Aright, I've got to tell you that I've split the last chapter into three. This being the first of three, because it was way to long and way too much to handle all at once. You'd be overly shock, and plus it'd take me forever to write and I'd feel rushed to get it up to you guys and it wouldn't be the best of my writing. So bare with me, because I'm currently working on finishing this and starting another story with CrAzYhOrSeGiRl88 which is gonna kick some ass!
PS you'll notice there's a lot about eyes in this chapter (I suppose you will if your observant) I have no idea what this is, just go with the flow.
Also all the captions from songs are by the Dresden Doll, this is not to annoy or plug, I put them up specifically because I feel they have a relevance to the text. See I can be smart when I want to…
I didn't use all of CrAzYhOrSeGiRl88's words this time, mostly because I wanted to be a rebel, and because I cut this chapter short. But I did use some…
Glazed
Vague
Exasperate
Dawn
Deranged
Forlorn
Hopeless
Nonchalant

The Rising Pestilence

"Two halves are equal,
a cross between two evils,
it's not an enviable lot.
But if you listen,
you'll learn to hear the difference,
between the halfs and the half nots."

- 'Half Jack' by The Dresden Dolls

He gazed at her for a minute, observing how her conduct changed the moment he revealed himself to her. She seemed to shrink away from him, her hands gripping the wooden edge on Aaron's crib as she watched him intently, her tempestuous emerald eyes grew large with fear.

Jack took a step towards her and she flinched, he stopped, examining her carefully, "What's wrong?" He was so innocent, not remembering a shard of what he did to her when they last met.

"Jack," she whispered as she shook her head, her voice was cracking, her hands were sweating, "Don't come closer," tears were stinging her eyes as she tried to blink them back.

He stared at her in shock for a moment, then an expression of hurt came across his face, "Kate, what did I do?"

"I know you didn't mean it Jack," she smiled weakly, as she wiped the tears away from her eyes, "But I can't erase it from my mind."

"What did I do?" he questioned again, beginning to feel queasy about how Kate was acting towards him.

She took a long breath in, "Well I went to your cave when you came back," she began, unable to look at him as she spoke, "and we talked for a little bit, you told me you loved me," she looked up briefly with a small smile, "and then we kissed."

Jack's face let up for a moment as he gave a shy grin, "But then you started to get rough, you started to hurt, and things got out of hand," Kate added, "And, well, I'm sure you can guess the rest."

Jack stood motionless, his face a blank slate, as he stared at the side of Kate's shelter. She watched him as she leaned near Aaron's crib; he looked as if he seemed to be breaking in front of her eyes.

"Why didn't you stop me?" he questioned his body trembling, "You should have stopped me anyway you could."

"I couldn't do it, Jack," she divulged shaking her head, "Even with you doing what you were doing, every time I looked at you I only remembered the real you."

"Kate, I'm so sorry" he whispered, his voice shaky and croaky, "I never meant to hurt you." He turned to her, his hazel eyes full of tears, "I never wanted to do that. I don't know what's wrong with me."

He was being sincere and Kate could sense that this was her Jack, the one she stitched up, "Jack," she murmured as she walked towards him, encircling her arms around him as he cried silently into her shoulder.

"How can you even come near me?" he whispered, his voice full of self shame.

"I know it's you," she answered as her cool hand gently swayed across his thick, hot neck.

"What am I going to do?" he asked her, his tears had stopped but he still embraced her, taking comfort in her loving nature.

"We're going to get through this together," she told him as her hand ran over his short hair, "We'll try and find an antidote or a remedy or something," she informed him, "But you have to stay here, no matter what happens. You can't run away again."

He pulled away from her, his eyes glimpsing into hers for a brief moment, "I don't know what I'll do Kate, what I'm capable of doing, I mean," he paused becoming jittery at the fact of admitting what he'd done, "If I could do that, to you of all people I could do anything."

"Jack," she placed a hand on his cheek, "We'll get through this together. I promise."

"I really do love you," he disclosed. Kate nodded as she settled her head close to his chest, listening to the thump of his heart. He was still human, he could still feel, he was just ill, "I know you do. I love you too."

