Where ARE they? Jack thought, obviously frustrated. He corrected his thoughts, Where is He? He was beginning to doubt Sawyer even went to find Claire. He didn't want to jump to conclusions but with the birth of the baby moments away, he figured Sawyer might have gotten a large dose of reality and taken off.
Ana Lucia kept popping in to see what was going on, Jack finally turned to her and said, "Look if you want to be here, DO SOMETHING."
Ana Lucia glared for a moment, then softened her eyes. "Fine, what do you need?"
"Not what, WHO." Jack stated. "Find Sawyer, or Claire, whichever you run into first. Send them back here, FAST."
Ana Lucia nodded. A part of her felt as if she owed it to Kate, thought she wouldn't right out admit it, she felt guilty for their squabble months prior.
Ana Lucia ran as fast as she could back to the beach, she had ran through the jungle many times, it came to her naturally, it was as if her body knew exactly where to turn which foot would lead and so on, without her mind having to relay. She caught her breath as she stood before Claire & Aaron, who were being visited by Locke.
"Kate...Baby." Ana Lucia got out, finally catching her breath and filling in more details. "Kate's having her baby, you seen Sawyer?"
Claire eyes went wide. "What, NOW?"
"No, tomorrow! Shit, yes, NOW." Claire immediately picked Aaron up and grabbed her bag.
Locke followed, as did Ana Lucia.
"I gotta find Sawyer." Ana Lucia said.
"He take off?" Locke asked.
"I'm not sure." Ana Lucia replied.
Locke eyed the gun tucked in the back of her jeans. They were midway to the hatch when Ana Lucia noticed shoeprints in the mud. Locke noticed them too.
"You start off that way, I'll walk Claire to the hatch."
Ana Lucia nodded as the small group split.
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"Three minutes." Jack said outloud, as Kate gripped his wrist tightly.
"I'm not doing this." Kate stated, sighing with relief that the last contraction had ended. "I CAN'T do this."
"Yes, you can." Jack stated.
"Not without Sawyer." She replied.
"Kate, you have to, you have to do this." Jack stated as he wiped her brow with a cold rag. "If you don't push when it comes time, you can put the baby into distress."
Kate closed her eyes and sighed.
"No." She firmly said.
Jack was about to speak again when he heard voices. Kate's eyes opened as she made out Claire's voice.
Claire smiled as she entered the room.
"Where's Sawyer?" Kate asked. Claire looked at Jack, then back at Kate.
"He uhm..." Claire started, looking to Jack for an answer. "He's coming."
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Sawyer groaned as he opened his eyes to a faceful of moist grass, his head pounding. Charlie was still knocked out to his left and Sawyer brought himself to a sitting position and rubbed the back of his head. He kicked at Charlie's thigh several times then finally rolled him over and gave him a clean smack on the jaw.
"Fuck!" Charlie yelped as his eyes shot open. He eyed Sawyer then shook his aching head. "Wish you would bloody listen to me sometimes, you soddin' yankee bastard."
"Ain't time for you shoulda's, Chuckie."
Sawyer squinted as he saw a figure approaching. "Looks like the boys are back for more."
He looked around and grabbed a thick branch a few feet away and got himself into a comfortable crouch.
He swung the branch with all his might, ignoring Charlie's rambling behind him.
He swung for the lower legs and knocked the figure onto its ass.
"SHIT!" He recognized the voice immediately. Ana Lucia.
He moved the leaves and sapling branches out of the way and got a good look at her, smirking in delight.
"What the hell was that for?" Ana said as Sawyer offered her an arm to help her up. "And why are you in the middle of the jungle," She peered behind Sawyer as Charlie walked up behind him, "...with Charlie, when Kate's in the Hatch poppin' your kid out."
"Playin' Pattycake." Sawyer stated, "What the fuck's it look like?" He said, pointing to the back off his bloodied head.
Charlie was till rubbing his head and groaning.
"What happened?" Locke asked as he stumbled upon the three others. He eyed Charlie, who looked rather pissed to see Locke before him.
"Who knows who's listenin' right now." Sawyer said as he surveyed the surroundings. Locke nodded in agreement and the group started back to the Hatch.
Sawyer didn't feel up to running, his head was spinning and attacking Ana Lucia took enough out of him.
---------------------------------------------------
Claire wished they would hurry, Aaron was restless and scared. He kept seeing his adopted "aunt" in distress and it left him very confused. Claire wanted to be with Kate but the stress in the bunks caused Aaron to fuss so she put on a record and sat on the couch with him, waiting for Locke, or anyone trustworthy enough to come down.
She jumped to her feet when she saw Locke, and felt nervous as she saw Charlie walk in behind him.
"So...?" Ana Lucia urged.
"The Others." Sawyer stated.
Claire felt a lump in her throat as Sawyer spoke. "We chased two of 'em, a guy and a girl, we think we lose them, only for them to come up from behind and take us out."
"Why now?" Claire asked as she walked forward.
"I think they're comin' to stake claim on my kid."
Charlie shook his head. "They didn't do anything when Ki-Min was born."
"Why would they go through the trouble of doing anything twice?" Ana Lucia spoke up. "If they came and got Ki-Min, they'd be expected to take your baby, so why not take all the babies at the same time?"
"You sleepin' with the enemy, Ana-Lu?" Sawyer asked.
Ana Lucia rolled her eyes.
"She's right." Locke spoke up.
Sawyer sighed, "They ain't takin' my kid." He stated, firmly. Claire hugged Aaron tightly.
"Now if ya'll will excuse me..." Sawyer said as he turned and eyed Claire, "We don't say nothin' to Kate." He said. Claire nodded as she handed Aaron to Locke.
"How you gonna explain the large bump on the back of your head?" Ana pointed out.
"I'll Jus' say You attacked me when I came out of the bushes." Sawyer smirked at Ana Lucia.
"Bastard." Ana muttered in reply.