Part 301: The Aftermath

The beach was smoldering in certain areas. The tents that people had constructed with either smoking or riddled with bullet holes. The waves washed up against the beach; a mixture of salt water and blood, coming from the bodies of the soldiers that tried to take them. The survivors slowly progressed back onto the beach, seeing the carnage. Shannon walked over to her tent area, picking up the remainder of clothes. Sayid and Andra joined her; helping in the clean up. McKay looked into the distance and saw Shanna, Kate and Marita getting off the boat. He smiled; glad to see they and the Butterfly Rogue were in one piece.

Jack was running around with his doctor’s bag, checking anybody that was wounded. Poor Tracy suffered a bullet wound to her palm. The heroic doctor quickly proceeded to bandage it. Then he looked down the beach and saw Jenny running toward him. “Mei-mei, you okay?” he asked.

“I’m fine, “ she said, pointing down the way, “But you need to go check on Kellye. She got shot in the head.”

“Huh?” he gasped.

Jenny caught herself, giggling. “No, it was only a graze, but I think she had a concussion.”

“Okay, “ he said, jumping and running down the beach toward her.

Jenny scanned the beach for the person she really wanted to talk to. Up the distance, Mecha was turning on his hilt. Once he was pointed in the right direction, he then started to plow into the woods; going back to his silo home. Monoxide had already disappeared into a black vapor right after the giant robot. Then the young teenager spotted the one person she wanted to talk to. Raven looked over the survivors for a brief second, then turned to go back toward the compound. “RAVEN!!” Jenny screamed as she ran up to him.

Hearing his name called, the mysterious man turned around. Jenny caught up to him and looked at him. “How . .how did you come back?” she panted, “Were you really dead?”

Raven said nothing. He just stared at her, tilting his head; like he was curious.

“Do you even remember me?” the teenager asked again.

Again, Raven said nothing. Jenny then saw the torn sleeve and the wires crisscrossing his arm. She gently reached over to and rubbed them. Raven never moved; he still just stared at her. Jenny didn’t know much about Watchman or the compound, but she understood that Raven was remade into something he wasn’t before. Jenny sniffed as she lowered her, trying to suppress a cry. “I didn’t want you to die but It’s okay,” she said, “I was . . . .I was lost. But Jack pulled me back. I guess . . ..I guess I had to grow up some time.”

Raven didn’t blink; he just stared at her.

“I wanted to tell you . . thanks. For being there for me and yet again.”

Raven didn’t move.

Jenny didn’t know why she was telling him all this. Possibly just to get it out of her system. She wanted to tell him so many things but it was pointless now. He was one with the Island; as he really always had been. She kissed her fingers and then gently reached up touching them on his cheek. “Goodbye, Raven.” She said, then turned around.

Jenny wiped away her tears, then took a deep breath; getting ready to help her friends recover. “Goodbye, Jenny,” Raven whispered.

“Huh?” she turned around.

The teenager didn’t see her strange companion any more; just an echo of blue light as he ran back into the jungle. She couldn’t believe he actually spoke. Even though it was only for a brief second; it was as if he knew what had to be said. Just by saying that simple phrase, it was as if he agreed with her that he was apart of this Island, and the fact that he said her name, meant he did remember her. Jenny was sad that she’d never see him again but realized, it was meant to be. She belonged elsewhere and he belonged here. The blonde girl then ran off down the beach to check on Kellye.


Tony walked toward the beach, using a stick that he had found. He managed to feel of the sand and then noticed, from the feel of the sun on his face that he was closer. He stopped and stood there, hoping that Marita would see him. He could hear the voices of his various survivor friends helping one another and trying to recover their torn up belongings. “Tony,” Bernard whispered.

“Bernard?” the blind doctor turned around.

“Good job . . .on . . .getting the . . .boat.” the old man coughed.

“Bernard, why do you sound like you are having trouble breathing?” he edged closer to him.

“I . ..haven’t . ..got long, Tony.”

“You’ve been shot?” the blind doctor gasped.

“I . . .”

“JACCKKKK!!!!” Tony screamed toward the beach.

“I . .killed . . .the man . . who killed my wife . . .not very . .Christian of me.”

“Rose is dead?”

“My . .Rose . . .she was . . .so brave. . .”

“You did what was right, Bernie. Don’t think on it.”

“I only hope . . .God sees it that way . . .”

“You ain’t gonna meet him today. Jack will bring you around. I look forward to being bored by many more of your sermons.”

Bernard chuckled, as a small amount of blood dripped out of his lips. “JACK!!!” Tony screamed, “COME ON!!!”

“Tony, why you . . .screaming?” Eddie said, as he came from around the corner.

The old black man smiled at the little boy. Eddie then started to cry, seeing that Bernard was clearly wounded badly. The little boy got on his knees next to Tony, hoping that the old black man wouldn’t die. Bernard reached up and gently stroked away some hair out of Eddie’s face. “I saw you . .. carrying Jilly away . .during the fight,” he coughed.

