Lost Virtual Season Three
Episode Eight: "And Nothing But the Truth"

Writers: Aimz and nycjoc
Contributing Editor: Leigh
Credits: at the end of the episode
Rating: PG-13
Special Thanks: to all our faithful readers who have given us such wonderful feedback. On behalf of all the writers we sincerely appreciate it.
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Scene I: Flashback, Seoul, Korea

The hotel suite was dim and calm with large beads of water clinging to it's panoramic windows. Like tiny prisms they reflected bright colors from the city lights of downtown Seoul. Sun pressed her face against the glass to feel the coolness of it on her skin. Her mind was reeling so fast that she felt she may faint.

“Come Sun, please sit.”

Wiping away the last remnants of tears, Sun walked over to the beckoning voice, sitting softly on the edge of the couch with her hands folded neatly on her lap. Smiling shyly just to be polite, she accepted the glass of water from her English tutor and friend, Jae Lee.

“Thank you,” she replied initially in Korean, correcting herself and repeating it in English.

While taking a small polite sip from the glass, she recoiled then relaxed at Jae's touch as he gently rubbed the back of his hand along her cheek. Such a bold move for a man to have made on a married woman. But Sun needed to feel something soothing, something less damaged.

Her husband had come home with bloody knuckles that evening, the third time in a month. The blood, the haggard appearance, the wild look in Jin's eyes, had become more frequent lately, so much so that she barely recognized the man she had fallen in love with three years ago. That Jin seemed to be a distant memory subjugated to photographs of happier times long past. She can't remember the last time she laughed together with her husband -- can't recall the last time that she didn't silently sob herself to sleep.

“Has this sort of thing happened before with your hus.. with Jin?”

Lowering her head Sun reluctantly nodded yes, ashamed to admit anything negative about her husband to a man of whom she harbored a growing inappropriate attraction.

“Does he hurt you? Ever?”

“No no. Jin would never hurt me. It's his job. That's all. He has to do things.”

“Things like beat people up. Maybe kill them,” Jae answered almost laughing at the absurdity of Sun protesting the obvious.

“That's not for me to say,” she replied feeling like she had just been smacked in the face.

“We are in modern times Sun. A woman's sole purpose in life is not to serve her husband. Times have changed.”

“He's my husband. It's my duty.”

“Your duty?”

“I love him.”

“Love,” chuckled Jae cynically and incredulously. “Sun listen to me. Jin takes care of things on your father's order. Do you know what that means?” Not waiting for an answer Jae continued. “It's time to wake up Sun -- to what your father is really about. He seems like a simple businessman. Only people fear him. I am sure you have witnessed this. That fear comes from power that simply cannot be obtained through legal means.”

“What are you saying?”

“I think you know Sun. You father, well let's just say he has ties, things that connect him to the organized crime. And simply put, Jin is his henchman.”

Sun shook her head, which made Jae's pleas all the more urgent.

“Yes Sun. It is true. One of many I am sure, but from what you described he is a high ranking henchman.” Jae repeated the word henchman in Korean so there was no mistaking the meaning of his words. “That means very simply that he kills people on order. If you want to get away from that world, you will never be able to because of Jin. He is indebted to your father.”

Sun stood and began pacing nervously, tears burning at the back of her eyes.

“And I think you want to get away from that world. Don't you Sun.”

She knew in her heart that Jae spoke the truth, and she was running out of energy to run and hide from that truth. She was miserable, scared and trapped. And she was tired of feeling that way.

“He will not want me. You will not want me either.”

“What do you mean Sun?”

Sun paused to steady her shaky voice, debating whether or not she should reveal her inner shame. She spoke to the floor, avoiding all eye contact. “I had discovery today. I can not have children, ever. Jin is upset. Disappointed . . . in me I am certain. I can not blame him. I have failed.”

“You have not failed me Sun. You are the same beautiful woman that I met three years ago. I never stopped thinking about you when I was in America, not for a day. No matter how hard I tried. I can take you away from all of this Sun. Just trust me.”

Sun kept her gaze towards the floor as the diamond pattern in the plush carpet became a haze of color, blurred by her own tears. She didn't protest as Jae brushed his lips along her forehead and down her tear saturated cheeks. She gave him her lips and opened to return his kiss. She let all thoughts float out of her head, all feelings of guilt vanish as Jae lifted her and carried her towards the bedroom.

The next morning Sun went on with business as usual. The dutiful wife, she made breakfast for Jin, kissed him goodbye, dressed up neatly, and set out to run errands while walking her dog. Essentially she followed her same routine, as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened the night before.

At the street corner while waiting for the light to change, Sun picked up her small pooch, hugging him tightly. The dog was her baby, the closest thing that she would ever ever have to a child.

As she walked on, she was startled by a car coming to a screeching skidding halt near the curb. Out of the car jumped her obstetrician. The frantic words that followed hit her like a rain storm. She was not infertile, Jin was. The doctor was afraid to tell the truth because of what Jin would do to him, because Jin was that kind of man -- dangerous.

She was perfectly able to bear a child.

Sun felt her knees grow weak as the doctor rushed back in his car and sped off, leaving her just as abruptly as he had come. Left to absorb the doctors confession, sorting out in her mind fact from fiction, she fell to her knees feeling winded and disoriented.

She had given herself to a man that was not her husband because she felt all was lost and she had nothing to lose -- nothing. She grasped her womb, praying in vain that she wouldn't have more than one reason to regret that.


Scene Two: Present Day, The Hatch
Locke sits at the counter of the hatch pulling from his memory to fill in the blanks of the map, the same map he saw for a split second weeks ago-- a hand drawn puzzle black-lit against a hidden wall. He's started and stopped a million times. At this point he can't tell the difference from what he actually saw of the map, and what may be a fabrication from his diminishing memory. He hasn't a clue what completing the map will lead to, yet he is compelled to push on, not allowing himself to believe that all of this is meaningless or random. There has to be a greater purpose to this all. It's the only thing that keeps him alive.

Behind him Jack pours a bowl of stale Dharma flakes, shakes out the last of the powdered milk and adds a bit of water. While mixing up his breakfast with a plastic spoon, he spies Locke curiously, thinking that Locke has been awful quiet and removed from the rest of the group lately. He doesn't trust the silence and won't get comfortable with it. Locke definitely has something up his sleeve, and whatever it is, Jack isn't about to let him get away with it.

“What are you doing?” asks Jack, attempting in vain to sound casual while swallowing a mouthful of tasteless cereal. He stretches his neck to peer over Locke's shoulder, while scraping up another spoonful and slurping it down.

“Just trying to work out something here,” Locke mumbles over his shoulder while rubbing the top of his bald head in frustration. He senses a Jack interrogation brewing and he 's not in the mood for it. And even less in the mood to listen to just how much Jack's enjoying his breakfast. “Is that cereal good Jack?”

“It's okay I suppose. Kinda stale,” he answers with a mouthful of flakes.

“Well maybe you can enjoy it across the room, across the island even.”

“Trying to get rid of me John?”

“That may be the plan.”

“Well what else is the plan? What are you hiding now?”

“Why does everything have to be some grand conspiracy with you?”

“There's no conspiracy with me John. And don't think I haven't noticed that sketch there you've been fiddling with for the past three weeks.”

“Good for you Jack. Nothing escapes your keen eye.”

Finishing off the last of his flakes, Jack stomps over to the sink to rinse out his bowl shaking his head as he continues to speak. “No it doesn't. So why don't you clue me in.”

“What does it matter,” he retorts slamming down his pencil. “It's just a map.”

“Just a map. A map of what?”

“Damnit. Jack.”

“You two are worse than an old married couple with the bickering.”

The two men halt their dispute and give attention to the bellowing voice from a few feet away. They both watch as Ana Lucia turns the dial on the combination lock to the armory, opening it with ease before carting in an armload of rifles.

“You want to know what's going on Jack? I suggest you worry about Ana Lucia. She's the one with the guns now,” he says while shifting in his seat slyly. “And the person with the guns is the person with the power, right?” With that Locke gathers his things and heads towards to computer terminals prepared for the next round of entering numbers into the computer.

“It's not about power John,” he yells after him.

Jack hovers close to the armory entrance waiting for Ana to come out. He admits to himself the truth of Locke's words. He has no guns and no access to them more importantly. Not being in total control is unfamiliar territory for Jack, and since he's relinquished some of it to Ana and Sayid, he's been floundering like a fish out of water.

“Hey Jack.” Ana greets him casually while exiting and heading towards the counter.

“Hey Ana, how's it going?”

“Peachy, ”she answers while pushing a loaded cartridge into her revolver and shoving it down the back of her jeans.

Jack stands back and watches Ana busy at work filling plastic bottles with tap water before realizing that she isn't going to offer anything more than a one word response.

“How’s the training going? For the army?”

“Okay I guess. I think Sayid and I are more than what everyone bargained for. But what are you going to do? You should join us. Beats being cooped up down here with Locke.”

Jack laughs at the truth of the statement. He has to admit that he's growing a bit stir crazy sitting vigil with Locke down in the dungeon. He’s effectively taken up residence in the hatch and can’t remember the last time he spent more than a few hours outdoors.

“Yeah, you’re probably right about that. So how are things, you know....overall?”

“Uh, fine,” she says skeptically, taking note of Jack's hovering and nervous fidgeting “What’s with the small talk Jack? You know if you have something to say you can just say it.”

Jack chokes a bit on his water. Ana’s bluntness never ceases to catch him off guard. He admits that he kind of misses that -- just talking plain and simple with Ana with no pretenses. “So you got the guns back. Congratulations for pulling that off.”

“Yeah thanks,” she responds with a proud smirk. “We just had to buy our time really. Sawyer was bound to slip up sooner or later. And of course I had some help from Kate.”

“Kate?” he responds with an eyebrow raised.

“Yes, you know Kate.”

“Yes I know Kate,” he answers, wondering just how many people were in on the plan to con the guns back from Sawyer while he was totally left out of the game.

