A/N: Sorry about the long time, no update thing. I was sick for two days of this week, went to a movie one night, and watched a rented video from the local store the other. Also went to the mall, something rare with me. Seriously, I hate it. The food court is the best thing in the whole place, well, save a couple select stores. Very few, mind you. Right now, I'm listening to an old cassette of mine, Tracy Chapman's Fast Car. If any of you like that song, then you have won some brownie points with me. :)

Disclaimer: Don't own Lost, don't want to. JJ and Co already does a hell of a job, and I'm not one to ruin it.

Fireflies
Chapter 2
Stand Up

Jack watched her back retreat into the dark depths of down the beach, her navy blue shirt blending in exactly with the night sky and the dark sea. The waves still lapped upon his feet, but they washed away the footprints that once had been Kate's, leaving lumps of sand as a reminder that this wasn't all a dream.

He sighed, running his fingers over his head, not really sure what to do next. How could he show her that he really did indeed love her?

The firefly flew away; it's light still blinking in the distance, mixing in with the starlit skies above.

The next morning, Jack woke up feeling refreshed, something he hadn't felt in a long time. He had a feeling that something big would happen today, but if it was bad or not, he didn't know, and he kept that in the back of his mind as he got up from the icy cold floor of the cave. Nothing looked different, and he hadn't expected it would, just a little observation he made every morning. It was just a routine, and he had one for everything.

Memories of last night flooded his mind as Jack walked outside, still stretching. His mood was lightened as he thought about it more, plunging into an instant replay; Kate had said she loved him. Or she had.

Sighing, he checked up on everyone awake, asking him or her how their night had been, and if they slept well. Jack knew that he hadn't gotten to sleep easily, but once it came, he was out. Receiving nothing but nods and words, he decided that he was going to go down to the beach to collect some firewood, and check up on things there.

Heading to the path, something caught his eye, and it made him smile, though a small one. Claire and Charlie were laughing, Aaron sitting in their laps, and gurgling along. They still had the beaming look on their faces, the one that all parents got when a child entered their lives. Jack only hoped it could last for them, and the smile faded as his thoughts rushed over to him and Kate, wishing the same thing for themselves.

Silently, he stole down the dirt road, his strides getting bigger with every minute he got closer to the sandy beach, the thing that still held some hope for the survivors that help could come, and they would be saved. Jack knew that some had lost it, but in their hearts, packed away somewhere forgotten, it still lay. Each morning they'd wake up, the person would look out to see and sigh when they saw no boats on the horizon, or hear a break in the sound barrier for some aircraft - passing overhead.

He bit his lip when he saw Kate's blanket fanned across the sand, but no body lay on it. Her backpack was gone, along with the old water bottle that leaked even more when she filled it up once again. A book lay open, its dog-eared pages swishing in the light breeze that also played across Jack's face, and as he bent over to close it, a familiar voice came from behind.

"Whatcha doin' here so early, doc? Thought you didn't make your rounds for another couple hours." A thick southern-accent couldn't even cover the harsh voice that it belonged to.

Jack shrugged, trying to keep his cool, as he stepped away from her blanket, and turned to Sawyer. "Guess I decided to come early. Got a problem with that?"

"Ya really shook her up last night, Jacko. Left here early this mornin', sayin' she was gonna go get some water for all us beach people. She didn't come back, obviously." As if trying to make a point, the man whipped his head around, looking for the woman.

"She hasn't come back yet?" Jack asked, concern filling his voice, "When did she leave?"

"I dunno. Early." The man smirked at him, "And I thought ya said time didn't matter here on the Island."

"Sawyer…" Jack said warningly, getting angry at every word the other man spoke, "Just drop your act for a minute, and tell me when the hell she left."

Sawyer laughed. "This ain't no theatre, jackass. I'm tellin' ya the truth, the whole truth, and nothin' but the truth, so help me God." He joked around, jerking Jack's chain even more.

Jack shook his head, "Tell everyone I'll be back later." And with that, he started to walk away.

"I ain't no secretary, Jacko. You tell 'em!" Sawyer shouted after him, but the doctor didn't turn around.

-LOST-

A/N: Sorry about the short chapter. Longer one, lots of fluff, next chapter. Well, and a bit of angst, but that goes without saying. ;)