This chapter contains heavy violence towards the end...so I'll rate this chapter R just in case. I also do not own Jack, Kate, or Sawyer. I only own my OC's.

Chapter 12- Shadows of You

"Kate, can I talk to you for a second?" Taylor asked knocking on the door and then stepping inside.

Kate looked up from Jack's journal, and then tried to hide the jubilant smile that was painted on her face. "Sure, what's going on?"

Taylor glanced down at the ring on Kate's finger and then clapped her hands together cheerfully. "Jack was worried that you would turn him down, but I knew you wouldn't,"

"Of course I wouldn't turn him down," Kate said with a grin. She brought the journal close to her chest, and then looked down thoughtfully. "I love him too much,"

Taylor nodded, "I know, and I am so happy for you and Jack. By the way I hope I get an invitation to the wedding."

Kate's smile widened at the thought of being Mrs. Shepard one day. "You're invited, but I hope you know that it won't be in America."

"I know," Taylor said with an all knowing wink. She looked around the room and then her expression grew serious. "I wanted to give you guys something to travel with. I talked to Jack about it, but he insisted that I give it to you."

Kate closed the journal slowly, and her eyebrows furrowed low over her green eyes as she focused on Taylor. "Give me what?"

Taylor pulled a folded envelope out of her pocket, and then slipped it into Kate's hand. "I figured that this would be enough to get by on for a little while,"

Kate's eyes widened in curiosity as she accepted the bulging envelope from Taylor. She pried open the top flap and then peeked inside. A gasp escaped her throat as she looked inside at the surplus of green bills. "We can't take this," Kate shook her head, and then handed the envelope back to Taylor.

Taylor sighed, "If it makes it any easier, it's not my money, the money belongs to Sawyer."

"How could Sawyer have all this money without us knowing?"

"Sawyer used to send me money a while back, and I never cashed it. This is his money, could you please take it, because ya'll need it more than me."

Kate swallowed down a lump in her throat. "Why would Jack tell you to come to me?"

Taylor conspicuously placed the envelope back down next to Kate's hand. "He said something about you being on equal ground with him, and that you should make some of the decisions."

"But…" Kate looked down at the envelope as if the money inside was forbidden. She knew that they needed money to get by on, but whether Sawyer had given Taylor the money or not it still belonged to her. "What about Sawyer, Did you try talking to him about this?"

"I did, but he wouldn't take it."

"Sawyer?" Kate asked in confusion.

Taylor nodded with a small smile, "Yes, he's not as bad as he lets on."

"I know," Kate said biting the edge of her lip thoughtfully and then looking towards the door. "Where is Jack?"

"Outside chopping firewood," Taylor responded.

"And Sawyer?"

"Watching a movie with Chloe,"

Kate nodded as she stood up, "I'm going to go talk to Jack, I'll be right back," She walked through the house, and then pushed open the front door. It was bitterly cold outside, and the dark sky was overcast as if snow was on the way. Jack was turned away from her, with an axe in his hands, and his head bent as he looked down at a log. She smiled, it was interesting watching Jack prepare firewood, because usually Sawyer did it.

"Damn it," Jack groaned.

"Having some trouble?" Kate called.

Jack turned around in surprise. He fixed his shirt which was bunched up towards his left shoulder, "I didn't know I had an audience,"

"You'd make a sexy lumber jack, you know that."

Jack smiled, "Is that right,"

Kate closed the porch door behind her and walked over to Jack. "I wanted to talk to you about something,"

Jack placed down the axe and then gave Kate his undivided attention. "Now that my ring is on your finger, you're stuck with me, no refunds,"

Kate snickered and then playfully punched Jack in the stomach, "Why would I want to return something so pretty?"

"Me pretty…ha, I think we got ourselves mixed up Kate,"

"I'm trying to be funny again Jack," Kate grinned. She reached for his hand and then pulled him towards the porch. "Sit,"

Jack lowered himself down next to Kate, and stretched out his arms so he could wrap them around her. "I hope you don't mind,"

Kate linked her hand in between Jack's, and rested her head on his shoulder. "Did Taylor talk to you about the money?"

"Yes she did,"

"Why did you tell her to come to me?"

