A/N: This is my first Lost fic. I'm a diehard Jack/Kate shipper. Review if you'd like. I'd really appreciate reviews.
Note: Story begins with Kate's dream.
A Few Good Men
Kate's POV
Smoke.
My eyes stung against it's weight, tearing until my vision was too obscured for proper definition. I tried to blink. My eyelids felt heavy. Water seeped through their cracks and rolled down my cheeks. I could feel the water surrounding me. Heavy, merciless, taking me under only to spit me back up.
Screams.
They were high-pitched. Terrified. They were frantic. They expressed everything I felt. I tried to cry out to them, but the water was swallowing me too fast. I could feel the fire, hot and burning against my skin.
More screaming. Louder. Another explosion. The resulting wave of water towered over my head and slapped me under its body. I could feel my arms flail out uselessly. My whole body racked with pain.
I opened my eyes. I could see the light, very dimly, through the water. The sun. It was bright white, a shimmering orb over a sea of blue. I exhaled bubbles, my body kicking uselessly.
This is it. This was the end. After everything I'd been in through in the last few months. All the gun shots I'd heard. All the people that had passed in and out of my life. This was how I was going to end. In a plane crash, on my way to prison.
I felt panic overcome me. I can't die. Not here. Not now. I'm not ready.
I kicked hard beneath the water. My body twisted to the familiar strain. The surface of the water seemed to stretch before me. I kicked again, harder this time, and I rose another foot. The other side seemed so close. The light was blinding.
Help me.
The weight of the water was too heavy. My lungs crushed within my body. I could feel myself sinking. The water pulled me down, farther down. My arms stretched out in front of me as I felt the surface fall farther and farther away.
I opened my mouth to cry out. Water invaded the opening.
My eyelids fell to a close.
I can't die. Not here. Not now.
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Very Early in the Morning
Kate's Tent
Kate's POV
My eyes snapped open, and I let the darkness consume me.
My chest was heaving, soaking in every breath it could. For a second I just laid there, my back stuck with sweat to the makeshift cot I'd been sleeping on. I sat up shakily, and stumbled out of my tent and into the jungle. It seemed like I'd done this some many times, it was somewhat of a routine. And that scared me.
I leaned on the nearest tree to support myself, and then I bent down and threw up everything left in my stomach. I closed my eyes and willed the world away. This was the third time I'd had it. The dream. And each time, it seemed to just get worse. It went even farther. It hurt even more.
I couldn't do this anymore.
I removed my hand from the tree and walked slowly through the path that I'd come to know very well over the past few months. The path to the caves. It was dark, the sky a harsh shade of black, but the moon was full and I let the light guide me to the caves. I was so used to coming here. I knew the route off by heart.
I knelt down by the water and rinsed my mouth. The water trickled through my fingers, catching the moonlight and glistening through the dark. The sight comforted me for a moment, but I knew what really would.
This was my third time. I sort of had a routine.
It began, well, the first time. I came to the caves more for its serenity than anything. Jack was right when he said the caves were safe. I mean, I'm not foolish enough to believe that the caves will protect us from The Others, or whatever the hell else is out there. But there's something about the caves that's strangely peaceful. It makes you feel safer, even if you aren't really.
The first time I had this dream, I'd gone to the caves. I had knelt by the water, just like I was now. I'd rinsed my mouth out, and paused just to calm my nausea. And I'd thought about telling Jack. After all, he was a doctor. He would know about nightmares. Maybe he'd have something, some sort of drug, that would keep me sleeping through the night. Preferably a dreamless sleep. Or at least something to stop me from throwing up every time a nightmare hit. I was desperate. I still am.
I picked myself up off the rocks, and I walked slowly through the caves. To one particular cave. As I neared it, I felt the same tingling sensation in my body as I had the two times before. My heart started to beat faster, and drawing slow and even breaths became more of a task.
And then I saw him. He was just lying there, on his back, his eyes closed and his whole body relaxed. Some people like to sleep on their side. Some people have other positions, like their hands behind their head or something. But Jack ... Jack likes to sleep on his back. Every time I've seen him sleep, it was on his back. He looks the most comfortable that way.
