Author Note: I'm back! Hope you're gonna like this chapter. Don't forget to hit the review button. Luv, LaraK

Chapter 35: Fire + Water

Jenn was sitting on the sand, tickling baby Aaron in his cradle while Claire went to pick up a bottle of water from her tent. The little boy was giggling and wiggling his toes in delight.

''Who's a ticklish little boy? Yes, that's you Aaron! You are my ticklish little boy, yes you are. Peekaboo!''

''You are amazing Jenn'' said Claire, handing her a bottle labeled Oceanic Airlines.

''No, I'm not... Really, it's him who's such a wonderful baby. You are extremely lucky, Claire.''

''You are right, I am lucky. I don't know what I would do without all of you. I mean, if he gets colic I have Jack and you a couple of tents away, if he's cranky I just take him to Sawyer for a bedtime story and, as crazy as it sounds, John is full of knowledge on babies and he build me this cradle.''

''What about Charlie? He's a great helper too, isn't he?''

Claire suddenly tensed.

''What? Did you and Charlie had a fight?''

''Well... Did you know about him being a drug addict?''

''I know he was, but he's been sober... I know Locke threw his stash of heroin in a fire. Why? Do you think he's using?''

''I don't know, but for a while he was carrying around a Virgin Mary statue and that man, Eko, smashed it and there was small little packages of heroin in it... I just don't feel safe having him around...''

''I understand... I... My father was an alcoholic and that's not the type of person you want around kids... Look at Jack and I, we're pretty screwed up...''

The young Australian frowned. ''You and Jack? Screwed up? No...''

They both laughed, which made baby Aaron laugh too.

''Can I be honest with you, Claire?'' The young woman nodded. ''You look tired... You need a break, a mommy alone time. And I got the perfect thing for you. Sawyer and Kate found this great waterfall not too far from here the other day. How about you leave Aaron to me and handsome for an afternoon and go enjoy it?''

''Are you serious?''

''Yeah, I mean Sawyer is so good with the baby and I love him to death. What do you think, little guy? Wanna spend some time with Auntie Jenn and Uncle Sawyer?''

The little boy giggled and grabbed a lock of Jenn's hair.

''Come on, Claire. Every new mother need some time to relax...''

''Why not?''

''Yeah! You won't regret it, sweetie. It's not a spa, but it's as good as it gets on this freaky island.''

They continued playing with the baby, doing peekaboo and funny faces. They were so enthralled in the little boy that they didn't realized that Charlie had come.

''Hey.''

''Hey'' answered Claire, clearly uncomfortable.

''I made Aaron some nappies. I'll just put those there.''

Suddenly, Jenn took Aaron out of his cradle and secured him in her arms.

''How about we leave you two alone?'' she said, kissing Claire on the cheek. ''I'll be by my tent when you'll be ready to pick him up.''

The young woman nodded and kissed her son's chubby hand.

''See you later... Bye Charlie...''

She made her way to her tent where Sawyer was reading a book, his awful glasses on.

''Kidnapped a baby, Princess?''

She laughed. ''No, Aaron wanted to see his Uncle James, right sweetie bear?''

She leaned down and kissed him softly on the lips.

''Missed you this mornin'...''

''Sorry, you looked like you needed your sleep... Wanna hold him?''

''No... I'll be afraid to drop him... You know, my shoulder...''

''It will count for your physical therapy. And you won't drop him, here let me...''

She settled the baby in his arm, putting his weight on his right arm.

''Keep holding his head, like that... See, he's starting to fall asleep.''

Sawyer didn't say anything, he just looked at the baby in his arms, then at the young woman cooing over him. Out of nowhere, he captured her lips.

''You're really good with him...'' she whispered, slightly out of breath.

''No, it's you, Princess. You'd make an amazin' mama...''

A ghostly smile appeared on her lips. They remained quiet for a while, watching Aaron slowly drifted to slumber.

''Hi...'' softly said Claire twenty minutes later. ''I see you managed to put him to sleep.''

''That's all Sawyer's work, Claire.'' She took the baby out of the blond man's arms and handed him back to his mother. ''Tell me when you want us to babysit and handsome will show you the fall.''

