Part 266: Something about Mandy

Mandy ran into the cave, ducking in from the rain. She hated it when it would start abruptly like that. She flung her wet hair back against her head. The caves were mostly empty. A few people still stayed in them, mostly for the same reasons they did previous; they still had the fear of The Liberation hanging over their heads. The young blonde was more comfortable hanging around people like McKay and Seth; people she knew would protect her.

The blonde walked over Jack’s medical area, looking for the bandaid she needed. As she found it and began to place it on her minor thumb cut, when she saw a familiar jungle boy over in the clothing area. She smirked as Alexander was trying on clothes for the first time. The Californian had to admit she liked seeing him in a loincloth but it was probably better he start getting used to clothes. After all, she naturally assumed since there was nothing left for Alexander, he would accompany them back to the normal world. However, she did notice something else amusing.

Mandy walked up to him and tapped him on the shoulder. Alexander turned and smiled. She then reached up and pulled down his collar, showing him the tag under his chin. “The tag goes in the back,” she smirked.

“Oh,” Alexander said, slightly embarrassed.

“Pull your arms in,” she said.

Alexander tucked his arms in the shirt and Mandy began to pull it around, twisting it so the shirt was finally on correctly. The wild boy smiled as it indeed felt better. Mandy laughed, never imagining she would be helping someone at the age of 17 learn how to wear a simple t-shirt. As she finally got the shirt correctly, she swept her hands over his abs. For a moment, the feel of his muscle body attracted her. She looked up to him and noticed he was looking at her as well. He slowly smiled, then within seconds, brought her close and kissed her. Mandy closed her eyes, enjoying the soft touch; a touch she missed. Alexander slowly parted from her, waiting for her to say something. The young blonde slowly opened her eyes.

And immediately thought of Boone.

Alexander was confused when Mandy’s face twisted in an angry shaped. He jolted from the slap she quickly gave him. “NO!” she pointed at him, like a misbehaving puppy, “NO!”

“Mandy . .” Alexander whispered, shocked by her reaction.

Mandy turned around and stormed off into the middle of the cave. She then dove out into the rain and ran off. The wild boy stared in shock.

What did he do wrong?



Alexander continued to walk toward the beach. He wasn’t use to be around people that were older than him. He missed his tribe considerably; even though he still had Andra and Flower. However, Shanna was taking care of his sister and Sayid was then honor bound by Andra’s mother to take care of her. Mandy had taken it upon herself to look after Alexander, helping to speak English. He cared about her; he wasn’t ashamed to admit it. However, he wasn’t under the impression she was with someone. Why would she reject him?

The young man then walked down the beach and found himself at McKay’s tent. The bald man was sipping on some coffee, reading a magazine that was a four months old. The Australian then noticed the young man was standing outside in the rain. “Alexander, get in here by the fire,” he motioned, “If you are going to wear clothes, you can’t stand in the rain. You will catch cold.”

“Catch cold?” he asked.

“Sorry,” McKay smirked, “Become sick.”

“Oh, Oui.” He agreed.

The two men sat down next the fire as the rain continued to pour outside. Alexander flung his wet hair back from his eyes, motioning toward the fire keeping him warm. “Master McKay,” he whispered, “peux-je vous demander une question?”

“Oui, vous pouvez,” he smiled, “But I want you to ask me in English, cause you need the practice anyway.”

Alexander shook his head. “I must be punished. I have made Mandy . . mad at me.” He pointed toward his chest.

“What did you do?” McKay raised an eyebrow.

“I . . .kissed her.” The wild boy sighed, “And then she hit me.”

McKay sighed, closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose. “I wish you hadn’t done that, son,” he moaned, “It’s too soon.”

“Too . . .soon?” the boy looked at him.

“Yes. In my honest opinion . . .I think you are good for Mandy. I think . .when she looks after you, it helps her to look after herself. And maybe with enough time, she might have considered becoming . . . closer to you. But things are different now.”

“What . . .different?”

McKay sighed. He didn’t feel comfortable telling him, cause it wasn’t his place. However, he figured he should tell him so he didn’t make any more mistakes in the future. “Mandy . . ..is with child,” he motioned around the belly.

Alexander’s eyes became wider upon hearing that news. “Mandy . . .make baby soon?” he asked.

“Not soon but soon enough. You kissed her cause you thought she was with no one, right?”

“Yes,” the wild boy shook his head.

“But she was with someone. His name was Boone. Boone was very special to Mandy and he died. They were . . .together . . long enough for Boone and Mandy to make baby.”

The jungle child slowly lowered his head and placed his hands on his head, resting his arms on his knees. “I did not know.” He whispered.

“It’s not your fault, son,” McKay patted him on the arm, “Mandy still likes you. She just needs time.”

“Yes, Mandy need time.” Alexander then stood up, “Thank you, Master McKay. I know now what I should do.”

“Uh . .you’re welcome.” The Australian replied as he watched the boy go back into the jungle, under the pouring rain.

Taylor then stepped into the tent, looking for a towel. The blonde then took the cloth and proceeded to dry her hair. “Why do you still let Alexander call you Master?” she asked.

“It’s what he’s used to,” he said, picking the magazine back up, “Where we say Mister, he says Master. Besides . . .it sounds kinda cool.”

