Illusions of the island *A LOST fanfic*

Chapter 26: A breakthrough and a success

Juliet smiled for the first time in days when Ben personally came in with Cara tucked away in his arms. Her heart instantly climbed into her throat and pounded with the ferocity of a roaring lion.

"You give me my baby this instant Ben. I'm through playing games with you. NOW."

Cara started to whimper in Ben's arms and flailed.

"Of course, Juliet. Anything for you."

Handing Cara off to Juliet, Ben made himself at home at the microscope station and had a look at the results she'd been analyzing.

"You've been making excellent progress with Alecia. She's shown no signs of distress. What was your diagnosis? Is she stable and healthy?"

Juliet nodded and managed a small smile.

"22 weeks and everything is going as smoothly as possible. But Alecia isn't who I'm worried about. It's Jessie. 16 weeks in and she's already showing signs of constant nausea. She could fall into a coma in as little as two more weeks. My serum doesn't seem to be having the same effect on her as it does Alecia. I'll keep working on it, though. It's going to take some more time. Science can't be rushed Ben."

Frowning, Juliet knew that Ben was going to disapprove of her explanation given for Jessie.

"You have an extremely intelligent mind Juliet, try harder."

Insulted, Juliet could no longer contain her pent-up anger and slapped Ben across the cheek.

"If you'd give me access to more resources Ben, then I can complete my work."

Ben resisting the sting in his left cheek, nodded towards Juliet and replied.

"You'll have more help within the next forty-eight hours."

Slinking out of the room, Ben shut the door, leaving Juliet and David to their work. Looking up, Juliet heard static coming from a radio somewhere in the room.

"David? Do you hear that?"

David looking in the direction of the sound went about trying to find its source.

"It sounds like it's coming from over here somewhere."

Juliet's face lit up as she began to hear voices over it.

"Mayday, mayday, this is Arelia Titanius... Anyone receiving this transmission?"

Scrambling to find the radio, Juliet found it in a cupboard. Reaching for the receiver, she went about trying to answer them.

"This is Doctor Juliet Burke from the Staff medical station. Do you copy?"

Butterflies began to form in her stomach and she wondered if they'd heard her.

"Mayday, mayday this is Arelia Titanius... Anyone receiving this transmission?"

Frowning Juliet tried one more time.

"This is Doctor Juliet Burke from the Staff medical station. Do you copy?"

Her heart sank as the transmission faded out and her knees became weak. David broke the ice and spoke first.

"I don't think they can hear you Jules."

Juliet dropping the receiver felt lightheaded. The room began to spin. Her body became a ten-ton weight and black was beginning to seep into her vision. David managed to break her fall before she could connect with the concrete floor below her.

"Juliet?"

David didn't panic when she didn't answer. He remembered when something similar had happened three months before Hayley was born. It was stress related. Juliet was a strong woman, he found her stronger than other women he'd met in many ways, but this was her at her weakest. He'd never seen her so heartbroken before. What had this place done to her?

"What kind of mess have I gotten myself into?"

Juliet had to know a way off this island, but how? David hadn't any bright ideas now, he was more concerned about her unconscious form now lying on the bed a few feet away.

To Be Continued...