Chapter 42
They resumed their digging first thing in the morning; they had cleared a large area but there was still no sign of the hatch. It grew hot quickly, and Jack stopped digging long enough to wipe the sweat from his face with the bottom of his shirt; as he did he noticed Ana watching him as she helped loosen the earth, smiling. She was sweaty too, he could see it glistening on her skin and he felt himself stir; if he kept looking at her they would have to take another trip into the woods and they really needed to get this done. And everyone was already giving them funny looks anyway.

Jack's makeshift shovel hit something with a solid thunk; he glanced at Danielle, who came to his side. "Yes," she said, nodding slowly. "This is it. This is the hatch." She looked at Jack, whose impatience was already beginning to show as he started to dig faster; the physical labor also helped lessen his need to drag Ana off and have his way with her. "We cannot open it until they come back," she said, "We have time."

Watching Jack, Locke shook his head. He was so driven and if he would just put that energy to better use he could do so much more. Although, for the past few days apparently he had been putting it to better use; Ana turned to look at him and he smiled as she came over to him. "Tired of digging already?" She smiled. If only he knew.

"Yeah," she laughed, "I did plenty on the other side of the island." She wanted to ask him about her visions, the gargoyle and Him; they kept popping into head whenever she let her mind wander and every time they scared her a little more. Not just what the visions were of, but what they meant for her sanity. "Locke," she hesitated, "I have been...seeing things, lately."

"Like what?" He knew about the gargoyle; he had seen at Jack's heels too that day in the jungle. He smiled at her, encouragingly.

She looked away, a little embarassed. "A gargoyle. I saw it snapping at Jack. Twice. He didn't see it." She looked at him, and he could see her anxiety. "Am I going crazy?"

Locke laughed gently. "No, Ana. None of are crazy." He leaned in so only she could hear him. "I saw it too, that day." He nodded at her surprise. "That is for Jack; it's his demon. I'm not sure why it showed itself to you. That's something you have to find the answer to yourself." He studied her eyes, and smiled kindly. "What else did you see?"

How did he know? "Someone I...knew." She swallowed hard, looking away. "He's dead."

Locke nodded knowingly. "Yes," he said, "this place has many ghosts." He rubbed his forehead, and looked up at her. "Ghosts are restless spirits that are trapped in our plane of existence, our reality. They need something before they can move on to their reality; what that something is depends. Sometimes they need fulfillment, sometimes it's revenge, sometimes it's justice." Ana started at that a little, and Locke smiled to himself. "Ah. You killed him."

She stared at him with fear and shock. "What?"

"Justice, Ana. That is what he wants from you."

Ana laughed harshly, bitterly. "Justice, John?" She shook her head violently. "Justice is what I gave him. He won't get another damn thing from me."

Locke gazed at her for another minute. "Ana," he said softly, "What you are seeing is not of the island. You brought his ghost with you; it is in you. If you want to be rid of him, of his restless spirit, then you have to find they way to do that yourself." He smiled. "But the island can help you. It can lead you in the direction you need to go."

"How?" She was torn between believing him and putting him on the Looneytown Express with Danielle, but deep down she knew he was right. Jason's ghost had been haunting her for a long time but the real world had held him at bay; here, in this...place...there was nothing to keep him away.

Locke smiled. "Have faith, Ana. The island will show you when you are ready."

Suddenly she wanted it to be now; she was ready to be rid of Him. "I am ready."

Shaking his head at her, Locke whispered gently, "No, Ana. Not yet. The time will come when the island will ask a sacrifice of you. If you can make that sacrifice then you will be ready." He paused. "Be patient, Ana-Lucia. Patience is the key."

She laughed humorlessly. "Well, bad news for me. I'm not really the patient type."

Locke glanced at Jack, who was steadily digging, barely pausing to breathe. "Then you and Jack are in the same boat. Be careful and cautious, Ana, because hasty actions will sink your fragile ship." He put his hand gently on her arm and she felt a shock, like static electricity.

She drew back with a little gasp; Locke smiled at her and removed his hand, and walking away left her alone with her ghost.

-----

Kate heard Eko and Vincent return a few hours later; she was curled up against Sawyer, feeling his steady breath on her neck as he slept. She wasn't tired at all; after their lovemaking she had cooked the two squirrels she and Vincent had caught while Sawyer watched her with glowing eyes.

He couldn't bear to even take his eyes from her; as she spitted the two animals to put them over the fire he sat up and took one from her, holding it over the flames. She scooted over to him, pressing her side to him as she held hers out too. They didn't speak; they didn't have to. Where her skin touched him he felt electrified; her thoughts flowed into him, though he couldn't read them, he just got her feeling, her emotions. He smiled. He liked this, feeling her feel for him and he leaned as close against her as he could.

