Chapter Twenty-Six: "As we run for our lives…"

Shot of Sawyer and Andie running through the jungle. They are no longer holding hands. Sawyer keeps looking back to make sure Andie's behind him. She's running but there is evident pain on her face as she holds her stomach. Sawyer looks forwards and keeps running. Slow motion shot of his face leads into…

FLASHBACK.

Shot of Sawyer running through the rain from his car to a house. He bangs on the door until Danny opens it and pushes his way into the house. He's carrying a duffle bag. Danny follows him into the living room.

Danny: I take it its all there.
Sawyer: Almost two mil.
Danny: What a dumbass, he really thinks he's gonna get this back tripled?
Sawyer: By eight am tomorrow.
Danny: You still got that package I gave you?

Sawyer takes it out of a pocket in the bag. He opens it and pulls out a passport and several credit cards and ID.

Danny: Don't lose those, you'll need them. Anywhere but the states, y'hear?

Sawyer nods slowly, pocketing the ID and cards.

Sawyer (suddenly): I wanna see Andie.

Danny chuckles and starts dividing the money into another bag.

Danny: I knew she got to you. (Beat) Nah, no way man.
Sawyer: I ain't askin' permission. Tell me where she is.
Danny: Look, even if I wanted to, I couldn't. She's not here. She and that boyfriend a'hers went back to Australia.

Sawyer looks away, a look of disappointment on his face.

Danny: What'd you plan on saying, anyway? "Y'know that night you can't remember at the bar? I was the con who lost his nerve."

Danny laughs. Sawyer grabs his wrist, making him shut up.

Sawyer: Watch it, boy. This don't make us friends.

Danny rips his hand out of Sawyer's grasp.

Danny: Damn right it doesn't. But you stay away from Andie. She's not yours to protect. Hell, you've only met her once. (Pause) But that's enough, huh?

Sawyer doesn't answer. He picks up his bag of cash.

Danny: I don't tell Gordy where you are; you don't tell him I was in on this, are we clear?
Sawyer: Crystal.

Sawyer takes his bag and heads for the door. He shoves it open and walks out into the rain. Slow motion shot leads back to the island.

END OF FLASHBACK.

Shot of the island. It's started raining.

Shot of Sawyer running. He suddenly stops and looks behind him for Andie but doesn't see her.

Sawyer: Andie!

The smoke monster roars and Andie can be heard screaming.

Sawyer takes off in her direction.

Shot to the beach. People are running under cover everywhere to get out of the rain. Sun is taking clothes off the line. Kate is helping Claire keep Aaron dry. People are bringing things up from the beach. Sayid is dragging things out of the rain towards the jungle. Suddenly he hears a far away woman's scream. He looks around the camp. He sees Sun, Claire and Kate as well as other redshirts. He looks to Andie's tent and sees that it's abandoned. He drops what he's carrying and takes off into the jungle.

Shot to Sawyer running through the jungle.

Sawyer: Andie!

He stops and looks around, turning constantly. The monster's stopped roaring. Something starts crashing through the bushes towards Sawyer. He steps back, about to run, when Andie comes flying out of the jungle towards him. Sawyer recovers and runs towards her. She jumps into his arms.

Sawyer: Are you alrigh'?
Andie: I-I dunno.

The monster roars again and crashes the tree beside them to pieces. Sawyer grabs Andie's hand and they run off again. But Andie can't move as fast because of her injury. Sawyer tries to pull her along.

Sawyer: Come on! Andie, move!
Andie: I can't—I can't!
Sawyer: Run! Dammit, Andie, run!

Andie pushes through the pain and manages to keep up with Sawyer.

Sawyer: Come on, come on, don't look, just run, run!

They keep running. The monster roars off in the far-distance so they slow down. Andie leans against a tree to catch her breath. Sawyer hunches over, hands on his knees, breathing heavily.

Sawyer: Still want that beach house?
Andie (panting): Ah, shut up.

