Desmond shepherds Christian's coffin, Kate pushes him for answers

At the church where the Lamp Post station was located in the original timeline, Kate sits in Hurley's Camaro as a Oceanic delivery van pulls into the parking lot. Desmond approaches the Oceanic employee and signs for Christian Shepherd's coffin, telling the guy that he works at the church. Desmond asks the guy to take the coffin around the back.

Desmond returns to the Camaro and she asks him who died. He tells her that it was a man named Christian Shepherd, and she laughs and asks if he's serious (the name is fairly funny when sitting in front of a church).

As Desmond is about to start the car, Kate stops him and asks why he's doing what he's doing. He says "No one can tell you why you’re here, Kate... Certainly not me." Kate objects saying that he brought her there and Desmond says that he's not talking about the church, "I'm talking about here."

Desmond introduces himself and tells Kate that even though she doesn't know it, he's a friend and all he wants to do is leave. When she asks where he wants to leave to, Desmond says "Let me show you."

Hurley pays Ana Lucia to help Desmond, Kate & Sayid escape the police

At the police station, Sawyer comes to tell Kate, Desmond and Sayid that they are being sent to the county lockup. Kate stops him as he's leaving and says that he can still let her go because he believes she's innocent. Saywer says that he can't because he's a cop. Kate tells him that he doesn't seem like a cop.

In the back of the van, Desmond says that he thinks it's time to leave. Kate asks who he is and Sayid says that he's crazy, revealing that Desmond turned himself in. Desmond admits that he hit a man (Locke) in a wheelchair.

Desmond says that the driver already knows where to stop and says that when they stop, he'll expect Sayid and Kate to trust him, because he's going to ask them to do something. They both reluctantly agree, then the van comes to a stop.

The back door opens, revealing Ana Lucia who asks Desmond where her money is, because if she doesn't get it, she'll have to tell the police that she shot them while they tried to escape. As she releases them from their restraints, Hurley pulls up in his yellow Hummer.

Hurley gets out and says that he didn't know Ana Lucia was going to be there. With her trademark attitude, Ana Lucia says "Do I know you tubby?" Hurley realizes his mistake and says that they've never met and hands her an envelope with $125,000 in it. As she leaves, Hurley asks Desmond if she's not coming with them and Desmond says she's not ready yet.

Hurley's Camaro can be seen next to the van and he tells Desmond to take it. Sayid goes with Hurley who says he knows where they need to go. Kate stays with Desmond, who hands her a black dress and tells her that they're going to a concert. Kate looks bewildered.

So Desmond and Hurley both clearly know what's going on, and they have a plan. We learn what that plan involves in the finale.

Desmond turns himself in to the police, meets Sayid & Kate

As the police officer that Locke hung up on puts down the phone, Desmond approaches his desk and asks to speak to a detective.

Meanwhile, at the police station, Miles is getting dressed for a concert to benefit at his dad's (Pierre Chang) museum. He tells Sawyer that he can still be his date, but Sawyer passes since Charlotte is going to be there.

The officer from the front desk then brings Desmond to Sawyer. Desmond admits to hitting Locke with his car and beating up Ben at the school.

Desmond is led to a holding cell, where is placed between the ones containing Sayid and Kate. He slyly smiles as he introduces himself to Sayid and Kate.

So it became clear here that Desmond wanted to be put in jail so he could interact with Sayid and Kate like he has done with Hurley, Locke and Ben. We get a clearer view later in the episode of his plan later in the episode.

Ben sees his original timeline as Desmond beats him up

Desmond sits in his car at the school and watches as Locke returns to work. As Locke begins to cross the parking lot, Desmond starts his car, but then Ben comes over and yells at him, screaming that he is the man who hit Mr. Locke.

As Desmond gets out of the car, Ben says that he's going to make a citizen's arrest. Desmond tells him not to get in his way and then punches Ben in the face. He then slams Ben repeatedly on the car's hood. Ben says that he won't let Desmond hurt Mr. Locke again, and Desmond says he's not trying to hurt him, he's here to help him let go (the same thing that Jack was trying to convince Locke to do by letting him perform the surgery).

Ben asks Desmond who he is and Desmond responds saying "You want to know who I am?" and then starts repeatedly punching Ben in the face. As he's being beaten, Ben sees flashes of the original timeline of Desmond beating him up at the marina when he was contemplating killing Penny.

Desmond then throws Ben on the ground, gets in his car and speeds away. Ben is left lying on the ground, his eyes wide after what he's just experienced.

