Chapter 2

Juliet, on the cold floor of Jack's tent, propped herself up on her elbow. She watched her husband's steady breathing, the rise and fall of his chest, the quiet flutter of his eyelids. She loved him, she thinks from the moment she opened his file, but she wasn't quite sure how he felt about her. She tried to study him, his sleeping form, in hopes his subconscious would tell her the truth.

"Hey," he said softly, his eyes fluttering open.

"Hey," she whispered back with a smile.

"You watching me?" he asked smiling back and stretching his arms and legs out.

Juliet giggled, "No," she said sheepishly.

"No?" Jack said and grabbed her wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling on top of him. She straddled his hips and held onto his shoulders.

"I think you were checking me out in my sleep," Jack said.

"What?" Juliet asked, "Really, I never knew you were so vain Jack Sheppard."

Jack ran his hands across her cheeks and through her hair, "Yeah, you were checking me out," he said before pulling her down for a deep kiss. She sighed into it before letting him flip her over onto her back. Jack ran his hand up her smooth thigh, slightly touching her centre before resting his palm on her belly.

"Juliet," he whispered into the side of her neck.

"Jack," came a voice from outside the tent.

Juliet groaned her displeasure, "Can't we pretend we didn't hear that?" she asked in a whisper, her legs tangling themselves into his.

"Jack, are you there?" came the voice again.

Jack crawled off Juliet's body and covered her up with a blanket.

"It's Sun," Jack said.

Juliet sat up, her eyebrow raised, "I see," she said nodding.

Jack threw on his grey t-shirt and zipped up his jeans before pulling back the tarp.

"Hey Sun," he said stepping outside.

"You said you'd examine me this morning," she told him, "See how the baby's doing."

"Right, of course," he said.

Juliet came out dressed, tying her hair back in a knot, "I'll give you two some privacy then."

"Thank you," Sun said.

Juliet gave Jack's arm a squeeze then headed down the beach.

"Hey there Starlight," Sawyer called from just outside his tent, "How's the newlyweds?"

"Newlyweds?" Kate asked popping out of his tent, tucking her shirt in.

"Well didn't Jacko tell ya Freckles?" Sawyer turned to her with a grin.

"Tell me what?" Kate asked annoyed at the apparent bond between Juliet and Sawyer.

"Nothing Kate," Juliet suddenly said, "James is just stirring the pot as usual, isn't that right?" she said giving him a stern, cold look.

"Sure thing Angle hair, you know me," he said.

"Do you always have to stir things up?" Cassidy said as she applied an icepack to Sawyer's bruised cheek.

"I was defending your honour," he said looking up from his seat on the toilet, "I thought you chicks liked that."

Cassidy laughed and shook her head, "You were outnumbered. Girls like sensible guys, not heroes."

"You sure about that? 'Cause in the fairytales, the hero always gets the girl."

"Sun's with Jack," Kate said, "Is there something wrong?"

Both Juliet and Sawyer turned to look at Jack ushering Sun into his tent.

"No," Juliet said, "She just wants a check up, you know she's almost entering her third trimester, she just wants reassurance."

"Aren't you the fertility doctor?" Kate asked, "Shouldn't you be looking at her?"

Juliet opened her mouth to say something when someone interrupted her.

"Sun doesn't trust her, does she Juliet?" Charlie's cold voice came from behind.

Juliet nervously turned to face him.

"She doesn't does she? And why should she?" Charlie asked, his voice growing louder as he moved closer to her.

"You're one of Them," he said and Juliet took a step back, almost bumping into Sawyer who had stood up.

"Charlie," Kate began.

"Your people took Claire when she was pregnant. Hanged me from a tree, left me for dead," he screamed.

"I didn't mean," Juliet said her voice shaking.

"Yu tried to take her, take Claire and the baby, is that why you're here now? For Aaron?" he said the anger rising, burning in his face.

By now the commotion drew a crowd, people gathered around listening to Charlie's rant, waiting for Juliet to defend herself.

"Sun isn't safe with you is she? You're a kidnapper and a liar," he yelled.

"No!" Juliet said.

"Liar!" Charlie screamed in her face.

