They stared at each other. Ben waited patiently for her to say something, setting his book down on a crate beside him.

"You knew I was coming?"

Ben raised one shoulder in a half-hearted shrug.

"I had a feeling you would."

Lisa leaned against the wall to the left of the door, keeping her eyes set on the floor. She didn't want to look at him. Sympathy would only get in the way. She tucked her arms behind her back.

"I need to ask you something."

"Ask away," said Ben.

Lisa forced herself to speak, suddenly finding it difficult to say anything. She frowned as the words came to her.

"…Charlie. Did you kill him?"

There was a beat of silence. Lisa watched their shadows shift on the ground, blinking.

"No, I didn't," was the reply, "The Looking Glass flooded. He drowned."

Lisa closed her eyes, holding back the sudden tears. Ben frowned at her, though not in concern. He tipped his head questioningly.

"Didn't they explain it to you? Didn't you know what happened?"

"I needed to hear it from you," Lisa told him, fighting to keep her voice even.

Ben nodded slightly. He watched as she moved to sit on one of the barrels in the corner. Briefly, his gaze lingered on the open door. But she caught his attention again, choking back a sob. His eyes narrowed.

"You aren't afraid of me," he said.

It was more of an observation than an attempt at conversation. Lisa shook his head, staring at her shoes.

"No, I'm not. In fact, I'm probably the only one who isn't. They can all talk about how you don't scare them, how they're immune to your manipulation…but they just aren't. They…"

She trailed off, finally looking at him. Lisa tried to keep herself from grimacing.

He looked terrible. Obviously, he'd been thrown in the basement without the chance to clean himself up. His dark hair was matted in places with blood, and curled at strange angles. His upper lip was swollen on one side and several bruises splotched his cheeks. Blood had dried on his clothes and at his temples. His blue eyes were tired and there were dark circles under them.

"But I scare myself," Lisa suddenly said, "Because after that mess with Charlotte, I put myself in your shoes." She sighed, looking up at the ceiling. Anything to not look at his beaten form. "And I came to the conclusion that I would have done the same thing."

Ben raised his eyebrows. Lisa dropped her gaze back to him.

"Yeah. For that moment, I was you. And I didn't like what I felt, but it's true- I would've done the same thing."

"Is that why you tried to stop John from killing me?" Ben asked.

Lisa shook her head. He seemed slightly confused, but the moment passed quickly. She realized she'd been talking too much and slid off the barrel, her sneakers lightly thudding on to the concrete. The necklace she wore flashed dully in the light.

"I only wanted to know if you did it, Ben. Good night."

He watched as she stepped through the entryway, moving to shut the door behind her. He felt the need to say something.

"I'm sorry about Charlie."

Lisa stopped in her tracks, turning to look at him over her shoulder. She hoped he couldn't see that the tears had surfaced again. Ben's apologetic expression seemed genuine.

"I'm sorry you lost your brother."

Lisa blinked. She stared at him a moment before the door closed with a crisp snap, leaving him in solitude. Lisa clicked the padlock back through the latch, looking up at the door. After a moment, she turned and walked back down the hallway.

*******

"I heard what he said."

"Don't worry about it."

"Desmond said you were going to die, Charlie!"

His shoulders sagged and he looked at her impatiently. Lisa stared back at him worriedly. The wind blew her hair across her face, but she didn't take her eyes off him. She was willing him not to go, unable to understand why he had to leave her. Charlie sighed and sat down in the sand, near the tent he shared with Claire and baby Aaron. He patted the ground next to him.

"Sit," he told her.

Lisa did so, and he slung and arm around her reassuringly.

"You promised," she said, fingering the necklace he'd given her.

Charlie frowned. "Who's to say I'm breaking that promise?"

She looked up at him, seeing a strange emotion flash across his eyes. Charlie lowered his voice, as if to make what he said more important.

"Lisa, I told you that I'd keep you safe- you, Claire and Aaron. And I told you that you were my sister- that is no lie. Me going down to that station won't change what I said."

"But Charlie-"

"No. I don't want to hear that," he said, "This is something I have to do."

Lisa understood in that moment she couldn't convince him to stay. He was going no matter what. She hugged him tight, burying her face in his shirt. He put a hand on the back of her head, stroking her hair.

"It's alright…" he whispered, "It's okay…here."

He reached into his pocket and handed her a folded piece of paper. She took it, wiping her eyes.

"What's this?"

Charlie smirked. "Just a couple things for you. Don't read it until later, alright?"

