CHAPTER 3
They were all there. Locke, Boone, Steve, Scott, Larry, Sayid, and Michael. All of them had gathered in the infirmary tent where Jack was still recuperating. Even though he was incapable of joining in Jack hadn't wanted to miss out on any of the plan making.
Sawyer stood off from as the rest as they talked back and forth trying to come up with a reliable plan. So far he'd watched as each offered plan was shot down; not offering any of his own.
"Maybe we should split up into a couple of different groups and start searching." One of the twins Steve or Scott said. He, like everyone else, could never tell the two of them apart.
"And search for what, man?" Michael put in. "You think if we just start wondering around in the jungle we'll suddenly just run into wherever their being hidden."
The twin bristled slightly. "I didn't hear you coming up with anything useful."
Michael took a step towards him before Sayid stepped in his way with his hand raised. "This solves nothing. We need to come up with something dependable and starting fights will not help us in the least."
"I say we go back to the place where we found Jack and continue from there. Try to find Ethan's trail." All eyes moved to Locke as he spoke.
"Seems like the best idea we've heard so far. It may not work, but it's better than all of us sitting around here not getting anything done." Jack said coughing slightly. "Who's going to go?"
"I'll go. Count me in. I'm coming." Immediately everyone volunteered.
"Hate to break it to you all, but we ain't all gonna be able to go." Sawyer's voice caught everyone's attention. "Who's to say Mr. Physco won't come back here while we're gone? Who do you expect to stop him from taking someone else? Doc?" The sarcasm in his voice was clear for everyone to hear.
"Sawyer has got a point. Larry, Steve, and Scott you all will stay behind with me. Michael and Boone you can accompany Locke. Sawyer you will be…" Sayid trailed off; leaving a blank for Sawyer to fill in.
"I'm going." Sawyer said, his voice cold and hard; leaving no room for argument.
"Very well." Sayid said turning to the rest. "If you all are going I suggest you leave soon. In case you won't make it back before nightfall take whatever you may need with you."
They'd been traveling for hours. No one had wanted to stop for a break so they'd been going almost nonstop. The only small break had been when they'd arrived at the spot where Jack had been found and had, had to stop for a little while Locke searched for a trail to keep following.
Eventually he'd found something and they'd been off again. Sawyer fell back behind the rest as they continued. Distancing himself from the others as usual. It was something inside him. Something that automatically made him distance himself from people.
The same way he'd distanced himself from freckles. She'd wanted to know the truth. She'd wanted him to let her in. To get to know him. But like everyone else he'd pushed her away. And now she was gone. In the hands of some creep.
As his thoughts turned to Ethan they reminded him of the gun tucked away in the back of his jeans. He could feel it like a physical being. Right before they'd left on this wild goose chase Sayid had drawn him aside.
"I'm assuming you still have the other part needed to use these." Sayid had said opening up his hand. In his palm lay the gun clips Kate had removed from the gun after Sawyer gunned down the polar bear.
"I might." He'd replied evasively.
"Well I have a feeling you might need this out there. Take care of yourself, Sawyer." Sayid had handed them over as he spoke.
One of his cocky smiles had spread across his face. "This is me were talking about Abdul. Of course I'll be fine."
Sawyer broke out of his thoughts as he almost tripped over a tree root. Righting himself again he headed on following the others. It began to grow darker around them till shadows flickered over everything. Everyone stayed close together as to not get lost.
With every step forward Sawyer could feel the idea of never seeing her again worm its way into his head. It ignored his attempts to push it away and sat there taunting him constantly.
What if I don't ever see her again? It's not like it'll matter. It shouldn't matter. It's not supposed too. She's just a person. Or at least that's what she's supposed to be. She's not supposed to matter to me. I should be back on the beach right now. In my tent reading Watership Down. Not traipsing through the jungle of mystery looking for some girl.
Except she wasn't just some girl another part of his brain whispered quietly in his head. He ignored it though refusing to acknowledge what it was saying.
"We should probably camp here." Locke said breaking the silence that had settled over everyone as the darkness came. "We'll build a fire and head out in the morning."
Sawyer look around him; taking his surroundings in. They were in a small clearing. One big enough for them all to find some place to try and fall asleep. A fire was quickly built and it was soon blazing giving off a heat that drew Sawyer to it. Everyone ate a small amount of the fruit they'd brought along before they dropped off to sleep one by one. As Sawyer drifted off the only one still up was Locke who he sat watching the fire burn.