Part 343: The New Life

It was a mixture of emotions as the survivors were being ferried from the docks to the massive hotel where many people would be waiting for them. The large SUVs carried them down the highways with just a hint of cold air in the wings as it was a much as California could get. As they drove by, Hurley would point out monuments and attractions to Joscelyn. Jenny giggled uncontrollably at the prospect of being home. Her friend Kellye couldn’t stop laughing as well.

Up in the second car, McKay sat next to the window with his arm around Taylor. The Australian took his sunglasses off, looking at the view. His love pointed to a nearby shopping center that she frequented. Mandy was looking at all the papers they had given to them when they picked them up at the docks. “Oh, my God, “ she said, reading one document, “Taylor, they are putting us up at the Luxe.”

“THE LUXE!” her friend grabbed the paper, “ Are you serious?”

“What is this Luxe?” Sayid asked in front of them.

“OH, my God,” Shannon giggled, covering her mouth, “Only one of the few best hotels in Los Angeles.”

“And why pray tell are they putting us up there?”

“They need us all in one specific location, Sayid, “ McKay laughed, “It’s not every day they need to bring back 50 some odd people from the dead.”

“Our lawyer’s name is Raymond Chiles.” Mandy said, reading another paper.

“We need a lawyer?” Shannon mused.

“Like McKay said, they are bringing us back from the dead.”

Mandy then paused as a rush of cold air got into the vehicle. She turned to her left and saw Alexander had discovered the button to the window. Then moment it came down, he immediately shot his head out of window, looking at all the passing by buildings. Mandy just laughed as she grabbed him by his shirt, pulling him back in. Sayid just smiled as he closed the window back.


Up in the head car, Jack was talking with Chiles about what they needed to do. “Okay, we’re probably going to have to the lobby which will have a ton of reporters,” he said, “Who you allow to interview you will be up to you.”

“How many reporters are we talking about?” Mia asked.

“Just over sixty.”

“Oh, my God, “ Marita gasped.

“Once we get into the lobby, their will be a small ceremony with the Vice President to welcome you back to America.”

“DICK CHENEY is here?” Tony gasped.

“Yes, Mr. Largo, then after that we’ll situate you into your rooms. Dr. Shepard provided us with the living arrangements and who would be situated where.”

“Is that right?” John smirked, patting him on the arm.

Jack shrugged his shoulders. “I hope everybody approves.” He smirked.

“Then once you get into your rooms, my representatives will come and retrieve you one at a time when your families arrive,” Chiles smiled, “in the meantime, feel free to enjoy the gifts that are presented to you.”

“Gifts?” Tony raised his head, “What gifts?”

“Corporations, foundations and celebrities are giving you all gifts because you’re coming back to a world that thought you were dead.” The lawyer laughed, “They are helping you get back on your feet.”

“How . . .kind of them.” The blind man whispered.

Mia tried to breath, putting her hands on her cheeks. She could understand the hesitation in Tony’s voice; this was all a bit overwhelming. People they had never even met were giving them stuff to help regain their lives. They had gone from being every day normal people to celebrities. They wondered how they were going to handle it. John then leaned back toward the back seat to check on the rest of their entourage. Sawyer was in the middle sitting back with Shanna and Kate. The archer looked to the fugitive. “You okay?” he asked.

“Hanging in there, John.” She smiled.

“Just remember the plan. We’ll get through this.” He smiled, tapping her on the arm.

“I remember. But it’s just the lobby. How long can I stay at this hotel?”

“Until we find the best opportunity to get you out. Just have faith, we’ll get through this.”

“Thanks, John,” she smiled warmly at him.

Kate looked briefly out the windows, massaging her collarbone where she had her surgery. John looked it briefly, seeing the scar. It reminded him of one he had seen a very long time ago. The brunette then paused when she noticed the archer was staring at her. “What?” she asked.

John regained his senses. “Nothing, “ he replied, as he turned back around.

“Mr. Chiles, “the driver spoke, “We’re here.”

