Hey everyone. I am really really sorry about the long update. You don't even want to know about the last couple weeks I've had. Anyway, I knew how many of you are enjoying this story and knew I had to continue. So here it is, Chapter 7. I will say that we are almost to the end, but I want to thank you all so much for the reviews so far and I hope to get some more. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Chapter 7

Jack had an uncomfortable twist in his stomach and decided it was time to go check on the tail survivors. It's not that he didn't trust Hurley, but knowing the other survivors; he thought it was best to leave. Along the way Kate tried explaining about the events that led up to the hatch to Sawyer. Jin had given up attempting to translate her words. He knew once he found Sun she would explain everything to him.

"So, there's food?" Sawyer finally said while Kate was taking a breath between her words.

"Yeah, but we are taking it slow," she replied. "We need to keep as much of it as possible."

"But if there's months supplies?"

"Forget it, Sawyer," Jack cried back. "We will give you some when we learn some more about the other survivors."

Sawyer decided not to argue. Kate was a little surprised. It wasn't like Sawyer to back down so easily without a fight, at least not with Jack or her. Instead he looked down and continued on walking with a parade of thoughts pacing his mind.

It sometimes scarred Kate how right Jack was. The moment they arrived at the cave where Hurley took the tailies they had to fight off the front survivors. Every single one of them were interrogating the tailies, throwing questions at them like potato chips. Mr. Eko had pushed everyone behind him and told them not to respond, which they did not. It also looked like they were about to attack each other.

"Hey! Everyone back off, now!" Jack cried shoving his way through the crowd. Kate, Jin, and Sawyer followed suit. Sawyer was careful not to use his left arm, but found it difficult. He looked all over for Valerie and was relieved when he found her leaning against the wall arms crossed.

"Come on!" Sawyer shouted back when Charlie nearly knocked him down.

"HEY!" Jack yelled in a tone no one ever heard from him before. The entire island seemed to quiet down. Everyone stared at him completely shocked and a little afraid. Even Kate backed off a little. "Come on now. We need to leave them alone. All your questions will be answered in time. Just please, go back to the beach. We will keep you updated."

It didn't seem at first that the front survivors were going to back off. No one moved. They remained still and stared at the tailies. Then Jack saw Sayid and Shannon push their way to the front.

"Everyone, please, let's return to camp," Sayid said while Shannon began turning everyone around herself.

When they realized they were not going to get any answers everyone sighed and turned. Sayid turned back to Jack and nodded. "We will keep them under control."

"Thank you," Jack replied while Sayid and Shannon walked the stragglers back to the beach. Turning to Mr. Eko and Ana Lucia he added, "Let's talk."

While the three walked off toward the shore, Kate cleared her throat and nervously stared at the tailies.

"Um, hi, I'm Kate," she started trying to control her nerves. "I will . . ."

Before Kate could continue she heard someone calling from the distance. The voice was familiar and it was coming closer. Jin knew exactly who it was. Looking out he saw someone he thought he would never see again. Sun ran with every ounce of energy she could muster. She was tending to her garden when she heard from Claire that Jin and Sawyer had returned. In minutes time she found herself running through the beach as fast as her legs would carry her.

"Jin!" she cried coming closer and closer. The tailies looked out to her and knew immediately who she was. Jin jumped from the rock he was standing on and started to run towards Sun. The two embraced one another and could not help but kiss passionately. So many nights they dreamed about seeing each other again and today it finally came true. Kate and Sawyer watched the reunion between husband and wife and felt the pain each of them had while apart and the love they had right now.

Allowing some privacy for Sun and Jin, Kate turned back to the tailies. Clearing her throat again she said, "Ok, um, so I guess we can go back to the beach. You guys can have a look around."

"Do you really think that's a good idea?" Valerie said from the darkened corner.

"What do you mean?"

"Did you not just see how they were treating us? You think that if we go to the beach it will be any different."

"I won't let them treat you like that again."

"How can you be so sure?"

Kate could not respond. This girl had a point. How would she keep the other survivors from asking them questions when she had some herself.

