Welcome to the first ever Friday Fic Challenge!

If this catches on, and I don't get lazy, then on Thursdays I will put up another challenge.

"So, it's Friday Fic, but you're posting on Thursday?"

Well, "Thursday Fic" doesn't sound as cool as "Friday Fic," also, we'll vote on the best on Friday.

So basic rules are:

1. You cannont start the story until the challenge is announced. (we cannot really enforce this rule, but since the challenges will be specific....it will be hard to have something prepped alrady.

2. post by friday morning.....i get to my office at 7am central time, that will be the cutt off ...8am eastern, 5 am mountain.(this will be the normal rule, but since next week i may open the contest earlier like monday or wednesday...this weeks cutoff will now be friday afternoon at 4 pm eastern time..1pm moutnain time....only time like that

3. on friday I will make a new thread with a poll and we will all vote on the stories, the winner will . . . i havent' decided yet...but something...at least get a mandango....

4. stories must comply with rules of this site, no cussing or overly explicit sex or anything, use common sense!

5. this thread is for posting the stories ONLY i'll create a comment and voting thread.

6. keep in mind that the writers cannot legally read fanfic, so please don't go promoting this thread in the VIP lounge.

7. these are YOUR stories...you don't have to impress us with how much cannon you know or try to guess what will ACTUALLY happen . . . make it your OWN.

Edited to Add: 8. Please title your stories either at the top of the entry or prefferably in the subject line so when we start voting it's easier to vote.

if you don't add titles this time...no worries..my fault for not thinking of it sooner.

Okay, I also want to participate in this..but since i'm making the challenges, i'm not going to put my story in the voting poll tomorrow, it'll be her to be enjoyed but not elligible to win.

now for the CHALLENGE:

Write an short fic (like i dont' care how long..it can be 100 words for all i care) that reveals Hugo "Hurley" Reyes' background.
difficulty level - avoid anything involving the lottery.

edited to add i know this only gives you like 24 hours to write a fic, but that's part of the point, part of the "challenge"....if people complain about the time frame, i'll consider announcing the challenge on mondays instead of Thursdays!

good luck and have fun!

(comment on the stories here) (http://www.thefuselage.com/threaded/index.php?topic=5721.0) (note: this link was WRONG is CORRECT now!)

*Pan in on a geeky guy complete with nerdy glasses talking to Hurley*

Geek: C'mon, Hurley...I don't know a bigger Lord of the Rings fan than you...lots of cool people are going to be there. They're saying even Peter Jackson is going to be there!"

H: I'm not doing it, Peter. You know what happened the last time I went to one of these things.

Geek: So what, you're just going to sit here and play rings games and waste your life away in your mother's basement? So one bad thing happened, you...

H: One bad thing? Dude, that one bad thing has practically changed my whole life. I mean, do you think anyone called me Hurley before that? Uh, no, no they didn't. I'm not going!

Geek: You know what your problem is? You're just giving up on life, and you're using that one even to hold you back. If that had never happened, you honestly expect me to believe that you would just hop the plane to australia with me right now?

H: Oh, dude, when did you become a world traveler? Last time I checked you live in a studio apartment that's 2 miles from where your parents live. Like I'm the only one who has issues here.

We flashback in the flashback to a flashback of what Hurley and his friend have been talking about. It's the first One Ring Party...a happier looking Hurley is walking around like he's a kid in a candyshop.

Geek: Hey Hugo, dude, check this out!!!

They see that that Liv Tyler and Dominic Monaghan will be signing autographs at a table in half an hour. They get in line.

H: Dude, I can't believe we get to see Liv Tyler. She's so hott. I always knew Todd Rundgren couldn't really be her dad.

Geek: Yeah. It'll be cool to see that Dom guy too. I'm going to get his autograph for my mom.

H: For your mom? Dude, that's so lame. What, are you going to ask him to sign it, "To mommy?"

Geek: That's not funny.

Suddenly Dom and Liv come to the table and take their seats. The geek and Hurley have been to many conventions like this, but Hurley loved LOTR more than anything, and he is really getting anxious about seeing 2 of the actors, especially Liv. Geek gets his autographs and it's Hurley's turn. He gets a strange look on his face, and just as he's about to try to say something witty to Liv....he throws up....it lands all over her and some on Dom too. The flashback ends.

A little while later, Geek comes back and hands Hurley a ticket.

Dude, you have to get back to living your life. You'll hate yourself for passing this up.

Flash to the tarmack in Australia. They've landed. There's a heated discussion.

H: Dude, this is just a mistake. There are too many people here, I'm already feeling sick...I'm just going to go home. I'll pay you back for the ticket when you get back. I'll see ya.

Hurley buys a ticket from Oceanic Airlines. End of story :)

Salt.

That's what it was. The smell was salt.

But what about that sound? The one like rocks rolling off of a dump truck? And the warm and then suddenly cold sensations in his legs?

Hurley struggled for consciousness, but found his efforts futile. He tried to open his eyes once more before he gave up and collapsed into the soft feathery mattress of dreams. His body was engulfed by feathers and all feeling slowly left him. He breathed in and then opened his eyes. He was sitting in a desk, the old High School style ones that he could never use properly since there was only ever one left handed one per classroom and it was always either broken or taken by one of the right handed kids who didn't think it mattered. He yawned and realized he was watching a teacher drone on and on about English Lit. He hated the class so he stood up and walked towards the door. He opened the door and stepped out into an office building. A woman holding a clipboard approached him.

"Hey Hurley, the slime monster can eat the hero when he has the sword of protection. The sword should make him invulnerable to all non-magical creatures."

"Anne, dude, I'll work on that later. Sorry, but right now I have this horrible problem with the Mage's potions not showing up in inventory."

Hurley turned away from Anne and was suddenly standing in the ocean. He was back on the island. Locke was standing in front of him, also in the water . . . only one of his eyes was pure black, and the other was pure white. Locke smiled, revealing an orange peel beneath his lips, and then without moving his lips further, he spoke. "They're going to find out eventually, Hugo."


