The LOST Writers' Island

Jaci, this is for you darlin'...I hope you like it.  Merry Christmas!!!! 

She slipped out of bed slowly so as not to wake him, but she knew better. He was a light sleeper and the truth was, neither one could sleep without the other one there. “Where're you goin'?” He asked sleepily.

 

“Just to put on some coffee.” She said. Juliet threw her legs over the side of the bed and lifted her pregnant body out of bed. She groaned a little as she stretched her body.

 

“You alright, blondie?” He asked.

 

“James, stop worrying.” She said, leaning back over and kissing him gently. “Women have babies everyday in every country of the world. Besides, before it's over, my back's going to hurt a whole lot more.”

 

“Yea, well maybe so, but they're not married to me and I ain't their kids' dad.” James Ford said, propping his head up on his hand and turning to look at her.

 

“I'm gonna make coffee.” She said as she smiled and walked into the kitchen. Just then his phone started to ring. He'd left it on the charger all night to charge and it was buzzing away.

 

“Yea.” He answered.

 

“Captain Ford?” The voice asked.

 

“Why do you do that, Jeff? You know it's me.” James said.

 

Jeff laughed on the other end of the phone. “Beats me James, force of habit I guess.”

 

“What can I do for you, buddy?” James asked.

 

“Well I got a line on that scam runner out of Houston.” Jeff said.

 

“Yea, whatcha got?” James asked.

 

“Well for the first time, we got a good description of the guy. Apparently he conned the wrong woman this time. She reported it.” Jeff said. “I'm gonna run this through the data base and see what I get.”

 

“Okay, check it through state and federal and see if you can't run it through Interpol too.” James said. “You never know, he might've skipped the country.”

 

“That's gonna take time James, maybe a couple days.” Jeff answered.

 

“That's okay, we been workin' on it this long, we can hold off a few days to do it right.” James said.

 

“You got it boss.” Jeff said. “Say, how's Juliet?”

 

“Tired.” James said. “She's startin' to feel bein' pregnant a lot more than she used to.”

 

“You're gonna make a great dad, James.” Jeff said.

 

“That's easy for you to say, I ain't rasin' you.” James said as he hung up his phone. Juliet walked back in just then and crawled back into bed.

 

“I thought you were puttin' the coffee on?” He asked.

 

“Oh I did.” She said. “We got about 10 minutes until we have to get up.”

 

James leaned over and kissed her softly, his tongue delving into her mouth as her lips yielded to his. He leaned over her just bit and pulled her closer to him, turning her on her side and wrapping his arm around her. He moaned a little as he felt the need begin to rise inside him.

 

“Hon...honey.” She said between kissed.

 

“Hmmm?” He answered.

 

“You have to go to work.” She said.

 

“I'm captain of the department, I go to work when I want to.” He said.

 

“Maybe but I want you home at a descent hour and if you don't get there, you won't get back.” She kissed his chin and his neck, feeling the scruff of his whiskers on her nose.

 

“Well if I don't go, then I don't have to get back.” He said.

 

“Smart ass.” She answered. He leaned down and kissed her neck and her throat. She closed her eyes and let her head fall back a little loving the feel of his lips on her skin and loving the stirrings it was causing inside her.

 

He could tell too. He knew what he was doing and he knew that if he kept it up, they'd never get out of that bed. She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him a little more on top of her. He kissed her softly and then looked at her and smiled.

 

“You're right.” He smiled. “I do have to get up.” He said pulling himself off of her.

 

“Like I said,” She answered. “Smart ass.” She said as she watched him get up out of bed and head for the bathroom. He might be teasing her right now, but tonight when he got home, it would be a whole lot different. They'd finish what they started, oh how they'd finish it.

 

---------------

 

Eric opened the hotel room door and tipped the bell boy. He rolled the breakfast cart in and put it over by the TV. “Room service madam.” He said. The pretty blonde young woman rolled over and sat up a little, the sheet falling down over her ample breasts.

 

“You got us breakfast?” She asked.

 

“Nothing but the best for you, my love.” He said. Eric wrapped his robe around his large body and placed the breakfast from the cart onto the table. She just lay there for a moment watching him. He was gorgeous. So tall, so muscular and the consummate lover and about to be her husband.