"Because I won't let them," Sawyer interrupted. Valerie and Kate starred at him and were unsure but a little comforted.

"Fine," Valerie replied and immediately turned away from Sawyer who wished she was no longer mad at him.

Kate and Sawyer led the tailies through the jungle. When they arrived at the beach everyone turned and stared. Kate and Sawyer kept walking, but Valerie and the others had stopped. They still were not sure whether or not to continue.

"Come on," Kate said again. "We promise they won't hurt you."

Valerie was the first to act. She was not going to stay scared of these people. It would show her weakness and that was the last thing she needed on this island. Slowly she stepped from the jungle and onto the sand. Libby, Roger, and Gibb followed suit and soon all four of them were wandering in different directions.

Sawyer watched Valerie take off and was about to follow her when he felt Kate's hand on his shoulder. Turning around he saw she had much concern in her eyes.

"Are you ok?" she whispered gently rubbing his arm.

"Yeah, I've got it worse than this," he replied shaking his arm loose of her grip.

She scoffed. "Sawyer, don't joke. You could have died from this."

"Yeah, I know, Valerie already told me."

Then Kate knew why Sawyer was suddenly changed. He looked back and found Valerie wandering close to the water, her arms crossed again. Could it be that this girl beat down the hard side of Sawyer? Could she have found what Kate had been trying to find along? She wasn't sure, but she was going to find out.

Valerie walked close to the water, but watched the survivors on shore. They all sat at their respectable camps and talked. Some were laughing, others sleeping, but none crying. They all seemed happy. How different they had it. For 48 days, Valerie and her crowd were being chased and killed by the "Others" and these survivors were having a bonfire.

"Thank you and enjoy your flight," the cashier said to the man in front of her. Slipping his items into a plastic bag he thanked the man and called for the next customer. Valerie tossed the pack of gum onto the counter along with a bottle of water. She didn't bother to hear the total. She slid a ten towards the cashier and waited for her change.

"To pop your ears?"

"What?" Valerie said turning to the cashier, a young man around twenty-three years old.

"I always get gum so my ears will pop," he replied while holding the pack in his hand. "Is that why you're getting it?"

"Yeah."

Taking the ten from the counter, the cashier looked up and smiled at her. Valerie just rolled her eyes. She could not believe she was standing in an airport, with the cashier hitting on her.

"So where you going?"

"LA."

"Really? That's where I'm from." Valerie smirked and held out her hand for the change. "I'm actually heading back there tomorrow. Maybe we can get together and . . ."

"Oh, God, do you always use that line?"

Valerie and the cashier looked over and saw the customer standing behind her. He was a tall man with blonde hair and a soft southern accent. He was holding a book and his ticket.

"Excuse me?" the cashier replied while setting her change on the counter.

"Look, I can see that working in an airport you see a lot of women, but please tell me you don't use that line to get them to bed?"

"I, uh," the cashier was speechless.

"I, uh, yeah, she's not interested, can we move it along?"

Valerie took this cue and grabbed her change and items. Shoving them inside her bag she moved out of the way. The man was purchasing the book and the entire time he glared at the cashier wondering if he was going to try and make another pass at Valerie.

Valerie wanted to thank him and was about to when the PA kicked in.

"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your patience. We are now boarding rows 30 to 25 for Oceanic Flight 815 to Los Angeles."

"Oh, damn it," Valerie whispered and began running towards the gate.

Valerie noticed a young woman with long blonde hair. She was rocking a baby in a crib made of wood. They were safe enough here to raise a child when two children were taken from them? Valerie could not believe the irony. Everything that went wrong with them was perfect for the others. Shaking her head she turned and nearly ran into Kate.

"Oh, sorry," Kate said backing up. "You're Valerie, right?"

"Yeah," Valerie replied still watching the girl rock the baby.

"You want to clean up?"

"What?"

"I know a spot where you can clean up. Follow me."

Kate turned around and began walking towards the jungle. Valerie was not sure if she was really taking her to a place to clean up or somewhere quiet where she could ask questions. Either way she figured it was better than watching the survivors enjoy themselves.

Look for Chapter 8 this weekend!