Libby/Ana Lucia
(Set during "Two For the Road")
Ana winces with pain as she knits the last stitch through her head wound. Libby's heart almost breaks as she picks up a scrap of mostly-clean cloth and wipes away the thin thread of blood trickling down Ana's cheek.
When Ana doesn't say anything, Libby repeats herself. "Like I said, Ana. Please don't do anything stupid."
A war rages in Ana's face. Her glance send darts of dark brown fire across the beach camp, then lands on Sawyer as he lazes about like some mangy lion in its concrete zoo prison.
Libby might not have made it through medical school, but she knows precognition is rubbish. Then why is she so sure that whatever Ana's thinking can only end one way? "They hate us here. Maybe not all, but most. Why are you risking your life for them?" She'd like to scream out what comes next. Why can't you risk it for me?
The dark clouds on Ana's face break a little. "You got any brilliant ideas? 'Cause those animals are still out there—"
"The caves."
"What?"
"No one ever goes there anymore, not since Sayid put together all those rain traps. And there's still a lot of luggage up there." When Ana hesitates, Libby reaches for her hand under the makeshift table. She would grasp it where everyone could see, but maybe Ana wouldn't like that. There is so much she doesn't know about Ana, so much to find out.
Ana's hand is warm in hers. Her pulse trembles like a caught bird, then gradually slows as Libby waits in the balance. If Ana pulls her hand away, Libby will go back to the beach, away from everything she wants. Time seems to slow, and even the constant rush of waves seems to fall quiet.
When Ana squeezes her hand back, Libby knows that she's won. "Let's get the hell out of here, Ana. Let's just go."
And they do.