Chapter 4

A massive apology for not updating in such a long time, but College truthfully got in the way. Anyway here's the next update and as always a big thank you for the reviews.

NYR88 in answer to your question we will be seeing more of who the culprit is for what happened in the future. Richard may just set a whole new chain of events........

She now stood at the edge of the horizon. Succumbing herself to a form of meditation her Mother swore by, sinking.

It was amazing how much you truly needed someone when they were gone and the one thing she needed now was forgiveness for all the hurt she never meant to cause.

"Thought I might find you here."

Looking back at the person she offered the hint of a forced smile to hide any kind of opposing emotion. However when that failed she made an attempt to escape, but was stopped from ding so by the firm yet gentle grip on her arm and with that he pulled her into his embrace. Giving her no choice but to let it all out and all he offered in return was assurance.

(Some time later)

They both sat watching the sun set. Liz still wrapped safely within Jake's arms. Both unwilling to let any further discussion ruin the moment, but Jake knew that time was already running scarce.

"He sent you didn't he?" she guessed more with amusement rather than annoyance in her tone and Jake simply chuckled to himself while simply saying, "you know your brother."

He was honestly astonished himself that Richie had trusted him with such a mission being that they didn't see eye to eye, especially when it came to Liz but regardless of it all he was thankful.

Much to his dismay she didn't take his admission in the slightest form of amusement because she now knew what he was here for.

"I'm not going." she simply stated before attempting to move out of his embrace, but Jake was quick to rein her back into him when she stood. Putting up with an expected struggle from her at first but she slowly relented with what he said next.

"You have to stop Izzy."

"Stop what?" she questioned, vaguely assuming his implication but unwilling to actually admit that he was right because it would automatically defeat the fear she had managed to suppress until now.

Besides they were some things she didn't want to change.

"Running." He confessed and urged himself to continue in light of her silence, "I know that you're afraid but shouldn't you at least give him the benefit of the doubt."

"He wants to change our past Jake." She stressed, still seeing the plan as insane and suicidal in regards to what they had been told about the tricky concept of time travel.

"I know." Jake answered aware of the possibility of a few other things changing in the process, but he loved her enough to sacrifice his happiness for hers.

"What if I don't want to change the past?" she loudly explained, not caring if her voice wavered towards the end because it was the only way to make him understand how serious she was about them.

Cupping her face in his hands, he leaned forward to place a kiss on her forehead. With that done he pulled away with a smile, "no matter what happens I'll always love you."

"I love you too, but….."

"But nothing else can change that because I'm going with you."

"Besides I need your family's blessing." Jake added, growing increasingly amused by Liz's expression of complete shock. Never the less she agreed with an excited "YES!!" along with the condition of a promise she would try her hardest to keep.

(20 years earlier)

There was a part of him in shock in regards to what he had just done, but at the same time he still felt it was justifiable to end this monster's life.

"Drop it!!" A voice suddenly ordered, viewing him as an obvious threat but little did Jack know that the feeling was far from mutual.

In an attempt to not wreck the future anymore than he probably already had, the young man followed through with Jack's order. Admitting defeat whilst the others he had come along with abandoned their attack and instead lay low, wondering why he had given up so easily.

Although there were two members amongst the group who were in complete shock of what they had just witnessed, Jess especially despite promising her that he wouldn't let his emotions get the better of him once they came back here.

She still couldn't understand why he hated her Father so much.

Without even having to ask for any additional help, Kate was ready and on hand to aid Juliet along with two other volunteers who quickly carried a profusely bleeding Sawyer towards the medical infirmary leaving Jack to deal with their latest guest whose eyes were worryingly transfixed on Kate as she hurried away with Juliet.

However the clicking of Jack's gun was enough to break the young man's line of focus.

Once in the Infirmary, Juliet threw any emotional attachment out of the window and replaced it with a medical initiative to fix. The only problem was she didn't know how to, but she knew who might be.

"Kate, get Jack!!" Juliet ordered in a hurried manner but it failed to phase through Kate's fixation of shock on the scene before her.

"If you want him to live….." she started out slowly giving way to the tremble of emotion in her voice and thankfully Kate was coherent enough to get the message and follow through with the order.

"I….." the young man started out, hoping to explain his actions without exposing too much about himself, but at the same time was tempted to do so.

"I don't ….." he still tried but before Jack could say anything, a blue Dharma van skidded to a sudden halt a few feet away from where Jack and the young man stood. Randinzky and two other armed men surfacing from the van and heading straight for the scene of the crime.

"Richard? What are you doing here?" Randinzky inquired and the young man looked upon the finely guessed referral with honest confusion for the clear fact that he hadn't met this man before.

"You know this guy?" Jack questioned and failed to get a solid reply at first due to Randinzky's honest down thinking of him; a mere janitor in his eyes.

"This is Richard Alpert."

His first thought was to clear up the confusion with the truth, but upon further thought he considered the likely loophole of an opportunity with taking on the persona he was already being referred to as. A persona he strongly sensed was treated with a mixture of fear and wariness judging by the way Randinzky and his men maintained a cautious distance away from him.

Although much to his dismay not everyone was convinced, Jack to be precise.

They watched with caution of exposure, each itching to act on some sort of ambush, but weren't issued the word as of yet by their second in command, Liz.

She was still admittedly adamant on not coming back, but seeing her parents now, alive again was thoroughly worth the risk.

"Did that guy just call him Richard?"

"Yeah." Liz whispered while keeping her eyes firmly trained on the scene, feeling a distinct amount of fear for her brother. She didn't come all this way just to lose him.

However in the midst of her worry a brief smile suddenly formed on her face upon seeing her. The person she should have chosen to love instead of disregard due to the constant disagreements.

"Mom"

"Jack!! Jack!!" a voice suddenly rang out, dripping with panic and Jack was on the highest alert when he saw who it was.

"Kate, what's…."

"We need you back at the infirmary." She filled him in, merely implicating the obvious and putting all jealousies aside, Jack quickly moved to follow her, sharing one last glance of curiosity with this Richard guy.

"We have to go." Jess announced but it failed to move him from his spot.

He was quite surprised that his plan was not only given the go ahead but also accompaniment. However the one person he wanted going back with him wasn't and it naturally faltered his decision on going through with his plan.

"Richie?"

"Yeah, I'll be there." He replied with a sigh, turning around to follow her along with the others to the Temple, but he came to a sudden halt upon something he thought was a result of his hopes getting the better of him.

"Leaving already?" she teased, clearly in a brighter mood and Richie could honestly relate along with the relief.

"You came." He stated with a face cracking smile but it faded somewhat when he saw the person standing next to her. Still, he offered an audible nod of thanks towards the man before focusing on his sister again.

"Well somebody's gotta make sure you don't get lost or get yourself caught in a doll trap again." She joked, causing him to briefly cower in embarrassment over the last part. His excuse for it being that he was five at the time and as always she rolled her eyes, conveying a "yeah whatever."

"Okay, let's do this." He then confirmed, reluctantly giving into the fact that Jake was coming along, but at this point he would do anything to make his sister happy and if he was it, then he would respect it.

With that they commenced with their journey down memory lane.

Coming up in the next chapter is "one" of the events and jealous Jack……..

I'd love to know what you guys think, if you're still reading that is.