"What's going on?" Jack asked pushing through the crowd, Sun right behind him.

"How could you bring her here?" Charlie asked, "She'll kidnap us, hurt us."

"You're the kidnapper Charlie!"

"Juliet," Jack said trying to reach for her and calm her down.

"What are you talking about?" Kate asked her confused.

"Charlie was the one who kidnapped Sun," she said.

"Me?" Charlie said but began to twitch nervously.

Sawyer's eyes grew wide and he took a step backward from the crowd.

"Yes, you Charlie."

"What's she talking about Jack?" Sun asked him as her husband drew near to her.

"I don't know, Juliet calm down," Jack pleaded.

"No! You all think I'm this monster but what about him?" she said her eyes filling with bitter tears, "He's the one that dragged you from the garden."

"Charlie?" Sun asked facing him, "Is this true?"

"It wasn't me," Charlie said anxiously then pointed at Sawyer, "It was him, it was Sawyer."

"What?" Sawyer cried out in feigned astonishment. Kate looked at him, recognition and understanding dawning on her.

"No Charlie," Juliet said her arm protectively going across Sawyer's chest; "It was you who dragged Sun in the rain, you who put a bag over her head. Not Sawyer and certainly not me!"

"Juliet," Jack said pulling on her arm, "Let's go," he said.

She looked at him as the tears flowed freely down her cheeks, her chest beginning to convulse as she tried to choke them back.

"Come on, let leave this for them to decide, come on," he soothingly said and led her away and into the jungle.

…..

"I can't believe you," Kate said once the dust had settled and Sayid managed to pry Jin off Charlie.

"What? Like you didn't know I pulled the con to get the guns that night."

"Yeah but Sun? And to include Charlie?" she said her hands on her hips.

"What did I tell ya about a tiger and his stripes?" he said turning to face Kate.

"You're despicable, you know that?" Cassidy said as she got on the bed beside Sawyer.

"Yeah well, you like the money don't cha?"

"Yeah but she was a poor old lady, probably her life savings," she said taking the bundle from his hand and counting it.

"I am what I am," Sawyer said in all sincerity.

Cassidy looked at him before cuddling up next to him.

"Yes you are," she said and pulled him into a kiss, "Never change your stripes tiger."

"What kind of man are you?" Kate asked disgusted.

Sawyer let out a frustrated sigh, "I'll tell you the kind of man I ain't," he growled bending slightly to get in close to Kate's face.

"I'm no sacrificial lamb, that's for sure."

"I never expected you to be," Kate said.

"And neither is he," Sawyer spat.

"Neither is who?" Kate asked.

"Oh come on, you think he didn't stay for Blondie? You think it was about you?" Sawyer asked with a laugh, "Jack stayed because there was something he wanted. You don't know him at all and you don't know me," Sawyer said and marched off.

"So what," Kate yelled after him, "You're just going to go on living on your cheating, hurting others, hurting yourself?"

Sawyer didn't respond nor did he turn around, he just kept walking farther away, away from Kate.

Night came and with it a hard rain. Juliet lay awake listening to the tapping sound it made as it fell against the tarp of the tent.

"It's going to be okay, Juliet," Jack said.

She turned and looked at him, his eyes as dark as the night.

"I don't think so Jack," she said.

He turned and ran his hand up her side, leaving a trail of warmth on her skin, "It won't be long now, a few short months, that's all."

Juliet gave him a half smile, "I know, I'm sorry Jack. It's just this thing with Charlie."

"Forget about Charlie," Jack said and held her tight, kissing her forehead, "I'm here and I won't let anyone hurt you."

Juliet couldn't remember falling asleep but felt Jack trying to untangle her from his arms.

"Jack," she mumbled sleepily.

"Shh," he cooed, "Go back to sleep, I'll be back in a bit."

"Where are you going?" she asked him still half asleep.

"Just going to get some air," he told her.

"But the rain."

"It's stopped, go to sleep Juliet," he said and tucked her into the blankets.

Jack walked out into the deep of the night. The air was cool as it hit him in the face, the breeze from the ocean waking his senses. He strolled the shoreline thinking about everything that happened to him and everything that was going to happen.

