PENNY'S BOAT

CHAPTER 2: THE JOURNEY HOME

Jack stared down at Naomi's corpse in a rage. Locke's gone too far now. I used to think maybe he was just eccentric, but this is… He's insane. He looked around at the gathered group of survivors. If these people are going to get home, I have to stop that psychopath.

He noticed Kate had joined him. She leaned in and whispered, "What are we going to do about this? About Naomi?"

"I'm going to finish something that was started a long time ago. I'm gonna have to kill Locke." Jack answered. His voice betrayed his anger at John's actions. Kate looked surprised that he'd be so open about his plan for a moment, but turned away again as she realized he was right. John Locke had done everything he could to stop them from leaving the island. The only way they'd escape with their lives is if he was taken out of the picture. Still, she felt saddened that they'd come to this. About a hundred days ago they'd been doctors and accountants and salesmen, and now they were prepared to kill to survive. She knew they would all be changed forever by their experiences on the island.

"Kate… We need to talk about something…" Jack said firmly.

"About what?" Kate asked, but she'd felt this coming for a long time.

"About what happens next and about where we go from here. We're probably never going to be able to tell anyone what really happened here. Hell, who'd believe it if we did? But I just want to say that… We can also lie for you. A lot of people died in that plane crash, for all the world knows, maybe Kate Austen was one of them. You can get a fresh start."

"And what about you, Jack? Where do you go from here? Do we…?"

"Kate… I think we'll always share this experience, and I'll always treasure you as one of the best friends I've ever had, but nothing more. It's not your fault any more than it is mine, but I've been hurt a lot. I've spent my whole life bearing the world on my shoulders. When I was down there in the Hydra… I felt that weight start to tumble down, like I'd been defeated at last, but then… Then I realized there was someone who could help me, someone who could share the load, and it… It just wasn't you, Kate."

Kate looked down at the ground, then turned back to Jack. Surprisingly, while she looked sad, there was a touch of relief in her face, "I understand. Wow… That felt weird, but I mean it. We're too different, Jack. Maybe in cheap romance novels that doesn't mean anything, but in the real world you have to find someone who can walk down the same road as you. I get what you meant about the load we have to bare, because I've found someone to help with the weight I've been holding."

Kate finished and stared out at the other survivors silently. Jack didn't speak. He didn't need to. They understood each other perfectly. Jack and Kate's flirtation had begun soon after they awoke after the crash, but it had never really gotten past that phase. Just an idle flirtation. But when Kate had found herself isolated after being outed as a fugitive, she'd become close with Sawyer. They'd found a connection in their shared hardships before the crash. Two outlaws. Always running.

Kate frowned. I felt like I couldn't finish it like this. I felt like I needed to stay away from Sawyer. Because of Wayne. But if I run away from my past, I'll be running forever. That's not what I want to do anymore. The marathon is finished, hand me a water bottle!

Just then, there came a shout from Claire, "They're back! They did it!" Jack and Kate jumped up and ran to the tree-line where Sawyer, Juliet, Desmond, Bernard, Hurley, Sayid, and Jin were waiting.

Jack smiled at Juliet, "I thought I told you not to do anything stupid."

"I remember saying something similar to you." They embraced warmly, the anxiety of years of being isolated - Juliet by the island and Jack by his own personal torment - washed away like the many scraps of metal that had once stood on the beach as a reminder of where they came from. They let themselves feel truly safe for that one moment before the cold, sharp claws of reality tore their perfect world apart.

"Where's Charlie?" Claire asked.

The whole group looked on solemnly as Hurley stepped forward, "Ch-Charlie's dead. He died to…" Hurley couldn't finish before he burst into tears and wrapped his arms around Claire, holding on to her tightly as if afraid she'd drift away if he let go.

Desmond stepped up, looking weary, but determined, "Ah don't really know what he saw in there or what really happened, but… Charlie gave his life to save us and to tell us that the flashes were true. It is Penny's ship. Ah think we should all remember this. Charlie was a hero. He's the reason we're getting home. That wee little man we all thought so little of turned out to be the best of us all."

Everyone stood silently for a moment. Rose whispered a prayer and the whole group at once stared into the sky. Raindrops started falling, soaking them, washing the memories of the crash away and promising rebirth. Every sparkling droplet held Charlie's reflection. The hero who had made the ultimate sacrifice. This moment of mourning was shattered by the sound of footsteps through the mud.

John Locke stood at edge of the group, smiling.

"What the hell do you want, John?!" Jack demanded.

"Just this."

With that Locke threw a knife directly into Juliet's chest.