The Very Thought of You
Chapter Six

Disclaimer: Stand By Me was written by Ben E. King. Lyrics curtesy of http/http/
When the night has come

The incident with the bus was never brought up again, except maybe on the occasion of those who witness the accident. Over the course of the next few weeks, Adam didn't fail to notice how often Alex was right about things and events that had yet to happen, but never brought it up.

That particular night, Alex and Adam were caught up in a rousing game of one on one inside a fenced in court in a park a block down from Adam's apartment. Just as Alex was planning her next move, she caught sight of a couple sitting on a bench nearby, watching them with a look of pure joy and pride. They were young, but from the lines of worry on their foreheads, Alex guessed them to be in at least their forties. She hadn't realized she had stopped playing until Adam came to a halt beside her as he went for the basket, breathing heavily and smelling of sweat.

And the land is dark

What's up? He asked, trying to catch his breath.

He grabbed the ball from its stationary position in Alex's arms.

Adam tried again, echoing the word into her ear.

That couple looks happy, Alex said, finally.

What a stupid thing to say, she thought, and by the look on Adam's face she knew that he wasn't seeing what she was. Shaking her head, Alex grabbed the ball from him. She smiled at catching him off guard, but Adam got his revenge, picking her up unexceptionally. But Alex took advantage of this, and(sitting on Adam's shoulders), hoisted the ball into the hoop, and let out a whoop of joy as she pumped her fist into the air and laughed, momentarily forgetting about the couple.

And the moon is the only light we'll see

Kate sat down beside Jack, who had distanced himself from the camp and had gone back to his old spot by the beach. Or should it be called their' spot? She surprised him by leaning forward and forcing in a kiss, but when they broke apart, Jack looked back out into the the dark waters, as if nothing had ever happened and Kate wasn't there.

I'm sorry, she said finally.

No I won't be afraid

Jack looked at her.

Don't be, he said, I..over reacted.You think? Kate said with a snort.

Jack glared.

No I won't be afraid

Kate looked down, Sawyer's settled back in so he's back to be his usual self.Some things never change, Jack muttered.

Kate rolled her eyes.

It must be eleven o'clock, Kate said, you coming back up? Jack said, give me a minute.I'm not waiting up for you, Kate warned him, standing up and leaving.

Jack looked back out to sea and sighed as he too stood up to leave.

Just as long as you stand, stand by me

Back in the cave things were going smoothly as Charlie handed Claire a bottle of water. She had been having a frequent insomnia problem, so it had become a habit of Charlie's to stay up with her and talk until both of them fell asleep around four in the morning.

And darlin', darlin', stand by me

Sun, on the other hand, had fought to keep her worries of Jin inside, and had to force a smile as Hurley walked by on the way to his usual spot in the caves.

oh now now stand by me

The rest of the caves settled in for the night in couples, laughing and talking amongst themselves as though nothing were wrong in the world.

Stand by me
But there seemed to be a different light amongst the beach camp, which was ironic because the beach goers had stayed on the island's sandy shores in attempts to lighten their mood.

Stand by me

For starters, Shannon had seated herself outside her tent, in hopes of catching a glimpse of Sayid as he came by from his routine nightly walk from the caves.

If the sky that we look upon

she said as he walked by.

When he didn't answer her, Shannon jumped up, running after him down the beach. Finally she reached him, and she jerked him around, forcing him to face her.

What the hell is wrong with you? She demanded, crossing her arms.

Should tumble and fall

Sayid didn't answer, only nodded to Boone, who was coming up another path, telling her that that should explain his reasons. Shannon looked at Sayid, incredulous. Was he jealous of Boone? Mad at her? Why? Wasn't she was the one that should still be mad at him, for not telling the truth in the first place? Was he suspecting something of her and Boone? During her contemplation's, Shannon never realized that Sayid had already left her alone, standing solemnly in the moonlight.

And the mountains should crumble to the sea

From his spot on the beach, Boone noticed his sister's dilemma with Sayid. As much as he wanted to be able to confront- or at least confront- Shannon, he felt that Sayid deserved some credit. After all, had Shannon been completely truthful with him?

I won't cry, I won't cry, no I won't shed a tear

Alex had taken the liberty of going through Robert's bag. Well, she couldn't know it was his bag for sure, for he had brought no luggage with him to their campsite. She had found the bag hidden under a bush and had snuck the bag back into the site with her. Inside the bag was nothing but extra clothes, a bottle of water that was boiling hot and smelled as if it had been kept long forgotten in the trunk of a car for years, and a picture hiding in an inside pocket. Wedging the picture out of its hold, Alex saw who it was of: Robert and her mom, obviously taken in Paris, arms wrapped around each other. They were smiling at the camera: the happiest couple in the world. If only her mom knew how much pain and hurt she was starting. Just thinking of the fact that had her mom never made that choice, visited Paris, or even taken that picture, none of this would've ever happened- and Alex could make a good bet that she wouldn't be here right now on this island- brought on tears and Alex threw the picture down and fled from the campsite, leaving the fire burning bright.

