Thanks for all the reviews

Chapter 2

Sawyer woke up hot, frustrated and hungry. Kate was supposed to have come by to wake him up so that they could go fruit picking for breakfast.

Maybe she overslept, Sawyer thought, though that was very unlike her, especially since they had returned from the Others' camp. She'd been having nightmares, in truth so had he but his didn't cause him to wake up screaming.

So Sawyer went to check her tent but she wasn't there. This was also very unlike her, ever since they had returned it wasn't often that she went to bed or off into the jungle without telling him first. They had become very close while captured by the Others and they were now like each others security blankets.

"Hey Hurley, have you seen Kate." Sawyer said as he walked past.

"Sorry dude, not since yesterday."

"When about?"

"The afternoon, I thought she told you she was going out in the jungle."

"She did, I just never saw her come back, thanks bucko."

Hurley smiled to himself as Sawyer walked off. God did he have it bad for her or what. Everyone had noticed how well those two were getting on and also how they weren't getting on with Jack, everyone knew things had changed between the three of them but no one really knew why. There were ideas floating around but as for what really happened while they were captured it was kept between them.

Hurley remembered back to the day that they had returned and how the tension filled the air.

It was Sawyer who first came out the jungle. It was early morning; there were a few people out having breakfast when they heard a noise coming from the jungle. Everyone turned to look as the movement became bigger and they could hear mutterings they all became apprehensive. Then Sawyer feel through onto the beach, looking rather dazed, Charlie immediately got up and walked over followed by Sayid and Jin.

"You're back." cried Charlie. Sawyer said nothing but walked over to the others and sat down.

"Dude are you alright?" asked Hurley. Everyone was staring intently at Sawyer, he looked different for one, he was wearing hospital style clothes, a thin grey t-shirt that came down just past his waste and long trousers of the same colour and his feet were bare.

As for his physical appearance he looked a bit worse for wear, he had bruises covering his face and the exposed parts of his arms and his eyes looked very tired. His hair had been cut and now looked as it had done when they first arrived on the island expect for a small shaved patch on the left hand side nearly unnoticeable.

"You made it back ok, then?" Sawyer said to Hurley, his voice cracking and swore.

"Yeah man we're all okay, where's Kate and Jack?"

"They not here yet?" Sawyer asked looking around hopefully.

"Sorry dude but you're the first one back."

"What happened out there, what did the others do?"

Sawyer said nothing and just looked out at the Ocean and stayed like that. He didn't even reply when Sun offered to look at his bruises. It was as though he was hypnotized, but as Hurley watched it seemed to him as if Sawyer was secretly praying.

It wasn't until early evening that Sawyers prayers were answered. Sun pointed out to a point on the beach where something was slowly but steadily moving towards them. The whole group stood up and even got Sawyers attention as they began to move forward, he joined them walking as though in pain limping slightly favouring his left side. As they got closer it was obvious that the person was injured as the stumbled frequently, though they could still not work out who it was, Sayid held his rifle tighter.

"Kate!"

Sawyer's yell startled them all and as he broke into a run the others followed him. As they finally reached her she gave up walking and welcomed Sawyers firm embrace, as they sank into the sand she started to cry and Sawyer held stroking her hair and whispering comforting words.

The others had never seen him like this, it was a completely different side to Sawyer. Kate leaned back and looked at Sawyer.

"I thought you were dead." Her relief was obvious to everyone as Sawyer pulled her into a hug and then stood cradling her in his arms, he stood strong but Sayid noticed him wince as he shifted Kate in his arms.

"Sawyer what's wrong." at this Kate looked up at up him, tears still freely running down her face.

"It's nothing just a couple of sore ribs."

"Let me take her Sawyer." at his hesitation to let her go he said, "you could drop her, give her to me."

Sawyer reluctantly passed her over to Sayid as they walked back to camp.

Next chap up soon I hope