A/N: This is my first LOST fanfiction. I have BIG plans for this. It is definately JK, and i may add other pairings later. Please read and review. Enjoy!

Chapter One: Pennies and Nightmares

Kate stared out across the horizon. She had given up hoping that she would someday see a boat. But now she had the advantage over the island. She had the power to save them.

She was about to leave the beach, and walk off into the jungle to execute her plan, when Hurley came running over to her.

"Kate! Where's Jack?" he said, huffing and puffing to catch his breath.

"Isn't he at the caves?" she asked with a smile. Kate knew exactly where Jack was, as he had stopped off at the beach that morning before heading to the fruit trees to collect some more food. She was thinking that Hurley just wanted Jack to check out the newest hole in the golf course. He shook his head, still struggling to breathe in a normal pattern.

"Dude, Claire's having the baby," he said.

"Go back and stay with her, I'll get Jack," she ordered, taking off down a jungle path.

"Jack!" Kate called as she approached the trees. Jack was standing beneath them, ready to carry two baskets of fruit back to camp.

"Kate, what is it?" he asked quickly.

"It's Claire," she said. "The baby's coming."

They ran quickly back to the caves. Claire was lying on the ground, and Charlie was hovering above her, trying to make her comfortable. She was in labor for seven hours after Jack arrived. Finally he told Claire to push, and her own body relaxed as a tinyform eased into Jack's hands.

"It's a boy," he said with a grin, as Charlie beamed down at Claire.

As Jack took care of Claire and the baby, dusk fell, and the sky grew dark. There was an air of hope throughout the camp as news of Claire's son spread from person to person. Kate sat near a campfire, hugging her knees to her chest.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Jack asked, sitting down beside her in the sand.

"I was just thinking about everything that happened today," Kate said.

"That was the toughest delivery I've ever had to make, simply because there are no medical supplies here," Jack said. "It was a miracle that I didn't lose them both."

"But, Claire and C.J. are both doing well." Claire had named the baby Charles Jack Littleton Pace, but he was promptly given a nickname to avoid confusion.

"Yes, they're both fighters."

"I was thinking about something else," Kate said softly.

"Oh, and what was that?" Jack asked.

"Charlie. He treats Claire with such tenderness. Such … love. I'm glad she found that here."

"I am too." As Jack spoke, a chill ran up Kate's spine. She shook slightly, trying to rid herself of it. Jack put his arm around her. "Are you cold?" he asked, his voice so low that it was almost a whisper.

"Not anymore," Kate replied, her head dropping slowly down on his shoulder. As she drifted off to sleep, she momentarily forgot her troubles.

…..

Kate dropped the basket of mangoes she was carrying and ran. The monster was chasing them, all of them. Kate felt many of the others, namely Jack, at her side. One by one, they were falling behind, until the…thing had taken them all. Kate was alone as she ran into the safe alcove. She had to see if they were alive, if Jack was alive. Before she could move out, the monster reached its paw into the cave; it's claws just inches from Kate's arm. As she was pulled upwards she started counting:

"1

2

3

4

5…"