She turned her head up to his and he laid a tender kiss on her swollen lips, "We could try some of the different medication we have for different disorders," he stated, "Lithium might help."

"You shouldn't take any medication if it could be dangerous to you," Kate informed, "You don't need to make this any worse then it has to be," she explained lightly skimming her finger over his cheek.

"It's not like we have a lot to work with Kate," he explained disheartened as he smiled feebly at her, trying not to seem completely hopeless.

"At least electroshock therapy isn't an option," she joked, trying to lighten the mood, but Jack's grim disposition didn't change.

He pulled her to him, his hand rustled through her hair as his cheek pressed against hers. They stayed in that position for a moment, both knowing that there was only a thin chance of finding a cure, and even if one of the prescriptions did help, they had no idea how long they'd be stranded on the island, the pills were sure to run out sooner or later.

"I'm sorry for anything I might do to you in the future," he spoke softly into her ear, his voice shaking as he said the words he didn't want to hear, "I don't want to hurt you."

He pulled back and looked into her glazed eyes as she watched him wordlessly. He brought up one of his thumbs, and traced Kate's puffy lower lip with it, "I want to kiss you," he told her, but then he shook his head mistakenly, "But I don't deserve it."

Kate took his hands within her, and guided them down to his side; she pushed herself up and affectionately pressed her lips against his. She could feel him grin for a moment before he kissed her back. His lips were exactly as she thought they would be, warm, gentle, soothing, and for a moment she'd forgotten all about everything that happened after the plane crash.

He pulled away suddenly, and she cast her green eyes on him, a look of puzzlement coursing through them, "Are you comfortable with this?" he asked her, concerned for her well being, "Because I understand if you're not."

"Jack," she muttered as she pulled him back to her, "I know it's really you," she whispered into his ear, and then kissed his cheek.

His arms slithered to her waist, skimming over the gashes in her skin from the rocky wall of the cave just enough that he could feel the jagged edges of the wounds through the light material of her top.

Aaron's crib shook as he stirred out of sleep, automatically his mouth opened and he let out a small croak of a cry, then slowly increased it until it almost sounded like an air raid alarm.

"Jack," Kate pulled away and gestured to the crib a few feet away, "Aaron," she simply stated as she broke away from him to tend to the baby.

"He'll be fine for a little bit longer," Jack grinned as he pulled Kate back to him. She smiled at his passion and didn't pull away when he kissed her again.

Aaron's cries grew louder, and more urgent as he began to squirm inside his crib shaking it monumentally, begging for attention.

"Jack," Kate retracted once again, "He needs something," she commented as she left go of his hand.

"Kate, he'll be fine, newborns cry all the time," he declared kindly as he gripped her hand again.

"Claire's dead Jack," she informed, "He needs her and she's not here, so I have to do the best job I can to give him what he needs."

"Fine," Jack agreed a sudden harshness to his voice as he let go of Kate's hand, "I'll give him what he needs."

The difference in him was obvious, his voice dripping with sarcasm and ruthlessness. Kate took a few seconds to notice the change and realized he was walking towards Aaron.

"Jack!" she reached for his arm and pulled him back to her, "You're right, he'll be all right," she agreed, as she maneuvered back into his arms, hoping that she could get his attention off of Aaron, willing to take whatever Jack threw out for him.

He gave her a deranged, lopsided grin, one that made her blood turn cold. He dug his fingers into her back, as his lips consumed hers with raw power. He was being so spiteful; tears of pain began to run down Kate's face, as Aaron still cried for attention.

"Why won't he shut up!" Jack yelled as he threw Kate away from him and began to march over to the crib.

"Jack, don't!" Kate pleaded as she grabbed his hand with hers, trying to hold him back, "He's just a baby," she begged.

"Shut up!" Jack demanded as he turned around, and in one swift movement, his fist flew directly at her face. It knocked her out cold, and she toppled over into a lifeless pile.

Jack stared at her for a moment, then at his hand, noticing the tiny speckles of blood laced across it, "Oh my God," he whispered, as he looked at his shaking hand for a moment.

He turned to Kate, who lay limply on the ground, her left eye growing swollen and almost black in color. Her cheek had a few droplets of warm, crimson blood spread across it. He was in shock, he hadn't even seen what he'd done, but deep in the back of his mind, he knew what he'd done.

