Jack and Sawyer took all of ten seconds to storm straight into the trees to look for the others. No one on the beach or anyone they passed seemed to notice that anything was wrong. In fact Jack and Sawyer didn't pause until they were deep in the jungle.
When they did finally stop it was in a clearing they had never come across before. Almost as if it was waiting for them a whispering started up. Sawyer and Jack stood back-to-back glancing everywhere for the others they knew were around.
"Where are they?" Sawyer whispered, more to himself than Jack. He suddenly gasped and Jack wheeled around to see 'Zeke', the other with a beard and hat.
"Well hello boys," 'Zeke' said taking a few more steps into the clearing. "Now I thought we'd discussed this? You don't come into our jungle and we let you live on the beach."
"Yeah," Jack replied. "That was before you took one of us."
'Zeke's' expression turned from one of humour to seriousness.
"We took what was rightfully ours," he said fiercely, glaring at Jack.
"How is Kate rightfully yours?" Sawyer asked, wishing he could shoot the man in front of him.
"We don't want the girl," 'Zeke' laughed. "You can have her back. It's the baby that belongs to us."
Jack stared dumbfounded.
"How does that baby belong to you?" He asked incredulously.
"It was conceived on the island," 'Zeke' replied shrugging. "Anything on the island belongs to us."
Jack frowned and Sawyer stepped forward.
"Why'd Ethan take Claire then? She was already eight months pregnant when she got here," Sawyer said shaking his hair out of his eyes.
"Who knows why Ethan took her?" 'Zeke' said smiling. "The point is, you're not getting Kate back until we have her baby."
"Look," Jack said calmly as Sawyer began to growl. "We can understand where you're coming from-"
Sawyer looked at Jack as if he were mad, but didn't interrupt.
"-but Kate is nearly five months pregnant. At this stage any stress could harm the baby. Surely you don't want to hurt what's rightfully yours?" Jack asked, hoping, praying that his plan would work. 'Zeke' considered carefully.
"You're a smart man Jack," he said after a pause. "Alright, since you're so protective of your girl friend and since it wouldn't be good to anyone to harm the baby, we'll allow you weekly visits, unless something goes wrong and we have to fetch you earlier. Deal?"
Sawyer suddenly realised what Jack was up to and could've kissed him.
"Deal," Jack said. It was not as good a deal as he had hoped for, but at least he could still care for Kate while he formulated a plan.
"Right," 'Zeke' gave Sawyer a shifty look. "Return to this clearing in exactly seven days time, unless we need to get you for some reason, and we'll take you to Kate. Alone."
Jack and Sawyer both involuntarily shuddered at the way 'Zeke' put emphasis on the word alone. They nodded and turned around to head back to the beach. Jack glanced back, but 'Zeke' had already disappeared.
Nobody questioned them when they returned to the beach. Not many people even noticed their absence. Jack preferred it this way. He knew that eventually he'd have to tell people Kate was gone when they realised they hadn't seen her in ages, but right now, he couldn't face that.
"So what's the plan?" Sawyer asked as they wandered past Jack and Kate's shelter towards his own.
Jack looked at him, his breathing coming in short sharp gasps.
"I can't do it…" he said, his knees buckling under him. "I made a promise Sawyer… and I can't keep it…"
Sawyer sat down on the sands next to him. He put a hand on Jack's shoulder.
"She'll be fine. The others won't hurt her if they want the child." Sawyer said. "We'll think of a way to get her out before she gives birth."
Jack was silent for a minute, biting his thumb as he though.
"Let's hope so," he said quietly. "Because she's going to be pretty stressed. We'll be lucky if she doesn't induce an early labour…"
The next few days seemed to drag on forever. Everyday Jack and Sawyer spent most of their time staring into the jungle for any sign of the others. People began to talk about where Kate had disappeared to but neither man answered their questions.
When day seven finally arrived Jack and Sawyer were on tenterhooks. They waited until midday and then Jack stood up.
"I'm going to the clearing," he said his voice hoarse. Sawyer nodded.
He ran through the jungle all the way to the clearing and waited with baited breath. The wind began to pick up and the whispering started. He turned slowly and found himself face to face with 'Zeke'.
"I'm afraid we're going to have to blindfold you." 'Zeke' said as a piece of material was shoved roughly over Jack's head. "Just follow Alex. Do nothing else. If you try to run we will kill the girl, got it?"
"Yeah," Jack sighed as he felt someone take his hand and begin leading him forward. After what felt like ages he heard something that sounded metal creak. He was pushed and he stumbled, tripping to the floor.
"You have one hour with her," said a female voice. There was another metal creak and Jack removed the bag from his head. He was in some sort of bunker, similar to the hatch across the island. He put his hand to the wall where he could see by the faint light another Dharma logo. It had a star in the middle of it. Frowning he moved further up the corridor, his hands outstretched.
He found a door and pushed it open. This room was more brightly lit and Jack froze. The floor was littered with people, all bound, gagged and blindfolded. He thought he recognised Michael, but Walt wasn't there. Then he spotted Kate nearest to him and began to untie her. She sensed the movement and began to pull away.
"Hey, hey," Jack said, removing the blindfold. "It's me."
When Kate recognised him, she looked visibly relived. He took the gag off.
"I'm so sorry!" She blurted out in a whisper. "It's all my fault…"
Jack untied the bonds holding her wrists and ankles together.
"It's not your fault," he said, putting a hand up to her face. "You didn't ask to get pregnant."
"No, but I fell straight into their trap!" Kate moaned on the brink of tears. Jack put a hand to her forehead.
"Are you hot?" He asked.
"No," she replied, shaking her head.
"They been feeding you properly and giving you enough water?" Jack's hand moved down to her stomach.
"Yeah," Kate sniffed. "They let us go out sometimes, a few at a time."
"Can they hear us out here?" His voice dropped to a whisper.
"No," Kate whispered back. "That's how Walt managed to use the computer over there. They can't see or hear us out here."
"Well, me and Sawyer are working on an escape plan ok?" He said quietly. "Now, you're perfectly healthy, but it's really important that you don't stress yourself, otherwise you'll be putting you and the baby at risk. Ok? Just do what they say. They won't hurt you."
Kate nodded, tears threatening again. She wrapped her arms round Jack.
"I'm so sorry," she said closing her eyes. "This is punishment for all the bad things I've done…"
"No it's not," Jack pulled her back to look at her. "Listen to me ok? You'll be fine. Me and Sawyer will get you out long before you give birth."
"Ok," Kate said.
Jack smiled weakly.
"Poor island baby," he said, making Kate smile wryly.