Illusions of the island *A LOST fanfic*

Chapter 23: I'm doing this for Cara, not for you.'

"Robert and I, we started having trouble trying to have a baby about a year ago. I thought maybe my cycles were a bit off. I don't understand."

Juliet sat on a stool in front of Alecia Larsons and listened intently, with patience and sympathy. Writing notes as she did so. Holding back for a moment, Juliet puts a hand on Alecia's shoulder and then handed her the box of tissues from the counter.

"I recognize this is very frustrating for you and I totally understand. This place can get kind of crazy sometimes. What I'm going to do is take a blood sample from you. One from you and one from your husband."

Alecia nodded at Juliet and held out her left arm.

"Anything you need from me, you can have."

Pulling on a pair of gloves, Juliet got out tubing and attached needle setting it aside on the counter. Grabbing for two big tubes, she came a little closer to Alecia. Alecia continued her thought as Juliet organized her supplies.

"You may have to put something hot on my arm. It's sort of tough to see my veins."

Nodding, Juliet probed Alecia's forearm with her index finger, trying to cause a vein to pop upward. A couple of minutes went by and she shook her head.

"You're right. Need something hot on that. Give me a minute."

Alecia waited patiently for Juliet as she grabbed for a hot pack out of the warmer in the corner of the room. As Juliet procured the hot pack, she gently put it atop Alecia's left forearm and listened as Alecia spoke up one time more.

"Are you the lone doctor on this island?"

Juliet's thoughts went to Jack. But she didn't need to tell these people there were two of them. It would be utterly pointless. Unless either one of them needed a spinal surgeon. It was all they needed to know.

"The only one of my expertise on this island. Let's see if we've got a vein. Well, there we go. We have a winner. Little poke here. Relax your arm."

Alecia looked away and Juliet filled the two tubes with blood. Putting a label on both she placed them inside the centrifuge. Juliet looked at Alecia for a moment and a frown pasted itself on her face.

"You're looking a little pale. Have some orange juice and a cookie. Relax for a few minutes. Once you feel up to it, I'll need a urine sample."

Alecia just nodded and got up leaving the room. Juliet looked to Robert who now sat on a chair in front of her.

"Alecia and I, we only started trying to have a baby last year. But we'd thought about starting a family for at least a few years now. We just hadn't decided it was the right time yet. Can you help us?"

Juliet nodded and looked Robert straight in the eye.

"You have my word Robert that I will do everything I can to help the two of you get pregnant. I will do my best."

Robert shook hands with Juliet and nodded with sympathy.

"Thank-you."

Everything had to work, she knew it would. But sometimes things didn't always come out the way they were supposed to. This was the island after all, and it could rip just about anyone away that it wanted to.

"It's my pleasure Robert. I know how these situations can be. They are frustrating and sometimes heartbreaking. I want you to know that my success rate with this is 95 percent accurate."

The smile slid right off Robert's face.

"The other five percent?"

Juliet frowned and looked down at herself and then back up to Robert again.

"I was almost the other five percent. The other five percent is there is a risk of Alecia going into labor early, shortness of breath, and then she'll slip into a coma and die. I don't want you to fall into that group. I'm here for you every step of the way. Don't hesitate to come and see me if you need anything. Ok?"

Running a hand through her hair, Juliet closed the second file of the next couple she was tasked to help. She'd get on track with them tomorrow. The third file she opened up, she narrowed her eyes at. She felt hot breath on the back of her neck.

"Why me Ben?"

Perusing her file, Juliet found every last piece of medical evidence leading back to her pregnancy with Hayley. Turning to Ben, she heard him speak.

"Yes, we know about Hayley too. Did you think you could keep her out of your medical file? She does exist."

Juliet wanted to scoff at Ben. He'd manipulated her to do so many things in the past. She wasn't surprised he was still doing it now. It was simply just his nature.

"I ask you again Ben, why me?"

Ben got mere inches from her face and looked deep into her eyes.

"The one child that you have given birth to is very special. She could do great things on this island if she chose to. Who's to say that the next one won't be just as special as Cara?"

Juliet scooted farther away from Ben.

"I told you before Ben, I am not getting pregnant just so you can have another daughter. Do I look like a baby mill to you?"

Ben looked at her as if in shock for a moment or two and then shook his head no.

"No of course not Juliet. My apologies. I just want to make sure your happy."

That did it for Juliet, balling her fists she was ready to deck him a good one.

"Make sure I'm HAPPY!? Who do you think you are Ben? Huh? I've been trying to get off this island for almost 8 years now, and you just keep me from doing that. What's so wrong with me being able to go home?"

Ben shook his head and became serious.

"Why would I do that? I can give you all the comforts of home right here. If not more."

Losing her nerve, Juliet let her left hand connect with his right cheek.

"I'm not doing this for you Ben, I'm doing this for Cara. The answer is no."

To Be Continued...