 

“So tell me what you think.” He said, as she got out of bed and slipped on the silk robe he gave her last night.

 

Sookie walked over and sat down at the table. She leaned over and kissed Eric softly. “I can't wait to be your wife.” He accepted her kiss and then smiled back at her.

 

“And you're alright with the investment you loaned me?” He asked her, the ideas turning in his mind of what he would do with this mark's money.

 

“Of course, I am.” She said. “That's why I gave you all that money I got from Gran's estate and from the sale of the house too. I didn't need it anymore, since I got the new one for us.” She said. Sookie was in this way too deep. She was trusting Eric with everything. Little did she know by the time she would come back tonight, Eric would be long gone and on to his next mark.

 

“Okay so I'll pick you up here tonight when you check out and we'll start moving our stuff to the new house right?” She asked.

 

“Absolutely.” Eric said. “I've had all of my things shipped to the new house and they should be there tomorrow along with my car.” He said with a smile, knowing full well he didn't have a car and didn't have anything that furnished a house. “Then you won't have to come pick me up anymore.”

 

“I don't mind.” She said, filling her plate with some breakfast.

 

Eric leaned over and kissed Sookie softly. “I can't believe you agreed to marry me.” He said. “I love you so much Sookie.”

 

-------------

 

James sat at the computer scrolling through all the possible matches that came up with the description of the man they had. Some were obviously wrong, some others good possibilities but there were a few that were very close.

 

Jeff walked in James' office about that time. “Whatcha got boss?” He asked.

 

“A whole lotta nothin' right now.” James answered. “You know how many tall blonde headed cons and thieves there are out there?”

 

“No, not off hand.” Jeff said, giving him a smart-ass look.

 

“Well there's a lot of 'em.” James said.

 

“I'm gonna go downstairs and get a slice of pizza, you want some?” Jeff asked.

 

“Nah, I'm not stickin' on this all night.” James said. “I promised Juliet I'd be home early.”

 

“Well you passed early about 3 hours ago.” Jeff said, looking over at the clock that read 9:30 p.m.

 

“Shit.” James said, getting up and searching his pockets for his keys.

“Yea, see you tomorrow too.” Jeff called as James headed out the door and for his truck. It didn't take him too long to get home and when he did, he bounded through the front door. He walked into the kitchen and there was Juliet giving him a look that said she was none to happy with him.

 

“Guess you never heard of a phone, huh?” Juliet asked.

 

“I'm sorry honey.” He said, kind of smiling at her.

 

“I suppose I just have to punish you for this.” She said, putting the dinner dishes away.

 

“Can I eat first?” He teased.

 

“Depends on what it is you want to eat.” She said as he stepped a little closer to her. His voice deepened as he talked to her and kissed her neck and shoulders. He pulled the little strap of her top down her shoulder and ran his hand over it.

 

James pulled her long blonde hair back and kissed her neck. “Well, I think I've found all the nourishment I need tonight.” He whispered.

 

“You have? You sure you don't want me to fix something for you to eat?” She said as she felt his chest up against her back and his hands tighten around her stomach.

 

“You already have.” He whispered.

 

She smiled softly as James picked her up and carried her down the hallway to the bedroom and laid her on the bed. “I love you.” She whispered. James sank his body down into the mattress. He was kind of half on and half off of her. He leaned down and kissed her softly. Juliet reached up and ran her hands through his hair and settled on the back of his neck.

 

“I love you so much.” She whispered.

 

“Not as much as I love you.” He said. James lifted the edge of the little tank top she had on and pulled it up over her shoulders. He tossed it over the side of the bed and then pulled her over onto him so that she was on top of him. He deftly unfastened her bra and let it fall, exposing her beautiful breasts to him. James had been with many women, but no one, not one had ever done to him what Juliet did. He'd never even thought of marrying, much less having kids, until she came along.

 

James reached up and pulled her down for a smoldering kiss. The flame was growing between the two of them and it would culminate into something neither one of them would be able to control. James kissed her chin and moved down to the hollow of her throat. He loved how she tasted. Her skin, her scent, she was delicious and he loved making love to his wife.

