Disclaimer: Though I think we all know Lost isn't mine at all, I will clearly state it just for good measure... Lost isn't mine at all. There.

A/N: Implies Kate/Sayid. Just a little. But I don't know if I yet am a true supporter of that ship.

Charlie still wasn't opening up to anybody. Kate had tried. So had Jack even Sawyer had tried to make conversation. But he just lay there, hour after hour, waiting for something he knew wasn't going to come. Her return.

Jack was beating himself up for not believing Claire that someone was attacking her, which caused Kate even more distress.

Sayid knew that if anyone should go back out looking for Claire it should be him. Locke and Boone weren't back yet, but that didn't necessarily mean they were in trouble, as it hadn't yet been twenty-four hours. He noticed the stars had gone behind thick clouds. As he was thinking the clouds opened up and it poured. Everyone ran for the caves except he and Charlie, who was sitting by the water on a rock staring ahead blankly as was usual no, a blanket draped over his shoulders.. Sayid put his face up to the rain and let the thick, cool drops fall on his face, relishing the refreshing sensation. Finally he sighed and got up. He sat back down by Charlie, who looked his way. Sayid nodded .

"Hello Charlie."

No response.

"I think in the morning I will go look for her."

Charlie turned his head and looked at the man.

"And I wont come back until I find her." He promised.

Was that a flicker of hope in the young man's eyes? Sayid wondered. He would like to think it was, but it soon dulled back to the look of mourning and doubt.

"You'd do that?" Charlie said quietly.

The darker man nodded. "I think she's alive. And when I bring her back here to you, I don't want her to think you'd given up hope."

"I haven't. I wont. Not yet."

Sayid noticed to his left Jack almost came out of the cave to try and bring Charlie in with them but saw Sayid trying to make progress with Charlie and turned back.

"I wont go back on that promise. If there's a way to find her for you, I will." Sayid's open compassion and honesty was replied by a quick nod. Success, he thought.

"Come on. You should come in a cave where its dry." Sayid stood up and helped a reluctant Charlie to his feet. They walked in together and Jack raised his eyebrows at Sayid, who nodded and steered Charlie to the back of the cave where Kate was sitting with a dry blanket and water.

He turned to Jack.

"I'm leaving in the morning."

"What?"

"I'm going to go look for her. I'll follow your trail to where you found Charlie and continue. I have a feeling that Claire is alive."

"No, Sayid, we will go look for her soon, please don't-" Kate said as she joined the two men.

"No Kate, I'll be fine. Im faster at tracking. And Locke isn't back so... We have no idea about him, his progress or if he's even alright. I'm leaving at first light to look for her." Sayid saw the look on Kate's face and cupper her cheek in his hand.

" I promised him." He whispered, motioning to Charlie several yards away. Kate sighed and looked down at her feet, then back up at Sayid. Jack waited silently for her reply.

"Alright. Maybe your right. Maybe she's alive. And if anyone can find her it's you." Sayid smiled and took back his hand. Kate wished he hadn't, missing the gentle warmth it provided.

"You're not going anywhere without me." She announced.

"Kate, no I wont take you into danger." He answered. She wasn't about to give up.

"You don't have to. Your not taking me into it, I'm coming of my won free will."

"Your own free will is going to get you into trouble."

"I'm coming."

"Alright." Sayid agreed.

"Umm, Sayid. I think there's more than one guy your going to be rescuing Claire from here." Jack stated.

"I think I should come." He finished.

"No, I'm counting on secrecy and surprise to be on my side, not manpower and trying to overtake them. We're just trying to get the girl back. The less the better." He explained.

"Alright." Jack agreed. "You two better get some sleep if you're going to have energy tomorrow morning."

And with that they lie down in the cave their respectful distances apart.