Author: JustSkipIt
Rating: PG
Feedback: Please leave feedback on the Survivor - Ash Island thread on the Kitten Board.
Disclaimer: I own none of these characters nor do I own Survivor. And believe it or not, I also don't own any small islands. On the other hand, this island is fictional so let's say I own it. I'm making no money from this fiction and intend no copyright infringement.
Note: I’d like to thank Patches who gave some writing feedback in the thread but more importantly opened up and gave me an awesome one by PM. I think it will help me improve as a writer and appreciate it greatly. Thanks. Notes: Part of today’s reward challenge is taken from last season’s Survivor. Part is adapted from a challenge they had on Endurance Hawaii. Endurance Hawaii is a really fantastic show that is like Survivor for kids (like 13-15). They are in teams of 2 and have challenges and stay three weeks at the place. It’s quite cool.

White Hat Camp - Day 25
Shots show us the wildlife of Ash Island. We see a few lemurs, parrots, and snakes. Next a shot shows the volcano with smoke easing from its hole. The survivors are slowly beginning to wake and leave the shelter. Tara and Willow snuggled in the corner seem slow to move and are the last two people left in the shelter as the others move outside.

Confessional Caption - Robin - High School Principal
“Day 25,” he says, “I don’t know what I expected but I didn’t think it would be like this.” He shakes his head. “Six women and me left.” Again he shakes his head.

The group is gathered around the fire drinking water. “I miss the coffee,” Kendra comments as she stifles another yawn.

“Me too,” Tara agrees.

Everyone seems particularly tired and run down.

Confessional Caption - Tara - Medical Receptionist
“I really hope we can rest today. Everyone is really run down.” We see her handing the cup of paste to Buffy who sports a very intense sunburn on her face and shoulders. “Maybe a nap under the t-trees.”

Apparently the wish for a rest day has been granted. We see a shot of all the survivors sunning on the beach or taking naps. One shot shows Willow getting up and walking into the woods. Moments later, Tara appears to follow the redhead.

Confessional Caption - Buffy - College Student
Buffy is sitting in the shallow water, waves lapping over her legs as the sun is setting. “A rest day,” she comments, “I’ll tell you what though. I learned a lot. I mean Willow and I have an alliance right? Well, we may but ... Willow got up and went for a walk in the woods. Tara followed her and they came back an hour later! An hour? Oh yeah, I feel just great about my alliance.” She has an obvious look of distrust on her face. “This rest day sponsored by the slogan, ‘watch your ass.’”

White Hat Camp - Day 26
Coverage starts right in to show Faith and Joyce announcing that “we’ve got tree mail.” The mail is in the form of a computer printout formatted like the transcript of an IM session.

Confessional Caption - Willow - Software Startup Owner
“I see anything about computers and right off, I’m thinking like, computer challenge? I could rock this. But then I realized that wasn’t what it was saying at all.”

The Survivors arrive at challenge beach and Jeff greets them with a smile. “You’ve all made it to day 26. Two-thirds of the way to day 39.” They give themselves a light round of applause. “Because one of the hard things about this game is being away from home today you will have the chance to win a little touch of home.” Everyone screams. “The winner of today’s challenge will get one hour to Instant Message with their loved one.” Again we see touching shots of the Survivors. “To give you a taste, you can each have one minute IMing with your family member,” he explains with his trademark smirk.

He leads them over to a small hut with a computer set up in it. “Kendra, your friend El is online waiting for you.” The dark-skinned woman sits down and begins excitedly typing until Jeff tells her time is up. She stands up and walks over to Tara who gives her a hug. “Willow,” he says next, “your sister, Kelli.” The redhead takes her turn, showing some real typing speed. “Buffy,” he calls next, “your sister, Dawn is online.” Next Robin’s IM’s with his wife, Jane before Joyce IMs with her husband, Rupert. Tara’s friend Kent shares a minute of “talking” with her although she is crying so hard it is difficult for her to type. Finally, Faith’s sister Joy is on the other end of her connection. All the survivors are moved by the short conversations.

