Author's Note: Sorry I didn't get to update last night. And sorry for updating so late tonight! I was busy yesterday, and today I managed to delete the chapter without saving it. I also broke my phone and had to fight and get cranky so I'd get a new one before my two years was up. Blah. But here you go! FINALLY!

Heartland:

Chapter 8: Friendships

Amantium irae amoris integratio est -

(The quarrels of lovers are the renewal of love. )

-Terence

Sawyer was shocked when he sat up. At first when he heard the screaming he'd been afraid someone was attacking her. But when he looked, all he saw was her shaking, eyes closed in a nightmare she couldn't wake up from. He frowned. He was only slightly relieved about the realization. He quickly put his hands on her shoulders, gently shaking her. "Juliet.. Juliet wake up.."

Juliet sat up in an instant, her hand to her neck, only to realize that it was a nightmare. She took a deep breath and frowned before glancing at Sawyer beside her.

"You alright?" he questioned.

Juliet nodded without saying a word.

Sawyer knew better then to push her on the subject. He simply left his hand on her shoulder and smiled at her. "If you wanna talk abou--"

"I won't.." she stated. "But thank you."

Sawyer sighed and nodded. It was only when they both heard the noises coming through the foliage that they stood up, and he immediately moved his body in front of hers. To his relief, it was Miles who stepped out from the trees.

"Well.." Miles stated, slightly surprised. "I was wondering where you two were."

Sawyer smirked. "Yeah, yeah.. nice to see you again too, Ghostbuster."

Miles rolled his eyes as he lowered his rifle. "What's all the screaming about, trying to wake the dead?"

Sawyer glanced back at Juliet before he turned back to Miles and shot him the, 'drop it' stare. "It's a long story."

Miles narrowed his eyes and shrugged, knowing not to ask further.

Juliet remained silent, only just now noticing that Sawyer still hadn't stopped his protective stance in front of her. It made her smile just a little.

"Where's everybody else?" Sawyer questioned.

"Where do you think?" Miles questioned with a dramatic eyeroll. "They have about as logical thinking as you used to have with places to go."

Sawyer smirked. "The beach.."

"Bingo," Miles stated with a shrug. "Suppose you guys wanna meet up with them?"

Sawyer nodded. "That's the plan."

Miles nodded in return. "Guess its time to arm yourselves then.." he stated, pulling his bag off his shoulder and opening it up. He pulled out a handgun and took the other handgun from his waist, holding them both out to Sawyer.

Sawyer grabbed both before he turned back to Juliet, holding one out to her.

Juliet glanced at it with hesitance before she took it, putting it in the waistline of her jeans. "Thanks."

Miles eyed them, but said nothing about it. "Alright.. follow me."

"Aye aye cap'n," Sawyer replied with an eyeroll before holding his hand back to Juliet.

Juliet glanced down at his hand and took it, smiling at him before following him and Miles through the woods.

()()FLASHBACK()()

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.."

Sawyer glance at her and smiled a little. "Horace scarin' ya off with conspiracy theories?" he questioned.

Juliet smiled a little in response. "How do you feel?" she asked, glancing at his shoulder.

"Like I just took a vacation," he answered, smirking.

Juliet rolled her eyes slightly in response, but now that she'd asked the only real question there was to ask, she wasn't entirely too sure what to say. It was beginning to leave a rather awkward silence between them.

Sawyer was still trying to figure out exactly what to say as well. He noticed she was having the exact same problem. This had to be one of the first times neither of them knew what to say to the other.

"I'm sorry.." Juliet stated quietly. "I should just go back to the house.."

Sawyer reached for her hand when she stood.

Juliet glanced down at their entwined fingers now and then looked at him. "Is it just a theory..?" she asked finally.

Sawyer sighed. How was he supposed to answer that? In all honestly, he wasn't entirely too sure himself if Horace was right or not. He thought he loved Kate, and maybe he had. But whatever he had started feeling for the witty blonde beside him right now, he couldn't quite find the words for it.

"James.." she said quietly, a frown on her face.

"I don't know.." he finally admitted.

Juliet smiled a little with the honesty.

Sawyer asked the question he was wondering about now. "Do you want it to be?"

