A/N: Second chapter! The third one is being worked on right now, so it should be up soon. Enjoy!
"We came back because we ran out of supplies," Jack said to everyone who gathered around him "We're setting out again in a few hours. We think we know where they have Walt, but it's just a theory right now. John has been following some clues and we found some new trails to follow."
"How long do you think this will take?" Sun asked.
He shrugged. "A week. A month. Once we find their camp we have to make sure we aren't outnumbered by them. This is going to be tough, but I think we'll do it. Everyone here is motivated enough. Finding Walt and bringing him back is our number-one priority."
"A while ago on a hunt, I found a door in the ground," John cut in. "It had no handle, but I tried to open it anyway. With the help of Rousseau, we were able to get some dynamite and blast open the hatch." He looked over at Jack who nodded. "While we're off looking for Walt, it'd be safe if everyone hides in the hatch until we return. No one here would have a weapon to defend themselves against anything that might come."
"Do you even know what's down that hatch, Old Man?" Sawyer asked with his southern drawl.
"Yes. Jack and I already searched it and it's perfectly safe. It'll hold about forty people comfortably."
"Don't you mean thirty-four?"
"Well, in case of an emergency and we all need to get down there, there won't be any worries of people being crammed together," John said with a small smile.
"Uh, dude? Yeah, I'm not going down there," Hurley said.
"Hurley, it's the safest way," Jack said.
"I know, but there were numbers on it. I'm not taking a chance with those numbers," he said under his breath.
"What are you mumbling about, Burger King?" Sawyer asked rudely.
Both Hurley and Jack ignored him. "Hurley, you can't stay up here by yourself. There is that Security System wandering around."
"Well, what if people chose to go down the hatch or not? I mean, we got to decide who stayed on the beach or went to the caves, right, dude?"
Jack sighed and turned to face the crowd. "All right, who here would like to go down the hatch and stay safe and hidden?"
Everyone, including Sawyer, raised their hands.
"And who would like to stay on the surface?"
Hurley dejectedly raised his hand.
After a few seconds, someone spoke up. "I'd like to stay on the surface, too."
Everyone turned their heads and saw Claire looking determined. "Claire, you shouldn't stay up here," Jack started.
"Why not?"
"You have a baby."
"If I went down that hatch, he'd got hot and be crying all the time. It's better to be up here where it's spacious and he wouldn't bother anyone."
No one said a word as they tried to think of a way to contradict her. "Claire," Kate said at last. "It's not safe for you to be up here."
"I'd have Hurley. We'd be safe enough," she protested.
"I'll stay, too," Sun responded.
"What? Sun, no," Kate said.
"I have to take care of my garden. If I don't, the plants may die and we won't have any more fruit."
"Aw, hell, I guess I'll stay, too," Sawyer said reluctantly. "I couldn't stand the fact if one of the chicas got eaten by that monster. Beside, the baby likes me, anyway."
Kate smiled. "Sure, Sawyer. That's the reason you're staying up here."
He scowled. "What other reason do you think there is, Freckles?"
She stared him in the eye. "You want to be nice, that's the reason."
"You're kidding, right?" he asked with a laugh.
"All right, it's settled then. A small group will stay on the surface in the caves while everyone else is led to the hatch," Jack interrupted. Everyone could tell he was jealous. Everyone except Sawyer and Kate, that is.
"Fine by me," Sawyer saidleering at Claire. She gave him a look of disgust and walked toward her cave. Aaron had fallen asleep in her arms during the meeting.
"Claire," she heard a familiar accented voice call. She ignored it and continued toward the cave. She felt a hand lightly grasp her upper arm and turn her around. "Don't do this," Charlie said with a sad look in his eyes.
"Leave me alone," she said sternly.
"Claire, I don't want anything to happen to you."
"Then why are you bothering me? I have Hurley and Sawyer to protect me. I'm fine."
"You trust Sawyer?" Charlie asked in disbelief.
"At least he's never lied to me," she spat.
He released her arm and frowned sadly. "I never wanted to hurt you."
"Too late, Charlie." She turned around and walked into her cave.
Jin tapped Charlie lightly on the shoulder and pointed to the group who were getting a head start on the search again. He nodded and made his way over to them. He stopped and looked over his shoulder to where she had disappeared to, but there was a plastic sheet covering the entrance. With a sigh, he turned back in the direction he had been going and continued onwards.
Behind the plastic sheet, Claire put a peaceful Aaron into his cradle and gently rocked him as she sat down on a rock. After a few seconds of watching her son, she put both of her hands over her eyes and silently sobbed.
A/N: Well, that's it for now! More will come soon. Review, please!