Chapter 13- Abandoned

Jack struggled to lift himself up off of the ground. His body ached, and it felt as if every bone in his body had been broken. Kate. Jack winced in pain as his thoughts shifted back to her. He dug his hands weakly into the dirt, and tried once again to hoist himself upwards, but his body gave out underneath him. Jack collapsed onto the damp ground, causing his chest to throb with pain at the rough impact. His eyelids started to close, and the world around him started to grow dark. Thoughts of Kate haunted his subconscious thoughts once again causing him to reopen his eyes. He wasn't going to give up, and he couldn't because he loved Kate too much. Jack had promised to protect her, and if he failed on his promise then he knew he wouldn't be able to live with himself. Kate represented everything in Jack's life worth living for. She brought sides out of him that he didn't know that he possessed, and he didn't want to go back to the life he had without her. Jack grunted in agony as his muscles pulled and stretched in protest as he tried to hoist himself back up. Warm blood dribbled from his nose, and he could feel the sharp throbbing sting from his lip which seemed to be bust open. Once again Jack fell to the ground, breathing in the dirt. If he couldn't force himself up, then he would crawl. Jack dragged his body across the damp mud. Whenever he felt the urge to give up, he thought about Kate being all alone with the lunatic that had attacked them. Fear gripped his soul, and pain overtook his weak body, but his love for Kate was stronger than both.

As Jack continued to dig his hands into the loose soil, and drive his tired body forward, his hands grazed across something small, and solid. Jack paused to reach out for it. His arm burned with objection as he reached forward to pick up the tiny object. Once he had the item in his hand he looked down at it through swollen eyes. It was the engagement ring that he had given to Kate. Heart wrenching agony traveled up Jack's spine, and he felt his sanity start to slip further away from him. A loud yell escaped his throat as he threw his head back; expressing the tortured state he was in. "Kate!"

Jack gripped onto the ring tightly. Kate was the only woman he truly loved, and he would be damned if he would let anything happen to her. He felt himself starting to feel light headed and woozy again, but he refused to give in. "Not now, hol…hold on Kate," He stammered. Sweat dripped down his face as he continued to push his ailing body onward.

"Jack, we heard screams from the house, what the hell happened!"

Jack recognized Sawyer's voice behind him, but he was too ashamed to look at him. Regret gripped his soul, because he had been caught off guard, and allowed Kate to be taken. What kind of man was he? Jack bit the inside of his cheek as he felt himself start to fall apart. The soreness surged throughout his body once again, causing him to feel vulnerable to passing out any second. But his disgrace was too heavy. Why couldn't that man have taken him, instead of Kate? Jack struggled some more. The last thing he remembered before blacking out was Kate trying to protect him. She had attacked that man, and he had attacked her back. Kate was probably in worse shape than him. "Kate," Jack groaned weakly.

Sawyer was now kneeling beside him with one hand on his back. "Don't move, you're in bad condition…where is she, where is Kate."

Jack didn't know how to respond, so he kept to himself, and continued to weakly bring himself closer towards the direction he believed Kate had been taken to. Sawyer stopped him. "Get off of me!"

"What happened? I can't do nothin' about it until you tell me." Sawyer said with a shaky voice, it was obvious that he was trying to hold his emotions in, but he was failing. "Damn it! What happened out here, who attacked you and where is Kate!" Sawyer exploded.

Jack collapsed against the ground. His body wore out, and his eyes slid closed.

Sawyer looked down at Jack with mixed emotions. Jack was hurt, and a part of Sawyer knew that he needed to get him to Taylor, but then again Kate could be in even worse condition, and Sawyer cared about Kate a hell of a lot more than Jack. He kept his hand on Jack's back as he looked around for Kate. "Kate!" He yelled.

Sawyer's eyebrows furrowed low over his eyes when he got no response. He had to find Kate, Jack was his second priority. Sawyer looked down at Jack, and tried to tell himself that he didn't give a damn about him, and it didn't matter if he died right there. But all he had to do was take two steps before he realized that he couldn't leave Jack all bloody and bruised on the ground. Sawyer quickly dropped down onto his knees and brought Jack to sit upwards, and after some difficulty he managed to swing him over his shoulders. Sawyer grunted at the extra weight as he lifted himself back up, and walked unsteadily back to Taylor's.