“Well anyway we are going to have to find another room like the armory that can act as a jail. People....attacking and kidnapping each other....it's going to stop. Charlie got off the hook pretty easy, but we gotta start handing out punishments for stunts like that, you know?”

Jack nods, not fully listening to what Ana's saying. His mind is on the one piece of knowledge he lacks -- the combination to the armory.

“You listening? I may need you to have my back on this.”

“Yea yea, so all the rifles are in there?” he asks nodding towards the armory.

“Yep. Sayid and I are the only ones that have the combo for now,” she says while looking over towards Locke. “Oh and I managed to get all of the meds Sawyer was hoarding in his tent too. He had an entire drug store in there man,” she says with a chuckle an a shake of the head. ”But those days are over. I locked the meds up too so if you need anything just ask Sayid or me and we’ll get it for you, no questions asked.”

“Sayid....great,” he says solemnly, while reflecting on the news. “Well just be careful, you know with Sawyer. He’s dangerous.”

“So am I. Or so rumor has it. Watch out for that Ana Lucia, she’s trigger happy,” she mocks with an eye roll.

“You know what I mean. He was conman before the crash. He’s going to continue manipulating situations and people. Just don’t get too comfortable with him.”

Ana pauses as the wheels turn in her mind. “Is that what you tell Kate?”

“What?”

“To watch out for Sawyer? Don’t get too comfy with him?”

Jack sighs and raises his gaze. “It’s what I would tell anyone. And this doesn’t have anything to do with Kate,” he responds with slight irritation.

“Sure it does,” she says giving him a sly smirk while placing more supplies into her knapsack.

Jack shakes his head. By now he should be well accustomed to Ana Lucia saying exactly what is on her mind. Kate is a subject he'd rather not discuss with her so instead he diverts the discussion to something of which he’s more comfortable – medicine.

“Let me take a look at that bandage. Turn around.”

“It’s fine,” she says in protest, placing her hand at the back of her wound to block it from his probing eyes.

“Well let me look at it then.”

Way to change the subject she thinks with a smirk. She’s got Jack’s number. “Fine, but make it quick.”

“Ana. You are supposed to be changing this daily,” he says in a scolding tone.

“How do you know I’m not?”

Jack gives her a wry look before digging into his backpack to pull out rubbing alcohol and fresh gauze. “Because I know.” He gingerly unfastens her ponytail and pushes her hair back to reveal a bloodstained bandage. “This is going to hurt a bit.”

“Ow.”

“I warned you.”

“Ouch.”

“Focus on something else.”

Ana focuses on his chest rising and falling at the back of her shoulder blades, and his hairy forearms against her skin while baring down in preparation for pain.

He soaks a piece of gauze in alcohol and presses it against her scalp, grasping her arm to keep her from writhing away from him.

Wincing, she kicks the bottom of her heal against the counter and balls her fist around the hem of his shirt. Suddenly the acute pain subsides and Jack is laughing at her.

“It’s over. You can open your eyes now.”

“You changed it?”

“Yeah it’s done. You can let go of my shirt now too.”

Ana unravels the material of his shirt from her vice grip. She can see Jack’s bare hairy stomach as he smoothes he shirt down, which tells her just how hard she had grabbed him. Her eyes scan up to his face, and the bright smile that has formed on it, his dimples peaking out from his stubble. “I'm glad you find this amusing,” she says giving him a sidelong glance while forming a ponytail over her fresh bandage.

“I don’t. Well. . .You should be cleaning it and changing it everyday though. I mean it. You’re lucky it’s not infected.”

“Yes Doctor Jack.”

“I’m serious.”

“So am I. Thanks man.”

“Sure. If you want me to change it for you again, you can come to me, you know that,” he says almost in the form of a question.

Ana looks at him skeptically. “It's really taking that long to heal?”

“Well yea. Well, not longer than usual,” he says, trying to keep from tripping over his words. “But better safe than sorry you know.”

Ana looks at him incredulously, then relaxes when she notices Jack trying to hold back a smile. “Whatever you say Jack. You are enjoying this way too much.”

He lifts her overgrown bang to examine the cut on her forehead, below her hairline. He studies her a bit little longer than what Ana thinks is necessary for a minor scrape. His eyes trace her whole face, and the intensity of them, twinkling flecks of brown and green, makes her stomach swirl. She bites her lower lip and fights being pulled in.

“That one’s healed nicely.”

“Great. You gonna look down my throat too?” she jokes at the fact that Jack face is mere centimeters from her's.

“Why? Is it sore? From when he choked you?”

“No. That was weeks ago,” she sighs. “Nevermind man. I'm fine.”

“Good,” he answers softly.

After a brief pause Jack is not moving and Ana's gaze is rested squarely on his chest. Although she enjoys the sight, breaking the spell, she wiggles her way out from between the counter and his body, and prepares herself to leave the scene. “The offer still stands Jack, come out and play with us if you want. Catchya later?”

Jack circles around with his hands on above his hips. “Ana What’s going on?”

“What?”

Jack pauses and scratches the top of his head. “Why are you keeping me out of the loop all of the sudden. I mean, I thought you and I . . . I thought we were in this together.”

“We are in this together.”

“Doesn’t feel like it Ana.”

“Welcome to the club of being left out of things,” she says in rapid fire response.

“What do you mean?”

Ana crosses her arms across her chest and releases a deep breath, not believing Jack could be this clueless. “Look, I like you Jack,”she says matter of factly, so much so it makes Jack chuckle.

“Well good, because I like you too Ana Lucia.”

“Well I don't mean as in 'he's hot', because you are, that's a given....and by now you should know I think that. So I'm just gonna lay it right out for you.”

“Okay,” he says curiously with his hands on his hips, wondering what other way she could possibly lay it.

“I trusted you, and it meant something to me that you trusted me. Nobody on this island had a reason to, after what happened, after what I did.”

“It was an accident Ana...”

“Let me finish. It doesn't matter how it went down Jack. Just that it did. And the fact is, you were the one person who was willing to see past that. I respected you for that. But when push came to shove, it wasn't really that way at all, was it?”

“I'm sorry Ana, I don't follow.”

“I asked you flat out for the combination. I'm sure you had your reasons for keeping it from me. Fine. I went along with it. Trust has to be earned right? But then you were pretty damn convinced that I was the mastermind behind Sun's abduction. And guess what. I had nothing to do with it.”

Jack rubs his temples. He can't deny that there is a modicum of truth in what she's saying, but it's more complex than what he can put into words.

“I never wanted to believe you would do that, Ana.”

“But a part of you did,” says Ana with more emotion than she cares to display. She is realizing herself how much Jack's trust had meant to her, and what a blow it was for her to find out that she never really had it. It was a harsh smack in the face of which she never fully recovered.

“You should know it didn't really have anything to do with you. Everyone was coming to me, looking for answers. People were scared. I just, I needed to ask. I needed to be sure.”

“Like I said Jack, trust has to be earned.”

“So are you saying you don't trust me?”

“Whatever man. It's not about me right?”

Jack paces a bit, pressing the back of his palm to his lips as if he's trying to keep the words, the truth of how he feels, from spilling out. “You have the combination and I don't.” He looks to Ana, who is glaring at him intently.

“You want the combo Jack? You can have it. All you had to do was ask.” She spits out her words sternly while zipping up her knapsack and slipping her arms through the straps.

“What about Henry,” he says abruptly to halt any notions of her leaving the scene.

“What about him? Locke told me about Henry. Remember? You failed to clue me in on what half the island already knew.”

Jack moves closer to her, out of Locke's earshot. His eyes are wide and intense. He swaggers as he speaks. “Henry attacked you, he tried to kill you right?” he asks in a loud whisper.

“Yeah, that's pretty much how it went down.”

“You lied to me about that Ana. Actually.... you let Locke lie for you. Slipped and fell on the faucet?” he spits out while nodding towards the wound on her forehead. “And then the balloon. I never knew you had a map. The man drew you a map. He tried to kill you. "

Ana grips the side of the counter so hard it makes her knuckles turn white. “Are you finished Jack,” she says through a clenched jaw.

Jack lets out a long sigh. “We're getting nowhere with this.”

“Yeah apparently.”

“Ana, all I can say is I'm sorry. I made a mistake.”

“I'm not holding it against you Jack. None of it. I am just doing what I have to do. So far me and Sayid are on the same page. That's all. No worries.”

Jakes shakes his head. “It's not that simple. We need to communicate. You and I. I told you before, I need you on my side. Somewhere along the way we lost trust. I want to get that back. I need to.”

“Yeah that would be nice.”

“We have to stick together. I was wrong. I've been wrong about a lot of things.” He pauses to take a breath, recalling how trusting Henry could have cost Ana her life. “And it's my job to make sure you stay alive. Period. ”

Ana smiles at Jack, which makes him relax, albeit tentatively, until Ana stretches out her hand. Jack grabs ahold and shakes it.

“Partners?” she offers.

“Always.” He holds on a second, not wanting to let go of her hand or the moment. One fleeting moment when Ana is smiling at him. Its disarming, willing him to relax despite himself and the situation at hand. She makes him feel like everything could be alright.

“Boy you're stubborn,” she says jokingly.

“Me? Look who's talking,” he laughs wearily as if he had just run a marathon. Ana keeps him on his toes, which to Jack is both exhausting and exhilarating.

Their attention is momentarily diverted when Michael and Cindy walk into the hatch, laughing intimately while gathering blankets.

“Those two have gotten close,” observes Jack nonchalantly.

“Yea. That's not sittin' too well with me ya know.”

“Why? Cindy seems alright.”

“Not Cindy. Michael.”

“Look I know what he did to you was wrong, but he's a good guy. They took his son and he lost it.”

“That's what I am talking about Jack. He'll do anything, go to any lengths for his kid. That's a fact. We just need to be careful.”