Hurley's eyes opened again. He was lying in the muddy sand as the waves washed over his feet and legs. He grunted as he stood. He hurt too much for this to still be a dream. He brushed off the wet sand as much as he could and headed back towards caves. He couldn't quite remember how he got there. Actually, the last thing he remembered was . . . Jack.

He needed to talk to Jack.


When Hurley found Jack, he was sorting out medication, consolidating bottles and rechecking inventory. Hurley didn't skip a beat as he trotted up to the Doctor. "Hey, uh, Jack? Did you see, um, where I went after we, ya know, talked earlier? Cuz . . . I don't remember, and it's kidna freakin' me out, dude."

Jack laughed. Even when Hurley was being serious, he couldn't help but be amused by how he spoke. "Nope, sorry Hurley. Can't say that I saw what happened. Let me look at you, did you fall or something?"

"Dude, if I could remember falling . . ."

"Yeah, I know, sorry. Let's see here." Jack examined Hurley. He made sure to pick through his curly main for any sort of bruise or laceration. "Hmmm . . . well, there's no signs of trauma anywhere. Could you have just been so tired you slept walk somewhere and collapsed?"

Hurley thought about his great night's sleep he had just had. "I don't know, dude. I doubt it, but maybe."

"Well, if you give me an hour, I'll try to help out. Until then, why don't you try retracing your steps."

Hurley stuck his chin out and curled his mouth into the "Not a bad idea" position. "That . . . might just work. I'll try that! Thanks, Jack."

Hurley turned and muttered to himself. "Okay, we talked there and then I was going to go watch Shannon sun bathe so I went . . ." Jack overheard Hurley and chuckled. Then Hurley suddenly turned and blurted out, "THAT WAY!"

Hurley hopped down a trail in the direction he shouted and made his way towards the beach. It was a good hike, but not too long. He was trying to figure out how he got distrac...

He stopped. "That's right! My IBS kicked in and . . ." He turned left and headed out into the Jungle. He pushed through brush and branches and finally made his way to a small opening. He looked around, and then finally down. He gasped when he saw it. He reached down and picked the small box. "How did this get out here?"

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Hugo?" A woman's voice shouted. "HUGO!?"

Hurley shook out of his trance and looked up from his desk. "Yeah, Anne?"

Anne looked down on him and smiled. "It goes live in five minutes, you're going to miss it."

Hurley looked down at his watch. "Holy sh...you're right!" He stood up from his desk so fast, his swivel chair rolled out into hallway almost knocking someone over. He fixed his chair and apologized to his co-worker.

"Come on you big goof!" Anne put her hand on his back and lead him out into the hall and to another part of the office. They almost ran to the server room.

Hurley burst in through the door panting. "Is everything set and ready? Servers okay? Tech support geared up?"

One of the men sitting at a monitor smiled. "It's all going to be okay, man. Don't worry so much. It's going to be a hit. You ready?"

Hurley gulped. "As ready as I'll ever be."

"Okay, The Paladin's Quest MMORPG is going online in five . . . four . . . three . . . two . . ."

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The box was dirty, but there were no rips or tears in it. A silver knight holding up a sword that no one could possibly lift stood heroically amongst a horde of fantastical enemies. His sword divided the words "Paladin's" and "Quest" at the top of the box. The whole thing was Hurley’s design, right down to what was embossed and shiny and what was left normal and flat.

He held the box tight, it was his baby, his brain child, it was just his. He looked around for more clues, but there were none. With a sigh, he walked back to the trail.

Perhaps someone on the beach knew something.

to be continued . . .

Okay, here is my attempt

Hugo? Hugo? Hugo?

Hugo aka Hurley sits up in bed,
“What, oh I am coming Mom” Hurley quickly gets up and goes into his mother’s bedroom.* His mom is lying in her bed, she appears fragile and her breathing labored.

“Hugo, my tank is almost empty,” she says struggling to speak between breaths.
“It’s okay, mom, I will take care of it, no problem”.* Hurley quickly changes the tank and attaches it to the tubing.* His mom appears to relax as she takes a few deep breaths.* “You okay now, mom?”
“Yes, thank you” she quietly answers.*
“Mom, I kind of, need to talk to you about something” Hurley says tentatively.
“What’s wrong?” she asks.
“Nothing is wrong, it is actually something exciting,” he adds.
He hesitantly begins, “Mom, I have a chance to go to Australia with the guys at work”
“Australia?” she asks, her eyes moistening.
“It’s okay, mom, I won’t go, don’t be upset, please” Hurley quickly responds.
“No, No, Hugo, I am not upset, but happy for you.* You have taken care of me while I recuperate without a single complaint.* You deserve a break from me.”
“But you are my mom, of course I would take care of you, I am not looking for a break, but a free trip is hard to pass up”
“What would you do in Australia?” she asks quietly.
“ Well, Pete has a house that we can crash in and then there are a couple of sci-fi conventions in Sydney”* “And mom, I will only be gone a week, the nurse said she can stay and Maria said she will come by every day to help”
“That sounds fine, your sister Maria and I don’t spend enough time together anyway, it will be nice to spend more time together.* So I say you should go and have a good time.”
Hurley obviously excited “Thanks mom, I will bring you something from Sydney”, He quickly turns toward the door.
Hurley’s mom sits up slightly, “Hugo, be careful”

There she was the one! He looked at her a knew in his heart that this was the girl he was destined to fall in love with.

Hurley had never seen this beauty before but it didn’t matter, he knew he’d follow her anywhere. He worked up his courage and slowly walked over to her.

“Hi, I just noticed how amazing you look and I had to come over here and tell you. You are truly the first beautiful girl I have ever seen.”

She looked at him and turned red, “Thank you so much, you quite handsome yourself.”

Hurley smiled, this was not the first time any one had told him he was handsome, but this time it wasn’t his mother. Hurley didn’t know what he was doing, but he decided he better hurry up before she got bored.

