Disclaimer: I do not own any of the charters other then the ones I created and I do not own the shoe

A/N: Hey everyone, thanks for reading. I'm not sure where this story is leading accept for the main plot line so as of now they will be no couples in this story. That might change depending on how I decide to take it. Ratings will change through out the story but I'll try to keep it as clean as possible.

Jackson sighed as he walked into the tent and knelt down in front of Taylor. Her eyes were still filled with tear, and were now bright red from where she'd been crying for so long. He looked over at the plate of food that Daley brought her and it was untouched. He looked up at her. He sat down all the way and propped his leg up then laid his elbows on his knees. Taylor never acknowledged that he was there or that he even came in. She just sat frozen staring at the other side of the tent curled into a small ball. She sniffled some and wiped the tears from her cheeks.

Jackson sat down and looked over at her trying to find the best words to say to her that wouldn't make her freak out or upset her anymore then she already was. Everyone in the group was having problems finding the right thing to say; it was like they didn't know each other at all. Jackson sighed and looked down and the floor or the tent.

"Taylor…I know this is hard for you and I know that your scared to death that if he finds you again you'll be killed …But we need you to be brave and come with us. We can't leave you hear alone and we need to gather food and water or we wont make it much longer."

"I…I can't go out there…I'm sorry….but I can't. If it was one of you guys would you want to go out searching for food and water? If some guy tried to shove you off a cliff would you jump at the chance to go back out there?" Taylor said as she began to sob

Jackson watched for a moment; he knew she couldn't go out there she would have a panic attack before she even got to the fire pit. He sighed and nodded then looked around the tent. He knew that if Taylor wouldn't be able to do it that Lex wouldn't be able to either. He thought for a moment before he came up with a new plan. He smiled and put his hand on her should.

"Alright, but your not staying here alone."

Taylor video diary

Thank god Jackson didn't make me leave the tent I don't want to die…I don't want anyone else to die either because I wouldn't leave to help them get food and water…ugh! I don't know what to do, do I go out there and risk my life? Or do I stay locked up in here and let everyone else risk their lives for me?

Lex cuddled up to Daley's side; and stared blindly at everyone else as they talked about leaving the camp for the first time since the incident. Even though Lex was a genius his brain wouldn't comprehend what happened. It was like even though he seen it and the sharp pain illuminating from the bruises caused by the attack his brain was frozen and the only thing that he could think about was wither or not they would make it home. Usually he was the one always believing that rescue would come and always trying to convince the others when they had their doubts.

But now the odds were piling against them and the higher they got the less chance they had of getting back home. Daley had her arm wrapped tightly around Lex trying to give him the safe feeling that they all had at once. But nothing would bring that feeling back accept being rescued. Everyone was so worried about not having food or water, and having some guy in the woods that tried to kill them but the main thing they needed to be worried about was that Lex was convinced that he recognized the guy who attacked them.

No matter how hard he tried to tell them the words never formed. He replayed the attack over and over in his mind trying to figure out who he was but he couldn't. He shielded his face with his arm and buried his face into his sister's chest. Everything was finally settling in and the more and more it did the more he became terrified. Daley looked down at him frowning trying to find the right words to say to him. He was her little brother, she was supposed to protect him, help him through everything, and make him feel better no matter what was the cause of his pain. But this time she was clueless…just as clueless as everyone else in the group.

Nathan stood up and walked over and sat down next to Lex. He looked down at him sympathetically trying to help Daley figure out how to help him. He could tell she was struggling for words just by the way she looked at him. He thought he could help in some way but when he got over to them nothing came to mind. What can you tell a ten year old that had been stranded on an island for forty five days and then almost killed by some strange psycho? Nothing they said would make everything alright….or anything for that matter. They were breaking and falling apart slowly but surely because none of them had a clue what to do or what to say. All of them had the same through racing through their minds and that was that they weren't going to make it back home.

Nathan put his arm around Lex as best he could hoping it would at least give him a little security. Daley looked up at him and faintly smiled before looking back down at Lex. Lex slowly lifted his head just enough so that they would be able to hear him talk. He needed to ask something, something important that no one else was willing to ask.