Jack nods his head, now with in the frame of mind that knows Ana's judgment deserves credence. “What do you think happened with Walt and Cindy? I haven't been able to get many details out of either of them.”

“The fact that they aren't talking bothers me. But whatever they're doing, The Others, it's not going to continue. It can't. These guys are clever. Goodwin, Henry....your boy Ethan. There's more to them than meets the eye.”

Jack places his hand on her shoulder as Ana nearly holds her breath with a coldness in her eyes and voice that makes Jack shiver.

She relaxes a bit at his touch and gives him a wry smirk. “But we're more clever, right?”

Jack nods but is not sure if he believes that any of them can outwit the Others. Survival may be the best that any of them can hope for.

“24 left 5 right 15 left.”

“That's the combo?

Ana offers an affirming nod.

“Got it,” he answers with eagerness.

“Good. Guard it with your life. I'm gonna to have a chat with Cindy. And Jack....when you scrounge up some more tequila, come find me okay?”

“Will do, definitely.”

Jack simply watches as Ana leaves the hatch, noting her confident gait. She's strong and capable, yet he still feels the need to protect her. He's relieved some of his concerns, but is still left with the same gnawing feeling that each time he sees her may be his last.


Scene Three: Present Day, The Island

Sun scrapes her foot against sand, creating a pile of it to nicely cover up the remnants of her breakfast that didn’t quite stay in her queasy, rebellious stomach. The traumas of early pregnancy on the island have her weak and nearly dehydrated, as she is rarely able to retain the little bit of nourishment that she’s giving herself. The violent changes in her body during the first trimester are somewhat taking away the joys of her unexpected pregnancy. But there is something else that is keeping Sun from fully embracing the little miracle growing within her. Deep seeded guilt.

She takes a deep breath to calm herself and lets the warm sea breeze waft over her face before deciding to crawl back into her tent and relax a bit longer before facing the day. Chewing on a piece of fresh ginger from her garden to calm her nausea, in the corner she spies her suitcase, now battered and weather worn. Using a sharp corner of a stone, she rips at its lining to reveal an envelope. Pulling it out, she examines it closely before daring to read its contents. Running her finger over the broken seal of the envelope, she notes the odd insignia, which looks like a variation of the Korean flag only with two swans in the center. She has seen this symbol before.

Tentatively, she unfolds the letter within, one that she has read so many times that she has it commited to memory. A small photo falls into her lap. “Jae,” she whispers to herself with a sigh, wondering where he was in the world at this very moment -- in Korea, in America, somewhere in the world mourning for her? She traces the outline of his face before reading the letter from her English tutor, who had become so much more.

“Dearest Sun,

I think about you everyday, counting down the seconds until we can be reunited. There is so much beauty in the world, so much that I want to show you and discover with you. . . .

Sun quickly puts down the letter while silently chastising herself for her betrayl. She counts in her head the number of days since her last cycle, only her whole body had been off kilter since the crash. She pulls out a tattered piece of paper on which she has kept a calendar of the number of days since the crash. Comparing the two she concludes that there is no way that she could have conceived the baby with Jae. Or at least she hopes.

“Hello, Sun. Are you in here?"

Startled and nearly jumping out of her skin, Sun scrambles to hide the letter as Claire appears at the entrance of her tent cradling a fussy Aaron, struggling and shifting her weight to hold him in her arms.

“Claire,” she breathes heavily while holding her chest, relieved that it is not her husband.

“Sorry I didn’t mean to scare you.” Claire wipes her brow and nervously rocks Aaron, who wiggles restlessly in her arms.

Sun smiles warmly at the infant, noting that he has grown quite a bit, so much so that he is almost too big for Claire to handle.

“No, no it’s okay.”

“He has a rash. It won’t go away. Maybe you can help. Nothing Jack has done for him is working. Is there something, some type of herb from your garden that may help him? I am willing to try anything, please. “

Sun nods. "I will find something."

“Like now. I'm sorry. Please.”

“Follow me.”

Sun gets up quickly, not noticing the letter positioned in full sight on the floor of her tent.

At the garden Sun is on her knees gathering a few stalks of aloe that she hopes may help ease the side effects of Aaron’s rash if not completely rid him of his stubborn ailment. With other things on her mind, she is not intently focusing on what she is doing, which slows down her progress.

The heavy storm clouds above are now completely blocking the sun’s rays as gusts of wind pick up velocity. Claire holds her ground against the wind, wrapping Aaron tighter in his blanket and holding him close to her bosom. “Please hurry Sun,” she urges, while her eyes dart nervously around their surroundings.

“It will only take a bit longer.”

“I know, I know. I’m sorry but we really shouldn’t be out here. Not now, not by ourselves.” The quicker they got back to the camp the better, Claire thinks, regretting that she brought her son out there in the first place.

Sun looks at her curiously then sucks in air and lurches back as she sees a woman approaching them, looking weather worn and ragged, with a rifle slung over one shoulder and a sack of arrows over the other.

Claire quickly spins around and stumbles back. “Danielle,” she gasps startled at the strange woman’s sudden appearance.

Danielle Rousseau doesn’t greet either of the women. Instead her steely gaze is honed in on Aaron, which makes Claire hug him even tighter to her breast.

Sun quickly gathers her herbs and stumbles to stand. “We should go.”

Claire doesn’t move. Instead she relaxes a bit, recalling when Rousseau had helped her in her quest to fill in the blanks of what happened to her while missing. Somehow she thinks this visit is not completely random. “Is there something you want?”

The woman doesn’t answer immediately, but finally speaks while still staring longingly at Aaron. “You still have him,” she says robotically.

“Yes of course.”

“You should consider yourself fortunate.”

Claire stand frozen as a wave of fear courses through her.

“Let’s go Claire. I have what I need.”

“You.” She says in a halting tone directed at Sun. “I have seen you with the Asian man, the fisherman. Your husband I presume?”

Sun nods feebly. Danielle’s eyes scan her intensely before stopping on her womb. Sun places a palm over her slightly protruding belly as if she is protecting her embryo from the woman.

“You should know, that you are not safe now. No woman who can bare children is safe here. They will see to that.”

Claire’s heart beats wildly as she knows there is much truth to the French woman’s words.

"What in bloody hell are you doing here again!”

The three woman look towards the commanding voice as Charlie struts into the scene with Hurley lagging not too far behind.

Charlie moves quickly to protectively position his short body between Claire and Rousseau, giving her a stern look in the process. “You again? You're like a bad smell aren't you? You keep coming back!”

“Oh hey crazy French chick, I mean Danielle,” says Hurley meekly through gasps of air.

“It’s fine Charlie,” urges Claire. “We are just leaving.”

“Gizza sec,” says Charlie still eyeballing Rousseau, while clearly trying to impress Claire with his display of protective machismo. “I wanna know what the crazy bint wants this time. She’s clearly a few butties short of a picnic.”

“You people should know. The worst is yet to come.” Danielle speaks at nobody in particular. In fact she ignores Charlie and Hurley’s concerned, defiant looks entirely.

“Pennuth o' God help us,” exclaims Charile with an exasperated eye roll. “The likes of you with more bloody warnings of doom and gloom. And what was it last time? Nowt more than a load of tut and puff about little black cloud on the horizon. Pile of pants! You’re a bit of a mentalist, inn't ya? So what is it this time? “

Unfazed by Charlie's outburst, Danielle looks to the sky, as the wind swirls around them. “It’s going to rain soon.”

"My arse!" Charlie snaps but Hurley interrupts him with a more diplomaticly dubious reply.

“Well, uh, dude it like rains everyday? But thanks for the heads up I guess,” offers Hurley hesitantly.

“No,” she answers sternly while looking Hurley straight in the eye so intensely it makes him shrink back and drop his load of mangoes. “This is like no other rain you have ever seen before. It will rain for days, nonstop, destroying much and conjuring up even more.”

Danielle paces slowly amongst the group who have encircled her and are now giving her full silent attention. She focuses on Aaron who has started to wail. “It is too late for me as you know.” She directs her statement towards Claire then again turns to the rest of the group. “But maybe, perhaps not for you. All of you. Protect the young ones, protect yourselves.”

Scene Four: Present Day, The Beach

Editor's Note: // // will be used in place of quotes to indicate dialogue spoken in Korean.

Sun wraps her arms around her waist and hugs her knees close to her chest as a sudden chill washes over her, strangely so in the muggy environment. She has been sitting on the beach, positioned in front of her tent for hours now, mesmerized by the ebb and flow of the ocean waves.

She smiles as her husband sneaks up behind her, giving her a quick peck on the cheek and positioning a flower behind her ear.

Cheerful and at ease, Jin sits next to his wife, wrapping his arm securely around her, giving her a tight squeeze as if to say 'cheer up.'

Sun grins, scrunches her nose and lays her head on his shoulder. Shutting her eyes, she enjoys the security of her husband next to her, and realizes that her world would never be complete without him, the man she truly loves.

In the near distance Charlie begins strumming a guitar, with Claire and Aaron positioned next to him.

Sun enjoys the sounds of the guitar, humming along to a Beatles melody she recognizes, while Jin examines his freshly bandaged knuckles. He did what he needed to do to send out a message -- nobody harms his wife and gets away with it. But deep within him there is a demon, something violently uncontrollable that has only been fully unleashed a few times in his life. Charlie was a victim of one of those times. He'd rather not have that repeat itself, nor have anyone's blood on his hands ever again.

Sun notices Jin flexing his bruised knuckles and stiffens at the sight.

//Everything will be alright, // he assures her in Korean while warmly placing his arm against her womb. //We have our miracle. I never thought it was possible. I thought I was cursed for the evil things I've done, and being stranded here on this island was my punishment. Now I know it was a blessing. I know all things are possible.//

Sun nods, not being able to fully share in Jin's joy. This is not her idea of paradise, and despite her deep love for Jin, her life is not as she had dreamed of as a little girl. It wasn't supposed to happen this way. She fights within herself to work up the courage to ask Jin about his 'work' back home.

