Author's Note: This one is inspired completely by AdulterousWhore! Ahh.. her writing is sheer brilliance. It's like.. looking up at the stars and seeing a shooting star! Just that amazing. Read what she writes! This would have been up much earlier had I not accidentally erased the whole first half by not saving it. Sorry for any errors, I'm a little over-tired.

Also. This chapter is MUCH longer then I originally intended. It's also, mostly flash-back oriented. So, enjoy?

Heartland:

Chapter 7: Misfortunes

Brevis ipsa vita est sed malis fit longior

(Our life is short but is made longer by misfortunes.)

-Publilius Syrus

"Where do we go from here, James?" Juliet questioned as they wandered further away from the caves with their backpacks.

Sawyer glanced at her. "If we're gonna have Dharma boys, and pre-modern Others chasin' us, I think we're gonna need a team," Sawyer stated. "And where do you think our team's headin'?" he questioned her.

Juliet had to admit. It was a long shot, but in a sense, it was actually logical as well. "The beach.." she muttered.

"Yep.." he answered with a shrug.

"Do you really thing we'll find them there?" she wondered out loud. Until now, they had been silent through most of the night as they traipsed through the jungle. They had already been wandering for a few hours at this point.

Sawyer wasn't sure, to be honest. "I have no idea," he admitted.

Juliet glanced at him. "We're gonna need weapons.."

Sawyer grinned. "I know where to get 'em."

Juliet looked slightly confused. "Where?"

"Where do you think?" he asked. "The old hatch.."

Juliet blinked. "The one Desmond was in?" she questioned. "How are we supposed to wing that?"

Sawyer smirked. "I con, Juliet," he replied curtly. "Those boys are gonna need replacements soon."

Juliet allowed a small smile. "You gonna push the button?"

"I ain't stayin'," he told her. "We knock them out. Grab some of the weapons, dong-ding-ditch."

Juliet smirked now. "Isn't it.. ding-dong-ditch?"

Sawyer eyed her carefully and then laughed. At least she was finally gaining her senses back a bit since the incident hours ago with the monster. He still had that image of her, curled up and hugging her knees with the tears streaming down her face. Much worse then the last time that he'd seen her upset.

()()FLASHBACK()()

"What the hell is goin' on, H?" Sawyer questioned as she walked up to him.

"Jim.." Horace said, grimacing slightly. The man had been with them for a year now, still searching, still hoping to find a crew that Horace believed was likely, no longer alive. But he said nothing of the thoughts. It was nice to have them around, they had proved a lot more useful then he thought they would. "It's the hostiles.." he mentioned to his current Acting Head of Security. A week previous, his old head of security met with a.. unnecessary fate with Widmore when he went into the 'no-cross zone'.

Sawyer frowned, glancing at the monitors. He knew now, what Horace was talking about. There were several of the boys from the security on the monitor, and few Dharma station workers, already being rounded up by multiple hostiles, one being Charles Widmore. He'd been the most recent pain in the ass.

"That one," Horace said, pointing to the monitor at Widmore. The screen wasn't zoomed just yet, but all the men in the room noticed someone struggling with him. "He has an interest in your girl, Jim."

Sawyer stared at him with a blank face. "What?"

"Juliet," Horace stated, forcing the camera to zoom in on what was happening.

Sawyer watched as Horace zoomed in and muttered under his breath. "Son of a.."

Horace and the rest of the men simply watched in awe as Juliet suddenly twisted Widmore's arm, throwing him over her shoulder and onto the ground like a sack of potatoes and then managing to grab his rifle as well, aiming at his head. "Whoa.." was the word that came from most of their mouths.

Sawyer managed to hold back his eyeroll as he grabbed a rifle off the shelf. "You boys stare all you want.. I ain't leavin' all them out there," he explained. "Widmore wants somethin', I'm gonna find out what it is."

Horace watched LaFleur go, shaking his head slightly. The man had just run off alone. He realized, and understood, it probably mostly had to do with the fact Juliet was also one of the captives. He looked at the screen, watching as all the hostiles pointed their guns at her. "Let's go," he told his men, motioning them out the door.

