Outlaws
Chapter Seven
Are you sure this is the right direction? Jack asked thirty minutes later.
I was half dead, remember? Sawyer said, irritated. How the hell was I supposed to know which way's which?Then why did you lead us out here? Jack said, anger raising.
Kate sighed, she was tired of the bickering already. At this rate, she figured Sawyer's cockiness would go on with him to the grave.
Hey, you're the one who wanted directions, Sawyer said in his own defense, I gave them to you.The right directions would've helped, Jack said, irritable himself.
Give him a break, okay? Kate said to Jack, wanted the arguing to stop for both Sawyer and her own purposes.
Jack didn't answer, angry at her for sticking by Sawyer for so long.
Let's just try this path, Jack sighed.
Kate and Sawyer followed, Sawyer more relucantly. He didn't like to be told where to go, but he was also smart enough to know that there was no way he could make it back to camp on his own.
The path was drakening with the sunset, and but enough light was left to see clearly. It looked lifeless, even some of the plants were dead. Kate began to wonder why Jack would even think to go down this way. But he looked determined as he did so, and she didn't protest.
And I'm the one with direction issues? Sawyer said, not hiding his bitterness.
You could've gone back to the caves, Jack pointed out, still just as bitter.
Let's just try and concentrate on finding Sayid, all right? Kate said, innerly more bitter than the both of them.
I don't even see why we're out looking for the man, Sawyer said, and quoted Jack, thought he was a trained soldier. Coudl handle himself.No one said you had to stay, Jack said.
Sawyer just smirked, knowing that if it were anyone else, Jack would've made camp, given surgery, and everything.
As they neared another clearing, the setting sun was incresing, causing an evening glow on the leaves. Much of the ground was still light, and it was rather bright on the clearing, which had a drop off towards the other end.
Nice path, Columbo, Sawyer said, what's your plan now.Let's just go back, Kate said.
But Jack wasn't paying attention to either of them. He was instead staring at the dead center of the clearing. Kate and Sawyer followed his gaze to a black back laying in the grass. A body bag.
Oh god, Kate said under her breath, knowing where this was going, and looking up, she saw that unfortuentl, she was right.
Jack was walking towards the body in a mad, crazed manner, revengful.
she said, trying to go after him, but Sawyer held her back.
Let him do what he wants to do, Sawyer whispered to her, actually wanting to see for himself the other side of Jack.
All Kate could to was stare helplessly as Jack took his first kick to the bag. And then another. And another.
She called again, more despereatly, but he couldn't hear her over his own screams.
Damn you! Jack was shouting at the body while continuously kicking it into a deeper death. Dammit, can't you see what you've done? To me?
Jack gave the body bag another harsh kick, and Kate finally forced herself away from Sawyer's kick, rushing to pull Jack away as if the body were real. Sawyer just watched the scene, half of him amused, half of him not knowing what to think.
Jack, stop it! Kate said, as she grabbed a hold of his arms to hold him back.
Shoving her off, Jack gave the body bag another kick.
Jack, stop! Kate said again from behind him.
He had kicked the body to the edge.
Doing this isn't going to bring your father back! Kate said, spitting it out like it was a dark secret she was finally able to tell.
And Jack did stop. He looked down, hand on his forehead, as if he was coming out of a trance and couldn't beleive what he had done. But it was too late. The body then lost balance, falling over the cliffs edge. Kate held Jack back as they watched the body fall and her the sickening thud as it hit the rocks. Jack himself looked sick then.
Sawyer finally entered, the scene, walking over and taking a look at the fallen body bag for himself.
If that guy wasn't in hell before, he is now, he comminted.
It was quiet as Jack found himself unable to take his eyes off the beaten back, and the silence wasn't interrupted until Kate thought she heard something.
Did you hear that? She said, thinking at first she was hearing things.
Jack said, though to lost in his own thoughts to understand what he was saying.
That.. water, Kate, said, heading towards a path through some trees.
Wait.. hold on there Freckles, Sawyer, said, going after her.
Jack took one last look at his father's body bag, then went after her as well. A few minutes later, they found the source of the noise- a stream that rain along the mountains.
What's that?A river, sweetheart, Sawyer said seriously, or have you Canadian folks never seen any of them?Yeah, I've seen them, Kate said, moving closer to what she saw.
But as soon as she could make out the figure, she wished she hadn't.
she was finally able to croak out weakly as tears began to fight in her eyes.
