Author's Note: Of course this chapter has to go to GencoOliveOil once again! Thanks for all the inspirational ideas!
Heartland:
Chapter 18: Hide and Seek
Tempus omnia sed memorias privat
Time deprives all but memories
Juliet had no other reaction after she had put the veil over her face to hide her emotions. She kept eye contact with Ben for only another moment before she glanced around, noticing some other Others' also around in the treeline. Honestly, if she hadn't been looking for them, she would have never seen them. The fact Ben brought friends was an obvious given that he was ready to do whatever it took to take her back with him.
"Juliet.."
Juliet finally stopped glancing at Ben and his little gang as she turned her eyes on Rose and Bernard. "If he was going to do anything, he would have done it by now," she assured Rose with a smile.
Rose studied Juliet's face. As far as she could tell, the younger woman was being truthful. But Juliet's facial expressions could always be deceiving.
"It'd be easier to find Sawyer and everyone else if we split up.." she suggested. "Why don't you guys head East down the shore and I'll go West," she told them. "We can meet back up here in two hours?"
Rose glanced at Bernard who shrugged. "Are you sure you'll be alright?"
Juliet smiled. "Of course," she told her.
"Two hours," Bernard told her sternly, as though she were a child.
Juliet could only chuckle in response. "Two hours.." she repeated, then turned on her heel to head West. She stopped after a moment and glanced down at Vincent walking along side her. When she glanced back at Rose and Bernard, they waved her off. She smiled down at the dog and scratched him on the ear. "Guess I got you to protect me."
She got the feeling, as she watched Ben's little friends slowly follow her from the treeline, the chances of her meeting back up with them in two hours were slim-to-none. But at least she would be keeping them out of harms way.
After a few minutes she dared a glance back only to see that Rose and Bernard were already out of sight. They had probably already headed into the jungle. She sighed, and turned, only to find herself face to face with Ben. She took a step back out of surprise.
"Juliet.." Ben said, giving her a small smile.
Juliet took another step back now. The last time she'd spoken to Ben had been when he was just a kid, and before that, before she'd joined up with the survivors. She glanced behind her to see some other people she recognized from back at the barracks. There was no going forward or backwards. She was officially trapped.
Ben raised an eyebrow up at her. "There is no reason to run, Juliet.." he told her, holding his hand out to her.
Juliet stared down at this hand. There was no chance she was going with him. Not willingly. She was trying to think of something when Vincent suddenly bit down on Ben's hand. That was the exact distraction she needed as she tore off around Ben and headed towards the jungle. "Vincent!" she called out as she ran, and heard the dog running up beside her and Ben calling out for the Others' to follow her. She pulled back the bamboo of tree, quickly getting inside and letting Vincent in with her before she squatted down inside, hugging the dog closely.
She kept silent as she watched a few of the Ben's men run right passed her hiding spot. After a few minutes she felt Vincent nudging her with his nose and glanced down to see him trying to get out of the bamboo. "Alright.. alright.. no more hiding.." she whispered, pulling back the bamboo and following the dog out. She silently cursed as Vincent began running off and she quickly followed him. She hoped he knew where he was going, because she had no idea where to go.
~*~*~*~
Sawyer frowned as they all had been searching for over an hour. Where could Juliet have gone? What if she never came back? What if she was still in 1978 and he was gone?
"James."
Everyone stopped walking and stared at Richard before them.
"Richard.." Sawyer stated, looking at the man before him.
"There isn't much time," Richard stated. "You guys have one chance to get off this island, if you don't leave now, you may not get another chance."
"What the hell are you talkin' about?" Sawyer questioned. "We haven't found Juliet.. or Sun," he stated, his voice already showing his anger.
Richard sighed. "Ben.. and Locke," he told them. "Ben's not going to let Juliet go," he told Sawyer. He stared at the little girl in his arms. "And if he ever knew about her.."
Sawyer glanced down at his daughter. Suddenly Juliet's words back in Dharmaville were ringing in his head.
"Because James.. because Ben decided I was his."
"This is Ben, James.. he gets what he wants. He's killed to get me before. And he's killed to keep me.."
