Chapter 2

Fallen leaves rustled loudly. The tall bushes swayed with the wind. From inside the woods the darkened blue sky was only slightly visible. The sun from beginning to set and the tall green trees blocked most of the remaining light from getting in. The sound of a man's footsteps could be heard.

"Who's there?"

The footsteps grew louder.

"Who's there? Answer me."

In the distance, the echo of a stick cracking in half could be heard.

"Stop following me!"

The rustling of grass became louder. She moved around in circles to determine at which angle the noise was coming from.

"Take it easy. I'm not gonna hurt ya," a voice echoed in the distance.

It was a voice she knew so well yet tried so hard to forget. The voice was of a man's. It was a deep calming voice which had a slight southern accent to it.

"Is that...is that you...." she started.

She wanted to say his name so badly but yet she was so afraid of what memories might stir if she did.

"Relax, I'm not gonna do anything to you."

Its southern accent reminded her so much of his, a man on the island, a man named Sawyer. Maybe he was just playing tricks on her. Maybe it's not even who she thinks it is. Maybe it's just Sawyer. She wanted to know. She needed to know if her thoughts were true or not.

"Ja...Jamie...Is that you?"

She closed her eyes when she said his name. She was unsure of what might happen when she said it and she did not want to see. She moved around slightly, taking a few steps backwards. She then hit something hard. Whatever she bumped into felt muscular and she could feel it's breath on her. She then heard its voice. It was a voice she has heard many times before. A chill spiralled down her spine when she realized how similar the two voices were. She opened her eyes slowly and heard him again.

"Hiya Freckles!"

"God Sawyer. What the hell are you doing here?" Kate said angrily turning around and moving away from him.

"What's wrong Freckles? Not happy to see me?"

He moved closer to Kate to close to gap between them. He smirked as Kate put a disgusted look on her face.

"I'm not in the mood Sawyer. I don't want to have to deal with you right now," Kate said.

"What there. What's going on with you Freckles? Did the doc get your panties in a knot?" Sawyer laughed.

"Shut you mouth Sawyer before I do it for you."

"Oh...touchy," Sawyer smirked.

"Like I said, I don't want to deal with you right now," Kate told him walking away.

Sawyer stood where he was for a few more seconds and grinned. He started to follow her as he took out a cigarette and lighted it.

"Walking away Freckles?" Sawyer called to her, "That's okay. I like a chase."

Kate stopped walking and turned around to face Sawyer.

"God, you don't know when to stop do you?" Kate said.

"Nope," Sawyer grinned.

Kate rolled her eyes and continued walking away. Sawyer took one last puff of his cigarette and threw the bud on the ground. He stepped on it and slowly walked towards her.

"Hey Freckles. Just a little question here," Sawyer said, "And maybe if you answer it I'll leave you alone."

"What is it?" She asked.

"Who's Jamie?"

Kate stopped dead in her tracks. She slowly turned around to face him. She looked at Sawyer directly and narrowed her eyes.

"What did you just say?" Kate questioned.

"You heard me right Freckles. Who's Jamie?" Sawyer asked again now with a small smirk on his face.

"That's none of your business Sawyer," Kate said, "Drop it okay."

"Aw now that's no good Freckles. I asked a question and you gotta answer it. It's the nice thing to do."

"Forget about it Sawyer. I'm not going to answer anything you ask me," Kate said, "I'm leaving. Don't follow me."

"What if I do?"

"Then you better shut your mouth and never mention that name ever again," Kate told him, "And if you do, you better pray to god that I don't hurt you."

"No need to threaten me now," Sawyer smirked, "Just askin'."

Sawyer leaned against a tree and said, "So I take it you're not gonna answer me."

Kate walked towards Sawyer until they were only several inches apart.

"So you got me right where you want me don't ya?" Sawyer grinned.

"You disgust me Sawyer," Kate said as she glared at him hatefully, "Anyone in their right mind would want to murder you right now but me, no I'm not going to do that...yet. So don't say that name around me ever again do you hear me?"

"Well Freckles, I..."

Kate shook her head and sighed.

"Just...just don't say it okay?" Kate said as she looked down at her feet, "Please."

They stared at each other for a few seconds longer before she turned and left.

"Whatever you say Freckles," Sawyer mumbled to himself as he watched her walk away from him.

-- - -- - --

When Kate got back to the caves the sky had shed its light and became dark. The stars were only slightly visible and the moon was the only light that helped Kate get back to the caves.

"Kate!"

Kate looked up at the person who called her name. It was Charlie.

"Charlie, what's up?" she replied.