"Hey," she said softly, "Can't sleep?"

"Kate," Jack said and smiled softly, "No, not really."

"Me neither," she said.

"Want to go for a walk, we can talk about things," he offered.

Kate nodded, "Yeah Jack, I'd like that."

…..

Juliet reached for her husband to the right of her but found the space empty.

"Jack," she called in her sleep, rolling onto her back. She smiled feeling the weight of a warm body on her.

"Jack," she murmured.

"You're not going to hurt her," he said as his hands wrapped around her neck.

Juliet's eyes widened, "Oh God," she thought as she felt Charlie's grip on her throat tighten. She tried to fight him but he pinned her arms to her side with his legs.

"Charlie stop," she gasped.

"I won't let you, I won't let you get the chance to hurt Claire or the baby," Charlie said as he choked her.

Juliet kicked as hard as she could and managed to get one of her arms free. She tried to pry his hands off of her throat but he was strong, stronger than he looked and she was losing oxygen.

"Stop," she begged.

"You and your people are going to pay for what you did."

Juliet's face was reddening, her eyes tearing as she used what strength she had left to claw at Charlie's face.

"Just die bitch," Charlie screamed, strangling her.

Juliet gasped for air then managed one blood curling scream, "Jack!"

Her world was darkening and she heard one last sound, a gun shot in the dark, and then she felt wet and a heavy weight fell upon her before blackening out completely.

…..

"Juliet," she heard from far away.

"Hey Tinkerbelle," came another voice, "Time to come back from Neverland."

"Juliet, can you hear me?" the Scottish voice came again, "Ahh, she's waking up, give her some room people."

"Jack?" Juliet said, her throat burning as the memory came back to her of Charlie's hands on her.

"Jack," she called out sitting up frantically.

"Settle down," Desmond said, "Here, drink this," he told her handing her some water.

Juliet sipped slowly as her eyes focused on her surroundings. She was still in her tent, Sawyer and Desmond huddled around her. A group of people curiously peeking in.

"Get out, go on, nothing more to see here," Sawyer yelled at them before closing the flap tighter.

Juliet's hand went to her neck then down to her skirt, it was soaked in blood and she began to hyperventilate, "Wha. what happened?"

"Breathe," Desmond said, "It's not yours."

"Charlie's," she said.

"Aye," Desmond replied.

"Is he," she started afraid to finish Desmond nodded.

"Who?"

"I shot him," Sawyer said, "I was walking and I heard you scream."

Juliet just starred in disbelief.

"We're even now," Sawyer said.

"Even?" Juliet rasped her voice still raw.

"You killed one of your own to save me, and now I did the same."

"James, I'm sorry," she said sadly.

"You shouldn't talk," Desmond said, "Let me take a look at your neck." He reached for her but she cowered back.

"It's alright, I was almost a doctor once," he told her.

"Where's Jack?" Juliet asked, "I want Jack."

"Hurley's gone to find him," Desmond said and tried to examine her again.

"No," she said, "Don't touch me. I want Jack, I want Jack."

"Alright, I'll go see what's keeping Hurley," Desmond said and left.

"He's with Kate," Sawyer said once they were alone.

Juliet looked at him with tears in her eyes, "What?"

"I saw them go off together earlier, down the beach," he told her bluntly.

"Why would you do that? Why would you save my life then hurt me by telling me he went off with Kate?" she asked crying.

"Cause that's the kind of man I am."

"How could you?" Cassidy asked sitting in the visitor's section of the county jail.

Sawyer let out an exasperated breath, "How could I what?"

"How could you tell me you love me then do what you did?"

"I lied," he said, his southern accent prolonging the last word.

"Bullshit," she yelled, "You love me, I know you do. I just don't get how you can care and then hurt me like that."

"It's the kind of man I am, Sweetheart."

"Get out," Juliet said, "Get out James!"

Sawyer turned and left, leaving Juliet alone, crying in the dark. He bumped into Kate and Jack as they were running back, Hurley trailing behind.

"Where is she?" Jack asked him frantically.

"Right where you left her Doc," he answered coldly and kept on walking.

