Chapter 18

And then she woke.

But she could still here Sawyer's name being called...and it wasn't her who was saying it.

"Sawyer! Sawyer! SAWYER!" the voice sounded angry.

Blinking her eyes quickly, Kate looked up at Sawyer who was looking at the tent door frowning. Kate lifted her head and their eyes met. "Just stay here. I'll deal with the Jacka." And he got up and walked out of the tent. Only then did she realise that the voice was Jack's. She blinked a few more times, still trying to clear the fogginess of sleep (and the memory of her dream) from her mind.

She could hear them talking outside, but they must have been a ways from the tent because she couldn't make out the words. Kate concentrated, trying to understand what they were saying. But soon she gave up, it was no use. Thoughts were racing through her mind. IWhy would Jack want to talk to Sawyer? Why is he angry? What are they talking about/I Finally, when she couldn't stand it a moment longer, she stood up and walked out of the tent.

"-her, I'll kill you." Kate just caught the last part of what Jack was saying.

"Ya well, don't you worry about me, doc. Just take care of that yourself."

"What are you-" And just at that moment Jack noticed her standing outside the tent. His eyes widened slightly. Then he clenched his teeth and turned and walked away.

Sawyer stared after him for a second with anger smoldering in his eyes. Kate could tell he had been just about to hit Jack by the way Sawyer kept clenching and releasing his fists. He looked at her. She frowned in question. "What was that about?"

"Nothin' "he said grufly.

"Sawyer." she touched his chest, stopping him as he'd tried to walk by. He looked at her sharply, but the anger was gone. Now it was replaced only by pain. Without taking her eyes away from his, she stood up on her tippy toes and kissed him lightly. "What's wrong?"

He looked at her and swallowed. "They took Shannon."

Kate gasped, "What!"

"She's gone. Somewhere between here and the caves they took her."

"Are they looking for her? Is there a search party yet? What's happening?"

"No Kate."

"What?"

"No." he looked at her pleadingly. "You can't go with them."

Kate lifted an eyebrow and narrowed her eyes, "What makes you think you can tell me what to do? You think just because we slept together, you have a right to-"

"Kate. That's not it."

"Then what is it Sawyer! What makes you think you have a right-?"

"I can't let them take you!" Sawyer's eyes burned into hers.

Kate stood there in shock, unable to pull her eyes away from his. Finally, she whispered, "Why do you think they would take me?"

Sawyer's eyes dropped away from hers, and he hung his head. But his body still conveyed a protectiveness around him. "When they took the pregnant girl...that was one thing. They had a reason to take her...at least...we all assumed that was why they took her. But now. I mean...why would they take Shannon? What does she have that they want?" And then he looked up at her sharply, realization dawning in his eyes. "That's why." he whispered, almost to himself.

"What's why?" Kate had been following his line of thought just fine until the last part, but now she was confused.

"Think about it Kate! Why would they want the only girl on the island who has virtually nothing to offer. She's not pregnant. She's not particularly strong. What does she have?" he paused as if she should understand now. After a moment he rushed on, "All she has to offer them is that she's a girl. And she's pretty." Sawyer stopped here.

Kate's eyes seemed to grow, "We have to find her Sawyer. We can't let them do that to her. Shannon would never recover from something like that." And then Kate got a far away look in her eyes. "It would be like gang rape." She came back into focus, and started walking toward where she'd been staying previous to last night. "I have to help."

Sawyer grabbed her arm and spun her around. "Kate. No. You can't go."

"What is wrong with you Sawyer! They took Shannon! We have to find her!"

"There are others already looking. They don't need you!"

"What are you talking about? They need as many people as they can get-"

"I can't lose you!"

"What?"

"I can't. They took Shannon. Why wouldn't they take you? You are beautiful Kate. And your strong. All the more reason for them to take you." Sawyer's eyes searched hers, pleading for her to stay.

"Sawyer. I-" she wasn't sure what to say. Kate smiled slightly at the compliment he'd given her. "Come with me."

"Please Kate."

"I have to go. I'm the only other one who knows anything about tracking. What if their paths seperate like they did when they took Charlie and Claire?" She paused. "Come with me. You can she smiled protect me."

Sawyer breathed out in defeat. "Fine. Let me get my stuff."

"Ok. I'll be right back. I'll go get my stuff and meet you here, and then we'll go find Jack and the others together."

Sawyer just nodded and watched her walk away.

Then he turned and went to gather his things.