Monkey Business

"I was just trying to help Jack…when you told me not to go, I just…I made a mistake" Kate expressed as she tried to keep up with Jack, "hey, could you just talk to me for a second!". Jack turned around to face Kate. "I'm sorry" She said, trying to make eye contact with his but it wasn't working.

"Yeah, I'm sorry too" Jack said, with no emotion in his voice. He continued walking, leaving Kate standing alone looking hurt and upset, she was just about to start moving again when she heard an unfamiliar noise coming from the jungle. Kate looked over to Jack, Locke and Sawyer, who obviously hadn't heard the sound, and decided to see what it was…alone.

As she reached the entrance to the jungle she saw a small creature hide behind a bush, "Hey" She said, "I'm not gonna hurt you…it's all right…come out". Kate moved closer to the bush, crouching down. A small, brown monkey came out and looked at Kate precautious, Kate put her hand out for it too sniff and after a couple of minutes the monkey started to crawl up Kate's arm. Kate laughed as the monkey played with her fingers and prodded her face, innocently, she had completely forgotten that she hadn't told anyone that she had gone. Damn. This is really gonna make Jack blow, as if he isn't mad at me enough already! The monkey started licking Kate's hand and she burst out laughing, I should really go.

(BREAK)

Jack trudged along the field, he had just completely blanked Kate, and was now starting to wonder if he had been too harsh. She was stupid for doing that! Why can't she just do as she's told? I ask her to stay at the hatch yet she follows us and gets herself kidnapped! She says that she has my back yet she goes behind it!

"Jack! JACK!" Said a voice that shook Jack from his thoughts.

"Yeah?" Jack said, trying to figure out who was calling him.

"Kate's gone!" Said Sawyer.

"What do you mean she's gone? She was right behind us!" Jack said, looking behind him to see nobody. What if they've taken her again? Dammit Kate, where are you?

"Well, I just turned around and there was only a Jackass behind me…that's what I mean!" Sawyer replied, sarcastically.

"I…wh…We have to go back for her!" Jack stuttered, trying to think straight.

"Come on then, we don't got all day!" Sawyer said.

"I'm going back to the hatch!" Locke said, and Jack nodded.

Jack and Sawyer both turned around and started walking back up the field.

"FRECKLES?" Called out Sawyer.

"Shhh" said Jack, annoyed.

"What's your problem Doc? Scared the boogey man might hear?" Sawyer commented, giving him a grin. Jack looked at him angrily and looked at the ground for footprints.

(BREAK)

Kate continued to play with the monkey, "Are you hungry? I've got some papaya" She said lifting a papaya she had picked from a tree above her, she gave a piece to the animal and watched it sniff the substance that she had given it. Finally the monkey began to eat the fruit and leaned against a tree, sighing. Why am I such a screw up? Why can't I just do as I'm told? WHY? She was so deep in thought that she didn't notice the monkey running off through the jungle, "HEY?" she said, studying the scenery for the small creature, "Where'd you go?" Great! I'm talking to a monkey! Kate heard rustling from the tree above and looked up to see the monkey hanging off a branch, "Ha! There you are!" Kate said, she began to climb the tree to reach the monkey. Kate perched herself on a strong branch and watched the monkey play in the tree. Eventually it came back over to Kate and rested its self on her shoulder, "You tired?" She asked, not really knowing why as monkeys don't talk. Kate climbed back down the tree and ate the remainder of the papaya.

"I've found some footprints!" Said Jack pointing to the ground, "They lead off into the jungle, Come on". Sawyer and Jack followed the footprints into the clearing, Sawyer was about to say something when Jack cut in, "Shh…listen" He whispered, putting a finger to his mouth. The two men stood in silence for a moment until a clear voice could be heard.

"Hey! Don't pull my hair….OW….Stop, already!"

"Is that…" Sawyer started, but Jack cut in.

"Kate!" Jack finished, slowly walking towards the noise. He stopped suddenly when he heard laughter, Kate's laugh, but Sawyer nudged him to continue. They both came to a halt when they saw the brunette leaning against a tree playing with….

"Is that…" Sawyer started, but Jack cut in…again.

"A monkey!" Jack finished, raising his eyebrows. The men couldn't help but smile at the scene, Kate looked so happy with the monkey. I wish I had a camera. Jack thought as he watched Kate try and pull the monkey from her hair.

"Looks like freckles has made a new friend" Sawyer said loud enough for Kate to hear, she turned around abruptly. "Ehm…hey!" She said, awkwardly.

"Hey" Jack said, looking at Kate, "You look like you're having fun"

"Err yeah, I…um…heard a noise in the jungle and went to check it out" Explained Kate, half mumbling.

Jack nodded as a reply and bent down to get a better look at the monkey, "Is it a girl or boy?" He asked, causing Kate to laugh.

"I think its boy!" She said, smiling. Jack smiled back and let the monkey play with his hand, "I think he likes you!" Said Kate, laughing as the monkey licked Jacks finger.

"Eww!" He said, wiping his hand down his shirt.

"Can we bring him back to camp?" Kate asked, like a five year old asking their parents to bring a stray dog back home.

"I don't know Kate, I mean a monkey takes a lot of looking after!" Jack said, playing along.

"I promise I'll look after…I'll feed it and wash it and house train it so it doesn't poop every where!" Kate replied, giving Jack puppy dog eyes.

Jack laughed and looked down at the monkey, "All right, but on one condition!" He said, smugly.

"What?" Kate asked.

"I get to name it!" He replied, grinning.

"Sorry, but I already have" Said Kate, grinning evilly.

"You already named the monkey? What?" Asked Jack, shocked.

"J.J!" Kate answered, Jack looked at her suspiciously.

"And what does J.J stand for Kate?" Jack questioned, curiously.

"Jack Junior!" Kate laughed.

"You named the monkey after me?" Jack asked, pretending to be upset.

"You should be honored, it's a very cool monkey!" Said Kate.

"Oh I really do" Jack said, sarcastically.

"So…can we take it back to camp?" Kate asked.

"Yeah, we can take Jack Jr back to camp Kate" Jack said, giving in.

Kate grinned widely and stood up, the monkey crawled onto her shoulder and she walked up to Sawyer who was leaning against a tree looking bored.

"Meet your uncle Sawyer, J.J" Kate said, jokingly.

"I am not being an uncle to a monkey freckles!" Sawyer said, moving back from the monkey.

"Are you scared of J.J Sawyer?" Kate asked, mockingly.

"I ain't scared of a stupid monkey" Sawyer said, frowning.

"J.J is not stupid" Kate argued also frowning. Jack laughed and walked out of the jungle followed by Kate then Sawyer, J. J the monkey jumped onto Sawyers head and started pulling at his hair, "Yeah, your right Kate…J.J isn't stupid at all" Jack said, laughing as Sawyer tried to get the monkey off his head.