0o0o0o0o0o

Mickey was sat next to one of the simmering wood piles just lounging about. She hadn't realised how warm it actually was this morning if it wasn't for the rays of sun searing at her pale skin. Having her eyes closed made everything seem much better than it was. It made her think back to her High School days. When everything was just that much better. She could hear the waves yes but it made her think that she was merely on a normal beach in the height of summer wearing one of her skimpy bikini's and having fun.

As soon as that last thought went through her head though her hands instantly closed around her stomach and she pulled the thin cardigan she had salvaged tightly around making sure that none of her skin was visible to anyone. She shot into an upright position and looked around making sure no one had seen her movements and relaxed ever so slightly. Nothing to worry about she murmured inwardly as she buried her wiry feet deep into the warm sand enjoy the feeling of the grains rubbing against her skin.

"Hey there" Claire said sweetly as she settled herself down next to the slip of a girl who seemed to be lost in her own little world. Mickey turned her head and gave a small yet held back smile towards the pregnant blonde whom she had several conversation with since last night's campfire stories.

"Oh hey Claire, what's going on over there!" Mickey said looking over Claire's shoulder determined to stop the subject before it was even going to begin. She knew what questions would come from Claire – no matter how innocent they were. What's wrong Mickey? You look distant Mickey? Are you feeling okay Mickey? You're too thin Mickey? You're not good enough Mickey?. The questions escalated in her mind and she must have completely zoned out because Claire was snapping her out of her reverie with a start.

"Jack and a few of the other people are going to go and hunt for the cockpit; need to find a transceiver or something like that! I don't really know? I'm not able to do a thing on this Island!" Claire grumbled turning her attention back to the fair headed woman and absentmindedly rubbing her massive stomach with so much love and tenderness it made Mickey want to cry. She'd never had that. That kind of love.

0o0o0o0o0o

Mickey had finished over three quarters of the cross country championship already and her legs were still going strong. Her lungs were thundering in her chest and stars were dancing into her vision but she never felt as alive as she did when she ran. It gave her something to focus on. Something other than having to constantly milk any sort of attention from her parents. She could feel her legs pound even harder at this thought. She loved them and wanted nothing but their love in return though that was scarce. The resentment though was always there – festering in the pit of her stomach and she wanted to scream and shout and rage and lash out but she never did. That wasn't Mickey. She strived for perfection and still craved just a drop of affection from her mother and father.

Mickey checked her surroundings slightly and realized that her musings had caused her to slow down and now she had one of her cross country rivals practically breathing down her neck. Another thing my mother has ruined she mused gritting her teeth and sticking her head down to get more streamline.

But once again her parents completely dominated her thoughts. She was never ever good enough for them. They took no interest in her. She'd asked them to come today but Mickey hadn't seen them at the pre state warm up. No surprise there.

Mickey lifted her head and smiled as up ahead she could see the finish line looming not too far away. Her legs worked harder the adrenaline pushing her onwards faster and faster but it did the same to the girl behind her and so the final stretch was going to be a nail biter. As she looked up once again she saw something she never thought she would see.

There in the stands, practically hidden from view right up the back of the bleachers that were strategically placed on the finish line – was Olivia Clancy. Mickey's mother. Her heart swelled as she saw her and another burst of energy jolted through her. She had come to watch her. To support her. To cheer her on. A smile broke across Mickey's face and she locked eyes with her mother. She didn't know whether she was seeing things but she was sure that a flicker of a smile came across her face.

Mickey pressed forward the distance between her and the finish line shortening. Hundred yards, ninety yards, eighty yards, seventy yards, sixty yards, fifty yards, forty yards. I have to win, I have to win. I can't let her down she screamed inwardly and she sent one look of steely determination towards her mother who was on her feet cheering seriously.

The next thing that happened was a blur. One minute she was looking at her mother. The next she was face down on the astroturf her cut knees stinging painfully. She looked up and could see the girl who had been only yards behind her racing past the white tape jumping up and girl had wan. And Mickey had lost.

Her eyes flicked to the stands and her heart plummeted what must have been a thousand feet. Olivia had disappeared from the stands. A tear slipped past her eyelids and she could feel someone pick her up off the floor and into a standing position and her heart lifted slightly secretly hoping that it was her mother but it wasn't – instead it was the victor who had helped her up and shook her hand in a friendly manner before continuing with a lap of honour.

