," she whispered moments later.
"I love you, too, Shannon."
She looked at him earnestly for a moment, silently contemplating the night he had made good on his promise to love her. Their last night of passion together. Their bodies entwined and their needs completely satisfied. She remembered kissing every inch of his warm copper skin as he held her in his arms, languidly caressing her in their sexual afterglow.
He had vowed to protect her that night, and knowing what she now knew of him, Shannon was determined that she would hold him and protect him in return.
She smiled enticingly. "I want to go back to my tent now. Please."
His only response was to smile and lift her lovingly into his arms and carry her toward the home he had built.
Fin.