"Are we going to die?" He whispered causing everyone to stop everything and look over at him.

Lex's video diary

We're all going to die…I just know it…the odds are stacking higher and higher against us and we're…getting smaller and smaller. We're never going to make it.

End video dairy

Nathan and Daley both felt their hearts sink into the pit of their stomachs as the question echoed in their heads over and over like a broken record. Both of them looked down at the ground wondering what to say to him. Eric looked down finally realizing the toll this was taking on everyone he knew that it was serous obviously but he never knew how serious it actually was. With everything they'd been through and everything they over come he just seen this as another obstacle for them to over come but now that Lex had said it out loud it finally became reality.

He stood up and walked over to Lex and knelt down in front him. He looked down at the ground for a few moments before he looked back up at Lex. He couldn't believe that he was the cause of all this mess…he was the reason the entire group might loose their lives because he took off knowing everyone would follow him no matter how mad they were at him They were family and that's what family did, despite their feelings they were always there for each other.

"Listen Lex…I know I messed up and got us into this mess but were going to make it through this….I promise…" Eric said before looking back down at his hands. "As long as we stick together nothing and no one can hurt us, because were family and we look out for each other."

Daley softly smiled at Eric then down at Lex. She was surprised that he was actually stepping up and actually being serious about something. Melissa smiled at them then looked down at her own hands. What he said was right despite what happens as long as they stick together as a family the could get through anything no matter how dangerous or scary that it was. She seen Jackson walk out of then tent and over to the fire pit. She looked around at everyone before she looked back up at him.

"Is she coming?" Melissa asked softly.

"No, we couldn't even get her to the fire pit without her having a panic attack, so there's a new plan." He faintly smiled and walked over to Lex. He knelt down in front of him. "Lex….buddy."

Lex hesitated for a moment but then looked up at Jackson. Jackson sighed and looked back down at the ground. He hated having to make plans and be the leader especially when I came to times like these when there was no real smart choice. It was all about risk and what's more of to the people involved even if both choices are dangerous. He didn't want to have to make Lex stay but he didn't want to get him half way out and have him get scared, start crying and get hurt because he made him go out into the woods.

"I need you to stay here with Taylor…can you do that for me?"

Lex gripped onto Daley tighter then before and hid his face for a moment. Daley couldn't believe he wanted Lex and Taylor to stay at camp by their selves. She was about to yell but before she could she heard a small voice from beside her.

"Alright…." Lex said

Daley glared at Jackson. "Are you crazy?"

Jackson sighed as he stood up and shook his head. "No, Eric is going to stay here with them as well to make sure they don't get hurt!" Jackson said glaring at Eric. "We'll only get enough to last us for a few days and then we'll come straight back. It's the only way trust me." Jackson said rubbing the back of his neck with his hand.

Daley hesitantly nodded then looked down at Lex "I'll be right back…"

Lex nodded and stood up. "Be careful." He said before he walked over to the tent and got in.

Eric walked over to Jackson and looked down at his hand. "I know it's my fault that they were attacked…and I'm sorry…I promise that I won't let anything happen to them."

Jackson wanted to yell at him but stopped his self. He didn't need the stress and more importantly the group didn't need that stress. He nodded once before he turned and walked over to Mel. She stood up and they both headed towards the ocean grabbing four water jugs on the way down. Nathan and Daley watched Eric get into the tent before they headed towards the forest. Daley laced her arm with his and looked over at him.

"If anything happens….I don't want us to get split up…" She said as looked around for fruit.

"Me nether…" He said quietly before he began looking for fruit as well.

Eric sat down in front of the tent door, determined that no one was getting in or out without going through him. He sighed and took a deep breath. He looked over at Taylor trying his best to find the right words to say to tell her he was sorry for getting her killed but would it even matter. Her and Lex almost died because of his childish behavior, somehow sorry didn't cut it. He had to prove to her that he was sorry by doing something that he wouldn't normally do.

