Chapter 4

Reue

"Make it a rule of life never to regret and never to look back. Regret is an appalling waste of energy; you can't build on it; it's only for wallowing in."

The ship was even bigger and better than they had expected. It was an empty cruise ship that had apparently 'figured out' they were there.

They grabbed some of their stuff, leaving the rest of it there.

As the ship began to sail away from the island, Kate was now second guessing her choice. The island got smaller and smaller and she fought a hard battle against her tears. As everyone else found rooms and got situated, she just stood there on the deck. Eventually, she couldn't even see the island any more and she lost her battle. Sneaking off to hide behind a few things on the other side of the deck, she began crying, regretting her choice miserably now.

Jack walked into the hallway after having gotten a room and putting his and Kate's stuff in it. He glanced in the room that Sawyer had chosen. "Have you seen Kate?"

Sawyer looked at him and shook his head. "She stayed on the deck." he said.

Jack frowned. "Can you got get her?" he asked. "I'm going to see if I can find some medicine for her."

Sawyer nodded. "Sure thing, Doc." he said. He watched him leave then headed for the deck. He frowned when he got there and didn't see her. "Freckles?" he called, walking around the deck, looking for her. He looked around for awhile before he heard her quiet crying. "Freckles?" he said, walking over to her. He kneeled down in front of her, looking at her in confusion.

Kate inched her way over to him and hugged him, burying her face in his shoulder. "I don't feel good." she whimpered. "I wanna go home."

Sawyer didn't reply. He picked her up and began heading back to the room that she and Jack were staying in. Once there, he gently lied her down on the bed. "Jack-O's gonna get ya some meds and then he'll be right back." he told her, gently tucking her hair behind her ears. He sighed and glanced over at Jack when he came in then looked back down at Kate. "Night, Freckles. Feel better, okay?" He turned and headed back to his own room.

Jack watched him then walked over to the bed. "Sit up for a moment, Kate." he told her. He waited for her to sit up, then handed her a glass of water and two pills.

Kate took the pills, washing them down with the water. She put the glass on the stand beside the bed then closed her eyes.

"You okay?" Jack asked, rubbing her shoulder.

Kate stayed silent for several moments then shook her head. "I think I'm gonna throw up." she mumbled.

Jack frowned slightly. "You need me to take you to the bathroom?" he asked her gently.

Kate nodded her head, bringing her hand up to cover her mouth.

"Okay. It's okay." Jack picked her up and carried her into the bathroom. He carefully set her down in front of the toilet then kneeled down behind her, rubbing her back.

Kate leaned over it, crying a bit more. "Jack." she groaned weakly, trembling. Her stomach heaved and she gagged a bit, leaning further over.

Jack pulled her hair back away from her face. "It's okay, Baby." he murmured, rubbing her back with his free hand.

Kate squeezed her eyes shut as she gagged again. She wanted to go lay down, not sit here sick. She whimpered Jack's name again. Her stomach heaved once more, but this time she began throwing up over and over.

She was sick for a good majority of the night. Eventually the bathroom floor got uncomfortable so Jack sent Sawyer to get a bucket around one in the morning and moved them both onto the bed.

Towards late morning, they were both dead tired. Kate was nearly asleep on Jack's lap, but Jack was trying to keep himself awake. He wanted to be up incase something happened with Kate.

Sawyer knocked on the door.

Jack glanced up tiredly. "Come in." he said quietly.

Sawyer opened the door and walked in, nearly flinching at the sight of them. "Ya even get any sleep?" he asked.

Jack sighed and shook his head.

Sawyer walked over to them. "Lemme take her for awhile." he said. "Then ya both can get some rest."

Jack shook his head. "She's really sick, Sawyer." he said. "I'm fine watching her."

Sawyer rolled his eyes. "No, ya ain't." he said. He gently scooped Kate up into his arms. "C'mon, Freckles." he told her. "I got out whole day planned out."

Kate leaned her head against his shoulder, shooting Jack an unsure look as Sawyer carried her towards the door.

Jack sighed and watched them leave. "Make her sleep." he told him. "And see if she can try to keep anything in her stomach." He was cut off as the door shut behind them.

Review please. -puppy eyes-