 

“Unnnh.” He groaned a little as he kissed her. His breath began to quicken as she arched her body against his. She reached down and slipped her pants down off her hips. He helped her and tossed them into a heap on the floor.

 

“James.” She whispered. “I need you.” Juliet raised her body up and yanked at his shirt, hearing the snaps popping as she pulled his shirt off him. She needed her husband's hard naked body. She needed to feel his skin against hers and his hard cock entering her. She didn't care how, just as long as he did it. “Fuck me James.” She whispered as her lips attacked his and her fingers fumbled with his jeans.

 

James helped her pull the jeans off and left his shirt there beneath them as he pulled his arms out and reached into the band of her panties and pulled them off with one swift hand. He turned her over on her back and showered her breasts with little kisses. He felt her back arch up as his fingers trailed down over her skin.

 

He dipped them down between her legs and began to gently stroke her folds. Juliet's body responded to him and he felt her getting wetter against his fingers. James looked up and smiled softly at her and kissed her deeply. He moaned a little into it and felt his fingers slipping inside her. James kissed down her body and then kissed the gentle folds of skin that covered her delicious little clit. He moved his body down and settled himself between her legs. He lifted her right leg and placed it over his shoulder so he could get a little deeper into her.

 

He slipped two of his fingers into her and fanned them out a little bit and then curled them up so that he could massage the spot that sent her over the edge. He felt her legs tighten and her body clench as she came hard on this tongue and fingers.

 

“Fuck!” She exclaimed. “I'm comin' James.” She said as her body betrayed her and made let itself experience all the pleasure her husband was giving her.

 

James smiled to himself and licked his lips, tasting her once again. He moved himself in between her legs. Juliet looked up at him and reached for his shoulders. “Now James, please, do it to me.” She moaned as her body moved itself against him. “Make love to me, please. I need you so much.”

 

She felt herself getting so much wetter as his hard cock slid deep inside her. “Fuck baby.” He said as his lips locked hers . “Come for me. I wanna feel you so wet, so hot and wantin' me.” He said as he felt himself so close to coming. She whimpered and cooed as he brought her off one more time before his own body betrayed him and came hard and deep inside her.

 

James gently rolled his body off of Juliet and he pulled her into his arms. He wrapped his arm around her back and stroked her hair. He took a deep breath and relaxed his body. She kissed his chest and his neck. She loved the way he smelled, the way he tasted, everything about him. He made her feel safe, protected and made her feel like she didn't have to be the one to make all the decisions. She could trust him to be the man and she could just be his wife. When her parents split, Juliet began to feel like had to be in control and have all the answers. James never made her feel that way. He took over everything and just loved her. That was all that mattered. He just loved her.

 

“You're awful quiet.” She said.

 

“I'm fine.” He said letting out his breath. “I'm just enjoyin' lovin' you.” he smiled and kissed her softly.

 

--------------

 

Sookie left the car with the valet and walked into the hotel. She walked up to the elevators and rang for the floor. Just then the desk clerk came up to her. “Miss Stackhouse, Mr. Northman checked out a little while ago.”

 

“Checked out?” She asked.

 

“Yes ma'am.” He said.

 

“I...I don't understand.” She said.

 

“He checked out ma'am. He took his bags and checked out and he left a $589 unpaid sundries bill.” The clerk said. “Would you like to take care of that?”

 

“I most certainly would not!” Sookie exclaimed as she stormed back out to the valet. The questions all made sense now. Eric had dumped her and dumped her pregnant on top of that. But the first thing she would do is go to the police. Eric might have dumped her but she would have the last word and she make sure he was held accountable.

 

Sookie drove to the police station. The GPS system found it easily for her and she walked in and saw Jeff at the front desk. “Can I speak to someone please?” She asked through her tears.

 

“What's the problem ma'am?” Jeff asked.

 

“I just got conned by a guy I've been seeing for several months and I'm going to have a baby.” She pulled a picture of Eric out of her wallet. “This is him.” She said handing it to Jeff. “This is the man.”

 

Jeff smiled to himself. “Yes ma'am. I'll find your someone to file your complaint with.” Sookie only had to wait a few minutes for a detective to come down and take her statement. Jeff and one of the female detectives sat with Sookie and took down all the information she had to give them. Jeff was very happy to have some concrete information and he couldn't wait to tell James.