“My name is Hugo, but everyone just calls me Hurley”

“I’m Melanie; it’s very nice to meet you.”

“It’s nice to meet you too. Do you need help with your bag?”

Melanie looked around and for the first time since Hurley had spoken to her noticed how packed the airport was. “That would be wonderful. So Hurley what brings you to Australia?”

“Actually I’m here for a backgammon tournament.”

“Me too!!! That’s so cool, do you want to share a cab to the hotel?”

Hurley knew this was his chance. He quickly agreed and carried her back out the door.

When they arrived at the hotel Hurley and Melanie agreed to meet back downstairs in an hour for dinner.

As Hurley went back to his room Mel hurried over to the nearest phone. “I’ve found your guy, I promise you Sawyer, this guy will be the best patsy you’ve ever had……

End Part 1

Sorry if it is a bit long, but short is tough for me.

Note:* 1)* This is sad.* Didn't want to kill the mood or anything, but this is what came out when the muse spoke. 2) This is longer than intended, but I do tend to be a bit long winded.* 3) Doing an internet search for Hurley (for inspiration on why he is called Hurley) I found a website for Jim Hurley touting he was the #1 "Handicapper" around, so given that Hurley's ep is called numbers, and handicapping (aka figureing odds and the like) deal with numbers, it fit for me.

So on with the show

The Trip

The incessant pounding increased, getting more difficult to ignore.* It tugged and pulled forcing him from his much needed sleep.* As he groggily surfaced from sleep, his arm shot out in a subconscious attempt to push away the annoying noise.* The book cradled in his lap toppled to the floor, scatting the loose pages tucked within everywhere.

“Ah Man.” muttered Hugo Reyes, as he wiped the sleep from his eyes.

He wriggled and twisted; trying to work his way up from the contorted position he had managed to work himself into as he slept.* The pounding at the door continued.

“DUDE!”* He hollered “Just a minute!”

The pounding stopped.* Hugo sighed with relief and finally managed to work himself into a standing position despite the aches.* As he walked from the den to the front door he heard voices chatting.* A knot twisted in is stomach at the sound of one in particular.

“Hugo!* Hugo honey.” Magdalena Reyes called from the other room in a soft and frail sounding voice. “You have a friend here.”

In the entryway he found his mother, leaning heavily on her cane, smiling and chatting with his friend Frank from down the street.

“Ma, you shouldn’t be out of bed.” Hugo admonished.

“Someone had to get the door honey.”

“Ma, I coulda gotten it.* You shouldn’t be up.* Let’s get you back in bed okay.”

He spared a harsh glance back at he friend before ushering his mother back to her room.

********

“So what’s with all the pounding?” Hugo asked.

“You are so gonna love this man!” Frank almost trembled with contained excitement as he flashed two airline tickets.

“Vegas?” Hugo handed the tickets back to Frank. “Yeah, and?”

“Dude, come on! You are freakin’ Hugo “Jim Hurley” Reyes.* You are like the local God of odds on sports and stuff.”

“There are bookies here, man.”*

“Small time bookies.* I wanna go big.* I mean like rich big, man.* Vegas is the big league, you know.* Come on man.* I got a couple grand to get rich with.* Your numbers, my cash.* We win big and split the profit.”

“I can’t leave Ma like she is.”*

Frank put his arm around Hugo.

“Hurley, dude.* It’s two nights.* We go in. We play.* We come home.* You been working you behind off takin care of your Ma.* You know even Saintly Sons should get a day off.* Sophie can take care of your ma for a couple day.* And hey, we win, and you can take your ma on that Aussie trip she always wanted.”

*********

Hurley didn’t know how Frank had managed to talk him into going, but here he was in Vegas, watching his friend drown his sorrows in a mug of cheap beer.

“What happened?” Frank whined into his glass. “Man, you are never wrong.* How could this happen?”

“Dude, the guy broke his leg.* Odds can’t predict that.”

“I can’t believe I bet all of it!* What a crap trip.”

“Come on man,” Hurley said dragging his friend off his stool. “We got a plane to catch.”

They headed past the bright and blinking casino lights.* Just before they reached the door, one of the huge mega jackpot slot machines caught Hurley's eye.

“What the heck” he shrugged, as he reached into his pocket, and pulled out his last five-dollar bill. “Might as well make a clean sweep of it.”

He put the money in, pulled the lever and waited for it to eat his money.* The first wheel clicked on the Multi-color 777.* Then the second clicked, also landing on 777.* Hurley knew the odds and turned away knowing there was no chance on God’s green earth that he’d win that one.* The machine clicked, and went wild.* Loud ringing echoed through the entire casino.

As shock overwhelmed him Hurley heard Frankie yelling “You won man!* You freakin won!”

***************

Hurley nearly bounced out of the cab when it pulled in front of his house.* He was so excited he could barely contain himself.* He couldn’t believe he actually hit a jackpot, in Vegas no less.* It was the city where the house always wins, and here he was, Joe Schmo Hugo Reyes, coming home with buku bucks.* He couldn’t wait to tell his mother, and show her the gift he got her.*

Clutching the gift in his hands, he bounded to the door, and burst in.

“Ma!* You’ll never guess what happened!”* He hollered.

There was no answer.

“Ma!” he called heading to the back bedroom.

“Hugo?” A voice called to him from the door.

He turned to see Sophie there, wringing her hands, refusing to make eye contact.

“Hey Sophie!* What’s up?* Where’s Ma?”

“Hugo,” She stammered, “Oh Hugo, I’m so sorry….”

The two tickets he’d been clutching slipped form his limp hand and fluttered to the floor.

**************

He clutched the small vase tighter, completely unaware of the bustle around him.

“Flight 1952 to Sydney is now boarding.”*

Hugo gathered his carry on bag and headed to the gate.* He had told her he’d get her to Australia somehow.* He couldn’t break his promise to his mother.

