Illusions of the island *A LOST fanfic*

Chapter 28: 'The blame is inevitably on me'

"David, you don't know how sorry I am. I did my best. Here let me help you with that."

Shaking his head, he could only glare at Juliet. He held away the shovel and tried not to look at his sister.

"You've done enough Juliet."

Creasing her left brow, Juliet could only stare at David.

"David I know your angry right now. What's gotten into you? This isn't you."

She'd noticed a change in David over the last few days, and it wasn't the good kind either.

"I put my faith in you Juliet. I thought you could save Erica and my sister. You always know what to do. What the hell kind of nightmare is this!?"

Staying quiet, Juliet let David scream to his heart's content at the island. Distracting herself with Cara in the sling/baby carrier made from one of the old airline blankets, she listened to her cooing in it.

"I did everything humanly possible to keep you alive. Erica and I need you Jess."

This was a very different side of David Juliet had never seen before. She'd considered him her best friend and he helped her with a personal and private experience. The birth of her first daughter Hayley. She felt she needed to air out her feelings towards the situation all while trying to keep both Cara and Erica steady in her arms.

"The blame is inevitably on me David. Feel free to scream. As far as I'm concerned, I did fail you. I was supposed to take care of Jessie and she slipped right out of my hands. I did everything I could. You knew the risks, and so did Jessie. This island can be very unforgiving sometimes. This is one of those situations which you cannot change David. Here. Let me help you."

David shaking his head, held the shovel away again.

"No. I need to do this."

Cara and Erica began to whimper from the comfortable spot in the blankets they were securely in. David stopped digging and looked up at Juliet.

"I don't have a bottle warmed for her. Can you feed her?"

Juliet sat silent for a moment and then slowly nodded her head.

"You want me to feed her? David, I'm not her mother."

For only a fraction of a moment, David seemed to relent on his sour attitude towards Juliet and saw his niece stick a hand out of the blanket.

"You know what they say: 'mother's milk is better.' Besides, she'll be stronger that way."

Nodding, Juliet set herself against a palm tree and sat down.

"Ok. But just this once. I don't know how much she'll get though. My supplies kind of running a little dry. Besides. I'm trying to wean Cara anyways. I want her on solid foods."

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When Juliet and David got back to the house, he took Erica from her and gave her a small smile.

"Thank-you for taking care of her Juliet. I know I was asking a lot of you to feed Erica for me. You don't look so good. Maybe you should have a nap. I'll watch the girls for a little while."