As always, the fantastic Mia belongs to the fantastic littletonpace, as does the amazing Katie (who is her SVU OC, who also has a fic written about her, with appearances by Matt)
"You're not mad, are you?" Mia asked Matt softly. Mr. Eko, as they'd learned the imposingly large man was called, was in front of them, Jin beside him, and though he seemed not to be listening, Mia couldn't be sure.
"Why would I be mad?" Matt asked, eyes wide with genuine confusion.
"Because I didn't get your letter to Jordan," Mia responded, sighing as she stared out into the woods, looking for any sign of Michael or his trail. "I didn't get you rescued. I just got Walt kidnapped and Sawyer shot and me thrown in a pit run by a bitch packing heat."
"I will agree with you that woman is a bitch," Matt said with a laugh, linking his arm with Mia's and tugging her in close. "But other than that, I'd have to disagree. You were brave enough to try to get us rescued. Nothing, absolutely nothing that happened with the raft is your fault."
"You sure know how to make a girl feel special," Mia said, a genuine smile spreading across her weary face, as she tilted her head up to kiss Matt's cheek.
"You remind me so much of my best friend from home, Katie," Matt said with a grin, slinging an arm around her shoulder.
"Do I need to be jealous?" Mia managed to mock pout, bottom lip exaggeratedly extended, while scanning a line of trees a few feet away.
"Well, she doesn't look at trees instead of at me," Matt teased, earning a light smack on the arm from Mia, who laughed as she leaned her head against his arm for a moment. "It's good to see you laugh again," Matt added earnestly, kissing the top of her head.
"Well I knew I just needed a little dose of my best friend to feel better," Mia said, eyes twinkling. Matt rolled his eyes good-naturedly.
"Mia, you know I love you." Taking his arm off her shoulder, he took her hand in his instead, swinging it slightly. "You and Katie can both be my best friends." Grinning, he stepped over a log, his eyes twinkling. "I'll even write you both notes with "Do you want to be one of my two best friends? Check yes or no"."
"Well okay then." The grin suddenly slid off Mia's face as she saw Eko tense and put his hand up.
"Hide! Now!" Eko ordered, and Mia and Matt didn't hesitate, joining the other two off the path. "Don't say a word, no matter what!" Their view was blocked, except for a small strip of dirt, over which a parade of bare feet suddenly appeared. As soon as Matt saw the smallest pair of feet, joined by a hand dragging a filthy teddy bear, he lunged forward. Only Mia's arms suddenly snaking around his waist and yanking backwards kept him from jumping out from their hiding place.
Mia held on tight until the feet completely disappeared. Eko carefully crept back out, Matt, Mia, and Jin following. "The Others," Eko murmured, still gazing off where they had disappeared.
"Please don't go after them," Mia said softly, holding on to Matt's arm. "Jack would kill me if I came back without you. And Sawyer would kill you for me not coming back, because I would have to follow you."
Matt hung his head, and Mia could see tears gathering in the corners of his eyes. "You can't save every child, Matt," she whispered, leaning into him. "And Jordan's safe at home waiting for you to get back."
Matt nodded, squeezing her arm. A sudden noise from behind them made them whirl around, to find Michael, eyes wild, already running towards where the Others had disappeared.