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.

*Flashback*

Juliet leaned to the side in her chair, peering towards the door at the back of the room. She saw little except for a brief flicker of brown hair. She knew the owner instantly; the only individual not present in the room, Alex. And someone beside her. Who was that? Jack? How did Jack get here?

The door closed before she saw anything else. Isabelle turned from the door, an envelope in her hand. Juliet squared her shoulders, head high as she met the eyes of the older woman, the matriarch of her people. Matriarch, sheriff, punisher, executioner.

The moment she pulled the trigger on Danny Pickett, Juliet was aware of the consequences of her actions. Death. Isabelle would have her executed for her treachery, her traitorous act. At the time, the consequences eluded her. She thought of only one thing – getting home. Ben promised her the opportunity to earn a trip home, home to Rachel and to normalcy. That single thought monopolized her thought, her action, her very instinct.

She knew without a doubt when she saw Danny pull a gun that he would fire. Danny had taunted and tormented Sawyer for days, bent on revenge and relishing in the pain he could bring to his captive. She knew that should she hesitate, Danny would shoot and Sawyer would die. If Sawyer died, Jack would not finish the surgery and Ben could die.

In hindsight, why did she shoot Danny? If the outcome brought Ben's death, Richard would surely have let her leave the island. Without Ben, she could have gone home. Why did she fire? She had no attachment to Sawyer or Kate. She did, however, have an attachment to Jack. And if Jack let Ben die, they'd execute Jack. Despite the high cost, she would have gotten home, maybe. Her hands coated in their blood; she may have had her freedom, but she would be haunted by their deaths.

So she fired and shot Danny dead. Now, she faced the consequences. Sawyer and Kate escaped; Ben lived. Jack would go home, as promised. She would be executed. Such was her luck. Isabelle approached her with a calm and steady swagger, envelope outstretched. "It seems your sentence has been settled."

Juliet watched silently, eyes on the envelope then Isabelle and then Tom, who stood behind her.

Tom gazed intently at the wall over Juliet's shoulder. At Isabelle's announcement, curious whispers spread through the gathered witnesses. Isabelle lifted a hand, silencing the chatter. "You are spared execution, Juliet. But you will forever bear the mark of a traitor." She turned, arms outstretched as she addressed the crowd. "We will now go outside for the branding." Without a second look behind, she led the way out of the small meeting room and towards the earthen ring.

Tom lingered behind, glancing over his shoulder at the retreating Isabelle and crowd before turning his head quickly to look at Juliet. Releasing a slow and steady breath, he reached up and raked a hand through his hair. "Why'd you do it, Julie?"

Juliet averted her eyes and shrugged, the motion inhibited by the rope tying her wrists to the arms of the chair. "I don't know. I just … it was all so fast."

Tom stepped closer, leaning down slightly as he hissed between clenched teeth. "Do you have any idea what all this means? It might be worse than death. By branding you … it means you're not protected anymore."

The color fled from her face but she fought the fear, keeping her expression emotionless.

"Don't you get it?" Tom pushed. "The smoke … the island. I don't know what's gonna happen. Cuz I've never seen this done before. I just know what I've heard and … god damn it, Julie." He stomped a single foot up onto the platform on which she sat as he leaned over to untie her hands. His expression a cross between agitation and fear, he freed her hands and tugged her to her feet.

Juliet stumbled with the force but did not complain nor object. She swallowed the lump rising in her throat as Tom tied her hands together in front of her. Silently, she followed him out the door and to the earthen ring. People stood around the circle as Isabelle stoked the fire in the brazier at the center of the ring. The fire recently set, the wood fizzled and cracked, popping as pockets of water within the wood exploded in the sudden heat.

Her eyes settled on the fire a moment, the orange flames dancing as they engulfed the timber. Tom tugged her up two stairs to a large wooden pole. He threaded the excess string from her bindings through an old weathered metal ring attached to the pillar at eye level. He pulled on the rope then tied it near the base, keeping her hands slightly elevated, though she could still stand on her feet by her own strength. She stepped closer to the pillar, staring at the lines and grains of the carved wood. Her shirt lifted slightly from her position, her back exposed to the gathered. The fire sizzled and crackled.

The crowd stood in relative silence, the haunting burn of fire broken by the call of sea birds and the random whispers of children. As the minutes passed, her arms ached. The few sounds flooded her mind, the most prominent of the fire burning and it's tending.