Eddie sniffed, wiping his nose.

“When I see . . .your dad . . .I’ll tell him . . .what kinda man you’ve become.” Bernard whispered.

“JACCCCKKK!! HURRY UPPPP!!” Tony screamed.

Bernard then reached over and grabbed Tony by the neck, pulling him forward. He grunted for his last breath. The blind doctor wondered what he was doing. “GET . . .THEM . . .HOME!!!” he gasped.

Bernard then coughed and gasped his last breath. Tony held onto him as the black man went limp. He then gently let him fall back to where he was laying in the sand. Jack finally grunted as he arrived, completely out of breath. He quickly checked the old man’s vitals and understood that he clearly wasn’t breathing. The doctor quickly started to perform CPR, to try to get him to breathe again. He repeated the steps four to five times but Bernard didn’t move. Tony clasped Jack’s wrist, stopping it. “It’s okay, Jack,” Tony sniffed, “Save your strength for the people you can save.”

Jack said nothing; just patted Tony’s elbow as he slowly backed away. The doctor wiped his tears and then got up, to do what his blind friend suggested. Tony took a deep sigh; taking off his sunglasses and wiping his face. As he put them on, he heard something being dragged toward him. He reached over and felt of a blanket to his right. Eddie sniffed while he held it for Tony. The blind man then stood up, taking the blanket, and then covering Bernard with it. When he was done, he held out his hand and Eddie took it. “Goodbye, old man,” the blind doctor said as he led the young boy to go to his mother.


Seth grunted, as Jack proceeded to check him out. The cut wasn’t that bad, it was just long. “He missed, didn’t he?” Seth asked.

“Yeah, it’s a very bad cut but he didn’t hit anything vital.” Jack said, getting his gear ready, “If he did, you would have bled to death already.”

“That’s a cheery thought.” The singer winced.

“Hang in there, Seth,” Shanna said, stroking his hair, “Jack will fix you right up.”

“I know he will, sis. I just hope it’s sooner than later,” the young man then paused, “Speaking of sisters, where is Mia?”

Shanna then leaned up, wanting to know where she was too. Then she spotted her, down the beach walking toward them. She was holding hands with her boyfriend John as they past by the other survivors gathering their things. When Mia spotted them, and saw Seth was down, she let go of John and ran to them. When the Lakota girl paused at the sight of her good friend down, she quickly covered her mouth with her hands. “Seth, are you bleeding?” she asked.

“No, “ he replied sarcastically, “What gave you that idea?”

“What happened?”

“He had a sword fight and he won. Brandon would be so proud.” Shanna said.

It was just a simple sentence but it was enough to touch Seth’s soul. He hoped that Brendon would be proud of him. “Thanks, Shanna,” he sniffed.

The redhead continued to stroke his hair as she stayed with him. Jack then got the needle and thread ready to go. Seth’s eyes went wide. “It’s a long cut, Jack,” he coughed, “You got enough thread to sew me up.”

“I do but like you said, it’s a long cut. I need it to get sewn up and you bandaged, before it had a chance to get infected.”

“Could I, like, have some morphine or something?” Seth said, dreading the pain.

“You will but I have to give it to you afterwards. I can’t risk taking your heart rate down to far unit you are set to go.”

Seth then looked up and saw John staring down at him. “Hey, John,” he said, slightly laughing, “Could you do a favor for your future brother-in-law?”

“Yeah, man, what you need?” he said, kneeling down.

“Can I have one of your arrows?”

John paused for a second, then pulled out an arrow from his quiver. Seth coughed and then held his mouth wide open. The archer stopped, then understood what he meant to do. He gently put the arrow down into his teeth and the singer bit into. He took a deep breath through his nose and leaned up, allowing Shanna to scoot forward so he could rest his head on her legs. “Okay, Jack,” he grunted, “Do-it-to-it.”

“Hold him,” Jack said, as he began to sew him up.



Embry grunted as the tennis shoe hit him in to the nose for the third time. The soldier collapsed onto the dirt, reeling from the pain. Dutch held the gun on him, just like Hal told him. The soldier then slowly raised up, allowing the blood to ooze from his nose toward his lips. “Try to stand up again, “ Dutch warned, “You’re gonna be eating my shoe, boy!”

Embry said nothing; merely stared at him. He could tell in the surfer’s eyes that he had some sort of connection with Hal; which is why he was punishing Embry. Then the murderer heard some jogging behind him. “Dutch!” Hal called, as he, Libby, Karleigh and Ana-Lucia ran up to him.

The Californian saw Karleigh, and smiled; happy she was safe. The rich girl came up to him and embraced him. Hal slowly took out his sidearm, as he stood near Embry. The soldier looked up at him smiling. “What the hell you smiling at?” Hal grunted, “ You lost, Embry.”

“I’m still alive, aren’t I?” he grinned.

“Not for long,” Ana-Lucia whispered.

The Latina then pulled out her pistol and walked over to him. Hal then immediately stood between her and Embry. The female cop then looked at her fellow officer with a mild contempt. “Get out of my way, Hal.” She warned.

