In the Beginning
(A Very Lost Christmas)
Chapter Three

Chapter Three: The Far Side of the Mountain

Jack closed his eyes tightly before looking down below. They were at least thirty feet up(had they really climbed that much?), and the dropped below led to a mass of rocks on a dead green surface. He had fallen off of cliffs before..but nothing like this. Just the thought of the drop and the impact the fall would have: the sound of crushing bones and the instant darkness, made Jack feel sick. He swallowed.

Her voice was muffled and a soft pain from his back told Jack that it was due to Kate's face being buried into his shirt.

Don't look down, he said while his own eyes were focused on the possible drop below.

Jack could've kicked himself for saying it, because temptation got to Kate, and her heavy face lifted off of the fabric of his shirt and turned towards the ground far beneath them. Kate drew in a deep breath and then out of nowhere it seemed as though all her fears had disappeared. Swallowing, Kate began to let go of Jack.

What the hell are you doing? Jack yelled, louder than he meant to.

The echo of his voice sent more pebbles tumbling about them. A penny-sized rock knocked Jack in the head and he could feel cool blood form into a small bubble on his forehead. He grabbed Kate's hand, jerking her back towards him.

Not hanging around like you're doing! Kate snapped. We've got to get up there!Then we'll go together, Jack said, ll pull us up.Are you serious? Neither realized that they were yelling as if they were trying to talk over rain. How do you know that you're strong enough?Trust me, he said, but I need my right arm. Put your left around my neck, and your other around my waist.

Carefully and without further protest, Kate struggled to get into the right position.

Jack drew in a deep breath, on the count of three I'll pull us up, one step at a time. Okay..

Looking above them to their destination at the top, Jack took a deep breath and began counting.

Jack swallowed and felt Kate's right arm tightened around his waist.

Reaching above him, Jack pulled himself and Kate up a few inches, and then a couple of more. Then he stopped.

What's wrong? Kate's voice no longer held the confidence it contained just moments before, but now was more panicked.

Jack didn't have the heart to admit that this was a harder task then he thought it would be. Instead he shook his head and continued to climb, a few inches at a time.

This isn't working, Kate said after they had only climbed three feet in five minutes, the place is going to collapse.

She let go of Jack so abruptly that Jack as sure she had fallen, but just as he was bracing himself for the sound of impact, he felt Kate's hand brush against his from the right. She smiled at him.

Not that I don't trust you,she assured.

Jack returned the smile and nodded. Just as Kate had predicted, traveling solitaire was easier than climbing double. Dodging falling rocks and climbing nonstop, the two were able to reach the top just as the cliff below them collapsed. They scooted back as quickly as they could as they watched the rocks fall to the ground. Jack breathed in a sigh of relief, and then slowly let it out.

(Space)

Back at the caves Sayid was waiting impatiently with Danielle for Jack, Kate- and Alex's return. This was silly, for they both new all three would most likely make camp for the night. Of anything, Jack and Kate would be back for at least a day or two, and now one could know how long it'd be before Alex decided to return- assuming she would. Just as Sayid was going to announce that he was going back to the beach for the night, Charlie approached them.

Have either of you guys seen Jack or Kate? Charlie swatted a mosquito that was targeting the back of his neck.

In the time she had been with the other castaways, Danielle had become just as well known as anybody else, and in some ways, more trusted than anyone else. People who had at one point been too paranoid to walk in the jungle would step in it for the first time whenever Danielle was around. One couldn't be sure if this was from a confidence that Danielle knew the island better than anyone else, or from hopes that, like Alex, Danielle had psychic powers as well.

I think they were going for a.. Sayid trailed off and glanced towards Danielle, who just shrugged and diverted her eyes towards the ground,

He looked back up to Charlie with a half-smile that slightly resembled a sarcastic smirk. Charlie walked away muttering something that sounded like those two make me sick and went back to his spot beside Claire, who was accepting some kind of soup from Sun. Sayid turned back to Danielle and smiled, knowing(and at the same time, not knowing) that that would be the first of many questions they'd be answering over the next couple of days. Danielle smiled back before he presented seemed to fade, and eyes grew dark in memory.

The deep blue of the pacific rushed below Danielle's team's ship: S.S. Bluebird. Wind blew her hair behind her, and the soft breeze made her shiver, and delinquent hands calmed her bare shoulders as goose bumps began to form.

she acknowledge happily.

So how's my first daughter? Robert began running his hands up and down Danielle's shivering arms.

Suddenly the chill wore off.

And how are you so sure it was a girl? She asked him, smiling.

She had known it was a girl for a while, but she had yet to tell Robert. Even if Robert wasn't the biological father, he had began treating the unborn child like it was his own, and the recent adoption made it permanate.

I can feel it, Robert smiled along with Danielle, but a sharp pain in her stomach wiped the smile off.