So how does Desmond know exactly what will trigger each person's flashes? He seemed to have no interest in showing Ben his until he was confronted by him. Desmond has a specific plan, but we just don't know what it is.

Here we also see Ben's noble side again as he fearlessly stands up for John Locke, even as he's being beaten.

Desmond calls Jack posing as Oceanic employee + Jack's neck bleeds again

"What That Died For" opens with an iconic LOST shot. We see a close-up of Jack's eye slowly opening, then we see that we are in the sideways at his home. He goes into the bathroom and discovers that his neck is bleeding again, just like he discovered it in the plane's restroom in "LA X." His son, David, then pops his head and says that he made breakfast.

Jack joins David at the table for some Super Bran cereal and David asks him if he's coming to the concert. Jack says yes and then asks if David's mother is coming. David says yes and makes Jack promise not to be weird.

Claire then enters the room and Jack and David rush to make her a bowl of cereal. They all sit around the table like a happy family until Jack's phone rings. He answers to hear a deep voice say that they are with Oceanic Airlines and they have found Jack's cargo (Christian Shephard's coffin). We learn that the voice is Desmond's who tells Jack that the coffin will arrive in Los Angeles by the end of the day and apologizes on behalf of Oceanic Airlines. Jack is emotional as he hangs up and we see Desmond, sitting in a car hang up his phone, with that same confident, zen-like look on his face.

So does Desmond actually know something about the whereabouts of Christian's coffin, or is he just pushing Jack like he's done with others? As we learn later, the concert that Jack, David and his mother will be an important event. More on that much later.

Desmond makes a good argument for Sayid not to kill him at the well

Sayid arrive at the well and points his gun at Desmond. Desmond calmly asks Sayid what he's getting in return for killing him. Sayid tells him that Locke promised him that he can get the woman he loves (Nadia) back who is dead. When Desmond why he thinks Locke can bring her back to life, Sayid tells says that Locke brought him back to life (referring to his resurrection while laying next to the spring in the temple).

Desmond poses a question to Sayid. He asks what he will tell Nadia that he did in order to get her back. This seems to cut through Sayid's zombie-like state, but we don't see what happens next.

Desmond pushes Claire towards Ilana, who has been looking for Claire

In the flash sideways, Claire arrives at an office building where she as an appointment with the Western Pacific Adoption Agency. Desmond walks to the counter and approaches her. Claire seems suspicious of him, but she tells him that she ended up at the hospital, but he was right about her being pregnant with a boy.

Desmond follows her up the escalator, asking her about her going to the adoption agency alone without any legal representation. They reach the elevator and are both going to the fifteenth floor (we see one of the numbers again). He pushes her about the lawyer until she agrees to go with him to visit his friend, who is a lawyer.

They walk into the office with the names Sweetzer and Verdansky on the door. The receptionist tells him to have a seat, but Ilana quickly emerges from an office and gives Desmond a hug. Ilana's last name is Verdansky and she speaks with an American accent in this timeline.

When Desmond introduces Claire, Ilana knows who she is and says that she's been looking for her. Claire looks shocked and concerned, but agrees to go talk with Ilana.

So once again, we see Desmond pushing Oceanic 815 passengers towards people that bring them closer to the original timeline. We'll see where Claire's meeting with Ilana leads in a later post.

Desmond runs into Locke with his car at the high school

Back in the flash sideways world, Desmond sits in his car at the school where Ben and Locke work and watches as Locke exits the building in his wheelchair.

Ben comes over and knocks on Desmonds window and asks him a series of questions about what he's doing there. Ben says that he's been parked there watching the kids for a while. Desmond says that he's there looking for a school for his son, and when Ben asks for his son's name, Desmond says Charlie. It seems clear here there Desmond remembers his son from the original timeline, though one could say that's just the first name that popped in his head.

After Ben leaves, Desmond watches Locke start to cross the parking lot and accelerates his car toward him. Desmond hits Locke, who hits the windshield and the flies over the top of the car and lands on the ground. Desmond speeds away as Ben runs over to help Locke who is once again lying bloody on his back.

The look on Locke's face is similar to when he was on the ground after Anthony Cooper threw him out of the window. Will this be Locke's moment of clarity where he remembers the original timeline like Desmond, Charlie and Hurley?

And the big question is, why did Desmond do this? Was he trying to kill Locke or was he trying to push him towards Jack at the hospital? This seems to be similar, yet a more forceful version of what he did pushing Hurley towards Libby during their conversation at Mr. Cluck's. What does Desmond know?!