Sawyer laughs to himself and straightens with his hands on his hips. He looks around. He looks straight through the trees ahead of him and realizes he knows this place. Sawyer looks over to where Andie is recovering. She looks up at him and sees he's watching her.

Andie: What?
Sawyer: This place...
Andie (looking around): Yeah…?
Sawyer: This is where you got shot.

Andie snaps her head and looks at him. At first, she doesn't recall but as she looks around she realizes he's right. She looks up at Sawyer with worry on her face. Sawyer looks at her. Then he starts moving towards her.

Suddenly Sayid comes through the bushes, sweating and panting.

Andie: Sayid? What're you doing out here?

Sayid goes to Sawyer with murder in his eyes.

Sayid: What's wrong with you? Are you trying to get her killed?
Andie: Hey, come on now.
Sawyer: Ease up, boy.

Sayid shoves Sawyer.

Sayid: Every time she's with you; something happens to her. She gets shot, or kidnapped or chased by a monster.
Sawyer (taunting): Shove me again.
Andie: Sawyer, shut up.

Sayid turns to look at her.

Sayid: It's not safe for you to be with him, Andie.
Sawyer: As opposed to a terrorist?

Sayid swiftly punches Sawyer in the jaw. He stumbles back.

Andie: Hey!

Andie stands between them, slightly pushing Sayid back.

Andie: Stop this; this is crazy. I asked him to come with me.

Andie steps back from Sayid as Sawyer recovers and stands back up. He walks slowly towards Sayid.

Sawyer: That wasn't very nice.

He goes to punch Sayid, but he blocks the attack and tries to head butt Sawyer. He avoids the advance and grabs Sayid's arm, twisting it back and kicking him to the ground.

Andie: Sawyer, no!

Andie tries to pull Sawyer off Sayid but he shoves her off. She stumbles back. Sawyer flips Sayid onto his back and starts punching him.

Andie: Stop it! Stop!

She goes up to Sawyer and knees him in the side of the jaw. His grip on Sayid is loosened. She grabs Sawyer's shoulders and pulls him off Sayid. They fall backwards together to the ground. Andie is behind Sawyer, her arms around his neck keeping him from standing and getting back at Sayid. Sayid gets to his feet, wiping blood away from his lip.

Sayid: We leave on the boat at first light, Andie. I won't wait for you.

Sayid walks off past them into the jungle. Andie lets go of Sawyer and he gets to his feet. She gets up herself.

Andie: Why do you have to be like that?
Sawyer: Hey, he started it.
Andie: You've always got to take it further; prove that you're this strong, tough bastard. Why?

Into FLASHBACK.

Sawyer is sitting in a relatively empty bar in the corner booth with a man. Hibbs (from OUTLAWS).

Hibbs: I told you where the real Sawyer was. In Australia, what are you doing here in Texas?
Sawyer: I had some stuff…
Hibbs: Right.
Sawyer: I'm leaving tomorrow for Sydney.
Hibbs: Sydney? No, no, Sawyer is in Geelong. That's about three hours from Sydney. You can fly right there.
Sawyer: I'm going to Sydney.
Hibbs: Why?

Sawyer doesn't look up at him. After a long pause, he continues.

Sawyer: Unfinished business.

END OF FLASHBACK.

Back to Andie and Sawyer in the jungle.

Sawyer: Just who I am, Angel.
Andie: I don't believe that.
Sawyer: That so?
Andie: You put up this tough guy image. But you came back for me in the jungle before. If you were as big a jerk as you claim you are, you would've left me there. But it's like when you realize you've done something selfless, you kick someone's ass to compensate. Because you think if you let on that you care; it makes you weak.
Sawyer (annoyed): You got me all figured out, huh?
Andie: Yeah, I think I do.

Sawyer walks up to her so they're face to face. He's glaring at her.

Andie (slowly): It doesn't make you weak, Sawyer.
Sawyer: You don't know me.

He storms away from her. Andie watches him leave.

Shot of Sawyer's face as he leaves her. His face says that he doesn't want to leave her…but he has to.

Flash to black.

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