PENNY'S BOAT

CHAPTER 9: REUNITED

The waves wash back and forth. Back and forth. Back and forth. What is this? Is this what happens next? Is this… No. This is… No. He picked his head up off the sand and looked up. Trees lined the horizon, the comforting, yet sinister allure of nature. Behind lay the sea. Ahead lay jungle. The walls of Thermopylae.

Get up. He shook his head. Can't. Too tired. Too broken. He thought of her, the prettiest face he'd ever seen. The girl he'd fallen in love with the moment he'd set eyes on her. And somehow, he knew she was gone. He'd lost her. He'd lost himself.

The harsh sunlight faded as a shadow was cast across him. He rolled over to find a figure standing over him. I hated you so much. A hand was reaching down to him. He grasped it, his last hope, and it pulled him to his feet.

Locke smiled, "Come on, Charlie. We've got work to do."

Desmond stared forward for a moment, unsure of how to react. Unsure if he could even believe this was real. Penny? Is she really here? He reached out and touched her face, feeling the warmth, the reality, and in that moment he knew salvation had arrived.

"If there is a heaven, Pen, It's got nothing on this.

Michael's head hit the wall sharply. A solid punch bloodied his nose. He let the punishment come, he knew he deserved it. From the moment he'd told Walt the truth about what had led to their rescue and seen the horror in the boy's eyes, he'd known. I'm a traitor. I'm a… murderer.

Jack pulled him to his feet by the collar and pinned him to the wall, "Where do you get off coming back here, you son of a bitch?! Sawyer and Kate could have-!"

"Jack! Let him go!" Juliet shouted, "I'm as much to blame for what happened on Hydra Island as he is, are you going to beat me senseless?"

Jack gritted his teeth and dropped his victim. He knew she was right. Michael dropped to the floor, gasping and looking up pleadingly.

"You gotta understand, they had Walt. They had my child… and they said they wouldn't hurt you. They said they were good people. I never meant any of you any harm. But…" Michael trailed off as tears of guilt and pain ran down his face, "…but I was so scared."

Jack paused and took a deep breath. He reached down to Michael.

"Okay."

"W-What?"

"I forgive you."

Michael took his hand and stood. He looked from Jack to Juliet and back again, "So you gonna tell me what exactly's gone on since I bailed on you?"

Jack smiled, "It's a pretty long story. Can you keep it a secret?"

"I been keepin' secrets for a long time. And as for long stories, we got one hell of a long boat ride ahead of us."

"Don't move! There's two of us and one'a you!" Sawyer threatened as he raised his gun. The pulsating wheel ahead of him glowed brightly, making his adversary appear angelic in the shining light.

"James, I never thought it'd be you who'd confront me here. It's a shame really. This could have been such an epic climax to recent events if Jack had been here, but I guess I'll have to settle for the deadbeat conman and… whoever you are…" Ben sighed.

Miles cocked his gun, "Name's Straume, Linus. I'm the guy who's going to put you in the dirt." He was obviously a little annoyed that some hick was more recognizable to his quarry than him.

"You know, James, I can keep her here with you." Ben offered slyly.

Sawyer tensed, "The hell you talkin' bout?"

"Kate. She leaves this island and you two are over, but I can stop her. All it would take…" Ben gestured to the glowing wheel, "…Is activating this device."

Miles looked at Sawyer, "Don't listen to a word he says. For all we know, that thing might kill everyone on the island."

Ben smirked, "Really? Now what would be my motivation in killing everyone? This isn't a drugstore comic book, Miles, this is reality. And in reality, every action must have a payout."

Miles smiled, "So you do know who I am."

Sawyer slowly lowered his weapon, "Keep talkin'."

Ben turned to the wheel and laid his hands on it, "This is connected to a device that controls all of time and space. It would be little difficulty for me to use it to move this island somewhere that freighter will never find it. The rest of your friends are now aboard, but Kate is still loyally waiting at the radio tower. How long do you think that loyalty lasts when you can't be a hero anymore, James? Until she tires of you. Let me turn the wheel and we all leave this place happy and alive."

Sawyer frowned, "And what's in it for you?"

Ben pointed to Miles, "I escape from these people and continue living off the island. Once I'm cut off from my resources, I'll have no way of hurting you or your friends. Let me do this."

Miles stepped forward, "No way in hell you're getting off this island alive, Linus! Sawyer you ca-" Miles stopped short and slumped over, Sawyer had struck him with his pistol, leaving him unconscious.

Ben smiled, "You made the right decision, James. See you in another life." With that he stepped forward and turned the wheel all the way around. The station was washed away in a bright light.

"What the hell is that?!" Elliot shouted. All of the other survivors turned at once to face the island, seeing a bright light emanating from the center. Steve and Doug ran to the guard rail for a better look as Hurley and Claire climbed the stairs next to the cabin.

The whole sick bay began to shake wildly. Juliet slipped from the bed, but Jack caught her and turned to face the porthole. It was pure white, nothing could be seen but radiant light. Michael shielded his eyes.

Sawyer's vision went blank. Miles was shouting something, but a loud ringing noise drowned it out. All was nothingness for one darkly glorious moment, then…