She smiled as he pressed closer; his body was thrumming with energy and it washed over her in waves, energizing her in return. She was still a little freaked out from the whole healing thing but as always, being with him, touching him- everything else just disappeared and she could be content to just be with him for a while; those other things could be dealt with later.

They split one of the squirrels and left the other for Vincent and Eko; Sawyer had never thought wild jungle squirrel could taste so good; his senses were heightened and his taste buds nearly exploded with pleasure as the tender, slighty gamy meat touched his tongue. Anything was better than more fruit.

They lay together after eating, wrapped up together on the ground and Sawyer kissed her, softly, sending electric pulses through her lips all the way down to her toes. Caressing her, he slowly, gently removed her clothes, leaving her lying bare and shaking as he removed his and stretched out over her; his skin on hers froze them both as electricity coursed from him into her making her gasp; he caught her mouth with his and she shook as his skin pulsed against hers. As he pushed gently into her she sighed and closed her eyes as he kissed her, moving slowly while his hands caressed her; he stopped and looked at her, willing her to open her eyes. She did, and the look on his face stilled her heart; it was love, yes, but more than that; it was need and want and fulfillment melded together, and he whispered into her ear as he moved in her, "I love you, Kate. I need you."

Emotions so strong she couldn't bear them flooded her, threatening to drown her beneath them. I love you, she thought, over and over as she clutched him closer, feeling his body in hers, hearing his words in her ears. Please hear me. She didn't know why she couldn't say the words; something held her back. Everyone she had ever loved she had lost; if she didn't say it, then just maybe she wouldn't lose him too.

He drew back, looking into her eyes as the mantra was repeated over and over in her head; I love you, I love you, I love you. Smiling, he touched her cheek, gently and then traced his finger along her flushed and full lips. "I know, Kate."

She groaned and pushed herself against him, he moaned softly and continued his slow, gentle pace; rockets exploded behind Kate's eyes as she tensed and shuddered against him; but instead of following her over the edge he kept up the slow, gentle thrusts and she shook as her body was rocked with a thousand tremors as she climaxed against him again. He finally sped up, going faster but still gently; She nearly screamed out as at last he groaned and they shuddered together, shaking against each other in release.

They were quiet for a long time, their breath synchronizing as the sweat cooled on them; finally they dressed, their eyes never leaving each other. They curled up on the ground, together, Kate's back against his chest; his hands wrapped firmly around her waist, his breath fluttered in her ear and goosebumps raised on her arms.

"I can hear them all." He whispered in her ear, and she felt his arms constrict against her. "All of the animals. I can understand them, but it's kinda like when you're in a restaurant, and you can hear the people but you can't really pick out particular conversations or words, unless they are right next to you."

Kate rolled over to look at him, her chest pressed against his as his hands slid up beneather her shirt, splaying across her back. "Can you hear me, too? What I'm thinking?"

He grinned, ducking his head against her neck. "Yeah, sometimes." He kissed her. "But it's usually just your feelings. Not really any words." He smiled sweetly at her. "Except for those. I heard those."

She grinned and kissed him, feeling the electricity pulse against her again. "I'm glad."

He moaned a little against her. "Me too."

He'd fallen asleep then, but Kate couldn't keep her eyes closed; every time she shut them they flew open again like they were on springs. She heard Eko and Vincent, and she raised her head. "Hey," she said softly as Vincent came to her, licking her quietly. "We saved you some squirrel."

Eko nodded, and came to sit softly next to her; Vincent lay quietly on the other side of Sawyer, resting his head on his paws. "Is he alright, Katherine? I know that was a shock for you both."

She nodded, whispering back. "Yeah. It was a shock." She looked up at him, then over at the man sleeping next to her; she reached out automatically and brushed away a strand of his hair making him stir gently, tightening his arms around her. A stab of fear rocketed through her, making her lose her breath; she tore her gaze from him and planted it back on Eko. "I'm scared," she whispered, breathlessly, her hands tightening around Sawyer's. "I'm afraid of losing him."

Eko nodded, but his answer wasn't reassuring. "You should be, Katherine. The future is not set in stone, anything can happen. But I believe that everything will be alright in the end, and you must believe so as well."
He nodded to Sawyer. "He needs you. Do not let him go. Keep him with you, and together you have a chance." His eyes sparkled and he said, quietly, "Live together, die alone, Katherine. there were never truer words spoken." He stood. "Thank you for saving Vincent and I dinner. We have a hard trek tomorrow. I suggest you get a little sleep."

She smiled and relaxed against Sawyer as Vincent chuffed lightly and padded over to Eko. Closing her eyes, she finally let sleep take her.