“What do you think you are doing?” He hissed, “You are going to throw away everything you know about the Law?”

“The Law doesn’t work on this Island, Hal. Are you seriously considering letting this scumbag live?”

“Yes, he’s going back to America and he’s going to pay for what he has done.”

“I can make him pay right now.” Ana-Lucia said, tapping her forehead.

“Hal,” Libby said, “I think . . .she is right.”

Hal then turned to her, looking her dead in the eyes. “I am not an executioner.” He whispered, “I will not throw away my badge for this piece of trash. And how can you say that, after what we went through to keep those other soldiers from being executed in cold blood?”

“Hal, please,” she said, taking her hands and placing them on his cheeks.

The cop slowly calmed down. He touch was gentle and caring; reminding him of his wife. Libby gently touched her forehead to his. “This is not about revenge, Hal. Nor it is about doing what is right,” she whispered, “We have to think of the safety of others. Embry . . can not be allowed to be near any of us. He is too dangerous.”

“But I have him. He’s in cuffs.” The cop replied.

“It won’t matter,” Kate said, as she walked up to them, “He’ll find a way to get out of them.”

“Katie-Girl!” Embry laughed.

The group turned to the fugitive as she approached them. She walked a few paces and stood there, looking at the soldier. Everybody noticed her bandaged shoulder and arm but didn’t ask why; they were more interested in how she knew Embry. Hal slowly walked up to her, pointing to the murderer. “You know him?” he asked.

“Yes,” she whispered.

Embry smiled a sickening smile at her. Kate’s eyes started to bend downward. “I was coming to Australia to find you,” she whispered, “Hoping I could pay you off and get those men off my back.”

“Somebody caught you.” Embry smiled, “Why else would we find a wanted poster with you picture on it. Who caught you, baby doll?”

“Lars.” She whispered.

“That old fossil!” Embry laughed, “I was hoping it was Roberts or maybe Cold-Cash.”

“Cold-Cash nearly got me in Vegas. When he confessed it was you that put that bounty on my head, I flew to Australia to try and find you.”

“Sorry, Belmont got to me first.” Embry winked.

“Why, Jimmy? Why did you want me dead?” Kate asked.

“You screwed up that bank robbery, Katie Girl.” He sighed, “You made me look back. Let Jason rot in prison. Nobody . . . .makes me look bad.”

Kate then kicked sand into his face. Embry coughed for a second, then relaxed again. The fugitive slowly backed off. She looked at the small group surrounding the murderer. “You need to kill him.” Kate said coldly.

“I am not going to kill him.” Hal hissed.

“Then give me the gun, I will do it.” The brunette replied.

“Hey, Hal,” Embry laughed.

The cop slowly turned around. Embry smiled as he rubbed the sand out of his face. “You know what I am going to do when I get out of these cuffs?” he grinned.

“Shut up.” Hal warned.

“I am going to rip out your babe’s eyes and impregnate her with my evil seed.”

“You . . .you sick, bastard,” Libby said, turning away.

“And that kid who bit me. I am going to tie him to a tree and make him watch as I carve up his momma like a catfish.”

“Give me the gun, Hal.” Ana-Lucia said.

“Yeah, give her the gun, Hal,” Embry laughed, “Be a man for once in your sad life. No wonder your wife left you.”

Hal slowly raised in his head. He then slowly turned around, looking him dead in the eyes. Every insult he just given; it wasn’t an insult. It was a serious threat. Hal could tell Embry was dead serious about every thing he threatened to do to Libby, and Eddie. “Embry?” Hal whispered, “Did you see the sunrise a few days ago?”

Embry smirked. “Yeah, I did.” He giggled.

Hal then raised the gun and pulled the trigger. The bullet exploded out the back of Embry’s head, splattering the sand behind him in blood. The soldier’s body collapsed back as the hole in his forehead ooze a small amount of smoke. “How dare you.” Hal muttered.

Ana-Lucia didn’t move, nor say anything. Libby looked at Embry briefly and then to Hal. The cop twitched his face and then began to walk toward the ocean. As he reached the crashing waves, he reared up and then threw the gun out into the water. It plopped into the drink with a thud. The cop then collapsed on his buttocks, sitting down in the wet sand. Libby slowly walked up to him. She then got on her knees next to him, and gently took his head, bringing her too him. Hal then started to cry, embracing her. Dutch then wanted to walk toward his friend, to ease his pain. “No,” Ana-Lucia stopped him, “She’ll take care of him.”

“But . .why is he crying?” the surfer asked, “He did the right thing. Embry was too dangerous to be kept here.”

“He knows that,” Kate said, a tear coming down her eye, “It’s the pain he’s held in all those years for the loss of his son. It’s finally come out.”

The group of friend stood there watching the powerful man they knew, finally let go of the pain to the loss of his son. Hal was a good man but even good men break some times. They hoped that this incident would finally give him the closure he had sought for so long.