Sawyer frowned. He quickly turned to Kate. "I need a favor, Freckles.."
Kate stared at him.
"You need to leave.. and you need to take Rachel.."
Kate stared at him now, her mouth open wide in shock. "Are you out of your mind?!" she questioned him.
Sawyer shook his head. "I ain't leavin' Juliet behind.. but Rachel.." he paused, glancing down at the little girl. "Take her to Juliet's sister.."
Kate didn't know what to say, and even if she did, she wasn't sure she'd be able to say it.
Even Jack remained silent at Sawyer's words. He was shocked, beyond reason to say the least. It was just proof of how much Sawyer had changed over the years he'd spent with Juliet. It was proof of how much he loved the blonde lost somewhere out in the jungle. He remembered Juliet's words about Ben as well.
"Because he thinks that I'm his.. and he knows how I feel about you."
If Jack knew things right.. Ben would kill to keep Juliet. He would kill Sawyer, and if he knew about Rachel, Jack didn't want to know what the outcome could be. He also knew, Juliet loved Sawyer. And she would do whatever it took to keep him and Rachel safe at this point. He couldn't help feeling guilty for bringing them back now.
"Kate.. please," Sawyer finally begged. He hardly resorted to begging in his life. But this was worth his pride.
Kate took a deep breath but she nodded. "Alright.." she whispered. "Where do I find her sister?"
"Miami.." Sawyer told her. "Rachel Carlson.."
Kate frowned. "How am I going to prove this to her?" she asked, as she watched Sawyer hugging the infant close to him.
Richard sighed. "Tell her.. you know that Juliet is the one that made her pregnant.." he explained for Sawyer. "That Juliet gave her, her miracle."
Kate watched as Sawyer finally kissed the little girl on the forehead and then accepted her into her arms.
"And tell her I'm finally gonna bring her home.." Sawyer added quietly.
Kate nodded mutely.
"I'm staying," Jin added. "I also am not leaving without Sun.."
Sawyer said nothing.
Miles moved to step forward.
Sawyer stopped him before he could speak. "Not this time, Miles.." he told him. "Get the hell off this island once and for all.." he said to his friend. "Jin and me won't be far behind."
Miles frowned, but nodded. He understood that finding the women they loved was something they needed to do on their own. So he held his hand out. "See you on the other side then, Jim."
Sawyer smirked and shook his hand. After a second he handed the bag of Rachel's things to Jack. He turned to look at Kate again. "There's pictures of Rachel in there.. with Juliet and me, make sure her sister gets them.."
Kate nodded again. "I will.."
Jack held his hand out to Sawyer. "If anyone can bring her back.. it's you," he told him. "Just be careful."
Sawyer contemplated it, but he shook Jack's hand. "Will do, Doc."
Hurley stepped forward now, engulfing Sawyer in a hug. "Be safe, man."
Sawyer just chuckled.
Richard had remained silent through the good-byes. But now it was time to speak up. "Let's go, before someone sees us."
Sawyer watched as Jin gave his good-byes to the rest of them as well. And he turned down to the little girl in Kate's arms. "You're in good hands kiddo.." he told her quietly. "Me and your mom will see ya soon.."
Kate felt horrible watching Sawyer say good-bye to his daughter. She knew it was best for the little girl bundled in her own arms now. "Sawyer.."
Sawyer glanced back up at Kate.
"Claire.."
Sawyer nodded. "If she's here.. we're gonna find her.."
Kate nodded in silence, watching as Jack, Hurley and Miles all headed off with Richard. She watched Sawyer give the little girl one more kiss on the forehead, and whisper 'we love you', and then she followed the rest of them.
Sawyer stood next to Jin, watching as they walked away. Watching as he let Kate take his and Juliet's daughter. He'd just left her responsible for another daughter.. he wouldn't screw this chance up though. "Let's go find 'em Jinbo.."
()()FLASHBACK()()
Juliet sat beside Amy as she fiddled with the large cross that had once belonged to her now deceased husband, Paul. Amy was only about a month and a half away from having the baby, the usually petite woman was looking quite large and in charge. "You miss him?" she questioned.
