Hey, everyone. Thank you for the reviews as usual. I love them so much. This story is completely finished now on that other site, so you don't have to worry about me not finishing this. All I have to do is make sure I remember to keep posting and you'll get the whole thing. Hope you guys enjoy. You still have over 10 chapters left.

CHAPTER 15

Kate's first thought when she opened her eyes was that she was going to murder whoever had hit her. The second was that she was seriously getting tired of being knocked out. Really this was getting to be a bit much. Enough was enough.

Groaning she leaned up and took a look around her. She was inside the caves and the only other person besides herself was Sun who smiled hesitantly at her when she noticed that Kate was awake.

"Hi, Sun." Kate said smiling back.

Sun lifted a water bottle that lay next to her and handed it to Kate. Kate screwed off the lid and gladly chugged some of the water down. After she was finished she looked at Sun.

"How long have they been gone?"

Sun looked as if she were struggling to understand Kate's words. Kate sighed and leaned back against the rock hard wall behind her. She forgot sometimes that Sun couldn't understand her.

"I should go find Jack." She said thinking aloud. "He'd better not go all heroic on me and try to protect whoever did it." A small laugh that she almost missed had her looking over at Sun with shock written over her face. "Did you just laugh at what I said?"

Sun's face immediately took on a frightened look.

"You did, didn't you?" Kate asked her voice half accusatory and half curious.

"Please don't tell anyone." Sun said speaking quietly as she looked over her shoulder at the entrance to the cave.

"Why did you pretend you couldn't speak English?"

Sun's expression grew pained. "It's complicated. My husband…Jin…I don't really like to talk about it."

"That's fine. I didn't mean to pry anyway. I'll keep your secret. I'm good at that." Silence fell over them as they both got lost in their own thoughts. It was broken only when Kate asked, "Why did you laugh when I said that thing about Jack?"

Sun smiled. "It was funny to hear you talking about Jack protecting the person that hit you, from you. I don't think you'll have to worry about that." Sun got up and moved to leave.

"Who was it?" Kate called after her.

"Sawyer. He was the one that knocked you out."

To say she was stunned was putting it lightly. Shocked was more like it. She didn't think she'd have been more shocked if Sun had said Claire had done it. Sawyer was the last person she expected.

Part of her still wanted to kill him for even thinking of knocking her out so she couldn't go. And of course she wanted to kill him because he'd actually gone through with it. It wasn't his right to decide what she could and couldn't do.

But the other half of her couldn't help but feel some small emotion that was nestled deep inside her. It was an almost happy joyful feeling that she held close to her as a small smile curved her lips. Even after all that had happened he still cared for her a little. He'd cared enough to make her unable to go where she could get in harms way.

That had to count for something. Deep inside her Kate could felt a small amount of hope beginning to grow. Maybe it wasn't completely over. Maybe, just maybe she hadn't destroyed everything between them. Maybe.

But that didn't mean he wasn't going to get it when he got back.

Sawyer thought he was hearing things at first. The sound of whatever was behind them mixed in his mind and this other noise was barely audible compared to it. If he didn't know any better he'd have thought he was back in his tent dreaming again like the one night when he'd woken up to Shannon's screams echoing over the beach.

Only he wasn't dreaming. He was running through the jungle with the rest of them and something was coming after them. And at the same time he would swear that he wasn't going crazy and that he could actually hear someone screaming. No, not somebody, Shannon.

Suddenly the crashing noises behind them stopped, and then started up again. Only they weren't coming towards them anymore. It had started in a new direction. Away from them.

He stopped running along with the rest. His breathing came out hard as he bent over trying to regain it.

"You guys? Why'd it stop coming after us?" Charlie asked between taking in breaths.

"I don't……" Sayid stopped talking as a loud scream pierced the air.

And this time Sawyer didn't have any problem figuring out who it was. "That's Sticks." He said turning in the direction of the scream. The same direction that the thing was now going. "Shit."

No words were needed as everyone started off running again in that direction. This time it seemed as if they moved even faster. They had it get there before it did. If they didn't…they all knew what would happen.

One thought remained constant in Sawyer's head as he ran. Never doubt your instincts. Do not let Kate go on any of these damn adventures again. Ever.

Shannon's screams were getting louder now. It was doubtful she couldn't hear the thing getting closer and closer to her. Sawyer's heart pounded in his chest. They weren't going to make it in time.

