Disclaimer: It's still not mine!

Sayid Jarrah was not the type of man to be rash. His whole life- every moment, every movement- was calculated and well planned. Like the mechanics of a radio, it was pieced together. Decisions made, decisions sometimes regretted and mused over, but in the end, what was done was done, and only come the final judgment would his fate be known.

At least that's what he'd come to think, as a young man. Life had proven him wrong, and in so many ways. Now he wondered if any part of it was in his control.

He believed in destiny. He believed in fate. And he believed in man's ability to change both, once upon a time. The growing vault of evidence was leading him to think differently.

Nadia sentenced to death in the jail cell, forcing him to choose between betrayal of the country and the woman he loved.

Shannon on the beach, in his arm as she slept, in his arms as she died.

Nadia waiting at the door following their interview, a new life together, and a murder.

A punishment for his past misgivings? It was the only rational answer, the only possible explanation of the hell he was living through. There was no chance for him. Fate seemed to enjoy toying with him, dangling forgiveness and a chance for peace in front of him, like the ball of yarn dancing and bouncing just out of reach of the cat. Forever reaching out, trying to touch it, and failing.

Punish him for his sins, he would take it gladly.

Just don't punish her again… he thought, slowing from a jog to a power walk as he approached a kiosk, praying he hadn't aroused any suspicion within the airport. He knew how it would seem, if people noticed- a Middle Eastern man running through the airport.

"Jack!"

The doctor reached him, as did Boone, who had started out several steps ahead of Sayid. He felt the adrenaline rushing through him, the sheer urgency of the situation giving him more strength than he'd felt in years.

"Boone, do you know where your sister was planning to go?"

"Back to the hotel, I think," the younger man said. His eyes clearly conveyed worry, akin to what Sayid was feeling at that moment.

Think Sayid. Stop worrying and think…

"She would need a taxi, correct?"

Boone nodded, his shaggy hair falling over his eyes.

Skimming the light-up airport floor plan on one of the kiosk panels, he ran his fingers along the edges of the building, locating the exits. "Here. We have three exits from which taxis are departing. We will find Shannon there if-" He stopped himself.

He couldn't say the words, couldn't put the idea out there, even though at this point it could be the truth of the matter. "We will find her there."

The confidence he instilled in his voice was false. It didn't fool his companions, either.

"What I miss, Doc?" Sawyer joined the group, throwing an arm around Boone's shoulder in support, though his manner was care free, almost calming. Sayid couldn't help but reminisce to those first days on the beach, a resonant normalcy he almost missed.

"Sawyer, I want you to go to the east exit, Jack to the west. Boone and I shall go to the north exit. Shannon would have to go to one of those three if she wanted to find a taxi." He felt as if he was ordering troops into battle. In a way, he was. A fight for the woman he…

Loved? Cared for? Deep friendship?

No, it was more than the last. Friendship was not what he felt for Shannon Rutherford. He loved her.

Yet he loved Nadia too.

Once he contemplated life in a world without them both. Now he had to reconcile being in a world where both of them were still alive and well.

"How will we know if someone finds her?" Jack asked. "I hate to say this, but we don't have much time before the plane boards, and we need to be on it, or else we're as good as dead too. Boone's the only one with a working cell phone…" His face looked pained, and Sayid knew he felt remorse for even suggesting the possibility they would not find her.

He'd seen it when Jack joined the group- the doctor was a broken man, perhaps as broken as he was.

"Half an hour," he replied quickly, glancing at the other three men. "We meet back here in half an hour, whether we find her or not. From there we will discuss further action."

Boone's shoulders sunk, and Sayid wanted to reach out and comfort the boy. They had their share of problems on the island- had the ever gotten along?- but now he saw Boone for what he was. A scared, young boy, terrified for his sisters life.

"We'll find her, Metro," Sawyer said, the nickname once again bringing a sense of familiarity to the group. "Half an hour."

OOO

The north entrance was farther than he realized, and by the time he and Boone reached it, seven minutes had already passed, cutting into the time they had to find Shannon. He took pleasure in a small piece of luck, that fewer airlines had counters at this end of the entry way. The crowds were less dense, and movement was easier.

His eyes roved over the crowds, and he was convinced at any moment he would be taken away for his suspicious behavior.

"Do we split up?" Boone asked, his eyes covering the ground that Sayid had not already observed.

"Yes, we can cover more ground. This terminal is larger than the other two, even if it is emptier. We start from the exit and work our way around to where we entered. Twenty minutes, we meet there and go find Jack and Sawyer."

