AUTHOR'S NOTE: Sorry for the long break between the chapters! As it has been so long, a reminder of what happened: Eric confessed to Cole that he knew where the money was, and Jackson got to the ship and started to radio help. And here, finally, the next chapter…also, a slight warning for the upcoming language, well, because it's Larry.

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Chapter 9: Venturing off the course

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This damned island was seriously starting to piss him off.

First the storm, then the kids, and Cole's I-the-great-leader act, and now this stupid island. Larry was stumbling in the dark, wet jungle, heading for the bay, because Cole said to make Jin's rusty fish smelling boat ready for loading the drugs. While the great leader himself with his trusty sidekick were having all the fun back in the camp. Like a mere hired hand, he had been sent away to do the heavy work, his contribution to this whole gig totally ignored and so fucking unappreciated.

If Cole thinks I am just going to sit by idly when he fucks things up, he has another thing coming for him.

For this was his gig also, the third of the drugs were now his, and Larry would be damned, if he let this whole thing go to hell just because some storm and those kids and this miserable island got in their way. Not a chance. The storm had passed, and Cole would take care of the little bastards (if he didn't, Larry certainly would) and soon he could leave this cursed place behind. For it was really, seriously, starting to piss him off.

He was lost.

Larry stopped in a small clearing, his black mood turning more blacker. He didn't recognize this place. He had intended to cut through the forest, instead of following the beach, and save some time. But somehow, in the darkness, he had managed to venture deeper into the jungle, his sense of direction completely failing him. Every palm tree looked the same, the dark bushes and vines shutting the path behind him, sealing him inside the forest. The air was still humid and cool, making his skin shiver. It annoyed him.

He tried to listen for the sound of waves, for the sound of the sea, but all he could hear was the rustle of the jungle, as the wind continued to rip the leaves. If he just found his way back to the beach, he could then get his bearings, could find his way to the boat. But there was nothing, only the wind and the sounds of the forest, alive and breathing down his neck. Shit, he hated this place.

Larry kicked the wet ground, cursing. This was not what he had in mind, when he had agreed to Cole's plan back in Hawaii. A mere week out of the jail, and he should be still celebrating with some nice girls and enough booze to dull everything into a warm fuzzy haze. Not flounder in this damn jungle, leaving Cole to deal with the potential witnesses.

I'm not taking any chances of getting caught again. He had meant what he had said to Cole; there was no way in hell he was leaving anything behind that could lead him back behind bars. He had killed people for less.

And I bet so has Cole.

The man was cold as ice; nothing had fazed him inside the prison. Larry had been glad to take the gig, just because Cole had showed enough cool-headedness to pull off this kind of job. No, the man would not leave any witnesses behind.

Still, a strange kind of wariness had taken root in his mind, a tingling sensation he knew not to ignore. Cole could not to be trusted. As long as their interests were the same, they would work together grudgingly, but he was certain that if the opportunity presented itself, the other man would not hesitate to stab him in the back.

Hell, I would do that to him myself, if I got the chance.

Larry had fleetingly thought of loading the drugs by himself, before Cole and Jin would get to the boat; just take the drugs and sail away, leave the bastards here in this hell of a island.

He grinned. Oh yeah, I like that thought.

Sadly, it was not meant to be. He could never load the drugs by himself in time, and he would be fish food, if he got caught trying to steal the other's share. No, for now at least, he would have to follow Cole's orders, staying sharp and ready for the right opportunity.

That is, if he ever got back to the boat.

This is ridiculous! Larry did not get lost. Not in some fucking tropical jungle. Not, when Cole would give him this infuriating smirk, if the man only knew.

Cole, or anybody else for that matter, would certainly not know about this, ever.

He tried to listen one more time for the sounds of the sea, tilting his ears in different directions, eyes shut. Tried to still his hard breathing, to concentrate on what was beneath the noise of the wind. Like some lame ass yoga clown. Nothing. This was seriously starting to pi- There! A faint rumble, barely audible.

Finally, a sense of direction. Larry ignored the strong feeling of relief that coursed through him and turned steadily into the direction of the sea, carefully keeping his ears tuned to the new sound.

