A pretty face don't mean a pretty heart
Chapter 9
Endings and beginnings
"It's a St Jude." Claire hands Connor a small gold coin attached to a chain, who holds it up in the sunlight. "I found it amongst Emma's belongings."
"The patron saint of lost causes." Connor smiles at Claire, whose warm smile is returned. "She said it belonged to her Dad, a policeman, considering you're the closest to one we have, I think she'd like you to have it."
Connor appreciates the sentiment. "When we get home, I'll return it him!" He fastens it around his neck. "Thanks Claire." Claire walks away.
Michael's second raft is coming along rather well. Ten days he reckons, Arty the know it all hypochondriac, says they need to launch pretty soon or it'll be monsoon season. How long it'll take for the volunteer crew to reach help. Connor sighs, it's as long as a length of string.
We're sitting here waiting, there is much on this island that we still don't know about. He sees Sayid in the distance, who gestures a friendly wave in Connor's direction.
"It doesn't really matter which way I'll go." Connor looks at the map carefully with Sayid. "The Dark Territory and this black rock is something that we'll have to venture into sooner rather than later, just that I'll go in the opposite direction that you took." Shannon and Sayid look at Connor, with the look of man giving himself a death sentence.
"There might still be survivors out there, hiding." Connor's mind had been made up. "We better find them before the others or that thing finds them!"
Sayid sighs in resignation. "Would it be yourself?" Connor nods. "I can take enough supplies five days there, five days back. I figure if I can find a water supply I can find them."
"Take the rifle too, the only one that's still working!"
"For the polar bears I guess!"
"I owe him my life, but if his mind's made up." Jack whispers to Sayid. "It's his ball-game." Sayid sighs in resignation. "He's a good man."
"He needs his space." Jack watches Kate walk into the cave, somebody who a week ago was at death's door. Fuck him, Jack thinks he wants to go, let him, one less to worry about.
"I guess I can't talk you out of it." Sawyer walks beside Connor by the beach. "No." Connor replies. Both watch the sea-going raft being built. "Much as I like your company, I feel like the odd man out."
"How?"
"The Doctor and the Jedi Master there?" Connor points to Locke with Boone going into the jungle, in a strange rush kind of way. "There are no threats to us here, you don't need me!" Sawyer folds his arms.
"He's alright. Jack's just a pain in the ass." Connor's eyes betrayed his thoughts again. I suppose if I'd been here since day one, never mind, hind-sight is a wonderful thing.
"Must annoy you." Sawyer counted down to ask the next question. "Her with him!"
Connor thinly smiles. Sawyer takes a step back. "That was out of order I know."
"It was, but hey that I can't change that."
Connor watches Kate speaking to Jack in the distance. He shakes his head. "I'm leaving tomorrow – can't talk you into coming?"
"Not a chance in hell. I think I can get a place on the raft."
"I've got something for you to christen it."
Connor grins. He removes something from his pocket. A miniature of Jack Daniels, and tosses it to Sawyer. Who catches and looks at it. "You're full of surprises Connor." He grins.
"Where did you get this?"
"You're not the only one who hoards stuff." Connor winks.
"He's leaving?"
Sayid nods readying a rucksack for Connor. Kate watches him. "Why?"
Sayid watches Connor with Sawyer in the distance, sharing a joke. Grinning, and laughing. "Just for a few days, he seems to think that there may be other survivors still waiting to be found, and other sources of food and fresh water!"
Kate walks forward a few steps. He's doing it to protect me, if he stays, the chances of him and Jack having a fall out are greater. There is another way he could stay, I could go on the raft, but it means he'll be hurt again. Why do I feel this way for him?
Thank you Scott for the rucksack, shame about what happened to you. By the side of the beach, Connor is preparing to leave. A rough sketch of a map, with Shannon's translations. A blanket, water bottles, some food, mostly fruit and dried fish. A borrowed hunting knife from Locke. Matches, a lighter and some bottle rockets, and Nathaniel's binoculars.
"So you're leaving." Kate watches from beside a palm tree. Connor looks up from his shelter, and then goes back to work. "Just for a few days, I'll be back, Kate."
Uninvited she walks over and sits down across from Connor. It is uncomfortably close. Connor glances up.
"It's a big island. Grace thinks there are other survivors, and I happen to think so too." He puts two assault rifle magazines into a side pocket. Kate notices the assault rifle. "The assault rifle is for the bears." Connor grins. Kate smiles in reply.
"Strange as this may sound, every day that we were together and when you went out. I have the same feeling now that I did then, that I'd never see you again." She says.
"Ditto."
Connor reaches into another side pocket, and removes the photograph. He stares at it for a moment, then hands it to Kate. Kate stares at it.
"Keep it for safe keeping, I'm going to want it back from you when I return, Kate." Connor winks. Kate folds the photograph. "You promise?" Kate says.
Connor nods.
"For all the trouble you've caused me, Kate, I've come too far to jack it all in." Connor pauses. "Besides, I piss Jack off and that's not a bad thing." Kate frowns.
Kate leans over.
Their lips touch.
Connor looks back at the camp from a distance. The sun is starting to rise. See ya laters have been said to Sayid, Locke, and lastly Sawyer. Vincent the Labrador has followed him, and has decided to turn back. Connor turns away, and carries on walking along the coast.
Kate watches too from Connor's makeshift shelter. She looks at the photograph. She frowns. I have to leave.
To be continued…