Part 165: Boone's Funeral

Inside the cave, it was an strange silence. No one was in the cave except Mandy, Sayid and Shannon. The tall blonde kneeled beside the body of her step-brother. She had been crying for 15 minutes and stopped, too weak to cry anymore. Mandy didn’t cry either; just slowly wiped a tear whenever it fell from her eyes. Sayid wasn’t sure what to do. He slowly kneeled down next to Shannon. “Is there anything I can do for you?” he asked her.

Shannon said nothing. She gently stroked Boone’s hair. Sayid looked back to Mandy, who just rested on a nearby rockface bench. Her face was bright red, meaning she had been crying for some time. The Iraqi turned back to the tall blonde. “Sun said he wouldn't let Jack take his leg,” he whispered,” He didn't want him using up the antibiotics. She said he knew what was happening to him . . . that he was brave.”

“He was beyond brave,” Mandy whispered, “He was fearless.”

“Sayid . . .” Shannon whispered, “Please . . .I . . .want to be with him . .”

“I understand,” he whispered, getting up.

He began to walk out of the cave, then over to Mandy. He offered no words; just extended his hand. Mandy took it, smiling. She understood he was giving her what sympathy he had. The Middle Easterner then slowly began his exit of the cave. Mandy looked over at Shannon, who still was doing nothing but stroking his hair. The young blonde sniffed and then stood up, making her way toward the exit. “Don’t go,” the tall blonde whispered.

Mandy turned around, not expecting Shannon to say that. The kneeling blonde woman still didn’t look at her. She simply extended her hand to her side. Mandy then sniffed again, then walked over and kneeled down; taking her hand. Shannon squeezed it tightly, wanting to hold onto someone. A slow tear fell from the tall blonde’s left eye. “I’m glad you were with him,” she whispered, “If anybody . .deserves to be here with me . . .it’s you.”

“Thank you,” Mandy whispered.

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Jack walked through the woods of the island. He paused on a tree, and grabbed his water bottle, taking a sip. He grunted when he realized it was empty. The doctor grunted even further when he realized the truth that is had been empty for the past five minutes; and this was the fourth time he was taking a sip of the phantom water. Jack was about to move out, until Kate jogged into view. She puffed for air for a second. “What are you doing out here?” he asked.

“Looking for you.” She confessed.

“You found me.” He replied, starting to move again.

“You're walking in circles. You need to come back.”

“Not without Locke and Mia.”

“You haven't slept. You gave Boone your own blood.” Kate pointed out.

“Locke lied.” Jack grunted.

“Well, now you’re . . .”

“HE LIED, KATE!” Jack yelled, “Boone did not fall off any cliff. His leg was crushed, and I based my medical treatment on his lie. I am going to find out why he lied. I don’t know if Mia had anything to do with this but I will find that out too!”

“Jack!” Kate screamed.

“Leave me alone!” He grunted.

“Jack, people are scared, and don’t know what to think” the brunette pleaded,” Please come back.”

“You better listen to her, Jack,” Jenny replied.

The doctor looked into the distance and realized his young ex-sister-in-law must have followed Kate after him. Jenny stared at him with a mixture of contempt and sympathy. “Like it or not, these are your people,” she pointed behind her, “They need you to come back and tell them everything is going to be okay.”

“What do you care,” he scoffed.

“I don’t. Tony asked me to bring you back,” Jenny hissed, “I am doing this for him. So are you gonna walk back . . .or do I knock your ass out and carry you back?”

Jack didn’t answer. He knew the young girl could and probably would find great pleasure, in knocking him unconscious. He tried to walk back but felt a little woozy. He stumbled forward and Kate caught him. He braced himself on her as the trio began walking back toward the beach.


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McKay had finished digging the grave. This was the first time, he was getting depressed at bringing his short shovel. It seemed like all he was doing lately was digging graves. More people had died than he ever remembered being associated with. After he was done, John held out his hand. The Australian took it and helped him out of the hole. Most everybody was gathering around the grave site then. Sawyer stood by Natasha, who just sniffed at the sadness around her. Taylor quickly handed McKay a bottle of water and a towel. He took a sip, then tossed the rest on his head to cool him off.

Tony stayed with Marita and Eddie. Yolanda stood next to Micheal and Walt. She felt so bad for Mandy. Then she blinked when she felt Walt’s little hand reach up and take hers. She gently squeezed it, seeing as he needed another hand to hold. Taylor and McKay walked over to Mandy who stood with Shannon and Sayid. Charlie stayed with Claire who comforted her newborn son. Then Hurley and Jack came through the crowd, carrying Boone’s body. Seth and Shanna moved out of the way to let them pass.

They slowly put down the body of the young man. Jack walked over and checked him, as he was wrapped up in a tarp, the best they could offer. He coughed and stood up, feeling dizzy. He knew he was supposed to say something but he didn’t know what to say. He didn’t know how to think or feel at the moment. He slowly looked over to the young man’s sister. “Shannon?” he called, “Did you want to say something?”

Shannon said nothing. Mandy looked at her, taking her hand. After a few minutes, the tall blond simply whispered, “No.”

There was a weird long pause. Jack was about to say something else but then was interrupted by Sayid. “I didn't know Boone very well, and for that I am sorry.” He told the crowd, “On our 6th day here a woman named Joanna died. She drowned. And Boone was the first one into the water. I didn't know him, but I remember his courage. And I know he will be missed.”