Juliet let her eyes soften a little at the question. "I'm not sure.." she responded, just as he had to her question. She felt semi-shellshocked at the thought that just crossed her mind, she silently cursed herself, but decided to suggest it anyways. "You know.." she said quietly. "You're gonna need some help when you get out of here.."

Sawyer raised an eyebrow up at her statement.

"Well.. Amy moved in with Horace last week," she stated with a shrug. "So.."

Sawyer smiled a little, realizing what she was getting at. "You offerin' to take care of me?" he questioned.

Juliet rolled her eyes. "You don't have to get sarcastic.." she told him with a shake of his head. "Just let Miles take care of you." she stated, pulling her hand from his and walking towards the door.

Sawyer frowned, knowing she was just trying to be nice. "Hey, I'm sorry Juliet.."

Juliet glanced back at him, and smiled sadly. "I think it would be a bad idea for us to get involved James.."

"Why?" Sawyer questioned, without really thinking about it.

Juliet frowned now. But she walked back over to him, sitting down on the chair beside his bed. "If we got involved.. and Ben were to find out.."

"It ain't Ben you're worried about.." Sawyer noted, watching the lie in her eyes.

Juliet narrowed her eyes. How had he seen through the lie so quickly? She must have been losing her touch..

"What if they come back?" she finally questioned.

Sawyer frowned. She was worried that.. he sighed. Suddenly it made a lot more sense to him. "You think Doctor Do-Right's comin' back for you?" he asked her.

Juliet sighed and shook her head. He honestly didn't understand.. "When you're sure how you'll feel when they come back.. we'll talk then.." she stated, standing once more and heading for the door.

It took until she was already gone to realize what she really did mean. It wasn't that she still hoped Jack was going to come back for her. She was afraid that if she got involved with him, what he would do if Kate were to come back. He groaned and shook his head.

()()END FB()()

Kate sat near Jack, Hurley, Daniel and Jin. All of them had heard the scream, it was Miles who volunteered to go check it out. It had been a good thirty minutes since he had left now though, she had to wonder if he was alright. "Do you think he's alright?"

Jack glanced at her as well. "I'm sure he's fine."

Daniel remained silent in his thoughts.

"Dude.. obviously someone isn't okay.." Hurley stated. "What if that was Juliet?" he asked. "Her and Sawyer went off alone.."

Jack, Kate and Jin all looked at him. He'd just stated exactly what all of them had been afraid to admit.

Hurley frowned. "Well.. its the most obvious person.." he told them. "Look around.. the only ones of us that ran off, that were girls were Juliet and Kate.. and it wasn't Kate.."

"Hurley.." Jack said, hushing him.

"Dude.. I was just trying to.."

"Someone's coming.." Jin finally stated, shutting Hurley up instantly.

All of them glanced up, watching as Miles protruded from the trees.

"What was it?" Kate questioned, standing up.

Miles stepped aside, motioning to Sawyer and Juliet who stepped out now behind him.

Jack felt relieved noticing they were alright. He glanced at their intertwined hands, but said nothing about it.

Jin was the first to stand and go over to the two, smiling. "I am.. glad you are okay."

Sawyer grinned. "Good to see you too, Jinbo," he stated, letting go of Juliet's hand and hugging him.

Juliet glanced away, looking towards the water.

Kate found herself staring at the dark bruises on Juliet's neck. She glanced over at Jack, noting that he seemed to noticed the same thing as well. When she looked back over, Juliet was already walking away from the group of them. "Sawyer.. what happened to her?" she questioned.

Sawyer glanced at Juliet, watching as she sat down close to the water. "Old smokey.." he stated.

"Smokey?" Jack questioned.

"Smoke monster.." Jin stated for Sawyer.

Kate frowned. "That thing is here in this time too?"

Sawyer just nodded.

"Is that why she screamed?" Kate asked.

"No, that was.." Sawyer stopped himself. "No."

Hurley frowned. "Maybe one of us should like.. go over there?" he suggested.

Kate grabbed Sawyer as he went to go over to Juliet. "Maybe she needs to talk to another woman?"

Sawyer narrowed his eyes, but nodded. "Alright.."

Kate nodded as well before walking away from the group as well, heading towards Juliet and sitting down beside her. "You mind?" she questioned.

"Not at all.." Juliet replied quietly, staring out at the tide.