Scene fades in to Hurley walking down the beach. In the distance he sees Jin standing knee deep in the ocean, pulling in his net that is filled with some fish and a bunch of other ocean junk.

As he gets closer he starts to think back to 1 day before he got on the flight out of Australia.

Hurley is sitting in a pub, drinking an ice cold beer and watching the people around him.He is wearing a button up shirt that is casual and untucked and a pair of Khaki slacks.

He notices a gentleman about 25 shooting pool with a rather lovely blonde women who looks like Meg Ryan did before her change. Rather cute with hair shoulder length, and a beautiful smile that lights up the room.

She laughs and puts her hand on the young mans shoulder. Hurley can tell that she is digging this man. He also knows that the man is married, though he does not have a ring on his finger.

He saw him arrive about 1/2 an hour before she did and overheard the call to his wife. He was on business and told her that he was at a late lunch but had to go back to a meeting with the V.P of the company in another 10 minutes. He said he loved her and would be home in 3 days and that he would call her before retiring for the evening.

He has seen it a thousand times before. All of his travelling and waiting had provided him to sit in many bars like this one, watching many couples like them He checks his watch. It is 32 minutes after 2:00 pm and he should have received the call 2 minutes ago. He needed to get this call over with because he was meeting someone at 2:45 pm.

Finally his cell phone rings and he answers it.

Hurley- "Hello"

Voice on other end- "OK, sorry for the delay. Everything is taken care of on this end. The person in question has a flight out tomorrow, just like you requested."

Hurley- "Any problems I should know about"?

Voice- "None, she has her ticket and is suspicious of nothing."

Hurley- "OK, that is good. Good job. The other half of your money will be delivered to you by one of my associates once the girl gets on the plane and the plane is in the air."

Hurley hangs up and looks at his watch again. It is now just 2:35 pm and he realizes that he has 10 minutes and he needs another beer.

Over the SPEAKER we hear the Juke Box playing <i>Love me two times</i> by The Doors

Hurley gets up and walks over to the bar.

Hurley- "Dude, that first beer was mighty tasty, can I get another?"

Bartender- "I just gave you one 5 minutes ago, you are quite THE PARTYMAN aren't you"?

The bartender pulls another beer out of the cooler and hands it to Hurley.

Hurley grabs the beer and as he is turning around he sees his appointment sitting at his table.

He walks over to the table and takes a seat.

Hurley- "I appreciate your promptness. Where do we stand with the 3"?

Man- " The first was turned back at the walkabout and has his ticket for tomorows flight". "The second was turned down by his brother and was on his way back to the hotel. I am sure he will be catching tomorrows flight as well".

Hurley- "What do you mean you are sure, has he not purchased the ticket yet?"

Man-"No, he has not but we have his phone tapped and he made a call stating that he was leaving tomorrow. I have a man on it and as soon as the ticket is purchased I will let you know."

Hurley- "And the 3rd?"

Man- "We ran into some difficulties as the doctor took longer to find his father than we anticipated but all has come together and he also has his ticket for tomorrows flight."

Hurley- "Ok, I need you to call me as soon as the second one buys his ticket. If he hasn't purchased it by 4:00 pm today you need to call me and I will take care of the situation myself. If I need to take care of it myself then I will subtract $50,000 from your final pay."

Hurley slides over a briefcase to the man and the man picks it up and acts as if he is going to open it.

Hurley- "If you are thinking of opening that in here then we have a problem. I assure you that all of the money is in there. Do we have a problem?"

The man looks at Hurley and sets the briefcase back down on the floor.

Man- "Of course not Mr. Reyes."

Hurley- "Alright, Let's just hope that the second gets his ticket on that flight and all will be fine. You will get the rest of the money once all 3 are on board and the plane leaves the ground."

Man- "Thank you Mr. Reyes."

Hurley fades back into the now and is smiling out how well things worked out.

He looks up and sees he is standing right in front of Jin and Jin is looking at him with a rather bewildered look.

Hurley- "Oh, uh, dude. Like I know that you really can't understand what I am saying but I just wanted to say I am sorry for asking you to pee on my foot. It is just that it hurt real bad and I heard that if you pee on an Urchin wound the acid in the urine can dissolve the calcium spine. So, ok, you still have no idea what I am saying. Well, ok then dude, sorry is all I am saying"

Jin stands there looking at Hurley say these things while acting out what he is saying and tries to stifle a laugh.

Hurley walks off the way he came thinking about Claire and the baby and everything that he knows.

[Scene: Hurley is walking up the beach, picking up driftwood that isn't under water yet, due to the rising tide....]

Hurley stops, picks up a stick, and continues up the beach.

{FLASHBACK:}

[Scene: Hurley sitting infront of a computer...Email window open, typing to "Sam".]

*on the screen, as he types*:

Hey! Dude - you are never going to believe this! They want to send me to Australia! Work, I mean.* You ever hear how McDonald's has it's own university? Well, I got an offer to go to some management training seminar, and it's in Sydney! They are paying for everything! Dude, this is like the coolest thing that could happen to a guy flippin' sandwiches and gettin fryer burns for a living! lol*
I noticed I haven't heard from you in a few days - everything ok, dude?* I really miss you.* I know you will be home soon - college break starts when?* I just...well...you kinda left before I could talk to you about some things, and I know I have sent you some HEAVY letters and emails.* I never had the courage to tell you any of those things (like how I really felt about you) until you left for school and I felt like it was too late.* And, I know you said you are confused, and you want to talk to me in person about it, but I might not be around when you get home (the Australia thingy). So, hopefully, you'll get this email and atleast we could talk on the phone or something?*
Well, I will stop keeping you from studying. How is that Chem prof treating you now? He sounded like a real jackass.* I hope he's lightened up, for your sake.
Take care and you have my number. Or email me. I don't care.* Just hoping to hear from you. (and good luck on your finals!)
Love ya - Hugo


He read over the email one last time before he hit "send".* Sam.* The bestfriend he tried SO HARD not to fall for.* She was his first friend, as far as he could remember.* She threw her gum at him in second grade, and it got all mushed into his hair, and he cried. Cried even more when his mother had to cut it out. He laughed at the memory, as he got up from the computer and walked out to the kitchen.* As he poured himself a cup of coffee, he realized he had to shower and get ready for work.*

He got out of the shower and put on a clean shirt and khakis.* As he walked downstairs, he noticed his mother standing in the kitchen, staring into the open fridge.