''Thank you.''

A frown appeared on Sawyer's face when the mother and child left. ''Babysit?''

''Yes, I offered our services as babysitters to Claire so she could have some alone time at the fall you and Kate discovered.''

She cuddled next to him, watching the ocean's waves crashing on the shore. Sawyer picked up his book and went back to his reading. The comfort of being so close to him softly drove her to slumber and when she reopened her eyes he had almost finished his book.

''How long was I asleep?'' she asked, yawning.

''An hour or two... Don't know, lost track o' time.''

She smiled before kissing him. They were interrupt in their PDA session by Hurley, who was strolling down the beach.

''Hey!''

''Hurley, what's up?'' asked Jenn.

''Nothing, just taking a walk'' said the big man.

He took a couple of steps toward the water before doing a 360.

''Uh, Sawyer... When you were over there across the island, how well did you get to now those Taillies?''

Putting his book aside and taking his glasses off Sawyer answered. ''Well enough. Why?''

A slight blush appeared on Hurley's stubbled cheeks. ''That Libby chick seems pretty cool. I mean, is she?''

''Whoa, you got a little love connection brewin' over there, Jabba?''

''No. I'm just asking.''

''I hear you askin'.''

''You got a crush on Libby, Hurley?''

''You know what, Jenn? Forget it.''

And so he left the two lovers. Jenn barely contained her giggles before bursting in laugh.

''Oh my God! This is high school all over again!''

''What?''

''I mean, really! This whole island is like high school! Come on! We have drama plenty, that you can't deny. We have jocks, you and Jack, obviously. We have the young single mother, Claire. The break up/make up couple, Sun and Jin. The resident stoner, Charlie. The older guy who thinks he knows everything, Locke. The homecoming King and Queen, Jack and Kate. We even have the new kids, those Tailies guys... You see, high school.''

He leaned toward her, nibbling her ears. ''And what 'bout the two of us, Princess?''

She closed her eyes and moaned. ''Just that, the princess and the bad boy...''

''The princess and the bad boy, eh? I like it, I like it a lot...''

He kissed his way down to her throat and suddenly stopped.

''Well, what do we have here? Looks like Ana Lucia's getting the $20 tour. That's the third time I've seen 'em walkin' out of the jungle.''

Jenn sighed. Seeing her brother spend so much time with the newcomer really bothered us. There was something about her that ticked her off, and the fact that she had accidentally shot poor Shannon didn't helped it either.

''What do you suppose they're doin' out there?''

''I don't know... But I don't like it, I don't like it at all...''

''Ain't the only one. Freckles gettin' pretty jealous of lil' Ana Lulu...''

Jenn didn't answered and kept looking at her brother and Ana Lucia laughing together.

''Hey... How 'bout we finished what we started somewhere more private?''

''Lead the way, handsome''

They only came out in time for dinner and even then they ate in haste before returning to the sanctuary that was Sawyer's tent. They were lying on the makeshift bed, sated and sweaty, listening to the quiet sound of the waves crashing on the shore.

''You're goin' to kill me, Princess. I'm gettin' too old for that.''

''Too old? Come on, James... You're not old.''

She rolled up to face him and took hold of his mouth, kissing him till they were both breathless.

''See, you still got many years ahead of you. You've got to keep up, handsome. After all, I'm a younger woman...''

He grinned and his dimples appeared.

''I love your dimples...''

He kissed her again, his hands traveling up her torso.

''I ain't got no dimples, Princess.''

She moaned. ''That you do... I love them... And I love your fantastic abs... And your hands... Oh God, how I love your hands...''

Sawyer suddenly stopped what he was doing and frowned.

''Hey'' said Jenn, bringing his face toward her. ''What's the matter?''

''Didn't you hear that?''

''Hear what?''

''HELP! SOMEBODY TOOK MY BABY! AARON'S GONE!''

''Claire...''

They both got dressed quickly before exiting the tent. Jenn got to the young mother first and tried to calm her down.

''Claire... Claire, sweetie, calm down.''

