A/N: Hey guys. Sorry for not updating but this is the first time that I've actually been able to sit down and write a chapter, even if it is a short chapter.
Thanks to everyone who reviewed/read/favorited/alerted. It's always rewarding to know how many people actually like this story. Sadly, there probably won't be another update for a little over a week. I think I have to work eight days straight. Blah. I'm also trying so hard to write Live Together, Die Alone but the next chapter is massive and I just keep adding stuff to it.

Left Behind

Chapter 29

Sleep Tonight

"She's really active tonight," Jack's warm hand falls on her stomach and she hears the chuckle in his voice.

Sighing, she rubs her cheek against his left shoulder trying to clear her mind of sleep, "She?"

His hand starts to rub in a circular motion over her stomach with kicks following his movements, "Sorry, slip of my tongue."

"Right," her voice is an irritated mumble. She hasn't slept well since they made it to the ship. The combination of worrying about Jack and Sawyer and caring for Aaron made it impossible to sleep and pushed her to the peak of exhaustion.

Finally, when she couldn't stand up straight any longer, Sawyer had Hurley corral her into a room with the promise that he would watch over everyone. The second her eyes closed, the nightmares began, hellish reenactments of her near year spent on the island. Particularly focusing on their gruesome escape.

Lapidus yelling out to them, unshaven and red-faced, to run faster as an infinite number of others popped up on the periphery of the clearing. Sawyer screamed in her ear to get in the helicopter and she screamed back to put Jack on first because he was unresponsive and so pale. His blood still permeated the shirt and she just wanted him to be okay.

Still supporting Jack, Sawyer managed to clamp on to her bicep and drag her out of the firing range, "Get in the Goddamn chopper now." His voice was a growl but she could clearly hear it over the barrage of gun shots. His expression harsh as he pushed her towards the interior.

Without another word, she struggled to get in. Hurley, already in the helicopter with little Aaron ensconced in the corner of one arm, offered her a helping hand in. When she was seated, he handed her the baby, "Take the little Dude, so I can help Sawyer."

Then Aaron was in her arms, he was so much bigger than she remembered, though the last time she held him was shortly after delivering him. He was around seven months old and seemed to fit against her perfectly in his sleep with one leg around each side of her stomach with his head resting on her chest.

"Doc's out cold," Sawyer grunted as he and Hurley maneuvered Jack into the helicopter so he rested with his head thrown back and motionless beside Hurley.

Sawyer pushed up on his palms, "Let's get—"

Two bullets ripped through him and exited through the other side of the helicopter. Sawyer fell flat on the floor and as his blood seeped into the metal grooves he groaned to Lapidus, "Go. Go."

That's usually where the nightmare stops. She doesn't know why, maybe because she's never been more afraid than that very moment.

She feels guilty about both of them getting shot, about Aaron not having a mother. She's the direct cause of all the chaos that's ensued in the last five and a half months. So she waited in the infirmary for Jack to wake up and to keep Sawyer company and she takes Aaron from Hurley whenever he needs a break.

Jack grins against the crown of her head as he notices the pattern in the baby's kicking, "She, um, it's going to be a smart baby."

"Why she?" She's trying not to be short with Jack, he's done nothing wrong. She's lying on an actual mattress, the bottom level of bunk beds which Jack insisted she have, while he's on a flimsy cot pulled up as close as it can get.

His hand stops, almost retracting from her stomach, "I'm just tired."

Then his thumb strokes lazily over her belly button, the kicks slow and the flare of pain that's in her lower back relaxes, "me too."

The silence only seems to last for a second, before the metal clank of someone knocking at the door startles her, Jack and the baby awake.

"Hey Doc," Sawyer's drawl sifts through the door, "Wake up, it's important."

Jack swipes a hand over his eyes, and groans when he tries to move his right shoulder.

"I can get it."

"No," he smiles at her and presses his dry lips to her forehead, "Go back to sleep."

He turns away before she can argue, but when she hears the metal screech of the door being opened, she forces herself to sit up and waits for a minute to see if that acrid taste in her throat is a sign of morning sickness.

"Doc," Sawyer is almost breathless as the fluorescent lights illuminate the room, "We're about to dock at the Hawaiian Naval Base."

She watches as Jack scratches the back of his head with sleepy inaccuracy, "So?" His question sounds more like a yawn.

"So, the police are waiting for her," Sawyer points at her and suddenly she's wide awake.

"What?" His words have the same effect on Jack.

"They're waiting for us to dock, and then they're going to take her into custody."

"She's pregnant," Jack's voice is stuttering with disbelief and fear.

Sawyer sighs, his eyebrows droop and his hand lazily gestures at her again, "Don't you think I told them that? They're going to take her anyway."

"No," Jack shakes his head and she sees his jaw set in defiance, "She needs immediate medical attention, her weight is low, she's malnourished and the extra stress—"

"They know all that," Sawyer shakes his head as he interrupts, "They're gonna let her get checked out, but it's gonna be in a different room and under supervision."

She finds that her hands have absentmindedly found their way to her stomach. She looks down at the bump stretching out the white tank top Lapidus gave her when they landed and wonders if the baby is actually going to be better off away from the island. Her vision blurry from the congregating tears, she looks back up to Sawyer, "What about getting back to LA?"

He sighs, and rubs at the back of his neck with his good arm, "They're gonna send you on a separate plane with guards after you're cleared."

Jack is horrified, his eyes wide and his face losing color as she can see him try to think of a loophole. She knows her helpless glance to him will only exacerbate the situation, but she needs the reassurance bad.

Instead Sawyer shakes his head, "I don't know what the hell you did Freckles, but you sure the hell pissed them off."


Next Chapter - Again, it'll be from Kate's POV as the popo finally get a hold of her.