Jack placed his chin on top of Kate's silky tresses, "Because I wanted to talk about it with you before I made any decisions, and if Sawyer is in the mood with him too."

"Well what do you think?" Kate asked.

Jack looked upwards and then exhaled blowing out a cloud of frosty air. "I think the decision is Sawyer's, because the money does belong to him, but if I had to decide then I would say we should take it."

Kate looked down as she started to tap her foot along the porch. "I agree, but Taylor has done so much for us, I feel bad for just constantly taking from her. I wish there was some way we could pay her back."

"Maybe one day we will be able too, but now we don't have much. Our main priority is to get you out of the country…well, you and Sawyer, so I think we should take the money."

Kate leaned away from Jack and stared deep into his hazel eyes, "You think?"

Jack nodded, "That's what I think, but it doesn't mean anything until you tell me what's going on in your head. Your opinion is important to me, and besides I'm tired of being in charge alone,"

Kate smiled, "So you're giving me some of your spotlight?"

Jack stole a quick kiss on her lips, "Yes,"

"Well," Kate placed her arms on the leg of her jeans, and then tucked her hair behind her ear. "We need to leave North Carolina soon,"

"I agree, and we can't leave without money,"

"So then it's settled," Kate said with a sigh.

"Yeah," Jack agreed.

They both sat in silence for a couple of seconds thinking over their decision. Kate glanced at Jack from the corner of her eye, his head was tilted to the side and his eyes were fixed on something. "What are you looking at?"

"It's flurrying,"

Kate looked around, and for the first time she noticed the tiny specs of white dots billowing in the wind. Her mouth dropped open in excitement, and she stood up. "Wherever we go next we have to make sure it snows," She teased.

Jack smiled, "Is that the kid in you talking,"

Kate nodded, "I love the snow," She closed her eyes and then tilted her head backwards while holding out her hands. "Join me Jack,"

"Is it okay if I just watch, and admire with a smile?"

Kate nodded and then twirled around like a child. "Go ahead and make fun of me,"

"You look to cute to make fun of," Jack placed his arm against his knee and then leaned forward to watch Kate with a smile. "I think we should leave tomorrow,"

Kate stopped spinning and then turned to face Jack, "Tomorrow?"

Jack nodded, and then stood up so he could walk over to Kate. "I like staying here in North Carolina with Taylor and Chloe, but I think we should leave before we put them in any danger."

Kate looked down. "Where would we going next?"

"Somewhere further south, until we form a solid plan."

"We don't have a car,"

Jack nodded, "That's why we need the money,"

Kate thought it over, "I guess your right," She collapsed her hands down by her sides and then walked over to Jack. "So we're going to leave tomorrow huh,"

Jack shoved his hands in his pockets and mimicked Kate's frown. "I know you don't want to go, but I think we have jeopardized Taylor and Chloe's lives enough. We've been so safe in North Carolina that I was actually starting to forget about Sawyer's "hitmen" or whatever you want to call them…and I have a problem with that." Jack pulled his hand out of his pocket and held it outwards to collect the quickly falling flurries. "We shouldn't forget what those guys are capable of, they nearly killed us once and if given the chance they would try again."

Kate reached out for Jack's hand. "You're right, we should leave in the morning. Now we have to tell Sawyer, Taylor and Chloe,"

"I don't think Sawyer is going to take the news to well, because I know that he likes Taylor,"

"I know," Kate said with a small smile.

Jack clenched his jaw, "She brings out the best in him. And that's all I'm going to say on that topic."

Kate crossed her arms as she looked back at Jack, "You have to promise me something though Jack, before we start traveling again."

Jack looked up, "Anything,"

"Could you please try to get along with Sawyer, I have a feeling that without Taylor, Sawyer will be on your back every second he gets."

"I could get along with Sawyer if he treated me with respect and he hasn't up till now so I doubt we'll be buddies anytime soon."

"Fine, I'll try and mediate later," Kate linked her arm in Jack's and led him towards the door. "I saw strawberries in the fridge by the way."

Jack chuckled, "Sudden change of topic…but okay,"

"When we do get married, just know that strawberries and..." Kate paused dramatically and then looked back at Jack with a cute smile. "Fill in the blanks, Strawberries and dot, dot, dot is a way to my heart,"

"Chocolate," Jack filled in easily.

