Escape – Kate's POV

"We should probably get some sleep."

"Mmmm." He got up from the couch where they'd been sitting together, talking, but she made no move to follow him. She was lost in thought.

"Kate?"

She looked up at him, and smiled. And then, when he crouched down beside her again, concerned, she smiled even wider.

"How long has it been?"

He was still confused. "What?"

She stood up, and he followed her. She stepped closer and pressed her lips against his cheek, and slid her hand down to his belt. He swallowed hard, and she whispered in his ear, "The jungle."

He pulled back and looked at her, quickly pushing her hands away.

"Are you mad? Alex said this placed is heavily watched, we couldn't just walk out!"

"We could sneak out. C'mon, for old time's sake…we're not ever going to be here again. It's our last opportunity."

He still looked apprehensive.

"Don't you ever miss it? It's not the same, back home. Being there, amongst all the leaves and trees, listening to all the wonderful sounds, the quiet. Just us, all alone in the jungle…" she slid her hands back to his belt, and saw his eyes flutter closed. "…naked."

His eyes flew open again and he grabbed her hand. He opened the door, taking care to shut it quietly. It was dark enough to not be seen, if they were careful. She searched for the nearest tree line and saw it, some 30 metres behind 'their' house. There was very little cover. She felt a surge of excitement flush through her. She'd hid from many things in her time, but she had never tried to evade violent islanders with electric taser guns while trying to sneak off for wild jungle sex. She could feel him trembling with excitement too. He grabbed her hand and then suddenly they were running, away from the little 'village' and into the dense jungle. As quietly as they could they crept through the trees, until they came to a cleared area, where the trees weren't so dense and there was a little place with leaves all over the ground.

She threw herself on Jack, and he kissed her back just as fervently. They were tearing at each other's clothes, throwing them into a heap on the ground which Jack pushed her back onto a few seconds later. It was so wonderful, to be back here again – amongst the trees, with the moon overhead and the sweet fresh smell of the plants all around.

It was all over so quickly – too quickly. But none the less it was amazing. A blur of passion that sprung from the stress of today…this island. This place.

Jack kissed her cheek and she felt the thin film of sweat on his forehead. It was on hers too, and all over her body. Both their bodies. He rolled onto his back and pulled her with him, so that she was lying beside him and he had both arms around her.

"You're perfect." He whispered into her ear.

"So are you." She tilted her head back and kisses him sweetly on the mouth. He sighed and looked up at the starry sky.

"You're right – I do miss that. Was it as good as before?"

"Better."

"I might have to agree with you on that."

They lay on the jungle floor, pressed close, for just a few more minutes.

"We should go now, I'm tired."

She wasn't, really, but she was content laying there. They had to go though; she couldn't bear imagining them falling asleep and being discovered – still naked – the next day.

Sighing she scrambled out of his arms and dutifully pulled on her knickers and bra. He put on his boxers and picked up her shirt, by accident. He made no move to put it down and she stepped closer to him and lifted up her arms. Slowly, he pulled it over her head and then she picked up his shirt, the same colour as hers and easily mistakable in the half light. They dressed each other, and then unwillingly wandered back between the trees. Neither of them wanted to leave, but they knew they had to. Incredibly happy, and satisfied, they walked back to the house hand in hand.

There wasn't much point trying to sleep. She knew it wouldn't come, anyway. Jack was lying with his back to her, and her arm pulled underneath him, around his chest. Her other arm was draped around his waist, and he held her two hands snugly against his stomach.

She was comfortable like that, with her head resting against his warm back. She could almost hear his heartbeat, even through his shirt. He was sleeping – the steady rise and fall of his chest was evidence enough. And she knew that if he was awake, he would be tensed with worry. It was nice, seeing him relaxed; even for a little while.

She guessed it was about 4am, give or take. But she couldn't sleep. As slowly as she could, she disentangled herself from Jack and quietly crept out of bed. He was still asleep, thankfully, and hadn't been disturbed by her leaving.

She went down the stairs and sat on one of the couches there, looking around the dark room. She could see well enough, from the dim light that was filtering in. The sun would probably rise in around an hour and half. That means Alex would come…and they'd be going. Finally. Sighing, she settled back down in the sofa and waited for the time to pass. She didn't notice that the couch was getting comfier, and her eyelids were drooping, and her head was tilting ever so slightly to the side…

A knock woke her. She jumped up, alarmed, until she realised that it was only Alex and quietly opened the door. The girl smiled at her, and quickly pushed past into the house. Immediately she shut the door, wary of who could be watching.

"You ready?"

"I just have to go and wake up Jack."

Alex nodded and started searching in her bag for something. Kate turned and went upstairs, into the bedroom where Jack was still asleep.

Whatever he was dreaming about, he seemed happy. Perhaps their little rendezvous in the jungle earlier. She smiled and crawled over to him, until her mouth was brushing his ear.

"Jack, we gotta go. Alex is here now." He woke, and twisted his head so that he could see her.

"Now?"

"Yeah. She's downstairs. Hurry!" She clambered off him and he sat up slowly, rubbing the back of his head.

"It's too early." He grumbled and followed her downstairs.