//Are you cursed because of the things you did for my father?//

Jin removes his arm from around her and holds his breath for a second. His first instinct is to tell her that she is not to know such things. But this is another world, a new life and it was time for the whole truth.

//I did things I am not proud of.// He speaks methodically while looking out to the horizon. //But I did it all because I love you.//

//I need to know what you did. Exactly.//

Jin looks her squarely in the face searching it for an explanation as to why she needed to hear details. //I did whatever your father requested of me. Everything I did was for you.//

//Including kill people?//

Jin throws her a stern look. //Why such questions?//

//Because I need to know.//

Jin looks to the sky. //No. I never killed anyone.//

Sun looks over to Charlie and shivers at the phantom chill again running through her.

Jin opens his arm and urges Sun to lean back into his chest. He never killed anyone. She smiles, believing him.

He whispers in her ear. //But for you, and for our child, I would.//

For Jin, that was the whole truth and nothing but.


Scene Five: Present Day, The Beach

Ana Lucia breaks into a light sprint and bellows to the trio walking along the shoreline ahead of her.

Carrying a picnic basket and blankets, Michael, Cindy and Walt all turn around and wait for Ana to catch up. The island Labrador, Vincent, circles around them, wagging his tail and digging his nose into the sand.

“Hey,” she greets them while catching her breath.

“Is everything okay?” ask Cindy alarmed at the urgency in Ana's demeanor. But actually this is the only Ana she really knows -- a woman who is fiercely intense, disciplined, and always on high alarm.

“Yea yea, fine,” she assures. “I just need to talk to you. Got a sec?” Ana eyeballs Michael rather icidly, then scans down to Walt who has his neck cranked all the way back, starring at her intensely, slack-jawed and wide-eyed.

“We were just going to the cliffs,” she points a few miles ahead. “And have a picnic. Do you want to join us? Maybe you could use the break.”

Ana shakes her head no. She knows when it's time to break. Nobody has to tell her.

“You sure?” asks Michael without much conviction, still visibly uncomfortable in the presence of the woman he had attacked.

“Haven't got the time right now, but thanks.”

Ana turns her attention to Walt who has not uttered a word nor broken his stare. “Hey kid,” she says figuring she should acknowledge him.

“Oh oh, I am sorry,” exclaims Michael apologetically while slapping his forehead. “You haven't officially met my boy have you? Ana Lucia this is Walt. Walt this is Ana Lucia.”

Walt stretches out his arm, offering his hand to Ana. Amused, she shakes it.

“Ana Lucia, well she's the one who helped us get back to this side of the island. She kept us safe. We owe her alot.”

Ana looks at Michael skeptically, thinking if Michael's accolades are meant to assuage his guilt or make her totally forget that he knocked her cold with the barrel of the gun, he is sadly mistaken.

“I did what I had to do,” she answers forcefully as Vincent trots over and starts licking her hand. She tries to shoe the Labrador away but he continues his obsession with her hand. She kneels on one knee and rubs his neck vigorously, blocking her face as the dog tries to lick it.

“I guess he likes you,” says Walt.

“Yea I guess. He's probably hungry. I am glad you are back to take care of your own dog. He would come around me every single day looking for scraps. I always ended up feeding him half my food,” Ana says with a smirk, albeit an irritated one. But she figured the dog had it as bad as anyone on the island.

“Well Shannon was supposed to take care of him while I was gone. But she died.” Before he could get his final word out, his father lightly smacks him on the shoulder and scolds him.

“Well she did die,” Walt whines in protest while grasping his arm and pulling away from his father.

“That's enough Walt.” He looks at Ana Lucia sheepishly as she shifts her weight. Cindy is apologizing for a kid that is not hers.

“Yea Cindy, we gotta talk.”

“But it was not your fault anyway,” interrupts Walt.

Michael prepares to scold again, but Ana holds up her hand to halt him. “What's that kid?”

“What happened to Shannon is not your fault,” repeats Walt more casually than his words should have warranted. “I tried to warn her even -- that you were coming and you were close. But she just got scared anyway and just ran into the jungle,” he says with a solemn shoulder shrug.

Ana looks to the two adults for further explanation. It is not often that she is rendered near speechless.

The couple shift their eyes nervously before Vincent breaks away to chase a flock of seagulls with Walt sprinting after him.

“Um. . . Walt!” Michael excuses himself quickly then turns to follow his son and dog.

“Go ahead I'll catch up,” says Cindy, having realized early on that Ana probably wanted to speak with her in private

“Tell me that's a kid with an overactive imagination.”

“I can tell you Walt's a special boy. And what he says is true,” she says quickly shifting the subject. “Whatever happened with the woman, Shannon, wasn't your fault. We all owe our lives to you.

Ana slits her eyes.

“Ana I am sincere. I appreciated your leadership. We all did, even if it didn't seem like it.”

“That's great, but not the point.” Ana pauses a second to reflect, focused on Walt. She was never one to take compliments blindly and is not happy that Cindy is continuing to skate around her questions. Walt being special or not wasn't the issue.

“Is that why they thought they wanted him? The Others? Am I supposed to believe that the other kids are special too? What about the eighteen adults they took, Cindy?”

Cindy hesitates to answer. “I don't know Ana.”

“Well what about you then? They took you; you just vanished in a flash. ”

Cindy grows visibly nervous at Ana's interrogation, which makes Ana relax her tone. The wind picks up speed, rustling violently through the palm trees.

“Look Cindy. Maybe what happened to you, while you were gone wasn't pretty. If you don't want to talk about it fine . . . for now. But I need you to talk eventually and tell me exactly what happened to you while you were gone, every detail. I need to get a handle on what's going on with those people before it gets worse.”

Cindy slowly shakes her head no. “It's not as simple as it seems.”

Ana crosses her arms over her chest, growing impatient with her cryptic responses. “You know those freaks kidnapped a pregnant woman on this side of the island? Drugged her up. She escaped too. . . just like you and Walt. So something tells me it ain't as complicated as it seems either.”

Cindy continues her silence while looking down at the sand. “We're safe for now. They have what they need, who they want. But this is their world.”

Ana Lucia takes a deep breath, not entirely accepting defeat but willing to shelve the discussion for the time being. “Go to your picnic Cindy.”

“I'm sorry Ana. I just don't. I don't know what else to tell you,” she says in a pleading, shaky voice. “I didn't see much of anything. We took tests. We sat alone for hours. Walt and I just got out of there. We just got out. I'm sorry that's all. ”

“Sure Cindy,” she relents pursing her lips as Cindy's nervous demeanour grows more palpable. “Come talk to me when you're ready, okay?” Ana places her hand on Cindy's upper arm as she visibly shakes, and gives her an assuring smile, letting her know that she is indeed a friend, someone she can trust.

Turning to leave, Ana looks over her shoulder to offer one last sentiment. “And I am glad you're back here and safe. We were a solid group. Even if people hated me, we were safer together. We have to stick together. It's the only way.”


Scene Six: Flashback, Korea

She was just a few days late. But late enough to cause alarm under the circumstances. Squinting her eyes, perhaps in vain, Sun slowly raised the pee stick of her pregnancy test.

//Sun! I'm home.//

Startled by her husband's voice, she scrambled to hide away evidence by shoving the Widmore Home Pregnancy test box deep into the waste basket, but not before registering the pee stick as negative.

After destroying the evidence, Sun went out to greet her husband who was frantically searching their hall closets for something. She was certain she saw one thin red line, but didn't have enough time to breathe a sigh of relief, instead she became more tense at her husband's haggard appearance. But this time Jin seemed more jovial, and excited than angry and agitated.

//You're home so early. Is something wrong?//

//Hello, my dear.// He eagerly greeted his wife with a peck on the cheek. //We are going on a trip. A nice long one to see many countries. So pack many things.//

//But why, where?//

//Everywhere. We need a vacation, to get away from it all. First stop, Australia.//

Stunned and uprepared for this bit of news, Sun stumbled over her words as her heart raced. //Now? But, but my father is ill.//

//Your father is well cared for. This will be good, and I need to be a better husband than I have been.//

Jin kissed a startled Sun on the forehead, leaving her standing in the middle of the room to continue his search for their luggage.

Sun stood for a second, excused herself and headed for the terrace with phone in hand. Slowly she dialed a phone number. The voice on the other end greeted her before she did. With a shaky voice Sun simply said in perfect English. “There's been a change of plans.”

There's more to come. Stay tuned for Part II.

Part II

Scene Seven: Flashback, Australian Airport

Sun walked rapidly through the airport, every so often glancing over her shoulder. She hadn’t seen Jin anywhere, thankfully. She didn’t want him to see her make the call. . . or lose her nerve.

She glanced over her shoulder once again, but quickly chided herself. 'Stop it Sun.' Before she could focus, she moved forward but was instantly knocked to the ground. Her hands broke her fall, but she felt the sting against her legs as her thigh slapped the tiled floor. When she glanced up, a clearly irritated blonde glared down at her.

“Watch where you're going,” she snapped tersely. A quick shake of the head, she side-stepped over Sun, and began to briskly walk away.

Sun sighed before pushing herself up. As she stood, she overheard a dark-haired young man getting after the woman as he grabbed her by the arm, “Can’t you say excuse me, Shannon, where are your manners?”

“Shut up Boone,” she replied. A stern look from the young man elicited an eye roll. She moved back slightly towards Sun.

“Sorry,” she offered begrudgingly in her direction. As she turned back towards the young man who was clearly exasperated with her, she snapped in his direction, “Happy now? She probably doesn’t even speak English.”

“Excuse me....uh, do....you know where pay phone is?”

The blonde raised her eyebrow in annoyed amusement, as the young man moved closer to Sun.

Pointing, he instructed her, “That way against the wall. See them?”

Sun nodded and again in unsure English, thanked him. He smiled at her warmly before rejoining his companion, continuing to scold her as they walked away.