“So,” Jeff typically asks, “an hour with your family and friends worth playing today?”

Everyone agrees. “Ok,” Jeff says. “We thought you should have some help in your challenge.” The survivors begin screaming as their loved ones walk around from the back of the hut to meet them. Pandemonium reigns for a few minutes as they hug, kiss, or some combination of the above their family and friends. Robin and Jane are kissing as are Joyce and Rupert. Kelli and Dawn are obviously alternating hugging Willow and Buffy and assessing their weight. El and Kendra are laughing together as are Faith and her identical twin, Joy. Tara continues crying as she is embraced by a tall man resembling Robin more than anyone else in the group.

Once the joyous and tearful reunion is over, Jeff welcomes the visitors and tells them that they will be participating in the challenge with their Survivors. Rather than winning an hour of IM time with their loved one, the loved one will stay at camp with the Survivors over night and leave the next morning.

Once everyone has reacted with excitement at the prospect of spending the precious time with their loved one, Jeff points out the challenge structure. On the beach are seven towers about ten feet high. Vertically the tower consists of three pipes which extend to the ground. Inside the pipes at the top is a round basket. A fourth pipe leans against the top of the three pipes from the ground (forming a triangle with the ground). On the outside of the basket is an additional metal basket. In front of the towers are two poles about eight feet long with a cross-piece about a foot long at one end.

Jeff explains that working together, the Survivor and their guest will use their poles to guide a large ball (larger than a basketball) up the pole and into the basket at the top. Once they have gotten three balls into the basket, the weight of the balls will lower the basket. They will then use the fire starting materials sitting by their tower to build a fire. Once their fire is burning, they can release the balls, allowing the basket to rise and light a fuse above the tower. The first Survivor to light the fuse wins the challenge.

We see everyone taking their places. Jeff yells to go and the teams begin attempting to guide the balls up the pipe. Everyone has trouble with the task, having to replace the balls frequently. We see all the participants having to chase the balls and return with them. Finally the twins get a good start as their first ball goes in.

“Now Willow gets a basket. Buffy and Tara are right behind her,” Jeff shouts, “Joyce and Rupert struggling as are Robin and Jane.” Kendra and her friend are having very poor success at the task but seem to be having a lot of fun as they laugh over their difficulty. “Buffy and Dawn on a roll,” Jeff puns, “as their second ball nears the top of the runway.” We see the other teams in various stages of pushing their balls up the pipe or chasing them as they bounce on the beach. “Robin finally on the board with one ball in the basket as is Kendra!” Jeff calls. “Buffy has two in Joyce with none and everyone else with one.”

As we watch we can see that Tara and Kent are obviously communicating well on the task. They make Tara’s second ball. At nearly the same time Willow and Kelli get her second ball to the top and have it fall off just at that point. Faith and Joy have the same problem, possibly due to their height disadvantage. Joyce and Rupert finally make a basket as Robin and Willow get their second near the top. When Kendra makes her second basket, she is in the competition as well. A second later, Jeff shouts in excitement as Tara and Kent make their third basket. The close friends drop their sticks and race around to the basket which is sitting on the ground.

“Tara starting with the kindling and flint,” Jeff shouts to let the others, including Willow and Faith who have just made their second shots, know the leader’s progress. While Kent feeds small sticks and to the fire, Tara has her hands cupped around the flame in much the same way that she did when she and her alliance members lit the fire on day two. She has her eyes closed as she concentrates on the task and seems to be saying a prayer. Buffy makes her third shot and races around to start her fire, followed quickly by Willow and Faith. At Tara’s signal, Kent pulls the release to allow the balls to roll out and the basket to rise.

The others seem to redouble their efforts as Jeff yells, “Tara’s basket is on the rise. If her fire doesn’t go out, this should be it.” Buffy, Faith, and Willow with their respective sisters are all feeding kindling to their fires when Tara’s fuse lights making her the winner of the task.

Tara and Kent hug and celebrate their win. The others also hug their loved ones although they are all visibly disappointed. Jeff says that the visitors must go and we see them share farewells. Dawn and Rupert both look back as if they have something else to do but follow the line of family members from the beach.

