He crouched in front of Maura and Jane and took each of their hands within his own.

”I don’t hate you, not really, how could anyone hate such obvious love? My brother ’came out’ when he was young and was angry about it, he pushed us away, never spoke to us again. I couldn’t deal with it.”

Tag sniffed loudly before wiping his nose carelessly across his sleeve. Turning to regard Maura, John struggled to meet her gaze.

”You remind me very much of Elaine. You’re kind and pure and you do the right thing.” His voice shook, a cracked and little sound that was almost inaudible. ”Maura, you are a wonderful woman, and I am deeply shamed by my actions.”

Jane sniffed loudly, her own eyes clouding with tears. ”I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me?”

A weighted silence filled the cave, three sets of tear filled eyes settled on the doctor as they awaited her answer.

Maura studied him for many moments, searching his eyes carefully. A brilliant smile burst over her face and she got to her feet and wrapped the man in a hug. In her loving embrace, John Ford broke down, violent sobs shaking his body and by proxy, Maura’s too.

-/-

Sitting on a rock in the shade of a large palm, Bear drank the milk from a coconut before rubbing at the stubble on his face. The kid he was hunting had proved so much more elusive than he’d anticipated. It was almost 10am and, so far, there had been no sign of him at all.
Bear had been all over the Northwest side, checking every cave and crevice he could find. There was no evidence that anyone had been there at all, no remnants of a camp-fire, no trampled shrubbery. Nothing.

Getting to his feet, Bear grunted, letting out a distinctly vile passing of gas as he straightened himself. He knew of two or three good caves on the east side that the kid might have found and with a final, foul belch. He set off to claim his prize and if he didn’t find him, well it was no real loss, its not like they could get off the island anyway.

-/-