Chp 15

Jack and Kate swam deep into the ocean. Just when Kate thought she wouldn't be able to hold her breath a minute longer, Jack stopped. A huge metal building loomed before them. They swam through an entrance coming up into a dimly lit centre. Jack gasped for air as oxygen flooded both their lungs.

"You okay?" he asked.

Kate nodded wiping the water off her dripping forehead.

"What is this place?" Kate asked as they climbed out of the water and onto the cold steel surface.

"I don't know, but Sawyer and Juliet have to be here somewhere," Jack said as they crept along the wall, "They just have to."

….

"How do you propose we get off the island without your psycho wife seeing us?" Sawyer asked as Christian ran his hand over his head.

Juliet couldn't help but smile, Jack was so much like his father.

"I have some friends," the doctor said, "I'm waiting to hear from them. When I do, prepare to move."

"Move?" Sawyer said.

"Yes move. Until then, I suggest you rest," Christian said and dug into his jacket pocket. He pulled out a bottle of pills rattling as he held them out to Juliet.

"What are they?" she asked.

"Prenatal vitamins," he told her and she reached for them before Sawyer slapped her hand away.

"She needs to take them, James."

"And how do we know they're what you say they are?" he asked suspicious.

"I'm trying to help you," Christian said then turned to Juliet, "You haven't seen an obstetrician yet Juliet, no folic acid, no ultra sound. You need to take the vitamins."

Juliet looked concerned as her eyes turned from her father in law to her friend. She took the bottle and held it close to her chest.

"Now be a good girl and take them."

"Juliet, don't be so stubborn and open wide," her father told her.

Juliet shook her head.

"Juliet, listen to your father," her mother chided.

"It tastes icky," she cried.

"Baby," her father said brushing his hand through her blonde hair, "It's medicine, it's going to make you feel better."

"Uh -uh."

"Come now, be a good girl and take it."

"You're not actually going to take them are you?" Sawyer asked, "How do we know we can trust him?"

….

Jack walked past the entrance and into a long corridor, Kate following close behind.

"Where do we even begin?" Kate asked staring at the enormity of the place.

Jack turned to say something when footsteps were heard ahead of them. Jack pushed Kate around the corner, placing his hand over her mouth to silence her. The concrete wall felt cool against her damp back and she shuddered with the sensation and fear.

"It will only take a minute," a man's voice said, "I'm sorry to take you away from your family."

"No problems man, I'm sure the plans only require minor adjustments."

Kate's eyes widened, the voice sounded familiar. Jack responded the same way. He stepped away from her to take a bold look out.

"Dad," came the sound of a young boy's voice, "Dad you said you were going to watch the game with me."

"Walt, I'll only be a moment okay?" Michael answered.

Jack ducked back as the realization that Michael and Walt never left the island rocked both him and Kate.

"But Dad," Walt's voice could be heard as Jack and Kate stared at each other in disbelief.

"Walt," came another familiar voice.

The soft but sure Asian tone came to their ears. This time both Kate and Jack had to peek around the corner.

"Walt," Sun said as she came into view cradling a baby in her arms, "Why don't you let your father do what he needs to and you can help me with the baby."

"But Sun, the game," Walt whined.

"Come now, you can explain the rules to me and your new brother."

"Oh my god," Kate gasped quietly.

Jack looked at her and shook his head at the insanity of the island.

"Why don't you look surprised?" she asked, "You said the baby died."

"I lied," he told her.

"What?"

"Juliet and I delivered the baby and gave it to Ben, that was the deal we made to get off the island," Jack confessed.

"What? Did you know it was Michael's and not Jin's?" Kate asked in shock.

Jack nodded, "Well not at first but well, when we saw it we guessed."

"So you lied to Jin, told him the baby died."

"And to Sun," Jack said scrunching his brow up in confusion, "She didn't know the baby lived, at least I thought she didn't."

"Christ Jack, how could you?" Kate asked.

"I had to protect Juliet, our baby. I had to get her off the island before Ben found out she got pregnant. It's what got you and Sawyer off too," Jack said feeling her judgmental stare pierce his guilty soul.

"If Sawyer and I knew," she started.

"Sawyer knew. It's how he conned me and Juliet into bringing you two along in the first place," Jack spat.

Kate just stared at him. She didn't know what to think of Jack or Sawyer at that moment.

"Look, we need to find Juliet and Sawyer, are you coming or are you going to stand there and judge me?" Jack asked impatiently.

"I'm coming," she relented.

"Good let's go in the direction Michael and that man went," Jack said and turned to come face to face with a barrel of a shot gun.

"I'm afraid you two aren't going anywhere," a burly man said.

….

"Look, I don't have time to convince you two of my sincerity," Christian said, "I have to go check on our plans until then I'm locking you two in here for your own safety."

"Hey," Sawyer said but before he could protest any further the door was slammed shut.

Sawyer turned to stare at Juliet who was opening up the pill bottle.

"Are you crazy?" he asked, "How do you know he and his wife aren't working together? Those pills might make you miscarry or something."

Juliet's trembling hand held the cap as she stared into Sawyer's concerned eyes.

"I don't know," she said.

"You said you first ran into him at Infinity's headquarters. Doesn't that tell you he works for them?"

"But he tried to help me, warn me," Juliet said, "He gave me the key to the safe deposit box."

Sawyer sauntered up to her.

"Wait until we get back to Jack."

"But what he said was true, I haven't been taking vitamins or seeing a doctor," Juliet said worried.

"Juliet, you are a doctor, a fertility doctor! And your husband is Jack, Doctor Hero Sheppard."

Juliet glared at him, "I know that."

"So what's your big hurry to take these pills? Why are you so desperate to follow his orders?"

Juliet coughed as her fever spiked.

"Julie, now this is getting serious," her mother said, "You must take your medicine."

"It's horrible Mommy."

Her mother sighed in exasperation.

"It's okay dear," her husband said, "I called the doctor he said to try another brand, grape flavoured. I'll just run to the drug store and pick some up."

"I'll come with you, I have some things to get," Juliet's mother said, "Rachel, watch your sister, we'll be right back."

"Where are they Rach? It's dark," Juliet asked.

"I'm sure Mom and Dad will be right back," Rachel said as the phone rang.

"Hello?" Rachel answered.

"I'm sorry; there's been an accident dear. You're parents have been in a crash. I don't know how to say this but they're dead."

"Because he told me I needed too," Juliet said and popped the vitamin into her mouth before Sawyer could stop her.

….

"Where's Juliet?" Jack shouted from behind the steel door at the man guarding his room.

They had separated him and Kate but at that moment his only concern was to get out and find his wife.

"Where's Juliet!" he screamed.

"Step away from the door," the deep voice commanded.

Jack's response was to kick it as hard as he could in frustration. He began pacing the small room. His wet jeans making his legs heavy. Jack was panicking, his mind racing with the possibilities of what those people could have done to his wife.

"She's with Sawyer," he kept repeating to himself like a mantra.

"She's with Sawyer," hoping to convince himself that his wife's strange friendship with his foe would somehow protect her.

"God, please let him take care of her," he cried when the door clanged open. He turned around to see a woman in a stern grey suit walk in.

"Mom?"