''What do you mean, someone took the baby?''

''I don't know, Aaron's gone...''

''It's okay'' yelled Hurley. ''We're over here!''

They all ran toward the water.

''Is he all right? Is he OK?'' kept asking Claire.

Charlie was standing near the water, baby Aaron's in his harm.

''Claire, I don't know what happened. I'm sorry.''

The young woman quickly took her baby out of his hands, cradling him close to her chest.

''He's okay, though'' said Charlie, trying to be reassuring. ''I had this dream...''

Out of nowhere, Claire slapped the young man. She turned around and went directly toward Jenn.

''Can you... Can you examine him?''

''Yes, of course... Come on, let's go to my tent.''

Between examining a now fuzzy Aaron and reassuring Claire that her son was perfectly okay, Jenn was barely able to get some sleep. When she finally woke up, it was to find Sawyer's place on the makeshift bed cold and the tent empty. She rubbed her eyes, put some clothes on and went outside. A smile appeared on her face once she saw Sawyer and Hurley playing cards.

''Don't I need 21? I think I should hit.''

''But I got a six. I'm gonna bust.''

''How do you know that?''

''He doesn't'' answered Jenn, sitting down next to Sawyer and kissing his stubbled cheek. ''But you've got to assume that he's going to bust.''

''Bright Eyes' right.''

''Why?''

Jenn laughed at the cluelessness of Hurley while Sawyer sighed, probably from frustration.

''Well, well, look who's off to the Laundromat.''

Hurley blushed as he watched Libby dropped her load of clothes.

''Well, go on. I'm sure you've got a load you need to drop in, don't you, Jethro?''

''I'm kind of waiting for my moment.''

Sawyer looked at Jenn, winking at her.

''Well your moment is now. Hey Libby!''

As soon as he said that he grabbed Jenn by the back of her head and kissed her. Hurley, not knowing what to do, just waved at the young woman.

''Hey, yourself'' answered the blond.

The moment he left them, Jenn catch a deep breath.

''You're quite the matchmaker, James... Should think of changing your profession...''

''No... Jabba just needed a good wingman...''

She smiled before kissing him one last time.

''Where the hell do you think you're goin'?''

''Off to see Kate... Don't worry, I'll be back soon. I just need some girl time... I'll be back in time for your physical therapy...''

''I hope it's the same type of therapy as last night...''

Jenn smiled and made her way down the beach. She found her friend sitting by the water, like most of the time when she wasn't wandering the jungle and climbing trees.

''Hey you... How are you doing?''

''Not so bad... You? Were you able to get some sleep after last night?''

Jenn sighed. ''Yeah. Sawyer let me sleep this morning.''

''Sawyer let you sleep? You got him all domestic.''

They both laughed.

''So... Anything new?''

''No, same old, same old. Have you... Have you seen your brother lately?''

Jenn frowned. ''Not really... He's spending all his time either down at the hatch or with...''

She stopped mid sentence.

''With Ana Lucia?'' asked Kate, even thought she knew the answer.

Jenn nodded. ''But don't worry... There's nothing between them. She's not his type and I'm probably the best person to know what his type his. And anyway, my brother's in love with someone else. He's in love with you, stupid. The thing is, do you love him too?''

There was a long silence.

''Alright... You don't want to tell me, I understand. We all have our secrets...''

''I kissed him'' blurted the brunette. ''I kissed Jack... And he kissed me back... But now, he won't even look at me...''

Tears were starting to form in her eyes. And it broke Jenn's heart to see her friend like that.

''We kissed and he won't even talk to me... He's ignoring me and... I know it shouldn't, but... It hurts so much.''

Jenn did the only thing she thought she ought to do and hugged her friend. She let her cry on her shoulder and kept reassuring her that everything would be okay, that her brother cared for her and loved her. She even cursed Jack's damn pride a couple of time. Damn, she cursed men in general more than once. Love was such a complicated thing... There were those who played the game of will-they-won't-they, like Jack and Kate, and then there were those who were like herself and Sawyer, living and loving each other in a carefree way.