Suddenly they burst into a small clearing with a couple to tree's spotting the landscape.

Tied to one was Shannon.

"Shannon." Sayid's voice was torn between relieved and worried.

Her eyes fell on them almost immediately. "Sayid." Her voice was relieved as well, but tinged with panic. A loud crash sounded behind them. "Hurry up and get me out of here," she screamed.

Sayid was immediately on the ropes that wrapped around her body and were tied in multiple knots. Charlie and Michael watched fidgeting as they kept one eye on them and another on the sounds still coming.

"This stupid piece of shit ain't comin loose." Sawyer swore glaring fiercely down at the knots in his hand.

"Um guys?" Charlie's voice came from behind them.

"What?" Sawyer growled.

"You all might want to hurry it up." Charlie's voice was slightly shaking.

"What the hell do you think we're doin? Planning a damn tea party over here?"

The knots began to come apart slowly one by one. The last one was done and the ropes fell from around Shannon's body. Sayid gently lowered her to the ground and they all headed for the opposite edge of the clearing.

Behind them the trees began to get ripped up from the ground as the unseen creature came after them. It was just behind them. Getting closer and closer. They could all feel it. And then…there was nothing.

It was a tired and weary group that trudged back into the caves later that day. Sayid had his arms wrapped protectively around Shannon as she walked beside him. Charlie and Michael looked like they were about to fall over any second with exhaustion.

Kate had to admit that the first thing her eyes searched for was him. He looked tired, but indifferent as everyone gathered around their group. After Kate did a quick assessment of his body to make sure he was okay before her attention turned to Shannon. She didn't look so good. Her body was sagging against Sayid's and she looked as if she were ready to drop into a deep sleep and forget whatever had happened to her.

Moving her way through the crowd of people Kate finally reached them. She could feel Sawyer's eyes on her, but she passed by him and went to Shannon. "Finally got back from your excursion?" Kate asked smiling lightly at Shannon.

Shannon smiled back wearily thanking her without words for not asking her how she doing. "Yeah, it was…interesting. You should try it sometime. Though I don't recommend the running part."

Kate grinned and gave Shannon a comforting half hug. "Good to have you back." Turning her attention to Sayid she said, "You can take her into the caves. I think somebody already went off to find Jack. He should be by soon to have a look at her."

Sayid nodded before carefully guiding Shannon past everyone. Kate turned back around intent on talking to Sawyer, but he wasn't there anymore. She grabbed Charlie's arm as he began to move off.

"Where is he?"

Knowing perfectly well who she was talking about Charlie pointed in the direction she assumed he'd gone. "He just went walking off a second ago."

"Thanks. I'm glad you got back okay. Claire's been worried about you."

Charlie's face lighted up and he started to go find her before he realized Kate hadn't let go of his arm. "What?" He asked turning back to her.

"I still haven't forgiven you for that comment earlier. Don't think I'm not going to get you back for it."

His face immediately got nervous. "Not any chance you might just forget about it?"

Kate grinned. "Not a chance in hell."

As soon as her hand was off of him Charlie got out of their fast. Kate was still grinning as she went off after Sawyer. He was by their water supply helping himself to some.

"Thirsty are we?" Kate asked looking down at him in his sitting position.

"You try running through the damn forest while some monster's chasin after you, Freckles. I assure you you'll be thirsty as well."

Kate's playful look was replaced instantly with a concerned one. "You got chased by that thing?"

"Yeah, that pretty much sums up the whole of our little trip into the jungle. Well, that and finding Sticks."

Sawyer stood up as he talked screwing the lid back onto the water bottle he held. Their bodies were close together and Kate tilted her head back to look up into his face.

"I'm glad your back, Sawyer." She said softly as their eyes met.

She would swear their faces were drawing closer. And closer. Almost there. Her eyelids started to shut and she could feel his breath on her lips. His lips brushed over hers slightly.

A rustling sound snapped them out of the daze they were in and both pulled back. Stepping away from each other as Jack came around the corner.

"Hey, Kate, do you think you could help me out for a second?" Jack asked seemingly ignoring Sawyer's presence.

"Yeah, I'll be there in a second." She could hear Jack going to leave. Looking away from Sawyer she turned around and started to go. "I'll see you around, Sawyer."

"Yeah," was his only reply.