Sayid stayed close to Shannon, as they headed deeper into the jungle, with Jack, Sawyer, Kate and Michael just a few steps ahead of them. They were headed to the other side of the island, the only place they could think of to where Walt could be. Even if he wasn't there, some other colony, or group of people, had to be there. Some of the others had seen glimpses of people through the woods at night, so they had to try to find these other people, for Walt's sake. Someone on this island had to know something, because they weren't the only ones here..

As the ground became increasingly steeper, the group half-climbed, half-stumbled up the hill. This is when the guys seemed to go into overdrive with their protective, macho-like behaviors, or at least that's how Shannon looked at it. Jack stayed up ahead, reaching down to help up Kate, as he looked back to see how the others were. Michael stayed close behind them, with Sayid close by, who kept reaching down to take Shannon's hand and pull her up. Unlike the time they had all hiked up the cliffs together, Shannon didn't push him away and refuse help. And unlike that first time, Sawyer brought up the end, seemingly concerned that she'd fall, since he kept pushing on her and sticking close by, too close for her comfort. She didn't like them treating her and Kate like they were apparently weaker.

Once they were safely up the last of the hills, they all agreed to rest for the night. For once, Sawyer actually helped Jack, as they set up a campfire and laid out the few blankets they had brought. Sayid kept unusually quiet, and as Shannon got up to take a small walk around, he got up too. She didn't think he'd actually follow her. She actually just wanted to be left alone, having went on this trip for her own mission, though she didn't tell the others about what had happened a few days ago. There was a good possibility that they wouldn't believe her, so she had kept it to herself, especially when she found out where they were going. She was going to find him herself, she was going to bring Boone back, somehow.

As she paced further off, Sayid's hand reached for hers, as he picked up his pace to come up beside her. Shannon instinctively drew her hand away, turning to see Sayid, as she came to a stop. He gave off a hurt smile, his dark eyes piercing hers, his hair fading into the darkness that surrounded them. "I'm worried about you," he said, always so blunt in what he was thinking, or what he felt. This would have normally made her swoon, made her reach back out for his hand and take it in hers, pulling him close to her. But she didn't, she couldn't. Finding Boone had consumed her mind. When he was around, it was easy to concentrate on Sayid, knowing that Boone wasn't too far away, and even when he wasn't around, it was easy to try and let Sayid take care of her and comfort her through that difficult time. But now that she knew Boone was out there, that he was still alive… No one could replace Boone for her.

"I'm fine.. I'm just anxious to find Walt," she said, which was true. She did care about that kid, but she cared about her brother too. If only Sayid knew who else was out there, and why she needed to come along, but he couldn't know that. She couldn't tell him.

"I'm going to get some sleep," Shannon said, smiling apologetically, before she lowered her head, and headed back for the campsite they had set up. Sayid reached for her hand again, which caught her off-guard, and made her stumble back and finally stop in her tracks.

"Shannon… Please, talk to me," he pleaded. She couldn't even look him in the eyes. After seeing Boone that night, she couldn't honestly look Sayid in the eyes. After she had lost Boone, she felt like she was the next to go, that such a big part of her was missing, but she struggled on, hoping that somehow Sayid could save her. She knew now that only Boone could save her.

"I'm tired," Shannon repeated, taking her hand gently out of his, as she kept her eyes lowered, and pulled away.

It was nearly dawn, and she still hadn't fallen asleep. Time just seemed to drag on, and she felt she couldn't wait any longer. They needed to get there. Shannon sat up finally, it wasn't any use laying down and pretending anymore, Sayid was fast asleep, he wouldn't see her awake. Looking towards Michael, she wondered how he was doing, and what was going through his mind. He was probably the only one here just as anxious as her, with that overpowering feeling of dread weighing down on him. She watched him carefully. He thrashed from side to side in his sleep, his face wrinkled up in a pained expression. He soon went still again, only to repeat the thrashing process only a few minutes later.

Taking in a deep breath, Shannon looked around at the others. Kate, Jack, Sayid, Sawyer… but Sawyer's blanket was empty. Looking around in confusion, her eyes soon caught on a small blaze of light, coming from one of the surrounding trees. It was a cigarette. Shannon squinted, to try and make him out, just to be positive it was him. She saw a hand wave her over, the hand that the cigarette wasn't in. She didn't move though, until her eyes adjusted more, and she could make out his dirty blonde hair, strands of it hanging down into his face, which lit up to a golden color when the cigarette was brought back to his mouth.

Getting up quietly, she moved softly towards where he was hidden, stopping as she came only a few feet from where he sat.

"Couldn't sleep, princess?" he asked, in his usual taunting tone, which she had come to realize was just his normal way of talking to certain people. It was better than his angry, harsh tone, or his depressive one, which she had overheard a few times when he was talking to Kate.

Shannon sat down on her knees, still not coming too close to him, which made him cast a curious look at her. She looked down after that, not meeting his gaze.

"Hey, kid," he said, his voice softening only slightly. Still, it sent an uneasily chill up her. Was this pity? "What's wrong?" He sounded like he genuinely wanted to know, though.

"Will you help me…. If I tell you?" she asked, finally looking back up at him, her eyes glazed over with tears. Just thinking about it, and actually failing to find Boone, made her so scared.

Sawyer took the cigarette out of his mouth, patting it into the ground, and then flicking it away. Leaning forward, he stared at her so intently, his face falling more serious. She couldn't imagine what was going through his mind, and regretted even bringing it up for a second.

"What is it?" he demanded to know. She became more upset at this, like she had been caught, as if she was going to be punished and taken back to the crash site, because they would consider her crazy, or a danger to herself. She opened her mouth to say something, but he cut her off. "What is it?" he repeated.

"Boone's alive," she said, trying to make him see how serious, and how desperate, she was by the tone in her voice. Something must have struck him, though, he didn't laugh or seem annoyed. He simply frowned, his brows furrowing, as he studied her face. He didn't even give her a look like she was delusional. He seemed to actually be taking in what she was saying.

Reaching his hand over, he laid it on her knee. She didn't know what to think, Sawyer was pretty unpredictable.

"Don't tell them, not now," he said, glancing over at the others, and she knew that by saying this, he had agreed in his own way to help her.

To Be Continued…