The Very Though of You
Chapter Three

Author's Note: The flashback in this chapter is about 9/11, so I seriously hope that no one is offended in anyway. Please tell me, if so!

Dedication: To all those who lost their lives and fought to save in the mist of 9/11. Forever will you be in our hearts.

Kate, can you watch over him for a minute? Jack asked halfway through the evening.

Kate grinned wickedly and before Jack could ask why, she ringed a wet towel out over Sawyer's forehead.

The water must've been cold because Sawyer curse, shooting up and then rubbing his head before slapping Kate in the arm. Shaking his head, Jack got up and walked over to his cave, passing Charlie as he went.

Oh hey, Jack said, stopping him, I thought you and Sayid were going to see if anyone else washed up on shore.

Charlie shrugged.

Sayid said we didn't need to.How does Sayid know that? Jack asked, eyes narrowing.

For the past few weeks, it seemed like Sayid, Boone, and Locke seemed to know more than everyone else, like they shared some secret. One of the three always knew where a certain castaway was, or if someone was lost or just walking the beach.

The hell if I know, Charlie said.

Jack noticed Charlie's eye had caught something it was interested in. Following his gaze, Jack saw that now Sawyer was attempting to dunk a bottle of water onto Kate, only resulting in her retorting the action back to him. Instead of getting angry, Sawyer roared in laughter.

Have you ever seen Sawyer laugh before? Charlie asked, watching the pair.

Jack said, watching as Kate shielded herself from a spray of water.

They were acting like two years olds, yet at the same time, there was a calm peacefulness about them. The two were doing what they wanted, and clearly didn't care what anyone else had to say about it. That seemed to be the mindset of both Kate and Sawyer.

Charlie was watching the two closely, I mean, like that. He seems..happy.

Jack shrugged.

Maybe he is.

Jack didn't want to think of that, because Sawyer would only have to reasons to be happy now: making it back to shore, and being with Kate; and most likely, it was because of being with Kate.

He's just out of it now, Jack said in an unconvincing tone, not even believing himself, tomorrow he'll be up and his old self tomorrow.Can't say I'm excited about that, Charlie muttered, walking away.

Letting out a nervous laugh, Jack convinced himself that Charlie was just making things up in his head. Kate was just friends with Sawyer. She was entitled to be happy with him, right? And anyway, she was in love with him..

Wasn't she?

(Space)

Shannon was reading a three month old People's magazine for the fourth time when Boone interrupted her.

Can I talk to you? He asked, already inviting himself to sit down.

Guess so, Shannon shrugged, free country, isn't it? Boone looked around, from what we know-Shut up, Shannon said, throwing down the magazine, jerking her sunglasses off, and turned to face Boone, and added impatiently, When was the last time you talk to Sayid? Boone asked.

Thinking back, Shannon realized that that had been a day or two ago, when she had showed him the journal. A pit of guilt formed inside her, and suddenly Shannon felt horrible for back stabbing Boone, and her promise to keep his personal life between the two of them- well three, including Jack, and four with Locke.

A few days ago, Shannon answered when she realized that she was dragging on the silence. She looked back at him. Because he told me something.. Boone paused, as if reconsidering the confession. And then: I think you should know.

He never continued, so Shannon stated, About that picture, he continued at last, he said you found it.The one of the girl? Shannon said, scurrying to move from her position with her elbows in the sand to sitting with her knees beneath her. Did he tell you about that?She was a prisoner of his, Boone knew that Shannon would pester him until he told the truth, but it didn't take a rocket scientist to see that they were in love.

Shannon's excitement died down and she lost her balance from her position, letting her knees draw to her chest. She turned away from Boone and stared back at the ocean. How could Sayid keep this from her? Furious, Shannon thought of a million ways to shove this into Sayid's face before realizing that she too hadn't told the entire truth about her relationship with Boone.

Did he say if she's still alive? Shannon had to know though hell, the girl could've even been on the plane.

Boone replied with a shake of the head, but he did say her name was Nadia.

She noticed Boone's sudden off look and turned to see what he was looking at. Sayid was immerging from the path that led to the caves. He seemed anxious about something, like Boone suddenly had somewhere important to be.

she said as he was getting up.

Afraid of letting anything else out, so she kept it at that. Then the regret and guilt came.

Boone stopped and turned, listening.

Never mind, Shannon said quickly, for lack of words.

(Space)

Alex was looking around the jungle, following her instinct in paths, looking for any kind of food, something she hadn't thought about as she was running away.

Adam said impatiently, awaiting Alex's opinion.

