Hearts and Minds

Chapter Nine

Disclaimer: "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" was written by Bernie Taupin and is sung by Elton John with music by Elton John.

Jack walked back towards the main caves, ignoring the staring eyes that followed him, wanting to know what was going on. All he wanted was to know that Kate was okay, that she'd come to her senses, and wouldn't be a fool and go through the jungle at night..

What have I got to do to make you love me?

Boone was back at the beach, watching the high tide roll in. He had just told Shannon everything, and hadn't said anything when she ran off.

What have I got to do to make you care?

Sayid sat alone at the beach, staring into his own fire.

What do I do when lightening strikes me?

He was alone, and that was fine with him. He was beginning to wish he hadn't left Nadia's pictures at the French women's shelters. What was he trying to prove? That he was strong? Obviously, he wasn't that..

And I wake up to find that you're not there?

What do I do to make you want me?

Jack was walking to the beach. After searching for a while, he had finally found a drug that he thought might work, or at least for a while. Really, he was only walking to try and keep his mind off Kate, to keep from wondering why she would rather go off after Sawyer, and not him. It was then it struck him, was he.. jealous?

No, he told himself, not jealous. Not of Sawyer. That's just.. wrong.

What do I got to do to be heard?

All he wanted was to tell Kate he was sorry, that all the pressure of being everyone's 'hero' was driving him to the limit, and that he needed someone there to keep him sane.

What do I say when it's all over?

Shannon was sitting in her chair on the beach. For the first time since being stranded on the island, she wasn't thinking about boys, or the first expensive restaurant she'd go to when they'd get off the island. She was thinking about what Boone had told her. She didn't want to believe it, that everything truly was his fault, and for the first time in her life, she felt sorry about it, sorry for him.

And sorry seems to be the hardest word.

Kate had been walking for nearly two hours, and there had been no sight of Sawyer, or even a sign that he had been in the area. She was beginning to think that maybe, for some reason, he had changed his mind, and gone back to the beach, and that she was being stupid, going off in the jungle alone. But she couldn't think like that, because that would be saying that Jack was right.

It's sad, so sad.

It's a sad, sad situation.

And it's getting more and more absurd.

It's sad, so sad.

Back at the beach, Jack had finally caught up with Boone. Sitting down, Jack handed Boone the medicine bottle. Boone took pills two dry, then handed the bottle to Jack, as if offering him some. Jack took the bottle, and couldn't help but to wonder if he should take one, and let something else control his life for a while.. and maybe, with a little help, he could talk to Kate without going crazy.

Why can't we just talk it over?

From a distance, Shannon watched as Boone took the drug, and began to wonder why it was that she never noticed..

And oh it seems to me

That sorry seems to be the hardest word

Locke rested against a tree as he caught hs breath. He'd been walking for two days around the underground, and still to find no sign of Claire. He thought about going back to the caves, to give the others an update, and then thought against it. It was just the thought of being around so many people for the first time in a long time. And so many people that depended on him. It made him nervous, paranoid. For the past months, all he had was a phone girl that charged him $89.95 an hour. A girl that he wasn't even allowed to meet in real life, and he couldn't get any closer to her that the distance between the phone two lines.

What do I have to do to make you love me?

If someone watched closely from the treetops, they could've made out Sawyer walking to nowhere in the outskirts of the jungle, not concentrating on the earth in front of him.

What do I got to do to make you care?

Kate continued walking, almost willing to conclude that Sawyer had disappeared in thin air, not bothering to leave any trace that he had ever lived.

What do I do when lightening strikes me?

Jack had made himself a fire at the beach, for some reason not wanting to go back to the caves. He was beginning to understand why Kate liked the beach so much. It was calm, almost relaxing. You could lose yourself in thoughts, and after a while it was easy to forget that you were surrounded by a jungle, wild boars, some monster, and forty-five others that counted on you. After a while, Jack reached into his pocket, and pulled out a piece of paper and stared at it: it was Kate's mug shot.

What have I got to do?

Shannon walked up to Boone cautiously, approaching him from behind. Without saying a word, she sat down next to him, following his gaze into the horizon.

What have I got to do?

Sawyer had stopped walking ten minutes ago. He had gotten tired of going nowhere, and found it useless in the dark. After a few tries, he got a fire lit. Now he was lightening a cigaret, one from the five packs he had brought with him, and reached in his back pocket, where he had placed his letter. He was furious with Jack for reading it, and was ready to leave after their little chat anyway. The only thing he didn't get to do before he left was kill Jack, and Sayid too while he was at it. So far, he had been able to block out all the sounds of the jungle, but a new one got his attention. Twigs snapping. Looking up, he saw it was Kate, staring down at him.

When sorry seems to be the hardest word..

Author's Note: Well, there you have it: THE END. The next story, Special will be up soon, hopefully. Thanks to anyone who stuck with me and reviewed! Hope you'll be back next time!

Coming up for Special: Michael, lost in the jungle, has to find his way back with help from Locke and survive the interrogations about Walt's childhood(hehe..) while Kate and Sawyer take an awkward journey through the jungle that leads to a discovery that will help to find Claire.

Oh, just wanted to know, are my summaries okay?

Thanks again to anyone who read(especially to those who reviewed:)!

Until next time..

October Sky