Title: Hydra
Author: Crimson Coin
Rating: T … not quite R but it's romance so things may get a little steamy
Pairing: Juliet/Sawyer
Disclaimer: I don't own Lost or these characters. I just like to borrow them to have a little fun.
Summary: Dharma time story about how Juliet and Sawyer became a couple.
Note: This story is based on a suggestion from tntlostfan for a one shot. It's going to be multiple chapters because, well the ideas just started coming! So I hope I'm forgiven, tntlostfan. But I promise, you'll have your idea in the story.
Juliet attempted to calm the raging nerves in her body as she stalked across the commune from the motor pool back home. At only three in the afternoon, she had time for a nice long relaxing shower, change into her cotton pajama bottoms and a tank top and relax a couple of hours before she cooked supper for Sawyer.
She hoped he would be forgiving. She truly wasn't fair to him at all during the day.
*Flashback*
The alarm didn't go off. She slipped in the shower. Didn't have time for breakfast. Distracted, she tied her hair back into a tight pony tail as she walked down the stairs towards the front door.
Sawyer lay on the couch, his reading glasses resting on his nose. The blanket draped over his waist, he lay without a shirt, head pillowed. The book in his hands half finished, he glanced over the top of the pages to her and grinned. His eyes widened as Juliet stumbled over his boots and crashed into the opposite wall. "Easy there. Spazin' out and it's only eight in the mornin'."
She winced and leaned against the wall, lifting her right foot to grip her ankle. She glared at him, eyes aflame. "I didn't spaz out!" She snapped. "You left your damn boots in the middle of the room again!" She winced and pushed off the wall, walking a little. "Why do you keep doing that? I ask you every night to leave your boots by the door. What the hell are you thinking? Or are you even thinking? Your skull's so damn thick, sometimes I wonder if you can."
Sawyer blinked, an expression of absolute confusion on his face. "Jesus, Blondie, What are ya goin' all psycho bitch for? Chill out!"
She nearly crumbled at the words but the walls stood tall and firm. She turned on him and left the house, slamming the door shut behind her.
Sawyer blinked again, unsure. Were there tears in her eyes?
Juliet stormed across the grass towards the motor pool. Any emotions already masked, she focused on her destination. She just wanted to work and bang out her frustration on some old vans and call it a day. Maybe she'd take the sledge to the side door for a little while. She could always pound it back out tomorrow.
No, that would probably get her sat down to have a 'good talking to' by Horace or her boss at the motor pool and then probably Sawyer. She clenched her teeth, ignoring the pain of the discomfort the grinding caused.
The morning continued with relatively little interruption. She worked on van #5, an often troublesome van. Though that day all it required was a tire rotation and an oil change. Easy enough. She inspected the underside as well, testing the rust to see if any metal corroded beyond repair.
Just before lunch, she finished with Van #5 and approached her boss. "Number 5's all set."
The burly man stood, wiping his hands on his pants. "Yeah. Just got a call in from Phil. Emergency out at the Pearl, they want you to have # 10 ready to go as soon as possible."
She nodded. "I'm on it." She walked down the length of the motor pool to van #10 and gripped the handle to open the van. Locked. She frowned. "Mike," she called to her boss. "Mike!" When he didn't answer her, she walked back to him. "Mike? The van's locked. Do you have the keys?"
"Yeah," he called out from under his van. "It's on the table over there." His arm pops out, pointing to the front of the van.
She walked to the table and simply grabbed the set of keys and returned to her van. She fiddled with the few keys then pushed the key into the lock of the door. The key didn't fit. She frowned and looked at the key ring. It was marked #6.
She sighed and rolled her eyes, walking back towards Mike. "These are for number 6. That van is number 10."
"Oh," Mike called out from under his van. "I don't know where they are. Try Jason. Last I knew he had number 10."
Juliet stalked to Jason, eyes focused and obviously aggravated. "Jason. Do you have the keys for number 10."
"Yeah," he answered from his place bent over a car engine. He reached into his back pocket and handed the keys to her without looking back at her.
She took the keys and inspected them this time. A tag hung from the key ring labeled '# 12'. She growled and stuffed the keys back into his pocket. "Ten! Jason! Ten!"
