(Untitled)

[ranger_alone]

For the first time in what seemed like forever, Marcus woke this morning truly content. He couldn’t put his finger on what exactly had lifted the dark cloud hanging above him, his state of mind had been gently improving over the last couple of weeks but today was the first day he didn’t wake up feeling even a little unsettled or uneasy. At first

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[toshiko_san]

Tosh had gone down to the beach to do some yoga, leaving Jackson with Charlie and Ianto for a bit. It was relaxing out here, and quiet. She'd almost managed to clear her mind a few times, but Mark, Mimi, Owen, they all kept popping up again. Giving up, she gathered up her things, heading back toward the compound. As she passed Marcus, she paused, "Are you alright?"

[ranger_alone]

Marcus looked up at Tosh momentarily, trying to summon a smile but failing. He continued to fidget with the bar in his hand, turning it over and feeling the surface of the metal.

"That's certainly the question. I'm still trying to figure that out, actually."

[toshiko_san]

"Anything I can do?" The sun caught of the piece of metal in his hand, drawing her attention to it, "or is it a day for you and your thoughts?"

[ranger_alone]

"I don't really know the answer to that either." His head was spinning, if he was really honest.

"I just found something," waving his hand about to indicate the bar but not really slowing to give Tosh a good look "and I think it might mean someone who was once very dear to me has arrived on the island."

[toshiko_san]

"Might? Was it something that was theirs?" She thought it a bit strange that he didn't seem more excited potentially, but she didn't show it, just glancing again in the direction of his hand. "We could look for them if you'd like."

[ranger_alone]

"It's part of her uniform. She could have dropped it when she arrived." The idea that Susan could actually be here was beginning to have some impact beyond the shock. His head was still spinning, but now it was between some small amount of excitement, and relief, and fear, and about 100 other things some of which he couldn't even name.

"I." "Um." "I think I might need a moment. If she really is here..." His voice wobbled slightly before fading away.

[toshiko_san]

His reaction was making Tosh's stomach sink. Only because she thought what it might be, and doubted that anyone new had come. "MArcus, you know the island sometimes gives us things? From our lives before?"

She said it softly, not wanting to shatter hopes, but nor did she want to build them up. "It might just be...s

She couldn't finish her sentence.

[ranger_alone]

He opened his mouth to speak, but closed it again as her words began to soak in. He knew about the island's little "gifts", Evey had received one not so long ago. Leaning backwards, he stretched out his legs and took a deep breath.

"Of course. I...that didn't occur to me, and it really should have because Evey received something like this not so very long ago."

[toshiko_san]

"It could still be your friend, but-" Tosh shook her head, "they aren't pleasant, the things it gives us. Not usually."

[ranger_alone]

"This has certainly put a dampener on my morning." He agreed. "What troubles me most is I honestly didn't know what to feel about Susan's possible arrival. I loved her, Tosh. I died for her." He chuckled softly. "Well, that was the plan anyway, the island had other ideas."

[toshiko_san]

"And now you're here and life goes on?" She did understand that, more than some might have thought. She tried to imagine Owen vanishing and some other him appearing later. The very idea chilled her. "I'm afraid I've no good advice. You'd manage, even if it was difficult."

[ranger_alone]

"I dreamt about having her on a tropical island. I dreamt about having her everywhere, once upon a time." Having her in every sense of the word, he was slightly ashamed to admit.

"That was another lifetime though. I have Evey now, and I have no idea how Susan's arrival would affect that. Although since she probably has not arrived it's not really a problem, I suppose. I just wish I knew for sure Susan had survived."

[toshiko_san]

"It might not be so bad, if she was?" Tosh sank down onto the sand, cosidering it for a moment or two. "There's no one else here, is there? From your world?"

[ranger_alone]

"No, it's just me. I'd love to see any of the people from home, even after all this time. Susan would be the most complicated, and confusing, but we were friends once and we could be again."

Susan would probably protest at Marcus calling her 'friend', and he knew it. It never stopped him.

[toshiko_san]

Tosh did wonder if she and Owen would work things out to that point. Until they were friends. She hoped for it, considering that they had a child together. "Things have a way of working out here. I guess I'm one of the lucky ones."

[ranger_alone]

Tosh was one of those who had arrived and then gone on to have a family, he knew. "How is the baby? Running the lab yet?"