Isabelle stoked and turned the fire for twenty minutes until the wood at the bottom burned to hot coals. She picked up the branding iron and submerged one end into the hot coals, turning it under the heat. Tom picked up a cylindrical piece of wood from the pile beside the brazier measuring approximately one inch in diameter. He fisted the wood. Staring intensely, he quickly dug his fingernails into the dried bark, peeling away the rough outer coating to expose the smooth flesh beneath.

Isabelle pulled out the branding iron and inspected the branded end with great scrutiny before walking towards Juliet.

"Wait," Tom interrupted and held up the wood. "Please, Isabelle."

She eyed him critically a long moment before offering the slightest nod of her head. She turned back to the fire to plunge the brand back into the coals. Tom raced up the two steps to Juliet and rested a hand on the space between her shoulders.

He tilted his head slightly to focus on her and presented the wooden bit. "Bite down." At her hesitation and stubborn gaze, he sighed. "Don't be too proud for this, Julie. Trust me."

The slightest fear and uncertainty flickered in her eyes before she swallowed and tempered the emotions. She opened her mouth and bit down on the wooden cylinder. Tom smiled apologetically and turned his eyes from her. He stayed close, right at her side as he lifted her shirt to her waistline. He turned his head away then and towards the jungle, eyes closed.

Again, Isabelle pulled the brand from the fire and inspected the reddened iron. Satisfied with its condition she walked to the stairs edge. Extending the branded iron out, she paused, the brand a mere few inches from Juliet's back. "Brace yourself, child."

Juliet trembled, the fine hairs on her back already singed from the heat, her skin crawled and sweat. She clenched her muscles, tugging on the restraints of her hands. Closing her eyes she bit firmly on the wood. The iron pressed into the small of her back. Her muscles tightened and she threw her head back, arching at the pain. Pure unadulterated heat seared her skin and the stench of burnt flesh flooded her senses. Her skin sizzled and hissed, cooking under the intensity of the branding iron. The wooden bit cracked from her bite power.

She refused to make a sound, her labored breathing the only sign of her struggle and her torture. Her legs quivered and she locked her knees, forcing herself to remain erect. She tugged on her restraints again in a futile attempt to move away from the brand. Back afire and skin charred, her body quivered as the muscles fought the pain and raced on adrenaline. The brand removed then but her body still clenched, the skin continuing to cook. Her knees buckled and she collapsed, hanging from her wrists as blissful unconsciousness brought her only relief.

*End Flashback*

Juliet slowly opened her eyes. She sat at the edge of the earthen ring, knees tucked close to her chest, arms wrapped around her shins. Resting her chin on her knees, she watched two scientists tie a boar to the pillar post at the far edge. One man threaded the rope through a metallic ring at the pillar, a familiar ring though it was no longer weathered or slightly rusted.

The boar struggled slightly as its movements were slowly restricted; a second scientist stirred the blazing fire then pulled the branding iron from the coals. She tensed when they branded the beast.

"Well now, I know we ain't got TV, but you sure got an interestin' idea of entertainment."

Unresponsive at first, she watched transfixed until the scientist finished the branding and placed the iron back into the coals. She averted her eyes, head tilting slightly to the side and she peered up at the familiar southerner. He smiled at her, warm and jesting; she smiled back, weakly. "Nothing else to watch."

"Course there is," Sawyer drawled and sat beside her, propping his arms over his knees, leaning forward slightly to watch the scientists. "There's the ocean. Forest. Me." He smirked. "Or if yer in the mood for a comedy, we got Miles puttin' the moves on that chick feedin' the bears." At her silence, he turned his head to glance at her. "Ya been weird since we got here yesterday. Ya feelin' ok?"

"I'm fine. Just a lot on my mind."

He nodded and leaned back, resting on his elbows, torso outstretched in the sun. He permitted the silence, looking up at the sky, focusing on the wisps of clouds. "I been thinkin'. About all this time travel stuff. Do you think that today is the same day it is for them? Jack and Sun?"

She noted the name he left out and shrugged casually. "I don't know."

"I like to think it's the same. I mean it's the only way we can think of it, right?"

"I suppose."

After another minute of silence, Sawyer responded. "Today's Clementine's birthday."

Juliet blinked at the simple and soft statement then peered back over her shoulder.

