Author's Note: Alright. I admit, it was downright mean where I left the last chapter. My bad.. and I meant to update again last night, but I had no time, and didn't get to finish. But I suppose I shouldn't kick all of you while you're down..
This chapter goes to Northern Wolf. I know I told you I'd give you another chapter last night for being my 200th reviewer, so because I didn't manage to get this up last night. I made it just a little longer for you to make up for it. So here's the next chapter, at 3am! So forgive any mistakes I didn't manage to fix.
Heartland:
Chapter 24: Southern Charm
Through the depths of high and low,
Wherever you will go, I'll follow
To the end, back again, you know.
Won't let you fall, fall out of love,
Cause together we'll be holding on,
Cause all we have is us.
Won't let you go, go away again,
Because life don't mean nothing at all,
If I don't have your love.
Won't Let You Fall(Fergie)
Jack turned around immediately from where he was going through files in his cabinet. He looked in shock at what he saw, Juliet holding onto Sawyer, both of them bloody. He noticed Claire on the ground beside them and Sun and Jin right behind them. "Shit.." he muttered, going to Juliet's side immediately. "What the hell happened?" he asked, not bothering to question how they got here. He already knew the answer to that.
Juliet opened her mouth to speak, but she couldn't find the words to explain everything that happened.
"Ben," Jin answered for her quickly. "Ben tried to kill Juliet.. Sawyer saved her.."
"Jack.." Juliet said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Please.."
Jack took a deep breath and looked at the gunshot in Sawyer's shoulder. He frowned, there was no way it would have hit anything vital. "When did this happen?" he asked quickly.
"Ten or so minutes ago.." Sun told him.
Jack frowned. "Stay here.." he ordered them, opening the door to his office and coming back in a moment later with a stretcher. "Jin help me get him on it.."
Jin nodded and helped Jack lift Sawyer onto the stetcher.
Jack paused only for a moment to look at the blood covering Juliet's shirt. "Are you hurt, Juliet?" he asked next.
Juliet shook her head numbly.
"Sun, Kate's number is in my phone on my desk, call her, tell her to fly Rachel here.." Jack said quickly before rushing Sawyer out on the stretcher.
Sun looked down at Juliet. She was sitting on the ground, unmoving, staring down at her hands with Sawyer's blood on them. She frowned before grabbing Jack's cellphone off his desk and searching through it for Kate's name. When she found it she dialed instantly, and watched as Juliet finally stood, running out of the office after Jack.
"Jack?"
"Kate.. it's Sun," Sun said quickly.
"Sun.. my god.. are you okay?"
Sun frowned. "Kate.. Jack wants you to fly Rachel here.. to LA.." she told her quickly.
"What? Why what's going on? Is Juliet okay?"
"It's Sawyer.." Sun answered immediately. "Sawyer got shot, Ben was trying to shoot Juliet, and Sawyer took the bullet.."
There was silence on the other end of the line now.
"Kate?"
"We'll get on the first flight available.."
~*~*~*~
"Doctor Sheppard? What's going on?!"
Jack glanced up at one of the other doctors. "This man's been shot, prep the OR immediately.."
The other doctor stared at Jack and then looked at the blonde woman behind him with blood on her before nodding his head immediately. "Of course.. right away."
"Jack.."
Jack turned his head as Juliet ran up beside him. His eyes softened immediately as he saw the look of distress in her eyes. He turned to one of the other surgeons coming out of the OR, "Take him in, quickly.." he told him. He grabbed Juliet's arms as she tried to go after the man who took the stretcher. "Juliet.. stop, stop," he told her as she struggled to pull away. "I'll save him, Juliet, I promise.."
Juliet stared at him with tears in her eyes. "This wasn't supposed to happen.." she whispered. "It's supposed to be me.."
Jack wrapped his arms around her immediately. "It shouldn't be either of you," he told her quickly. "And he shouldn't be that bad yet," he admitted. "You know that as much as I do, which means something else is wrong, Juliet.. and I'm gonna fix this.."
Juliet felt the tears falling freely now. She knew he was right.
"Doctor Sheppard.."
Jack glanced up.
"We're ready."
Jack nodded and sat Juliet down. "Stay here.."
Juliet sat without a word, and even though she hardly believed in God anymore, she prayed.
~*~*~*~
Jin glanced at Claire on the couch he'd laid her on in Jack's office before he looked back at Sun. "How long has it been?" he questioned.
