Freighter Docks, Police and the World await

[Kevin Callis]

It was unbelieveable.

As Kevin stood on the pier, he couldn't help the nervousness and excitement that was building up inside of him. Kevin remembered when he had heard that Oceanic Flight 815 had been found at the bottom of the ocean somewhere in the pacific, and he had paid little mind to it when he had heard it. However, when the Coast Guard had called and said that a freighter was docking at the Santa Monica pier, and this freighter held the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815? Kevin had paid every mind to it. A fellow detective had mentioned that a fugative had been on the plane...

Monica. Kate. Whomever the hell she was...she was alive. Kevin felt himself swallow as he looked out towards the calm waters. He found himself fingering his ring finger in his pocket, feeling that once again, the wedding band had been removed long ago. However, he hadn't forgotten about her. Hadn't forgotten how she made him feel.

A breath escaped his lips in a sigh as he looked over, seeing a patrol cop behind him. "Alright, Henry," he told the man, not looking back behind him. "I told you guys once, I'll tell you again; I want this to go smooth and quick. I want her apprehended, but if you guys lay a finger on her that's in any way not gentle, I will personally make sure your pink slip is on my desk in the morning, are we clear?"

She was a criminal. She murdered people, and yet, Kevin still held so much love in his heart for the woman he didn't even know.

"Sir...she's a federal fugative--"

Kevin looked back sharply. "Did I fucking stutter? I want her alive, and I want her in pristine condition. These people have already been through enough. If I had my way, she'd be let free. They crashed in a fuckin' plane. That in itself is punishment enough." Kevin looked back out to the water. "Besides, the more respectful we are, the more cooperation we'll get. Trust me."

Kevin wasn't sure what sort of situation he'd find himself in as he saw the freighter come towards the dock. Kevin took in a breath and l et it out in a nervous sigh.

"Sir, aren't the Oceanic people supposed to be dead? I saw it on the news."

"You believe everything you hear on the news, Matthews?" Kevin asked with a slight smirk before looking back at the water. "As far as I'm concerned, Elvis and Jimmy Hoffa'll walk off that boat with those survivors. I don't know how it's possible, but it looks like, unless those freighter people are lying their asses off, that it's true. Whoever put out that they were lyin' at the bottom of the ocean I guess better check their sources a little bit more."

[Charlotte Lewis]

(Randomly joining here..... )

Hazel eyes danced with joy as they spotted dry land, something they hadn't seen in several weeks. Their owner was even more excited, having gotten sick of ocean and islands. Dry land would be a relief for Charlotte Lewis. First thing in the morning, she was flying back to England and sleeping in her own, comfortable bed. Then it was back to work and traveling all over God's creation to do it.

Stepping to the railing, the redhead couldn't help but smile as they neared the dock. She spotted the police cruisers, knowing they were here for either Kate or Sawyer. Glancing up, she stared at the sky for a moment, watching the clouds above. It was a habit she had gotten into having nothing else to do on teh Freighter. Besides helping Dan of course.

That brought to her mind the fact that Dan had discovered they were actually moving slower than normal. Apparently it had been effects of the island, like the cabin fever. Both herself and Dan had doubts about whether they would reach Los Angeles in time, but now she had no more doubts.

Sighing, Charlotte ran a hand through her hair, tired. Having been up all night, a normal bed was looking much more appealing. Tapping her fingers on the railing impatiently, she glanced around the deck of the Freighter. Several crewman were grinning ear to ear, glad to be back on land just like she was. Others looks grumpy, probably because they didn't really have anything to go back to.

Charlotte had been about to turn and go find Miles or Dan to celebrate with them, she froze in her tracks as a thought hit her. There was going to be questions, mostly from reportors and family members on how the survivors had gotten back, and where they had been. They would trace the survivors rescue to Frank, Dan, Miles, herself, and the other members aboard the Kahana, which would then trace back to Charles Widmore.

Her instructions from him had been clear. Don't tell a word as to where you've been or where you're going. She knew the consequences: Death. Widmore had been very strict and very clear with them before they had left on the Freighter. If they told anything, they would be tracked down and killed. Charlotte wouldn't doubt they would probably be followed by an associate of Widmore's.

"Hey Lewis! Why the long face? We're back on land so you should be happy with all the complaining you do!" On of the crewman shouted, spotting the frown across her face.

Suddenly, Charlotte wasn't happy anymore.