Kate stole a kiss on his cheek, "You know everything I like, but I'm still missing some information on you Shepard, what's your favorite food, maybe I could make a nice dinner for you one day,"

Jack held open the door for Kate. "Well let me see, I like macaroni and cheese, the kind from the box not the homemade kind."

Kate paused where she stood, and stared back at Jack in amusement. "You're kidding me right?"

"No I'm dead serious Easy Mac was the easiest dish for me to make after a hard day of work back in L.A." Jack turned around to close the door, and then paused when he thought he saw a shadow move in the woods. Kate's hands circled around his upper arm and she pulled him away from the door, and then pushed it closed. Jack ultimately decided to categorize the sighting as nothing too critical.

"By the way I wrote you a response in the proposal book," Kate said in a low tone and an alluring smile. "It's filled with sap, so it should be right on level with you,"

Jack grinned, "I have something to look forward to later then."

"What is this group meeting for?" Sawyer asked sitting down across from Jack and Kate. "I know you proposed to her Jacko, but what do I have to do with it."

"We didn't call you here for that," Kate replied.

Sawyer reached for Kate's hand and eyed the ring with a smile. "It sure is purdy isn't it." He narrowed his eyes back at Jack, "How did ya pay for it? Did you steal someone's wallet, hold up a bank, or take an old woman's purse because that's more your style Jacko."

Kate narrowed her eyes at Sawyer and then pulled her hand back, "How Jack paid for the ring isn't important."

Sawyer shifted his eyes back towards Jack, "So what do you got to say for yourself cowboy, you got the ring, the girl…what's next the world domination?"

Jack scowled, "Can we be serious for a second?"

"I didn't expect any otherwise from you serious James," Sawyer spat.

Both Jack and Kate gave Sawyer odd glances.

"Who is James?" Kate asked.

"Your boy toy," Sawyer growled.

Kate glanced at Jack and then remembered the alias she had given him earlier. "Oh right, but don't you think we're beyond code names here Sawyer,"

Jack continued to stare back at Sawyer oddly, as if he suspected something was wrong. Sawyer cast his angry eyes back at Jack, which caused him to look away. "We're leaving tomorrow," Jack said.

Kate glanced at Sawyer waiting for his reaction. She expected him to turn down the idea, but instead he gave a careless shrug. Kate placed her cheek against her hand and continued to look on in puzzlement. "Are you okay with that Sawyer?"

"What does it matter anyways, I ain't got no say in this damn situation," Sawyer leaned forward, "So I'm guessin' Taylor asked you two to take the money and ya'll said yes,"

"We didn't have a choice," Jack explained.

Sawyer nodded, "Fine, I'll be ready in the morning," He hoisted himself up and walked towards the door. "Kate, I got something for you,"

"About what?" She asked in surprise.

Sawyer opened the door, "You buried it instead of the…" He cleared his throat when he realized that Jack was hanging onto his every word. "Why don't you just come and get it."

Kate stood up, her bare feet walked across the cold floors as she joined Sawyer by the door. She turned to look at Jack who was watching her closely. "What's wrong?"

Jack shrugged and then settled himself underneath the covers, "I'll be doing crossword puzzles until you get back," He smiled jokingly, "Or reading me what you left in the journal."

"You can read that later, wait until I'm asleep or something." Warmth surged throughout her body as Jack nodded in agreement. He brought the covers over his head and then turned over on his side.

"We're doin' an even exchange Freckles," Sawyer declared as he looked at Jack underneath the sheets in disgust.

"An even exchange for what?" Kate asked looking back at the outline of Jack's body underneath the covers in adoration and then closing the door.

"I want you to give me my gun back, in exchange for that damn airplane of yours,"

Kate's mouth dropped open in shock. She tried to speak but no words came out. After a couple of seconds of trying to compose herself Kate managed to choke out. "Airplane?"

Sawyer rolled his eyes, "Don't act like you don't know what I'm talkin' about. The damn airplane you buried in that damn whole, when you took my gun,"

"What are you talking about?" Kate asked in mock surprise as she tried to figure out how Sawyer found out about Tom's airplane. "I don't have any toy airplanes,"

Sawyer's eyebrows furrowed low over her eyes. "Ya really don't know what I'm talking about?"