When Sun reached the phone bank, she slowly picked up the receiver. Dropping the change quickly into the slot, she dialed the number, glancing around as she hesitantly lifted the phone to her ear. It rang several excruciating times before the answering machine finally picked up.

Taking a deep breath, she left her brief message.

“I'm Sorry. I can’t do this. I can’t come with you. Goodbye.”

She quickly hung up the phone and turned abruptly, bumping into a Caucasian man wearing a tropical-print shirt as she had.

“Oh....” she began.

“Sorry.”

Sun nodded and tried to side-step him, but he blocked her path. Before she could even utter a simply 'excuse me', the man took her by surprise, as he spoke again, first in perfect Korean, then in English.

“I'm going to speak English, because I know that you understand it perfectly,” he told her as his smile became icy.

Sun swallowed, frightened as she tried to move away from him, but he held fast, his low voice paralyzing her where she stood.

“Your father is a very powerful man. You should know that nothing happens without his knowledge, especially where his daughter is concerned.”

Recognition traced across Sun’s eyes. She knew the man. She'd seen him before.

Her only defense, playing innocent, fear making her respond in Korean. //No....I don’t know what you mean.//

The man’s eyes glinted, “Right. Understand something, Jae will not be coming to meet you. You will not make any attempts to leave your husband. You are to follow the course of travel as planned, and if you know what’s good for you, you won’t deviate from that plan, because if you do....,” he leaned forward menacingly before finishing, “....you won’t see your husband or your lover ever again.”

Sun visibly trembled, the steel of the man’s voice having pierced her soul. She watched as he pulled away, his face having changed almost instantaneously back to a feigned smile as if he had merely been a tourist.

“Have a nice day ma'am, and sorry for bumping into you.”

Sun stood....silent, shocked, and utterly paralyzed.


Scene Eight: Present Day, The Beach

Jin casually looks through their tent for a razor. He's searching through Sun’s things, thinking it a possibility he accidentally left it in her bag. Suddenly, he spots something....a letter buried deep within her clothes. He stares at it a minute, trying to recall any letters that he'd sent her. He opens it and a picture slips out. The image, a vaguely familiar face, looks back at him. He examines the letter, not being able to decipher the English, yet he recognizes the signature as it is written in Korean. Love Jae. -- Presumably the one in the picture. His face hardens in anger as so many questions run through his mind.

Why was this man writing his wife? What was she doing with his picture?

Just as his anger and confusion reaches a boiling point, Sun gently enters the tent. Jin shoots his hostile glare her way, stepping forward and waving the letter in her face, his mouth opening to spit out harsh Korean.

//What is this!? Who is this Jae man and why is he sending you pictures!?//

Sun, shocked to see the letter curses herself for keeping it after all this time. She sees Jin's rage only fueling further as she hesitates to provide him the answer he so angrily seeks.

//No answer!? You do not have to answer because I know! He is your lover. He is who you were to see at the airport!//

Sun’s eyes grow larger. How could he know? She shakes her head opening her mouth to try to speak, but Jin quickly cuts her off.

//You think I’m a fool!? You were planning to run off with him. I guess now I know why....because you carry his child!//

“Jin no!” Sun sobs as her tone pleads with him, trying to calm him down.

//Don’t touch me!// Jin practically screams back at her in Korean.

Outside, Sawyer sits on the beach, his lawn chair dragged closer to the ocean as he tries to finish off his Judy Blume novel of adolescent angst. He hears the shouting but chooses to keep to himself. Marital problems are not his forte. Besides, lover’s spats hadn't killed anyone on the island…yet. And Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon were always bickering about something anyways. So he instead he tries to refocus himself back to the page that he was so rudely distracted from. However, the shouting persists, and try as he might he can’t stay focused. Eventually, his eyes drag from the page to the scene unfolding behind him, cursing under his breath.

He watches as Jin kicks up sand, arms flailing as his face and eyes grow even darker with anger. Sun looks as though she wants to just disappear, but every so often her voice emerges, begging to get through to him, but to no avail.

Jin steps closer to Sun, and she takes a quick step back.

//Please Jin listen to me, I can explain....// she tries desperately but is again cut off.

//Explain what!? That you were with another man? I did everything your father asked of me and for what? So you could run to another man, carry his child?!//

//Jin, it's not his!// she shouts back at him, raising her voice for the first time.

Jin reaches out and harshly grabs Sun's arm by the elbow. //Don’t lie to me!//

“Whoa there Jackie Chan, let her go,” Sawyer's voice calls out as he stands, instantly knowing he needs to step in before things get out of hand.

“Stay out Sawyer. Not your problem.” Jin warns him in heavily-accented English.

“You made it my problem when you put your paws on the missus. How bout you let her go....and take a walk....cause I'd hate to have to ask for them handcuffs to be slapped back on ya.”

Jin glares at them both for a moment, before tossing the papers to the sand and storming away. Sawyer and Sun watch as he zooms down the beach and out of sight. A moment later, Sun falls to her knees, sobbing. Amidst her tears, her eyes catch a glimpse of the further contents of the letter in the sand....a wilted flower. She takes it in her hand and holds it close to her chest.

Sawyer glances down at her, wondering what the hell had stirred up that dust storm. About to walk away, she catches his eye. She stares at him pleadingly for understanding or comfort....something he clearly has no idea how to provide. Feeling completely out of place, he turns to leave but stops after taking a only a few steps.

“I ain't gonna keep comin to your rescue Tokyo Rose, you best learn how to defend yourself.” He says half heartedly, turning and walking back towards his chair.

Back behind him, Sun sits in the sand, her flow of tears finally beginning to lessen as she now contemplates how everything has so quickly taken such a horrible turn.


Scene Nine: Present Day, the Beach

Kate walks over to the area of the beach where the church is located, her thoughts consumed with the gun plot and how she was brushed aside. She knows where the guns are, but that's were her knowledge ends. She can't believe she allowed herself to be manipulated by Ana Lucia.

She spots Eko and Sayid talking close to shore not too far from the church. They both acknowledge her as she walks up to them.

“How’s it going guys?”

Eko nods. “Things are well today, Kate.”

Sayid just nods without comment.

“So what’s going on? Anything happening?”

Sayid studies Kate a moment. “Why would anything be happening? Did you hear something?”

She shakes her head, “No. I just wondered. I saw you guys out here and…nevermind.”

They all stand in silence, both men silently observing Kate as she tries to come up with some reason to speak to them beyond a general greeting.

“Think a storm is brewing?”

Sayid faintly shakes his head as Eko answers her.

“Maybe. There has been a change in the weather. One cannot know if it will be a storm just yet.”

Kate nods. “I guess you're right.”

“I must go. I will speak with you later,” says Eko to Sayid. He nods pleasantly to Kate before walking away, heading towards the shelters.

Kate begins to get nervous under the astute eyes if Sayid. Finally he speaks, voice light and comforting.

“What is troubling you Kate?”

She glances at him wary, trying to conceal the fact that she is indeed troubled. “Nothing. I mean I was just wondering . . .Well you and Ana Lucia have the combination to the armory, and what if something happens to both of you, then what? You should have backup. Don't you agree?

Sayid takes a moment to contemplate her response before saying.”This is about the guns.”

The cool expression Kate placed on her face wavers in confirmation.

“Kate. You should not be concerned about the guns. They are safe and now they are available for everyone’s use and protection. That was the goal and as Ana Lucia has informed me, it was you that helped to make that happen. You should not be troubled by this action.”

Kate nods, glancing away from his penetrating stare. The fact of the matter is that it does trouble her. Being cut off from access and completely out of the inner circle troubles her. She feels Sayid pat her shoulder before retreating back to the camp. She swings around watching him go.

“Proud huh? Then why do I feel so betrayed?” she whispers to his back.

Scene Ten:Present Day, Jungle

Ana treks through the jungle leading her tracker on a winding hike, a wild goose chase to test how far he's willing to follow her. At first she thought someone was just stepping behind her briefly because she was taking a commonly used path. But once she left the beaten trail, her tracker stayed on her, hot on her heals.

She nears an area with plenty of trees for her to take a position and ready for an attack. Whoever is following her is about to be very sorry. She rounds a set of trees and camoflouges herself, waiting vigilantly with her hand on the trigger.

Moments later Sawyer moves in her range just as she pushes out, side swiping him. Sawyer, off guard, falls to the ground but not before grabbing Ana’s arm to drag him down with her. They fall to the ground in a tangle of arms and legs. Soon they are rolling and tussling, in a haze of curses and grunts, both trying to gain the advantage over the other. One moment Sawyer is on top, but then Ana throws his balance and she is one top. Eventually Ana manages to twist herself in a position that pins Sawyer to the ground.

“Damn woman you sure like to tussle.”

“You have five seconds to spill why you are following me.”

Sawyer bucks but is unable to move so he relaxes grinning up at her, as she hovers over him, looking fierce and tempting. He's enjoying the feel of her tight little rear pressed on his groin, and in a second she's about to find out just how much he's enjoying it.

“How 'bout you don't flatter yourself Hot Lips. I wasn't aiming for you.”

“Sure you were Huslter.” Ana pauses looking slightly skyward in fake contemplation. “Maybe you’re thinking I’ll lead you to the guns. Well think again.” She glares down at him, noticing the flash of anger in his eyes quickly fade into a sea of complete blue ambivalence. She grasps his wrists harder and splays his arms out spread eagle.

“For your information, I ain’t out here for you or the guns. Having them was more trouble than what it was worth. In fact I ain’t too broke up about them being gone neither. ”

“Keep feeing me your load of crap Cowboy,” says Ana with an ‘oh please’ expression on her face.

“You keep wigglin that sweet ass on me Muchacha,” he growls. “And I'll give you all the time in the world to share your conspiracy theories. Don't make me no nevermind.”

Ana shakes her head and repositions her body. She finally notices that he is not resisting her restraint in the slightest. Still she refuses to loosen her grip, and Sawyer flashes another wicked grin.

“I take it you don’t mind neither,” he says in a low drone while scanning her body.

