LOST: But Not Forgotten
Disclaimer: LOST, unfortunately, was not my idea and I do not own the characters, etc.
Krys E. Laine
Jack slowly opened his eyes, the pain in his skull pounding across his forehead. He was tied up, again, but he was no longer outside on the dock. This fact suddenly registered - Jack started, feeling the harsh bindings bite at his skin. He opened his eyes fully now, trying to ignore the pounding. The room was dark, lit only by an eerie, orange glow coming from the small glass window in the metal door facing him. He was alone; his thoughts flew to Kate, and then to Sawyer. He pictured them in the same predicament as his own, and his heart ached with despair and guilt. In his mind, this was all his fault. He had led them out here, following someone he knew was leading them to danger. All in the hopes of ambushing the enemy. Jack felt sick at the irony of it. He had led them right into the trap he had been trying to escape. What now, Jack? He thought, torturing himself. How could he ever get them out of this, get Kate to forgive him?
Why wasn't there any noise? Why hadn't he seen anyone? The sound of his own ragged breathing filled his ears. Now that he was conscious he became fully aware of the hard, cold floor beneath his knees. His wrists were bound together behind him to a metal pole in the center of the room. The overwhelming silence was disarming. What now, Jack?
Kate was going out of her mind. Where is Jack? Where did they take him? She was fighting a losing battle against the tears that threatened to reveal her vulnerability. Come on, Kate, think…. But she couldn't think, the pain in her head was blocking almost all logical thought. She glanced over at the unconscious figure of Sawyer, bound the same as she was, on the far side of the cramped, fluorescently lit room. He had a large, dark bruise on the side of his head. Kate wished he would wake up. So this is it, they've finally got us. Kate tried not to think about the coarse rope binding her wrists - it reminded her forcibly of the handcuffs she had been free of for so long. "Ah, look who's awake"
Kate snapped her head up. Mr. Friendly, or "Tom," apparently, was standing before her. "You -" She began angrily. "How's your head, Kate"
He put his hand to her forehead. "Don't touch me," she said, jerking her head away.
Tom recoiled, then leaned in close so that she could smell his breath. She stared defiantly back. "You'd better remember your manners here, Kate.."
"Didn't you hear the lady?" Sawyer's slow drawl drifted from across the room. His eyes were barely open, and his breathing was labored, but he was awake. "Sawyer"
"You okay, Freckles?" Kate could only nod. Tom however, spoke. "Well, now that ya'll are reunited, I think it's about time I went and got everything, uh, ready." And with a small smirk he turned to leave. Kate used what was left of her strength to yell out. "Wait! Where's Jack?"
A small, almost satisfied smile crawled across Tom's face. "I was wonderin' when you were gonna ask about him." "Where is he"
"Don't worry yourself, Kate, you'll see your doctor again." His smile faded. "And if you piss me off, you might just have to." With that, Tom turned to leave again. Kate felt the stinging tears grow close as she glared at his retreating back. Halfway out the door he spoke again.
"That is, of course, considering he'd be fit to treat you"
The door slammed shut. Sawyer's pained moans reached Kate's ears, and the tears finally began to fall.
Juliet watched as the man struggled against his bindings. The window was so small and the room so dark she knew he couldn't see her, but she started every time his gaze came her way. There was fear, clearly, in his face, but something else too. Anger, pain, sorrow. Her heart wanted to reach out to him, but she resisted. She knew better: she had learned her lesson last time. That poor girl they had brought here,…..she had been pregnant too. She shook her head sadly and sighed. This can't be right.
Jack had just been slipping off to the blissful unconscious when the door was thrown open. A figure stood in the doorway, silhouetted by that orange light. Jack struggled to find his voice. "What do you want"
Saying nothing, the figure slowly came into the room and closed the door.
Tom waited patiently as the man that had called himself Henry Gale walked slowly down the hallway to meet him. "They're in, and awake now, for the most part," he told Gale when he reached him. "Good. Now as long as we don't have any incidents, like last time," he paused, and Tom looked away, "everything should go fine." Gale suddenly locked eyes with the young dark - haired girl that had been eavesdropping just a few feet away. She started, held his gaze for a moment, then hurried away. Gale stared after her, satisfied.
Juliet took a deep breath and made her way down the dimly lit hall. She could see the two men together at the end of the hall. As she approached them Alex rushed past her with her head down. "Alex, what's -" but the girl was gone before she could finish. Juliet watched her go, concerned, and then continued on her way with increased trepidation.
"I have a job for you, Juliet. " She looked into his eyes as he told her this, something most of them refrained from. "It concerns one of the new inmates. And based on past experience," he paused for effect, a smug smile making its way across his features, "I think you'll do much better this time."