Sticking to the theme of this chapter, Explain, I think I should also explain a thing or to. I'm sorry I haven't updated in a long time. I'm just going through a lot of emtional stuff right now and its really hard to focus on writing. But my new years resolution is to write more, so nag me if you want those updates people. Anyways, thats all for now.

Chapter 17: Explain

Sawyer stopped shoving the bamboo into Ana's nails. Jack pulled his head away from the tree and turned to face Ana. He started at her face. Kate continued to stare at the ground thoughtfully. And Sayid remained in his same position, one hand on Sawyers shoulder, about to pull him away.

It seemed that time literally stopped. No one moved. No one breathed. Sawyer started at Ana, waiting for her to say more.

"I lied. Yes, yes, I was…I was on the plane. I'm with Dharma." She said slowly, obviously choosing her words carefully. No one said anything else as this sunk in more.

"What is…Dharma?" Jack said in a croaky, horse voice.

"It's an organization. It's a good organization." She began to explain. "They study human behavior. Their goal is to achieve a world that is at harmony with itself. No illnesses, no wars, no fighting, no unhappiness. They send people here to study human behavior to really find the root cause for fighting. People sent here also study medicine to discover cures for illnesses." She stopped talking and swallowed.

Again, everyone was quite as this information started to descend upon them. Kate had sat down on against a tree, Jack had moved next to her, they weren't touching or even looking at each other, Sitting next to each other but completely unaware of each others presence. Sayid and moved to a near by tree and leaned against it, his head tilted upwards, eyes shut tight, brow furrowed.

"Not all the employees know about this…only people who they really think can make a difference. Someone like me. They think I can held other people find peace in their life's, they've never explained to me why or how they think or know this. They just do. Desmond doesn't know…Desmond isn't even supposed to know Dharma exists, none of you are. It's a secret organization. Its more secret then area 51. Only this is known by all the world leaders."

Kate was the one to speak this time. "Are you trying to tell me, that we crashed here on purpose?"

"Yes, in away. They didn't except the crash to be this devastating…but it was. They've…been…studying you."

"They've been terrifying us for so long to see how we would react to something?" Kate asked again. "And the world leaders knew about this? They are okay with this? They know where we are right now? They know that people are dying but aren't doing anything to stop it?"

"No. No, they don't know people are dieing and they think that the crash was an accident and they have no idea where you are. It's meant to be that way. Dharma thinks they are a few studies away from getting some real answers."

"I can't believe this." Kate mumbled.

Suddenly, Ana screamed out in pain. Sawyer threw the blood covered bamboo piece to the ground, he untied Ana and kicked her in the back and she stumbled forward.

"Get out of here. Go to Dharma." Sawyer spat at her, clearly disgusted.

Sayid stepped forward as well. "Tell them to leave us be. Tell them not to study us and let us be us. That is of course if they can get us our own way off the island."

Ana shook her head at them. "They can't. They only deliver people to the islands, they don't take them away. It's supposed to help people understand that they have to overcome problems instead of running from them."

"Oh well. We can just wait until the next plane crash to go home." Sawyer sneered. "Now get out of my sight."

Later that night, Jack and Kate were in the caves, warming the babies and themselves up next to a fire. They were quite, each held a baby.

"I never figured Ana for that kind of person." Kate said.

"What do you mean? What is that kind of person?"

"The kind of person who would buy into something like that I mean. The world being happy with itself as one, like unquenchable cheeriness. I believe in balance."

"You believe in black and white."

"And grey." Kate added.

"The whole world is grey, Kate."

"So…the guy who attacked me…?" Brandy trailed off.

"We didn't ask. And quite frankly, I don't give a rats ass." Sawyer snapped. Brandy looked shocked. "All that matters right now is that it's over." He turned and looked at her. "And that you make a full recovery….so…hit the hay, girl." He gently pulled on the flap and his tent swung closed. He pulled his shirt and jeans off and wrapped them both up in an airplane blanket.

It seemed odd for Sawyer. He normally didn't like to show emotion, to be vulnerable. But with Brandy it felt good, and made him feel whole. Something he hadn't felt in to many years.

The next morning after explaining to rest of the camp what Ana had told them the day before, there was gossip, discussion, confusion and hate. People who had lost family members on the plane were crying and discussing suing Dharma, some were shocked and whispering about how surprising it was, a few were even saying they had known all along.

"I think they took it quite well." Sayid stated, sitting next to Jack as they observed a hysterical daughter who lost her mother on the plane. Jack turned and gave Sayid a blank look. "Well, no riots breaking out, nobody's wreaking havoc, or setting tents on fire, no headless chickens walking around." Jack frowned deeply. "Don't people in cults bite of chickens heads?" Sayid asked. Jack frowned deeper. "You are impossible to talk to sometimes you know that?"

Next Time:

Jack and Kate DO actually plan their date.

A little more romance a little less mystery.