Illusions of the island *A LOST fanfic*

Chapter 48: Keeping the secrets of the island

"What are you drawing baby?"

Cara had grabbed for a green crayon and was coloring on a piece of paper.

"The island mama."

Juliet frowned and pulled Cara into her lap on top of her bed.

"Cara honey, we need to talk about that. What have you been telling people about the island?"

Cara shrugged her shoulders and continued coloring.

"Just that its far away and you had me under a big scary tree with icky roots."

Juliet was about to respond when her phone buzzed in her pocket. Pulling it out, she answered it.

"David? Ok slow down. What's Mrs. Stevenson's status? Ok did you try placing her in McRoberts position? Am I sure? David, you and I have used that technique lots of times to successfully deliver a baby. Yes. Is the epidural on board? Alright. Let me know how the baby and Mrs. Stevenson are when you get everything under control."

Hanging up her phone, she saw a worried looked on Cara's face.

"Was that Uncle David? Why do you look scared mama?"

Juliet shook her head and kissed Cara's forehead.

"Mommy's just nervous. There is a very sick baby coming today and mommy just hopes that she's ok."

Cara continued drawing her palm tree on the piece of paper in front of her. Then she grabbed for a black crayon. As she was beginning to scribble on the piece of paper, Juliet stopped her. Her heart was racing.

"Cara, baby girl, we need to talk about this. I know you have bad dreams about the island a lot, and that's ok. Mommy and daddy have them too. But do you know what mommy and daddy do when we have those bad dreams sweetie? We talk about them, and when we talk about them, it makes us feel better."

Frowning, Cara watched Juliet, a worried expression still planted on her face.

"You said your chest hurts when you think about the island huh mama?"

Juliet nodded and reigned in what she was beginning to feel. She never liked the feeling when it came on, it was like a large weight crushing her from the inside out. She wasn't sure what was going on, things were sounding very far away and Cara was hysterical. She heard Cara calling for James.

"DADDY!?"

There was that image of water and her drowning again. She hadn't had that 'vision' in almost four years. The weight continued to crush her from the inside out. Her lungs were screaming at her to breathe, but she felt like they couldn't get any air in or out. She could see everything, and she felt like she was in a tunnel. But she couldn't respond.

"Breathe baby. BREATHE!"

Juliet tried to get a breath in, but all she was aware of was a slight wheeze in her chest. What's going on? Soon she heard more voices and a bright light was being shined into her eyes. Then a familiar voice.

"Juliet? Can you hear me? It's Jack."

Jack? What was Jack doing here? Why were all these other people in her house? She could feel oxygen in her nose, but she wasn't sure she was getting any into her lungs. She heard James voice, but it wasn't directed at her.

"Doc! What's goin' on?"

When she could finally see again, she found that she wasn't home at all, but in an emergency room. How'd I get here? She still couldn't breathe, which didn't make any sense. A blurry figure entered the room, and Juliet tried moving her head.

"Juliet, its David. Can you follow my finger?"

David was sounding very far away, and now she couldn't see him. Panic began to well up inside her. She couldn't see any of the people surrounding her, but she found she was
somewhere else. Her heart sank when she realized where she was. There were palm trees in every direction. No. NO!? I don't want to go back!? She could hear waves crashing against the shoreline, so she knew she was close to the beach. She heard David's voice again, and Juliet had to wonder: What's going on?

"Come back to us Juliet."

Come back? Where was she? Where ever she was, it was disguising itself as the island. She didn't like it. Staying here in the jungle would afford her no protection. At least on the beach, she could hide in her shelter from the Black Smoke Monster. But then, it never came on the beach. The faraway voices were now frantic.

"Turn her onto her side! Where is all this fluid coming from?"

Juliet was suddenly in the ocean; the water was pouring over her and she felt like water was filling her lungs. When she resurfaced, she found a coughing fit was taking hold of her and wasn't about to let go. What kind of nightmare was this? She felt hands on her back, and then something was suctioning the water from her mouth perhaps? Was she losing her grip on reality? The ocean around her disappeared and bright light replaced it. She could see several faces she recognized. There was a sour taste of bile in her mouth. Had she vomited and not known about it? A nurse was wiping away some saliva by her bottom lip. A light was being shined in her eyes again, but it wasn't Jack who was doing it. She heard David's voice instead.

"Juliet, can you focus on the light?"

Blinking and squinting against the light, Juliet looked straight at David. A smile spread across David's face and he spoke again.

"There you are. You gave us a little scare there Jules. We're just giving you some supplemental oxygen to help you breathe a little easier. Ok?"

Either the island was finding another way to punish her, or there was something wrong. Clearing her throat, she looked David square in the eye.

"The island will never let us go David. You know that."

David's eyes grew wide as he watched Juliet's still form in front of him.

"Don't worry, you're safe here Jules."

Juliet's attention wandered to the monitors and she closed her eyes, trying to drown out the memories that haunted her even when she was wide awake.

"I wish I could believe you David."

David also knew that things from the island wouldn't stay buried. But keeping the secrets from them was no easy task. The others in the room look confused at the interlude between Juliet and David. But Jack and James were the only ones who understood.

"You can Jules. You really have nothing to be afraid of here."

Juliet trying to rise from the stretcher she was lying on, felt four sets of hands push her back down.

"Whoa. We need to keep you here. Just for tonight. We need to monitor your condition. There was a lot of fluid filling your lungs. Until we find out why it happened to you, your not leaving."

Sighing, Juliet lay back and stared at the ceiling.

"Alright. But if I get an all clear, I get to go home tomorrow right?"

David nodded and squeezed Juliet's hand.

"You have my word. Now get some rest. We'll figure this out."

To Be Continued...