Claire awoke to Aaron's wails, and blinked against the harsh light of the morning sun. For a moment she'd forgotten where she was… But staring up at the underside of her tent canvas she remembered. The island. Charlie. Aaron. Aaron, who had managed to toss his blanket all the way over the other side of their make-shift home. Claire picked it up, shook out the sand and handed it back to Aaron. "You're getting strong, aren't you? Look at these muscles!" She squeezed his pudgy little arms and he gurgled, baring his gums in a crooked smile. "Claire?" Charlie appeared in the doorway of the tent. "Is everything alright? I heard Aaron crying-" "It's fine, Charlie, he was just missing his blanket, that's all," said Claire. She lifted him out of the cradle and sat him in her lap. "He's just been so temperamental lately. I don't understand it." "Maybe he needs a change of scenery," suggested Charlie. "Have you taken him for a paddle in the sea yet?" "He can't even walk yet, Charlie!" exclaimed Claire. "Well, he can sit on the beach and watch us go for a swim, said Charlie. "Come on, you're going to bore yourself to death, spending all your time in here." "Oh, alright," agreed Claire. "But I'm giving him to Sun to babysit. I don't want him getting sunburnt." "Good. Let's go!" said Charlie. Kate smiled at the sight of Charlie and Claire messing around in the water. It had been so long since Kate had loosened up and had some real fun. She felt envious of how carefree Charlie and Claire were. It seemed unfair that even though Claire had a baby son, she could still manage to have some serious fun once in a while. Kate had nothing, and yet she was constantly on edge. Nothing. Maybe that was the problem. "Hey Freckles, what're you thinking?" "Nothing," said Kate, turning to see Sawyer staggering out of his tent. "Liar," he said. "You were thinking something real deep." "Oh really? And what makes you think that?" asked Kate. "Well, when you think too hard, you get this little twitch in the corner of your eye," he said, touching the little lines on her face. Kate batted him away with a sharp swat and a giggle. "I'm due for my shift up at the hatch," she said, edging towards the track. Sawyer nodded. "Don't get too twitchy now," he said, lip curling into a grin, as she rolled her eyes and walked away. The hatch was quiet. Kate scanned the room, and eventually her eyes found Jack, slumped over at the computer. She prodded him. "Jack?" He jolted awake, and groggily opened his eyes. "Sorry… Just dozed off," he mumbled, getting to his feet and yawning widely. "Well, feel free to have a sleep if you want, there's only ten minutes or so until my shift," offered Kate. Jack nodded gratefully. "Thanks. And… would you mind feeding Henry Gale for me? I think there's some cereal in the pantry." "Sure thing," said Kate. Jack nodded his thanks again and shuffled off to the bunks. Kate watched him go, bewildered. Since when did Jack sleep in? Sure enough, half a box of rolled oats were sitting in the pantry. Kate wrinkled her nose. Rolled oats. How boring. But it's not as though Henry Gale deserved any better. She poured a decent amount into a bowl and put it on a tray, along with a glass of water, to take in. Henry was sitting in a corner, eyes heavy lidded, and he stared blankly at Kate as she entered. "Oh, how kind of you to feed me," he said, struggling onto the bench. Kate didn't say anything, just glared at him. My, my. Aren't we the quiet one today. You're always so… contained. You're quite the loner. No friends, no family, am I right?" Kate blinked and a hardened smile crept across Henry's face. "We are alike, you and I, he said, watching her closely, "In more ways than you think." That sentence sparked an anger in Kate. "I am nothing like you," she said, eyes fierce. "You are dirt under my fingernail." But quick as a flash, Henry grabbed her and shoved her against the wall. "Don't speak of things you know nothing about," he said. "I can see the same withdrawn look in you that I once had." He was so close Kate could smell the venom on his breath. A calloused hand crept up around her throat. "But I am not above killing someone so like myself. CRACK! A fist collided with Henry's head, and his eyes clouded over as he fell to the ground. Jack appeared in the doorway, massaging his knuckles. "Don't touch her again," he spat at Henry's retreating form. Jack grabbed Kate's wrist and pulled her out of the safe, slamming the door. "Are you okay?" he asked, checking her throat for bruising. "I'm fine," said Kate. Her skin tingled where he touched it. "What on earth did you say to make him react like that?" asked Jack, relenting from his doctorly inspection. "Me? I didn't say anything! exclaimed Kate. "He said… He said we were alike," said Kate, trying not to show how much that had affected her. It was like Henry knew what she'd done, that horrible deed she tried so hard to forget every day. "What? Why would he say that?" snorted Jack. He caught sight of the faraway look Kate had. "Relax, Kate, you're nothing like him. He's trying to wind you up, that's all." Kate nodded, and a bleeping sound reached their ears. "I better go do the button," she said, hurrying away, trying to mask her worried face. If a man who barely knew her could tell she was so… tainted, what must everyone else think?