"No," Kate said slowly.

"Hold on," Sawyer disappeared into Taylor's room and then returned seconds later with a small object held tightly in his hand. "I was looking for my gun, the one that you took, and I found this," He grabbed Kate's hand and forced the airplane into her hand. "You remember now huh?"

"No," Kate said in a shaky voice. Her hand started to tremble as she looked down at the miniature plane. Sawyer let go of her hand. Images of Tom flooded her mind, Kate winced at the painful memories and then she planted the plane back in Sawyer's hand. "I didn't bury this there, I buried the gun Sawyer, where is the gun?" Without taking Kate let her emotions take control and she pushed Sawyer up against the wall. The plane fell from his hand and crashed onto the floor.

He stared back at her with wide eyes. "What the…"

"Do you think this is funny? Is this your idea of some kind of sick joke Sawyer? Because you know what Sawyer it's not funny!" Kate screamed back at him with tears filling in her eyes.

"Get your hands off of me! You're the one that took my gun, and put that damn airplane in it's place so why don't I ask you the same damn question, where the fuck is my gun Kate," Sawyer grabbed onto Kate's arm, and the anger that he had managed to control up until now exploded from his mouth. "Where is my gun Kate!"

"I don't…" Kate started with the tears still flowing.

"Where is it!" Sawyer yelled once again jerking Kate around roughly.

"Hey, what's going on here!" Jack stepped out of the room and practically ran over to them when he saw the way Sawyer was man handling a visibly shaken Kate. "Get your filthy hands off of her!"

Sawyer let go of Kate as suddenly woke out of his trance of rage. He backed away from her shamefully and then cast his cold aqua saucers on Jack. "I bet you got it, where the hell is it Metro?"

"He doesn't have it!" Kate yelled.

"Why dontcha let your boyfriend answer that question," Sawyer snarled hatefully in Kate's direction. He approached Jack dangerously and then stopped inches away from him. "Where is it boy?"

Jack glanced at Kate in concern and then looked back at Sawyer enraged. "Whatever you're looking for Kate doesn't have it,"

"She did have it." Sawyer snapped.

"What is it?"

"A gun,"

Jack looked at Kate once again, who was focusing on something on the floor as if it would jump up and bite her. He pushed Sawyer aside and walked over to her. "What is it?"

"Nothing," Kate said quickly, she stormed past Jack and disappeared back into their room.

"What did you do to her?" Jack asked angrily.

Sawyer smirked, "What did I do? Wouldn't you like to know asshole, get the fuck out of my face."

Jack clenched his fists. The sight of Sawyer grabbing Kate's arm played in the back of his mind as he walked back over to him. He narrowed his eyes at Sawyer as he brushed past. Jack stepped back into the room with Kate, and closed the door behind him. "Are you okay,"

She was looking down at her hands, and her straightened chocolate locks were covering her beautiful green eyes. "I thought Sawyer was trying to be vindictive and hurtful to me intentionally, but he couldn't have because he didn't know about it," Kate said as she leaned forward to bury her face in Jack's waiting embrace.

Jack kissed her head tenderly, "Did it have to do with the airplane on the floor?"

Kate nodded, "Yes,"

Jack brushed his cheek against Kate's forehead, "Does it mean something to you?" He felt Kate place her hand on his chest and then slowly push him away. Jack looked back at her hopefully, he wasn't sure what the significance of the airplane was to her, but he was willing to listen. A tear slid down Kate's cheek and Jack wiped it away with his thumb.

Kate straightened up. "I'm fine,"

"Are you sure?" Jack repeated for the third time softly, because it was obvious to him that Kate was far from fine.

Kate cleared her throat. "I should go and apologize to Sawyer,"

"No you shouldn't, I don't like the way he treats you. If anyone should be apologizing to anyone then it's him." Jack reached out for Kate's hand and leaned in close to talk to her. "When he gets like this, I've learned its best to leave him alone."

"I slammed him up against a wall!"

"And then he grabbed you! Don't you see something wrong with that? I had to use all of my self control to stop myself from punching him. No one touches you like that Kate, not me, not Sawyer, no one!"

