Locke led the way back to the beach, as Elle, Jack, and Kate, kept their distance. Exhaustion apparent, their bodies slowly lumbered back to the beach. Hurley lagged behind and Elle, knowing she wasn't going crazy, could have sworn he was carrying on a conversation with himself. Jack unconsciously wiped the sweat from his brow as he looked over at Elle, remnants of Artz still visible, caked into her hair. Pointing a trembling and tired finger towards her head Jack was the first to speak since Elle asked the imperative question, "What the hell did we get ourselves into?"

"There's a bit of the teacher, right there." Jack motioned to a tress of hair and with a slight nod of his head, asked Elle if he could get it out for her.

"I think we have bigger issues than a piece of flesh in my hair," Elle denied his assistance, her voice just barely above a whisper, shifted her eyes up ahead at Locke.

Kate nudged Jack, her voice, too, just audible enough for Elle to hear,

"This Locke problem," with apprehension in her voice, "are you sure you aren't overreacting?"

Jack abruptly stopped in his tracks causing Hurley to collide into the formation.

"Whoa, Dude, put on the brake lights next time you go and do that."

Walking past them, Hurley was obviously disinterested in the hatch project, his mind elsewhere. As they watched him catch up with Locke, who turned to see what the hold up was, Elle nodded to Locke and motioned with her hand for them to keep on moving.

"We'll be right behind ya!"

Getting back to their discussion, it was apparent that Jack was disgusted with Kate and looked toward Elle for a bit of support. Granted, Elle had been wary of Locke, but this was not her fight. Putting her hands up in protest, Elle knelt down, opened her backpack, and took a swig of water. Jack took Kate aside and from Elle's point of view, it looked like a poor game of tennis, as each of them took shot for shot.

"Overreacting, Kate?" He threw his arms up in frustration, "I'm doing what's best for us, all of us."

"I'm just saying, Jack, we shouldn't be turning against one another, not here, not now."

"That's rich, coming from you," he spat, "did you forget what happened to Boone?"

Noticing that this discussion was going to turn ugly, Elle took a stance in the middle of the two. Putting a hand, palm out, towards each of them, she issued a stand-down.

"This isn't going to get us anywhere, guys."

"You two make valid points and I'm sure you can go for hours, but time isn't on our side here."

Putting their differences aside, they both agreed that what they needed to do was aid the others back at the caves. Elle knew that Kate didn't mean to upset Jack and it was probably her passive aggressive way of getting back at him for switching packs. However, there was a time and place for everything, and like she said, this was neither the place nor the time. If the Others were coming, they needed to act fast. If Locke was a problem, Elle thought to herself, that's all in due time.

They caught up with Locke and Hurley and split off as they shamefully made their way back to the caves to tell the others they hadn't found hope. Kate gave Jack a pitiful look and paired up with Locke as the rest of them hung back. Hurley commented that Jack should speed up before Locke took his lady away and Jack shot him a disparaging look.

"Joke, dude."

Elle chuckled a bit and heard Jack tell Hurley he wasn't really in the mood for jokes. Hurley was always there for a bit of cheering up, especially when the tables had turned on them. Elle was appreciative of his humor. Jack questioned Hurley regarding his rants about bad numbers and Hurley begrudgingly told them about his stint in a psych hospital.

"I'm not crazy, dude."

"Hurley," Elle interjected, "nobody said you were."

It was obvious that their reactions weren't what he had seen coming. He became agitated and asked them, is that it?

"They're just numbers, Hurley."

Shaking his head at Jack's lame verdict, Hurley commented, humor in his voice.

"What's that thing doctors learn to make their patients feel better just by talking?

"Bedside manner."

"Yeah," Hurley joked, "your's sucks, dude."

Hearing that for the second time since they crashed on the island, Jack turned to Elle and seeing that she was enjoying every minute of this, could do nothing but laugh with her.