We see the tribe returning to their camp. Tara and Kent walk along talking and gesturing hurriedly. She is obviously asking about her daughter and mother and he tells her that they are fine and miss her. As they walk, she introduces Kent to the other tribe members who are all very friendly.

Confessional Caption - Faith - Personal Trainer
“So sister friend Tara won the reward and it was her friend Kent getting to stay with us over night. I’ll tell you what; that man. Mmm. She’s got someone who looks like that around and she turns to women? I know that’s not how it happens, but that is a very fine looking man. Heck, I don’t know. Maybe he’s her boyfriend and she’s not even interested in Willow. Girl’s got games going that I don’t know about. She’s too smart not to.”

Tara shows Kent the camp, pointing out their fire pit, where the food is prepared, the sleeping shelter, etc. After they visit a little bit, all the Survivors sit around the fire to eat.

Confessional Caption - Joyce - Art Gallery Owner
Joyce is tearing up as she addresses the camera. “Seeing Rupert was wonderful. But not getting to say hello to Dawn or hug her was heartbreaking. I could see her looking back as they left and how badly she wanted to come to me.”

Confessional Caption - Buffy - College Student
“I’ll tell you what,” she says, “26 days on this beach makes me miss even Rupert. Ripper. Whatever. I mean really. I even wanted to hug him as he was leaving.” She mutters under her breath: “Even if he is a pompous blowhard.”

“Thank you for sharing your food with me,” Kent says as he eats a small portion of rice. “Maybe this will make it worth it.” He reaches into his small pack and pulls an envelope from it. He hands it to Tara who opens the envelope.

“Oh,” she says with great affection.

Willow leans over to see a picture of a small girl, her skin a light brown, about 6 years old playing in the front yard. She is wearing a pink dress and kicking a soccer ball. The redhead looks at the picture and back at Tara who has tears in her eyes. Taking Tara’s hand she again looks at the picture before looking at Kent for a long few seconds. “Oh,” she finally says as if figuring out the solution to a puzzle.

Suddenly Tara looks up from the picture to look at Willow. “T-t-this is A-ariel,” she stutters before handing the picture to the redhead and motioning that she should pass it on.

“They are all mixed in,” Kent says helpfully.

After a quick discussion the group agrees that they will just pass the pictures around with Tara starting each one to see if she can identify the owner. As the Survivors wait, she begins looking at photos and either handing them across the fire to the owner or passing them to Willow to make the circuit. After about five pictures the blonde quirks her eyebrow at one. She looks at Buffy and then Joyce for a moment before handing one to Buffy. The process continues and with Tara again looking between Buffy and Joyce as she encounters some strange photographs.

Later we see Tara walking in the dark up to Faith and Kendra. “We’ve got a problem,” she tells the girls. “Did you see any of Buffy or Joyce’s pictures?”

“No man,” Faith answers, “they were keeping them to their selves because they were so precious or whatever. I wish we’d been able to get rid of Joyce with Richard.”

“You’re really going to f-feel like that in a minute,” Tara tells her.

“What’s going on?” Kendra pushes.

“The reason they didn’t want to show you their pictures? They are in the same pictures.”

Faith narrows her eyes as she thinks about the implications of what Tara is saying. “They’re mother and daughter?”

“No,” Kendra says disbelievingly.

“Or incredibly close friends,” Tara shares. “They are in all of each other’s pictures. I mean all of them.”

“Who else knows?” Faith immediately wants to know. “Does Willow know?”

“I d-d-don’t know,” Tara stutters as she glances over her shoulder at the redhead sitting by the fire.

“Can you find out?” Kendra suggests.

Confessional Caption - Kendra - Interpreter
“Right now, having Tara with us is like a person and a half in the alliance. We ask her a question and she asks Willow. Willow was with Buffy and now she’s all into Tara so maybe we get a freebie on her.”

“M-maybe,” Tara nods her head.

