Author's Note: Thanks everyone for the wonderful reviews! I'm still getting new readers! I'm just glad everyone's enjoying it. I hate to say it, but, alas, we're getting down to the final chapter. /hears everyone gasps and runs for it/

Chapter Seven

'Hot damn. What are we . . . waiting for . . . then?' Sawyer asked, still smiling.

'Oh, just move!' Kate said, pulling his arm to make him get up.

She heard another branch snap and a bush shudder as Sawyer got up drunkenly. He swayed for a moment, putting most of his body weight on her. She held him up though, grunting in the effort. He finally stood up as steadily as he could.

'Just put your arm around my shoulders and take small steps,' Kate said.

Sawyer put his left arm around her shoulders and gripped them tight. The dizziness returned and so did the big black dots. He fought to stay conscious as Kate made them walk faster. Kate could still hear someone behind them. She knew she couldn't push Sawyer too far or he would pass out on her. She definitely knew she couldn't carry his dead weight.

'Come on, little faster,' she muttered, already breaking out into a sweat.

At that moment she heard someone shout out behind her. She turned her head back and saw the same guy as the night before. He was weaving his way around the trees and hollering at them.

'Shit!' she cursed.

'Just . . . let me . . . go,' Sawyer said, trying to turn his head back too.

'No. You're making it back it back to the beach even if I have to carry you,' Kate said, making Sawyer walk faster.

'I'd like that . . . 'bout now . . .' he said, trying to grin in his pain.

'Just keep moving. Here, let's go down that hill,' Kate said, indicating the one that was sloping down in front of them.

Their pursuer had started running after them. Kate knew that if they didn't go faster, then he would catch up with them in no time. As they went down the hill, Kate made them break into a lop-sided jog. She looked back and saw that the guy hadn't started running down the hill yet. She looked around and saw a familiar looking thicket of vines and bamboo mixed in with trees. It was the same place she had ran to on that day that she, Jack, and Charlie had found the cockpit. Right next to all the vines and trees was this huge tree. They were facing the back end of it. Maybe it wasn't the perfect place to hide, but it sounded like a great one at the moment. She broke out into a run, dragging Sawyer with her. She just hoped they ran quick enough before the guy came over the top and saw them. They reach the front end of it and saw that there was a hollow-hole in it. It was better than she expected.

'H-Here, get inside . . .' Kate huffed, coming to a halt in front of the tree.

Sawyer gingerly tried to duck inside. Kate looked around, knowing they had mere seconds before they were sighted.

'Sorry, Sawyer,' Kate said as she pushed him in.

He cursed out in surprise and grabbed her arm, pulling her with him. He landed hard on the ground and Kate felt the air go out of him as she landed hard on top of him. He started to cry out but she hurried and covered his mouth with her hand, trying to muffle his cries. She looked up, trying to see if they were truly hidden. As long as the guy didn't come in the way they had, he wouldn't be able to spot them, or so she hoped. She looked back down at Sawyer and saw that he was looking at her, one eye half-closed, a pained look in his other eye as his chest heaved in pain.

'I'm-I'm sorry. I would get off . . . but he might hear,' Kate whispered, her lips barely moving.

Sawyer's look of pain changed to that of amusement, but he slightly nodded his head as if he understood.

Kate looked up again, trying to see if she could hear the guy coming. A few seconds later she could hear footsteps. There were voices, making her think there were two of them. That couldn't be possible though, unless there were more psychos from their group. She heard them start to walk closer and she froze, trying not to breath. Sawyer's breathing had slowed and she looked down at him again, a strand of her hair falling across her cheek. He wasn't looking at her anymore. Now his eyes darted to where the footsteps were coming from, off to their left.

'Did you hear that?' the first guy asked.

'Yeah, movement over there. I think someone's coming,' the second said.

'Let's go then. If it's one of them from the beach then we'll look suspicious,' the first said.

They then turned around on the spot and headed back the way they came. Kate still held her breath for another minute, not able to believe their luck. She then let it out with a whoosh sound.

'That was . . . close,' Sawyer muttered.

'Yeah, it was. I wonder what's coming though,' Kate said. 'Come on, we've got to get you up.'

'But I'm fine here, sweetheart,' Sawyer said, his left hand slowly creeping up to her side.

Kate looked back down to him. He lifted his head, trying to pull her into a kiss.

'Not now,' she warned as she kneed his side, gently enough not to cause him too much pain.

Sawyer inhaled sharply and his hand left her side. He then chuckled weakly at her.

Kate got off of him and winced as her side flared up again and her head started hurting. She had all but forgotten about her own injuries in trying to get Sawyer to the tree. She touched the side of her head where she had been hit and pulled her hand back quickly as more pain went through her head. She bent down and reached a hand out to Sawyer. She thought he had a look of concern on his face, but then it was gone and she thought she had only imagined it. He reached up and took her hand, trying not to drag her down. Kate grabbed onto the side of the tree for support. Sawyer swayed a bit, but got his footing. Kate took his hand with both of hers and started backing out of the tree. Kate heard the grass rustle as someone moved around. She got Sawyer out of the tree and stopped, turning around to see who it was. She saw something white moving low to the ground. Kate sighed in relief and let out a laugh.

'What?' Sawyer asked, panting slightly.

'It's Vincent,' Kate said.

'Who?' Sawyer asked, looking over her head to the ground.

'Vincent, the dog,' Kate said.

Vincent made his way out of the thick jungle growth and padded towards them. His ears pricked up as he saw them and he barked, wagging his tail.

'This is what . . . scared them off?' Sawyer asked, looking in disbelief at the dog.

'Good boy, Vincent,' Kate said as she bent down slightly and patted Vincent on the head.

Vincent had his mouth open, panting, but he looked like he was laughing. He licked Kate's hand and started barking again. A few seconds later they heard someone else making their way through the jungle. Vincent barked again, looking in the direction of the noise.

'Great . . .' Sawyer muttered as he shifted his grip on Kate's shoulder.

Kate looked in the direction of the noise, trying to see who it was. Finally she made out a fairly tall figure fighting its way through the brush. She caught a glimpse of a yellow shirt and khaki pants. Then she saw that the figure was bald-headed.

'It's Locke,' Kate said, sighing in relief again.

Sawyer's head, meanwhile, had taken a turn for the worse. It had begun to spin again and it felt like it wasn't going to stop anytime soon. He supposed that all the blood lost had finally caught up with him. He had made it this far, seemed like he would never get another damn kiss from Kate again. He swayed a bit, gripping Kate's shoulder harder. She turned around to look at him. His eyes went in and out of focus and then rolled in the back of his head. His body went limp and she struggled to hold him up as he fell to the ground.