Sun frowned and looked at her husband. "Nine hours.." she answered. "Juliet's in Sawyer's room with him.. Jack says he's in a coma.. they're running blood tests.."
Jin took a seat on one of the chairs. "Should we.. check on her?"
"I tried.." Sun admitted. "She wouldn't speak to me.." she told him. "What about Claire?"
Jin shook his head. "She's still asleep.. Jack said she would be fine though."
"Sun.. Jin."
Sun looked up immediately at Kate in the doorway with another woman she could only assume was Rachel, holding an infant and the hand of another little boy. "How did you get here so quickly?"
Kate smiled softly. "I called in a favor.." she told her. "This is Juliet's sister.. Rachel," she told Sun. "Her son Julian.. and Juliet's daughter Rachel.."
Sun's eyes softened. She hadn't realized Rachel was Juliet's sister, and that Juliet had named her daughter after her sister.
Rachel glanced at the people in the room and frowned. "Where's Juliet..?" she asked suddenly.
"I'll show you.." Sun answered immediately. "But it might be best if the kids stayed here for now.."
~*~*~*~
Jack stared through the window of the door as Juliet sat, watching Sawyer in complete silence. One of the other doctor's had called the police to report a gunshot, and so far, Juliet had neglected to speak to any of them. So far they were giving her time to answer the questions, chalking it up to the fact she was in shock. In all honesty, he wasn't sure how they were going to explain this. They had three other people from flight 815 that were supposed to be dead for the passed four years, and a woman who has been missing for seven years.
There was no reasonable explaination.
"Jack?"
Jack turned as Sun led Rachel to him. He sighed and stepped aside, opening the door for Rachel.
Rachel stared in shock as she walked into the room slowly, seeing her sister sitting in a chair looking as defeated as she probably felt. After seven years, she'd never really expected to see her sister. Kate had promised her that the man laying on the bed right now was going to bring Juliet home safe, and he had, but at what cost to himself? "Juliet.."
Juliet took in the voice of the person who spoke and looked up almost instantly. She couldn't help herself as she stood, meeting her sister half-way and wrapping her arms around her instantly.
Rachel felt the tears fall, and she could have cared less as she held onto her sister tightly. She disregarded the bloody clothes that Juliet hadn't bothered to change out of and laid her head on top of Juliet's. "You're alright.." she whispered to her. "I was afraid to believe Kate, to believe you really were alive.. but here you are.."
"He saved me.." Juliet whispered, refusing to let go of Rachel. "He's dying because he saved me.."
Rachel ran her fingers through Juliet's hair. She stared at the man on the bed, blissfully unaware of anything going on. She silently thanked him for bringing her sister home safe, but as she listened to Juliet cry, she wondered if it was worth it, to have her sister back this broken. Sure, she admitted Juliet had been a mess over seven years ago when she'd disappeared, but this was a whole new level for her. "Everything's going to be alright, sweetie.." she told her. "Look at me.."
Juliet did, looking up into her sister's eyes. "I love him.." she whispered.
Rachel wasn't sure what to say now. This was a side to Juliet she'd never really seen before. "I know you do.." she stated, sitting Juliet back down on the chair. "And it's pretty clear he loves you too, otherwise you'd be on that bed and not him," she told her. "Do you think he wants you to give up?"
"You don't know him," Juliet stated. "You don't know what he wants!"
Rachel stared in shock at the outburst. And yet, in a sense, she understood it. Her sister had definitely changed over the years. Where when she was living in Miami, married to Edmund, she was quiet and easily persuaded. Now, now Juliet was her own person, and she could see that just by looking at her. And she wondered how it happened, if it was because of the man laying on the hospital bed.
"I'm sorry.." Juliet muttered out quickly. "I'm sorry, I didn't.."
Rachel's eyes softened as she put her hands on Juliet's and squatted down in front of her. "It's alright, sweetie.. I know.." she told her.
Juliet closed her eyes now, replaying everything in her head. Sawyer had gone to open the temple doors, she had stopped to catch her breath, find relief when she heard Ben, and saw Ben. Ben shot for her, but hit Sawyer, and she.. she.. shot Ben. She killed Ben. "Oh god.."
Rachel moved aside as Juliet pushed her and watched as Juliet stood, running into the bathroom in the room. "Juliet!"
