Rating: PG13 for frightening scenes
Word Count: 1563
Timeline: Takes place after 2x11 The Hunting Party.
Summary: Sawyer discovers who he's having a standoff with and has to decide whether or not to trust them, while Kate deals with more pain and the fear that she's helpless.
Disclaimer: I don't own LOST, or Bad Robot, and I know no one involved with anything about the show, or anyone at ABC. This is merely fiction.

Edge of Night

Wait and See
(Chapter 3)

Sawyer stood frozen to the spot, his gun trained on the profile of someone hidden behind a tree, a rifle pointed back at him. Many tense moments passed before Sawyer finally spoke up.

"Show yourself or I'll shoot." he demanded, cocking the gun. He expected resistance, but to his surprise, the person stepped straight into his line of vision. It was Rousseau. Sawyer let out a sigh of relief and lowered his gun. "Its just you... whaddya think you're doing, pointing that rifle at me!" He asked in annoyance, gesturing to the rifle she held which was now pointed at the ground.

"Where are you going?" she asked, ignoring his question. Her eyes took in the sight of his backpack, the water bottles that had fallen from his bag when he'd dropped it. Sawyer shifted uncomfortably, kneeling down and shoving the water bottles back in his bag.

"What's it to you?" he asked gruffly, knowing she wouldn't be impressed he was going after them. She'd probably shoot him or something.

"You wanted revenge... for Kate." she said bluntly, looking at him with her wide eyes. He paused, fiddling with his bag.

"Not for Kate, Sweetheart." he replied, standing up and pulling his bag on. "I'm wanting revenge for myself." He pulled his shirt down on one side to show her the large round wound on his shoulder. Rousseau shot him a knowing look, that clearly told him she was seeing right through him and knew that Kate was just as big of a factor for his wanting revenge as his shoulder. She was quiet for a moment, looking around the clearing.

"They have her." she said somberly. Sawyer looked at her. For a moment he didn't connect who "her" was. Kate? No, must be her daughter. Sawyer's expression softened a tiny bit.

"I know they took your daughter... I'm sorry." he said to her, in the softest voice he could manage. It wasn't a very comforting tone, but it was all he could offer her at the moment. He wanted to get going. He was surprised as Danielle shot him an impatient look.

"Not Alex. Her." she looked at him pointedly. Sawyer's heart sunk as he realized who she meant.

"Kate?" he asked in dread, his voice a near-whisper. After a moment of looking down at him silently, she nodded. Sawyer swore he could feel his heart break. "How... why!" he asked, trying to push the panic out of his voice.

"My best guess is that they knew what you were going to do, and took a hostage to keep themselves covered. And of course, the hostage would be someone you," she paused, looking at him. "care about." Sawyer stared at her, his heart aching. He had been trying to avenge her... and now he'd just gotten her kidnapped again.

"Wait a minute... how do you know this?" he asked, suddenly suspicious. What if she was cooperating with them to fool him? She seemed to sense this line of thought and frowned deeply at him.

"I saw them taking her away. If you do not want to believe me, that is your wish. But I can take you to her." she began to walk away, leaving Sawyer having an internal battle behind her. What if she was lying? But what if she wasn't? He decided he was more than willing to risk himself for Kate and so he hurried after the French woman, his gun out and held ready as she began to lead him through the jungle.

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Kate hit the ground hard, for what must have been the twenty fifth time, and this time, she didn't try to get up. She was in a very large amount of pain from her body slamming into the ground over and over, cutting up her arms and chest, bruising her knees, her thighs, her chest and arms. The canvas bag over her head kept a constant aggravation on the gash on her cheek, and she could feel blood all over the side of her face from it. So she lay on the ground, too tired and sore to get up, fear being the only reason she had gotten up the last few times. But this time even that couldn't move her.

"Get up." commanded the voice of the bearded man. He knew she couldn't get up on her own without the use of her arms; the other times she'd fallen, he'd heaved her up after she'd gotten halfway; but this time she wasn't moving. When she didn't respond, he kicked her in the stomach. Not hard, but hard enough to hurt. She let out a combined grunt and cry of pain that was muffled by her gag and curled up, pulling at the ropes that bound her arms to try and clutch at her stomach, whimpering lightly, but she still didn't try to rise. Sighing, the man bent over and heaved her off the ground, tossing her over his shoulder as she let out a cry of alarm. She struggled for a few moments before she fell silent, letting her body go limp. She knew there was no way she going to get away now, so she had to look at her choices. She could keep struggling just for the principle of it and completely exhaust herself, or she could rest, and try to think of a plan. The latter sounded better to her.

About twenty minutes later, they had arrived at the place were she was to be held. Zeke tossed her unceremoniously to the ground where she landed hard on her side with a cry of alarm and agony as something sharp impaled her partway into her arm. She moaned in pain and rolled onto her back, feeling the object come with her, staying in her bicep. She heard the man laugh, and wondered if he was laughing at her. Apparently he was, because a moment later she let out a muffled cry of pain as the object was ripped out of her skin. She could feel blood starting to trickle down her arm, and whimpered in pain, trying to ignore the man's chuckles as he moved around her. She gasped as he suddenly grabbed her underneath the shoulders and dragged her across the ground, then forced her to stand, leaning against a tree. She trembled as he held her down, her heart plummeting as she felt rope being wound around her and the tree, securing her to it. she could feel it being wound tightly around her shoulders, over her chest. She felt a pause and jumped slightly when she felt hands on hers, untying them and moving them to her sides. Moments later she felt the rope continuing around her, down over her stomach, down her waist, thighs, knees and ankles. She attempted to struggle, but she was held so tightly all she could move were her feet, her head, and her hands below her wrists. She could feel the blood slowing running down her arm, and also down her face. She was suddenly blinded by light as the bag was pulled from her head, pulling at the cut on her face as the material had been stuck in her drying blood. She blinked rapidly, her eyes getting used to the light, and stared up at Zeke in fear. He held up a knife that had blood halfway down its blade and showed it to her.

"You found my friend's blade." he told her cheerfully, nodding to the other savage who had held the gun to her throat. Her arm twinged painfully; the cut must have been deeper than she thought by the looks of the blade. "He dropped it accidentally just as I put you down... thanks for findin' it!" he said cruelly, smiling at her. She swallowed hard and ignored him, staring past him at the trees. He chuckled at this and walked up to her, patting her on the head. "You've got a while to wait. Feel free to have fun while you're here." he said, his voice dripping with light sadism. She glared at him as he stroked her hair, but gasped in pain as his light touch suddenly became painful, as he gripped her hair hard and leaned down to whisper in her ear. "Don't you try anything though. You're pretty crafty, Kate, but you'll never get away from us." After squeezing her hair painfully hard as though to prove his point, he let go roughly, shoving her head, and stood up. She watched him as he walked away, signaling his assistant to follow and disappeared into the jungle, leaving her alone, terrified and in pain.

She attempted to see if there was any way she could escape. The ropes were extremely strong and tight, and though Kate tried hard, she couldn't budge them. For once she was completely and utterly helpless. She shivered as the coolness of evening began to descend, still wearing only her t-shirt and jeans. She wondered if anybody was looking for her; she knew Jack was going to go out to look for Sawyer... she wondered if he'd thought to check with her first; she wondered if he even knew she was gone. And Sawyer; Kate just wished that he was okay. She could do nothing but stand there and so she did, praying someone would find her. And fast.

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