Locke throws Desmond down an electromagnetic well

Locke and Desmond's journey comes to an end at an old well, but not the one near the Orchid Station where Ben and Locke turned the frozen donkey wheel. Desmond looks down the well trying to guess how deep it is and Locke throws a torch down that hits the bottom.

Locke tells Desmond that this well is so old that the people who dug it did it completely by hand. He says that these people dug it to understand why their compass needles spun uncontrollably at this particular spot, but they never found what they were looking for.

Locke continues, saying that he showed Desmond this well because Charles Widmore is only interested in power, not answers and he plans to use Desmond to find what he's looking for. He adds that this is not the only well. These wells all seem to be built over pockets of electromagnetism, so is this what Zoe was asking Jin about? Do they need Desmond to survive another Swan Station or Incident-style blast?

Moving on, Locke asks Desmond why he's not afraid to be out here with him considering no one knows they're there. Desmond says "What's the point in being afraid?" Locke's expression turns sinister and he throws Desmond down the well.

So there's still the big mystery as to why Desmond is so zen now. We still don't know what he knows in either timeline.

Memories of Libby rush back to Hurley during their kiss on the beach, Desmond is watching

At the beach in the sideways, Hurley lays out the blanket and unpacks the picnic basket so he and Libby can finally have their date. Libby stares out at the ocean and when Hurley asks what's wrong, she says that nothing is wrong, but it feels "off." She says the picnic is "like a date we never had."

Much like on the island, Hurley questions why Libby would want to be with him. She says that she likes him, but he says that she's "delusional." She leans in and kisses him, and suddenly, memories of their time on the island rush back to Hurley (just like they did with Desmond).

Hurley is stunned for a moment and then says that he thinks he's remembering stuff. Libby asks "You mean I'm not crazy," and Hurley says that he doesn't think she is. Libby is overcome with joy.

As the shot gets wider, we pan down to see Desmond sitting in his car, watching the two of them. He has a sly smile on his face as he drives away.

So what will be the repercussions of the Oceanic 815 passengers remembering the original timeline and why is Desmond starting to push people towards these revelations? What does Desmond know right now that we don't?

Mysterious boy appears to Locke & Desmond, Locke gets agitated

Sayid leads Locke to where he has Desmond tied to a tree. Locke unties Desmond after Desmond says he has nowhere to run to. Desmond says that he doesn't know why Charles Widmore brought him back to the island, but mentions that they threw him into a wood shack blasted him with a massive amount of electromagnetism. When Locke asks how he knew it was electromagnetism, Desmond says that he knows from experience.

Locke clearly becomes unsettled by how unafraid and calm Desmond is. When Locke asks Desmond if he knows who he is, Desmond says "Of course. You're John Locke." Locke then sends Sayid back to camp and tells Desmond he wants to show him something.

Later, as Locke and Desmon are walking through the jungle, Locke tells Desmond that the island seems to have it out for him, but Desmond replies that the island has it in for all of them.

Suddenly, the mysterious boy appears in the jungle. It's the same boy from the episode "Recon," but here, he appears slightly older and has brown hair instead of blonde. Locke gets agitated by his appearance and tells Demond to ignore him. When Desmond asks who the boy is and if he knows him, Locke repeats his order to ignore him, but this time he's angrier. The boy smiles slyly, and runs off into the jungle.

So is this young boy Jacob, and if so, what about his appearance is causing Locke to lose his cool? He has seemed the most rattled the two times this boy has appeared.

Desmond approaches Hurley at Mr. Cluck's, pushes him towards Libby

At one of the Mr. Cluck's locations, Hurley enters and demands a family size bucket of chicken. He sits at a table and makes his way through a lot of chicken, when he spots Desmond staring at him from across the restaurant.

Hurley calls out to him and Desmond says that he remembers him from Oceanic 815. Desmond sits down and comments on the large pile of chicken bones in front of Hurley. Hurley says that he eats when he's depressed and Desmond asks what the girl's name is. Hurley proceeds to tell him about the failed blind date and Libby approaching him, saying that they already knew each other.

Desmond leans in and asks Hurley if he believed Libby. Hurley says that he kind of did. Desmond tells him that maybe he should try to find out where Libby thinks he knows him from.

Then cashier calls out "number 42!," which is the number of Demond's order (and one of the numbers). Desmond says that it was nice bumping into Hurley and leaves.

So it seems that Desmond might be acting a bit like Jacob, pushing Hurley towards Libby like Jacob pushed people towards the island. The question is, what is Demond's goal?

Locke carving a large stick, Sayid takes him to Desmond

At Locke's camp, Locke is shaving down a large stick, which Sawyer questions him about. Locke says "I'm not sure what it's gonna be yet, James. When the time is right, it'll tell me." That's similar to the story Locke told Boone about Michaelangelo creating the statue David in the season 1 episode "Hearts and Minds."