“That’s nice,” Mandy wiped a tear, “I didn’t know that.”

“Mandy, do you want to say something?” Jack asked her.

Taylor held onto her friend as she gathered herself. Mandy looked to the crowd and her eyes fell on her other friend, Seth. “I think . .I will remember Boone the most . .when he held me close the night we were at Seth, Charlie and Shanna’s concert.” She wept.

Seth looked at her as he eyes peered toward him; almost piercing his soul.

“Seth, could you sing something now?” she asked, “Something for . .Boone.”

Boone shook his head in agreement. How could he refuse such a beautiful request? Shanna could see the pain in his face. She walked over and gently took his arm. The young bookstore worker wiped his tears and looked at the crowd. “I only know one song . ..taught to me by my mother . . .It’s the only thing I can think of . .to fit this . . moment.” He muttered.

Seth slowly raised his head and coughed. He closed his eyes and began to concentrate on the words. “Amazing Grace,” he sung, “How sweet the sound.

That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now I’m found
Was blind . . .but now I see.”

Tony gulped, feeling a tear come out his good eye. Marita enjoyed the hymn, basking in it’s beauty. Seth continued to sing and then opened his eyes when he realized Bernard and Rose were singing along with him.

Through many dangers, toils and snares...
we have already come.
T'was Grace that brought us safe thus far...
and Grace will lead us home.

Then a few other people who knew the words started to sing along, including Charlie and Claire.

When we've been here ten thousand years...
bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise...
then when we've first begun.

Mandy was crying, a mixture of joy and sadness. She wanted Seth to sing but never expected the majority of the crowd to sing along with him. The young man finally wiped his tears, and looked at the blonde smiling; a silent way of asking if her if that was okay. She mouthed the words Thank You to him.

“It was my fault.” Locke said.

The whole crowd diverted their attention to the voice behind him. They turned to see Locke standing there, blood soaked into his shirt. Mia stood by him, clearly upset. Her knees were quivering as if it was difficult to stand. Her best friends Seth and Shanna looked at her, wondering what happened. John moved some of the others out of the way to look at her. She slowly let her eyes fall upon his. The archer just looked sympathedic, already knowing that somehow she blamed herself for this. He wanted to run to her and tell her how wrong she was. He knew she wouldn’t have anything to do with this tragedy; he knew her better than that. “We found a plane, a Beechcraft, in the jungle” Locke started to tell them,”. It was lodged in the canopy so . . I would have gone up, but my leg was hurt so he . . .I should have gone up anyway . . . there was a radio inside and he thought he could. . . .look, his weight must have made the plane shift and it fell . .Mia was trying to pull him out but . .the plane hit her as it fell and it happened because he was trying to help us. He was . . . . a hero.”

The crowd was shocked to hear that they were not hunting for boar. Most everybody had already knew Locke and knew what he was about. The only one who felt any different at the moment was Jack. His face slowly began to contort with rage. He then pushed back through Hurley and the crowd. He began to run toward Locke. “WHERE WERE YOU?” he screamed, “WHERE THE HELL WERE YOU TWO?”

“Jack, please don’t-“ Mia tried to say.

The young Lakota girl grunted as Jack grabbed her and shoved her aside. She yelped as she fell into the sand. Within seconds, Jack tackled Locke. The two men fell onto the sand, as Jack tried to strangle him. “WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM?” he screamed.

Charlie and Sawyer ran over to try and pull him off but they weren’t succeeding. Jack fought to get his hands on the bald man, who didn’t fight back. “WHERE WERE YOU?” He screamed, “YOU LEFT HIM TO DIE! YOU LIED TO ME!! WHERE WERE-“

Before Jack could finished his sentence, John grabbed him and put him in a headlock. The doctor grunted as he found his airway being cut off. Kate started wildly at the archer who never lifted finger against anyway doing this now. McKay ran over to his friend and Marita quickly told Tony what was happening. Jack struggled to fight back but he couldn’t fight against John’s toned archery arms. “I know you are upset,” he grunted, “We all are but this is not what you should be doing at that boy’s funeral.”

Jack grunted, trying to breath. John leaned in closer to his ear. “And for the future, you toss Mia aside like unwanted trash again, you and me go round-and-round, understand?” he hissed.

“John, let him go,” Tony ordered.

John let the doctor go. Jack fell onto the sand, gasping for air. Kate and Charlie ran to him to help him out. The archer slowly walked over to Mia who was still on the ground, crying. He kneeled down and gently touched her on the arm. “Are you okay?” he asked.

She looked up to see Seth and Shanna walking over toward her. Mia tried to talk but all she could do was hold John’s shoulder. “I didn’t want this, John . .I thought . .I thought I save him . .I wasn’t fast . .” she cried.

“I know that, honey,” He said, taking her into his arms and standing up, holding her, “Let me take you back to camp.”

Seth and Shanna followed John as he carried Mia back to their little encampment. The archer turned around to looked at Jack who held onto his throat. The doctor looked at the man in contempt. John returned the gaze, forcing the man to remember his warning. Locke looked at Jack and then slowly walked away. McKay walked back to the gravesite and motioned for some of the other men to help him.

Shannon watched Locke leave. What did Jack mean?