Chapter Nine:

Everyone's Got Somebody

Jack avoided the question. He didn't want to startle anyone. He couldn't even describe what he saw. He knew that they'd keep asking until they drug it out of him. He decided to let them in on it. And only them. Not to cause more panic from what was already present. He knew he had to hurry. The thing that was chasing them was coming in fast. Explosions could be heard from a distance. Everyone was right, they weren't going to be prepared.

"Jack?" Kate asked again.

"I don't know how to describe it." He fumbled with his words, "I don't exactly have time to explain either."

Sawyer ran inside from his post outside the cave doors. He headed straight for Jack. The expression on his face said everything. "Doc."

"Yeah I know I saw it, too."

"What are we gonna do? How are we gonna fight off that thing? Unless we got a whole arsenal of weapons we're not gonna make it."

"We'll just have to do the best we can."

"That might not be good enough." Sayid spoke. In which Shannon had finally joined his side. He lightly stroked her blonde hair as if to comfort her.

"We'll just have to lay low for awhile. Hopefully it'll pass by."

"Pass by Jack? If little miss muffet over there found me, it's not gonna be that hard. Plus she probably told them we were in the cave."

The large roaring of what was known to be the creature rung loudly through the caves. It was outside and begging to get in. Everyone ran into their hiding places throwing things on top of their bodies to camouflage them from whatever it was that was outside.

Sayid quickly distinguished the fire and joined Shannon behind a large boulder that was snuggling the wall. Sayid held her in his arms. "If we don't make it. If I don't make it."

"Don't leave me, too. I can't bare to loose another person in my life that I love."

Sayid never heard anyone say that to him. She loves me? Surely she's just a girl in the moment. She wants to express what she's feeling. She's scared and confused. "And neither could I." He stroked her hair again kissing her forehead.

She closed her eyes praying. Let me have another day with him. Let me have him for just one more day. He's all I have now. Don't let him die.

It grew quiet in the cave everyone listened attentively for any sign of withdraw.

Jack and Kate laid beside each other his head poking up occasionally to see if he could catch a glimpse of anything coming inside the cave. Kate laid on her back looking at the ceiling of the cave.

She whispered quietly, "What is it you saw Jack?"

He looked down at her from his position. "I'm not sure how to describe it." He paused. "I've never seen anything like it."

"Was it like the thing we saw when we were coming back from the Black Rock?"

"Yeah. A lot like that only bigger." He tried to collect his thoughts before speaking again. "It was hard to see."

"Any sign of Locke?"

"No. I don't think he made it this time."

"Maybe what was in the hatch came out?"

"I don't know, Kate. But I hope not." He looked over across the room at Ana-Lucia. "Are you and Ana-Lucia getting along?"
"I haven't had a chance to really talk to her. She stays with those two people mainly. Except for when it comes to you." She closed her eyes briefly. "I understand if you have a history, Jack. I'm not upset."

"What? History?"

"Yeah. I've seen the way you look at her. And I know that you'd possibly never be able to fully trust me after finding out who I was. So it's natural.. To want to be with someone like that."

"Where are you getting this from? Sawyer.. If we get out of this I'm gonna--"

"Not Sawyer. I can see things myself Jack. I don't need anyone to point it out for me."

"I don't like Ana-Lucia. She's interesting and funny. But she's not someone I'd want to consider being with. Regardless if we even get off this island."

"So how do you know her then? If you don't have a history?" She bit her lip nervously.
He sighed and laid on his back joining Kate. "I met her in the airport before our flight. In the bar. We talked. It wasn't anything serious." His mouth got away with him. "Why are you suddenly interested?"

"Because Jack, if we don't make it. I want you to know that I always felt that you were the person on the island I could most trust. You were the only one who didn't care about what I did before. I just thought you'd want a life other than running. Because when I get back to the States. I'm not going home, I'm going to jail if I get caught. And I don't want you waiting for me. You should be out living your life."

He rolled over on his side and placed his hand on her cheek. He thumb stroked it softly before lowering his head for a kiss. "I trust you, too." Kate looked back at him before moving in closer to meet his lips. They shared their first, and possibly last kiss.

On the other side of the cave was Sawyer. He hid behind the adjacent wall to the cave entrance. Just a few feet away from where Abigail was sitting she was against a boulder. Her ropes ran along the back of it tied in a type of knot only a scout would know how to conceive. She knew it would be the end of her. With everyone's panicking they forgot about untying her. Everything happened so quick. She was doomed. She kept her head down, she looked as though she was praying. From afar it looked like she was talking to herself or possibly reciting one of her favorite prayers. She sobbed quietly as she said her prayer. It was quickly interrupted by a psst. Coming from behind her. She struggled with the ropes to try to turn her head around. She could only tilt it to the side. It was Sawyer.

"Time to meet you match I guess, firecracker?"

She nodded. He interrupted me for this? To taunt me? "I guess so."

"It's a awful shame. I bet you'd been one hell of a companion."

"What makes you think you're getting off so easy?"
"Well you're the one tied to a rock. Me? I'm limitless. Guess it goes to show you, pay back is a bitch."

"Oh, and here I thought you'd come to my rescue. You being such a gentlemen." She couldn't help but giggle.

"Nah. You look like you're handling yourself just fine. I like it here. I have an ideal view of you when you get eaten."

"How humane you are. I'll never forget your kindness."

"Well lovely, I wouldn't want you to." Sawyer skimmed the cave from his viewpoint he saw Jack kissing someone. He just figured it to be Kate. He sighed. Whatever. Even though he'd lost her to him. He saw Claire and Charlie huddled together in the corner trying to keep little Aaron quiet, Sun with Michael. He couldn't help but notice, everyone had someone. Except for him.