The LOST Writers' Island

She pulled herself up, the loosened restraints allowing her to slip out of them. Didn't matter really, wasn't like she could get out or anything. Shannon weakly pulled them off, disgusted by the feel of them and tried to get her equilibrium back again. It was very hard going. They had doped her up and hurt her pretty good this time. Her fingers hurt, her whole body hurt actually.

"Shit.." she mumbled to herself, stumbling a little as she stood up. "bastards.."

Making her way over to the door, she looked out the little window into the hallway. No one was there right now, but it was right about the time of night that Juliet came around. Shannon didn't know what to think of her, to think of any of it actually to be honest. All she knew was.. she wanted to see him. To touch him, although that was what had gotten her into trouble the last time.

She sat down in the chair, looking at her hands. She'd always taken such good care of herself. But they didn't, just kept her here like a prisoner, to be fed and cleaned every so often. And to be honest, she didn't care too much herself anymore. Her mind began to wander, as it did often now, remembering the day in the rain.. it was a real memory, even if the reality was a lie.

"I'll never leave you..I love you.."

He had his hand on her face, it had been so gentle, he was trying to keep her with him.

"I'll never leave.."

And she had believed him, his eyes said it was true..

But she was now here, and he was still there, at least his mind was. And Shannon was still trying to figure out how it had happened. Nothing made sense anymore. She wanted damn answers. She wanted to see his eyes again, feeling maybe if she did it would steady her.

She heard the door open, and sat up a little straighter, hoping it was Juliet and not that Ethan guy. He scared the shit out of her, with his strange smile and propensity to give her shots. But it was Juliet. Shannon just looked up at her, her clearing eyes full of anger, as they often were when she was out of the fog.

"How are you feeling now?" she asked, her voice filled with concern, taking the other chair. "When I came in last night, you were in pretty bad shape."

"Well considering they shocked me, and then held me down and drugged me, that shouldn't have come as a surprise right?" Shannon answered sarcastically. "I mean did you expect me to be up doing cartwheels?"

Juliet smiled sadly, it killed her to see all this. Sooner or later she was gonna put a stop to all this but for now she reached out and squeezed Shannon's hand.

"No I didn't." she answered, and brushed the girls hair away from her face a little. "They really worked you over good that time, i'm so sorry.."

Shannon just continued to look at her angrily, wanting to reject any comfort from her but didn't have the strength.

"Why did you do it Shannon?" Juliet asked as they sat there. "You knew they'd hurt you..you knew that..it wasnt the right time."

This infuriated her and she found some strength for the moment.

"Like I give a FUCK if it wasn't the right TIME!" she shouted standing up. She wobbled a little and Juliet attempted to steady her, and was pushed away angrily. "I NEEDED to see him.. NEEDED to know he was real... that he actually existed.." She grabbed on to the edge of her bed, her unsteady legs betraying her as she became more emotional. "I don't know what's real anymore, nothing has made any sense since..."

She couldn't finish, she was crying now. She was exausted and scared. Juliet came over and helped her sit back on the bed. She wasn't normally the type to give comfort but she did, putting her arms around the girl and letting her cry. Hell she deserved to.

"I'm so sorry Shannon.." Juliet whispered, holding her like a child. "I wish I could fix this.."

"Just t-tell m-me what's g-going on.." she sobbed against Juliets shoulder. "w-why are t-they d-doing this?"

Juliet took Shannon face in her hands and looked at her steadily. She was so young, and so pretty, she didn't deserve this. None of them did.

"I promise I'll explain it to you.." she told her, her eyes saying she meant it. "At the right time I will and all this will stop.."

She stroked her hair and smiled at her softly.

"But I can tell you one thing right now.. he hasn't forgotten you.. He still loves you.."

Shannon's face broke again, and Juliet laid her head against her shoulder and let her cry some more. It felt like pennance for being part of this.

"He still loves you...I swear he does.."

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The breeze blew through his hair as he kneeled on the blanket, not far from the helicopter. He hadn't done this nearly enough as he should've, and at this point in his life, probably needed it more. His communion with his god, whether not that god wanted anything to do with him after everything. But he did it anyway. Concentrated, or tried to.

The idiot Myles was talking, wouldn't shut up actually. Sayid had seriously considered just plain killing this one. He was useless for nothing but noise, and had no shred of compassion from what he could tell. But for now he just ignored him, focusing on his meditation and prayers.