After settling Adam into his apartment, Alex had been shown around her uncle's house which sat inside a small neighborhood just outside Manhattan. The second day of their first week as New Yorkers, the two took their first ride on a subway(which Adam made way too big of a deal about, and kept swearing he was seeing people outside the windows, Alex just shook her head and kindly explained to the old man next to her that he was drunk) in the city and were now walking the streets.

So..I think that I should've thought of this years ago, Alex said, but we could've gotten started on the record today.No we couldn't of.I found this, Adam took out a crumbled up sheet of notebook paper, in the back seat of your uncle's car.

He handed her the ball of paper and stopped, facing her.

Why didn't you tell me you wrote another song?

Alex shrugged.

I didn't think it was that good.Night after night it comes back to me, Adam sang softly, having the lyrics memorized, day after day-Okay, okay! Alex said, glancing nervously at the citizens walking by. It just sounds stupid, okay? We're not using it. Anyway, we already gave the studio the song order. Adam looked around and then stop cold.

What's wrong? She looked up at him in concern.

It was then that she realized the citizens were citizens, but tourist, and they weren't walking, but stopping, staring at something. She knew from what she had seen on tv that they were looking at Ground Zero, where the Twin Towers had once been. While Adam stared in a horrific awe at the site blocked off, just a few streets down, though still in sight, Alex was beginning to feel sick.

Putting one hand on the wall of the building beside them, Alex drew in deep breaths, trying to slow down her racing heart rate. She tried to close her eyes, but when she did, all she saw was:

A man running for his life as a mountain of smoke tumbled after him. Fumbling for his cell phone in his pocket, the man tried to dial a number, but got sucked into the smoke..

Alex could feel the thick black smoke around her, engulfing her, making her choke as she fought for breath, leaning over almost all the way to the ground, left hand on the wall. She could hear Adam shouting desperately behind her, but Alex couldn't answer him to save her life.

A woman sobbed as she lay on the ground, a bicycle over her left leg. She cried for help but dozens of people just ran past..

Turning over, Alex leaned now with her back against the wall, and felt herself slowly sinking down to the ground as a crowd of people surrounded her. Then the crowd grew to dozens, then hundreds, and then..

Alex's eyes fluttered open. She looked around to try and find out where she was. Something soft lay underneath her and Alex assumed it to be a couch. The sinking of the fabric as a blurry figure of Adam sat down next to her.

How do you feel? He asked in a voice much softer than before, stroking her hair.

What happened? She asked wearily.

She felt drossy and her head was pounded. Then she remembered..the screams..the crowds..Was it all real? Why was she reliving the past in her head? Or was she just going crazy? Better yet, how would she ever know?

You fainted, Adam explained quietly, here, you might've just been dehydrated.

Alex shoved the glass of water Adam was handing her away.

It's barely June, she reminded him, rolling her eyes, and..where am I?An office building just right outside of where we were, Adam told her, looking out the window beside them, I think I'm going to call an ambulance though.Don't bother, Alex sat up, even though her head pounded as she did, just, no more tourist spots okay?

Adam looked at her oddly, obviously wondering what was going on, because they weren't just at any tourist spot' and they both knew it. Was Alex trying to deny what had happened? Alex knew he was pondering this a she looked up at him.

Let me at least take you home, Alex said, and then with a stroke of excitement added, we can take the subway. Alex said, swinging her feet around to the floor way to fast.

She felt like she had to throw up, but Alex also knew that the next three months in the city would be spent in a recording studio.

How about we get something to eat? Alex suggested. I think I saw a Chinese place ten minutes from here.

Adam looked at her a moment longer, searching her eyes to see if he could find out how she really felt, and finally agreed: .

Author's Note: Okay, I hope that last part wasn't rough on anyone, and let me explain the vision thign. Alex is psychic, she's just not sure of it yet. She's aware of her gifts, but can never really know if they're real. She does, however, know she's a medium, which could possibly be another solution to the visions. Those to people weren't based off anyone in particular, just basic footage. I really don't know if anyone would stop and help that woman, but I'd seriously would hope they would, but I'm not the one to say. Once again, hope I didn't offend anyone! Sorry for the wait! Like I said, I'm fighting writer's block. Thanks for the reviews! You guys rock!

Coming up next, on The Very Thought of You:

Now you'll get to learn about her father and all, promise- unless something goes wrong in planning, or I don't have much time to write for some reason; and Kate and Sawyer's interaction may not be as platonic as Jack thought..of course, he's really just making things up in his head, which doesn't suit well with Kate when he confronts her.

Thanks again!

Until next time..

+ October Sky