 

After Sookie left Jeff typed it all into the computer system and then scanned the picture. He picked up his phone and dialed James.

 

------------

 

James answered the phone quietly as Juliet slept on his chest. “I think we got him boss.” Jeff said.

 

“And you just had to call me didn't you?” James asked as Jeff totally didn't get his joke.

 

“Yea, I did.” Jeff said. “We had a woman come in and brought us a picture, the same description and the same story we've heard. You need to get in here boss. We got get a warrant out for this guy.”

 

“Alright.” James said. “I'll be there in about an hour.” He said.

 

“Sounds like they're wanting you to come back.” She said as she traced her fingers through the sparse hairs on his chest.

 

“Yea.” He whispered as he kissed her forehead. “I hate to go in this late though.”

 

She chuckled a little and smiled at him. “No you don't.” She said. “You live for your work and you know it”

 

“Yea, but not when it takes me away from you.” He said, kissing her softly.

 

“Well the sooner you go, the sooner you'll get back.” She said. She pushed him a little bit. “Go.” She said. “I'll be here when you get home.”

 

She watched as James dressed and put on his shoulder harness and his gun. She didn't like this one bit. It always upset her to thing he had a job that required him to put himself in such danger, but she knew that was part of being a cop. She was just thankful he wasn't on the street all the time.

 

------------

 

James sat in his office and listened to the tape of the conversation that Jeff had with Sookie Stackhouse. He was listening intently and making notes when Jeff came in and brought him the picture. “This is who she says he is.”

 

James reached for the picture and took it from Jeff. Jeff waited for James reaction. “You're shittin' me.” James said.

 

“Wish I was boss.” Jeff said, knowing the background. “I sure wish I was.”

 

“Son of a bitch.” James said shaking his head and smirking a little. “Little fucker's been at it again.”

 

“Little? He's taller than you are.” Jeff said.

 

“Little brothers never change even if they are taller.” James said.

 

“So?” Jeff asked.

 

“So what?” James asked back.

 

“What do we do? He's your brother James.” Jeff answered.

 

“We go get his ass, just like we do anybody else.” James answered. “Get Judge Haller to swear out a warrant for him. Let both the airports know in case he tries to get on a flight. If he's taken all from this Miss Stackhouse that he wants, he's gonna be lookin' to get outta town pretty quick.”

 

“Atlanta's a big city James.” Jeff said. “Chances are he's already outta town.”

 

James raised his eyebrows. Jeff wasn't always the sharpest tack in the box. “That's why you need to notify airport security now.” James said.

 

“You got it boss.” Jeff said, picking up the phone to call the airport.

 

-----------

 

Eric walked quickly through the airport, trying not to call attention to himself. He'd already checked in for his flight, so all he needed was to get through security and then get on the plane. Once it took off, he'd be home free. This was the part he hated, the part with the most margin for error. He had to get to the lockers and pick up the cash that he'd converted from the cashier's checks that Sookie had given him. One he got to that, he'd be fine.

 

Eric stood in the line to pass through security. Some of the airport personnel were talking to the homeland security people. He didn't think anything of it, he just wanted to get through and on his way. But that wasn't going to happen, not today.

 

“Mr. Northman?” The guard asked as he came up to the security gate.

 

“Yes?” Eric answered as if nothing in the world was wrong.

 

“Sir, you're being detained.” The guard said. “You will need to wait in this room.” He said. The guard turned around to look at Eric and all he saw was empty space.

 

“Call Airport Police!!” He called out. “We have a runner.”

 

And from then on everything was panic stations, Eric ran through the airport, trying desperately to get away and get out of the airport where he could get to a car. The airport police converged on the security station and on the halls and everywhere trying to find and capture him.

 

Eric ran through the baggage area and through the power station, anywhere trying to stay head of airport security and the police. He decided Sookie must have gone to the police when he left with her money. She wasn't the first to do it, but he knew if he'd had another conviction, punishment would be more serious. That's why he had to run.