Jack opened the door quickly, going into the room. "Juliet I.." he looked around, then noticed her in the bathroom leaning over the toilet. He couldn't help the worry that crossed his face now, because he'd just become aware then Sawyer had poison in him, and now they were working on getting the antidote. And considering Juliet was covered in Sawyer's blood, and now throwing up, it was plausible she'd gotten poisoned from him.
He glanced at Rachel who shook her head, signalling she had no idea what happened. He looked over at Sawyer on the bed and frowned, and then watched as Juliet walked out a few minutes later, a look of horror in her eyes. "Juliet.."
"I.. I killed him.."
Jack stared at her in confusion. "Juliet.. no, Sawyer's going to be fine.." he told her quickly, putting a hand on her shoulder.
Juliet shook her head. "Not James.." she whispered. "I killed Ben.."
Jack looked shocked at the statement. "Juliet.."
"Is she.. okay?" Rachel asked, noticing how pale Juliet had become, and not hearing what her sister had said.
Jack noticed it too. "Juliet.. what's wrong? Are you okay?"
"I feel.." she muttered, seeing everything in the room start to spin. "I feel.."
Jack stared as her eyes rolled back and he caught her as she fell forward.
~*~*~*~
When Juliet opened her eyes, she glanced to the side and saw Sawyer in the bed across the room from her. She took a deep breath and glanced around, seeing Rachel walking around the room with her daughter in her arms. "Rachel.."
Rachel looked over immediately hearing Juliet's voice and took a seat in the chair beside her bed. "Are you okay?" she questioned. When Jack explained that the man, James, had been poisoned, that the bullet meant for her sister had been laced with poison she didn't know what to think. And when he'd voiced his fear that because his blood was all over Juliet, it would be possible Juliet had been exposed to the poison as well, she had never been more afraid then right now.
"What happened?" Juliet asked quietly, sitting up and looking at the IV in her finger. She glanced at the monitors and frowned.
"You fainted.." Rachel told her. She put her niece into Juliet's arms and smiled as Juliet had a look of relief on her face at seeing her daughter. "She's beautiful.. and she's a little angel.."
Juliet's eyes softened and she smiled a little at her sister. She held her daughter close and then looked over at Sawyer. "Is he.."
Rachel smiled. "Doctor Sheppard says that he'll be alright, he's stable and he should wake up soon.." she told her, and glanced at the clock on the wall. It was already early morning now.
"Mommy.."
Rachel and Juliet both looked over at the door now.
Kate smiled over at the two of them. "Sorry.. he wanted to come see you.."
Rachel smiled as she pulled her six year old onto her lap. "Julian.. this is your Aunt Juliet.."
Juliet stared at the little boy and felt the tears build up again, but she managed to hold them back. She couldn't help the smile that grew now. "Hi Julian.."
Julian looked sheepishly at her. "Mommy says you were away, helping lots of people do big things.."
Juliet let out a small laugh. "Your mommy gives me too much credit.."
"She says you make miracles.. and miracles are like magic.." Julian stated.
Juliet smiled now, unable to help it. She glanced back at the monitors once more and frowned. Something was off about the monitor. It took her a moment to completely comprehend what she was seeing. "Kate.." she said quickly, looking over at the brunette in the door.
"Yes?" Kate questioned, stepping inside.
"Can you.. get Jack for me?" she requested suddenly.
Kate looked confused by the question, but she nodded anyways. "Of course.. I'll be right back.."
Rachel eyed her sister with suspicion. "What's wrong?"
Juliet looked back at the monitor. If she weren't a doctor, then she wouldn't have bothered thinking twice about the heart monitor. But if she wasn't mistaken, she was looking at more then just her own heartbeat..
"Juliet?" Rachel questioned, thoroughly confused by her sister's suddenly distracted ways.
Jack chuckled as he walked in and noticed Juliet staring at the monitors. "How do you feel?" he asked, taking a seat on the opposite side of the bed Rachel was sitting at.
"Jack.. don't beat around the bush.." she told him.
Jack shook his head and smiled.
Rachel just looked shocked at her sister's statement.
"You know what it says.." Jack told her.
Juliet opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. She looked over at Sawyer on the other bed now and leaned back, holding onto her daughter. She let out a breath she wasn't even aware she was holding and sighed.
Rachel frowned, still not entirely sure what exactly was going on. Obviously Jack and Juliet both knew, but neither one appeared to be sharing.
"Sawyer's alright, Juliet.." he told her. "The bullet that Ben shot, was laced with a poison, we got him the antidote in time," he explained carefully. "He's alright."
