Disclaimer: I do not own LOST.

"JACK! JACK!" came calling through the forest.

Charlie stumbled up the path to the caves. He already had started to sweat. Even though the leaves were there, the sun shone brightly through the tree tops. Charlie didn't know where Jack was, only that he wasn't on the beach. He called again for the doctor and kept going towards the cave. He wouldn't have found him if he hadn't heard a baby's cry. It was a little off path and taking a risk, he followed the sound. Charlie came upon Jack, who was holding Nikki. He rocked the baby back and forth as he sat on a dead log. He didn't look up at the panting Charlie.

"Jack..." Charlie tried to start.

"She's going to get hungry soon and there is no way I can feed her," Jack muttered.

"Don't worry you won't have to!" Charlie said, his voice full of excitement.

"What do you mean?" Jack said, looking up. He didn't look like the same man that he had seen earlier that day.

Charlie grinned. "A ship! It's coming!"

"How do you know this?"

"I saw it with my own two eyes. So did Claire and Ty. Hurley said him and Sawyer both saw it. Just don't ask Sawyer about it because he'll tell you he didn't see anything."

Jack shook his head. "Are you sure you all aren't just having some illusion."

"Well, how come it just keeps getting closer?"

He sighed. "I don't know."

"You can get off and get her some milk. She'll actually grow up right!"

"I'll go look at this boat. Go and tell the people at the caves to come down, in case all of this is real."

Charlie looked at Jack. "Will do," he said as he hurried off.

Jack sighed as he stood up. He looked around the forest as Nikki cooed. He could feel someone watching him.

"Come out," he said.

"Seems like the island is letting you go," said a familar voice.

"Letting me go, John? I feel like I'm tied to this damn thing."

"Jack, you know as well as I do that it's not your fault she died."

He looked at Locke as he came out. "How do you know that Kate died?"

"I was nearby when she gave birth and when you took her down to the beach. I heard you say something about it to the baby."

"Are you going to come?"

He shook his head. "I don't think the otherswould accept me well. I can see it is taking you much control just to talk to me. When the island wants me off, it will let me off. I feel that now is not my time."

He nodded. "I understand what you mean."

"But you, Jack, have to go. You belong back there. You a have a child and a job and a life...," he paused then smiled,"and a wife."

"How do you know about that?" Jack asked alarmed.

"The ring on your finger. That was never there before. You just must have put it on."

"When...Kate died, I put it back on."

Locke nodded. "Well, you have to get back to the beach so I won't take any more of your time." Just as he came, he disappeared once again.

Taking Nikki, Jack headed down to the beach. People lined the shore in clumps looking out at the ocean. A shape was moving closer to the island. It was easy to tell that is was a ship. Jack looked surprised as half the people did. It was so close to them by now. As it came closer, some of the survivors started to jump and shout and wave their arms. Charlie pulled Claire and Ty into a hug. Sayid smiled at Shannon and his newborn. Sawyer was still in his tent, obviously reading a book. Jack looked at Nikki and ran a hand over her cheek. They were finally getting off and everyone would be trying to go back to their normal lives. Jack didn't think that was possible. Too much had changed them here. Nothing would ever be normal. Jack's mind came back as a life boat came out to them.

"Need help?" a man asked.

Jack stepped forward. "Yes. We're the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815. We crashed here about ten months ago. Can you take us to Australia?"

"Aye. That is where we're heading. It'll take us a few trips to get all of you back. Send the babies and children with some of the woman first so we can get them on board."

Jack motioned for Claire and Ty, Shannon and Boone(the baby, of course!),and Sun and Walt to get on first. Walt seemed a little depressed but he was taking his father's death well for a boy his age. Jack handed Nikki to Sun so she could get her on the ship. The life boat headed towards the ship. It took them a few more life boats and soon they were all loaded on the ship. Jack looked back at the island as they departed from it. He could see the outline of someone. It was Locke and he was waving.

"We're off...we're finally off," Jack said, just to hear those words.

A/N: Here is this chapter. I'm sad to announce that the next will probably be the last. It is a short story, I know but it felt like a nice place to end it. If you would like to see a sequel, tell me. I think I might be planning one. Well...R&R!