I feel like I've been in non-stop power mode since Jack, Kate, and Sawyer were taken. Now that they're back, I just want things back to the way I wish they could be constantly. So I decide to spend my morning with Sun in the garden. Something I haven't done in a long time.
"I'm happy you're back here with me," she says, handing me a shovel.
"I'm glad I have time to do stuff like this again."
We work mostly in silence, because that's how we like it. It's nice to just occupy myself with busy work and the presence of another person without having awkward small talk.
"Hey," Jack says, coming out of the trees. "Oh, Tia. You're here too." He tries to sound pleased, but I know he's faking. Lucky for him, he fools Sun.
"Good morning, Jack," she greets him politely.
"Need a hand?" he offers her.
"Thank you."
He grabs one of our spare shovels and starts digging. "You know, I came by your tent earlier. Has Jin gone?"
"Oh. He went off with Charlie, Hurley and Desmond. Did you need him?"
"Actually I was looking for you, wanted to see how you were doing, with your pregnancy."
My head shoots up. I feel awful, keeping what Juliet said to Jack and I about the pregnant women on the Island from Sun. But I had never intended to tell her. At least until something started going wrong. I will kill him if he tells her. I swear to God.
"Oh, I'm doing fine," Sun responds to Jack's inquiry. "A little tired but that's normal, right?"
"Sure. Any morning sickness?"
"Not anymore."
"Any bleeding?"
Sun pauses, not answering right away. "Why are you asking me all these questions, Jack?" she asks, eventually.
Jack gives her a small smile, trying to look innocent. "I'm just checking in. I mean, now that I'm back I just wanted to make sure that you were doing okay."
"Thank you. I'm okay," she says, smiling.
"Great," Jack says, standing up. "I'll leave you guys too it. Tia," he says, nodding to me. I ignore him.
After he leaves, Sun turns to me. "Is something wrong? You seem angry with him."
I shake my head. "I'm fine. Really Sun, I'm just annoyed about the Juliet thing."
"What do you think happened to Jack? While he was with the Others? Since he's been back, he seems different."
"I know what you mean, but he says that they basically kept him prisoner and he cooperated because they said they'd let him off the Island."
"Do you believe him?"
I pause and choose my words carefully. "I'm not sure what I believe."
"Why do you think he was asking all those questions about my pregnancy?"
"I…I'm not sure, Sun."
"What if the Others want my baby, like they wanted Claire's? He's been there alone for over a week. How do we know he isn't working with them?"
"I don't think he's working with them."
She eyes me suspiciously. "Do you know something, Tia?"
I concede. "Alright. The night we got back, and Claire was sick, Juliet told Jack and me some stuff. She was their doctor, their fertility doctor studying pregnant women and. She said the reason Others wanted Claire's baby was for research."
Sun drops her shovel and heads toward the beach. I get up and follow. "Sun, wait!" She leads the way through the trees and towards Juliet, who is washing something in the laundry tarp.
"Sun, wait you don't have to do this," I call to her.
"Go away, Tia," she tells me. She walks up to Juliet. "I want to know about your research," she demands. "What happens to pregnant women?"
"You're pregnant?" Juliet asks, standing up. "Are you sure? How do you know?" She seems genuinely surprised. At lease Jack didn't tell her everything.
"I asked you a question," Sun says. "Everyone else might be alright with you washing your clothes and eating our food, but I want to know what's going on. I want answers. What are you people doing? Why are you taking children? What happens to pregnant women on this Island? What happens to—,"
"They die," Juliet says. "They all die."
"Sun, come on, let's go," I say, grabbing her arm and leading her away. I don't expect her to follow, but she does. "Sun, let's talk about this." But she ignores me and goes to the edge of the beach and stares out into the ocean.