 

-----------

 

James and Jeff were in James' office when the call came in. The dispatcher told them the situation and they knew it was time to apprehend Eric. James couldn't stop it now. If he had found him alone, then maybe they could have worked out a plea but this way, there was no working anything out. And James knew Eric knew that too. It would be bad, and could easily get really bad.

 

“Shit.” James said as he grabbed his jacket and he and Jeff ran for the car and headed toward the airport. They slammed the car in park and ran in toward the airport police chief's office and had a quick meeting with the men there to be brought up to speed on the search for Eric.

 

James kept it to himself that he was Eric's brother. He had to. They wouldn't let him work the case if they knew and he wasn't about to let this get away from him. James and Jeff ran through the back parts of the airport and finally James and Jeff split.

 

James crouched behind the baggage claim and could see Eric's blonde head. He knew he was trying to get out and into the parking structure. If he got onto the main street, it would be that much harder to apprehend him, so James knew it had to be here or in the parking garage and all he could do was hope he could do it alone.

 

Then Eric made a move and took off. He'd seen James. He ran toward the parking garage and managed to get himself past a couple of cars so that James couldn't keep up with him. James dodged the cars and ran toward the parking garage. He jumped over a couple of dividers and chased Eric down the long driveway. Eric ducked in between two cars and James lost him.

 

“Give it up Eric!!” James called. “You're not gettin' outta here alive! I promise you, you're not.”

 

“Fuck you James!” Eric called as he ran.

 

“Come on Eric!” James called as he searched for his brother. He drew his gun and kept it up and pointed. “Don't make me come lookin' for you.” He said.

 

Just then Eric came out and faced James, about 50 feet from him. He had a gun raised and had it trained on James. “Drop it James.” Eric ordered. “Drop your gun and I simply walk away. You can go home to your happy little wife and your normal life.”

 

“I'm takin' you down brother.” James said. “You been doin' this long enough and you're startin' to like it, and you're hurtin' people. It's over Eric.”

 

“Give it up James.” Eric said as he slowly tried to move backward. “I'll kill you where you stand. You know I will. I'm a much better shot than you are.”

 

Jeff finally made it there and stayed quiet as he tried to circle around behind Eric and box him in. Jeff didn't like the look of this at all. He knew it would end badly. It just couldn't help but end badly.

 

“James please.” Eric said. “Don't make me kill you and widow your wife and orphan your child.” Eric said. That kind of threw James off a little. He had no idea Eric even knew he was married, much less that he was going to be a father.

 

Just then Jeff popped up behind Eric. “Drop it!” He ordered.

 

“James you stupid fucker!” Eric called as he fired one round. The bullet lodged itself into James shoulder and he went down on the concrete. Jeff reached up and kicked Eric, knocking him to his knees. He jumped on him and fastened the cuffs tight into Eric's wrists, the metal biting into his skin.

 

“One Allen Twenty to dispatch. One officer down. Repeat, one officer down!” Jeff called into the radio. “I need back up assistance NOW! NOW, GODDAMIT NOW!!!”

 

“Dispatch to One Allen Twenty, sit rep please?” The dispatcher asked.

 

“Suspect in custody, officer down is Captain Ford.” Jeff said. “Need an ambulance, 4^th parking level.” Jeff said. He clicked off the mic. “You're under arrest you son of a bitch.”

 

“What the charge.” Eric asked.

 

“Whatever I can fuckin' think of.” Jeff spat back. “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided to you by the court.” Jeff recited Eric's rights as he knelt on top of him with his knee in the small of his back.

 

The airport police officers began to arrive and Jeff let them handle Eric. They could keep him in custody until he could be transported to await trail. He got up and ran toward James.

 

“James? Can you hear me?” Jeff asked.

 

“Yea, it's...it's just in my shoulder.” He said.

 

“We'll get you to a hospital and get that bullet out.” Jeff said as he wiped James' face with his handkerchief. “Hang in there buddy, you're gonna be alright.” Jeff said.

 

“Yea, just hurts.” James said. Just then the ambulance arrived and the paramedics ran toward James and began to work on him. They loaded him onto a gurney and put him in the ambulance.

 

“I'll call Julie.” Jeff said.

