Lost belongs to JJ Abrams and crew. I'm just borrowing for some non-profit fun. After Sawyer and the others return to the island, he finds Kate has finally chosen Jack. Post Exodus II. (The events that lead up to previously posted stories –Incarceration, Interim, Ineffable) Enjoy!

Lost – Infected

By Mystic

July 2005

Sawyer watched her grow. It happened in the blink of an eye. She'd gone from the thin gal who climbed trees and hunted boar to the not so thin woman who did everything in her power to stay occupied without climbing trees and hunting boar because no one would let her. He saw her sitting against a palm tree staring out at the ocean with her hand on her stomach. She wasn't large, not like Claire had been, and he'd heard Jack worry over the lack of weight gain. Sawyer thought she'd gained enough weight. She was wearing Jack's longest shirts as dresses.

She stroked her belly slowly, her other hand lying in the sand. He followed her gaze, wondered what she was looking for. He'd wondered it since day one. She was always the first to plant herself on the shoreline and just stare off into the distance, but she was staring so far that he couldn't think she was looking for a boat or a plane. She was just staring. Sawyer wondered if she'd even see a ship if it went by.

"Hey Sawyer," Jack's voice made him jump and he heard the other man laugh at him.

"Doc," he said in reply. He shifted his gaze, finding Jack at his side. "Any sign of black smoke or crazy French chicks?"

For a moment Jack's smile vanished and his eyes became haunted. It was such a quick transition, it made Sawyer stand up straighter, as if he were suddenly paying attention and he planted a hand on Jack's shoulder.

"I was only joking," Sawyer told him.

Jack laughed, lowering his head sheepishly. "Bad memories," was all he said.

"Don't worry Doc, we're all watching her."

Nodding, Jack took a step forward, letting Sawyer's arm slid off him. Jack watched Kate. Sawyer saw it in his eyes, what he felt for her, and it made him hurt. He'd never felt that before, not even for her. He wondered if anyone would ever look at him like that. "She's due mid February. First time mother, pretty athletic, young and healthy. I'm scared she'll go into labor early."

Sawyer sighed. "Like I said, don't worry." He nodded his head towards Kate. Claire was coming towards her with Aaron, who was walking now, his hand gripping his mother's thumbs tightly. The boy let go only for a moment to point at Kate and laugh. Kate poked his tummy and Claire sat down. "We're lookin' out for her."

Jack let his eyes travel back to Sawyer's. "They found Walt."

"Merry Christmas," Sawyer muttered, but his heart wasn't in it.

"We've got him back at the caves, he's…" Jack struggled. "Different. Older. Catatonic."

"What's wrong with him?" Sawyer asked.

Shrugging, Jack sighed. "Don't know. Michael won't leave his side. Jin and Sun are having some argument as to how to treat him. I don't even know where to begin. There's no physical abuse, no sexual abuse as far as I can tell – Michael won't let me examine him properly – but it's like his mind's not there."

"Charlie came back like that once, he's alright, ain't he?" He motioned towards the blond man who was now sitting on Kate's other side, his hands laid flat on her stomach as she talked to Claire and played with Aaron's fingers.

Jack pressed his lips together and tugged on the straps of his backpack. "I don't want her alone. Don't want them getting any ideas for trades." He paused, smiling as Charlie gave a hop and shouted something about kicking. "I have to get back to Walt."

"Jack," Sawyer called just as the other man had started walking away. "Why not keep them together?"

Shaking his head, Jack told him ominously, "I don't want her with him either."