In Shallow Seas We Sail
Author's Note:I know, it's been roughly ten thousand years since an update. Sue me. And maybe I stretch a few things in this chapter. But also – sue me. And it's a little short. But also – sue me. But it's Fall Break so maybe you'll get another update soon! I love you guys. :)
Enjoy,
Sara
*
You're the only I knew that could tame me, and make me who I am.
But now, there's self-blaming and there's nothing left of all my plans.
Dear Death (Pt. 2)
[16]
"Ilana," Cassidy repeated, staring at the woman in front of her. She was foreign, as Cassidy had initially suspected. What was strange, however? She existed. A delusional Kate had written this woman's name down on a piece of paper, and she existed.
"Yes," the woman said. She shifted her weight to one leg and put her hand on her hip. "And your name is?"
"How did you find this place?"
The woman smirked. "I believe you probably know."
Cassidy glanced back down the hallway where Clementine was now standing. "Man in a white tunic?" Cassidy asked, repeating Kate's vision of this strange man.
"His name is Jacob," Ilana said in a somewhat defensive tone.
"Right."
"He didn't tell you I was coming?"
"Me?" Cassidy laughed. "Certainly not. He doesn't talk to me. I don't think I'm anyone you're looking for."
Ilana looked slightly confused. "But he said – "
Cassidy turned away from the door, leaving it open. "Oh, they're here alright, or will be…" She heard Ilana hesitantly step into the hallway. Clementine scampered back into the living room. "I'm just not sure I know what to do about them."
"You won't have to do anything about them. As long as they arrive on time, everything is already worked out."
Cassidy turned into the kitchen, surveying the broken coffee cup. She turned back to the other woman. "If they arrive on time?"
"Yes, we are on a bit of a time limit. Do you expect them back today?"
Cassidy nodded. "Last I heard, yes, their flight should be leaving any time now." She knelt to pick up the pieces of the mug. This Ilana woman gave her a funny feeling, not of fear exactly, but of something she couldn't place. She didn't feel particularly comfortable.
"May I ask…" Ilana said, kneeling beside her and picking up a piece of the ceramic, "How much do you know of this…situation?"
"Enough to start believing it," Cassidy replied. For a moment, she met the woman's gaze, and then stood to throw a towel over the coffee. She wasn't sure she could clean it up right now. Her mind was reeling.
Ilana nodded, as if by Cassidy's cryptic answer, she knew everything she needed to know. "If you weren't on the island, how did you get mixed up in this?"
"It's a long story," Cassidy replied, "And I'm just not sure I have it in me to tell it all. Let's just say that my daughter is also the daughter of one of your islanders. And I guess I'm the friend of a criminal, who was also on this island. And – I'm just in the wrong place at the wrong time."
Ilana shook her head. "Or maybe you are in the right place."
Cassidy snorted. "I don't think so." After a moment, she said, "I guess you can talk to Kate, she's the one with the…Jacob insight."
Ilana nodded, and Cassidy called for Kate to come out from her hiding spot. Kate appeared in the living room, looking apprehensively at Ilana.
"Hello, Kate," Ilana said, extending her hand, "I'm Ilana."
Kate gave a quick glance in Cassidy's direction, and Cassidy only nodded. Kate took the other woman's hand, and the two spoke briefly on Jacob said this and Jacob said that and I'll explain everything when they arrive.
Cassidy took a seat beside Clementine on the sofa, afraid to leave Kate and Ilana alone, and half-fearing that Ilana had already called the cops. Well, there was nothing Cassidy could do now but rip out the cable cord and claim she hadn't seen the news.
*
Every time Sawyer set foot on Cassidy's front lawn, he felt a quiet dread, a feeling of uneasiness that he'd never quite felt before. First it was because he knew his daughter was living in there, a little piece of him that he didn't really know. The second time, with Juliet in tow, he feared rejection (something he rarely had to deal with). Now, he didn't know what he was afraid of – more than anything, it was waiting any longer. They'd come this far to get Kate, but they had no idea where to go from here. Not knowing was infuriating.
Hurley, Jin, Sun, Sayid, Locke, and Jack surrounded him. Jack nodded toward the black car parked in Cassidy's driveway. "Someone you know?"
Sawyer shook his head. "I don't live here, how should I know 'em?"
Jack stared at the car apprehensively and quickened his pace to Cassidy's door. Sawyer knew what he was thinking (he'd been thinking the same thing): Kate was a fugitive, Cassidy couldn't be having visitors. Jack knocked on the door, but Sawyer pushed past him, found it unlocked, and stomped down the hallway.
Cassidy appeared in the living room entrance. "Way to knock," she said.
"Who's here?" Sawyer demanded. Jack was right on his heels; everyone else crowded in behind them. Jin and Sayid were hoisting Locke over the door frame.
Cassidy peered past him and smirked. "I should ask you the same question."
Sawyer exhaled and shook his head. "Cassidy – "
Kate appeared behind her, and from what Sawyer could tell, she wasn't wearing any handcuffs. She stepped forward to give Sawyer a clumsy embrace and moved along the hall, presumably greeting each person.
Sawyer moved past Cassidy into the living room, where Clementine was hanging upside down on the couch and a strange woman was sitting in the recliner. She stood when Sawyer entered the room. Clementine grinned. "Vay-cate-tion now?"
Sawyer stammered, "Uh – no, no vacation yet." Clementine didn't appear to be too upset. She shook her head to make her curls dance on the carpeted floor.
Sawyer eyed the woman warily as she extended her hand. "Hello, I'm Ilana."
"Ilana? The Ilana?"
The woman chuckled, but her eyes were still distant. "I suppose so. And you are?"
Sawyer considered the woman and her question a while longer. "James Ford," he answered.
"Nice to meet you, James."
The others filed into the room, and Ilana took the time to introduce herself to each of them. Once she finished speaking with Locke in low whispers, she stood back and looked at them all. "I'm sure you all are anxious to get back to the island." At this point, Cassidy grabbed Clementine's hand and led her from the room.
A few of them nodded, a few gave nervous glances. Sawyer did nothing, simply stared at her.
"Unfortunately, we don't know exactly where it's located," Ilana continued.
"What do you mean 'ya don't know where it's located'?" Sawyer growled. He took a step forward, but Jack put a hand on his arm to still him.
Ilana's gaze flicked to him for a moment, but she continued speaking. "Luckily, I believe you all know a few people who do know where the island is located. And they are due to leave tomorrow night."
Sawyer gritted his teeth. He'd had enough of these stupid riddles.
But it was Jin who spoke, "Miles, Daniel, Charlotte…Naomi."
"But Miles would be the only one who remembers," Jack said.
"Miles wouldn't go back again," Jin said.
"But he would still have the opportunity," Ilana replied.
"Or would he?" Jack said, "We've all changed since the island."
"Trust me," Ilana said.
Sawyer took a deep breath. He wished he would've kept in touch with Miles, but, he felt ashamed to admit, he didn't even know Miles' last name. He'd taken on a false last name once in the Dharma initiative, and that's all Sawyer ever knew. "Okay," he said with a resolute nod, "We find Miles."
*
Juliet had no idea what she was looking for – Jacob, she knew. He was the only one who could stop James and the others from coming back to the island. However, she had no idea where she would find him.
She was wary of Ben's words; his letting her go. He was the one who brought her here, and now he was letting her go? She wished she had a gun.
From behind her, she heard a rustle. She stopped; the sound stopped as well. She took a few steps forward, and the bushes behind her moved.
"Who's there?" she asked softly.
There was no response for several seconds, then the bushes moved back and a familiar face emerged. "Juliet?"