“Why are you out here Sawyer?” she commands, cutting him off.

Sighing he replies, “Why don’t you simma down the yappin and open your ears. Listen.”

“My ears are open. Still don't like what I'm hearing.”

“Shut the trap and listen. What do you hear around us?”

Ana allows herself to listen to all the sounds of the jungle, almost straining her ears. She is just about to snap when she hears an odd sound that she isn’t used to.

“Hear it, don’t you? The sound of water rushing. That’s what I was out here aiming to do, take me a swim. One of the few luxuries I still got to my own.”

Ana slits her eyes at him. “Why come all the way out here and contaminate the fresh water? Why not swim in the ocean? With the sharks.”

“Because Kojak, I wanted me a more private watering hole. Now unless you intend to rip off my clothes and have your way with me again, I suggest you end the shake down and roll off me.”

Sighing, Ana releases him and stands, prepared to leave the scene. Sawyer notices the gun Ana has wedged down her jeans and pretends to lunge at it. Ana hops back into a defensive stance, making Sawyer release a thunderous laugh that echoes throughout the cavernous area. A second later he winks at her.

“Follow me. You know you're itchin ta.”

Ana crosses her arms and rolls her eyes, mad at herself for even contemplating it. Curiousity getting the better of her, she follows Sawyer a few feet to the secluded lagoon. When they reach their desitnation, Sawyer immediately starts stripping away his clothes. Ana watches in silence, enjoying the magnificent waterfall and the crystal clear pond, with one eye reluctantly on Sawyer, who is now fully naked.

Sawyer smiles feeling her burning stare at his back.

“Instead of gettin your jollies eyeballing me, how about you join in. But you gotta strip first. Dem's the rules.”

“Nope.” She crosses her arms in defiance.

He dives into the water, swimming deep and just enjoying the feel of the calm liquid against his skin before coming back up, shaking the water from his long hair.

“Woo Hoo. Now this is heaven,” he shouts grinning at her as he swims closer to shallow water so that he can stand. “Come on Muchacha. You know you want in. It’s a heck of a lot better than holding down that dirt.”

“Not happenin'.” She bites her lips as conflicting thoughts riot in her brain. A nice swim would do her some good, but Ana isn’t about to join him, not if this were the last waterhole on earth.

“'Fraid you can't control your urges el Nina? Hell we all got needs. I won't hold it against ya.”

She laughs mockingly at his comment. “Ha, right. I have full control of my urges. I know you won’t be able to control yours.”

Sawyer chuckles before making his face serious. “Now aint you the one that jumped me? Hell I'm the one who should be 'fraidy scared. Now get your sweet ass in here.” He stands erect before saying, “I’ll be a perfect gentlemen.”

“That’ll be the day.”

“Oh come on, Chacha. What you got to lose? Live a little.”

Ana smirks despite herself before taking a step closer. The water really does look inviting despite the man currently wading in it. Finally she relents. Before she can talk herself out of it, she kicks off her boots and unbuckles her belt. She hears a lewd whistle and smiles wickedly back at him while pulling her jeans down past her hips and shaking her hair loose from its ponytail.

Sawyer whistles again, watching her eagerly, studying her long fingers grasp her tank, slowly curling it up, revealing more and more skin.

“No that’s what I’m talkin’ ‘bout.” He watches the teasing glint in her eye as the shirt inches higher. Sawyer slowly treads water, eyes dark with anticipation. Things seem to be looking up for him today and he is ready to thoroughly enjoy it.

Just when Ana has decided she had given Sawyer enough of a show, Sun barrels through the trees to the open location of the waterfall. Ana glances at Sawyer with an arched eyebrow.

“Private, right,” she says, pursing her lips.

Sawyer sees red. “Sonfofbitch," he mumbles to himself while slappin his palm agains the water. “You know, you are my least favorite person today Miss Korea,” he shouts at his intruder.

Sun looks at him quizzically before saying, “Sorry to interrupt but I wanted to speak to you Ana.”

By now Ana has her boots back on and faces Sun curiously. “What about?”

“I would like if you could teach me some ways to protect myself. Self-defense, how to use a gun.”

“Sure. Any particular reason why now?”

Sun glances at Sawyer to see his reaction to her request, shrinking back at his expression of clear annoyance.

“Don't pay any attention to him,” says Ana. “Not hard to do.”

“Well, all my life, I had men telling me what to do. It is time for that to end. I need to learn to defend myself, because one day there may not be anyone around that will help me . . . if I was in trouble. Me or my baby.” Again her eyes glance at Sawyer who is glaring at her.

Sun quickly looks away and asks Ana in a pleading tone, “Will you help me?”

“Sure no problem. When do you want to start?”

“Later much later,” yells a nearly defeated Sawyer.

“Could we begin today? I mean if you are not busy.”

“That will work. I'm not busy at all.” She laughes mockingly at the annoyed grunt. “Let’s walk back; we can chat on the way.”

“Thank you.” Sun turns and begins walking towards the pathway.

Ana stays back to get a few jabs at Sawyer. “Ahh, don't be sad. Now you can have all the privacy you want,” she says laughing heartily at Sawyer, who now looks like a child who had his candy taken from him.

“Got a better idea. Why don't you skip the lesson with Karate Kid, Ms. Miyagi and move along as planned.”

“No can do,” she says with a wicked smirk. “Now don't let the fish bite off something important.”

Sawyer jerks his head and displays a surprised grin. “Don't you fret sweetheart. I'll keep it all protected and ready for you.”

Ana watches him do the backstroke until he disappears underwater. Before she changes her mind again, she turns to catch up with Sun.

Scene Eleven: Present Day, Beach

Sun returned from her first session with Ana Lucia, to find Jin there angrily erasing his existence from their home.

//Jin. Jin what are you doing?”//

Jin says nothing. He roughly throws things into a pile that he has created to carry them to different living quarters.

Sun understands what is happening but she cannot believe it. She thought that they could talk, discuss the situation. She needs to explain it to him and she planned on doing so, hoping afterwards he would understand but Jin continues on as if she hasn’t spoke. She tries again.

//Jin. You must not go. We can talk about this. I can explain it to you.//

Again nothing. Sun feels her heart pounding. Jin can’t leave. So much has changed between them. Their relationship is just coming back on track now that the influence and interference no longer exists. Jin is starting to see her as a person with her own ideas and thoughts. They are about to have a child together. One letter, though meaningful, cannot be the end of them. She has to stop him.

//Jin. Jin please listen to me.// Her voice cracks as the tears come slowly, the fear building in her that she will not be able to persuade her husband to see her point of view.

He grabs one more shirt and then reaches for the small pile he created of his things.

Sun reaches for him but he jerks back. //Jin. We can work through this. You can leave us.//

'Us?' He pauses at her statement, staring at his tearful wife in disbelieve. He no longer knows this woman before him, and the child within her is not of his blood. There is no 'us.' At this moment, the very sight of her is like a knife in his chest, twisting and tearing it into shreds. He can’t deal with her and he won’t.

“It’s over,” she says softly in English before turning briskly and walking out.

Sun’s tears come in a torrent. She covers her face feeling flushed with shame, anger and helplessness. She is so upset that she isn’t aware of Kate until she speaks.

Kate witnesses Jin leaving looking pretty hurt and angry. She spots Sun standing in the shadows of the tent crying her heart out. Feeling bad and having to need to comfort her, Kate approaches her carefully.

“Hey,” she starts.

Sun gasps in surprise, when she sees Kate she tries to stop crying, but she is only half successful.

“I cannot believe this is happening. We have been through so much. I feel…I don’t know,” says Sun softly.

Kate lays a hand gently on Sun’s shoulder.

“I know what it’s like to have someone walk away from you. To lose them. To feel betrayed by them.” She says this to Sun but glances away. In the distance she notices Sawyer and Ana near the beach, joking in a way that suggests more than a casual connection.

Turning back to Sun. “Sometimes, though it’s for the best. You find that most often the only person you can trust is yourself.” Kate looks again out to the camp, making a mental note that she needs to have a heart-to-heart with Ana, but first she needs to come up with a plan.

She strokes Sun’s arm again and then walks away, giving Sun the privacy she needs to try and make peace with her situation. Sun comtemplates Kate's words, and her promise to learn all she can from Ana. As she takes a seat in her now half empty tent, she knows that her decision to finally take more control of her life is the best one she has ever made.


Scene Twelve: Present Day, Beach

“Ugh, Ow,” grunts Bernard as he bends to pick up. Rose glances at her husband warily but takes the can that he hands her. Rose and Bernard are doing the scheduled organizing of the canned goods on the shelves on the beach. For the last ten minutes, Rose has listened to her husband grunt and hiss every time he bent down or came up too fast. Finally when he stretches his back for the eighth time, she stops shelving.

“Sweetheart, what’s wrong with you?”

Sighing heavily, Bernard, slowly turns to his wife. “Ana and Sayid have been working us pretty hard training for the army. I didn’t realize it would resemble basic training.” He shakes his head as he places his hand on his lower back trying to massage the knot that seems to be twisting there.

Rose purses her lips. “I told you so. You’re too old for that Bernard. You are going to throw your back entirely if you don’t settle down.”

“Rose this is important,” he replies adamantly.

“Maybe so, Bernard, but there are other ways of helping without acting like you’re the same age as those young people out there fighting.”

Bernard just turns from her, grabbing another can. A sharp pain radiates in his back and he stops short of standing. Taking a breath before coming fully erect, he tries to hide his pain, but his wife sees through his stubborn façade.

Libby and Hurley have been walking along the beach chatting. Hurley deliberately steered their stroll to the shelving Bernard and Rose. He is hoping that his favorite foodstuff may have made a miraculous appearance on the shelf.

Rose smiles at the approaching couple. “Hey, you two. Haven't seen you around in awhile.”

“Hello, Rose,” says Libby.”Bernard, nice to see you.”

“Hey, Rose,” Hurley replies brightly. “Uh you okay there Bernard?”