Amy glanced at Juliet and smiled sadly, putting the necklace in her pocket. "He's gone.. but no matter what a little piece of me is always going to miss him.."
Juliet nodded in silence. She wondered if Sawyer felt the same way about Kate. Kate was gone, afterall. Would he always feel something for the brunette even if he is with her now?
"Are you missing that guy from the ship?" Amy questioned suddenly, bringing Juliet out of her reverie.
Juliet smiled a little, but shook her head. "No.. but James.."
"What about him?" Amy questioned.
Juliet sighed and leaned back in her chair on Amy's porch. "Sometimes I'm worried he's still in love with the woman he lost on that ship.. if he ever found her.."
Amy's eyes softened. "You're worried that if she showed up, by some miracle.. would he still love you?"
Sawyer frowned, glancing at Horace. They'd just gotten ready to open the door when they both heard Amy's comment.
Juliet glanced down at her feet.
"Juliet.."
Juliet's eyes widened a little as she saw Sawyer at the door. She stood up, and glanced away from him.
Sawyer sighed before taking her hand in his and leading her away from Amy and Horace's house. Once they were finally alone and out of hearing distance from anyone, he finally decided to speak. But she spoke first.
"I'm sorry.." Juliet muttered, glancing away. "I didn't mean.."
"Juliet.." Sawyer said quickly cutting her off. "I know I was never the greatest guy before.. all of this," he said, glancing around the Dharma barracks. "And I know who I used to love.."
Juliet frowned.
"But she's gone," Sawyer told her. "And I love you.."
Juliet sighed. 'But.. just because she's gone, there's always going to be a little piece of you that's hers.."
Sawyer stared at her, slightly surprised by the words
Juliet stared down at her feet. "I'm sorry.." she muttered.
"I know.." Sawyer told her, pulling her to him and wrapping his arms around her. "But I'm with you Juliet.. I never thought I'd fall in love," he told her, and feeling her rest her head down on his shoulder made him smile. "But I fell in love with you."
Juliet gripped his shirt in her hand, closing her eyes. "I don't want to be a second choice again, James.."
Sawyer's eyes softened a her words. "You're always gonna be first to me.."
Juliet bit down on her lip and wrapped her arms around Sawyer now in return. "I'm sorry.."
"Don't be.." he told her quietly. "Just know that I love you.. only you."
Juliet nodded into his shoulder. "I love you too.." she whispered. "Only you.."
()()END FB()()
Juliet finally stopped chasing Vincent after about fifteen minutes of running. She sat down, catching her breath. How did dogs get so much energy to run for so long? It would never make sense to her.
"You okay?"
Juliet stood quickly, the voice of the person surprising her. She found herself face to face with John Locke. "Holy shit.." she muttered, taking a step back.
Locke chuckled at her reaction. "You know.. I'm getting that reaction a lot these days.."
"But.." Juliet muttered. "But you.. Jack said you were dead.."
Locke grinned. "Funny.. I vaguely remember that as well."
Juliet lifted both eyebrows up in response. "That's impossible. Dead is dead.. you can't.."
Locke smirked now. "Well.." he started. "Either I'm really alive, or you're seeing dead people."
Juliet narrowed her eyes at him in response.
"I remember dying," Locke stated to her. "And yet.. I woke up suddenly. as though from an extremely vivid dream."
Juliet's eyes softened slightly. She watched Vincent come up next to Locke.
"So what were you running from?" Locke questioned.
Juliet frowned, glancing behind her. "Uh.." she mumbled. "Ben.."
Locked raised an eyebrow up at her. "Then where's everyone else?"
"I have no idea.." Juliet answered honestly. "I woke up alone on the beach," she admitted. "I haven't found anyone yet.. except for Ben, his gang.. and now you," she lied.
Locke smiled. "Well, why don't we find them together?" he suggested. "Safer then you running around the jungle alone."
Juliet found herself feeling slightly cautious around him. But it was Locke.. he'd died, and lived, to help them. To save them. She supposed she owed it to him to trust him now. "Thank you, John.."
Locke nodded. "You're welcome, Juliet."
()()END()()
Hmm.. I'm intrigued. Thanks again Genco! For all your help, as always! This story would be nothing without you.