When he finally moved to help her, he stopped short when he heard footsteps approaching the tent, "Jesus Freckles," Sawyer groaned as he got nearer to the entrance, "Can't you shut that thing up?" he asked as he entered the tent.

He froze in his spot when he saw Jack, standing in front of the baby's crib, his body towering over Kate crumpled on the ground, "What did you do?" Sawyer grumbled, "What did you do?"

"I…I don't know," he spoke truthfully, "I didn't mean to hurt her, I'm not myself," he exclaimed shaken as his eyes darted from Kate to Sawyer.

"Get out of here!" Sawyer yelled as he glared at Kate, then at Jack. He pointed to the jungle and screamed, "Get out!"

Jack quickly passed by him and through the opening of the tent, running back to the comforting haven of the jungle. Sayid and Locke just missed his shadow entering the trees; they had heard the screaming and had come to investigate.

Sawyer had moved inside and was crouched beside Kate's body, trying to rouse her. Aaron still laying wailing in his crib as Sayid and Locke came in, "What happened?" Sayid yelled over Aaron's screaming.

"I don't know, go get Sun," he shouted back, "The baby needs something, and Freckles sure can't give it to him."

Sayid nodded and ventured off to find Sun, "You should take her to the medical tent," Locke suggested as Sawyer picked up her wilted body gently, "Shannon's there now for malnutrition, so if she wakes up, you'll know."

Sawyer agreed and as Locke held back the flaps he exited into the cool night. Sun and Sayid came rushing up, with Jin slightly trailing them.

"What happened?" Sun asked. Her brown eyes shot up to Sawyer then to Locke looking for an answer before she looked back down to Kate.

"I don't know, and I sure as hell wish people would stop askin' me!" he huffed as he headed towards the medical tent. It was the largest of the tents, with room for five, but it was only to be used in case of emergencies. With the survivors dying down like they were, Sawyer was pretty sure no one would mind.

He walked inside and delicately set Kate down in an opposite corner from Shannon. She looked up at him weakly, with her blue bloodshot and sunken eyes almost pleading to be let go.

"What happened?" she muttered faintly, her chest heaving like the words caused her pain.

Sawyer would've exploded if anyone else asked that question, but since it was the first words she'd spoken in over a week, he'd let it slide, "I think Jacko did this," he offered, "Everything's going to hell."

"This is hell," she replied bluntly. He stared at her in disbelief for a few seconds, but their conversation was ended by footsteps coming to the opening of the tent.

"Dude this is bad," Hurley stated when he saw the state of both Kate and Shannon.

"I suggest that one other person stay with them, Locke, Sawyer, Hurley, Jin and I will rotate on guard shifts, and…"

"Babysittin'," Sawyer finished Sayid's sentence for him, and received a cross look for it.

"I'm taking care of Aaron, so I can move his cradle in here and do some shifts as well when I'm not looking for fruit," Sun offered, as she hiked up the snoozing baby boy.

"No one should be even near the jungle," Sayid warned, "not within an arms distance of it."

"I can find fruit and boars, if Hurley and Jin still want to catch fish," Locke proposed.

"Yeah, that's fine with me Dude," Hurley agreed. Sun translated quickly for Jin and he shook his head in agreement.

"I'll take the first hospital shift," Sawyer suggested suddenly. Everyone looked to him with surprise.

"With Shannon's asthma, you won't be able to smoke in here," Sayid cautioned as he strapped one of Locke's knives to his belt.

"Then I won't smoke," he concurred. Sayid eyed him suspiciously for a moment, but then gave a nod of his head, "Alright, we'll be stationed around the jungle line, about one hundred yards from one another," he informed as he bent down and kissed the crown of Shannon's head, the looked to Sawyer, "If you need use for anything, just shout, one of us is sure to see you."

He nodded and watched as the other's left, when they were a safe distance away he turned to Shannon, "I'll be right back, if anything happens with either of you two, just scream or somethin'" he stated as he left the tent for a few minutes.

Shannon cast her blue eyes on Kate, who didn't move at all, except for the quivering rise and fall of her chest. She heard a noise outside, but didn't startle when Sawyer came back in with a rag and a bottle of peroxide.

