Personality

Jack and Casey were venturing to the beach for the first time together since Casey was feeling up to it. She had recovered quite quickly after her encounter with Rousseau. She had made a crack earlier about another scar to add to the collection and Jack thought that was terribly funny.

In fact he had come to figure Casey was pretty funny person in general. Once you got past all of the fear and self-protection she was a pretty fun person.

"Well, when I was younger my dad never thought I would be able to do anything worth while. I think that was biggest influence to do well in school and become something of value."

"So basically you did it to prove your dad wrong?" Casey laughed while adjusting the backpack on her back. She didn't know the walk to the beach was so long.

"Yeah, I guess you could say that." Jack smiled to himself. "Did you always want to be a doctor?" That was the same question Casey had asked him only minutes earlier.

"No, not really. You know I was the exact opposite of the person that becomes a doctor. Everyone expected my sister to be the brain sergeon." Casey's voice turned from sarcasm to serious.

"What happened to your sister?" Jack was curious. If they expected her to be the doctor and Casey followed up on that dream then what prestigious job did her sister have.

"She was murdered." She said blankly. "Two days before Christmas in fact."

"Oh, Case. I'm so sorry." Jack's heart went out to her.

"Hey, it's okay. It happened a long time ago. I was sixteen and she was eighteen. She was little Miss. Everything. She was a straight 'A' student, captain of every sports team, and president of every club not to mention vice president to her class." Casey smiled. "I swear she never slept with all the work she did."

"She really did all of that?" Jack was amazed at her sister's stamina.

"Oh, honey! You better believe it. She did that and still found time to visit Grandma Rosie in the home." Jack and Casey laughed. "I, on the other hand…was average. I got 'B's and 'C's on my report card. I was average height with stringy blonde hair and acne, who never really did anything but lay around."

"And you got into medical school? Casey! I'm ashamed." Jack turned his head as if shunning her. Casey laughed. Jack looked back at her. "I don't think I've ever heard you laugh this much before."

"I really haven't had a lot to laugh about lately."

"I don't think any of us have." He smiled at her.

000

Tina was standing ankle deep in water. She had wet hair and was letting the wind blow dry it for her. She closed her eyes and inhaled the salty air. She loved being stranded on a tropical island. It made her feel very free.

"Hey chickie!" Tina opened her eyes and saw Sawyer walking towards her.

"Hey yourself Tex." She went into flirt mode. She couldn't help it. Being around a hot guy always made her this way. She couldn't say she didn't like being a female player though.

"What are you doing just standing here?" Sawyer gave her a look up and down her body. That bikini was very fetching on her. "Don't you know that's the way you get skin cancer!"

Tina beamed widely. "No, I had no idea." She said acting serious. "Why don't you enlighten me Sawyer."

He moved in closer. "You see, there's the ozone layer and it's letting in all of these little rays. Well, they're really bad for you and I would really hate to see that pretty skin of yours wrinkle up like a prune."

Tina couldn't take it. She had to laugh. She laughed hard…very hard. She ended up sitting down in the surf to relieve her aching sides. It wasn't that what he said was funny it was just the way he said it.

She was beautiful. With her hair wet like that and the light blue swimming suit was more than he could take. She had a smile like Julia Roberts and there was nothing wrong with that.

"You thought that was funny?" He inquired.

"Yeah." She giggled. "I did." She stood back up and walked onto the beach and pulled on a pair of low-rise jeans. Man she looked good.

"Well, I…" he forgot what he was going to say. "You want to go for a walk?" He asked quickly to recover himself.

"I would love to Sawyer." She said sincerely.

000

Jack and Casey finally made it to the beach. Casey looked around at the busy camp. Fires were going, people were washing cloths, and there was a few people standing around talking. It was so much bigger then they're little camp on the other side of the island. In fact this camp made theirs look like a Barbie play set.

"Wow," was all the female doctor could say.

"That impressive huh?" Jack chuckled.

Casey just nodded her head. They walked further into the camp itself and Casey, out of the corner of her eye, saw couples. Maggie who was also feeling well enough to associate with other people was sitting with Gabe, another survivor that had survived the tail's crash. Casey didn't know him well but by judging by the smile on Maggie's face she'd say he was a good guy. Then behind them walked Tina and Sawyer. That was an accident waiting to happen, Casey thought.

This was definitely an amazing place, weird and mysterious but magnificent all at the same time.

Casey felt Jack take her hand to ease her along and she grabbed it back. She was glad they all moved. She felt safer here with the others and they were all nice people. She had a feeling she wouldn't have a hard time fitting in anymore. Thanks to certain people. She glanced at Jack without him knowing.

NEXT CHAPTER: Misfortune

Casey and Jack are becoming quite good friends. But wait…when Maggie goes missing how will Casey handle it? Will she seek comfort in Jack?