Questioning to Prepare Alone

Heading through the sand she didn't even pretend not to watch Jack. Her eyes were focused on Jack and only Jack as she walked. He seemed to quickly disappear into the jungle in his own little daze. He was really beginning to worry her. He was resorting to threatening people to get what he wanted. She never knew Jack to be that way. Well she had known for a little over two weeks, but he just wasn't the kind of person.

Her attention was so taken by thought she didn't see any on coming people. She was nearly knocked on the ground as walked right nit o Boone.

"Kate. You ok?' He asked as he quickly helped her up.

"Yeah. Fine.' She barely said as she brushed the sand off. She still was looking off to where Jack had walked off. Thinking maybe he would walk back out. Boone's eyes traveled over to the same place and then back to her when he didn't see anything.

"What are you looking at?" He questioned. Kate looked back to him and back to the trees.

"Nothing." Kate smiled meekly as she turned back to him. Boone stood silent, as he knew it had to be Jack.

Kate remembered the laundry in her hand.

"Well I have to go get these clean for the guys back at the caves." Kate said as an excuse as she walked off. She really wasn't in the mood to sit and chat with anyone. Boone stood there for a second hesitating.

"Kate.' He called out. Kate turned around.

"Anything I can help with?' He squinted as the sun hit him in the eyes. Kate thought about it. She really couldn't think of anything.

"Can't think of anything. Maybe help out with something here on the beach." Kate suggested as she turned and walked away.

"Ok." Boone said as he watched her walk away.

Kate had wondered some ways into to the trees back to where she had first met Jack. She choose to do the laundry there so nothing would get into the water near the beach. Pulling out all the clothes she headed into the water. Washing each and every article she scooped them back up and headed ashore. Looking towards the trees she spotted someone. It wasn't someone she had really seen before. He was medium sized with somewhat dark brown short hair. He gave her a quick smile.

"Kate right?" He asked as he stopped his walk.

"Yeah." Kate replied as she trudged up the sand with the heavy cargo in her arms.

'And you are?" She questioned as she began put the clothes back in the sack to carry back off to the beach to be dried.

"Ethan." He smiled meekly.

"Oh. So what are you doing out here Ethan?" Kate asked as she picked up the bag. "Just heading back towards the caves to chop some wood." He said as he headed off in that direction.

"Are you here alone or were you flying with somebody?' Kate asked trying to make small talk. Ethan turned back to her with a stern look on his face.

"I have to be going now." He politely said as he turned and walked away. Kate stood there taken back. He seemed alitttle odd.

When she got back to the beach she gave Boone the bag of clothes. Telling him to hang them up to dry. With nothing to do she began to think off Jack. It seemed that if she didn't have something to consume her thought she always came around to thinking of Jack. It soon became too much. She needed to know what his problem was.

Questioning whether or not she should go and talk to him she turned to the caves and back to the beach. Wondering which road would be best to walk down. Pushing everything out of her mind she made up her mind. Swiftly she headed off the beach to the brush of the jungle as she headed to the caves. She didn't know what she was going to say to him. She really didn't know if she was going to say anything to him. Hopefully he would say all that was needed to be said.

Kate let nothing get in her way as she quickly headed through the jungle. She didn't stop to pay attention when she saw Claire and Charlie running somewhat hurriedly off some ways in the trees.

She just kept going. Back at the cave Jack was torn up. He had offered Claire some mild sedatives to help her sleep. She refused and headed off towards the beach. The people at the caves stayed away from Jack as they saw his attitude quickly change into certain anger.

Trotting into the camp Kate instantly noticed Jack's strange attitude. He was pacing around where Claire's stuff had been. Picking up things and tossing them about. He didn't notice everyone's shocked expressions, as they stayed clear of him. Kate was the only one brave enough to try and make sense of it.

"Jack." She called out to him. He seemed to hear her.

"What's going on?" She questioned. He still went off either pretending not to hear her or just not hearing her.

"Jack!" She called again.

"Nothing Kate. I'm fine." He answered as snared back to her.

" No you're not. Something's wrong." Kate confronted him.

"Nothing's wrong." Jack replied again as he sat down on the edge of the pond.

Everyone's attention was on the two. Locke had stopped cleaning his knives, Walt had stopped playing with Vincent, even Sun and Jin had turned their attention. Kate looked around at then as Jack sat slumped over in front of her. Looking back to Jack she squatted down in front of him. She looked him hard in the face as he still would not look at her.

"You need to stop doing this to yourself." She whispered. Jack quickly lunged up.

"Exactly what am I doing to myself Kate?" He questioned.

"Your stressing out.' She said loud enough for everyone to hear.

Slowly she walked in close to him.

"It's worrying everybody." She whispered. Jack looked away from her and around to the others. They quickly looked away.

"Is it worrying everyone or just you?' He questioned as he walked away. Kate stood there trying to calm herself down.

"Jack I'm just trying to help. And you're making it really difficult." Kate announced.

"You wanna know what's difficult?' Jack asked as he unconsciously paced around.

"It's difficult to have to do everything for everyone. I'm tired of doing everything while everyone does nothing. I'm tired of being expected to make everything better Kate." Jack seemed to wine. Kate stood there wondering why he let everyone just walk all over him.

"Jack." Kate started as someone stumbling into the camp quickly interrupted her.

Everyone's attention to the person stumbling in. It was Sayid. He looked weary and tired.

"Sayid." Kate called out as her and Jack rushed to him. Both pushed their argument out of their heads. Sayid came crashing to the ground. Jack immediately saw the wound on his leg and went for medication. Coming to him Jack started to examine him.

"There are others on the island." Sayid cried. Kate turned her attention to what he was saying.

"What?" Kate questioned.

"The woman on the distress signal I found her." Sayid breathed.

"The French woman?" Jack asked as he bandaged him up. He barely paid attention to him.

"Yes." Sayid gasped as pain struck his body. Everyone when silent.

"Jack." Sayid called. Jack's eyes wondered up to his.

"We're not alone." He announced now with Jack and everyone's attention.

Everyone but Jack nearly jumped as someone came plowing into the camp. Looking up Hurley came rushing over to Jack.

"Jack! Jack!" He called. Sitting at his side Hurley tried to get his attention like everybody else had been.

"We have a problem." He announced catching his breath.

"With what?' Jack asked wrapping Sayid's leg.

"The manifest." Hurley replied.

"Yeah.' Jack seemed to encourage him.

"Interview everyone here and on the beach.' Hurley stopped seeing Jack wasn't paying attention.

"Jack." He called out again. Everyone turned to him.

"One of the people wasn't on the manifest." Hurley announced. Jack starred at him with a hint of shock on his face.