"Mom? You lookin' for something, or tryin' to catch that little guy who turns the light on n off?" he asked with a laugh.

When she turned, he saw she was crying.* He wasn't surprised.* She had been crying here and there, ever since he told her he was going to Australia.* He was all she had, and she hated to be alone.* He felt bad for her.* He walked over to her, shut the frige, and hugged her.

"Mom, it's only for 2 weeks.* I promise, I will be back before you know it.* Plus, I'm not leaving til next month. You can't cry for a whole month! It's not good for you - you might dehydrate!" He was always cracking jokes - as long as he could remember, it was his coping skill.* Fear, nervousness, sadness - all could be remedied by a joke.* Or could be covered with one.* He had had a rough life - being "class clown" had helped him overcome his insecurities. Or atleast mask them.

He let go of his mother, and smiled. "I have to got to work now.* I probably won't be home until late.* Don't wait up - get some sleep!" he said, as he walked to the front door, grabbing his keys and wallet off of the stand by the closet.*

{END OF FLASHBACK}

[Scene: back on the beach, he sees Claire crying, sitting alone...]

"Hey! What's wrong Claire? Are you okay?" he said with more of a curious tone than a shocked one.* He walked over to her, as she wiped her face with the backs of her hands.

"I miss my mother," she said, sobbing, which turned into more tears.

"Me too. Mine, I mean. I never met yours..." he tried to smile, but she looked so sad, it was hard to.

"She was upset with me about the baby-thing, and I left on bad terms with her.* I never got to say I was sorry, or even hug her goodbye," Claire said between sobs.

"I promised mine that I would only be gone two weeks.* Promised her.* And now, knowing her, she is standing infront of the open fridge, crying." He wished he would have decided to not go to Sydney. Stupid training.* The whole time he was in Australia, all he could think about was his sad mother, and the fact that Sam was a block away from his house, and he was thousands of miles away.*

{FLASHBACK}
[Scene: Hurley is lying on his bed, stereo playing, staring at his cell phone...]

Why won't it ring? Is she even going to call? he thought.* It had been 3 days since he sent the email, and he hadn't even gotten a written response, let alone the call he so much anticipated.* He dozed off, but was awakened by the sound of his cell phone ringing.* He groggily reached for it, knocking over his lamp and some comic books.

"Hello?" He had seen on the LED that it was Sam. His heart was racing. He was suddenly wide awake.

"Hi Hurl," said an all-too-familiar voice.

"Hey Sam.* What's up?"

"Sorry to call so late, but classes are crazy...finals are next week."

"Dude, it's ok.* I was just listenin to some tunes, readin some comics. Tonight's my night off." He was always happy to talk to her, but since he had admitted his "true" feelings to her that one drunk night on the phone, he had become edgy and nervous when talking to her.

"Don't call me Dude! I'm not a dude!" she laughed.

"...um Ok...how 'bout Dudette, then?" They both laughed, and Hurley felt like he was back talking to the "old Sam", his bestest buddy.

"I got your email, by the way...AUSTRALIA?!?! That is too cool! Can't believe that you are going there 'all expenses paid' - that is AWESOME!" Sam said excitedly. "When are you going?"

"I leave next Sunday."

"Oh no! I won't be home until Monday! So, you will have to wait to see me until you get back! Good thing break is like a month long, or you would have missed me all together!" she teased.

OH NO! he thought. What sucky luck! She WOULD be coming home while he was gone. But atleast she would be there when he got back. He smiled.

"I got something for you. Last month. At the Comic Con..." he teased.

"What? What did you get me????"

"I can't tell...it's a secret. And it's hidden, so don't go trying to find it in my room while I am in Australia...I am tellin Mom not to let you in the house while I am gone!" he laughed.

"Well, Hurl, I gotta run. Class early in the mornin'.* If I don't talk to you before, I will see you when you get back! Have a blast, and buy me some souveniers with all that moldy fastfood money!" she yawned after the word "blast", and Hurley realized how much he wanted to go to college. Someday, he thought, when I can save up the money to go. I will definitely go.

"Ok Sam. Goodnight! dudette."

She laughed, and said goodbye.* He sat there for a moment, staring at the "call ended" on the LED on his phone.* He put it back on the charger and flopped on his bed. Only 3 weeks until he would see Sam.* And they would talk. 3 weeks.

{FLASHBACK END}
[Scene: Still sitting by Claire, a tear runs down HIS cheek...]

"You thinking about your mom?" Claire asked, as she noticed the tear.

"No. Yes. NO. Was thinking that I missed an important date. Very important."

Hurley got up, nodded politely at Claire, and walked further up the beach.* Once he knew he was out of Claire's view, he dropped to his knees in the sand, and cried.

Big Deal
Written by Jesyca and Varda, translated by Varda

Flashback to a young boy, biting the kneecap of Uncle Joe.
“Hugo! GET OFF!” Uncle Joe grits his teeth as he smacks the boy.
“You leave him alone!” Cadence, the oldest and only girl of the Reyes children snapped at him.
Before Joe could slap her, a man in a wife-beater and dirty jeans came through the screen door.
“Joe we gotsa trouble!” He called in a hick accent
Joe glared at the kids. “Stay here and don’t touch my breakfast!” he told them before heading outside. Soon sirens were heard, along with shouts from several of the men on the farm.

