A/N: Sawyer, Jack, and the group set out to look for Kate when something unexpected happens. This is the second to last chapter. Last chapter will probably be up by Sunday.

Chapter 5

Rain poured down from the sky, a torrent of water pelting at their bodies. Every now and then the wind would ruffle the branches of the trees. No one made a sound, not even a mere sigh. Their surroundings were still save for the snapping of twigs and dried leaves with every step they took.

Carefully, slowly, they made their way through the jungle. They moved like soldiers, swift and precise, their eyes darting about not missing a beat. Their faces were painted in shades of forest green and black, making them a menacing looking bunch.

Sawyer gripped the stock of his gun tightly. They had been walking for what seemed like hours and still there was no sign of Kate or the Others. Back at the hatch they had raided the weapon room, taking almost everything it had in it. Locke had wanted them to be just armed with the pistols, arguing that they were easier to carry, but with a whole arsenal and a band of kidnapping, murdering people awaiting them, nobody cared to listen.

Now they were all carrying automatic rifles along with their original weapons, the Berettas, tucked into their waistbands as backup. Feeling the strong handle of his gun made Sawyer feel confident and alert, ready for anything. There was no way those fucking psychos could take the fire power.

But still, with a loaded AK-47 in his hands, he felt like he was missing something. Some little disturbance in the sereneness of the jungle that hadn't been detected. Part of him wanted to say that they were being watched. The other part believed that it was just the tension; tension that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. But he kept his mouth shut, not wanting to sound like an over-grown baby.

And so they went on. Sawyer slid his eyes over to Jack who was a few feet in front of him. The doctor's back was straight and rigid as if he were expecting a blow at any moment. He barely moved his body save for his legs. In his arms he cradled the second of 5 rifles that had taken from the hatch which Sawyer knew Jack barely knew how to operate except that when he pulled the trigger a hail of bullet exploded from the barrel. But this didn't stop any of them who had never touched a firearm bigger than a pistol, save for Sayid and Locke, from arming themselves with the automatics. The fact was that they were more reassuring than a little handgun.

Sawyer's gaze then moved to the rest. They all wore dark clothing to blend in easier with the jungle. The face painting had been Locke's idea. There were 5 of them including Sawyer. The only 5 on the island who knew how to use a gun. The only 5 that were alive, that is. Sawyer shuddered inwardly as he thought about the time when the survivors had awaken to Charlie's frantic screams that Ana-Lucia's lifeless body was hanging from a tree in the middle of the jungle, with two gruesome slits in her neck. After that no one was the same.

Suddenly, Locke raised a fist in the air, signaling for them to stop. At once, the men halted, not daring to go a step further. Sawyer lifted his gun a little higher, feeling his senses increase. They waited, the rain drenching their clothes making them cling to their bodies. Then...

"AHHHH!!!!"

They all spun around to see Sayid sprawled on the jungle floor with a huge man beating the daylights out of him. Simultaneously, they raised their guns to shoot but before they could pull the trigger, several more people came out for the shadows and attacked them. Sawyer went down, feeling the hard skull of someone ram into his side. The gun flew out of his hands and landed in the mud at their feet. And the battle was on.

Pinned to the ground, Sawyer felt an iron hand come down hard on his face. But he wasn't going to take this abuse. Letting out a snarl, he lashed out striking whoever it was on top of him right on the bridge of the nose. He heard a curse and a bit of the pressure was lifted. Taking this opportunity, Sawyer dove blindly for his gun since the blow left his eyes watery and stingy. Just when he felt the handle beneath his fingertips, he was tackled yet again. Mud splattered everywhere. Around him, Sawyer could hear the grunting of the others as they got hit. But he didn't hear gunfire yet.

Then he remembered that he still had the Beretta. Sawyer's hand closed around the grip of the gun and he drew it from behind him. He fired a single shot into the man's chest. The impact blew him back, his arms flailing wildly. That showed the bastard not to fuck with Sawyer.

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Quietly, Jack slipped away from the fighting. It looked like his comrades were handling themselves pretty well considering how brutal those other people were. And while the Others were occupied he felt that it was the perfect opportunity to search for Kate. He snuck around a huge tree and took off in the rain.

Jack crept through the jungle, gun trained on anything that moved. Then he turned abruptly around another tree and ducked under some low hanging branches. He had absolutely no idea where he was going but something in his gut told him that he should go this way. Just then he saw something through the trees. Quickening his pace, Jack strained his eyes against the rain to see what it was. He stepped out of the trees and into a clearing. And what he saw shocked him.

There, hanging from a limb of a tree, was a cage that appeared to be made out of branches. It swayed slightly with the wind, causing the branch to creak. And it was dangling off the edge of a cliff. Looking at it, Jack knew who was inside.

Kate.

"Kate!" He ran to the tree and began scaling it to get to the branch that supported the cage.

The cage quivered. "J-Jack?" came a hesitant voice.

Slinging his rifle over his shoulder, Jack laid himself down on his stomach and slid across the branch. He felt it bend beneath him, his weight almost too much for it. But he went on. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a little creek flowing at the bottom of the cliff which just happened to be about 40 feet below. Great, he thought. When he reached the rope that held the cage to the branch, he extended a hand to lift the top off. Inside sat Kate, hugging her legs protectively. She looked up at him, both fearful and relieved.

"Jack," she whispered in a voice that sounded like she was on the verge of crying.

"Hold on, Kate." Jack echoed his words in his dream. He leaned down a little further, straining his arm. "Take my hand."

Letting go of her legs, Kate reached up and grasped Jack's hand firmly.

"You ready?" he asked.

Kate nodded.

Jack pulled for all he was worth and slowly Kate was lifted out of her enclosure and onto the branch which continued to groan under their weight. Panting, Jack let go of her hand.

"Go." He nodded toward the edge of the cliff.

Sensing that the tree wasn't going to hold them for much longer, Kate didn't argue and hauled herself toward the tree trunk. When her feet touched the ground, Jack carefully began to bring himself back as well. But one thing stopped him.

He became aware that he had a little rip in his pants near his foot. And it had gotten caught on the branch. He wasn't going anywhere.

Commet please! Tell me what you think.:)