-*-*-*-

Sawyer squeeled the van to a stop at one of the Dharma stations currently in progress by the Sonic Fence. He got out, rifle in hand as he headed towards Widmore, the group of hostiles, and the group of hostages. He cursed, noting that Widmore had Juliet kneeling on the ground with a rifle to her head, and one hell of a pissed off look.

"About time you got here," Widmore stated, cocking the gun.

Juliet winced slightly at the sound, then gave Sawyer an apologetic look.

Sawyer glanced at her before looking back up at Widmore. "I'm guessin' there's somethin' you want?"

"You'd be right," Widmore answered. "I want you to tell me where Elle is, and bring her back to me."

Sawyer stared in confusion. "Elle?" he questioned. "Who the hell is Elle?"

"You either bring Elle back, or I'll simply shoot this woman," Widmore explained, his voice revealing no more emotion.

"We ain't got no Elle to give back to you, hause," Sawyer stated.

Widmore rolled his eyes. "Fine, if you honestly don't care that much about her.."

Sawyer put his rifle out, aiming at Widmore. "You shoot her, I shoot you."

Widmore smirked. "Care that much do you?" he questioned.

"Tell ya' what.." Sawyer stated. "None of them are really all that good of hostages," he explained. "I'll trade ya.. all of them for me."

Widmore raised an eyebrow up. "What good would you do me?"

Sawyer pointed to the label under his Dharma symbol on his clothes. "I'm Head of Security."

Widmore appeared to be thinking about that for a moment. "You can have all of them. I'm keeping her," Widmore stated, nodding down at Juliet.

"That ain't what I said," Sawyer stated. "All of them. And her too."

Widmore eyed him. "Very well. I'll let all of them go first. Until you're over here, she stays with me."

Sawyer hated the idea, but it was the best he was getting. "Alright. Deal."

Widmore glanced back at his men and nodded his head. At once, all of them lowered their rifles and pushed the Dharma Workers and Security members forward to Sawyer.

Sawyer watched as Horace and the other security men showed up.

Horace looked on in shock, watching as Widmore released all but Juliet over to Sawyer. What kind of deal had he just made? "Jim?"

"Sorry H," Sawyer said with a shrug before dropping the rifle and going to Widmore and Juliet.

"Down on your knees," Widmore stated to Sawyer, keeping the cocked rifle at the back of Juliet's head.

Sawyer simply did as he was told, glancing at Juliet who was staring right back at him with those damned blue eyes filled with worry. "Let her go."

Widmore sighed. A deal was a deal. He took the aim off Juliet and put it on Sawyer. "Go," he stated to Juliet.

"James.." Juliet whispered, standing and looking down at him.

"Get the hell over to Horace," Sawyer stated. "Go, Juliet."

Juliet frowned, but did what he said, heading to Horace.

Horace took her hand in his and squeezed it for a bit of comfort. "What does Widmore want?" he whispered.

"A woman.. named Elle.." she answered in return.

Horace stared back in confusion.

Widmore looked down at Sawyer. "Now who wants to explain to me where Elle is?" he called out to everyone around him.

Sawyer locked eyes with Juliet who now stood beside Horace, her face contorted with a look of grief, and what he guessed was despair. She was that worried about him?

"There's no Elle here, Widmore," Horace called back, staring at the man. "Whoever it is you're looking for, you're looking in the wrong place!"

Widmore narrowed his eyes. "I don't appreciate being lied to," he stated before knocking Sawyer in the back of the head with the rifle.

Sawyer went down to the ground on his stomach. He groaned, rolled his eyes, and swept his legs out. Juliet had proven to him earlier, it wasn't very hard to surprise Charles Widmore. He grabbed the rifle back from him and aimed it at his head.

"You can let me go, or get shot, Jim," Widmore said with a smile.

"So let 'em shoot me.." Sawyer said with a shrug.

Widmore smiled a little bigger now. "Maybe you should check at who they're aiming at then."

