Author's Notes: As mentioned in the Prologue, this takes place during Episode 10 "Raised by Another" and Episode 11 "All the Best Cowboys Have Daddy Issues". This chapter is from Kate's POV, and her thoughts are in italic.

Chapter 1: The Search Is On

The crowd was becoming restless, running around like chickens with their heads cut off, their eyes wide and scared. I could nearly taste the fear in the air. Their voices rose then fell silent as Jack stepped to the front.

"Everyone please stay calm. There's no reason for panic. I'm going to take a search party out into the jungle to look for Charlie and Claire. Any volunteers?" Jack announced to the crowd.

Locke was the first to step forward, closely followed by a determined Boone. Shannon cried out in protest but was completely ignored. They talked about how Locke's tracking skills would help but I paid no attention to them. Across the crowd I saw Sawyer, leaning against a tree with a smoke between his lips.

'Sawyer, man what an ass. I bet he won't even bother to volunteer to go help find Charlie and Claire. No wonder everybody hates him! But then again... he does have his moments. He's not as bad as he lets on.'

"Kate!"

I spun around, trying to find the source of the call, only to find the crowd half gone and the group of volunteers making their way into the jungle. I made my way over to Jack, eager to get on with the rescue mission.

"What is it Jack? You got everything, are we ready to go?"

Jack shook his head in negation. "We've already got enough people Kate. I need someone here to keep an eye on things and watch out for Sayid too."

"What do you mean I can't go! Boone's going! I've got better tracking skills than Boone! And besides, why can't Hurley look after things?"

"Kate, it's going to be dangerous out there. It's not as if I think that you can't handle yourself, but I would rather you stay here." Jack said soothingly.

That didn't placate me in the least. I was still majorly pissed. There was no way I was staying behind!

"Jack, I'm coming, whether you like it or not. I'm not asking your permission, I'm telling you. "

"Kate, we've been over this…"

"Hey now, what's this, Captain America and Wonder Woman havin' a fight? And here I thought y'all were on the same side."

"Butt out Sawyer, this doesn't concern you," Jack said pointedly.

"Jack, we need to leave now if we want to search before nightfall. We can wait but Charlie and Claire can't." Locke said, clearly impatient.

Jack looked around at the staring faces, and then dropped his head. "Do what you want Kate, but make it quick, we have to leave now," he muttered quietly, his ego obviously bruised.

"Fine then, let's go."

"You heard the lady. Let's go jackass." Sawyer said from behind me, checking Jack with his shoulder as he passed, leaving a reluctant Jack to follow.

I could hear the smirk in his voice as we walked off into the jungle.

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