Danielle doubled back, clutching her stomach.

What's wrong? The smile on Robert's face was gone as well, and was replaced with a look of worry and concern.

She- she kicked! Danielle exclaimed, ecstatic.

For a moment, the look of worry was gone. Robert smiled again.

So it is a girl? He sounded pleased, which also faded, as did the smile. But..you're only seven months! That's..it's not supposed to be like that, right?I..I don't know, Danielle fought to cease her rapid breaths, and turned back to the sea, hoping that the calming waves would help. It's like.. Danielle was able to breathe steadily again, she's trying to tell me something- she pulled a lose strand of hair from her face and looked up at Robert, like a warning.

Jack and Kate trudged up the mountain, gasping for breath.

Kate, hold on- Jack reached out but didn't have the energy to hold Kate bak, but instead just stopped, resting his hands on his knees.

Whatever happened to grin and bare it'? Kate smiled playfully, placing her hands on her hips.

I think it fell with the rest of the cliff, Jack said seriously, though going along with the joke at the same time.

He took a mouthful of water from one of the many bottles they had brought with them. Jack then capped it, placed it back in his back, and looked around, observing their surroundings.

Nice place, Jack commented, noting the trees that still had leaves even during the winter, and the colorful ground of orange and green that crunched beneath their feet.

Kate agreed now if only we could move the beach up here, we'd have it made.I thought you liked living at the caves, Jack said, eyeing Kate as she continued up the path.

I do, Kate said quickly, I mean, you're there and..the water's there and..But the beach is better, Jack finished, knowing where this was going. I get it, I get it. Sorry if I have bad taste.You don't have bad taste, Kate said truthfully, I just..like my freedom.And you don't have freedom at the caves? Jack sounded as though he was having trouble getting the point, which he was.

The caves were a general safe place to be, and that was that. He knew the beach was beautiful, sure, and the ocean was there, but did Kate still have hopes for rescue? Or was there more to the story? The rustling of some bushes put an end to the conversation. Jack and Kate stopped where they were and stared at the bushes as the figure approached. Reaching for his backpack, hand rested on a pocket where he knew a gun lay, though Kate didn't. He was beginning to regret placing the gun in his back and not in a back pocket, like he had seen characters on movies and tv shows do. He would've been able to grab it much quicker had it been an attacker approaching them.

But the figure wasn't an attacker. It wasn't even human. It was a boar, and Jack had never been happier to see an animal in his life. He knew that he and Kate would be in the mountains for at least another day, maybe two, and though the trees had leaves, most were either dead or picked dry, and they needed something to eat, even if it meant hunting. Slowly, Jack set the bag down, careful not to startle the boar, whose eyes were staring him down. Jack was finally able to take the gun out, and just as he was about to shoot, Kate yelled.

Jack, no!

Before he knew it, Jack found himself being knocked to the ground, and just as he was sure his head was going to collide with the ground beneath them, and hand was shielded his head as he fell with the person, who turned out to be Kate. He looked up at her in a mixture of surprise, hurt, and confusion.

It's just.. Kate fought for an excuse as she looked helplessly towards the boar. It's an animal, Jack.And so was Ethan, but you had no trouble killing him.

Jack regretted saying it as soon as the words slipped his mouth. The two just stared at each other, Jack in guilt, Kate in loathing until the whoosh of a knife and a piercing cry broke them apart. Looking up, Jack saw the same boar close by, though now it was on the ground, twitching. A knife had been thrown into the boar's skin.

Good job, said Locke's voice as the man stepped out of the shadows.

Boone was already beside the boar, and it didn't take a genius to know that he had thrown the knife. Kate watched with Jack in disgust as Locke wedged the knife out of the animal, who was now very well dead. Locke just looked at the couple and smiled.

So why are you two all the way out here? Locke asked over a fire that night.

Locked had cooked the boar, and after a short period of time, had managed to serve dinner for the four of them.

We were- Jack looked at Kate, unsure if he should tell the truth, we got lost.

Kate looked away, assuring herself that she wouldn't laugh. Sayid had wanted to keep this mission on the hush-hush, but Jack had always been a horrible liar.

You're pretty high up, Locke informed them, as if they weren't already aware of this. Why don't you climb back down with us tomorrow morning?

Jack shook his head.

We found this cliff a few miles from here, he explained, half-lying.

They really had found a cliff.

We came out this way looking for food, Jack continued, but we were going to camp the night there- he turned to Kate and smiled, enjoy the view.

Boone choked on his food, but Locke was able to handle the comment maturely, and smiled.

I hope you two have a good time then, he said with a smile that somehow read that he knew more than they knew about what was going on, but I have to warn you, the cliff is unstable- he reached behind him to pull something out of his pocket, as you should already know.