As I said, I do not get lost. He would be in the bay in no time.

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Jin was not surprised, not really.

Cole's barely suppressed rage, the sudden demand for money, the fact that everything had got out of control so fast; it was as Jin had been just waiting for it all to happen. Steering his boat out of the port, towards Cole's coordinates, he had readied himself for rough ride. The violence, the betrayal, the sudden new direction this whole thing had veered into were expected, almost welcomed. He knew where he stood now.

It was not rocket science. Cole obviously had not told him everything about his secret stash in the island. He had not only drugs, but money he had intended to keep to himself. The only reason the man had spilled the beans was because of the kids.

Jin looked at the tearstained faces in front of him, the scared eyes, and sighed. They should have known better than to mess with the money. Or the boy should have known better. For it was not that hard to deduct who the real culprit here was either. The white boy they had first stumbled upon in this island had fidgeted the whole time, his eyes evasive. Jin knew guilty face, when he saw one.

He wondered how long the boy could keep his silence. Cole would not continue the questioning forever. Jin recognized the man's deceptively relaxed posture for what it really was; readiness to spring every muscle into action, to erupt into violence.

"Then you better end this now - my patience is spent." Cole's voice was hard and final.

Here we go. Time is out.

"I don't know - I'm sorry but I don't-" The redheaded girl was terrified, her eyes pleading. Jin avoided looking at her. He focused his gaze on the guilty boy instead, willing with his whole mind for the boy to act.

Say it now. Say it or we'll all lose something we cannot get back.

He saw how Cole tightened his grip on the gun, and with a sinking feeling he knew it would all end so irreversibly differently than he had hoped and what a waste -

"I have your money!" The shout was full of fear and anger. The boy had finally found his voice. The gun in Cole's hand lowered a little, and Jin doubted the kids would ever know how close they had come to being shot.

"I - I know where the money is. Please, just stop this."

"Well, isn't this interesting!" Cole's short laugh was delighted, maybe even relieved he hadn't had to carry out his threat. Jin wouldn't place any bets for it though.

"Planned to live a rich life?" Cole chuckled. "You weren't going to share, were you?"

The boy's eyes dropped to the ground and that was answer enough. He had not told the other kids about the money, and again, Jin was not surprised. The boy stood rigidly among the others, but Jin could see how the distance was starting slowly to settle between them. Nothing as obvious as the others edging away from the boy, but their confused gazes were turning into astonishment and from there to resentment and anger. Jin knew the bitterness of betrayal all too well. After all, Cole had planned to smuggle the money on his boat, without telling him, without offering him a share, all the while knowing how desperately Jin needed every dime he could get.

"Ok kid, hand the money over to its rightful owner."

Jin almost snorted. There was nothing "rightful" in drug money.

"I - I hid it. It's not here."

Cole's eyes scrutinized the boy, and for a moment Jin thought the man would question the truthfulness of the confession. But they had searched the camp earlier, and the boy was not stupid. The others didn't know, therefore the money had to be somewhere else.

It seemed that Cole came to the same conclusion. "Where?" The short question could not be mistaken for a request; it was sharp and commanding.

"In the jungle. Not far from the bunker…there, there is this clearing, I - I buried it."

Cole's face rarely revealed anything important, and Jin had learned to watch his eyes instead. Now they were narrowing, the grey colour clouded. Jin knew the man was calculating his chances, on what to do next, how to get the money, and how to deal with the kids and Jin. How to get rid of us.

When Cole turned his eyes on him, Jin forced his own gaze to be as neutral as possible, meeting the man's hard stare without flinching. The steely eyes measured him, weighed his trustworthiness. Apparently Cole was satisfied with what he saw, or the man didn't have any other options, for when he turned his gaze back to the kids, the matter had been settled. You're in this now. Jin had read his look effortlessly. Wait and you'll get your share, it had promised.

The trouble was, Jin didn't believe Cole. He couldn't afford to.

"Alright, you better be telling the truth or…" Cole didn't have to finish the sentence; the gun still in his hands told the rest.

"I am!" The boy almost sounded hurt by the suggestion that he might be lying.

