Illusions of the island *A LOST fanfic*

Chapter 40: The hangout tree house

"Jack? Do you know what's wrong with Cara?"

Juliet was trying not to wring her hands in wrought nervousness, but it was coming through anyways. Jack sat behind his desk in his office, hands flat on the top of it, frowning.

"There's nothing impinging upon her spinal column. According to her
x-rays at least. There doesn't seem to be any kind of swelling either. I can run further tests on her, but I don't know what good that'll do other than put more stress on her."

Sighing in defeat, Juliet looked to James. James was trying not to ball his fists, but he felt his anger welling up.

"Can't you do anything for her doc?"

Jack shook his head no and looked back at Cara's x-rays.

"Like I said James, I can run some more tests, but I don't know what good that'll do, other than put more stress on her."
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Two years later

"Hey squirt, can you hand me those nails right there?"

Hayley handed James a couple of nails and then put her hands on her hips. Hammering the nails into the board, James hit his thumb. Damn hammer!

"I'm thirteen daddy. I'm not a little girl anymore. I'm becoming a woman."

James chuckled at Hayley and then turned his gaze towards Juliet's approaching form.

"You sound like your mama."

Hayley's face lit up as she saw Jack just behind Juliet.

"Uncle Jack! Are you still coming to my dance competition this weekend?"

He nodded and looked up at the tree house under construction.

"Well at least this tree isn't too high. Your aunt tried to climb a really tall palm tree right before Megan was born while we were still on the island."

Hayley sat and stared at Jack for a moment, then crossed her arms.

"So, does that mean Megan doesn't have a birth certificate?"

Jack nodded and sat down in the lawn chair next to hers.

"Yes, and neither does your sister."

Hayley sat cross-legged in her chair and furrowed her eyebrows. Her blond curls fell in her face. Juliet sat on the other side of her.

"I have a little confession to make Hayley. You don't have one either. Do you know where you were born?"

Nodding, Hayley told her mother what she'd been told for the last four years.

"Mama I already know. At the hospital, across from the university. You told me. Doesn't the hospital keep birth certificates?"

Juliet shook her head no and looked like she was in pain for a second or two.

"Baby, you weren't born in the hospital across from the university. You were born inside the Medical research facility at the university. I couldn't make it to the hospital. I had you in the bathroom. Not a glamorous entrance I'll tell you. Thank Uncle David for bringing you into the world."

Hayley balled her fists for a moment.

"What about daddy? Where was he?"

Taking a breath, Juliet would have a hard time explaining this to her 13-year-old daughter.

"Baby, we didn't know each other then."

Hayley got tears in her eyes. Mirror image of Juliet she held them in and started pacing when she got up.

"But you always said you and daddy were together. He wasn't there because he was on a business trip. You lied to me! Why?"

Juliet flinched a little. Hayley sounded just like her when she'd gotten angry at Ben. She would have to play her sister's card for a few minutes.

"Your Aunt Rachel was having trouble having a baby so I helped her out."

Hayley became confused.

"So, you had me for her? So, you're not my mother?"

Getting up, Juliet took Hayley's hands and held onto them.

"No. I had to make sure what was happening to her wasn't happening to me too. You are a miracle. I'm your mother and James is your dad. I promise. Our DNA matches."

Hayley nodded and wiped her tears. Looking up at James she put her hands on her hips.

"Daddy, are you done building our hangout treehouse yet? I want a clubhouse to bring my friends in. And I guess Cara can play in it too."

Closing her eyes, Hayley shook her head and looked at her sister over in the chair on the other side of Jack.

"I forgot. She can't walk very good yet. Uncle Jack, are you sure you don't know what's wrong with her?"

A somber look crossed his face and he shook his head no.

"No. I can't see the source of the problem. It's there, I just can't find it."

Cara glared at her sister and pushed herself up from the lawn chair next to Jack. Jack quickly vacated his seat and was by her side.

"Easy. One step at a time Cara."

Looking up at Jack, Cara tried pushing his hands away.

"I've got it Uncle Jack. I'm not a baby."

Losing her balance, she felt Jack's arms behind her.

"Whoa. The grass is a little harder to walk on than the kitchen floor. Do you want me to get Sparky for you?"

Cara held onto the arm rests of the lawn chair while Jack went to get Sparky her service dog. Sparky was an obedient Golden retriever who listened to everything Cara said to him.

She watched as James hammered a nail into the board in the palm tree.

"Daddy? How am I going to get up there?"

James stopped hammering and looked to Cara.

"No worries princess. Daddy will build ya a swing. We'll pull you up."

Cara shook her head and watched as her dog came towards her.

"No daddy. I'm going to get up in the tree house just like Hayley. I'm a big girl."

She stared up at the tree house and smiled. Juliet pulled her into her arms and picked her up.

"You will get up there with your sister. I promise."

James smiled and pulled Cara from Juliet's arms, hoisting her to the now finished treehouse.

"Wow! You can see everything from up here!"

Hayley gave Cara an annoyed look.

"Hey, I thought I was supposed to go up first!"

Juliet knew everything would get better soon. Maybe a tree house wasn't exactly the answer, but it was a start.

To Be Continued...