A/N: This chapter is pretty long, but the stories have finally merged! Now I won't be able to post until Monday or Tuesday, so I hope the cliffhanger is good:)
Chapter 21: Escape Route
Sirens were going off in The Flame. Claire, Sayid, Locke, Danielle, Eko, and Desmond had their weapons drawn. Sayid and Desmond shot some of "the Others" as they forced their way inside. The group moved further down the barely lit hallway when shots fired!
Desmond saw a glimpse of where the bullets were heading and dove towards Claire. "Duck!" She did and Desmond got hit in the shoulder in the process.
More bullets went flying as everyone dove for cover. One grazed Eko in the leg.
Claire was worried. "Desmond are you ok?" They were still very close to one another against the wall, covering from the spray.
He smiled lighting through the pain. "I'm alright sister. I'll live."
"Well, well, well. It looks like rescue mission started." Tom announced, waving his gun. Pickett was right beside him.
Sayid suddenly got up and charged. "Let us through!"
"I don't think so!" Tom spat back. He and picket raised their guns towards Sayid, ready to pull the trigger.
Claire raised her gun and rose. "Take me to my brother!"
Tom and Pickett were shocked. "You know? Well, maybe that's a good thing. We can just take you and the baby."
"You will do no such thing!" A voice said from behind. Tom and Pickett looked back. It was Alex.
"Alex? What the?" Tom started.
Finding the opportunity Claire took action and fired at Pickett's leg, making him fall down, unable to move. Danielle shot Tom in the back and he fell.
Alex looked at what just happened. Then she stared at the older woman with the rifle.
Danielle stared at the girl and saw a younger version of herself. Tears came to her eyes. "Alex?"
The girl had tears of her own. "Mom?"
Wide smiles came across the faces of the two women. Danielle rushed to her daughter and hugged her. "I've been looking for you for 16 years."
"I knew I would find you." Alex clung to her mom, thanking a God she had heard about from Emma that her mom was still alive.
The group was amazed at the reunion. So far everything was going smoothly. Locke and Sayid moved the bodies out of the way. Even though Pickett was screaming for help. "Shut up!" Locke spat back at him.
However, Claire needed to find her family. She closed her eyes and thought. Where are you Jack?
As if someone answered her, a vision came. She saw a room, the 4th door of the hallway to her right.
"Ok. Now we need to find the room." Sayid started.
"I can help." Alex offered. "I know which rooms everyone is kept in."
Sayid looked around the group. He noticed someone was missing. "Where's Claire?"
---------------------------------------------------
Kate clung tight to Jack. The noises echoing through the building. "Was that gunshots?"
"I think so." The two were huddled against the wall furthest from the door. "Sayid must have found us."
"I need Emma!" Kate panicked.
"We'll get her. I promise." He kissed her forehead.
Suddenly, their door began to shake violently. Someone was trying to get in. The door pushed open hard banging into the wall. A familiar blonde walked in with her eyes closed, with one hard raised and a gun in the other.
She opened her blue eyes and found the two huddled on the floor. "It's amazing what our minds can do." She smiled, putting the gun back behind her jeans.
"Claire!" Jack said surprised as he helped Kate stand. They were really glad to see her.
"Hi big brother." Claire ran towards Jack and hugged him tight. Her head barley reached his chin.
"You know?" Jack asked, holding his baby sister tight with tears in his eyes.
Claire leaned her head back a nodded. Tears were in her eyes too. "I found dad's wallet."
Jack realized she didn't know what really happened to their father. I'll tell her after we get out of here. He kissed her forehead. "I'm so glad I found you."
"Me too, Jack-Jack. Dad always said I would have you to talk too, but I thought he meant my bear." She giggled and let go of Jack and walked towards Kate. "I don't want you to feel left out Kate." The girls hugged.
"Hi Claire! So much has happened." Kate replied. "Who else came?"
"Sayid, Locke, Eko, Desmond, and Danielle. She just found Alex. And we had to kill a lot of them to get in here." Claire pulled out her gun again. "I know how to use this. I practiced." She faced Jack. "Desmond has a shoulder wound, and Eko was grazed in the leg."
"Ok. I can heal them on the way back to camp." Jack replied.
"That's your ability." Claire realized. "Well, I think Alex was taking them to Sawyer…"
"Wait. We have to get Emma!" Kate pleaded.
"Emma?" Claire asked confused.
Kate smiled. "My daughter."
Claire looked between Kate and Jack, skeptical.
"It's a long story." Jack stated.
"Well, let's get her." Claire agreed.
The 3 of them went into the hallway. Claire was holding out her gun, while Kate led them to Emma's room. Claire taught Kate the same mind trick she did to open the door. Kate forced it open easier.
"Mom!" Emma ran and hugged Kate. "What's going on?"
"It's ok honey. We're getting out of here." Kate smiled.
"Daddy, are we really?" Emma asked.
"Yeah. We're going home." Jack answered, while Claire looked even more stunned to hear the girl call Jack dad.
"Claire, we'll tell you later." Kate spoke telepathically to her.
Claire was shocked by Kate's power. She had a feeling each one of them did. "Ok."
"Emma." Jack continued. "This is my sister Claire."
"Hi!" Claire said to Emma and got a hug from the little girl. "Some of our friends came to get everyone out."
"Em, stay close to me, Jack, and Claire. Ok?" Kate asked her daughter.
"Ok." She held her mom's hand as the 4 of them ran down the hall.
Alex and Danielle met them in the main hallway. "Sayid and the rest have Sawyer, Zack, Cindy, and the rest of the people. Follow us." Alex waved them over.
The 6 of them ran to where Sayid and the rest were just beyond the doors outside, but crashed into what felt like a wall. Everyone was shocked since nothing was there. Jack felt a wall, but it was invisible.
"A little trick I installed. Whoever I want, can not pass through that divider."
The 6 of them turned around to see Henry giving one of his creepy smiles.
"Victor!" Danielle glared.
"Hello Danielle! It's so nice to see you again. I see you met Alexandra. But I don't go by Victor anymore. And Claire! You saved me the trip the getting you." Henry said politely. "Now if you'll follow me."
"What makes you think we'll follow you?" Jack said bitterly.
"Just like Chris. I think this will convince you. Bea?" Henry motioned.
Bea walked out carrying a little baby who was crying.
"Aaron!" Claire screamed. How is he here? What did they do to Charlie?
"I think that got your attention." Henry gave a wicked smile.
