Chapter thirteen

They got to camp about midday and headed straight for the hatch, Kate was exhausted and Sawyer carried her in his arms, despite Kate insisting she could walk. But now Kate lay in his arms without protest, eyes closed, not really asleep, but not really awake either.

"What happened?" Charlie asked as soon as he Saw Jack, Sawyer and Kate enter the hatch. Sawyer ignored him, and rushed Kate to the bed. Frustrated Charlie turned to Jack.

"Jack, what happened? Is she ok?" he was starting to panic, his voice rising and wanted to know what was going o that very instant, but Jack was much too preoccupied with though to notice. Instead he nodded quickly, he was shoving what he thought he would need for the trek back into the jungle into his backpack.

"She's going to be ok." He said in an offhand voice.

"Well what happened to her?" Charlie persisted, annoyed at the response, "and where's Lilly?"

Jack stopped what he was doing for a moment and turned to face Charlie.

"Same as what happened to you and Claire." He said quietly.

Charlie looked at him in horror, "what, they hanged her; they hanged her and took Lilly?" Jack nodded, and turned to walk away, But Charlie grabbed hold of him.

"Hey! Wait a minute! What about Lilly? You can't, you can't just leave her out there!"

"We're going to get her now." Charlie jumped at the sudden sound, and he and Jack turned to see Sawyer standing behind them. "you got everything Doc?"

Jack nodded.

"hey wait a minute!" Charlie cried as they booth walked past him, like he didn't exist.

"Wait, I'm coming with you." Jack shook his head,

"No Charlie. It's too dangerous."

Charlie glared at him. "I don't care!" he yelled, "If you haven't forgotten, they took Claire and hanged me first! Besides, I've used a gun, Sayid taught me. I'm coming with you Jack." And as if to prove it he slung his backpack over his shoulder. "I'm coming with you." He repeated.

For a while nothing was said, then Sawyer said quietly. "If you wanna come Tatto your sure as hell welcome, but we're leaving. Now."

Jack sighed but nodded, "fine, go and get your things, and the others if there back. Tell Hurley where we're going, so he can tell everyone who's staying."


"Sayid! Locke!" Charlie skidded to a halt in front of them as they arrived back at the beach at the same moment he did. They looked tired, worn out, but most of all concerned and worried.

"What is it?" asked Sayid quickly, suspecting the worst news.

"Kate, they found her!" Charlie said fast.

"She ok?" Locke asked quickly.

Charlie nodded, "but they didn't get Lilly, they're going out now, they told me to find people to come help."

"Where are they?" Sayid asked, looking around as if they might appear.

"The hatch."

Sayid turned to Locke. "I am going to help." He said quickly, Locke nodded, Charlie had already run off, and it now looked Like Eko and Ana were also coming along.

"Charlie?" Charlie spun around to see Claire standing behind him, Aaron asleep in her arms. "What's happening? Is Kate back?"

She suddenly eyed the backpack in his hands, "where are you going?" she asked, Eyes narrowed.

"To bring back Lilly," Charlie said.

"Don't!"

Claire grabbed hold of Charlie's arm.

"I have to Claire!" Charlie said, "Kate's my friend!" How could Claire not understand that? He'd do the same for her or Aaron if they were taken.

"Then what am I?" Claire cried angrily, already upset. "Charlie," she whispered quietly, "Charlie something bads going to happen, I know it. Please don't go." She looked at him, eyes pleading.

Charlie looked over at Ana and Eko who were watching him, waiting for him to go.

"Please Charlie." He heard her plead again. He felt her hand take hold of his, tugging at him to turn away.

Slowly Charlie let the backpack fall out of his hands, he turned his gaze towards Ana and Eko and shook his head.

No. I'm staying.


Charlie, Claire, Hurley, Libby, Sun and Jin sat silently in the hatch, listening to the records, but not really paying attention.

The camp seemed so quiet with so many people missing, and they all felt strangely fearful, especially now night had fallen. Where the Jack and the others ok? And what if they were attacked now, with only a few guns in which to defend themselves with? And what about Lilly? Was she even ok? The only person close to knowing how she felt was Claire.

Suddenly Claire got to her feet and leaving Aaron with Charlie, walked into the other room towards Kate.

Kate was lying on the bottom bunk, blankets pushed off her, eyes wide open, puffy and red with crying. The food Hurley had given her was untouched.

Claire had always seen Kate as such a strong person that the sight was horribly unsettling, but then again, she knew what this was like, always waiting, and not knowing…

"Hows your neck?" she asked quietly, settling down besides Kate, but she got no answer.

"He'll bring her back Kate," she said quietly, remember what Sun had once said to her. "He'll bring her back because he said so, trust me Kate."

Kate turned to her and nodded slowly. "I know," she whispered.

Claire pulled her into a hug. "Do you want to come and listen to some records?" she asked quietly, already knowing what the answer would be.

Kate shook her head. "No, I'm, I'm fine. I just need some rest, that's all."


"Do you think we should….you know…go and talk to her?" Hurley asked silently as they put on yet another album. "She's been in there a while."

Charlie shrugged. "She told Claire she wanted to be alone, that she needed a rest."

"But that was like. …an hour ago."

For a moment everyone was quiet.

"Maybe you should talk to her." Sun said suddenly, turning to Libby. "You were a psychiatrist?"

"That's a god idea!" Claire suddenly piped up; soon everyone was nodding in agreement. Libby gave a weak smile,

"If you want…."

She got up from her seat and walked into the other room.

Kate was gone.


Kate walked as fast as her tired legs would let her. They could discover she was gone at any moment, and then they'd all be looking for her-she couldn't let them find her.

She held the gun tightly in her hand, on safety-but ready none the less. It had been easy to take one, in the rush for the guns the safe had been left open, the two remaining guns free to whoever wanted them.

Kate had never been beaten so low, not in all her life. It seemed everything she cared about had been taken from her. What was happening to Lilly now? Were they taking care of her? Kate cringed as she realised Lilly should be feeding now. She hoped her baby wasn't hungry and cold somewhere, she hoped that they at least were looking after her in that way.

Suddenly she heard something. She tensed, and then the sound reached her ears. Shouting. For her.

She tried to run, but it was impossible, she could hear crashing behind her, and suddenly Charlie burst into clear view.

"Kate!" he spluttered in amazement. "Kate what are you doing out here?" he stepped towards her but Kate backed away.

"Charlie, leave me alone." Charlie shook his head.

"Kate, Kate you can't just go running after them, its, its…its crazy!"

Kate shook her head; she could feel tears welling up in her eyes. "Please Charlie, I have to do this."

Sun now appeared, "tell her Sun!" Charlie yelled, turning quickly to acknowledge her, "tell her why she can't go!"

"I have to!" Kate repeated, her voice wobbling.

"Kate you exhausted." Sun said quickly, "there is no sense in going out there. Everyone is looking for her. They will bring her back, just like they said. You must trust me."

Kate bit her lip, tears now sliding from her eyes; she looked at the ground so she wouldn't have to stare at Sun and Charlie.

"They took her," she sobbed, "they took her, right out of my arms." She sniffed, trying hard to pull herself together. "It's my fault she's gone."

Sun stepped towards her, handing the gun to Charlie when Kate dropped it in her grief.

"It is not you fault." She said, forcing Kate to look her in the eye. "It's not. And they are going to bring her back, just like they brought Aaron back. I promise."

And with that Kate followed her and Charlie back to the hatch.


Ok, I know, it's pretty sad and mean-but Kate, Sawyer and Lilly will all be happy soon! I promise!