CHAPTER 5

She could hear voices talking. "How do you think she'll be?" Someone was saying. Was that Sayid?

"I'm not sure. Till she wakes up I won't be able to find out the full extent of her head injuries." She could tell who that was. It was Jack.

And they sounded like they were talking about her. But why were their voices fading away? She struggled uselessly; trying to make them out, but they faded away.

The next sounds that reached her ears were the distant sounds of the ocean and the closer sound of rustling paper. Cracking her eyelids open they were met with bright light that she hadn't seen in days. It was partly shaded by the tent she was under.

"Oh you're awake." The sound of Shannon's voice caught Kate's attention causing her to glance her way. "Should I uh get Jack or something?" She asked; unsure what she should do now that Kate was awake.

Shannon was half up from her seat on the ground, her magazine she had been reading lying on the ground where she'd dropped it, ready as if she expected Kate to say yes.

Kate shook her head. "No, don't. I'm fine."

"Oh, okay then." Shannon lowered back down to the ground into the same position she'd been in. "They didn't exactly tell me what to do if you woke up. Guess they weren't expecting you to while I was here." Shannon said with a shrug of her shoulders.

"How long has it been?"

"Since they brought you back?" Shannon asked. "About three days. Or three and half if you count the day you got back here. They didn't get back with you till the day was about halfway through. Everyone was there. Hurley, Charlie, and some other guys had to act like the police or something to keep everyone from gawking at you. It wasn't pretty at all. Their was blood everywhere and….." Shannon trailed off as Kate winced. "Oh sorry. I didn't mean too….maybe I should go get Claire or Sun to come." Shannon started to rise again.

"No. You don't have to go." Kate started to sit up; wincing slightly as she did. "Look its okay. I'd just rather not relive some of that stuff."

"I suck at this. I don't even know why I volunteered to be one of your watchers anyway. I just make everything worse." Shannon muttered glaring down at the sand; her arms crossed.

Kate smiled slightly. "You're doing fine. And feeling sorry for yourself isn't going to help you at all."

"I know that. But it seems like everyone else is always doing something to help everyone else out and I haven't been able to do anything to help out at all." Shannon said looking up at Kate.

"By any chance does any of this tie back to what Boone always uses as his number one argument point when you two are fighting?" Kate asked amusedly.

Shannon blushed slightly. "How'd you know he always says that to me?"

"Don't you mean who can't hear you? Everyone knows when you and Boone are fighting because we usually wind up hearing the whole thing. But, you really shouldn't worry about it that much. It's not like I go around doing a whole lot."

Both of them were quiet before something Shannon said registered in Kate's mind. "Claire and Charlie are back?" She asked questioningly.

"Oh, yeah." Shannon said as if she had just remembered. "They got back earlier on the same day they brought you back. Just came wandering back into the camp. They were both fine though I haven't really heard what happened to them or how they got back."

"Good, I'm glad there not still out there in that place."

"Would it really matter?" Shannon asked. "Since Sawyer killed Ethan or whatever that guy's name was then it shouldn't really matter, right?"

"How is Saw...?"

"Shannon, when Kate wakes up make sure you…" Jack's voice broke off as his eyes settled on Kate. "You're awake? Shannon you should have come and gotten me." He said sending Shannon his you-should-know-better look before his expression turned to a worried one as he looked Kate over. "How are you feeling, Kate? Does anything hurt?"

"I'm fine, Jack. My ankle hurts a little and my chest area is a little sore, but that's it. And I told Shannon not to get you."

"Why would you do something like that?" Jack asked confused.

Kate and Shannon both shared an exasperated look. The latter of them rolling her eyes. "I think I'll go spread the news you're awake and seem fine. I know someone," Shannon said putting emphasis on the someone, "will be happy to hear it after sitting in here all of the time. Even though he'll deny it." Shannon started away from the tent, but her last muttered words floated back. "But I swear if he calls me sticks again I won't tell him a damn thing."

"What was she talking about?" Kate asked amusedly looking up at Jack.

He avoided meeting her gaze. "Don't you mean who she was talking about?"

"Fine, Jack, if you want to get technical who was she talking about. Quite obviously she wasn't talking about you since you're right here."

Jack suddenly looked defensive. "I would have sat with you till you woke up if I had, had the time. It's not like I ask for everyone to need me constantly. And I can't help the fact that he has enough leisurely time to sit around by your side."

The amused look left Kate's face. "What are you talking about, Jack? I didn't say anything about needing you to watch over me. And who exactly are you talking about?"

"Who else sits around doing nothing, Kate?" He asked as if it were obvious. "Until earlier today Sawyer has hardly left your side since he brought you back."

"Can I help you, Sticks?" Sawyer asked as Shannon plopped herself down on the sand in front of him.

"I told you not to call me that." Her expression turning annoyed. "I hate that nickname. Makes me sound anorexic."

"Are you sure you're not?" His asked as his eyes traveled over her body.

"Yes I'm sure. Besides how the hell are you supposed to be anorexic on an island where there's not that much food to begin with. Who the hell is going to throw up the only food they get? They'll already be skinny enough."

"Kinda got a point there sticks." He said grinning. "Now was there a reason you came over here and decided to make yourself welcome?"

Shannon pointedly ignored his nickname this time. "Yes I did have a reason for coming over here, though I'm already regretting doing it. Kate's awake now. She woke up when I was watching her."

Shannon was watching him closely as she said this and she had to admit that he was very good at not showing anything. The only thing she could see was that his jaw clenched slightly. And something seemed to change in his eyes. Other than that he remained the same as he'd been before.

"That's nice Sweet Cheeks, but I still don't see why you're telling me this."

"Why do you always have to make everything so complicated?" Shannon said standing up. "It's not like everyone didn't see how you were watching over her everyday she was out. Until you just up and decided to leave today for whatever unknown reason you've got. I know you do care whether or not you'll admit it. That's why I came over here. To tell you. I figured out of everyone you deserved to be one of the first to know."

Shannon began walking off down the beach. "Hey, Sticks." He yelled.

"Yeah?" She called turning back around.

"For uh coming by and all."

Shannon smiled slightly. "You're welcome. Just don't call me sticks anymore." Shannon continued walking along the beach leaving Sawyer deep in his thoughts.