“Okay, we’re here, “ Jack called out to everybody, “Ladies, you know the plan.”

Kate then immediately put a cover over her head and put on sunglasses. Then Shanna did the same thing and then Mia did the same thing. Mr. Chiles was a little confused for a second but chalked it up to them not wanting their pictures all over the news and the internet. The SUV finally came to a stop and Mr. Chiles was the first to get out. Jack then soon followed with everybody right behind him. Marita took Tony by the arm and let him out. John stepped out and Mia cowered next to him. She had no reason to, it was just part of the plan for the cameras to keep their lenses away from Kate.

The paparazzi snapped off picture after pictures as the survivors came out of their transport vehicles. Shanna and Kate embraced Sawyer as they walked along their red carpet but the redneck was enjoying the spotlight; waving to everybody. More of the SUVs stopped and let the rest of the people step out. Joscelyn had covered her face as well, holding onto Hurley as they walked forward. Karleigh was blowing kisses to everybody as Dutch just smirked. Libby covered her face with a scarf, while Hal pulled up his collar on his coat, blocking their view.

Charlie stayed with Claire who covered up little Aaron. Seth had on his sunglasses, waving to everybody. Ecko didn’t pay attention to any of it; he just followed behind Locke as they walked. One of the reporters held out a microphone and Seth immediately saw her. “EXCUSE ME!” she screamed, “ Is there anything you want to say to the public?”

“Yeah, we’re just glad to be home.” He grinned.

“What’s your name?”

“Seth Butler,” he leaned into her camera man, “ B-U-T-L-E-R, as in the Butler did it. Remember my name, you’ll be hearing more of me in the next few years.”

Before she could ask for anything further, Seth continued to walk down the red carpet; shaking as many hands as he could in the process. Once he got to the swing doors, he walked into the lobby to join the others. Inside the massive golden walls of the Luxe hotel, there were many people standing around, greeting everybody. Alexander was looking around, wondering where the light was coming from. Flower was smiling as she shook the hands of everybody. One of the maids greeted her, then the lost girl reached up to try and grab her headband. Shanna immediately grabbed her friend and then pulled her along with the others.

The group began to be moved into a meeting room of the area where the Vice President was waiting for them. Cameras continued to flash away at them. Andra was afraid of it, holding onto Sayid the whole time. A camera man then took a picture of Alexander and the flash blinded him. He immediately took the camera from him, but McKay quickly intercepted him and gave the camera back. “He’s French.” McKay commented.

The camera man was confused but didn’t look too much into it. Jack took a deep breath as he stepped up in to the stage and shook the hands of the administration that was welcoming them there. Then VP Cheney walked up and shook the hand of the bewildered doctor. Everybody slowly began to file into their seats for their welcome home feast and the speech from the Vice President.

Everybody wondered how much more attention they were going to get.


Later that evening, everybody was filed into their rooms. Tony rested on his bed, exhausted from the evening, speaking with people he never met and declining to be interviewed. Marita massaged her face in the bathroom, and used special cleansers she never even heard of. “Tony, I am cleaning my face with stuff I’ve never heard of.” She laughed.

“Save some for me, baby.” He chuckled.

Then a knocking came from over by the balcony. The blind man leaned up and wondering, why knocking would be coming from that direction. He proceeded to feel his way over to a side door that linked the rooms together. Once he felt of the handle, he opened it up and John leaned in. “Hey, Tony,” he giggled.

“What are you up to?” his blind friend smiled.

“We got overcoats.” He tried to refrain from bursting out in completed excitement.

“Huh?”

He then took his friend by his wrist and led him over to a nearby closet. He opened it up and grabbed the leather overcoat. He then shoved Tony’s hands upward, as he placed the coat on him. “Is this leather?” the blind man felt of it.

“Yeah, man!” John laughed, “They are giving us all kinds of stuff.”

“OH, my God, you two are dorks.” Marita giggled as she walked out of the bathroom, rubbing her face with a rag.

“I think they look cute.” Mia said as she walked into the room, with an armful of chocolate.