*commercial: Next on Alias.... Super Nanny!.... Are you satisfied with your car insurance?*

Open on Ralph, Hugo’s brother, pacing the spacious bedroom they shared.
“I hate them! They should just die!” Ralph said about their new foster parents.
“I wish Cadence was here,” Hugo spoke up from his bed.
“Oh, shut up you baby! This is all your fault, you know! If you didn’t want us to all stay together then I would have been put in a normal family, not with these rich bastards!”
“They aren’t so bad...” Hugo said to the floor.
“The hell they aren’t! Cadence gets adopted in Australia? She’s probably hunting crocs right now, and I’m stuck with you!” Turning on his own brother, Ralph grabs Hugo’s hair and yanks him off the bed, and starts punching. Hugo does nothing but curl up and protect the most painful spots. Once Ralph has grown tired of pummeling him he pulls out his pocketknife.
“If they ask, I never touched you. A kid at school stole your lunch money, lardass!”

Cut to Hurley, using a pocketknife to cut some melons open. Kate comes over and smiles.
“Do you mind if I take the seeds from your melon?”
“No, go ahead,” Hurley says, holding a piece out for her to start removing the seeds. “Dude, why do you want them anyway? Are they like sunflower seeds?”
“No, I’m going to try and plant them. Though I wouldn’t be surprised if someone tried them. I hear they were collecting snails for dinner the other day.”

Flashback. Ralph had long ago ran away, and the foster parents had decided to adopt Hugo. He sat in the same room, staring at his fish tank as a snail made its way up the side.
“Hugo! Someone is here for you!” The maid called from the foyer.
Hurley made his way downstairs to see his friend Dave with a replica of a light saber.
“Dude, where did you get this?” Hurley asked, studying its features.
“I’ve been saving up. I have a bit of cash leftover, you interested in hitting the town? We need a real tank, you see...”
“Very funny,” Hurley said. “You know I have to pack. I finally got in contact with my biological sister. Meeting Thursday... haven’t seen each other since I was six... kind of a big deal?”
“Dude, that’s right! I’m sorry man, I completely forgot. Good luck with your sister.”

*Note: No Forest Rangers were killed in the making of this story... a true first in J&V Collaborations*

Let me tell you about Hurley

It was dark, save for the pale light sneaking its way through cracks the thick clouds above. All across the battlefield lay the twisted bodies of the dead, victims of his victory. The only sound was the crackle of flame from the burning buildings, and the echoes of distant screams. I was the only one left.

I had given up fighting, and chosen flight as a more sensible option. I figured that if I could evade him for even a little while, it would give me the chance to let my strength return, or at least delay the inevitable. It was inevitable. He was coming for me.

I thought I was safe. I had found some rocks to hide behind, and was trying to focus, to forget the earlier bloodshed and concentrate on the task at hand. I just needed to survive, but he gave me no chance of that. I let my eyes close for a split second, for just one small moment so they could have a break from having to deal with the sickening visions around me. Death was everywhere. I opened them again, and then death came for me.

It was him. It was Hurley.

He moved slowly, but there was little point in running. His shape was unmistakable. Large, powerful, and deadly. He carried no shield, as few could ever get close enough for one to be of any use. He didn't ask questions, he simply waged war. I had heard stories of his deeds too terrifying to write here, of his ruthless slaughter of brave and noble opponents. He was the unstoppable force, and no object was immovable to him. To him I was just another kill, just one more fly to swat.

It was over quickly. He lifted the rock and tossed it effortlessly to one side. Then he swing his sword and cut off my head.

A week later, I felt much better. The sun was shining outside, there was a total absence of dead bodies, and the sounds were the pleasing *pop* of a freshly open Coke, and the familiar tapping of keys being pressed. Until…

*BUZZ* *BEEP* *BUZZ*

It was painful.

"HURLEY!"

"What, dude?"

"BLEEPING NOISE! I HATE THE BLEEPING NOISE!!!"

"Dude you gotta chill out. You're always on at me about the bleeping noise, but ya know? This is my apartment. So deal dude, okay?"

"STOP THE BLEEP!"

The bleep got louder. That's Hurley for you. Thinks he's funny. To be fair though, he is.

That was about a week before he became a multi millionaire. I can't think of many that deserve it as much as Hurley. Yeah, his friends call him Hurley. For everyone else, its Mr. Reyes.

The nickname? There are several reasons, or at least a few different stories. The more public story is that it’s a nickname bestowed upon him by the computing community after he perfected and patented his HURL, but the truth is that he spent days trying to think of a cool sounding name for it that would link it to his ownership. The prototype code was nicknamed ORC (he was having a Tolkien phase), but when he realised the hyper-calculable potential of the project, HURL was born. If you asked him, he would probably try and tell you that he named it after his online screen name, as he had been playing RPGs and multi-player fantasy combat games as the warrior "Hurley" for several years by then. However, the truth is, that that nickname itself had its own story. Believe me, I was there.

He used to hurl a lot.

In the old days we did what guys liked to do, we hung out. A lot.

We would chill out at each other's houses and play far too many video games. Hugo would always win, but that was okay, as there were other things I could beat him at.

Away from the computer, Hugo also liked to play backgammon. He wasn't very good, but I always admire how it never put him off, despite my beating him most of the time. He loved it. He entered a tournament once. 163 players entered, paid $5 each, and the winner took all the money. He came 17th and in some ways, despite all the money and the success he's had since, I think he still holds that as his proudest achievement.

When we weren't battling each other in games, we would go out and party. This is where the hurling comes in. Hugo was never very good with beer. He would hurl. So much in fact, that the exclamation "I think I am gonna Hurl" became a regular phrase of our nights out. It was only a matter of time before he started telling us that he was "feeling hurly", and eventually we all just started calling him "The Hurley", as he'd become quite known for it around town.

Turns out he had some kind of hop allergy. By the time he found out though, the name had stuck, and Hugo Reyes was purely used for his business purposes.

