Chapter 5 (Timeline 1)

Ben couldn't sleep. It had been an unusually hot summer and the air in his room tonight was stifling. It didn't help that every time he began to drift off, her voice whispered in his ear.

He looked over at his alarm clock - 2am. Tom had given her food and water enough to last several days, and of course, he'd send someone down first thing in the morning, but still, he knew what it was like to be locked up down there. Alone.

What was he thinking? She had to be one of Widemore's, there was nothing else for it. He'd wait and talk to her in the morning. He closed his eyes, heavy with sleep.

"I love you."

"Right!" he snapped, leaping out of bed. "You win."

The sudden creak of the door jolted her awake. Disorientated, she scrambled into the far corner of the room.

"It's me," his voice rose out of the darkness and suddenly the room was illuminated by candlelight.

"Ben?" she said, squinting in his direction.

The way she said his name made the bottom drop out of his stomach. Again.

"I thought you were getting your cronies to deal with me."

She pulled her long black hair back from her face and stared up at him frostily. There was hurt in her wide eyes and he suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to comfort her. He did not like it.

"Did Widemore put you up to this?" he asked hollowly.

"What? No!"

She sounded confused. Genuinely confused.

"What would make you think that?"

"Oh I don't know, maybe because you appeared out of no where, making…absurd claims."

"What, that I love you?"

Ben shifted uncomfortably.

"Is it really that inconceivable?"

"Let's just say it's never happened before," he replied.

"Well, I guess there's a first time for everything."

A stalemate fell over them.

"Okay, let's start at the beginning," she finally sighed, extending a hand towards him. "I'm Dawn. Nice to meet you."

"I believe we've already met," he said drolly, taking her hand.

She smiled, he always knew how to charm her.

"Yes…well, we were…friends. I mean…" she tailed off.

"So tell me then, friend," he said. "Where did we first meet?"

"Right here."