I watched his chest, clothed in a light grey t-shirt today, rise and fall with his steady breath. His cave is almost completely sheltered from any moonlight, but I can still see him. There's just something about Jack that relaxes me, which is kind of ironic, considering Jack himself hardly ever relaxes. But when he sleeps, he looks so at peace with the world. So relaxed. It's good to see him without the look of worry he usually wears. It's kind of refreshing.
I gently bent my legs, and sat down on the cave floor, and wrapped my arms around myself to keep warm. I watched him, and slowly felt my body slip into a relaxed state of ease. I closed my eyes. Not to sleep, I didn't think I'd be able to anyway. Just to ... soak in my surroundings. It wasn't a particularly cold night. Warm air, perhaps a slight chill in the breeze. But not much. It was a beautiful night.
It was a beautiful night ... a beautiful night ...
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Several Hours Later
Jack's Cave
Kate's POV
My eyes gently fluttered open. I started. Sunlight was streaming into the cave. I could hear birds chirping, the rustle of leaves as daily movement once again commenced. I whipped my head around to where Jack was laying.
He was still sleeping, thank god. Blissfully unaware of my presence. I got up slowly, quietly. Trying desperately not to wake him. How had so much time passed? It seemed like only a second ago I'd closed my eyes to a dark peaceful night. How had I suddenly opened my eyes to a bright restless morning?
I exited the cave cautiously. I cast a weary look around. No one in sight. Maybe today wouldn't be so hard on me after all ... or not.
I scampered forward just as Charlie walked around the bend. I rammed full force into him.
"Whoa," Charlie stumbled backwards and then steadied me. "You're up early," he remarked to me and then paused. I could only watch as his mind did a few very simple calculations. Kate ... caves ... Kate ... up early ... Kate ... up early ... in the caves ...?
His head tilted towards the direction I'd come from. I watched as his eyes narrowed in on Jack's caves. He turned back to me with a sly grin and raised both his eyebrows. "A midnight visit to Jack?"
"Shut up, Charlie," I whispered fervently and whirled around panicked to see if anyone heard us. No one else was up.
"Charlie, seriously," I said turning back to him. "Please don't say anything. To anyone. Please."
"It's okay, Kate," Charlie said soothingly, touching me briefly on my shoulder. "I won't say anything."
"Promise?" I whispered.
Charlie smiled charmingly. "I promise."
He moved to walk away but I stopped him again. "We're not ... we're not sleeping together, Charlie," I said. I had to clear all this up. Even if Charlie didn't tell anyone, I really couldn't have him thinking I was having sex with Jack. I could only the imagine the kind of looks I'd get from him if I even moved within a three yard radius of Jack. "We're not together."
Charlie raised his hands. "Kate, I'm not here to judge."
"No, but really," my voice pressed. "We're not sleeping together. We're not involved. I was ... I went to get some medical advice."
Charlie's eyebrows crease in worry. "Are you okay?" he said, looking at me in concern.
"I'm ... I'll be fine," I said. I'd be fine. I would. I could keep telling myself that, anyway. "And I'd also appreciate it if you didn't mention this to Jack."
Charlie looked at me, an eyebrow raised. "You're getting awfully secretive, Kate."
I sighed. "It's a long story."
"I have time."
"I don't."
Charlie looked at me. He nodded understandingly. " I won't tell anyone ... not even Jack. And I hope you get better."
I smiled gratefully at him. "Thank you, Charlie." He moved to walk away again. "Charlie!" I called after him. He turned around. "Why are you up so early?" I asked.
He smiled, shaking his head. "Aaron likes to get up early, but Claire doesn't." He waved a waterbottle at me. "I thought I'd get her some water for when she wakes up."
"You're a good guy, Charlie," I said.
Charlie looked at me slowly, and then nodded his head towards Jack's cave. "So is he," he said. And with that, he went on his way, leaving me behind to receive the impact of his words.
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A/N: Okay, so far it's not very shippery, but it'll get there. Trust me. Next chapter will be much better. Again, review if you feel like it. Criticism and encouragement are both welcome. So are suggestions. Oh yeah, and I love fortunes (like from the cookie) and jokes of the day. I'm kind of twisted. I should warn you early on.