Author's Note: I notice that the further i get in my story the more it strays from the true plotline of lost. So I am official naming this an AU story. Remember your reviews keep me alive and make my all the more ready to write more.
Also i am so so sorry it has taken me so very long to write more of this story. Honestly, school and work and lack of inspiration can really get in the way. So for my reviewers that have stuck around, Thank-you!
Riding On The Wings Of An Angel
Chapter 18: Boogiemen
Fear is the answer and the problem.
What are you most afraid of?
But the monsters under my bed of course.
Jack:
"Uh-huh…" Was all Jack heard anyone say as they stared at the abandoned campsite in shock, 'Well, at least someone said something.' Jack thought as he opened his mouth and then closed it again, what was there to say?
"Well, Sayid finally stated the obvious as he was so good at doing, "Looks like they left in a hurry." He glanced at Jack with a half-grin. Perhaps he knew he was always the one to state the obvious.
"Gee, really?" Sawyer glared his way, "How'd ya guess." This snapped everyone out of their reverie.
Jack could tell they were on the verge of yet another blow-up, kick-butt, all out argument as Sayid coldly stared at Sawyer as if he was the scum of the earth, 'Why can't those two just get along?'
"Let's just get moving," He said before Sayid could make a move. Although Jack was getting to the point where he might just end up being the one to slam his fist into Sawyer's jaw. 'That guy just has a special way with people.' "How about we split up and see what we can find out about these other 'survivors'. He put finger quotes around the last word. "Who knows who these people really are." 'We know all to well we can't just trust anyone.' Jack thought as he eyed Sawyer. "Oh, and Sawyer?"
Sawyer looked up at Jack with mild surprise. "Golly, Doc ya gonna give me a assignment?" He rubbed his hands together in mock anticipation.
Shaking his head, Jack fought off the irritability he felt towards Sawyer; he was just being an ass after all. "Try not to pillage to much."
X X X X X X
Everyone:
They were all somber as they silently went in different directions of the campsite to find out what they could about these people.
As it turned out it wasn't much of a secret, why Sayid had thought 'they' had left in a hurry that is. The whole encampment wasn't very big, but the state of disaster it was in made up for that. Consisting of a few caves and tarp tents clinging precariously to the side of the mountain was enough to make one laugh. It looked like it would collapse in a mild rainstorm. How it had survived for 48 days was a mystery, until further inspection revealed duck-tape in abundance keeping it together. "Ah… Good old duck tape." Jack mumbled to himself, absentmindedly.
Besides the poorly built and maintained structures, a mess of belongings scattered on the ground were mixed with footprints of all sizes.
"Whoa!" Jack cried out in astonished and excited voice alerting the rest of the group from their examination of the camp.
"What?" Kate asked anxiously. She had been unusually quiet, while her eyes darted everywhere.
As Jack held up a bottle of Aspirin, Kate was visibly disappointed and turned away to resume her search. But Jack was just about jumping for joy with his find. "How could they leave this behind?" He asked in an astounded voice." Jack's forehead wrinkled up with the thought.
Sayid looked confused, "Jack," He said it like trying to tell a kid there wasn't a Santa Claus. "It is a just a bottle of painkillers."
"No." Jack shook his head, glancing down his eyes gleaming with delight, "This." He moved to his side revealing that the box held all sorts of painkillers, antibiotics, other types of drugs, gauzes and pads and first aid kits. It really was unbelievable.
"Oh." Sayid said intelligently.
Sawyer and Kate weren't as interested about Jack's find as Jack was. Sawyer just snorted his opinion as he continued to rummage though the belongings of people who could very well be dead. Kate on the other hand didn't even acknowledge Jack's excited shouts.
X X X X X X
Jack:
"Why would they leave this stuff behind?" Jack puzzled for the hundredth time, fifteen minutes later as Sayid and Jack packed the last of the supplies salvaged from the camp into there now very full packs. "Practically none of this stuff has even been used." His voice raised a pitch with the thought. "It is a good thing we are bringing this back with us."
Sawyer who was going through the last of 'other' survivor's bags replied shortly, "As long as you're the one carrying it." He eyed their two overstuffed bags.
"Wimp." Kate muttered under her breath. Sawyer glared at her through the mess of hair hanging in his eyes, up at Kate. "Your one to talk, I'd like to see you carrying that sweatcheeks." He smirked revealing identical dimples."
"We'll see about that." She smirked a smile all her own and walked over to Jack, presumably to help him carry the bags.
Wistfully, Sawyer muttered, "Always gotta go to the Hero, doncha?"
"Guys." Jack called from across the caves. Sayid and Jack were about ten metres away, near a concealed exit into the jungle. "Think we found which way they went. There are tracks here." Jack touched the prints the way he had seen Locke and Kate do." 'Eventually had to pick something up from them.' "Lots of them, maybe something we can follow."
Sayid nodded in agreement, "Yes, maybe they had a radio…"
He statement was a little off topic and it showed when Kate looked at him like he had just grown a second head.
Sawyer disagreed, "If they had a radio, they would have used it by now and gotten themselves outta this hell hole.
"…Or it is broken and they don't know how to fix it." Sayid continued, "If they have other electronic equipment I may be able to make a transmitting device."
"Fine, that makes lots of sense." He said cynically, "They leave the drugs but take the broken radio."
"Sawyer." Jack warned.
"Fine, fine, don't get into a hissy fit or nothin'." Sawyer answered. He chucked aside a duffle bag he had been ransacking. Grabbing his own knapsack now overflowing with what appeared to be playboys, he cursed.