[Daniel Faraday]

As Daniel saw land, his heart skipped slighty in his chest. He stepped onto the Freighter's top deck, peering through the night to see the lights of the Santa Monica pier.

His head snapped over as he heard a fellow crewmember yell at Charlotte, and he felt himself frown deeper. He hated how people yelled at Charlotte. They yelled at him, too, but they yelled at Charlotte as if she was inferior. Daniel knew, however, that Charlotte was brilliant. She was also a woman, and he also noticed how the men looked at her. He looked at Charlotte, moving behind her as he looked towards the pier. He felt himself swallow slightly; police. He could see police on the dock, and Daniel felt himself looking down at the deck of the Freighter.

"They're waiting for her." Daniel felt a chill run up his spine. What if Widmore and his associates were waiting for them, too? "They're waiting for us, too." The thought of being off the Island and on the safety of the city of Los Angeles didn't bring any sort of comfort to Daniel.

He wasn't sure if it was nervousness that made his hands shake or if it was the fact that they could possibly be dead by the end of the day.

Charlotte was the only person that Daniel felt halfway comfortable with. He wasn't sure why, but perhaps it was the fact that she didn't treat him like he was insane. He looked over at her. "Are you worried?"

[Charlotte Lewis]

Charlotte merely nodded as Daniel spoke about the police currently standing on the dock. She had turned back around and was gripping the railing again, attempting not to lose it at the moment. She had come close to losing it before, and it was all before she thought she was about to die. She had a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach.

"Yes, they'll be waiting, if not Widmore himself." She said quietly, glancing at the dock. She didn't spot any signs of people besides the police, but that didn't mean that Widmore wasn't there. He could be waiting for them to leave the docks or something. She chewed her bottom lip.

Charlotte had the feeling they were going to be dead before nightfall. She looked over at Daniel as her stomach flipped over. Staying on the Freighter suddenly became a mich nicer idea, but she knew they would never get away with it. She tried ot give Daniel a reassuring smile, but she faltered slightly. Normally she would be having some sort of conversation with him, but this was not a normal time. She wished they were still back out at sea and they would have more time to spend together, at least before they were killed.

"Yeah, Dan, I'm worried. I don't particularly like the fact that we might be shot the moment we step off this Freighter. Even if we don't say anything, we'll probably be killed just in case." She muttered, looking at him. She sighed, realizing she probably wasn't making him feel any better. "Sorry, I'm not helping."

[foster336]

The moon was high as he walked onto the top deck of the freighter and saw the lights of the Santa Monica Pier. Desmond looked around, He was in America once again. The last time he was here he remembered that he was going on a race around the world to earn the respect of Charles Whidmore. That is what brought Desmond to the Island in the first place, That is what made him spend Three years pressing that damned button thinking he was saving the world.

He remembered the conversation that he had with Kevin one day. He was sitting on the makeshift kitchen table when he asked "Kevin why the hell are we pressing this button brotha"? He remembered the look that he was given as he recalled Kevin saying "We're saving the world Desmond".

Desmond held his journal under his arm, He looked around as he saw Daniel Faraday. Desmond walked up to him and he Said "I would like to thank you for the journal brotha, I know alot more then what I did when I first got on here". He eyed the woman behind Daniel, Charlotte, He didn't know why exactly but he didn't trust her.

Desmond closed his eyes as he took in a deep breath, He was tired of smelling the ocean, First thing he was going to do was either A. Attempt to find Penny, Or B. Hit up the closest bar her could. Desmond smiled as he said "You know, I spent three years on that Island, and I remember the taste of that DHARMA Liquor, And I remembered that it tasted like something, And it hits me right now, It tastes like Henneiken from a local Irish pub that I know about here". Desmond chuckled a bit, It sort of surprised him that he was remembering so much.

[James "Sawyer" Ford]

They were home. In only minutes they would be back in the land of lights and noise, far from the island ‘paradise’ they had inhabited for three months. All their lives had changed forever that day as they were thrown together in tragedy, and banded together in the need to survive. Now it would all change again as they went their separate ways... most of them, anyway.

But not all of them. Stepping up onto the deck, Sawyer’s eyes fell upon the lone form of Claire as she stood back from the rails, a fussing Aaron in her arms. Maybe time healed all wounds, but he still knew what it felt like to lose someone he loved. He was still haunted by his parents’ death in dreams at, and in ever move he made for twenty seven years. But he had had his anger to latch onto; he had had someone to blame. Claire didn’t have that. Charlie had given his life to save them all, and he had known exactly what he was doing. The only person she could blame was Charlie himself.

