Part 342: The Arrival

The survivors had been given a week to mull over their fortunes. The USS Montana had to remain on their assigned duties and stay in the South Pacific, until word was given they could look for the Liberation elsewhere. The USS Powhatan, a actual rescue ship, was sent to intercept and take the survivors home. Their first stop would be Los Angeles, which made the majority of the survivors incredibility happy. Jack was given the job of being point man and talking with the representatives of the government on what they were going to do when they get home. The doctor had spent the better half of the morning talking with them and answering various questions. He managed to find a special loop hole that would allow certain individuals safe passage into America.

Jack quickly walked down the stairs and then proceeded down the hallway toward the cabin he needed. Once he reached the door, he knocked on it. With seconds, Ecko opened the door and offered a sincere smile. “Good Afternoon, Jack.” He said.

“Hey, Ecko,” the doctor smiled, “I wanted to tell you the good news.”

“I do enjoy good news. What is it, my friend?”

“Oceanic Air went out of business due to this crash. It wasn’t the only problems they suffered. So, as a result, they had to liquidate their stocks and their equipment to pay for their debt.”

“How is this good news to me?”

“They to sell their planes, their airports, their equipment, especially their computers. Since their computers have been sold . . “

“They don’t know who was on the plane.” The black man finished for him, with his eye lit up.

“Exactly and Hurley was kind enough to leave the manifest behind. You’re safe and clear, Ecko. As far as they know, you’re just a Nigerian who was traveling to America.”

Ecko gladly shook his hand. “Thank you, my friend.” He smiled.

“You are most welcome,” the doctor did a respectable bow, “Now I have to go tell the news for McKay to tell the lost children.”

Jack the proceeded back down the hallway and toward the stairs to find the others. The doctor then opened up one of the other cabins and then proceeded to walk through the mess hall. At one corner sat Tony and Eddie. Jack waved to them as he continued on by. Eddie continued to eat his ice cream, little by little. Tony was enjoying a hot cup of coffee. “Is it just me or is it getting colder as we get closer to America?” he smirked.

“I think it is getting colder. It’s almost Christmas.” The boy commented.

“What do you want for Christmas, Eddie?”

“My two front teeth.” He giggled.

The blind man laughed at the classic joke. The younger boy and the older man just sat together, enjoying each other’s company. In the two months, they were forced to be with one another, they had formed a bond that happens between most father’s and sons. Eddie ate a little more ice cream, looking at his blind man he viewed as a father figure. Tony sipped on his coffee, and adjusted his eye patch slightly; still getting used to it. “Tony, can I ask you a question?” the boy said, his lips slightly trembling.

“You can ask me anything, Eddie, you know that.” The blind man responded.

“Even though you were a doctor in the military, you still had to kill people once and while right?”

Tony slowly put down his cup of coffee. “Yeah, that’s right.” He whispered.

“Do you . . .regret doing that?”

“Absolutely,” the blind doctor whispered, “But I had a job to do and I knew I couldn’t dwell on it. Why . . .why are you asking me that?”

Eddie’s lips trembled a bit and tried not to cry. “I don’t want to go to Hell, Tony,” he wept slightly, “I wanna see my dad one day.”

“Whoa, whoa, Eddie, what makes you think you are going to Hell?”

“I killed Woogie. I want to regret it . . .but I don’t.”

Tony held open his arms. “Come here.” He whispered.

Eddie got out of his seat and walked over to Tony, embracing him. The blind man held him close, stroking his hair. “You’re young, Eddie, so it’s easy to be confused by this situation,” the blind man whispered, “It’s a situation you never should have been forced into but you reacted as a honorable man would have.”

“You think so?” he sniffed.

“I know so. You do regret having to kill Woogie but you don’t ever regret WHY you did it. You were protecting Bunny and Sebastian. Has it not been for you, Bunny would have suffered a horrible death and Sebastian would also be dead. God knows that. And the God I know would not punish such a selfless act.”

Eddie smiled, wiping his tears. “Thank you, Tony.” He smiled.

“Now, don’t dwell on it, Eddie. Just remember the good things. And embrace the fact that you are heading home. Live life to it’s fullest. Do it for your Father . .and Bunny, okay?”

“Okay.” He hugged him.

“That’s my boy.”

“You gonna come visit me and momma, Tony? You and Marita?”