Claire and the others, including Sayid and Shannon saw them approach and were anxious to hear if they had found some sort of safe haven for the night. Unfortunately, for them, Jack told them about the hatch and the broken ladder. Time was of the essence and it would be cumbersome to belay them down the shaft one by one. The crowd was growing restless and comments were hitting Jack from all sides.

"What about the Others!"

"What are we going to do?"

Trying to calm them down, Jack reassured them that the sun would rise shortly and together they would face whoever the Others were. The downside of it all was that they had to wait. Waiting never proved easy for an impatient mob.

"We'll all camp out here in the caves tonight and we'll set up sentries to guard the entrances. Everything will be all right. I promise."

Off to the side, Elle noticed Locke gathering cable and supplies. She elbowed Jack and alerted him to Locke's activities. Jack, calling Locke out on his suspicious behaviors, caught the attention of the other survivors. Their attention, now locked on the argument between their leader and one of their own, added to the tension. Jack, nearing exhaustion, both physically and mentally had enough of John Locke.

"John, what do you think you're doing?"

"I don't know about you, Jack, but I'm going back to the hatch. I'm tired of waiting."

Locke, thwarting Jack's leadership, gathered his cable and stalked off into the jungle. Elle, ashamed for not coming to Jack's rescue earlier, faced the crowd. Her voice, powerful and in control spoke to them.

"I know you're all scared. Not knowing what's going to happen scares the hell outta me too." Elle scanned the crowd and lastly focused her gaze on Jack. "When was the last time he ever failed us?"

Silence had blanketed the crowd in front of her. Their eyes locked on her. Jack, took a step back, and gave her the floor. Unsure of her motive, he gave her the benefit of the doubt.

"We are better off together, to face whatever comes our way. Together we'll be safe."

"Now, if you're with us, get some rest. Tomorrow may be unlike anything we've witnessed."

Amazed that her speech actually got the others moving, she looked over at Jack. She noticed that he seemed grateful for her assistance, but self-doubt clouded his eyes. Walking over to him, she took a seat next to him on the rocks. Together they watched as the others, took their places among the caves. She saw Claire and Charlie setting up Aaron's bassinette. Elle gave a small wave to Claire who was bundling Aaron up for the night. Waving back, Claire furrowed her brow, indicative of worry. Off to the side, she saw Sayid trying to calm Shannon down. Something obviously had her spooked. Kate walked over to them and crouched so that they were eye-level.

"You really believe we're going to be okay?" she asked Jack, disbelief apparent in her voice.

"Yeah, Kate," he sighed, "I actually do."

"You're always taking care of us…if you weren't here, Jack…" Kate stopped herself from going further. Elle knew what she was going to say and she could see Kate's face change. It became harder somehow.

"I'm going to the hatch, Jack. Locke may be stubborn, but we're in this together."

"Live together, die alone, right?"

Jack nodded in agreement and together, he and Elle wished her luck. Elle couldn't help but think Kate had a hard time staying away from the curiosities on this island. Curiosity killed the cat she said aloud. Jack, catching on, knew she was talking about Kate.

"Satisfaction brought it back."

Jack stood fast and walked to the back of the caves. Checking the magazine of one of the nines, he clicked it back into its shell and stuffed it into the back of his jeans. Elle, surprised at what he was doing, grabbed his elbow and spun him around.

"What the hell are you doing?"

"I'm going to the hatch," he stated, "you're welcome to come."

Elle didn't know what to say to him at this point. She was dumbfounded. Replaying his words from earlier, she questioned his motives. Thinking they were going to wait in the caves until morning together, she couldn't believe he was going to desert them. Telling him that they needed him here, he corrected her.

"They'll be fine, Elle," scanning the crowd, his eyes settled on Sayid.

"He'll manage," he sounded sure of himself, "he'll come through for them."

Handing her the Beretta, he asked her if she could handle it. Grasping the cold metal in her hand, she released the magazine, reloaded it, and with a swift and smooth motion pulled back the top of the gun.

"What do you think?" she cocked her head to the side and winked.