"I have...Kate." Jack started to mumble completely out of it.

"Save you energy," Sawyer responded quickly. He walked as fast as he could back to Taylor's house, hoping that Chloe was in bed so she wouldn't have to see Jack like this. Jack started to slide down Sawyer's shoulder, so he quickly pulled him back upwards while reaching out for the door. Sawyer had to drop off Jack and then find Kate right away. Regret was still heavy on his mind after the things he had said about her before she went missing.. He opened the door out of breath and searched around for Taylor.

"Taylor, where are you." Sawyer said looked around dazed. Jack was starting to get heavy again, and he had to fight the urge to drop him down onto the floor, and search for Taylor without the extra weight.

"I'm here Sawyer, what's wrong?" Taylor said as she stepped from the back. She cast her sapphire eyes on Sawyer at first and then at Jack swung over his shoulder, "Oh my god! What happened to him?"

"I found him in the woods, I don't know what happened but he's alive." Sawyer looked around worriedly, "Watch him for me will ya, I need to find…"

Taylor ran over to Jack, she opened his eyes to check his pupils, and then leaned forward to make sure he was still breathing. "Set him down for me," Tears were welling in her eyes, but she struggled to appear as calm as possible. "Whe.Where's Kate?"

Sawyer clenched his jaw, and swallowed nervously. "I don't know,"

Taylor placed her shaking hand underneath Jack's head, "What do you mean you don't know Sawyer, she was with Jack! Where is she? Did you look for her?"

"I couldn't find her!" Sawyer exploded angrily back at Taylor. The pressure from the situation was making him crack. Sawyer buried his face in his hands. He didn't want to deal with this shit right now. He didn't want to care about these people, or yell at Taylor, he just wanted to be alone. What was he supposed to do? What if the people after him had found him again, and what if they were the ones that had taken Kate. His heart started to pound furiously, dangerously close to ripping out of his chest. "I'm going after her,"

"Sawyer!" Taylor exclaimed.

"She's out there somewhere."

"What makes you think they won't attack you like they did Jack? Look at him, he's in bad condition. I don't want the same thing to happen to you. I'm calling the cops, Sawyer you can't go out there alone,"

"I'm leavin."

"Sawyer, please," Taylor begged.

Sawyer looked down with his jaw clenched. He knew he had to go after Kate, because he felt obligated to try and save her. His guilt increased as he looked down at Jack, and then deep into Taylor's scared eyes. He felt obligated to keep them all safe. "Lock the door, and dontcha open it for anyone else but me."

"Sawyer!"

"Keep Chloe close by, and watch him. Keep that door locked ya hear me." He repeated. Sawyer opened the door and then disappeared outside leaving Taylor looking after him in alarm.

Trepidation gripped Sawyer's soul as he looked around the dark woods. Kate could be anywhere. He wasn't sure how he planned to help her without any kind of defense, especially if the people he was in trouble with were after him. Sawyer looked down as he shook his head. Too many people had died because of him, and it was time that he put an end to it, he had to draw the line at Kate. As Sawyer trekked deeper into the forest, he couldn't help but to worry about Taylor back at the house all alone. Handling all of these emotions at once almost made Sawyer feel disgusted with himself. He didn't want to care, but yet he did. That's why he was setting himself up for death, trudging through the forest after Kate, unarmed, and with visions of death imminent in the back of his head. Sawyer thought about turning around to make sure Taylor had locked the door, but he had to believe that she was going to be okay.

"I have to get to her," Jack said weakly as he tried to get up.

"Don't move Jack," Taylor said placing a warm cloth to his forehead as she tried to clean around the cuts. She then reached for a bottle of peroxide and some cotton balls. "Sawyer went after Kate, he's going to bring her back."