"Calm down," Kate said calmly.

Jack took in a deep breath and then looked down at the floor. He could feel his cheeks invade with rage, and his foot was tapping nervously on the soft carpet. "I'm sorry,"

"We're all on edge, you don't have to say sorry," Kate wiped her hands against her light brown khakis and then forced herself up, "Something isn't right,"

"What do you mean?"

"Sawyer had a gun, and I took it from him because…" Kate bit the edge of her lip as she looked back at Jack's troubled expression. She didn't really see the need to explain to Jack how suicidal Sawyer had been within the last month. "I buried his gun in the woods, and he said that he went to look for it, but he didn't find it."

"Did you consider the fact that he could be lying?" Jack asked.

"Why would he lie, there is no reason for him to," Kate placed her hand to her forehead as she started to pace, "He said he found the…in there,"

"The airplane," Jack filled in.

Kate nodded her head with much trouble. She crossed her arms nervously and then glanced around the room as if the walls were about to close in on her. What if there really was someone in the woods that night after the accident. Kate froze in fear at the thought alone.

"Kate?" Jack said in confusion.

She snapped out of it, "Yeah?"

"Take me to the place where you buried the gun, I want to check it out for myself," Jack grabbed his coat from the back of the closet, "A gun can't just disappear into a thin air. Have you went back to the spot where you buried it recently?"

"Not yet," Kate said shakily as she watched Jack sit back down on the bed to put on his shoes, "We're not going out there,"

"The gun is still out there Kate I know it, we don't have to bring it back, but Sawyer's playing with your mind, he's trying to make you feel guilty for something…"

"Jack do you hear yourself?"

"Kate, I don't want to argue with you." Jack said standing up. "How about you tell me the direction of where you buried the gun, and if there are any landmarks around the area so I can find the spot easier."

"Jack, there is something in the woods,"

"I'll be okay, and if we're going to start moving again we need some kind of defense. Now that I think about it I have you to protect, and it would be foolish of me to travel unarmed."

"You hate guns," Kate pointed out.

"Then I'll find it and let you hold onto it, I'm going out there Kate," Jack walked over to the draw and pulled out a flashlight. "You don't have to come,"

"I'll go," Kate whispered.

"If you don't feel comfortable coming with me, then I want you to stay here."

"But if I don't go then I'll worry about you non stop so I have to go,"

"You're real slick you know that," Sawyer replied as he pushed Taylor's door open. She looked up from the laundry she was folding, "This is your shirt,"

Sawyer accepted the shirt from her and held it close to his chest. "I wanted you to keep that money," He was still angry from the confrontation he just had with Jack and Kate, but he was trying to forget about it.

Taylor shook her head, "I don't need it Sawyer, but you do."

Sawyer pulled his hair back with one hand and then lowered himself down onto her bed. "I'm tired of travelin' with those two,"

Taylor stopped folding and gave him her undivided attention, "Why?"

"They got their own lives and I got mine, I don't want to be answering to anyone, and I definitely don't want anyone worrying about me. I think it's time I separated from them." Sawyer nodded his head slowly, "I don't need em', and they sure as hell don't need me."

"I don't want you to leave at all,"

Sawyer looked up slowly, his eyes connected with the piercing clarity of Taylor's cerulean eyes. He drew in a breath, and then forced himself to look down troubled. He didn't want to leave either, because he cared about her and even the kid. Sawyer placed his hand to his forehead and leaned forward. "Why do you say things like that?"

"I guess I wasn't thinking, it um…it slipped out," Taylor swiped her bangs aside and then focused back on her laundry. "I want you to go with Jack and Kate,"

"I don't need em." Sawyer repeated.

"You need someone. The thought of you being all alone out there with all this baggage on your shoulders, and no one to confide in scares me."

"Don't be scared, 'cause I'm not," He replied with a determined expression.

"Of course you're not scared Sawyer, because you don't care whether you live or die." Taylor reached out and placed her hand on Sawyer's shoulder. "I'll worry about you regardless, but even more so if you're on your own."

"How about if I send you little cards," Sawyer tried to joke weakly. His joke quickly fell flat because his tone was dead and there was a certain sadness in his eyes. "I need a cigarette,"

"Could you talk to me for a little longer?" Taylor asked softly.

