Part 321: The Waiting Game

The rain poured down across the open area of the Shark Tank. Jack rested under a tree canopy that kept him surprisingly dry. He gently sipped on a soda bottle, relishing in it’s taste. He recalled himself as a young boy sneaking off to the gas station cause his dad was too busy to take him. All it took was 35 cents to get a frozen bottled grape soda and it tasted wonderful on hot days in the summer. Jack wondered briefly what he was going to tell his mother when he got home. That his father is currently resting in some morgue because the Australian customs tricked him into getting on the plane and not causing a ruckus. Jack sipped his soda, wondering about his new problem.

How does he get back two innocent kids from a psychopath who controls a human/wolf hybrid named Fleshmonger? “My life is a bad movie.” He sighed, as he finished his drink.

Then a person emerged from the entrance of the Shark Tank. Sayid looked around and spotted Jack by the large tree. He quickly jogged through the rain and stood next to his friend. “Sulking, Jack?” he asked, as he jolted the water from his hair.

“I don’t sulk, “ he said calmly, “I brood.”

“Oh, my deepest apologizes.” Sayid grinned, “We Iraqis can not tell the difference.”

“How is Barbara?”

“She’s eating some soup now,” the Middle Easterner sighed, “I think she’s slowly getting her grief away.”

“There is nothing to grieve over because Eddie is not dead and He’ll be back soon.” Jack said bluntly.

“Locke is in the bottom of the observation room. He believes that there is something in there that can help us against the Fleshmonger.”

“He’s wrong. He’s wasting his time.”

“He said you would say that.” Sayid smirked.

Jack closed his eyes and leaned back against the tree. Sayid could tell he was in heavy thought. He felt the need to add some more relief to the situation. “Andra and Flower have come out of their hiding hole by the way.” He mentioned.

“They okay?”

“They are at the moment. When someone mentioned that it was raining, it’s like their fear melted away.”

Jack opened his eyes. “Why?” he inquired.

“They said Fleshmonger never attacked them while it rained.”

“Really?”

“Yes,” the Iraqi said.

“That’s a load of help. It was three year ago, they probably don’t remember.” Jack grunted.

“Any information is helpful, Jack.”

Jack then sighed, shaking his head. He patted his friend on the shoulder in assurance. “Yeah, Yeah, I know. “ he whispered, “I am sorry.”

Sayid nodded his head. “What do you plan to do?” he asked him.

“As soon as the rain stops, we’re going to go out and look for them,” Jack shifted his position, “Raven is already out there trying to track this thing.”

“I am thankful he is with us.”

“Me too,” the doctor then looked toward his friend, “So . . you got my back?”

Sayid smiled. “Always, my friend.” He replied.

The two men then briefly hugged, patting each other on the back. Sayid then parted from him and jogged back into the Shark Tank, to check on Shannon and the girls. Jack stayed outside, looking skyward at the giant palm leaves dangling before him from the constant downpour. He gently touched the falling rain with his hand, splashing into the breeze. “Hey, Jack.” Kristy whispered behind him.

Jack turned around abruptly, and took a deep gasp. He chuckled for a second, clutching his chest. “Oh, sorry,” Kristy giggled, “I didn’t mean to spook you.”

“I guess . . .I guess I am just a little on edge after what happened.” He admitted.

“Yeah, I know that feeling.” She leaned against the tree with him.

“Why are you out here, Kristy?”

“I just needed some air. It’s getting stuffy in there. Plus, I just worried about Eddie and Sebastian.”

“We all are.”

“You gonna go after them?” she turned to him.

“That is the plan. As soon as it stops raining.”

Jack then tilted his head when he felt Kristy touch him. He turned to her and she stared up into him. The doctor almost felt lost in her soft amber eyes. The model then put both hands on his arms. “Eddie was like our little brother on the other side of the Island.” She whispered, “We all fell in love with him. None of us . . .would make it if something happened to him.”

“I know.” Jack whispered.

Kristy then leaned up and kissed him. Jack closed his eyes, trying not to let his hormones rush to his head when it clicked inside his brain that he was being kissed by a supermodel. She then leaned down and gently rubbed his chest. “Good luck, Jack,” she said, as she finally left him and proceeded to walk back into the metal structure.

The doctor stood there dumbfounded. He didn’t know how to react to Kristy’s kiss. Was it indeed just a “good luck wish” or was there more to it? Jack rubbed his face, feeling the need to go back inside. He then began the short walk to the Shark Tank before his eyes caught something in the distance. Someone was out in the rain with him. He blinked through droplets falling on his face. Then he recognized the deaf girl from the back of her head. The doctor then began to jog up toward her to see what was wrong. “Jilly?” he called.

Jack then cursed himself. Why bother calling to her when she deaf?! The doctor continued to walk until he got in front of her. The deaf girl noticed his presence, and looked up at him. Despite the fact that it was raining, it wasn’t hard to notice that Jilly had been crying. “Hey, Jack,” she sniffed.

Jack kneeled down in front of her. “Jilly, you need to get inside,” he told her, “You don’t want to catch cold.”

“I like the rain,” she looked to the right, “I can feel it. Every drop that hits my body. I think most people take it for granted.”

“Take what for granted?”

“The fact that they can hear it.” Jilly admitted, “ I can see it. I can taste and I can feel it but I can’t hear it. It does make a sound, doesn’t it, Jack?”

“Yes, it does,” he smiled.

“Eddie . . .saved my life.” She whimpered.

“Jilly, don’t do this to yourself.”

“I was knocked out on the beach and he carried me to safety. What . . .kind of a boy can do that? I barely known him! Where . . .where does such kindness come from?”

“Jilly, come on,” Jack said, forcing her to stand up, “Let’s get you inside.”

“I can’t hear him,” she cried, “he could be calling to me to help him right now and I can’t HEAR HIM!!!”

Jack then embraced the distraught woman. She cried into his chest, weeping for the lost boy. The doctor was more determine to get them both back now that he ever was. He truly didn’t understand how much Eddie was loved until this very moment. He held onto the deaf girl until she finally stopped crying. Jilly stared up at him. “You okay?” Jack asked.

Jilly’s reply came in the form of a kiss. The doctor closed his eyes and without thought, accepted her kiss. The deaf girl brushed her lips against his for a few second, then slowly parted from him; breathing heavily. She looked up at him again and then started to walk away. Jack blinked his eyes wildly; feeling strength flicker in his knees. He looked up for a second, letting the rain splash his face. “Is there something in the rain?” he said to himself.


Inside the Shark Tank, Locke sipped on his coffee as he went through God-only-knows number for books. Every single detail he read, hoping to find some sort of reference to Fleshmonger. So far he had found nothing. But he wasn’t going to give up hope. He knew this place had been used for information storage. If the video tape was buried, then something else was buried. He needed to find this “weakness” of the Fleshmonger. It was their only chance to defeating it once they found him.

Then Locke heard the door to the top of the stairs opening. He turned and looked up, to see Jack coming down the stairs with his own cup of coffee. The doctor arrived at the bottom of the stairs and walked over to another area of a desk. He said down, and pulled out another notebook from the pile, then proceeded to read. Locke was waiting for him to lecture him but it didn’t come. The bald man wasn’t sure what was going on so he asked to ask. “You’re not going to lecture me on the futility of finding info on the Fleshmonger down here?” he asked.

“Only if you don’t tell me ever woman is crazy.” Jack said, sipping his coffee.

Locke didn’t respond to that statement. He simply went back to reading the notebook. Although he was almost giddy with curiosity, wondering why Jack would say such a statement.