Illusions of the island *A LOST fanfic*

Chapter 32: Sand and Reunions

The sound of the ocean never sounded better to Juliet. When her and David came through the jungle brush and foliage, her eyes fell on James who was filling his old water bottle with water from the trough. Something made him look in the direction of the people half jogging towards the tree line. His face went from worried to elated when he saw Juliet emerge from the jungle.

"Juliet?"

All her pent-up worry came barreling out and she wanted to throw herself into James' arms, but she had Cara with her. James got to Juliet as quickly as the sand would allow and pulled her in for a kiss. When they broke for air, they got lost in each other's gazes.

"I thought I'd lost you blondie."

Juliet felt a blush coming on.

"You haven't lost me James. Cara and I came back in one piece. I have a lot to tell you though."

James eyed the bag slung over her shoulder.

"What's in the bag?"

Shifting Cara, Juliet pulled her bag in front of her and opened it up.

"A plane transceiver, from a downed plane David and I found out in the jungle."

James eyed the man with the glasses and the graying hairline behind Juliet.

"Who's that behind ya?"

Juliet turned to him and smiled.

"That's David. We used to work together in the research lab back in Miami. Ben brought him here."

James still eyed David suspiciously.

"So why did Benny-boy bring you here?"

David stepped forward and frowned.

"It's personal. I'm David Jacobson, and this is my niece Erica. You must be James. It's nice to meet you."

James tried not to flinch and took a step back.

"How do you know my name?"

Juliet put a hand on James forearm.

"James, take a breath and relax. David is stuck here just like the rest of us."

James relented and shook hands with David.

"Welcome to crap-hole-island, doc."

David turned his attention to Erica who was squirming in his arms.

"Oh, it's time for her to eat. Juliet?"

Turning back to David, she frowned.

"Sorry David. No can do. Afraid the kitchen is permanently closed for her. I don't have anything to give her."

While balancing Cara in her arms, she pulled out a bottle of water and a can of formula for David.

"Oh right. Sorry Jules. Thanks."

David walked away with Erica and formula in tow, sitting down under a shaded palm tree to feed her. James took her by the arm and led her towards their tent.

"You fed his niece?"

Juliet set Cara down in her makeshift crib and made sure she was sleeping before she responded to James.

"It was only a couple of times. Besides, she'd just lost her mother and I felt that formula right after she was born wasn't going to cut it. Besides its good for her immune system."

James clenched his jaw and raised his voice.

"It's not your job Juliet to take care of everyone else's kid! You've got your own family to take care of!"

Juliet felt her anger beginning to bubble up, into her throat and belted out of her mouth.

"The mothers on this island need me James! I won't turn my back on them! My job isn't easy, especially in this place. You have no idea what I've had to go through in the last seven years to try and save all these women! You make it sound as if it were simple, but it's not! Your just angry because I fed someone else's child that wasn't mine!"

Picking Cara up from her crib, she walked out of their tent. She realized she had several pairs of eyes staring at her as she walked down the beach. When she was far enough away, she felt like collapsing under one of the palm trees. She spied Jack coming towards her and shook her head trying to calm Cara.

"What was that all about Juliet?"

Jack planted himself down on the sand next to Juliet and took Cara from her.

"James and I got into a fight."

Jack nodded and played with Cara's feet.

"I can see that. What happened?"

Running a hand through her long golden curls, Juliet shook them trying to reign in her thoughts.

"James got upset because of my friend David over there. His sister died a couple of months ago, and when we were burying her he asked if I could feed Erica. I told him I'd only do it once. Then he was on his own. I ended up doing it a second time. It was only two times. James blew his top because he didn't like the fact that I was breastfeeding someone else's kid. He said that I had my own family and that I should take care of my own. I told him it was my job to help the women of this island, their lives and their babies came first. I love James with everything I've got, but sometimes I don't think it's enough. I feel like we're turning into my mom and dad."

Jack put a hand on her shoulder and gave his advice.

"Give him another chance Juliet. Give him some time to cool off. He'll have to face the reality of the situation sooner rather than later."

Juliet shut her eyes and then opened them again.

"This is one of those times where he's acting like the same man I met years ago. They are two different people. I just wish I could help him see that I was doing it for her benefit."

Juliet stretched and Jack spotted a large bruise on her side.

"Juliet? Where'd you get that bruise?"

Pulling her shirt down over her side, Juliet wrapped her arms around herself protectively.

"Nothing."

Jack knew it wasn't 'nothing'.

"You didn't get that from falling down. What happened?"

Juliet relented and lifted her shirt a little to examine the bruise further.

"Alright. Two weeks ago, Cara and I, we were leaving the barracks and we were a few feet outside the sonic fence. The Black Smoke came charging through the jungle and threw me against a tree several times. I don't even remember going back to the barracks. The next thing I know, David is standing over me in my living room."

Jack prodded her for more.

"Then what happened?"

Sighing, Juliet continued her story.

"I panicked when I couldn't find Cara, slurred my speech and said I needed to feed her. David asked me how many fingers he was holding up and I told him six. That's when I realized I had a concussion. I fought hard to stay awake, but I passed out because of the pain. My stomach's still bothering me."

Jack looked alarmed now, and it was making Juliet uncomfortable.

"You could have a slow blood leak somewhere inside your body. You and I should go to the medical station to determine that."

Juliet was certain this wasn't going to bear good news.

To Be Continued...