Sawyer patted the pocket of his jeans where a pack of cigarettes waited to be smoked, and then allowed his hand to collapse onto the bed. "Fine then Sunshine, talk,"

"I was really happy that day I saw you on the street. You know when your car broke down."

Sawyer nodded, "Bad luck,"

Taylor looked down sadly, "Yeah, I guess so."

"Not because of you, but um…ah, shit. I didn't mean it like that." Sawyer looked around the room awkwardly unable to rest his eyes on Taylor. "I'm glad I saw you again…but yeah, we're leaving first thing in the morning." The mood was getting to heavy for him, so he forced himself up.

"I know how angry it makes you that Kate doesn't love you the way she loves Jack." Taylor stated.

"What the hell does that…"

"Sawyer let me finish, I'm not going with this where you think."

"I'm just going to tell Taylor that we're going to step out," Jack said reaching outwards to open the door. He stopped however, when he heard Taylor and Sawyer arguing. "What is it now?" Jack whispered to Kate.

Kate raised an eyebrow in concern, even though her eyes were fixed on the airplane abandoned in the corner. Jack tried to open the door again, she quickly snapped out of it and grabbed Jack's arm. "Hold on a second,"

"I don't give a damn about Kate! As far as I see it, the girl ain't my responsibility, if she dies her blood isn't on my hands, it's all on his." Sawyer snorted loudly, "James or Jack or whatever the hell he wants to be called these days, I'm done with them both! Especially her! I'm done!"

"Sawyer, you don't mean that." Taylor scolded.

Jack turned to look at Kate who seemed to be taking Sawyer's comments without any trouble even though he knew otherwise, "How about we just go,"

Kate nodded, "Yeah, let's just go."

Seconds later Kate and Jack were both outside walking through the darkened forest. Bare trees hovered ominously above their heads and the moon was hidden behind a mass of gray clouds. The flurries had now ceased, but a thin coating of precipitation and ice now covering the scattered leaves and dirt remained.

Kate stepped over a beached tree branch in the soil and then turned around to check on Jack. He was right behind her, so close that she could feel his chest rise every time he took a breath. "You don't have to be so close you know," She said in a somber tone. Sawyer's harsh words weighed down on her more than she expected, and the sight of the airplane made her think about Tom. Kate was going through a period of emotional exhaustion.

"You were scared about coming out here earlier, so I want to provide you with a little reassurance," Jack stepped over the branch and then reached for Kate's hand, "Nothings going to happen."

"I know," Kate said with a shiver. "I just don't like woods, I never have." She looked around cautiously and then focused back on Jack. "I buried the gun somewhere around here,"

Jack looked around the ominous setting. He pointed the flashlight in the direction of the trees causing golden beams of light to bounce off tree barks and twisted branches. "Do you remember where you buried it exact…"

The sound of crunching leaves overtook the concentration in Jack's mind. He jerked around suddenly in fight or flight mode with his flashlight pointed in front of him and Kate. Jack trained his eyes on the dark abyss around him and Kate. His breath highlighted the night air in cloudy smoke as his breathing pattern increased. Jack quickly switched the flashlight to his other hand and then reached behind him for Kate's hand. "Did you hear that?"

"I heard it," Kate replied shakily with fear apparent in her eyes.

Jack swallowed down a wad of nervousness in his throat. He gripped Kate's hand tighter as he continued to train the shaking flashlight on the darkness around them. The light dimmed. Jack looked down at the flashlight in fear. "The battery might die soon, where did you bury the gun Kate?" Jack asked as calmly as possible underneath the circumstances.

"We should go back," Kate said quickly as she turned around to walk back to Taylor's house. Her hand was still inside of Jack's protecting grasp, and he wasn't budging. "You heard that right!" Kate screamed. "Something or someone is out here with us let's go Jack, Now!"

"We did hear something, but it could just be a deer. We need some kind of protection whether we're planning on using the gun or not." Jack reasoned. The light dimmed once more, and then the battery died. "No, not now!" Jack slammed his hand against the flashlight and then groaned when it refused to turn back on. He looked up at Kate in defeat and then nodded, "Okay, we'll go back,"

The wind whistled loudly, and a branch snapped somewhere behind them. The forest suddenly grew darker as the silvery light of the moon disappeared behind the clouds once again.