HURL. I never forget the day he came up with the idea. We were over at my place around a quarter past eight in the morning, and we had been up all night. Between a break from playing Everquest, he was helping me download some software. Hurley never needed to pay for such things, as he'd become quite the hacker. He was 'borrowing' some software from Microsoft, when he hit upon the idea. I didn't fully understand it, and I honestly still don't now (despite its success), but he was talking about how cool it would be to have his own code that could intelligently mutate itself, and operate undetected. At that point I imagine he was just thinking about improved ways to illegally download things, but less than a year later, HURL (Hyper-calculable Ubiquitous Re-coding Language) was finished. His numbers. His success.

Over The next four years he made a heap of money. HURL was in high demand from government funded organisations World-wide such as the Nocai Rail Scene, the CA Cine Noise Lair, and the Lace Icon Rinse AI project. Those three alone netted him $815m from an international research consortium. The code was apparently very useful in securing defence systems from viruses and hackers, and had endless uses in Artificial Intelligence field.

It was cool to hang with Hurley through all of this. Hell, the dude gave me a ton of money as an associate to the creative process, but I didn't really do anything other than keep him company while he was working it all up. He'd give me a few equations to work though from time to time, but anyone could have done that. He insisted though, so I invested in an Airline. What a great idea that was.

As you can imagine, when was doesn't have to work for a living, one can be easily bored, but Hurley never seemed to be. Despite the ability to live a life of total luxury, he kept his feet on the ground, and could still be found RPG'ing with the same old buddies online. The one thing that did change of course, was that his collection of replica Middle-Earth swords got a lot larger. He could also order extra large pizza's without having to check his wallet.

Now the next part of the story, he made me promise not to tell anyone. Despite the dude's carefree attitude he, always been a very private person when it comes to personal things. Yes, I know I told you the real nickname story, but that's because I never made a promise not to.

All you need to know is that he went to Australia to visit someone. A female someone. He went alone.

He didn't come back alone, but you probably know that already.

That's when the plane crashed

I didn't see Hugo for 7 years after he boarded that flight out of Sydney. For some reason, he swears it was only three. I didn't have to promise him not tell you about what happened on that island, because he hasn't told me. He offered me some money to help with my losses, and I turned him down, but when eight hundred and fifteen thousand dollars appeared mysteriously in my bank account, I think that must have been him, despite his denying it.

I don't see him much these days. All I know is that he's happy and healthy, and living in Hawaii with his wife Beth and his two boys, John and Michael. If you need to contact him, his company moved into offices at 815 East Rosecrans Avenue, Los Angeles.

That's Hugo's story. One day I might tell you mine.

Disclaimer: This is pure fan-fiction. Any similarities with any real persons or places living or dead is entirely co-incidental. The character of "Hurley" is property of the creative team of the ABC show LOST, and Touchstone entertainment etc. It the first "fic" I have ever written, so I apologise if the disclaimer isn't up to scratch.

Title: Past Tense

My name is Hugo... but the folks on the island call me Hurley. They may be friends, they may not, but for the moment I rely on them anyway. Little pitter patters of their history before the Island has started to come out. I guess that's why they kept staring pensively into the distance. Well, Kate does that all the time, but I figure she lost her contacts or something. Anyway, I suppose your wondering why I'm writing this note. Well, I don't want the people on this island to know the truth about me. I think it'd cause some serious problems. For instance... I wasn't actually on the Manifest. Heck, I wasn't meant to be on the plane. I was meant to be back home in Chicago, working at Luigi's Pizzaria. I had a good life. Doting wife and charming kids. I was living the American Dream. Then... it happened. One day, I found out that my wife was cheating on me... and that my kids weren't mine. Distraught, I confronted their father... and found out that she'd been with him long before she was with me... and never left his side. I was her insurance policy... a man to make her parents believe she was responsible and g rown up. Bunch of doo-hickey from an uncool dude and a seriously wigging dudette. So I left the house we shared. They moved in together, becoming official, and I spent my days proving my warrior status on several computer games such as Halo II and Doom 3. Then, one night, I got a phone call. My ex-wife told me there was an intruder in the house. I called her bluff, and put the phone down. Next week I found out she'd been killed in her sleep. I could have stopped it... but I didn't. That's my guilt that I liver with... my pain. Soon after the police came around... saying that I had motive and opportunity. I told them about the phone call, but apparantly said phone call never existed. The guy she was shacked up with also appeared to have vanished, and I was the police's main suspect. I was arrested and put on bail.... but I skipped the country when I got the first opportunity. Got on that plane... never realising that it was about to crash... so that's my story. I just thought I'd let someone on land know I was still alive... and more importantly the truth.
IA

The Game Is On

"Go! Go! Go! Go!" The chant was like a mantra pounding in his brain.

After a while, it became background noise like the beating of a drum, muted. But the hammering in his head never ceased. If anything, it grew louder, almost painful. He knew he was sweating, but he couldn't stop - couldn't break his concentration - to wipe the moisture from his brow. The faces around him disappeared in a blur. He wasn't sure if was the sweat dripping into his eyes, distorting his vision - or if he was on the verge of passing out. It didn't matter. What mattered was that he didn't give up. Hugo Reyes never. quits.
*****
Hugo never thought of himself as a winner. He wasn't the popular kid in school; he wasn't athletic; he wasn't even smart enough to join the Mathletes. Sure, he had a few friends and they all thought he was pretty funny. But Hugo knew he was a goofball and he was never totally okay with that. He just wanted to be good at something. Something real. Something he could be recognized for.
*****
I'm a warrior he told himself, the lights on the stage burning his eyes as he leaned back to take a deep breath. I can do this. It's not about money. This is about pride. Stick to your strategy now... and Just. Stay. Focused.

