Request

Chapter Five

Disclaimers: Stephen King owns "The Langoliers" which can be found in the book Four Past Midnight. I only read a few pages, and don't really know much about it, except the people on the plane go back in time.

"What were you and Locke doing all the way out here?" Sayid asked as he sidestepped a log.

They were on an east trail, several miles from camp, and Sayid couldn't see any sense at Locke being out here, and his gut feeling told him that he should be keeping a close eye on Boone, which he was, and not just for the boy's protection.

"We've been looking for the tail end of the plane," Boone lied, "I mean, if the cargo landed in the middle, the cockpit not far from that, and the middle on the beach, then the tail must be-"

"Somewhere in the ocean?" Sayid corrected, picturing it on an imaginary map in his head.

"Or on the other end of the island," Boone said in slight embarrassment, knowing that he was probably wrong.

"So why search out here?" Sayid asked, curious.

"Locke's intuition," Boone shrugged.

"And do you always do what Locke says?" Sayid said, amused.

"We just found some interesting stuff when we were looking for Claire," Boone said, as casually as he could.

"What kind of interesting-"

Sayid was cut off at the sound of the bushes rustling beside them. Both men stopped short, stepping back, as whoever it was stepped closer. Boone reached for his pocket, for something Sayid couldn't see, but assumed was a knife. Footsteps grew closer and closer, and Sayid considered running for it for a split second, and was about to curse himself for it when Shannon stepped out.

"Um..hi," Shannon said, unsure of how to greet them.

"Where's Jack?" Sayid said immediately, trying desperately to replace his memories of his night with Shannon by telling himself that someone out there may be hurt, and they needed to get to that person as quick as possible.

"There wasn't anyone at the caves," Shannon said, "it was- deserted."

Sayid and Boone stared at her, finding it hard to believe.

(space)

The sun was at its very first stage of setting as Jack and Kate walked the path from the caves to the beach. Finding no one at the caves when they arrived, Jack's mind began to send the message that something had to have gone wrong. On the way to wherever they may find everyone, Jack and Kate discussed what to do about her current situation.

"How long do you think it'll be before they realize that their prisoner is still missing?" Kate said to Jack.

"As long as you lay low-"

"Lay low?" Kate laughed. "What are you, a detective?"

"I'm serious Kate," Jack said, stopping.

Kate stopped as well, and looked at him.

"You deserve a second chance as much as everybody else," Jack said, feeling as though he was repeating himself, "I don't want some gullible fool to ruin it for you."

Kate couldn't help but to laugh, which puzzled Jack.

"What?" He asked, confused.

"You didn't sleep last night," Kate said, "did you?"

"Why?" Jack asked, eyeing her.

"Gullible fool?" Kate quoted with a smile.

"Yeah, well I've had a few things on my mind," Jack said truthfully.

"Like what?"

Jack never got to answer. The sound of loud yelling and shouting- arguments- filled the air, and without saying a word, both Jack and Kate took off towards them.

(Space)

The arguing led them to a clearing down a path south, and the scene before them made the two stop suddenly. To preoccupied with the debate they were in, the dozen survivors that stood in a circle around two figures didn't even notice their entrance. Looking closer, Jack saw that the two castaways everyone was centered around were Sawyer, and a terrified and confused looking Alex.

"I don't know anything!" Alex was saying to Sawyer, backing up against a tree, hands up as if she were afraid he'd attack her.

"Didn't your mama ever teach you not to lie?" Sawyer growled, but the comment seemed to have some personal effect on Alex as her face hardened in anger and desperation.

"I told already told you!" Alex shouted in Sawyer's face. "I don't know-"

"And I already told you-" Sawyer intercutted.

Jack was about to interfere, but Kate beat him to it as she shouted, "Stop it!" causing all dozen of the survivors to turn their heads, including Sawyer, and a very relieved Alex.

"Well look who finally decided to join us," Sawyer said sarcastically, "Starksy and Hutch."

"What the hell's going on?" Jack said, looking at the crowd in disbelief.

It might've just been Kate, but at Jack's interference, the mob seemed to stiffened, as if frightened of being caught by Jack. Multiple glances were thrown towards Sawyer, who was left to explain.

"Found this girl reading a book," Sawyer said, taking out something that was sticking out of his back pocket.

He handed the book to Jack, who examined the cover. It was a small book, and according to a footnote on the cover, was apart of a series of four called Four Past Midnight. Stephen King.

"The Langoliers," Jack read, and looked up at Sawyer, "it's a book."

"Do you have any idea what that book is about?" Sawyer said, stepping forward, and as he did, Alex seemed to relax a little.

When Jack shook his head, Sawyer took that as a cue to explain.

"It's a story about a plane," Sawyer began, "and its passengers that get themselves caught in a bind and end up going back in time."

"Are you saying we're in some time loop?" Jack said, unable to believe a word that Sawyer was saying, or what he was seeing.

"I'm saying that somebody's obviously been studying up on plane crashes," Sawyer said, forcefully, "first the toy plane, now this."