We see Buffy and Joyce talking quietly by the fire. It is obvious from their expression that they are worried. They are whispering together so that Willow and Kent, sitting opposite them can’t hear. Willow bites her lip and wrings her hands as she looks sideways at Kent. Finally she asks, “So. Um... have you and Tara been um friends long?”

“About ten years,” the dark-skinned man explains with a broad smile, “she’s pretty awesome.”

“I think so too,” Willow says curtly before standing and walking away from the fire.

Confessional Caption - Willow - Software Startup Owner
The redhead’s red rimmed eyes give away how upset she is. “I know I shouldn’t feel like this but I do. I really care, or cared, about Tara. But suddenly I feel like she’s playing me. I mean I saw the picture of her daughter and she’s definitely Kent’s too. Why wouldn’t she tell me? Is he her husband? Boyfriend? Is she just playing me to get through this game?” She snorts her disgust as she says, “Swing vote. I was the swing vote but now... I just don’t know.”

We see Faith approach the fire where Kent is sitting. She assesses him again obviously enjoying his appearance before he looks up.

“Hi,” he says, “Faith, right?”

“Yeah. You run?” Faith asks pointing at his sneakers.

“A bit,” he confesses.

Faith lifts the hem of her shirt slightly to show her ribs and offers, “I’m kind of out of shape but maybe we can do a few miles in the morning before you have to go.”

“Sure.”

We see Willow walking along the beach, kicking her feet at the sand. Tara approaches her carefully. “Will?” When Willow keeps walking the blonde falls in step beside her. “Are you ok?” she asks without touching the redhead.

“No. Yes. Maybe. I don’t know.”

“Is this about A-ariel?” Tara asks.

Willow stops walking and turns angrily toward the blonde. “Why didn’t you tell me that Kent was her father? I mean he is her father right? Or is this just a game you’re playing?”

Tara reaches out to take Willow’s hand although it is obvious that the redhead is feeling angry and closed off to her. “Willow,” she attempts to get the girl to look at her by lightly touching her chin with her fingertips, “please look at me.” Willow looks up with an angry look on her face. “I understand that you are mad but I’m not sure why. Did I lie to y-you about something? You knew that I had a daughter. Would you rather that her father was a s-stranger or did you think she was an immaculate conception?”

“Well,” Willow sputters, “I just... I ... Is this a game to you?”

Tara smiles at the redhead. “Being on this island is a game, sweetie, but th-this, this,” she waves two fingers between the two girls “is not a game.”

Frustratingly the show breaks for a commercial.

Confessional Caption - Kendra - Interpreter
“What an interesting day. First we find out that Buffy and Joyce are big liars. Then we ask Tara to find out if Willow knew about it and she ends up sitting on a rock crying while her friend comforts her. I honestly don’t know where that girl’s head is today.”

White Hat Camp - Day 27
Dawn breaks over the camp and we see Tara and Kent walking on the beach. It’s obvious that he has been helping gather berries and break up firewood. He puts his arm lightly around her shoulder and says, “You’re feeling better, Tare.”

“Much,” she nods, “especially since you’re here. You know, your visit will help me make it through this thing.” The look up and see the boat approaching.

“That will be my ride,” he says as the others approach the beach. We see Kent giving everyone hugs and saying thanks for letting him visit. A shot of him getting on the boat shows his buff chest and abs as he is suddenly dressed in only a pair of shorts. Panning back over the camp we see that Tara is wearing the denim shirt he had brought while Willow wears his very oversized T-shirt. Everyone stands on the beach for a few seconds while Kent continues waving until the boat has gone from their sight.

Next we see Robin and Kendra returning to announce: “Tree mail.” They read the message and conclude that it’s an eating challenge.

Jeff waits on the beach for the remaining seven survivors to enter the beach and take their places on the mat. “Tara,” he greets the blonde, “how was it having your friend at camp yesterday?”

“It was really great,” she says, “and getting the pictures was r-really appreciated.” She looks sideways at Buffy and Joyce and says, “I think we all learned a lot more about each other yesterday.”