Lisa nodded, pocketing the note.

When it came time for him to leave, she threw her arms around him in a crushing embrace. He tousled her hair and called her 'sister' one more time. She watched as he and Desmond floated out into the sea atop an outrigger. Charlie flashed her that familiar grin and waved to her. Lisa couldn't help smiling, and returned the gesture.

That was the last time she saw him. The next day found her forced to choose between rescue and Charlie's word.

She chose what was right in her heart.

*******

They had been in the Barracks for roughly a few days. It was strange to have a roof over her head and a bed to sleep in. everything was painted in a cheerful yellow, and the feeling was beginning to creep up on her. Lisa was afraid of getting complacent; after all, one of the people from the freighter was amidst them. But strangely, she felt safe.

She had never made it to the Barracks before. The closest she'd been to the place was at the Pala Ferry, when the others had taken Jack, Kate, and Sawyer away. They'd caught her running back to get help, but Ben had let her go. At the time he was still "Henry Gale," and she'd begged him not to hurt her. He smiled at her- a strange, knowing smile- and said they wouldn't harm her. He let her go soon before they left for the Hydra Island.

She wouldn't forget that.

The fact that he saved her from 'captivity' -or whatever else- always stayed with her; she thought it might have had to do with the time she'd seen him in the Hatch. And it was only part of the reason why she didn't want him dead.

Baby Aaron's coos snapped her out of a daze. She looked down at him and giggled, noticing he was contentedly sucking on his fingers. He turned absurdly and his big blue eyes swept across her face. He squealed and slapped her arm. Lisa couldn't help laughing at his expression, bouncing him up and down on her knee. The two of them were seated on one of the swings that listed lazily in the breeze, rusting in the sun. It seemed like children hadn't used them in years, which saddened her somehow. Aaron suddenly laughed, catching her attention. He took his fingers from his mouth to grab her, and a cord of saliva stretched from his lips to his thumb. Lisa cringed, but still managed a smile. Aaron placed his hands on her face, slime and all.

"Ugh!"

The baby giggled, apparently finding her disgust amusing. She let him touch her face for awhile, smiling gently at his amazement with her nose. He sang nonsense as he grabbed for her ears and hair. He managed to get in a few good yanks before Lisa pried his fingers away from her hair and pretended to 'eat' them. They played around for a few more minutes, swinging back and forth. Lisa sang to him as they swung, songs that she hadn't heard in months. Strangely, she hoped he would remember this moment, although she knew he probably wouldn't.

Soon she decided to leave the swing set, bouncing Aaron in her arms. Lisa was glad that Claire let her watch the baby; she never found Aaron annoying, or any other baby for that matter. They liked her for some reason. Her father used to tell her she had a natural instinct. She kissed Aaron on the forehead as she walked across the lawn, pushing aside gate in the white picket fence. She sighed, gently tousling his hair. Aaron cooed again, moving to grab her necklace.

"At least I've got you, Turniphead…"

He sang something to her, probably his attempt at saying what she had.

"Lisa!" a voice called.

She turned to watch as Claire walked up to her, the breeze blowing her blonde hair out behind her. Lisa smiled at her. Aaron squealed at the sight of his mother.

"There's my man. Have you been good for Aunty Lisa?"

The baby gurgled and reached for Claire. Lisa laughed, allowing her to take him from her arms.

"He's a sweetheart, as always," she told her.

Claire beamed, kissing the baby's cheek. "Thanks for taking him for the morning, Lisa. I just can't help sleeping in- I finally have a bed!"

Lisa's smile felt unenthusiastic. She didn't have the heart to tell Claire she couldn't sleep hardly at all; that she'd been having nightmares. They spoke for a few more minutes before Claire left to take Aaron inside. Lisa waved to him as they walked away, and his wide blue eyes watched her from over his mother's shoulder.

Finding nothing else to do, Lisa walked back toward her house, falling into the hammock nearby. A wistful sigh escaped her as she watched the brilliant sun flash through the trees, swinging in back and forth in a large arc. She loved the feeling of the wind in her hair, and for that moment she was happy to be in the Barracks. The heat from the sun warmed her cheeks and she kicked off her sneakers, tucking her arms behind her head. A song came to mind.

"'The sun is shining and the kids are shouting loud/ but don't you know it's shining through a crack in the cloud? / the shadows keep on fallin'/ when Johnny come marchin' home.'"

Lisa sighed, letting a small smile tug at her lips. Strangely, she was finally home…