"What makes you think that she has anything to do with it?" Jack said, glancing towards Alex, who tried to tell him with the one look that she was thankful for his interference.

Of course she was. As harmless as the survivors seemed, in truth, anything could happen, and someone who had only just arrived(or supposivly) would probably think that they were either insane, or some mad, underground mafia.

"Found her reading this the other day," Sawyer said, looking towards Alex, who gave an equal glare of unliking. "The same person who we find lying in the jungle, and who claims she's never been on a plane in her life."

"I found the book in some wreckage," Alex explained to Jack despondently, "no one said anything when I took it, so I thought whoever owned it, was- was-"

She couldn't bring herself to say 'dead' and Jack understood.

"She's only sixteen," Jack said in Alex's defense, "maybe seventeen-"

"Sixteen," Alex said for him.

"Age can be deceiving," Sawyer said to Jack, thinking of his own past as a teenage outlaw.

"The plane wasn't hijacked," Kate said from behind them. startling everyone.

Jack looked at her, trying to warn her to not get involved. But it was too late.

"The plane couldn't of crashed on its own," Kate started, walking forward, "it blew up in three, four different pieces. No bomb or turbulence could've had that force-" she offered Alex a small smile, and Alex failed at trying to return it, "-the plane didn't crash naturally."

Jack stared at her, part of him wondering how much more of the island mysteries Kate had solved secretly, part of him wanting to get on to her for making herself more noticeable. He was trying to protect her, and stepping in as the wizard didn't help.

"Well sheriff," Sawyer said to Jack, "looks like your deputy just got herself promoted."

Kate smirked at Sawyer, while Jack just stared at her. What game was she trying to play?

"Guess recess is over," Sawyer said to the crowd.

He thrust the book at Alex, who caught it as it hit her chest.

"Have fun," he muttered under his breath as he walked back toward his new dwelling.

The rest of the group began to break up as well, heading out to do whatever they had been doing before Sawyer's colloquy. Alex starred at the book for a moment, in part hatred, part wonder. Wondering how a small book could bring her such grief. Jack and Kate glanced at each other, and Kate knew Jack had to handle this.

"See you tonight," Kate whispered to Jack as she walked passed him.

Jack nodded, and after spending a moment thinking up what he would say, approached Alex.

"How's the shoulder?" Jack said, wincing at how bad that sounded.

Truthfully, he had never been good at starting conversations with kids. Maybe it was because he never had much of a childhood himself.

"It's fine," Alex said, avoiding looking at Jack, "sorry about that."

"That wasn't your fault," Jack said, "Sawyer's-well- you'll get to know him."

"I have a feeling I don't want to," Alex said, looking up for the first time.

Though she was only sixteen, Alex certainty looked like she had had her fair share of life, with circles forming under her eyes that you didn't see in most adults, and a line of worry forming just where her hair met the skin of her face.

"I'll be okay," Alex said, reading Jack's eyes, "I'm just going to go back to the beach. Maybe meet some more people- hopefully none like him."

Jack had to laugh a little at the girl's distaste towards Sawyer, and nodded as she turned, leaving. As she did, Jack could strain to hear a tune she was whistling to herself. It sounded familiar, but somehow, he couldn't place a name.

(Space)

The day drew on slowly, and nothing more was heard from Sawyer, that was, until Charlie ran into the caves desperate for Jack's help.

"Jack!" Charlie panted. "You've got to come!"

Jack stood up from the bag he was bent over, and looked at Charlie.

"What happened?"

"It's Sawyer-" Charlie said, still short of breath, "he's lost it or something."

He didn't need anymore explanation than that. Jack ran after as Charlie led him down the path towards the beach. On the beach, Sawyer had arranged another inner-circle, but this time, it was Michael and Sawyer arguing. Jack's eyes trailed the audience until they found Kate, who stood, unable to stand what she was seeing. Alex was also amongst the crowd, seemingly protected by Michael and Hurley, who, together, succeeded in covering her. Kate spotted Jack, and moved towards him.

"It's getting out of control," she told him, "we've got to do something."

"Do I even want to know what he's on about this time?" Jack said, glancing towards the two just as Sawyer through a punch to Michael's jaw.

Walt let out a shout of protest, and Hurley had to pull him back from leaping into the fight himself. As Michael shoved Sawyer, and Sawyer shoved Michael back, Jack caught a glimpse of something hanging out of Sawyer's back pocket. A gun.

"He's got a gun," Jack whispered to Kate, quietly as he could.

"What?" Kate whispered back.

"Sawyer," Jack said again, "he's got a gun. In his back pocket."

"How'd he get it?" Kate said, looking for where Jack saw the gun.

"I don't know," Jack said, "unless-"

Of course. The day when Sawyer first found Jack in the jungle to tell him Alex had woken up. Except he hadn't wanted to tell Alex was awake- he was following him, and Jack hadn't locked the case back. But Jack didn't have time to punish himself as Michael threw a punch at Sawyer, missing as Sawyer sidestepped him. Jack grabbed Sawyer, who struggled against Jack's hold. Michael stepped back, wiping blood from his lip and glancing towards Hurley, making sure he had a good eye on Walt. No one saw when Jack had managed to get the gun out of Sawyer's pocket, knocking it to the ground.

