Sawyer whistled as he headed back toward the pool for the second time this morning. He'd already been there and back once, to fill water bottles for the group, Kate's usual job. He'd wanted to go and check on her then but hadn't gotten up the nerve, truth be told.
Now, as he headed back a second time, he tried to think of a good excuse to stop by Jack's cave. He couldn't have them thinking he'd gone soft. Maybe he'd see if they needed any water.
As he walked past the pool and on towards the caves, still lost in thought, Sawyer nearly walked into the very object of his concern, Kate.
She was leaning against a large palm tree, wearing nothing but a t-shirt that came mid-thigh. From the looks of her wet hair, she'd just come from swimming in the pool.
"Heya Freckles, how ya doin'?", he asked as he came up behind her.
She jumped at his voice, and then let out a grown of frustration, but didn't respond.
"Just what I need," she thought to herself. "As if this situation couldn't get much worse. Maybe if I ignore him, he'll just go away".
"Just going to ignore me, eh?" Sawyer asked.
Slowly, she turned around and faced him. Any jokes he had died on his lips when he saw her face. He wouldn't have thought it possible, but she looked even paler than she had the day before.
"What do you want, Sawyer?", she asked tiredly.
"Jesus, what happened to you? You look worse than you did yesterday, if you don't mind my saying."
"Not today Sawyer, please. Can't you go find someone else to pick on? Now, if you'll excuse me . . ." With that, she turned and headed for the cave, head still spinning. She hoped to God she'd remain upright; otherwise, he'd never let her live it down.
Sawyer watched her go for a moment. When he saw her wobble and start to stumble, he jogged to catch up with her. "Hold on a minute Freckles, maybe you should . . .". Just as he placed a hand on her shoulder, she collapsed backwards into his arms.
Jack awoke slowly and looked drowsily around the cave. When his eyes came to rest on the folded pile of blankets, he jumped up, remember the events of the night before.
"Where could she be?" he wondered with panic. She certainly couldn't have gotten very far in her weakened state. He had to find her.
He ran out of the cave and looked around, not seeing her anywhere. How could he have let this happen? He shouldn't have fallen asleep, but he truly wouldn't have thought she'd be capable of venturing out on her own.
"Kate," he called, looking around frantically. "Kate, where are you? Answer me, Kate!
"Shit", Sawyer muttered as he sank down to his knees, bringing her with him.
"Freckles . . . Hey Kate. Kate, wake up, joke's over!", he begged, trying to rouse her.
"Kate? . . . Kate, where are you? Answer me, Kate!" Sawyer heard Jack's calls coming from nearby.
"God," Sawyer thought to himself, "I never thought I'd be so happy to hear that bastard's voice".
"Over here, Jack," he yelled. "She's over here. Hurry up".
Jack heard Sawyer's call and ran towards his voice. He spotted them, Kate lying unconscious against Sawyer.
Jack shook his head as he approached. "What happened?" he asked Sawyer, kneeling down in front of them and reaching to check Kate's pulse.
"I don't know man, she just went down. What the Hell is wrong with her?" Sawyer questioned, although he was beginning to think he knew.
Jack just shook his head again, all his attention turned towards Kate. He called her name, tapping at her check again.
"Let's lie her down", he said to Sawyer. Together, they lowered so she was lying on the ground. Jack continued trying to wake, shaking her gently now.
"Kate. Kate. Come on kiddo, wake up. Wake up now". Finally, she started to stir. "There you go, come on now", Jack encouraged, sounding relieved.
Slowly, she raised her hand to her brow and opened her eyes, looking up to see Sawyer and Jack hovering over her.
"God," she muttered, "please tell me this isn't happening". This was her worst nightmare, lying helpless on the ground like some damsel in distress while two men stared down at her - especially Sawyer, he'd never let her live this down.
Jack chuckled, knowing exactly what she was thinking. "Sorry Kate, no can do".