Dejectedly she limped off over to the side and sat down on the benches ignoring the sympathetic gestures of the people surrounding her. She prayed that her mother would still think she did well though the chances of that were highly unlikely.

A tall woman with blonde hair and a stern serious face approached and stopped in front of her their arms crossed tightly across her chest. "I'm disappointed in you Maggie, you lost it right at the end! Absolutely useless!" Olivia Clancy got out and before her daughter could even respond she turned on her heels and stormed off towards the car leaving Mickey sat there crying and bleeding. Disappointment.

0o0o0o0o0o

Mickey hadn't realised she was sprinting down the beach at a hundred miles an hour until she ran headlong into a large figure and bounced off of them. She hit the sand noisily spitting out the mouthful she had gathered and shook off the hands that were trying to help her up. "Dude I am so sorry!" Hurley apologised as he gathered up some of the coconuts he had dropped.

Mickey just nodded at him. He was familiar. His face and his build. She had definitely seen him some where before but placing it was another matter. "It's okay!" she said and took off running once more heading back around to the little perch she had claimed as her own. She wasn't getting the enjoyment she got out of running though. Her legs were aching and her ankles felt like they were going to snap under the pressure. There was nothing of them and the muscle she had garnered had all but disappeared leaving a panting and painful sensation through her body. I guess this is what lack of protein does to a body she joked inwardly half collapsing back down onto the sand with a loud groan. Things just couldn't have gotten worse.

0o0o0o0o0o

"What the hell is this weather?" Emily half cried as she tried to cover her head from the torrential rain that was hammering down around them. Unfortunately the trees had thinned and provided little shelter from the natural onslaught. She might have ventured through two thousand year old Egyptian tombs with ease but when it came to the outside natural world she was a complete amateur.

"Man up!" Ryan chirped as he walked alongside them not caring at all about the weather. He was taking extremely long strides and was out in front.

"Bite me!" she spat back grumpily losing her footing every few seconds. "I thought the weather back home was bad! Crash on an Island and it has to bloody rain".

"You like to complain don't you!" Austin couldn't help but laugh at her as she slipped and skidded ungracefully across the muddy terrain. She just glared at him and pushed his body backwards causing him to lose his footing and fall straight into a muddy puddle. "Harsh!".

"Guys come on this isn't the time for this!" Jack said turning to look at them with a slight shake of his head. He really wasn't in the mood for bickering to break out between them, not whilst they were still looking for the cockpit.

"Texas got burned!" Ryan chortled loudly from the front glad to see his fellow muscle man get taken down a peg. He liked the boy, honestly he did but as childish as it sounded he wanted to be strength of the group – not some Southern pretty boy.

"Wow you're so mature! How old are you like fifty!" Austin bit back his mood dampening instantly at his fall and at the man who seemed to get incredibly threatened by him.

Ryan whirled around to glare at the man silently challenging him. So he was shocked when Austin moved forward to approach him accepting it with his eyes. Jack intervened and stepped between the two pushing one ahead of him and holding another back a few paces. "There is way too much testosterone flying around!" Emily grumbled in an incredibly bad mood.

Kate let out the first proper laugh of her time on the island as she fell into step with the girl. She wasn't best friend material but she would do for a laugh. "I couldn't agree with you more!".

0o0o0o0o0o

Mickey was sat in the hospital alongside a specific bed. She couldn't help but smile at her oldest and dearest friend as he joked about the doctors and nurses that had been coming and going all morning. "You'd swear this is a holiday camp!" She laughed at him lightly and he chuckled along looking completely care free though they know that he wasn't. Nor was she.

"It would be better if you joined me! You could do with having a break! Look at the state of you!" Yeardley said bluntly as he looked her up and down judgement and worry filling his wide and bleary eyes.

"Ever the charmer!" Mickey tried to laugh it off but unconsciously she pulled at her sleeves pulling them down across her hands and her entire frame went rigid. She knew what he was talking about.

"Babe I might be crazy but I'm not blind!" He said his voice raising up a few decibels as he continued to scrutinize her. "You can do so much better than that.. that thing!" he managed to get out his voice a mix of anger and eccentricity. He definitely needed his meds soon.