Sawyer did, and it only took a moment before he realized all 13 guns besides the one he was holding, were aimed directly at Juliet.

"Shoot her," Widmore stated, watching as all the guns cocked.

Juliet took a step back, and frowned noticing that both Miles and Jin had just stepped in front of her.

"Fine.. shoot Jim.." he stated to his men.

Sawyer watched as once more all guns aimed back on him. He rolled his eyes, and dropped the rifle. Someone else would get shot if he didn't, he already knew that. Having a shoot-out would endanger Juliet even further. He wasn't letting her get hurt again this time. He vowed not to let it happen again.

Widmore stood, grabbing the rifle from the ground and shot immediately.

"JAMES!" Juliet yelled out, going to run to him when Horace grabbed her arms and held her back. "Let go! Let me go!!"

Miles and Jin stared in utter shock, unsure what to do or say.

Widmore smirked, staring down at Sawyer's now bleeding shoulder. Instead of simply stopping there, he kicked him twice in the ribs, making sure he moved a few feet with the effort.

"Stop it!" Juliet yelled out, once again trying to pull from Horace's grasp, but now Miles and Jin had grabbed for her too. "Stop!! Leave him alone!!"

Horace grimaced at Juliet's plea's for Widmore to stop.

"Widmore."

Widmore glanced over at Richard, walking with Elle.

"Charles, you've taken this too far.." she told him, grabbing his arm.

Richard stepped beside the two. He dared a glance over at the blonde woman Horace was holding onto along with two other men, watching the tears stream down her face. "That's enough," he stated. "It would be in our.. best interests.. to let them go."

Widmore eyed him carefully before glancing at Elle who simply nodded her head in agreement. He sighed. "Let's go," he stated, before walking off into the jungle.

Juliet immediately pulled herself away from Horace, Miles and Jin and ran to Sawyer's side, cradling his head in her lap.

"Stop cryin.." he muttered. "You're rainin' a waterfall on me."

Juliet smiled a little and let out a slightly distraught laugh as Horace and the other men came to help her. "If you weren't half-dead right now.. I'd hit you, James.." she muttered weakly.

()()END FB()()

Juliet glanced at him. "What are you thinking about?" she questioned.

Sawyer glanced back in return. She looked a mess after walking for so long, and after what had happened earlier. Her face was still blotchy from all the crying she had done, her eyes still showing the pain. "I'm thinking.. we stop and rest," he told her, grabbing her hand and stopping her.

Juliet tilted her head to the side slightly. "James.. we need to find everyone else.."

"You need to sleep," he told her, placing his hand to her cheek and smiling. "We both know you're tired."

Juliet shook her head. "I don't want to sleep."

Sawyer sighed. "Don't matter," he told her. "You gotta rest."

Juliet turned her face and looked away.

"Nothin' is gonna happen.." he assured her. "I'm gonna be right here beside ya."

Juliet frowned as she looked back at him.

Sawyer smiled a little before placing his lips against hers in a lingering kiss. "Come on.." he said quietly after a moment. "Lets get the blankets out, we'll sleep a few hours and then get moving."

Juliet nodded silently in response and watched as he took out the blankets they had. When he laid down, she took her spot beside him, resting her head on his shoulder. She admitted, it was still strange to feel such comfort from a man when all he did was have his arm around her. But still.. she felt safe like that, so she let herself close her eyes.

()()FLASHBACK()()

Juliet frowned, sitting beside his bed in the infirmary. She had made herself useful while she was sitting there, volunteering to wrap his wound after they'd stitched him up. It had been the first time people had stepped in her line of fire, the first time people had risked themselves for her. She wasn't entirely sure how to react. First Sawyer had protected her, demanding Widmore let her go and agreeing to take her place, albeit along with many other people. Then Miles and Jin had stepped in front of The Hostile's line of fire. Was this what it meant to be part of a family? Even if it was kind of a.. slightly screwy faux family.

