hi again. extending many thanks to Sharpsnout for another sock-rocking review :)

just a note: i will be gone for the next 10 days, out in Washington DC for vacation, so i won't be updating for that long. i'll try to get another chapter out by tomorrow, but if i don't i apologize in advance for not being here! once i get back i will post some more asap

The boy makes a leash for Vincent out of a vine he finds a few feet into the jungle. He ties it firmly around the little loop in the dog's collar, and the two of them begin to explore again.

He feels more at ease with Vincent at his side. It makes him feel like he has protection, and that Vincent will ward off any intruders, like a good luck charm.

"Do we even remember where we're going?" Jake asks, a hint of nervousness in his voice.

"We do," Locke answers. He doesn't look at Jake; he just keeps walking, his eyes on his boots. This is a bit of unnatural behavior coming from John Locke, and Jake wants to know why. Usually, Locke would always be good for an assuring smile, or some words of wisdom or something of the like. But today, he seems to have a lot on his mind. At least, that's what Jake hopes.

Eko quickens his pace so that he's walking in stride with Locke. The two converse quietly, so quietly that it arouses Jake's curiosity enough for him to lean forward and try to listen in.

Eko turns to him and says, "Some matters are to be kept between two people. We will let you know when we have a matter that can be kept between three."

Jake stops in his tracks. Eko sure knows how to tell a kid to stop. It's almost a psychological stop. He didn't ask Jake to cease, exactly, but he hinted at it, and that's enough for Jake.

They walk on for a few more yards, and this time Locke stops. "Someone's around," he says softly. "Listen."

They listen. There's a rustling in the underbrush that seems to be coming from nowhere. And then there's panting. Not much, but just enough to be audible.

"Someone with a dog," Eko decides.

"Walt had a dog," Locke mutters. "But he gave him to Shannon. Did Shannon lose him…or is he still somewhere…damn it…"

"Crap," he mutters, hearing Eko's voice.

"A dog?" another voice asks. "There are dogs on the island, too?"

He recognizes this one. This one's definitely him. It's gotta be him. They never caught him. They couldn't force him to say that. If they tried to, he wouldn't.

"Jake!" he yells.

"Oh my God," Jake breathes. "Did you hear that?"

"Do you know that voice?" Eko asks.

Jake doesn't answer. He just runs full-speed toward Ari.

"Jake! Jake, it could be a trap! Get back here!" Locke yells.

"No!"

"Jake!"

"Ari!"

Ari sees Jake burst through the jungle and stumble toward him. He collapses a few feet in front of him, and Ari stares down at him.

"Hey," he says.

Jake jumps up. "Holy crap, have you been here the whole time?"

Ari points behind him. "At some beach," he says. "Is Alex with you?"

Jake pauses, then shakes his head. "No. Is that your dog?"

"No, he just came to the beach some random day, and I needed someone to talk to."

"You're goin' crazy," Jake tells him, grinning.

"I don't see how you can't here," Ari mutters, waving his hand around the vast wasteland of a jungle surrounding them.

At this time, Locke and Eko come trudging out of the jungle, right on Jake's tail.

"Why didn't you stop?" Locke scolds Jake. "What if--"

"It didn't though, did it, Mr. Locke?" Eko asks softly. "Jake found his friend. It's a good day, and we haven't seen many of those lately, have we?"

Locke is silent. He doesn't really know what to say. For once, Eko keeps him speechless.

"We should go back," he finally says. "Ari, you can come with us. I'm sure Jack will want to check you out."

Ari turns to Jake. "Jack?" he asks.

"He's a doctor guy…person…dude. Don't worry, he's nice," Jake assures him. "He'll prob'ly just wanna make sure you're not infected with something, or you're not cut or hurt or anything."

"I'm gonna need so much therapy after this," Ari mutters. He had been going earlier because of his dad's recent death. Boy, was his therapist going to be interested in this. Would he even believe him? Eh. Who really cares? He's been talking to a dog for the past day and a half, and Vincent is as good as any therapist Ari has ever had. He just listens, and occasionally licks to let you know he's still listening. It refreshes Ari to know that someone won't comment on what he thinks.

Four people and a dog make their way through the jungle, back to the camp, back to civilization.

"Sun, this is Ari," Jake introduces when they get back to the beach. Jack isn't there at the moment; he's at the hatch, so Jake takes the time to introduce Ari to some people.

"Hello," Sun says, smiling warmly. "I've heard a lot about you."

Ari blushes a little. "Um, thanks," he says, staring at his sneakers a little self-consciously.

"Are you always this shy?" Sun asks gently, bending down so that she makes eye contact with him.

"He gets shy when he meets new people," Jake answers.

Sun smiles. "He sounds like you," she says, looking at Jake. "You two make very good best friends."

"Hey! New dude! What's up?" Hurley says, walking over and handing Ari a mango and a water bottle. "Welcome wagon's here. Well, welcome dude I guess you could say. Don't have much to give ya, but…yeah…I guess it's good enough for you." Hurley watches as Ari swigs the water down and takes a few big bites out of the fruit. "You been starving, man?"

Ari shrugs. "Whatever you have here is a lot better than what I had," he answers.

"What'd ya have?"

"Nothing."

"Oh. Yeah, then I'd say this is better." Hurley grins.

"Jake!" a voice calls out.

Jake turns around. It's Jack.

"Ari, that's Jack. C'mon, he's gonna check on you."

Ari hesitantly follows Jake into Jack's tent, occasionally glancing back at the ocean behind him.