"Yeardley please just leave it yeah!" She spoke leaning forward and brushing her dark mop of hair out of his eyes trying to distract him but he batted her hands away that cheesy playful grin worming it's way onto his face for a split second before leaving once again.

"I'm not going to drop it! You're my friend Mickey and he doesn't deserve you! Have you looked in the mirror recently?" he questioned eyes narrowing at her questioningly. "You've withered away to nothing, you look like Morticia from the Addams Family bar the black hair. You rarely laugh anymore and you hardly see me anymore because that controlling bastard keeps you away from here!" He got out as if it was word vomit. The words were spilling out without his control.

Mickey shrunk into herself again and her eyes fell to the floor with embarrassment as she listened to his words. She knew he was telling the truth. But she couldn't listen to him. Cooper was all she needed. "Please Yeardley don't?" she asked her voice sounding like that of one of a ten year old girl. With her wiry frame she could certainly pass off at one.

"Look you've got to get your head out of your ass and leave him! I know you can do it. You're stronger than what you give yourself credit for. Remember when I found you on the roof of that multi-storey? All tears swaying over the edge waiting for your moment! It wasn't me who talked you down, you did that with all your strength" He spoke his voice now soft and gentle and he took her gaunt hand in his own pale one squeezing reassuringly.

The tears nipped at her eyes and she choked them back. She couldn't respond to his words for the fear of a loud sob escaping her blocked airways. "If not for yourself then do it for me! He's broken you Mickey – You're a shell these days" he added on and she just nodded numbly still fighting to find the words.

"Since when d-did you get so observant?" she managed to get out as she played with the hand in her's.

"Since I went crazy! All these drugs their giving me have opened my eyes!" he said with a wink and a light laugh and her mood lifted instantly. She would do it. For him, for herself.

0o0o0o0o0o

Melody was sat in the make-shift medical tent her eyes fixed firmly on the stirring Marshall with the massive piece of shrapnel sticking out of his chest. She had been under strict orders by Jack to not touch it no matter what the cost. When he had said his name she remembered who he was – he didn't remember her but she didn't exactly remind him of their mutual connection either. He was a doctor so how could he remember how many patients he had treated, how many weddings he had attended or funerals for his patients either. She didn't care though.

She sipped from one of the water bottles as she pieced the little things together. They had crashed on an Island, no one had come to rescue them hence the basic suicide trek into the jungle by a handful of the group. The two days had blended into one and it frustrated her to no end that she couldn't tell the exact time.

Without even realising what she was doing she closed her eyes and fingered the gold cross around her neck saying a short but sweet prayer to those that could hear her. The ring on her third ring finger suddenly weighed heavily but still she clutched the cold gold and whispered upwards pleading that someone heard their cries.

"At least someone her has some faith" Came a voice and Melody's eyes snapped open as she looked at the flap of the tent. There stood a friendly dark skinned old woman who two held a small wooden cross at her side. "I don't think the people out there have realised that God has already produced a miracle by saving us from death" she said trying to find the positives in their ordeal. She just wanted to help anyone she could.

Melody nodded back at her a small smile gracing her features. She instantly felt warmed by the woman – some supernatural draw that made her want to keep her company for as long as possible. "I suppose you're right?" She spoke back stretching out the right for the woman to answer.

"Rose!" The woman smiled and clutched her hands with a gentle shake. Her old hands were wrinkly but soft and warm and filled with caring. "You can call me Rose! What's your name?".

"Melody!" She smiled back releasing the woman's hands and walking over to the Marshall who was sighing painfully in his sleep. She instantly covered one of the rags with some water and placed it to his feverish head.

"You've got healing hands" Rose spoke softly as she watched the girl tend to the man ever so gently. "Me and my husband went to a healer when we were in Australia, I guess I'll never know if it worked" she spoke quietly but loud enough for Melody to hear. The comment she guessed was something private so she decided not to comment on it and instead sit back down pulling up a seat for the elderly woman to take.

"You've got a husband? Where is he may I ask, I haven't seen you with anyone else other than yourself?" Melody questioned her voice reserved yet filled with kindness and curiosity.

Rose stopped for a moment her eyes dropping down but she raised her head proudly. She still believed he was alive, he'd only be dead if she thought negative but she wouldn't. "We were sat together on the plane, he got up to go to the toilet and that's when the turbulence started. I didn't see him again after that" she said slowly and quietly. Melody could hear the hurt that filled her vocals. The loss, the grief of losing a spouse. It was a feeling all too raw for Melody.