The two friends parted way around late afternoon, Kate leaving for the jungle while Jenn went back to her tent. She didn't say much to Sawyer, even thought he questioned her on 'what the hell they talked 'bout the whole afternnon'. After realizing that she wouldn't tell him anything, Sawyer went back to his tent for a pre-dinner nap. Jenn just sat outside her tent, watching the ocean and her fellow castaways going on with their daily routine.

''Jenn!''

She nearly jumped at the sound of her brother's voice.

''Hey stranger. Where's your new best friend?'' she asked. ''Seems like whenever you're not down at hatch she's constantly attached to your hip. What? Come on, you've been spending almost all your free time with her...''

''You never said that of me and Kate...''

''The difference between her and Kate is that Kate didn't killed Shannon...''

''It was an accident, Jenn...''

''Accident or not, she killed one of our own. Even the other Tailies are making themselves scarce around her.''

''She's one of us too, Jenn. You should try to get to know her maybe you'd...''

''Stop patronizing me, Jack, about getting to know her when you shunned one of our own.''

''I didn't...''

''Oh yes, you did. Does the name Kate ring any bell? You won't even talked to her, you won't even look at her... And for what? Just because she decided not follow your command?''

There was a long silence.

''How... how is she doing?'

''How do you think she's doing? She's hurt... She ought to be mad at you, she ought to hate you, but she's just hurt. I never thought I'd say this one day, but I'm disappointed in you Jack. I thought you were better than that. I thought you cared about Kate, but from the way you've been treating her I don't know anymore.''

''I do! I do care about her...''

''Then show it! Try to mend your friendship!''

She didn't say goodbye, just headed toward Sawyer's tent and dropped down next to him.

''Heard you and the doc arguin'...''

''I don't want to talk about it... You hungry?''

He shook his head. ''You?''

''Not really... How about we just stay here?''

He smiled and cradled her with his good arm. They slowly drift to sleep only to be awaken a couple of hours later by the sound of Sayid screaming outside the tent.

''Fire! Grab tools, containers for sand, anything you have. If we don't stop it now, it'll burn right through the camp.''

The beach camp quickly became chaotic with people running everywhere. They quickly formed a bucket line, trying to put down the blaze. The grass was dry and easy to consumed. Luckily they were able to extinguish it rapidly.

''We got it all!''

''It's under control!''

''Everything's put down here!''

They all let out a sigh of relief until they heard Claire, who had stayed behind with baby Aaron, yelling.

''He's got my baby! Stop it! Stop it! Help! Help!''

They all stopped and ran toward the young mother who was pleading with Charlie to get her baby back.

''Charlie! Give me the baby'' said Locke, coming to the young mother's rescue.

''Eko, tell them!'' said the young man. ''Tell them, Eko! Tell them what you told me! That the baby has to be baptized!''

Sawyer looked at Jenn, puzzled.

''What the hell is he talkin' 'bout?''

''I don't know'' whispered the young woman.

The baby kept crying and it was clear that it was tearing everybody's heart.

''Charlie'' kept saying Locke, completely in control. ''Come on, give him to me.''

''Who the hell are you, John? Aaron's not your responsibility. Where were you when he was born? Where were you when he was taken? You're not his father! You're not his family!''

''Neither are you, Charlie'' simply stated the bald man.

The young man looked at Claire, surrounded by Kate, Sun and Jenn, crying hysterically.

''I have to do this! I need to! I'm not gonna hurt him.''

''Charlie...'' started Jenn. ''You're hurting Claire... Please, Charlie, hand us the baby.''

''Jenn, I... I...''

Carefully, Locke approached him and took Aaron from his arms before handing him to Claire. While the women took mother and child back to their tent, the men stayed behind. It wasn't until later, after finally having gotten Claire to sleep that Jenn learned what had happened after they had left.

''Baldie beat the crap out of him'' said Sawyer, in the early morning when Jenn went back to their tents. ''After that, Charlie boy left for the jungle to lick his wounds.''

''He really need help... He needs friends, but after what he did...''

''Why don't you sleep a little, Princess. It's been a rough few days...''

''Good night, James...''

''Night, Princess.''

TBC