"Sawyer said.. the smoke monster attacked you," Kate stated softly, watching the look on Juliet's face turn from somber to dark. "He also said.. that wasn't why you screamed, but he wouldn't tell us why you did.."

Juliet glanced at her out of the corner of her eye.

"I think he couldn't tell us.. because he wasn't really sure," Kate told her, watching the way her eyes darkened even further. She got the feeling she might already be pushing her limit with Juliet. They weren't exactly friend, not three years ago, and apparently not now. "Sometimes its easier to tell another woman things you couldn't tell the man you love.."

Juliet's eyes softened a little now at Kate's word. "Why do you care so much, Kate?"

Kate frowned. "Because.." she started quietly. "Sometimes people really do change.. and I think.." she paused, thinking of the words. "I think you're a better person than I originally thought.."

"The smoke monster.." Juliet stated suddenly. "It judges you.."

Kate narrowed her eyes in confusion. "Judges?"

Juliet glanced down. "It takes the thing you feel guilty for and judges you for it.. either you live, or it kills you.."

Kate said nothing, unsure of how to react.

"First it changed itself into Danny.. the man I shot.." she stated. "Then Goodwin.."

"Goodwin?" Kate questioned.

Juliet refused to let the tears build up again. "He.. Ben sent him to die, because he was in love with me."

Kate frowned. "Because Goodwin loved you, or because Ben did?"

Juliet blinked.. "Uh.." she muttered, wondering. "Goodwin.." she stated. "In some twisted way.. maybe Ben did, but he never said so."

Kate was astonished at Juliet's words. "What makes you think Ben may have?"

"After he showed me Goodwin's body, he told me that I was his.."

Kate's eyes widened slightly.

"But.. it isn't those that bother me so much anymore.." she stated quietly.

Kate watched the sorrow fill Juliet's features. "Then what is bothering you?"

Juliet placed her hand to her neck, flinching slightly, but ignoring the slight pain it cause. "It turned into my sister.."

Kate's eyes softened.

"My sister was pregnant when I came to the island," she admitted. "I was only supposed to be here for 6 months, so that I could be back in time to see her give birth," she explained. "But Ben.. he wouldn't let me leave."

Kate frowned. How could Ben do things like that to people? She had never realized before that Juliet had basically been a prisoner as well. It made sense now, as to why Juliet had tried to hard for Jack's trust. It made even more sense as to why she would have betrayed The Others for Jack. It was her way of breaking free from her prison.

"It asked me why I didn't try to get on the sub in this time, and hope it brought me to our real time.." she admitted.

Kate now wondered that as well. Why hadn't any of them tried? "Why didn't you?"

Juliet glanced back at Sawyer and the rest of their group. "Because.. I needed Sawyer just as much as he needed me.." she admitted, shocking herself along with Kate, with her honesty.

"What happpened..?" Kate questioned, realized that wasn't the end of smokey.

"She.. it.. told me that it needed me.." Juliet stated, confusing herself for a moment. "And she.. it.. strangled me into unconsciousness.. still posing as my sister."

Kate felt any disaccord towards Juliet that was still left, melt away in an instant. It seemed as though that monster had nearly broken the woman beside her. She watched Juliet finger the bruises on her neck. "Is that.. is that what made you scream?"

Juliet closed her eyes, folding her arms on top of her knees and laying her head now. "I.. had a dream.." she explained.

Kate nodded.

"And it happened all over again.. first it was my sister.." she explained. "But.. then it was Ben."

Kate stared at her. She couldn't imagine what it was like to have such a nightmare. But she realized instantly, there was still more to this nightmare. "What else happened in this nightmare..?"

"Suddenly it changed back to my sister Rachel.. but instead of strangling me.. she was holding me back.." Juliet admitted.

"Hold you back from what?" Kate dared to ask.

Juliet glanced up, rubbing the tears from her eyes. "From stopping Ben.." she told her. "From stopping him from killing Sawyer.."

Kate's eyes softened and she placed her hand on top of Juliet's.

Juliet glanced at Kate's hand on top of hers. It was strange.. but in a way, it had made her feel somewhat better talking to Kate. She knew though, it wasn't the first time she'd had a dream such as that, and it was just as likely that it wouldn't be the last.

()()END()()

Hmm..