Illusions of the island *A LOST fanfic*

Chapter 6: 'I won't make it to the medical station'

Juliet turned over and shook James awake.

"James wake up. I think it's time."

Shooting out of bed, James looked at Juliet wide eyed.

"Can you stand blondie? Does it hurt?"

What a stupid question to ask. Of course it hurts! Barely managing to stand on her two feet, she blew out a breath. Helping her walk out of their tent, both James and Juliet came face to face with Jack just outside.

"This is going to be a long-haul Juliet. You think you can make it to the medical station?"

Juliet nodded and pushed forward. As they made it to the tree line, Jack continued his thought.

"How many contractions have you had? How far apart are they?"

Juliet swallowed before answering, sweat was starting to get into her eyes.

"I don't know. But I've been having contractions since yesterday. Yesterday they were really spaced out. One every three or four hours."

Jack was trying to put the puzzle pieces together. It would take them at least twenty-five minutes to reach The Staff.

"Has your water broken?"

Juliet shook her head no.

"No. Not yet. But I think I'm close."

Every few minutes they would have to stop as another contraction came barreling through. Soon they found themselves in front of a strange looking tree with twisted roots. Juliet recognized it right away and stopped.

"Jack, James, stop. I can't go any farther."

James turned to her with a question mark on his face.

"Sure you can blondie. I've got ya. Why not?"

Shaking her head no, she blindly grabbed for one of the twisted roots and held on.

"I'll tell you why not James, your daughter is coming like a freight train. She's between my legs. You want to tell her to wait until we get to the medical station? Here is good."

Juliet felt her entire body tense as the familiar roar of the black smoke sounded in the distance. If she could've, she would've dove into the
tree with the twisted roots. With the help of Jack and James, she squeezed under it. She could see James was starting to panic. Somehow, she felt calm.

"What do ya mean here is good!? You really wanna have our daughter here in the dirt?"

Jack looked to Juliet but spoke to James.

"Sawyer, move behind Juliet."

James nervously got behind Juliet and helped her sit down. Helping her lean against him, he swallowed his nervousness. Juliet listened as Jack spoke.

"Juliet put your feet on these tree roots. There you go."

Juliet didn't have time to think, the pain was mounting again. She wasn't about to go against the grain. The roar of the black smoke monster was getting closer every minute. Please don't let it find us! She tried holding in a scream but it was about to bubble out.

"Please don't let the Black smoke take us! Please!"

James ran a hand through Juliet's hair.

"Shh. Everything's gonna be ok sweetheart."

The black smoke came rumbling through the jungle and seemed to be right on top of the tree. James quickly took his belt and gave it to Juliet. She stuffed a piece of it in her mouth to silence her scream. Jack whispered so that only the three of them could hear.

"Juliet I'm going to need you to push alright?"

Juliet nodded and did exactly what Jack told her. She tried curling her toes around the tree roots her feet were resting on, but they were too
big around. The clicking noise died down and the shaking stopped. Taking a shaking breath in, Juliet found her voice.

"That was a close one. God it feels like a ten-ton weight is making its way through me! Do either of you want to do this for me!?"

James swallowed and shook his head no, removing a strand of stray hair from her face. Jack looked at her and smiled.

"Another ten seconds Juliet and then we'll rest ok? You're doing great."

Ten seconds? Why not two hours or five days!? Juliet was already becoming flustered.

"I don't know if I have another ten seconds in me!?"

Jack gave her a sympathetic look.

"Ok, take a breath and relax Juliet. You rest."

James wiped the tears from her eyes and kissed her forehead. Juliet closed her eyes and took a few breaths.

"I'm just going to rest my eyes for a few..."

James looked over at Jack and spoke.

"Doc, shouldn't we move her?"

Jack shook his head no.

"No, I'm afraid it's too late for that."

His eyes darkened as he looked at Jack.

"Why not? You want her to have this baby in the dirt?"

Jack shook his head again and frowned.

"Sawyer we don't really have a choice here. Juliet can't control when the baby comes. She's coming right now. There's nothing we can do to stop it."

Sighing, James wiped some sweat from Juliet's forehead.

"You gotta promise me doc that nothin' is gonna happen to either of them."

Jack knew what he was doing.

"You have my word Sawyer that nothing will happen to them. You have nothing to worry about. Juliet is doing very well."

Looking over at Juliet, Jack saw her open up her eyes. Juliet cried out as another contraction bit through her.

"Get Hayley out please!"

Both Jack and James looked at Juliet confused. But it was James who spoke first.

"Who's Hayley blondie? I thought we decided on Cara?"

Juliet nodded and blew through the last of the contraction. She knew Jack would ask her to start pushing again.

"We did... Look inside my shirt pocket. There's a picture in there..."

James fished a photo out of Juliet's shirt pocket. It was worn and crumpled but he could clearly see Juliet sitting in a hospital bed holding a
newborn.

"Who's this?"

Juliet gave James a watery smile and glanced at the picture.

"She's my daughter. That's Hayley. She must be getting so big by now. I was only supposed to be here six months, but I've been away from her for six years. She's living with my sister."

James stayed quiet for a moment. Jack was the one to break the awkward silence.

"Juliet, I want you to give me another push now. That's it."

Grunting, Juliet put her chin to her chest and used what strength she had left to push. She felt like she wasn't getting anywhere when
suddenly she heard Jack's voice.

"You're doing great Juliet; I can see the head! Keep going, your almost over the hard part."

Juliet shook her head no and kept her grip on James' hands.

"I can't do this! We are not having a second kid do you understand me James!?"

Everything happened so fast after that and soon a baby's crying filled the space of the strange tree with the twisted roots.

"You have a beautiful little girl."

Juliet wasn't even registering what was going on around, she was zoned in on the beautiful baby that was now lying on her stomach. She knew that she was safe for now. She was alive.

To Be Continued...