Chapter 1: Night Lights

Kate woke suddenly. It was dark and damp. It had been raining only a few hours ago. She remembered falling asleep to the sound of the rain pounding on the trees ahead. For a moment she had forgotten where she was. She quickly looked around. Sayid was laying across from her underneath a ledge of rock. Sawyer was a few meters away from her on her left sleeping underneath a tree, laying his head on his pack. She then looked to her right. Jack was sleeping about a foot from her resting his head on the same fallen log as Kate was.

She breathed in heavily as she thought about the weeks events. She had just been saved by them, from the others. She took another deep breath as she tried to go back to sleep. But there was something buzzing in her mind that stopped her from shutting her mind off. She opened her eyes again and looked around.

Kate always had the feeling that someone was around. She stood as silently as she could. She needed a walk. Realizing that it could be very dangerous to wander around the forest at night she got up anyways and began to walk up the path. She could hear the sound of crickets, chirping through the night. She guided herself only a few meters from where they were sleeping for she did not want to get lost. She sat down on a log and emersed herself deep in thought.

Kate had mixed feelings. All she could think about was her and Jack. She really like him, and she really cared for him. But Kate didn't have the power to tell him that. She thought he wouldn't understand, wouldn't feel the same way that she did. She sat there thinking of the many possible ways she could tell him.
There was also the possibility of not telling him at all. She could just keep it a secret. But would she be able to keep something so powerful insider her while she was here with him on this island.

She also knew it may never work. Kate always thought of herself as a bad person. She commited crimes, crimes that only those most unworthy commit. Jack was a doctor, one of the most life acheiving careers in the world. He didn't deserve someone like her. He deserved more. She was nothing compared to him. But still, she couldn't help how she felt.

Kate was suddenly pulled from her thoughts as she heard the leaves rustle in front of her. Her head snapped up and her eyes strained to see what was in front of her. It was too dark, she could only see the shadow of something, or someone. She stood slowly grabbing for a stick as she went.

"It's only me." called a voice. Kate sighed and slowly exhaled.

"Don't do that. You scared the living daylights- i mean living nightlights out of me." she said as she sat back down on the log. Jack emerged from the shadow of the large tree as he came forward and sat down beside Kate.

"I'm sorry. Won't happen again. As long as you don't go off wondering around at this time at night." Jack said.

"Did I wake you?" asked Kate. Jack shook his head.

"No. I woke up and you weren't there." he said. She slowly closed her eyes and opened them again.

"I couldn't sleep. I had a lot on my mind." Kate said as she felt a strong, cold gust of wind.

"I couldn't either. I had a lot on my mind as well." said Jack. Kate looked up at his dark face. She couldn't see him well at this time.

"What were you thinking about?" asked Jack. Kate smiled up at him.

"Stuff." she said. Jack smiled.

"Just stuff?" he asked. Kate nodded.

"I was argueing with myself." Kate said. "It's quite amusing actually." Jack nodded.

"I bet it is." he said. He smiled and looked up at the treetops. He then looked over at Kate.

"Can I ask you something?" he asked. Kate was curious.

"Sure." she said. Another gust of wind came by and she huddled towards Jack. He stopped with his mouth open as she moved closer.

"What?" said Kate as she looked at his surprised expression. "It's cold!" she said in her defence. He smiled and continued on.

"Do you think we will ever get back?" he asked. Kate scrunched her nose.

"Get back to camp? Well I'm sure we can follow the bea-"

"No." Jack said. "I mean... home." Kate took a deep breath and looked at the ground.
Kate had never really thought about it. She didn't have anything to look forward too, no family to see. She had nothing in the real world, all she had was this island.

"I don't know Jack. But for some strange reason, I never want to go back." she said slowly. Jack turned to her.

"Never?" he asked. Kate gave a weak smile as a tear rolled down her cheek.

"I'm sorry." said Jack. Kate waved him away as more tears fell and she wiped her eyes.

"It's okay." she whispered. She placed her head in her hands and more tears fell. She was now heaving and she could feel Jack rubbing her back with his hand. She removed her hands from her face and sat up again, her face stained with tears. She looked at Jack and gave him a smile. He put his arm around her and used his other hand to sipe the tears from her face.

"I have nothing." whispered Kate. "My family is gone. I killed the person I loved. I'm wanted all over the world. And here..." she stopped momentarily. "Here... it's different. People actually want to know me, and know I just want to get back. Back to home. Our beach of a home." she said with a light laugh.

"And we will get there." said Jack. "We will." I promise you that." he said. He stood and reached out his hand.

"Come on, you need sleep." Jack said. Kate eyed him and then placed her hand in his.

"And you don't?" she asked. He smiled and pulled her up from the log.

"I do. But I won't be able to sleep unless your right there." he said. He turned, still holding her hand, and started to walk away. Kate was dragged along with him and she quickly sped up to catch up to him. The wind was now howling, the coldest it had ever been. Kate found the island to be very warm, but tonight the winds were extremely cold. She shivered as they made their way down the familiar path. Sayid and Sawyer were still asleep. Jack walked over to the spot where they were sitting and sat her down.

"Sleep." he said. She sat and leaned her head down on the log again. Jack sat down beside her putting his head right beside hers.

"You okay?" he asked. She gulped them smiled.

"I'm good now." she said. Jack nodded then put his head back down. Kate watched as he closed his eyes and his head lollied to the side. Kate looked up at the sky through the trees and felt the warmth coming from the left side where Jack was sitting. She noticed the starts and the brightly lit moon in the sky. Before she fell asleep, all she could think about was the stars and how much they reminded her of night lights.