Jeff laughs nervously at Tara’s statement before announcing, “We thought we’d give you a little while more to see your loved ones. They will be helping you with this challenge.” Everyone screams as he waves his arm and the visitors from yesterday emerge from behind a stand of trees again. Again they hug their loved ones before standing next to them.

“Well,” he announces, “since yesterday’s challenge didn’t let you win any food, we decided to give you something to eat today.” This time everyone groans as he pulls a tablecloth from the table to expose worms, bugs, and something else on the table. After giving everyone a chance to act revolted, Jeff explains that today’s challenge will consist of three rounds. The first round will have all seven survivors. The two slowest will be out of the challenge. The next round will again eliminate two survivors and the final round will determine the winner.

Using some quick editing, we see the survivors standing on one side of the table with their hands behind their backs and a blindfold over their eyes. Their guests stand opposite them with their hands hovering over plates of worms. “Each survivor must eat three worms and then show me his or her mouth,” Jeff calls. “Survivors ready. Go!”

At his shout, the visitors reach into the plates to grab the squirming earthworms and then extend them toward their loved one’s mouths. “Dawn’s got the idea,” Jeff describes, “putting the worms right in Buffy’s mouth. Rupert less willing to hold them as is Kelli.” The competition is very fast and Jeff begins to call the names of the Survivors who have finished: “Buffy done. Robin. Kendra. Tara. And the last Survivor advancing to the next round is Joyce.”

Faith, Willow, Joy, and Kelli move to sit on the log at the side of the group.

Confessional Caption - Faith - Personal Trainer
“If there was every an immunity challenge to lose, this was it. I mean I’m tough sure. But yuck. I thought I was going to throw up and I didn’t even manage to swallow a worm. Course one advantage of a twin sister is that she knows me so well she didn’t even try to get the worms in my mouth.”

“Ok, Survivors ready,” Jeff calls. We can see that the visitors have their hands above trays of squirming large black bugs. “Go!” The commentary is much like the earlier commentary as he notes that “Dawn again quickly dropping the bugs in her sister’s mouth. Robin right there too. Buffy and Robin done. Tara having some trouble getting hers down.” The camera is quickly averted as she leans over the side of the table. “And Kendra moves into the finals with Robin and Buffy!”

He directs the other two teams to take their seats near Faith and Willow and their guests. Finally we see the three remaining survivors lean over their “food.” At Jeff’s command the three guests pick up a fish head and attempt to shove it into their loved one’s mouths. While Kendra struggles with it, Robin and Buffy both chew to the shouts of their loved ones and various survivors. Within seconds Jeff shouts the news that “For the second time in a row, Buffy has won individual immunity.” She and Dawn dance around as the other competitors drink from their glasses of water, attempting to clear their mouths.

Jeff gives the survivors a few minutes to say good bye to their friends and family and the guests board the boat and leave the island. “Ok,” Jeff says, “your loved ones are gone but I’ll be seeing you all at Tribal Council.”

We see the survivors walking back to the camp. Next we see Buffy and Joyce talking to Robin quietly. Buffy approaches Willow as the redhead breaks up fire wood. “Willow,” she greets the girl, “I need to know where you are tonight.”

“What are the choices?” Willow shrewdly asks.

“I’d imagine the triumvirate is voting for Joyce, but if you vote off one of them, Robin will vote with us. Then we can pick them off one by one.”

“What makes you think I’d turn on them?” Willow asks.

Buffy looks as if she pities her friend, telling her, “Will, I don’t want to tell you your personal business but I really think your girl is playing you. I mean did you see the picture of Ariel? Kent’s not just her friend and she’s got you following her around this island like a puppy.”

“You, me, Robin, and Joyce?” Willow confirms. “Then where do I go?”

“You know the final four is always a free-for-all,” Buffy tells her.

Confessional Caption - Willow - Software Startup Owner
“Yeah, Buffy came to me today with her F4 offer. I can get one from everyone here if I want. Hell, Robin and I could incorporate: Swing Vote, Inc. The question is ‘who is the liar that I trust the most’?”