"I know it won't make a difference – I've learnt from experience – but I am truly sorry for your loss" Melody cooed her heart going out to the woman who still seemed to manage to soldier on.

"I haven't lost him though!" Rose said a ghost of a smile on her lips. "He's still here!" she said placing a hand over her heart slowly.

Melody smiled at this. One of the first real and genuine smiles that she had given all day. "They always are I suppose" She spoke feeling as if she could tell this woman her deepest and darkest secrets and she still wouldn't speak a word of it.

"I noticed you have a wedding band on. Where is your husband?" Rose questioned back turning the tables in a comforting manner. She could see how the girl tensed and avoided eye contact and that was answer enough but she waited silently until the woman decided to speak once again.

"He passed away. Cancer" She said back those being the only words that she could speak. She hadn't spoken nor would speak to anyone about what happened. It hurt too much and just reopened wounds she wanted to stay stitched shut.

"We've both lost something special to us! Sometimes it helps to say a few words together, what do you think?" Rose said holding out both her hands on her lap awaiting the woman to take a hold of them.

Melody only hesitated for a second before allowing the woman to take her hands gently. She shut her eyes her mind wandering to the man she had loved and for the first time in a while she felt at peace.

0o0o0o0o0o

"Dude at least give me something hard to work with?" RC groaned at Hurley as the two sat on the water's edge facing each other. Hurley grumbled loudly trying to rack his brains for something? Anything?.

"Okay umm name me every person who has ever played Doctor Who in the order they played him?" Hurley said smirking lightly. There was no way Carter could get this one.

"Hurley that's way to easy!" RC laughed before digging through his jam packed brain picking up on the names that he needed. "William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, John Pertwee, Tom Baker, Peter Davidson, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy, Paul McGann and with the new re boot the current doctor is that Christopher Ecclestone guy!" he finished proudly glad that he had remembered them all.

"That's not fair dude, how did you get them right!" Hurley grumbled fed up of his brother constantly knowing every single thing.

"What can I say it seems I've inherited the brains and the beauty" He smirked and Hurley didn't find that amusing what so ever. His brother had always managed to best him at every single thing.

"Whatever man!" Hurley groaned tucking into another one of the food parcels. A comfortable silence came across the both of them as they just stared out at the horizon each silently wishing for aide which honestly seemed as if it wasn't coming.

"Someone's a sore loser?" RC chuckled as he looked at his older and bigger brother.

Hurley was about to speak but stopped when Sawyer who was walking by them stopped and looked down at the two. RC shrunk into himself almost instantly whilst Hurley just looked up at the man. "Someone's a nerd!" he said simply before continuing onwards with his walk across the beach. The Reyes brothers just watched him go and then turned to look at each other.

"What is with that guy?" Hurley scoffed as he sipped at one of the coconuts greedily.

"I don't know, who is he to call me a nerd! I can't help it I'm intelligent. Oh well it's his loss because as the wise man himself Mr Gates said 'You have a choice, be a nerd, or work for a nerd. It's a Bill Gates quote and I tend to agree with him" RC spoke smugly but he knew that he wouldn't dare say something like that whilst Sawyer was in earshot. He was far too shy.

"Dude… Shut up!",

0o0o0o0o0o

"I found the cockpit!" Ryan called over to them and they cleared some more of the brush and there as Ryan as said standing a horizontal angle was the cockpit of the plane.

"Let's get climbing then!" Emily spoke up as she strode towards the opening of the plane and quickly pulled herself in with the help of Austin who gave her a slight push. He followed behind carefully watching where he was going. Emily swung herself up onto one of the seats for a moment catching her breath when her eyes fell upon the dead body of a young boy no older than six lying in his seat curled up into his mother's side. Tears pricked at her eyes but she held them back as she realised just how lucky they were.

"You alright?" Austin asked as he looked at her and then at what she was looking at. His own face dropped at the sight and he placed a gentle hand over her own.

"I'm fine. It's just those poor people" She spoke up as Jack and Kate maneuvered themselves past and up to the cockpit door Ryan bringing up the rear. Jack began to swing at the cockpit door the impact shaking the entire plane but everyone managed to keep their balance.