The blind man then playfully messed up his hair, making him laugh. “What kinda questions is that?” he laughed, “You ain’t getting rid of me that easily, boy. I plan to be a part of your life in every where.”

“Okay! Okay!” he laughed as they tried to tickle each other.

Down the end of the mess hall, Sawyer turned around and the commotion, then just shook his head at the sight of it. He turned back to his cards sitting in front with Hurley. The large man dealt out his cards for the redneck. The southern man then tapped on the card he needed. “Stick?” Hurley raised an eyebrow, “I don't know, dude. Don't you need 21? I think you should hit.”

“But I’ve got a six,” Sawyer pointed out, “I’m going to bust.”

“How do you know that?”

“Well, I don't, but you've got to assume that I'm going to bust.”

“Why?” asked a blanked Hurley.

Sawyer pinched the bridge of his nose, getting frustrated trying to explain the rules of Black Jack to his large friend. When he sipped on his coffee, he looked at the other side of the mess hall as the side door was opening. Joscelyn, Kellye and Jilly walked in, talking and giggling. The girl soldier had finally been allowed to remove her brace and as of that moment, she was able to just walk around with a bandage. Her voice was improving too. Sawyer smirked at the three girls display of friendship. “Well, well, well,” he chuckled, “Look who walked in. Little JoJo and her entourage.”

“Dude, we gonna play cards or what?” Hurley asked.

“How are things between you and her, by the way?”

“Dude, that’s like . . .none of your business.”

“Yep, put the little princess in a metal bikini, she’d make a fine edition to your palace, eh, Jabba?”

Hurley just looked at Joscelyn. He wasn’t sure if he was brave enough to ask her out or even admit feelings for her. The large man especially decided it wasn’t a good idea to discuss it with Sawyer. “I’m just waiting for my moment.” He confessed.

Sawyer laughed as he stood up, and down the remainder of his coffee in one gulp. He slowly proceeded to the nearby door leading out of the mess hall. “Well, the moment is NOW, Hoss.” He laughed as he opened the door, “HEY, JOSIE!!!”

Joscelyn heard her name called and looked over, seeing only Hurley sitting by himself. “Hey, Hurley!” she waved to him.

The large man reluncantly waved back. The young woman walked over her large companion and smiled, placing her hands in her pockets. “So, what’s up?” she smiled.

Hurley slowly smiled, not ready for this. However, Sawyer forced his hand and as a result, if he backed out now, he’d look like an idiot. “You . .uh . .wanna take a walk with me, Joe?” he asked.

“I’d love to.” She beamed.

Hurley got up and Joscelyn immediately took his arm. She waved goodbye to her friends and followed her large friend out of the mess hall and into the hallway. They started to walk down the metal hallway. Hurley took a deep breath. “You nervous?” he asked.

“Just a little bit,” she mused, “I haven’t seen Paige in some time. I’ve always admired her. She’s been more brave than I ever was.”

“She got away from your father?”

“Yes,” was all Joscelyn said.

“So . .the plan was to go live with them all along?”

“Yes. Paige gave birth to a lovely baby and I get to play Nanny while she and Derek continue to work. In return, I get to live with them and become a part of a wonder new family.”

“Sounds great.” Hurley smiled.

“Why are you asking me this stuff, Hurley?” she said, tugging on his arm.

“Well, Paige and Derek lives in Los Angeles . .. I live in Los Angeles . ..I was just thinking that maybe . . .I could come visit you.”

“You big lump,” she said, hugging him, “You can come visit me all the time. In fact, we better be dating soon too.”

“Dating?” Hurley gasped.

Joscelyn leaned up and planted a kiss on his lips. Hurley’s eyelids immediately closed as he held her close. After they parted, the large man focused all his will power to keep his legs from going to jello. She smiled at him, loving his warm heart. “I can’t wait to enjoy California with you, Hurley,” she giggled, “ You are going to show me around, right?”

“Yeah,” he managed to say.

She kissed him on the cheek and then went back toward the mess hall to talk with her friends. “Joe?” Hurley called.

She turned around with another bright smile.

“What happened to that timid girl that would hide in the bushes with me?” Hurley smirked.

“Oh, she’s still with me,” Joscelyn winked, “But I left the majority of her back on the Island.”

Hurley smiled as he watched her leave. The large man turned around and proceeded to go find his other friends for conversation. Something in the back of his mind, told him his future was already looking bright.



