hell! this is the second chapter to my story and im glad people are liking it so far i hope you enjoy this chapter i manage to finish it just today :)

===-===-+++CHAPTER TWO (2)+++-===-===

Jack stood still. A mixture of emotions and feelings bubbling inside him. He felt terrible for Kate, and the truth was that he did have feelings for her. It was his fault she got in so deep. But what could he do? Lying to her would only hurt her more in the end, and he knew he couldn't hide his real feelings from her forever, anyway.

How would she take it? It wasn't the first time he'd wondered it. What if everyone found out? Of all the problems he'd faced since they crashed on this Island, nothing was as great as the struggle inside him.

He'd tried to be strong for everyone. He'd tried pushing it aside, even with Kate, he knew that at one point he'd hoped for something real with her. But the harder he tried to escape the feelings inside, the stronger they grew, and the more he knew he couldn't keep fighting.

But God, was it so forbidden. . . those raw, deep, undeniable desires. It was so wrong. He knew it. But he couldn't escape them. He especially couldn't escape the focus of those desires.

Jack felt the pit of his stomach convulse as he let them grow free. Why continue to fight it?

"NO!" Jack screamed at himself, a clatter of books and objects hitting the floor as he lashed out destructively.

He didn't know what to do. He couldn't keep fighting, but he couldn't give in either.

"*beep*. . . *beep*. . . *beep*"

Jack's thoughts cleared themselves as the buzzer for the Hatch began to countdown. It broke him out of his brood, and he sidled into the computer room to enter the Numbers. But no sooner than he reached the doorway, he heard the distinctive clack as the counter reset itself. Inside, a figure was hunched over the dated model computer, finger freshly removed from the execute button.

Locke.

The one man whom Jack desperately did not want to see. Not now. Especially, not now.

"You sound like you're having a bad day." John Locke spoke, his eyes never leaving the counter as it began it's cycle again.

"It was my turn." Jack said, ignoring the both the older man's statement and eyes, as he finally turned his gaze toward Jack.

"I was in the neighbourhood." Locke replied with a soft grin, his eyes crinkling warmly as he went around the desk to face the doctor.

Jack kept his eyes averted from the man, instead letting them fall to Locke's side, where hung an impressively oversized, and always present Bowie knife.

Locke followed his gaze and affixed his eyes on the weapon at his hip. It was dripping slightly, leaving small red drops on the floor.

"I was hunting." He said, as Jack once again switched the focus of his eyes to somewhere else. "Are you okay, Jack?" Locke began, but was interrupted almost immediately.

"Hunting what, Locke?"

"Boar."

Locke's reply came almost as quick as Jack's interruption. Jack shifted from the doorway and retreated back into the main room, where Locke followed, cleaning his blade with the corner of his shirt as he did.

"You didn't answer."

Jack paused, barely glancing over his shoulder as he spoke. "I just want to be left alone, John."

Locke nodded serenely, though Jack couldn't see it. He smiled again and walked closer behind the younger man, placing his hand on his shoulder. "I understand, Jack." He said softly.

"Do you, John?" Jack asked, turning to face the huntsman.

"Yes." John began. "You know out there in the jungle, when it's just you. And you're hot, and sweating. Sitting there by yourself, covered in mud and filth. Nothing to eat but. . . caterpillars, and moths. Eyes fixed on the snare in the clearing. Waiting. Hoping the growl of your belly doesn't scare off the boar you tracked down. And you're alone, Jack. Just you and the boar."

Jack's brow furrowed in confusion. "I don't get it, Locke. What does that have to do with anything?"

Locke smiled again. It seemed as if a whole world of wisdom and patience hid itself behind his eyes.

"Jack. . . have you read Thoreau?" He paused only for a moment, before continuing. "Thoreau once wrote, that 'I never found a companion, that was so companionable as solitude.'"

"Something to think about, Jack." Locke smiled, patting the doctor on the shoulder and turning to leave.

Jack watched as he walked away, Locke's words tumbling in his ears. Even despite their disagreements, it seemed as though the old man always knew what to say. . .

===-===-+++END+++-===-

thank you so much for reading! i hope you enjoyed this chapter i dont know when i do the next one but i am really enjoying it so far and i hope you all do too thank you again shalom! :) :)