Jack patted Koko on the head and sent her out the back of the caves with her mom just in time, as Diane and Austin came barreling in from the front entrance.

"Here you go, Dr. Shepard," Aaron said as the kids made an immediate beeline for the kitchen. "Good luck with them. They're a bit worked up today."

"Thanks, Aaron," Jack said, waving at the boy. "How's your mom?"

"She's good," Aaron said. "She and Dad went on a date again last night, so she's happy today." The young man glanced at his little brother and sister, before leaning in a little toward Jack and whispering "sometimes I think she just needs to get away from the little kids."

Jack smiled at that, and waved good-bye as the train of youths continued on their way home. Sighing, he turned to look at the monsters currently throwing boxes of Dharma Wheat Fists on the ground.

"Hey guys," he said, picking up the discarded boxes. "How was your day? Did you have fun at Mr. Reyes?"

"He told us a cool story today," Austin said, stuffing his mouth full of Dharma Gummy Polar Bears. Jack sighed, and took the box away. The kids would never learn proper nutrition if they kept snacking on sugar all the time. "It was about a 'splosion and how Dad helped to put it out."

"Hugo tells a lot of stories about Dad," Diane added. "Can I have a cookie, Jack?"

"Just one," he said, handing one down to the little girl. She thanked him before biting in. Jack smiled sadly. There were times when the kids could be sweet, when they reminded him of Kate, with their bright green eyes. "I'm not surprised he likes to talk about your Dad. They were good friends."

"I know," Diane said around a mouthful of cookies. "I just wish that he would talk about Mom more. I mean. . .the only thing I remember about Dad is him tucking me in at night, and singing songs. But Mom I remember more. I guess I just. . .I miss her sometimes."

"Yeah," Jack said, brushing some of her dark curls out of her face. "I know. Me, too."

"Hugo said you two kissed!" Austin exploded. He had gummy worms dangling out of his mouth. Jack rolled his eyes. Where did the kid even find some of that stuff?

"We did, once," Jack said, while trying to extricate more worms from the boy's grubby fists. "But that was before your mom and dad fell in love."

"Were they really, madly, deeply in love?" Diane asked wistfully.

Jack thought for a moment, trying to remember Kate, trying to remember how she had been, even without him.

"Well," Jack said, helping Kate shrug back on her shirt. "Everything looks normal and healthy. Six months and you'll start feeling it any day now."

"Good," Kate smiled up at him. Jack forced a smile back. He would have given anything to have that be his baby growing inside her, anything to be the one to hold her at night, and brush away her fears. He was learning to accept that it would never be, but he hadn't quite gotten there yet. "I don't want to lose this baby, Jack."

"Don't worry," he said, dropping a hand on her shoulder. "I'm going to do everything possible to make sure that you give birth to a good, healthy boy."

"Or girl," Kate admonished him. He laughed a little.

"Right, or girl."

Kate extended her hand to shake his. He enclosed it for a moment, meaning to tell her to keep her optimistic outlook, when Kelvin burst in.

"Hey," he said. "We're going to need a basic first aid kit, stat."

"What's wrong?" Kate asked. Kelvin shook his head, dark eyes focused on Jack's retreating back.

"Nothing," he said briskly. "We're just going in today."

"Today?" Kate exclaimed. "But. . .you just got back yesterday."

"No reason to wait around," Kelvin said. Jack returned with a small duffel bag stuff with basic painkillers, gauze, tape, and what little remained of the alcohol.

"Who's going with you?" Jack asked, conversationally, as he began packing bottles of water into the bag. Kelvin looked off anxiously, clearly ready to leave, but returned his level gaze to answer.

"Cindy, Ana, Jin, Sawyer," he said, reciting the names like a list. Kate closed her eyes for a moment. Jack knew her well enough to understand the conflicting emotions on her face. She wanted to join the trek, but at the same time recognized her new responsibilities. She nodded her head.

"You're leaving from the beach?" she asked. Kelvin nodded his head.

"Soon as the doc finishes up."

"Done," Jack said, zipping up the duffel. But, instead of handing it to Kelvin, he threw it over his own back.

"You can't come," Kelvin said. Jack sighed.

"I know," he said. And he did know. Ever since the last disastrous expedition he had gone on—the one that had resulted in his pained limp and sexy new back scar—he had accepted that, at least as long as he was the only doctor, one of his responsibilities was to keep himself safe. "I'm not coming," he said. "I just want to see everyone off." He glanced at Kate, still wearing that worried expression. "Come on," he said. "We'll all go."

Kelvin nodded, impatiently, and headed out of the caves, keeping a brisk pace the entire way to the beach. Jack walked just behind Kate, watching her worriedly. But she didn't seem to have any difficulties, maneuvering easily among the rocks and fallen tree branches.

The small group had gathered in the middle of the beach, accepting hugs and farewells from the rest of the survivors. Jack, Kelvin, and Kate hurried over to join them.