Boone nodded, and the two approached the doors. The younger man immediately began making his way around the perimeter of the terminal, checking phone booths and restaurant lines, despite the fact that they both knew Shannon would rather be dead than caught buying fast food.

The colloquialism seemed so vulgar, considering the circumstances, but remembering Shannon refusing Boone's offer of a candy bar their first night on the island brought a smile to Sayid's face.

He doubled back, following the example set by Boone, leaving no corner of the airport unexamined.

"SHANNON!" he shouted, concern for his own well being left far behind.

"SHAN!" Boone's voice rose over the crowd.

"SHANNON!"

"Sir, are you missing someone? Can I help you?" He hadn't noticed the Army reserve officer on patrol. The young man, maybe only twenty or twenty-one, stepped in his path, blocking his route.

Patience, he reminded himself quickly.

"My… my girlfriend is missing. No, not missing… she wandered off, our flight leaves shortly, and I don't know if she's aware of it. She doesn't even have her cell phone on her." He ran a hand through his hair.

"Follow me please, sir," the young man said, his voice a perfect monotone. Sayid felt his heart sink. There wasn't much time before he had to meet the others…

He led him to a desk. "What's her name?"

"Shannon Rutherford."

"And where do you want her to meet you?"

"At the kiosk, where the four terminals intersect."

The soldier smiled. "I'll send up an announcement for you. It'll be easier than searching these crowds for her. Should be a few minutes."

Sayid thanked him profusely, mentally scolding himself for his utter stupidity. It had been so long since he and the others had depended on outsiders- the island had forced them to adapt, to become wholly self-sufficient- that it never occurred to him to stop and ask for an announcement.

Still, if she left, if she wasn't paying attention… He felt a renewed sense of urgency now as he dodged passengers and suitcases, continuing his search. If she didn't show up at the kiosk after the announcement, he could only assume the worst.

"Sayid! Anything?"

"They're going to announce her name over the loudspeaker. Now come on, we have to keep—"

The younger man shook his head. "It's been thirty minutes. We have to meet Jack and Sawyer."

"We have to find her!"

"Sayid!" Boone shouted. Heads around them snapped around, and they received more than a few strange looks. "Don't you think I want to keep looking too? You said they're going to announce her name. Good. That's a start. And there are two other terminals that we haven't even looked at. How do you know that they haven't found—"

Suddenly, the elevator music that had been playing over the airport loudspeakers stopped. "Attention all travelers, would Shannon Rutherford please report to the central kiosk. Also, all those who whole tickets for Oceanic Flight 815 from Sydney to LAX are asked to make their way to gate 440 at this time. We will begin boarding is approximately fifteen minutes, starting with families with small children and those people who may need more time to get to their seats. Thanks you."

Boone looked at him. "We need to go to the kiosk."

Sayid nodded. "Let's go."

OOO

His heart sank when he saw Jack waiting for them alone. The doctor was fidgeting, but his eyes were alert, darting from face to face in the crowd. "Nothing?" he asked the two as they approached.

"No, hopefully Sawyer…"

"He'll find her. Sawyer will find her," Jack said with confidence. "Good call on the announcement by the way. I can't believe we didn't think to do that."

The music stopped again, and nearly simultaneously, their heads shot up to stare at the speakers. "Attention all Oceanic flight 815 passengers. We will begin boarding in approximately five minutes for all those who need extra time to find their seats. Please have your tickets ready as you approach the counter. Also, Shannon Rutherford please report to the central kiosk. Thank you."

Sayid's eyes shut. If Sawyer didn't pull through… if she hadn't heard the announcement.

He wouldn't leave.

"You can tell 'em to pull that announcement, Metro," Sawyer drawled.

Sayid's head snapped around, and his eyes filled with tears when he saw Shannon standing beside the Southerner, a shopping bag in one hand and a combined look of fear and fury on her face.

"Oh my God, Shan," Boone muttered, pulling his sister into a hug.

She pulled away from him, shaking her head. "What the HELL is going on? Sawyer, Jack you said this was OVER. Craphole Island NEVER HAPPENED. Why are they doing this to us?"

Sayid glanced aside at Sawyer. "I presume you told her what happened."

Sawyer frowned. "You presume correctly. Sticks here was hell bent on heading to the Outback."

"When does all this end? Are we free or are we not?" Shannon sobbed, ending her tirade. She was fighting back tears, and Sayid found himself fighting back the urge to hold her.

They were all silent, staring at each other. He didn't know how to answer her question, and certainly none of the others did either. Thankfully, they were saved by the ambiguous voice over the loudspeaker.

