There and Back, Chapter 3
It didn't take long for the rest of the camp to learn that the bottle filled with messages had washed up on shore. It didn't take much to figure out that it wasn't a good sign. Some clung to the hope that maybe it just fell overboard, but most seemed to know, or at least assume, the worst.
Jack took Sun back to the caves, and Claire and Charlie watched over her, hoping she would come back to them. Sun hadn't spoken a word since her collapse on the beach, just gone somewhere in her own mind. She would drink if they put water in front of her, but she refused to eat. Sadness descending on her like a heavy wool blanket, too heavy to move, with no warmth in its weight.
Kate was at the caves when she heard about the bottle. Hurley had told her, in the same matter-of-fact way he'd told Jack he had Arzt on him. "Dude," he said to Kate, "did you hear the bottle washed on shore?"
Without a word, Kate made her way through the jungle, away from the others. Sitting on the rocks, she thought about Sawyer. She couldn't believe he was gone. She could practically see him standing there, teasing her about something or other. More than anything, she wanted to believe that the bottle had simply fallen overboard. Not that she cared: Sawyer could be such an ass.
I'm sure he's fine, Kate." Jack's voice startled her out of her musing. How could she have not heard him approach? And how did he know she was thinking of Sawyer?
Jack continued. "Knowing Sawyer, he's on a rescue boat somewhere, making up names for the captain and crew, conning them out of cigarettes and beer."
Kate smiled sadly. It was sweet of Jack to try to cheer her up, but she knew he wasn't one for wishful thinking. Especially not about Sawyer.
"You never know." Seating himself beside her, Jack asked, "So what new nicknames do you think Jin and Michael have by now?"
Kate thought for a minute, but couldn't come up with anything. "I was never very good at that."
"Neither was I."
Kate stared out at the horizon, and then looked at Jack again. "I just don't think he' – they're – " she corrected, "dead."
"Well ain't that sweet, Freckles," came a familiar drawl behind them.
Kate whipped around and saw him. Sawyer.