"I just let him take her," Jack said bitterly as he tried to lift his body up again. The muscles in his lower back, groaned and ached in agony, but he ignored the pain still trying to get up.

"Jack, please," Taylor begged. She placed her hands on his shoulders and then gently brought him back downwards. "You're still bleeding, and you have a lot of open wounds that I need to stitch up," Taylor cleaned his cuts with the peroxide, and then worked on stitching him with what she had available to her. "What you really need is to see a doctor," Her blue eyes rested on the door in worry as she talked to Jack. What if something happened to them? And how would she know if they needed help? As these questions raced through her mind, Taylor glanced at the phone debating whether she should call the cops or not.

"Mommy, what happened to Jack?" Chloe asked in a small voice as she came behind Taylor.

"Chloe, go back to bed," Taylor said trying to avoid her daughter's question. She placed her hand on Chloe's lower back and then ushered the little girl back towards her room, "Jack just had a bad fall, but he'll be all better in the morning."

"Can I help you? Can I ask him if hot chocolate will make him feel better?"

"I'll make him some. But in the meantime, why don't you go back to sleep okay honey."

Chloe looked down at Jack sadly, "He looks like he is in a lot of pain. Did someone do that to him?"

Taylor bit her lip as she saw tears starting to form in her daughters eyes, "No,"

"I heard Sawyer say that Kate was missing…where is she? And where is Sawyer?"

Taylor opened her mouth to comment, but no words would come out. She looked down at Jack who was drifting in and out of consciousness, and then looked away. "Everything is going to be okay, just go back to sleep."

"Where are Kate and Sawyer?"

"They'll be back,"

"I think heard Kate screaming." Chloe said shaking her head, she sunk down to the floor and then clutched the teddy bear she held in her hands tighter. "I was sleeping, and then I woke up to the sounds of screams. It sounded far away, but I still heard them." Chloe bit her lip, "I think it was Kate,"

Jack opened his eyes, "Kate,"

Taylor wiped at the tears that had formed on Chloe's cheeks, "It's going to be okay, it was probably just a bad dream."

"What if it wasn't, and what if they're hurt?"

Jack forced himself up and this time he was successful, which surprised both Taylor and Chloe. "They're not going…" He winced and grabbed his rib cage as a sharp ache gripped his body. "They're not going to get hurt,"

"Jack," Taylor said with wide eyes. She leaped up and carefully placed her hand on his lower arm. "You're in no condition to go back out there,"

"I let him take her," Jack repeated in disdain. "It doesn't matter what condition I'm in, I have to get Kate back," He opened the door and limped out into the night air. He nearly fell but he caught himself by grabbing onto the porch rail. "Kate is out there somewhere, and I'm going to find her," Limping and holding his hand close to his ribs which felt cracked and bruised Jack stumbled out into the woods. Jack loved Kate, and he had to get her back no matter what the cost.

Kate slowly opened her eyes. She looked around her in confusion. Where was she? What just happened? Realization started to wash over her as she looked around the cold basement. Miniature flying airplanes hung from the ceiling, and her mug shot had been copied over and over and taped to the walls. Her eyes widened in fear, and she started to grow terrified when she realized that she was tied to a chair with rope. Who was this crazy man that had tied her up, and how did he know her name. Kate shuddered when she remembered what he had looked like, he resembled Tom closely. A gasp escaped her throat when the basement door opened. Kate worked on loosening herself from the rope, but it was tied to tightly so she only succeeded in increasing the pain that shot through her wrists. Kate focused her eyes on the floor, as he stopped right in front of her and then cupped her chin in his hand.

Kate tried to jerk her head away from him, but his grip strengthened and he dug his hands deeper into her skin. She grimaced and then squeezed her eyes shut. "What do you want from me?"

"I admire you," He said eerily.

"What," Kate said pulling her head away from him. "You don't know me,"

"I do, I know that you're a fugitive, and I know why too,"

Kate shifted uneasily in the chair as he squinted down at her with darkness in his light eyes, "You're sick," she spat.