He saw her face sometimes when he did this, and this time was no exception. She'd never really left him. He was haunted by her. Her face, her voice, her beautiful smile. The way she smelled, how her skin felt. Everything. No woman, not even Nadia, had haunted him this steadily. And it caused that terrible itch in to just get away. It was almost too damn painful now.

Opening his eyes the first thing he saw was the body of that woman, Naomi. She just laid there with her eyes open. Uncovered. Uncared for. Meat is what Myles had called her now, that lack of compassion showing visibly. She wasn't just meat, she had been a person. Just like Shannon had been.

Sayid got up, ignoring everything else going on around him at the moment and walked over to where she was laying. He kneeled down and gently closed her eyes. He then put the blanket over her with a gentleness and compassion that would've surprised anyone who'd known who he'd been.

He picked up Naomi's braclet, reading and inscription of love to someone. A love now lost. And then put it back on her for now. It was after all hers.

Wiping all thoughs except for what he needed to from his mind, Sayid volunteered himself to go get Charlotte. Hoping it would get him a ticket out of here. Away from the memories.

He took Kate with him, and the idiot Myles volutnteered himself as well. Sayid smiled inwardly, now this one he'd have no problem trading in. If they got there without him being killed that was.

Sayid focused hard, keeping thoughts of her away. But per usual she never really left his mind. Like she was right there. Closer than he thought..

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Juliet had laid Shannon down, she'd fallen asleep. Still terribly exhuasted it seemed. She put the blanket over her like a mother would and squeezed her hand, wishing she could stay. But she had a job to do right now.

She went back into her room and set herself back inside, coming out of the jungle again just as Sayid, Kate and that annoying one were leaving for the other camp. She saw the set look on Sayid's face and thought of Shannon briefly. There was a strong connection there. It would help tremendously.

She watched them leave and looked at Jack, smiling.

Soon..she thought. I'm gonna start fixing this...

Once the right time came along that was..

Chapter 4- Things We Said Today

She was walking out, and Sawyer did an internal debate as to whether he was gonna stop her or not. They'd said alot of things that morning, but that smack in the face had an air of finality to it. He supposed he'd deserved it in some capacity. But what he said about Jack he thought was spot on. And maybe that's why she was so pissed.

Getting off his ass, seeing his last chance walk out the door Sawyer for once made the decision to go get it and least try to salvage it, even if it she didn't. He made it to her before she could walk out of the house. Grabbing her by the arm he stopped her halfway to door. He had something to say dammit and he was gonna say it.

"You think you get the last word Peaches, well that ain't gonna happen."

"Let go of me Sawyer!"

"Not until you hear me out, your not runnin away from this just yet.. afterward you can run as far as you want.. off the island, to Jack, whatever the hell makes you feel better."

Kate did an interior debate as to whether she should just kick him and leave, and for once elected to at least hear him out. She owed him that much at least.

"So spill it Sawyer..we don't have all day."

"Hell yeah we do Freckles, all we got is time.."

Still holding her arm, he pulled her over to the couch and sat her down roughly. Sawyer then took a seat across from her on the coffee table. Good thing Hugo wasn't hear, they at least had some privacy.

"You and me we've been through alot of shit together ain't no doubt about that..but like I said I ain't gonna just let you run out without hearin me out.."

Kate just looked at him coldly, still stewing over his earlier comments. Trying to figure out why they hurt so damn much. She knew maybe, but couldn't admit it just yet. Cause they'd had rings of truthi in them. And, she never wanted to admit it, she cared deeply for him. She was afraid of that. Terribly afraid.

"I want to know why you think I'd be happy with the prospect of you carryin one of those death sentances inside ya? " He saw Kate's shocked look. "From what I hear pregannt girls don't last long on Craphole Island, and just maybe.." he paused for a second. "I'd like to keep you around a litle longer.."

Kate's jaw dropped just a little, at this admission. It was probably the best example of how much he loved her. She didn't know what to say. Wondering how the hell she was suppose to leave after that. No matter what he said next, she'd remember that at least.

"And I can't say I'd want a kid to be honest..I mean all Mamacita's does is burp, spit and shit.. on an lsland with a diaper shortage to boot.."

She smiled a little, calmer now. She might still leave, but she'd finish hearing him out.

"If you wannna go back.. then by all means.. but it ain't gonna be a picnic Freckles, here you have somethin at least right? Not much...but somethin..there.. jails the best you can hope for.."