He knew his competition well: Louis Parker - he can't lose. A tall man, lean and athletic looking with the bushiest eyebrows Hugo had ever seen. He'd won just one of the last six competitions Hugo participated in. Abe Frohman, the Sausage King of Chicago: he had about a hundred pounds on Hugo. They usually set up a loveseat for him, as he didn't fit into the typical folding chairs most venues provided. A true professional, but Abe didn't scare him. Then there was Dong Yung Lin - a tiny Asian man, so slight in appearance many wondered how a gentle breeze didn't just pick him up out of his seat and send him floating away like a leaf...But damn if he wasn't the one to be worried about right now. There were several other participants, mostly locals looking for fun and maybe a quick buck. He wasn't too worried about them.

He needed water. He picked up his head long enough to find his cup and saw, through his blurred vision, a sea of cheering spectators. This was his arena. He was the gladiator. He would show them all...

It was just then he started to feel a little queasy.
*****
He never had a girlfriend, not even in college. In fact, he never had much of a life until now...now that he was on the circuit. It was here, on the road - part of the circuit, the guys started calling him "Hurley" and that was alright with him.

It all started his sophomore year, someone clued him in to a bet the frats had going. He wasn't in a fraternity; he was never invited...but when he showed up at the PKE house ready to play, the velvet ropes parted and he was shown to the table. Ever since that night, Hugo had made a name for himself.

A few months later, Hugo dropped out of college. He was making pretty good money - doing what he was doing, and decided he wanted more. He wanted bigger. He wanted better. And he wanted people to know who he was. Hugo was finally good at something.

He's been on the circuit for about 4 years now. He even had groupies. Friends, girls, fans - people actually followed him around. Cheered him on. It was like a dream come true. But it'd been a tough road. Never actually claiming a first place victory, Hugo always came close. Very close. And Hugo decided, tonight -here in Sydney- close wasn't good enough.
*****
Fighting back the nerves and nausea, Hugo leaned back in his chair contemplating his next move. He was hot. He was tired. He wasn't sure how much more he could take. He took a moment to glance at his competitors. The locals had already left the stage...no surprise there.* Frohman looked on the verge of pushing himself away from the table as well, good.* Then there was Dong. Always composed.

Hugo grunted and got back into the game. Back into the mantra: "Go! Go! Go! Go!"
His heart was thumping in his ears. His nerves were frayed. His face was hot. He was not. going. to quit. He had a chance of winning. A good chance. Maybe even a shot at the record book...

But the gorge was rising.

He looked to his left. Frohman was down for the count.

Just me and Dong. I can do this.

"Go! Go! Go! Go!"

Hugo shoved another hot dog into his mouth, but that's where it ended for him.
Poor "Hurley" missed out on the championship once again.
But thankfully, those in the front row raised their garbage bags just in time.

Damn that Dong.

Change of Plans

"Dad! Hey, it's Hurley. Yeah, hi, I'm comin' home, dude."

"You're coming home? Is something wrong? Is there a problem with the tour?"

"No, it was great, the tour was great. We got to see lots of the filming sites - we even got to see the Shire, and they've had that site closed down for months because of all the rain they've had. But I gotta come home, Dad."

"Hugo, is this about your mom? She's going to be fine."

"I know, dude. It's not about Mom. Okay, well, it kind of is, but don't tell her that, okay?"

"I won't. But, are you sure? This is supposed to be the trip of a lifetime for you, and it's not fair for you to have to come home a month early."

"Believe me, Dad, I know. Listen, the only flight back I could get on short notice goes through L.A. via Sydney. I'll call you when we get to L.A. with my flight information. Can you or Marco pick me up at the airport?"

"Of course, son. Just let us know when you'll be there."

"Cool, thanks. Hey, I got an autograph from one of the stunt guys who played an Orc - aw, man, don't tell Marco I told you that, it's supposed to be for him."

"I won't say a thing. Have a safe flight, son."

"I will, Dad. Thanks. See you soon."

Champion

Hurley walks into the caves and see that little cheater Walt playing with the backgammon game. *He really has no idea how the kid did it but no one had ever consistently beaten "the warrior" that many times at any game he had ever played.

*flashback*

The sign reads U.S. National Gamers Convention.

It's the final round of the backgammon playoffs. *The top 20 contenders have the opportunity to get tickets for the International Convention, which this year is taking place in Sydney. * Hurley is seated and anxiously awaiting his match. * A guy past and says, dripping with sarcasm, to Hurley "Oh you have nothing to worry about you're "the warrior" right?" *

*and island*

Walt looks up and sees Hurley and says, "Do you want to play?" *His voice has the unmistakable tone of a child that both desperately bored, and quite pleased at the notion of irritating his older friend by beating him yet again. *Just then Charlie comes walking up talking rather fast, about someone needing help with something. *Hurley manages to hear that it's something about the beach, and agrees to go even though he's still not sure what's going on. * He's more than a bit happy to get out of playing backgammon with the kid. *Still can't figure out how he was cheating but he knows he was cheating somehow.

As they walk through the jungle on the way to the beach, Charlie has not stopped talking since they left the caves. *He seems to be rather worked up by whatever is going on at the beach, and as much as Hurley likes Charlie, at this exact moment he almost misses "traumatized and not talking Charlie". *

*and flashback*

Hurley is thinking about the only other person that has ever come close to Walt's ability at beating him. *It was Andy, the ultimate geek and the guy that was ribbing him before his match. *The guy had placed just ahead of Hurley at the last five conventions and had gotten rather smug. *He had to place ahead of him this time. * In his last move Hurley defeats his opponent. *This will place him at 18th and bump Andy out of the top 20. *He is quite pleased with himself.

*and island again*

Hurley realizes that Charlie has stopped talking and is looking at him. *Hurley looks at Charlie and says "What?" *Charlie says, "I just asked you what's wrong." *

"Nothing, just thinking of how I ended up here."

"Well if you want to talk, I'll listen."

"Thanks dude."

They arrive at the beach and Hurley sees Jin with a smile on his face and a fishing net in his hand waiting for them. *After a few hours of fishing instruction they are seated by the campfire at the beach, cooking the catch. *

Charlie looks at Hurley and says, "Want to talk now?"

Hurley laughs and says, "Well..."