He bent back down beside Kate, and gently began cleaning the small, but bleeding scratch on her cheek, "You tell anyone about this Sticks," he warned her with an irate scowl.

Shannon only grinned in return, "You really must like her," she muttered as she adjusted herself against the bundles of pillows Sayid was sure to pack behind her, "You're not even complaining."

He let out a dry laugh, then placed the supplies over to the side. His hand came up and delicately moved a strand of her hair that had been plastered to her face away, "Like I said, you tell anyone an'…"

"Yeah, yeah," Shannon yawned as she turned to her side, "I'm going to sleep until you're gone."

"So what are you in for?" she heard someone ask. Their voice was muddled somewhere in the back of her head. She couldn't even tell if it was a guy or a girl, or if they were talking to her.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," the second voice replied, it had a higher cadence from the first, though it sounded a bit rusty. They were becoming more lucid in her head and she recognized one as male and one as female.

"Just try me Dude," came the reply and she immediately knew that the male of the conversation was Hurley.

"Well, you see, they say I'm malnourished," the female stated over dramatically. Kate identified her to be Shannon.

"You don't say!" Hurley replied with feigned shock.

"You two make enough noise to wake the dead," Kate moaned as she opened her eyes and saw the dim light of several fires strewn around the tent.

"That's what we were supposed to do Dude," Hurley enlightened as he scooted back so Shannon could see the newly revived Kate.

"Wow, I think you're the only person here who looks worse then me," she croaked. It was supposed to be meant as a joke, but someone coming from Shannon, even in the condition she was in, it wasn't very funny.

"Thanks," She mumbled as she placed a hand over her eyes and winced when her fingers brushed against the tender skin of her eye.

Hurley moved over and helped her sit back against the mound of pillows Sawyer had quickly accumulated for her, "We were just talking how we looked like opposites," he announced as he rested next to Shannon.

He was definitely telling the truth, with Hurley's large stature versus Shannon's protruding ribs, they were definitely opposites, "Where's Aaron?" she questioned laying a hand gently over her bruised eye.

"Sun's taking care of him," Hurley announced, "Sawyer's on watch with Sayid and Locke, his time is almost up, but I should probably go and tell him you're awake if I don't want any smart-aleck remarks sent my way," he stated as he got up and left the tent.

"You seem to be in better spirits," Kate groaned as she watched Shannon grin from across the tent.

"I decided that maybe I didn't want to die soon after all," she stated as she took a drink from her bottle of water. Kate sent her a smile.

"Sleepin' Beauty," Sawyer cried as he entered the tent, "You finally graced us with your presence."

"Well only so I could out do you for the worst black-eye," she divulged as he sat beside her.

Sayid came in after him and sat beside Shannon, a grin plastered to his face, "I'm glad to see you're eating again," he told her as he placed a piece of hair behind her ears.

She smiled as she leaned in and placed a kiss on his cheek, "Thanks for putting up with me."

"Dude, it's almost sunrise," Hurley stated from outside the tent, "Jin and I better start fishing," he announced as he walked away from the tent to go retrieve Jin.

"Can we go watch the sunrise?" Shannon asked, "I haven't been able to enjoy it for awhile," she explained.

"Of course," Sayid replied and moved to pick her up.

"No, I can walk," she assured as she rose, wobbly-legged like a new born deer, but still managed to take some unbalanced steps.

Kate and Sawyer watched as they slowly made their way out of the tent to go watch the glorious sunrise of a new day, "She's doing a lot better," Kate commented with a smile.

"How are you feelin'?" Sawyer asked, sitting next to her and resting his back on the mound of pillows.

"Like I need a stiff drink," Kate replied as she turned to him.

"The last thing you need is a drink, you'll be so shitfaced by the night, that by dawn you'll be complaining to me about every little thing," he expressed with a chuckle.

"Well I don't want to be a burden," she replied sarcastically.

"Hell, you already are, I tell ya to stay away from Jacko, and you go to the caves to talk to him, and you-know-what happens. Then after you realize he's dangerous, you don't even scream when he comes into your tent," he recapped, "Maybe you should just go live in the jungle with him."