He focused on the sky, lost in thought, searching. He smiled and shook his head. "And I don't even know how damn old she is." He leaned back fully, tucking his arms behind his head. The earth cool at his back, damp and he shifted slightly for comfort.

She turned from him again and watched the scientists tug the stubborn boar out of the ring. "If it's 2005, she's four." At his silence, she continued. "She was in your file."

An extended pause passed as he reflected on the news. "What would you get for a four year old?"

"I don't know. A doll probably. Or something stuffed like a bear or a bunny."

"That a good gift from a dad?"

She considered his question then nodded. "Yes, but you should also take her to the park or to the zoo or something. As her dad, that is."

He reached up with a free hand, rubbing the scruff line of his jaw. "I don't think I'd have been a good dad."

"I disagree."

"Naw, I'm a bastard, Jules. Especially before. She's better off without me, ya know? I mean really, who wants a dad that went to prison. Ain't exactly a sign a good breedin'. She's better off thinkin' I'm dead."

"You're so down on yourself."

"Pot to kettle, Babe."

She paused then twisted at the waist, placing her hand on the ground behind her to steady herself as she met his eyes. "I'm not down on myself."

"Ya been mopin'. What's wrong?"

"Just … this place brings back memories. That's all." She turned her back on him and watched the burning fire again.

He nodded in agreement, arm extended to her. Warm calloused fingers toyed with the hem of her shirt. "Thinkin' of how damn sexy I was? Ya know, stanky from days without a shower and smellin' a fish biscuits? Mmmm … turns ya on, huh?"

She chuckled.

Sawyer grinned at the reaction, tugging on her shirt. "Come on, Blondie, talk to me."

Quiet, she chewed on her bottom lip, unwilling to answer him.

"Ya thinkin' about the polar bear cage again? Cuz I can bang the hell outta ya in one if that'll change those sets a memories."

She shook her head. "You won't let this drop, will you?"

"Nope."

Sighing, she closed her eyes, fingers massaging her temples a moment before her hand dropped to her side. "Did you ever wonder why we were the only ones skipping through time? Why Richard and his people didn't seem to jump either?"

"Never really thought about it before."

"Or why I jumped with you, when I was one of them." She admitted softly and trailed off.

His fingers tapped her hip. "Ok, ya got me curious. Why?"

"I was expelled."

"Ya make it sound so bad. I dunno. I guess I'd wanna be expelled from Heaven's Gate."

Brow furrowed she glanced back at him.

"What? Think about it. Others equals cult, right? And y'all were buildin' that runway for the aliens." He nodded. "Heaven's gate, crazy island people. Just a theory."

A smirk tugged at the corner of her lips. "They were not members of Heaven's Gate. And before you ask, no, it's not a new Jonestown."

His hand on her hip abandoned her to raise slightly, submissive. He grinned. "Just sayin' is all. Think about it."

She sighed and shook her head, glancing back to the pillar. "Jonestown or not, I was expelled from them and the island didn't protect me anymore."

"So what'd they do? Make ya turn in your Trekkie uniform?"

She pushed to her feet. "Nevermind. Just …" she held up a hand dismissive towards him. "Don't you have something to patrol or babysit Miles to make sure he doesn't get himself killed?" She kept her back to him. "I'll see you later, alright."

Sawyer sat up, confused. His brow knotted as he watched her walk down the stairs and into the earthen ring. Juliet stood by the brazier at the center of the ring, staring into the flames a long moment before picking up another log to toss on the fire. She watched, entranced as the fire devoured the dried log.

He pushed to his feet, brushing off the back of his pants as he walked down the stairs towards her. "Rough expulsion, huh?"

"You could say that."

He nodded, stuffing his hands in his pockets as he stood beside her. He rocked back onto his heels then forward onto his toes. "This place has some rough memories for me too. Almost died here … twice."

"Twice?"

"Mmm, twice. Second time, ya saved me, Blondie." He smirked and nudged her with his shoulder. "First time … well, damn I'm surprised I lived through it."

She rubbed her brow a moment before chewing on the nail of her thumb. She wiped her hands on her pants. "I don't remember."

"It was your friend. The guy who pulled the gun on us when Kate and I were trying to escape. Came to my cage and dragged me out. Kicked the ever lovin' shit outta me. I got no idea why or what happened that brought that on suddenly. I mean yeah, I knew the guy hated my guts but Christ, he just started wailin' on me."

Juliet frowned, thoughtful and lost in memory.