He did not react to her jittery nerves and pointed her to a different mechanic. The rat race continued for fifteen minutes; Juliet fumed. As she returned to Mike, the big man grinned at her, a few other mechanics around him.
He smirked. "Find the keys yet?"
She glared. "What do you think?"
Jason laughed. "Oh come on, Julie, lighten up!"
The other men laughed.
She shook her head. "Lighten up? There is an emergency in case you all suddenly forgot!" Stressed, she raked a hand through her hair. "Give me the damn keys before Phil gets here, I'm not in the mood for his lip today if the van isn't ready for him."
Mike laughed. "Juliet, there is no emergency. We were all just havin' a bit of fun."
Jason grinned and nodded. "Check your pockets."
"A bit of fun …" she whispered and reached into the pockets of her jumper and pulled out a set of keys. Jaw clenched she read the #10 on the ring then slowly, lifted her eyes back to the laughing men.
Jason puffed his chest out proudly. "I'm a bit of an amateur magician, if I say so myself."
Juliet clenched her fist around the keys and with her patented 'Others' stare, slowly approached Jason. "Is that so?" She tilted her head at him and presented the keys. "I am too. I'm going to hide these some place dark … that will make it impossible for you to walk." Her voice absolutely serious.
Jason winced and the other men laughed. Juliet shoved the keys into Jason's chest and before she said something she truly regretted, she turned and stalked away towards the cafeteria.
The men watch her walk away, a bit unsure before one spoke. "Damn, and I thought Barb's PMS was bad."
Jason smirked. "Maybe Jim just isn't doing his job right."
Mike shook his head. "Alright, guys, drop it. Let's go, lunch time." His expression worried on Juliet's retreating form a long moment before closing up the hood to his van.
Juliet closed her eyes a moment. She heard their words and didn't want to admit they stung a little. But she wasn't exactly the happy recipient of a harmless prank. Any other day she would have laughed that off but they wasted fifteen minutes of her life she would never get back.
In the cafeteria, she grabbed one of the prepared sandwiches and stalked out, not bothering to look for anyone.
Sawyer looked up from his table with Jin, Miles and Daniel. He frowned.
Miles stuffed a few chips into his mouth, speaking around the chewing. "She looks pissed. What did you do?"
"What makes you think I did it?" Sawyer snapped.
Miles quirked a brow. "What makes you think I wouldn't think you did it?"
Sawyer stood. "Nobody asked you, Chow Yun." He stood and carried his tray to the dishwashing window, plucking an apple from the basket at the window's corner. He winked at the woman behind the window sill and tossed the apple into the air and easily caught it. Following Juliet, he walked outside. He searched the area, brow furrowed. When he walked around the building, he saw her near the playground, sitting on one of the swings. The playground empty, all the children eating lunch.
Her expression unmasked, stressed and sad. She held the sandwich in one hand, three bites indented in the bread. She rocked slowly in the swing and reached up with her free hand to rub her eyes.
"Afternoon, Sunshine." He drawled with a smile and sat in the swing beside her.
She jumped, startled at his approach and dropped her sandwich right into the sand.
He chuckled. "Little jumpy there?" His smile faltered when he saw Juliet bury her head in her hands, hiding her face. He slipped off the swing to his knee to pick up her sandwich, now covered in dry dusty sand. "Looks like yer sandwich is a bit ruined. That's alright though, we can go get ya another one. Didn't mean to scare ya there."
She sniffled and looked up and away from him, resting her chin in her palms.
Sawyer easily saw the tears brimming at her eyes. Usually he wanted nothing to do with emotional and bawling women however with Juliet, to see tears, it scared him. She never broke down. She was the strong one, the rock. Apparently she was not as hard as he thought. He reached over to her, presenting her with his apple.
The movement caught her attention and she glanced down at the apple now nearly in her lap. She smiled slightly and took the apple from his hand. "I have had … the worst day." She sighed and stood. "Thank you, James. I have to get back to work."
"Ya just got off for lunch. Come on, we can go back to the cafeteria. Get ya another meal."