Charlie ran towards her breathlessly and looked at her with panic in his eyes.

"Charlie...what is it? What happened?" Kate questioned when she looked into his eyes.

"Its...Its Jack. He's not back yet. It's late and it's dark. No one can find him and...and..." Charlie told her, "And...we need help right now. We need a doctor. We need Jack...right now..."

"Why? What happened? What is it?" Kate asked as she tried to keep herself calm.

"He...He was attacked..."

"Who? Who was attacked?" Kate questioned.

"That kid. Michael's son," Charlie said.

"Walt? How did that happen?"

"Walt. Yea…Walt. A boar. He was with...he was with Locke and a boar attacked them. He needs stitching. His wound. It's big," Charlie explained, "We need Jack. But no one can find him. We checked the beach. Locke, Sayid and I searched in the forest and Michael...Michael's going mad. Totally mad. Walt...he's lost a lot of blood and...and we can't find Jack. We need to find Jack!"

"Charlie! Charlie! Calm down," Kate said as she grabbed his shoulders, "Are Locke and Sayid still looking for Jack?"

Charlie nodded.

"Okay, I think...I think I can help," Kate told him, "Go get me a bottle of water, a bottle of alcohol or any sort of disinfectant if you can find any, a sewing kit and bandages. "

He nodded again and ran off into the cave. Kate hurried into the cave and looked around. She saw Walt surrounded by almost everyone that was in the cave. She ran towards them. Walt's face was drenched with sweat. His shirt was torn and full of blood. Michael held onto Walt's hand and looked up at Kate when she arrived.

"Kate...Kate! No one can find Jack. Where the hell is he!?" Michael yelled, "My boy's hurt. He's hurt! I swear if anything happens to Walt...I will kill him!"

"Michael...Calm down. I can help okay?" Kate said, "I can help."

Charlie ran to Kate and gave her the supplies he was ordered to find. She opened the kit and took out a needle. She threaded the needle. She opened a bottle of alcohol that Charlie found and spread it across the wound and then put some on her own hands.

"I hope you know what you're doing cause if you don't..." Michael warned.

Kate looked straight into Michael's eyes.

"Don't worry. I sewed the drapes in my apartment before," she said as she pushed the needle into Walt's skin slowly.

-- - -Flashback- - --

"Excuse me! Did you ever use a needle?"

"What?"

"Do you ever patch a pair of jeans?"

"I...I made the drapes in my apartment."

"That's fantastic. Listen...do you have a second? I could use a little help here."

"Help with what?"

"With this. Look, I'd do it myself. I'm a doctor. But I just can't reach it."

"You want me to sew that up?"

"It's just like the drapes, same..."

"No, with the drapes you can use a sewing machine."

"No, you can do this. I'm telling you. If you wouldn't mind."

"Of course I will."

"Thank you."

-- - -End Flashback- - --

"Done," Kate said finally.

"Are you sure he's going to be okay? I mean..." Michael started saying.

"I think he'll be alright. I'm not Jack and I'm don't know anything about medicine but yea I think he'll be alright," Kate told him.

"Thank you. Thank you Kate. I don't know what could've happened if you didn't come back when you did," Michael let out a sigh of relief.

Kate smiled as she took a roll of bandages and patched Walt up, "Make sure his wound keeps clean and just...look after him."

Michael nodded.

When Kate finished she stood up. She looked around the cave and saw Locke talking with Charlie. She headed over towards them.

"Locke. Did you find Jack?" Kate asked.

"No. We've looked all over this island and there is no sign of him anywhere."

"Are you sure? He has to be here somewhere. I mean, it's not like he can just disappear off the face of the earth!" Charlie exclaimed.

"It seems impossible doesn't it? If you can give me another explanation of where he might be then that's all we got," Locke said.

Charlie glanced at Kate, "He was looking for you this morning Kate. Did you see him? Did he say anything?"

"He...I..."

Just when Kate was about to reply they heard Michael yelling.

"Where the hell were you?! My son almost died because of you! You're the doctor! You should've been here to help him!" Michael yelled.

Kate turned around and saw Michael yelling at Jack. Michael grabbed Jack's shoulders and shook him. Jack didn't seem bothered by the shaking or the yelling. He just stared blankly at Michael not saying a word.

"What the hell is wrong with you? Why aren't you saying anything?" Michael cried.

There were cuts on Jack's face and the white shirt he wore now had dark brown stains on it. Michael looked at Jack furiously and kept yelling at him.

"I guess he didn't fall of the face of the earth..." Kate whispered to herself.

TBC...