Inside one of the cabins was McKay, Taylor, Mandy, Shannon and Sayid. The group was discussing stories; laughing and talking. Taylor was telling a story about how Mandy and her sorority sisters did their own version of a “panty-raid” on a Fraternity, stealing their jock-straps. “Oh, my God,” Shannon laughed.

“We were a wild bunch, weren’t we, Mandy?” Taylor laughed.

“Hell, you are still wild, woman.” McKay laughed at her story.

The blonde then punched her lover in the chest, making him gasp but continue to laugh. Mandy laughed so hard she nearly had tears in her eyes. Then their laughter was interrupted by a knocking at their cabin door. Sayid reached over and opened the door. “Hello, Jack.” He smiled.

“Man, must be pretty funny, I heard you down the hall.” He chuckled.

“Yeah, come on in, Jack,” Mandy motioned, “We’re all sharing stories about ourselves.”

“Some other time perhaps,” the doctor grinned, “McKay?”

“Yeah, doc?” the Australian said.

“Just wanted to let you know the good news. As you know, Oceanic Air went out of business. They sold their airports, their planes, and all of their equipment, including their computers.”

“Why tell me that?” he asked.

“Because with their computes went the manifest. They don’t know who was on that plane.”

“OH, THE KIDS!” McKay slapped his head, “ That’s right! Thanks, Jack.”

“So . . .Alexander and Flower’s last name. . .is now McKay?” Sayid raised an eyebrow.

“Yeah, we spent the better half of last week coming up with our story,” Taylor raised up, “ Alexander and Flower are brother and sister. They were born to a woman who was from France. She’s lived in Australia the majority of her life. However, when she died, Alexander and Flower went to find their nearest living relative, with is McKay.”

“Wait a second,” Shannon held up her hands, blinking, “I thought you said that Alexander is going to be your nephew.”

“He is.” McKay whispered.

“Alexander and Flower will be the children of McKay’s brother, Seymour.” Mandy grinned.

“Uh, my friend . .” Sayid smiled, trying not to laugh, “What will your BROTHER think about this?”

“Don’t worry about, Seymour. I’ll handle him.” McKay pointed, “Maybe you should be thinking of a story about Andra.”

“I already have that covered,” the Iraqi smiled, “Her mother and her were coming to America to live, the plane crash happened, her mother unfortunately passed away and all record of her existence, in regards to birth certificate, passports, when down in the bottom of the south pacific. Her mother’s dying words were that I look after her. That is binding in a court of law.”

“And the last part was true.” Shannon mentioned.

“Good job, you guys,” Jack smiled, “I know Alexander and the rest will be happy they’ll have a home.”

“Speaking of Tarzan Boy, has anybody seen him?” asked Mandy.

Then, almost if on cue, the door to the outer hallway opened up, and in stepped Alexander. He was holding his arms together, and his teeth were chattering. Mandy gasped as she saw him approaching them. “Alexander, you all right?” she asked.

McKay grabbed a blanket and threw it over him. “What’s wrong, boy?” he asked.

“S-s-s-s-s-s-omthing wrong with the big water.” He stuttered, “Almost thought . . . magic smoke from Island . . .had come . . .”

“Magic Smoke?” Jack raised an eyebrow, “Is he talking about Monoxide?”

Sayid’s curiousity had been peaked. “Why don’t we head outside and see what he is talking about?” he smiled.

The group slowly stepped out onto the main deck of the rescue boat. Small amounts of snow gently fell from the sky as they looked outward into the foggy mist. Most of them laughed as they slipped and slid on the deck. Most of the snow was melting immediately but they marveled over how cold it was to generate some. Marita held Tony close to stay warm under their makeshift overcoats. The blind man then raised his eye brows as if he heard something. “Is that a buoy marker?” he asked.

Marita turned around and then gasped. The fog began to lift and they were then able to see the distant lights of Los Angeles. The group gathered around the railing, staring in the distance city skyline. The giant buildings shined brightly, welcoming them to her shores. Jack stood behind Jenny and placed his arms around her, resting his chin on her head. She smiled, placing her hands on his arms. Tony and Marita celebrated their return with a kiss. Mia rested her head on John’s chest as they stood next to the railing. McKay was practically gleaming as he pulled in Taylor and Mandy for a group hug.

“We’re home.” He whispered.