"Ready?" Cindy asked. Kelvin nodded.

"Doc's got the goods," he said. Sawyer laughed a little at that.

"Now, you know where to go?" Desmond said urgently. "And how to use the transceivers? Don't forget to avoid the polar bears"

"Desmond," Kelvin said shortly. "Shut it. I've been on this island longer than you. I think I can find my way to the top of a mountain."

Everyone stared at the man for a moment. It was the most anyone could remember having heard him say. Ever.

Cindy broke the silence, laying a hand on Desmond's arm and saying "It will be okay. Stay here with your wife, help with the kids."

"Yes," Rousseau said, walking forward with A in her arms and B clinging to her back. "Stay with me."

Desmond nodded his head, still looking worried. Sun, meanwhile, wasn't saying a word. She just stood beside her husband, holding three-year old Star's hand in her own. Jin smiled tenderly down on them.

"You don't have to go," Kate said to Sawyer. He looked down at her, grinned a little.

"Yes, I do," he said. Kate sighed. Jack watched the interaction greedily. He knew there was more going on than the words spoken. But he'd been cut out of the loop. For some reason, Kate seemed to accept his answer, and leaned into him.

"Then I'm coming, too," she said. Sawyer laughed at that, and hugged her tightly to him.

"Hell, Freckles, that's a fine idea," he drawled. "Them Others can use that bowling ball you got hidden under your shirt for target practice." Kate laughed.

"I know, I know," she sighed, laying a hand on her belly. "I couldn't keep up, anyway. But I'll be worried about you. Come back in one piece, okay?"

"I'm getting better," Sawyer pointed out. "Ain't come back at death's door in some time."

Kate considered for a moment. "Well, two years ago you came back with a broken arm. Before that it was the gross gash on your back. Can't forget about when you took the hit to your head and were seeing double for a week. Or how about burning yourself on the raft? Then again, there were those two bullets you took in the battle with the Others. Or maybe when you came home with an infection from your shoulder? Or when Sayid broke open your artery. . ."

Sawyer laughed, and kissed the top of her head. "A'ight," he said. "So I ain't exactly invincible. But hell, Freckles, this time I got something to return to."

Jack looked away from their tableau. It was too painful. Instead he walked over to Jin, and handed him a couple of batteries from his pocket.

"I've been saving these," he said slowly. Jin's English had improved significantly over the years, but he still needed things said slowly and distinctly. The Korean man nodded his head.

"I'm giving them to you," Jack continued. "Because I can trust you to be responsible. If you're not getting a signal, don't use them. They're the last batteries I have left."

Jin nodded his head, and solemnly took the batteries. "I will be careful." He said.

"I know you will," Jack smiled. He went over to Kelvin, clapped the man on the back, and gave Cindy a quick hug. "Be careful, guys. We're counting on you."

"Don't worry, Jack," Cindy said in her bright, Australian accent. "We'll get that message out. Just don't be surprised if the rescue planes make it back before we do."

"Time to go," Kelvin announced, cutting the good-byes short. Everybody exchanged one last hug, one last kiss, before slinging packs across backs and heading into the jungle. Jack wandered over to Kate, pretending that he didn't notice her wiping away one stray tear.

"He'll be back," he said, trying to put more certainty into his voice than he felt.

"I know," Kate said. "I just wonder in what shape." Jack gave her a quick hug. "I love him, Jack," she muttered into his shirt.

"I know," he said.

"Your mother loved your father with all her heart," Jack said, finally managing to wrestle the last of the sweets away from Austin, and sticking them high on the shelf. "She was absolutely devastated when he died."

"What's that mean?" Austin asked. He began attempting to somersault across the caves.

"It meant that she was very sad," Jack said. "Now come on, what should we start making for dinner?"

"Sgapetti," Diane said, grabbing a can of tomato sauce off the shelves. Jack nodded, and went to begin building a fire.

"Jack?" Diane asked a moment later.

"Hmm?" he asked, not looking up from the small blaze he'd begun. He blew on it gently.

"You said that Mom loved Dad. . .but he loved her, too, right?"

Jack paused for a moment. Sawyer had always been hard for him to read. He couldn't gauge the man the way he could most people. He remembered the way that Sawyer had held Kate during the funerals, the way he had brushed back her hair. The way he used to sing to her and the babies. But was that love? Or just comfort.

He remembered, too, the time he, Ana, and Sawyer had taken off after the Others. The very last time. How, while he'd been making dinner, they'd disappeared for almost an hour, and come back dirty, with twigs in their hair, refusing to talk about where they'd been. Though he had his suspicions.

But he remembered, too, one of the last conversations he'd had with the man.

"Help!" Ana yelled. "We need some help, here!"