"Show me the place."

The boy didn't seem none too happy about his new role as a guide. "But - I -"

"You will lead me there or do I have to start shooting people? I though we were already past that." Cole was in his element, and Jin knew the man didn't believe for a second that he would not get what he wanted.

"Ok, ok. Yeah, I can - I can lead you there. No problem."

"Good." Cole smirked. "Jin, you'll stay here while we'll go treasure hunting." He did not take his eyes of the kids, when he started to give his commands to Jin. "Make sure our little friends continue to behave nicely. Use your gun, if you have to."

"Sure." The one word answer seemed to be enough for Cole, who stepped away from Jin, gun pointed towards the boy.

"Well, get moving. Time is money - literally in this case." The boy moved hesitantly, his eyes darting between his friends and Cole, as if searching for something. Only the black boy met his gaze, face…not quite sympathetic, but regretful. Clearly, no help was offered. The white boy's face grew resigned, and he stepped away from the others warily.

"You too." There was a brief moment of confusion, when Cole pointed the gun and his words towards the small kid - the one hiding behind his sister - and once again Jin was not surprised. Cole knew how to cover his back. "You're coming along."

This drew out protests that had been silenced, when the older boy had been forced to move. Jin watched as the black boy and the redheaded girl argued and pleaded, knowing it was all futile.

"No - you don't need him!"

"Oh, I'm afraid I do. Just a little insurance, in case our guide (brief nod towards the white boy), or you here waiting for us decide to do something stupid."

"No!" Jin could tell that the redheaded girl's fear was fast turning into panicky desperation. And people did really stupid things, when they were desperate enough. He should know; he was soon about to do one.

"This isn't negotiable." Cole's voice had that hard no-nonsense edge to it; he was close to losing his patience. The grip on the gun tightened.

Before either of them - Cole or the girl - had time to make the situation any worse, Jin marched to the huddled group of kids, grabbed the small boy forcibly from behind his sister, and pulled him away from her.

The girl's shout and desperate lunge towards her brother came a second too late - Jin had already inserted himself between the siblings, and without further ado, pushed the sobbing boy to their "guide". The older boy took the boy's small hand into his, murmuring something that might have been "it's alright".

Cole smiled. "You better be good now - as you can see, in spite of the passive face, Jin here do not possess infinite patience." The man took in the trembling form of the redheaded girl and added as in afterthought, "Do not worry honey, when I get my money, you'll get your brother back."

One last commanding glance towards Jin - watch them! - and then Cole was herding the boys away from the camp, to the beach. Jin and the rest of the kids watched them go, stunned silence hanging thick in the air.

Jin's stomach lurched, tension spreading over his muscles. He had carefully nudged the situation into the present outcome, and now Cole had left the camp and Jin was alone with the three kids. He had gotten what he wanted, and it felt too good to be true. Was fate finally on his side, or was it just spinning more traps for him?

Doesn't matter. I cannot turn back now.

He hadn't turned back since Mei had gotten diagnosed with cancer over a year ago. There was nothing left to do, but get enough money to help her get well again. This was his chance; he was not letting go of it. Not even if he had to kill Cole; not even if he got himself or someone else killed.

Jin looked at the kids in front of him, their young faces, so sad and terrified, clearly scared of him. Suddenly, he felt too old, too damaged.

Maybe they'll have more chances on surviving this than I do. And surviving didn't necessarily mean living - he knew that now. Too late. Twenty years too late.

Cole and the boys had disappeared from their view some time ago, and Jin reckoned they had about ten minutes head start. Enough of this. It was time to venture off the path, to take that exit.

"If I were you, I would hide in the jungle until this is all over."

He didn't look at their startled faces; didn't say anything else. With a deceptive calmness that didn't reach his mind, Jin walked away from the camp, heading for Cole and the money, never once looking back.

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So our thugs aren't that loyal to each other…In the next chapter, we see how Melissa is doing, and what Daley, Nathan and Taylor are going to do now that they are "free".

Feedback is wanted and valued! I specially would like to know what you think of the "bad guys"; do they seem real? Which one is your favourite?

I try to update as soon as I can!