She closed her eyes and sighed, shaking her head in despair. Jack brushed her wet curls away from her face and asked, "Decided to go for a swim?" he questioned. "God Kate, what were you thinking? You could have drowned."
"I'm sorry" she replied, sounding despondent. "I thought it would help to clear my head. I needed to go. I have to . . . ".
"And did it, Jack interrupted. "Did it help?"
"No," Kate admitted. "At least not for long".
"I can't say I'm surprised, Kate", Jack answered. "How do you feel now?".
Kate sighed, trying to sit up. "I feel okay".
"Kate," Jack warned, gently pushing her back down.
"Really, Jack. I don't feel that bad, just dizzy . . . and tired. Everything's just spinning".
Jack looked at Sawyer, who'd been listening intently, and motioned towards the backpack beside him. "Have you got any water in there?"
"Yeah". Sawyer reached in and handed Jack a bottle.
Jack lifted Kate's head and brought the bottle to her lips. "Drink", he commanded.
She listed, taking a gulp, but choked and sputtered on it. Jack rubbed her back, and, to his relief, it stayed down.
"More, he said. "Just take small sips." Kate took a little more and then shook her head, indicating she was done.
"Alright, that's okay for now," he said. "Come on, let's get you back to the cave. You need to rest". Kate shook her head again.
"No Jack, I need to go".
"Where? Where do you need to go?" he questioned.
"Back to the beach", she answered. "I have to get the water. It's my job. People will wonder if I don't. Please Jack, they can't know," she pleaded. "I don't want them to know". Her eyes welled up and a single tear escaped, rolling down her cheek.
Jack brushed it away and said, "I'm sorry Kate, but that's just not going to be possible for a while. You're going to have to stay here and rest for at least a few days. You need to give your body time to recover".
Kate shook her head yet again, starting to refuse, when Sawyer interrupted, reminding them of his presence.
"Look," he said, "I can take over with the water for a while".
Kate rolled her eyes, giving him an incredulous look.
"Really," he assured her, " I can. In fact, I already did it for today. I was just coming to check if the good doc here needed a refill too. Don't worry, we can just tell the others you have the flu or something and need to rest for a few days. They won't think anything of it. I promise", he rambled.
Kate looked at him, clearly shocked. Jack did too, for that matter. "You'd really do that?" she asked.
"Don't act so shocked. It's not such a big deal. It's not as if I'm that busy."
"Well then, that's settle," Jack announces. "Now let's get you back to the cave so you can rest. Do you think you can walk?", he asked, looking at her doubtfully. "Maybe we should carry you."
"No," Kate responded quickly. "I can walk, just help me up". She held out her hands and Jack pulled her up, wrapping her arm around his shoulder for support. Sawyer grabbed his backpack and followed.
Within a couple of yards, Kate's knees began shaking and she was leaning heavily against Jack. Seeing this, Sawyer took her other arm, as they dragged her towards the cave.
Not long after, Kate's head lolled against Sawyer's shoulder and he knees gave out completely. With Jack's help, Sawyer scooped her up into his arms. "You got her?" Jack questioned.
Sawyer nodded, " Yeah, I've got 'er".
Jack adjusted her t-shirt and felt for her pulse. She opened her eyes and looked at him dazedly.
"You okay?", he questioned?
"Yeah, I'm okay." She assured him drowsily. "I'm just so tired", she said, as her eyes drifted shut.
"Come on", Jack said to Sawyer, "let's get her back".
When they reached the cave, Sawyer carefully set her down on a row of airplane seats, and Jack covered her with a blanket. They both started at her for a moment, and then Jack headed out of the cave, motioning for Sawyer to follow.
A moment later, Sawyer joined Jack, sitting on a boulder just outside of the cave.
"So Doc," he said, sitting down beside him with a sigh, "I'm guessing she's pregnant, huh?
Jack stared at Sawyer, shocked. "What makes you think that, he finally asked.
"Come on Doc, it doesn't exactly take a brain surgeon to figure it out. . . no offense."