We see Robin talking to Joyce and later Robin talking to Faith. “Rumblings around the fire, huh, big man?” she says.

Robin looks at Faith with a raised eyebrow. “Make me an offer. I can be fourth either way.”

Faith laughs. “I won’t lie to you. I want you in the final two.”

“Why would you want that?”

“Think about it,” she tells him glancing down the beach toward the other competitors, “would you want to be sitting next to Kendra or worse yet, Tara?”

Robin smiles at her. “No. I would definitely not want that.”

Confessional Caption - Faith - Personal Trainer
“I was lying my ass off. I’m not taking him to the final two but think about it. He believes it because he wants to believe it. Everyone says to themselves, ‘that Faith. She’d screw her friends for a million dollars so she’ll want me next to her.’ It’s easy for everyone to believe they’re golden because they believe I’m scum.”

Tribal Council
The seven remaining survivors enter and take their seats. Next Jeff calls in the first two members of the jury. Mac and Xander enter both looking clean and fed. Like Mac, Xander has had a haircut and shave and is wearing new clothes.

Jeff smiles at the survivors. “Welcome,” he says, “this week we had visitors. How did that feel, Tara?”

“It was really g-great, Jeff, having that little touch of home really buoyed me up.”

“You feel like you can really trust a friend from home?” he leads.

“I feel like some people are more trustworthy than others,” Tara answers. “Some people are playing a game here and some are just outright lying.”

“Faith,” Jeff asks, “Is that true? Are some people here lying to everyone else?”

“Jeff,” Faith says, “I think there’s a difference between playing a game and not telling everyone some very important information about yourself.”

“And if you can’t trust someone?”

“If you can’t trust someone,” Willow pitches in, “then you can’t align yourself with them.”

Both Buffy and Tara look a little surprised at the statement as if they don’t know who she’s referring to.

Confessional Caption - Willow - Software Startup Owner
“So it’s a hard few days for trust. Yesterday the thing with Tara and Kent and then today I went to go to the little girl’s room and on the way back I heard Tara talking to Joyce. She was confronting her over Joyce being Buffy’s mother. First off, why didn’t Buffy tell me that but second why didn’t Tara? I never thought I was stupid but it seems like everyone here knows things I don’t know.”

“Buffy,” Jeff directs, “are there people here you trust and who you know can trust you?”

“Sure,” the blonde lies, “Joyce and I became very close while she was in Akathla and I trust her totally. And I have other relationships that are very important to me even though they were separated from me for a while.”

Kendra and Faith cast their eyes at Buffy and Willow but neither says anything. “Let’s go vote,” Jeff announces somewhat suddenly.

Faith votes first and we see her vote for Joyce. “Joyce, you’re a liar and if I could I’d vote off Buffy with you.”

Next Kendra, Tara, and Willow vote. Buffy votes for Faith saying: “Faith. You’re just too strong and too smart to stay in this thing.” Robin and Joyce then vote.

“Let’s count the votes,” Jeff declares. “First vote, Joyce.” Everyone nods that they expected that. “Second vote, Faith. Third vote, Faith.” He recaps: “That’s two votes Faith, one vote Joyce.” He continues counting: “Joyce. Next vote: Joyce.” Jeff takes a breath before repeating the count: “That’s two votes Faith, three votes Joyce. “ He opens the next vote and looks at if for a few seconds. “And the 10th person voted off Survivor - Ash Island and 3rd Jury member is Joyce.”

Joyce brings her torch and has it extinguished. As she leaves she tells Buffy to kick butt for her. Jeff reminds the Survivors that they are down to six and sends them back to camp.

Parting Words - Joyce
“Buffy, I hope you win it all but if you don’t, I hope you take Faith out. I love you and I’m proud of you and how you’ve played this game.”

Next week on Survivor
Voice-over - Old alliances are threatened
“You’ve been lying to me all along,” Willow shouts at Buffy.

Voice-over - And a new one may change the entire game
A shot of Robin, Faith, and Buffy talking and shaking hands.

All Next week on Survivor