She shook her head. "No I … I don't think I could eat." Her stomach rumbled to counter her point. She sighed and took a bite of the apple. "I just want to finish my work."
"Alright," he stood too and reached out, cupping her cheek in his palm. She ducked her head from him but he didn't release her. "I'll see ya tonight, yeah?"
"Yeah," she smiled weakly at him and when his hand dropped, she took another bite of the apple and walked back to the motor pool. Sawyer watched her the entire way.
*End Flashback*
Juliet closed her eyes, raising her face up to the warm spray of the water in the shower. She released a heavy sigh, a hum vibrating in her throat. The water soothed the aching muscles of her body and she washed slowly and meticulously. Waterlogged, she turned off the shower and pulled open the curtain.
Thick fog filled the bathroom from the heat and she carefully stepped out of the shower, reaching to her right to grab a fluffy white towel from the towel rack. She dried her body then wrapped the towel around her chest, tucking the end to keep it tightly to her torso, hanging down just to her mid-thigh. She reached out, wiping the faint mist from the mirror to look at her reflection.
Wet hair clung to her neck, dripping slowly along her shoulders and down her back. She picked up her brush from the nearby wire rack and raked the tangles from her hair. Evaluating herself, she gently touched the puffy circles under her eyes then placed the brush back on the wire rack. She left the bathroom, leaving the door open for the steam to escape and continued the ten paces down the hallway. She stepped into the bedroom and closed the door behind her, leaning back against the door in paused thought.
The seconds ticked unnoticed as she stood in her bedroom, staring blankly at the headboard of the bed. She peeled off the towel and draped it over the hook on the back of the bedroom door. Strolling nude to the dresser, she searched the drawers for something to wear. Indecisive, she pulled on her undergarments then settled on a loose, cotton knit shirt and slacks.
Finally calm and clean, she slipped from the bedroom to walk downstairs. Inspecting the living area, her brow furrowed. Sawyer had folded his sheet neatly and laid it atop his pillow at one end of the couch. An unusual occurrence, usually he left the sheet in a massive heap at the edge of the couch. The books and magazines on the coffee table lay in order. At the front door on a rough straw mat, Sawyer's boots sat neatly, the laces tucked inside the boot. Little dust or dirt coated the fabric or sole of the boot; they appeared recently brushed.
A loud crash from the kitchen startled her and she clenched a fist to her chest, eyes widened as she spun towards the sound.
"Sonuvabitch …"
She relaxed at the familiar southern accent and stepped around the corner and passed the dining table to peer into the kitchen. James sucked on the pad of his right thumb, glaring dubiously at the offensive pot in the sink. She smiled. "James?" She stepped into the kitchen, glancing around the small room, confused. "What are you doing? Are you alright?"
He glanced to her, eyes narrowed. His lips parted slightly and he sighed. "Yeah. Damn knife was jealous a the attention I gave to the pot."
She smirked and stepped beside him, looking at the small cut on his finger. "Poor Baby …" then glanced up at him, teasing.
"Ha Ha. Shut up. Still stings."
She touched his arm gently then glanced behind her at the baking pan and the filleted fish inside, seasoned and ready to bake. "You're cooking dinner?"
"Yeah … uh … surprise!"
Still confused, she lifted the lid on one pot and smiled at the peeled and chopped potatoes in the water.
"Kinda hard to be a surprise, Blondie, when ya keep nosin' around in my supper. Now get that sweet ass outta my kitchen."
His words warmed her and she could not resist the smile from tugging at her lips. "James, you didn't have to cook for me. I wanted to cook for you. To apologize about today."
"Eh," he shrugged casually. "I didn't help it none. Now I mean it. Get out. I'm doin' this. No complaints if I ruin it though. Got it?"
She chuckled and nodded. "Fine. I'm going to go read." Her smile firmly in place, she returned to the living room to stretch out on the couch and pick up her book from the coffee table.
A soft knock on the front door distracted her before she could read the first sentence. Juliet stood to answer the door.
Amy stood just past the door, a tentative smile on her face. "Hey there," she greeted then reached back to run a hand through her short and tight curly hair. "Mike came by and said you weren't really yourself. Everything ok?"