“Yea yea, fine,” grunts Bernard. “Taking a break.”

Rose can sense that Hurley is trying his best to look like he isn’t looking for his favorite treat. She decides to end his suspense.

“Sorry Hurley but we are all out of your favorite cheese puffs. Maybe another shipment will mysteriously drop from the sky if you’re lucky.”

Hurley laughs nervously, a guilty look coloring his face as he notices Libby's cool glare.

“That’s so not why I’m here.” He clears his throat, trying to cover the disappointment in his voice. “I hate those cheese puffs anyway. Bad cheese puffs.”

Rose chuckles to herself as she watches Hurley flounder in front of a suspicious looking Libby. Behind her Bernard takes a much needed break from bending to watch the discussion unfold.

Talking fast Hurley says, “No really, I didn’t come for that. Look, I think you should move the food from the beach and into the hatch, I mean all of the food. Really, everyone should pack up and like move to the caves and the hatch and stuff.”

Bernard steps closer to Rose. “Why should we do that?” Rose nods in agreement with Bernard.

Libby studies Hurley quizzically. He hasn’t mentioned moving to her.

“Crazy French chick came around today and said it’s going to rain soon.”

“Well doesn't it rain every day?”

“You remember Arzt, Rose?” He sees her nod. “Well before he got blown to bits he told us the Monsoon was coming. He talked about it all the time in fact, like relentlessly. So I think crazy French chick is right. Maybe we should prepare ourselves?”

Hurley glances upward followed by everyone else. All notice the ominous storm clouds above that seem to appear out of nowhere.

Rose says, “You may be right Hurley. Someone get Jack.”

Bonus Scene 13: Present Day, The Island

The man sits in an isolated room, behind a small desk. He holds and examines a photo of Officer Ana Lucia Cortez in her LAPD blues, and lights it with a match. He watches it slowly burn, mesmerized by the flame as the photo disinegrates into nothing.

“Bye, bye little lost one,” he says to himself through a wicked chuckle.

Blowing the ashes from his desk he gestures for the woman in the doorway to come in.

“It came. It's all here,” she says while dropping a large accordian file, filled to the brim with documents, on his desk.

The man starts thumbing through the mass of medical journal clippings, vital stats, and even a police record. “Well quite an impressive docier on Dr. Jack Shepard. Just as I suspected.”

“What do you intend to do with him Ben?”

The man who the castaways know as Henry looks to the woman as if she should already know the answer to her question.

“We'll use him to our advantage of course.”

-LOST-



Lost Virtual Season 3: Episode eIGHT full credits:

Writers: Aimz, nyjoc
Contributing Editor: Leigh

Executive Producers:
Aimz
nycjoc
Skayla
DarkHuntress
InMemoriam
Scouse
midnight riot

We bow down to Leigh as she commands us to do. LOL. Thanks Leigh!!!

Disclaimer: None of the writers or producers have made any money on this project. It was purely for entertainment purposes. No copyright infringement is intended.--

Ah, coolness. This episode rocked the world, guys. Great, great job. Heee, the bonus scene... :D awesomeness.

SANASANASANASANASANA!! :dance: :dance: :wub: :dance: :dance: I mean, I love it all, like always, love it a lot, a lot of things (Danielle! Locke! and... a lot of things, details and storylines and bonus and all :bow: :bow: *worships*) but... Sana! :lol: Might be the recent overloading of Skate, you know ;)
:wub: :dance:

*eyes bug out* ANA?!?! STRIPPING?!?! FOR SAWYER?!?!

I thouroughly enjoyed this episode, though. The strip tease was hilarious! :lol:

Bow down to me? LOL!

Anywho....LOVED this ep. The Jin/Sun drama moved their whole situation forward, which is great. I though the Jana was so damn sweet (can't wait for more later between those two) and minutely hot and the Sana was hot as hell per usual so yet again I'm in that damn 50/50 split. Damn you people and your excellent IN PROPER CHARACTERIZATION Ana-ship writing! :D

I also really enjoyed that little Sayid/Kate scene. Glad to see people not caving to her anymore. She's lost her ability to manipulate everybody. Love that. She might have to start to just be a good person who is a follower as she should be. Good stuff there.

The bonus scene....mighty might creepy. :P

Overall awesome ep, probably one of my faves so far in terms of Ana ships and good exploration of non-Ana characters (never cared much about Jin/Sun but this was nice). I'll say it again, I REALLY loved that Sana scene....LOL, his response to Sun was damn funny and I love that she came to Ana btw. I love Ana and Sun interactions....always wanted some in the show, never got it so this is good. :)

Way to go!

L.

Hooray for Jana -- the neglected stepchild of the Ana ships. Glad you are 50/50 at least Leigh.

Thanks for the great feedback so far everyone! And thanks to my co-writer nycjoc.

And Leigh you actually read the credits. LOL. Can't put nothing by you.

wohoo! Sana!!!!! :wub: great episode! can't wait to see what happens with Sawyer and Ana! anytime you guys feel like putting in Sana go for it lol. and the Kate/Sayid thing was gud. I'm not really a big fan of Jin and Sun but that was cool. great work, keep it up! :P

I really enjoyed this episode.
That being said, I also had a lot of issues technically speaking with this episode, which is unusual for me. I don't know if this episode was not proofread thoroughly, or if the format was messed up on the Internet, or what, but there were so many sentances like this: "Why is it sore. From when he choked you". Punctuation was off a lot, as was spelling-- particularly in the Jack/Ana scene, which was unfortunate because it kept pulling me out of what I thought was otherwise an outstanding scene.
I'm also getting sick and tired of the Sawyer nicknames. I'm sure that some people do enjoy them-- I usually do too. I just feel that they're being thrown in there right now just to get use out of new ones that are made up, and it would be nice to hear actual names or even just a statement directed at someone without a nickname once in awhile.
Some of the characters seemed a bit obvious/flat. I felt that the Walt/Michael/Cindy dialogue regarding Shannon's death seemed like it was there just for exposition or to further the story; there didn't seem to be a lot of character in it. I also felt when that way when Jin just instantly accused Sun regarding the letter-- it seemed exaggerated, and not really realistic; there was no period of betrayal or confusion, it just went straight to anger, which I felt was a bit short. Jin's entire reaction, actually, seemed a little bit out of character in the ending events; however, I admit that I have never been fans of either character (Jin and Sun, I mean) and so perhaps your views on that are a bit more true to form anyway :)
My one last critique is something that drove me absolutely crazy: the // for Korean dialogue. I think that it was absolutely not needed, and so distracted one from the dialogue rather than enhancing anything. It's funny, actually, because every single time somebody spoke English, it was clearly identified ("Sun said in perfect English", etc), and in the times when Korean was spoken, even if it wasn't subtly noted in the text, it still should have been obvious to the reader, because Jin does not speak English to a great degree.
I will note something ambiguous here before moving onto the good, and start off with a quote from the episode: "Hurley laughs nervously, a guilty look coloring his face as he notices Libby's cool glare." It's things like this that make me dislike the Hurley/Libby so much-- I have never seen her "helping" him diet, exercise, etc, as help. Maybe that's her intentions, but to me she has always seemed like a critical, judgemental, self-righteous person in it-- like when she kept pointing out things Hurley had forgotten on the actual show about the picnic he had planned. Quite frankly, I think Hurley deserves better; however, in regards to your Lost Virtual Season, I do have to say that you have nailed that relationship quite nicely, for better or for worse :)
Okay, to the good! I LOVED the Jack/Ana scene. While a bit of the dialogue was stilted, the entire theme of it was wonderful-- the whole trust issues that of course would be there now given the events both brought up. I liked the fact that it was emotional, with a bit of a romantic angle without being too "shippy"; the entire theme carried well, and while I did like the angle of only Sayid and Ana having the combination, her revealing it to Jack at the end was done really well.
I think that maybe Kate is being a little bit too poorly treated in the virtual season, probably because most fics have an almost Ana vs. Kate theme-- I liked them working together, and would like to see her a little bit less ostracized. And I don't even LIKE Kate, so I can honestly say my reasoning on this is entirely clear-headed.
What's funny is that this episode was sort of slow, and nothing really happened. However, you brought up so many different plot points that it kept going at a fairly quick pace and was thoroughly enjoyable to read-- it actually had a lot of action.
I'm not entirely sure what bonus scene people have been noting-- the end scene? If so, I loved it. A very nice, suspenseful end that wrapped up the entire episode quite well; I am looking forward to the next episode.
I do apologize for the novel, and the fact that so much of it was critical. Overall, the plot was fantastic, and this episode had a few great scenes; I just feel that a bit of proofreading could really have made it exemplary.
On the whole though, I think it's one of the best episodes so far, hence the novel :) Thanks again for all your work on this.
~Malenkaya

Thanks for your "novel" Melankaya. Here's mine.

I agree about the //. It wasn't necessary and I should have gone with my gut on that one. It distracts me too. I think I will go remove them. Maybe I needed someone to harshly complain about it to get me off the fence of 'to do it or not to do it.'

We are going somewhere with Kate, particularly Kate and Ana. And it will never be Kate vs. Ana. But if I have my way, (lol sorry fellow writers) it will never be Kate and Ana "Thelma and Louise" instant friends either (hey there's an annoying Sawyer nickname I can use.. Thelma and Louise. :o ) At least not this soon in the season. Overall, this is setting the stage. She is certainly not on a pedastal in LVS3. And maybe the fact that she is on a throne with the real show makes me personally sway too far to the other side with knocking her down. Not everybody loves Kate. The horror. But again, things will come around for Kate. Right now her main lament is her feelings of being betrayed by Ana, when she really wasn't, at least not maliciously And notice she has talked to people about it, mulled over it, but has yet to approach Ana about it. She is feeling her way. And honestly I do think Kate needs to be knocked down before she can get back up. If it works out the way I hope, it will turn out to be character growth for both Ana and Kate.