"I heard about your story on the news once. I remember thinking that you don't look like a murderer even though you are."

Kate's swallowed down a lump in her throat nervously. She looked away with tears in her eyes as she tried to ignore the truth.

"I saw something in you that reminded me of myself," He continued as he touched her leg and then gave it a gentle squeeze.

"Don't touch me!" Kate screamed.

He let go, and then stood up in anger. "The name is Timmy by the way, and if you had a fan club, then I would be your biggest fan."

Kate shivered at his statement.

Timmy paced back and forth with a sick smile. "This is a small world isn't it…never in a million years would I have thought that I would run into you…after all this time, of idolizing you…"

"Idolizing me, what the hell is wrong with you!" Kate cried.

Timmy nodded, "Yes idolizing you, I was touched by your story, you had a rough childhood like me." He cackled to himself and then looked down, "I bet you're glad she's dead after the pain she caused you."

"Who's dead" Kate asked cautiously as she looked back at Timmy in disbelief.

"Oh, you didn't know…Diane passed away a couple of weeks ago." He nodded in thought and then turned back to Kate, "The news was nothing big, but I found it on a crime website underneath your name, Austen,"

Kate looked down in remorse allowing the news to sink in. "She's dead,"

"Yes, but it doesn't matter, none of it matters, except for the fact that I'm here now, Timmy is here,"

Tears stained her cheek, as Timmy came closer to her. She just wanted to be with Jack, make sure that he was okay, and get away from this man. Timmy dropped down in front of her once again.

"Did you really love the doctor?"

Kate remained silent.

"Do you think you love him like you loved Tom?"

"You don't know anything about Tom,"

"Sure I do, he was your childhood sweetheart that you recently killed in a car accident, if you ask me personally, he's the only person that you ever truly loved, and that's why I admire him. But I don't like the doctor, I've watched you with him, and I don't believe that you love him."

"I do love Jack," Kate said through gritted teeth as she looked back at Timmy.

"No you don't."

"Just because you researched my life for your own sick and twisted purposes doesn't mean that you know anything about me."

Timmy slammed his hands down on the arm rests of Kate's chair startling her. "Fine then let him find you, all I wanted to do was help, but obviously you don't want it. The Marshall is very close by…and I have a feeling the longer you resist me, the quicker he's going to find you." He stalked over to a rifle resting in the corner. "Maybe I am crazy, but when I want something I go after it and get it." Timmy picked up the rifle and then checked the ammo, "I'll be right back after I finish the job,"

"Finish what job!"

Timmy smiled, "Just be ready when I get back…oh right, you're going to have to wait for me, considering that you're all tied up." He chuckled to himself evilly.

"What are you doing with that rifle?" Kate asked wearily.

"I'm going to go finish off the job that I started and kill me a doctor."

"Don't touch him!" Kate screamed as she kicked her legs outwards and fought to free herself from the rope tied tightly around her wrists. "Just leave him alone, and I'll go with you, please…just don't hurt him."

Timmy's eyes softened as he looked back at the disaster that was Kate in front of him. His gun dropped down by his side and he walked over to her slowly. "You'll go with me if I don't hurt him?"

"Yes, just please…" Kate's head slid downwards and she started to cry harder. "If it's me that you want, then just take me…but let Jack live,"

Timmy brought his face closer to Kate's.

She turned her head away from him, as he brought his face uncomfortably close. Timmy stroked her cheek, and then brought his lips close to hers. "Jack, would die anyways if he stayed with you. People like us don't change, we put ourselves before others, and if you gave it time you would do the same to Jack. Abandon him, when he got in your way, and keep on running selfishly without looking back."

Kate bit her lip in order to conceal the comments that were on the tip of her tongue. Before she could react Timmy pressed his lips against hers. Her stomach lurched violently in disgust, and she screamed, but her screams were muffled by his mouth. She kicked her legs wildly in protest, her knee caught him in the stomach and he doubled over in agony.

"Bitch!" He yelled.