Kate still hadn't said anything, was still a bit overwhelmed to be honest. Something had happened to him. Some profound change, that made him sometimes sensitivie and somethimes even more defensive. She didn't know what it was. He wouldn't tell her. Would never be one to share his feelings like that.

"Sawyer..." she said, and for reasons she didn't get just yet, took his hand and pulled herself closer. "We have to try..staying here with Locke is just crazy.. it's suicide..please come with me.."

He wanted to, deep down he'd hoped she'd just walked out now. Make it easy on him. Now she wasn't, and he was regretting stopping her just a little.

"I can't..I got nothin back there.."

It broke her heart to be honest, she didn't know what else to do now. She had to go, but he wouldn't. The choice was agonizing.

"You have me dammit isn't that enough?" she asked angrily, getting up now. "Isn't that something?"

"Do I have you?" he asked, getting angry himself. "I'm not so sure about that Sweetheart.. especially lately..the only time you come around is when you want somethin from me.."

Her eyes flashed when she looked at him, hating that he nailed her so damn good there. He always had a knack for that. It was alot easier with Jack it seemed. All she did was bat her eyes for the most part and he'd cave. Not this one though. And that pissed her off.

"Sorry If I needed your help." she snapped.

"Oh spare me that findin stuff out bullshit cause it don't work.."he said, blocking her way. "Why did ya really come here? .Was it just to give me one last ride before trapsin off into the sunset with Jackass? Cause baby you coulda done that months ago and saved me the trouble of givin a shit about-"

He got no chance to finish, cause she decked him again, harder this time. Both of them feeling like they were giving eachother outs now. Excuses to walk away. Sawyer grabbed her arm, almost throwing her against the door now. His face so close to hers he could smell her.

"Goddammit Freckles, can't you go 5 minutes withou runnin from somethiing?" He asked her, leaning closer. "or is it etched in your genes?"

"Let go of me.." she hissed, "now!"
 

"What are you gonna do if I don't?"

She just glared at him, and didn't answer. But she wasn't fighting as hard as she could've either. Which didn't go unnoticed.

"Where's that little head-butt of yours?" he saked with a half smile. "I should've been unconcious by now.."

The tension between the was highly charged. Being this close created it, drove it. And they were like magnets, drawn to eachother. And Kate knew if they got any closer it would be all over. She wouldn't be able to stop herself. And she had to. Couldn't allow it. She'd hurt him, she knew she would. No matter how tough he was on the exteriror she would destroy him just like she did the others. This one she actually loved, and wouldn't subject him to the poison she seemed to ooze.

She shoved hard, pushing him off into the wall behind him. Kate tried to give a hard look as she turned, pulling the door open. Sawyer rubbed the back of his head and watched her. Wouldn't stop her this time. Too much pain involved.

"Go on.. get the hell out if that's what you want.." he said with an angry tone."Not like we had anythin anyway.."

That wasn't true and they both knew it but this felt like goodbye now. And Sawyer thought he saw sadness and some hurt in her eyes. Maybe it was just his imagination.

"Fine.. see ya around Sawyer.."

She walked out, slamming the door behind her, and trapsed off into the jungle. One that she'd strangely never been afraid of. She was hating herself more and more by the minute, and at the same time restraining herself from going back. Taking all the words back and just crawl into bed with him. But she kept walking forward instead. Suddenly she stopped, the jungle was too damn quiet. Eerily so. And for some
reason at the moment seemed very unreal as well. Like it would disappear around her.

Kate shivered as she stood there. Looking around with wide eyes, and thought she heard a whisper or two. Could've been the wind. Had to have been. And then the feeling was gone, things shifted back into focus, and she started walking again.

"Dammit Kate shake it off.." she said to herself as she walked. "Get a fucking grip.."

Meanwhile Sawyer sat back down on the bed, nursing wounds, phyiscal and emotional it seemed. From what was probably his last encounter with Kate. The woman had marked him. And good too.

"Been nice knowing ya Freckles.." he said out loud, grabbing his beer. And thought of the insanity of all of this. " Fun while it lasted.."

He tried to tell himself that he didn't miss her already. She felt like an illusion, something he never really had. And told himself maybe he could live without it. Without the headache of loving her.

And he kept telling himself that. Hoping eventually it would take.

Well here's the next one, and it's deviated wildly from the show after this, I used what I need and now am about to make this entirely my creation..

Chapter 5- The Tie that Binds

"Hey..." Juliet asked in a hushed tone. "You awake?"

Shannon murmured a little, waking up.

"What?" she asked groggily, opening her eyes, and squinting against the light. "Juliet?"

