Chapter Text
Two weeks of waiting and searching and trying to blend in had passed without much incident. Jin’s English was improving rapidly, and though the house they’d been given to share was tight quarters with five of them, it felt cozy. Juliet and Jin did the cooking, Daniel kept the place clean, and James and Miles did–well, basically whatever Juliet asked them to. James and Miles shared one room, Jin and Daniel the other, and Juliet got the third (which was barely bigger than a closet, but since she was the only woman, they’d agreed she should have her own space).
They were able to spend some time looking for their missing people, but there was no sign of anyone, not even Vincent. After the first week, Horace had them do some job shadowing. He said it would help them kill time, but James had a feeling he wanted to reassess them, see if they were “Dharma material” after all.
Daniel worked with the scientists, of course. Juliet was placed at the school first, then the motor pool. The guys started at the motor pool, then moved to security. Juliet found it a bit sexist that she couldn’t try security, but she reminded herself it was the 70s and they were in a male-dominated society on a tropical island almost no one knew about. At least she got the chance to try the motor pool; she had been taught a decent amount by her uncle (a mechanic) growing up, so she had something to contribute there. The school was fine, and she was good with the kids, but she’d discovered that 10-year-old Benjamin Linus went to school there, and that was enough to turn her off of that.
Whatever Horace had been assessing them for, they must have passed with flying colors, because at the end of the second week he offered them all jobs - Daniel with the science team, Juliet in the motor pool, and the other three boys in security. “Pending positive aptitude test results, of course, but from what I’ve heard I’m sure you’ll pass with flying colors,” Horace told them.
They were set to take their aptitude tests the next day, so they discussed the idea that night over dinner. “Havin’ three of us on security will make it easier to try and find our people,” James pointed out. “Doc Brown over here can keep tryin’ to find ways back to our time, and Juliet can–make sure we got a getaway car?” he joked.
“Good to know I’m being useful,” Juliet said, deadpan.
“You’ll be talkin’ to most everybody over there, and you’re already pallin’ around with Amy, so you can keep an ear to the ground for any useful information,” James suggested. “I say we take the jobs. It’s our best bet ‘til they come back for us.”
“If they come back for us,” Miles said.
“They’re comin’ back,” James said firmly. “It’s just a matter of when.”
“I’ll do it, on one condition,” Juliet said, arching an eyebrow, looking for confirmation from the group.
“What’s that?” James asked.
“No one tells anyone that I’m a doctor. I can’t–I need a fresh start if I’m going to stay here.”
“Deal,” James agreed. The look in his eyes defied any of the others to disagree with him, but they wouldn’t have anyway.
“I guess it’s settled, then,” said Juliet. “We stay.”
—
The aptitude tests weren’t that tough to figure out, they all thought. Juliet purposely threw any obviously infirmary-related questions, and since she already had vehicular knowledge, it was a breeze. They figured Horace probably knew the test questions by heart, so he wouldn’t have thrown them into anything he didn’t think they already had a knack for, and their taking the tests was a formality. Paperwork.
Horace seemed pleased with the results when he stopped by their house later that day with several jumpsuits. “These are plain loaners for now, we’ll get you your own embroidered ones as soon as possible. You should all report to your job sites for 8:00 tomorrow morning, we’ll throw you right in for formal training. Oh, and there is the matter of the housing situation,” Horace said. “The four of you boys can remain here in this house, and Juliet, we’ll be moving you into a house with a few of the newer female recruits. One of them left on the last sub, so there’s a vacancy.”
James saw the immediate look of panic on Juliet’s face; it probably wasn’t obvious to someone like Horace who didn’t know her very well, but James knew what it meant. They’d discussed it a bit when she’d initially agreed to stay for two weeks.
“I’m glad you’re stayin’,” he told her.
“I don’t like feeling alone, either,” she replied. “I’ve spent the last three years feeling alone, even when I was surrounded by other people. I couldn’t depend on any of them, I couldn’t really trust them.”
“Hope that feels different now.”
“It’s starting to,” she agreed with a half-smile.
In that instant, James knew what he had to do. “Sorry, hoss, but she and I–we’re kind of a package deal, if you catch my drift.” He put his arm around her waist for good measure. He felt her tense at first, but she quickly played along and rested her hand on top of his, her other hand resting on his back.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t realize,” Horace said. “Well then, would you all be okay staying here until a house opens up for the two of you?”
“Sounds great, boss,” James confirmed. “We’re good here.”
“All right then, I’ll leave you to it,” he said, clapping his hands together. “I’m sure I’ll see you around tomorrow, and we’ll get you those jumpsuits as soon as we can. Namaste.”
They all nodded and said their goodbyes, and as soon as the door was closed behind him, Juliet practically jumped back. “You didn’t need to do that,” she told James softly.
“Yes I did,” he countered in a kind tone.
“Except now Horace and the whole compound will think we’re a couple.”
“Why should we care what these hippies think? I saw your face, you didn’t wanna be livin’ with some random people, right? I did what I had to do, and I talked our way out of it. You’re welcome,” he said lightheartedly.
“Oh thank you, noble savior, what would I ever do without you?” Juliet joked.
“Oh get a room, lovebirds,” said Miles.
Juliet shot him a withering stare and left to go start on dinner. Jin followed after her, and Daniel headed to his room (probably to write more nonsense in his journal, James thought). Miles stared at James.
“What?” James asked in annoyance.
“Nothing, nothing at all,” Miles said, an amused expression on his face. “I’m just gonna go clear my stuff out from our room.”
“Why would you do that?”
“So your better half can move in, obviously.”
“What’s obvious about that?” James asked. “It ain’t like Horace is checkin’ who’s sleepin’ where.”
“Do you really think if we stick around and keep up this ruse that nobody will find out you’re sharing a room with me instead of her?”
James sighed. Miles was right, but he hadn’t taken that into consideration when he’d made this choice for Juliet. “Lemme talk to her first,” he said.
“Fine, but I’m gonna start packing.”
“Fine.” James was beginning to think he’d bitten off a little more than he’d be able to chew with this one…
(end of chapter one)