Jack and Sawyer ran towards her, and stopped at the sight. It was Sayid, dead. He had a large bump on his forehead, and was bleeding from his hairline. He look beaten, and drowned to death.
Oh god, Kate said for the third time that night.
She found herself falling into Jack's shoulder, burying her head into it, not wanting to look at the sight. Jack didn't resist and even Sawyer couldn't say anything. Instead, he walked away from the scene, spotting something tucked under some bushes. Pulling it out, he saw it was an envolope. He took out its contents: pictures of a girl, same culture as Sayid. Sawyer flipped the envelope over and read the writing.
......
Kate had turned as Jack had burned Sayid's body. Sawyer had distance himself, not knowing what to say or do. All the comforting was being done by Jack, what little he could. Then, around five-thirty, Kate aproached him from where he sat, his head leaning back against a tree.
We're going back to camo, Kate told him quietly, the others will be worried.
Sawyer opened his eyes and looked at her. She wasn't sure what to make of the expression in her eyes.
Jack's about to put the fire out, Kate said, finding herself barely able to say it as she felt on the verge of tears again.
I'll do it, Sawyer offered.
Go with Jack, Sawyer said, I'll put the fire out.Are you sure? Kate said, biting her lip.
Yes I'm sure! Sawyer said. Now go before I change my mind!
Kate did, and Sawyer watched as she whispered something to Jack, who turned and looked at him. Jack then nodded, rather in understandment or giving permission, Sawyer didn't know. Jack stood, and Sawyer watched as the two set off. He waited a few minutes before standing, but sooner than he thught he would, Sawyer found himself kneeling by the now descesed body, the fire's glow shadowing his face, letting the envolope tap against his hand.
I'll meet you in the next life if not in this one, Sawyer quoted finally.
He took a last look at the pictures.
Guess you got your wish.
He then let the flames engulf the envolope and its contents, and soon after put the fire out.
......
Jack and Kate walked sorrowfully back into camp an hour later. Locke was the first to aproach them.
You've been gone all day, Locke said, we we're talking about sending out a search party for out search party.
When neither commented his humor, Locke looked at them, worried.
He asked, sounding a little nervous.
Kate began,
Locke looked at her as she tried to find the strength to say it. When she couldn't, Jack covered for her.
Sayid's dead, Locke, Jack said, looking down.
And where's Sawyer?
Jack and Kate both looked up then. That wasn't the reaction they had been expecting.
Kate said, confused.
Where's Sawyer? Locke repeated. Wasn't he with you?He's back at the fire, Jack explained, we burnt the body. We had to. Locke said, Sayid and Sawyer got back four hours ago.
Jack and Kate stared at him.
What did you say? Kate said slowly.
Got back around two, Locke said, Sayid's been at the caves, and Sawyer must be around here somewhere, my guess is off in the distnace. They said something about someone trying to attack them, though on the surface they looked fine to me.
It was then that Jack noticed what was going on at the beach. Looking over, he and Kate watched as the body they had just burned aproached Shannon, who was reading a magizine in an airline recliner. Shannon seemed happy about something, and stood as the two began to walk along the shoreline.
How is that possible? Jack finally said.
It shows you your fears, Locke said simply,
And with that, he left, leaving Jack and Kate watching Sayid and Shannon as they began their moonlit journey.
But if it shows us our fears, Kate said, not able to believe it, then, why do we fear Sayid's death?
Jack had thought the same thing since Locke's comment, but a new one had overidden it:
Why did he fear Sawyer's prescence?
Author's Notes: So how'd you like the ending? I'll go ahead and tell you now so you won't be confussed. Everything from where Sawyer was knocked out to Jack and Kate returning wasn't real. Sawyer and Sayid really did get knocked out, but that was all(or so they think! Okay, might add in that plot line). Who's to say it was even one of the others'. Jack and Kate really did talk to Locke though. So, why do they fear Sayid's death? And Sawyer's prescence? Find out(sooner or later) in my own little Fate' series. The last chapter will be a songfic chapter to unless I change my mind tomorrow. It can go either way, but I think I am ending The Sranger in a cliffhanger. Just in case, thanks for all the reviews! Yall are the best! Hope yall understood the ending..
P.S: I'll go back and edit later. It's 11:35 and I'll feel dead tomorrow morning. I just really wanted to get this finished tonight. Just felt like I could do it, you know? And I'll go back and add in the monster' sounds later, somewhere in there.
Once again, thanks, yall are the best! Stay tuned for the last chapter, and a possbile alternate ending(this one with only Kate and the monster').
October Sky