"Kate! Get the gun!" Jack shouted as he felt himself lose hold of Sawyer.

But Kate wasn't even paying attention to the fight, and Jack's words were blacked out by old memories, because the scene was all to familiar with her..

(Space)

At the age of eight, Allie's(a/n: Kate incase you've forgotten) family was one of the few she knew who bothered to eat family meals together. Of course, hers was a special occasion- her father had come back from work, at his last station in Washington. Tomorrow, Saturday, he had promised a family camping trip that Allie had been looking forward to all week. She was surprised when she felt the squeeze of her father's hand and looked up- the prayer was over. To preoccupied with the thought of another hike with her father, Allie's mind had completely floated out of the kitchen.

"Allie, would you like some-"

There was a loud bang as the kitchen door flew open. Allie's father jumped up, grabbing Allie in protection as he did. A middle-aged, average weight man stepped in the room, dressed in a black suit with a ski mask. Allie felt her father's hand cup her mouth, muffling a scream.

"Where's my money?" The man demanded.

Allie's eyes darted around, and spotted her mother backing away towards the refrigerator, spotted with Allie's perfect quizzes, and art drawings. The man shot a bullet through the ceiling, causing Allie's mom to scream and Allie to struggle against her father's hold, which loosened as she watched her father jump on the man, sending him flying back against the wall.

"Nick!" Allie's mom, Janet, cried.

Nick didn't answer as he punched the intruder in the gut, causing the intruder to lose his grip of the gun, which skidded across the floor, right towards Allie. The masked man now had Allie's father trapped on the floor, choking him. Her father managed to escape long enough for Nick to shout, "Allie! Grab the gun!" After watching her father get hit two more times, Allie found herself picking up the gun, and pointing it towards the man on top of her father. A hit. And then another. And another. Allie's father lost all strains of resistance, and though he hadn't requested it, Allie felt her finger tighten on the trigger, and her mind left her as she felt herself pulling it. She screamed for herself not to, that she was just a girl, and that it was wrong to kill. She'd be grounded for sure. But her fingers wouldn't listen as they came closer and closer to the handle of the gun, and finally-

Bang.

Allie's mom screamed. Allie screamed. And the man she had just shot screamed, and fell, but not backwards. He fell- straight forward onto her father.

Kate was shocked to find herself now holding the gun, and most shocking, having it pointed at Sawyer, something she, nor Sawyer, Jack, or any of the others could understand. Sawyer looked at her, his look of confusion matching Jack's perfectly. Kate panicked under pressure, and felt herself shake as she dropped then gun, and spun around, fleeing for the beach as hot tears forced their way down her cheek. Jack watched her run, and then shoved Sawyer out of the way, running after her, leaving the crowd in stunned silence.

(space)

"Kate!" Jack called as he ran. "Kate!"

He stopped suddenly on the path, thinking he had heard something. Jack was standing near the edges of the beach, therefore having to struggle to listen over the crashing waves. And he heard it again. Sobbing. He moved towards the noise carefully, and pulled a branch out of the way as it grew louder. In front of him stood Kate, leaned over using a tree for support as she cried.

"Kate-" Jack said slowly as he stepped towards her.

The first time Jack put his hand on Kate's shoulder she resisted, but the second, she let him look her straight into her sad eyes as she tried to ease her tears. When it didn't work, Jack found himself pulling Kate into a hug, and she didn't pull away this time.

"I'll get you through this," Jack said over and over again as he ran his hand through her hair as she cried into his shoulder.

Just as Jack was realizing he didn't mind the gesture one bit, Kate realized, and let go of Jack as she wiped her eyes. Jack offered her a smile as she did.

"I think I like being on this side of the situation better," Jack said, trying to keep her from crying again.

Knowing he was referring to his recent fall, where the tables had turned, Kate managed to return the smile.

"I'll get the plane back," Jack said finally, making up his mind, "it's the only way to get you out of this."

"But how-" Kate began, pulling her hand away from her face one last time, "when-"

"Tonight," Jack promised, "tonight."

Author's Note: Okay, I know I said Jack bashing in this chapter, but that would've made this chapter long, with possible too much in it. So next chapter, be prepared. Jack's planed doesn't go as well as he thinks it will, and Shannon and Sayid discover the real reason Boone's leading them out there. I have to ask, did you like it? Did it even make sense? I'm not sure- it's almost three-thirty in the morning and I can't even begin to think. So I'll just leave you with some Jate fluff and go off to bed. But first- thanks for the reviews! I'm sorry I don't have time to reply separately, but I really, really do appreciate them! It's like a raise or extra credit or something. One of those things that make you go 'aww'. I'm really surprised that people are really liking my works. I'll try to get the next chapter up tomorrow!

October Sky