Looking over toward an empty spot on the deck that was quickly filling with people, Sawyer hesitated before changing his direction and walking up behind Claire. Even over the water that sloshed against the boat, and the excited chatter of the people around them, Aaron’s cries pierced through them all. He remembered the time back on the island when Charlie had chased him around all day with the kid because apparently just Sawyer’s voice was enough to quiet it down. It seemed so long ago now.

“I know how ya feel, kid,” Sawyer said, his voice somehow gruff yet soft. Taking a deep breath, he swore he could smell the city on the air.

[giovanna]

Home?

Could Giovanna really call it home? Well, for one thing, she wasn't anywhere near her home, and she hadn't seen it for quite some time. Even before crashing on the island, Giovanna had been travelling the world, or at least some of it, with the dance company she had belonged to with her sister. But how could she ever join them again? Giovanna and her sister Viola weren't two sisters who were inseparable or even liked each other at all, but they were still sisters. Giovanna going back to the world without her was almost like a betrayal somehow, like she had let her die or even had some part in her dying. Giovanna unfortunately had not, but she knew what everyone would think when she returned without her sister. Everyone had thought that they both had died, but now the truth was that Giovanna was alive and kicking while Viola was still dead in the ground.

As Giovanna watched everyone around her get excited about what would happen once they reached the land, she attempted a smile at whoever dared to look at her. However, it even looked forced for Giovanna. She was quite good at faking feelings, but she couldn't easily fake excitement for the one thing she had dreaded for the past few weeks. Giovanna had been one of the ones who didn't want to leave the island, but now she was forced to return back to the world and resume her life. But how could she really do that? Giovanna knew no real home anymore and nothing in the real world was familiar to her. She knew the beach, the paths through the trees... But to go back to Firenze {or wherever her parents were now} and resume her life as a dancer didn't seem like a possibility anymore. But if Giovanna didn't do that, what would she do? It was a question she couldn't answer for herself no matter how long she thought about it and she knew that no one would answer it for her. Giovanna would only have to wait with the rest of the 'survivors' until fate and reality slapped them in the face once they got off the freighter.

[Daniel Faraday]

Daniel looked down, seeing her hands clench at the railing tightly. Hearing her words, the frown spread deeper onto his face as he looked towards the pier. If Widmore wanted to, Daniel was sure he could have shot them all down as they stood on the deck. It would have been too easy, and so quick. "There's police on the pier, they wouldn't, you know...shoot us on the dock." he pointed out. "Unless he has it in with the police as well. Which...would be bad."

Her words weren't helping him, but he wasn't sure that anything could. He lifted his hand, placing it on her back to rub it slightly as he glanced at her, trying to give her a reassuring smile, but it faultered slightly. "It'll be okay." he told her, trying to put enough sureness to his voice to convince them both. "At least if we do die...we died doing something we knew was right."

[Charlotte Lewis]

"Widmore knows everyone and is so rich, he can manipulate anyone to do anything he wants, so I wouldn't doubt he's got control over the police. Or at least some of them." She said, glancing back up at the flashing lights. "And yeah, that would be pretty bad." She turned her attention away from the dock, looking around deck instead. More people were beginning to come up on deck, probably getting word that they would be docked within the hour. She sighed. Hopefully the survivors would get off without being shot. "But I've been shot and shot at before, so it's nothing new to me."

She looked at Daniel and actually managed a small smile this time. She was attempting to convince herself that they weren't going to die, that they weren't going to get shot, but she was failing horribly at it, even with Dan's reassurance. His hand on her back seemed to help, for she could feel her stress level slowly going down. "You're right." She said after a moment. "About the whole doing something right. Even though technically we weren't supposed to rescue them in the first place." Charlotte added.

Sighing again, her gaze fell on the docks again, and the city lights in the distance. "What happens if we do live to see the light of tomorrow? Do you think either of us will get back to where we came from? Or do you think he'll force us to stay here, in Los Angeles?"