"Taylor, I'm sorry…I know that it doesn't make up for what happened but I really am sorry. And I'm going to make it up to you some way some how…I'll make it up to you"

He turned around and began peeking out of the little hole he left unzipped. He didn't want to risk anyone getting killed because he didn't do everything he could to prevent it. Lex crawled over and cuddled up to Taylor. She looked down at him and wrapped her arm around him. She gently rubbed his back while listening to every little sound out side of the tent. She never responded to Eric, she wasn't sure how to. She couldn't tell him it was okay because it wasn't he almost got he and Lex killed and may have led a serial killer to them. Then after he'd done it he refused to admit that it was at least some of his fault.

She looked down at Lex who was slowly falling asleep in her lap. She loved him like a little brother even before the incident but now she knew what that really meant. Lex was ten years old and he was still brave enough to try to get the guy off her and almost got killed his self. She was finally noticing how their relationships had changed and formed into something a lot greater then they would have if they had stayed back home…but that didn't stop her from wishing she was home. She slowly laid down and stretched out her legs still listening to the sounds out side.

Melissa's video diary

If it wasn't for Jackson we would have already starved, or died of dehydration or worst…we would have been killed by that psycho by now. He's really stepping up when we all need up but the problem is no one is noticing and the other problem…is it going to be enough

Melissa and Jackson walked in silence most of the way to the ocean they were both too busy thinking about what was going on to talk. It was barley noon and everyone was terrified to leave camp. None of them knew what to expect anymore, before they had a system…that worked ninety percent of the time. Everyone knew what had to be done to ensure their survival and almost everyone was willing to do them. It was as much as home as they could possibly get stranded on a deserted island. Melissa sat down on her knees and began to fill one of the jugs, they both got two hoping it would be enough to last everyone a few days.

Jackson despite how much he hated it, he knew the group counted on him even though Daley was their leader. He had to make sure everyone in the group stayed safe and that they weren't put into danger that they didn't have to be in, so it was up to him to make sure Lex's garden got watered, to make sure they had enough food and water and more importantly no one gets killed while trying to survive. He had to protect them now more then ever. He hated leaving Lex and Taylor alone in the tent, he really wished that Taylor would have came with them and Lex would have went with Nathan and Daley that way he would be sure they were both safe from Eric and his stupid childish fits.

Melissa put the lid on the top of the first jug and began to fill up the seconds. She looked over Jackson for a second then back down at the water pouring into the jug. She was glad that Jackson had stepped up and pretty much became the leader again. Daley was a good leader but there was no way she would be able to handle this plus she needed to take care of her brother. But no one ever once said thanks to him, to think of it the only time anyone ever said thanks of this island was when some one saved their lives.

She hesitated for a moment but then she began to talk. "Hey Jackson."

"Yeah." He said mindlessly

"Thanks…" She said smiling after a few seconds she looked back down at her second jug.

"For what?" Jackson said putting the lid on his second jug.

"Foe taking control, for keep everyone as safe as possible and making sure we have everything we need…"

He slightly smiled and looked over at her. "No problem."

He said trying to act like it wasn't a big deal but it was. It was a big deal and hassle but someone needed to do it After Melissa had filled her last jug and put the lid on it they both headed back to camp. After a few minutes of silence Melissa finally got the guts to speak up again.

"You know Jackson…you really scared me and Daley this morning….we thought…"

"I'm sorry…" He said interrupting her. "I needed to think of a plan and make sure it was safe enough to actually try. What better way then to go out and wait for some psycho to attack?" He said jokingly.

"There is a lot of better ways…" She said not sure wither he was actually serious or joking.

They sat the jugs down near the fire pit and made their way over to the tent. "Hey everyone alright in there?" Jackson yelled. He heard three screams come from inside the tent. "I'm guessing that's a yes….' He said sarcastically just as Daley and Nathan walked out of the woods with a blanket full of fruits.

"Hey we heard screams is everything alright?" Nathan said almost panicking.

"Yeah we just scared them….while trying to not scare them." Jackson said as Eric, Taylor and Lex crawled out of the tent.

"Good everyone's alright!" Lex said looking around at everyone.

There was a few minutes of silence before it was interrupted by a loud scream coming from up on the side of the large hill. Everyone jumped and instantly turned toward the sound.

"What was that?" Nathan asked.

"A scream…." Jackson said stating the obvious.