Juliet smiled reassuringly then glanced over her shoulder. Sawyer stood at the sink, scrubbing a pot. She turned back to Amy and stepped outside, quietly closing the front door behind her. "Yeah, I'm alright. Bad day."
Amy nodded supportively and stepped down off the porch. Juliet followed her around to the back of the house. About twenty feet from the back porch and under the shade of a mango tree, Amy paused and whispered. "Did you and Jim have a fight?"
Juliet chuckled, slicking her still wet hair back and then teasing it slightly in the breeze as if getting it to dry a bit. "No, not really. Just everything. I'm alright. Just one thing on top of the next, you know? Until you just want to scream or cry."
Amy smiled in agreement. "Oh yes. I know all about those." Her smile faltered slightly. "Believe me."
Juliet reached out to take her friend's hand and squeezed comfortingly.
Amy ducked her head a moment then swallowed hard before forcing a chuckle. "I … the day I met you was the worst day. I woke up late. I burnt breakfast. I tripped on Paul's boots." She laughed. "He always left them laying around and I just blew up at him and screamed at him. We got into this big fight." She licked her lips and sighed. "He took me on a picnic that afternoon to make it up to me. To apologize. And then …" she trailed off, knowing it unnecessary to recount her husband's death and how Juliet found her. "Anyway … I know bad days. Just don't let Jim take you on a picnic." She half jested.
Juliet hugged Amy, affectionately and strong. "I don't have to worry about that. James doesn't seem to be interested in picnics. I don't think it's up his alley."
Amy released the embrace and wiped the tears at her eyes. "I wouldn't be so sure of that. He absolutely adores you. You can see it in his eyes when he looks at you. Men like that would do anything for the woman they love."
Juliet forced a smile. She swallowed any swelling emotions and her controlled and calming mask easily remained in place. "Yes, they will."
Amy gripped Juliet's arm. "You're very lucky." She smiled and then giggled. "And the object of a lot of jealousy. When you all came, Jim had everyone eating out of his hands and all the women were just ready to jump him. You didn't have to hide your relationship from us in the beginning."
Juliet chuckled calmly. "We weren't really sure what to expect from you all. It was a way to be protective of me."
Amy frowned, confused. "Really? How is that?"
"Well, if you were hostile to us and you knew I was with James, you would use me against him. That's all. When James realized you were friendly, he wasn't fearful anymore."
"Oh," Amy laughed and nodded. "That makes sense."
Sawyer stepped out onto the back porch, leaning against the post at the steps leading out to the yard. He smirked playfully. "Am I settin' another place for dinner? Three's a crowd, Brill-o."
Amy laughed and hooked her arm into Juliet's guiding the tall blonde back to the porch. With her free hand, she reached up to touch her curled brown hair and flashed him a grin. "I'm not crashing your romantic dinner, Jim, don't worry."
"Good," he drawled and slipped an arm around Juliet's waist, resting his hand on her hip. "My girl here needs a good relaxin' night. I may or may not give it to her." He grinned wolfishly at Juliet.
Amy rolled her eyes. "Good night, you two. Try to keep it down. I do live just next door."
Juliet blushed and Sawyer chuckled. "Plug yer ears then."
Amy laughed and offered a friendly hug to Juliet before leaving. Sawyer kept his arm around Juliet, guiding her back into the house.
After dinner, just before twilight, Juliet stretched out on the couch, completely engrossed in her book. Sawyer sat at the opposite end of the couch, legs outstretched as he read his book. As she stretched, her feet bumped his thighs. He shifted to compensate for her and without looking away from his page, used his free hand to guide her feet up onto his thigh.
She sighed contently and flicked a page, the only sound in the room the slight crinkle of the paper at the action. He glanced at her, letting his eyes roam her body. She lay on her back, the book blocking her face from his view. Probably for the best. He didn't want her watching him checking her out.
He quietly closed his book and set it aside then turned slightly to face her, leaning back into the corner of the couch. He gripped her foot in his hands, pressing his thumbs into the arch of her first. She startled at the touch and her foot jerked. "Shhhh, easy there." He calmed and with a gentle grin, rubbed the arch of her foot.