Kate turned around startled. She stopped walking and then trained her eyes on the shadows behind them. Her mouth dropped open in sheer horror at the sight of someone running towards them. Jack's name was on the tip of her tongue, but at the moment she was gripped with fear and she couldn't move.

Jack heard the quickly approaching footsteps. He glanced behind them, and his face twisted into an expression of fear. It was too dark to make out a face, and the person was running to fast towards them as well. Within seconds Jack was knocked off his feet, and he fell backwards onto the ground with a hard thud. Jack's head snapped upwards as it collided with the hard ground. He lost his consciousness briefly and came back to when he started to experience a sharp pain crushing through his scull. Jack opened his eyes weakly to make out the back of a rifle being slammed down repeatedly onto his face. He yelled in agony, and his hands flew up to his bloody nose. Jack's thoughts were scrambled together, and his mind was lost in a fog at as he struggled to free himself from the recurring trauma to his head. Kate was screaming behind him. The sound of her voice forced him to keep up the struggle, but he was down, unarmed, and even worse barely conscious.

The back of the rifle crashed into Jack's face again. The salty taste of blood flooded his mouth, and he cringed in pain as a boot crashed down onto his stomach. Jack threw his head back as he felt his bones being crushed underneath the weight.

"Stop!" Kate screamed.

Kate. Tears streamed down Jack's face as he tried to force himself up. He had made a vow to protect her, and he wasn't going to let her down. The boot crashed down onto Jack's chest once again knocking the wind out of him. His vision started to grow blurry, as the excruciating pain started to take over his bruised and battered body. The last thing Jack remembered before being kicked in the side once more was the cold sensation of the rifle being pressed against his face.

Kate struggled to pull herself upwards. She had been thrown to the side like a rag doll, as soon as Jack was attacked. Kate frantically searched for a weapon to use against the man, she heard Jack groan in agony. Tears streamed from her eyes as she watched the man attack Jack viciously. She wasn't going to let him kill Jack. She would rather die trying to save his life. Without thinking Kate forced herself up, and ran towards the attacker full force. She tackled him to the ground, and then started to wrestle with him. In his hands he held a rifle, and as Kate tried to grab it from him, he positioned the gun towards her and then slammed the end into her stomach. Kate threw her head back in anguish, and a blood curling high pitched scream escaped her throat. She was then tossed backwards off of the attacker, and her body crumpled lifelessly to the damp ground. Kate's breathing was labored, and she weakly watched as the man got back up, he looked down at her, and then stalked back over to Jack. His combat boots came within centimeters of her face as she watched him. "Ja…" Tears streamed down her face as she weakly tried to call out Jack's name, but she didn't have the energy.

"Get up, Get the hell up!" The attacker yelled at Jack. Jack tried to crawl away but the attacker slammed his foot down on his back violently and then bent down to kick Jack in the back of the head. "I said get up!"

Kate started to cry harder. "Stop! Leave him alone!" Dirt covered her hands as she struggled to force herself up. The pain that was surging throughout her stomach was unbearable, and a coarse cough escaped her lungs as she tried to scream again."Someone help! Help!"

"Shut up!" The attacker directed at her

Kate screamed again as she heard Jack whimper in pain. With all the strength she could muster Kate threw her head back and let out the loudest, high pitched, gut wrenching scream she could manage. Horror washed over her face as she watched the attacker point the rifle at Jack's head. Her arms started to shake uncontrollably as she hoisted herself up for the third time. Every bone in her body ached and screamed as she got back on her feet. Kate was drained and devoid of energy, but she wasn't going to give up, she had to save Jack.

The gun was aimed at an ailing Jack, and the attacker started to pull back the trigger.

Kate wasn't going to give up, as long as she was alive she wasn't going to allow him to hurt Jack. Using all of the strength she had left, Kate threw herself onto him. The man started to swing around wildly. Kate wrapped her arms around his neck and tried to choke him. He grabbed for her arms, and tried to pull her off of him, but Kate held on tighter. The gun dropped from his hand and he started to stumble around blindly. Kate's eyes widened in fear as she realized that he was backing up against a tree, before she had a chance to get off of his back, he rammed her against the rough bark. Another tortured scream escaped her throat as her back cracked nosily, and she collapsed off of him slumping to the ground.