The Jana scene was actually one of the most proofread scenes. The rest was proofread, but I lost all my edits in a flash that I spent four hours working on. Poof gone. After I finished cursing, I went back -- when I was not fresh -- and missed a whole lot that I am still going back to fix.

Not usually my style. Better next time. Sorry it ruined the best scenes for you.

Pretty cool that we accomplished presenting an episode that was "sort of slow" while also having "lots of action" that "moved at a face pace". How does that happen? Especially when nothing really happened. :blink:

As I have replied to your previous feedback, the stage is being set. Scenes that seem random and contrived are adding to the overall plot. So when actual things do happen, it doesn't seem like it is completely out of left field with no build up. I'll admit that we have used filler scenes, sometimes in attempt to include all of the characters, but I would say 75% of our scenes are purposeful and very much by design in the grand scheme of the series -- even the shipper scenes as was demonstrated with Jana. And we are going somewhere with Sana as well along with Micheal and Cindy, Ana and Cindy, and as I said Ana and Kate. The Jin Sun breakup is very much by design in terms of future plot and character development. Hope the payoff is worth the wait. We will certainly do our best.

Sun and Jin always struck me as melodrama of the soap opera ilk. So when I think of staying true to character with them, that's what comes to mind. Alot of sentimental heightened emotions. Some scenes worked better than others. Jin is hot tempered and has been known to blow up and act rashly. He doesn't stop to consider the possibilities, he just acts. That's why they handcuffed him in S1. But more build up equals less contrived. Got it.

Hurley/Libby not much argument there. But remember Libby's secret that was never revealed before she was killed? One could possibly argue that her intentions were always dubious, hence the unbalanced dynamic. And if we actually gave Hurley the "better" he deserves, wouldn't that be just as contrived? Stay tuned.

Sawyer and the nicknames. I admit it, I love them. Everytime I read a new one, I chuckle. And it certainly is an annoying aspect of Sawyer that he never calls anyone by name, which is why it is funny. You like it on the show, not in the episode. For the reader it could very well be overkill, especially when compared to the real show. However, there is much more dialogue in this written version -- longer passages of dialogue -- so therefore many more opportunities to work the nickname thing for all it's worth. LOL. I'll be more conscious of it though.

Overall my head started spinning while I was reading your feedback, as I would say in a fic "my mind was reeling." I seriously got dizzy, felt like I was hit in the gut. I have never experienced such a sharp criticism of something I've worked on, so trying to thicken up the skin and take it all for what it's worth.

this.was.so.good!

the bonus scene was just so freaky! i can't wait for more :D
and the sana? HOT!

nice job ;)

Melankaya, how can you not love sawyer nicknames? :o

On the nick thing I rarely here Sawyer say anyone's name except rarely when talking about them. It's good not to overkill, but even if they do it's still in character with the show. The show I think actually overkills it more than LVS3, lol!

I also agree with the Aimz thing on Kate/Ana. Kate has 2 seasons worth of selfishness, manipulation, and crap to get over and get called on. She's forced and bullied and tricked and flirted her way into a "leader" type position on the island that is 100% undeserved and actually flat out absurd. Ana on the other hand, however harsh she may be....is selfless and about the good of the group. I could never ever see those two as friends. I could see a tolerance of Kate by Ana....and a possible SLIGHT understanding b/c of their pasts (but even getting there would be tricky with their character types not meshing), but beyond that. No, sorry just to me....it would be out of character for both.....especially Ana for them to ever "work together". Kate can NOT be trust, never could....and I doubt ever can fully even IF she ever has character growth. Ana doesn't trust, and even when she does it's VERY VERY few and elite people and even them she doesn't trust whole-heartedly. I think it would be the ultimate out of character decision to make them friends or make them work together. I don't think we should see an all out brawl, lol....but I don't think we should see any friendship crap either. It would NEVER realistically happen. In personality they are polar opposites, and not in a good "opposites attact" way either. Characetr growth is one thing, but growing out of character is another, and a tragdey to good writing and this whole attempt for a Virtual Season. If anything the Kate here is spot on, and is getting what she should be getting on the show. I'm sure she'll be let back in to some degree in the future, but even if she isn't....it's no great tragedy and no injustic to the character. If anything to me, it would be a good thing.

*shrugs*

L.

Wow that was THE best yet! LOVED the part with Ana and Sawyer!! I still wounder what Sawyer wold do If Ana got pregnat with him from their last little "fight". THAT would be dramatic! :lol: :D

Then Aimz, I really do apologize.
I didn't mean to critique as harshly as you seemed to take it. Things like the spelling mistakes and such happen, and although it was irritating, I certainly don't blame anyone for it, and it did not "ruin" the Ana/Jack scene; on the contrary, I still found it one of the best scenes in the episode.
I did find the Sawyer nicknames irritating, but I realize that I am one in a few in this, and if most people find it amusing and realistic for the character, then by all means continue.
I really liked your explanation about Kate. I just felt like her being knocked down was rather pointless, and now that you've explained your intentions with it, I actually completely agree with you in regards to Kate's scene in this episode. And although I don't think I mentioned it, I loved your Kate/Sayid scene; he was the perfect foil for her feelings of betrayal.
I got the feeling that you took offense at my comments on the episode on the whole being "sort of slow" but "at a fast pace", and such and such. That was not meant to be offensive in the slightest, on the contrary I really enjoyed the overall episode you presented, and perhaps my way of presenting that was rather jumbled. What I meant was that a lot of new things were introduced in this episode-- the suspicion of Cindy, a few hints at Sayid and Ana's training camp, Ana's giving Jack the combination-- so that while a lot of them didn't really go too far in terms of further events regarding them yet, they certainly set the stage for that, and gave the reader a lot of new plot points to take in, which is almost always a good thing as far as I'm concerned.
Aimz, I believe, overall, that every writer needs to be able to take some criticism. However, if that's all you got from my review, I wanted to aplogize, because I really enjoyed this episode on the whole-- a lot of my critiques were over technical things, and there were a couple of scenes in this one that I thought were best on the virtual season so far.
~Malenkaya

You give good in-depth feedback Malen, and I know that it IS appreciated. I think it was just one of those...."smack!" things. :D

L.

No worries Malenkaya. Everything happens for a reason and you gave me much food for thought as you always do with your feedback, in regards to plot and charaterization. It's actually nice to have an in-depth dialogue about the episode as a whole. It is true that I spent hours editing 24 pages only to lose it all. It's okay, I didn't cry about it. I started from scratch and missed quite a bit of things that I know I had polished off before the computer "lost" my document. But the lingering frustration was that technical issues tainted the episode more than I anticipated it ever would. I do take responsibility for that. One can't improve without criticism, and as hard as it is to take sometimes, for me it's necessary and welcomed.

I dug the espisode, now that i got to read it as a whole. It was fun woprking with you Aimz, the outline made things way easier and i like the stuff you added, it was great.

sorry about the computer glitz, i know the feeling.

I thought the critic was instructive though overwhelming at first (read twice) I'm glad you care enough to comment.

anyway thanks to all reading, looking forward to the next eppy.

PS i threw in the // first so I won't do that again.

nyc

sorry for the delay in review guys...got a housefull of kids and company at the last minute...then off to work!

loved this eppy! the best one, yet!

loved the jana. their gentle awkwardness was very sweet. looking forward to seeing more of that perhaps?!

i've never been a jin/sun fan till now...you guys really did a great job with that advancing that storyline that's for sure...now i'm actually interested in them and curious as to how that will all play out.

when i was taping the show last year the characters that i wasn't particularly interested in...well i just fastforwarded past them...like jin and sun.

what a temper on that man!

the jack/locke relationship....they're like an old married couple or something! i just want to smack them both upside their heads!

the cindy thing...yeah...she's friends with ana but wow...don't entirely trust her for some reason...so there is lots of room there for more intrigue/mystery!

absolutely, love the sana! man those two are cool together. loved their verbal banter and the other stuff the smirking etc...tension/chemistry was awesome!

definately looking forward to more of that!

kate and sayid was nice. sayid is so level headed...until he's not! (he has a temper, too, i fear).

hopefully, kate will smarten up and have her heart to heart with ana and clear the air.

the bonus scene....well eary in a creepy, suspensful way. yikes! you guys are good.

our poor losties are in for something down the road that's for sure.

anyway, the best eppy yet guys! really well done.

i can't express how much i truly enjoyed this one and how much it is setting up so many future storylines/action etc!

bravo!!

ll

Hah, another great episode! I really liked the Sun flashback, I thought it was done very well. Those two don't tend to interest me, but this one was really enjoyable. Now what's all this about a storm? Hmm, sounds like trouble with Mother Nature (or otherwise) is afoot. I actually sort of liked the Jana...although I'm neither Jana or Sana, so I thought it was kind of sweet.

Ooh, forgot - awesome bonus scene!

Keep it up ya'll! :D

OMG I loved it. I loved the Sananess and like Leigh and some others here I admit I loved the Jananess too. I don't know who I like more.

All you writers are soo creative and talented I really look forward to reading every eppisode. Just to let you know how much I know many of us appreciate all the hard work you do with these LV episodes. So again guys thank you.

cant wait for the next one :D

i loved this epi!
sana sana sana :D :lol:

wow ....this is soooooooooooooo hott ....by the way....my name is LeTTY......and yes thats my REAL NAME!!!...im new...but always been a fan of michelle's....but anyways...great episodes...i read them all !!!!!!!! LOL :P

I have no constructive critasism i was never good at telling people what i like about there work its all the same
but great work again man

can i make a suggest for pickletake one day

can you just get some one o bring in and shoat

WHO YOU GOING TO CALL

then the whole cast Cries GhostbusterS :angel:

its a good idea and sounds funny in my head

cant wait till the next 1 comes :D

tonight at 9!

FINALLY GUYS!

whats that my time eeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

9 est-do your little magical time change thingy. either way it'll be up.

Thank you Aimz...I :wub: it... :D