She smiled down at her.

"We have an hour..i'm gonna take you to see him.."

Shannon sat up, a little too quickly and got dizzy. She steadied herself and looked at Juliet hopefully.

"For real?"

"Yes for real... but we gotta go now.."

Juliet helped Shannon up and opened the door, guiding her with her arm. They went down the hallway, Shannon looking around, memerizing it again in case she needed to know the layout. Juliet stopped at a door and slid her card in, and opened it. And quickly ushered Shannon inside.

She saw him, again. In person. He was strapped in, just like the others. Wires and tubes connected to him. And he was asleep. In a sound coma. Shannon swallowed hard and stepped closer. Looking at Juliet almost for permission now.

"Go ahead.." she said softly. "Talk to him, who knows maybe he might hear you.."

Juliet pushed a chair over for Shannon and checked Sayid's vitals, like she'd done with all the others. Same as before. Steady respiration and heartbeat. Brain waves steady as well. It indicated he might not have been active inside for the moment.

"Hey.." Shannos whispered softly, putting her hand on dark hair. "I'm here.. I don't know if you can hear me in there but.." She couldn't finish the sentance at first, and swallowed hard before continuing. "I remember what you told me out there.. it's what kept me alive here.."

She squezed his hand with her other hand, with tears in her eyes, and kissed the side of his face.And laid her head down next to his. Juliet watched this display, feeling sad and angry at the same time. She stepped back a little and gave Shannon some privacy.

"Please.." she said, holding his hand tight in hers. "Hear me.."

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Sayid was resting on the bunk, listening to Desmond snore. He himself was never much for sleep, even in spite of the roller coaster the day had been. Desmonds bout with losing his sanity had shook Sayid plenty. The only ally he could really count on didn't know him. But getting him in touch with this Penny girl seemed to cure him. Women had a strange capacity for that.

He shifted slightly, closing his eyes and for some reason felt some other kind of presence. Sayid was never one to believe in things he couldn't see or touch, but this seemed to come from eveyrwhere. All around him. But instead of frighening him it seemed to comfort him. He moved his hand slightly, and felt like someone was holding it.

"Hear me..."

Hearing that voice almost made him physically jump. He looked around the room, thinking someone was playing some sort of game with them here. But Desmond didn't seem to be affected. Well not now at least. Sayid really began to wonder if the ship was starting to have an effect on him now, like it seemed to affect everyone. Because he could sworn that was Shannon's voice.

She's dead he reminded himself, the memory of that painful and one of the reasons why he wanted to escape from that damn island to begin with. Sayid got up, his shoes still being on and listened again but didn't hear anything now. But he could swear he could still feel that hand on his.

"Focus.." he said in the dark, needing to keep an even keel now. Too much was riding on all this now.

Sayid closed his eyes and decided to lay back down, or at least try to. And in his mind saw her smiling at him as he got up to get her some water. The last real smile she'd given. He rememembered it with pain but also with happiness, her smile had always brought that to him. His life had been dark before, and it was dark again now.

He found himself falling into a light doze,the type that soldiers have. Sleeping like a cat, ready to wake at any time. And he felt that presence around him still. Whatever it was it gave him a sense of safety for the time being, in an unsafe environment.

"I miss you.." he whispered softly in his light sleep..and moved his hand just a little, like someone was holding it.

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Shannon had been sitting there for god knows how long, the hour or so that Juliet had given her and just stared at him, holding his hand and stroking his hair. And nearly jumped when she felt his hand hand move ever so slightly in hers. Her eyes widened and she looked at his face. No change there, and she could almost imagine she'd felt it. Almost.

"I think he heard me.." she said to Juliet, who came over to them. "I swear he moved his hand."

Juliet smiled softly, knowing it was possible the girl imagined it but also knowing that she might not have.She checked his vitals, everything, just to make sure there was no change.

"Maybe he did." she said reassuringly. "I wouldn't be surprised at all."

Shannon looked up at Juliet painfully.

"Why can't we wake him up?"

"Because it's not safe right for him.." she explained, taking a seat next to Shannon. "You have to do at the right time in their sequence or it.. messes things up.." She swallowed a little. "like what happened with your brother."

Shannon got a hurt look on her face thinking of Boone, who'd paid a real price in this. His life, for real.

"I hate them... I really do.."

Juliet put her arm around Shannon comfortingly.

"Me too.."

She looked at the time on the wall, and knew they had to wrap this up soon.