"Why do you keep doing that! What is wrong with you Kate!" He yelled.

Through the excruciating pain Kate was able to realize that he had addressed her by her first name. She looked back at him in fear, her eyes were wide and glued to the back of his head. For the first time she started to realize that she hadn't seen his face.

"I'm trying to help you out here, save you from him." He whispered maniacally.

Kate tore her eyes away from him, one hand clutched her aching stomach, and the other scrambled around in the damp mud and leaves for a weapon. She felt the cold surface of a large rock underneath her hand. Kate weakly grabbed for it.

"Not so fast!" Swiftly he turned around and brought his foot down onto her hand.

Kate bit the inside of her cheek in order to keep the scream that was begging to be released under control. She grunted and then squeezed her eyes shut trying to tolerate the immense pain her body was in. Her thought shifted to Jack. At the thought of him, her eyes opened and she looked at him fearfully.

"You don't really love him ya know."

Kate struggled to fill her lungs with air. She glanced past the dark green pants and boots of their attacker in order to witness Jack struggling to get up. Her mouth dropped open in shock. No Jack! Just don't get up, please!

"What's wrong, I'm not trying to scare you, Tom would never hurt his beloved Kate,"

Kate tore her eyes away from Jack. Her breathing rate decreased, and goose bumps started to form along her arms. She could swear that he had just mentioned Tom's name in addition to hers once again, but that couldn't be. Her eyes widened in terror as he brought his face closer to hers. Something inside of her snapped, and she lost complete control. Kate turned her head away from him desperately and shuddered violently once his face was close enough for her to get a good look at him. His face terrified her, she couldn't look at him, she didn't want to. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she tried to break away from him.

"How could you move on from Tom so quickly? After what you did to him."

Kate gasped and then looked back at his face once more. Trepidation gripped her soul, and she lost control once again. Loud screams echoed throughtout the frigid night air, and she turned her head away from him. His hand gripped her shoulder, and Kate pulled at his arm, kicked outwards, struggled anyway she could to get away from him.

His hair was cut short and it was a dark shade of brown. He touched her again. Kate quivered in fear.

"Get away from me!" She screamed.

"Tom is here,"

Kate screamed. No, this wasn't happening. Tom was dead. He was dead. Tears streamed down her face as she looked back at the man who obviously wasn't Tom, but resembled him freakishly. He forced himself onto Kate, and grabbed her by her waist.

"Don't touch me! Get off of me, Jack! Jack!" Kate screamed for Jack even though she knew he couldn't save her because she was frightened to death, and in a state of shock. She struggled with the Tom look alike but he was too strong. He wrestled her to the ground and then pinned her hands behind her head.

"You shouldn't be scared, I won't hurt you." He stood up and then reached in his pocket for a cloth.

Kate's eyes widened in panic as he brought the cloth downwards onto her face. From behind him, Jack staggered towards them with the shovel in his hand. He was clearly out of it, but his eyes were fixed on Kate in horror. She could tell what he was thinking, Jack was trying to save her, but he was clearly in bad condition.

"Not so fast!"

The weight shifted off of Kate and then the"Tom" look alike, barreled the gun handle across the side of Jack's face.

The impact caused Jack to violently jerk to the side. His arms flailed wildly as his head snapped to the right, and he fell down to the ground in a lifeless heap.

"Ja…Jack," Kate stammered trying to get to him, but it was too late. The cloth was placed over her mouth, she gagged, and struggled, but her attempts proved futile. A hand rested behind her head as her eyes slowly fluttered closed. The last thing she saw before she sunk into the black abyss of darkness was Jack, lying there lifelessly, so helpless, so in need of saving, but as far away from her as possible.

(Thank you so much for the reviews last chapter! Same goes as last time I'll answer all reviews still...I miss answering them here, but if anyone has any question ask away, and I'll answer. Jillian, by reply is in the review section, it's underneath the users names that signed in and I click it, and I can respond to their question. Hope that clears things up.)