He handed Jack the key to the gun case, which Jack assumed Kate had accidentally pulled off of him while clinging to him. Jack smirked wearily and took the key, tying the thread back around his neck.

So do you want to tell me what's going on now, or try and sneak out in the middle of the night?I think we'll take the night, Jack sighed.

(space)

Hey, Jack!

Someone was whispering into his ear, but Jack didn't want to wake up. He was back home, and he and Kate were sharing an apartment in the city. Their fridge was packed with nothing but steak and coke.

Jack, come one!

Now someone was shaking him. Forcing himself to open his eyes, a blurry image of Kate came into view. She looked excited, and her backpack was already on her shoulders.

Come on, we've got to get out of here before Locke wakes up!

Jack was still straightening his shirt and adjusting his backpack when he and Kate were racing up the path moments later.

Will you just tell me what's going on? Jack inquired, frustrated with a button on one of his sleeveless shirts.

He decided to just leave it, knowing that it was night, and Kate certainly wouldn't care anyway.

Kate shouted, ecstatic.

She forced the transceiver into Jack's hands and Jack struggled to find moonlight to see the small screen. Static was coming from the transceiver's tiny speakers, and a bar was rising on the screen. They had a signal.

Oh God.. Jack muttered.

He ran a free hand over his hair repeatedly until Kate grabbed it, forcing him to stop.

Come on! She cried, pulling him further up. Up here, we'll get better signal!

And they did. A muffled voice came over the static, and all hopes of sneaking out of the camp faded due to Jack and Kate's cheers of excitement. Caught in the moment, Jack leaned forward and kissed Kate.

Merry Christmas, he whispered quietly when they broke apart.

Kate looked back at Jack, smiling. The moment was cut off by more static, but this time, a voice could be heard over the muffled sound.

Jack was shouting anxiously into the transceiver.

Finally, a clear voice came through.

We're precisely 150 west, 80 north.. the voice was saying.

Oh my god, Kate whispered, Jack, those are coordinates!I know, I know! Jack waved her away so he could hear better.

We'll land on the island in approximately ten minutes, the voice finished,'

Jack and Kate fell silent. Kate looked at Jack, and was the first to speak.

You don't think? Jack ran a hand over his head again, trying to calm down.

It wasn't working.

It's probably another island. Kate nodded in agreement.

Both knew that if the ship, plane, whatever it was, landed on the island in ten minutes, the crew would be short at least for castaways.

Plus with me being a fugitive and all, Kate fell silent.

She really didn't want to discuss this right now, but didn't have to when a second voice came over the transmitter.

I didn't see the boy, a muffled voice was saying, the girl got away. I think the other guy's dead.

A second man sighed.

We'll have to go back, the second man said, we need proof.The other two are still out there, the first voice said quickly, we can just take- The second voice hissed. We need the kid-

The rest was cut off. Jack and Kate looked up slowly, and met each others eyes.

Something tells me they're not coming for us, Kate said quietly, a trace of disappointment in her voice.

Maybe not for us, Jack said, thinking, didn't that story sound familiar to you? Kate nodded, you know-

Kate tumbled on a misstep as she stepped back. She fell backwards, and Jack grabbing on to her caused him to go down as well. The two tumbled down the hill, rolling over each other at a sickening pace. Jack tried to concentrate on not throwing up on Kate, while at the same time tried to concentrate on not concentrating- thinking was making him sick. Finally an impact caused the two to stop. Kate groaned as she was thrown against something and Jack followed as he was slammed against something hard, yet somewhat cool.

Finally bringing himself to stand, Jack saw that they were in a slightly darker part of the forest, with only a single ray of moonlight to guide their way, and to show that they had landed against an odd looking object, made with similar material as the hatch was. Backing away, Jack messaged his head as he got a good look at the object. There was a round handle that stuck out a few inches, obviously a door. The object itself was round, like a tunnel's passageway. The object was buried into the side of the mountain, so Jack supposed it could've been some kind of passageway. Immediately he and Kate took to the task of turning the knob, and after four slow turns to the right, a bolt popped from somewhere unseen, and the two were able to pull the door open.

Inside the safe looked like a storage closet. A smell erupted from it that made Kate choke on her breath. Her hand flew up to cover her mouth and nose, and Jack did the same. They inched closer to the safe, and saw that a few skeletons added to the smell, and boxes were stashed around them, like some sort of warehouse.

This is like some kind of.. Jack searched for the word, Very good, replied a rough voice behind them, now step back, and put your hands behind your head.

Author's Note: I was really torn in two about that ending. The other was Jack and Kate being locked inside the safe, but I decided against it. Anyway, thanks for all the reviews! You guys rock!

Coming up next, on In the BeginningThe Coconut Boy: A long awaited return of a castaway helps Jack and Kate, and Charlie makes use of the island's resources for Christmas gifts.

Thanks again!

Until next time..

+ October Sky