"Don't worry about it, they're probably in a better place now!" Austin answered back kindly and she just sent a small smile back. Their eyes locked for a second but as soon as it did Kate's scream snapped them to attention and Ryan had to jump to avoid the body that was crashing down the aisle.

"Jesus watch it" He grumbled loudly as he just about managed to keep his balance. With a loud huff he barged past Austin and Emily and jumped into the cockpit first the other's following behind him. "What does this Transceiver look like exactly?" he spoke turning to Jack who was scouring around under the chairs.

"A complicated walky talky!" Jack replied instantly as he tried to avoid the body of the pilot. Kate leaned over the pilot to check the front of the plane but as she did this the body shit upwards and a breathless gasp escaped his lips. Everyone else jumped in fright as they looked on in horror at the bloodied and battered man. "Kate pass me that water!" Jack said quickly as he checked over the obviously injured man.

"How many survivors?" The pilot choked out weakly as he tried to gather his bearings.

"At least 48!" Jack answered back as he fed the man the water. He could feel the plane begin to move ever so slightly and knew that he had to work fast if he wanted to get what they had come for. "I need you to listen to me, where is the transceiver?" Jack asked kindly and the pilot pulled gingerly at his seatbelts and half rolled out of the chair.

"It's over here, I'll get it!" he half whispered as he pulled open one of the compartments and there in his hand was the transceiver. He held onto the console for dear life as pain seared through his body. "T-there's no signal!" he got out and Ryan snatched it out of his hand impatiently and fiddled with it himself.

"Don't be so heavy handed with it, you'll break it and that's the only thing we've got right now!" Emily spoke up finally recovering from her shock of the Pilot's awakening. Ryan just scoffed at her and continued messing with the machine.

"Like you know what you're talking about!" he responded instantly and she was about to retort herself when the same loud whirring sound from the night before hit their ears.

"What the hell is that!" she stammered lightly as the sound got louder and louder. What happened next was a blur. In an instant the entire plane shook violently knocking them all off their feet and when they looked up all they could see was the pilot being yanked through the front window his blood spattering across them all. Everyone braced themselves as the near vertical plane hit the floor hard sending a shock through each of them.

"We need to run now!" Austin barked as he pushed everyone out of the cockpit. The group bolted it down the gangway and back into the muddy jungle the rain lashing down onto them hard. The sound got closer and closer and this just made them run even harder. Austin and Ryan legged it ahead, their longer legs taking them further forward than the other three who were trailing behind. Emily was slipping and sliding once more but the adrenaline that was racing through her was blistering and somehow she managed to stay on her feet.

After what seemed like hours Ryan and Austin came to a stop and tried to catch their breaths. "Where are the others?" Austin asked as he noticed the absence of three of their group.

"They were right behind me man!" Ryan spoke up as he looked at their muddy footprints which were disappearing quickly due to the cascading water. "Come on let's go back and see if we can find them" Ryan said strongly and he spun and jogged back along the path he hoped they had just taken Austin on his tail.

"I've seen some weird stuff in my life but I think that tops it all!" Emily half gagged as she looked up at the body of the pilot that was in the trees above them blood dripping down in front of them. "What could do something like that?".

"I have no idea, come on we need to find the other's and head back to the beach, we've got what we came for!" Kate answered as she looked at the transceiver in Emily's hand. "How have you got that, I'm sure Ryan had it?".

"He did but that big idiot dropped it when he was running, lucky I saw it!" he said holding it up and handing it to Jack carefully. As she said this the Idiot in question came through some of the trees along with Austin. "And there he is now!".

"And there he is what?" Ryan said eyes narrowed as he wondered what exactly she was on about.

"Nothing!" She smiled sweetly her Irish accent filtering through strongly.

Jack stepped forward towards the group a sombre look on his face. "Come on let's head back, I think the people on the Island will be interested in what we've found out!".

0o0o0o0o0o

I am so fricking sorry for the long wait. I've got my A Level Drama Practicals coming up this week and literally all I've been doing is rehearsing rehearsing rehearsing. This was mainly focused on Mickey yes though I tried to get as many of the characters in as I could. If your character wasn't in this chapter then they will most definitely be in the next which should be up as soon as possible. Drop me a line and let me know what you're all thinking guys. Peace out.

Gwen