[Daniel Faraday]

"I want to thank you brotha--"

Daniel heard Desmond speak, and he jerked slightly around, looking at the man. His hand immediatly went from Charlotte's back, moving his fingers to slightly point at Desmond. "Oh, yeah, uh," Daniel said, and brought a hand up to his forehead, scratching at an itch. "It's, uh...it's...yeah. I had a feeling you would come around." He hadn't had a feeling, Daniel'd had simply a hope and a bunch of mathmatical equations in his notebook that he remembered trying to explain to Charlotte once when they had found themselves looking at the slow waves. "Just, uh...just keep reading and keep concentrating. It'll stop the headaches and flashes." Daniel wanted to study Desmond more, however, the simple fact of staying alive was priority in his mind.

Daniel had wondered how much Desmond had heard of he and Charlotte's conversation, but his mind went back to her question. "Closer confines means it's easier to control." Daniel never thought he'd miss Oxford, but LA was so different, so strange. He wasn't sure if he wanted to go back, he wasn't sure of anything anymore. He looked from Desmond to Charlotte. "You?"

[Charlotte Lewis]

Charlotte too, turned at the voice. Desmond, she thought his name was. Like most of the survivors, she had never really gotten to know any of them. Leaning back on the railing, she folded her arms across her chest as she half-listened to their conversation. She knew Desmond had some sort of flashes that allowed him to see the future, but only because Dan had explained it to her.

"He'd stick us in some sort of hotel and make us live there or something until he did figure out what to do with us. At least it would be a break from this ship." She mumbled, glancing at him and Desmond before her gaze went back to the horizon behind them. She wanted to get back to Oxford and see her sisters, but it wouldn't matter. She was used to traveling, and would be doing it the moment she was set free. Her job required her to do it. Charlotte wouldn't mind just staying in Los Angeles if it meant a break. "I would prefer Oxford, but I would prefer staying in LA, even if it's only for a bit."

[hugoreyes]

He'd been kind of just... hovering.

With nothing to do, there wasn't much that Hurley could really do at all. Just stand around... watch... observe. And wait. It was quiet to be honest, their stay. Aside from the overheard wisecracks of the Southerner it was really quiet. People really weren't all that talkative on the ride there, or not that he'd seen. But then most of the other survivors had take a rather... round about way of them. Almost like they were avoiding him.

It'd been kinda like that since they all regrouped... especially after the news of Charlie's death. It'd been what? More then a few days, he figured. The days blurring into one another making it hard to remember exactly. And really the only people that he'd talked to since were Claire, Sawyer and Jin.... Although Jin really didn't speak all that much to begin with. But it was still something. It made him not feel completely alone, even though he still felt it. It was hard not to when the island claimed two of the closest people he'd know. Charlie... and Libby.

Libby.

That name brought more and more pain each time the name repeated itself in his head. Casting his eyes down into the water as he leaned his arms on the rail, he tried to not look as solemn as he felt. Trying to force it from his face. Because he really, really didn't want Sawyer to try his Dr. Phil trip out on him again. He didn't want the wounds poked... prodded... opened up more. Because well... even if the island was behind him. He felt empty... Lonely. Libby as after all the only person that he felt completely comfortable around. Her and Charlie.

Swallowing thickly, he looked up, the land in front of him a bit closer then it was when he started standing there with the other survivors. "So... How long 'till we like... land?" he questioned, glancing over around to the other people that now surrounded the big man. It couldn't have been too long? As much as he didn't want to leave the island, he didn't want to be on the freighter that much more. The people on it that were bringing him back kinda freaked him out a bit. Especially with the blood stain he'd seen on one of the walls. This place left him feeling rather uneasy.

[claire littleton.]

The city lights sparkled against the sky; the thick smog prevented any star light from filtering through onto the streets or night life of Los Angeles. Even as the freighter closed in on the docs, Claire could tell this wasn’t exactly the ‘happening’ part of Los Angeles. Claire swayed lightly as the water sloshed against the side of the boat, the humming of the other 815 survivors got lost somewhere between their mouths, and her ears. Maybe she was subconsciously blocking it out, either way, it didn’t matter. Aaron’s cry was the only thing able to pull her out of her thoughts as the police cars suddenly came into view. A small hint of confusion slowly crossed her face, but no matter how quickly it came on, it disappeared, they were probably just all there to take them some where... To do something.... Anything?