"Sawyer," Kate called after him.

….

"Oh God, are you okay?" Jack asked falling to his knees and wrapping Juliet in his arms. Juliet sobbed into his shoulder, all of her fear and pain flooding out in his warm embrace.

"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry baby," he said rocking her gently.

"Baby?" she said and pushed him hard, away from her, "Don't you dare start with your baby, baby, babies!"

"What?" Jack asked confused by her sudden rage.

"Where were you?" she asked, "Where were you when Charlie was trying to kill me?"

….

"Hey Sawyer, wait up," Kate said.

Sawyer kept walking, ignoring her calls.

"Hey I'm talking to you," she said reaching him and grabbing his arm.

"What do you want?" he asked.

Kate's eyes grew wide at his coldness, "To see if you're okay."

"I'm fine Freckles," he said and turned to go before she stopped him.

"You killed Charlie," she said.

"Yeah," Sawyer said, "What of it?"

"Are you okay?"

"I'm just dandy."

"What's wrong Sawyer?" Kate asked her voice breaking, "What's wrong with us?"

….

"I went for a walk, I thought you were safe," Jack said.

"Safe? You thought I was safe here, alone, with him out there?" Juliet cried getting angrier.

"I shouldn't have left you alone," Jack said guiltily.

"Well you did, and for what Jack?" she cried, "For a few stolen moments with her?"

"What?"

"I know you were with her, I know you were with Kate!" she cried hitting him in the chest with her fists.

"Juliet," he said grabbing her wrists, "It's not like that."

"Liar," she yelled, "You want to be with her, you always have."

"No!" he said trying to stop the blows she was frantically raining down on him, "Juliet stop, it's you I want."

"You only married me to save me and now it's come to this, and you feel trapped with me, to do the right thing, that's all," she cried.

"I don't Juliet," he said, desperate to get through to her, "I want you."

…..

Sawyer looked at Kate and ran his fingers across her lips gently and lovingly, "Don't you wish that we could forget that first kiss?" he said.

"What?"

"The one you gave me when Sayid tied me to the tree."

"No," Kate said, "Why would I want to forget it?"

"Because it's what started all of this," he sighed.

"All of what?" Kate asked.

"Us," he said, "The beginning of the end. It's the saddest part really, the first spark. That's what set's off the broken relationship."

"Our relationship isn't broken," Kate said choking up with emotion. A cold dread was taking over her as he looked at her softly.

….

Jack grabbed Juliet wrapping his hand in her hair to make her look at him. She cried out in pain before he softened his grip.

"Now listen to me," he said forcefully, "I went for a walk and ran into Kate. We talked that's all. I told her I married you. I told her you were my wife and that I love you."

Juliet sniffled a bit then said, "You told her you love me?"

"Yes," he said, "I told her I love you, because I do Juliet, I love you."

"Jack," she sobbed but was stopped by his kiss.

Jack tenderly kissed her tears away and then softly ran his lips over the bruises on her neck.

"I'm so sorry Juliet," he cried as she held him close, "I'll never leave you again."

"Don't stop," Juliet said as he continued to hold her. She needed to feel him, feel Jack's body close to hers, feel his love. Jack pulled her down, his warm touch soothing her fears away as he kissed her and told her how much he loved her over and over again.

….

"It's over Kate," Sawyer said and turned his back on her.

"Don't you walk away from me. After everything we've been through, don't try and tell me it's over."

"Kate," Sawyer said sinking his fingers in her chocolate brown waves, "Try and see this for what it is, we're not in love."

Kate began to cry, "No, Sawyer."

"You think you don't deserve him so you turned to me because you think I'm the sort of man you ought to be with."

"No," she refused to listen to him.

"Truth is, neither of us is right for you and you know it," he said.

"It was just a walk," she sobbed pleadingly.

"I know Freckles," he said sadly, "You don't love me and I don't love you. We both know now what we don't want, he said and touched her cheek lovingly, "We can always say we learnt that together."

Kate nodded, wiping her tears away realizing the truth, "Yeah, we have that," she said.

"Yeah, we do," Sawyer agreed then walked away.