Kate's eyes widened as he jumped up. Within seconds the back of his hand was across her face. Her head jerked to the right, and then dropped weakly. Kate struggled with the rope that held her prisoner, as she tried to ignore the burning sensation that now occupied her face.

"You like to test me, and make me angry. I never planned on hitting you, but you kicked me. I don't like to be kicked!" Timmy gingerly picked back up his rifle, "I'm going to take care of them before we leave,"

"Don't touch…."

Timmy pointed the rifle at Kate causing her to close her mouth.

"Don't touch who? The doctor? The damn fcking doctor! He's dead, I'm going to kill him first, and then I'm going to bring him back here…bring his body to you, and see what you think. So you can let me know if I did a good job." Timmy smiled wickedly.

"You're crazy! Don't touch him, or I'll kill you myself!" Tears flowed down her face steadily, and her body was shaking with fear.

Timmy shook his head as he lowered the rifle, "Just be thankful that I gave the blonde back the ring, I thought it would be a peace offering before I started taking them out one by one."

Kate lowered her head.

"The good die first, and then I'm going to kill Sawyer. I'll save him for last, because he's just like us, his heart is black, and filled with darkness. So he'll be the final sacrifice." Timmy started to walk up the stairs. Kate screamed after him, but he closed the door and then smiled. Now it was time to have fun.

Jack heard footsteps approaching. He stopped, and then looked through his swollen eyes for any signs of movement. A figure walked towards him with a rifle drawn. Swallowing nervously Jack limped over to a tree, and sought refuge behind the towering structure. He winced in pain as he lowered himself downwards. His legs felt weak and wobbly, and his energy was depleted, but he knew he had to keep going. The figure stopped walking, and the whistling stopped.

His eyes widened in horror as he observed the figure. Jack expected the man to walk over towards his direction, but instead he remained where he stood for a couple of seconds and then he started to whistle again, and then walk. Jack watched him closely, and five minutes later after he was out of sight, Jack grabbed onto the tree gathering all the strength he could muster to pull himself back upwards. He stumbled back towards the direction the man had came from, and walked for at least a minute until a small house came into view.

Kate squirmed around as she tried to free herself for the millionth time that night. She stomped her foot angrily in frustration. Kate had to free herself; because she had to get to Jack in time. Nothing else even mattered. Just him. Kate screamed as she brought her right arm upwards, the rope cut deep into her flesh and the warm sensation of blood dripped down her wrist. She tried harder, growing more frustrated and desperate as the pain increased.

Footsteps echoed through the basement from upstairs. Kate struggled harder, biting her lip as her skin grew rawer from the expertly tied rope. The basement door opened and then the light turned off.

Kate gasped.

"Kate?" Came a whisper.

Her mouth dropped open in shock. It couldn't be. Tears started to flow again, at the sound of Jack's voice. "Jack!" She screamed.

"Kate!"

"I'm here, I'm here, Jack help me! He's crazy, he'll be back! Please get me out of here!"

"I'm going to get you out…" Jack grabbed onto his stomach as another pain shot through him. He flipped on the lights looking around for any traps, and then his eyes rested on Kate. "Kate," He whispered to himself. Jack half stumbled, and half ran down the stairs towards her. "I'm so sorry, I…" He fell to the floor.

"Jack!"

Jack weakly pushed himself back upwards. "I'm sorry I let…"

"Just get me out of here," Kate pleaded.

Jack forced himself back upwards with trembling arms that felt about as strong as spaghetti noodles. He got behind Kate and then examined the tight knot around her bound wrists, he didn't have the energy to untie it himself, so he frantically searched around the freezing basement for something sharp.

"There's a knife over there," Kate said motioning her head towards the right.

"Where?" Jack asked grasping onto the back of her chair for support as beads of sweat started to fall down his face. His eyelids started to grow heavy but Jack forced himself onwards. "Where Kate,"

"By the guns Jack, hurry!"

Once Jack found the knife he staggered back over to Kate, and then fell down to his knees. He brought the rope into his shaking hands and placed the knife underneath so he could cut away at it. Once Kate was free, she jumped up from the chair.