Sawyer questions why they're just sitting around, doing nothing to get Jin back. Locke tells him that they're waiting for Jack, Hurley and Sun to show up, because they'll need all of them to be able to leave the island, just like when they came back to the island.

Sayid then returns to the camp and asks to speak to Locke alone. Sayid takes him into the jungle where he shows Locke that he has Desmond tied to a tree. Desmond still looks absolutely content and Locke looks surprised and pleasantly intrigued.

Desmond gets a date with Penny, asks Minkowski for 815 manifest

Once again, Desmond wakes up, this time in the stadium. Penny tells him that he passed out when he shook her hand. Penny then asks him if they've met before, and Desmond says that he thinks he would have remembered. He then asks her out for coffee and she agrees to meet him at a near-by shop in an hour. Both Desmond and Penny seem quite enthralled about meeting.

Desmond returns to the limousine and tells Minkowski that he found what he was looking for. He asks to me taken to the coffee shop and then makes an interesting request. He asks Minkowski to get him the manifest of Oceanic 815 because he needs to show them all something.

Is Desmond now going to make it his mission to show the 815 passengers visions of the previous timeline? If so, how will this knowledge affect the passengers and will it cause a cross in the original timeline.

Desmond is now eager to help in original timeline, Sayid kills two men & takes him

When Desmond wakes back up in the original timeline, alive and well, Seamus and Zoe are both shocked, but Charles Widmore doesn't seem surprised at all. A nurse/medic starts to check his condition, but he waves her off, saying he's fine and asking Widmore to help him up.

Widmore tells Desmond he was only unconscious for a few seconds. He then starts to apologize, for putting Desmond through the test, but Desmond stops him, saying it's okay because he understands now. Widmore seems confused, but Desmond seems very zen and asks, "When do we start?"

Zoe and two other men start to walk Desmond through the Hydra Station grounds. She asks him what happened to make him go from beating Widmore about 20 minutes ago to being Mr. Cooperative. He says a lot can happen in 20 minutes. She says that the machine fried his brain. Suddenly, Sayid appears and kills the two other men. He points a gun a Zoe, but tells her to run. Sayid tells Desmond that Widmore's team are dangerous and they need to go. Desmond, Mr. Cooperative, says "lead the way" and follows Sayid.

So what exactly does Desmond now know in this timeline that makes him so zen? Does he know exactly what he needs to do, or is he just going with the flow?

Desmond meets Penny at the stadium, moves back to original timeline

Desmond arrives at the infamous stadium where he met Jack in a flashback of the original timeline. He sees Penny, doing the same tour de stade that Jack and Desmond were doing at the end of season 1.

Desmond slow approaches her and has a big smile on his face when he introduces himself. He shakes her hand, and at that moment he flashes back to the original timeline, in the electromagnetic box, alive and well.

It seems that this pivotal meeting between Desmond and his constant, Penny, pushed him back into the original timeline. Could it be because he achieved what he was destined to achieve in the other timeline to accomplish what he needs to in the original timeline?

Daniel tells Desmond how to find Penny, shows him quantum mechanics in journal

Desmond returns to the limo to have a drink after his discouraging conversation with Eloise Hawking. As he's telling Minkowski to just drive around, Daniel Faraday (known here as Daniel Widmore) knock on his window and asks for a talk.

First, Daniel asks Desmond if he believes in love at first sight and proceeds to tell him about the girl he saw at the museum with blue eyes who was eating a chocolate bar. Right away, we know he's talking about Charlotte. He says that when he saw her, it was like he already loved her.

He says that's when thing got weird and later that night he woke up and wrote a complex quantum mechanics equation in his journal. In this timeline, he's a musician, not a physicist, so he had to take it a friend to find out that only someone who had been studying physics their entire life could write the equations.

He then explains that if something terrible is about to happen and the only way to stop it would be to release a large amount of energy, like setting off a nuclear bomb. He says that what if their current life is not supposed to be their life and that somehow they changed things. He believes that he may have already set off a nuclear bomb.

Desmond is just confused and doesn't understand what any of this has to do with him until Daniel mentions Penny. Daniel tells Desmond that he felt love and that's why he's looking for Penny. He then reveals that Penny is his half-sister and can tell Desmond exactly when and where to find her.

So, Daniel seems to have had a fairly significant vision of the original timeline, though he doesn't discuss the specifics. But he is able to push Desmond into a direction which may push the two timelines closer together.