"We have to go now, if they catch you out, lord knows what they'll do."

Shannon nodded and got up, but not before laying a kiss on Sayid's forhead and squeezing his hand one more time. She couldn't wait for the day when he would open those beautiful brown eyes of his and see her. She could wait forever for that.
 

"I'll be back.. I promise."

Juliet watched her sadly and then carefully led her out. Shannon looked back one more time before allowing herself to be led out, and tried be strong. She let Juliet lead her to her room and sat down wearily, wanting to cry again but not allowing herself to.

 Getting Shannon inside and settled in, Juliet was about to leave when she turned to the girl and took her hand again, crouching in front of her.

When I go back in i'm gonna get help ok?" she told her, looking at the girls surprised state. "I'm gonna pull somebody out.. and one by one we'll stop this I promise."

"Who?" Shannon asked surprised.

"You'll know when I know how's that? Now get some sleep.."

She didn't think that was any kind of answer but agreeably laid down. Curling herself under the blanket. Juliet left the room and the light dimmed, and Shannon laid there, tears in her eyes. Thinking of her brother, Sayid and herself, everything that they'd ben put through. All of her doubts about herself, about whether he still loved her, and whether or not she just going crazy.

Her turbulent thoughts kept her awake for a long time, but eventually she did fall asleep. And dreamed of being on that island with him. Of a night under the stars..

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Juliet went into her quarters and got herself ready to flip back in. She'd lied a little to Shannon. She knew exactly who she was going to get. As much as she wanted to grab Jack, or Sayid for Shannon, she knew where her best bet was. And if she could convince him, she could convince anyone.

"Time to go see Sawyer.." she said to herself, and flipped...

Chapter 6- Making the call..

It was night time, and Sawyer couldn't sleep. For some reason kept having dreams of doctors, surrounding him. Talking to him like whispers. Like the whispers. Middle of the damn fucking night and for some reason these crazy ass dreams had him awake.

Sitting up in bed Sawyer decided a walk would be nice. And who the hell cared about whether or not there weirdos out there. If they came after him right now, he'd take about 10 of them down with him.

Stepping out the door into the night, Sawyer walked out into the jungle near the edge of the barracks. It was eerily quiet tonight. Way too quiet actually. He leaned against a tree and took out some cigarrettes. He's found a stash of them and had taken up the habit again. But could only do it far away from Mamacita's rug rat. He could at least be that considerate.

Suddenly he heard something, a movement of some kind. Sawyer tossed the cigarette away and pulled the gun out of his back pocket. Pointing it in the direction of the sound his eyes darted everywhere.

"Show yourself, or someones gettin a new hole in em!." he called out, his eyes searching the darkness. "And if you think i'm kiddin.."

"Put the gun down James.."

The voice took him by surprise, cause he didn't expect it. He did recognize it though. His brow creased as the woman it belonged to walked out of the jungle right in front of him.

"Good way to get yourself killed Blondie." he said with snark. "Shouldn't you be back at the beach, shaking up with Doc Oc?"

Juliet gave him a small smile. Sawyer never did change, and sure as hell wasn't subtle.

"I'm here to talk you to you James, we have something to discuss if you'd come a little futher betneath the trees here."

Sawyer looked at her like she had 3 heads.

"While i'm flattered you came all this way Little Red Riding Hood, how do I know you ain't still working for those psychos? That it ain't a trap or something."

She smiled again.

"You don't'

"That ain't very comfortin.."

Juliet stood with her hands on her hips looking at him. Knowing this would be difficult, if not impossible but he was the only hope right now.

"Time is of the essence James, we're actually kind of pressed for it.. so come if you want to. If not i'll find someone else."

It was a bluff, there was no one else. But Juliet knew Sawyer's curiousity would get the better of him eventually. No matter how much he groused on the surface.

"Fine, but if I get put in another bear cage.."

Juliet smiled and lead him further in, away from the barracks until they were in a jungle clearing where the moom was shining through. She took a seat on a fallen log and pulled a beer out of her bag and handed it to Sawyer. He leaned against a tree and popped it open.

"Ok Blondie.. i'm here so spill.."

"I need you to get Sayid and Desmond back from that frieghter." she said simply, looking up at him. "And Micheal too.."

He looked at her with a confused look.

"What? Why? You lookin for another man or somethin? The Doc not enough for you?"

Juliet looked down at her hands for a second. Trying to figure out how to explain this.

"It's dangerous for them to be there.. it's unstable."