“Mia, what . . .what are you eating?” the Latina laughed.

“Oh, I don’t know,” the Lakota girl smiled, stuffing her mouth the chocolate, “All I know it’s the primo stuff from Sweden. You can’t buy this stuff unless you are a millionaire.”

“Oh, I know, the majority of the makeup and creams in the bathroom are stuff I’ve never even heard of.”

Then the door that lead to the other room started knocking. Marita walked over and opened in and in popped McKay. He was expecting to see find the couple in there, not John and Mia too. The Latina smirked, putting her hand on her hip. “Okay, what toy did you find?” she grinned.

“They are giving us trucks.” He nearly drooled.

“Trucks?” John blinked, “What . ..TRUCK trucks???”

“YEAH!” the Australian then walked over to a nearby desk and picked up the two dark blue boxes. He gave one to Marita and the other to Tony. The Latina didn’t know what they were, so she didn’t open them yet. She slowly opened it and sure enough, it was a special set of car keys. Tony felt of his and couldn’t help but chuckled. “I am flattered but why would they need to give a truck to a blind man?” the doctor laughed.

Marita was almost moved to tears. “This . . .this is the best severance pay I could have ever asked for.” She giggled.

“Makes you wonder if they were planning on giving us money?” Taylor laughed, twirling her own set of car keys.

“It’s a charitable function and a tax write off.” John told them, “They can give us this stuff and make themselves look good in the process.”

“Well . .I sure as hell don’t mind.” Mia said, with a mouth full of chocolates.

Then the main door finally knocked. Marita was laughing at their room becoming grand central station. But it was how they already determined that since they were together for three months through so many trials, it was hard to be apart. As the Latina opened the door, it turned out to be Mandy. “Hey, guys, “ she smiled, “You have GOT to see this.”

The group then saw that she was pointing across the hallway to the other room, the one that contained the Lost Kids. They all slowly walked across the hallway to look into the room. Alexander, Flower and Andra were all on a bed, hopping up and down like little children. McKay couldn’t help but laugh at the irony; wondering what a long road it will be to teach them how to function in the normal world. Marita then looked briefly down the hallway and saw Jack coming up to them with a wine glass and a bottle of wine. “All the room arrangements okay for everybody?” he smiled.

“They are perfect, Jack.” Tony said, putting his arm around his love, “Thank you for looking out for us.”

“Which he always does,” John patted him on the arm.

“I try.” He said, drinking his wine.

“Did we get wine?” asked Mia, as she looked to her archer boyfriend.

“It’s good stuff. I can’t pronounce it but it’s from 1923. It’s damn good.” The doctor gulped another swig.

“HEY!” Sawyer called down from the hallway.

“Oh, No, what is this gonna be about?” Taylor giggled.

“What’s wrong, Sawyer?” McKay asked his friend.

“I wanted to complain about the housing arrangements,” the redneck glared at Jack, “ How come Shanna nor Kate’s nor Natasha’s room is next to mine?”

“Never occurred to me you would have wanted it that way.” Jack said smugly.

“So what happens if I am in the mood for a late night booty call?”

“I didn’t need to hear that.” Tony laughed.

“Then I’ll guess you’ll have to get creative.” Jack said, sipping his wine and walking away.

“Kate’s room better not be next to yours, Jack!” Sawyer warned.

The elevator down the hall opened up and out stepped Chiles. The lawyer saw Jack approaching him by happenstance since he was on his way to the room. “The rooms are to their liking?” the lawyer smiled.

“Very much so.” Jack smiled, “Thank you . . for everything.”

“It’s my pleasure, Jack. Now, we already have a small group of families that have arrived, so we thought we’d bring out the necessary individuals for their much anticipated reunion.”

“Sounds good,” Jack smiled, “Who’s first?”

Chiles opened a folder and read the first name. “Ms. Bakers.” He commented.

The doctor smiled at the name as it couldn’t have made him any more happier. “Jenny’s family.” He smiled.