“Come on Aaron.” Claire whispered against his forehead, her lips slowly kissing him as she finished speaking. It felt as if the action went ignored as the little boy fussed in her arms. His arms flailed as he squirmed and screamed, clearly unhappy. Claire hadn’t honestly expected him to be all rainbows and sunshine, but she also didn’t expect a hell fire to flare from him. “C’mon, Aaron, Please.” She tried to bargain quietly also trying to keep up with his every move. “You’re going to sleep in a bed tonight.” He probably didn’t understand, Hell the thought still didn’t sit right with Claire, and really, she didn’t know where they would be sleeping tonight. She only assumed Oceanic would be hosting them until they all got back onto their feet. Well, she hoped anyways, the prospects of wondering the streets until morning trying to find some form of shelter with Aaron didn’t soothe her thoughts, nor how she was feeling. But then again, Jack’s offer still stood. If worst came to worse she could go with him, but... It would only be for the night, and only be because she would not let anything happen to Aaron.

Sincerely, she wished that didn’t happen. Sawyer’s voice broke it all down for her as she looked up to see the gruff looking southerner. Claire`s lips twisted into a hopeless looking smile as she watched, noting how Aaron suddenly stopped crying and slowed in her arms. “Hey Sawyer. ” she said, her glum tone sadly harassing her words. “We`re home... ” Claire said watching the doc get closer and closer. They could see it all. The lights in front of them, everything was coming together, the loud hollers on shore could be heard from the boat. Slowly her eyes found themselves casting over Hurley, his solemn stance was obvious to see. She wasn`t the only one feeling Charlie`s death... And that was obvious. Especially since Hurley had lost two people... Libby as well.

Charlie. As she looked up at the sky she blinked, trying to cool her eye balls down, stop them from heating and spilling tears. Claire sighed hoisting Aaron up on her side.

[kateausten]

She could feel her heart beating fast against her rib cage, pounding, bursting at the seams. Jack had convinced her to stay, yet now she was pressed against the wall awaiting escape, she had to make a run for it the moment they landed. Sawyer and herself hadn`t expected twenty cop cars, no doubt the people on the boat had let slip her where abouts, and that was something she hoped, hell, even prayed they wouldn`t do. But then again, Kate didn`t have much faith in humanity anymore.

Kate`s palms were sweaty as they pressed against the dirty metal, as she stood there it was hard to recall a time when she felt so... nervous... exposed, despite anything she`d ever done, it felt like time was currently cracking down upon her. With a sickening lurch Kate felt the boat groan as it pressed against the port, and this was now the moment, the moment she`d betray Jack.. Make their talk all worth nothing, and it hurt most knowing despite anything she did... she`d hurt one of them, and it'd cycle all over again, never getting anywhere.

In the shadows Kate slinked behind the crowd, the light of home filtering in her peripheral view. That was probably the single moment when she felt like she, Kate Austen was actually home. A frustrated sigh left her lips as she turned pressing her forehead against the cool metal. Did she want to live on the run again? Did she want to risk it all, and not only for herself, but for James too? The obvious answer was no. She didn`t. She wanted to reset it all, make it better. She wanted her damn freedom, and to be able to live her own life. Head low and her eyes on the ground Kate took a final deep breath and stepped out into the crowd, her eyes reluctantly making their way over to Sawyer. A sorrowful apology encoded deep within her gaze.

[James "Sawyer" Ford]

The sad smile Claire greeted him with was almost enough to break even Sawyer’s hardened heart. She had landed on that island pregnant and alone, and by the time she left she was a mother, and a damn good one at that. But it was not a happy homecoming for her either; hell, it wasn’t a homecoming at all. Her home was halfway around the world; the island had been closer.

The island had been closer to home for many of them in different ways. Because of Charlie they had gotten off the island, but also because of him Claire had wanted to stay.

“Whatever ya say, Goldilocks,” he replied, moving to stand beside her in almost companionship. “I’m guessin’ they didn’t knock ya out and drag ya on here too. Tha kid, though... he looks like a fighter.”

Finally taking a moment to really take in the circus that awaited them, Sawyer felt a clutch of anxiety in his heart at the flashing lights of the police cars. He knew they would be there, but seeing them made it all too real. Luckily there was plenty of media there too. If he caused enough of a ruckus then Kate would still be able to make it.

Unconsciously his eyes scanned the large deck of the freighter until they fell upon his soon-to-be partner in crime. Their eyes met and his heart plummeted. No words were needed. He knew. She had changed her mind. She wasn’t going with him. She was turning herself in.

It was all over.