Note Italics are flashbacks and 's or dots mean the next scene takes place at a location that is different than the previous one
Chapter 2:Love Thy Neighbor
When they got to the caves they dropped the fruit off with the rest of the shrinking food supply.
"Well", Jack said, " I think I'm going to her my stuff together and head down to the beach."
"So you decided to go?" Kate asked trying desperately to conceal her enthusiasm and just barely succeeding.
"Well", Jack replied, " I think its for the best. I don't think anyone else on the beach knows how to deliver a baby and I don't want to put Charlie in that position because he would probably panic."
"Yeah", Kate said, "Well, do you want me to help you move your stuff?"
"No", Jack replied, "that's okay. I still have to get some stuff together and I'm still not exactly sure how much I'm actually going to be bring with me, but thanks." He smiled.
Kate smiled back at him but couldn't help feeling a little disappointed. "I'll tell Claire you're coming", she said, "See you later!"
"Yeah…" Jack answered as he watched her turn and head toward the beach, "See you later…"
Jack turned and walked over to his stuff. "Hmm…" he thought, "What will I need for Claire?" but who was he trying to kid? He knew he wasn't going to the beach solely for Claire. Of course her safety and comfort were his main motives but he didn't voluntarily edge in on Sawyer's "personal space" for just anybody. No, there was something at the beach that made it look more inviting, and that something was Kate.
When Kate reached the beach she was Sawyer lounging around with those ridiculous sunglasses on.
"Hey Sawyer," she shouted. He looked up at her.
"Looks like you're about to get a new neighbor ", she continued as she reached him.
At first he looked confused, then grinning cockily he said, "Now Freckles, why would you be telling me that unless…"(his smile fell flat as his face expressed his sudden realization of what she had meant)…Aww, Hell no!" he exclaimed.
Kate looked at him. "Sawyer", she said warningly, "he's coming to make things easier on Claire."
"Yeah", he said sarcastically, "I'm sure."
Kate couldn't avoid an amused smile at Sawyer's attitude.
"And you expect me to believe", he continued, "that Dr. "Hero" doesn't have some other agenda? Come on now Freckles, I'm not that dumb. Why else would you be grinning wider than the Rio Grande?"
Kate glared at him in a semi-joking way. "Grow up Sawyer, not all people think like you."
"You mean me AND YOU", he said with a cocky grin.
Kate just shook her head and started to walk over to Claire to tell her that Jack was coming. As Kate was walking away he suddenly heard a loud CRACK and Sawyer shout, "SON OF A BTCH!" (He had kicked something out of anger when he thought Kate was out of earshot)
Kate stopped, smiled and shook her head, and then continued making her way towards Claire.
When Jack reached the beach with the items he had decided would be necessary he spotted Kate and said, "Hey! So you told Claire I was coming right?"
"Yeah", she replied, "I just did."
Hesitantly she continued, "And I uhhhh…told Sawyer too."
Jack gave her a confused look.
"I …I just thought it would be better it he knew ahead of time, rather than be taken by surprise…" she said unsurely.
"Yeah" Jack said softening, "You're probably right. It's not like I'm afraid of Sawyer, it's just that I try to avoid confrontation when I can". He smiled sheepishly.
"Oh," Kate said smiling, "Don't worry about Sawyer, he's just jealous—" Kate stopped short, realizing how her statement might be interpreted. Embarrassed, she looked down to avoid Jack's gaze.
Sensing Kate's discomfort, Jack didn't want to say anything to embarrass her any further, but he also knew something had to be done to break the awkward silence. Just as he was about to make an attempt at speaking, Charlie came up alongside of them.
"I'm not interrupting something, am I?" he asked as his eyes looked from Jack to Kate and back again.
"No", they both almost shouted.
"Well then, "Charlie continued first somewhat suspiciously and then with a grin, "Claire said you'll be camping out with us for a while. Glad to have you with us, Jack! (He stuck out his hand and Jack shook it somewhat hesitantly) Claire feels bad for making you come all the way down here, but she REALLY appreciates it."
"It's no problem", said Jack, "unless of course you want to deliver the baby yourself." He looked over at Kate who was hiding a smile.
Charlie's eyes widened as he looked at Jack, "You're joking right?" Then he turned to Kate, "Please tell me he's joking!"
"Yes", Kate laughed, "He's joking".
"Whew", Charlie said, "don't scare me like that! I don't know what I would have done if I had to deliver a baby all by my bloody self!" Then he looked at Jack, "Well come on then, I'm not going to make you stand there holding your stuff all day!" he said as if the thought of it was repulsive.
Jack turned to Kate, "You coming?" he asked her.
"No, I think I'm going to look for some firewood, " she lied as an excuse to go into the jungle to spend some alone time with her thoughts.
This time it was Jack's turn to be disappointed as he said, "Okay". "See you later?" said to her, this time with question in his voice.
Kate nodded slowly and smiled and then pushed her hair behind her ear.
Then Jack and Charlie began to walk away.
Charlie began telling Jack a story about a county fair back in England but Jack wasn't really listening. He couldn't help turning around to look at Kate who smiled at him and then turned toward the jungle and disappeared into the trees.
(to be continued…)