Juliet nodded in silence. "He better.." she mumbled. "If he dies and leaves me here by myself.. I'll bring him back to life just so I can shoot him again."
Jack laughed now. That was the Juliet he knew.
"I heard that.."
Juliet blinked, and looked over in Sawyer's direction in shock. She looked at Jack and looked at the IV's in her, "Do I need these?"
"Not really.." Jack stated. "They were just.."
Juliet didn't wait for him to finish, instead she put Rachel in his arms and flinched as she started pulling the IV's out.
Rachel raised an eyebrow up in shock. Her sister had definitely changed a lot over seven years. She wasn't the feeble and easily intimidated woman she was, now she was clearly independent.
"You lost your damn mind, woman?" Sawyer stated, turning his head and watching her get out of the bed.
Juliet let out a small laugh before she sat down on the edge of his bed, leaned over, and simply kissed him. "Don't you ever do that to me again you son of a bitch.." she muttered out against his lips.
Rachel's eyes widened slightly at her sister's language. The Juliet she knew.. why did she even bother with the Juliet she knew? The Juliet she had now was just as great, if not better. And she smiled as she watched the love in her eyes. At least Edmund hadn't been able to break her sister's spirit forever.
Juliet smiled and leaned her forehead against his.
"I ain't goin' nowhere," he told her quietly, reaching his good arm up and brushing away a tear that fell down her cheek. "I'm pretty sure I heard you say somethin' about growin' old together," he stated. "I'm gonna hold you to that.."
Juliet let out a strangled laugh and shook her head.
Rachel smiled, watching her sister.
"I'm thinking on the beach.." Sawyer stated. "At night.. some tiki torches.."
Juliet blinked and stared down at him, then she glanced over at Jack. "What kind of drugs is he on?"
Jack chuckled now.
"I'm talkin' about marrying you.."
Juliet looked back down at him and froze at the statement. "Me?"
Sawyer smiled now, and let out a little laugh. "No, Jack.." he told her with a shake of his head. "Did they legalize that yet?" he asked.
"Not yet, but I heard they're discussing it," Jack answered with a smirk.
"Guess I did mean you then.." he stated, glancing back at Juliet.
Juliet rolled her eyes now, but she smiled none-the-less. "James.. I swear if you get shot in the shoulder one more time.."
Sawyer laughed now, unable to help it. "Well, I had to get matching scars, then this last time was just for luck," he told her. "Heard the third times a charm.."
"Why the beach, and the tiki torches?" she questioned suddenly. "Doesn't that just remind you of where we were?"
Sawyer closed his eyes and chuckled. "That's the point.." he told her. "Cause that's how I met you.."
Rachel grinned in response to his statement. She could see how Juliet had fallen in love with him, he had a certain charm about him.
"Well.." Juliet said quietly. "I guess before I give an answer, I should tell you something else.."
Sawyer opened his eyes and raised an eyebrow up at her. "What's that?"
Juliet sighed, running her fingers through her hair. "How do you feel about more kids?"
Sawyer blinked now. "Why do ya' ask?"
Juliet shrugged, glancing back at Jack who nodded before she looked back down at Sawyer and smiled a little. "Because.. I'm pregnant again."
Sawyer groaned. "If I have to go get ice cream and pickles again.. I swear.."
Juliet laughed now. Of course that would be the first thing to come to his mind.
Sawyer chuckled. "How far along?"
Rachel looked slightly surprised by the statement of Juliet's pregnancy. She smiled though, and realized that's what Juliet had noticed on the monitors earlier.
Juliet looked back at Jack now, she hadn't gotten the chance to ask him that yet.
"Two months," Jack answered.
"Heard somewhere you're supposed to get married before the second one," Sawyer told her with a grin.
Juliet smiled. "Oh really?"
Sawyer laughed. "Yeah, I think its a new law. You've been outta the loop for over seven years, I've only been out of it for four, I would know.."
Juliet felt her lips twitch as she tried to hold back the laugh. "Well.. I guess we shouldn't go breaking laws just yet, we've barely been back for 24 hours.."
()()END()()
No, not the real end! We're ALMOST there. Seriously. Just a little bit further. Maybe..
Again. Sorry for any errors. I'm tired, and unfortunately, I'm my own spellcheck. It doesn't always work out well when I'm tired and miss my own mistakes.
