In the Beginning
Chapter Five

Chapter Five: Telling the Story

Hey, Doc.

Jack groaned. He did not need this right now. Nevertheless he forced himself to turn around and talk to Sawyer.

So I hear about this search party going on, and Sayid tells me that I'm supposed to stay here and watch over the helpless, Sawyer began, walking towards Jack, so I'm asking myself how fair is that?' You got something to add?Maybe the part where you got shot in the arm and have blisters the size of nickels, Jack replied with sarcasm.

Jack had made an agreement with Kate not to tell the others about the kidnapping. Kate had gone with Charlie and Boone to look for the others, or at least the one who had captured them. He had to admit that Charlie and Boone weren't the best of candidates for a search party, though after seeing what Boone had done to that boar, he had very little doubts of his fighting abilities and as for Charlie, he'd just have to trust him. Sayid and Boone had had some kind of conversation before organizing the search parties, and both seemed to have an eerie confidence about what they were about to do. Looking up he noticed Danielle emerging from the caves. Thankful he had an excuse to wrap up the conversation, Jack threw his backpack back over his shoulder, but as the strap hit his left arm, Jack winced in pain, obvious enough for Sawyer to notice.

What happened to your arm?

It actually sounded more like an accusation than a question, like Sawyer knew something was going on.

Jack mentally kicked himself for not coming up with a story before hand, a tree branch hit it.A branch? Sawyer repeated.

Jack shrugged as if it were nothing.

Sawyer said as if he understood.

He looked to the ground momentarily before looking back up, and in one quick moved, shoved Jack back, causing him to hiss in pain.

Jack said bitterly.

Stepping into the space between him and Sawyer, Jack lowered his voice to a near whisper.

We were going up to get a signal, Jack began, glancing around to make sure they weren't being overheard.

Danielle had sidetracked herself by talking to Sun, so he figured he had a few minutes before anyone would notice he was missing.

Who was?Me and Kate, Jack sighed, hoping that he could get through the story without Sawyer regularly interrupting, and anyway, we..

Jack stopped. What was he supposed to say? Someone was plotting against them? How could they even be so sure of what they heard?

Jack quickly lied, down a hill.

By the look on Sawyer's face, Jack knew he knew that he was lying.

And when we got to the bottom, Jack went on, we found something.Something like what? Sawyer seemed drawn into the story.

A safe, Jack said.

Like a vault?Yeah, like a vault, and then Jack continued the story, we were found out.By who?I didn't recognize him, Jack confessed, but he held us captive until Alex came and saved us- she must of seen it or..I don't know- Jack was stumbling over his words in a mixture of trying to remember the story(which seemed like a blur now that it was over) and worrying about the present whereabouts and well-being of Kate, and wondering how successful they'd be in tracking down Alex. The bullet chipped me while she was shooting the guy down

So where's she been?

Jack had forgotten that the raft had been out for almost three days: the rafties must've gotten to know each other pretty well.

That's what I'm trying to find out, Jack nodded over to Danielle, who was finishing up her conversation with Sun.

Then let me come with you, Sawyer volunteered, I mean, I might recognized something or-You weren't even conscious until the day after we found you, Jack reminded him.

Sawyer glared and Jack suddenly got the feeling that he was being completely truthful about what happened.

And besides, Jack shrugged, know one knows Alex better than Danielle and I do. If anyone finds her, it'll be us.

Jack stood, waiting for Danielle to come over only to discover she had disappeared back into the caves.

So what was on the transmitter? Sawyer question broke him away from his thoughts.

Jack said innocently.

You said you were trying to get a signal, Sawyer said, did you get one? Jack tried once more to think of a quick lie,

Sawyer eyed him curiously, and Jack knew Sawyer knew that he was lying.

Then let me see the transceiver, Sawyer said curtly.

Jack was beginning to wish he had never started the story, lost it. During the fall.Then what's in the side pocket?

This time Jack truly was confused.

Of your backpack.

Jack froze. He and Kate had found the transceiver under some brush on the way back to camp, but Jack had completely forgotten about it. Before he could think of another lie, Sawyer had grabbed his backpack off his shoulder, making Jack hiss in pain again. Sawyer fished through the pocket of Jack's backpack before he pulled out the transceiver and shoved it in Jack's face. Jack decided to take advantage of this, and grabbed a hold of the radio, wrestling it out of Sawyer's hands before throwing it to the ground with a force that cause the transceiver to break into pieces at their feet. Sawyer stared at the transceiver for a moment and then slowly looked up to Jack, incredulous, revengeful, and hateful. They glared at each other for a second before Sawyer made the first move(and a quick one), grabbing Jack by the collar of his shirt and pinning him against the tree behind him.

What the hell are you thinking? Sawyer demanded.

For a moment Jack went blank, and the situation suddenly seemed confusing to him. Then he regained his senses, and shoved Sawyer off him.

I'm thinking there are people we don't know about on this island, and that we don't need to know about, Jack said in a hushed yell, but I guess for someone who could care less who gets pissed off at him, that wouldn't be a problem. If we leave them alone, they'll leave us alone, there's no need for meddling.Well I guess for someone who's so certain that everything in the world will go his way then-What's going on?

Jack and Sawyer turned. Sayid had just entered the scene. Jack eyed him curiously.

I thought you were with Kate, it then dawned on him that something could've happened.

Did Kate get hurt? Or worse? Jack swallowed, and readied himself for the news.

I was going to talk to Sawyer, Sayid reminded him.

It was then that Sayid noticed the broken transceiver on the ground. His eyes grew wild in hatred, and he bent down abruptly and swept the gadget off the ground.

Who broke this? He inquired, showing the radio first to Jack, then to Sawyer.

And suddenly it was as if nothing any of them had gone through mattered. Sayid was absolutely furious, and looked ready to kill.

he began again, but Jack interrupted him.

Sawyer's head whipped around, and he glared at Jack with even more hatred than Sayid, if possible. Jack hadn't really meant to tell, it was more of a first instinct.

He ran into me and the pack fell, Jack quickly lied.

Sayid clearly wasn't buying it, but decided not to make a big deal of it to save time.

You should be more careful, Sayid told him as if Jack were a child he was taking care of.

Jack just nodded, thankful to be getting out of the situation. Just then Danielle walked up to the group.

It wasn't a question but a statement as Danielle started out ahead of him, and Sawyer snorted as Jack followed in a hurry.

Author's Note: Okay, incredibly short- it's because of school! I should be able to write more Friday, and more flashbacks. I can either update short chapters throughout the week(assuming I'll have time to) or long chapters on weekends. Or a little bit of both. Thanks to my two reviewers who came back! That meant so much to me:) You guys rock!

Coming up next on, In the Beginning:

Danielle and Jack set out in search for Alex, and someone else finds out about what's inside the hatch(if all goes as planned).

Thanks again!

Until next time..

+ October Sky