Sayid is asked by the CIA to help them find some stolen C-4 in exchange for giving him information on Nadia's whereabouts. Sayid approaches his former roommate, Essam, and talks him into going through with a suicide bombing. Sayid goes with Essam for the bombing and tells Essam the truth, hoping Essam will get away.
But Essam is upset that Sayid betrayed him and he shoots himself. Sayid is supposed to go to L.A. to find Nadia, but the agents let him stay an extra day so that he can claim and bury Essam's body.