“Well, don’t expect me to call you that.” She said, sitting down next to him, “What are you reading?”

“I am not reading. I am staring.”

Taylor then turned to see the page that McKay had been staring at. It was a coupon advertisement for Hormel Bacon. “Oh, my God, “she gently rubbed the page, “I could rip that page out and eat it!”

“It’s what I have been contemplating for the past ten minutes.” McKay smirked.



The rain was slowly becoming a drizzle again. At the far corner of the beach, rested the grave of Boone Carlyle. Mandy sat down on her knees, staring at it and crying. She missed him terribly. She missed him even more now that she knew she was carrying his child. It wasn’t fair; her and Boone where soul mates. They would have married and raised the child together had they got off the Island. All Mandy had was Alexander and even though she liked him, it felt wrong. It felt wrong to like him cause she was carrying Boone’s child. What was she supposed to do? Why did he have to die?

Mandy then gasped a cold wind rushed over her and a gentle hand touched her shoulder.

She was afraid to look; cause she didn’t think it was true. She slowly tilted her head and saw the image of her lover looking down on her. “If there was one thing I never liked, “ Boone whispered, “It was to see you cry.”

“Am I . . .hallucinating?” Mandy wept.

“If that is what you need to believe, Mandy, feel free. It will make what I have to say a little more easier.”

“Boone . . .I miss you so much.”

“And I miss you, my sweet Mandy,” he kneeled down and embraced her.

Mandy felt like she was going to choke. It all felt so real but was it really happening? Was she talking with Boone’s ghost or was this a hallucination brought on by the stress of knowing Alexander? “I know you are hurting right now,” he whispered, as he held her in his arms,” But I will always be with you. Through our child . . .I will live on.”

“I wish . . .I wish you could help me raise our baby.” She cried.

“So do I . .but it wasn’t meant to be.”

“Boone, “ she said, turning to face him, “I . . kissed Alexander. I’m sorry.”

Boone then smiled his usual boyish smile. “What do you have to be sorry about?” he asked.

Mandy looked at him confused. He then gently reached up his hand and touched her cheek. A slow warmness filled her body. “You don’t remember what I said . ..did you?” he smiled, “It’s understandable. Considering the state I was in.”

“What . . .what did you say?” Mandy asked.

The blonde then felt cold and dark. She was starting to panic like she was back in the cave when Boone was dying. She could see his face, and the blood caked over it. He was whispering to her; she began to remember.

Don’t be alone, Mandy . . . . .don’t be alone . . . . .

Mandy felt the feeling wash away as she was back at Boone’s grave. The young man stared at her with his ice blue eyes, gently feeling of her neck. “I love you so much, Mandy, I couldn’t bear the thought of you being alone.” He whispered.

Mandy said nothing.

“Take all the time you need, Mandy. I got it on good authority . . .that Alexander is going to be with you for a long time.”

“Boone . . .”

Before Mandy could say anything else, the young man leaned down and kissed her. She held her breath in, taking his scent. Part of her knew it was a hallucination and the other part of relished in the way he felt. Then she felt his presence leave her. Mandy slowly opened her eyes and looked around, seeing how she was very clearly alone. She gasped, holding her chest. It felt so real, her experience with Boone. Was it the magic of the Island or one of the most vivid hallucination she had ever had? Then she heard a rustling in the bushes behind her. She turned quickly and found Alexander coming out from the woods.

The wild boy stopped, seeing her on the ground on her knees. Then he looked to where she was sitting and saw the cross sticking out of the ground. He could not read it but he could tell it was a grave and after speaking with McKay then learning about Boone, he was smart enough to know why she was there. “Sorry, Mandy,” he said, lowering his head, “I leave you alone.”

“ALEXANDER, WAIT!!” she called to him.

The wild boy stopped and turned around, as she got up and ran to him. She looked at him with her teary eyes. She then gently took his hands. “I’m sorry, Alex. I never should have hit you. It’s just . . .” she coughed.

“No, Mandy. I am sorry.” He said, sternly.

“Huh?” she blinked.

Alexander then pointed to Boone’s grave. “I did not know.”

Mandy looked back and tried to hold in her tears. Alexander gently took her by the chin and moved her to look at him. “I should have . . .waited. You are not ready.” He smiled.

“No, “she whispered, “I’m not ready.”

“No worries as . .Master McKay say. I not leave you.”

“Alexander, you don’t have to wait for me. I don’t know if or when I will ever be ready.”

“But soon, baby come.”

Mandy held her mouth open. “McKay tell you that?” she asked.

Alexander shook his head and pointed toward her stomach. “But this baby will live with you and be loved by you.” The wild boy said with conviction, “No one take it away. Ethan will not come. Others will not take the baby away. I will protect you and the baby. I promise you.”

Mandy was deeply moved. Alexander had already experienced the Others or the Liberation taking the children away that the Red Faction gave birth too. He was paranoid and was afraid something like that would happen to Mandy. Even though the possibility was incredibly slim that something like that would happen, she did appreciate the thought. She leaned closer and hugged him. Alexander slowly embraced him, enjoying the smell of her hair. But he would keep his promise and protect her and her baby.

The young couple stood there, enjoying each other’s embrace. Where it would lead from here, neither one knew. But it would least, go somewhere.