Thanks everyone for the reviews. I'm glad everyone likes the story. I've already written up to 19 chapters of this story, because I was posting on another site before so I will be going over my story to revise it and posting about two chapters every week or so. The story is still in progress after Chapter 19 though. Thanks again for reading.

Sawyer: Thanks for reading and giving me those tips. The line thing was because I hadn't found out how to do it yet. I will change that for the other chapters so if anyone rereads or any new readers read it, it will be clearer. Thanks for pointing that out. And about the nickname thing a friend of mine mentioned that and as I revise my chapters I've been trying to cut down on that. Feel free to mention if you think I'm still overdoing it. I'm glad you like the story so far and I hope you continue to enjoy it.

CHAPTER 8

Sawyer groaned and shifted in the air plane seat that had become his makeshift bed at night. It was dark out except for the couple of dying fires spread out over the beach.

He couldn't sleep. Hadn't gotten a good night's sleep in weeks. But unlike the usual reason for his restless nights this one was different. Usually he was kept up by visiting old memories of his childhood that he wanted to forget about.

Not these days though. Whenever he closed his eyes and drifted off he found himself revisiting the night he'd lived through just a couple of weeks ago. He would hear her screaming for help. He'd run through the jungle just like he did before. Run towards her voice. But her voice would always seem to get farther and farther away. He preferred that one over his other one. In that one he'd run to her. But he'd always get there late. Then he'd watch frozen as Ethan murdered her over and over again in front of his eyes.

He knew these dreams were pointless. Ethan was dead. He'd killed him. It had been weeks since he'd come back with Kate and nothing had happened since. Everything had gone back to normal. Or as normal as you could get on this island. But that wasn't helping him sleep any better. Sighing he settled into the chair and closed his eyes.

He was drifting off, almost asleep when he heard it. Someone was screaming. At first he thought it was one of his dreams. But this scream was somehow off. It wasn't Kate's. And he wasn't dreaming it.

Shaking himself out of his sleep he could hear it coming from farther down the beach. It almost sounded like Sticks. Making his way down the beach he passed a few others who were waking up out of their sleep at her screams.

A small crowd was gathering around something. After shouldering his way through and earning a few glares and muttered curses from other people he was finally through. Shannon was sitting on the beach in between her brother and Sayid sobbing hysterically while trying to get words out.

"I, I don't know who it was. All I saw was someone standing over me. I couldn't tell who it was. He was reaching for me."

"It's alright. Calm down, Shannon. No one will be able to get to you with all of us around." Sayid said soothingly. Shannon's sobs began to gradually quiet. "Boone, did you happen to see anyone?"

"No, but I wasn't over here at all. I couldn't sleep so I went to take a walk. I came back here after I heard her scream."

Sayid seemed to notice the large crowd that had gathered around them for the first time. "Everyone would you please go back to sleep now. Your hovering around is really not helping."

When the crowd ignored his words Sawyer turned and said, "You heard the Boss. Move your asses out of here." Everyone finally began to disperse throwing glares and muttered bastards at him.

"Boone, stay with your sister." Sayid began to get up before Shannon's hand stopped him.

"Stay, stay with me please." She asked pleadingly.

"I'll be back soon. I won't be gone long." He said looking down at her reassuringly.

Shannon nodded her head once before letting him go. Sayid headed off past Sawyer and indicated for him to join him. Sawyer moved quickly to catch up with Sayid's quick strides.

"So, do you think Sticks really saw someone or is just imagining stuff?"

"I think, after what happened to Claire it would be stupid not to believe her. Ethan may be dead but he probably wasn't the only one out there."

"What are you going to do?"

"First I'm going to have a look around to see if there's a trace of anyone besides us. I doubt I'll find anything, but I want to make sure no one's lurking around here waiting for another chance."

"Sounds good, Omar. I'm going to go check on, Freckles. If she heard, Sticks, screaming she'll want to know what's goin' on."

"Good idea." Sayid turned to go before Sawyer caught him by the arm.

"Here, Abdul. You might need this." Sawyer handed over the gun he'd had in the back of his pants. "There should still be a couple of shots left in it."

Sayid grabbed the gun and nodded. "Thanks."

They both headed in opposite directions. Soon Sawyer got close enough to Kate's tent to hear a garbled, "Shit." Grinning he moved up quietly so Kate wouldn't hear him.

She was lying on the sand with particles getting into everything on her. "You stupid worthless, ah shoot." Using her arms she began to push herself up. Getting to her feet she tried to lean all her weight on one foot and moved forward again. Inching slowly.

"Need some help?" Sawyer drawled watching her with amusement.

She glanced up glowering. "Are you just going to stand there and watch me try to walk, Asshole?"

"Don't know, this is mighty entertaining. Kind of too good to pass up. Might have to come up with something to convince me."

"Fine, get over here and I won't try to hurt you." Kate mumbled.

"Try being the key word." He said as he moved next to her and put an arm around her waist. She slipped her own arm around his neck and leaned against him. "Where exactly are you trying to get too anyway?"

"Where do you think? Somebody was screaming. How many different scenarios do you think I've come up with in my mind here by myself? But, of course nobody thinks of the invalid."

"Hey, I came over." He said indignantly.

"Yeah, well I might have been a little more grateful if you hadn't been such an asshole when you got here."

"Well excuse me. And in answer to your question Sticks had a little scare and woke everybody up. She thinks someone came after her while she was sleeping."

"You mean like what happened to Claire?" Kate asked worriedly.

"Somethin like that. And Sayid thinks that after how pregnant chicks freak out came true there could be something to Shannon's."

"Shit, don't tell me some other Freak besides Ethan is running around after one of us." Sawyer's hand dug into her skin as she spoke. She glanced up at him, but his face remained the same as before. "Could you help me get over to where Shannon is? They might have trouble calming her down."

"Sure, Freckles."

They made their way quietly across the beach. When they reached Shannon she was curled up against Sayid gazing off into the distance. Sayid had his hand entwined in her hair and was murmuring quietly to her.

"Don't you two look mighty cozy?" Sawyer said unable to keep a grin from breaking out.

Kate shoved her elbow into his stomach. "Ouch, what'd I do?" He asked looking innocent while clutching his stomach.

"Leave them alone." She hissed at him. "Mind if we join you?" She asked Sayid lowering herself to the ground.

"No, make yourself comfortable. The more the better." Sayid answered quietly.

"Yeah, well I think I'm going to go back to my tent." Sawyer said uncomfortably, putting his hands into his pockets.

"You're not going to stay here?" Kate asked looking disappointed.

"Sorry, Freckles, but no. I've got to get back to my tent. But, I'll see you guys around."

Once again Kate watched Sawyer walk off unable to do anything, but watch him go.