Sawyer cleared his throat. "Well, he looked on a damn mission, ya know? And I was exhausted and he just kept at it. Right in front of Kate. And I heard him askin' her if she loved me. And she didn't say anything at first, just begged him to stop but he didn't. Eventually, she said it. And he stopped." He gazed into the fire, pensive. "I wonder now, if she admitted it cuz she felt it, or just wanted him to stop. Cuz he showed no signs a stoppin' unless she said she loved me."

She licked her lips, whispering. "You'll say anything when backed into a corner. Whether she really loved you or not is not the point here, James. She didn't want to watch you die. She cared for you."

He smirked softly. "Defendin' Kate?"

She chuckled. "Guess I am."

"Well, she said it, either way. I think she did, at least. I don't know, it's all kind of fuzzy. Guess that's what happens when ya get yer ass kicked."

"Male ego blocks it out."

He arched a brow at her jest and laughed at her serious expression, eyes brightening when a smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "I guess you're right. Male ego and all."

She ducked her head and raked the hair back from her eyes. "I'm sorry he did that. I knew he was … I just didn't know he lashed out."

"Well I'm here right? And I got you to thank for that."

"I saved your life because I was told I could go home if I helped you escape. I didn't want to shoot Danny." She put her hands on her hips. "I saw it though. The minute he raised that gun, I knew he'd shoot. I shot before I could have a second thought."

"Aw, so it wasn't my sexy smile that won ya over?" He teased, lightly.

"If only." She responded softly. "I like that explanation though. It makes me seem less selfish."

"It ain't selfish to wanna go home, Baby. It's natural. Hell, ya still wanna go home, right?" He slipped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her against his side.

"I do. I want us to get home."

"Us, huh?"

"Yes, us." She peered up at him, a mischievous glint in her eye. "I like having you around."

"Glad you feel that way," he answered and leaned down, whispering. "I like being around too. And In and out…" he grinned, trailing off then laughed when she elbowed him playfully in the side.

He mocked pain at her elbow and she couldn't help but smile. She reached up to him, hand cupping his cheek. "I don't know how you do this, you know. Make me feel better and laugh when I'm a wreck."

He shrugged. "Been makin' myself feel better about my sorry ass for years. Guess it's just applyin' it to whoever I'm with, ya know?"

She nodded and lifted onto her toes, pressing her lips softly to his. "Thank you."

"Mmm, my pleasure." He hummed in delight and kissed her once more. "Gonna tell me what exactly is on yer mind now?"

"Maybe later. Your radio has been scratching and flickering. I'm sure Miles is looking for you."

Sawyer grumbled. "Ya know, we can't just have some time to ourselves."

"That would make it easy, wouldn't it," she responded with an infuriating smirk. "Come on, we should go find him."

With a sigh, he nodded. "We need a vacation."

She laughed, stepping back from him then slipping her hand into his. She squeezed. "We're on a tropical island. Some would call this a vacation."

He tugged on her hand, guiding her away from the ring and back towards the main area of the research facility. "Do ya wanna leave the island? I'd go with ya back to the main land."

She paused, eyes on him a long moment. He stopped and turned to face her. She smiled softly when she met his eyes. "No. No, we can't leave. Here we're safe. Safer than we would be off the island. And our only route home."

"Good point. Alright, we'll wait it out. And the first thing we do when we get off this rock? Is go to a damn restaurant. Ya know, proper date."

Juliet chuckled and continued along the path towards the main buildings. "I'd like to go to the movies."

He let out a slow whistle. "You ain't cheap, Blondie."

"I'm not that high maintenance." She stated stoicly. "Anyway, I hope we're back before anything changes too drastically."

"We will be." As they neared the compound, Sawyer frowned at the disarray. Scientists raced from one end to the other. The door to one of the polar bear cages swung wide open, the bars and lock bent and gnarled. His eyes narrowed.

"Boss," Miles interrupted, rushing up to him. He panted, brow slicked from sweat. His jumpsuit hung open at the center, a tranquilizer dart gun in his hands. "We got a problem."

Sawyer sighed and glanced to Juliet. "Why's this shit always happen to me?"

Note: Its been some time I know. But I've just had a lot going on. I'm still planning on finishing my stories so don't give up. Just may have a bit more time between posts. That's ok though, leaves more time for reviews! Hope you enjoy. Gee I wonder what will happen next!