Just as long as you stand, stand by me

Danielle poked around the outskirts of the Black Rock and never noticed the other figure in the jungle with her until she heard the twig snap and saw Sayid's alert face peer around the corner. Sayid stopped at being caught.

I was just- he motioned towards the hole that he and Jack had blown into the ship what seemed like months ago, but was really no more than a few weeks.

Go ahead, Danielle nodded.

She had gotten the idea that Sayid and Jack were taking turns scavenging the ship when she noticed that the ship's supply stock was going slim. As selfish as she knew it was, Danielle couldn't bare to give away any of her stash, as there seemed to be some kind of personal attachment to it, though it was mostly just made up of stale bread and spices. The two had knocked over a fair share of boxes and crates while making their way towards the ship's many hidden doors and passageways, though Danielle was sure that only she had discovered the best of them.

Are you going to stay with us? Sayid's voice bounced off the rusted interiors of the vessel. Or are you going back to live in the jungle?It's a hard decision, Danielle replied half-heartly with sarcasm, living with boars or living with monsters.

Even though it was dark, Danielle knew that Sayid's brown eyes were narrowing the way they always did, though she was sure that she was the only one who noticed this pesky habit. Well, maybe the only one besides Shannon.

Give us a chance, Sayid insisted and continued rather bitterly, you get used to it.

Letting out a dry laugh, Danielle continued to pick around in the dark, looking for the eighth loose board to the right of the entrance, where a door was hidden behind a stack of creates.

And darlin', darlin', stand by me

Danielle had considered moving permanently to the caves, where she could be closer to her daughter, if she ever came home, that is. It was funny how she could call the island home. She was in a position to, after all, it had been the closest thing to a home for sixteen years; and Danielle knew that the others would need her help growing used to being able to make that proclaim, discovering the island's beauties, yet having the knowledge of the many precautions that needed to take place. And not to mention living sixteen years alone didn't suite well with one's mind, and just the thought of having friends again or maybe even, if fate allowed it, someone to love, sent a wave of excitement through Danielle that she hardly recognized.

Stand by me, stand by me, stand by me-e, yeah

The island remained calm and peaceful throughout the remainder of the night and into the early morning hours where- in the rest of the world- roosters would be crowing.

Whenever you're in trouble won't you stand by me, oh now now stand by me

Alex slowed down her pace once deep into the jungle, but she didn't care, even when she had no clue where she was going, or where she was.

Oh stand by me, stand by me, stand by me

All she wanted to do was get back to camp so that she could yell at her mother, demand to know why she was lied to, and to know why her life was put out of her control like that.

Darlin', darlin', stand by me-e, stand by me

Now it seemed that she was put on the island for the sole purpose for being punished for her mother's wrong doing. She was going to have her turn at demanding answers- real answers, pick her fight, and then leave again- maybe forever. The thought sent her running in hopes of reaching the camp sooner, though she had a feeling that she was no where near it. Nevertheless she kept running and running until she tripped over something hard. Something that sounded eerily like a bone cracked in the thick jungle atmosphere, and Alex fell hard on her ankle.

She sat defeated as tears poured down her cheeks, knowing that no one was there to come after her. Robert probably wouldn't notice she was gone for hours, and Jack wouldn't start looking for her until it was light out, surely. Her biggest fear was one of the boat people finding her again, and what they would do once they had her back in their hands, able to do whatever they wished. No, she did this to herself, Alex knew. But the more she thought that, the more she found others to blame the accident on: Robert, her mom, her dad..

It was then that she noticed the object she had tripped over. Scooting back, feeling the twigs scrape against her skin that shone where her skirt had inched up over her now bloody ankle, she saw that, sticking out of the ground was a gravestone. Inching closer to the stone, Alex could barely make out the name engraved into the granite stone:

Robert Rousseau

Oh stand by me, stand by me, stand by me

Author's Note: Yep, that's right, he was dead the whole time. Don't forget Alex is a medium. Anyway, thanks to those of you who reviewed(and those who finally came back- you know who you are! j/k!)! You guys rock!

Coming up next fic, A Night To Remember(temp. title):

The causes of Jack and Kate's trip to attempt to find yet another distress signal could prove to be deadly in this fic which ends up in a manhunt and desperate search for missing survivors while flashbacks recall a simular event sixteen years ago. Danielle-centric.

Thanks again!

Until next time..

October Sky