She bit back the moan on her tongue and closed the book, resting it on her chest as she peered down her body at him at the other end of the couch.
"So … you gonna tell me about this bad day a yours?"
She settled back into the cushions, eyes fluttering at his massage. "It's not that important."
"Course it is, Sunshine. So let's have it. And fer each part ya tell me … the longer I keep rubbin' yer feet."
She bit her lip, considering the offer. Her eyes fluttered as he pressed at the knot near the ball of her foot. Releasing a heavy sigh, she relaxed and told him about her day. Every agonizing detail. To his word, he continued his massage, offering the wonderful treatment to both feet until Juliet felt to melt into a puddle of ooze right there on the couch.
As her story continued, he pressed his lips together to keep from laughing and instead focused on her feet, busying himself with the massage. When she finished, she watched him expectantly and he couldn't hold back the laugh, rumbling deep in his stomach.
Her walls erected again and she sat up, expression closed as she pulled her feet from his lap.
"Oh no no no," he stopped her quickly and reached out to her. She shrugged his hand off her shoulder and stood but he resiliently followed her. "Now hold on," he grabbed her wrist and tugged her back onto the couch. He sat beside her, the smile still ever present despite her scowl. "You realize … I mean think, Darlin', that is like Charlie Brown bad luck."
She sighed and the corners of her lips tugged just slightly in a smile.
"Now lay back again cuz I got about five more minutes to finish your foot massage."
She met his eyes, intensely. "Ten minutes. Five extra for laughing at my day." She swung her legs back onto the couch and lay back again, resting her ankles on his thighs.
He laughed at her brazenness and twisted again to grab her feet. He continued his massage, thumbs persistent and firm. His hand slid up her calf, working the muscle just above her ankle. At her quirked brow, he shrugged casually. "You said ten minutes. Figured I'd throw in a little extra. How's yer ankle?"
"It's fine." She hummed and closed her eyes. "If you leave your boots laying around again, I'll feed it to you for dinner."
He laughed again. "Point taken. Want me to go beat Jason up?"
She licked her lips then peered down at him from under half lidded eyes. "I'll think about it."
The rest of the ten minutes passed in comfortable silence. Juliet resisted the urge to sleep at his calming and relaxing foot massage. Any aching in her feet long soothed away. He smirked at her expression. "That good, huh?"
She sighed and with difficulty, pulled her feet back and sat up beside him. "We've been here six months."
"Yeah. Can't believe it's been six months already."
"I've been thinking about this … us here."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah," she stated and steeled herself, shoulders straight as she turned to face him. She perched her arm on the back of the couch, using her fist to hold up her head. "I think that by this point we're friends. And adults. And it's not fair that you've been on the couch this long. The bed is big enough … I think we could share it without … invading each other's space."
Sawyer grinned. "Really …"
She chuckled. "Well when you have that look on your face, sometimes I wonder if I'll end up kicked off the bed and on the floor."
The smile remained on his face and he curiously wondered if she truly thought that was what he was thinking. "Six months and I finally get bed privileges. If I kicked ya onto the floor, I'd lose 'em. I might steal the sheets though."
"You can have them. I'm always hot." She stood and smiled shyly then walked upstairs.
Sawyer licked his lips and released a slow steady breath, staring at the coffee table. "Yes you are, Blondie." He picked up his book again. Reading a chapter or two should distract him enough. He didn't want to ruin this opportunity. Sleeping in a bed again. And he knew if he crawled into that bed in his current condition, he'd likely be on the couch again.
Author's Note: And the next chapter down. Hope you all liked it. Thank you so much for the reviews and all the hits on this story, it means a lot to me. Juliet was always my favorite character on the show. She was one of the most complex characters and her arc in development was heart wrenching and bitter sweet. Because she never was fully at peace until she held Sawyer again at the very end and realized she was always first in his heart, despite her perpetual doubts in life. I like to stay with that character the writers gave, the balance of strength and weakness. She's enjoyable to write. Plus her musical theme was the best. Anyway, enough rambling. If you liked it, please review and let me know. To answer a review, yes, the Hydra title will have multiple meanings throughout the story and it's not just about the island.