She remained silent as she taped the bandages and then glanced at his face. Her eyes softened slightly as she let her hand caress his cheek. What he'd done for her.. no one had ever done for her before. She shook the thoughts from her head and pulled the blankets back, glancing at ribs she'd already wrapped up. They were bruised, but that was about as bad as it got.

"Juliet?"

Juliet jumped slightly when she heard the voice and turned to glance at Horace. "Oh.. sorry.." she said quietly.

Horace nodded a little and walked up beside her. "I'm sorry about what happened Juliet.." he told her. "When he saw you on the monitor he was out the door before I could stop him.."

Juliet smiled sadly. "That's James for you.." she assured him. "Always the hero.."

Horace noted the tinge of guilt that played in her voice. "It wasn't your fault."

"Wasn't it?" she questioned. "He was just trying to protect me.."

Horace frowned and placed his hand on her shoulder. "And you wouldn't have done the same?"

Juliet stared back at him. "Of course I would.."

"But?"

"But.. I don't understand why he did it," she admitted, albeit cautiously.

Horace seemed confused. "I'm not sure I understand.."

Juliet shrugged her shoulders as she sat down, holding Sawyer's hand in her own. "Up until the crash, he hardly spoke to me," she said with a shrug. "He didn't even like me..we just kind of, accepted each other."

Horace frowned once more. He had to wonder if it was true. From what he'd seen of the two, they both seemed to have some unvoiced feelings for each other. Though, according to Amy, sometimes hate could bring people closer then love. Perhaps hate had turned into love in their case? He couldn't be sure, since he hadn't known the two before their boat crashed. "If that's true, then it looks like his feelings for you have changed a lot. People will do anything to protect the ones they love."

Juliet glanced up at him, slightly confused.. a look of pure bafflement. "Love?" she questioned. All previous 'love' experiences had never been very good.

"You couldn't tell?" he questioned.

Juliet frowned. "This is what you do.. for people you love, right?" she questioned, motioning to Sawyer's wounds.

Horace nodded. "You do whatever you have to.."

"Then.." she said quietly. "Maybe when he wakes up, you can tell him I'm not worth that.." she stated quietly, letting go of Sawyer's hand and walking out of the infirmary.

Horace stared after her in utter shock. What person in their right mind reacted that way about love? He'd never seen it before. Either, she'd never loved, or her experiences with it had all been.. downright horrible. Whichever one, it was still depressing to know. She had just sat here, dressing all of his wounds that had been stitched up. If she didn't love him as well, he'd be damned.

"Where is she?"

Horace looked down. "How long have you been awake?"

"Couple minutes.." Sawyer admitted, opening his eyes. "Had to scare her with the love thing, didn't ya?"

Horace frowned. "Wasn't aware it was scary."

Sawyer shrugged, and winced afterwords. "It is for her."

"Why?" Horace questioned.

"Bad thing for her.." he stated. "Never turns out well.."

"That why you haven't told her?" Horace asked now in curiosity. What happened to make someone fear love? 'Not turning out well' wasn't a real excuse. LaFleur was sugar-coating it, for whatever reason.

Sawyer smirked. "H, some things just ain't meant to be," he admitted. "And that girl.. she's one of a kind. But she's afraid of the world, even though she won't tell ya' she is."

Horace shook his head and sighed. These people were complicated messes. "You really used to hate her?"

"Hate?" Sawyer questioned. "I guess.." he admitted. "Didn't like her much, thought she was cold, heartless."

Horace raised an eyebrow up. Maybe it was the drugs he was on making him talk so weird. "And what made you change your mind?"

"She still look that way to you?" he asked.

Horace smiled. "No.. I guess not."

"Do me a favor?" Sawyer asked suddenly.

Horace waited in silence.

"See if you can get her to come back in?" he questioned. "You spilled my beans," he explained. "Now I gotta clean 'em up.."

Horace simply nodded and walked out.

-*-*-*-

"Juliet..?"

Juliet glanced up from where she was sitting on the swingset. She noted that it was Amy standing in front of her. "Hey Amy."

"Are you alright?" Amy asked.

"Horace said he loves me.." she replied quietly.

