The LOST Writers' Island

Rocking the Old Habits

A thin white mist hoovered over the valleys and open fields in the early morning hours on the island. The scent of damp earth and rotting leaves mingled in the heavy air along with something animal like. That was a good sign they were going in the right direction, she thought, as she followed him along the path he had set. He seemed to have a sixth sense when it came to tracking game. As much as it pissed her off, she learned long ago that he was always right. But he wouldnt hear that from her, Danielle would rather shoot herself in the foot than pay John Locke that sort of compliment. The man had a big enough ego as it was, any bigger and his bald head wouldnt fit inside his tent.

"Were getting close," John said softly, slightly winded from the hike. A few feet later he dropped his pack next to a gnarled tree and took a long drink from his canteen as he lowered himself to the ground to rest. "Here." he said offering her the water with a smile on his face. Danielle did not return the smile but reached for the canteen and sniffed at it. John shook his head and laughed. "Still dont trust me, do you?"

Danielle cocked her head to the side and stared down at him, her face unreadable as usual. No matter how much time passed shed never forget all that he had done to stay here. He was capable of anything. " I trust that you will do whatever you feel is necessary for you."

"And why would poisoning you be necessary for me?"

So many answers to that question rolled through her mind however she decided it best to keep them to herself. No need to give him a reason to want to kill her. Instead she stated with a smart-assed smirk on her face, " I dont know, John. Maybe because the island told you to do it?" That hit the mark. Temper flared behind his cool blue eyes for only a brief moment yet it gave her much satisfaction.

"Good one."

Danielle took a tentative sip from his canteen rolling it on her tongue before she swallowed. "How much further?"

"Just through those trees maybe a couple yards, is a wallow. By the looks of the markings," he paused running his fingers over the fresh gashes in the tree trunk at his back, "Id say there are three of them and at least one is a big four hundred pounder."

He looked so damned smug and proud of himself that she merely nodded and impatiently grumbled, "Well, lets go and get this over with." She was not about to give him the applause he so obviously wanted.

"Eager to get started? Or are you eager to get rid of me, Danielle?" there was humor in his voice but his serious blue eyes were boring holes through her. She hated when he looked at her that way.

Danielle stiffened her posture regally, "Both."

"You know, I believe you mean that." John chuckled as he rose to his feet, taking no offense to her blunt statement. He expected no less from her.

She handed him his canteen as he passed then fell in line behind him wondering why he put up with her nastiness. They had the whole island to themselves practically, they could very easily live here without running into each other yet he always sought her out. Needing her help was his favored excuse but she knew damned well that he could survive on his own. She had for many years and had done so quite nicely, in her opinion. No, she figured he, more than likely, couldnt stand the solitude of being alone. He had to have someone to ramble about life and fate to. God, that man talked so much foolishness sometimes.

The ground grew softer as they moved forward quietly. John looked over his shoulder at her and motioned for her to circle around the brush in the opposite direction of him. This was the part of the hunt Danielle enjoyed the most, partly because they didnt talk but even more than that she secretly liked to watch him in action. He moved stealthily, quick and sure like an animal. Relying on instinct and cunning since he didnt like to use his gun when hunting.

Once she came to the clearing she stopped and stared puzzled that there was no wallow nor any boar. Instead John stood in the middle of the field with his arms outstretched grinning like a fool, "Surprise."

"What the hell is this?" she demanded looking over the tarp spread across the ground loaded with fruits and thick slabs of cooked meat.

John cocked his brow high on his forehead, "Oh come on, Danielle. It hasnt been that long since you went on a picnic that you have forgotten what they are, has it?"

"A picnic?" she repeated as if it were a foreign word, still unable to wrap her mind around the shock of him deceiving her in this way. She still had her rifle in her hand when he walked over, grabbed her by the arm and guided her to the prepared feast. "But- you said... You lied to me."

He grinned unrepentantly. "For a good cause. I made a kill yesterday while I was out scouting around. I knew you wouldnt come back to my camp to share it so-"

"So you tricked me." she hissed.

He shrugged and sat down, "I hate to eat alone, besides I couldnt eat all this by myself. No sense in wasting a good boar."

Danielle glared at him as he popped a bright red berry into his mouth. It infuriated her that he just assumed that she would accept him lying to her and join him. She bent down and picked up her portion of the meal and wrapped it in the palm leaf plate he set it on. With a scowl she repeated his words, "No sense in wasting boar," and started to walk away.

"Hey! Dont go." he called out to her but she continued on. He must have got up though she didnt hear him because a few seconds later she felt him grab her arm again. This time she swung around and aimed her rifle at him.

"Take your hand off me!"

"Are you going to shoot me, Danielle? For what? For trying to be nice and neighborly?"

She held her gun steady, "Is it neighborly to lie to get what you want?"

"No. I suppose it isnt." he said softly with a tinge of regret in his voice. "But you make everything so damned difficult, I didnt know what else to do."

"What are you talking about?"

"This," he said right before he planted a kiss on her lips.

It had been so long since she had been kissed and she had certainly never been kissed like that before. He was forceful and insistent so that she had no choice but to respond to him. His mouth was sweet and tangy from the berries and so deliciously warm she couldnt fight him. She didnt want to. His strong hands moved over her body touching her in places she forgot existed. His names escaped her lips at least once before he pulled away.

John gently brushed her cheek with his thumb smiling at her. "Ive been wanting to do that for a long time now. Will you come back and eat with me?"

A part of her wanted to but her emotions were all over the place. She needed to be alone. "I cant. Im sorry."

He nodded but his disappointment was clear. "Old habits are hard to break, huh?"

She managed a weak smile glad he seemed to understand and nodded not trusting her voice as she walked back to her camp alone. As she walked a real smile spread over her face and she touched her still tingling mouth, maybe old habits are hard to break but she could get used to some new ones, like kissing him. Once in a while.