 

“No you won't!” James said, trying to sit up a little. “You leave her home. She don't need to be gettin' out this late at night. It's just my shoulder.”

 

“She's gonna see it when you get home anyway.” Jeff said.

 

“Yea, but no sense worryin' her 'til then.” James said. Jeff shook his head.

 

“You're hard headed.” He said as he closed the ambulance door and it rushed James off to the hospital. Jeff watched some of the other officers put Eric into a police car and drive him off to the station for interrogation. He walked back to where the car was parked and drove back to the station. They had a good collar this time. They had a con man who'd preyed on several women, a strong witness and the attempted murder of a police officer. Yessir, this guy was going away for a long, long time.

 

------------

 

“Mr. Ford?” The doctor asked.

 

“That's me.” James answered.

 

“Mr. Ford, I'm going to give you local anesthetic and get that bullet out. I'd like you to lay back for me.” He said.

 

James laid back and felt the pinch of the needle as it bit into his skin. He winced a little at the pain. It wasn't completely dead but wasn't terribly painful either. In no time the doctor was finished and his shoulder was patched up.

 

About an hour later, he was discharged from the hospital and James made his way home. He walked through the front door and toward the bedroom. He was trying to be as quiet as he could so as not to wake Juliet but she heard him anyway. She turned on the lamp on the bedside table, just in time to see James' bandaged shoulder. “What happened?!!” She exclaimed.

 

“Oh honey, it's too late to talk about it tonight.” He said, knowing that wouldn't work.

 

“Oh no you don't! You don't get off that easily.” She said. “Spill it!” James sat down on the bed and began to tell her everything about the cons and Eric and how he'd been shot. Juliet sat up with her legs under the covers and rubbed his back as he talked.

 

“Don't worry about it honey. You did what you had to do.” She said. “You're a good man, James.” She kissed his back softly. “It'll be alright.” She said. She helped him lay his body down on the bed and she kissed him softly. “Get some rest.” She said. “Everything will be better in the morning, I promise it will.”

 

Juliet settled herself down against James and snuggled her body against him as they fell asleep for the night. She was right, tomorrow would be another day and they'd deal with whatever they had to with Eric. She knew James was hurting, after all Eric was his only family, even though they weren't close. But still she knew her husband well enough to know that putting his brother away for many years was not going to be an easy thing to do.

 

-------------

 

The next day James went to see Eric in that holding cell he was placed in at the city jail. His shoulder was in a sling, but he was getting around alright. Juliet had wanted him to stay home and recover but, James being the way he was, wasn't about to waste time laying in the bed healing up.

 

He pushed the cell door open and stepped inside. Eric sat on the other side of the divider, his hands cuffs as the guard waited by the large metal door. “Looks like I got you good.” Eric said.

 

“Eric, you're the only guy I can imagine who'd shoot his own brother.” James said.

 

“Bullshit, James, I can remember a time when you would've done the same thing.” Eric said.

 

“That was a long time ago Eric. I was a different guy with a different life.” James said, sitting down on the round metal seat.

 

“Yea, you're all respectable now.” Eric said. He got quiet for a moment. “You know what you're problem is James. You forgot where you come from.”

 

James chuckled a little. “Not that where I come from is all that great.” He said.

 

“You're still a con. You still taught me everything I know, and you can just as easily go back to it.” Eric said. “Forget your little wifey. Conning is in your blood. It's not what we do James, it's who you are.” Eric said.

 

James stood up and turned away from his brother. “Maybe, but I'm the one who's a free man. And you're the one goin' to jail for a long, long time.” James turned and walked away from Eric. It was probably the hardest thing he'd done in a long time. Eric was his younger brother, but they'd parted ways a long, long time ago and James was a different man now.

 

He walked out of the jail and got in the car to drive home. Relaxing and resting his shoulder sounded like a really good idea right now. He thought about James as he drove home, wanting to do nothing more than lay there and hold Juliet for as long as he could.

 

He stepped into the house and walked into the bedroom where Juliet was folding clothes. “Well?” She said. James said nothing but reached for her and pulled her into his arms kissing her deeply. When it was over she smiled at him, knowing as much as he hurt, both physically and emotionally, that before too long everything would be alright and back to normal.