"What now, Sawyer… stub your toe." Kate quipped.
"They remembered to pack the booze."
X X X X X X
Jack and Kate:
Jack finally noticed Kate who had been almost eerily silent during the whole exploration. Walking over to her he asked, "You okay?" He knew she would probably lie, but he had to try.
She raised her eyes to meet his. "I'm going to be okay."
"Going to?" Jack questioned concern knit into his brows. Why was Kate always to cryptic?
Kate nodded as if it was obvious. "Yep." And she turned away examining the walls, the floors… anything but him! Man he was never going to understand Kate.
"So," He shook his head, "What are you looking at?" He changed the topic, trying to get her to open up… somehow.
Kate shuffled her feet, "I don't know." She rubbed the back of her had across her forehead. "This place is just such a mess. It's hard to get a read off of this place.
Jack grinned slightly, "You know Kate, it's not your responsibility to save the world." He put his hand in his pockets. "You take too much onto yourself. You need to look after your-"
"Jack!" Kate spun around in frustration, "You don't understand!" She wrapped her arms around herself, "I was brought here for a reason and I don't have a clue what it is!
She turned away from Jack rubbing her sides furiously as if she was cold. She paced and frowned. "How am I supposed to save her, protect her, if I don't even have a clue where or even who HER is!"
Jack moved closer to her, "Kate, you'll figure it out."
"Errrr!" She groaned stomping her foot. "Jack what am I supposed to do now."
Jack started to stand then reached his hand down with a rye smile, "Lets just go follow that trail out in the woods? Might give you some clues." Clues, clues, clues, if only…
X X X X X X
Kate:
They walked down the path slowly, following any trails there were. Which wasn't difficult considering it looked as if elephants had recently stomped through there. Kate went slowly, contemplating.
Jesse had led her here, so here must be where she would find something. Here she was and yet there was nothing. Nothing! How frusterating!
…And she couldn't even rely on Jesse's spirit to guide her anymore, what if she started going in the wrong direction.
The last time she had seen him, a few hours ago, of course it wasn't the real Jesse she knew that, but remembering the last time she had seen him as he pointed in the direction of this abandoned camp, brought tears to her eyes.
His sweet face was imprinted in her mind as he turned back to her. He waved then and smiled. The sweetest most angelic smile ever, then he had just faded away. And Kate knew then that she wouldn't see her beautiful son again. 'He's gone. He's gone for good.' She whimpered slightly, and then looked around guiltily hoping no one had heard.
Kate clenched her fists she couldn't break down. With a determined look she forged on. A branch snapped back as Sawyer walked ahead of her, letting it almost hit Kate in the face. She whacked at it angrily letting some of her frustration out. 'How dare it. Stupid tree!'
Suddenly something glistened in the dirt, half hidden by leaves and twigs. Stooping to pick it up, Kate's breath stuck in her throat as she rubbed the dirt off the quarter sized object.
X X X X X X
Flashback:
"Maddie, Shhhhh, Maddie, it's going to be okay." Kate pulled Madelynne into her arms, holding her close, rubbing her hair. "You trust me don't you? You know I won't let anything happen to you. I will always protect you. No matter what!"
Madelynne whimpered in response, and Kate went on, "I've gotten us through so much. We've avoided the cops and feds, kept social services off our backs and even suspicious neighbors. You remember Mrs. Brianstein, don't you? Now what a piece of work she was!" Kate reminisced.
"Ya." Madelynne whispered.
"You remember when she asked why my mother wasn't giving my a decent curfew. She was so indignant, that my mother should not let me out at all hours. Then she demanded to speak to mom."
"Or dad."
"Yes, then she asked to speak to our 'Father', so he could give us a good, what did she call it… 'good-old-fashioned-talking-to'.
"But she couldn't." Maddie contributed.
"No, because it was just you and me, and no matter how hard we tried to give her excuse after excuse, she kept pestering." Kate grimaced at the thought, then grinned, "That old bat."
"I didn't like her."
"Neither did I."
Madelynne had calmed down and now only the occasional hiccup was heard.
"But we left before she found out and everything was okay." Kate stroked her hair lovingly. "Just like it will be now. Okay?"
Madelynne just played with her locket.
Kate took her chin and moved her face so she could look her in the eyes and said in a sincere, serious voice, "We will be okay, I won't let anything happen to you."
"I know." Madelynne said, her voice stronger.
Kate went on, "And if you ever miss me or want to talk to me and we are separated for a while, just…"
"I know, I know, …just wear this locket you gave me and no matter what you will be thinking about me too." Madelynne looked skeptical. "You do realize that I don't believe in magical necklaces anymore, don't you?"
"Kate chuckled at this and the critical look on her sister's face. "Well…"
"KATIE!"
"Yes, yes, I know!" Kate yelled as she put her arms up to defend herself from her sister as she tackled Kate. "Please, have mercy on my soul." Kate mock pleaded.
"Whatever." Madelynne sat up, straightening out her shirt; she was getting to old for this childish silliness.
Kate sat up too, "You can still where the necklace if you miss me…"
"I know, I know, and I know you will always return." Madelynne softened as she saw the look on her sister's face and continued. "So as long as I've got this necklace I know I am not alone and you will be with me." Then she threw her arms around Kate. "I love you."
"I love you, too Maddie."
"Forever and always." They both sang in unison, and then dissolved into giggles.
X X X X X X
Kate:
"Jack!" Kate called out urgently. "I know who I am looking for!"
X X X X X X
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