Amy frowned, sitting down on the swing beside her. "Is that such a bad thing?"

"I don't have such a good track record.." Juliet explained with a frown.

Amy's eyes softened. From the look in Juliet's eyes, she could tell whatever happened had scarred her badly. "Want to talk about it?"

Juliet glanced at her. It was strange to have a female companion, one you could talk to and admit your problems to. She hadn't had that in years. Not since she'd left Rachel's side. Where did she start? With Edmund? With Goodwin? With Ben? Or maybe Jack. Maybe the beginning was best. "Its a long story.." she finally admitted.

"I have time.." Amy assured her.

Juliet was silent for a moment before she decided to explain it to Amy. "I was married once.."

Amy raised an eyebrow.

"His name was Edmund," she stated quietly. "We worked together in research, and he was charming.." she admitted. "I married him not too long after, he just wanted to use my research to further his own career it turns out.." she stated with a shrug.

Amy narrowed her eyes. "Why do I get the feeling thats not all he did?" she questioned, and watched Juliet's eyes fall. She almost regretted asking. "This can be our secret Juliet, just between you and me."

Juliet closed her eyes. She had told Sawyer, sure. But she'd never told anyone aside from him before now. "He would go off with other women," she explained. "Which I ignored.. for a while."

"What else?" Amy dared to ask.

Juliet shrugged.

Amy frowned.

"He dislocated my shoulder once," she admitted, staring down at the ground.

Amy stared in shock, not quite sure how to respond.

"I left after that," she told Amy quickly. "There was another man.. but he was married," she stated, already feeling slightly embarrassed admitting that to Amy. "He died.."

Amy's eyes softened slightly.

"I'm not entirely sure this next one even counts, just that he was obsessed with me," she admitted. "Told me that I was.. his."

Amy looked slightly disgusted, and unsure of what to say. It was no wonder that love scared Juliet. She had no good experiences with it.

"And then there was Jack.."

Amy glanced at Juliet, and the way she said the man's name. "Jack?"

Juliet smiled sadly. "The main problem with Jack is.. I fell in love with him. But.. he loved somebody else, who also loved somebody else.."

Amy raised an eyebrow up at that.

"He only used me to prove to himself he didn't love her.." she explained. "I let him.. because I felt safer with him, I believed in him," she admitted. "And maybe I hoped, that somehow he might just love me one day."

Amy's features softened at the sad look on Juliet's face. "I guess that didn't happen.."

Juliet shrugged. "I guess we'll never know.."

Amy blinked in confusion.

"He's been missing since the boat crashed," she admitted.

Amy frowned, staring at Juliet. Suddenly her reactions to Horace's statement the LaFleur loved her, seemed almost normal now. They made sense. "I have one question then.."

Juliet nodded. "Sure.."

"From what you said, from everything that's happened, has any man ever done for you what Jim just did?" she questioned.

Juliet was silent in response.

Amy smiled, standing up and holding her hand out to Juliet. "Then I think.. you shouldn't let this one get away when he's willing to die for you," she stated. "That's a man who will love you forever.."

Juliet stared up at Amy. She had a point. Even if she was afraid of it, no one had done for her what Sawyer had. It might be worth letting her guard down one more time. She grabbed Amy's hand and stood.

"He wants to talk to you.." Amy stated as they walked to the infirmary. "Told Horace to get you to come back.. Horace wasn't sure what to do.."

Juliet smiled a little. "I think I got it from here, Amy.." she said quietly. "Thank you.."

Amy nodded, watching as Juliet went inside.

Juliet glanced at him as she closed the infirmary door behind her. She sat down on the edge of the bed, watching as he opened his eyes. "Hey James.."

()()END FB()()

The ear-piercing sceam was what woke him up a few hours later. It was a scream he would never forget, filled with terror, sadness, pain. And it was all coming from the woman curled up next to him in a fetal postition. The screams were Juliet's, as he watched her face contort into pain.

()()END()()

Hmm.. flashback OVERLOAD. Sorry about that. But.. oh well. Too late now. Love is a long when you have to write it?