"Unstable?" he asked, really confused now. "What the hell's that spose to mean?"

"It's uncharted.. look I don't know if your gonna believe me when I say this but i'll give it a shot, and if you don't, well I have proof.."

Sawyer raised his eyebrows. Thinking this ought to be interesting for certain. Anyone who said something like that had a good story to tell that's for damn sure.

"What if I told you all of this, this jungle, those barracks, the beach, the plane crash etc etc..none of it was real. Just the product of hallucinegenic drugs, a computer and the imagination of a child. That you weren't really here at all but in some room, imagining all this? Would you believe me?"

Sawyer looked at her with a questioning look. Trying to figure out what the hell she just said.

"Have you been dippin into Johnny Boys fucked up mind juice there Alice?" he asked her, pulling his cigarettes, needed another one. "Cause that's the craziest thing i've ever heard, like something out of Total Recall."

"You don't believe me do you?"

Sawyer chuckled. "What the hell you do think?"

Juliet looked up at him, and pulled something out of her pocket. To Sawyer it looked like a mini-remote. His eyes narrowed.

"What the hells that? You ain't gonna fry me with some kind of laser are ya?"

Juliet said nothing, just simply hit the flip button, without freeze. And literally disappeared in front of his shocked eyes. Sawyer had trouble comprending how one second she was there and then the next she wasn't.

"Now it's like fuckin Star Trek.."

"Believe me now?" she said from behind him about 5 seconds later, causing him to jump out of his skin.

"Alright i'll bite Uhura how the hell'd you just do that?"

"I'll you what?" she suggested with a small smile. "How about you do what I ask, and i'll explain the whole damn thing.. cause lets just say nothing is what it seems here."

"No fuckin shit.." he said, still trying to get his heart rate back to normal. "Ok then.. even if I agreed to call up Ali on that boat, how the hell am I spose to do it? With a couple of cans and a string?"

Juliet didn't answer right away, just pulled the phone out of her bag. Sawyer did another double take. Looking at it as she handed to him as if it was a snake that was gonna bite him.

"Do even I want to ask?"

She smiled.

"Kate't not the only pickpocket on the island." she said, her finger pointing to the button that she knew would connect them. "Make the call.."

Sawyer took the phone, looking at the button.

"What the fuck am I spose to tell him anyways? Omar's been on the cranky side for awhile now he's liable to hang up."

"I don't know James your the smooth talker around here.. make something up."

"It's that important huh?" he asked.

"Yes very.."

He had his finger on the button and looked at Juliet. He could smell a bullshitter a mile away. She didn't look like she was shitting here. She looked damn serious. And Sawyer wasn't always one to buy into ridiculous notions but, the woman had vanished in front of him, and reappeared behind him. And the story, in spite of his incredulousness, for some reason, didn't sound far-fetched.

"Your gonna explain the rest of this right?"

"Yes James..now make the call.."

Sawyer hit the button, his brows creased. Trying to hink of what to say to Sayid that would convince him to come back, by whatever means necessary. He heard the phone ring somewhere and a woman answered.

"This a restricted line guys why the hell are you using it?"

"Well i'm sorry I missed the memo sweetheart.. this one of us stranded losers on the island and we need to talk to one of our people.. perhaps you know him? Probably the only Arab on your boat."

He looked over at Juliet, his fingers itching for a cigarette right now.

"Well sir i'll see what I can do but-"

"But nothing!" he said in a loud voice. "Get him, it's a goddamn emergency here.. and he'd want to know, and trust me you don't want to piss him off.."

"We'll find him.." the voice said, a little cowed. "Be right back."

Sawyer put his hand over the phone and looked at Juliet.

"You better help me come up with somethin good, cause Mohammed there ain't no idjut..and I don't care to end up tied to another tree.."

Juliet simply looked at him. Feeling some relief now. The frieghter had been a monkey wrench of sorts.An enigma, cause it was uncharted in the Game, as Ben called it. And she needed Sayid there, in front of her. It was the only way any of this would work.

"Trust me Sawyer, when he finds out the truth, that won't happen."

Juliet hoped she'd get the chance before Ben noticed what she was doing. And before they could do anything harmful to those who were alive out there. Especially to Shannon.

Please let this work.. her mind begged. She felt as if she was in an hourglass and the window was shrinking. It all depeneded on Sawyer, and his ability to concince Sayid. Everything hinged on it.

The jungle swayed and a breeze ruffled them both, as they waited for Sayid to come to the phone.