She laughed. "I thought I was the one who wasn't a morning person."

He looked past her into the still dark living room.

"I don't really think you could call this morning."

Alex looked up nervously and relaxed when she saw them coming down the stairs. There was a walkie-talkie in her hand, and she was holding it tightly.

"My friend says he's ready to go with the boat. So we're gonna have to be really quick, before someone wakes up."

"Ok, let's go then."

Alex opened the door and slipped outside, and they followed her. She ran into the jungle, away from camp, and soon they were lost amongst the foliage. Jack looked over at her and smiled, and she knew that he was thinking about when they'd last been in the jungle, a few hours before. She was too.

"I took your bags while you were sleeping, I hope you don't mind. My friend helped. It would just be easier if they were already in the boat."

Kate was surprised that Alex hadn't woken her: the bags were at the bottom of the stairs, right beside the chair where she'd fallen asleep. She looked at Alex, puzzled, and the girl smiled.

"I've learnt how to be really quiet."

True, the girl barely made a sound as they crept through the jungle. Kate could see the sun starting to rise in the sky when Alex finally stopped.

"Here we are."

She looked around. There was something familiar about this place, something she couldn't quite place…Alex reached down and pulled away a tarp and some leaves, to reveal a hatch door.

She remembered now – the hatch that Claire had visited to get vaccine for the baby, so long ago. This was it.

They went inside, and Alex grabbed a gun off the walls. There was a box on the floor, and she sifted around inside and finally produced two little blue objects.

"What's that?"

"Tranquilisers." She held them up, and Kate took one from her. It was a tiny thing, a little glass tube filled with some blue liquid. There was a spike on the end, and grooves where it would fit into the gun. They heard a noise and Alex quickly snatched them from her and loaded the gun.

They saw a woman walk out of a room, wearing a lab coat, and she whistled as she walked down the hall. Away from them, thankfully. Alex took no chances though – she shot the woman in the back of the neck and she collapsed on the floor.

Kate was stunned, and from the way Jack was gripping her hand she knew he was too. But Alex, unfazed, walked over and turned the woman onto her back.

"Sarah." Jack flinched beside her. "C'mon, nothing to worry about. I didn't want to risk her turning around though. I think she was in with him just then."

Alex walked into the room which the woman had come from, and they followed her. And sure enough, it was a nursery.

"This was for Claire's baby…but she got away."

A small cry came from a cot on the other side of the room. Kate rushed over to it.

"Tom!"

He was lying there, arms outstretched for her, a wail coming from his mouth. She scooped him up into her arms and smothered him with kisses, and turned back to Jack.

There were tears in his eyes, and he came over to them slowly.

"Hey little guy." He kissed Tom's soft head, downy with baby hair, and put his arm around Kate.

"I hate to interrupt, but we really have to…"

She nodded. "Let's go."

The boat was waiting for them at a dock at the beach – the same dock they'd arrived at.

A young man was waiting for them beside the boat, looking around nervously. When he saw them he rushed over.

"Alex! I thought you weren't coming!"

"Jack, Kate, this is Kenny. He's Karl's brother, he's helping us escape."

"Alex!"

"Right, okay get in."

They jumped in the boat, Jack and Kate in the back and Alex and Kenny in the front.

They were pulling away from the dock when a figure came running out of the jungle. As it came closer they saw it was Ben.

He was shouting, but he was, thankfully, alone.

"Quick! Go!"

"Alex wait!"

They were about two metres from the dock when Ben reached the end. He barely hesitated and jumped into the water. He surfaced beside the boat, panting and struggling to keep afloat.

"Alex." He said, softer now.

He put a hand out to her, and slowly, she took it.

"Dad."

"Why are you leaving me?"

"I have to. You know that."

"But what will you do there? Where will you stay? How will you take care of the baby?" His voice broke on the last part.

"I don't know…I'll manage somehow. Please, dad, you have to let me go."

He didn't answer.

"Please, just let me go…"

He motioned for her to come closer and she did. He leant forward and whispered something in her ear. And then he kissed her hand and turned back to the dock. Kenny started up the boat again, and Alex sat back down slowly, staring at the floor and shaking.

Kate went to her, handing the baby to Jack.

"Alex? What did he say?"

"He said…he said Karl's not dead."

The girl's hand went to her stomach.

"He said he let him go, in secret."

"Go?"

"To the real world."

Ok! I am not going to make any more promises I can't keep! I am so sorry….I promised I'd update every weekend, but then I just lost the will to write again!!!! I don't know how I can make it up to you…maybe more jex? When they get back home? I'm glad they're finally off that island! I'm on Easter holidays now and have been very inspired to write these past few days. So I will try to update as often as possible! Oh, and I have a little – scratch that, BIG – amendment to make. In the last chapter, I said that Alex's boyfriend was called Kevin. KARL!!!! I totally meant Karl. I just got it muddled up in my head. But from now on, he's Karl – Alex doesn't know anyone called Kevin. Well, she probably does, but…that's not the point – Karl. Karl is her boyfriend, like on the show. Please read the new fic I wrote, A Walk On The Beach! I just needed a bit of a break from this for a while. Its set after Left Behind. REVIEW!!! (I won't complain!)