"Attention all passengers on Oceanic Flight 815, we will begin general boarding in five minutes. All passengers are asked to come to Gate 440 at this time for an on time departure for LAX."

"Ready?" Sawyer asked, one eye brow raised.

Hesitantly, Shannon nodded. "I guess… if this is really the only way…"

"It is." It was the first question any of them had answered with any certainty since… well, since this whole ordeal began.

Shannon nodded. "Alright. You three go on, I want to talk to Sayid."

"Shan—" Boone started.

"Don't worry Bone-head," she replied with a small smile. "We'll get to the plane on time."

The younger man nodded, shooting Sayid a warning a glance, then followed Jack and Sawyer towards the plane.

As they moved out of site, Sayid grabbed her, pulling her close and kissing her fiercely. She returned the kiss, wrapping two slim arms around his neck, clinging to him tightly. "I was so afraid I lost you again…"

"Sayid—"

"I can't lose you again."

"Sayid you need to let me go."

He released her in shock. "What do you mean?"

"Do you love me?" she asked.

"Yes, Shannon, I love you." How could she doubt him?

A grin spread across her face at these words, and he tried to memorize how she looked at this moment. "I love you too."

Upon hearing these words, he felt the same smile break out across his face. How long had it been since he'd felt this genuinely happy. He pulled her in for another kiss.

She pushed him away again. "Wait I'm not done."

"What's the matter?"

"Walk with me," she said, indicating that they should move towards the gate. Glancing down at his watch, he saw there wasn't much time left before 815 took off. She took his hand, squeezing it gently. "I want you to find Nadia."

He attempted to speak, but she held a finger to his lips, silencing him. "I saw you looking at her photo before. That's why I left, why I wasn't going to get on the plane. For some reason, my brain immediately thought that if you were looking at Nadia, you didn't love me, and it was something I didn't want to face."

He stopped walking, wanting to reassure her. "Shannon—"

"Plane, Sayid," she said, pulling him along. "Anyway, I wandered in circles around the airport for a while, thinking about it, doing some retail therapy, and I realized how stupid I was being. You love me, you love Nadia. You never thought you'd see either one of us again. And that's why I want you to find her. I've spent so much of my life being with men who I didn't really love, playing them. It's an empty existence, and I don't want that for you. I don't want you to be with me, wondering what could have been with Nadia."

They were outside the gate now, and Sayid saw Boone sitting in the seats, waiting for his sister. "What about you Shannon?"

"What about me?" she smirked. "In case you've forgotten, I didn't have much of a life before the island. I'm starting it now- hopefully getting back into dance. I would love for you to be a part of it, you have no idea how much I want you to be a part of my life. But if not, if you chose Nadia… Sayid, I'll understand. It'll be hard at first, but I'm resilient, you know that. You'll always have a piece of my heart."

He didn't know how to respond. For once, she had him at an entire loss for words. So he did the only thing that seemed appropriate. He kissed her.

"Last call for boarding, Oceanic Flight 815, Sydney to LAX. All passengers pleasure report to the gate for an on-time departure." Pulling away from her, he saw the flight attendant at the gate giving them a glare that screamed, "Hurry your asses up, you obnoxious love birds."

"Are you ready?" he asked her.

She shrugged her shoulders. "Are you sure we're not repeating history here?"

"I am not."

She smiled at his honesty and made her way towards the desk. "Hey Bone-head, ready to go?"Boone jumped out of his seat, where he had apparently been dosing off, and followed Shannon on board. Sayid handed the woman his ticket.

"You're all set sir. Have a safe flight."

Sayid didn't want to say it aloud, but he hoped they did.

Wow… I just could not get this chapter written. I'm a huge Sayid/Shannon shipper, love the two, but it took me forever to get the words down, and I still don't know if I like it. But it's written, it's here, and Flight 815 is finally taking off! I'm sure you're as excited as I am to get out of Sydney Airport. I'm thinking one, maybe two, chapters in the air, and then the inevitable arrival at LAX and meeting with Ms. Eloise Hawking.

Thanks to everyone who read the last chapter, and especially those who took the time to review: Dan man, DiorNicole (times two!), miscme, KaydenceRei, CarolynneRuth, justawritier, Golden-Black Dragon, muzical, and SimplyCuteBambi. I'm so glad you're enjoying the story!

Feel free to leave a review- I'd love to hear what you think of this chapter! Updates should be slightly speedier from now on- the end of the semester is coming! All the best - Jac