Jack immediately leapt up from where he'd been tending to Rush's weird rash, and ran out the front door of the hatch. There was Ana Lucia and Cindy, each holding one of Sawyer's arms over their shoulders. His head hung down, unconscious, blond hair covering his face. Just behind them was Kelvin, Jin tossed across his shoulders.

"Here, come on in," Jack said, sparing Ana the weight and dragging Sawyer's body onto his own. "Are they--?"

"This one's dead," Kelvin said shortly, jerking his head up to indicate his own burden. "That one will be soon."

"Dammit," Jack swore. He turned to Ana. "All right, quickly, go get Sun and Kate."

Ana nodded, and was off running almost before he'd finished speaking. "Okay, I need to know what happened."

Kelvin ignored him, moving Jin's body to a couch, and dumping it there unceremoniously. He headed into the kitchen area of the hatch, and a moment later the sound of running water could be heard.

"We'd lashed the transceivers onto sticks," Cindy explained. "And stuck those in the ground. It was night, and we were on watches. Jin was awake. I don't know. . .he suddenly woke us up, yelling about a mudslide The side of the mountain was collapsing on us."

"Uh-oh, go on," Jack said. He settled Sawyer onto the table, and began undoing the buttons on his shirt.

"There's not much else to say," Cindy said. "Kelvin was up immediately. He grabbed my arm and we took off. Ana was right behind us. But Sawyer and Jin stayed behind, to try and get the transceivers out of the ground. We were yelling at them to run, that it wasn't worth it, but. . ." she stopped, tears welling up in her eyes and choking her throat, clearly unable to continue.

"It's okay, it's okay," Jack said. "Listen, go get something to drink, then head into the bedroom and sit down. I'll want to examine you, next."

The woman nodded her head, trying to gulp in choked breaths, and quickly hurried after Kelvin. Jack sighed, and returned his attention to the man before him. Sawyer's chest was a mass of bruises and abrasions. He moved his finger along the ribs, feeling the jagged splinters signifying several that were severely broken.

"Doc," Sawyer whispered, and licked his lips. Jack gasped, and quickly stopped his hands examining the other man's body. He hadn't expected him to be awake—he barely expected him to ever wake. Sawyer opened his eyes. "Kate?"

"She's coming," Jack said. Sawyer nodded, mumbled something, and his eyes began to drift shut. "Sawyer, Sawyer, come on now, stay with me," Jack urged. Sawyer struggled to open his eyes. "Good," Jack said. "Now, I need you to move your arms and legs for me."

"Hurts," Sawyer groaned, but he managed to life both of his legs and one arm.

"Good job," Jack said. He could feel tears coming to his own eyes. Maybe Sawyer wasn't as bad off as he thought. He began probing again. "It looks like you have some broken ribs, but as far as I can tell, no internal bleeding."

Sawyer nodded his head, but then, with a tremor in his voice, "the headaches are back."

Jack glanced up. Headaches? The man had practically been buried in an avalance, and he was talking about headaches?

"Okay," Jack said. Maybe he was in shock.

"And I smell things. Smoke, a lot."

"Well, there's a lot of smoke down at the beach," Jack said, a little distracted. He was working on Sawyer's arm now. It looked like a complete break in the forearm. He hissed. That would be tough to heal.

"Jack," Sawyer said. "I know I'm hurt. But I think there's something worse."

Jack paused. "Sawyer, who's the doctor here? Would you let me do my job?"

Sawyer nodded his head, and his eyes began to drift closed. Jack peered at him closely. It wasn't like Sawyer to give up without a fight, even when he was injured.

"Sawyer," he said abruptly. "What flight were we on?"

"Huh?"

"What was our flight number?"

"How the hell should I know?" Sawyer asked irritably. Jack frowned.

"What airline?"

Sawyer shook his head, groaned at the pain that caused. "I don't know," he said.

Jack sighed, and sat back. Phantom smells, constant headaches, impaired memory. . .he glanced up at the man again. Sawyer opened his eyes, and stared at the ceiling.

"It's a tumor, ain't it?" he asked.

"I don't know that for sure. . ." Jack hesitated. "I could run some tests. . ."

"How long do I got?" Sawyer asked.

Jack sighed. "I don't know," he said. "At least a month or two. Maybe up to five years."

Sawyer's eyes fluttered shut, and Jack resumed searching his regular injuries.

"Hey, Jackass," he said, his voice a light whisper. "Don't tell Kate, k?"

"Why not?" Jack asked, surprised. "She could help you with your medication, keep an eye on you"

"I don't want her to worry," Sawyer said. Jack nodded and, when he could tell the man was completely unconscious, he ground the bones of the arm back together.

"Yeah, honey," he said to Diane, a little absentmindedly as he began boiling water. "I think he might have even loved her more."

Jack didn't even notice he'd made the mistake until Diane abruptly straightened.

"Don't call me honey," she said, before stalking out of the caves. Jack sighed, and closed his eyes.