"I thought he was going to hurt you, I'm so glad you're okay, I'm so glad." She wrapped her arms around him tightly, and then kissed his bruised face.

Jack nodded weakly as he struggled to fill his lungs with air. "Who is he Kate," His eyelids started to close, and he felt himself starting to fall backwards.

"Jack, not now," Kate said wrapping his arm around her shoulders, "I have to get you out of here, before he comes back."

As Kate stood up, Jack slowly stood up as well.

"Grab the gun," He stammered.

Kate nodded, and grabbed onto Jack's hand tighter as she picked up one of the guns that were placed carelessly underneath the photo copied mug shots of her. Kate shivered as she looked at them, and then checked the safety on the gun.

"I'll hold it," Jack said slowly.

"No, I got it," Kate turned Jack towards her as they continued to walk, and looked at him in pain. "You're barley conscious how did you get out here?"

"I don't know, I just knew I had to save you," Jack rested his head on Kate's shoulder as he felt himself starting to grow lethargic. "Life doesn't make sense without you, at least not anymore,"

Kate gripped the gun tighter. Jack was starting to grow heavier on her shoulders. He fell forward but Kate caught him. "Jack," she whispered shaking his shoulders.

"Oww," He moaned.

Kate placed her hand to her forehead in worry. "Oh god, what are we going to do? And how am I going to get you out of here?"

The door opened.

Kate gasped, and then quickly got back up. She swung Jack's arm back around her shoulder and then grabbed onto his shirt as she struggled to bring him back down the stairs.

"It hurts, Kate don't move me…ahh," Jack groaned.

"I know it hurts, and I'm going to take care of you as soon as we get out of here okay," Kate said tearfully. She planted a quick kiss on Jack's swollen eye, and then looked towards the door. Kate rested Jack down on the ground and then reached for the gun turning off the safety.

Taylor gently ran her hands through her daughter's curly hair as she hummed softly to her. Chloe was sleeping in her lap and her hands were tightly gripping onto Taylor's sweater. Taylor sighed, because she hated seeing her daughter so frightened. But at least now she was asleep so she could leave the worrying to her mom. Taylor closed her eyes as she tried to chase away the disturbed images of something horrible happening to Jack, Kate, and Sawyer. She had to have faith and believe that they were okay.

The door opened in the back.

Taylor sat up in alert mode, and the tiny blonde hairs rose on her neck. She turned around to look behind her in fear, with wide darting eyes. Sawyer wouldn't come through the back door, and neither would Jack or Kate. What if it was the same person that had attacked Jack? Fearfully Taylor quickly picked Chloe up in her arms, and stood up with her eyes targeted on her room.

"Stop where you are,"

Taylor gasped and held onto her daughter tighter. She looked down at Chloe who was now awake and looked back at her scared. "Hide behind me,"

"Mommy, I'm scared," Chloe whined with tears forming in her eyes.

"Hide behind me okay, and don't move." Taylor begged. She placed her daughter behind her, and then turned to the gun man with her hands up. "Take what you want, we don't have much, but whatever you want you can have, just please don't hur…"

"I said don't move!" He narrowed his eyes menacingly at Taylor and then targeted his gun at a vase on the mantle. He pulled the trigger, and the piercing explosion from the gun shattered the silence.

Both Taylor and Chloe screamed. Chloe grabbed onto the legs of her moms pants and buried her face inside.

"Where are they?" He growled. When Taylor didn't respond he stepped dangerously closer. "Where is the damn doctor, and your little boyfriend…where are they?" He spoke slow and maniacal.

Taylor looked around her to make sure that Chloe was still safely hidden behind her. She blinked rapidly as the armed man stepped closer. "Please, don't hurt us…"

"Shut up!" He barked.

Taylor closed her mouth and the room was filled with Chloe's cries.

The armed man raised his gun, and directed it at Taylor. "Any last words before I kill you?"

(Thank you every one for reviewing last chapter! You'll are great, and I think next chapter might be Timmy's last, he's a little too crazy for me...lol, thanks again.)