"He keeps coming to me," she divulged, a forlorn look crossed her face, "I tried to help him, but I can't, no one can. It's the same with Shannon, she might be making a recovery, but it won't last that long."

"You care to tell me what the hell this is all about?" Sawyer asked exasperated, "Every time you start talking about what's happening around here, it ends up coming out like some damned jigsaw puzzle."

"Rousseau told us about a sickness that got the rest of her crew, she had to fend then off and eventually kill them all," she explained vaguely, "Basically all of us here are going to get it, go mad, and kill each other. That's why Charlie killed Claire and why Sayid killed Charlie."

"No, Muhammad killed the reject because he killed Claire," Sawyer corrected, as he watched her become uncomfortable about the subject.

"Sayid has it Sawyer," she enlightened, "He's had it ever since Walt died, he's just been fighting it off better then anyone else."

"So he's gonna go crazy and murder us all?" he questioned doubtfully.

She closed her eyes, "Sawyer, I want to go to sleep now," she informed nonchalantly; "I don't want to talk about this anymore."

"Kate," there was her name again, "You can't just go to sleep and pretend like none o' this is happening," he growled at her seriously.

"Why not?" she questioned as she turned to her side, letting her beaten cheek be brandished in the dawn's light, "It's what I've been doing since I've figured it out."

Sawyer stared at her in disbelief, how could she just act like everything was fine? "Well what the hell do you want me to do then?" he queried, wondering if there was someway he could stop the virus.

"Well you can stay here and sleep if you shut up," she suggested, "If not move out," she mumbled as she nuzzled into the pillows.

He sat up and looked out to the ocean, Shannon and Sayid sat giggling as the sun rose. They cuddled closer and rested against each other. Down the beach Sun was watching Hurley and Jin fish as she bounced Alex who was smiling.

"I should go do somethin'," Sawyer expressed, "Collect wood or fruit or somethin'."

"Then go," she mumbled, her voice dulled by the pillows.

"But what if Jack comes back here?" he questioned, turning to her.

"Then stay," she murmured softer.

He sighed and leaned back once again, his hands rested under his head as he stared up at the tarp thrown across for the ceiling waver in the wind. Half-conscious Kate moved towards him, leaning her head against his chest. As if a programmed reaction, his arm came down to rest on her shoulders and he felt her sigh.

He felt guilty, but he wasn't going to come out and admit it to her. It was his own fault she got assaulted by Jack. If he came back to the tent with her, he would've been there to protect her. He wouldn't make that mistake again; he'd follow her no matter where she went, and if she declined his protection he could just follow her secretly. He'd let her slip by him twice, there was no way he was going to let it happen again.

Hope you enjoyed the somewhat niceness of this chapter, because the next chapter is gonna be harsh. Oh and to clarify, there's four characters who are immune to the disease all together, and two who have a less evil, but still fatal strand (I know you're probably like "Different strand! You can't do that!") Well guess what I just did, so there!

Whirlwind-2005
Hmmm, Sayid going crazy next? That'd be a pretty good guess, but it's wrong I'm afraid. And this story (I'm sorry) is only going to be 2 more chapters long, because when it ends, it's ending for sure.

Octobersky
Yep Evil Jack is back, but he's left. But will he be back again? And what about Michael?

Freckles-101
Well Aaron's not Kate's responsibility as of now, Sun's taking care of him, which would be a better choice, because she seems to know a lot more then Kate. But still a newborn baby can't grow with out milk, and there's none there to give him…

lostobsessivefreak
I've got some darkness planned for 'Just In Case' but not for awhile. And I thought that this chapter was generally gentle, but it's the last of almost fluff you'll be seeing in this story.

CrAzYhOrSeGiRl88
I didn't use all your words (falls to the ground crying) I'm sorry, but I thought it'd be best to save what happens next, for the next chapter, otherwise it would've been rushed and blah, blah, blah. But I'll try and use up the extra words in that one. While I put the random characters on the chopping block.

Next Chapter
The deaths of many characters until only a select few are left. I'm not gonna say who, or how, or why (though I bet you can guess), but it all leads up to the best damn conclusion I've ever done thought up!